Category Archives: Blog

Has Your AC System Been Damaged By Hail or Flooding?

AC Flood Damage

Utah residents are no strangers to extreme weather conditions, and you want your AC unit to be just as adaptable and resilient. But what happens when your unit is no match for the elements? What if Utah sees an intense hail storm, or above average flooding? You can’t control the weather, but there are some things you can do for your AC system after a storm rolls through. AC Damage can be less costly if inspected before continued use.

Flooding

It usually takes 12 to 15 inches of water before your AC system begins to see damage. But as responsible home owner you want to call a professional as soon as you notice standing water so you can have your system checked out. Even if it is just a few inches of water, there could be damage. While you should leave the diagnostic and repairs to a trained professional, there are a few things you can do to minimize damage.

As soon as you’re able to, turn off the power to your AC system from your breaker panel. If the electricity is on and there is water in the system it could lead to excess damage. Try to remove as much water as possible from around your AC system so that it can dry out. Keep a close eye on your AC damage over the next few months to watch for delayed signs of water damage, corrosion or rust.

Don’t turn your AC system back on until it has been inspected for damage by the professionals with Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning. When your system is inspected, you’ll want to have the coils cleaned, and check the condenser fan motor (especially if the seal around the motor was bad). Any parts that were submerged will need to be inspected. You’ll also want to watch the compressor terminals over the next few months for any rust or corrosion.

If your home has flooding indoors, the steps are very similar. Turn off the power to your unit, including the thermostat and backup battery. Your indoor unit will have more electronic components which will be more sensitive to water damage, so have it looked at as soon as possible.

Hail

An AC system that has been damaged by hail will usually be apparent when you look at the unit. The hail will dent and deform the aluminum on the unit. It can cause particular damage to the fins that cover the coils. This AC damage to the outside will be obvious. The internal damage will be more subtle, but is no less serious. Any damage to the fins could lead to a condenser not functioning efficiently, if at all.

Fins can be repaired, but in some cases with more server damage the coils or the entire unit must be replaced. If you’ve recently had a hailstorm in your area and notice your AC seems to be constantly running or isn’t cooling, it’s likely it has been subject to damage.

Whether your AC damage needs to be repaired after a hailstorm or flooding, or replace all together call the professionals at Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning. They are the Salt Lake City AC system repair company you can trust.

What Are The Advantages Of A Smart Thermostat?

Thinking of buying a Smart Thermostat?

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Hey, I’d like more control and more efficiency when it comes to my HVAC,” you’re not alone. You may have even upgraded to a programmable thermostat which will do just that. You may have also entertained the idea of getting a smart thermostat. But what are the advantages of this new device you keep hearing about?

Smart thermostats have been increasing in popularity as of late. But what is it exactly? A smart thermostat has all the advantages of a programmable thermostat plus some! It learns your behaviors, you can control the thermostat remotely, and it can show you your energy consumption. These high-tech systems can even adjust themselves!

They’re smart

They don’t call them smart thermostats for nothing! The thing that really sets a smart thermostat apart from a programmable one is that it learns your behaviors and habits. The device will learn to anticipate what time of day you turn your HVAC up or down. If you make a temperature change, the smart thermostat will be able to tell you how long it will take to make that change.

Saving money

In theory, a smart thermostat can save you money if you take advantage of all the information and technology that comes along with it. Up front, you’ll have to factor in the cost of a smart thermostat and how that will affect your overall savings. How long will you plan to live at the home, or if you’re willing to move the smart thermostat with you are also things you need to consider. If you’re comfortable installing the smart thermostat yourself, you can save a little extra cash. If you’re not sure about self-installing, don’t hesitate to call the professional with Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning to give you a hand.

Saving energy

Programmable thermostats allow you to set the temperature in your home at specific times of day. A smart thermostat will also allow you to set temperatures for specific times of the day while also showing you how much energy you’re using before your bill arrives. Your energy use displays in real time and it can inform you and self adjust if, for example, you have excess humidity. If you’re baking, the thermostat will adjust for the extra heat. These capabilities will help you save energy!

More options

A programmable thermostat can give you more options than a traditional one, and a smart thermostat goes a step above the programmable thermostat. One of the biggest advantages of the smart thermostat is the ability to control it remotely with your Smartphone. If you’re out on a snowy day and will be home sooner than you expected, you can have your home start warming up so you’re greeted with a cozy space as soon as you walk in the door!

With the smart technology, money and energy saving benefits and the amount of options available, there are many advantages to investing in a smart thermostat. If you have more questions about them, or to get one installed call Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning. today!

What is The Advantage of HEPA Air Filter Over Traditional Filter?

Is there an advantage of a HEPA air filter over a traditional filter?

If you’re on top of your air filters and changing them as frequently as you should be, you’ve probably come across the HEPA air filters. HEPA air filters, or high-efficiency particulate air filters, work by forcing air through a fine mesh trapping particles like pollen, pet dander, dust mites and smoke.

With how often you should be changing your air filter (a few times a year) you may be tempted to go with the cheap fiberglass filters for a couple of bucks. After all, is there really an advantage to purchasing a higher-quality air filter, like a HEPA air filter, that costs more? We’re here to let you in on the HEPA advantages you may have been missing out on.

We have gone over the importance of indoor air quality previously here. Indoor air quality affects your health, especially if you or someone else in the home has asthma. Being exposed to and breathing in things like pollen, mold spores, dust mite debris, smoke, pet dander or smog can leave you with headaches, sore throats, and skin rashes. Your air filter is what protects you from breathing these things in your home.

As we mentioned earlier, the fiberglass air filters are definitely the cheapest, but they are don’t do very well when it comes to removing particles from the air; we’re talking less than 10% of the pollutants are removed.

Another more traditional option would be the pleated air filter. These remove up to 45% of particles in the air and usually cost around $10. While a better option than the fiberglass filter, it is still inferior to the HEPA air filter.

High efficiency air filters remove up to 85% of the air pollutants in your home, which is a number that can leave you sleeping easy at night. (You’ll probably be sleeping easy with all that clean air to breathe!) And a true HEPA air filter used for a whole house filtration system or air purifier can remove up to 98% of the pollutants in the home.

Fiberglass air filters are actually pretty good when it comes to trapping large particles in the air, but don’t handle the small particles very well. While HEPA air filters aren’t as good at catching large particles, they are much better at capturing the smaller particles. But the smaller particles are much more harmful to your health; these are the ones you want to worry about trapping.

The effectiveness of the HEPA air filter and the importance of air quality to your health are two simple yet powerful reasons why these high efficiency filters are superior to any other option. By investing in a HEPA air filter you can ensure you and your family will be breathing cleaner air.

For more information about air filters, or to have someone tune up your AC to further improve your indoor air quality, call the professionals with Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning..