Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘heating and cooling’

Don’t Let Fall Allergies Get You Down

Thursday, November 28th, 2013

Air quality in the Fresno area can be negatively impacted by oak, birch and weed pollen, and by airborne allergens originating in the Central Valley’s agricultural areas. With our almost year-round warm weather and bright sunshine, though, indoor dust and dander levels can still be extreme when irritant levels outside are minimal. Happily, you don’t have to let fall allergies in Fresno get you down.

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Adding On To Your Home? Plan For Your Heating And Cooling Sooner, Rather Than Later

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

If you’re planning on adding on to your home, one of the first things you should investigate is how to heat and cool the new space. It might make a difference in how you design it or lay out its wiring and other mechanical systems. An HVAC contractor can advise you whether you can extend your current system, upgrade to a new one, or choose an independent HVAC system.

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Ductless Mini Splits: An Efficient Heating And Cooling Solution For All Seasons

Thursday, November 8th, 2012

Ductless Mini Splits: An Efficient Heating And Cooling Solution For All SeasonsIt’s important that you provide reliable and affordable heating and cooling for your San Joaquin Valley home, no matter the season. For you and other homeowners looking for savings, an effective way to accomplish this is to install ductless mini splits. These systems, often used for add-ons and extra rooms, don’t use ductwork to circulate conditioned air in your home, which means you won’t lose the significant amounts of air (and energy) that ducts typically lose through leaks and conduction.

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When Your Family Has Differing Temperature Needs, Consider A Zoning System

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

When Your Family Has Differing Temperature Needs, Consider A Zoning SystemMany homes use one thermostat to regulate temperatures for the entire house, despite the fact that different parts of the house have different climate-control needs. For families that want greater control over the heating and cooling levels in their home, however, a zoning system makes a great option. Rather than struggling to maintain one temperature for the whole house, zoning divides the home into more than one section, each with its own separate temperature control. Each zone might be a single room or multiple rooms.

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Have You Cleaned Your Dryer Vent Lately? 4 Reasons Why You Should

Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

Have You Cleaned Your Dryer Vent Lately? 4 Reasons Why You ShouldWhen was the last time you cleaned your clothes dryer’s vent? Like most people, you probably clean the lint screen regularly, but beyond the lint screen your dryer has a vent hose that carries hot air, humidity and more lint to the outside. Over time, that vent hose can become clogged with lint.

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If You’re Going To Seal Your Home, You Want To Do It Right

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

If You're Going To Seal Your Home, You Want To Do It RightSealing air leaks in your home is one of the most effective ways to improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, but only if you do it right. Poor sealing techniques won’t seal your home and will cost you money. Take the time to use the proper materials and technique to seal your home. Your HVAC system will thank you with lower monthly bills.

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Sealed Ductwork Is Energy-Efficient Ductwork

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Sealed Ductwork Is Energy-Efficient DuctworkAn energy-efficient cooling and heating system can give you numerous benefits. If you’re not ready to upgrade to a new system, you can do a number of things to increase your home’s energy efficiency, including sealing your ductwork.

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Solar 101 — Let’s Talk About The Micro-Inverter

Thursday, July 19th, 2012

Solar 101 -- Let's Talk About The Micro-InverterOn a typical day in the sunny San Joaquin valley, rooftop solar panels quietly generate clean electricity to lower homeowners’ utility bills and reduce our demand on fossil fuels.

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Paying For A New A/C Installation? Make Sure It’s Been Properly Sized

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

Paying For A New A/C Installation? Make Sure It's Been Properly SizedBefore you install that new A/C, verify with the installation team that the company’s representative has sized it properly for your home. Going by your existing air conditioner can be misleading, and chances are the system you’re using is already too large. This is because most homes are more energy efficient than they used to be, as a result of weatherization improvements, including better air sealing and insulation.

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Everyone talks about SEER, but it really isn’t the relevant measure of an air conditioner’s efficiency in a hot climate

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

Everyone talks about SEER, but it really isn't the relevant measure of an air conditioner's efficiency in a hot climateWith the San Joaquin Valley’s blazing summer nearly upon us, if you’re looking for an air conditioning upgrade, you’ll need to know how to compare the energy efficiency of different models. Most people think the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is the best way to make a comparison. But increasingly, in climates with hot summers, EER is becoming the better standard for comparison. So when it comes to SEER versus EER, go with the latter number.

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