This is a question that we sometimes hear from homeowners. When utility bills start to climb during the summer and winter because the cooling and heating system has to work more often, people wonder if closing the shutters of the rooms vents will help cut down on costs. The idea may make some sense initially—but the truth is that not only won’t this help reduce costs, but it can cause damage to the HVAC system. You don’t want to close off or block any of the room vents in your home.
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Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category
Closing Air Vents in Empty Rooms: Will This Save on My Bills?
Monday, August 21st, 2017Why Your AC May Cost So Much to Run
Monday, August 7th, 2017
It’s far enough into summer that you’ll already be used to the rise in the electric bills that always comes with running an air conditioning system in hot weather. If your bills have risen recently, or they simply seem higher than you expect them to be, there are a number of possibilities. One is that there are problems with the air conditioning system or the ventilation system. If you can’t match the increase in utility bills with an increased use of the air conditioner (for example, more people have been staying in your house and using the AC more frequently), then it’s a good idea to look into the HVAC system.
Where Ductless Mini Splits Can Make a Big Difference
Monday, June 26th, 2017
One of the services we offer to homes and businesses in Oregon is the installation of Mitsubishi ductless mini split heat pumps. Mitsubishi is a top manufacturer of mini splits heat pumps and other heating and cooling systems, and we’re proud to carry their products.
However, you might wonder if having ductless mini splits installed in Eugene, OR is the right choice for your home. Ductless systems offer numerous advantages, but they aren’t the ideal heating and cooling choice for all buildings or all situations. We’re going to take a look at times when putting in a ductless mini split can make a big difference. If you want to know more details or you wish schedule an appointment to find out if going ductless for your heating and cooling needs is your best option, please contact us.
Why You Shouldn’t Attempt AC Repairs on Your Own
Monday, June 12th, 2017
We live in a “do-it-yourself” culture, and much of that is the responsibility—some would say the fault—of the Internet. Anyone today can type a few terms into a search engine on topics as diverse as gardening to automotive repair and come away with a handy-dandy lists of “surefire” tips for how to take care of that [fill in the blank] problem without needing to pay a professional to do it.
With some jobs, a bit of knowledge and some hard work is all it takes to be able to “do it yourself.” But DIY culture unfortunately often leads people astray so they attempt to handle tasks that only professionals can do properly. One of these tasks is air conditioning system repair.
Air conditioners are a part of everyday life during summers, so it’s only natural people would want to attempt to fix faulty ones on their own. It seems like it would save money and time. But it won’t: it will likely waste both and have even larger consequences. No matter what type of air conditioning system your home relies on, only trained and licensed professionals like ours should tackle repairs, regardless of how “minor” they may seem.
A Few Things You Need to Know about Wi-Fi Thermostats
Monday, May 29th, 2017
It’s always tempting to update to the newest and “shiniest” piece of technology available. But it isn’t always the best path to take. When it comes to comfort in your house, you should be cautious of trying to make any updates to your HVAC system that aren’t done in connection with trained professionals.
One trap that we sometimes see homeowners fall into is making an upgrade to their thermostat by purchasing a Wi-Fi enabled “smart” thermostat from an online retailer and then either trying to install it themselves or have an HVAC company install it for them. If you want to upgrade your comfort system with new climate controls, call on the professionals first so they can guide you toward the best solution—and away from some expensive and even damaging missteps.
Is Your Air Conditioner Dying? 4 Ways to Tell
Monday, May 15th, 2017
No machine lasts forever, no matter how sturdily it’s constructed or how well it’s cared for. Your household air conditioner has a limited lifespan, and when it approaches the end of it, it’s a wise idea to have the system replaced before it suffers from a total breakdown. You’ll end up trapped on a hot day (because that’s the most likely time for system stress to cause a failure) with no immediate relief in sight as you scramble to schedule new AC installation. And during those final months—or perhaps years—of the dying AC’s lifespan, it will waste money through inefficient operation.
We want to help you diagnose when an air conditioning system is on life support. This way you can arrange for a convenient replacement, prevent an emergency loss of cooling, and begin saving money with a fresh system with superior energy efficiency.
Time to Test Your AC (And See if It Needs Fixing)
Monday, April 3rd, 2017
In our last two blog posts, we looked over the benefits of spring maintenance for an air conditioner and why it’s important to schedule it this time of year. As important as professional maintenance is, however, you still need to do testing of your own before the summer heat arrives. You don’t want to be surprised when you turn on your air conditioner for the first time during the year and find that it’s failed. Yes, even with regular maintenance, this can happen. We recommend you take your air conditioner for a test run during the spring to catch any lingering troubles early on.
Pick a day with cool or warm outdoor temperatures when you won’t mind having the air conditioner running for an hour or so, but when you don’t actually need it for comfort. Turn it on, and then take some time to watch for faults, small and large, that indicate you should contact our HVAC technicians for air conditioning repair in Eugene, OR or elsewhere in the state. Below are some behaviors to watch for that are warnings about malfunctions or a system that’s aging rapidly.
The Many Benefits of Air Conditioning Maintenance
Monday, March 20th, 2017
March and April mark the shift in the weather as we enter spring and start to move toward the heat of summer. This is the ideal time to arrange for your air conditioning system’s annual maintenance. Although there are a few basic jobs you can do on your own when it comes to maintaining an AC (such as regularly changing the air filter), full maintenance that makes an actual difference must be left to professionals. Only a trained technician can handle the numerous tasks, such as inspecting motors and electrical connection and cleaning coils and moving parts, that go into a complete maintenance check and tune-up. You can depend on our technicians to provide your AC with top quality maintenance each year.
March Is the Time to Schedule Air Conditioning Maintenance
Monday, March 6th, 2017
There’s an old saying, dating back to at least the 17th century: “March enters like a lamb, leaves like a lion.” Or it might be “enters like a lion, leaves like a lamb.” You see both. But the message is the same: March is arguably the most unpredictable month for weather. Most of March is still officially winter, but the movement toward warmer weather has started. Your HVAC systems have to be ready for any shift in temperature extremes.
Regardless of the swings in March weather, for HVAC technicians this is the month to start working on air conditioning maintenance. Steady warm weather followed by hot weather isn’t far away. Homeowners who have their cooling systems inspected and tuned-up this time of year will be well-situated for the first heat wave.
End-of-Summer: Here Are Some AC Repairs You Might Need
Monday, August 29th, 2016The last month of summer is the time when air conditioning systems face their most stern challenge: wearing down. Your home’s air conditioner has probably already put in a few solid months of work to provide the household with comfort, and now the work strain might start to catch up with it. The end of summer is usually not noticeably cooler than the middle of the season, so your air conditioner won’t receive much of a break—making it more likely to suffer a malfunction because of the strain. Even with maintenance done in the spring, an AC can still hit a snag during the home stretch.
