Sunset Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Olympia’

How Duct Repairs Can Boost HVAC Efficiency

Monday, February 5th, 2024
technician-performing-air-duct-testing

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These are the 3 major components needed to keep your home comfortable year-round. Guess which one of these is often neglected when it comes to home comfort? You’re correct in thinking that it’s ventilation.

The “V” in HVAC refers to how your HVAC system delivers the conditioned air to the rooms of your home. Your ductwork may have been top-notch when it was first installed, but it can wear down over time, leading to system inefficiencies, reduced air quality, and higher utility costs. Let’s go over how duct repair can boost your HVAC system’s efficiency and performance.

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Gas Furnace Vs Heat Pump: Which Is Better?

Monday, December 25th, 2023
woman-sits-on-couch-and-turns-on-mini-split-behind-her-with-remote

Homeowners in Olympia, WA have an important decision to make when it’s time to replace their heating systems: do you go with a gas furnace or an electric heat pump? You may be on the fence about making the switch despite the many incentives to purchase a heat pump.

You’ve always relied on a furnace for heat and need to know how furnaces stack up against heat pumps. Let’s go over the pros and cons of both systems so you can be an informed consumer when it’s time to make the decision. 

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Help! My Heat Pump Isn’t Blowing Hot Air

Monday, December 11th, 2023
man-and-woman-wearing-parkas-with-hoods-on-sit-on-couch

Do you have a heat pump in your Olympia, WA home? If so, you’re likely very happy with its performance. A heat pump’s ability to work as both a heater and an air conditioner is quite impressive. That is, until the day when it stops functioning as the one thing you need it to be! 

When it’s cold outside and your heat pump isn’t blowing hot air, that’s a frustrating situation. You may be wondering what could possibly be the reason. There are several possibilities. From a faulty reversing valve to a clogged air filter, let’s go over the most common reasons why a heat pump would be unable to generate heat.

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What Causes Delayed Ignition in a Gas Furnace?

Monday, November 27th, 2023
jets-of-a-furnace-firing

If you’re a frequent reader of our blog, you’ll know that we often discuss alarming sounds in a furnace that require prompt attention. One of these is a booming sound in a gas furnace. That’s because this sound is often made by a gas furnace’s delayed ignition. What you’re hearing is literally a mini explosion when something is impeding the furnace’s ability to ignite when it’s supposed to. 

There are many possible causes for delayed ignition. No matter what the cause is, one thing is for certain: delayed ignition is something that should be addressed ASAP. Delayed ignition can potentially lead to a fire in your home. It can also cause damage to your furnace when it’s subjected to these constant mini-explosions. Let’s go over 4 possible causes.

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Heat Pump Incentives and Rebates Available to Washington State Homeowners

Monday, October 2nd, 2023

If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system and have your eye on a heat pump, you may be deterred by the upfront expense. Well, Washington State wants to help you make the conversion from a gas furnace to an electric heat pump by offering rebates in conjunction with Puget Sound Energy. 

If you’re an existing PSE customer and get a heat pump installed in your existing home (new construction is not eligible), you can receive up to $2,400 in rebates through Puget Sound Energy when you switch from a natural gas furnace to a qualifying ducted heat pump system OR switch from natural gas heating to a qualifying ductless heat pump system.

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The Link Between Furnace Maintenance and Repairs

Monday, September 18th, 2023
Service technician testing a furnace

When you own your home, it seems like there’s a never-ending list of things you need to do to maintain it. When that list seems overwhelming, the last thing you want to hear is that there’s one more item that should be on it. 

But if furnace maintenance isn’t on your Fall To-Do List, we strongly suggest adding this essential item. Routine furnace maintenance not only protects your furnace, but it’ll also pay for itself down the line. How so? Well, by decreasing your utility bills, extending the lifespan of the system, and avoiding furnace repairs that might’ve been prevented by a tune-up. Let’s explain.

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Should I Have My Ducts Cleaned Due To Wildfire Smoke?

Monday, September 4th, 2023
woman-wearing-n95-mask-outside-her-home-wildfire-smoke

Washington State gets its nickname “The Evergreen State” for its abundant, evergreen forests. Unfortunately, more and more of our forests are prone to wildfires. We’ve also experienced the ill effects of wildfires from our Canadian neighbors to the north and from Oregon to the south as smoke and ash continue to infiltrate our area, field by strong winds.

As we continue to experience extended periods of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke, you may be wondering how this affects your home. The effects of wildfire smoke can remain in your home long after the wildfires are gone. Let’s go over whether your home would benefit from duct cleaning due to residual wildfire ash and smoke. 

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3 Common Heat Pump Repairs and How to Avoid Them

Monday, August 21st, 2023

If you’ve converted to a heat pump after owning a central furnace or air conditioner, you’re undoubtedly happy with its performance. More and more homeowners are switching to these two-in-one systems with little regret about their decision. 

Although it may seem like your shiny new heat pump will never experience problems, it’s still a major HVAC system that needs routine maintenance and the occasional repair every now and then. Let’s go over some common heat pump repairs and what causes them so you can avoid the need for frequent heat pump repair.

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The Difference Between Ducted and Ductless Heat Pumps

Monday, August 7th, 2023

If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, with all the innovations being made in the world of HVAC lately, you’ve probably heard a lot of different terms and might be wondering what they all mean. For example, you might’ve heard of this “heat pump” that is an air conditioner. Or a “mini split” that is both an air conditioner and a heater.

The real confusion comes when people ask us if they should get a mini split or a heat pump installed. In a nutshell, a mini split IS a ductless heat pump. Most of the time! Are you confused already? Let’s clear up any confusion with a deeper explanation. That way, you can be an informed consumer when it’s time to pull the trigger on a new system. 

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Why Does My Heat Pump Need Twice-a-Year Maintenance?

Monday, June 12th, 2023
senior-couple-sitting-on-couch-turning-on-mini-split-with-remote

When you suspect you need heat pump repair, you might be wondering if it’s because of “user error.” As a homeowner, there are certain things you can do that’ll help prevent your equipment from breaking down. 

You might be wondering why we’re talking about heat pump repairs in a blog about maintenance. It’s because the two are interconnected. Let’s take a look at why a heat pump needs bi-annual maintenance and how getting this important service done is something that’ll stave off repairs.

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