July 6, 2026
Evidence From the Field: Job Pictures AC unit in disrepair after only 2 years without professional maintenance BELOW: A nice Fujitsu mini split 2007 indoor unit after 2 years of no professional maintenance. The owners cleaned the air filters, but it still was not enough, and we received a service call that this AC was…
Read More →July 3, 2026
If you have a quizzical look on your face whenever someone mentions central air conditioning, it's time to brush up on your knowledge of condensers and coils. Start by taking the following quiz developed by the Trane Home Comfort Institute, a consumer information service on heating and cooling. Quiz Answer true or false to the…
Read More →July 3, 2026
Find out how to check your system's efficiency and save money! Keeping one step ahead of your air conditioning and heating system can eliminate money wasting problems. Use this guide to determine if it's time now to act. A tune-up could be essential to protect your investment. Remove furnace front panels. Observe area around…
Read More →July 2, 2026
Most homes with central air conditioning and heating systems have ducts that were never properly sealed. The average home's ducts leak around 30 percent of the conditioned air outside the home. The greatest energy use in California homes is for central air conditioning and heating. These leaks are taking money straight out of your pocketbook.…
Read More →July 2, 2026
How to Lower Your HVAC Utility Bills and Stop Wasting Money Looking for ways to lower HVAC utility bills? Your heating and cooling system is one of the largest energy consumers in your home — and when it's running inefficiently, you pay for it every single month. The frustrating part is that most of that…
Read More →July 1, 2026
A Little Chemistry, a Little Physics, and a Whole Bunch of Tubes and Wires… Here Are the Basics of Keeping Cool: An air conditioner makes your home cooler, true. But in terms of how the system actually works, it's more accurate to say that an air conditioner makes your home less warm. What it's really…
Read More →June 29, 2026
Effective October 1, 2005 The California Energy Standards expand duct testing beyond new construction to change-outs of most residential and non-residential HVAC systems.The Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries, Inc. (IHACI) and CHEERS © (California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Services) are working to provide you with as much information as possible on these rule…
Read More →June 29, 2026
HVAC repair scams are more common than most homeowners realize. The industry has its share of bad actors. We've heard from enough North Bay homeowners over the years to know the most common tactics. Here's what to watch for — and how to protect yourself. The Fake Cracked Heat Exchanger This is the most notorious…
Read More →June 25, 2026
HVAC Efficiency Ratings Explained: SEER2, AFUE & More SEER2. AFUE. 15. 80%. 96%. HVAC efficiency ratings can feel like alphabet soup when you're shopping for a new furnace or air conditioner. You've seen these numbers — and probably wondered what they actually mean for your utility bill. Here's a plain-English breakdown. Air Conditioner Efficiency: SEER2…
Read More →June 25, 2026
If you've gotten a quote to replace a furnace or air conditioner recently and experienced some sticker shock, you're not alone. The cost of replacing HVAC equipment has increased substantially over the past decade — and there are real, specific reasons behind it. Permits: More Required Work, Higher Fees Any licensed contractor in California must…
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