Comfort Flow Heating Blog:
Archive for August, 2013

We Wish You a Happy Labor Day

Friday, August 30th, 2013

On every project that we complete, we ensure that our customers are satisfied. We take pride in the work that we do every day, and this level of diligence and attention to detail has allowed us to grow over the years. On the first Monday of every September, our country celebrates Labor Day as a way of recognizing the hard work that has made this country great. Because making your home more comfortable and convenient is our business, we want you to have an enjoyable and pleasant Labor Day.

Labor Day is a time of good BBQ, the start of the professional and college football seasons, entertainment with family and friends, and, most importantly, taking a day off from work. Labor Day emerges as a federal holiday in the wake of the Pullman Strike of 1894. It was designated as such by President Grover Cleveland and Congress as a way to reconcile the damage done by the faceoff between the Federal government and the Pullman Palace Car Company workers and other railroad workers. But over a decade before it became official, Labor Day began as a workers’ picnic and demonstration suggested by either Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor, or Matthew Maguire of the Central Labor Union of New York.

From our family to yours, we wish you all the best on this Labor Day.

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How Indoor Air Quality Can Affect Your Air Conditioning

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

Did you know that according to the EPA most of us spend about 90% of our time indoors? This means that the quality of air that we have in our homes has a huge potential to affect our respiratory health. In fact, the EPA also estimates that poor indoor air quality is one of the top 5 leading threats to respiratory health. However, poor indoor air quality can also negatively affect your air conditioning system. At Comfort Flow Heating, we offer a large range of indoor air quality and air conditioning repair services in Salem, OR. We wanted to share about how your air quality and AC system are interrelated.

Salem, OR Air Conditioning Repair Tip: How Air Quality Affects Your Cooling System

When you have bad indoor air quality it means that your air is full of contaminants like dust, pollen, pet dander, cleaning fumes, insect droppings and more. These are a few of the ways that your air conditioning can suffer because of those problems.

  • Clogged air filter – Probably the most common cause of air conditioning problems is a clogged air filter. If your home has poor indoor air quality then the air filter for your air conditioner could get clogged very quickly with pollutants and restrict the flow of air moving through the system. This could have some very serious consequences. It could reduce the amount of cooling that you get in your home, reduce the efficiency of your system and also increase the need for repair. Making sure that your home has good indoor air quality and that the filter gets changed regularly can go a long way to helping your AC system.
  • Clogged ducts – Another issue that can arise from poor indoor air quality is contaminants in your ductwork. As your AC pulls in outdoor air or recirculates indoor air, the contaminants in the air can get deposited in your ductwork. Not only is this bad for your respiratory health, but it could eventually start to restrict the flow of air through the ducts which will cause the system to have to work harder to push the air through them.
  • Motor issues – Your air conditioning system has a fan motor that pulls in warm air to cool it and then push it throughout your home. If there are a lot of contaminants in that air then they could get deposited inside the fan motor. This will likely cause it to malfunction which would result in you needing to call for Salem air conditioning repair services in order to get cooling in your home.

If you need any kind of air conditioning repair services, call the Salem, OR air conditioning technicians at Comfort Flow Heating.

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Why Your Air Conditioning System Won’t Turn Off

Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

If you’ve started to notice that your air conditioning system is constantly running it usually is a sign that you’re system is having problems. There are a couple different causes of this problem, so call our Springfield air conditioning repair technicians at Comfort Flow Heating is you’re having any problems with your air conditioning system. Here is a quick explanation of what might be causing your AC system to run all the time.

Springfield Air Conditioning Issues: AC Runs Constantly

Here are a few of the things that could be causing your AC to run constantly.

  • Air conditioner is too small – If your air conditioning system is too small for your home it may run constantly in order to cool your home. Because it is too small, it won’t be able to circulate enough air so it will run all the time.
  • Thermostat – Your thermostats are one of the most important and powerful components of your AC system. If they are faulty, they may not shut off your AC when your inside temperature has reached the appropriate level.
  • Dirty condenser coils – Another cause of this could be the condenser coils. These are located outside in the condensing unit and they are responsible for exhausting the heat from your home. If they get too dirty, it will restrict your AC’s ability to remove heat from your home. This will likely cause it to run constantly as it tries unsuccessfully to exhaust the heat.
  • Thermistor – The thermistor is what detects the indoor temperature of your home. If it is faulty, it may not tell your air conditioning system to turn off when it should.
  • Main control – Your air conditioning system has a control board in it that provides the power to the compressor and the fan motors. If your system is running all the time then the control board could be defective.

If your air conditioner isn’t turning off, call the Springfield air conditioning repair professionals at Comfort Flow Heating.

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4 Signs That You Need To Replace Your Air Conditioning System

Friday, August 16th, 2013

If well maintained with regular service calls, your air conditioning system should provide reliable service for a long time. Sooner or later, however, every piece of machinery wears down and air conditioners are no different. In Springfield, OR, summer temperatures and high humidity mean that you should consider a new system in the fall or the spring, before you really need it. But is the time right to replace your air conditioning system? Here are 4 signs to let you know.

  1. Higher bills. If you notice your monthly energy bills going up, but you’re not using any more appliances than normal, the fault may lie with your AC system. Worn parts and leaks may cause it to work harder than normal, raising the cost of cooling your air. You might also consider a new model if you’re experiencing frequent breakdowns and need to call a service professional too often.
  2. Your home isn’t comfortable. You may find some areas of your home too hot or too cold, despite your air conditioning system apparently running as it should. You may want to consider switching to a zone control system, which lets you tailor the temperature in individual sections of your home.
  3. Indoor air quality is suffering. When an air conditioning unit isn’t properly maintained, dust and other particles can creep into the system; damaged ducts can also let dust in, as can clogged filters. Stagnant water in the condensate pan can result in a lower indoor air quality, as can an air conditioning system that cycles on and off rapidly.
  4. Your system is more than 10 years old. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends replacing any air conditioning unit that has been in service for one decade or longer. They suggest replacing an older unit with one featuring the EnergyStar label, signaling a higher efficiency rating and lower bills.

When the time comes to replace your air conditioning system, you can count on the professional Springfield air conditioning technicians at Comfort Flow Heating. We handle air conditioning issues throughout the area, and put customer satisfaction first. We can perform an efficient, professional air conditioning installation that keeps your home cool for some time to come. Contact us today to talk about your options.

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Are You Ready for Geothermal Air Conditioning in Springfield, OR?

Friday, August 9th, 2013

Do you know what geothermal is? As you might have guessed, it has to do something with the thermal energy stored below the surface of the Earth, but it’s not related to lava or hot magma. Rather, it refers to the energy stored by the energy of the sun’s radiation. Unlike temperatures above the surface that fluctuate radically throughout the year, the temperature of the earth just below the surface remains relatively static and moderate throughout the year. Recent advances in geothermal technology have brought the ability to capture this moderating influence into the average home. But many homeowners have unanswered questions about what geothermal is and whether they could benefit from it. You need to find a reputable contractor who can make sure that your property can make the most of geothermal–it may not be right for everyone. Call the air conditioning experts at Comfort Flow Heating today for more information regarding your geothermal air conditioning options in Springfield, OR.

A geothermal setup is basically a ground-source heat pump with underground piping and ductwork. A coolant circulates through a system of underground piping, whether it’s installed in a shallow, horizontal bed, or in deep vertical wells. This piping connects to a fairly standard heat pump HVAC system with ducts extending throughout your home. It tends to be highly effective for those looking for a temperature solution whose energy source is renewable and sustainable. It uses the moderate temperature of the earth to cool your warm indoor air during the summer months, and it uses that same moderate temperature to heat your home during the winter. Because it uses very little electricity, geothermal tends to be highly energy efficient.

The decision to install geothermal in your home must be made in consultation with a professional. Your property will need to be looked at in order to assess whether it could be a worthwhile candidate for geothermal. The installation process itself involves excavation where you underground piping will go, and may require special equipment if you opt for vertical wells. However, the long-term energy savings often offset the higher upfront cost.

Call Comfort Flow Heating today for all of your air conditioning needs in Springfield, OR, including geothermal installation and repair.

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