Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Tacoma’

Tips for Helping Your Furnace Perform Better

Monday, December 3rd, 2018

checklist animationIt may not be winter yet, but with temperatures already on a cooling trend, it’s a good reminder that we’ll soon be using our home heating systems on a regular basis. And having a reliable heating system is just the start—you want it to work efficiently, too. Our colder temperatures last too long and it’s just too chilly to be overpaying on your energy bills.

Sure, you could contact our team for professional Tacoma heating services, such as repair or replacement, but neither of these may be necessary, particularly if your heater is less than a decade old. There are a number of things you can do besides servicing your heater or furnace that could help boost its efficiency and lower your utility bills as a result.

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Is Your Boiler Showing Signs It Needs Repair?

Monday, November 19th, 2018

Plumber repairing an hot-water heaterDo you want your boiler to perform efficiently? Then it’s important that you care for it properly. This starts at the beginning with a professional installation from a highly trained and experienced team of heating professionals. It also means following up with boiler maintenance each year, and managing repair needs as soon as they crop up.

Speaking of repairs—boilers are pretty sturdy systems, but even with the right care there’s still a chance that something will eventually go wrong, and as a result your boiler will wear down to the point that it needs to be replaced. But to give your system the longest life possible, you can and should tackle repair needs right away. Do you know how to spot them?

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Should You Be Concerned About a Cracked Heat Exchanger?

Monday, November 5th, 2018

Inside a gas furnace. Focus = the top of the middle flange. 12MP camera.If you have a gas powered furnace, like many other homeowners in our area, and it has a cracked heat exchanger, then yes, you should be concerned! Gas-powered heaters are extremely popular and for good reason. Gas is a more affordable fuel type than electric, and furnaces are highly efficient at keeping your entire home warm. They produce a large amount of heat and for that reason are relied on by many.

But it is important to remember to take care of that heater, and to know that any natural gas appliance can develop safety hazards without that care. We aren’t saying this to scare you into paying for a service you might not need, but rather to make you aware of the need for regular Tacoma, WA heating services, such as preventive maintenance. It’s maintenance that will drastically reduce your risk of dealing with a cracked heat exchanger at all.

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Have You Scheduled Furnace Maintenance Yet This Season?

Monday, October 22nd, 2018

Technician looking over a gas furnace with a flashlight before cleaning it.Temps are already beginning to cool down drastically this fall. If you aren’t already using your heating system on a daily basis, chances are you will be very soon. If you have a furnace keeping your household warm, has it been tuned up recently?

We typically recommend that this service is completed before the cold weather hits, but it’s more important that you have it done once a year than at a particular time of year. Routine furnace maintenance is one of the most important Tacoma heating services you can invest in, especially if it’s a gas-powered system. Read on for some of the advantages that getting your furnace maintained every year grants you.

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Signs Your Furnace is Failing

Monday, October 8th, 2018

furnace venting outsideFall has just begun, and soon enough temperatures will drop to the point that you’ll need your heating system running a regular basis. What’s more, you need that heating system to work flawlessly—and efficiently as possible. The best way to ensure this is the case is by having a maintenance tune-up done on your system, if you haven’t already done so. For a furnace, this should be done once a year, and is one of the most important Tacoma, WA furnace services you can have done.

Whether you skipped maintenance, or you have an older furnace that’s already been experiencing problems, it’s important to keep your eyes out for signals that something is amiss with your heater. Calling in a pro for inspection and repairs at the first sign of trouble is the best way to ensure you won’t have too big of an interruption in service. And the good news is there are some common signs we can have you look out for! We’ll get to those in a moment.

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Beware These Signs You Need AC Repair

Monday, August 27th, 2018

An air conditioning technician welds a connection prior to installing AC unit.Our summers may not be as hot and as long as other parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch. For days on end, we’ve been using our air conditioners on a consistent basis, relying on it to get through every little heat wave we’ve had. Hopefully, you’ve gotten through the summer so far without any unexpected problems, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have to call for an AC repair in Tacoma, WA before summer ends.

Fortunately, most cooling system repair issues show signs well before they force the system to break down, giving you plenty of time to give us a call. On that note, please never try to formally diagnose or repair a faulty air conditioner yourself. We say this because your air conditioner contains potentially dangerous components, such as refrigerant, and handling these components requires years of training, experience, and education. You can, however, spot the signs you need repair. Below are just a few of these signs you can watch out for.

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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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How Healthy Is the Air You Breathe?

Monday, July 30th, 2018

Portrait of a pretty relaxed middle aged woman with laptop on couch , looking awayMaybe you already know that you should replace the filter in your air conditioner every 1–3 months during periods of use. What you probably don’t know, however, is that this small maintenance task doesn’t do anything for your indoor air quality.

That’s right, your HVAC system air filter is there to protect the system itself from being pummeled by dust and other debris. When that air filter gets too clogged, it can block airflow and make your air conditioner work much harder (inefficiently so) to do its job. This is why we recommend changing it—or cleaning it, if you have a permanent filter—every 1–3 months.

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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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