Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Fresno area in California’

Shopping For A Heat Pump? Terms You Should Know

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Shopping For A Heat Pump? Terms You Should KnowWhen shopping for a heat pump, you’re taking a trip into the world of heating and air conditioning engineering. A heat pump works like an air conditioner in the summer, and thanks to design technology, as a home heater in the winter. Heat pumps simply exchange heat from one place to another for both functions. The following terms will help you make the right choice:

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An Attic Fan May Be The Answer To Your Attic Heat And Humidity Problems

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

An Attic Fan May Be The Answer To Your Attic Heat And Humidity ProblemsYour attic requires natural ventilation, and a solar attic fan will help nature get the job done. On a summer day here in the San Joaquin Valley, attic temperatures can approach 150 degrees. That accumulated heat conducts through the ceiling into living spaces. It also saps coolness from air conditioning ducts routed through the attic. In winter, unventilated attics may accumulate water vapor rising from the living spaces below and provide a moist environment for mold and mildew. These unwanted particulates may later infiltrate your home, not to mention rotting the wood structure and degrading electrical wiring. Most existing home construction incorporates lower attic vent openings at the soffits — located under the eaves of the roof — and upper vents at the gables on either end of the roof. Natural ventilation depends upon the chimney effect of warm air rising out of the gable vents, pulling fresh air into the soffits.

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The Basics Of High-Efficiency Air Conditioning — What To Look For

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

The Basics Of High-Efficiency Air Conditioning -- What To Look For  Given our long the cooling season in the San Joaquin Valley, choosing high-efficiency air conditioning systems for your home can increase your indoor comfort and lower your electric bill. The minimum SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ration) for new air conditioners and heat pumps stands at 13 in the United States. The SEER rating gives you a good idea of how efficient an air conditioner is over an entire cooling season. Some features of cooling systems increase the SEER number, including:

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A/C Trouble? It May Be Time To Make A Repair Or Replace Decision

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

With the average daytime temperature in Fresno about to hit the 90 degree mark, you need your air conditioner to be reliable and efficient. If you experienced A/C trouble last cooling season, you may have a decision to make before things really heat up. Here are some tips to help make the decision to repair or replace a little easier:

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An A/C Upgrade Is A Long Term Investment, So Consider The Lifetime Costs

Thursday, June 7th, 2012

An A/C Upgrade Is A Long Term Investment, So Consider The Lifetime CostsMaking an A/C upgrade can be a very difficult process to get right. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that almost half the money you spend in your home goes toward heating and cooling it. In the Fresno region, many of those costs occur during our long, hot summers. Running an older air conditioner that requires frequent maintenance and repair is a lot like throwing good money after bad.

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Air-Source Heat Pumps — How They Provide Efficient Home Comfort Year Round

Tuesday, June 5th, 2012

If you’re in need of a new heating and cooling system for your home that offers high energy-efficiency levels year-round, consider an air-source heat pump. The only fuel these systems use is electricity and their efficiency comes from their ability to move heat from one place to another. In the summer, they remove the heat from your home and in the summer, they harvest it from the air, bringing it inside.

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Annual A/C Service Is Essential To Home Comfort And Energy Efficiency

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

Annual A/C Service Is Essential To Home Comfort And Energy EfficiencySummer will soon be upon us, and the last thing you want to happen during the upcoming hot months is for your air conditioning system to break down. This is why it’s so important to schedule an annual A/C service before things start sizzling in the San Joaquin Valley.

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Filter Maintenance Becomes Even More Important As The Cooling Season Peaks

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

The weather is getting warmer every day in the Fresno area, and with higher temperatures you can expect higher energy bills. One of the best ways to keep cooling costs under control is through regular HVAC filter maintenance. 

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Energy Evaluations — What You Can Do Yourself, And What A Pro Can Do

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

Energy Evaluations -- What You Can Do Yourself, And What A Pro Can DoAn energy evaluation is a useful way to learn how much energy your home is consuming and how you can reduce this amount to save money every month. Many people are taking advantage of do-it-yourself energy evaluations while others continue to turn to the pros for a more advanced evaluation. Here’s a look at the tasks you can complete yourself along with the aspects of a professional assessment that require high-tech equipment and know-how to complete.

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Don’t Waste Energy Dollars — Seal Your Home’s Envelope ASAP

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Don't Waste Energy Dollars -- Seal Your Home's Envelope ASAPWith energy prices staying high, some simple tactics can help you control the cost of cooling and heating your San Joaquin Valley home. Taking some time before extreme temperatures hit can help reduce costs by not allowing warm air to enter your home’s exterior shell (or escape in the winter). 

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