Signs You Need Furnace Repair

February 2, 2019

If you’ve ever woken up bitterly cold on a winter night, the chances are that you have a failing furnace. Living and sleeping in a property without proper heat can be uncomfortable and hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s important to check for signs of necessary repairs before a full system failure occurs. When attempting to diagnose your furnace issues, consider the following symptoms. There Are Strange Noises Most HVAC systems make noise. The only exceptions would be if you have a brand new model, or if you have hidden the system somewhere in your home where you cannot hear the noise. When it starts making squeaks or popping noises, then you know something is amiss. This shows that some component is loose and needs to be fixed or replaced. Yellow Pilot Light You should check the yellow pilot light if you have a natural gas furnace. The pilot light should be blue. If the light is yellow, this is a warning. This also shows that the furnace might be leaking carbon monoxide gas, which is even more dangerous. Therefore, if you notice a rotten egg smell, rust, or excessive condensation, you need to shut the furnace off and…...

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What Should You Do if Your Heating System Won’t Turn Off?

January 25, 2019

A furnace that won’t turn off can present a variety of problems for homeowners. You may experience a higher electric bill than normal and more heat than you want in your home. Unfortunately, many people do not know how to handle this problem. Fortunately, we have a guide that can help educate you on the proper actions you need to take if your heating system won’t turn off. Check Your Thermostat Setting Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest one. The first thing that you want to do is find out what your thermostat is set to. Some thermostats have an automatic mode that keeps the heater running longer than intended. Your best bet would be to simply turn off this automatic feature and program the thermostat yourself. One of the most common problems that people face is that the programmed temperature is much lower than the temperature you have set. This means your heating system will continuously keep running to reach a temperature it can never achieve. Check the Heating System Blower Motor If you’ve followed the first tip and it didn’t work, then it’s time to check the blower motor. The heating system heats itself up, and a…...

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Recycling Furnace Filters

January 5, 2019

At , we install , repair and service all manner of furnaces and heat pumps throughout Monrovia and the neighboring communities. Among the regular tasks required to maintain a furnace is filter replacement. Customers often ask us if those filters can be recycled and what their options are toward that end. Disposable Filters Cannot Be Reused The basic furnace filter that many people use is designed to be inexpensive and disposable. These filters can be as cheap as a few dollars and rarely more expensive than $15. HVAC professionals recommend strongly against attempting to reuse these filters for a few reasons. They’re a low-cost product and not constructed with washing in mind, and a dirty filter could lead to system inefficiency, including increased energy costs and wear and tear. Disposable Filters Cannot Be Recycled Disposable filters are constructed with cheap cardboard and either fiberglass or polyester. While the recycling industry is making strides in recycling materials like fiberglass, the woven fibers that make up a furnace filter are not easy to clean and reclaim in a manner that can be reused cost-effectively. Reusable Filters Are an Excellent Alternative Basic furnace filters are not the only filters available. If you want…...

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The Wonderful Invention of Furnaces

December 20, 2018

Can you imagine for a second a world without indoor heating? We would freeze during the winter times, especially in the northern states. We could become sick due to the cold and would have a hard time becoming comfortable in our homes and businesses. Hospitals and factories would suffer in production due to their inability to properly heat their employees. Thankfully, the invention of the furnace changed the world when it was introduced in the industrial revolution. Here are some ways that the furnace has revolutionized the world and why we’re thankful for this incredible invention. Economic Boom As mentioned previously, hospitals, factories, and other places of business would experience a serious hindrance to production without furnaces. Many businesses simply had to shut down their operations when the winter season had come around. There were too many problems associated with winter time that prevented them from producing their products. Furnaces changed all of this and allowed an economic boom. Soon businesses were open year round and experienced a serious economic boom from this revolutionary new invention. Lives Were Saved at Hospitals Could you imagine contracting pneumonia in the dead of winter and having to go to a freezing hospital? Furnaces…...

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Does My Home Need a Humidifier in the Winter?

December 17, 2018

Let’s face it. The air in the winter can get rather dry. You will notice signs of it if you don’t feel it. Have you ever noticed how there is way more static electricity in winter? You get it in your hair or get a shock when you pet your cat or touch something metal. These are signs that the air is too dry in your house. You might also notice your skin gets pretty dry in the frigid months, as do your nasal passages. People are more prone to coughing in winter months because that dry air can dry things out all the way down to the lungs, irritating them. The Benefits of a Humidifier Using a humidifier in the winter can relieve these things, static electricity and all. Also, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends you keep the humidity level in your home at between thirty and fifty percent at all times for the greatest comfort and health. It is best if you use filtered water in a humidifier, as unfiltered water can release microorganisms and mineral residue into the air, which can be irritating, as well So, yes, you probably do need a humidifier in your house in…...

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Do I Need a Home Performance Evaluation?

November 30, 2018

As society becomes more and more conscious about climate change and its effect on the planet, energy efficiency has grown to become a staple in home construction. However, most homes are still not as efficient as they could be. Homeowners are often willing to do everything in their power to ensure that their homes remain safe, efficient, healthy, and comfortable at all times. Keeping Your Home Energy Efficient Carrying out home performance evaluations on a regular basis is one of the best ways to do that. What is a home performance evaluation? It is a comprehensive top-to-bottom assessment meant to identify and fix comfort and energy efficiency issues in your home. For the many homeowners in Monrovia, CA, looking to improve energy efficiency in their homes but have no idea where to begin, a home performance evaluation is a good idea. Sometimes, also referred to as energy audits, home performance evaluations do exactly what the name suggests. A home performance evaluation involves a visit by a skilled technician who will evaluate energy performance in your home. Poking around the HVAC system requires in-depth knowledge in building science and the use of a lot of high equipment, meaning that only a…...

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What are Decorative Air Supply Registers?

November 5, 2018

An air supply register is a covering that goes over the place on the floor, vent, or the wall where the heating and air conditioning system’s ducts enter the room. In many cases, dampers or louvers are attached to the rear of the register. These provide the ability to open or close the register itself so that the flow of air can be customized to meet the needs of the home or business owner. What Are Decorative Air Supply Registers? In the past, the air supply registers available were functional yet utilitarian in design. In other cases, the decorative vent covers didn’t offer the functionality that a plain air supply register provided. The designs of today, however, are combined into beautiful and functional air vent covers that seamlessly improve the design style of the room, home or business. SteelCrest Decorative Air Supply Registers We offer beautiful air supply registers can be complemented by optional ornamental frames and beveled edges. SteelCrest offers a range of custom sizes that feature countersunk screws, color-matched screws and are available in more than 20 standard colors. You can choose from the look of oil-rubbed bronze, wrought iron or brass with either aluminum OBD or steel…...

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What to Look for in a Heating Repair Company

October 11, 2018

There are some things that you should consider while looking for a heating repair company because not all firms are the same. Doing research can save you a lot of trouble. Below we give you some tips on what you should look for when searching for a heating repair contractor. 1. Beware of Heating Company Offer Bids Over the Phone Just as every vehicle is unique, every air heating system is unique. You should not be comfortable in any heating company that offers you an estimate over the phone. There are way too many factors to consider that a technician couldn’t possibly view over the phone; the ducting, insulation type, windows etc. 2. Experience is Not Everything You should be careful of a company that tells you they have been doing something in a particular way for a very long time e.g., 20 years. This is due to the fact that technology changes all the time, therefore you should ensure the heating company is knowledgeable in cutting-edge technologies. The most up-to-date heating systems are made to reduce utility costs and work better. 3. Contractor Should be Licensed A licensed contractor has a license to access gas lines and also conduct…...

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What is an Air Scrubber?

September 21, 2018

Precious people call your house home. Cleaning the air inside your home by eliminating particles, gasses, chemicals, odors, allergens, bacteria, and more can keep everyone safer, happier, and healthier throughout the year. Air Scrubbers help you do just that. These are portable air filtration systems that work by drawing air into the machine where it goes through a series of filters before being released back into your home. How Do Air Scrubbers Work? When the air is filtered through the machine, the pathogens are exposed to UV lights inside the scrubber device. This is in addition to the filters themselves which help trap pollutants, pollens, and other particles in the air. The UV light serves to destroy loving things in the air in your home, like dust mites, which are particularly problematic for allergy and asthma sufferers. Your Indoor Air What you may not realize is that the air inside your home can be even more toxic than outdoor air. Part of this is the result of better insulated and sealed homes today. Not only does it keep warmth and heat in your home, but it also traps dust, pollen, mold, mildew, dead skin, radon gasses, chemical fumes from products…...

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Will Air Conditioning Remove Humidity?

September 11, 2018

An air conditioner removes warm and replaces it with cool air to make your home or any other building. More comfortable during the heat of the summer weather. However, as people who have lived in different areas of the country can attest, there is more to making a room comfortable than just the air temperature. Humidity levels can be just as important as the temperature when determining the comfort level inside a building. With that said, the question comes up as to whether or not your air conditioner can also be used to dehumidify the air. The short answer is that yes, it will remove humidity, but there is more to the question and how it works in real time. How the Air Conditioning Unit Works The air conditioner moves warm air through the coils which are filled with refrigerant, cooling the air down before returning it through the duct system to cool the home. Air quality is assured with filtration to remove allergens, and humidity can be naturally removed as part of the process as the temperature change causes condensation which removes moisture from the air. Cooling Air Cooling air is the main purpose of the air conditioner, but…...

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