Encinitas Air Conditioning & Heating Knowledebase

Pre Service Check List

Before our expert arrives at your home to air conditioning, take a moment to make sure you're prepared for the appointment. That way, you can ensure your expert has all of the information he or she needs, and can get directly to work getting your system into top-performing condition.

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Tips

If you experience any trouble with your Air Conditioning products or system, you may always call Comfort Air Zone Encinitas Air Conditioning & Heating for help and service. But here are a few simple solutions you can attempt before calling your expert to your home for a service visit.

Playing The Numbers: R22 vs R410A

In the past, homeowners in the market for new air conditioning equipment were primarily concerned with selecting the best brand and efficiency rating to meet their needs. Now they must make an even more crucial decision: whether to replace their existing system with equipment which uses R22 refrigerant or whether to upgrade to R410A.

How Your Air Conditioner Works

Air conditioning is the conditioning of air within a defined space. Conditioning usually involves heating or cooling, humidifying or dehumidifying, and filtering air. Central air conditioners cool and dehumidify a defined space. Heating is accomplished by an add-on to the system (such as an electric heat strip) or by a seperate unit (such as a furnace).

Preparing Your Air Conditioner for Summer’s Onslaught

A few simple preparations can help your air conditioner to run more efficiently and reduce the risk of a breakdown when the heat index soars into the triple digits.

Selecting an Air Conditioner

When your cooling system breaks down, you may be faced with the choice of repairing your existing unit or purchasing a new air conditioner. Comfort Air Zone Encinitas Air Conditioning & Heating focuses on educating its customers so that they themselves can make an informed decision regarding the replacement or the repair of an existing air conditioner.

Jumping on the Brand Wagon

While most air conditioning and heating contractors promote one specific brand of equipment, think twice about selecting a contractor who refuses to sell any alternative brands. While the brand they sell may be a reputable one, it may not be the best choice for your situation or your budget.

The “8” Most Common Air Conditioning Problems

If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, either it was undercharged at installation or it leaks. If it leaks, simply adding refrigerant is not the solution. A trained technician should fix any leak, test the repair, and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant.

5 Tips to Increase the Efficiency and Longevity of Your Central Air Conditioning System

Many of us probably wonder how we ever survived the hot days of summer before central air conditioning. But as with all great things comes responsibility. If your A/C system is not maintained on a regular basis you will experience decreased system efficiency which can result in higher than normal electric bills and a shorter lifespan.

Ways To Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently

When the temperatures heat up, your air conditioner gets a work out and the efficiency of your air conditioner can drop dramatically. Below are some steps that can help ease the burden on your home’s air conditioner and help it to run more efficiently – and add savings to your energy bill

Things to Check When Your Air Conditioner Isn't Cooling

With the exception of the thermostat and the disposable return air filter, your air conditioning and heating equipment is best handled by a trained technician. Mishandling your air conditioning and heating equipment and your breakers may result in damage to the cooling and heating system and/or personal injury (including death by electrocution). Use caution and proceed at your own risk.

Troubleshooting a Gas Furnace - Furnace Repair

Once in a while things don't work quite right and you need to troubleshoot a gas furnace repair or relight a standing pilot if it has one. Most newer furnaces have electronic ignitions and need special troubleshooting.

Furnaces: What To Look For

Here are some features and considerations experts say to think about when choosing a gas or oil furnace, assuming that the contractor has determined the correct size for your house.

Furnace Efficiency

If your furnace is more than 15 years old, it probably has an AFUE of only 65%, so improvements in energy conservation can have a direct impact on your fuel bill.

Multi-Stage Furnaces

The latest industry trend is multi-stage furnaces. Two-stage furnaces are most common. The energy savings is small, but the comfort increase is substantial.

Save $1,000's of dollars with Proper Maintenance of your HVAC System

Maintaining your HVAC unit is the number one way to make sure you are doing everything possible to keep your cooling and heating costs down. Here is a list of things you should do regularly to maintain your HVAC System.

Buying A Furnace

Many people buy their first furnace without even realizing it. They buy a house with their furnace already installed. Many people buy their second furnace with the same amount of thought -- they open their phone book and call the first HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) contractor on the list.

New Furnace Prices: How to Compare Apples with Apples

Furnace prices greatly vary. How do you find the best price on a new furnace? Before you start to worry about the price tag on your new furnace itself, it pays to ask yourself three basic questions about your home heating system as it is and the changes you wish to make.

Energy Savings Tips

You will find tips for saving energy and money at home and even in the office. We bring you the latest information for heating and cooling, insulation, lighting, appliances, landscaping, and renewable energy to power your home. Some of the tips are easy enough to do, while others may require more effort and investment, but promise big savings over the years.

Beware of Dog

The dog may be man's best friend, but he's not always a good friend to man's air conditioning equipment. Dogs love to chew and it's not unusual for dogs to bite through the wire running to an outdoor condenser unit.

Change Thermostats To Save Money On Heating and Cooling

According to EnergyStar.com, homeowners can save about $180 a year by changing thermostats to a new, digital, programmable thermostat and maintaining those settings.

Inspecting the HVAC System When Buying a Home

The central heating, air conditioning and ventilation system is a major system of any home. When buying a new home, particularly an older home, you want to ensure the duct systems, and it’s HVAC equipment, are in fine working order and capable of continuing to work properly without major repairs.