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Whole House Humidifier Installed in HVAC System

Is a Whole House Humidifier a Good Idea for a Bay Area Home?

As its name implies, a whole house humidifier increases the humidity of an entire home instead of just one room. They can be free-standing portable units that essentially act as much larger room humidifiers. But the best connect to your existing ductwork and act as part of your HVAC system along with your air conditioner and furnace.

A humidifier of some kind is a must when you live in a dry climate. But should a Bay Area home have a whole-home humidifier? As with just about anything else related to your home, it’s always best to look at the pros and cons of having one before you contact a Bay Area HVAC contractor to have one installed in your home. Continue reading →

Heat Pump Cools in Summer Warms in Winter

Why Choose a Heat Pump System to Cool Your Home?

Heat pumps have grown as a viable alternative to conventional HVAC systems in the last several years. This is because Bay Area homeowners have seen friends and neighbors successfully use them to improve their home comfort. In addition, more people understands that “heat pump” means moving heat either into or out of a house. Said another way, heat pumps work by transferring heat from one area to somewhere else as needed.

  • In the summer, they can cool your home by transferring heat from indoors to outside.
  • In the winter, they can heat your home by reversing this process.

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heat pump for Bay Area home

How to Best Benefit from Your Heat Pump

Are you investigating a heat pump as a cooling solution for your home? If so, you likely have heard the “heat pump vs. central air conditioning” debate. AC units are generally installed with enough power to cool an entire house. But they may not deliver cooling evenly in a larger house. Heat pumps can work modularly, and may be a great addition to a central AC system to cool specific home zones. Heat pumps are now quite popular in the San Francisco Bay Area as a result. Continue reading →

Home Ventilation Systems Element Home Solutions

Types of Bay Area Home Ventilation Systems

Home Ventilation is the V in HVAC, but it gets much less attention than heating or air conditioning. It’s still a crucial part of an energy-efficient home that helps to control moisture and remove contaminants such as allergens, viruses and micro-particles.

You have a few home ventilation options to choose from when you’re building or renovating a home.

Home Ventilation Systems Improve Indoor Air Quality

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Air Conditioning Tips Summer Heat Waves

How to Save Money on Air Conditioning Bills This Summer

Air conditioning is essential when you live in the Bay Area. Summer heat waves have gotten more frequent. And when you’re in the middle of a summer heat wave, you may be tempted to turn up your AC and run it nonstop to keep the heat at bay. But, as good as that might feel at the time, you will suffer for it when it comes time to pay your next utility bill. Fortunately, you can save money on air conditioning even during the hottest days of the summer.

Use Fans to Save on Air Conditioning Bills

Follow these tips to help keep your PG&E bill lower in a hot summer: Continue reading →

Landscaping Ideas for Outdoor AC Units

Landscaping Ideas for Air Conditioning Units

Central air conditioning is great to have when you live in the Bay Area. But there is still the matter of what to do about the A/C unit that sits outside of your home. While AC units are very practical, they are not very attractive. There are ways, however, to use landscaping around your outdoor air conditioning unit or heat pump to minimize the visual impact while allowing the unit to operate efficiently.

Element Home Solutions does not provide landscaping services. But, we recommend following some of the steps shared here to protect your HVAC investment!

Use Landscaping to Hide your Outdoor Air Conditioning Unit

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Bay Area air conditioning services

Get Your Air Conditioning Inspected Before Summer Arrives

Rainy Bay Area winters can impact your home’s air conditioning system while it sits idle, especially systems with outdoor AC units. Leaves and other debris may have settled in the air intakes, and water may have intruded and could be rusting the unit’s components.

And your furnace has been working hard all winter, and may need some attention before switching over to AC for the summer.

So it is prudent to get your AC units and furnaces inspected this month to ensure a smooth transition. Continue reading →

Zoned AC for Two Story Bay Area Home

How to Use Zoned AC to Cool a Two-Story Home

If you own a two-story home in the San Francisco Bay Area, a zoned AC system may help improve your whole home comfort. Setting up a central air conditioner with one thermostat to evenly cool a two-story Bay Area house can be difficult. You might find that some rooms are perfectly comfortable, while others are still way too warm. Or are too cold! Your AC unit will struggle to deliver an air flow that cools hotter rooms upstairs without over-chilling downstairs rooms.

Zoned AC Systems Cool Bay Area Homes More Evenly

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Upgrade Home Insulation to Save on Energy Bills

Bay Area Home Insulation Basics

Home insulation is one of the most important hidden qualities of any Bay Area residence, yet because it is hidden in attics, walls and crawl spaces, it’s something that homeowners don’t often think about. Good insulation lowers energy bills and keeps your home feeling comfortable throughout the year, so it’s always something to consider when building or renovating your home. Let’s go over some of the basics of insulation so you can get a better idea of how you should insulate your attic.

How Home Insulation Controls Heat Flow

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Element Home Solutions Whole House Fans

Whole House Fans Cool Bay Area Homes in Summer

If you are always looking for ways to lower your summer utility bills, a whole house fan may be a good addition to your home HVAC system. We all think about how to keep our houses cool in a heat wave without relying too much on the air conditioner. The whole house fan is a more affordable alternative, available through Bay Area HVAC servicers. And it can keep you from running your air conditioner full blast all summer and running up your monthly utility bills.

How Whole House Fans Cool Bay Area Homes

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