Buying Heating and Air Conditioning Equipment in Los Angeles

Lately I have received more phone calls than usual from homeowners in Los Angeles who want an estimate for new heating or air conditioning installed in their home. And, they just want an estimate for the installation not the equipment. The furnace, or the air conditioner they tell me proudly has already been purchased online. "Oh dear," I groan.
It is usually intelligent people who have an independent streak and are very capable of understanding complex concepts. They are smart enough to find a deal and confident about their ability to take the road less traveled. But buying air conditioning equipment online is a mistake.

I understand the lure of an inexpensive online purchase. I am tempted when I see a very real looking Rolex for $495.  But don't you want the company who installs your home comfort system to warranty their work? I can't warranty a system if I don't know where the equipment came from. When I install equipment that I have provided, I am able to guarantee the system for many years. For this reason, heating and air conditioning equipment should only be purchased from the person who installs it.
What's more, the person who installs should be licensed, insured and an authorized dealer for the heating and cooling equipment manufacturer.
Instead of google shopping for AC's or furnaces, the first thing to look for when you are searching for a new heating and cooling system in Los Angeles is a contractor you can trust. Referrals from friends are a good place to start, and then follow up with your own investigation. How long has the contractor been in business?
I am a heating and air conditioning contractor in Los Angeles which is a very competitive market. You don't succeed in a competitive market by ripping people off. Contractors succeed by giving real value to customers year after year. History matters.
I was licensed by the State of California in 1989. Twenty five years of practical experience means an increased skill level. It also means a 25 year relationship with my suppliers; the manufacturers of heating & AC equipment. That relationship is worth something. Buying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of furnaces and heaters every year for 25 years means that when there is a problem with a piece of equipment (and problems do happen from time to time) the manufacturer will replace that piece immediately. There is no paperwork to fill out or return shipping charges.
Let's talk price. As an authorized dealer of heating and air conditioning equipment, the prices I pay for furnaces & AC's lower than anyone on the internet. At first glance my quote to you may look higher because I include the wiring, copper lines, fittings, drains, tubing, couplings, curbs, coils, oil traps, thermostats and whatever else might be needed to properly complete the installation of your HVAC system. The delivery to your home and the crane that will take your new packaged unit to your roof is included.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a great price on heating or air conditioning in Los Angeles stay away from online shopping and look for a great contractor.

What To Do If Your Furnace Is Red Tagged

Sometimes a utility company representative or service technician finds heating equipment so damaged that they are obligated to "red-tag" the furnace and shut it down. This means that it poses an immediate danger to life or property. A red tag, or warning tag, is placed on a furnace to indicate that your equipment is no longer safe to operate and either needs to be repaired or replaced. A licensed HVAC technician who identifies a warning tag situation is required by law to turn off your gas as a safety measure to protect the residents of your home or business.

Why have I received a warning tag?

Typical problems that I've seen red-tagged are a vandalized furnace in a foreclosure, severely corroded furnace components, or the improper use of flexible gas supply lines. Sometimes a homeowner fixes their own furnace using materials not approved for gas appliance installation.

A red tag is not something to take lightly. A defective heat exchanger in a furnace can release carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless gas that can cause serious health problems, even death, if undetected. In Los Angeles, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of death by poisoning. If carbon monoxide is leaking from a cracked heat exchanger, there is a chance of it mixing with the air circulated by the furnace and pushed throughout the vents causing a danger to everyone inside that home.

What should I do if I receive a warning tag?

If you receive a warning tag, you should immediately call a licensed and insured HVAC contractor in your area. In some cases, a furnace can repaired. In more serious cases, the equipment needs to be replaced. Dealing with natural gas and electricity requires extreme care. If you are in Los Angeles and you have any concerns about your furnace don't hesitate to call me. 818-780-0701. I am happy to speak with you free of charge to answer any questions you may have about you Red Tagged furnace, or any furnace concerns you may have.

If you need a house call Kilowatt's Safety Sealed service technicians are fully trained to diagnose and repair all brands of furnaces. After the problem is rectified a utility company representative will return to the house, verify the repairs, and reconnect the gas service to the home. Phew!

Home Heating Expert’s Saving Secrets

When outdoor temperatures get too hot or too cold many property owners resign themselves to higher energy bills. But good property managers understand that a penny saved goes straight to the bottom-line, therefore is truly a penny earned.

My name is Dean Gilford, I am a heating and air conditioning contractor, and my customers pay some of the lowest utility bills in Southern California. That’s because I refuse to let their heating and air conditioning costs get out of hand when savings are so simple. I’m going to give you the exact same savings secrets that I give to my customers.

You know and I know that when we talk about energy costs we are talking about more than pennies. Hundreds, even thousands of dollars can be saved with a few simple fixes.  

TOP TIP:  Change Your Filter

A dirty filter in your HVAC (heating/ventilating/and air-conditioning) system makes your furnace work harder, and leads to big scary numbers on your heating bill. Aim to swap your filter out once a month. 

Yearly Tune-Ups

Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Properly calibrated and lubricated equipment will save you money consistently on your energy bills and extend the life of your system.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
This is one of the most cost effective upgrades you can make to your HVAC system. I know you intend to turn your heat down when you are sleeping or not home. But you forget, right? Why not have your thermostat do it for you? Programmable thermostats turn off the HVAC systems at predetermined times when they are not needed. This way, the home is only conditioned when it needs to be and the energy consumption of the home is reduced. Programmable thermostats can reduce the amount spent on heating and cooling by 5 percent to 12 percent.

Insulate
You can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs by properly insulating your home. There are different types of loose-fill insulation, which are blown or poured into place using special equipment.  Cellulose, fiberglass, foam or even recycled denim can be used for insulating enclosed walls, new wall cavities, unfinished attic floors and other hard-to-reach areas.

Block that Leak!

The small gaps surrounding windows, doors and other areas in the average home, taken together, are like a 9-square-foot hole in the wall. Plugging them can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.

·       First, find the leaks: On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: chimney flashing, recessed lighting, sill plates, window and door frames, all ducts and flues and electrical outlets.

·       Buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or tacky rope caulk to block those drafty spots around window frames. Apply weather-stripping to movable joints. Recessed lighting caps and outlet gaskets can be installed where cold air often enters.

Properly Seal Ducts

Nothing depresses me like improperly installed duct. I’ve seen homes lose up to 60% of their warmed air before it reaches the vents because of poorly connected ducts, or ducting that is not well insulated.

Seal and insulate ducts to improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house. 

Know When To Replace

Furnaces need the most costly and frequent repairs in the last two years of their life. If you can circumvent those repairs and move seamlessly into a new energy efficient furnace, your new furnace can pay for itself. Maria Vargas is a spokeswoman for Energy Star, a federal-government-backed program that promotes energy efficiency and lends its name to energy-saving products. "If your furnace is over 20 years old, you're probably paying more to use it that it would cost to replace," says Maria Vargas, “Furnaces bearing the Energy Star label are about 15% more efficient than a standard conventional model”

Energy Star Rebates, Tax Credits and Utility Incentives

There are great tax incentives, rebates and utility discounts available for the different types of Energy Star HVAC equipment. Your contractor should be able to explain what is available for the equipment you decide to purchase and help you with the paperwork.

Since 1989, Dean Gilford and his company Kilowatt have provided A+ Rated guaranteed heating, air conditioning and electrical services for Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. www.KilowattHVAC.com

New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time a year again, the time when you make promises to yourself that you plan to uphold throughout the coming year. Unfortunately, if you’re like me, it’s also the kind of promise that gets broken, more often than not, within a few months’ time. I’m talking, of course, about New Year’s resolutions. We all consider a new year to be a new start and a chance for a new and improved outlook, lifestyle, you name it. This year, we can help you keep one of your new year’s resolutions! All you have to do is resolve to improve the comfort of your home for you and your family. We will take care of the rest!

The following are a few of our most popular services during the winter months:

·       Furnace Tune-Up and Repair

·       Heat Pump Tune-Up and Repair

·       Installation and Testing of Carbon Monoxide Detectors

·       Filtration System Installation and Tune-Up

·       Air Cleaner Installation and Tune-Up

·       Humidification System Installation and Tune-Up

·       Thermostat Installation and Replacement

If your home is too warm, too cold, or different rooms in your home are different temperatures we can fix it! Imagine every room in your house comfortable at the same time. A tune up, by itself, may or may not solve these issues, but it will definitely make your system more efficient and save you money on your utility bills. In fact, you will save more in utilities than you will spend with us. Save even more with a programmable thermostat.

Are you suffering from skin irritation or static electricity, or finding it difficult to breath during the winter months? Are you prone to respiratory infections? Your home could actually be the cause. A little known fact is that the quality of the air in our homes is generally much worse than the air outdoors. Installing a filtration system or an air cleaner could minimize the effects of indoor contaminants. Also, installing a whole house humidifier will help keep the relative humidity in your home at a comfortable level and protect your family from the effects of dry air.

Whatever your new year’s resolution is, Kilowatt is here to help you uphold it. Call us today at 818-780-0701 for more information. We’ll see that your year gets off to a great start!

Los Angeles Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that in Los Angeles, up to 72 trillion microscopic irritants, or allergens, find their way into your home every day? The most common trespassers are dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, tobacco smoke, cooking grease and bacteria. Some particles like these are often as small as .3 microns – so small that 2 million of them could fit on the period at the end of this sentence. Besides the allergic effect they might cause, many of these particles are so small that the natural defenses in your nose and throat can’t filter them out, and they can get deep into your lungs.

Poor indoor air quality can affect the health of your family, as well as your comfort, which is why I am continually looking for solutions that can address common complaints, such as humidity problems, allergies, asthma, and dust. 

I like the AccuClean™ Whole-Home Air Filtration System by American Standard. It can remove up to 99.98 percent of airborne particles and allergens from the filtered air your family breathes – including dust, dander, pollen and bacteria. Pretty cool, huh? It also outperforms HEPA, and is up to 100 times more effective than a standard 1-inch filter. So you can spend less time worrying about your air, and more time relaxing and enjoying your home.

Increasing ventilation is another method for Los Angeles residents to improve indoor air quality. The AccuExchange™ Air Exchanger freshens your home's air by removing stale, indoor air and replacing it with an equal amount of fresh, outdoor air. It also recovers heat and moisture from the exchanged air, enhancing the efficiency of your heating and cooling system and keeping humid or dry air out.

Controlling your household humidity can also kill dust mites, one of the most common allergens. Having a humidifier or variable-speed fan technology as part of your HVAC system can help you take control of your humidity, and of your indoor air.