The most common types of pollutants that can enter into a home’s indoor air are dust, pollen, dander, and lint. All of these can become irritants, especially for people with allergies and asthma. However, they are usually easy to remove with mechanical air filters that catch the particles in a mesh of fibers while allowing the air to continue to flow.
JC Mechanical Inc. Blog : Archive for April, 2015
How Does a UV Air Purifier Work and Should I Get One for My Home?
Monday, April 27th, 2015Yes, Your Heat Pump Needs Spring Maintenance as Well
Monday, April 20th, 2015The spring is the time when air conditioning systems should have their annual maintenance. Although maintenance can technically be take care of at any point during the year, spring is the best time because it gives the system prep right before the biggest period of use. (It’s also an easier time to schedule with HVAC technicians, who have more open schedules between winter and summer.)
John is turning 50!
Wednesday, April 15th, 2015
John Krutsinger, owner of JC Mechanical, Inc is celebrating a milestone birthday April 17th!
If you see John on a job site, be sure to wish him a very happy birthday!
Why Is Ice Forming on My Air Conditioner? (And What Should I Do About It?)
Monday, April 13th, 2015Your air conditioning has probably already started its long period of work that will last through the summer and into the fall. Make sure you keep a close watch on your system during these early days of spring so you can catch any malfunctions and have them repaired before the heavy Southern California summer weather begins.
How an Energy Recovery Ventilator Can Benefit You
Monday, April 6th, 2015Indoor air quality is a serious issue in many homes today; in fact, in many cases the air inside a home can be 4 to 5 times worse than the air found outside. One of the reasons for this is that the heavy insulation on homes designed to make them more energy efficient (less heat loss in cold weather, less heat gain in warm weather) also prevents fresh outdoor air from circulating. The result is air that continues to move through the house, becoming stale and filled with dust, dirt, dander, and other indoor pollution.
The indoor air quality specialists at JC Mechanical Inc. are available to help you increase your indoor air quality while maintaining energy efficiency. Give us a call today for service in Southern California.
One option you have to allow fresh air into your home without losing the energy efficiency is the installation of an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). An ERV permits fresh air into your home, but pre-cools or pre-heats it, depending on the weather, which will prevent your heater or air conditioner from working too hard.
The major benefits of an energy recovery ventilator:
- Fresh air means better air quality: An energy recovery ventilator draws fresh air through an outdoor vent and exhausts the indoor air. The fresh air replacing the stale indoor air means a healthier indoor environment, with fewer contaminants.
- Savings on heating and cooling: The fresh air entering your home will not place an extra burden on your heating and cooling system. Normally, if you allowed outdoor air into your home during a hot summer day, your AC would strain and cost more to run. But the ERV recovers the energy that would normally be lost from the exposure to fresh air, pre-conditioning it. The fresh air that reaches your AC will already have transferred most of its heat to the outgoing air, making the air conditioner’s job easier—and your bills lower. The process works the same during cold weather.
- More balanced humidity: An ERV transfers moisture between the incoming fresh air and the outgoing stale air along with heat, which will help keep indoor humidity balanced no matter the time of year.
You must have professionals select and install an energy recovery ventilator for your home to make sure that it works as it should. Don’t attempt this on your own, or entrust the work to amateurs.
If you think that an ERV is a good idea for your house, call JC Mechanical Inc. today and ask about our installation services. We have served Southern California homes since 1992.
The Basics of How Central ACs Work to Keep You Cool
Friday, April 3rd, 2015The modern electro-mechanical air conditioning system was invented in 1902. The first home ACs appeared in the 1920s, when new refrigerant blends made them safer to use. In the 1950s, air conditioning systems started to spread rapidly through the country, and now they are a standard part of the comfort system of most homes. Life in Southern California would be difficult indeed without the power of air conditioning to help us during the long hot seasons.
No matter what services you need to stay cool through the year, JC Mechanical Inc. can provide it. We handle installation, replacement, maintenance and air conditioning repair in Irvine, CA and throughout Southern California.
Air Conditioning 101
Air conditioning systems are something we encounter almost every day, but ironically few people know exactly how they work. Here’s a quick rundown on the essentials of the electro-mechanical central air conditioner:
A central AC consists of two units: the outdoor condenser and the indoor evaporator. Inside the condenser cabinet is a device called the compressor. The compressor places liquid refrigerant (a chemical blend that changes easily from gas to liquid and back) under pressure until it transforms into a hot gas. The high-pressure gas moves to the nearest low-pressure area, which in this case is the coils of the condenser cabinet. A fan draws warm outdoor air across the coils, which causes condensation to occur. Condensation releases heat to the outdoors, lowering the temperature of the refrigerant.
The refrigerant now moves toward the indoor evaporator cabinet. It passes through an expansion valve that lowers its pressure and causes the refrigerant to become even cooler. The cold refrigerant moves through the coils of the evaporator, and a blower fan sends indoor air across the cold coils. Evaporation occurs and the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air. The now cooled-down air continues into the ventilation system and reaches the various rooms of the house. The refrigerant, now once more in liquid form, returns to the compressor where the cycle begins again.
In order for an air conditioner to carry out this process of heat exchange, all its components must work in peak condition. Broken fans, leaking refrigerant, or a hard-starting compressor will lead to a drop in cooling effectiveness. If your air conditioner begins to encounter trouble keeping your home cool, don’t attempt to fix the problem yourself. The complexity of modern ACs requires that only trained technicians do the repairs.
You can rely on JC Mechanical Inc. if you require air conditioning repair in Irvine, CA. We have emergency service available for those times when the repair work cannot wait. Make us the first company you call the next time you need excellent air conditioning service.