Design Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘HVAC’

Follow These Steps to Shut Down Your AC for Winter

Monday, October 12th, 2020

snow-on-and-around-houseWith temperatures still hovering in the 70’s, there’s a very good chance you’re still using your air conditioner. Pretty soon, however, you’ll look at the upcoming weather forecast and be ready to turn your AC off for good in favor of your heater.

That makes now the perfect time to schedule heating maintenance if you haven’t done so already, and you can arrange for that right now by giving our team a call. We provide tune-ups for a wide range of heating systems!

But before you start using your heater full-time, we want you to take one very important step–turn off your air conditioner until next spring! And this isn’t as simple as just flipping off a switch. Read on as we walk you through how to do this.

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It’s Never Too Late! Why You Should Schedule AC Maintenance

Monday, July 20th, 2020

two-technicians-looking-over-checklist-as-they-service-air-conditionerHomeowners may often hear us say, or even read on our blog, that it’s best to schedule air conditioning maintenance in the spring, before you need the system the most. This is true! The reason we say it is because it’s the most convenient time for you to have it done. This is the time where HVAC professionals are less busy, and it’s easier for you to get a professional out on your schedule to get a tune-up done.

During the summer, HVAC pros such as ourselves are often out on emergency calls, and it may be a little harder to pin us down as soon as you would like. Plus, if you have an emergency yourself due to skipping maintenance, that puts a strain on your household and quality of life.

All that said, the only time it’s ever “too late” for AC maintenance, is if your system completely broke down and there is no chance for repair. We would much rather see you schedule AC maintenance on a consistent basis (once a year) than skip it altogether because you “didn’t get to it in time.” But why does this matter so much? Read on as we explain! 

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What Does It Mean if My Furnace Booms?

Monday, January 20th, 2020

woman-covering-her-earsWhen you’ve been using your gas-powered furnace flawlessly all winter long, and then suddenly you start hearing unusual noises coming from it, you may be alarmed. Sure, you expect to hear some noise when your furnace starts running—you’ll hear it cycle on and of course you’ll hear the whoosh of warm air coming through your vents.

What you shouldn’t be hearing though, is a boom shortly after the furnace turns on. What does this mean? More on that below.

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Why You Should Only Trust a Pro for Your HVAC Work

Monday, May 27th, 2019

hvac-professional-greeting-homeownerIt’s easy for an HVAC company to tout their best qualities, but the problem is, not all of them deliver.

When you are looking for a company to install an air conditioner, fix a broken down HVAC system, or even give you advice on how to improve your indoor air quality, you want to work with a team you can trust. But do you know what to look for to ensure this is the case?

We’ve offered some pointers below, as well as why these factors matter and why you should only trust a pro for your HVAC work.

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“What AC Repair Needs Can I Expect End-of-Season?”

Monday, September 17th, 2018

technician-working-on-air-conditioning-unitHopefully, the answer to this can be “none,” if you had professional maintenance done before summer began, and took care of any repair needs you had at that time. But even with a tune-up (and especially without), there are some Salt Lake City HVAC repair needs you should watch out for as we inch closer to fall and prepare to turn off our cooling systems until next year.

There are a few repair needs in particular that HVAC technicians see more than others. This is especially true near the end of summer, when your cooling system has been putting in work day in and day out.

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What Kind of Shape Is Your Heater in?

Monday, November 27th, 2017

technician checking the inside of a furnaceWe’ve officially entered the coldest time of the year here in Salt Lake City, with chillier temperatures still to come. That being said, you’ve likely already been using your heating system on at least a nightly basis, if not already 24/7. Hopefully, you’ve already scheduled or had heating maintenance completed. But of course, even with careful attention, a heater can still experience problems, particularly if it is aging.

But how do you know if your heater is functioning to the best of its ability, or if it needs Salt Lake City, UT HVAC repair services? We’ve shared a few indicators of a heater in need below. If you suspect or experience any of the following issues, be sure to give our staff a call right away!

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Choosing Your New Heating System

Monday, September 14th, 2015

You may not be ready for summer to end, but this reticence on your part will do nothing to prevent the onset of winter in just a few short weeks. With this in mind, it is in your best interest to schedule your heating installation or replacement services  before the winter season can really get underway. Our technicians are only to get busier the closer heating season comes. If you are serious about enjoying reliable, consistent heating in Salt Lake City, UT, then schedule your heating services  with a member of our staff. Design Comfort is here to ensure that you have the right heating system in place for  your needs.

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HVAC Guide: Saving Energy

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Everyone wants to make their Salt Lake City home more energy efficient, it not only saves you money but it also makes your home more environmentally friendly. Upgrading your Salt Lake City HVAC equipment is a great place to start, but it can be hard to decide what to do first.

Before you start making changes, ask yourself the following questions:

How much do you spend on energy?

Paying attention to your energy bill from month to month is very important. A sudden spike could indicate a problem with your Salt Lake City HVAC system or other appliances in your home. If you start trying to embrace an energy efficient lifestyle, your energy bill can help you keep track of how well you are doing.

Are there benefits to this upgrade?

In addition to being energy efficient, you should discover if there are any other ways that a change can benefit your home. For instance, a new air conditioner could make your home more comfortable, or zone control could make it easier to keep every room in your home the desired temperature. You’d be surprised how many energy efficient upgrades can really improve your whole home and not just your energy bill.

What is your budget?

Budgeting is never fun, but it’s important step to figuring out what you should change first. While it would be great to replace your air conditioner and furnace for ENERGY STAR rated models, it’s a big investment. You can try the little things first, like improving you insulation, repairing air ducts, and sealing air leaks. After you have saved up and improved other parts of your home you can work on replacing your HVAC equipment.

Improving the energy efficiency of your home will make it more comfortable and lower your utility bills. If you have any questions about energy efficient upgrades you can make to your home, call Design Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning today!

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Top 10 Mistakes People Make When They Buy HVAC Equipment

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Every year millions of Salt Lake City homeowners buy a new HVAC system for their home. Whether for heating, cooling or air quality, they make a huge investment in a new system that will be with them for years to come. Unfortunately, many of those people make big mistakes when buying their next system, so to help you avoid doing so, here are some simple things you should not do.

  1. Ignoring Air Quality – Air quality is about more than comfort. It affects the health of everyone in your home equally. Consider it carefully when installing a new system.
  2. Avoiding Even Heating and Cooling – One room being cooler or warmer than another is not okay. It’s bad for your system and bad for your home’s comfort level. Have insulation and ductwork checked before installation of a new HVAC system.
  3. Not Upgrading Your AFUE or SEER – New systems are highly efficient. Take advantage of that by buying one with a higher AFUE or SEER rating.
  4. Not Vetting Your Contractor – Always spend time checking up on your contractor, reading reviews and asking other customers how their experience was.
  5. Skipping the Service Agreement – Service agreements save money and help your system last longer. Don’t skip them.
  6. Buying the Cheapest Option Available – It may be tempting, but a cheap HVAC system is a bad idea if you want it to last and save you money in heating and cooling. Even a midrange system will save you money in only a few years with higher efficiency ratings.
  7. Picking the Same Model You Already Had – New models are stronger and more efficient. When possible, get an upgrade and your bills will reflect the difference.
  8. Waiting too Long to Buy – The longer you wait, the more you pay in heating and cooling bills for an old, worn down system. If you know you’re going to buy a new system, act fast to save the most possible money.
  9. Not Asking Questions – If you have a question, ask it. There is no such thing as a stupid question when looking for a new HVAC system.
  10. Ignoring Maintenance Recommendations – Maintenance recommendations are optional but almost always to your benefit. Research on your own before committing to anything, but don’t ignore the necessity either.

If you do things just right, your new HVAC system will last for years to come and provide steady, comfortable heating or cooling throughout that time. But, if you rush through things, make a hasty decision and neglect to do any research, you may have issues with your system in far less time than you’d like. Be smart and you’ll be rewarded.

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How Can I Be Sure My Home’s Air is Safe?

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

There are many ways to ensure your home’s air is safe to breathe, but the easiest is to have it tested regularly and to use proper filtration and ventilation. However, there are a lot of different filtration methods, so here are a few known to work best.

Air Filtration

If you have pets or a lot of plants, air filters are a great idea because they remove most of the larger particles that get into our air supply. This includes things like pet dander, pollen, mold, and other particles like dust. If you have allergies or someone in your home has asthma of any kind, this is the best way to be sure they don’t breathe anything they shouldn’t.

Air filtration is also very simple to install and inexpensive to maintain. Just be sure you opt for HEPA air filters. They are the best on the market and are certified to capture much smaller particles than any other filters, plus they tend to last quite a bit longer.

Air Purification

For big time air cleaning, you want to go with an electronic air purifier. These machines will actually ionize the air in your home to separate out smaller particles such as gas, smoke, or pathogens like bacteria and viruses. They can also capture some larger particles like mold and dust mites. The key to effective air purification is to use it in conjunction with a good air filter.

Also, consider the use of a good UV filter with your air purifier. UV filtration can be installed in your air ducts or vents to kill any unwanted pathogens as the air is circulated.

Testing and Cleaning

The final step is to make sure your air stays clean. Get detectors for big time contaminants like radon and carbon monoxide but also have your air quality tested every year or two to check for high levels of other contaminants.

If you have filters and ductwork, make sure they are cleaned regularly. Filters must be changed on schedule or they simply won’t work as intended. You should also maintain a powerful ventilation system that will keep a steady supply of fresh air coming into and out of your home. An energy recovery model is best to minimize heat and cooling loss from your comfort system.

Overall, your air quality can be maintained year round with a close eye to the maintenance of your equipment and regular testing.

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