You know you can count on your air conditioner serving Seattle when you want to cool your room down, but you might not know exactly what’s going on inside the machine. You don’t need to be an HVAC professional to understand the inner workings of your heating and cooling appliances, and this knowledge can help you maintain your units. Check out this video for an inside look at how air conditioners work.

Inside your air conditioner, there is a compressor and cooling tubes. Freon, which is a gas in the system, will become compressed and run through the cooling tubes. The compressed gas turns into a liquid and runs through an expansion valve, and then the liquid evaporates. At this point it becomes a cold gas and cools down the air surrounding the tube coils. A fan then blows this conditioned air into the room to keep your space nice and cool.

HVAC appliances like air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces in Seattle aren’t the only ways to control the temperature in your home. Some people like to use their fireplaces instead of their furnaces, but others find that their fireplaces are outdated and inefficient. When you choose the right kind of fireplace insert , you can revive your fireplace and improve its efficiency. This helps you save money and stay comfortable in your home, and it even comes with a nice aesthetic design. If you’d like to make the most of your fireplace, continue reading for a look at fireplace inserts.

Making Use of Your Fireplace

If you used to light fires to give your furnace a break but have stopped due to a lack of efficiency, you’re letting a valuable investment go to waste. Thanks to fireplace inserts, you can turn your existing fireplace into a more efficient heat source. A fireplace insert will also make it easier for you to maintain your fireplace, which could be a factor that has been keeping you from lighting a fire. You can then take some of the pressure off of your furnace and enjoy a warmer household while saving money.

Choosing an Insert

There are different types of fireplaces, so there are different types of fireplace inserts. They do all offer the same benefits, however, and the right insert will make your fireplace more efficient and easier to maintain. Depending on your needs and your taste, you can choose gas units, electrical units, or wood stoves. As long as you work with heating and air conditioner professionals to find EPA-certified fireplace inserts, you can trust that your investment will be good for your home and the environment.

Reaping the Benefits

Fireplace inserts are efficient, cosmetically pleasing, and easy for homeowners to use. By minimizing heat loss, your insert will keep your heated air inside your home. This means it will continue to keep your house warm, so you won’t have to use your furnace. Fortunately, fireplace inserts won’t take away from the aesthetic appeal that your original fireplace offers, and can even enhance it.

Heat loss can cause your heat pump or boiler to work less efficiently during the cold winter season. If you are looking for a great way to improve your comfort at home and boost the efficiency of your furnace, you may want to explore the benefits of fireplace inserts . A company that installs fireplace inserts near Seattle can help you determine whether a new insert will help to reduce the heat loss in your home.

There are a couple of ways that fireplace inserts are able to cut down on heat loss in a home. A properly installed insert will warm up air that enters your home from the outside. Replacing your conventional fireplace with an insert will also create a closed system that is not affected by drafts or cold outdoor temperatures. By radiating heat, a fireplace insert will also help you keep your home warmer and more comfortable during the chilly months of winter.

If your home is in need of a new water heating system, you may want to consider shopping for a tankless water heater. Unlike a conventional water heater, which uses energy to store hot water throughout the day and night, a tankless water heater only turns on when it senses a demand for hot water. With services from a company that offers water heater replacement in Seattle, you will be able to install a new tankless water heater that will provide you with terrific performance for many years to come. Let’s take a look at when to consider a tankless water heater for your home.

Your Current Water Heater Operates Inefficiently

When you start to notice that your conventional water heater is no longer providing you with good efficiency, it may be time to consider a tankless installation. Some of the signs of an inefficient water heater include higher hot water bills or a system that frequently runs out of hot water. With a tankless unit, you will enjoy much better efficiency from your water heating system.

You Want to Save Space in Your Home

Apartment dwellers and families that live in smaller houses are always looking for ways to free up extra space. You may have noticed that the bulky tank of your conventional water heater takes up a lot of space in your home. If you want to save space and free up additional room for storage, it may be time to go tankless.

You Want to Make a Long Lasting Investment

Purchasing a new water heater can be a major expense for any household. If you want to make sure that your new water heater is a great investment in the long run, you may want to consider your tankless options. Tankless water heaters have an average lifespan of up to twenty years, which is twice as long as the ten year lifespan of a conventional unit. After your tankless water heater has been installed, you can rest assured that it will remain operational for decades in the future.

During the chilly months of winter and the hot summer season, your heat pump and air conditioner will keep your home at your desired temperature. In order to avoid the need for major repairs to your HVAC near Seattle , you will want to take all of the steps that are needed to prolong the lifespan of your heating and cooling system. By taking the time to maintain your air conditioning and heater, you will get the best performance and longevity from your system. Read on for some handy tips that will help you expand the lifespan of your HVAC unit.

Change the Air Filters

One of the most effective strategies for expanding the lifespan of your HVAC unit is to change your air filters regularly. If your HVAC system is operating with a dirty air filter, its various components may have to work harder to deliver clean, conditioned air to your vents. During the peak heating and cooling seasons of the year, your air filter may need to be changed up to once every month.

Resist Closing Vents

While it may seem like a good idea to close off air vents in rooms that are infrequently occupied throughout your home, closing your air vents can actually cause your HVAC system to deteriorate more quickly. When you close off one or more air vents, you will increase the total pressure of the system. As a result, your HVAC components will experience additional wear and tear, and will need to be replaced sooner.

Set Up Preventative Maintenance

If you want to keep your HVAC system in prime operating condition for decades to come, you will need to set up preventative maintenance services with your HVAC professionals. During a preventative maintenance appointment, your technician will check out the safety, performance, and reliability of all of the major parts of your system. Addressing maintenance problems before they become severe is an effective strategy that will help your HVAC system run smoothly for a longer period of time.

With the spring season just around the corner, now is an important time to consider whether you need to replace your air conditioner. In this video from Angie’s List, you will receive valuable tips and information about how to know when to replace your HVAC near Seattle . As a general rule, you should replace your air conditioning or heat pump when repairs become cost prohibited.

Whether you are gearing up to replace your air conditioner, or you simply want to service your HVAC system, you will want to make sure to book your appointment with an experienced contractor. A team of trained technicians can help you decide when it is the right time to replace your HVAC system with a brand new unit.

HVAC appliances like your air conditioner, furnace, and ductless heat pump near Seattle aim to keep you and your family as comfortable as possible in your home. Certain heating and cooling methods are more effective and efficient than others, however, which is why many of those who own homes in temperate climates choose ductless heat pumps. This is a specific type of heat pump that may best suit the needs of your living space. If you’re considering a heat pump for your home, continue on to learn a little bit about ductless heat pumps.

A heat pump can bring your home a new level of efficiency, which will reflect in your energy bills. This type of HVAC unit can actually be used to heat or cool your home, so it’s a great appliance to have all year long. A ductless heat pump is different from a standard heat pump in that it does not rely on existing ductwork to pump heated or cooled air through your home. This means that you won’t have to spend the extra money to have ducts added to your home or have your existing ductwork modified. Instead, the ductless heat pump connects to an indoor air handler.

A quality air conditioner serving Seattle will help you beat the heat without breaking the bank, but how can you tell if it’s time to upgrade to a new unit? Higher energy bills often indicate a problem with the efficiency of your HVAC units, and a new air conditioner could solve the issue. Upgraded air conditioning can also make your home more comfortable and refreshing throughout the warmer months, so think about the age of your existing unit when you wonder if it’s time to make a change. Here’s a look at some signs that you could benefit from a new air conditioner.

Your Bills Are Too High

An efficient air conditioner will do its job using a minimal amount of energy, and many newer models are praised for their energy savings. If you’ve been using your air conditioner with the same frequency and on the same settings as you usually would, you shouldn’t notice a spike in your energy bills due to your unit. On the other hand, a malfunctioning air conditioner can suffer a significant drop in efficiency and thus cause your energy bills to increase. When this is the case, talk to your HVAC professional and see if it’s time to upgrade.

Your Home Is Uncomfortable

What good is paying for an air conditioner that doesn’t keep your home comfortable? A faulty unit might fail to cool your home evenly, or it might not even cool your home at all. If your air conditioner no longer does it for your home, it may be time for a replacement. This is especially true if you’ve already had your unit repaired.

Your Air Conditioner Is Old

In addition to the fact that they lose efficiency over time, older air conditioners might not have started off very efficient in the first place. If your unit has been around for quite some time, you may want to explore the market and see what other units are out there. A new air conditioner may lower your energy bills and keep your home more comfortable, even if your old one wasn’t necessarily broken.

Whether you use a heat pump, furnace, or other type of heater in Seattle to keep your home warm during the winter, you’ll want it to be as efficient and environmentally safe as possible. Your furnace and air conditioner specialist can fit you with a fireplace insert installation that brings your existing fireplace back to life as a viable heating source. This comes with a few important benefits for your household and can also be a great aesthetic addition to your design, but you’ll need the professionals to help you install it. Keep reading for the answers to some of your questions about fireplace insert installation.

What is a fireplace insert installation?

Like a heat pump or furnace, a fireplace insert installation can help you keep your home warm without hurting the environment or costing too much money. An existing fireplace may be an excellent focal point for your living room, but if you use it frequently you should ensure that you’re being responsible with it. A fireplace insert installation can help you make the most of your existing masonry by protecting the environment, your family, and your bank account.

How will it help my house?

One of the problems with a typical fireplace is that it is subject to a substantial amount of standby heat loss. This makes lighting a fire an inherently aesthetic operation, as the majority of the heat will flow out of the house through the chimney. If you want to give the furnace a break and heat your home with your fireplace, a fireplace insert can be a valuable commodity. Your fireplace insert will limit heat loss so you can keep the heat in your home, making for a much more efficient heating system.

Does it look nice?

Adding a fireplace insert installation to your home will by no means take away from the aesthetic value of your fireplace. There are different types of fireplace inserts to choose from, and some homeowners even use inserts to update their fireplace design. Don’t feel like you have to choose between efficiency and cosmetic appeal, because fireplace inserts can offer both.

A fireplace can make for a nice aesthetic addition to your home, but it can also give your furnace in Seattle a break if you use it properly. If you want to make the most of your fireplace insert, you should know how to build a fire so it continues to warm your home without causing pollution or hazards to your home. Watch this video on building the perfect fire.

Before you can build a fire, you’ll need firewood. Gather a bunch of dry, chopped lumber and start laying the pieces down. Place the biggest pieces on the bottom, and then lay down another layer in a perpendicular direction. You can then continue to build up layers of firewood, being sure to use progressively smaller pieces of lumber as you go. Once you’re done, you can light the tinder at the top and enjoy a cleaner and more efficient fire.