Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for December, 2015

Should Ice Appear on My Heat Pump in the Winter?

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015

Heat pumps are increasing in popularity as ways to provide effective heating and cooling throughout the year. Where heat pumps once struggled with energy efficiency during cold weather, newer models have overcome this problem: you can expect your heat pump to keep your home warm all the way to the spring.

However, you might notice a somewhat disconcerting effect occurring to the outside of your heat pump during the colder days of the season: ice forming along the cabinet and the outdoor refrigerant coil. This doesn’t look right… is it a cause for concern that will require professionals to fix?

Most of the time, ice on a heat pump is not an issue

At times when the temperature is 40°F or below and relative humidity is high, ice forming along the outdoor coils is normal. The reason is that the coil is absorbing heat from the air, and drawing moisture with it. This moisture will freeze along the coil in the low outdoor temperature.

Although a layer of ice will restrict the coil’s heat absorption abilities, the heat pump is designed with this in mind. Periodically, defrost controls activate that reverse the operation of the heat pump so that the coil releases heat and melts off the ice.

Call for assistance if the ice doesn’t melt off

If you notice that the ice on your heat pump isn’t melting away after two hours or so, there may indeed be an issue with its operation. The most likely cause is that the defrost controls have malfunctioned. Another possibility is a broken reversing valve, which is the component responsible for switching the heat pump between heating and cooling mode and thus what allows the coil to start to exhaust heat that will defrost the ice.

The problem could also be a loss of refrigerant through a leak, which makes it hard for the coil to release heat. This is a major trouble for the whole heat pump, as it can lead to permanent damage to the compressor. Call for technicians right away to see what’s wrong and repair it.

Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning can provide repairs for your heat pump in Clovis, CA. We have 24/7 emergency service available, and we offer the fastest turnaround you can find!

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Why Have My Air Ducts Professionally Tested?

Monday, December 21st, 2015

Countless homeowners depend upon ducted heating and air conditioning systems in order to keep their homes comfortable all year long. If you are serious about getting the very best from these systems, then you must know for certain that your air ducts themselves are in the best condition possible. There is simply no way in which you can expect your system to operate at peak performance levels otherwise. Of course, the hidden nature of your air ducts means that you can’t really visually inspect them on your own, nor would you really know what to look for. Fortunately, you can always schedule professional duct testing in Fresno, CA with us. Call Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning today to get started.

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Potential Causes of Subpar Indoor Air Quality

Monday, December 21st, 2015

When you want to live in great comfort in your home, you must look beyond simply maintaining comfortable temperatures therein. Yes, it is important that you are able to heat and cool your home in an effective and reliable manner. Equally important, though, and too often overlooked, is the quality of the air in your home. If you are surrounding yourself with subpar indoor air quality in your living space, then you simply are not going to be able to enjoy the level of comfort that you desire therein. There are many potential causes of subpar indoor air quality in Fresno, CA. Read on, and let Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning know if you are interested in resolving IAQ issues in your home.

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Have You Considered a Thermostat Upgrade?

Monday, December 14th, 2015

While our winter weather is relatively mild when compared to the heat of the summer, the fact remains that you will depend upon your heating system quite a bit throughout the winter season in order to ensure that you are able to live at the level of comfort that you demand. If you want to enjoy that comfort in an reliable and efficient manner, then you need more than a good furnace or heat pump installed in your home. You also need a great thermostat with which to control your heating system at large. That is why you may want to consider upgrading your thermostat in Madera, CA. If you decide to do so, then remember to schedule service with the professional technicians at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning.

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Benefits of Whole-House HEPA Filtration

Monday, December 7th, 2015

We all want to live comfortably in our homes. If you think that maintaining comfortable temperatures throughout your living space is enough to guarantee this, though, think again. You must also maintain high indoor air quality in your home if you hope to live in the level of comfort that we know you deserve. While there is an air filter in your HVAC system, of course, this air filter is in no way sufficient to ensure that your indoor air quality remains at a high level. Instead, it serves to protect the operating condition of your HVAC system itself. If you are serious about cleaning up the air in your home, consider whole-house HEPA filtration in Clovis, CA. Contact Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning to have your HEPA filtration system installed by an expert.

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