Portland Heating and Cooling Solutions

HVAC Tips: How To Switch From Heating To Cooling

Preparing your hvac or cooling system for Spring is important to maintain the health of your cooling unit.  Converting from heating to cooling is stressful for your heating and cooling systems, so it's important to take some simple steps to get started. 

Here's a short list of steps to switch from heating to cooling: 

1. Check around your air conditioner out side to physically determine if there are any leaves, branches or debris that may be sticking into the air conditioning unit.  Be sure that ivy or roots are not intertwined in the mechanisms. 
2. Flip the switch on your thermostat from heating to cooling.  Check the temperature settings if it is programmable to assure that these make sense in a cooling environment. 
3. Replace your filter.  Filters become clogged and this winds up slowing the air flow.  A clean filter is more efficient and therefore the airconditioner doesn’t have to work as hard.  If your filter is clogged it can cause your system to struggle and add wear and tear to your hvac unit. 
4. Consider having your air ducts cleaned if your filter is really dirty.  Dirt and dust can accumulate in the ducts and a very clogged filter is a symptom of this condition. 
5. Wait 24 hours after you reconnect the power (if you disconnected it for the winter).  This allows the compressor to warm up.
6. Equalize the vents through the home so that the second floor received approximately 75% of the air flow.  This helps to even out the natural effect of heat rising, and will create a more evenly distributed cooling between the first and second floor.
7. Keep the shades drawn in rooms that get direct soon will keep those rooms cooler, therefore drawing less cooling to keep your home comfortable. 
8. Check around the windows to see if you feel any leaks.   If your windows are really old and single pane, you may want to consider replacing them.  Contemporary windows are more efficient and may wind up saving you money on your cooling expense. 

Additional things you can consider:

1. An attic fan is a great way to pull the hot air out of the attic and can be effective in helping your air conditioner do it’s job.  
2. Is your basement damp?  If so, running a dehumidifier in the basement can improve the comfort in your entire home. 
3. Schedule a tune up for your air conditioner - this will be an inspection to assure that nothing has become loose or damaged during the winter.   A small step to making sure your system is operating at peak efficiency and therefore won’t have to work harder to cool your home, which ultimately will cost you more.

What questions do you have about switching from heating to cooling?  We'd love to hear from you and your question could be the feature of our next blog post! 

Columbia NW Heating Inc. specializes in efficiently upgrading or repairing air conditioning, heating, gas furnaces, heat pump, ductless heat pumps, tankless water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, electric furnaces, air filtration systems, oil furnaces,  gas fireplaces and inserts, and all systems related to the comfort of your home or office in Portland and surrounding areas.

Heating And Cooling Tips: The Invisible Danger Of CO2

Heating and cooling systems are generally safe but there is an invisible and insidious gas that can be very dangerous if not detected.  Often referred to as the "silent killer" Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane burn incompletely. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, approximately 2,100 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States and there are more than 10,000 injuries. Oregon has a law going into effect April 1 2011 that Landlords must provide a properly functioning carbon monoxide alarms for units that have a carbon monoxide source. Also included in the law: Home sellers of one-and two family dwellings, manufactured dwellings, or multifamily housing units containing a carbon monoxide source must have one or more properly functioning carbon monoxide alarms before conveying fee title or transferring possession of a dwelling and carbon monoxide alarms are required in new construction or a structure that undergoes reconstruction, alteration or repair for which a building permit is required.

The state of Oregon has a great question and answer document at http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Comm_Ed/CO_Q_Achanges.pdf

Most states today either have a law or one on the books soon. There are plenty of sad  stories from around the country that could have been way different only if there were a simple device plugged into the wall.

As a company that services and installs equipment that may produce Carbon monoxide, we are committed to train our employees' and to  let all of our customers know the potential, and provide a high quality low cost solution for an alarm. We have these alarms available at our office for $35.00.

Columbia NW Heating Inc. specializes in efficiently upgrading or repairing air conditioning, heating, gas furnaces, heat pump, ductless heat pumps, tankless water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, electric furnaces, air filtration systems, oil furnaces,  gas fireplaces and inserts, and all systems related to the comfort of your home or office in Portland and surrounding areas.

Tax Credits and Rebates on Heating and Cooling Systems

Federal Tax Credits, State Tax Credits, Rebates from Energy Trust, rebates from the utility company…. What are all the rebates and tax credits I get?  How do I get them?  Who do I call if I am not sure?  Who wants to deal with all that paperwork?   Help!

 At Columbia NW Heating, it doesn’t matter if you are installing a furnace, an air conditioner, a heat pump, a tankless water heater, a ductless heat pump or cleaning and sealing your ductwork, we have a dedicated person right here in our office that will take care of the paperwork for you, will keep record of your installation, and answer any questions you may have.

Now is a great time to invest in the heating, cooling and ventilation of your home.  The federal tax credit is scheduled to expire at the end of 2010.  (30% Solar and Geothermal go until 2016).

 

 

 

 

Columbia NW Heating Inc. specializes in efficiently upgrading or repairing air conditioning, heating, gas furnaces, heat pump, ductless heat pumps, tankless water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, electric furnaces, air filtration systems, oil furnaces,  gas fireplaces and inserts, and all systems related to the comfort of your home or office in Portland and surrounding areas.