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Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air Blog

Does Your Heat Pump Have Dirty Sock Syndrome?

September 28, 2015

t sounds either totally ridiculous or like something reserved for your clothes dryer, but it is in fact a very real problem that you can encounter with your heat pump: dirty sock syndrome. Named for the unmistakable smell that accompanies dirty gym socks, dirty sock syndrome doesn't involve actual socks but rather an issue that causes a potent dirty sock smell to emit from your heat pump system and into your home...


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Why It's Best to Call a Professional for Drain Problems

September 21, 2015

Slow drains, clogged drains, gurgling drains - they all have the same thing in common: they need help. Television commercials and DIY videos will lead you to believe that quick solutions are at the ready for just about any drain problem, and better yet, that they work. Unfortunately, this isn't true most of the time. We handle a lot of DIY-gone-wrong types of calls, and one way to avoid this often costly scenario is to give your Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air plumbing expert a call as soon as you discover any kind of issue with any of your home's drains...


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Maintain Your Air Conditioner with Our $49 Tune-Up Special!

September 14, 2015

Your air conditioner has been running around the clock for several months now. This kind of operation, while normal during this time of year, takes a toll on your AC system in the form of wear and tear. But we have a great offer that will keep your air conditioning system in great shape: our $49 tune-up special! Regularly $98, our tune-up special means your AC will get the full tune-up it needs to operate efficiently and effectively. Why is maintenance so important for your air conditioner? Let's take a look...


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What Is Hydro Jetting?

September 07, 2015

It may sound like a fancy new way to fly, but hydro jetting is actually an important service offered by professional plumbers to completely clean your drains and sewer lines without using harsh chemicals. In fact, all that is used is water. But the results of hydro jetting are evident, particularly after hydro jet cleaning is performed by the plumbing pros at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air...


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Tips on Maintaining Your Garbage Disposal

August 31, 2015

If you have a garbage disposal, you know how helpful it can be to significantly reduce the food waste in your home. You also know that when it breaks or malfunctions, it requires an expert to handle the repair. It's strongly recommended that you schedule annual maintenance for your garbage disposal, but there are some basic maintenance steps you can take on your own to help keep your disposal in optimal shape...


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Why Your Refrigerant Doesn't Run Out

August 24, 2015

You have likely heard the word "refrigerant" used in relation to your air conditioner, and for good reason: without it, you can't condition your air. However, this chemical is used differently in your air conditioner than gasoline is used in a car. In other words, refrigerant isn't consumed by your air conditioning system, which is why, if you are told your refrigerant is low, there's a problem. So how does the refrigerant in your system work? Let's take a look...


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What Is an Automatic Shut-Off Valve?

August 17, 2015

We've all heard the stories of people coming home from vacation to find their living room under water. While this isn't a common scenario, it isn't uncommon for your plumbing system to develop leaks that you aren't able to detect. This is because much of your home's plumbing system resides behind walls and ceilings, and it is this kind of leak that can cause a great deal of water damage. One of the best ways to avoid water damage from even the smallest leak is to employ the use of an automatic shut-off valve...


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Seeing Leaks from Your AC? Time to Check the Condensate Array

August 10, 2015

At this time of year, your air conditioner is removing a lot of humidity to help cool your home. This means your condensate array is being used fairly heavily, helping to remove this water from your home and system. However, if your air conditioning system hasn't been maintained in a while, you may have some problems with your condensate array that can lead to leaking and water damage. First, let's take a look at what the condensate array is and does...


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How Do the Coils in My AC System Work?

August 03, 2015

If you have a whole home air conditioning system, you've probably heard that your system has coils. What you may not realize is how important they are to your AC system. Your coils play a big role in the heat release/cooling process; anytime there's any issue with the coils, your cooling will be affected. The AC experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air can help keep your coils in great shape with annual maintenance. Just give us a call and schedule an appointment for your home in Roseville, CA.


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How Often Do I Need to Change My Air Filter?

July 27, 2015

If you have a forced-air cooling system, and most people do for their whole home cooling, then you have an air filter. The job of a standard air filter is to block large particles of dirt and dust, as well as debris, from entering your AC system. As you can imagine, there are literally millions of particles of dust and dirt to contend with, so it's important to change your air filter on a timely basis. The industry standard is to change your air filter every 3 months; it's every 2 months if you have pets and/or smokers in your home. Don't know how to change the air filter in your home? The air conditioning experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air can teach you how to change your air filter in Carmichael, CA, so that you can keep your AC healthy. But first, let's take a look at why it's important to change your air filter...


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Why Does My Air Conditioner Have Capacitors?

July 20, 2015

When electricity flows, it isn't in an even manner. It surges and ebbs, and as such, needs help being streamlined. Your air conditioner runs on alternating current, which is electricity that runs on alternating polarity. This means the electricity changes between positive and negative, which is necessary for electro-mechanical systems like your air conditioner. However, this kind of electricity needs help being streamlined, and this is where your capacitors come in...


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Is Your Air Conditioner Being Sluggish? Then Consider Scheduling a Maintenance Appointment

July 13, 2015

As we hit the middle of summer, odds are your air conditioning system in Sacramento, CA, has been running for a while. Have you noticed that its performance isn't as good as normal, even though nothing appears to be wrong with the system? Consider scheduling maintenance with your Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air specialist, especially if you weren't able to schedule maintenance this past spring...


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Are There Things I Can Do to Help Maintain My Garbage Disposal?

July 06, 2015

Garbage disposals are great for reducing food waste in your home. But for as tough as they may seem, it can be fairly easy to get off track with them if you aren't careful. We are asked a lot about what steps homeowners can take to help keep their garbage disposals in good shape. While it's never recommended that your try and work on your garbage disposal yourself - keep those fingers out of the drain! - there are a few things you can do regularly to help maintain your disposal...


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Looking for Some Tips to Save on Your Cooling This Summer?

June 29, 2015

It's officially summer, which means the weather is just going to keep getting hotter. Odds are, you've already turned on your AC in Sacramento, CA, and may have already gotten your first utility bill with your air conditioning usage on it. If you've been looking for simple ways to help save on your home's cooling costs, the experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air have a few simple suggestions for you...


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Should I Install a Tankless Water Heater in My Home?

June 22, 2015

If it's time for a replacement water heater, or you have a brand new home that needs a water heater, you have a number of options from which to choose. One of these is a tankless hot water heater. While these system have gotten a lot of notoriety lately, you need to examine if this type of system is a good fit for you and your home before purchasing one. The plumbing experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air can help with all of your hot water installation needs, from sizing to completing the installation. Just give us a call and schedule an appointment for your home in Sacramento, CA....


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Do I Have a Slab Leak?

June 15, 2015

More than half of all homes in the US are built upon concrete slabs, making slab foundations the leading type of home foundations. To make the best use of slabs, many contractors will run plumbing pipes through the slab as its being poured. This helps protect the pipes and secure them. However, it is possible for these pipes to develop leaks, and when that happens to a piped encased in concrete, you've got a tough leak on your hands - but not when you call experts to help, like the ones at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air. Our plumbing professionals specialize in locating and repairing slab leaks, and we do our best to make the repair as non-invasive as possible. Not sure if you have a slab leak? Here are some signs that can indicate you may have one...


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Fighting Over the Thermostat? Consider Zone Control Cooling

June 08, 2015

We are all familiar with this common household argument: what temperature should the thermostat be set at? For someone, a certain temperature may be too cold, and for someone else, it may be too warm. Finding the middle ground is hard because different areas of your home may gain more heat during the day than others. What's a possible solution? Using a zone control system...


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Does Your Commercial Property Have Problems with Excessive Dryness?

June 01, 2015

When most people think about humidity problems, it's usually in regard to excessive humidity. But in our part of the world, we tend to the see the opposite, with too little humidity. Just as excessive humidity can cause problems, so, too, can inadequate humidity, and if the lack of moisture in your commercial space affects your business, you could have serious problems to deal with. There is a solution for low humidity, however: a commercial humidifier. The commercial indoor air quality experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air can help you install, repair, maintain or replace your commercial humidifier - just give us a call and our staff will schedule you an appointment right away...


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What Is the Reversing Valve and Why Does It Matter?

May 25, 2015

Heat pumps in cooling mode essentially work like a whole home air conditioning system: they remove heat and humidity from your living spaces and return cool air in its place. However, heat pumps have a key component that makes them very different from air conditioners: the reversing valve. Without this valve, your heat pump wouldn't be able to cool or heat your home. So what is this valve? Let's take a look...


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Why Consider Ductless Cooling?

May 18, 2015

Homeowners have many options when it comes to choosing a whole home air conditioning system, but many properties do not have ductwork - are you out of options? Not when you choose a ductless cooling system! Long popular in commercial properties like restaurants, ductless air conditioning systems have become very popular choices for many homeowners. You may be concerned that an AC system that doesn't operate with ductwork may be highly complicated, but this isn't true. However, to ensure that the system provides the cooling and other benefits you want, it's important to work only with trained technicians for installation and service. The AC specialists at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air have installed and serviced numerous ductless systems, and we welcome the opportunity to bring our expertise to you...


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Allergy Season = Air Filter Season

May 11, 2015

Spring is always a welcome time, but for allergy sufferers, spring is the bearer of all things sneezeable. If you have serious allergy sufferers in your Sacramento, CA, home, and don't use an air filtration system, now is the perfect time to consider one. You may be asking, doesn't my system already come with an air filter? It does, but the job of this air filter is to reduce the amount of dirt and dust entering your system, not to capture allergens. A mechanical air filter that is part of an air filtration system does the job of capturing allergens and other contaminants in your home. And when you work with one of our indoor air quality experts, you'll understand the differences between your standard filter and an air filtration system...


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The 2 Main Ways an ERV Can Help Your Home

May 04, 2015

In an effort to become energy efficient, many homes have upgraded insulation, windows, doors and HVAC systems. This is all very good for your home and for decreasing use of energy, but sometimes healthy ventilation can suffer, causing increased problems with the quality of your indoor air. However, there is a great device that can help you increase and improve your home's indoor ventilation as well as further improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC system: an energy recovery ventilator, also known as an ERV. The experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air can install your ERV so that it integrates seamlessly with your existing HVAC system, enabling you to gain the benefits of the device for years to come. Why install an ERV in your Sacramento, CA, home? Here are two important reasons to consider it...


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2 Alternatives to Traditional Air Conditioning

April 27, 2015

When most people think of air conditioning systems, they usually envision a centralized system: a single unit producing cool air which is then distributed throughout your home via a series of ducts. It benefits from a single main unit and relatively straightforward operating procedure, but it's not the only AC system out there. Nor is it the only system you should consider for your home. In Sacramento, CA, our summers can be quite brutal. Here are 2 alternatives to traditional air conditioning that you may want to think about now, before the summer starts in earnest...


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What Happens During Air Conditioning Maintenance?

April 20, 2015

We haven't hit the hot temps of summer yet, but they are on their way, and one of the best ways to ensure that you air conditioner is ready to work is to schedule annual AC maintenance. There can be some misconceptions regarding air conditioning maintenance, mostly in regard to what actually happens during this service, so the technicians at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air wanted to provide you with an overview demonstrating just how in-depth a maintenance appointment really is...


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Hybrid Water Heaters: The Best of Both Worlds

April 13, 2015

The tank vs. tankless decision involving water heaters can be a tough one for homeowners to decide upon. The two units operate very differently, and there may be some aspects of each type that you like or don't like. If you need a new water heater and have been on the fence about choosing between a tank or tankless hot water heater, we may have the perfect solution for you: a hybrid water heater. Hybrid water heaters combine the best of both systems, offering you a great compromise between the two units. And when you hire the experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air for installation, repair, maintenance or replacement, you can rest assured that your hybrid system will be well attended to. Call us today and schedule an appointment with one of our hot water heater experts...


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Types of Storm Drains for Your Sacramento Property

April 06, 2015

We've had a tough time in the last few years with a lack of rain during the winter months, and this year we've come the closest to our usual annual average. While we can't create the rain we need, you can, as a homeowner, make sure the rain water that falls on your property is drained properly so that it ends up where it should, and isn't full of unnecessary debris when it does arrive at its destination. How? By having good, well-installed storm drains on your property. There are a number of types of drains you can use on your property, and installing the right combination of drains can help you correctly move rain water away from your home and into your town's drainage system. The trained experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air can design and install a drainage system for your property, so call us today...


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3 Reasons Hydro Jetting Is Great for Drain and Sewer Cleaning

April 03, 2015

Clogged drainpipes and sewer lines are a frequent problem for residential plumbing. You have almost certainly dealt with them before--and probably don't ever want to deal with them again. Although we can't offer you a solution that will forever do away with drain clogs, our team at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air can provide you with a drain and sewer cleaning method that can reduce these problems to a minimum: hydro-jetting...


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Reasons Your AC Isn't Turning On

March 25, 2015

Here's a situation you never wish to encounter: It's a hot summer day in Northern California, and when you go to the thermostat to turn on your air conditioner... nothing happens. No fan noise, no air from the vents, nothing. You fiddle with the thermostat for a few minutes, but the air conditioner simply will not turn on to give you vital cool air...


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Is Your Air Conditioning System Ready for the Summer?

March 20, 2015

The days are growing longer, and before we know it another hot California summer will arrive. Your air conditioning system will get another extensive workout during the summer, and will probably run during most days of July and August. You need to ask yourself now, during the cooler beginning of spring, if your home's AC is prepared for the stresses of another summer. Even an air conditioner that is only a few years into its service life might run into problems during hot weather if it doesn't receive the proper preparation...


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Why Your Sewer Line May Sustain Damage

March 11, 2015

Because the sewer line that connects your home's drains with the municipal sewer system runs under the ground and out of your sight, it is very easy to take for granted that it will always continue to serve its important function. Sewer lines are constructed for durability, and most should last for many decades without encountering troubles...


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Ductless Heating: How Does It Work?

March 04, 2015

Some older homes do not have space in them for ductwork installation. Newer homes are often designed without ductwork in order to free up space and allow for greater design options. In these situations, the homes can still receive central heating from a forced-air heater using a ductless mini split heat pump. These ductless heating systems are effective and energy efficient, and professionals can install them in a short time for any home that might benefit from them...


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Signs You Need to Call a Professional Plumber

February 25, 2015

Recognizing plumbing problems can be a bit difficult. Most of your home's plumbing is installed out of sight, after all, and you shouldn't really be tearing open your walls to inspect the pipes. How, then, do you know when to call a plumber? Let's take a look at some easy-to-recognize signs that you need to call a professional plumber...


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What Is the Sacrificial Anode Rod?

February 16, 2015

A water heater has a few vital components that make it possible for water to heat up and flow into the faucets and sinks in your home. The dip tube is a long pipe through which cold water enters at the top of the tank and flows all the way to the bottom. The burner at the bottom of the tank heats up the water, using natural gas and an ignition source for heating. Or, if you have an electric water heater, the electronic heating elements at the bottom and upper-middle portions of the tank heat up the water, which then naturally rises to the top of the tank. Finally, a small tube at the top allows the water to flow into the faucet...


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Lupercalia: The Origin of St. Valentine's Day

February 14, 2015

Many people may think of Valentine's Day as a holiday essentially created by card and gift companies, but the truth is that the holiday has long-standing roots going back to the Roman Empire. The name "Lupercalia" has its origins in the word "lupus", which means wolf, and the reason for this is that according to Roman pagan religion, the she-wolf Lupa nursed the two orphaned infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome...


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3 Signs You Have a Plumbing Leak

February 05, 2015

Plumbing leaks are a bit more difficult to identify than most other plumbing issues, mainly because they take place in pipes that are often completely hidden from view. Just because you can't see a plumbing leak, however, that doesn't mean that you have no way of detecting it. Leaks are a very serious issue, and can cause quite a bit of damage depending on their location and severity. The more you know about how to detect plumbing leaks, the better chance you have of mitigating their effects as much as possible. Let's examine 3 of the ways you can tell that you have a plumbing leak...


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Does Rust on a Furnace Mean It's Time for Repair?

January 30, 2015

Rusting is a term that describes the effect of a chemical process in which water, oxygen, and iron or an iron alloy like steel react to form iron oxide. If your furnace begins to rust over time, it's never a good sign. Unfortunately, it's sometimes cause to replace the entire furnace. But at other times, rust is to be expected over time, and replacing a single component may just solve the problem. Read about when a rusty heating component must be replaced and why it's sometimes best to say goodbye to the entire unit in today's guide...


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Ways to Maintain Your Garbage Disposal in El Dorado Hills

January 23, 2015

While a trained professional should always handle any kind of repair to your garbage disposal, there are steps you can take on your own to help maintain it. These steps are fairly simple and don't require any kind of mechanical work - just consistency and some common sense. If you do have a problem with your garbage disposal in El Dorado Hills, call the experts at Bronco Plumbing Heating and Air for repair...


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How Does a Whole-Home Humidifier Work?

January 14, 2015

Nobody likes high humidity, especially in their own homes. If humidity is high enough, you start to feel clammy and sweaty. It's harder for you to stay cool, and it can even make it hard for you to breathe. Dehumidifiers solve this problem by removing moisture from the air to make the home more comfortable. What about a lack of humidity, though...


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Is Rust on a Furnace a Problem?

January 05, 2015

When there is a problem with the furnace, most homeowners will take any steps necessary to prevent replacing it. Often, you don't need to replace the entire heating unit for a small repair, as only that single part will need repair or replacement from a heating technician. You want to hold onto your older unit as long as possible and a technician can sometimes help you to do just that. But unfortunately, when it comes to rust, there may be too much at stake to hold onto the furnace for too long...


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When New Year's Day Was Not on January 1st

January 01, 2015

Some holidays fall on shifting calendar days for every year, such as Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November) and Easter (the first Sunday after the first full moon to occur on or after March 21). Other holidays, such as Valentine's Day and Halloween, are fixed. No holiday has a more solid calendar date attached to it than New Year's Day. It has to fall on January 1st because it celebrates the first day of a new year. That only makes sense...


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Why Do We Hang Up Mistletoe?

December 25, 2014

Of course, you probably know part of the answer to this question already. You hang up mistletoe so that the people standing underneath can share a romantic holiday kiss! But what you may not realize is that the origin of this longstanding ritual predates many of the other holiday traditions we celebrate today. Why would a plant that has many poisonous varieties (most types sold for use in the home have few negative effects, but you can wrap it in netting to prevent children from consuming any fallen berries or leaves) be used as a symbol of holiday affection...


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How to Know if the Capacitor in Your Furnace Is Damaged

December 19, 2014

A lot of articles you'll find on the topic of home heating talk about the actual heating parts of a furnace. The pilot light, the burners, the heat exchanger, etc. all get a pretty good amount of attention from both experts and homeowners. What isn't often discussed, however, is that your furnace relies on electricity whether it is combustion-based or not. Without an electrical current, your furnace's air handler would be unable to circulate air through your house and the whole machine would be pointless. With that in mind, let's take a look at how one of the most important electrical parts in your furnace works. Then, we'll discuss how you can identify issues with it...


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What to Look for in a Heating Services Company

December 12, 2014

When it's the middle of winter, your heating system isn't working, and your skin is turning blue from the cold, it can be tempting to just pick up the phone book and call the first HVAC company you find. That is rarely in your best interests, however. It always pays to do a little research on heating research companies before you hire one, and to have a set of expectations in mind that you want them to meet. Let's examine some of the most important things to look for in a heating services company...


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5 Reasons to Call Your Local Plumber

December 05, 2014

Your home's plumbing system is one of the great amenities of the modern home. Talk to any old-timer and you'll realize that life wasn't always so easy. But despite the fact that today's plumbing has never been more reliable, it's nevertheless susceptible to problems just like any other part of the home. When professionally installed and maintained, such issues can be largely avoided, but you can't prevent everything...


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Will Thanksgiving Turkey Really Make You Sleepy?

November 26, 2014

We've all heard it before: you feel so sleepy after a Thanksgiving meal because of the main event: the turkey. For years, people have credited extraordinary levels of tryptophan in turkey as the reason we all feel the need to nap after the annual feast. But contrary to this popular mythology, tryptophan is probably not he largest responsible party for your post-meal exhaustion...


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3 Signs that You Need an Air Purifier

November 21, 2014

Indoor air quality is a paramount consideration for every home, no matter what its layout, size or location. It's not without good reason that the Environmental Protection Agency lists poor indoor air quality as one of the major problems affecting our homes in this country. But opening up the windows and doors is hardly a satisfactory option for most homeowners, as it drastically raises the cost of heating and cooling the home to make our domestic lives comfortable and convenient. Fortunately, a whole house air purifier may be just what you need if your home suffers from an influx of airborne contaminants and pollutants that continue to circulate (and recirculate) throughout your ductwork and living space...


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Reasons to Consider Installing a Humidifier

November 14, 2014

While temperature truly is the key to ensuring that our indoor climates are comfortable, it's hardly the only factor to consider. Equally important is the level of humidity in the home. This is the level of moisture in the air that can have a significant impact on the comfort throughout your living space. Simply put, if your humidity is not optimized, then your air can seem stuffy or smelly, and it can lead to increased perspiration or dry skin. While high humidity levels are not too difficult to detect for most people, low humidity is also a problem that requires attention...


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Why You Should Consider a Tankless Water Heater

November 07, 2014

For the majority of homeowners in America, the thought of a water heater conjures up an image of a large, cylindrical tank that heats and stores an ample amount of hot water for use throughout the home. But your new water heater options are no longer restricted to this convention. The rise of the tankless water heater in the residential market allows you to take a different route when it comes to heating your water, one that is potentially much more energy efficient, and one that supplies a virtually endless stream of hot water to the various appliances in your home...


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How to Tell if Your AC is Broken

October 31, 2014

If you're like most folks in our area, you use your air conditioner throughout the long summer months in order to keep your family cool and comfortable. But with all that use necessarily comes a bit of wear and tear, and this can eventually lead to certain issues with the operational effectiveness and energy efficiency of your system, not to mention breakdowns. But breakdowns are not hard to spot--if your AC stops working, then you know who to call. However, some air conditioning repair needs are a bit more subtle, but they need to be diagnosed and repaired just like any other problem...


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How Air Conditioning Works: A User's Guide

October 22, 2014

For many of us, our domestic comfort during the summer comes by way of a large, complex central air unit, heat pump or ductless mini split, which afford us unprecedented control over the temperature inside our homes, no matter how hot and humid it is outside. But despite the fact that you know your way around a thermostat, you may find the concept of air conditioning to be a bit obscure, mysterious or otherwise unknown. Where does that cool air come from? Does it work just like a refrigerator? What do the various components do...


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