You’re evaluating a heat pump vs gas furnace efficiency, as you should. They are both great products and need a lot of consideration. My own opinion is: A heat pump heats and cools, and a gas furnace with AC heats and cools. If natural gas is not available, buy a heat pump. If natural gas…
Running a conventional air conditioner in the winter can cause the indoor coil to ice over, blocking the air flow through the home. A crankcase heater and an ambient control can be added to slow or intermittently stop the outdoor fan which raises the condensing temperature and keeps the indoor coil from freezing. Low ambient…
Homeowners can do gas piping on a personal residence. A few rules apply.
Yes, in most jurisdictions, you can do your own gas line installation. It’s a great DIY project, and it can be done very safely. You need to get a mechanical permit. Install the piping with a pressure test on the pipe and get an inspection to approve the installation. With an approved inspection, you can…
Lemon laws don’t usually cover HVAC units, but some states include protections for faulty heating and cooling systems. Here’s what you need to know. Lemon laws can vary from state to state. These laws protect consumers mostly from defective cars and trucks. A federal law called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits companies from disclaiming their…
A seismic gas shut-off valve is a simple device that mounts on the gas line next to your gas meter. Let me explain how simple and effective this device is: In the event of an earthquake the steel ball inside the device falls off its pedestal and plugs the gas line, stopping gas flow into…
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill. If your furnace tech says you have a cracked heat exchanger it doesn’t mean that your house is filling with carbon monoxide. Never gamble with this question. Get an inspection by a qualified service professional. Don’t confuse CO with CO₂. Carbon monoxide (CO) is…
I’m offering 7 reasons why there is no air blowing from vents in your house. These are the most common problems that restrict air from coming out of your vents. Furnaces or air handlers, as the industry calls them, are limited by the amount of air they can deliver through the duct work. The amount…
Over time, dust gets past your air filter and into your ac coil. As condensation drips down your ac coil into the condensation drain pan some of those same impurities flow down the condensate drain and into the trap where they set and turn to a drain plugging sludge. Some of this same sludge collects…