Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Considering an AC Upgrade? Consider These Factors

Monday, June 15th, 2020

male-and-female-technicians-standing-over-air-conditioner-with-tool-bagSummer is just around the corner, and you know what that means!

It means you want to make sure your air conditioner is fully equipped to handle the heat. This might not have been the answer you expected. Nevertheless, it’s important to think about.

It may be time for you to invest in a new air conditioning system, and if this is the case, you want to ensure that your new system is the right match for your home. Of course, since we’re so close to the official start of summer, it’s likely tempting for you to go out and get the biggest, most powerful AC system for your budget, but rushing into this purchase isn’t a great idea.

When it comes to your air conditioner, there are some factors to consider that are important to the system’s performance, efficiency, and longevity in your home. One of these factors is the size of your air conditioner. Did you know that an overpowered, or oversized, unit can be just as detrimental to your home’s comfort as an undersized one? Read on as we explain.

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How to Use Your Cooling System Efficiently

Monday, May 18th, 2020

outside-unit-of-air-conditionerSummertime is just around the corner, making right now a great time to start thinking about the ways in which you can boost energy efficiency. During the season when you need your air conditioner the most, it’s important that you get the most out of it, right?

When your cooling system is working as efficiently as possible, you won’t need to worry about costly energy bills—sure, HVAC system use accounts for about half of all energy use, but what we mean is that you won’t have to worry about your energy bills being astronomically higher than they should be.

And the best part is that there are some simple steps you can take to start using your AC system more efficiently.

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Why You Need a Pro for Your AC Installation

Monday, April 6th, 2020

two-professionals-looking-over-air-conditionerIf you are reading this blog post right now because you need an air conditioning installation, then there’s a good chance that you have a sense of urgency about it—given that warmer temperatures are well on their way. The problem with this is, many homeowners rush to find a new system for their home, and opt for whatever they can afford—then try to install it themselves!

We want to urge you to reconsider this approach. There is a lot more work that goes into an air conditioner installation than you may realize, and there are plenty of reasons you should only trust a professional for the job. Read on as we uncover a few reasons why you need a professional for your air conditioner installation.

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It’s Time for AC Maintenance

Monday, March 23rd, 2020

outdoor-ac-unit-with-tools-on-topIt may be a while before we see the California sunshine we know and love, but if you’ve lived in the Sacramento area for even just a year, you know that when summer does come, it’s not very forgiving—and you need to ensure that your cooling system is prepared.

One of the most important things you can do to make sure this is the case is to schedule preventive maintenance for the system. Routine professional AC maintenance ensures that your equipment is ready for the added stress of summer.

Skipping or even delaying maintenance will make it much more likely you’ll be facing problems by the end of the cooling season, or even before! Read on as we uncover the importance of this service.

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AC Installation: A Brief Buying Guide

Monday, March 9th, 2020

technician-working-on-air-conditionerLet’s face it, a new HVAC system will be one of the most expensive investments you make into your home. In fact, too many homeowners sacrifice comfort for cheaper options or inefficient systems because they don’t understand the costs. In our brief buying guide below, we’ve outlined some of the logic behind the costs to help you feel better about your purchase.

When you purchase a new air conditioner, costs will include factors like installation, equipment, and any add-ons you want to get.

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End-of-Season AC Repairs to Be Aware Of

Monday, September 23rd, 2019

top-view-of-air-conditionerFall is officially here! Soon the weather will cool, and we can focus on fall activities and using our heaters to keep warm. Chances are, you used your air conditioner consistently over the last several weeks, and we bet you’re looking forward to shutting it off for the season. But before you do, is it showing any signs of disrepair?

Don’t brush potential repair needs off. Waiting on them can lead to more severe problems and potentially even a premature system replacement.

The good news is, when your system does need repair, it’s adept at showing you signs and symptoms. While you shouldn’t ever try to formally diagnose or repair a malfunctioning air conditioner on your own (they contain dangerous components like refrigerant, which requires formal training and licensing to handle safely), you can still spot the signs you need AC repair, and take the appropriate steps from there.

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Why You Should Only Hire a Pro for AC Installation

Monday, August 26th, 2019

two-professionals-looking-over-air-conditionerWe won’t deny it, the end of the year is a lousy time to require an air conditioner replacement. In an ideal world, you’d have a well-maintained and highly efficient air conditioner ready to get you through the last of the summer weather. If that’s not the case, however, and you’re shopping for an air conditioner right now, we urge you to only trust a pro.

But why is this so important?

To start off, you want to ensure that you get the right type of air conditioner and the right size AC—too large of an AC can be just as detrimental as too small of one, and will go through a process called short-cycling, which is hard on the system and will cause it to accumulate wear and tear faster than normal.

So you know sizing is important, but what are some other reasons you should only hire a pro?

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AC Noises to Never Ignore

Monday, July 29th, 2019

woman-covering-ears-on-white-backgroundIt would be nice if we had air conditioners that could self-diagnose malfunctions and report them back to the homeowners in detail, right? Honestly, that’s probably not too far-fetched of an idea when you really think about it.

In the meantime, though? This isn’t a reality and we need to rely on other methods for our air conditioner to send warning signs that something is amiss. This may be a drop in cooling power, or an unexpected and unexplained spike in energy bills. Or, it may be that your circuit breakers for the indoor and outdoor units keep tripping.

Or, it could be noise. “Wait,” you might be thinking, “my air conditioner always makes noise!” We aren’t talking about the hum of the fans or the faint clicking you might here when the system starts up and shuts down, though. Rather, we’re talking about sounds that are abnormal to what you normally hear, or seem louder than they should be. What could this include? Read on!

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Have You Considered These AC Upgrades This Year?

Monday, July 1st, 2019

wi-fi-thermostat-in-foreground-with-house-backgroundTypically as we get to this part of the year, you’ve had maintenance done for your air conditioner—hopefully—and we’re ready to start enjoying the season, even if it means running our air conditioners on almost a daily basis.

What if we told you that you could save money on your cooling needs this summer? There are many efficiency-boosting actions you can take, like using your ceiling fans to evenly distribute the cooled air from your air conditioner. But there are also some upgrades you may want to consider if you haven’t already. These upgrades can help your air conditioner perform better, last longer, and can help you feel more comfortable. Read on to learn more!

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5 Great Ways to Boost Your AC Efficiency This Summer

Monday, June 17th, 2019

man-changing-out-air-filter-to-boost-ac-efficiencyFact #1: Summer is hot.

Fact #2: Running your air conditioner costs a lot. The truth is, your HVAC system can account for as much as 50% of all the electrical energy use in your home. You want to find ways to use it less expensively and more efficiently. The good news is, there’s a few ways you can do this!

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