HVAC & Solar Blog | Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc.

How a Generator Protects Your Home During Fire Season

June 27th, 2022

If you’ve lived in the area for a couple of years, then you’re pretty well aware that Northern California is prone to fires during the summer. When people think of fire protection, they often think of having an evacuation plan if the fire is close to their home, or keeping lush landscaping in their yards so it’s not even more susceptible to catching fire from an ember.

What homeowners don’t often think about is when their home isn’t in direct danger, but their comfort still very could well be. A common occurrence that goes along with fire season is power outages—power outages that mean you have to go without your HVAC system, refrigerator, and more.

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry too much about this if you have a whole-home generator in place. Read on to learn more about these systems and how they help protect your home and comfort.

Is Your AC in Need of Repair?

June 13th, 2022

Air conditioning repair is one of those services you never want to wait to address. Sure, it’s tempting to. If your system is still operating and you weren’t prepared to budget for repairs, why bother, right?

Unfortunately, ignoring repair needs means risking your cooling system completely breaking down when you need it the most, right in the middle of summer. As such, we encourage you to take care of the system as soon as you discover something is amiss.

But how do you know when this is the case? After all, you aren’t an AC professional—that’s our job! However, it is possible, and even important, to know the basics so that you know when to give us a call. Read on for some of the top signs that your air conditioner does, in fact, need professional repairs.

What to Know About Sizing Your New Air Conditioner

May 16th, 2022

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Spring is progressing right along, and summer is just around the corner. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to make sure that your air conditioner is prepped and ready to handle the heat. Of course, you might be one of those homeowners who actually need an air conditioner replacement. If this is the case, you want to ensure that your new cooling system is properly matched to your home.

We understand that the first instinct when it comes to a purchase like this is to buy the biggest, most powerful system on the market within your budget. This can be a mistake! Fortunately, we’re here to guide you in the right direction when it comes to your air conditioner purchase and installation. It’s important to remember that bigger doesn’t always mean better. The size and power of your air conditioner does matter, just maybe not the way you think.

Keep reading as we uncover what goes on with undersized and underpowered air conditioners, as well as oversized and overpowered systems … and give us a call to help with your installation.

“Will My AC Still Work in Intense Heat?”

May 2nd, 2022

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Sacramento isn’t known for being obscenely hot—at least not when you compare our temperatures and climate to our friends and family in the Southeast, right? Still, it can and does get pretty warm here in the summer. In fact, on average, the Sacramento area has about 23 days of the year that get into the triple digits.

What happens when those triple digits are for too many consecutive days? Will your air conditioner suffer?

To be honest, it can suffer. It’s a lot less likely to if you’ve kept up on your air conditioning maintenance, of course. Maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust the AC components that need it, and alert you to small repair needs before they grow into much bigger repairs. We’ll be able to catch things early, like failed capacitors or overheated motors, both of which can happen in intense heat.

So the answer to the question “Will my AC still work in intense heat” is yes, but there are definitely things you should know before our next heatwave hits. Read on to learn more!

Why You Need to Change Your Air Conditioner’s Filter

April 18th, 2022

Spring is here, and in our area, that means we can soon be using our air conditioners on a regular basis. During the warmer months, you expect your cooling system to keep you comfortable, and doing so efficiently. However, in order to do this effectively, it will require some care and attention. Otherwise, you might find yourself facing a broken-down system, or at least an air conditioner with operational problems. One way to properly care for your air conditioner is by changing its air filter.

Homeowners tend to minimize the importance of changing their HVAC air filters, thinking it’s there “just” for their indoor air quality, and nothing else, and that it can be changed during their annual air conditioning maintenance. While our professionals will certainly check the air filter for you, changing it every 1–3 months is essential to keeping it operating as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible. Read on to learn more!

Tips to Boost Your Cooling Efficiency This Year

April 4th, 2022

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Air conditioners in the Sacramento area get quite the workout in summer and even spring if we have a significant heatwave. Fortunately, modern central cooling systems are quite durable and can handle the heat while providing chilled air into your living space.

But how much should you really have to pay for your cooling system to tackle the warmer weather this year? The costs of keeping your home comfortable can seem steep. After all, our HVAC systems account for half of a home’s entire energy use. The good news? You might actually be paying more than you have to for your cooling efforts, and there are a number of things you can do about it.

Air conditioners can lose energy efficiency and start increasing your utility bills. However, you can take some steps to improve the AC system’s efficiency, therefore cutting costs. Read on for some of our energy-boosting tips.

Should You Consider a UV Air Purifier Installation in Your Home?

March 21st, 2022

“Indoor air quality” has become a bit of a buzzword phrase over the last couple of years, as homeowners throughout Sacramento and beyond get more health-conscious. However, indoor air quality has always been important, and it’s about so much more than simply the temperature of your home. Indoor air quality refers to the level of humidity in your home, the level or preferably lack of contaminants and allergens in the home, and more.

So, how can you achieve optimal air quality? It starts by getting set up with the right whole-house indoor air quality products. One of these products that are worth your consideration is the UV air purifier, also called UV germicidal lights.

Read on to learn more about these systems and how one could be beneficial for your home.

The Importance of Professional AC Maintenance

March 7th, 2022

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There’s a reason tourists flock to our area pretty much any time of the year—it’s because we’re known for being warm and sunny. Of course, in the springtime and summer this can be pleasant for visitors, but not so great for residents if they don’t have a fully effective and efficient air conditioner in their home.

The #1 way to make sure that your air conditioner is set up for success is through routine maintenance. But many people put off this service, sometimes until it’s too late. So we’re glad you found this blog post! Read on as we uncover some of the most important reasons to have your air conditioner maintained by a professional before the warmer temps are here for good this year.

Potential End-of-Season Heating Repair Needs to Be Aware Of

February 21st, 2022

Springtime is just around the corner. You probably know as well as our team does that warmer temperatures can be here to stay any day now. But if our winter temperatures were any indication, mother nature can surprise us with some cold spells even into May.

Whether we do have unexpected cold weather or not, you want to have a fully functional heater to get you through the rest of this heating season, and be ready for you next fall too—with professional maintenance, of course.

That being said, if you had maintenance done this past fall, and if you managed any repair needs you had at the time, then your heater is probably in great shape and likely won’t have severe repair needs. However, it’s still wise to know the signs you need heating repair so you can address potential issues before they escalate. This awareness ensures your system can handle any unexpected cold snaps and be ready for next fall.

Read on to learn what these signs are:

Do I Need to Winterize My Pool?

February 7th, 2022

Did you know that we live in what is considered the “Sun Belt”? This applies to anyone who lives in the South, including Southeast or Southwest—where our terrain is considered a desert, Mediterranean, or tropical. One of the biggest benefits of living in the Sacramento area, where it rarely gets below freezing for many days in a row, is that if you have an inground or above-ground pool on your property, you will likely never need to close it.

And because you’ll likely never need to close it, this means you can enjoy it year-round. But you’ll enjoy it a lot more if you have a professionally installed and serviced solar pool heater, which is where we come in! Before we get to that, let’s talk a bit more about winterizing your pool—because even though it’s unlikely you’ll need to, there are still some things you should know in case you do.