Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for September, 2011

Maintaining A New Solar System

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Maintaining A New Solar System Fresno area in CaliforniaYou have purchased your new solar water heater or photovoltaic panel array and had it installed.  Now you’re sitting back anticipating your energy savings.  These systems deliver plenty of free hot water and electricity.  They just keep working for you, requiring so little maintenance that you could almost forget they’re there. 

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Energy-Recovery Ventilation: Exactly What Your Well-Insulated House Needs

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Ventilation systems are ideal for homes that require a mechanical system to provide fresh air. In general, most ventilation systems provide an equal amount of supply air to return air, giving old, stale air a way out of the house and providing a means for fresh air to come in. Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) offer a balanced supply of return air, while increasing energy efficiency.

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The Ductless Mini-Split: A Neat And Tidy Solution For Some Cooling And Heating Problems

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Whether you have recently added a new room to your house or just can’t get one of your rooms comfortable enough, ductless mini-splits offer a flexible and easy-to-implement solution for many of your cooling and heating problems.  They provide many benefits over forced-air systems that rely on ductwork to deliver conditioned air. 

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What Goes Into Expert Ductwork Design And Installation

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Each component of your home’s heating and cooling system must be expertly designed and installed in order to function well and get energy-saving results. One component of that system is the ductwork. It’s the system that distributes air to the home after the heating or cooling system conditions that air.

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Let The Energy Star Guide You When You’re Upgrading To High Efficiency

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Improving your home’s energy efficiency and cutting down your electricity consumption is doubly beneficial. First, it helps you save money on your utility bills. Energy-efficient households tend to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars less per year in utility costs. Second, you’ll be helping to preserve a greener tomorrow for future generations to enjoy. Given that heating and cooling costs make up more than half of all energy consumption in the average American household, finding ways to cut back consumption in these areas holds tremendous money-saving potential.

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Are Heating And Cooling Needs Influenced By Degree Days?

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

There’s a concept in heating and cooling homes that residents should be aware of, especially in these tough economic times.  You need to become familiar with the term “degree days,” and how it relates to your energy use and utility bills.  With our energy costs being some of the highest in the nation, it’s well worth becoming at least a little familiar with this concept.

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With As Much As San Joaquin Valley Homeowners Need Their A/Cs, Preventive Maintenance Should Not Be Ignored

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Having your air conditioning cut out during the peak of the season can be more than frustrating; it can threaten your health. Summers in the San Joaquin Valley can be unbearable with their high temperatures, and for some segments of the population, such as young children and the elderly, they can also be dangerously hot. Keeping your air conditioning in top shape with a little preventive maintenance can prolong the life of your unit, which helps avoid costly repairs as well.

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How A Programmable Thermostat Boosts Both Your Home Comfort And Your Energy Savings

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

The temperature inside your home can have a dramatic effect on comfort levels but it can also play a large role in how much energy your house consumes each month. Upgrading to a programmable thermostat can boost both comfort and savings by keeping temperatures consistent while minimizing usage.

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Shopping For A MERV Filter: So What Do All Those Numbers Mean, Anyway?

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

If you have been shopping for a new air filter for your HVAC system, you may have noticed that the filters each come with a MERV number of between 1 and 20. But what do those numbers mean, anyway?

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