January 19, 2015
Our expert gas furnace repair technicians can fix all kinds of equipment. Gas furnace won’t light? The first step to fixing this problem is figuring out which kind of furnace ignition technology you have, standing pilot light or electronic ignition. Learn more about these two types of furnace ignition technology and how the gas furnace repair specialists at General Heating & Air Conditioning fix them. Standing Pilot Light The traditional ignition mechanism for a gas furnace is a standing pilot light. Standing pilot lights burn constantly, providing a flame that can be used to light the main burners whenever the furnace thermostat drops below your desired temperature setting. This technology is found in many older models as well as in the less efficient end of the new furnace market. Because standing pilot lights are always on, they naturally use more fuel than other ignition methods. This fuel is never converted to heat, which means that standing pilot light furnaces typically don’t have AFUE ratings over 80. Electronic Ignition Newer, more efficient furnaces utilize electronic ignition to eliminate the waste and unreliability of a standing pilot light. There are two types of electronic ignition, intermittent pilot and hot surface ignition. An…...
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January 15, 2015
Adding quality insulation is the first step to making your attic a comfortable and appealing space. Considering how expensive real estate is in California compared to the rest of the country, many families here are seeking to maximize all the available living space in their home to get the most use and value possible from their property. An unfinished attic is a prime target for expanding your living space, assuming it meets local code requirements. Here are some basic tips for transforming your attic into a comfortable and appealing space. Insulate & Finish the Attic Obviously, as a first step to creating a living space in the attic, the walls and ceiling need to be finished. This not only makes the space look nice; it also helps control temperatures so that your new attic room can be heated and cooled efficiently. General Heating & Air Conditioning can offer two services for this phase of your project. First, we offer AttiCat expanding blow-in insulation to reduce heat penetration and energy loss from the attic. Secondly, we offer radiant barrier foil, which can help keep summer temperatures down in the attic by repelling up to 95 percent of the sun’s heat from…...
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January 12, 2015
Combat dry, stuffy, smelly, or unevenly heated indoor air with help from these 4 HVAC accessories. When it comes to home comfort in winter, staying warm and toasty is obviously the top priority. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t have other concerns. For example, you don’t want to just live with the dry, sooty, staticky, stuffy, or smelly air that can sometimes result from less than ideal furnace operation or building design. Fortunately, improving your home comfort in winter is easy and affordable with these 4 HVAC accessories. Humidifier When your indoor air is too dry, you may begin to suffer from dry skin, chapped lips, sore throats, and irritated nasal passages. You will also probably start to notice more problems with static electricity. Plus, you might find yourself feeling cold all the time because the less moisture is present in the air, the colder it feels. You can correct all of these comfort issues simply by installing a humidifier in your home. At General Heating & Air Conditioning, we can help you choose between a small room-size humidifier or a whole-home humidifier that can be integrated with your HVAC system for convenient automatic operation. Ventilator Many modern homes are…...
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January 8, 2015
These furnace troubleshooting tips can help you restore heat without calling for furnace repair. At General Heating & Air Conditioning, we have been in the furnace repair business since 1981. In that time we’ve helped our clients with all kinds of furnace problems, from major repairs to minor adjustments. You might be surprised just how often we get called out to fix problems the property owner could very likely have fixed themselves. While we certainly understand than many clients prefer to seek professional help immediately whenever they experience a furnace problem, if you are willing and able to access your furnace and do a few simple adjustments yourself, the following troubleshooting tips can potentially help you avoid a call to the repairman, or at least pinpoint the problem with your furnace. Is the Thermostat Properly Adjusted? The very first thing to check in the event that your furnace isn’t producing enough heat is the thermostat. It’s possible the thermostat got jostled or someone changed the settings without your knowledge. Make sure the unit is set to heat and the temperature is set high enough. If you don’t hear the fan running, change the fan setting to on. Is the Power…...
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December 26, 2014
Top strategies for reducing the price of your new Carrier heater or air conditioner. A new heater or air conditioner can be a substantial expense. Sometimes, homeowners end up postponing the replacement because they think they can’t afford it. This can actually become more expensive in the long run, as you continue to pour money into repairs and excess fuel for an ailing, inefficient system. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer through another season with a heater or air conditioner that doesn’t perform like it should. Instead, you can take advantage of the following options for getting a great deal on your new HVAC equipment from General Heating & Air Conditioning. Carrier Rebates At General Heating & Air Conditioning, we are proud to carry Carrier brand heating and cooling equipment. As a factory-authorized dealer, we are able to assist customers in participating in various rebate programs offered by Carrier. For example, Carrier has been running a Fall Cool Cash rebate program worth up to $1,450. Power Company Rebates If you are a customer of Southern California Gas Company, Pasadena Water & Power, Glendale Water & Power, or Azusa Light & Water, you could qualify for a $100 rebate when upgrading…...
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December 19, 2014
Your climate, the cost of fuel in your area, and the efficiency of your home determine whether a heat pump is a good solution for your heating and cooling needs. In recent years, heat pumps have been getting a lot of attention as an energy-efficient option for both heating and cooling. However, it’s important to understand that heat pumps are not ideal for every situation. Before you invest in a new heat pump, consider the following 3 factors that will affect how much this technology may save you on your energy bills. Climate First of all, consider the climate you live in. Heat pumps are most energy-efficient in heating mode, but only to a certain point. When temperatures drop below the system’s balance point (usually between 35 and 40°F), the system will stop producing sufficient heat. You would have to have a supplemental heat source such as a furnace in place to handle very cold temperatures. Here in California, we have a mild climate that suits heat pumps well and you may be able to use your heat pump as your sole heat source. Fuel Costs Next, consider the fuel savings you may realize if you switch to a heat…...
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December 12, 2014
Hot, stuffy, smelly, uncomfortable environments are not conducive to good business. Contrary to what you might think, cutting your HVAC budget won’t necessarily save you money. This is due to the fact that running old, inadequate, or poorly maintained equipment can result in poor indoor air quality in your business. Your employees, your customers, and your colleagues will notice, and it can hurt your bottom line. What is Poor Indoor Air Quality? Poor indoor air quality encompasses a variety of different factors that make indoor environments uncomfortable: Overly dry air Excess humidity Uncomfortable temperatures Odors Allergens VOCs How Does Poor Indoor Air Quality Affect Your Business? Impaired Employee Performance: When employees are distracted by or upset about indoor air quality issues, they won’t perform as well. This isn’t just a morale problem—some types of indoor air pollutants can actually cause physical reactions that interfere with work. For example, if there is a high concentration of mold spores or VOCs in the workspace, employees may develop sick building syndrome. Another concern is that elevated carbon dioxide levels in an unventilated space may impair decision-making processes. In one Berkeley Lab study, this effect was seen when carbon dioxide levels jumped from 380ppm…...
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December 6, 2014
Trust General Heating & Air Conditioning with your HVAC install and avoid 3 efficiency-killing errors. According to research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, many homeowners may not be getting the best possible performance from their top of the line, supposedly energy-efficient HVAC equipment due to poor installation. In fact, common HVAC installation errors can increase heating and cooling costs by about 30 percent. Fortunately, by turning to a highly skilled, detail-oriented HVAC contractor like General Heating & Air Conditioning when you need new HVAC equipment, you can reduce your risk of experiencing the following top 3 energy efficiency ruining errors. Selecting the Wrong Equipment Installation errors can actually begin before you even purchase your new heater or air conditioner. After all, if you purchase the wrong size unit, you’re just setting yourself up for failure. The installation cannot be successful when the wrong equipment is involved. Buying a unit that is too large or too small will result in the unit either turning on and off too frequently or running constantly. Either way, it will be using more energy than it should, and you will not achieve the manufacturer’s promised energy efficiency. In order to make sure…...
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November 25, 2014
A home performance audit can help identify ways to improve your HVAC efficiency. Are you struggling with high energy bills? Your HVAC system could be suffering from some of these common efficiency issues. Old Furnace or Air Conditioner Older-generation furnaces and air conditioners are simply not as efficient as the current generation. For example, if your furnace was installed before the DOE mandated minimum AFUE ratings of 78 percent of higher, you may be wasting 30 percent of your energy dollars on fuel that never gets turned into heat. Simply upgrading to a new, high-efficiency furnace or air conditioner is an excellent way to improve your HVAC efficiency and save money on your heating and cooling bills. Improperly Sized HVAC Unit Another common efficiency issue is having the wrong size of HVAC system in your home. A system that is too large will cycle on and off too frequently, wasting energy, while a system that is too small will run constantly without ever really adequately heating or cooling the home. In order to make sure you have the right size of furnace or air conditioner, contact an HVAC professional who can help calculate your home’s energy loss rate, as this…...
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November 18, 2014
Get answers to your top questions about HVAC filtration. You probably already know that any forced air HVAC system comes with a filter designed to help remove dust and allergens from your indoor air. But do you really understand the filters in your system and how proper filter maintenance can affect your overall HVAC efficiency? Check out these filter FAQs to find out. How Often Should I Replace My Filters? As a guideline, most manufacturers recommend replacing your furnace and air conditioner filters every 6 months. However, what you really need to do is check the filters every 6 months. If you see that dust and debris is not accumulating very quickly, you may be able to go more than 6 months on a filter. But if you see that the filter is getting very dirty very fast (perhaps because you have a lot of pets or dust in the home) you may need to replace it more often than every 6 months. The main goal is to avoid running the system on a dirty filter, as a filter that is full of debris presents more resistance to airflow and therefore reduces your HVAC efficiency. What Do MERV Ratings Mean?…...
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