Sunset Air Blog: Archive for October, 2013

Benefits of a Routine Heating Maintenance Plan

Thursday, October 31st, 2013

Washington State experiences one of the most balanced climates in the continental U.S.: we have warm summers and cold winters, but rarely lurch into the extremes of a state like Texas or Minnesota. This means that we depend equally on effective air conditioners and heaters, and that neither of them will receive the amount of use they would in states with greater temperature extremes. You may think that because of this you won’t need to get maintenance on your heater before the start of winter each year. Maybe every few years—if you even remember to do it.

However, any use that your heating system receives will cause it to suffer wear and tear. And this will get worse the longer it goes without a proper check-up, cleaning, and tune-up. We’ll discuss some of the benefits you’ll receive from enrolling in a routine heating maintenance plan.

Sunset Air offers excellent heating maintenance in Tacoma, WA, so contact us today to get started.

The main benefit of enrolling in a routine heating maintenance plan is the prevention of breakdowns. Because homeowners push their heating systems to their limits on the coldest days of the year, their heaters are most likely to break down on those days—the worst time possible! To avoid waiting in the cold for a technician to get out to you and repair your heater, have any problems in your system diagnosed and remedied before they threaten a complete breakdown. You’ll also avoid smaller, yet still expensive, repairs in the future.

A tuned-up and well-running heater means a more energy-efficient heater. With routine maintenance, you’ll have a heating system that won’t waste additional power trying to reach its target temperature. Cleaning and adjusting connections, changing filters, and tightening fan belts will all help your heater do its job better—and save you money in the process.

Fending off repairs and keeping your heater running its best will add up to a longer lifespan for it. Routine maintenance will help your heating system live up to—and probably exceed—the manufacturer’s estimated service life.

Finally, if you enroll in a maintenance plan, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to get it done each year. Your HVAC service company will contact you each year when it’s time for your regular inspection.

Sunset Air has a Preferred Service Agreement that not only provides you with heating maintenance, but also air conditioner maintenance, priority service, and a 15% discount on parts. Call us today or contact us through this website to get started with heating maintenance in Tacoma, WA.

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How to Choose a Heater

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013

We live in a world of many choices: whether purchasing a tube of toothpaste or an off-road vehicle, we have numerous options with different features, offered in a range of styles and with an equal range of prices. Sometimes it can turn bewildering, and in our rush to just “get something,” we make the wrong choice. Or we end up making no choice at all.

When you need to select a new heating system for your home, either because you have to replace an older system or because you have purchased a new home, you will encounter the same dilemma of choice: many types, brands, sizes. How do you make the correct choice?

Follow our short guide to help get you started on the road toward a great heating installation in Olympia, WA. You can trust in advice from Sunset Air—we’ve been doing this since 1976.

First, get professionals involved. Don’t do this alone… please. Unless you are an HVAC professional yourself, you need experts to help you. There are many factors involved you might overlook, but which a trained technician will focus on.

Second, have a heat load calculation done. A heat load calculation is a complex equation that takes an accumulation of data about your home and uses it to estimate how large a heating system you need to heat it properly. The criteria includes your home’s size, the number and placement of windows, the amount of heat generated from other appliances, insulation quality, and how many people live there. Don’t expect to perform this calculation on your own—it’s a job for the HVAC technician.

Third, consider your available fuel source. Gas, propane, electricity, oil: what fuel does your home already use? Different heaters use different types of fuel, and unless you are planning to convert to a new energy source, you will want to stick with a heater that connects to the current supply.

Fourth, are you interested in zone heating? Zone heating allows you to control the temperature in separate parts of your house independent of each other. This can offer energy savings, but you may not need it for smaller homes.

There’s more to consider as well, and it can seem like too much to take into account. But keep in mind that first step: if you have the help of HVAC specialists, most of your worries are taken care of. Professionals can offer expert advice on every decision and make suggestions you might never have considered. If you hire a dependable company with a long history of customer satisfaction, you will end up with the right heater.

For professional heating service in Olympia, WA —from that big installation to a regular maintenance check-up—look to Sunset Air.

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Heating Airflow Issues

Monday, October 14th, 2013

One of the most common heating systems in the U.S. is forced-air heaters. Furnaces and heat pumps are both forced-air systems. These types of heaters use blowers to distribute warm air through a house, usually along ductwork—although heat pumps can be installed as ductless mini splits if the home does not already have ducts installed. Forced-air can efficiently heat a home, but they can suffer from malfunctions that will reduce their airflow.

Issues with airflow usually point to the need for professional repairs. There are a few steps you can take to make sure that user error isn’t responsible: check to see that vents are fully open, and examine the thermostat to see that it’s set correctly. (By the way, to dispel an old myth: shutting some vents in your house will not cause others to blow harder.)

Here are some reasons you may experience airflow problems with your heater. Call on Sunset Air for heating repair service in Olympia, WA that can remedy these issues:

Clogged air filters: This is the primary reason for a loss of airflow in a forced-air heater. The filter protects the internal components of a furnace or heat pump from dust and debris in the air. The filter should be changed every month during the heating season, otherwise the buildup of contamination could impede the airflow and possibly lead to debris infiltrating the heater. If you’ve gone too long without changing the filter, you should get a professional to check your heater to see if it has developed other problems.

Breaks and gaps in ductwork: The ductwork in your home is sealed all the way to the vent to prevent a loss of heat and air pressure. If breaks form along the ducts, the air pressure will drop. This will not only cut down on airflow, but it could cause the heater to start drawing colder air from other parts of the house, cutting into its heating power.

An improperly sized heater: This is the most serious problem, because it means your heater received a poor installation originally and will probably need replacement. If your heater has never given you sufficient airflow, than it’s likely too small to do the job. Get in a professional company to gauge the correct size of heater that you need and install it.

Sunset Air has been in the business of Olympia, WA heating repair since 1972—with our experience with repairs, we can have you back in a cozy home environment in no time. For airflow problems or anything else amiss with your heater, contact Sunset Air today.

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How to Heat Your Home Efficiently

Tuesday, October 8th, 2013

In Tacoma, heating units like furnaces and heat pumps form a potent line of defense against our wet and chilly winter nights. Nothing feels better than coming in out of the freezing rain to a warm and cozy home. Many people are happy to pay a high price in heating bills in order to maintain a comfortable household, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By exercising a few simple tactics, you can cut those costs down without skimping on the heat required to keep your family warm and cozy. Here’s a few tips on how to heat your home effectively.

  • Start by ensuring that you have sufficient insulation, and that any leaks around your doors and windows are sealed. Your house can bleed warmth if it isn’t sealed up tight, costing you money and forcing your heater to work harder to do its job. The more your home is insulated, the less you’ll have to pay to keep it heated.
  • Schedule a repair and maintenance service before heating season starts. A maintenance check from a trained professional can clean up dirty components, seal any leaks, recharge refrigerant if necessary and otherwise keep your unit functioning as efficiently as it can.
  • Consider installing upgrade or additions to your heating system. This can include things like zone controls, which let you control the flow of warm air to different parts of the house. You can heat up just the parts of the house you’re occupying, leaving the rest untouched and saving a great deal of money on monthly bills. Similarly, replacing an older thermostat with a new programmable one allows you to automatically shut off the heat when you leave the house in the morning, then turn it on again just before you get home.

Here at Sunset Air, we handle heating issues in Tacoma with promptness and courtesy. We know how to make repairs and upgrades, as well as how to heat your home efficiently and save you money on monthly energy bills. Contact our Tacoma heating technicians today for a consultation, and let us help you make the most out of your household heater.

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Signs That You Need Heating Replacement in Puyallup

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

Puyallup heating systems are as omnipresent in our homes as water and electricity. Our wet Washington weather makes the need for a reliable heating system inescapable. And while regular maintenance and careful use can give your heater many years of life, sooner or later, the time comes to replace it with a newer and more efficient unit. It can be hard to tell when exactly you need to install a new unit, especially if it’s seeing regular use (though once the decision is made, it’s best to do it just before the heating season starts, if possible). Here are some signs that you need heating replacement in Puyallup:

  • Age. A furnace or boiler that is more than 15 years old, or a heat pump that is more than 10 years old, should be considered for replacement. It’s not necessarily a make-or-break factor – again, with proper care, a heater can last quite a long time – but if you have an older unit and you notice additional problems with it, it may be time to consider something new.
  • Bills are rising. As heaters age, they become more inefficient, requiring greater maintenance and repair sessions to keep functioning. If you notice your heating bills steadily rising, despite not running the heater any more often than normal, it’s a good sign that replacement is in order. The same holds true if you’re scheduling repairs more and more often; eventually, the cost of replacement outweighs the constant cost of maintaining the older one.
  • Insufficient heating. Along those lines, a heater needs to maintain adequate comfort levels when it runs, even if that costs you more in heating bills. If your house is never comfortable – always a little too chilly or drafty, no matter how long you run the heater – a newer and more efficient unit can probably solve the problem.

If you spot signs that you need heating maintenance in Puyallup, you need to speak with a professional about your options. Sunset Air handles Puyallup heating issues and can install a great new heater for you to help you tackle those cold and rainy days head on. Contact our staff for a consultation today.

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