Category: HVAC

Between summer and fall, when it’s warm in the day but chilly at night, it’s time to start switching between AC and heater systems. However, alternating between the two systems can be confusing.

Our guidelines will help keep you cool and warm without causing damage to your HVAC system.

It’s Ok to Switch Between AC and Heater Systems

When the seasons change, homes can get uncomfortable. That’s why it’s a good idea to use the air conditioner during the day and the heater at night. After all, nobody wants to sweat or shiver when trying to relax at home. Your home should be a place where you can always be comfortable.

Switching between the two systems is fine if you carry out the switch correctly. However, if you fail to follow the guidelines, you could end up with a broken HVAC system or higher energy bills.

Make Sure the System has Completed its Current Cycle

Always wait until the current cycle has finished before switching from AC to heating and vice versa.

This is because the system needs time to adjust. For example, if you change from heating to cooling, the system may need to run longer than usual as it tries to cool your home down.

If you change from cooling to heating, the system may not be able to heat up your home effectively because it’s still trying to get rid of any remaining warm air. It puts pressure on the system and causes unnecessary wear and tear.

It’s best to keep your thermostat on AUTO and wait for the cycle to finish. Then, leave the system for five minutes before switching to either air-conditioning or heating. Taking care with the switch prevents high electricity bills and wear and tear on the system.

Why Short-Cycling is bad for Your HVAC

Short-cycling is when your air conditioner turns on and off too often. The constant on and off motion can cause significant damage to your system.

Short-cycling can cause wear and tear on components such as compressors and fans. This means they may need replacing sooner or need more HVAC maintenance than they would if they weren’t cycled so frequently.

In general, keeping the amount of switching from air-conditioning to heating at a minimum is the best way to avoid short-cycling. If you find your system starting to cut out or short-cycle, book an HVAC maintenance call with one of our system professionals.

What to do if Your compressor Locks Up

If your HVAC compressor is locked up, it’s a sign of a larger problem.

Your air conditioner’s compressor is what pumps refrigerant through your air conditioning system. The refrigerant absorbs heat from your home and transfers it outside. The compressor also lubricates the moving parts inside the system, so they don’t seize up and stop working.

When you turn on your air conditioner, the compressor starts up and begins pumping refrigerant through all of the lines in your house. However, if there’s something wrong with your compressor, it will lock up, which means that it won’t move at all and can’t pump any more refrigerant through your system.

If you find yourself with a locked compressor, the best thing to do is speak to an HVAC expert. The professionals know best when it comes to repairs and replacements.

Why HVAC Maintenance is Essential for a Healthy Heating and Cooling System

The HVAC system in your home should be checked regularly for any issues. Regular maintenance will help you get the most from your HVAC system, which means it will cost less to run and last longer.

Here are some reasons why HVAC maintenance is essential:

1. You can save money on energy bills.
2. It improves the efficiency of your HVAC system.
3. It prolongs the life of your HVAC equipment.
4. It increases the safety of your home.
5. You can avoid the risk of encountering significant problems with the unit.

Scheduling regular HVAC maintenance ensures that your system is operating at peak efficiency and keeps your family safe from harmful pollutants in the air you breathe daily. HVAC maintenance is a critical part of keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient.

Book your HVAC maintenance today.

Make the Transition Between Summer and Fall Easier with a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats help homeowners save money on heating and cooling bills by using sensors that adjust temperatures based on weather patterns, humidity levels, and occupancy rates. They also allow users to remotely control their HVAC systems via smartphone apps or web browsers worldwide.

A smart thermostat will prevent the constant switching from air-conditioning to heating by providing a more consistent temperature throughout the house. Perfect throughout all seasons.

Interested in finding out more? Contact the HVAC professionals at Sierra for more information about managing your home temperature and HVAC system through all seasons.

Furnaces are one of the biggest investments you’ll make for your home. Ideally, your furnace will last 15 or 20 years, especially if you keep up with regular maintenance and repairs.

No matter what, your furnace will start to show its age eventually. Wear and tear from a decade or more of service causes furnaces to lose some efficiency and suffer some minor issues. If you have constant repairs or your furnace can’t keep up, you may be wondering if it’s time to upgrade to a new system.

Here’s all you need to know about replacing your furnace.

What Type of Furnace Should I Get?

Furnaces come in natural gas, oil, and electric versions. Natural gas furnaces are the most common and offer energy efficiency and clean burning. They operate by igniting a pilot light, which then lights the gas in the system to fuel the burners. The result is heated air that comes into your home.

Electric furnaces are also common. They operate like gas furnaces and rely on the same internal components, though they don’t have a pilot light. Instead, they use a blower to bring cool air in and push warm air out.

Finally, there’s the oil furnace. These furnaces aren’t common, but you will find them in older homes or extremely cold climates. They may be used because the home lacks the ductwork for natural gas or electric heating.

Can I Install a New Furnace on My Own?

Installing a furnace may seem simple – especially with a YouTube video, but this is not a DIY project. The average homeowner is not equipped to replace their own furnace. If it’s not done properly, it could lead to dangerous complications. Always leave furnace installation to the pros.

How Do I Know It’s Time to Replace a Furnace?

Here are some signs you should replace your furnace:

• Your home is cold: If some parts of your home aren’t as warm as they should be, despite your thermostat on high and the furnace running, you could be dealing with an aging system. It no longer has the efficiency to keep up with your home’s heating demands.
• You have constant repairs: If you’re dealing with regular repairs for your furnace, and not just the occasional, minor repair, consider if you’d save by replacing it. The upfront cost will be more, but if your repairs are totaling half the cost of the new furnace, just cut your losses and upgrade.
• Your furnace is older: As mentioned, furnaces last 15 or 20 years with regular maintenance. Less if you don’t take care of it. If your furnace is nearing this milestone, you should start thinking about replacing it.
• Skyrocketing energy bills: older furnaces struggle with efficiency. You may notice a spike in your energy bills without an obvious source, such as adding rooms or a particularly cold winter.

When is the Best Time of Year to Replace a Furnace?

You can replace your furnace at any time of year. The best time is the spring and fall, however, when the HVAC technicians aren’t busy with emergency calls and repairs. You can install a new furnace in winter, but you may not want to deal with cold temps while you wait.

How Big Will My New Furnace Be?

Furnaces come in different sizes and choosing the right one has a big effect on your efficiency and comfort. Work with an HVAC professional to determine the ideal size for your new furnace according to your home’s needs. The HVAC professional will perform a heating load calculation test in your home, which shows how well the air circulates and the quality of the air. Then, they can recommend the most efficient furnace for your needs.

Remember, any changes you’ve made to your home will affect the furnace you need, such as adding rooms, replacing insulation, or replacing windows and doors.

How Much Does a New Furnace Cost?

Furnace costs can vary by size and efficiency, especially if you need supporting installation like ductwork or ventilation. Some homes may need more than one furnace, which will increase the costs.

Should I Replace My Furnace and AC at the Same Time?

There’s no rule that you have to replace the furnace and air conditioner at the same time, but it’s a good idea. Your air conditioner is probably getting old as well and pairing an older cooling system with a newer heating system puts strain on the components. Consider replacing both at the same time or within a short period of time, such as a year.

How Long Does It Take to Install a New Furnace?

Most furnace installations can be completed in one day. If you’re getting a new type of furnace or adding ventilation and ductwork, this may add a few days to the installation timeline.

Will my New Furnace be Energy Efficient?

Energy efficient furnaces may cost more upfront, but they can pay off in lower energy bills over their lifespan. Furnace efficiency is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE. A high-efficiency furnace will have an AFUE of 90 or greater.

Need your furnace repaired or replaced? Contact the pros at Sierra Air Inc. to schedule your appointment!

Replacing your HVAC filter is an important part of HVAC maintenance to keep your system running as efficiently and safely as possible. Plus, regular maintenance extends the life of your system to protect your investment.

One of the tasks with HVAC maintenance is changing your air filter, which you can do on your own easily. Choosing an air filter can be overwhelming, but it’s best not to guess. You just need to do a little work to get your filter size and eliminate the stress and hassle. You can change it yourself or hire a pro to do it for you.

Why Does the Air Filter Size Matter?

Getting the right air filter is important for the health and function of your HVAC system. If your air filter is too big, you can’t cut it to fit into your HVAC system. This creates gaps that let contaminants into your home and allows air to escape, defeating the purpose of having a filter at all.

Likewise, an air filter that’s too small for the slot will leave air gaps that bring contaminants in and let air out. This will also negatively impact your air quality and energy efficiency. Neither one of these options is a good choice for your health or your home, so make sure you get the right air filter size.

Look at Your Existing Air Filter

Checking your old filter is the easiest and fastest way to determine the size for your new air filter. Most filters have a size on the side with the length, width, and depth measured in inches.

For example, your air filter may read 16x20x1, which means that it’s 16 inches in length, 25 inches in width, and one inch in depth. With this size, you can find the right air filter replacement and know it will fit. Filter sizes are pretty standard, so you shouldn’t find odd or unusual size options.

Measure It Yourself

If your air filter doesn’t have measurements or they’re worn off, you can measure the filter itself. All you need is a measuring tape to measure the length, width, and depth, paying attention to orientation.

The air filter dimensions listed are usually a little larger than the air filter itself. If the filter size is 16 inches by 20 inches by one inch, the actual measurements will probably be something like 15.75 inches by 19.75 inches by .75 inches. You just have to round up to the nearest inch to find the size. Air filters won’t have incremental sizes like this in most cases.

Measure Air Register or Air Filter Slot

If you have a missing air filter or otherwise can’t measure it, you can measure the slot it goes into to get the size. This will help you know the right size for your new air filter.

The air filter slot is the size of the actual filter measurements, not the size you’ll find listed on the new air filter package. You may have odd measurements like 15.5, 29.75, or 0.75 inches. Make sure you round up to find the filter size.

Where Is the Air Filter Located?

Your HVAC system will usually have an air filter that’s located on the return air intake of the furnace. Find the spot where the return duct comes into the furnace, and there should be a plate covering the air filter slot.

Some HVAC systems don’t have air filters located in the air handling unit. Instead, the air filter will be near the return vent inside your home. Changing the filter is a simple process in this case, as long as you can access the vent to change it. If you’re not comfortable, contact an HVAC professional.

Know Your Air Filter’s MERV Rating

Along with the size, you will need to determine the appropriate MERV rating for the air filter before you can replace it. The MERV rating determines how effective the air filter is at removing particles from the air, and the higher the rating, the better it is at this job.

This doesn’t mean that you should choose the highest possible MERV rating. These filters are more effective at removing contaminants from the air before they get into your home, but they’re thicker. This means your HVAC system will need to work that much harder to push air out and through your home, increasing its energy usage – and your energy bills.

Most homes will do well with a MERV rating of 5 to 8 for the filter. This range offers good filtration for healthy people and removes pollen, dust, and mold effectively. The system will still run efficiently as long as you replace the filters at the right time frames.

If you have allergies, asthma, or respiratory conditions, then you may want a higher MERV rating of 10 or 12. These ratings trap more allergens, such as mold and pollen, as small as one micron.

Do you need to change your HVAC air filter or other HVAC repairs or replacement? Contact Sierra Plumbing to schedule an appointment!

4 Reasons Your Thermostat is Failing

There could be many reasons your thermostats isn’t working correctly, but some of the most common include:

• Dirt, dust, or other debris inside the thermostat
• Location of thermostat
• Age of thermostat
• Incorrect settings

Debris Affecting Your Thermostat

Dirt and dust inside your thermostats can affect its calibration with your heating system. A dirty thermostat may be unable to appropriately read the temperature in the room or could become disconnected from your heating system entirely. To clean your thermostat, dust the inside components with a soft tip paintbrush or compressed air.

(Smart thermostats won’t be affected by dust internally but may require external dusting for aesthetics.)

Thermostat in a Bad Location

Did you know the location of your thermostat can affect how your HVAC system performs? Thermostats installed on outer walls may read temperature incorrectly as they can be affected by factors such as direct sun and drafts from windows or doors. Placing your thermostat in a centralized location will help it register temperature and adjust to your set specifications accurately.

Aging Thermostat

Like all technology, eventually, a new invention comes around to outdate the one you have at home. Older thermostats are more likely to have problems regulating temperature and humidity as they slowly become outdated. If you live in an older home and are having problems with your thermostat, an upgrade may be in order!

Thermostat is Set Incorrectly

Sometimes, heater problems can be caused by user error. If your HVAC system isn’t turning on at all, check to be sure it’s set to “heat,” not “cool.”

8 Ways to Check a Faulty Thermostat

If you’ve resolved any of the above issues with your thermostat, you’ll need to check and make sure that it has fully solved the problem. Follow these tips to troubleshoot your heater:

Adjust the Temperature

Set your thermostat five degrees higher than you’d normally set. If the thermostat kicks on after a few minutes, you’re in the clear and can reset your thermostat back to its normal settings.

Check the Temperature Display

Sometimes, the thermostat may seem to be working, but in reality, it may be slightly off. Check to see if your thermostat is reading the temperature correctly by following these steps:

• Place a paper towel behind your thermostat to prevent the temperature of the wall from affecting the reading.
• Place a small handheld thermometer near the thermostat and compare the reading.
• Any reading that is off by more than one degree may involve recalibration.

If none of the above tips resolve the problem, it may be time to replace the thermostat altogether.

Thermostat Troubleshooting Checklist

There are many ways that your thermostat and HVAC system can be misaligned. Go through this list to diagnose the issue:

• Is the fuse blown or circuit tripped?
• Does the battery still work?
• Have you dusted your thermostat recently?
• Are there any loose, corroded, or fraying wires? (This may require help from a professional.)
• Does the indoor temperature match the thermostat display?
• Is the thermostat set correctly?

Thermostats are integral to your heating and cooling system’s success. If you suspect something is amiss with your system, the thermostat is the easiest place to start.

If none of these tips seem to work, contact Sierra Air Inc for all your heating and cooling needs! Our team can assist with repairs, replacements, and troubleshooting. Contact us online or by phone at (775) 800-5500 today.

Does the weather affect my mood?

If you’re someone who gets sad when the sun goes away or during cooler weather, you’re not alone. There’s significant evidence backing up the effects of weather on our moods. The shortened days of winter can impact your circadian rhythm, affecting your mood and overall sleep. However, heat can also negatively affect our moods. There are many studies on how heat can make people more likely to be short-tempered and even violent.

Is warm weather better than cold weather?

With all this data out there, Ph.D. Patrick Baylis decided to compile aggregate data from Twitter to try and discern which emotions people expressed more during cold and warm weather. He cross-referenced the positive or negative language, locations, and weather conditions from 1 billion tweets from people all over the United States to discern whether warm weather or cold weather made people happier.

According to the data collected, peak happiness levels were reported within the range of 55 – 72.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and higher dips were seen in hotter weather-from the range of 81 – 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stay Cool and Stay Comfortable

Keeping your home within 10 degrees of the outside temperature is the EPA’s recommended practice for energy-efficiency. However, Baylis’ data suggests that keeping your home within the range of 68 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the best practice for year-round happiness and comfort.

Whichever range you choose to stick with, Sierra Air Inc can help you keep your home’s heating and cooling working at peak efficiency. Contact us today by phone at (775) 800-5500 or online to schedule an appointment!