JC Mechanical Inc. Blog : Archive for February, 2015

The Benefits of Heat Pumps

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

One of the best ways to provide comfort for a home in the climate of Southern California is a heat pump. Heat pumps work in the same fashion as air conditioners: They circulate refrigerant between two sets of coils, one indoors and one outdoors. One set of coils absorbs heat, and the refrigerant then moves this heat to the second set of coils where it is released. However, an air conditioning system can only perform this heat exchange in one direction, moving heat from inside a home and releasing it outside. A heat pump contains the components that allow it to reverse the flow of refrigerant so that the system absorbs heat from the outside and releases it to the inside. It only takes a simple adjustment on your home’s thermostat to change a heat pump from one mode to the other.

If you are interested in looking into heat pumps in Anaheim, CA for a new installation, or if you already have a heat pump and need to schedule routine maintenance or repairs for it, contact JC Mechanical Inc. We have helped keep Southern Californian homes cooled and heated since 1992.

Reasons you should consider a heat pump installation

The most obvious benefit of a heat pump for a home is the dual function of heating and cooling. There are some other advantages to consider as well:

  • Energy savings in heating mode: Heat pumps can save you money over other types of electric heating systems, such as furnaces, because they use electricity to move heat, rather than using electrical resistance heating to create heat. The switch from an electric furnace to a heat pump will result in significant savings on your monthly energy bills.
  • Few efficiency problems: In climates where winter weather often drops below freezing, a heat pump can encounter trouble removing sufficient heat from the outdoors. Since Southern California experiences mild winters that rarely fall lower than the mid-40s, heat pumps will almost never run into problems delivering homes effective heating.
  • Safety: Heat pumps provide a safe alternative for home heating if you do not wish to use a gas-powered system. Heat pumps run entirely from electricity and do not create any toxic exhaust. Their cabinets do not grow hot either, which makes them safe for homes with children.

A heat pump is not always the ideal choice for every home, so make sure that you call on professionals when you are planning your next HVAC system installation. Our technicians at JC Mechanical Inc. will assist you with determining the best way to heat and cool your home. We have installed numerous heat pumps in Anaheim, CA over the years and will make sure that you receive a great installation for your home.

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on The Benefits of Heat Pumps

Common Furnace Repairs

Monday, February 16th, 2015

Furnaces are among the most common home heating systems in the country, which also happens to mean that they have some of the most common issues. It’s always a good idea to have at least a passing familiarity with the kinds of issues that can affect your heating system. Since furnaces are so popular, let’s take a look at some of their common issues that require repair.

Short-Cycling

Short-cycling is the name for when your furnace rapidly cycles on and off over a short period of time. It is caused by a small device called the “furnace limit switch,” which monitors the temperature inside the furnace. When the internal furnace temperature gets too high, the limit switch activates and shuts down the system to prevent damage from overheating. Unfortunately, this is only a stop-gap measure. If the source of the overheating problem isn’t fixed, the furnace will overheat every time it turns on and the limit switch will keep shutting it down.

This kind of behavior is very bad for the furnace, inflicting a lot of extra strain on the system and increasing the chances of a breakdown. If you notice this behavior, you should call a professional as soon as possible.

Failure to Start

Furnaces that completely fail to start are having problems with their ignition systems. In older furnaces, this was caused by the standing pilot light blowing out. Without the flame from the pilot light, the furnace would have no way to ignite the fuel and start the burners to power the system. Newer furnaces use electronic systems instead of gas flames, often relying on an electrode to create a spark and start the system. These systems won’t blow out, like the standing pilot flames. However, they can still burn out over time, often needing to be replaced.

Air Handler Failure

The air handler is the section of the furnace that is responsible for circulating air through the house. The effort of moving that much air over such distances places a lot of strain on the various parts in the air handler. This is especially true with the air handler motor, which is equipped with lubricated bearings to help lessen the stress during operation. The bearings can wear down over time, however, slowly increasing the friction on the air handler motor until it overheats and burns itself out. If you hear a grinding noise coming from your furnace, that’s the sound of the bearings failing. Call a professional immediately or your motor may burn out.

If your furnace is having problems, call JC Mechanical Inc. to schedule an appointment. We offer professional furnace services in the Yorba Linda area.

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Common Furnace Repairs

Lupercalia: The Origin of St. Valentine’s Day

Saturday, February 14th, 2015

Many people may think of Valentine’s Day as a holiday essentially created by card and gift companies, but the truth is that the holiday has long-standing roots going back to the Roman Empire. The name “Lupercalia” has its origins in the word “lupus”, which means wolf, and the reason for this is that according to Roman pagan religion, the she-wolf Lupa nursed the two orphaned infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.

 

The Festival

The Festival of Lupercalia spanned two days each February, from February 13th to 15th. The festival was about fertility and was led by Luperci priests, known as “brothers of the wolf”. The festival was serious with intention (fertility) but was executed as quite a romp for both the priests and citizens of Rome. The process was this: two male goats and a dog were sacrificed at the beginning of the festival by the priests; two young Luperci were then anointed with the blood from the animals, and the hides of the animals were cut into straps. As food and drink flowed, the male priests would run around the city wearing nothing but thongs made from the animal skins, and they also carried a strap from one of the sacrificed animals. The strap was used to strike the palms of Roman women waiting for the priests in the city, as it was believed that being hit with the strap could help with infertility issues and a safe, healthy labor for women who were pregnant.

 

The Transition to St. Valentine’s Day

The Christian influence of the holiday came around the 5th century. The Roman Empire was still strong, but Christianity was rapidly taking hold throughout the world. It is believed that to try and remove the paganism from the holiday, the deaths of two men, supposedly both named Valentine, were added into the mix. During the 3rd and 4th centuries, a law created by Claudius II forbade young men eligible for military service to marry, because Rome wanted a strong army. The two men named Valentine were priests, and married young couples in secret. Both were found out and executed on February 14th, although in separate years. The Church made Valentine a saint (they chose one), and Lupercalia became St. Valentine’s Day.

 

Here’s wishing you and your loved one a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Lupercalia: The Origin of St. Valentine’s Day

3 Common Signs That You Need Heating Repair

Thursday, February 5th, 2015

Homeowners often worry about their heating system if they begin to display any unusual behavior. This is completely understandable. If you don’t know which signs to watch out for, you may interpret any unusual behavior as symptomatic of a problem. While it is always a good idea to call for professional assistance if you believe your heater to be malfunctioning, you’ll be much better able to diagnose issues with your heater if you know the signs that accompany those issues. Let’s take a look at 3 common signs that you need heating repair.

Strange Noises

Strange noises are a very common sign of issues with your heating system. Grinding and squealing noises often indicate an issue with the air handler, while deep rumbling or booming noises could be located in either the heat exchanger or the burner assembly. It’s never a good idea to ignore strange noises that seem to just show up one day. If your heater starts making odd noises that you haven’t heard before, call a professional.

Rise in Heating Bills

Though your heating bills will naturally fluctuate from month to month, due to your differing demand for heat, a consistent rise in heating expenses signals a problem. This is a sign that your heater is not operating as efficiently as it should be, having to work harder and longer to accomplish the same heat output. This is a very subtle sign, but it indicates a serious problem. If your heating bill seems consistently high, call a professional to examine your system.

Uneven Heating

Uneven heating is a problem that can affect any kind of heating system, though the causes tend to differ. The source of uneven heating could be a misfiring burner, or a large duct leak, or any number of other issues that affect the production and distribution of heat. The only way to isolate the source of this problem is to closely examine the system. So, if one room never seems to warm up, while the others are boiling, you should call a professional to find out why.

If you’re having heating issues, call JC Mechanical Inc. to schedule an appointment today. We provide professional heating repair in the Irvine area.

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 3 Common Signs That You Need Heating Repair