How a Heat Pump Can Keep You Cool in the Summer

Many homeowners believe that heat pumps only work in the winter, delivering heat to keep their homes warm. However, heat pumps also offer efficient cooling in the summer as well. To clear up the misconception, here’s an overview of how a heat pump can keep you and your home cool in the summer. What Is a Heat Pump? To understand the cooling capabilities of a heat pump, you must first understand a bit about what a heat pump is and how it operates. A heat pump exploits the refrigeration cycle to move heat from one place to another. It uses a refrigerant—commonly R-410A or R-134A—to absorb heat while it passes through one set of coils before carrying the refrigerant to another to release it. The trick is that a heat pump can operate in either direction, either collecting heat from the outdoor air or expelling it there instead. Summertime Heat Pump Operation In the summer, a heat pump operates just like a standard air conditioner. The cooling cycle starts when the refrigerant passes through an expansion valve, turning it into a cold, low-pressure liquid-vapor mixture. That mixture then passes through an evaporator coil inside your home while a fan circulates...

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3 Important Tips for Preparing Your HVAC System for Summer

Summer is right around the corner, which means now is the time to start planning to make sure your HVAC system is ready to handle the heat and keep your home cool. If not, you may find that your cooling system won’t turn on or can’t cool your home effectively. With that in mind, here are some simple tips for helping prepare your HVAC system for summer. 1. Replace or Wash the Air Filter Replacing or washing the air filter regularly is by far one of the most important HVAC maintenance tasks and is something that should always be done every one to three months. The same filter that works for your cooling system also functions when your heating is running, which is why you should always wash or replace the filter before turning your cooling system on for the first time each year. A dirty filter will restrict airflow and cause the system to cool much more slowly and use more energy. It can also lead to the evaporator coil freezing or a variety of other issues, all of which make it essential that you replace or clean the filter regularly. 2. Inspect the Outdoor HVAC Unit Before turning...

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What to Know About Choosing the Right AC Size for Your Home

Purchasing a new air conditioner for your Eatonton, GA home might seem as easy as visiting a big box store and taking advantage of the latest deal. After all, simple online charts list the recommended BTUs for air conditioners based solely on the square footage of houses. However, if you want your new air conditioner to work efficiently and last as long as it’s supposed to, you should leave the selection process in the hands of qualified HVAC professionals. The following are several reasons why. Square Footage Alone Can’t Determine the Best AC Size for Your Home When HVAC contractors determine air conditioner sizes, square footage is just one of the numerous factors they consider. They also account for the layout of homes, the number of people in the household, and the total area being serviced by these units. Ceiling heights, insulation, and even window types matter too. These factors are weighed together using a complex formula called the Manual J Load Calculation. The calculation is so complex that many HVAC companies rely on software to ensure that nothing is overlooked and that the answer is accurate. Installing the Wrong Air Conditioner Can Prove Costly Air conditioners that are too...

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4 Ways Poor Indoor Air Ventilation Can Negatively Affect Your Health

Indoor air quality plays a key role in creating a healthy environment at your home or business. Unfortunately, poor indoor air ventilation can result in significant negative effects on your health. Understanding how poor indoor air ventilation negatively impacts your well-being is essential to avoiding common mistakes. Here are four ways that poor indoor air ventilation can create a negative impact on your overall health. 1. Respiratory Problems Poor indoor air quality can often lead to respiratory problems, whether it’s allergies, asthma, or other lung diseases. The accumulation of dust, allergens, and pollutants within an enclosed space can trigger respiratory issues and make it difficult to breathe. Opening a few windows in your home and turning on ceiling fans can help ventilate your house. 2. Increase Risk of Illness A lack of ventilation in your house can cause an increase in the concentration of harmful pollutants and pathogens in the air. Over time, this can increase the chance of illnesses such as colds, flu, and other respiratory infections. Poor ventilation can also increase the risk of airborne transmission of infectious diseases. 3. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning A poorly ventilated space can lead to the accumulation of carbon monoxide, which is a...

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How to Replace the Air Filter in Your Furnace

Replacing your furnace filter is one of the most important HVAC maintenance tasks and something you should always do at least once every 4 to 12 weeks. A dirty air filter will restrict how much air can flow into your furnace and lead to it producing far less heat. Dirty air filters are also the number one cause of overheating and other furnace issues. If you’ve never replaced your filter or are unsure how to do it, here is everything you need to know. Important Things to Remember When Replacing a Furnace Filter In most HVAC systems, the filter is located inside the return air duct directly next to your furnace. However, there is also a chance that the filter is located behind your return air grille instead. In some cases, there may be a filter in both locations. No matter where your filter is located, the process for replacing it is basically the same. All you need to do is slide or pull the old, dirty filter out and put the new one in its place. If your filter is in the return duct next to your furnace, you need to make sure you slide it in as far...

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Indoor Air Quality and Humidity Levels During the Winter

If you suspect that you have humidity levels that are too high or too low in the winter, you will see effects on your indoor air quality. There are many unhealthy effects when the air quality in your home isn’t good, especially in the winter when you are home all the time. Our team at can always help you find a solution to your winter humidity issues. We proudly serve Eatonton, Georgia and surrounding areas. Low Humidity If the humidity in your home is too low in the winter, you will notice that your indoor air quality is bad. The air doesn’t feel as clean. Your skin and scalp may itch, and you may start to see items in your home dry out or even crack over time. Additionally, you may also notice more dust collecting in your home. It can also cause your hair to have more static. High Humidity The effects on indoor air quality from high humidity are a health hazard because it can cause mold and mildew growth. If there is mold, it will release spores and reproduce quickly. You can inhale the spores and then get allergic reactions. People in your household can also have...

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Electric or Gas? Which Type of Furnace is Right for You?

If you’re in the market for a new furnace, you may be considering whether to go with a gas or electric model. Both types of furnaces offer several benefits, but choosing which is right for your home depends on several factors. The following can help you with your decision. Benefits of Gas Furnaces Gas furnaces are very popular in the United States. One of the reasons for this is that natural gas is readily available across the country. Natural gas is also relatively inexpensive, and prices often stay quite consistent, which isn’t the case with electricity. Compared to electricity, gas can cost approximately 50% to 70% percent less, depending on where you live. Another benefit of gas furnaces is their efficiency. Modern gas furnaces can be 98% efficient, so practically no energy is wasted during operation. You can also enjoy very quick heating with gas systems, no matter how cold it is. Benefits of Electric Furnaces One of the main benefits of an electric furnace is added safety. Because no combustible fuels are used, they come with reduced fire risk, and you don’t have to worry about carbon monoxide leaks. This can give you greater peace of mind when operating...

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Can a Dehumidifier Help to Improve Your Home’s Comfort This Winter?

Since winter in Eatonton often brings with it dry skin and chapped lips, it’s hard to imagine needing less humidity in your life. However, when it comes to your home, a dehumidifier may make sense even when the temperature outside is cold enough for snow. Understanding how and when to use a dehumidifier in your home will help you maintain a comfortable indoor environment throughout the winter. Check out these tips from to ensure you don’t have a soggy home this winter. Adding Dehumidification During the summer, most homes don’t need a dehumidifier because they have their AC running. Your home’s air conditioner dehumidifies the air as the warm, moist air flows over the cold metal of the refrigerant line. The cold metal condenses the water in the air and collects it in a drain to be sent outside. Since your air conditioner doesn’t run during the winter, you lose its dehumidification capabilities. However, water vapor is still entering the air. This can create a humid indoor environment that feels uncomfortable and creates ideal conditions for mold growth. Problems Caused by High Humidity Ignoring the problem of high humidity in your home can have serious consequences. Excess moisture can cause...

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5 Common Reasons Why Your Furnace Will Not Stay On

A furnace plays a critical role in keeping the indoor temperature of your indoor environment at a comfortable level. It works by blowing heated air via ducts that deliver warm air to different parts of your home. However, your furnace may experience issues like refusing to stay lit. Read on to learn why your furnace will not remain on. 1. Faulty Thermostat A thermostat is responsible for controlling your furnace. If you have a faulty thermostat that is sending the wrong information, your furnace may refuse to stay lit. Recalibrating your thermostat to ensure it works well is the main remedy in this case. 2. Overheating Your furnace has a temperature range necessary for operation. If your unit overheats and passes the threshold temperature for operation, it will switch off. Cleaning filters, opening vents and ensuring free airflow in your system are significant measures you can take to prevent overheating. 3. Inadequate Combustion Air A furnace needs a given amount of combustible air to operate. An inadequate amount of air can make your unit malfunction and stop running. Ensuring there is enough air in your building can eliminate this issue. You can introduce more air by opening doors and windows...

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Top Reasons Why Your Commercial HVAC Smells Bad

Imagine walking into your office or business and being hit with an unpleasant smell. You look around to see the source of the stench, and you realize it’s coming from your commercial HVAC system. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know how bothersome it can be. The smell is unpleasant and can also be a sign that something is wrong with your HVAC system. Here are the top reasons why your commercial HVAC smells bad. 1. Dirty Air Filters Dirty air filters are the most common reason for a bad smell coming from your HVAC system. When the air filters are clogged with dirt, dust, and other debris, they can’t do their job properly. It causes the air inside your building to recirculate, leading to musty or stale smells. To avoid this, check and replace your air filters regularly. 2. Mold or Mildew Growth Another common reason for bad smells from commercial HVAC systems is mold or mildew growth. Molds mostly result from excess moisture in the system, leading to mold and mildew spores taking hold and growing. Not only do these growths release bad smells into the air, but they can also be harmful to your health if you...

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