JC Mechanical Inc. Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Irvine’

The Basics of How Central ACs Work to Keep You Cool

Friday, April 3rd, 2015

The 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.

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What Is Blown-In Insulation?

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Irvine is a planned city, and part of that planning was to place it in a location with warm weather around the year. However, the summers can still grow extremely hot here, and it’s important that your home has effective insulation in the walls and the attic to prevent excess heat from entering your home during the hottest periods of the year. If a house lacks a strong heat seal, it will mean higher temperatures indoors and energy wasted running the air conditioner for longer periods of time. (Insulation helps on the few cold days as well, keeping heat trapped indoors).

If you are looking for better insulation in Irvine, CA, call JC Mechanical Inc. We offer insulation services to seal up gaps and shore up the heat sealing on homes to make them more comfortable and energy efficient.

One type of insulation we often use on the job is blown-in insulation. People usually think of fiberglass batts in connection to the word insulation, the fluffy pink material found in attics. But blown-in insulation is very common and serves an important purpose in providing an effective heat seal for a home. Blown-in insulation consists of chunks of fiberglass or cellulose (which comes from recycled newspapers) churned inside a large machine that blows the pieces through a hose that the installer uses to place down a layer wherever it’s needed.

Blown-in insulation can create a seamless layer in an attic or other parts of the house, and putting it in is usually speedier than installing fiberglass batts. Blown-in insulation is also excellent at filling in corners and odd-shaped sections of attics and walls that batts would have a difficult time fitting. On the other hand, batts tend to have higher R-values (which means they are more effective at stopping the movement of heat) and in some situations are the superior choice.

You must have professionals on the job to provide the correct insulation. At JC Mechanical Inc., we use all types of insulation to do a job, mixing them in order to deliver the best results. Whether you need fiberglass batts or blown-in insulation for your home, you can trust to our team to see that you have the insulation in Irvine, CA that will do the job of keeping your house energy efficient. Give us a call today.

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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.

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