Posts Tagged ‘Seattle’

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Seattle, WA Air Conditioning Repair Tip: The Importance of Professional AC Repair Service

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

When the summer heat comes to Seattle, WA, you are going to be very thankful for the efficient, reliable operation of you air conditioning system. Of course, as is the case with any other air conditioning system, there is no way that you can expect your AC to operate perfectly forever. You are going to experience some sort of trouble with your air conditioning system at some point, and when you do it is important to schedule professional Seattle, WA air conditioning repair service as soon as possible. Contact Bob’s Heating and Air conditioning today to learn more about when to schedule your AC repairs.

There are many reasons why it is important that your air conditioning repair services are completed by a qualified professional. The most obvious is that this is the only way to ensure that your air conditioning repair services are handled properly. With pretty much any problem you may experience with your air conditioner, there are many different potential causes. Not only must the exact source of your AC problem be identified, but any repercussions that this problem has had throughout your system must also be diagnosed and resolved.

Depending on how long a problem with your AC has been developing, it may have affected other areas of the system. When a professional Seattle, WA air conditioning repair technician handles your repair services, you can be sure that the cause of the problem will be resolved, rather the just the symptoms being treated. The sooner you schedule professional repair service, the better off your system is likely to be.

Plus, many warranties may be voided if you have your air conditioning serviced or repaired by a nonprofessional. If a repair is underway, and a problem is discovered that is covered by a warranty, you want to make sure that you are able to take advantage of that warranty. Paying a professional to handle your air conditioning repair is always better than chancing the quality of your service with an unqualified technician.

To schedule professional Seattle, WA air conditioning repair service, call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll make sure that your air conditioning system is repaired properly. Contact us today to learn more.

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Seattle Heat Pump FAQ: The Efficiency of a Heat Pump

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

The heat pump is one of the most energy efficiency cooling and heating systems available. Because of its ability to provide heat in the winter and cool air in the summer, it remains a versatile choice for homeowners looking to reduce their electric bills and their carbon footprint. Whether you’re in the market for a new AC or are just curious about how the heat pump works, we hope you find this post helpful. For more air conditioning information, or to schedule a consultation about your Seattle heat pump, call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today!

  • How a heat pump works. A heat pump works just like a central split air conditioner. It has an outdoor unit comprised of a condenser/compressor and an indoor unit comprised of an evaporator/air handler, along with a system of ductwork. As warm air is extracted from your home, the cool liquid refrigerant in the indoor coils evaporates (hence the name) and this cools the air, and allows the refrigerant to absorb the heat. This gas refrigerant is sent to the outdoor unit where it is heated up by the compressor, and then cooled off by the condenser coils and an exhaust fan. The cycle repeats and operates continuously. In the winter, the process is simply reverse, so that cool air is extracted and warmed.
  • SEER. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, otherwise known as SEER, seeks to estimate the cooling efficiency of a given AC by measuring the electrical energy input against the cooling output. All air conditioners, heat pumps included, are given a SEER when they are put on the AC market. It’s a fairly good estimation of your heat pump’s efficiency, although that will depend upon your ductwork and home insulation as well.
  • HSPF. Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is the cold weather equivalent of SEER, but it’s specific to air source heat pumps. It measures the heating output divided by the electrical energy input. Like SEER, HSPF is another way of understanding the potential energy efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.

Need some more info about a Seattle heat pump? Call Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning today!

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Seattle Duct Cleaning FAQ: When Should I Have My Ducts Cleaned?

Monday, April 15th, 2013

The EPA recently stated that poor indoor air quality is one of the 5 most significant risks to our health. Considering that we spend the majority of our lives indoors, it’s a wake-up call that we need to make sure the air inside our homes is fresh and pure. But modern construction techniques have long been directed towards sealing up homes to make them more energy-efficient so that they don’t lose the cooled and heated air our ducts circulate throughout them. Over time, our ductwork can accumulate dust, pollen, dander, and other debris that can significantly impact the comfort of our home. We’ve compiled a list of some signs that your home might benefit from duct cleaning. When you’re ready to get started, call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning for comprehensive Seattle duct cleaning service.

  • Dust. We all expect a certain amount of dust within our homes, but when dust gets excessive, it can quickly become irritating, particularly if you have a respiratory condition or an allergenic sensitivity. If you see dust on your duct registers or vents, then there is probably a substantially greater amount inside your ductwork. Also, if you have to wipe your furniture clean, then that could also indicate a large amount of dust in the ductwork.
  • Airflow problem. Duct cleaning is not only about improving air quality, it’s also about ensuring your airflow is optimized. Your forced-air distribution system relies on the rapid and efficient transport of heated and cooled air throughout your living space. Even seemingly insignificant amounts of debris in your ducts can reduce your energy efficiency and cause your heating and cooling systems to work harder.
  • Mold. Mold thrives in high moisture and dark conditions. Your ductwork, therefore, is an excellent environment in which mold spores can breed and spread throughout your home. Routine duct inspection and cleaning can prevent the growth of mold. It’s particularly important if you see mold on any of the visible sections of your ductwork, as this can indicate a large hidden problem.

For more information, or to schedule Seattle duct cleaning, call the experts at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today!

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Seattle WA Furnace Repair Tip: Should I Replace or Repair my Furnace?

Monday, April 8th, 2013

When you need Seattle furnace repair, make sure you call a professional. Only a professional Seattle heating contractor knows when it makes more sense to replace rather than to repair your furnace. There are certain signs that indicate that replacing your furnace might be a better option than repairing it again. It depends on the age and condition of the furnace, as well as your budget and heating needs, but it’s often better to invest in the future of your home heating than to prop up an obsolete system. For Seattle furnace repair, call the experts at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today!

Let’s find out whether you should replace or repair your furnace:

  • Age. If your furnace is over 12 years old, then you might do well to replace rather than repair it. Over the years, your furnace has undergone wear and tear and this has probably taken a significant toll. Moreover, older furnaces are nowhere near as efficient as today’s models. A new Energy Star rated gas furnace will use at least 95% of its converted energy to heat your home. While this all depends on other components of your system as well, such as your ductwork, installing a new energy efficient furnace can go a long way towards maintaining effective and efficient heating for the years to come.
  • Condition. Our furnaces tend to suffer a lot of use over the years, and even the most well treated system may eventually find itself in need of major repair. If your furnace requires frequent repairs, then it’s likely that furnace replacement might make more financial sense. You want your furnace to be reliable, and your existing furnace may no longer be able to fulfil that need. You should also consider that furnace problems often lead to significant decreases in energy efficiency. You may be able to recoup a significant portion of your furnace heater by cutting down on your heating bill from month to month.

Knowing when to replace and when to repair your furnace requires the advice of a professional. Only someone who knows furnaces and how they work will be able to offer a proper solution. For Seattle furnace repair, call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today!

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Seattle Heating Repair Tip: Causes of Common Heat Pump Noises

Monday, April 1st, 2013

The installation of a heat pump is a great way to heat and cool your home in a more efficient manner. Heat pumps are renowned for their energy efficiency, as well as their considerable durability and dependability. Like any other home heating and cooling system, of course, heat pumps may encounter a few operational problems over the years.

Many homeowners allow problems to worsen because they think they are not serious enough to contact a Seattle heating repair technician. In truth, any irregularity with your heat pump, including the development of strange sounds, should be investigated by a professional. Call the heat pump technicians at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning right away.

One sound that many homeowners hear coming from their heat pumps is a chirping noise. This is most likely not a serious issue, but should still be checked out by a qualified professional. There is a good chance that this is caused by dry bearings or a worn belt in the heat pump. By lubricating the necessary components or replacing the belt the problem can be resolved.

Rattling noises are also quite common and, like most other heat pump problems, may have a variety of causes. A fan blade may be bent, or a panel on your system may have worked loose. It is also possible that your fan blade is bent or misaligned. A professional heat pump technician can tell you for sure.

Problems with vital components, such as the compressor in your heat pump, are a bit more serious. If, for instance, you hear a knocking sound coming from your heat pump, the compressor may be worn out or a valve may be stuck. Given time, these problems can put your heat pump at serious risk of further damage and should be repaired as soon as possible.

Contact the Seattle heat pump technicians at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more about the causes of common heat pump noises. Our team highly skilled, professional Seattle heating technicians can handle any heat pump repair service you may need. Contact Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today for more information.

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Seattle WA Heating Tip: How to Interpret Heat Pump Efficiency Ratings

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Every heating and air conditioning system has its own set own set of efficiency ratings that lets consumers know how much energy the unit will use to heat or cool their home. If you’re in the process of buying a new heat pump it can be confusing to try to navigate your way through all of these different efficiency ratings. Contact the Seattle heat pump experts at Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning if you’re having any trouble with picking out a heat pump for your home. Here is a quick explanation of efficiency ratings for heat pumps that can help you one your way.

Heat Pump Cooling Rating

Heat pumps are pretty amazing pieces of equipment because they can provide both heating and cooling. Because of that they have 2 separate efficiency ratings: one for cooling and one for heating. In cooling mode, your heat pump operates exactly like a central air conditioning system—it removes heat from your home and exhausts it outside. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is used to describe the efficiency of cooling systems. The minimum SEER rating to achieve Energy Star approval is 14.5 although there are AC systems and heat pumps that can achieve higher than that. The SEER measure how much cooling a unit can provide over a season divided by the amount of energy it uses to do so.

Some heat pumps are given an Energy Efficient Ratio (EER) rating which is very similar to the SEER rating. However, instead of measuring cooling and energy usage during an entire season, the EER just measures performance under a given set of circumstances. The EER tells you how efficient the system is when it’s 95° F outside and 85° F inside with 50% relative humidity.

Heat Pump Heating Rating

In heating mode, heat pumps are given a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). The HSPF most closely resembles the SEER rating in that it measures the unit’s heating output over a season divided by the energy it uses. In order to achieve an Energy Start rating a heat pump must at least have an HSPF rating of 9.5.

For all your Seattle heating services contact the friendly experts at Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

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Seattle Duct Cleaning Tip: How to Keep Your Air Ducts Clean in the Spring

Monday, March 11th, 2013

If you are looking for Seattle duct cleaning services, call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning. Keeping your air ducts clean has many benefits, including improved indoor air quality, ensuring proper airflow, and helping reduce wear and tear on your AC system. Keeping your ductwork clean is as easy as calling Bob’s for a professional duct cleaning service.

While you can help keep your ducts clean by vacuuming them out each spring or fall, having a professional duct cleaning will ensure that the ductwork in your home gets a comprehensive cleaning. Our technicians also look for signs of damage or other issues during these cleanings, or during your annual inspection and AC tune-up.

A professional duct cleaning service should take several hours to complete if it is done properly. Don’t be fooled by the many scams out there. Your contractor should use special brushes and other equipment to thoroughly clean out the entire duct system. When you hire NATE-certified technicians, you can be sure that you are getting quality work.

Other ways to ensure that your ducts stay as clean as possible is to have them repaired and sealed when necessary, especially if they are located in any unconditioned spaces in your home. Changing your air filters will also help to keep dirt, dust, and other particles out of your air ducts, as well as the compressor. Cleaning the coils and other surfaces of your AC system is another way to ensure that your system continues to run efficiently.

If you want other tips or need to schedule a duct cleaning service, call the Seattle duct cleaning experts at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning any time. Contact Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today!

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Seattle WA Air Conditioning Tip: Advantages of AC Heat Pump Maintenance

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Though you may not realize it, your air conditioning system is actually a heat pump: it pumps heat out of your home to the outside. During the winter, your air conditioning system likely remain dormant for several months. Because of that inactivity, some problems could arise if you just suddenly start using your air conditioning system when it heats up. Getting your AC system tuned up and inspected by a Seattle air conditioning professional has huge benefits to you. At Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning, we provide complete air conditioning heat pump maintenance in Seattle, WA. We wanted to help our customers by putting together a quick list of some of the benefits to getting regular maintenance for your AC system.

Heat Pump Maintenance in Seattle WA

During the winter your air conditioning system sits outside in the hard conditions. Because of those many months of inactivity there are a few problems that can start to arise. Debris like dirt, snow, ice, leaves and branches can work their way inside your air conditioning system. Also, rodents and insects can take up residence in your air conditioning system which can cause huge damage. Without professional inspection those issues would go unnoticed until your air conditioning system stopped working.

One of the main benefits of air conditioning heat pump maintenance in Seattle, WA is that it might be able to reduce the need for costly air conditioning repair. Many AC problems start has small issues. During regular maintenance visits, your AC technician will be able to find those things and repair them before they cause further damage.

Another tremendous advantage to regular air conditioning heat pump maintenance is that it could extend the life of your equipment. We often get called to replace air conditioning systems that were destroyed by a small problem that could have been fixed. When you have an expert inspecting your air conditioning system they can find those things and potentially extend the life of your AC system.

For all your air conditioning repairs in Seattle, WA and air conditioning maintenance call the friendly experts at Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning. We can work on any type of air conditioning system. Contact Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning today!

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Seattle Duct Cleaning FAQ: How Can Duct Cleaning Improve Efficiency?

Monday, February 25th, 2013

One goal that many homeowners share is the attempt to heat and cool their homes in the most efficient way possible. Improving energy efficiency is a great way to both reduce your environmental impact and to save money on energy costs. If you are interested in boosting energy efficiency in your home contact Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning. Duct cleaning in Seattle may be the solution to your inefficiency problems. Our air duct cleaning experts have the years of training and experience necessary to thoroughly clean your air ducts. Let us help you increase heating and air conditioning efficiency.

If you use a forced air distribution system to circulate conditioned air throughout your home then you rely on the performance of your air ducts more than you may even realize. Every bit of heated and cooled air that you use to keep your home comfortable travels through this distribution system. If there are problems with airflow in this system then your heater and air conditioner must work harder to distribute air throughout your home. The harder your system must work the less efficient it will be.

While it would take a major blockage for dirt and debris to completely restrict the flow of air through your ductwork, there are a number of ways in which it can reduce efficiency. If your air ducts are dirty then they will clog up your air filters more quickly than normal. If your air filters are too dirty they will restrict air flow and increase the strain on your home comfort systems to compensate.

Dirty air ducts will also allow dirt and dust to get into your other HVAC equipment. This can result in decreased efficiency and can even cause damage to your heating and cooling equipment. If you are worried about the condition of your ductwork call the professional duct cleaning technicians at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning.

Don’t let dirty air ducts drive up energy costs in your home. Call Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule high-quality duct cleaning services. We’ll help you increase energy efficiency in Seattle.

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Seattle Duct Cleaning and Duct Design Tips

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning offers duct design and duct cleaning in Seattle and throughout the surrounding areas. Many homeowners don’t realize the importance of duct design and proper duct cleaning. That’s why we’ve provided this blog post with a list of reasons you should have someone you can trust design and professionally clean the ductwork in your home. Call us if you have further questions.

Efficiency

Proper duct design ensures that there’s enough airflow to maintain the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. By the same token, dirty air ducts do not allow for enough airflow. Don’t be scammed by a contractor who will charge you for sub-par services. There are many scams out there that offer cheaper or faster results, but you will not get the full benefit of the cleaning if it isn’t done properly.

Indoor Air Quality

In addition to improving overall home efficiency, duct cleaning can help improve indoor air quality. Ducts that are poorly designed can also impact indoor air quality. They can more easily get damaged or be installed in areas that are unfinished, and this creates the potential for common indoor air pollutants getting inside the air ducts and being redistributed throughout your home.

Extends the Life of Your Heating and AC System

When there’s enough airflow due to proper duct design or a duct cleaning service, then your heating and AC system doesn’t have to work as hard. This extends the life of the equipment and helps prevent premature replacements, as well as costly repairs. That saves you money in the long run!

Call the Seattle, WA duct cleaning experts at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. for all your duct cleaning and duct design needs. Contact Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning today!

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