The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that summer 2019, “will be warmer and drier than normal, with the hottest temperatures in mid- to late-July and early and mid-August. September and October will be warmer and slightly drier than normal.” Remembering warm weather keeps us sane through crazy winter weather.
For four decades, Olympia’s Sunset Air has provided expert sales, service, and maintenance of homes, including heating, cooling, tanked/tankless hot water systems, electrical, fireplaces, windows, solar, and generator technologies. Residential Division Manager Matt Jones and his team know the right questions to ask and specific answers to provide when homeowners seek guidance.
Whether your home is new or old, with few upgrades, or stubbornly refuses to cool off, start thinking about ways to make sunny weather pleasant for everyone. At Sunset Air, qualified installers can help you choose between adding seasonal air conditioning or a year-round heat pump and then arrange quick, seamless installation.
One of their most commonly asked questions is about the difference between air conditioning and heat pumps. Both produce the same results in the summer, but heat pumps work 365 days a year. Don’t get tangled up in terminology, let Jones clarify everything from hybrid heating to zone control services with ease and clarity.
HomeAdvisor.com explains—in layman’s terms—that a heat pump “works both as an air conditioner and heater. When you set the thermostat to ‘cool’ or ‘heat,’ it will adjust its cycle to create cold or hot air. A reversing valve built into the compressor can reverse refrigerant flow to allow the air to be cooled by refrigerant or let it remain hot in a reversed cycle.”
On the other end of the spectrum, traditional air conditioners “function identically to the ‘cool’ setting of a heat pump. The main difference is that air conditioners can only cool down the air temperature by removing humidity and heat; the cycle can’t be reversed to create heat.”
Which to choose, says Jones, depends on your home’s existing heating system, fuel source, initial budget and operating cost requirements, and overall efficiency needs. For our mild climate, heat pumps tend to be the Northwest norm as they excel in the 40-55 degree temperature range and combined with our low utility cost, they make for a perfect partnership.
Sunset Air helps thousands of local families every year make decisions regarding heating and cooling systems. These decisions not only affect wallets and time, but comfort and health as well. Sunset Air’s goal is to make buying simple and easy. They are aware that not everyone has been through the process of purchasing a new heat pump or air conditioner, so they help answer any and all questions and provide the tools to make an informed decision that everyone is comfortable with.
The other factor that comes into play is the new construction housing market. The State of Washington mandates new construction homes be built with efficiency in mind, so this leads to improvement in insulation levels, efficiency of heating equipment, hot water systems, window performance, sealing of homes, and ductwork. These factors lead to a more efficient home, but this also means homes stay warmer. This is great when you are heating homes, but cooling is another story.
New construction homes can feel too warm during the summer. Once the heat gets in the house, that hot air stays. This can mean uncomfortable days and nights for homes without cooling.
There’s a simple way to decide which option is right for you. Customers can view service areas and schedule their free estimate online or by calling 360-456-4956. This lets staff inspect your existing equipment and ductwork, discuss ideal heating and cooling requirements, and look around to become much more conscious of what the house needs. They’ll also help provide tools to help you make a good investment, adds Jones, like information on promotions, manufacturer rebate programs, and incentives at the federal, state, and local level.
Houses are as unique as the families they protect and the weather they endure. Don’t wait until temperatures spike because then so will wait times for that new sanity-restoring heat pump or air conditioner. Call Sunset Air today.
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