HVAC, explained without the sales pitch
35 guides to the questions homeowners actually ask us — answered the way we'd answer them at your kitchen table.
What the symptom usually means, and what to check before you call.
Why Is My AC Blowing Warm Air?
The system runs, the air is warm. The three usual causes, in order of likelihood.
Read it →My AC Won't Turn On At All
Nothing happens when you lower the thermostat. Start with power, not the equipment.
Read it →Why Is There Ice on My AC?
Ice on an air conditioner is always a symptom, never a cause. Two things produce it.
Read it →Why Does My AC Turn On and Off Every Few Minutes?
Frequent start-stop cycles are hard on equipment and usually mean one of four things.
Read it →What Do My HVAC Noises Mean?
A sound-by-sound guide, including the two that mean turn it off immediately.
Read it →Why Is One Room Always Hotter Than the Rest?
The back bedroom problem. Almost always ductwork and returns, not the equipment.
Read it →Why Is Water Leaking Around My Indoor Unit?
Almost always the condensate drain. What to do before it reaches the ceiling.
Read it →Why Does My Breaker Trip When the AC Runs?
A breaker doing its job. Why you should stop resetting it and what is usually wrong.
Read it →Why Is My Heater Blowing Cold Air?
The answer depends on whether you have a furnace or a heat pump. They fail differently.
Read it →Why Do My Vents Smell Musty?
That damp smell on startup has a specific cause, and air freshener is not the fix.
Read it →Repair or replace, what drives a price, and how to read a quote.
How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost?
What drives the price of a replacement, and how to tell whether two quotes are even for the same job.
Read it →Should I Repair or Replace My AC?
Four questions that answer it, without a salesperson deciding for you.
Read it →Why Is My Electric Bill So High in Summer?
Which part of a high summer bill is the HVAC system, and which part is not.
Read it →How Do I Compare Two HVAC Quotes?
Two quotes are rarely the same job. Here is how to tell what is actually different.
Read it →What Size AC Do I Need?
Why square footage alone gets it wrong, and why oversizing is its own problem.
Read it →Questions to Ask About HVAC Financing
What to ask, and why we will not quote you terms we are not the lender for.
Read it →Coastal marine layer, inland heat, and what each does to a system.
Coastal vs Inland: Why Your Neighbour's HVAC Advice Doesn't Apply
The county is two climates. Equipment that suits one is often wrong for the other.
Read it →Do I Really Need Air Conditioning Near the Coast?
Plenty of coastal homes were built without it. Whether that still works for you.
Read it →Inland Heat: Keeping Up in Escondido and San Marcos
What inland valleys ask of a system, and the low-cost moves that help it cope.
Read it →Why Large Homes Have Comfort Problems
Big houses are several climates. One thermostat cannot serve all of them.
Read it →Salt Air and Your Outdoor Unit
What the ocean does to a condenser, and the maintenance that slows it down.
Read it →What to Do About Wildfire Smoke Indoors
How to run your system during a smoke event, and what to do once it clears.
Read it →Filtration, allergies, and the air your system actually moves.
Indoor Air Quality: What Actually Matters
Three levers: what gets in, what gets filtered out, and how much air actually moves.
Read it →HVAC Filters, Explained
Why the strongest filter is not automatically the right filter for your system.
Read it →Allergies at Home: What Your HVAC Can and Cannot Do
What the system can genuinely help with, and what it cannot.
Read it →Heat pumps, mini splits, thermostats, and the new refrigerants.
Heat Pump or Furnace: Which Is Right Here?
One system that does both, in a climate that suits it unusually well.
Read it →Ductless Mini Splits: When They're the Right Answer
The fix for the room your ductwork was never built to reach.
Read it →Are Smart Thermostats Worth It?
Where the benefit actually comes from, and the wiring question to settle first.
Read it →Keeping a system healthy, and knowing when it is near the end.
Family-Owned vs Corporate HVAC: Why It Matters
What actually changes when a local HVAC company gets acquired — and why our owner started this one.
Read it →What a Real HVAC Tune-Up Includes
What should actually happen on a maintenance visit, so you can tell a real one.
Read it →How Long Should an Air Conditioner Last?
The realistic range, what shortens it, and how to see the end coming.
Read it →New Homeowner? Start With These HVAC Basics
What to locate, check and write down in your first month in the house.
Read it →California code, HERS testing, and what has to be inspected.
R-454B & A2L: What the Refrigerant Change Means for You
New equipment uses A2L refrigerants like R-454B. What changes, what doesn't, and whether your current system is affected.
Read it →HVAC Permits in San Diego County
Why replacement work needs a permit, what it protects, and who handles the paperwork.
Read it →HERS Testing & Your HVAC Project
What third-party HERS verification checks, when it applies to a replacement, and who arranges it.
Read it →Other places to look
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