Most 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:
The Clean Air Act Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Portland’
Why Is Short Cycling a Problem?
Monday, 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?
Monday, 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.
Why Correct Sizing Is So Important for Your AC Installation
Monday, April 20th, 2015Whether you are installing a whole home air conditioner for the first time or replacing an outdated system, it is imperative that you correctly size your system to avoid future problems.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.
Does Your Home Need to be Tested for Radon?
Friday, December 19th, 2014Safety is the number one priority in your home, but you may accidentally skip over some of the key services that help protect your family and your home from dangerous toxins. Unfortunately, the air in your home may not be as clean as you think it is. Radon is a gas that seeps into your home even if you believe your air is well-protected from contaminants. And the consequences can be deadly: according to the U.S. surgeon general’s office, radon poisoning is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
But My Home Is Very Well-Sealed
You may believe that your home is well-filtered or sealed up tightly enough to inhibit such gases from invading your home. However, radon infiltrates your home in ways that you may not expect. It can enter through the soil surrounding a home, because it generally appears as uranium decays, which happens naturally in soils over time. While the home’s building material itself may sometimes contribute to allowing radon gas to enter, it’s more often due to cracks in the walls or floors or even, in some cases, the water supply.
Won’t I Notice Radon Gas in the Home?
You may believe that you would notice a gaseous intruder in your home. But radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Simply put, it’s time to stop making excuses and test your home for the potential presence of radon today. Experts are already equipped with the tools and expertise for the job, and know what to do to correct any areas in which leaking occurs.
If your home is found to contain high levels of radon, experts can help you to determine the source and mitigate the problem as soon as possible. At Clean Air Act, we’ll perform a thorough test, take the steps to find poorly sealed areas of the structure, and recommend services to help keep your home safe in the future. Don’t neglect this vital service for your health and safety. Schedule radon testing in Portland with our skilled technicians and get peace of mind that your family is safe from harm.
Why Isn’t My Air Handler Blowing?
Friday, December 12th, 2014For those who do not know, the air handler is the device responsible for actually circulating air throughout your house. It consists of a motor, a fan, sound dampers and, in the case of a heat pump, the heating coil. If you turn on your heater and you don’t hear the fan, it’s a good sign that your air handler is broken. Here, we’ll take a look at what can go wrong with your air handler, and what you should do about it.
Broken Fan Belt
The fan belt is a rubber loop that connects the motor to the fan itself. When the motor turns on, it rotates the fan belt, which rotates the fan and begins blowing air. The fan belt is crucial to the operation of the entire air handler. Over time, however, the fan belt can stretch and develop cracks from the stress of regular use. Eventually, the belt will break. This renders the motor unable to turn the fan and circulate air throughout the house. If you turn on your heater and you can hear the motor, but air isn’t circulating, it is possible that the fan belt has snapped.
Burned Out Motor
The motor is the device that supplies power and motion to the blower part of the air handler. A burned out motor is often caused by dust or debris entering the system from the ductwork. This is why having a clean air filter is so important. Even with a working air filter, however, the parts inside the motor will accumulate dust over time. The worst place in a motor for dust to build up is on the bearings, which are responsible for keeping friction down and allowing the motor to run efficiently. If the bearings get dirty enough, they lose the ability to lubricate the motor. When this happens, the motor eventually burns out. If you turn on your heater and air isn’t blowing, check to see if the heater is actually on, and whether you can hear the motor. If the heater is on, but you can’t hear the motor, you’ll probably need to replace it.
If you are having issues with your heating system, call Clean Air Act. Our HVAC technicians offer reliable heating service throughout all of Portland.
What Is a Furnace Limit Switch?
Friday, December 5th, 2014There are many parts of a furnace whose roles are pretty well known. Most homeowners already know what a pilot light does, or a heat exchanger, or an air filter. The furnace limit switch is rarely regarded as a major part of how the furnace operates. However, the limit switch serves a vital role in proper furnace operation. Let’s examine what the furnace limit switch is, what it does, and what can happen when it malfunctions.
What is the Limit Switch?
The furnace limit switch is a control circuit that determines whether to turn the furnace fan on or off. It is also responsible for turning off the burners. When the heat is turned on, the limit switch is the object that actually starts the fan in the furnace to that air can begin circulating. When the thermostat determines that the target temperature has been reached, it tells the limit switch to shut off the fan and the burners.
The limit switch is also attached to a separate thermostat, which measures the internal temperature of the furnace. The switch usually doesn’t turn the furnace fan on right away. Instead, it waits until the internal furnace temperature gets warm enough to begin heating the home. If the furnace’s internal temperature rises too high, the limit switch will shut off the furnace to prevent overheating. This brings us to the major issue that can occur with furnace limit switches.
Short-Cycling
Short-cycling is the name for when your furnace turns itself on and off rapidly and repeatedly throughout the day. This is caused by the limit switch registering an internal furnace temperature that is too high. When that happens, the switch shuts the furnace down to prevent overheating damage. After the furnace cools off, however, it starts up again and the cycle goes on indefinitely. This causes quite a bit of damage to the furnace, and should not be allowed to continue for any length of time. You’ll need a professional to determine whether the limit switch or the furnace is responsible for the short-cycling.
If you need to schedule service for your furnace in the Portland area, call Clean Air Act. We offer heating services throughout Portland, OR.
How Does Infrared Heating Work?
Friday, November 28th, 2014If you have a large area in your commercial building, or even your home, that is extremely difficult to heat using traditional forced air heating methods without wasting large amounts of energy, such as a warehouse or garage, then one possible solution to your problem is the installation of infrared space heaters. If you have these heaters professionally installed, they will save you an immense amount of money by targeting only the spots that require heating and reducing the amount of energy lost.
At Clean Air Act, we install and service infrared space heating in Portland, and we are familiar with the specific requirement of these heaters and how they work best for large spaces. Call us today if you are curious about infrared heating for either your commercial needs or to handle a part of your home that is confounding your attempts to heat it efficiently using standard methods.
Infrared Space Heaters
Infrared heating is an excellent way to provide warmth for specific locations inside a building without spending an enormous amount on energy bills. An infrared space heater targets its heat toward a specific object, rather than distributing heat through a larger area, as happens with standard forced-air distribution. The localized heating reduces the amount of heat loss, and therefore requires far less energy.
Space heaters work very well for commercial locations that are expansive but do not require heating for the entire area, such as garages and warehouses and other large storage spaces. The heaters can have a number of effective residential uses as well, such as for homes with patios or oversized garages. There is no need to waste energy to heat up such spaces when only certain spots inside require it.
Although infrared space heaters are not difficult to install, they still require the assistance of professionals familiar with commercial heating who can assess the needs of your space in order to provide it with heating that is both effective and energy-efficient. For gas-powered infrared heaters, it is especially important that only licensed experts handle the installation. Professionals will also provide the necessary routine calibration and check-ups to keep the heaters working properly. For sizing and installation of infrared heating in Portland, come to Clean Air Act and talk to our specialists. Our experience will see that you receive the highest quality service possible.
Reasons to Consider a Heat Pump
Friday, November 14th, 2014Heat pumps are a unique option when it comes to home heating systems. They operate in a way completely different from the more common furnaces and boilers that most homes use. Different doesn’t necessarily mean better, of course. Still, there are many reasons to consider installing a heat pump in your home. Let’s examine the reasons why a heat pump is worth your time.
What is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a device that moves heat from one area to another instead of creating it. Furnaces and boilers create heat by burning fuel, which can be quite expensive depending on the circumstances. A heat pump does not consume any fuel except electricity. Where, then, does it get its heat from?
A heat pump has two main parts, the interior and exterior units. When the heat is turned on, the exterior unit siphons thermal energy from the surrounding air. This thermal energy is then sent along a refrigerant line inside to the interior unit, where it is used to warm and circulate the air. By taking heat from the surrounding environment, the heat pump avoids the need to burn fuel.
Why should I Choose a Heat Pump
Because of the unique way that heat pumps operate, they garner a few advantages that other systems do not. First, heat pumps are extremely energy efficient. Due to the lack of need for combustible fuel, a heat pump system can save you a great deal of money on heating bills.
The second advantage has less to do with direct heating and more to do with the versatility of heat pumps. A heat pump is not only capable of heating, but cooling as well. The basic construction is very similar to an air conditioner, which takes heat from inside and pumps it outside. A heat pump can do this as well, but with the ability to switch functions to pump heat inside as well. This saves a great deal of cost and space, since you don’t need to install a separate unit just for air conditioning.
If you’re considering installing a new heat pump, call Clean Air Act today. We provide heating services throughout the Portland area.
What Are the Benefits of a High Velocity System?
Friday, November 7th, 2014There are a few types of systems that offer homeowners both heating and cooling, and one of these is a high velocity system. High velocity systems are great options for homeowners, especially for those who need to retrofit an older home. It’s important that a specialist installs your system, as high velocity heating systems are different from more traditional ones. The trained and certified technicians at Clean Air Act have the expertise and knowledge to install your heating system in Portland, so call us today.
How Does a High Velocity System Work?
High velocity systems take advantage of a principle called aspiration. Using a high level of pressure and narrow venting, air is blown into your living spaces at a high rate of speed from corners and different points on walls. The speed at which the air enters your living space is 2,000 feet per second. This rate forces the warm air to mix with the air in the room, making the room warm and comfortable.
The venting for a high velocity system consists of 2” wide flexible, durable ductwork that is snaked through the walls of your home. An outdoor unit contains the heat pump technology that provides both the heating and cooling, and a small indoor blower unit can be placed in a closet or other space. A refrigerant line runs between the outdoor unit and indoor blower. The outlets for the air are the same width as the flexible ductwork, and blend seamlessly with your walls and ceilings.
Benefits of a High Velocity System
There are some benefits you can gain with a high velocity system that you may not get with other more traditional heating systems:
- Even heating – the high rate of speed at which the air travels with a high velocity system creates air currents in your living spaces that distribute the warm air evenly throughout your home.
- Energy efficient – the heat pump technology doesn’t need fossil fuels to operate and uses only a small amount electricity to run.
- No need for ductwork construction – the ductwork of a high velocity system does not need the room that traditional ductwork does, relieving you of potentially costly construction.
- Quiet operation – the air blows very quietly, even more quietly than low velocity forced-air systems.
If you’ve been looking for a heating system that is energy efficient, can heat and cool your home and is great for retro-fitting, a high velocity system may be just what you’ve been looking for. Call Clean Air Act today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.