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Is Your HVAC System Protected From Power Surges?

Most homeowners consider surge protection a necessity with expensive electronics such as computers, stereos and televisions. With these items, they typically use a point–of–use surge protector that they can plug into an electrical outlet. However, most people do not realize that heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment have sensitive electrical components that also need the same kind of protection. A power surge is a short–lived spike, or a series of spikes, in electrical service voltage. Usually, a power surge lasts for only a fraction of a second; on the other hand, utility equipment failure can cause longer–lasting spikes that may last for sizeable fractions of a second or longer. No home is immune to electricity surges; therefore, all expensive appliances should have some surge protection. Since the HVAC system is one of the most important and expensive investments for a homeowner, it stands to reason that it should have adequate protection from power surges. The most common natural cause of power surges is lightning. Characterized by an instantaneous spike in voltage for a short duration, it can cause substantial damage to structures, electrical equipment and appliances. The biggest factor about lightning is where it strikes; fortunately, the effects dissipate rapidly

July 20, 2014 No Comments

Self troubleshooting your a/c

It is the middle of the afternoon on a hot July day. You remember turning your air conditioning on this morning, but now you suspect the temperature in your house is rising. You run to check the thermostat in hopes that maybe you are just having a hot flash or had been working too hard on your tasks around the house, only to find your hopes dash. The thermostat has crept up five degrees over what you had set it for, or worse yet, the thermostat shows nothing. Sweat drips down your forehead and dollar signs flash before your eyes when you think of you’re a/c not working. Now what? Before you panic and call the HVAC service technician, there are a few things to check on your own. 1. Check the Power to your Home It may seem simple, but many HVAC service technicians have been called to homes for a case of an air conditioning outage, only to find that there is no power to the entire home. This is embarrassing and expensive to the homeowner. Check this potential issue first before doing anything else. 2. Check the Air Filter Air filters on your HVAC unit should be changed

July 25, 2014 No Comments

Whole home performance evaluations

Paying high costs for energy in your home is never what anyone wants to do. However, there are solutions and answers to help you pay less when your energy bills come due. Home Performance is a complete approach to making your home more energy efficient and provide comfort in your home environment. What is Whole Home Performance? Home Performance includes many different factors in the home. Contractors trained in Home Performance are skilled to offer complete home improvements to make your home more energy efficient. This includes insulation, energy efficient lighting and appliances, as well as furnace and air conditioner upgrades. The benefits of the Home Performance upgrade include decreasing and eliminating energy waste in the home, as well as cold drafts and musty smelling air. Your comfort, health and the long term value of your home will increase. Your home environment will also be cleaner while you enjoy lower energy bills. Cost of Whole Home Performance Your upgrade will start with a thorough home inspection and evaluation to determine the current energy use of your household. After this, your Home Performance contractor will make suggested improvements that suit your budget and the priorities you have in your home. They

July 31, 2014 No Comments

When Will the HVAC Efficiency Standards Be Raised?

Many people know that it is important for the U.S. to adopt some measures to help reduce the amount of energy consumed each year. In order to address this problem, back in 2009, the Department of Energy worked with experts in both the utilities and HVAC industries to come up with an effective way of increasing HVAC efficiency standards. The goal was to implement higher standards that would raise annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings from an AFUE of 78 to a new minimum of 90. This increase in HVAC efficiency could make a major impact in reducing energy consumption. The problem, however, was that these new minimum AFUE requirements would inflict a heavy financial burden on many homeowners. In order to comply with the minimum 90 AFUE HVAC efficiency standard, homeowners would need to install a condensing furnace as this is currently the only type of combustible heating unit capable of meeting the required minimum standard. Unfortunately, installing a condensing furnace is not as easy as one might think. This type of furnace has its own unique requirements and would mean homeowners would need extensive retrofitting in order to modify their homes for this type of heating system. Not

August 9, 2014 No Comments

Important End of Season A/C Maintenance

When it comes to protecting your air conditioning system, end of season maintenance is certainly important. Your HVAC system is a major component in the comfort of your home and making sure you take preventative action now can help ensure it will be ready for you when the heat of another summer hits. Fortunately, summer air conditioning maintenance is quick and easy; it is also something that most homeowners will be able to handle on their own. Of course, there are some aspects of HVAC maintenance that should be left to the professionals, such as checking refrigerant levels and tuning up your equipment. At the end of the season, it is a good idea to check the condensate pan to see if there is any water sitting in it. This pan collects water during the normal cooling process, but it is important that it not be left to sit for a prolonged period of time. The drain line should carry the water outdoors, so be sure to check the line for any blockage. Water left in the line or pan could freeze, especially if it is in an uninsulated part of your home or garage. Another important part of A/C

August 14, 2014 No Comments

How To Find a Quality HVAC Contractor

Most homeowners know that the comfort of their home relies on having a heating or cooling system that is able to keep their home a comfortable temperature. Of course, quality equipment can be an important part of the reliability of your home’s HVAC system, but an experienced and dependable HVAC contractor is also important. In fact, now is the perfect time to call in a professional HVAC contractor for end of summer air conditioning maintenance. One of the best ways to find a leading HVAC contractor is to ask family or friends for recommendations. After all, if someone you know and trust is able to recommend a contractor, you are already ahead of the game. If you don’t have any recommendations to start from, contact some of the contractors in your area and ask for references. However, it is important that once you get these references that you actually call and ask questions. Find out what type of work was done, if it was done on time and if there were any problems. Of course, any HVAC contractor you consider should be licensed and insured to perform their services in your area. Leading HVAC contractors also offer quality products, such

August 25, 2014 No Comments

Air purification

Most heating and air conditioning systems use a basic 1: air filter. These filters were never designed to improve air quality. They were designed to help keep the equipment clean. The average filter only removes 3-5% of the particles that pass through it. Today, we have many different types of filters available to help remove large amounts of particulate from the air. Air Purifiers Services in MightyServ If you suffer from allergies, asthma, hay fever or other respiratory problem, we have solutions that can greatly improve your quality of life. For the most extreme cases we can even provide affordable equipment designed to remove weapon grade anthrax from your air. We offer a variety of air purifiers designed to improve the air quality of your home or business. Below find the specifications for one of our most popular brands of purifiers: INFINITY AIR PURIFIERPeformance: MERV 15Warranty: 5-year limitedEfficiency: Rated Airflow (cubic feet/minute) 1600 or 2000Technology: Pressure Drop (in wc) at Rated Airflow 0.25, Type Three-stage electronic and mediaAesthetics: Paint Epoxy Coated Cabinet, Heavy Gage Steel Installation, Up-flow, Down-flow, Horizontal Give us a call and we will be happy to help.

January 5, 2011 No Comments

Title 24 – 2006 – California Code of Regulations for Energy Efficiency

Title 24 is a portion of the California Code of Regulations that pertains to energy efficiency standards in the construction of residential and non-residential buildings. It was enacted in 1978 (Warren- Alquist Act) in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California’s energy consumption. The California Energy Commission (CEC)put this ruling into effect to reduce energy bills, to increase energy delivery system reliability and to contribute to an improved economic condition for the state. Since 1978, several amendments were made to update energy standards as a reflection of improvements in energy technology and energy conservation. Effective October 1, 2005, the CEC updated Title 24 standards to further reduce California’s energy consumption. Starting on this date, when a CA homeowner is changing out the heating or air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment (the air handler, the outdoor condenser of a split air-conditioner or heat pump, cooling or heating coil, or the furnace heat exchanger) in an existing house, contractors in certain climate zones will be required to test the ducts for leakage and seal the leaking ducts. Third-party field verification by a certified home energy rater (HERS – Home Energy Rating Service) is also required to insure that the duct sealing is accomplished according

February 25, 2006 No Comments

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint With Insulation

Attic insulation is the way to go if you want to keep your home warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and save energy throughout the year. The United States Department of Energy has stated that adding insulation to your attic is one of the best home comfort measures you can take. Most homeowners don’t realize the amount of money that they’re throwing away by not installing new insulation. Upgrading existing attic insulation is also a viable cost-effective solution. Having qualified insulation installers line your attic with well-crafted insulation is one more step to living a more pleasant lifestyle, while reducing your overall heating bill and contributing to the environment. This winter is sure to bring about a definite chill in the air, so go the easy, eco-friendly route and install attic insulation.

January 1, 2010 No Comments

Las vegas hosts hvacr conference

The 2010 National HVACR (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Educators and Trainers Conference is scheduled to hit Las Vegas March 14-16 at the Tropicana Hotel. The annual conference is open to anyone in the heating and air conditioning industry including, contractors, wholesalers, and educators. The main topics to be discussed revolve around new technologies, changes in federal guidelines, energy efficiency practices, training, and environmentally friendly technologies. Leaders in the heating and air conditioning field will host the event. Carrier, DuPont, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Energy Commission, along with a host of other experts, will present the latest in industry standards and set future goals. The conference includes breakfast and lunch for the March 15 and 16 dates and admission to all general sessions, breakout sessions, roundtables, industry exhibits and tours. Exams will also be offered, at no extra charge, to help with educator credentials.

February 8, 2010 No Comments

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