Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

When Is It Time for a New AC?

Monday, August 13th, 2018

An air conditioning technician welds a connection prior to installing AC unit.No machine or piece of equipment lasts forever, and your air conditioner is no exception. No matter how well it’s constructed or cared for, it has a limited lifespan. And when it approaches the end of that lifespan, it’s a good idea to have the system replaced before it suffers from a complete breakdown. There’s not a whole lot worse than being trapped on a hot day with no immediate relief in sight. And the hottest days of summer are when your air conditioner is more likely to malfunction, given the stress that it’s under.

During the final months, or even years, of a dying air conditioner’s service life, that failing system will waste energy, and thus waste money. We’re here to help diagnose air conditioning issues. Yours may be able to get by with another repair. However, be sure to ask about our options for AC installation in Tacoma, and read up on the signs of a dying air conditioner so you can replace yours sooner rather than later.

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Should You Consider a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System?

Monday, July 16th, 2018

animation of geothermal systemWhen deciding on a new air conditioner for your home, there are many factors to consider. After all, we don’t get too much hot weather in our parts—at least, not in comparison to other parts of the country. Therefore, it makes sense that you’d like to spend as little money as possible on residential air conditioning services in Tacoma, whether we’re talking about installation or your month to month utility bills.

You’ve likely heard of a heat pump system before. This system is set up much like a conventional central air conditioner with one important difference—it’s refrigerant process can be reversed so that it provides effective cooling and heating. But for even better efficiency, and to help the environment out a bit, you may want to consider the installation of a geothermal heat pump, which instead of utilizing the air to move heat, it is installed underground and uses the consistent temperature of the earth.

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What to Do When You Have an AC Emergency

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

Woman looking surprised and concernedThough any loss of cooling on one of the hottest days of the year will certainly feel urgent, in some cases there is an easy fix that may not even require the assistance of a professional. Of course, when you do need fast AC repair, we’ll be there to help! In the meantime, we’d like to share some AC troubleshooting tips with you below.

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Which HVAC System Is Best for My Home?

Monday, June 18th, 2018

Closeup view about using some appliance such as air condition.When you need air conditioning this summer, you’re going to need it quick. But don’t rush into any decisions just yet. You should consider which type of system will work best for you and ensure that it is installed by a professional HVAC contractor in Tacoma, WA.

You can think of each system as a separate strategy for cooling or heating your home, all with the goal of using energy the most efficiently. While the final decision depends on you and your family’s needs, an expert recommendation is going to make all the difference. For now, take a look at the most popular HVAC systems to see how they can help you.

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What Does Dirt Do to an Air Conditioner?

Monday, June 4th, 2018

An old air conditioner unit, in need of updating, sitting in tall weedsAs a homeowner, you probably do all that you can to keep your home clean. After all, a clean home is a happy home, right? This cleanliness probably involves the removal of dust from spaces like your furniture and the floor, even ceiling fans and light fixtures. But what about your air conditioning system?

Just because this appliance and the attached ductwork are out of sight does not mean they should be out of mind. Your air conditioner is a major investment in your overall home comfort, and dust, dirt, and debris within it can cause problems for people with allergies and asthma, as well as problems with the AC unit itself. This is why air conditioning maintenance in Tacoma is so important—a huge component of that is a comprehensive cleaning. But why does this matter so much?

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Follow These Tips to Prevent AC Repairs This Summer

Monday, May 21st, 2018

checklist on a clipboardWith temperatures barely approaching the high 70s, you may not be thinking about your air conditioner too much. However, soon enough you’ll be ready to switch your thermostat to cooling mode, and when that time comes you may not notice anything wrong with your air conditioner and think it’s running just fine. But, if you’ve skipped maintenance then you could certainly find yourself facing a costly AC repair in Tacoma this summer.

Midsummer AC repairs are a hassle for any homeowner, with breakdowns being an even bigger inconvenience. You’ll most likely have to stop what you’re doing to get the repairs taken care of, and will have to battle with other homeowners to schedule a repair technician, since summertime is a time of the year where HVAC technicians are busiest (and harder to get ahold of). We’d like to help you prevent AC repairs in the first place.

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“How Much Will My New Cooling System Cost?”

Monday, May 7th, 2018

air conditioning unit sitting on pile of moneyThe Tacoma area never gets too terribly hot during the summer—at least, not consistently so like other parts of the country. This means we don’t tend to use our air conditioners as much as in other areas. But the fact that we use ours very little means that when they are operating, we want them to function as efficiently and as for little cost as possible.

This means ensuring that you pick just the right system when you arrange for AC installation services. But how do you choose the best cooling system? And how much will it cost?

Well, the short answer to that is, “it depends!” We’ve provided some guidance below that will help you learn about what determines how much a new system, and its installation, will cost.

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This Is Why You Should Change Your Air Filter

Monday, April 9th, 2018

man holding an air filterNot many homeowners give much thought to how important an air filter is to the operation of their HVAC systems. A filter does little to protect against many of the allergens and pollutants that can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms (for that you’ll want a high efficiency air filtration or purification system). Rather, the air filter is there to protect the inside components of your Tacoma, WA HVAC system from contaminants that can restrict airflow and cause a host of other problems.

You can always reach out to anyone on our staff if you have questions about the impact of your air filter or are worried about HVAC performance. In the meantime, we’ve shared below some reasons you should always stay on top of changing out your air filter every 1 to 3 months.

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AC Trouble: The Repair vs. Replace Debate

Monday, July 31st, 2017

ac-trouble-repair-vs-replacementFor our corner of the world, summer temperatures aren’t quite as detrimental as you’d find in other parts of the country. Still though, being stuck without a cooling system on one of the hottest days of the years is never pleasant, no matter where you live. Hopefully, you had your air conditioner professionally maintained before summer hit, to fend off any problems. But what if you haven’t yet, or your air conditioner is showing troubling symptoms despite professional maintenance?

One thing is for sure: it’s time to call for professional Seattle, WA air conditioning services. But should you pay for repairs—or replace the system altogether? If you’re like most homeowners, an air conditioning system is a major investment. And you’ll want to make sure you get the best return on that investment, especially if your existing system isn’t extremely old. Keep reading to learn about a few things you should consider when you find yourself in the middle of the “repair vs. replacement” debate.

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Should You Have a Heat Pump Installed This Summer?

Monday, July 3rd, 2017

heat-pump-installed-summerThere are a number of benefits to investing in a heat pump installation in Puyallup, WA—one of the most important being that it can be used to both cool and heat your home. No, it’s not a furnace and a central air conditioner packaged together—rather, a heat pump is a two-in-one system that uses the same component for both air conditioning and heating, for efficient, year-round comfort.

Read on to discover how this works and how you can benefit from this type of installation this summer if you are looking to replace or upgrade your cooling system.

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