Can I Add Zone Control to My Existing Heating System?

January 28th, 2014

A zone control system is used to regulate different sections of your house. For example, it allows you to set one temperature in the living room (where it may be quite cool) and another temperature in the kitchen (where using the stove might elevate he temperature considerably). You can also shut off the heat in parts of the house you aren’t using and save a lot of money on monthly bills. This provides a tangible advantage over centralized furnaces, which deliver one uniform temperature for the entire house. Here in Puyallup, heating services can provide zone control systems that use stand-alone units such as ductless mini split systems. “But can I add zone control to my existing heating system?” you ask. It’s a fair question and – provided you use the right heating technician – the answer is yes.

The ductless mini-split system makes for easy zone control because each component is an individual heater in and of itself. With multiple units scattered throughout your house, you can turn them on and off as you wish and tailor the temperature accordingly. If you already have a centralized furnace, however, such a system becomes a needless waste: rendering your ductwork obsolete and essentially leaving one fully functioning furnace all but useless.

Adding zone controls to your existing heating system solves all of that. Instead of using multiple separate units, the technician installs a series of valves and dampers in your duct system at key points. Controls are added allowing you to open and close the dampers at different points in the system, modifying or shutting off the heat in various sections of the house. It facilitates good zone control without rendering your existing system useless, and upgrading an existing system in this manner tends improve the resale value of your home to boot.

If you’re asking “Can I add zone control to my existing heating system?” then Sound Heating can help. Our Puyallup heating system technicians have handled heating issues of all varieties for over 20 years, and our staff has considerable experience upgrading existing systems with zone controls. We’re happy to discuss your options with you, and will work overtime to ensure you’re completely happy with your new upgrades. Give us a call today!

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Sensible Tips to Reduce Your Heating Bill

January 23rd, 2014

No one likes to see a high heating bill, but in rainy towns like Olympia, heating costs are a fact of life. We all need warm comfortable spaces to come home to, and with the weather so cold and rainy during this part of the year, it’s only natural to see heating costs rise. With sensible planning and a little foresight, however, you can cut those costs a good deal. A few steps are obvious. For instance, you can set your thermostat a few degrees lower than you normally might and you can dress warmly inside. Beyond that, here are some sensible tips to reduce your heating bill.

  • Seal up leaks and cracks. You may notice that your door fits loosely in the frame, or that air leaks out of your window frames when you turn on the heat. They cost you in energy efficiency. You can correct the problem by sealing those cracks with weather stripping, available at any hardware store. You might also look into replacing your leaky window frames with vinyl siding, or buying double-paned windows.
  • Add insulation. Insulation helps retain heat, especially if you place it in the attic where most heat escapes. If you can, add a second layer of insulation, and look into adding more in your walls as well.
  • Upgrade your heating system. A trained technician can install new components to your existing system to help you cut down on heating costs. The most pertinent is a zone control system, which divides your home into sections and lets you individually heat or cool each one.  That allows you to turn off the heat in sections of the house you aren’t using. In addition, if you have an older thermostat, you might consider replacing it with a digital one, which lets your automatically turn the heat off and on to coincide with your daily departures and arrivals.

Sensible tips to reduce your heating bill should be applied along with regular maintenance and upkeep for your heating system from our professional Olympia heating system service techs. That will help reduce wasted energy and keep your heater functioning at its best. In Olympia, heating maintenance can be performed by the trained experts at Sound Heating. Call us today to see what we can do for you!

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3 Great Things about Hydronic Heating

January 14th, 2014

Hydronic heating refers to heating that uses water or steam to warm your home. It’s a form of radiant heating, with plastic pipes installed in your floors and walls through which hot water or steam is pumped. Here in Olympia, heating options can include hydronic heating very easily, and the system makes a good fit for our cool, wet weather. How, exactly? We’re glad you asked.  Here are 3 great things about hydronic heating.

  • It’s efficient. Because it heats the room directly through the floors and walls, there isn’t a lot of wasted energy with a hydronic heating system. You don’t lose any heating potential with forced air, and you avoid the problems of drafts and cold spots that come with it. Hydronic heating warms the room evenly leaving no corner untouched, and you can install zone control systems that let you heat only those parts of the household that you want.
  • It’s inexpensive. While start-up installation tends to cost more, hydronic heating doesn’t need a whole lot of power once it gets going. That means your monthly heating bills could be a lot less expensive and may even pay for the cost of installation over time, depending upon your circumstances.
  • It’s clean. Unlike gas furnaces, hydronic systems don’t produce any pollution, and thus can reduce your impact on the environment significantly. They only energy used is a small amount of electricity, and because the system is self-contained, there’s no danger of runoff or similar problems. If you’re looking to “go green,” a hydronic heating system may be your best option.

For more great things about hydronic heating, or to discuss the possibility of installing a hydronic heating system in your home, call the Olympia, WA heating system experts at Sound Heating & Air Conditioning. We can help determine if a system will work for you, and perform installation and repair services with diligence and professionalism. Our staff operates throughout Olympia, heating with hydronic power is one of our signature services, and we are absolutely dedicated to your complete satisfaction at every step of the process. Call us today to set up an appointment!

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Common Heat Pump Problems in Tacoma

January 6th, 2014

In towns like Tacoma, heating repair companies handle heat pumps as often as they handle more traditional gas furnaces. Heat pumps essentially combine the functions of a heater and an air conditioner into one, resulting in a more efficient means of conditioning the air in your home. They work especially well in climates like ours, where the winters are fairly mild and homeowners have HVAC needs throughout the year. But just like any other appliance, heat pumps can experience problems, requiring the services of a trained professional to correct. Here’s a quick breakdown of common heat pump problems in Tacoma.

Heat pumps use the same basic technology as air conditioners, which means their problems are pretty much the same. One common development is a leak in refrigerant gas, which can interfere with the heat pump’s ability to generate cool (and warm) air. Refrigerant needs to be at a specific level if the heat pump is to work the way it should. When those levels are out of balance, frost forms on the evaporator coils, representing lost cooling potential and further hampering the pump’s ability to do its job. Simply scraping the frost off won’ fix the problem: the source of the leak needs to be sealed and refrigerant levels recharged before the system will function again.

Other problems are a little easier for laymen to grasp. For example, the fan motor can overheat, shutting the fan down and preventing the heat pump from moving conditioned air into your home. Clogs and blockages can form in various lines, preventing water from draining or keeping air from moving where it’s supposed to. Dust and dirt can build up to create friction between moving parts and eventually create breakdowns within individual components.

All of these spell the same thing: repair bills, inefficiency and a loss of heating and cooling power just when you need it the most. To correct common heat pump problems, the Tacoma heating system repair technicians at Sound Heating are at your disposal. Our trained heating system professionals can pinpoint the problem and get your system up and running again before you know it. Give us a call today to set up an appointment!

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New Year’s Eve: The Tournament of Roses Parade

December 31st, 2013

The East Coast has their own traditions for New Year’s Eve, notably the dropping of the ball in Times Square to signal the beginning of the New Year. We have our own traditions here on the West Coast, and with 2014 almost upon us, we thought we’d take a closer look at one of the biggest: the Tournament of Roses Parade.

The Parade is held every year on New Year’s Day, save when January 1 falls on a Sunday (in which case it is held on the 2nd). Tradition holds that they don’t host it on a Sunday in exchange for God preventing rain on the parade, though it has actually rained ten times since the first parade. It all began in 1890, when members of the Pasadena Valley Hunt club organized and staged it on Colorado Boulevard. Their parade consisted of horse carts covered with flowers, followed by a series of athletic events (including races and polo matches). Football was first added in 1902, when Michigan beat Stanford by a score of 49-0. The football tradition was dropped for a few years, but came back in 1916 for good. The game has traditionally featured the champions of the Big 10 and Pac 10 Conferences, though teams from different conferences have appeared from time to time.

As for the parade itself, it soon added motorized floats, marching bands and equestrian units to its array of features. A “Rose Queen” is chosen every year from the ranks of Pasadena girls ages 17 through 21, along with six princesses to serve as her court. 2014’s Rose Queen is high school student Ana Marie Acosta. A Grand Marshall is chosen every year as well, and has previously included such varied luminaries as Walt Disney, John Wayne, Dwight Eisenhower, Hank Aaron, George Lucas, Charles M. Schulz, Kermit the Frog, and Fred Rogers. The Grand Marshall for 2014 will be legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.

Wherever you are and however you choose to celebrate New Year’s Day, we here at Sound Heating & Air Conditioning wish you nothing but the very best. May 2014 bring you all good things, and may your New Year’s celebrations – in whatever form they take – be happy, safe and fun for your entire family. Happy New Year!

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Longer Days Ahead: Why Winter Solstice Is a Reason to Celebrate

December 24th, 2013

Holiday greetings from all of us at Sound Heating & Air Conditioning!

December is a time of celebrations across the globe, despite the cold weather that affects much of the countries in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, the cold weather is one of the reasons that it is so important for people to embrace celebrations of light, color, food, and warm drinks—what better way to cheer up during a time of short days and low temperatures?

There is another reason to feel joy at the end of December, regardless of your religion or culture: an astronomical event called winter solstice.

Four astronomical markers divide the seasons on planet Earth: two solstices and two equinoxes. Equinox (a combination of the Latin words for “equal” and for “night”) is the point in Earth’s orbit when its axis is parallel to the Sun. Solstice (from the Latin words for “sun” and “to stand still”) is the point in orbit where the Earth’s axial tilt points toward the Sun. During the equinoxes, which occur at the start of spring (vernal equinox) and fall (autumnal equinox), the periods of day and night are the same length. During the solstices, which occur at the start of summer (June solstice) and winter (winter solstice), either day or night is at its longest period. June solstice is the longest day of the year; winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year.

Occurring on the 20th or the 21st of the month (this year it falls on the 21st), winter solstice marks the official beginning of winter, but also the point at which the days start to grow longer once more. The sun, which has dropped lower in the sky since the June solstice (June 20-21) and reaches its lowest point above the horizon on noon on winter solstice, once again begins to rise.

From the earliest human prehistory, people have recognized the winter solstice as an important event in their lives. When winter survival was difficult for early human societies, the sight of the sun beginning to rise in the sky once more was a symbol of hope and a reason to celebrate.

(All of the above applies to the Northern Hemisphere of Earth. The equinoxes and solstices flip in the Southern Hemisphere. For example, in Australia, Christmas is a summer holiday.)

However you commemorate and observe this time of year, we hope you and your family have a joyful and safe season!

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Ways You Can Save on Heating This Season

December 19th, 2013

Heating season usually brings with it higher heating bills, as home owners run their furnaces more often and monthly costs rise as a result. Here in Tacoma, heating repair services see increased breakdowns and service calls during this time, reflecting increased seasonal use. Prudent homeowners can find ways to cut heating costs, and reduce the risk of more extensive repairs in the bargain. Here’s a few ways you can save on heating this season.

  • Get your heater maintained. Heaters collect dust and dirt over time, especially during the summer when they don’t see much use. In addition, they may develop problems that aren’t readily noticeable, but which can turn around and bite you at the worst possible time. A maintenance session can address all of that: cleaning off the dust (which reduces friction and general stress), tightening loose bolts or fittings (which improves efficiency) and spotting any potential issues for larger repairs. All of that improves your heater’s efficiency, which cuts down on bills.
  • Seal leaks in your home. If you have a crack under your front door, a window pane that leaks air or an uninsulated portion of the attic, they could be costing you warm air. Seal any leaks with weather stripping and see if you can add more insulation to your house.
  • Look into zone controls. A zone control system for your heater lets you tailor the temperature in individual portions of your home. You can thus turn off the heat in areas you aren’t using, while leaving it on in those rooms you’re occupying at the moment.

All of that comes on top of common-sense ways you can save on heating this season, such as wearing warm sweaters in the home and setting your thermostat a few degrees below what you’re used to. Heating repair services in Tacoma don’t get any more reliable than Sound Heating. We can perform maintenance and repair on your existing heater, as well as installing a new heater if you feel that the time is right. Call us today to set up an appointment. You’ll be glad that you did!

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Why It’s Never Too Early or Late for Heating Maintenance

December 10th, 2013

Heating maintenance isn’t strictly a repair service. It’s more like a tune-up for your furnace or boiler. A trained expert arrives and gives your heater a thorough examination. He checks the burners to see if they’re functioning correctly, cleans any dust or build-up on the internal components, tightens any loose bolts, and identifies potential problem areas for future repair. Many prudent homeowners schedule their maintenance session right before heating season begins, as a way of keeping track of it and to ensure that their heaters are running properly before they really need to be used. Here in Tacoma, heating service companies usually provide solid maintenance calls, as well as more formal repairs. But you needn’t wait for a set time schedule to plan for a session. Here’s why it’s never too early or too late for heating maintenance.

The biggest advantage of a heating maintenance session is preventing a problem before it starts. Dust and dirt can increase strain on a heater, which in turn increases the risk of a serious breakdown. If a technician cleans off the dust – regardless of how much has built up – that can reduce the strain on the system. Not only does it help prevent larger issues later, but it helps your heater run more efficiently, which in turn lowers the monthly costs of heating your home.

Along those lines, a maintenance session can spot potential trouble areas before they get out of hand. For example, a loose bolt may cause the fan motor to rattle a bit. If a technician spots that in a maintenance session, he or she can tighten the bolt and fix the problem. Conversely, if the bolt is left loose, it may damage the motor itself, requiring a far more expensive replacement later on down the line. Regardless of when a maintenance session takes place, if it catches something like that, it could save you a great deal of money.

In Tacoma, WA, heating service is provided by Sound Heating. We know why it’s never too early or too late for maintenance and our trained heating experts are standing by to inspect your furnace whenever you desire it. Pick up the phone and give our Tacoma heating maintenance technicians a call to make an appointment today.

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How to Maximize Your Energy Efficiency this Winter with a New Heater

December 2nd, 2013

Here in Tacoma, heating installation is not a causal undertaking. Our winters are cold enough to demand a reliable heating system at all times, and considering the costs involved, you want your existing unit to last as long as possible. Sooner or later, however, even the most durable heater needs to be replaced. A new heater can make a difference in numerous ways, not the least of which is an improved energy efficiency in your home. Here’s how to maximize your energy efficiency this winter with a new heater.

The very act of buying a new heater will probably help you make better use of your resources, since it probably works more efficiently as a matter of course. More specifically, you should look for a heater with a high AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating, measured as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the more energy is being used to actually heat your home. New heaters tend to have a higher AFUE than old ones, and you can “cheat” a bit by selecting a heater with the EnergyStar label (denoting units with particularly high AFUE ratings).

In addition, it’s very important to size your heater properly, with about 50 BTUs (British Thermal Units) or heating power for every square foot you need heated. (The specifics can vary depending on things like insulation and sunlight exposure, so let an expert make your calculations for you.) If the heater’s too small it will work too hard without warming your home. If it’s too large, it will cycle on and off rapidly, wasting heat in the process. Maximum energy efficiency can be achieved only if your heater is sized just right for your home.

These are just general tips showing you how to maximize your energy efficiency this winter with a new heater. For more specific plans on how to maximize your energy efficiency this winter with a new heater, call the Tacoma heating installation specialists at Sound Heating. We’re based in Tacoma, heating installation is part of our area of expertise and we’re dedicated to making sure your new heater gets the maximum amount of bang for your buck. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

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Thanksgiving, 2013: The Presidential Turkey Pardon

November 25th, 2013

Thanksgiving began in 1621, but didn’t become a national holiday until 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared it in hopes of bringing a divided nation together. We have many Thanksgiving traditions in this country, from turkey at the meal to the annual Cowboys and Lions games on television. But one of the most beloved is the annual Presidential turkey pardon, in which the U.S. President “pardons” a turkey to life in a petting zoo rather than ending up as someone’s main course. As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, we thought you’d like to know a little more about the history of this fascinating tradition.

Farmers have sent turkeys to the White House as far back as the 1800s, hoping to have the honor of providing the President’s annual meal. There have been scattered stories of individual turkeys being “pardoned” throughout that time, including one in which President Lincoln’s son Tad successfully convinced the president to spare a bird intended for the family’s Christmas dinner.

Starting in 1947, the National Turkey Federation became the official supplier of the President’s Thanksgiving birds. The White House arranged for an annual photo op that year with the President receiving the turkey in the Rose Garden. Sadly, there was no pardon as yet; those birds all ended up on the Presidential table.

The push for an official pardon picked up steam in 1963, when President Kennedy ask that the bird be spared just a few days before his assassination. President Nixon opted to send each of the birds he received to a nearby petting zoo after the photo op, though there was no formal pardon attached.

But it wasn’t until 1989 that the pardon became official. On November 14 of that year, President George H. W. Bush made the announcement, and sent the bird to a Virginia game preserve to live the rest of its life out in cranberry-and-stuffing-free bliss. Since then, every President has held an annual pardoning ceremony, with the lucky turkey spared the axe and sent off to live in peace. Since 2005, the pardoned birds have gone to Disneyland in Anaheim, California where they have lived as part of a petting zoo exhibit in Frontierland.

No matter what traditions you enjoy this holiday, or who you enjoy them with, all of us here wish you a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving weekend.

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