Free Heating and Air Conditioning Help

As a service to our valued customers in Santa Clarita, San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County, we are happy to provide answers to common heating and air conditioning questions. These don’t necessarily require a service call by a licensed contractor. You can also calls us, we may be able to help you with simple problems over the phone.
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You can do many things on your own to help keep your air conditioner running at its best. By maintaining your air conditioning unit, you can save energy, cool your home more efficiently, and prevent untimely breakdowns.

  • Make sure to change your air filter at least once a month whenever your unit is in use.
  • Clear any plants and debris from around your condenser to increase airflow. This can be done with a water hose.
  • If you live in a humid climate, regularly check your system’s drain to make sure that it is draining properly.
  • Always schedule your routine maintenance, ideally before the start of the season. Doing this will help keep your system running smoothly and efficiently. This not only helps to save energy and lower your utility bills, but also prevents breakdowns.

For Air Conditioning Maintenance Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Circuit Breakers

Although it is not too common, it is possible for a breaker to be tripped off even if it appears to be in the “on” position. This will happen whenever a circuit breaker trips internally, without flipping to the “off” position.

Whenever you have lost power, and believe a flipped circuit breaker to be the culprit, follow these steps:

  1. Shut down any computers or other electronics that could experience data loss.
  2. Find your breaker panel and flip the first switch to the off position. Flip it back to the on position.
  3. Repeat step two for every breaker in your breaker panel.
  4. Go back to the area that had lost power, and see if you have solved the problem.
  5. If power has been restored, then you are all finished. If not, call a local heating and air specialist.

Whether you believe it or not, simply flipping circuit breakers solves nearly 25% of all power problems.

For Circuit Breakers Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Furnace Maintenance
Annual Maintenance

To ensure proper operation, you should always have your furnace inspected in the Fall. Having an annual inspection by an HVAC technician will keep your system running at high efficiency, increase the life of your furnace, and improve your safety.

 

Monthly Filter Change

Whenever your furnace is in regular use, you should replace your air filters once a month. This will help to improve airflow, improving the overall function of your system.

Your heating system inspection:

  • Gas valves operating properly
  • Proper operation of other parts of the furnace which affect safety, energy efficiency, and performance
  • Gas leaks
  • Carbon monoxide leaks
  • Electrical connection issues
  • Soot build-up on burners
  • Pilot flame lighting properly

If you have a blow electrical circuit:

Your heating and air system should always be on its own dedicated circuit breaker. If your furnace causes your breaker to flip, talk with an electrician to make sure that it has its own circuit.

For Furnace Maintenance Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Fuses

Fuses will stop electricity from flowing through a circuit whenever too much electricity flows at once. In order to do this, fuses are equipped with a wire that is designed to break whenever the flow of electricity gets too high.

Many people believe that it is possible to tell whether a fuse is blown or not, by looking into the top of it.

If you think that you have a blown fuse, you should replace it. If this solves your problem, then you know what the cause was. If not, then call an experienced heating and air specialist to do further troubleshooting.

For Fuses Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Gas Furnace Troubleshooting

Whenever you have trouble with your gas furnace, start by trying the solutions below. If you are still unable to solve your problem, give us a call.

If your vents blow cold air, or no air at all:

  1. Make sure your thermostat is set to heat. Also check to make sure that the temperature is set a few degrees above the current temperature in the room.
  2. Check to see if a fuse has blown or a breaker has tripped. If this is the case, your furnace could not ignite, or the fan could not turn on. Reset any tripped breakers and replace any blown fuses.
  3. Check your pilot light. If it is not currently lit, follow the directions found on your furnace in order to light it. If your pilot light goes out frequently, this could be very dangerous. Call us or your gas company immediately for help in this situation.

If your furnace turns on and off frequently, or does not make enough warm air:

  • Check your air filter to see if it needs to be replaced. If it is dirty, replace it with a new one.

If your blower runs constantly:

  • Make sure your fan is not set to the “on” position on your thermostat. If it is, change it to the “auto” or “off” setting.

If your furnace makes funny noises such as squeaks, rumbles or others, always have it checked by a professional.

Hopefully, these tips have helped you solve the problems that you have been having with your gas furnace. If you still need help, don’t hesitate to call.

For Gas Furnace Troubleshooting Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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When used in the proper climate, a heat pump can be much more efficient than other heating and cooling systems. Heat pumps are used in the place of a traditional air conditioning unit, and can cool your home during the summer and heat it during the winter. Read the information below to learn more about heat pumps. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a Heat Pump save me money?

You can save money under the following conditions:

  • You live in an area with mild winters
  • Your home is adequately insulated
  • You do not have access to natural gas

Our first recommendation for heating and cooling is natural gas. If you rely on fuel-oil or electricity, however, you can often save a significant amount of money by installing a heat pump.

Do I need a conventional heater in addition to my heat pump?

Yes you do. Your main source of heat during the winter will be your heat pump. Whenever temperatures near freezing, however, you will need additional heat from a conventional heater. In the summer, you will only need the heat pump to provide cool air for your home.

How does a heat pump work?

In the summer, your heat pump works by pulling heat from inside your home and pushing it outside. In the winter, you essentially reverse the flow of air in your heat pump. Your heat pump will pull warm air from outside to bring inside.

It may seem like there is very little warm air to bring inside during the cold season. However, heat pumps are very efficient when it comes to doing so whenever the temperature sits between 30 – 45 degrees F. This ability to reverse airflow allows a heat pump to cool your home in the summer and heat it in the winter. Under the proper conditions, this can be done very efficiently. Give us a call today for more information.

For Heat Pumps Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Humidifier Maintenance

The maintenance schedule of your whole house humidifier depends largely on the make and model that you have. As a rule, most whole house humidifiers require much less maintenance than standalone humidifiers. Single room humidifiers are at much greater risk of growing bacteria and other microorganisms due to standing water. In order to avoid this, the water must be changed frequently.

For most whole house humidifiers, all you have to do is change the humidifier pad once a year. Most people have this done whenever they schedule their annual furnace maintenance.

If you have hard water in your area, you may also need to clean and dissolve any mineral buildup every month or two. Consult your manual for specialized care instructions.

For Humidifier Maintenance Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Moisture Seeping into Your Ceilings

If you notice any moisture that has seeped into your ceilings, or drips down into the room itself, you should take immediate action to prevent any continued damage. Moisture in these areas can promote mold growth, rot, rodents, insects, and can make paint run.

Moisture is frequently caused by:

  • Leaky Roof
  • Leaky Plumbing
  • Air conditioning leaks
  • Moisture that has built-up in the attic due to poor ventilation

There are a few things that can help point you to the source of the moisture. If you only have leaks whenever it rains, you can start by checking your roof for leaks. If the water shows up whenever your AC unit is running, then start by checking that for leaks. If you are up to it, climb safely into your attic to try and determine what is causing the problem.  Or, give us a call and we will send someone out to take a look. If your air conditioner is the cause of the leak, we can provide you with an estimate for its repair.

Poor attic ventilation can cause moisture to build up during the summer. One thing that you can be sure of if you have moisture build up, is that you also have heat build up. This heat will lower the efficiency of your air conditioning system, heat your air ducts and even seep back into your home.

An easy, cost-effective way to reduce this moisture is to invest in proper attic ventilation. This may not only reduce the amount of damaging moisture in your home, but also help reduce your energy bills by increasing the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.

For Moisture Seeping into Your Ceilings Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Save on Energy Bills

Give us a call today if you would like additional information on installing more energy efficient equipment in your home.

In addition to saving you money, switching to more energy efficient devices also helps the environment.  You may want to consider replacements such as programmable thermostats or new heating and cooling systems.  We will be happy to provide you with a free estimate, regardless of the extent of your desired project.

Consider the following, when thinking about energy efficient upgrades:

  • Heat Pump – Heat pumps can provide efficient heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.
  • Duct Sealing – Avoid losing conditioned air by permanently sealing any leaks in your ducts.
  • Zoning – Separate your home into individually controlled zones to provide targeted, efficient heating and cooling.
  • Programmable Thermostat – Automate changes in your heating and cooling to ensure that you don’t accidentally leave your heat or air on high.
  • Energy Efficient Appliances – Upgrading to more energy efficient appliances can save you a significant amount on your energy bills.
  • Whole House Humidifier – Whole house humidifiers increase the comfort of your home in the winter by making it feel warmer at lower temperatures.

Save on Energy Bills Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Save on Energy Bills

When used properly, ceiling fans can keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. During the summer months, you can use your ceiling fans to create a breeze, creating a wind chill effect that will drop the temperature by a couple degrees. In the summer, your fans should turn counter-clockwise to push air downward. This makes your room feel cooler, without having to turn down the AC. Keep in mind that fans only work by using a wind-chill effect, so turn them off whenever you leave the room.

To use fans during the winter, you will want to reverse the direction that the blades turn. This will pull air upward, circulating warm air back down to the floor. This typically only requires that you push a button.

Stay Cool With Ceiling Fans Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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Troubleshooting Air Conditioning Problems

There are a few things that you can do yourself if you are experiencing problems with your air conditioner. If the steps below do not fix the problems that you have, please give us a call for additional help.

If your vents are blowing warm air, or no air at all:

  1. Check to see if your thermostat is set to “cool” and your temperature is set at least a few degrees below the current temperature.
  2. Check to see if there is a tripped breaker or blown fuse. This can result in your blower fan or air conditioner shutting off. Replace your fuse or flip your breaker back to the on position.

If your air conditioner cycles on and off frequently, or does not generate enough cool air:

Check to see if you need to change your air filter.

If your fan does not turn off:

Check to see if your thermostat has your fan set to run permanently on.  If it does, change it to “auto” or “off”.

Hopefully, the steps above have helped you solve the problems that you are having.  If not, give us a call today and we would be more than happy to send someone out to help.

Troubleshooting Air Conditioning Problems Help
Call Now (800) 513-3580

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