Tag: Heating & Air Conditioning

7 Reasons San Diego is Perfect for Ductless Mini-Split Systems

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7 Reasons San Diego is Perfect for Ductless Mini-Split Systems

Are you looking for the right AC system for your home? Click here for seven reasons why San Diego is the perfect place for ductless mini-split systems.

A mini-split is a type of heating and cooling system that allows you to control the temperature in specific rooms or spaces. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, they offer the added convenience of zone control. You can set each one to a different temperature, which allows you to easily adjust the temperature in your home. 

As a San Diego resident, your climate is ideal for a mini-split. These systems function best in warm, moderate climates where the weather doesn’t get too chilly. 

Today, we’re sharing the features that make this SoCal oasis just right for mini-split systems and how you can get one for your home!

What Is a Mini-Split System?

Before we dive into why a mini-split AC makes sense for San Diego homes, let’s start with the basics. What is a mini-split system and how does it work?

In short, mini-splits have two main components. These include:

  1. An outdoor compressor/condenser
  2. An indoor handling unit/evaporator 

Unlike conventional heating and air conditioning systems, mini-splits contain little-to-no ducts, and most are completely ductless. Instead, refrigerant lines connect the interior fan and evaporator unit to the outdoor compressor. 

To use your mini split, you’ll place the indoor unit in the room or “zone” that you want to heat or cool. Instead of pushing and pulling air to a central indoor unit, each room handles its own temperature regulation through the fan and evaporator unit. 

The indoor unit takes in the warm air and cools it by pushing it over a cooling agent, such as evaporator coils. Once it absorbs the heat, it pushes it to the outdoor unit. There, the outdoor unit takes the hot air and sends it outside. 

Even if you already have a central HVAC system installed, a ductless mini-split can offer even more comfort that you can rely on all year long!

Why Is San Diego Perfect for Mini-Split Systems?

As a San Diego, you might have already realized that you’re in a great spot. You’re close to tons of history, culture, pristine beaches, and world-class attractions.

However, did you also know that the type of climate you live in makes your home ideally situated for a mini-split system? Let’s take a look at a few reasons why this is the case.

Steady Climate

For a mini-split to function effectively, it shouldn’t be subjected to extreme changes in temperature. When it’s super hot or super cold outside, it makes it difficult for the unit to eject or absorb heat. 

Over time, this can cause too much wear and tear on its internal components, which can cause performance and efficiency to decline. In most cases, this degradation isn’t too noticeable during the summer months, but you’ll notice it when the mini-split has to work overtime to keep your room warm on a particularly frigid night. 

Thankfully, San Diego doesn’t see too many of those drastic temperature changes. This region enjoys a steady, relatively stable climate with an average temperature that hovers between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Even in the colder winter months, the minimum temperature stays above 45 degrees. Any rain or snow accumulation is minor and minimal. 

In fact, San Diego’s weather is so mild that Zillow once named it the most pleasant place to live in the United States! When you install a mini-split at your home, you can rest assured that it won’t be subjected to intense temperature changes that could wreak havoc on its parts. 

Moderate Summers

Another perk of living in San Diego is that you can count on it to be sunny, but not overly hot or humid. The warm season here lasts for about three months, but you never have to worry about sweltering. Even in the hottest month of August, the average high is 77 degrees and the low is 68 degrees.  

What does this mean for your mini-split system? It means that it doesn’t have to work too hard to cool your zone down! There’s less wear and tear on the internal gears, which can help it last longer. 

Architecturally Appropriate

San Diego residents have long known that they wouldn’t have to deal with scorching hot summers. As a result, many early homes in this area were built without the space or capacity to handle a central air conditioning system. 

If you live in an older home, this might be true for you. While you shouldn’t get too hot as the temperatures start to rise, you still deserve the peace and comfort that an HVAC system can bring! This is where a mini-split comes in.

A ductless mini split is simple and quick for a technician to install, and it can make a world of difference in how cool and comfortable your home stays. Even brand-new homes can benefit from the extra efficiency and support they provide. 

Lower Utility Bills

Finally, let’s talk about one of the top reasons why it’s smart to install a mini-split at your San Diego property. Modern, energy-efficient ones could help you lower your monthly utility bills! When the temperature is especially mild, you can even use your mini-split systems to heat or cool certain rooms on an as-needed basis, rather than running your central HVAC system all throughout the house. 

Instances like the recent SDG&E rate hike request are prompting local homeowners to look for any ways they can to conserve energy, and this is a great place to start. 

Learn More About Mini-Split Systems Today

If you want to keep your San Diego home comfortable, reduce your energy costs, and improve your home’s overall efficiency, then mini-split systems are a smart way to go!

The sunny city you live in is perfectly situated for these types of units, thanks to its moderate climate and steady temperatures. To learn more about how these systems work and whether they’re right for your home, reach out to us and book an appointment today!

How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

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How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

Are you looking for ways to better the air quality in your house? Read here to learn how to improve air quality in your home.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the concentrations of certain pollutants are often two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. Most Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, so this is definitely something to consider!

Are you looking for ways to improve air quality in your San Diego home? There are many different steps you can take to purify the air around you and help your loved ones breathe more easily. Today, we’re sharing a few of the most effective ones.

1. Change Your AC Filter

Your HVAC system works hard to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your house at all times. As it cycles through the air, it helps filter out common pollutants, from mold and pollen to tobacco smoke. Over time, it can become clogged and dirty.

While most manufacturers recommend that you change them once a month, one survey shows that only 18% of Americans follow that rule. In fact, 29% don’t change their filters at all. Not only does that wear down your HVAC system by requiring it to work overtime, but it also impacts your interior air quality.

Remember to change your filters according to the timeline on the packaging. If you are allergy-prone or live in an area with a higher degree of pollution, you may need to change them more often. 

2. Install an Air Filtration System

Also known as air purifiers, air filtration systems are portable devices that use internal filters and fans to pull unwanted pollutants and airborne particles from the air in a room. This includes pollen, dust, bacteria, and other contaminants. Then, the air is re-circulated back into the room. 

This entire process will repeat multiple times in one hour, which keeps your indoor air quality at a consistently pure level. The size of the air purifier you need will depend on the room you’re using it in. It should be appropriately scaled to be effective. 

When shopping for a filtration system, look for ones that utilize HEPA filters. These particular filters are known to remove more than 99.9% of the particulates that pass through them, including:

Want to skip the shopping and head straight to the best source? We offer advanced Air Filtration Systems that include a high-efficiency air conditioner, air filter, thermostat, MicroPure® Home Active Air Purifier, and a UV light! 

3. Use an Air Ionizer

Another household device that can help improve your indoor air quality is an air ionizer. Instead of using a filter, these machines remove airborne particles through the use of negative ions. 

How does it work?

Put simply, air ions are simply invisible molecules, floating around in the atmosphere with an electric charge. Ions can be either positive or negative. Negative ions have gained an electron, while positive ones have lost one. 

When you use an air ionizer, it releases more negative ions into the air. This process is known as deionization. Those negative ions attach to the tiny contaminants in the air and give them an electrical charge. 

This causes the particles to clump together and become heavier. Eventually, they will fall, landing on the walls, ceiling, floors, and other surfaces of your home. When they’re grouped together, it’s easier to see them and clean them up. 

4. Check Your Air Ducts

The ducts in your HVAC system help distribute hot and cold air throughout your home, keeping every room comfortable. Just like your filters, they can get dirty over time, collecting dust, pet dander, mold, and other contaminants. In addition to keeping them clean, it’s also important to make sure they’re properly installed. 

If they’re not correctly set up and maintained, there’s a chance that your air ducts could spread contaminants from one part of your house to another. A professional can inspect these areas and make sure they’re clean and working well!

5. Clean Your Carpets and Rugs

Soft floor coverings help our homes feel warm and cozy. However, carpets and rugs can be some pretty serious offenders when it comes to trapping contaminants like pet dander and dust.

Their fibers tend to trap and hold particles, and you can’t depend on a once-monthly vacuum spree to keep them clean. Take the time to clean them once a week, and you’ll all breathe easier. Today, you can even find household vacuums that come equipped with HEPA filters, so you know you’re getting a good, deep clean. 

6. Use Your Gas Stove Vent

When it’s time to fire up your gas stove, you might not always remember to turn on the vent above. However, it’s important to realize that many indoor air pollutants trace back to the kitchen. 

Stoves can release harmful contaminants into the air when you use them, including nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. While gas stoves emit the highest levels, electric burners can produce them, too. When these particles enter the air, they can become absorbed into your bloodstream. 

The next time you’re cooking, remember to look up and turn on the vent. You can also open a nearby window to help the air filter and flow out. 

7. Add Dehumidifiers

When the moisture levels are up in your home, it creates a pleasant breeding ground for mold, mildew, and all kinds of icky bacteria. If this is an issue at your house, you may notice that respiratory issues (including asthma and allergies) happen more frequently. While humidity and moisture can accumulate during any time of the year, summers tend to be particularly troublesome. 

To keep your levels in check, add a few strategically-placed dehumidifiers around your home. This might mean installing one in the living room, one in your bedroom, and one in the basement. There are lots of models to choose from, so find one that’s sized to fit your space. 

Improve Air Quality, One Step at a Time

As a San Diego resident, you have plenty to explore and enjoy beyond your front steps. However, you’re likely to spend most of your time inside!

That’s why it’s so important to improve air quality within your home. From dehumidifiers to deionization, there are many different steps you can put into place to help purify and cleanse the air around you.

At Semper Solaris, we’re dedicated to helping our customers breathe easier. From AC products and installation to air purification systems, you’ll find it all. Check out the products and services we offer and contact us to book an appointment!

Top 3 Reasons Your Air Conditioner Is Not Blowing Cold Air

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As you already know, California brings the heat. The weather can easily get above the 100s which means your air conditioner needs to be able to work properly for you and your family to cool down. Your air conditioner represents on of the largest home appliance investments you can make.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the top reasons your air conditioning system is now working properly such as not blowing cool air, and offer you some resolutions on keeping your unit working for many years to come.

From simple dirty filters that need to be replaced with new ones, to the more technical side of things such as electrical issues, there are several issues that may cause your air conditioning system not to be blowing the cold air you are accustomed to. Let us begin by exploring some of those common issues and hopefully educate you, and shed some light on the importance of keeping your air conditioner in top form with the added value of our lifetime warranty by Semper Solaris.

Dirty Air Filters Can Block Cold Air From Flowing Correctly

One of the most commons issues that we get all the time is that cold air is not blowing correctly. The first thing we always ask is if your filter has been changed recently? The air filter in your system is already designed to restrict the air flow simply by just being there. Add to that, a totally blocked filter that is caused from dust, dirt, and other foreign debris will leave your air conditioner from blowing nice cool air and it will create further problems.

At the same time, Blocked or dirty air filters will cause your air conditioning unit to not cool correctly, allowing some rooms to be more cooler while others seem to be not get any cold air at all. Blocked and dirty filters can trap pockets of cold air in and around your air conditioner coils causing icing issues that will eventually lead to water damage from the ice.

With all the talk in this past year about the quality of the indoor air that we breathe, wouldn’t it seem to be in your best interest for yourself and your family to not only change your air filter monthly, but consider upgrading to a better air conditioning system from Semper Solaris.

Thermostat Issues

Thermostats are one of the more key components of your HVAC system. Thermostats are used to detect temperature changes for the ability to maintain that temperature in an area.

If your thermostat is older (such as analog’ types), it can be prone to either being out of calibration or having basic malfunctions. Just like any other device in your home, your old thermostat could be subject to failure at any given moment. Having a professional technician from Semper Solaris to come and properly diagnose any thermostat malfunctions tends to be a simpler solution when your air conditioner begin blowing less cold air. Sometimes, it’s a simple solution like the cooling switch being inadvertently switched ‘off.’

Your thermostat is similar to the air filter in that now may be a good time to consider a change or upgrade! Newer and more efficient digital thermostats have the latest thermostat technology to make your older air conditioning system perform like it’s brand new.

Condensing Coils Need To Be Clean

One of the most important parts of your air conditioner is the large condensing coils found on the outdoor portion of your unit. These coils allow the heat from your home to be eliminated through a fan forcing the heat off of the coils.

A dirty coil, and bent fins can easily be responsible for reducing your systems cooling capacity , causing it to as you guessed it, blow less cold air! Both the condition of the condenser coil, and the condensing fan motor should be serviced at least once every 6 months for maximum cooling capacity from your system on those days that it is needed the most.

These are the top 3 reasons your air conditioner may not be blowing cold air. Remember, a faulty or old air conditioner should be inspected and repaired only by trained and experienced professionals. This is because they have potentially dangerous components that can injure you or worse. But, when you can definitely spot the symptoms, it’s time to call in a pro. Semper Solaris has you covered. Contact us today for more information on replacing or repairing your AC unit.