If you live in Portland, OR, you know that rain and high humidity levels are a way of life around here. It gets particularly bad in the summertime, when relative humidity combines with high heat to make things unbearable. Your air conditioner can provide some relief, but cool air can only deal with humidity levels so much. If you really want to address the problem, you should talk to a service professional and have him or her install a dehumidifier to maximize home comfort.
Install a Dehumidifier to Maximize Home Comfort
June 8th, 2015Keep or Replace? How to Decide if You Need a New Air Conditioner
June 1st, 2015Summer is officially here in Portland, OR, and that means your air conditioning system needs to be ready to keep your home comfortable when the heat and humidity rise to sweltering levels. If your system is exhibiting signs of trouble, now may be the right time to get it replaced with a new model. But how can you tell if that time has come? You certainly don’t want to get rid of your old air conditioner if it’s still doing the job, and a replacement can be costly enough that hoping your system is still functional may trump the reality that it really does need to go. Here’s a few guidelines to help you decide whether to keep or replace your existing air conditioner:
3 Benefits of a Ductless Air Conditioning System
May 26th, 2015Most homeowners in Portland, OR are accustomed to centralized air conditioning: using a single unit to generate cool air which is then pushed into a series of ducts with a fan. But you may be surprised to learn that other types of air conditioners exist, most prominently ductless air conditioning systems, which use multiple units spaced throughout your home to heat each room or section individually. They can cost a little more to install, but you may find that a ductless system works better for your home than a centralized system, as well as carrying a number of other tangible advantages. Here are 3 benefits of a ductless air conditioning system that you should consider:
Why Is Short Cycling a Problem?
May 18th, 2015Short cycling refers to the tendency of your air conditioner to shut down after a brief running time, then turn back on again a brief while later. It can be caused by a number of factors, including low refrigerant, and malfunctioning components. In some cases, it’s not even a problem with the system, but simply that it’s too powerful for the space it needs to cool (which is one of the reasons why you should always have a new air conditioner properly sized for your house before you install it). On the surface, that might not seem like such a big deal, but in truth it’s a serious problem, and with summer on its way, Portland, OR, residents need to address a short cycling problem before the heat and humidity get too bad.
How Does Air Conditioning Work?
May 11th, 2015Air conditioning is one of the most important comforts of modern life, and here in Portland, OR, it’s essential to handling the high humidity and periodic heat waves that accompany our summers. But despite its prominence in our lives, comparatively few people know how air conditioners do their jobs. Specifics vary by make and model of air conditioner, but the essentials remain unchanged. The more you know about your system, the more readily you can respond when the time comes for maintenance or repair. How does air conditioning work? We’ve provided a quick primer below.
How Do Air Filters Capture Contaminants?
May 4th, 2015As we head into allergy season, you may be wondering: how exactly does a mechanical air filter capture contaminants? Electronic air cleaners, such as ion generators and electronic precipitators use electricity to negatively charge and then capture allergens and other indoor particles, but when it comes to mechanical air filters, there a few things to consider, one of which is MERV ratings. The indoor air quality specialists at Clean Air Act can help you with all your air filtration needs, so if you are concerned about allergy season this spring, just pick up the phone and give us a call.
3 Factors to Consider with a New Air Conditioning Installation
April 27th, 2015A good air conditioner is a staple of your home, and while routine maintenance can make yours last a long time, sooner or later every AC unit needs to be replaced. Here in Portland, OR, spring makes an excellent time to replace an older or faulty air conditioner before the summer months bring heat and humidity with them. Because it represents a significant investment in your home, however, the decision to replace your air conditioner should come only after careful planning and consideration. Here are 3 factors to consider with a new air conditioning installation.
Why Correct Sizing Is So Important for Your AC Installation
April 20th, 2015Whether you are installing a whole home air conditioner for the first time or replacing an outdated system, it is imperative that you correctly size your system to avoid future problems. Many people will tell you that all you need know for correct sizing is the square footage of your home in Portland, OR, but this is simply not true. There are a number of factors that need to be calculated in what is known as a heat load calculation. The air conditioning experts at Clean Air Act can make this calculation for you, help you choose an excellent system for your home and then install it. Just give us a call today and schedule an appointment.
3 Ways Air Filters Help Your Home
April 13th, 2015A big part of your indoor comfort is having clean, healthy air to breathe, but if you don’t have it, you could feel like you are fighting an uphill battle each day inside your own home. A great way to clean your air without having to manage an individual air filtration device on your own is to install a whole house mechanical filter into your existing HVAC. While this may sound like an added device, it really isn’t. This is because a mechanical filter can typically replace the standard filter of your HVAC system. Why not just use your standard filter? The standard air filter in your heating and cooling system isn’t designed to help with air quality; it’s only job is to prevent dust and debris from entering the system, not your home. So to achieve a higher quality of air, it’s best to use a more effective mechanical air filter. What kind of benefits can you and your home gain from an air filter? Let’s take a look.
What Are My Options for Air Conditioning Installation?
April 6th, 2015It’s still cool in our part of the world, but it won’t be long before it’s time to switch the thermostat from heating to cooling. If you are in need of a new air conditioner for the coming summer season, whether for a brand new installation or to replace an aging one, you’ll want to take some time to consider your available choices. There are a number of options for homeowners when it comes to air conditioning, and taking some time to review them with a trained professional helps ensure that you’ll purchase and install an air conditioning system that will fit your needs and the needs of your home for a long time. The experts at Clean Air Act can help you every step of the way, so call us today and schedule an appointment.
AC Options
Here are the air conditioning choices available from Clean Air Act:
- Traditional split systems – this type of whole home air conditioning has an outdoor unit that contains the compressor, condenser and condenser fan, and an indoor unit that contains the evaporator and air handler. Ductwork is necessary to deliver the air.
- Heat pumps – heat pumps can heat and cool your home and do so by transferring heat from one location to another, using refrigerant to facilitate this process. Heat pumps do not use any fossil fuels, just a small amount of electricity, and they can be ducted or ductless systems.
- Ductless air conditioning – ductless air conditioners can be AC-only or be part of a heat pump system and provide ductless heating and cooling. Ductless air conditioners have an outdoor unit very similar to that of a traditional split system AC, but use independent indoor blowers to deliver the cool (or warm) air.
- Geothermal cooling – geothermal systems utilize heat pumps, so they offer both heating and cooling. When it comes to cooling, the heat pump of the geothermal system absorbs the heat inside your home and transfers it to the system’s ground loop, where it is released into the surrounding soil. In the winter, the ground loop absorbs the surrounding heat, transfers it to the heat pump where it is concentrated, and then the heat is dispersed throughout your home.
Not sure which system will fit best with your home in Portland, OR? Call us today and schedule an appointment!