Design Comfort Blog

Choosing the Right HVAC Contractor for the Job

February 3rd, 2020

HVAC-technicians-working-on-systemWhen you live in a climate like ours, you need quality HVAC systems year-round—an efficient and effective air conditioner in the summer, and a powerful heater in the winter. You need each of these systems to work flawlessly, to boot.

This isn’t possible, though, without professional installation and services. For this, you’ll want to work with an HVAC contractor you can trust. This is one of those partnerships you shouldn’t ever rush into, since doing so can leave you with HVAC equipment that’s improperly sized for your living space, or installed incorrectly so it won’t work as efficiently as its meant to.

So, whether we’re talking about installation, maintenance, or repairs, you can trust our team, but how do you know that for sure? What sort of qualifications should you look for in an HVAC contractor?

Read full article

What Does It Mean if My Furnace Booms?

January 20th, 2020

woman-covering-her-earsWhen you’ve been using your gas-powered furnace flawlessly all winter long, and then suddenly you start hearing unusual noises coming from it, you may be alarmed. Sure, you expect to hear some noise when your furnace starts running—you’ll hear it cycle on and of course you’ll hear the whoosh of warm air coming through your vents.

What you shouldn’t be hearing though, is a boom shortly after the furnace turns on. What does this mean? More on that below.

Read full article

How to Use Your Furnace Most Efficiently

January 6th, 2020

animation-house-and-money-symbol-on-seesawWinter is officially here, which means if you don’t already have a fully functioning and efficiently operating furnace system, you’re going to want one real soon! If you haven’t scheduled heating maintenance yet, not to worry. In the absence of a complete system breakdown, it’s never too late.

Sure, we recommend having maintenance done in the fall before you need your heating system the most, but it’s more important that you have it done consistently—once a year—for optimal furnace effectiveness. But more on that below!

We will touch back on maintenance, but there are a few other things you can do to make sure you’re using your furnace as efficiently as possible. Curious? Read on!

Read full article

Signs Your Water Heater Is in Disrepair

December 23rd, 2019

tank-water-heaterNo matter the season, no matter where you live, no matter who you are… there is one system in your home you’ll always need and probably take for granted. That’s your water heater! It’s easy to just accept that your taps will always provide hot water when it’s needed—but the truth is this is only possible if your water heater is properly cared for.

Think about it—your water heater goes through a lot of stress to make cleaning, bathing, and cooking possible. At some point, you’ll need to have your water heater professionally maintained—we recommend this once a year—and at some point still you may need water heater repairs. But how will you know this is the case?

Read on to discover some of the signs of a water heater in disrepair, and should you suspect something is amiss with your water heater, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!

Read full article

A Booming Furnace: What Does It Mean?

December 9th, 2019

gas-jets-of-a-furnaceWhen the weather finally gets cool and you go to turn on your furnace to warm up, the last thing you’re probably expecting is a “booming” noise coming from it. If anything, you’d hear the burners ignite and then air whooshing through your vents—not much else, right?

This is an alarming sound to hear. Unfortunately, when it happens, it means your furnace needs professional attention. The good news is, we’re here for the job! Read on to learn more about what a booming furnace means.

Read full article

Schedule This Service Today, Prevent Heating Repairs Tomorrow!

November 25th, 2019

jets-of-a-furnace-firingWe’re talking about heating maintenance! This service is one of the most important that you can schedule in your home this time of the year. We typically recommend that maintenance tune-ups for heating systems be done in the early fall, before you need your system the most. But it’s more important that you be consistent with these appointments, no matter the time of year.

And no, before you ask, heating maintenance isn’t something you can do on your own. It’s a job that requires experienced and highly trained HVAC professionals. Aside from changing out your air filter if you have a forced-air heater or making sure the area around your system is clean and free of obstructions, maintenance should be left to the pros.

Read full article

How Healthy Is the Water You Drink?

November 11th, 2019

woman-smiling-with-glass-of-water-in-her-hand“My water is coming from a city water main, not a well, so the water quality is fine, right? My water is going through a treatment process already.”

You are correct. However, something to keep in mind is that this water has miles and miles to travel before it enters your home. Along the way, it can pick up contaminants. No water treatment plan can be 100% effective at removing all the impurities from your water.

There’s always a chance that some trace elements such as lead or cyanide can make their way into your home’s water supply. There is no “safe” level of exposure to these materials, either. If you want to add a layer of protection to your home’s water supply, then you should consider the installation of a whole-house water treatment system. This is particularly true if you notice the following symptoms.

Read full article

What You Can Do to Prevent Frozen Pipes

October 28th, 2019

icicles-hanging-from-pipeIf you’ve lived in the Holladay area through even just one winter, then you know we’re notorious for our cool and dry temperatures during the winter. You also, of course, know that colder weather comes with snow, and ice!

The development of ice means you need to move fast to protect and prepare your home before winter arrives in earnest. Do you have drafty doors allowing warm air to escape from your living space? Is your indoor air quality in good shape, or could you use a whole-house humidifier this season? Last but certainly not least, is your plumbing system prepared for the season? Just a couple of consecutive days of below 30°F temperatures can result in frozen pipes, which create a huge problem. We’re going to discuss below how you can prevent this, but first, why is it such an issue?

Read full article

How to Determine If You Need a Water Softener

October 14th, 2019

tapwater-flowing-into-sinkToday, most municipal water supplies have a heavy level of filtration and conditioning before they get to your home plumbing. And if you’re using ground water through a private well, then you may have your own water treatment system on-site to filter out contaminants. Something most homeowners don’t realize, however, is they may be missing protection from hard water.

What’s hard water, you ask? It’s water with a high level of minerals in it—namely, calcium, magnesium, and iron. They’re all harmless to ingest, but can do a whole lot of damage to your plumbing system over time. Hard water should be taken care of with a whole-house water softener right when the water enters the home, before it has a chance to put your pipes out of commission. Keep reading to learn some signs that you may be suffering from hard water, and therefore would benefit from a water softener!

Read full article

End-of-Season AC Care Tips

September 30th, 2019

top-view-of-an-outdoor-ac-uitCan you tell when you’re in need of air conditioning repairs? The symptoms aren’t always clear, so we don’t blame you if you can’t.

Air conditioning repair is one of those services that you don’t want to wait on—delaying repairs can leave you without a functioning cooling system when you need it the most. That said, we understand if you don’t want to call in a professional unless you know your air conditioner is malfunctioning. So, we’ve provided some insight below on how to look for suspicious AC scenarios.

Read full article