Millennials are turning away from hustle culture and turning on their smart thermostats. This generation has learned the value of comfort — not just in self-care, but in how their home functions day to day. As priorities shift from status to sanctuary, HVAC upgrades and smart home tools are leading the way. I see this…
If you’re buying your first home, don’t overlook the HVAC system. Here are the key questions to ask about heating, cooling, and air quality before you close. In my first home, I had no clue about HVAC. And I had no idea at the time that my profession would be in that industry. The term…
I’m an older adult, born in the mid-1940s. So I qualify to say older adults have more HVAC concerns. I worry more now about the cost of replacement and year-round comfort. While many homeowners treat HVAC like a set-it-and-forget-it appliance, older adults tend to see things differently—and for good reason. Once you’ve lived through a…
A customer recently called me with a strange complaint: In my son’s bedroom, his HVAC duct is gurgling. Every time the HVAC fan kicked on, I’d hear a bubbling noise in the ductwork in my son’s bedroom—like an old coffee pot percolating. It didn’t sound like refrigerant noise—refrigerant lines don’t usually make that kind of…
Thermostats for dual fuel heat pumps must manage switching from electric to gas heat. Here’s what to look for and which models work best to do that. In a dual fuel system, the heat pump handles mild-weather heating but loses efficiency as temperature dip toward freezing. As the outdoor temperatures drop too low, a gas…
Here’s where you can become knowledgeable about dual fuel HVAC basics for homeowners—how they work, when they’re efficient, and when they are not. What Is a Dual Fuel HVAC System? A dual fuel HVAC system combines two heating technologies: an electric heat pump and a gas furnace. It switches between them automatically based on outdoor…
These boring HVAC statistics are not only boring, they are downright scary, and they might explain your high energy bills, poor airflow, or why your system might even suffer an early death. Few people pay attention to their HVAC system until something breaks. But when I run a “no heat” or “AC blowing warm air”…
Would you like a Prineville HVAC guide? I’m a retired HVAC professional sharing honest, unbiased advice based on over four decades of real-world experience. What Makes HVAC Different in Central Oregon? Climate Conditions You Have to Plan For Prineville’s elevation brings sharp winter lows and dry, hot summers. Heating and cooling systems here need to…
Outdoor mini split wind baffles protect your unit from strong wind and snow. Learn when they’re needed and how to build or install one the right way. We live in the high desert of Central Oregon. Wind can be a huge obstacle for these little mini splits to draw air through the coils against a…