Heat Pump Technology Explained

October 20, 2020

When it’s time to replace your heating or cooling system, consider getting a heat pump. In moderate environments like that of Peoria, IL, heat pumps offer energy efficiency and convenience. These systems offer both heating and cooling functions, and you might wonder how they can do that. Here are the details of how a heat pump works to keep your home comfortable all year long.   Cooling Phase 1 The heat pump’s liquid refrigerant passes through the indoor coil. Air from your home is blown across it. From there, the refrigerant absorbs the heat. The cooled air then passes through the ducts. The liquid refrigerant turns into a gas. Cooling Phase 2 The refrigerant goes through the compressor, which pressurizes the gas. It gets hotter and moves to the outdoor coil. From there, the heat is released into the outdoor air. The refrigerant condenses back into its liquid form. At this point, the refrigerant is ready to move into the evaporator coil again. These phases complete a heat pump’s cooling cycle.   Heating Phase 1 To heat your home, the heat pump’s reversing valve reverses the refrigerant cycle. The source of heat is now the outdoor air. Even air temperatures...

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Should I Get an End-of-Season AC Tune-Up?

September 19, 2020

Having a reliable air conditioner is very important for those all over the Peoria, IL, area. To ensure that your air conditioner stays efficient and effective, you need to have regular maintenance and repairs completed. One important service to take advantage of is an end-of-season air conditioner tune-up. There are four important reasons why you should have this service done. 1. Ensures Repairs are Made One advantage of a service at the end of the season is it will ensure that all necessary repairs are made. During this service, can fully inspect your system to make sure all parts are working well. If necessary, we can also make repairs to ensure it continues to work well and is prepared for the next summer season. 2. Save on Energy Bills Toward the end of the summer months and into early fall, most people would expect that the weather would cool down. However, those that have been in Peoria long enough know that hot days can continue far into fall. When you have your AC tuned up, you can be assured that it will be running efficiently. 3. Improve Air Quality In many situations, an air conditioner tune-up service will also include...

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Will Air Purifiers Help with Musty Smell?

August 11, 2020

If you’ve noticed a musty smell in your home, it could be due to mold growth in hidden areas. Having an air purifier running in places that smell musty can not only remove the smell but can also improve the health of the air in the space. It’s important to have an air purifier with an activated carbon filter in order to remove odors from the air circulating in your home. Benefits of Air Purifiers The molds that create musty smells can also decrease the quality of the air in your home. This can cause health issues in both the short and long term. Activated Carbon Filters Air purifiers can come with activated carbon filters. These filters are highly porous and have a lot of surface area. They’re able to remove gasses from the air through adsorption. The filter will hold on to the odor-causing gasses until they are replaced. Proper Air Purifier Maintenance Getting the properly sized air purifier in your home can help you prevent musty smells in your rooms. It’s important to keep them properly maintained so that they can operate as efficiently as possible. Activated carbon filters need to be checked every month and replaced on...

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How to Read HVAC Gauges

July 16, 2020

HVAC gauges can be a valuable tool for telling you how a system is functioning. These tools are very useful for troubleshooting any heating or cooling system with refrigerant. However, it can be a little tricky to tell what the gauges all mean at first glance. To actually get useful information, you will need to learn how to read these gauges. Reading Analog Gauges The most common type of HVAC gauge is simply the classic analog readout. This style has needles that swivel around to tell the level of pressure in the AC system. The blue gauge will tell you the low-pressures while the red gauge will tell you the high-pressures. In addition to low-pressure and high-pressure chamber gauges, some gauges will also have a readout for the compressor output. Keep in mind that the base numbers will give you some information, but a lot of the data will rely on additional variables like the temperature of the refrigerant. When using an analog gauge, you may need to do some calculations to get a full picture of the system’s condition. Reading Digital Gauges Reading a digital gauge is even simpler. These gauges can calculate values like subcooling and overheating automatically....

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How Does Air Filtration Work?

June 16, 2020

Many people believe that indoor air is cleaner than the air outside. However, this is often not the case. Your indoor air may be full of small particulates, invisible gases and even tiny microbes. The air filters that are placed over your air system intake vents remove some of these particles, but utilizing an additional, complete filtration system will provide better purification by removing more of the common pollutants present in your indoor air. Small Particles Small particles are constantly circulating throughout your home. These minuscule particles are made up of dust, fibers, pollen, pet dander, allergens, fungal spores, bacteria and other types of tiny substances. Much of this will be trapped by your traditional air system filter, but a lot of the finer dust will pass through and recirculate. Over time, these particles will accumulate as they continue to be passed through your air system. An additional portable or whole-house filtration and air purification system will use more specific and higher-quality filters to trap these particles. The options range from pleated filters to electrically charged filtration, and they do an excellent job of removing a much higher percentage of particles from your indoor air. Gases and VOCs Besides the...

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How to Reduce AC Power Consumption

May 13, 2020

Your air conditioner will be working hard to keep you and your family cool this summer, so you want to make sure it does its job efficiently. The following steps can help you lower your AC’s energy consumption. Change the Air Filters The filters on your return air vents trap dust, dirt, and other pollutants so that they don’t enter your air handler. Once they have reached their capacity, though, they become an obstacle to airflow. Your AC will strain to reach the set point, causing your energy bills to rise. Replacing the filters is a basic DIY task. If you’re using pleated filters, change them out every 90 days unless you own pets or someone has asthma or allergies. Clean the Evaporator Coil You don’t want the evaporator coil, which is located in the air handler, to be covered in dirt. This is one of the big reasons for filters. Despite the protection offered by them, the coil will still become caked with dirt over time. You’ll want to clean this component with a mixture of warm water and detergent. You can spray this on the coil and then wipe it down with a soft bristle brush. Purchase a...

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Ways to Prevent Sickness With Indoor Air Quality Products

April 17, 2020

Indoor spaces can create a situation in which infectious diseases can spread easily. Both viruses and bacteria can be airborne and can be spread person to person within a confined space. A variety of air purification systems can help you keep the air in your home clean and safe to breathe so that you can have peace of mind. Air Purification Systems Air purification systems can either be installed in the ductwork of your home or placed individually throughout your house. They work by moving the air through various filters in order to remove particles that could be harboring bacteria and viruses. HEPA filters are considered some of the best options for home air filters. UV Lights Installing UV lights in your HVAC system can inactivate both viruses and bacteria. The high-energy rays of the UV light can disrupt the DNA and RNA of viruses and bacteria and make sure that they can’t reproduce. Proper HVAC System Maintenance Properly maintaining your HVAC system can also help keep bacteria and viruses at bay. HVAC systems will run heated or cooled air through an air filter before releasing it back into your home. Regular maintenance for your HVAC system can ensure that...

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Are Mini-Split Units Good for Heating Purposes?

March 12, 2020

As more homeowners and businesses search for energy-efficient heating solutions, mini-split systems are receiving increased attention. At , our Peoria-area customers often ask us whether mini-split systems can heat their homes as efficiently as a traditional HVAC system. Our answer is a resounding yes! Keep reading to learn more about how your home or business can utilize a mini-split system for effective, energy-efficient heating. Mini-Split vs. Traditional HVAC Systems Traditional HVAC systems utilize a furnace or heat pump to warm air. A fan circulates the warmed air throughout the space via a network of ducts. Unlike a traditional system, mini-split systems do not have ducts. They consist of a main outdoor unit and several indoor units placed throughout the home or commercial building. When temperatures drop, a ductless heat pump distributes warm air into the home and disperses the warmed air through refrigerant lines. Advantages of Going Ductless Mini-split heating systems are ENERGY STAR-compliant. Therefore, they are far more efficient than the current U.S. government-recommended energy efficiency guidelines. Because mini-split systems are ductless, they are not susceptible to the leaks that often occur in traditional systems due to damaged and separated ducts. Not only will these systems save you money...

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How To Light a Pilot Light on a Furnace

February 13, 2020

Is your furnace pilot light off? That can be a major problem. In this article, we want to help you with three quick and easy steps to relight your furnace pilot light so that you can attempt to get your heater running again. 1. Look Closely for the Furnace’s Instructions Label The first thing to do is to examine the instructions label on your furnace if you can find it. Look all over the front and back of your unit. There should be instructions there to help guide you in the process of lighting your furnace pilot light. You also might try to Google the name and model number of your furnace, along with the word “instructions,” if you cannot find the label on the heater yourself. If all else fails, in Peoria can help you. Just give us a call, and our team will answer any questions you may have. 2. Switch the Pilot Light Off Near the very bottom of your furnace, you should see a button that says one of three things. It will either say “Pilot,” “Off,” or “On.” Find that button and turn it to the “Off” position, but that is not all you have...

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How To Save Money With a Whole-Home Humidifier

January 5, 2020

During the heating season, most of our customers are looking for ways to save money and conserve energy while remaining warm and comfortable. At , we deliver energy-efficient, cost-effective solutions to households in Peoria and the surrounding areas. One solution we recommend is installing a whole-home humidifier to save on your heating bill. Why Humidity Is Important Dry air cools you down by removing moisture from your skin. Therefore, maintaining humidity in the air will make your home feel warmer. As a result, you’ll be content setting your thermostat a few degrees lower. To keep your home comfortable, you should maintain an indoor humidity level between 35% and 50% during the months of colder weather. In addition to saving money on your energy bill, having a humidifier will also reduce dry skin, chapped lips, cracked hands and sinus irritation. Your houseplants will also benefit from having sufficient moisture in the air. Installing a Humidifier for Your Whole House There are two types of home humidifiers: portable and whole-home. Whole-home humidifiers are installed directly into your HVAC system by a licensed technician. These humidifiers work by blowing air over a moistened filter. Apart from its one-time installation, a whole-house humidifier requires...

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