Sunset Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category

How to Prevent Broken Windows in Your Home

Monday, February 21st, 2022

It goes without saying that a broken window is a huge inconvenience. First off, there’s broken glass to clean up. Secondly, if you weren’t home when it happened, there’s the risk of pets getting out or intruders getting in. And of course, now you have to spend time and money getting your windows replaced.

What if you could prevent breakage, though? True, not all window breakage is avoidable–freak accidents happen, as do baseballs. But there are a few things you might be able to do to prevent this annoyance. Read on to learn what they are!

Continue Reading

When to Install New Windows

Monday, December 4th, 2017

Snow-HomeWindows are one of those things that you never really think about until something goes wrong with them. You may look through them all the time, but you don’t think “I am looking at something through this window.” Or maybe you do, and we’re the strange ones who treat windows as, well, window dressing. Yes, puns are indeed all part of the service here at Sunset Air’s Expert Corner.

But we digress. Whether or not you actually give any thought to your windows themselves, you should know that a window is good for far more than scowling at the neighbor kids who won’t get off your lawn. Have a look at some of the reasons why you might want to install new windows below.

Continue Reading

How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient This Winter

Monday, November 7th, 2016

You should take steps to get your home ready for winter before it gets too cold outside. Heating maintenance is all well and good, of course, but it’s not the only thing you can do. There are a number of different ways that you can make sure your home is as comfortable and efficient as possible. Let’s take a look at some steps to make your home ready for the coming heating season.

Continue Reading

Technologies That Are Changing the Face of the HVAC Industry

Thursday, August 11th, 2016

New technologies in the HVAC industry are making heating and cooling of homes more efficient than ever. Today, HVAC systems have the ability to communicate between the indoors and the outdoors, reducing heat loss and helping to maximize the dehumidifying process. These new technologies allow HVAC systems to run more quietly and makes them easier to program.

Smartphone Technologies

Many of the new changes are actually in the HVAC components and the systems’ controls, but a number of these new changes are in external technologies. So-called “Smart Homes” are becoming more and more commonplace as Smartphone capabilities continue to expand.

These “smart” technologies allow users to control and monitor their homes or businesses from anywhere in the world, making changes to temperature settings and controls remotely.

Technological Advancements

These new technological advancements are made possible because interconnection is at an all-time high. The ability to communicate with our machines is becoming simpler every day.

This means that utility bills are getting lower, the efficiency of heating and cooling systems is getting better, the strain on the environment is being reduced, and we are reaching a higher level of comfort.

Learning Thermostats

One of the primary recent advancements in the HVAC industry is the Learning Thermostat, which is almost a virtual assistant. It learns what temperatures you like and it automatically adjusts the room you are in to your settings. This Learning Thermostat turns itself off when you leave the room. It is controllable by Wi-Fi so you can warm up your bathroom before you take a shower each day (unless the Learning Thermostat has already figured out you like the bathroom warmer at that time of day) or cool off the house before you get home from work.

The Learning Thermostat also has the ability to turn off during times of peak demand. This means you save money. With the Learning Thermostat, the process is completely automated.

Self-Diagnosis

The newer HVAC systems can also self-diagnose and even repair themselves, much like a computer does. It may seem that this type of technology would cause repair personnel to worry about their job security, but this is not the case. Technicians will still be needed to follow up on those reports and replace worn-out parts.

Variable Refrigerant Flow

Most of the energy loss in our homes comes from cooling or warming an entire house when only one room really needs the HVAC system to turn on. This can happen in homes that have shade on just one side, and sun on the other. With a variable flow, users can have heat in one part of the building and cooler air in a different part of the building while maintaining the utmost in efficiency.

Sunset Air

At Sunset Air, we know these are just some of the innovations that are changing the face of the HVAC industry and we are proud to stay on top of the latest technology for our customers. Please contact us today with any questions you have about your HVAC system. (360)456-4956

Continue Reading

Looking to improve the overall value of your home?

Wednesday, February 24th, 2016

home value

If you are planning on ever selling your home in the future, chances are you are thinking about your return on investment. Reports have shown that heating system replacement yields one of the biggest returns in terms of home value and also saves you monthly on energy leading up to your sale.

If you try to sell your house with an outdated furnace, you run the risk of prospects being worried about energy costs. If your furnace is outdated, one of the first things that a home inspector will recommend is to replace it. It will give you a boost in value that in some cases can pay for the system itself as well as cut your energy costs significantly.

A new high efficiency heating system could be the perfect “cherry on top” for your prospects. Especially with all of the talk of sustainability going on. An old furnace is not only costing you more money right now to run, it is possible that it will be a deal breaker if not properly updated or maintained.

Right now, Sunset Air combined with ORCA and PSE are offering up to $5100 in rebates for a replaced heating system.

Call 360-456-4956 today to get a free estimate on HVAC replacement. 

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

DIY HVAC Maintenance

Tuesday, August 18th, 2015

diyhvac

Continue Reading

Why Is a Home Energy Audit Important?

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Wouldn’t it be great if you could pinpoint the exact areas of your home that are driving up your energy costs throughout the year? You can do this with a home energy audit. A home energy audit will pinpoint exactly where your home is losing energy and then provide you with recommendations to remedy any problems that are found. The result can be an increase of energy efficiency as high as 30%. Home energy audits have to be performed by trained experts, so if you are interested in seeing what one can do for your home in Centralia, WA, call us today!

Testing and Inspection

A home energy audit is a thorough process that is broken down into two essential phases: the inspection and testing phase, in which a number of tests are conducted to find energy loss, and the analysis, in which the results of the inspections and tests are tabulated, and recommendations are given to resolve any problems that have been found during the inspection and testing process. Some of the types of inspections and tests conducted during a home energy audit include:

  • Visual inspection – our trained expert will thoroughly inspect your home from top to bottom, inside and out, to get a clear, overall picture of the state of your home.
  • Inspection of all insulation – insulation can become damaged and settles over time, so it’s important to see the state of your home’s insulation.
  • Inspection of attic area – attics are notorious for wasting energy for a number of reasons, including lack of ventilation and insulation. This inspection will give the technician a clear picture of what is happening in your home’s attic space.
  • Inspection of HAVC systems and appliances – this inspection allows the technician to detect any existing or developing problems with your heating and cooling system and major appliances.
  • Blower Door Test — the blower door test pinpoints the exact areas of air leaks in your home by using a specialized fan that depressurizes your home.
  • Infrared Scan — infrared technology allows the technician to clearly see areas where moisture has penetrated based on temperature. Moisture in your home can cause a number of energy efficiency problems.

Analysis

Once all inspection and testing has been completed, the technician will tabulate the results; he/she will also analyze 12 months’ worth of your energy and utility bills to assess how much money you’ve been spending. At the completion of the analysis, you’ll be given a full report detailing all the findings; you’ll also be given specific recommendations on how to fix any problems that were found.

Have concerns about your home’s energy efficiency? Then consider scheduling a home energy audit in Centralia, WA with a specialist from Sunset Air.

Continue Reading

What is System Zoning?

Tuesday, January 6th, 2015

What is System Zoning?

The temperature in your house can vary depending on the different qualities of your rooms and layout. For instance, if a room has a lot of windows that allow sun to come in, it can be harder to keep cool during the sunny season. Or if a room has a vaulted ceiling, it can be harder to retain heat. There is a long list of reasons why rooms differ in heating and cooling efficiency and one way to even the whole house out is to use a process called system zoning.

zoning

System zoning is the placement of multiple thermostats throughout the home. The thermostats operate dampers in the ductwork that modify the output of heating or cooling in specific zones of the house by opening and closing airways. The thermostats read the separate temperatures of each zone and distribute heat accordingly. Systems like this are extremely useful if you have certain rooms that have a hard time maintaining heat and they also may save you money by increasing the efficiency by optimizing your heating and cooling distribution.

Continue Reading

7 Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014

benefits of a programmable thermostat

7 Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat

One of the biggest causes of poor energy efficiency in an HVAC system is leaving the heating or air conditioning on when no one is in the house. If you find that you are constantly leaving the heating or cooling on in your house, chances are you could benefit from changing to a programmable thermostat. Here is a list of 7 ways a programmable thermostat can help your HVAC system.

  • You can schedule the heating or cooling to only turn on while you are gone. This makes a huge difference in your utility bills at the end of the month.

 

  • Programmable thermostats do not contain toxic chemicals such as mercury. Most outdated thermostats use mercury inside the unit. It’s important to keep this in mind when disposing of it.

 

  • You won’t ever forget to turn off you heating or cooling system.

 

  • You don’t have to enter a cold home after a long day. The thermostat can be used to heat the room just before your arrival.

 

  • You can also adjust your thermostat to turn on just before you wake up in the morning.

 

  • You can set the temperatures to be different on different days of the week.

 

  • A programmable thermostat is a year round advantage. You can use all the same features to control heating AND cooling using only one unit.

Sunset Air wishes you a safe and warm winter. For more information on programmable thermostats, contact us by calling (360) 456-4956

Continue Reading

6 Steps to an Energy Efficient Home

Tuesday, November 18th, 2014

home energy

Continue Reading