Purl's Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Your AC in a Heat Wave: A Few Things to Know

Monday, September 17th, 2018

sunshine-imageThe heat here in the Central Valley these last few weeks has been … well, there’s been a lot of it. Recording breaking heat. In July, Fresno broke the record of consecutive days with triple digit heat—22 days, starting on July 6, according to the Fresno Bee. The newspaper also predicted the heat might subside in late August. But the heat waves sweeps on and on. We’re still experiencing days peaking in the triple-digits, with other days hovering in the 90s.

We hope you haven’t had to deal with any serious heat-related emergencies (we did a post on recognizing these emergencies) and that your air conditioner is still managing to keep your home cool. In fact, let’s talk about your AC and the heat. There are a few important things to know about running your air conditioner during these extremes.

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What Does the ENERGY STAR Label Mean?

Monday, August 27th, 2018

energy-start-labelWhen you’re looking for a new appliance, whether an air conditioner or toaster, you’ll notice many items have a blue sticker on them that says ENERGY STAR. You’ll probably guess this means the device uses less energy than one that doesn’t have the label—but if you’re curious about what the it actually means, and how it can help you when it comes to new installation of an air conditioning system or heating system, we can shed some more light on this common label.

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Spotting Heat Emergencies (And a Filter Reminder!)

Tuesday, August 14th, 2018

thermometer-going-redWe’re currently experiencing triple-digit weather here in the Central Valley—and this can make a faulty air conditioner a critical emergency! Weather this hot can lead to major health problems, such as heat stroke and dehydration, that can be life-threatening if emergency steps aren’t taken. We have a few tips for spotting heating emergencies during this time to help keep you safe.

Watch for heat stroke: Heat stroke (aka sunstroke) is when the body overheats beyond 104°F. It’s a medical emergency that can cause damage to the nervous system if not treated, so if you suspect you or someone near you has it, call 9-1-1 immediately. It’s most dangerous for people over age 50. Fortunately, heat stroke doesn’t hit all at once: there’s a progression of symptoms you may notice that can give you advanced warning. Watch for people who seemed confused, disoriented, feel nauseous or are experiencing vomiting and trouble breathing. Watch out for these signs in yourself: throbbing headache, dizziness, weakness, and muscle cramps.

Dehydration: You’re always losing water from your body, but you usually replace it by drinking and eating. But extreme heat can lead to losing water faster than it’s replaced. Mild dehydration is common and not a serious problem—just drink some water! But major dehydration during brutally hot days will cause dizziness, fast heartbeat, rapid breathing, fainting, rough skin and chapped lips. As with heat stroke, this is a medical emergency that needs treatment, not just water!

Please Remember to Change Your Air Filter!

The Yosemite fire has brought a steep drop in the air quality in our area. Because of the amount of smoke in the air, the air filter in your home’s HVAC system is going to get dirty extremely quickly. If you usually change your filter every few months, we strongly urge you to change it now, no matter what your regular schedule is. This isn’t just our recommendation, either! The CDC urges regular changing of the air filter to prevent the circulation of outside smoke through your home during times of major fires.

If you need AC help to get through this intense summer weather, or you’re looking for indoor air quality assistance, call on Purl’s!

Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning: Quality Is the Cornerstone of Our Success Since 1952!

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How Leaking Refrigerant Affects an Air Conditioning System

Friday, July 6th, 2018

air-conditioner-unit-being-repairedOne of the more common problems that affects residential air conditioning systems is refrigerant leaks. An AC is designed to work with a specific amount of refrigerant, known as the system’s charge. The AC doesn’t use up the refrigerant as it runs, so under ideal circumstances, the refrigerant will remain at the same charge for the life of the system.

But circumstances are rarely ideal. Leaks can occur along refrigerant lines because of corrosion, and this will allow the refrigerant to escape. When the charge of an air conditioner drops, it will have negative effects on the AC, eventually leading to a complete breakdown. Below are the main ways refrigerant loss affects an air conditioning system.

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Duct Sealing Can Improve Your Air Conditioning

Thursday, June 7th, 2018

duct-sealing-with-caulkingDuring a hot summer here in the Central Valley, you’ll want your air conditioning system to work at its best. This means reliable, even cooling around the rooms, and utility bills that don’t rise too high. Standard malfunctions can threaten your AC’s performance, but they aren’t the only danger to the well-working of your air conditioning system. Many people don’t realize that poor ductwork is often a serious problem for cooling systems.

However, there is a solution to this. Even if you don’t think your air conditioning system is performing badly, it may benefit from this same trick. And that trick is—duct sealing.

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How a Wireless “Tstat” Can Help You Save Energy and Money

Monday, March 12th, 2018

The technology behind climate control continues to improve each year. The top of the line thermostats today are advanced to a level where they’re essentially A.I. computers capable of handling home comfort on their own and maximizing energy use. The wireless or Wi-Fi thermostat is one of these fantastic advances in thermostat technology. This type of thermostat contains numerous features, such as “smart” programming and remote access.

You may be interested in wireless thermostats in Fresno, CA or elsewhere in the Central Valley as a way of boosting your household HVAC system. What are the advantages of going with a wireless “Tstat”? Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest ones.

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Cool Cash Spring Rebates

Tuesday, February 20th, 2018

Save up to $1650 in rebates on qualified Home Comfort Systems by Carrier. Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning is a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer in the Central Valley since 1952. We are proud to announce the Carrier Cool Cash Rebates begin March 1st, 2018.

Spring is a great time to replace or upgrade your air conditioning system in your home before the summer heat wave begins. When you replace your older system with new more efficient equipment you can see monthly energy cost savings immediately. It is a great time to take advantage of Spring rebates before the high temperatures and hot days begin in the Fresno and Madera, CA.

Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning has been serving Fresno, Madera and the Central Valley since 1952. We offer free estimates for replacement units and new installation with a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and a quick response time. Call Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning and ask about Spring Cool Cash savings today.

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Never Leave Air Conditioning Repairs Alone When Fall Starts

Wednesday, September 20th, 2017

air-conditioner-unit-being-repairedSeptember is often one of the hottest months of the year in the Central Valley. We won’t expect relief to arrive until October, when fall has officially started and has had some time to settle in and begin cooling us down.

However, even with the scorching heat around this time of year, people can grow complacent about dealing with their air conditioning systems—particularly if the ACs start to show signs they have something wrong with them. People are already thinking ahead to fall weather, making it too easy to shrug off air conditioning problems as something they can “get to later,” such as during the next spring.

Please don’t let this attitude lead you to leave your AC in questionable condition as the summer ends! For the short-term and long-term good of your residential cooling system, schedule any service for your air conditioning in Fresno, CA as soon as you can. Don’t leave your AC hanging at the end of the season.

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What to Do if Your Air Conditioning System Is Leaking Refrigerant

Monday, August 28th, 2017

air-conditioner-units-near-grassRefrigerant loss is one of the major problems an air conditioning system may encounter during its service life. And it’s not only a problem that occurs in aging, over-the-hill ACs. An air conditioning system that’s been in service for around 5 to 6 years can develop corrosion along its refrigerant lines because of exposure to formaldehyde in the air. It’s wise to always watch for indications that your AC, no matter how old it is, may be losing refrigerant to leaks:

  • A decline in cooling capacity
  • Hissing sounds from the cabinets
  • Ice developing along the indoor evaporator coil
  • Short-cycling (i.e. the compressor turns on and off repeatedly over a short time)
  • Hard starting
  • Liquid dripping from the indoor cabinet

These symptoms can point to other problems, but no matter the cause, they need professionals to look into them to see what air conditioning repairs will remedy the problem.

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My AC Is Short-Cycling… Should I Be Worried?

Monday, July 31st, 2017

air-conditioning-tool-bagYes, you should be worried! But you can stop worrying quickly, because all you have to do is contact our HVAC specialists, any day of the week, and we’ll have technicians out to your home to find out what’s wrong with your air conditioning system. Then we’ll have the problem solved, fast.

We could end the blog post right here, but we want to share some information with you about why short-cycling is trouble for an air conditioning system and the various ways it might start. Short-cycling can be the symptom of many different AC issues, from minor to major. The air conditioner could need a new filter, or it might need to be replaced. Our technicians will discover the exact issue and find the best air conditioning service in Madera, CA to get your home cooled down once more.

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