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Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

Prep for Summer with These Home Efficiency Projects

Monday, May 11th, 2020

Summertime is right around the corner, and while it doesn’t get as boiling hot here as it does in other parts of the country, we certainly do get some good use out of our air conditioners. Therefore, don’t you want yours to work as efficiently as possible? Boosting and maintaining AC efficiency is the only way to make sure your energy bills don’t skyrocket this year.

Of course, our #1 efficiency tip for homeowners is always to make sure they’re keeping up on their professional maintenance appointments, otherwise known as tune-ups. During a tune-up, our technicians thoroughly clean your system inside and out, inspect it and check if anything needs adjustment, and look for areas that may need repairs so you can get that on your schedule right away. If you haven’t scheduled your annual AC maintenance session yet this year, it’s not too late! Give us a call today.

In the meantime, read on for some more great tips on boosting AC efficiency.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Eugene
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Why Modular Air Conditioning Is Great for Commercial Spaces

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

Commercial HVAC systems have the same standard foundation as residential HVAC systems, but they need different methods to deliver air conditioning because their performance happens on a much larger scale. A modular rooftop unit might be the best choice for your business. Modular systems feature multiple units mounted on the roof of a building out of sight. These units work together to cool a space. Contact our experienced team at Comfort Flow Heating for the best commercial HVAC in Salem, OR.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Modular Air Conditioning, Modular Rooftop Unit, Salem
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SEER: What It Means

Monday, August 10th, 2015

We’ve just been through some incredibly hot weather here in Eugene, OR, and you may be seeing evidence of that in your current energy bills. One thing to really pay attention to right now is the SEER of your air conditioning system. This number will help you determine what to expect for energy costs as we make our way through the rest of the summer months. Not sure what SEER is? Let our experts give you an overview.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Eugene
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What Happens When Refrigerant Levels Run Low in My AC?

Monday, April 27th, 2015

Eugene, OR residents know how hot and humid it can get in the summertime. And with the temperature rising higher every day, now is the time to schedule a repair or maintenance session on your air conditioning unit, to ensure that it’s functioning properly by the time warm weather hits. Most maintenance sessions include recharging the system’s refrigerant to its proper level, which helps your air conditioner run at peak efficiency. But what happens when refrigerant levels run low in your AC? How does that affect your system?

Tags: Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Eugene
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Does My Heat Pump Need Spring Maintenance?

Monday, April 6th, 2015

Heat pumps are durable devices, lasting, on average, about 20 years. One thing homeowners tend to forget about their heat pumps is that these devices work twice as much as a traditional heating or cooling system because heat pumps can both heat and cool your home. As such, it’s important to schedule your heat pump system maintenance bi-annually instead of just annually. Has it been more than 6 months since your last heat pump maintenance appointment? Then it’s time to call the specialists at Comfort Flow Heating and schedule an appointment.

Why Is Maintenance Important?

When a technician performs maintenance on your heat pump, it is a full tune-up of the system. The main aspects of any maintenance appointment are:

Thorough inspection of the system
Cleaning
Adjusting
Lubrication of all moving parts
System checks
Performance testing

All of these tasks contribute to the overall benefits of maintenance, which include the following:

Better energy efficiency – your heat pump was made to operate at a certain level of energy efficiency, but will have a very hard time doing so carrying several seasons’ worth of dirt, dust and wear and tear. The process of maintenance allows the system to operate at peak efficiency so that you can achieve better overall efficiency from the system.
Prevents repairs – the thorough inspection the system undergoes during a maintenance appointment helps the technician detect existing or developing problems and get ahead of them before they can blossom.
Extends life of the system – maintenance keeps your heat pump in good working order year after year, which helps reduce the potential for premature aging.
Increases comfort levels – it can be difficult for a heat pump weighed down by wear and tear to achieve your set temperature; maintenance allows your heat pump to functional optimally so that it can easily achieve your desired temperature.

Spring offers a window of opportunity to get your heat pump system in great shape for the coming summer. The professionals at Comfort Flow Heating are here to help with all of your heat pump needs, so if it’s time for maintenance, call us today and schedule an appointment.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, maintenance
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Common Problems with the Condensate Tray and Drain

Friday, September 19th, 2014

Your air conditioner keeps you cool by relying on a refrigeration cycle to remove the heat from the air in your home. And while this helps lower the temperature, this same process also helps keep you more comfortable by lowering humidity levels. When there is too much moisture in the air, the evaporator coil helps to control moisture levels, while the condensate tray and drain help moisture evacuate from your home.

How It Works

The evaporator coil helps refrigerant to absorb heat from the inside air so that it can release outdoors. Additionally, as warm air blows over the very cool evaporator coil, the process of condensation leads to water droplets forming on the outside of the coil. Water then drips into the condensate pan, a shallow, angled tray underneath the evaporator coil with a hole at the bottom that allows the condensation to drain outdoors.

What Goes Wrong

Condensate Pan Is Misaligned: The condensate tray has to be at the correct angle so that water can flow easily into the drain. Sometimes, the technician does not properly position the tray, or it may get knocked out of place over time. If this is the case, water may leak into your home.
Clogged Condensate Drain: A clogged condensate drain may also cause water to leak from the tray. Over time, debris may fill up the drain pipe, causing water to back up into the pan. This is problematic for a couple of reasons. For one, the water may flow into your home. However, it may also attract mold and mildew which could cause health problems for some of your family members.
Damaged Tray: Finally, the tray may tear or become cracked over time, causing water to leak out of the pan. Usually, the least expensive option is to have a technician replace the tray entirely.

When you notice leaks from your AC system, you need a professional who can assess the problem and make quick repairs to avoid any potential damage to your home. For repairs, maintenance, or tips about air conditioning in Eugene, give the technicians at Comfort Flow Heating a call.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Eugene
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How to Make Your Air Conditioner More Energy Efficient

Friday, July 25th, 2014

Increased energy use in the summer means bills skyrocket, and many homeowners look for ways to cut costs. Your air conditioner uses a lot of energy to run, and may be responsible for a good portion of your high energy bills. So as the summer goes on, you may feel as if you have to use your air conditioner less frequently in order to save some money.

However, there are a lot of ways you can make sure your air conditioning system is energy efficient without shutting off your system entirely. Keep your home comfortable and your bills low with these money-saving tips.

Clean or Replace Filters: You should clean or replace the air filter in your system about once a month. This number may vary depending on use, so you should check the manufacturer’s instructions for a specific time period. Dirty filters block airflow so that your system has to work a lot harder to provide cool air to your home, reducing efficiency.
Professional Maintenance: One service that most homeowners can benefit from is air conditioning maintenance. When you call for maintenance, a technician cleans dirty components, inspects your system, and checks for leaks or damages that may affect the performance and efficiency of your AC.
Programmable Thermostat: Many homeowners can save money by taking advantage of the features of a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature ahead of time to change throughout the day. Lowering the temperature at peak hours and while you’re away can save you a lot of money every month. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, an AC technician can provide an upgrade.
Install a New System: Sometimes, your air conditioner is unable to cool your home efficiently because it is simply too old and worn down. If this happens, replacement is usually the best option. However, this offers you the opportunity to choose a new high-efficiency system. Look for an AC with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and the ENERGY STAR label.

To get energy-efficient air conditioning in Salem, call the technicians at Comfort Flow Heating today!

Tags: Air Conditioning, Salem
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3 Signs You Need Air Conditioning Repair Now

Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

When your air conditioning system stops running, you know it’s time for air conditioning repair. But what if your AC seems to be working properly with only some minor concerns? When should you call a technician if your system has not yet broken down?

If you want your air conditioning system to last the entire summer, and for years to come, you should always schedule air conditioning repair at the first sign of a problem. If you’re still unsure, here are three signs that you need repairs right away.

1. Loud Noises

If you’re not sure whether the strange noise coming from your AC unit is problematic, it probably is. Any sound that seems strange or unwelcome should be addressed by a technician since it could lead to serious repairs in the future. A hissing noise, for example could indicate leaky ducts, which disrupt the air flow in your system and can cause the indoor evaporator coil to freeze. Buzzing may indicate an electrical issue that puts your home and AC unit at serious risk. A banging noise may mean that there is a loose component, which means parts of your system may fail before they should.

2. Loss of Cooling Power

Another indication that you need repairs now is if your AC has lost some cooling power. If your AC never quite seems to reach the number on the thermostat, it may mean you do not have enough refrigerant in your system, among other issues. If this is the case, your AC cannot remove heat from your home properly to replace it with cool air, and this may soon mean your indoor air handlers will only blow warm air.

3. High Energy Bills

Higher than average energy bills often indicate that your air conditioning system needs repair. If your AC unit is inefficient, the cause is most likely a faulty component within your system. If one of the components of your AC is not working correctly, the rest of your system often has to compensate to keep you cool. This means higher energy bills, but can also overwork your AC to the point of failure.

Comfort Flow Heating offers professional air conditioning services in Salem. Don’t wait to call; let us fix your AC at the first sign of a problem!

Tags: Air Conditioning, Salem
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AC Problems That Worsen without Repair

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

How great would it be if your mechanical devices fixed themselves? Unfortunately, this isn’t going to happen, and this includes your air conditioning system.

For over 50 years, Comfort Flow Heating has helped thousands of clients with air conditioning repairs, installations and replacements in Florence. When it comes to repairs, our technicians at Comfort Flow Heating have seen over and over how an ignored problem blossomed into a big one. Here are some examples of problems that we’ve seen get worse the longer they went without repair:

Refrigerant leaks

Refrigerant leaks can be sneaky because your system can, for a time, run ok on low refrigerant. Unfortunately, it’s never a good idea to have your air conditioner run just “ok,” and refrigerant leaks will only worsen with time. The reason for this is that your system has an exact amount of refrigerant it needs to work as it should; once this amount lessens due to a leak, your entire air conditioning system has to compensate for this, and does so by overworking. Additionally, unless the leak gets repaired, it continues to leak, driving your refrigerant level lower and lower.

Decreased air flow

Decreased air flow in your system can be caused by a number of things: bent fins on the outside unit, issues with fans and obstructions in the ductwork. Decreased air flow to your system can cause problems multiple problems, including icing, low air flow, and problems with your compressor. Unless the air flow is increased to its normal capacity, these problems will continue, and will most likely become worse; they may even lead to a full break down of your system.

Fan issues

The fans in your system help with the release of heat as well as the delivery of cool air into your property. When the fans have an issue, such as a worn-out belt that causes the fan to turn slower than usual, or a loose or bent fan blade that interferes with its blowing, air flow and the heating/cooling process can be affected. Worn-out belts will eventually break and loose fan blades will most likely become looser, leaving the potential open for the blade to come off entirely. Bent blades can cause damage to other parts if left to hit another object close by. Each of these problems can lead to bigger ones unless the initial problem is repaired in a timely manner.

Don’t Ignore the Small Problems

“Don’t sweat the small stuff” is a popular saying, but it does not apply to your AC. The small stuff in your air conditioner can lead to bigger stuff that may indeed leave you sweating on a hot summer day. There are lots of tip-offs that something may need work on your air conditioner, such as loud noises, warm air blowing into your home and low air flow. Even if you only suspect there may be a problem, it’s better to call an experienced Comfort Flow Heating technician to inspect it rather than letting it go unattended.

For over 50 years, Comfort Flow Heating has been working on air conditioning in Florence. Let us help you have a great summer with your air conditioner – call us today!

Tags: Air Conditioning, Florence
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Plan for Air Conditioning Repairs Now

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Spring is often the first opportunity you will have during the year to find out how well your air conditioner is running. When you turn it on for the first time, pay attention to all aspects of its operation. Look for any indications of faults or malfunctions. Loud, unusual sounds from the cabinets. Weak airflow from the vents. Circuit breakers constantly tripping. The compressor shutting off early, then turning right back on. Frost along the coils. All of these are warnings that the air conditioner isn’t ready for spring weather, let alone summer. Call a professional HVAC technician for repairs right away.

For quality air conditioning services in Salem, OR, make the call to a trusted name: Comfort Flow Heating. We’ve made comfort our calling for more than 50 years.

Why Take Care of AC Repairs Sooner Instead Of Later

A mild Salem spring can make it easy to dismiss air conditioning malfunctions. If the problem doesn’t seem to have much effect on the system’s cooling power, why not wait until summer to look into it further?

But you should never delay with repairs for an air conditioner for a number of reasons. First, malfunctions in any complex mechanical system will put additional strain on other components, causing problems to spread. What at first seemed like a minor glitch will enlarge into an expansive and expensive repair job after only a few weeks.

Second, the extra stress from a malfunction—even if it doesn’t trigger further failures—will cause the AC to run inefficiently. It will drain electrical power to overcome the repair needs, and this will translate into a spike on your electrical bills.

Third, you don’t want to have any fault in the air conditioner turn into a full breakdown when summer arrives. When the thermometer goes up, your AC will need to work more, and the additional stress put onto an already shaky machine can cause it to shut down. You don’t want to get stranded with a broken air conditioner on one of summer’s hottest days while waiting for emergency repairs.

Remember To Schedule Regular Maintenance

Let’s suppose that your air conditioner has already turned on and nothing seems amiss. You still need to contact a trustworthy repair service to schedule regular preventive maintenance for the system. All ACs should have annual maintenance to check for possible repair problems and to tune-up and clean the system so it will work at its best for the summer. An air conditioner that receives regular maintenance will sustain 95% of its efficiency for most of its life.

To have any necessary repairs done fast, call Comfort Flow Heating: we have 24-hour emergency service. Also inquire about out Energy Savings Agreement to maintain your air conditioning in Salem, OR.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Salem
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