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

AC Efficiency Boosting Tips

August 22nd, 2022

Everyone who lives in Sacramento during the summer wants to have a reliable air conditioning system. Whether it’s a traditional central air conditioner, heat pump, or a ductless system, it’s going to need to keep you cool on even the hottest of days. The question is, is your air conditioner working as efficiently as possible? An effective air conditioner can’t really be called effective if it’s not.

Maybe you’ve noticed that your monthly utility bills are higher than you might like. Well, we have some tips for you that can lower your energy bills, by making your air conditioner more efficient. Read on to learn some best practices that you can put in place right away to boost that efficiency.

Should You Invest in a Pool Heater?

August 8th, 2022

Being in a nice, refreshing pool is one of the best ways to relax and have fun during the summer, right? Whether you’re swimming, just dipping your feet in, or floating in a tube “lazy river” style, a swimming pool is one of the best luxuries you can invest in for your home.

However, as nice as it is to cool off during a hot day, you still don’t want to take an ice-bath, right? it can be uncomfortable to swim in water that’s too cold, and for this reason, many folks just avoid swimming when temperatures are cooler. Since it takes a long time around here for daytime temperatures to warm the pool back up, a pool heater comes in handy!

Read on as we uncover some of the benefits of a professionally installed and serviced pool heater.

How to Size a New Air Conditioner

July 25th, 2022

So you’ve decided to install a new air conditioner. Congratulations! Of course, that probably means you’re in a bit of a rush to find something new. But we really have to discourage you from rushing into this decision. There are just too many factors to consider.

Among the first things you need to determine is the power levels of your new AC. Indeed, it’s possibly the most important aspect of any new air conditioner.

Join Us for the Lennox “Feel the Love” Event!

July 11th, 2022

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Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc. is participating again in the annual Lennox “Feel the Love” event, a program that provides free Lennox heating equipment to local, deserving families.

This event enables our organization to serve families in need right here in our local community. We’re thrilled to offer this industry-leading program to help provide Northern California neighbors with new heating equipment that will keep their homes comfy for the years to come.

The Benefits of Generators and Solar Batteries

July 11th, 2022

In our previous blog post, we talked about how a whole-house generator can protect your home during fire season, when power outages are quite common. In fact, according to the US Energy Administration, in 2020 the United States experienced a record number of power outages per customer. The electrical grid in your neighborhood is probably degrading, so while we think it’s vital to have a generator during fire season, it’s actually important to have a whole-house Generac generator for any time of the year.

Nobody knows when the next power outage will occur, how often we’ll have them, or how it will affect your specific home and needs. Don’t wait and suffer through a power outage! Read on to learn more about Generac whole-house generators and backup batteries.

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!