Kilowatt Heating, Air Conditioning and Electrical Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Lake Balboa’

Caution: The Mismatched Air Conditioning System Is Bad News!

Monday, July 11th, 2022

“What’s a mismatched air conditioning system?” you wonder. Is that like a mismatched outfit where the colors clash? No, it’s something far worse than a mildly odd clothing style, which may actually be something you want. (We’re not a fashion design company—dress how you like!) A mismatched air conditioning system is when the different components from an AC aren’t matched to work together. 

The most common mismatched air conditioning system is when the outdoor condenser isn’t matched to the indoor components. Most residential ACs are “split systems,” with indoor and outdoor units, and people may make the mistake of thinking of these parts as essentially separate and not part of a matched set. But they are. And if you have only one part replaced, such as the outdoor condenser when the compressor fails, it will create big problems.

Unfortunately, sometimes homeowners make the mistake of upgrading only one part of their air conditioner to save money, and they’ll find non-reputable HVAC “technicians” who’ll do the work. Here’s why we don’t advise getting your AC mixed up like this.

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Signs You Need a New Water Heater

Monday, May 2nd, 2022
water-heater-leaking

When you consider how much work a water heater does each year (it consumes more energy than the AC and heater combined), it’s remarkable that it can last as long as it does. The average service life for most gas water heaters is around 15 years, and if your water heater reaches this age, you’ve gotten a good return on your investment in it.

But it’s important to recognize the signs your water heater is coming to the end of its service life. You don’t want to get caught by surprise one morning with cold water in the shower and a water heater that’s beyond repair. We want to help you know when you need a new water heater installation in Lake Balboa, CA. Below are the major signs of a water heater that’s ready for a replacement.

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Bad Heating System Tips—Be Warned!

Monday, February 21st, 2022
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We have so much information at our fingertips today that it’s almost impossible to imagine what life was like before the widespread use of the internet. But the internet has also increased the speed and accessibility of poor information and many outright myths. This is something that we in the HVAC industry have to deal with: consumers who have picked up misconceptions and bad tips that have spread far and wide. 

Below are some of the most common pieces of bad advice about heaters that homeowners run across. There is plenty of accurate information out there—you’re reading such a source right now. But whenever you’re in doubt about something like heating repair in Lake Balboa, CA, you’ll get the best advice when you call our experts.

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Why Does My Gas Furnace Keep Shutting Off?

Monday, February 7th, 2022
stripping-electrical-wires

We’re going through what will probably be the coldest weather of the season here in Southern California. That might seem warm to people on the East Coast, but it’s definitely cold enough that we’ll need our heating systems running. This is the point when you’re most likely to find out if your heating system is up to its job. If you have heating maintenance done at the start of winter, you can expect to run into few problems. But even the best maintenance can’t prevent all malfunctions. 

For instance, you may discover that your gas furnace isn’t running long enough to warm up the house, either shutting off after a few minutes or shutting off almost right away. What’s the cause of this? There are several possible sources, which we’ll look at below.

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Why Is My Furnace Continually Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

Monday, January 9th, 2017

We’re both an HVAC and electrical company, which puts us in a special position when it comes to issues that involve a home’s electrical system that powers its heating system. One of these problems is when a home’s furnace comes on and almost immediately trips a circuit breaker. We’re going to take a close look at this trouble and what may lie behind it.

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Attic Insulation Delivers Great Value!

Monday, December 12th, 2016

img_0827If you notice that you’re paying higher heating bills than you think you should, the problem might not be the heating system—it might be the insulation, or lack of it, in your home.

Insulation for Better Heating Efficiency

The key place where a home needs an effective insulation layer is in the attic. During cold weather, the heat in a home rises toward the top of the house where it easily escapes through the attic. But an insulating layer between the attic and the rest of the house slows down the escape of heat and keeps the rest of the house warmer. It’s like putting a wool cap on your head, except it’s a wool cap for the house. Thanks to this “wool cap,” you’ll spend less money running your heater.

But it’s hot most of the year where I live!

You live in Southern California, so the most common temperature problem you run into is the heat. With mild winters and scorching summers, is insulation in the attic really that worthwhile?

Yes, absolutely! People often don’t realize that insulation is a two-way barrier against the movement of heat. During cold weather, it keeps heat trapped in a house so it won’t rise right out the top. And during hot weather, it keeps heat trapped in the attic so it doesn’t get down to the rest of the house. An attic can attain temperatures around 130°F during sunny summer days, which is enough to raise the temperature of the rest of the house by 10°F. That means wasting more power to run the air conditioner. Good attic insulation is a money-saver all through the year, and one of the best values for improving home performance.

You can trust to our insulation experts to find the best way to replace your old insulation and put in an effective new layer in your attic.

Kilowatt Heating, Air Conditioning and Electrical serves Lake Balboa, CA and throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Call our certified service technicians 24/7 for exceptional customer service!

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