Archive for March, 2013

What To Do Before Switching Your Heat Pump From Heating to Cooling

Monday, March 25th, 2013

A heat pump is a great option for homeowners that want efficient heating and cooling in one convenient system. As we leave the cold season here in Oregon and the weather begins to warm up, you may start thinking about switching your heat pump from heating to cooling. Before you do that, it may be a good idea to think about performing some simple maintenance tasks to make sure that your heat pump works well. Contact the Portland heating experts at The Clean Air Act for all your heat pump repair and maintenance. We can help you make sure that your heat pump works well throughout the year. Here are a few of the thing that you may want to think about before the weather starts to warm up.

Benefits of Regular Heat Pump Maintenance

Heat pumps get a ton of use throughout the year because you use the same equipment to both heat and cool your home. In addition to that, your heat pump’s cooling mode has been dormant for much of the fall and winter. Before you just start cranking out the cooling it could be a good idea to get your heat pump inspected, repaired and maintained. With all the use that it gets your heat pump will likely start to develop small problems and issues. Those problems can impact the operation and efficiency of your heat pump. During regular maintenance, your technician will thoroughly inspect and clean out every component of your heat pump. They will find those small problems and repair which can result in some of the following benefits

  • Reduced need for repair
  • Increased Efficiency
  • Extended equipment life

Call the Portland, OR heating technicians at The Clean Air Act if you’re interested in setting up regular maintenance for your home’s heat pump. Contact The Clean Air Act today!

Why is My Furnace Not Heating Properly?

Monday, March 18th, 2013

Even as we enter the end of the heating season in Portland, OR, your furnace may begin to lose its ability to heat your home. This can be disconcerting, even as spring approaches. Don’t wait until next year to schedule furnace repair service. Delaying repairs typically only worsens them. If you’re concerned about your furnace, you need to rely on a trained Portland heating professional to ensure that your repair is done right the first time. The Clean Air Act Inc. is committed to providing exceptional heating repair in the Portland, OR area.

One of the most common questions we hear from customers is “Why is my furnace not heating?” Let’s take a look at some common causes:

  • Thermocouple. Your thermocouple is an electronic safety device that typically attaches to your pilot light to prevent gas from entering the combustion chamber without a flame to ignite it properly. It may be broken, or it may be accurately sensing that your pilot light is out, in which case it needs to be relit, or your fuel supply valve is blocked by debris.
  • Electrical issue. While your furnace creates energy from fuel, it is powered by electricity. Your furnace may have tripped the circuit breaker or blown a fuse. If your wiring is old or has been damaged, this can be a potentially hazardous situation and should be dealt with as soon as possible.
  • Clogged air filter. If you notice that your furnace turns on, but little to no heat emerges from the ductwork, your air filter may be dirty or completely blocked. If you can’t remember the last time you checked your air filter, it’s a good idea to do so regularly. It’s an easy and cost effective maintenance task.
  • No fuel. While this seems obvious, customers unfamiliar with how their heating system may forget to check their fuel gauge. No fuel, no fire, as they say.

We hope that this brief list of common furnace heating problems helps you identify a problem. The next step is contacting your local Portland heating professionals at The Clean Air Act Inc. We service all makes and models of furnaces. Call us today!

Cost-Effective Heating Upgrades

Monday, March 11th, 2013

If you are looking for cost-effective heating upgrades for your home, call the Portland heating experts at The Clean Air Act. We can help you with all of your heating and home energy needs. We’ve put together a few ways that you can start saving energy and money on utility bills in Portland, OR.

Here are a few cost-effective heating upgrades to consider.

Choose Energy Star Products

When you choose Energy Star products, you are creating long-term savings on energy costs. Improving the efficiency of your home doesn’t stop with installing high-efficiency appliances; there are plenty of smaller upgrades that can also add up over time and improve heating performance.

Seal Air Leaks

One of the easiest improvements you can make is to seal up any cracks or places that are leaking air, such as older doors and windows. You can check for air leaks by using the “candle test,” which is basically putting a candle near any places that are suspected trouble spots, and then sealing those off with weatherization strips or caulking.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat is another easy way to save energy and money. These allow you to set the thermostat according to different times of the day. You can set it to turn down the heat when you are not home, and then turn back on right before you get home.  There are many different models and features to look for in a programmable thermostat, but if you have questions, just give us a call.

If you would like to know more about small upgrades to your heating system, or about the advantages of an Energy Star-rated heating system, call Portland, OR heating specialists at The Clean Air Act. Contact The Clean Air Act today!

Reduce Allergy & Asthma Symptoms With an Air Cleaner

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Most of us spend the majority of our time indoors. Because of all that time spent inside, it would make sense to pay attention to what is in the air that we breathe. Indoor air quality in Portland, OR is not something that most people spend much time thinking about. But the EPA estimates that poor indoor air quality is actually one of the top 5 threats to respiratory health. Installing a whole home indoor air cleaners is a great way to make a positive impact on the quality of air in your home. Indoor air filters can be targeted towards certain air contaminants and to your home’s needs. At Clean Air Act Inc., we specialize in indoor air quality in Portland, OR. We’re passionate about helping people clean the air in their home. We’ve installed countless air cleaners for our customers and wanted share some of the benefits of filtering the air in your home.

Reduced Air Pollutants

There are a number of different air pollutants that are normally found in indoor air. Obviously, one of the main benefits of getting an air cleaner in your home is that those pollutants will likely be greatly reduced. Here are a few of the most common air pollutants.

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Pet dander
  • Dust mite and cockroach droppings
  • Smoke
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses

Potentially Reduced Allergies and Asthma Symptoms

For people who suffer from asthma or allergies, reducing the amount of dust, pet dander, pollen and insect droppings in the air will likely result in an increase in comfort. Those pollutants in particular cause allergic and asthmatic reactions for many people.

Reduced Dust Levels

If you have to dust a lot in your house, filtering out that dust in an air cleaner could potentially reduce the amount of dust that you see around your house.

Potentially Reduced Sickness

Many air cleaners are able to remove viruses and bacteria from the air. Doing this might be able to reduce the number of instances of colds in your home.

Call Clean Air Act Inc. for all your indoor air cleaner repair and installation in Portland, OR.