September 23, 2020

How Does an HVAC System Affect a Home’s Resale Value?

While you own your Modesto, CA, home, every change that you make can influence your home’s resale value. Some changes, such as remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, can have a significant impact. Other changes, such as changing the carpet, may only have a minor effect on the value of your home. Those examples have obvious impacts on the appearance of your home. What happens, then, when you make changes to your HVAC system? If you’re getting ready to sell, here are a few things that we at want you to know about what to do and what not to do to your home’s HVAC system. Think of Aesthetics Assuming you have a central HVAC system, one of the most visible parts of that system is the outdoor unit for your air conditioner. If your system is older, this outdoor unit may be rusty and appear to be in disrepair. Depending on how efficiently your system operates, you have two options to deal with this unsightly unit. First, you can build a small partition to hide the unit from view. If you choose to go this route, make sure to leave at least 18 inches of clearance on all sides of...

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August 7, 2020

The Dangers of Reusing AC Filters

The air filter inside an HVAC system performs an essential duty. No matter how clean the home may be, there will be impurities in the air. Therefore, putting a new filter inside the system becomes critical once the old screen is incapable of doing its job. Yes, there are expenses associated with installing a new filter. While it is understandable that a homeowner may want to keep a budget under control, shortcuts should not be taken. Reusing an old filter ranks high on the list of actions best avoided. Here’s a look why that’s the case. Reusable and Disposable Filters There are two types of filters available: reusable and disposable ones. The reusable filters may be cleaned and re-inserted. That said, some critics aren’t entirely fond of using them. A brand-new screen might do the job a lot better. Disposable filters must be thrown away upon reaching their expiration point. However, some homeowners might choose to attempt to clean disposable filters. Doing so could be a horrible idea. Besides being incredibly inefficient, attempts to clean a disposable filter could prove dangerous. Mold Infestations One concern with cleaning a disposable filter involves issues related to mold. Once a filter gets wet,...

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July 14, 2020

Should I Leave the AC on During the Day When I’m Out?

More air conditioning is generally a good thing here in sunny California. There’s nothing quite like having a comfy living room powered by a strong AC unit. However, there are often questions of whether your AC should be on at all times. Let’s take a very close look at the pros and cons of leaving the AC on during the day when you’re out. The Pros There are a couple of advantages of leaving the AC on. When you return home, you won’t have to do a single thing. The AC will already be configured just how you like it. You can simply drop your bags and plop down on the couch. In addition, the house will already be cooled to the delight of you and your family. Depending on the model of the unit, it can take anywhere from five to 30 minutes to fully cool down your home. When the AC has been running on your drive home, you won’t have to wait a second for things to cool down. The Cons Next, we need to examine the cons of this habit. Leaving the AC on all day incurs a huge cost to your electricity bill. Your AC...

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June 6, 2020

Benefits of Dehumidifiers in the Summer

If there’s one thing you can count on when summer arrives, it’s that high levels of humidity aren’t far behind. More than the heat we experience in Modesto, it’s the humidity that can really make it uncomfortable. Fortunately, there’s a solution to this sticky and uncomfortable problem: a dehumidifier. Using a dehumidifier in your house has many benefits that we at think you’ll want to take advantage of. Here’s a basic explanation of just a few of these benefits. Lower Cooling Bills You know that the main way you keep your home cool in the summer is by running your air conditioner. What you may not know is just how your air conditioner works to cool the air in your house. Essentially, your air conditioner serves two functions: to remove humidity from the air and to draw heat out of your residence. Your air conditioner works to remove humidity because air with a lower moisture content feels cooler on the skin. Therefore, if you have a dehumidifier installed by in your home, there will always be a device working to remove humidity from the air, meaning the air will feel cooler. Since the air feels cooler, you won’t have to...

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May 11, 2020

How Does Indoor Air Quality Affect Our Health?

Much of your time is spent inside your home where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Your HVAC system plays an important role in creating an ideal environment to enjoy your family, friends, hobbies, and favorite activities. helps you achieve this goal by providing residents of Modesto and surrounding communities with heating, air conditioning, and solar solutions. One aspect of interior comfort that is often overlooked by homeowners is indoor air quality. Indoor Air Quality and Your Health Pollen, dust, pollutants, odors, chemicals, and other airborne irritants are not isolated to outdoor air. These same concerns inside your home and the effects such pollutants cause can be greater inside than outside. Your home is a closed space and does not have the benefit of wind and air currents to carry away airborne irritants. It is a closed system, and what is inside your home is circulated throughout the structure via your HVAC system. Health issues that are triggered by poor indoor air quality are allergies, respiratory issues, and asthma. If you have chronic lung conditions, such as bronchitis or COPD, the symptoms are worsened by poor indoor air quality. Signs That You May Have an Indoor Air Quality Issue Poor indoor...

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April 15, 2020

When Should I Turn my AC on in Order to Save Money?

Have you ever wondered if you’d save energy by switching off your AC at strategic times of the day? Perhaps the rising cost of energy has filtered down to your monthly bills, and you’re already beginning to feel the pinch. With the AC consuming almost 50% of the energy needed in your home, cutting back seems to make sense. Since there’s an endless debate on whether or not to switch off the air conditioner at particular times, we wanted to set the record straight. Read on to find out when you can turn off your AC to save money. Indoors for a Long Time If you spend a lot of time indoors in Modesto, CA, it makes perfect sense to turn on your AC. Saving money may be a priority, but it should not compromise your comfort. Switching the AC off while indoors would create an uncomfortable environment. Furthermore, stopping airflow through the HVAC system’s filter may lead to worse air quality. For this reason, switching the AC on while indoors can actually save money. This is especially true if some members of your family often suffer heat rashes or allergic reactions when exposed to a hot humid environment. Though...

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March 19, 2020

Is it Possible to Power a Household Entirely by Solar Power?

If you want your home to be comfortable and energy efficient at the same time, then a great way to achieve this is to use solar energy to power your house. While some people choose to provide part of their power needs using solar power, it is possible to go completely “off the grid” and supply 100% of your electricity from the sun. To achieve this goal, however, you have to make careful plans and preparations to ensure your Modesto home always has the power it needs. To get you started on this journey, here is a basic guide to powering your residence solely with solar energy. Limiting Power Consumption Before you convert to all solar power with , it is important to limit your home’s power consumption as much as possible. This will ensure that you are able to make the most of the solar array you have installed and will give you a much better chance of long-term success. To limit your power consumption, you can take common-sense steps, such as installing energy-efficient appliances. Additionally, you will want to lower your heating and cooling requirements by installing new windows, filling all gaps and cracks, and improving your home’s...

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February 20, 2020

How Does a Furnace Work?

A furnace is a simple system with some complex and delicate components. It is important to understand the basic process before understanding the rest of the components. The Simple Process The very first step is the thermostat sending the furnace a signal to start. When the furnace receives this signal, it lights the burner in the combustion chamber. This creates heat. That heat rises to the heat exchanger and warms it up. When the exchanger reaches the correct temperature, the circulating fan starts and moves air through the system. This fan draws air in through the return duct and pushes it through the exchanger. The exchanger then warms the air as it moves through, and the fan continues to push it out into your home. What Could Go Wrong? Many components in a furnace can malfunction. In the event that one does, the furnace can become dangerous if an ill-trained person attempts to fix or replace it. Most people can replace the furnace filters and the thermostat batteries on their own. This is actually the first step to diagnosing a furnace problem. From there, any of the following could be worn or malfunctioning, needing either maintenance or replacement. Circulating fan...

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February 10, 2020

How Do Solar Panels Work?

More and more solar panels are popping up all over the country, especially in California. Since the sun is our greatest source of power, it only makes sense that we try to harness some of its energy for our own advantages. The Idea Behind Solar Power The sun releases millions upon millions of photons each day, which are tiny packets of energy. Those photons make their way to Earth, and when they hit solar cells in solar panels, they cause enough disturbance to knock electrons away from their atoms. When those break loose, electrons flow between the negative and positive layers of solar cells and electricity is generated. The electricity that’s created is called direct current (DC) energy. Since the electrical power grid in the US uses an alternating current (AC), an inverter is used to make the DC energy compatible with the AC circuit in your home. At , we take care of the whole solar panel installation process for our customers in and around Modesto, CA. What About When the Sun Isn’t Out? Many solar energy systems are able to store energy through a process called “net metering.” If your system creates more energy than you use during...

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January 20, 2020

How Much Energy Can Solar Panels Create?

Before you make the upfront investment required to install solar panels, you will understandably want to know how much power you will get from the system. This information will help you decide if the system makes sense for you and how many solar panels you need to purchase. Not only can you meet all of your electric needs, but you can have extra power left to sell. Solar Panels Can Meet Your Electric Needs One array of solar panels can produce up to 850 kWh of AC energy per month. To put that in perspective, the average household will use just under 900 kWh each month. Thus, a solar array can meet practically all of your power needs for your home. Of course, if you purchase additional panels, not only can only all of your needs be met, but you will have extra solar power. It Depends on the Type of Panel When you are choosing a solar panel, you have two different options. Monocrystalline panels will be the most efficient and produce the most energy; although, they will be more expensive. If you are looking to get the most possible electricity from each panel, you should opt for this...

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