Shutting off your home air conditioner and sleeping with the windows open seems like a great way to save energy. After all, doesn't it make sense to give your HVAC a break when the sun goes down and temperatures drop? Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Sleeping with the windows open is just one of many HVAC mistakes that can unknowingly driving up your monthly utility bill. Keep reading to find out lesser-known mistakes that are costing you money.

Sleeping With Windows Open

Residents of the Pacific Northwest know the joy of cracking a window on summer nights. While people should enjoy a night of fresh air from time to time, it's essential to be aware of potentially higher energy costs.

When you leave your windows open all night, you essentially undo all the hard work air conditioning or heat pump system has done to cool your home. During the day, the air conditioning system works to remove heat and humidity from the indoor air. If the outside air is even one degree warmer than your home's internal temperature, the system will have to work harder to restore your desired temperature.

Additionally, outside air usually contains more humidity than the inside air, leaving your rooms feeling stuffy and uncomfortable. Humidity makes temperatures feel warmer than they actually are. If you let your home get too damp, you might feel inclined to compensate by setting your thermostat to an even lower temperature, increasing HVAC system workload, thus making it a major HVAC mistake.

Some research has revealed the optimal conditions for sleeping with open windows. If the outside temperature is about 70 degrees and humidity levels are low, you can crack a window overnight. However, try to shut them as early as possible in the morning to keep outside moisture and sunlight from increasing your internal temperatures.

Let Bob’s Heating take care of your system and keep your spaces comfortable all year round!

Climate control is an essential part of building a welcoming environment to enjoy with your family. Whether you are trying to create a cozy, comfortable  room on a cold winter’s night in the greater Seattle area or keeping your spaces cool on a hot summer day, a reliable and advanced HVAC system is essential.

To get the systems that satisfy your home's unique needs, reach out to a professional HVAC company that can walk you through the whole process. Bob's Heating has decades of experience and is ready to update your HVAC technology to ensure you always get the living experience you deserve. Keep reading our blog to learn three must-know details to keep in mind when updating an HVAC system.

At first thought, it may seem like you cannot go overboard with air conditioning. After all, the whole point of having an AC is to control the air temperature in your home and you can hardly have too much control now, can you? Well as it turns out, if you figure in the cost of installation and running the unit, there are situations where your AC is oversized for your home. To answer the question "How much AC do I need?" you need to factor in various aspects and understand the airflow in your home. So, to help you out, we will cover these aspects and help you determine the right amount of air conditioning for your household.

Understanding How Air Conditioners Work

For measuring the effectiveness of air conditioning, we use BTUs. A British Thermal Unit is a measurement that shows how much heat an AC unit can remove from the airspace within one hour. The recommended BTU per square foot is 20. With that in mind, there are a couple more factors to consider…

Room

To properly cool a room, you must consider its size and purpose. Take the square footage of the room and multiply it by 20. That is the recommended BTU for your AC. Before you opt for a unit, remember that it is usually better to go a bit above your recommended BTU than below. This is especially true if your room gets a lot of natural light or if it’s a common gathering area for your family. Kitchens and laundry rooms will also require stronger air conditioning, as the appliances in them will produce heat on their own.

House

If you plan on cooling the entire home with a single AC unit, you will have to consider the layout of your home. The more freely air can flow through your home, the easier it will be to cool it off. Just like with rooms, you can choose to multiply the size of your house by 20 to understand the amount of BTUs required to cool your whole home. Large-scale AC systems use “tons” for measurement, where one ton equals 12,000 BTUs.

Local Climate

Another critical aspect to consider is the local climate. Namely, if you live in a warmer climate, you may need a more powerful air conditioning unit. On the other hand, if you live in a cooler coastal climate, you might need to consider the unit’s specific protective coating to prevent sea air erosion.

The Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning Team Wants to Help You Stay Safe & Energy-Efficient

It’s getting hot, hot, hot! There’s no need to struggle with being uncomfortable in your Seattle-area home this summer - or any season - when you’ve got Bob’s on your side. 

When it comes to cooling services, Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning has you covered this summer and year-round! Keep reading below to discover what you can do when you experience an AC issue, need maintenance, or need to reassess your cooling needs.

Highly Efficient Ductless Units Bring Comfort Where You Need It

You want to experience cool rooms during the height of this summer’s heat. If your home can’t provide that relief, you’re stuck feeling uncomfortable and searching for cool air! And if your home or room additions don’t have ductwork, then you might consider central AC out of reach for your Woodinville, WA, property. However, ductless AC services from Bob’s Heating deliver the comfort you need for every area of your home.

Create an inviting space for your family and friends without the need for ductwork installation in rooms that would require air conditioning. Want to learn more about our services and support? Keep reading below. 

Who doesn't love home devices that make life comfortable, convenient, and conscientious? Smart thermostats provide all three by maintaining the ideal temperature for your home, offering access from anywhere, and reducing your carbon footprint. As you begin your search for the perfect smart thermostat, it’s important to arm yourself with the right information. There are a few lesser-known things you should keep in mind before upgrading, so read on to learn more.

Choose Your Upgrade Timing Wisely

Everyone loves saving energy, and it makes sense to swap to an energy-saving thermostat sooner rather than later to save the most energy. While it's tempting to make the switch to a more energy-efficient thermostat right before you'll most need it, like in the thick of summer or dead of winter or before you host a family gathering, that's not always the best time. If things go wrong during a DIY installation, you might be stuck without a functioning HVAC system until you can get it fixed. It might be better to wait for milder weather. If you've got any concerns about the installation, consider calling in a professional from Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning.

Check For Compatibility Before Buying a Smart Thermostat

When shopping for a new thermostat, it's important to check for compatibility with your existing HVAC system. Most smart thermostats require "low voltage" 24-volt HVAC systems, often called "central heat" or "central air." You likely have this type of system if:

Was your Seattle, WA HVAC system overloaded last summer? Don't let it happen again! 

When it is hot outside, it is much more difficult to ool your home, and your HVAC system has to work much harder. When the heat doesn’t let up, your HVAC system gets overworked. Recent summer heatwaves have made some air conditioners overload and lock at the worst possible time. So what can you do to prevent your HVAC system from failing due to overuse? Read on to learn more about HVAC troubleshooting. 

Spend Time Together While Taking in the City Sights & Places

When the winter season is here, and the weather is less than accommodating, it’s easy to forget just how much fun and adventure you can seek outdoors. But now, with summer getting into full swing, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of all that the greater Seattle area has to offer! From baseball games to local wineries, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this season.

We’ve compiled together a list of the top Seattle summer activities that you, your family, and friends can take part in now and some even all year long! Want to find out more about how you can best experience the city? Keep reading below.

Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash

While the summer months might bring a break for most of us, it's the hardest-working time of year for your HVAC equipment's cooling components. To help keep your AC running all summer, we've compiled some easy tasks that every homeowner can do to prepare their air conditioner or HVAC system for summer. Ready to save money and feel more comfortable? Keep reading to learn how to get your AC ready for summer.

Why Do You Need to Prepare Your HVAC Equipment For Summer?

The last thing you want is your air conditioner to break down in the middle of a heat wave. If your air conditioner has been dormant for most of the year, you shouldn't expect it to work at total capacity with the flick of a switch.

Understanding how the average central air conditioning system works will help you make an HVAC summer maintenance plan.

The cooling process starts inside the home with the evaporator. This part of the system absorbs heat, converts it to gas, and sends it to the compressor, located in its outdoor unit. The compressor and the condenser work together to cast away heat so the cooling properties can work effectively.

4 Tips to Bring Cleaner Air to Your Washington Home

They say you can’t have the bad without the good. Here in Western Washington and the greater Puget Sound, our state’s majestic nature also brings along irritating seasonal allergies. Common allergens like ragweed, tree pollen, grass pollen, and mold spores fill the air, causing itchy, watery eyes, sore throats, and stuffy noses.

If your family in the Sammamish, WA area experiences seasonal allergies, there are steps you can take to make your home’s air more breathable. With indoor air quality systems and proper care for your AC unit, you’ll eliminate allergens and feel better indoors. 

Tired of combatting allergies year after year? Then consider these tips to improve your home’s airflow!

Clean Air Helps You and Your Family Enjoy a Good Night’s Sleep

How did you sleep last night? The quality of your sleep affects nearly everything the following day – from your energy levels to your interactions with others. So, when you can’t get the refreshing and rejuvenating sleep that your mind and body crave, you’ll start to notice the effects.

But what if you can’t achieve that restful sleep in your own home in the Greater Seattle area? Perhaps the problem is in the air quality! When your home’s air filtration isn’t up to par, it can affect you and your family’s sleep. Regular duct cleaning services from Bob’s Heating help eliminate airborne pollutants and improve your home’s overall air quality in Woodinville, WA and beyond.

Our top-notch duct cleaning services promote wellness throughout your entire home. Want to find out more? Keep reading below to learn about our reliable, high-end services and solutions.

Reduce Allergy Symptoms and Polluted Air in Your Sammamish, WA Residence with a Portable Air Purifier

Although it may seem that your home is impeccably clean, the air can be up to 5 times more polluted than the air outside your house due to little or no natural air circulation. The downside is that this causes pollutants to accumulate in different rooms and spaces of your home. To keep air quality high in your residence it is necessary to keep it purified and well ventilated. During allergy seasons such as summer and spring, if you do not maintain air circulation, carbon dioxide and pollutants can accumulate and possibly become harmful to your family's health. Read on to learn about the benefits and options available to keep your family healthy with a portable air purifier in Sammamish, WA.

Having a portable air purifier means breathing clean and properly filtered air anywhere in your home. Aside from this obvious benefit, there are some other advantages of having a portable air purifier at home that you should consider.

One small change can make all the difference!

The spring and summer seasons can mean that many outdoor pollutants are making their way into your home HVAC system, such as dust, pollen, small debris particles, and even smoke due to wildfires. It is important to have proper indoor air filtration to combat these elements and improve air quality inside your home. Having clean HVAC air filters in your home here in the Pacific Northwest is crucial to keep the air pure and protect the health of you and your family. Although it may seem like a mundane thing to do, air filters should be taken more seriously because the well-being of you and your family can depend on them. Below you can learn more about air filter replacement benefits and about our air filter replacement program to get a new filter sent directly to your home every 90 days.

Pros of changing your conventional home water heater for a tankless water heater.

Did you know that approximately 25% of the energy used in a home comes from the water heater? Given this statistic, it seems logical that making a change to reduce your water heating costs makes sense for your pocketbook, not to mention the environment. Going with a tankless vs. traditional is one step that will not only lower your utility bills, but also improve your home's hot water capacity. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a hot shower and being interrupted by a rush of cold water! Yes, this happens when you take a long bath or shower because conventional tanks are limited to a certain amount of hot water, which is not the case with a tankless water heater.

Keep your Seattle-area home cooler without increasing electricity costs with the use of ductless mini-splits

There is nothing worse than being too hot or too cold and not being able to get a good control on the climate at home. But arguably worse is having to pay high bills for minimal use or having appliances with high electricity costs. At Bob’s Heating, we’re a leading residential HVAC company, and we take your family's comfort seriously. We offer comprehensive home air conditioning solutions, and we want you to join the hundreds of families who benefit from our services today without paying more on their bills. Want to know more about ductless mini-splits for your Seattle-area home? Read on to learn more!

Our experts break down the similarities and differences between the two

The comfort of your home can often be dependent on the quality and reliability of your HVAC system. If your space is too warm or cold, your family may wind up feeling uncomfortable. Therefore, choosing the right heating and cooling solution for your home is important. What’s the difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner? Keep reading to discover which product is a better fit for your home in Redmond, Issaquah and the Greater Eastside of Seattle.

Keep your family comfortable by working with your local trusted HVAC company

Whether you are looking to upgrade your existing home HVAC system, install a brand new one, or need maintenance performed on your current system, you need a trusted local HVAC company located in the Greater Seattle area. So how do you pick the right contractor for your project? Keep reading to learn why you should hire Bob’s as your HVAC contractor, serving the Seattle Eastside and the greater Pacific Northwest.

Keep Your Family Warm & Protected This Winter 

There’s a chill across Greater Puget Sound, and sweater weather has arrived. Winter has its charm—we love hot cocoa and twinkly lights as much as the next person. But wind and heavy rain can also wreak havoc on homes that aren’t prepared for the cold and snow. 

Is your home ready for the season? As a full service HVAC heating service provider in business in the Greater Puget Sound since 1957, we’ve seen our fair share of homes that weren’t ready for the cold.

Read on to learn how Washington winter storm preparedness can save your family from discomfort—and in some cases, disaster. 

We are looking to hire motivated individuals to join our growing team

Are you ready to start your career with a job in HVAC? Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning is currently looking to expand our team in the Puget Sound area! We have a variety of HVAC job openings, from HVAC installers to service technicians, indoor air quality specialists, and more. We offer on-the-job training, so no matter your level of experience, we would love to hear from you! Discover some of the benefits of working for Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning at our Woodinville or Fife, Washington location.

Enjoy convenient control of your home’s climate from the comfort of your couch

Colder weather is here, and homeowners across the Puget Sound region are cranking up their heat to keep their homes and families comfortable. Staying warm in your Bellevue, WA, or surrounding area home has never been easier than with a smart thermostat. With just the tap of a button, you can manage your home’s temperature, monitor your energy usage, and more. Check out our tips for using a climate control system to stay cozy in the colder weather!