Purl's Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Madera’

When Is the Best Time for New Furnace Installation?

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

No matter how well you take care of your furnace, you will eventually have to replace it with a new one. Parts break down, wear out, and even go out of production. Eventually, the cost of repairing all of your furnace’s problems will outweigh that of a new furnace installation. The sooner you recognize that your furnace has reached the end of its service life, the more money you can save by replacing it. If you have any questions regarding whether you should repair or replace your furnace, call the skilled technicians at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning.

Let’s take a look at some of the indicators that you should have a new furnace installed.

Increase in Repairs

Every system will occasionally run into problems that require professional repair. As a system ages, however, the frequency and cost of those repairs will increase. As wear and tear accumulates on the furnace, the individual parts of the system will begin to fail. Since each part wears out at a slightly different rate, this will eventually result in multiple parts failing in rapid succession.

Decrease in Efficiency

Not all drops in heating efficiency are a sign that a furnace needs replacement. There are several different issues that could contribute to a loss of heating ability. However, a furnace that seems to be permanently handicapped, even after multiple repairs, is a sign that you should replace the furnace with a new one.

Age

An older furnace doesn’t necessarily need replacement, but you need to take age into consideration when other symptoms, like those above, start to appear. If your furnace is older than its manufacturer’s estimate lifespan and experienced other performance issues, it’s a good idea to look into replacing it. If you have an older furnace and that is still performing fine, make sure you continue with regular professional maintenance and consult with your technician about when a replacement is cost-effective.

If you think you need a new furnace installation in the Madera area, call Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning to schedule an appointment.

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Is It Time to Replace My Heat Pump?

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

If a heat pump receives regular maintenance from professionals, as well as skilled repairs when necessary, it should continue to keep a home warm during the winter and cool during the summer for many years. But no mechanical appliance can operate forever, and with the amount of work that a heat pump does around the year in California, it will eventually wear down to the point that it should be replaced.

If you suspect that you need to retire your home’s heat pump in Madera, CA, call up Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning. We provide excellent service for heat pumps, including repairs, maintenance, and new installation.

Below are some of the ways to tell that you should call us regarding heat pump replacement:

  • Rising energy costs: A sudden increase in electrical bills during periods when a heat pump is running is usually a warning that the system has a fault somewhere in it that is causing it to drain additional power. Targeted repairs will usually fix such problems. But if the rise in the bills is more gradual and it does not decrease due to repairs or maintenance, it often means the system is too old to work efficiently any more. Heating technicians can look into the unit and determine if replacing it is the best route or not.
  • An increase in repair jobs: Approximately 85% of the repairs that a heat pump or other heating system may need occur during the last two years of its service life. When you find yourself calling for repairs more than once or twice during a year, it’s time to think about retiring the heat pump. As a good rule of thumb, if a repair would cost half or more of the price to replace the heat pump, it is more economical to have a new unit put in rather than to continue with repairs.
  • Continual noisy operation: Loud noises from a heat pump are a strong sign that the mechanical components have worn down to the point that the system is no longer worth keeping. Heating technicians can investigate the heat pump to see if replacing some of the components will help, or if the heat pump is simply too old for further repairs to do much good.

Call the heating professionals at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning.  We will send one of our service technicians to your home to diagnosis the heat pump to find any possible problems.   We can give you an estimate for repairs or replacing the unit. Whether you need repairs or new installation for your heat pump in Madera, CA, you can count on our decades of experience to deliver the highest quality work.

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Christmas Light Parade 2014

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

The 21st Annual Madera Light Parade is scheduled for Thursday Dec 4, 2014. The annual light parade is a tradition in Madera that begins the Holiday Season with a spectacular Christmas celebration of lights. Every year the event is hosted by the Madera Kiwanis Club and the Downtown IMG_7531_1Association.

The light parade began 21 years ago as a procession of farm equipment and tractors down historic Yosemite Avenue in Madera, CA. It was a great way to celebrate the end of the harvest and begin the Holiday Season. Today, the parade route continues down Yosemite Avenue and still includes tractors and harvesters as well as fire trucks, cars, semi-trucks, flatbed trailers and just about anything else you can put lights on. There is only one qualification to enter … each vehicle must have a minimum of 100 lighted Christmas lights. Madera residents line the streets of Yosemite Avenue and cheer for their favorite entries. Spectators can view the parade and wander through downtown business locations.

Purl’s Sheet Metal will be entering the parade again with their fleet of antique fire apparatus decorated and loaded with Purl’s Sheet Metal employees and families. We partner our entry with our friends from Warnock Food Products of Madera with a total entry of 6 to 7 antique fire engines. It is a great evening for us to bundle up and barbeque hot dogs, drink hot cocoa and sing some Christmas carols. The Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning fleet includes, 1979 Crown Fire Coach Pumper, 1951 American La France Pumper and a 1948 American La France Aerial Ladder Truck.    IMG_7541_1

The parade begins at 6:00 pm and also offers tickets to the wine and hot chocolate stroll through downtown businesses with appetizers and wine tasting from more than 9 local Madera Wineries. Contact the Madera Chamber of Commerce for tickets.

Click here for more Light Parade Information (Add to see photos of Purl’s fire trucks from last years parade)

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How Do Heat Pumps Cool?

Friday, August 15th, 2014

Although the word “heat” is included in the term “heat pump,” this high-performance system does more than keep people warm. While these systems can move heat into a home, they can also move heat outside, allowing cool air to blow into a house through the vents. Heat pumps are actually very effective cooling systems because they work exactly like standard air conditioners, but with one key difference: the reversing valve that allows for dual functions.

Much like any other air conditioning system, a heat pump cools a home using a chemical blend called refrigerant. The system is only called a heat pump because it pumps heat into your home during the heating season and pumps heat out of your home in the cooling season. Refrigerant is responsible for the thermodynamic process that allows for this heat exchange to occur.

When you turn on your heat pump during the cooling season, refrigerant first leaves the compressor as a high-pressure gas and makes its way to the condenser. Here, heat releases into the outdoor air during the condensation process that changes the refrigerant into a liquid. The expansion valve allows the pressure of the liquid to drop. Finally, it flows to the evaporator coil, where the liquid refrigerant evaporates into a gas and absorbs heat in the process. An indoor fan then blows cool air into your home.

The reversing valve is the part that differentiates the heat pump from a standard central air conditioner. When you switch the thermostat to heating mode, refrigerant actually flows in the opposite direction, a process unavailable with most central air conditioning systems. When the thermostat engages the reversing valve, refrigerant flows in the opposite direction. When this happens, refrigerant pulls heat from the outside air and moves the heat indoors.

Heat pumps can be very efficient systems for both heating and cooling. Many heat pumps have high SEERs (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios), and a high HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). These rating systems give an indication of a system’s average energy use, so you can save money selecting a more efficient system. If you want help selecting energy-efficient heat pumps in Madera, call the experts at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning today!

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It’s Right in Our Name: We Fabricate Sheet Metal

Friday, August 8th, 2014

The majority of our customers come to us for our quality work installing, repairing, and maintaining air conditioners, heaters, and other indoor comfort systems. But these customers are often confused at the name of our company and the “sheet metal” part. The truth is that Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning started out exclusively in the sheet metal business way back in 1952. This is not completely unheard of in the air conditioning world: developing the sheet metal used for ventilation construction often leads to working with the air conditioners that hook up to them.

Sheet metal fabrication is still an important part of our business, and we currently handle the work in a Madera, CA sheet metal fabrication building that covers 24,000 square feet. The technology we use has advanced tremendously since the 1950s, and our cutting-edge computer-controlled tools allow us to produce a high volume of unique products. We handle sheet metal fabrication for different industries and purposes: agricultural products such as irrigation systems and processing ventilation systems; customized roofing to fit any kind of space; hoods for kitchen ranges; and spiral ductwork that has recently gained popularity in both homes and businesses. We also manufacture the sheet metal we use in our new construction installations for heating and air conditioning.

One of the key tools in our sheet metal fabrication building is a computer automated plasma cutting table. We can program into the computer the different shapes and sizes of the pieces we need cut for a project. The plasma table then automatically configures them to make the maximum use of the material and cuts the shape using a plasma torch. A plasma torch is device that blasts out an inert gas through a nozzle at high speed and then changes it into plasma with an electric arc; the resulting plasma can move through metal rapidly for smooth cutting. We also use the plasma table to cut out standardized pieces, such as boots, that we use in new construction.

If you contact us for installation of a heating system, air conditioning, or ductwork, we will take care of all the necessary fabrication for the job. But you can also contact us when your need customized sheet metal in Madera, CA for a specific project. Our years of experience and up-to-date technology make us one of your best resources for sheet metal fabrication in the Central Valley.

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Common Air Conditioning Problems in the Spring

Thursday, May 1st, 2014

We don’t often think about repairing our air conditioners in the spring. Here in Madera, air conditioning problems don’t usually make themselves known until we’re deeper into the summer, when temperatures rise and you need your system every day. But that doesn’t mean you won’t face common air conditioning problems in the spring. Indeed, dealing with those problems before the summer hits can save you a great deal of trouble.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the things to look for.

  • Low refrigerant. Refrigerant gas is the foundation of your air conditioning system. It cycles through the system, shifting first into a liquid state and then back into a gas before starting again. The results pull heat from the surrounding air, which is what allows your air conditioner to cool your home. Refrigerant levels need to be at a set amount, as determined by your precise air conditioner model. If a leak springs up, refrigerant will leak out, causing your unit to struggle and causing excessive wear and tear on other components. This is an especial concern in the spring, since you won’t detect a leak after your air conditioner sits idle all winter.
  • Dust and dirt. Dust and dirt clog air filters, which reduce the flow of air and make it harder to cool down your home. They also can coat other interior components, increasing friction on moving parts and causing more wear on the system as a whole. Again, dust and dirt usually accumulate after not running the air conditioner for several months, which typically happens during the winter.
  • Clogged drain line. The drain line is connected to a drain pan, which collects condensate and moves it out of the system. They can become clogged after a period of little use, which will cause the pan to overflow when you start using the air conditioner again.

You can address common problems in the spring by scheduling air conditioning maintenance with Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning. We work in Madera, air conditioning maintenance is a standard service of ours and we can make sure that your unit is ready to go as soon as temperatures start to rise. Call us today to make an appointment!

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Should I Wait to Repair My Furnace Since I Won’t Be Using It Until Next Winter?

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014

Furnaces provide a valuable, often essential, service during the winter months. But as spring changes into summer, furnaces drift away from people’s minds. Homeowners focus their attention on their ACs until winter returns again. It’s easy during this time to neglect taking care of any lingering repair needs a furnace may have.

However—and this applies to all heating systems as well as air conditioning systems—you should call for repairs the moment you know you need them. Delay can lead to inferior heating, further malfunctions, and energy waste. Act on your needs for furnace repair service in Madera, CA now with a call to Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning. We are available 7 days a week to help keep your furnace in good condition.

So, in answer to the question, “Should I wait to repair my furnace since I won’t be using it until winter?”…

1. No, because you might actually need to use it before winter

California summers are known for their warmth, but there’s no guarantee that we won’t encounter a few chilly and rainy days. Once we reach September, the chances will climb even higher that uncomfortable weather will strike and your furnace will need to come on to keep you comfortable. You don’t want the repair you neglected back in spring to impair the furnace’s performance or cause it to break down.

2. No, because spring is an ideal time to schedule service

The best time to have a furnace repaired is when you don’t need it to heat you. It’s much easier to have repair technicians shut down your furnace for short time during a warm spring day when you have no need for the furnace to be on in the first place. Spring is also one of the less busy times for HVAC technicians, between the emergency calls of winter and summer, so it’s simpler to schedule a convenient time to have the repair work completed.

3. No, because the problem may worsen

Winter weather arrives, and it’s time to ignite your furnace once more. But… it doesn’t come on, and you end up needing to make an emergency repair call. This is a likely scenario when you allow a repair problem to go unattended: the malfunction won’t magically repair itself, and it will likely grow worse—especially if you needed to turn the furnace on a few times during the summer and fall. Don’t take this risk; have repairs done as soon as you know about them.

Whatever issues you noticed with your furnace at the end of winter, you can trust the technicians at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning to fix it. We’ve served the Central Valley since 1952, and any furnace repairs throughout Madera, CA will be in good hands with us.

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Benefits of a Maintenance Session at the End of Heating Season

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

The heating season is coming to a close and with it comes a reduced need to keep your heater running every day. As temperatures warm up, homeowners will turn their attention towards air conditioning systems, especially in the Central Valley where summers get incredibly hot. In Madera, the heating system technicians at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning also offer maintenance service: a sort of tune-up for your heater that addresses little issues such as dust build-up and loose bolts. The benefits of maintaining your heater at the end of heating season cannot be overestimated.

Here in Madera, heating services are provided by Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning, and we can handle a maintenance session with professionalism and pride. Call us today to make an appointment!

In the first case, it’s an easy time to remember. Many homeowners engage in spring cleaning every year at about this time, and you can add a maintenance session for your heater to the list to things to do. That helps you get a jump on any dust or debris that have built up over the winter, as well as addressing any little issues that you didn’t have time to deal with when the heater was running every day.

Along those lines, spring time gives you maximum flexibility. In the winter, you’re likely running your heater every day or thereabouts, which leaves precious little time to deal with anything but a major problem. In the spring, you don’t need your heater as often, and can set a schedule for a maintenance session that works best for you, instead of scrambling around during an emergency.

Perhaps most importantly, a maintenance session now ensures that your heater will be ready to go next season, eliminating potential worry and keeping your furnace in good shape. Dust and dirt, for example, can clog the burners and increase friction on moving parts. That might not be a big problem now, but it definitely could create one if it’s left unaddressed. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure as they say, and the benefits of a maintenance session at the end of heating session will pay dividends in the long term.

Call Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning for professional heating system maintenance in the Madera, CA area.

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Why Duct Sealing Helps Protect Your Heating System

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014

Your duct system is attached to a centralized HVAC system and acts to move conditioned air throughout your home. Braches can sometimes develop in the ducts along the fitting of different sections, which can prove very costly to your system. Here in Madera, duct cleaning services can seal duct breaches for you, restoring your system to its optimum efficiency. But how beneficial is that?

Here’s why duct sealing helps protect your heating system:

Theoretically, the duct system should be completely self-contained in order to keep the conditioned air at its current temperature. When a breach occurs, one of two things will happen: outside air will get in or inside air will get out. In both cases, it will affect the conditioned air: making it warmer or cooler than you want it to be. That forces the HVAC unit to work harder to make up the difference, creating greater strain on the system and forcing your heater or air conditioner to spend more energy to do the same job.

Furthermore, a breach can also result in dust and debris getting into the system. Because of the nature of ducts, that dust will quickly spread to every corner of your home. That will lower the quality of the air and may exacerbate allergies in sensitive family members. In the worst cases, it might even create blockages in the ducts, reducing the flow of air.

Sealing the ducts can correct those issues. A trained professional will examine the ducts and either reconnect it or use a high-end patch to ensure that the leak is sealed. That maintains the integrity of the conditioned air and ensures that your HVAC unit doesn’t have to work any harder than necessary to get you the comfortable home that you need. It also keeps the quality of your indoor air high, reducing the risk of allergic attack and keeping your household cleaner. For more on why duct sealing helps protect your heating system, or to schedule a duct cleaning in Madera, contact the experts at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning. We’ll make sure the problem is fixed the first time, every time!

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What Kinds of Repair Issues are Involved with Zone Control Systems

Monday, February 17th, 2014

Zone control systems divide your home into different sections, and allow you to control the individual temperature in each other. So if you’re cooking in the kitchen and have the stove turned up, you can set the heat lower there than in the living room, where someone else might be reading or playing video games. Some zone control systems are a part of a ductless mini split system, which uses multiple units spread across your home. Others establish a series of valves and seals in an existing duct system, which can then be adjust via a control panel to open or seal different sections of ducts. Either way, they still experience their share of breakdowns and repair needs. Here in Madera, heating installation services can usually perform repairs on them. But what kinds of repair issues are involved with zone control systems?

Frankly, it depends on the kind of zone control. For valves inserts in an existing system, the problems usually arise when they become misaligned or some issue appear with the controls that open and close them. As a result, you won’t be able to turn the heat on or off in a given section, which render the whole purpose of the system obsolete. A technician will likely need to access your ductwork and find out what the problem is.

With ductless mini split systems, the problem could stem from any number of causes. If your air flow it low, you may be experiencing a problem with the fan motor or a clog in the vents. Lower heat or cooling capacity could mean a leak in the refrigerant levels, while a build-up of dust or dirt could cause an overall lowering of efficiency (leading to higher energy bills).

Regardless of what kinds of repair issues are involved with zone control systems, you need the right kind of technician to perform the operation. Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning offers heating installation and repair services in Madera, and our trained experts won’t rest until you are completely satisfied. Pick up the phone and give us a call today.

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