Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for December, 2014

Top Advantages of Installing a Solar PV System in Your Home

Tuesday, December 30th, 2014

The sight of another solar PV system installed on a neighborhood rooftop is becoming more and more common. Nationwide, residential installations of solar photovoltaic systems in the first quarter of 2014 showed an increase of 38 percent over the same period in 2013. More than half of these new installations were right here in California.

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It’s Time to Complete These Home Winterization Projects

Thursday, December 25th, 2014

It's Time to Complete These Home Winterization ProjectsDon’t delay any of your home winterization projects. Preparation is always preferable to reacting after the fact, particularly if the first cold snap catches you unprepared. As winter sets in, operating costs will rapidly increase, while indoor comfort levels will decline, especially in homes that haven’t been optimized for low temperatures.

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Easy Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Energy Footprint

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014

Your home leaves behind tracks that reveal its unique energy footprint. In any house, the ways to conserve more energy run the gamut from simple DIY tasks to major efficiency upgrades. When it comes to heating and cooling, the good news is that reducing your energy consumption is often accompanied by increased indoor comfort and lower operating costs.

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Is Your Electric Water Heater on the Blink? Some Reasons for the Malfunction

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Is Your Electric Water Heater on the Blink? Some Reasons for the MalfunctionAn electric water heater has distinct advantages over its gas counterparts, including being more efficient, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have problems. Unlike gas-fueled water heaters, an electric water heater has an upper and lower heating element that heats your water. A gas unit uses a single gas burner at the bottom of the tank to keep water hot.

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Considering Solar Heating? Here’s What You Should Know Before You Buy

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

Considering Solar Heating? Here's What You Should Know Before You BuyYou may have noticed in recent years that more homes have solar collectors on them for solar heating purposes. This type of system can supplement a forced-air HVAC system using clean energy to warm the interior of a home.  

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Is Your System Airflow Balanced As It Should Be?

Thursday, December 11th, 2014

Is Your System Airflow Balanced As It Should Be?Having your HVAC system’s airflow balanced means heating and cooling airflow to every room into the house is consistent with the size of the room and balanced with the amount of air removed from of the room by the return airflow. This results in a condition of neutral air balance, considered optimum for effective and efficient heating. When airflow is out of balance, a range of performance and energy-efficiency shortfalls will affect your HVAC system, household comfort and indoor air quality.

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Maintaining a Comfortable Temperature This Winter in Your Home

Tuesday, December 9th, 2014

Chilly winter nights in the San Joaquin Valley can leave you shivering if you fail to prepare your home for the changing of seasons. Maintaining a comfortable temperature when you’re inside your home is a matter of efficiently utilizing your heating system throughout the season.

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Learn About VOCs and How They Hurt Your Indoor Air Quality

Thursday, December 4th, 2014

Learn About VOCs and How They Hurt Your Indoor Air QualityWith cooler weather approaching, it’s important to think about the quality of your indoor air. Your indoor air can be many times more toxic than the air we breathe outside. This is partly because of chemicals that are emitted from materials such as paint or lacquer, solvent, home cleaning solutions, and even foam padding under our carpets. These are known as VOCs or “volatile organic compounds.” VOCs may be defined as gases or particles released by carbon-based materials in your home. A good ventilation system should work to remove these chemical irritants from your house, and it should also pull fresh air inside. This dilutes the concentration of these gases, making the indoor air healthier to breathe. VOCs can came from:

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Furnace Types That You Can Consider — Single-Stage, 2- Stage or Variable Speed

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014

Furnace Types That You Can Consider -- Single-Stage, 2- Stage or Variable SpeedWhen you’re considering replacing your existing heating system, it can be difficult to determine what you need. Aside from efficiency levels and heating capacity, furnaces come in different types with regard to how the gas valve and blower motor operates. Knowing your options and understanding the difference between furnace types will help you in making your decision. Before speaking to an HVAC specialist to determine the best fit for your home, you should understand the differences between single-stage, two-stage and variable-speed furnaces.

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