Showing posts with label duct. Show all posts
Showing posts with label duct. Show all posts

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Indoor Air Quality- How do molds affect people? Los Angeles Air Conditioning


Los Angeles Air Conditioning is here to inform you that indoor air quality is really important. Not everyone realizes that the quality of the air inside your house is sometimes worse than the air quality outside. Mold can be a big issue and negatively contribute to your air quality. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.

EPA's publication, Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals, assists health professionals (especially the primary care physician) in diagnosis of patient symptoms that could be related to an indoor air pollution problem in Los Angeles Air Conditioning. It addresses the health problems that may be caused by contaminants encountered daily in the home and office. Organized according to pollutant or pollutant groups such as environmental tobacco smoke, VOCs, biological pollutants, and sick building syndrome, this booklet lists key signs and symptoms from exposure to these pollutants, provides a diagnostic checklist and quick reference summary, and includes suggestions for remedial action. Also includes references for information contained in each section. This booklet was developed by the American Lung Association, the American Medical Association, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the EPA. EPA Document Reference Number 402-R-94-007, 1994. Los Angels AC

Allergic Reactions - excerpted from Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals section on: Animal Dander, Molds, Dust Mites, Other Biologicals. Los Angeles AC

"A major concern associated with exposure to biological pollutants is allergic reactions, which range from rhinitis, nasal congestion, conjunctival inflammation, and urticaria to asthma. Notable triggers for these diseases are allergens derived from house dust mites; other arthropods, including cockroaches; pets (cats, dogs, birds, rodents); molds; and protein-containing furnishings, including feathers, kapok, etc. In occupational settings, more unusual allergens (e.g., bacterial enzymes, algae) have caused asthma epidemics. Probably most proteins of non-human origin can cause asthma in a subset of any appropriately exposed population."

Los Angeles Air Conditioning company, American Air Conditioning & Heating has been proudly serving the Los Angeles County area for over 30 years. Give us a call today with any questions about mold, indoor air quality or anything about Los Angeles Air Conditioning!

Friday, July 8, 2011

A Little AC History -Los Angeles Air Conditioning


Humans having the desire to stay cool and comfortable during the summer heat has been around long before Los Angeles air conditioning was invented to make that happen. Back during the 1830s people started to mess around with the idea of using ice and a machinery to cool the air they lived in. Dr. John Gorrie was an American physician who lived in Florida at the time. He is credited with the first attempt at building an air conditioner.

Basically what Dr. Gorrie designed was an ice making machine. Air was blown over the bucket of ice to create a cooling effect. There were tons of people suffering from yellow fever and malaria during the 1830s and he was searching for a way to cool the hospital rooms that were filling up with sick patients.

Another attempt at air conditioning was involved with a close to death experience. In 1881, President James Garfield needed to be comfortable. A box of clothes that were covered and soaking up melted ice water was made by navy engineers. A fan was set next to it blowing hot air overhead. It actually worked and was able to lower the rooms temperature by about 20 degrees. This was great however, it was not an efficient way to cool the air because it used up about half a million pounds of ice in just two months.

During 1902 we start to see things a little close to modern day Los Angeles air conditioning. Willis Carrier made an "Apparatus for Treating Air." He lived in Brooklyn, New York and worked for Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Co. This machine lowered humidity.

The son of John "Bet a Million" Gates, Charles Gates, had the first house that was ever air conditioned. That sounds like today, los angeles air conditioning is most everywhere in LA county now. This was back in 1914. The first AC's were ridiculous, huge and really expensive. They were incredibly dangerous too because they used toxic ammonia to cool the air!

The Carrier company started the industry in 1922 by using a compressor to make AC's smaller. Movie theaters really made the cooling industry take off. In 1925 air conditioning was on Broadway at the Rivoli! After that air conditioning started being installed everywhere- trains, stores, offices etc. 1928 was a big year for The US House of Representatives. They had an air conditioner installed in the Senate, White House and the Supreme Court!

Los Angeles air conditioning today is a common thing. The technology has advanced a lot over the past 75 years and we are here to provide cooling and comfort all over LA county!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Los Angeles Air Conditioning Technician


What do you know about the people you choose to work in your home?

Los Angeles Air Conditioning promises to deliver only the best quality certified technicians out there. License # 433868

Before a technician becomes an associate with American Air Conditioning they have to under go the following:

1. They must pass a complete drug testing, physical and personality exam.

2. A DMV and Criminal background report.

3. They must undergo a complete apprenticeship program that includes factory training.

4. All of our associates must be clean cut, wear company uniforms, no smoking or profanity is ever allowed.

5. They will be polite, courteous and respectful of your home and its furnishings.

6. They will wear floor protectors over their shoes while in your home and always wear company identification badges for your protection.

7. Our Los Angeles air conditioning company must interview and test more than 100 people just to hire one!

Meet our service team! We provide online profiles with pictures of each and everyone of our employees to ensure our customers have the best understanding of just who is working for them. We understand that it is a big responsibility to be let into someones home. We promise to provide the greatest possible service, thank you for the opportunity.

American Air Conditioning & Heating offers financing and we guarantee our work, making the decision to choose us both comfortable and secure. Give us a call today +1(800)321-9494. We go the extra mile to earn your business and never stop working to keep it.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Los Angeles Air Conditioning


Los Angeles air conditioning is not always on the forefront of our thoughts. To tell you the truth most of our customers don't even thing about it until it starts doing something they don't like. Too hot, maybe even too cold, is when everyone starts to think about it! Other than that it just goes straight to the back of our head until “BAM!” a problem arises and we are stuck scrambling on what to do to fix it!

Los Angeles air conditioning experts are here to say that we shouldn’t always let that happen. There are preventative steps you can take to ensure that your cooling system is always working properly and your family stays comfortable during these hot summer heats.

It would be a great feeling if the AC was just a magical box that made the room the perfect temperature every time but we are not quite there yet! Something that we’d like to bring attention is that it is not only more than that regarding cooling your home, but it also has an impact of mold and bacteria circulation in the home, overall air quality, the amount of money your family spends on bills and your overall health!

We are not saying that you have to think about your AC all the time but we are simply asking you to stay aware for warning signs. It won’t be too difficult with the Los Angeles air conditioning experts on your side. We provide quick tips on our Facebook page and within our Twitter feed. If you ever have any specific questions or feedback on how we can help you even further give us a call at +1 (800) 321-9494 or simply drop us a comment on Facebook! We promise to get right back to you with the best answer possible.

The bottom line is your cooling system requires maintenance. It is a big mechanical system with working parts that need to be taken care of if you want them to work properly.

Some quick tips:

Find a Professional for service and repair. Los Angeles Air Conditioning experts
Ask about financial incentives and rebates in your area.
Change your air filter every 30 to 60 days.
Get a regular maintenance check/tune up done every Spring.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Los Angeles Air Conditioning Info


Many of you out there who are not Los Angeles air conditioning professionals can still know the basics of how your cooling system works! Los Angeles air conditioning experts are here to provide you with the answers to all those questions you have while trying to figure those units out!

Homeowners, you will be happy to hear that just a little bit of knowledge will go a long way!

Let’s talk about air handler functions. Most of our customers have these types of questions. The first step is to gain a better understanding of how the system actually works.

Air Handler is basically a piece of equipment that handles the air movement within your cooling system. They blow the air over the coils. After the air is conditioned it blows through the ductwork.

In order to heat and cool your home efficiently and comfortable, the handler must be matched to the size of your HVAC system.

This is part of the reason it is so important to have an air conditioner that is the proper size for the space. All the components of the system work together to make sure that the air is properly cooled.

The A/C system’s compressor is the unit that sits outside your home. If its capacity is a 4-ton design, then your air handler should be able to handle that much air capacity. So, at minimum, the handler should be a 4-ton system.

If you ever find yourself wondering if your unit is the correct size for the space in your home that it is cooling feel free to give a Los Angeles air conditioning expert a call today or schedule a service call for a certified HVAC technician to come out and see exactly what is going on with your unit!

Los Angeles air conditioning experts always have the answers and we love that our customers can feel comfortable asking us questions about everything to do with their Los Angeles air conditioning! We have proudly served Los Angeles county for over 30 years and have loved every minute of it!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Los Angeles Air Conditioning and Fan Cleaning


During the hot summer months air conditioning and fans are the greatest! Most of us couldn’t imagine living without our cooling systems. Los Angeles air conditioning experts have been working hard preparing our lovely community for the summer weather with tune ups, instillations, maintenance etc.

Some problems that we hear a lot of our customers talk about is cleaning! Yes, cleaning is an important part of maintenance with your Los Angeles air conditioning system. While it isn’t necessarily the most fun thing to do it is something that has to get done. We thought we’d extend some tips and tricks in order to make the process go as smooth as possible.

Gungy ceiling-fan blades, dusty portable fans and clogged air conditioner filter and vents can be some of the most irritating parts to work on when it comes to keeping our homes clean.

There are some simple things around the house that will help you our greatly during your cleaning process. You can use things like an old table cloth or sheet, duster and a step stool, microfiber cloth (great for picking up that dust and dirt!), soapy water, blow dryer, vacuum and new air filters for the AC!

Here are some questions that we recently got from our clients that we think you might be interested in too:

How do I clean my gross dusty ceiling-fan?
First we’d like to say that it is very important to clean your fans because the dust and dirt that is on there gets hurled into the air and compromises your air quality.

Use that old table cloth or sheet underneath the fan (trick: wear a shower cap to protect your hair from collecting the dust!) Use the duster for the top of the fan blades. This will also capture loose dust. If you have a step stool that reaches high enough it is better to get above the blades and use your hand and a cloth to wipe them clean. You can also give the glass pieces and extra little shine while you are up there.

The portable fans in my home are covered in dust, how do I clean them?
These fans are great to use in addition to Los Angeles air conditioning because they create the ‘wind chill effect’ and actually makes the room feel cooler than it actually is. To clean it you can usually unscrew any of the screws that are holding the fan together to better reach all the nooks and crannys of the fan. Take off the front grill and slide off the fan blades. Then you can just put these pieces in a tub of soapy warm water to get a deep clean. Rinse off the blades with cold clean water and dry them off before you put them back together. You can wipe down the base and other parts of the fan with a cloth.

When should I change my Los Angeles Air Conditioning air filters?
Changing the air filters in your units is one of the most important maintenance tips. Clogged air conditioner filters and vents make these units work harder — and can inflate your electric bill. If you have a reusable filter it is best to simply clean it with some soapy water and let it dry. If there is a musty smell that sticks with it, it is okay to use some Febreze (for example) to get that fresh smell back!

Extra tips:

Before storing your fans away for the winter give them a quick rinse or use a blow-dryer (on the cool setting) to remove any dust. When you pack it away store it in a plastic bag so that it doesn’t collect dust over the storage period.
For maintenance and tune up give Los Angeles air conditioning experts American Air Conditioning & Heating today! +1 (800) 321-9494.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Energy Efficiency Standards Los Angeles Air Conditioning


Energy efficiency is usually on our minds here in California. The amount of energy emitted from furnaces, heat pumps and central air conditioning units are changing. Arguments over energy efficiency standards aren’t anything new. It is something that has been going on for years. Los Angeles air conditioning experts would like to ask what you think about this topic?

Most recently, consumers were talking a lot about the compact fluorescent light bulbs. Color and the amount of light emitted from them were among the topics of conversation. It is taking awhile to start getting used to these bulbs but we are going to have too because not long until these are the only bulbs on the market. They do cost a little more, that is one of the reasons people have been talking but in the long run they will save you money on electricity. Los Angeles air conditioning experts do recommend purchasing compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) because it will save you money in the long run and will save energy for our beautiful Southern California.

As far as furnaces, heat pumps and central air goes, most likely prices will be going up again. This is sparking controversy because while the prices are going up the savings aren’t going to be extremely tremendous. This change is more about environmental impact on the world. It is about making smarter decisions for our future as a society as a whole.

To see direct savings will take some time. The price increase for products etc. will eventually lead to energy savings. To help you understand this realistically: The new standards would be able to heat every home in the state of New York for 11+ years straight with the savings over a 32 years period! Savings every is always good too because it means fewer blackouts and there will not be as much air pollution.

The U.S. Department of Energy is who creates the standards for central air, furnaces and heat pumps.

May 1, 2013 is the expected date for the new standards to start taking effect.

Los Angeles air conditioning experts American Air Conditioning are always here to bring the latest news to you.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Programmable Thermostats in LA Air Conditioning




Programmable thermostats can save you money! Your Los Angeles air conditioning experts are here to let you know that it is wise for your family to use this tool to control your cooling system and use energy efficiently. You system will have the power to turn on and off automatically. This way it will turn on when you are home and turn off when you are away.

There are many different brands out there that can be a good choice for your family. Los Angeles air conditioning experts recommend using one because it is a great way to save money without making a large up front investment. The cost of a programmable thermostat is relatively low.

Different types of programmable thermostats out there:

Clock Thermostats
These are pretty basic. They can be used to set for a cooler period and a hotter period. The same settings will continue each day.

Digital Thermostats
These allow you to set multipole periods through out the day. Each setting can have a unique temperature. You can also label these settings to suite your families needs.

Digital Thermostats with PID Controller
These are a bit more pricy. The built in PID controller is so the thermostat learns the system and it will react to its commands. This is beneficial so instead of setting your thermostat for 78 degrees at 9:00 am and having it turn on at that time, it knows to reach 78 degrees by 9:00am and starting working efficiently to reach that temperature.

Commercial Thermostat
This type of thermostat uses air pressure to determine a hotter or colder setting. There is no clock associated with the programming.

Programmable thermostats allow different options. You can set daily schedules, differently schedules for weekdays and weekends, and the ability to program the thermostat for weekday, Saturday and Sunday use. Some models even allows you to program different settings through out them to the day.If you have a humidifier or dehumidifier attached to your thermostat, you can also set it to increase or decrease the relative amount of moisture in the air to optimize your indoor air quality.

Los Angeles air conditioning specialist are here to help you decide what is best for your home. Call American Air Conditioning & Heating today at +1(800)321-9494.

Los Angeles Air Conditioning Jokes!


It is officially Summer! Los Angeles air conditioning experts came across some funny jokes. We thought we’d share them with you to kick off the season of heat and LA air conditioning. Enjoy!

A customer was continually bothering the waiter in a restaurant; first, he’d asked that the air conditioning be turned up because he was too hot, then he asked it be turned down because he was too cold, and so on for about half an hour.
Surprisingly, the waiter was very patient, walking back and forth and never once getting angry. So finally, a second customer asked why didn’t they just throw out the pest.
“Oh I don’t care.” said the waiter with a smile. “We don’t even have an air conditioner.”

And another…

An engineer died and reported to the pearly gates. An intern angel, filling in for St. Peter, checked his dossier and grimly said, “Ah, you’re an engineer; you’re in the wrong place.”
So the engineer was cast down to the gates of hell and was let in. Pretty soon, the engineer became gravely dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and began designing and building improvements. After a while, the underworld had air conditioning, flush toilets, and escalators, and the engineer was becoming a pretty popular guy among the demons.
One day, God called Satan up on the telephone and asked with a sneer, “So, how’s it going down there in hell?”
Satan laughed and replied, “Hey, things are going great. We’ve got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there’s no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next.”
God’s face clouded over and he exploded, “What? You’ve got an engineer? That’s a mistake; he should never have gotten down there; send him up here.”
Satan shook his head, “No way. I like having an engineer on the staff, and I’m keeping him.”
God was as mad as he had ever been, “This is not the way things are supposed to work and you know it. Send him back up here or I’ll sue.”
Satan laughed uproariously, “Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?”

Do you have any Los Angeles air conditioning jokes? Feel free to post them on our Facebook page! You can also leave a comment and the Los Angeles air conditioning crew will check it out!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Check Your Duct Work!


If you are the owner of a central air conditioning unit it can be quite amazing! However, if some of the rooms in your house feel hotter than others even when the air conditioning is on, there may be a problem. This could be caused by not enough air flow into those rooms. Many people automatically think that their air conditioner is broken if this happens, but that may not always be the case. The air duct in your home may actually be the problem! Some ducts can be poorly designed or inefficient in some way. This causes an number of problems including circulation, strain and an imbalance in pressure levels. Ultimately this will waste tons of energy and end up costing you money unnecessarily.

The Sun Valley air conditioning experts are always here for you! We love to make sure that our customers avoid potential bigger problems in the future by knowing what to look for and avoid now. Here are some signs to look out for that could signal airflow problems in your home may be caused from something being wrong with your duct:
  • Some rooms that are hard to keep cool.
  • Some rooms that are always stuffy or humid.
  • Skyrocketing utility bills.
  • You have ductwork in uninsulated areas, such as the garage or attic.
  • You have a new or improved HVAC system that’s coupled with old ductwork.

Everything gets wear and tear over a long period of time. Your air ducts will naturally develop tears or seperated connections that will waste the conditioned air. This may cause the air from your attic etc. to come back into the house. It is unfourtunate and a serious problem because this will effect cooling efficiency and will increase the amount of dirt and dust in your home. Sun Valley air conditioning experts have been serving Los Angeles County since 1981! Our certified technicians are trained in handling every residential air conditioning situation. Feel free to give us a call at +1 (800) 321-9494 if you have any specific questions or want to get started on some duct work for your home.

The way that your duct was installed in your home effects its efficiency. If it was installed properly it means it is less likely to have problems. There are many benefits to a properly designed duct:
  • It includes return air supply vents in every room or in central areas of the home.
  • It’s sized to handle the precise amount of airflow produced by the HVAC system.
  • Its ducts get smaller as they branch away from the main core, just as streams branching off a river become smaller, to maintain static pressure.
  • Its angles are curved instead of sharply cornered, which can “wrinkle” airflow.

The entire home and your family will benefit from the duct system. It will ensure good indoor air quality and efficient air flow to keep your family comfortable. If you suspect that you are having any issues at all with your cooling system contact American Air Conditioning & Heating today! We are the Sun Valley air conditioning experts and we'd love to help your family stay comfortable everyday.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

What are UV Air Filters?


Indoor air pollution is something that your family probably doesn’t think about too often, but your North Hills air conditioning experts are here to remind you that it is important factor in your families heath!

Fighting the battle against indoor air pollution can be a tough one. Ultraviolet light, however, is one of the best answers. Harmful mold, viruses, bacteria etc. get into your home and cause the air quality to decrease. UV light can clean the air by neutralizing the dangerous bacteria, viruses etc. making them no longer harmful to your family.

North Hills air conditioning experts have discussed before about the importance of changing your air conditioning filters. The air filter catches all the dust and dirt from the air. Change them every 30 to 60 days. This will contribute to maintaining the best indoor air quality for your home.

UV rays are a sterilizing agent that occur in the environment. This works in your home because the lightbulbs are a concentrated natural form of this sterilizing agent. They can help fight against viruses, bacteria, fungi and mold spores in the home.

How do you know if you have indoor air problems?


You can not see everything in the air that may be harmful to you and your family. The most common way that these microorganisms enter your body is by breathing them in. They usually come with a lot of dust or dirt in the home. Dirt and dust allow those harmful things to collect all over the home. Carpets, furniture, bedding, air conditioning etc. can all carry these harmful contaminants.

If anyone in your family is suffering from respiratory problems, asthma, skin irritations, chronic colds, or ongoing fatigue and lethargy you should consider having your indoor air quality tested by a certified North Hills air conditioning professional. This will help solve the problem.

UV purifiers may be able to help your family by cleaning the air your breathe. This will ensure that your family will always be a safe and healthy place to live. American Air Conditioning & Heating is here to keep your family comfortable! Call you North HIlls air conditioning experts today +1 (800) 321-9494.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Save Money on Panorama City Air Conditioning


Most homes have locks, alarm systems etc. to protect the home from other people trying to hurt you or other people trying to steal things from you. Have you ever thought about the thieves lurking around your home that you may not think about! It's valuable energy that is being taken from you!

You may be spending extra money that you don’t need to on your utility bill. Your Panorama City air conditioning experts are here to give you the clues and insight to stay on the lookout for energy takers.

Regular Maintenance:
Try and starting thinking of your air conditioning unit the same way as you do your car, if you don’t already. It is a machine that has slight wear and tear. The better you take care of it, the longer it will last. You never want to run your car without and oil change every 3,000 miles or so, right?

There are some simple tune-ups you can take care of on your AC that will help in this same sort of fashion.
-The air filters is number one. Clean the air filters or change them out (if they are disposable) every 30-60 days.
-Your duct work should also be inspected regularly for air leaks to prevent energy loss.
-Call a Panorama City air conditioning expert during spring for your annual air conditioning tune up and check to ensure that everything is in working order before the heat of the summer hits.

Programmable Thermostat:
Do you use one? As Panorama City air conditioning experts we do highly recommend these systems. They allow you to set your home’s temperature back several degrees when you are not home. Doing this can significantly save money on your utility bill.

Home Insulation:
Do a quick check up on your home to make sure that it is properly sealed and insulated. Caulking around windows and doors can stop air leaks. The attic is also a place that should definitely be well insulated because a lot of cool air slips right out of your home through the attic. When you are running the air conditioner make sure that all doors and windows are shut!

Air Conditioning & Family:
Your family can make some effort to decrease your cooling load. During the really really hot summer months it is wise to use your oven as infrequently as possible. The oven in your home, when on, is really hot. This will cause your air conditioner to work even harder that is has too. Look into changing your light bulbs as well. Compact fluorescent bulbs increase energy savings.

Landscaping:
What kind of landscaping does your home have? The sun may shine right into your house allowing heat to penetrate the home. Strategically planting trees around you house so that they create shaded areas will block the amount on sunlight getting in. This will help keep the home cool without increasing the cooling load of your air conditioner.

Quick solution to this problem! Close the drapes and blinds to block the hot sun rays as it moves from one side of your home to the other! This will keep your family cool and within budget!

Your Panorama City air conditioning experts are here to tell you that energy savings is possible! These are just a few tips that do not take that much effort but will save you tons of money on your utility bill during summer. Now is the time to get that annual maintenance check-up, let one of the certified American Air Conditioning & Heating technicians help you out today. +1 (800) 321-9494.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Save Energy During Summer!

Save money during summer!

Here are some great tips from your Pacoima air conditioning experts on how to keep your ac in great working order:

The weather is heating up out there. While Southern California usually has beautiful days and nights, the summers can get hot, hot, hot!

You can save money and energy by carefully purchasing the correct size unit, staying up to date on service and operating your air conditioner correctly. Follow your Pacoima air conditioning company quick tips on our Facebook page and you will decrease the chance on problems in the future. Good luck!

Maintenance and Operation Tips

Stay up to date and aware in order to save money longterm!


  • The number one thing to be conscious of is your air conditioning filter!
  • Air filters that are dusty and dirty will not allow air to flow through your home.
  • Air filters will need to be changed and/or cleaned at least once every 30-60 days.
  • This simple maintenance step can reduce your utility bill and energy consumption by 5-15%!
  • If your home has a central ac system you must make sure that the ducts are insulated correctly. If they pass through the attic your really want to make sure that is done.
  • Don’t let furniture get in the way. It defeats the purpose of cooling and wastes a lot of energy when something is blocking the vent. It may also be helpful to close off unused rooms by shutting the door and closing the vents in those rooms.


Energy Saving Tips:

Just stay conscious and aware and you will be able to save easily on your utility bill!


  • Only use the air conditioner when it is really hot outside.
  • Close all the windows and close the curtains or pull down the shades during the day, this will help to keep the heat out of the house.
  • During the night open the windows and turn on the fans to draw out the cooler air.
  • Ground-to-air heat pumps are most cost effective when included in a new home’s design rather than as an addition to an existing home.
  • Fans are a great way to help keep your home cool. They most definitely can not replace air conditioning but they can be a great addition in support of your unit. Running a ceiling fan with the AC at a moderate temperature can create a wind chill effect and actually make the room feel cooler than it is!


Drop us a line on our Facebook page if you have any questions regarding heating and air conditioning! Your Pacoima air conditioning experts American Air Conditioning & Heating will always be here for you!

Los Angeles Air Conditioning Story!

Service your air conditioning system in Spring!

It’s spring time here is the beautiful Southern California! During this time of year we are so excited about the nice weather that we tend to forget about things like Los Angeles air conditioning because it is not quite hot yet. Los Angeles air conditioning experts are here to remind you! It is exactly the time you should be thinking about it! It’s spring cleaning time and your air conditioner service should be right on that check list with everything else this season. One of our customers, Marlene, knows from experience how important it is to do a pre-summer season service can be!

Your Los Angeles air conditioning specialist, American Air Conditioning & Heating is here to tell you Marlene’s story:

About three years back my husband and I bought a home in the beautiful Southern California. We absolutely loved it, just loved everything about it! The beaches were one of our very favorite parts, coming from Northern California in the forest we looked forward to having all our family over to see our new place surrounded by beautiful beaches and ocean. On one particular visit we invited my sister’s family to come over. We were very used to the air conditioning at our previous home because the weather was always so hot, our bodies are sort of used to the cool now! Our neighbors told us that it does get pretty hot in this particular area and that it was always a good idea to get the air conditioning system checked up every once and awhile because it is important to have during the summer! We didn’t think much of this and we a fairly frugal people so we figured out AC would work fine how it was. We've always heard the weather in Southern California is nice and maybe we wouldn't have to use the AC as much.

My sister came into town with her lovely family. We had lots of plans set up to have a good visit. The house felt a little hot so we turned the air conditioning on and to a low temperature as we left out for dinner. As we would later find out, the air conditioning was blowing out hot air the whole time we were gone.

Dinner was amazing, we were having such a great time! Everything went wrong when we got home. We walked in to an extremely hot house. Not just semi-warm but hot, hot, hot! It was a super hot day for So Cal already and now our home was even hotter than outside! My husband and I looked at each other and embarrassingly apologized to my sister and her family. There wasn’t anything we could do about it. It was 12:30am, there was no way we could get a technician out that late, especially on a Saturday. We all just tried to tough it out but there was no way to deal with the heat. We felt like we were cooking! My sister was nice about it and didn’t complain too much but she did grab ice out of the freezer and rub it on her face. It was so hot that no one was comfortable. We tried to go to bed but no one could sleep or even stand to be on the sheets. It was even hotter upstairs in the guest bedroom, it was unbearable.

My sister decided that it would be best to go to a hotel and stay the night there until it cooled down. They could not stand the heat any longer. That reaction is totally understandable, we couldn’t take the heat either. We decided to just go right along with them, it was like 90 degrees outside, our house was an oven.

We thought that we would be saving money by foregoing that service repair that our neighbors so graciously “warned” us about back in Spring. Take my advice we ended up spending way more after everything was said and done! Los Angeles air conditioning maintenance is something that you only need about once a year and it makes a world of difference.



You can tell from Marlene’s story that even if your AC unit new and you think nothing will go wrong it is always smart during the springtime before the summer heat sets in to have it checked out by your local Los Angeles air conditioning company.

American Air Conditioning & Heating has proudly served the Los Angeles County area for over 30 years! Give us a call to schedule your maintenance check up today, before that hot summer season hits! +1 (800) 321-9494

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

DIY Air Duct Cleaning

Clean air ducts twice a year!
The air quality in you home is an important part of Northridge air conditioning. Its common to believe that dirty air ducts do have a little to do with the pollution inside your home. An air duct cleaning once or twice a year may help increase the quality of the air that your family is breathing.

In addition to the once or twice a year cleaning, industry professionals agree that you should call your Northridge air conditioning professional if there is visible mold and mildew on your ducts, if they are infested with bugs or rodents and if there is an excessive amount of dirt and dust buildup causing them to clog.

Dust and dirt within your system combined with the condensation of your air conditioner is the recipe for mold. A humility level of about 70% or higher is where mold rages through your unit. If you keep your air conditioner running you can temporary solve the problem.

Long term you will want to clean out all of the mold and dirt from your air conditioning unit to achieve optimal air quality in your home and ensure that your system is always running efficiently. If you’d like to attempt to clean out your duct system yourself, your Northridge air conditioning company has a few tips that may be able to help! If not you can always give us a call at +1 (800) 321-9494 and we’d love to take care of that for you!

It can be an easy self project will a few things that are most likely lying around your home somewhere if you are wiling to take it on.

Tools you will need:

Ice cube tray or muffin tin for holding compartments.
Vacuum
A brush with a long handle
Oil can
Paper towels or a cloth
Cleaning product (such as windex, 409 etc.)
Screwdriver
New Filter

The first step is to remove the filter. Next you will take the front grill from the outside of the unit. Place all of the metal screws into the tray so that they stay organized and you don’t loose them. Check the fan for any holes. Add some oil to keep it running smoothly. Take the brush and use it to clear away any dirt that you see. Take the cleaner and spray down the area and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Use the paper towels or cloth and wipe everything down. Make sure to wipe the fan blades and give the entire unit and additional area over with the vacuum cleaner. Empty out and clean the water base. This section of your unit holds the most of the standing water so there will be a lot more mold in there. This step is important. You must let everything completely dry before you resemble the unit.

If you have any questions at all feel free to visit Facebook, Twitter or the American Air Conditioning & Heating website! Have a nice day today. Keep in mind, summer is almost here!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Prepare for the Heat

Get ready before the heat hits!
Before it gets super hot out there you better prepare for those hot days! Summer is right around the corner. While the beautiful pacific ocean isn't too far away, the water will not help your home stay cool on those hot summer days.

What do you do to prepare for the hot weather?

First step: Your cooling system has air filters in it. Change them out or wash them if you have reusable filters. This will need to be done every one to two months.

Second step: Change your thermostat to the “cool” setting! You have to test the system by turning the setting down. Make sure it turns on, if it doesn’t something is wrong. First, check to make sure that there are no breakers tripped or any power issues. If you can’t figure it out from there call your Silmar air conditioning experts and we will fix it right up! It is always better to call during maintenance rather than waiting until the blazing heat is in full effect and all the Silmar air conditioning companies are packed with emergency calls.

Third step: If everything is good to go and it does turn on, make sure that the air pumping out is nice and cool. If it doesn’t than you will have to give you Silmar air conditioning specialist because there may be a problem bigger than just inadequate power. Set it to 78 degrees if you can.

Fourth step: This is a great tip when considering air conditioning replacement, we can not stress enough how important it is to replace your unit in Spring rather waiting for that heat to take over. You may have delays and during the hot heat you will be more uncomfortable than during Spring.

Fifth step: What kind of thermostat do you have? If it is older you may want to consider upgrading to a programmable one. You can potentially save $100 a year just by making this simple change! You should especially call your Silmar air conditioning specialist if your old thermostat uses a mercury switch.

Sixth step: Does you house have a whole-house fan? Consider installing one if you don’t. This will use cool air in the evening to cool the entire house. It also pushes the hot air out of the attic area.

Seventh step: Each room of the house would benefit from a ceiling fan. This is a great way to distribute the cool air around the house pretty inexpensively. It creates the chill effect and makes the room feel cooler!

If you follow these great tips from your Silmar air conditioning experts you should be nice and ready for the heat that will be coming soon! If you have any questions feels free to give American Air Conditioning a call today! +1 (800) 321-9494