Myth Buster: Why You Should Avoid High-MERV Filters

September 12th, 2022

If you’re asking this question, then we’re glad you found our page–because you certainly do need a qualified HVAC professional to help you with your filter replacement. The higher the MERV rating of a filter– that is, the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value– the tighter the weave of the fiber. And the tighter the weave, the smaller particles can be caught.

Not all HVAC filters are created equal. The purpose of this filter that comes standard in your HVAC systems is to protect the system from debris that can get sucked into it and harm its sensitive components. So it sounds like a higher MERV rating would be the best to protect your HVAC system, right?

Well…. not quite. And we’ll get into the reasons why below. First, let’s explain further what MERV ratings are. Read on!

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Furnace This Fall and Winter

August 29th, 2022
family-playing-around-on-couch

With all the heat and humidity that August brought, it may seem strange for us to already be talking about furnaces. But the truth is, when winter hits our area, it hits hard. The best thing you can do for your home and for your family is to be prepared!

This means making sure your air quality is taken care of, you have a generator ready in case any storms bring power outages, and you have scheduled heating maintenance. This last point is the one we’re going to talk about today.

HVAC maintenance is a service we recommend once for your furnace or heating system each fall, and then once more for your cooling system each spring. The timing of your HVAC maintenance appointments doesn’t matter as much as the consistency of these appointments. Each system should be professionally tuned up and maintained at least once a year.

Read on to learn why this is so important, especially if you have a gas-powered furnace!

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Solved! Easy & Effective Ways to Ditch the Dust (and Other Common Indoor Pollutants)

August 1st, 2022
3-kids-sitting-on-couch-blowing-noses

If you are an indoor allergy or asthma sufferer, then you know that “allergy season” can sound like a joke–allergies for us are practically year-round.

And what many homeowners don’t realize is that their indoor air quality can actually be worse than the quality of the air outdoors. This is because of how homes are constructed these days–homes are built to be very tight and efficient, disallowing any air from escaping or getting in. This is great news for the performance and monthly costs of your AC use, but not great news if you have allergies.

From dust to VOCs, there are a number of indoor pollutants that can make the allergy journey even worse. Fortunately, we are here to help! Read on to learn signs that you have indoor air quality problems, what could be causing those problems, and what solutions we have available for you!

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Make Back to School Less Stressful with these 4 Smart Home Solutions

July 18th, 2022
smiling-man-walking-in-house-hugging-two-kids

Believe it or not, back-to-school time is just around the corner. This means it’s almost time to start shopping for your kids clothes, school supplies, and anything else they need to get ready for the school year.

If you’ve been considering any upgrades to your home, then now is a great time to consider turning your home into a “smart home” too.

How are these two things related? Well, we are sure that you want your kids to be as safe and comfortable as possible after a long school day. Whether you pick them up from school yourself, they walk home to where you’re waiting, or you’re at work and they’re getting dropped of, you should be able to rest easy that from the moment they walk in the door, they’ll have those needs met.

How can we help? With the installation of the products we’ve listed below. Read on to learn more!

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Play it Cool! 10 Ways to Beat the Extreme Summer Heat

July 4th, 2022
boy in swimming pool

If you’ve lived here for even just a year, then you know how brutal our summers can be. We’re here to help make them a little bit more comfortable! With our expert installation, maintenance, and repair services, we’ll make sure that your air conditioner is working as flawlessly as possible. Our services help ensure that your cooling system operates as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible, so you can beat the heat each and every summer.

Of course, there are a number of ways beyond simply using your air conditioner that can help you beat the heat. Read on as we uncover some of our favorite ideas!

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Help! My Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water

June 20th, 2022
puddle-on-wood-floor

When you hear about water leaks, you probably think about your plumbing system, right? Plumbing pipes have leaks all the time! Well, at least, a lot more than we probably prefer.

While plumbing leaks are certainly inconvenient and sometimes even really expensive to fix, there is another type of water leak you should be concerned about–not because it happens often but because when it does happen, it means trouble–a water leak coming from your air conditioner. Read on to learn why this is happening and what can be done in the future!

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Noisy Air Conditioner? Try These 5 Tips

June 6th, 2022
woman-holding-hand-to-ear

We will start by saying that there are many factors that can contribute to a noisy air conditioner. Some of them are more severe than others and will require a call to a professionally trained and highly experienced HVAC contractor, which we’ll get to below.

But whether you’re hearing rattling coming from the outside unit or banging coming from the inside unit, you don’t want an excessively noisy cooling system, right? If anything is out of the ordinary with the sounds you hear coming from your cooling system, please read this list, and don’t hesitate to contact our professionals if these don’t resolve the issue.

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Are HVAC Maintenance Agreements Worth the Money?

May 23rd, 2022

Maintenance. It’s one of those words you’ve probably heard, but maybe not given a whole lot of thought to in relation to your home comfort systems. If you own a vehicle, you probably have maintenance done for that, right? Maintenance is what helps you rely on its ability to keep getting you from point A to point B for years and years, as efficiently as possible.

Well, this same concept applies to your HVAC systems. Maintenance helps your air conditioner, and your heater, operate as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. It reduces repair needs by as much as 85% and helps your systems retain 95% of their original efficiency rating.

And a maintenance program offers you even more. In fact, the question shouldn’t be, “are HVAC maintenance agreements worth the money,” it should be, “Can I afford to go without a maintenance agreement?” Read on to learn more!

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Generator Buying Guide, Tips for Choosing the Right Generator for Your Home

May 9th, 2022
whole-house-generator-on-sde-of-house

When we talk about the different types of generators, we’re generally referring to two basic types: the portable generator, or the whole-house generator. The latter is the one that’s going to give you the most bang for your buck.

This isn’t to say there is anything wrong with a portable generator. Portable systems are a great option for many scenarios, like if you’re going on a camp out and want to power up a cooktop, or maybe you’re “glamping” and want to turn on a TV! We’re not here to judge.

But what you should know about a portable generator is that while it’s a great option for short-term, specific use, the one situation where it really isn’t the right choice is if you want to power your entire home during a widespread power outage. In this scenario, you’ll want a whole-home automatic standby generator.

The best time to have one of these installed is in the spring, so right now! This prepares you for summer storms that could come our way and knock out power, leaving you without your HVAC systems, your refrigerator, and other important home components. Read on to learn more about why the whole-house generator is the right option to buy, and what you should know about these systems.

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Modern Air Conditioning Solutions for Old Homes

April 25th, 2022
hand-holding-remote-pointed-at-ductless-air-handler

If you are the owner of an old home in the Pittsburgh area, there are probably many reasons to love it! However, it might not have come with one important component for modern Pittsburgh homes–centralized air conditioning.

While our summers aren’t as brutal as other parts of the country, like down in Florida, it goes without saying that it gets hot and you require much more than a few fans to get through it each summer. Perhaps you already have window units in place but are there other options if you can’t accommodate the bulky ductwork required for a central AC system?

Why, yes, there are! Read on to learn more.

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