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Author: Brody Pennell

What Do UV Lights Really Do For Your Indoor Air Quality

Air quality cannot be taken for granted. We need to breathe in a large amount of air throughout the day. Our health will suffer if this is full of unwelcome particles. Viruses, fungi and bacteria may find their way into our lungs where they can wreak havoc. These microorganisms are everywhere in the environment. However, this fact should not discourage people from going outside. The interesting thing is that the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA says indoor air pollution is often worse than that of the outdoors. We must tackle the problem head and one of the most effective ways is to use UV lights.

According to studies, ultraviolet light is successful in eliminating most of the germs present in the area where it operates. It is able to break down the DNA or RNA of bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, spores and fungi so that these can no longer harm people. This type of light can be created using specially designed UV lamps. These lamps are placed in strategic locations where the unwanted microorganisms are known to grow and multiply. These include the air ducts and evaporative coils of the HVAC system. It is an excellent way of ensuring that occupants breathe well and stay healthy.

Clean air is particularly valuable to those who are suffering from a respiratory disease or have a strong allergic reaction to certain airborne particles. For this reason, many hospitals, laboratories, public places, and food processing plants have begun to use UV lights as part of their HVAC systems. It is one of the best disinfection techniques as it does not add any chemicals into the air but instead simply clears it of harmful microbes. UV lights lower the incidents of asthma attacks, allergies, tuberculosis, and countless other diseases.

Closing the doors and windows, cleaning the premises regularly, and using air filters are good practices but they are not enough when it comes to airborne disease prevention. Germicidal UV lights have been proven in lab tests to lower microbial levels in the air after they have been installed in the HVAC system.

Call us for all heating and air conditioning needs.


How Air Conditioners Work

Refrigerators and air conditioners work in almost the same way. However, the latter work by cooling a whole room, as opposed to a small, insulated space. The chemicals used easily change state and are used to transfer heat from the interior of a house to the outside air.
How Air Conditioners Work

The machine is comprised of three main parts, namely the condenser, compressor and evaporator. The first two components are located outside the structure of the main unit, while the evaporator is placed inside the house, sometimes as part of the heating mechanism (furnace).
The fluid comes into the compressor in the form of a cool gas at low pressure. The compressor then squeezes the fluid, thus packing its molecules compactly. This process raises the fluid’s temperature and energy.

The fluid then exits the compressor in the form of a hot gas at high pressure and is channeled into the condenser. An AC’s exterior has metal fins all round it, which help dissipate the heat rapidly. Upon exiting the compressor, the fluid’s temperature is much lower and has transformed from a gas into a liquid, at higher pressure. This finds its way into the evaporator via a tiny aperture. The pressure of the liquid dips on the other side, which makes it evaporate into gaseous form. While this goes on, the liquid extracts heat from the air surrounding it.
When the working fluid exits the evaporator, it’s usually in the form of a cool gas at low pressure. It’s then returned to the compressor where the processor starts all over again. The evaporator is equipped with a fan which circulates the air inside the house so that it blows across its fins. Since hot air is lighter than cool air, it rises to the top of the room where there’s a vent that sucks the air into the AC’s ducts. Here, a heat exchange process occurs after which the air is blown into the house via the ducts located at the floor level.

This process goes on until the room’s desired temperature is attained. This is usually set at the thermostat, which turns off the unit when this happens. When the room starts warming up again, the thermostat starts the AC once again.


Change Your Air Filter For Cleaner Air And Better Efficiency

Your furnace needs regular maintenance, and one of the most important upkeep tasks is an Air Filter Change. When the air filter in a HVAC system is clean, the unit runs better, parts last longer, air quality is healthier and energy bills are lower.

Can you do an Air Filter Change yourself? The answer is yes, but there are some things you should know before attempting this simple chore.

First, HVAC filters come in different sizes and types. To check your furnace filter’s size, just look at the existing filter. The part will have the size and filter media printed right on it. Also, you can check the furnace owner’s manual. Additionally, the filter will have arrows to indicate the correct way to insert it into the furnace.

Second, most air filters should be changed every 3 to 4 months. For the best efficiency ask a HVAC pro or consult the owner’s manual.

Third, air filters are made of different materials. Your choice can, in part, depend on your budget and what you are trying to accomplish with the filter. Air filter types include:

1. Fiberglass. This cost-sparing filter medium does a good job. A favorite with homeowners because it is readily available at home and hardware stores, fiberglass may have to be changed more frequently than other kinds of furnace filters.

2. Media air. Used mostly by HVAC professionals, this multi-layered filter works well and is very durable. Most home owners, however, do not use it because it is not commonly stocked at the corner home outlet.

3. Pleated air filters. They have a lot of surface area to trap dust, dirt and other contaminants but also allow for free flow of air from the HVAC units.

4. Activated carbon filters contain charcoal. They excel at eliminating heavy and persistent odors from the home environment. They are not as useful for trapping particulates such as pollen and dirt.

5. HEPA filters. These are High Efficiency Particulate filters which get rid of pollen, pet dander and other allergens. They are very helpful to asthma and allergy sufferers.

Call our service phone number today to schedule a basic HVAC tune-up and to ask what filter may be best for your home.

The Benefits Of Air Duct Cleaning

Many people do not realize the importance of air duct cleaning in maintaining their home’s heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Clean air ducts will increase the longevity of an HVAC, and reduce energy costs. It also means there will be less need for dusting and other home cleaning chores. Having an HVAC that is free of dust, equals a cleaner home environment for you and your family.

Clean Ducts Increase Efficiency

Dirt that circulates through your HVAC reduces the efficiency of the system. Lower efficiency is caused by the build-up of dirt on coils and that means the system has to work harder to cool or heat your home. Removal of dirt and debris will increase your system’s efficiency by up to 40% and that adds up to significantly reduced energy costs. It also means that your system will last longer since it won’t have to work as hard to circulate air through your home; air is completely recycled through a dwelling about 5 to 7 times a day.

Improve a Home’s Air Quality

Air duct cleaning can be helpful in maintaining a home’s good air quality. Not only does dust circulate with cooled or heated air, other particulates such as insect debris, pet dander, and mold may become airborne and move through your home with the dust. Such particulates in the air can cause allergy and asthma attacks, especially in people who are particularly sensitive to such substances.

It is especially important to have your air ducts inspected after the completion of remodeling or any kind of construction in the home. Dust caused by construction work may settle in your ducts. This dust can also reduce your system’s efficiency and impact your home’s air quality.

Scheduling HVAC Inspections

Call us right away to schedule air duct cleaning and for all of your other heating and cooling needs. We are available year round for any kind of HVAC repair and maintenance. We also install new systems and can help you select the right HVAC for your needs. Call our customer service personnel to make an appointment or for additional information.

Should You Have The Air Ducts In Your Home Cleaned?

The air ducts are a part of the air conditioner that is responsible for carrying air to different areas in the home. Every home is different, so it is hard to make general duct cleaning recommendations. However, there are a number of signs that suggest you should get your air ducts cleaned. Below are some of the reasons you should have your air ducts cleaned:

Allergies

If you or one of your family members have been experiencing allergies, you should consider getting your air ducts cleaned. In many cases, allergies can be worsened or triggered by poor indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can also worsen other respiratory illnesses. Having your air ducts cleaned can help improve indoor air quality, which is why many people notice a relief in their allergy symptoms when they have their air ducts cleaned.

Your Ducts Are Dirty

Air ducts have a tendency to get dirty over time. That is why they need to be inspected on a regular basis in order to see whether they are accumulating dirt. They will need to be cleaned by a professional if there is an excessive amount of dirt around them. Dust and other particles can be released into the air if the air ducts are clogged. This can affect your indoor air quality.

Mold Is Growing On Your Air Ducts

If you notice mold growing around your air ducts, you should definitely consider having them cleaned. Mold exposure can also cause health problems. Mold exposure can lead to wheezing, watery eyes, itchy eyes, running nose and redness of the eyes. Mold has a tendency to thrive in areas that are moist. That is why air ducts are prone to developing mold.

Regular air duct cleaning is important because it prevents mold and dirt from accumulating around your air ducts. However, it is important for you to have your air ducts cleaned by a professional.

We go the extra mile to make sure air ducts are cleaned properly. Call us for all of your heating and air conditioning needs or to schedule your home air duct cleaning.

Why HVAC Maintenance Is Important

HVAC systems can cost a pretty penny. The last thing owners would want is to see theirs break down to the point that replacement is necessary. Thousands of dollars can be saved just by doing regular maintenance checks that keep them running at peak performance. The importance of HVAC maintenance can also be appreciated through the following:

Healthy Air

In addition to cooling the room, air conditioners filter the air to create a healthier environment for the family. Dust and other particles which may be floating around will be blocked from the system so that they cannot circulate throughout the house. This reduces the risk of developing allergies, respiratory illnesses, and similar concerns.

Efficiency

Lots of little things can creep up during the life of a system that slowly causes it to perform below its capacity. Those who have had an AC for a while may notice that it isn’t cooling the room as well as it did before or that is seems to generate more noise as it works harder to sustain the temperature settings. Regular upkeep would prevent the buildup of dirt and other factors that lead to these inefficiencies. The end result is a machine that will keep on humming like it was brand new for a long time.

Reduced Consumption

With efficiency kept at a high rate, energy consumption will stay low. This means that utility bills will not pile up to an unreasonable amount every month. In case there has recently been a trend of abnormally high consumption, have the HVAC system checked for any issues which may be contributing to the spike.

Fewer Breakdowns

Nothing could be more stressful that having a faulty system in the middle of a harsh winter or a punishing summer. In these extremes, people really on their HVAC to keep their homes comfortable so that life can go on as normal. When the heater fails, it may become too cold to sleep well at night and work suffers during the day. Periodic inspection of the various parts will allow technicians to spot potential issues and correct them before they get worse.

Call us to schedule your HVAC maintenance checkup today.

Energy Saving Tips For Winter

With rising energy costs, it is vital that energy consumption is checked and only appropriate usage is made. However, saving energy cost may not be easy unless you know the measures and practices to save it. If you are able to minimize energy wastage, a lot of your energy will be saved and as a result you will save a substantial amount of money. This will also reduce the burden on the environment and a clean and green future will be available to all of us.

Here are some energy saving tips for winter:

The temperature at which thermostat is set will affect your energy consumption. Set it at 68 degrees or lower. For every degree rise in temperature above 68 degrees, 3 to 5 percent more energy is consumed. Up to 15 percent on energy bills can be saved every year if the thermostat is used between 10°F to 15°F for at least 8 hours every day.

To save up to $34 a year, always clean the lint trap before every load of the washing machine.

Regular and heavy use of oven accounts to a lot of energy consumption. Reduce the usage of oven and instead use microwave for heating food. You can save up to 80% in cooking energy adopting this technique.

Water heating costs in winters can be substantial. Thus, avoiding wastage of heated water will reduce energy consumption. Use of showers accounts to significant water wastage. Hence, cut your shower time and you can save almost 33% of water heating cost. Use of cold water for washing clothes will also help you save some amount of money from heating costs.

Limited use of dryer for clothes will limit the amount of energy used thus resulting in energy saving. Automatic turning off the dryer will be beneficial to cut energy costs.

Regular and timely maintenance of HVAC units will also reduce energy consumption. These units when operating at optimum potential will consume less energy. Timely maintenance makes these systems efficient and increases their operating life.

Cost saving on energy consumption is the need of the hour. This not only affects an individual household but also concerns the whole environment.

Top Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality

If you are looking for ways to improve air quality, then you came to the right place. This article provides information on how to clean your air based on the latest scientific studies.

Three of the most basic ways to clean indoor air are; use of air cleaners, improving ventilation in your home or office and source control.

Air Cleaners

There are two types of air cleaners. There are the pocket-friendly table-top air cleaners, and the whole-house systems that require a little bit more money to buy. The inexpensive air cleaners are designed to remove most of the pollutants in your air, but won’t work very well when it comes to getting rid of gaseous pollutants. The whole-house air cleaners are more sophisticated and work better than the table-top models when improving air quality in your house.

Ventilation Improvement

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to clean indoor air is to simply allow fresh air from outside to enter your house. This lowers concentration of pollutants in your house without the need to use any electronic devices. Operating doors and windows when the weather outside allows you to, will improve quality of air within a short period of time. If you are running an air conditioner with the windows and doors open, cleaning the air will be even faster.

Source Control

Controlling the source of pollution will also clean your air easily. For instance, if you are using a gas stove, adjusting them to reduce emission will go a long way towards freshening indoor air. Sealing up sources containing asbestos is another effective way to reduce emissions.

If you or a member of your family suffers from allergies, then cleaning indoor air is very important. What you need to do is determine the severity of the problem and decide which method best suits your needs. Before making a decision on which method to invest in, do some research and find out how effective the strategy will be at cleaning your air. If you are unsure of what to do, feel free to call us and schedule your indoor air quality check.

Finding The Right BTU For An Air Conditioner

There is no single best air conditioner. The right one will depend on where and how it will be used. The size of the room is a major consideration. If the room is fairly small, then installing a large powerful unit will be overkill. If the room is too big, then a modest unit may be inadequate. The BTU rating will provide buyers with an objective measure of cooling capacity. Measure the length and width of the room to get the floor area in square feet. Then purchase a model with the recommended BTU for this size.

What Happens If the BTU is Too Low?

If the BTU is too low, then the unit will be hopelessly underpowered for the job. It will work hard to try and expel the heat from the room but it might never be able to provide the desired cooling effect. This is especially true for those residing in places with a warm climate. Instead of bringing relief, the unit will only bring frustration to the inhabitants of the house. What’s more, the energy bill might soar and the AC might break down quickly because it is working nonstop to try to reach a setting that it will never reach.

What Happens If the BTU is Too High?

If the BTU is too high, then the unit will be too much for the task at hand. The room will drop to the desired temperature rather quickly. While this may seem to be a good thing at first, people will realize that it has its own drawback. A fast cycle time means that the unit will turn itself off right away without having been able to lessen the humidity inside — something that takes a while longer to do. This makes the room not entirely comfortable as well. Of course, buying a unit of unnecessarily high BTU is also a waste of money.

Finding the middle ground is crucial in getting the best performance at a reasonable price. When shopping for an air conditioner how many BTU is has is an important question. BTU and room size should be matched. If you’re not sure how to do this, call us to learn more about air conditioner sizes and efficiency.

James Handy from Brody Pennell was great! He solved the problem we were having of installing a new, upgraded Nest Learning Thermostat very quickly. He was courteous, communicative, helpful and well-informed. I would definitely recommend him.
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Daniel B. is a true professional. Very thorough and explained everything as he was working. Would highly recommend.
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Very knowledgeable processional
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Daniel was a great technician, he thoroughly explained each step if his original assessment. Then walked me through everything he was going to do to service my furnace. He was very knowledgeable and explained everything to me in an easily understandable manner.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Delvin! We're glad to hear that Daniel provided clear explanations and made the process easy to understand. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
This Company exceeded expectations every step of the process. The office staff, management, sales and definitely the techs. They showed on time, met every unexpected challenge with calm proffesionalism and cleaned up the work daily. I love to give them 5 stars.
PS...price point is competitive
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Ruben Medina arrived on time and quickly surveyed the situation from our description and the conditions and determined the likely cause of the problem. He was friendly but professional and efficient, confirming the cause and dealing with a part which had failed. After replacing it, he made sure through restarting and subsequent testing that the system was operating normally.
We were completely satisfied with Ruben's work and him personally.
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German was professional and easy to converse with. He explained the situation clearly and gave me his honest thoughts on the issue. Amazing professional!
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The system needed cleaning, Justin & Phillip did an outstanding job.& very kind, taught me about what was needed to matain my wall heater.
Response from the owner:Thank you for recognizing Rene's outstanding job and kindness in teaching you about the cleaning process!
I had Giovanny Quintero as my HVAC inspector, and he did a wonderful job.
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Amazing!!!
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Your technician, Ricky Sanchez was prompt, efficient, patiently answered my questions, and left everything clean. Great experience
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Always reliable and thoughtful about figuring out what is wrong. I trust them!
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Justin was great explaining what things need updating to ensure the longevity of my unit. Very professional. Will work with him again.
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Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
I found this company online when we had a furnace emergency. EVERYONE connected with this company had been professional, kind and efficient. They came out and showed me things about my furnace that TERRIFIED me. They will be back tomorrow to fix ever And I could not be happier. They are my go-to heating, AC and Electrical company from now on. AAA+++
Much appreciation to Ricky and Phil for the professional service today. Respectful heating and air conditioning technicians who will get the job done correctly. They shared some good advice to help keep my split unit running smoothly. I highly recommend purchase of a split wall unit through Brody Pennell as well as Ricky and Phil.
Thanks again.
Eric
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Justin. Was very helpful and help me understand the procedure

12/25/24
Jason. Was helpful . He had my heat on in a heartbeat and he explain about the pressure switch and the issue.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with Emmith! We appreciate your feedback and look forward to assisting you with any future HVAC needs.
I'm so glad I just happened to find this heating company! Kevin Lopez was fantastic. Kind patient and knowledgeable. Mine was a complicated case that he helped me with. Highly recommend the company and kevin.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Let me state, first, that it would be an injustice to limit my comments about the service we have received from Brody Pennell to what has been provided by Rosendo Valdez, and the two fellows of his installation crew on January 2nd. I have to add the initial contact we had with technician, Daniel, and his manager, Brett. Collectively, these five gentlemen were not only excellent representatives of the company, they were also great lightening rods for the practice of customer serve in general. In all cases, their professionalism was tempered with culture of care, comfort, and concern for what we needed and what the company could provide, all in an effort to close the gap between where we were when we initially contacted Brody Pennell and where we wished to be in addressing the issue with heating our home. The character of their work easily surpassed the goal of meeting the needs of our household, going hand in hand with meeting their responsibilities as company employees providing a product to the public.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Justin U. was friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. He quickly diagnosed the issue with my heating system and walked me through the steps that needed to be taken to repair it.
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Justin was prompt, explained our issue and very professional. Pleased with the service.
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Really impressed with the service. I arrived home to discover my heater stopped working and they were at my house within 2hr of calling, and had it fixed about 2hr after that. Justin was very helpful and explained everything that caused the issue and how to prevent it going forward. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Carolyn! We're glad you were impressed with our service and that Justin could help explain everything. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Small-t, for taking the time to leave a review. Your feedback is appreciated!
A complete professional knowledgable and went above and beyond in making sure I had a full picture of what was needed and addressed anything he could immediately Grateful
Response from the owner:Thank you, Maureen, for your kind words! We're glad to hear that you felt well informed and supported. Your appreciation means a lot to us.
Louis is a quality professional. Engaging, informative, receptive to questions, and very transparent with his system diagnosis. Would happily have him back again and would recommend him to anyone looking for a thorough rundown of their HVAC performance.
Response from the owner:Thank you, John, for your kind words about Louis! We're glad to hear you had a positive experience and appreciate your recommendation.
Very knowledgeable easy to communicate with Very likeable
Response from the owner:Thank you, E, for your kind words! We're glad to hear you found our team knowledgeable and easy to communicate with. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
Juan was awesome, courteous and patient
Response from the owner:Thank you, Clarence! We're glad to hear that Juan made such a positive impression with his courteous and patient demeanor. Your feedback is appreciated!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Houry, for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate your feedback!
Javier was terrific and answered all my questions! Hearing back in action and understand my system more….
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Alex did a superb job. He serviced my mini split inside then climbed a ladder to my second story to service my mini split's outside. In addition he showed me in detail how to use my Mitsubishi unit more effectively.
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Great service
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Louis was fabulous. He was on time, courteous and knowledgeable. He has many years of experience and I trust his advice regarding my heat pump. I am buying a new heat pump system to replace my old one, and will use BrodyPennell for my heat pump service in the future.
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Professional service
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Great team. Great staff.
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Juan was great even my 2 Golden Retrievers enjoyed him coming - he was efficient and explained the result in easy to understand terms
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Juan Carbajal Brody Pennell was friendly, professional and thorough. He replaced all blower parts for our home HVAC and installed the entire unit efficiently and tested temperatures at vents upon completion.
I recommend him highly!
Tim L
Santa Monica
Response from the owner:Thank you for recommending Ivan and Jason, we appreciate your feedback!
The technical staff at Brody and Pennell are experienced, knowledgeable, and communicate very well. They will investigate and answer any questions without difficulty. They clean and inspect older HVAC equipment, recommend upgrades or replacements, and install new gear rapidly and in excellent condition. The cost is higher but the quality is worth it.
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Daniel B and Kavin L. They are nice technicians
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My technician was very thorough and professional. He was very detailed in his inspection of the equipment and in letting me know his assessment. It was very easy to communicate with him and he was not bothered with any of the questions I had. Even though the company gave a discount for the service, I feel it was a very through inspection.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Richard, for your kind words! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with our technician and appreciated their thoroughness and communication. Your feedback means a lot to us!
The "comfort club" is well worth the annual fee. Our system is checked and cleaned twice annually, and the staff have been superb.
Response from the owner:We're so glad to hear that you're finding value in our Comfort Club membership! Thank you for your kind words about our staff.

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