Air Conditioning Articles

Purchasing the Right Air Conditioner

August 15, 2023
Purchasing the Right Air Conditioner. Photo of an air conditioner unit on the side of a brown building.

You decided to part ways with your old air conditioning (AC) system. It is not always an easy decision to make.

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SEER––What Does It Mean?

July 17, 2023
SEER––What Does It Mean? Circle knob with

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This universal rating system helps you determine the efficiency of your Washington air conditioning (AC) unit or heat pump. 

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AC and Allergies

April 14, 2023
High angle shot of a young businessman feeling ill at his work desk.|Home air conditioner and heating air filter intake vent on wall that leads to the handler. What You Should Know About Air Handlers.

Looking for additional methods to stop allergens from inhabiting your home? West Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical has a team of home comfort experts ready to find the perfect solution for your lifestyle.

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How Environmental Issues Can Affect Your Air Conditioner

July 14, 2022
A dad and daughter cleaning a room together

The experts at West Mechanical wants to help increase your awareness of some of these environmental factors that affect your air conditioner.

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What Is the Difference Between Single-Stage and Variable-Speed ACs?

June 15, 2022
Blog Title: What Is the Difference Between Single-Stage and Variable-Speed ACs? Photo: AC Fan

At West Mechanical, our professionals want to help with all your HVAC needs. Keeping your air conditioner operating at peak efficiency helps control the energy expenses in your Washington home, maintain your IAQ, & reduce your carbon footprint.

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3 Health Benefits for Using Your AC While Sleeping

May 13, 2022
Blog Title: 3 Health Benefits for Using Your AC While Sleeping Photo: person getting a good night sleep

At West Mechanical, we understand that depending on your air conditioner to run efficiently is crucial to helping you get the good night’s sleep you deserve.

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How Does Your Central Air Conditioner Cool Your Home?

June 14, 2021
Air heat pump and house

Aside from the professionals, like ours at West Mechanical, who really thinks about air conditioners and their components? Air conditioners keep your Friday Harbor, WA, home or business cool and comfy when the outside temperatures are high, and that’s all you really need to know, right?

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Is It Normal for My AC to Turn On and Off?

April 16, 2021
thermostat adjustment

When an air conditioner (AC) turns on and off in rather quick successions, without running for longer periods, this is called short cycling. It’s fairly common, but when this happens it means there’s something wrong with your air conditioner. So what should you do?

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Heat Gain Prevention Tips

July 16, 2020
person caulking the base of a sliding glass door | Heat Gain Prevention Tips | Keep Your Home Cooler | Bellingham

When you are in the middle of summer, it can be difficult to keep heat out of your Bellingham home even if you have your central air conditioning system going full blast. Our team at West Mechanical wants to help you prevent heat from building up inside your home as much as possible so that…

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Video – Summer AC Checkup

June 30, 2020
hot summer dog.

Make sure your system is running in tip top shape for summer. Get your maintenance and service done early so that your family can stay cool and comfortable all summer long.

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The Phaseout of Your AC’s R-22

November 1, 2019
puffy blue sky.

No doubt you’ve heard of Freon®, the refrigerant gas used in your air conditioner. But maybe you haven’t heard of or made the connection with its generic name––R-22 (refrigerant 22), or HCFC-22 (hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22). And maybe you also haven’t heard that by the year 2020, it’s being phased out of usage here in the United…

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Video – Energy Saving Tip 6

August 29, 2019
energy saving tip 6 open the windows at night

Cool your home by opening the windows at night and save on your energy bill. The outdoor breeze will keep your home feeling cool.

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3 Health Benefits for Using Your AC While Sleeping

August 14, 2019
woman waking up feeling refreshed after sleeping with her ac on

A major part of your health relies on getting a good night’s sleep. That’s why it’s not just important to run your air conditioner during the hot summer days. You also need to keep your home comfortably cool at night as well.

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4 Signs I Need a New AC Unit

July 2, 2019
woman trying to stay cool after not following the 4 signs that she needs a new ac

West Mechanical understands that air conditioning is crucial for comfort in your daily life here in Custer, WA. A well maintained AC unit, with yearly inspections and monthly filter changes, can last up to 10 or 15 years.

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Does My Air Conditioner Eliminate Mold?

June 13, 2019
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At West Mechanical, we’re often asked, “Do air conditioners kill off mold?” This is a common misconception. A properly maintained and functioning air conditioner (AC) can decrease the likelihood of mold growth. This is because it acts as a humidity balancer. But if mold forms, the air conditioner can’t prevent it from growing.

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Why is My Air Conditioner Making Noise?

May 20, 2019
Girl not able to sleep due to loud air conditioner making noise

It’s normal for your air conditioner to create some noise when running—that simply means it’s working. Although older units are typically louder than newer ones, all air conditioning noises are not the same.

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Four Things You Should Know About Your AC Unit

April 16, 2019
Air conditioner in back yard of home

Air conditioning isn’t exactly a stimulating topic to bring up at parties. It’s not something most people think about too excessively. But at West Mechanical, we’re obsessed with it! We want to share with you some things that you may not have known about your air conditioner (AC).

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Get Your Spring AC Maintenance Inspection

March 22, 2019
Technician Explaining AC Maintenance To Customer

An air conditioner, just like a car, needs regular maintenance and service to run efficiently. At West Mechanical, we recommend getting your air conditioning unit serviced and cleaned once a year. The optimum time is in the spring to ensure your unit will run with the most efficiency during the hottest summer months.

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Why is My AC Quickly Turning On and Off?

July 25, 2018

When an air conditioner (AC) starts and stops in quick cycles, and doesn’t run for long periods, this is known as short cycling. While this is a relatively common issue, it should not go unchecked. It is indicative of something being wrong with your air conditioner. If you don’t do anything about it, you’ll end…

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Do Air Conditioners Get Rid of Mold?

July 24, 2018

At West Mechanical, we’re often asked, “Do air conditioners kill off mold?” This is a common misconception. A properly maintained and functioning air conditioner (AC) can decrease the likelihood of mold growth. This is because it acts as a humidity balancer. But if mold forms, the air conditioner can’t prevent it from growing. This is…

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Does an Air Conditioner Help With Allergies?

May 31, 2018

Air conditioners can help filter your home’s air and control humidity, and both of these things are important in the allergy world. It’s estimated there are now 50 million seasonal allergy sufferers in America. Properly maintaining your HVAC system is the difference between your air conditioner helping with those allergies and it aggravating them. West…

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What Does SEER Mean?

April 30, 2018

When it comes to your air conditioner (A/C), a common term used in the HVAC business that you’re likely to see everywhere is your air conditioner’s SEER. But what exactly is SEER? SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s a rating system of the air conditioner’s cooling capacity to power input, i.e., it’s the…

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Air Conditioner Components and How They Work

July 26, 2017

Aside from the professionals, like ours at West Mechanical, who really thinks about air conditioners and their components? Air conditioners keep your Washington home or business cool and comfy when the outside temperatures are high, and that’s all you really need to know, right? Well, air conditioners do so much more than just cool, like…

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Does My Air Conditioner Help With My Allergies?

July 20, 2017

Air conditioners can help filter your home’s air and control humidity, and both of these things are important in the allergy world. It’s estimated there are now 50 million seasonal allergy sufferers in America. Properly maintaining your HVAC system is the difference between your air conditioner helping with those allergies and it aggravating them. West…

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Is It Normal for My Air Conditioner to Turn On and Off?

June 29, 2017

When an air conditioner (AC) turns on and off in rather quick successions, without running for longer periods, this is called short cycling. It’s fairly common, but when it happens it means there’s something wrong with the AC. Do not leave these occurrences alone. They will increase your energy costs, usually indicate a larger problem,…

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How to Save Money On Your Energy Bill This Summer in Washington

June 11, 2017

With the dog days of summer just around the corner, you may be running your AC more and more. We want to go over some of the ways that you can save money and energy with your Washington HVAC system this season. Seasonal Service and Maintenance There is simple maintenance you can do at home,…

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The Benefits of Ductless Air Conditioning

May 24, 2017

Ductless air conditioning systems can be the perfect answer for that room that’s never quite cool enough, or for that new addition you’re building. The ductless system works, obviously, with no ducts, as a traditional AC unit uses to carry air to vents. Instead, this system has an outdoor compressor unit located against the building.…

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What Size Air Conditioner Should I Have for My Home or Office?

May 9, 2017

Having the right sized air conditioner is a key component in cooling your space effectively. A unit that is too small has to run constantly, playing catch up all day trying to fill a space that it isn’t designed for. A unit that is too big will turn on, cool the space quickly, and then…

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Why Is My Air Conditioner Making So Much Noise?

April 25, 2017

Your air conditioning unit will always make some noise when running, and older units are louder than newer ones, so consider the age of your unit before getting too concerned about the noise that it is making. At West Mechanical, we recommend a maintenance inspection at least once a year to inspect the health of…

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AC Money-Saving Tips for Spring

April 24, 2017

With the dog days of summer just around the corner, you may be running your AC more and more. Here at West Mechanical, want to go over some of the ways that you can save money and energy with your HVAC system this season. Seasonal Service and Maintenance There is simple maintenance you can do…

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The Importance of Regular Air Conditioning Maintenance

March 28, 2017

As we move into spring in Washington, regular annual maintenance on your AC will go a long way in preventing that situation from happening. Just as your car requires regular maintenance to keep running smoothly and efficiently, so does your AC. Keeping current on its upkeep helps to ensure its efficiency, dependability, and longevity. The…

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Why is my Air Conditioner Blowing Hot Air?

August 25, 2016

Summer is starting to wind down in Washington, and if you are like us that means your AC has been running pretty regularly for a month or more. What happens after a day at the pool and back home you turn on your air conditioning unit and suddenly it blows hot air? There are many…

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HVAC Glossary

August 9, 2016

Part of our job here at West Mechanical is to make sure you are educated and can make the right decisions! Here are the definitions to some of the most commonly used terms and phrases in the HVAC world. Air Handler The indoor component of your air conditioner or heating system that moves air through…

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Why Is My Air Conditioner Freezing Up?

July 21, 2016

One of the more frustrating things that can happen is your air conditioning freezing up. This is when a layer of ice forms on the outside of your AC unit. Whether you have a window unit or a central air system the causes and effects of this, as well as the solutions, are the same.…

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5 Mistakes People Make When Purchasing AC

July 8, 2016

West Mechanical is always here to assist you in the purchase of a new HVAC system, don’t hesitate to call us with any questions you have and avoid these 5 mistakes when purchasing new AC. The wrong-sized unit. It is easy to buy a unit too large or too small for your space. A larger…

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Use Smart Technology to Save Money

May 27, 2016

At West Mechanical we are featuring the XV20i and the XV18 quiet air conditioners and the TAM8/Hyperion XL communicating air handler. The Trane XV20i is one of the industry’s most efficient variable speed air conditioners. The XV20i an d the XV18 both use Trane TruComfort, a system that delivers precise comfort. It adjusts the speed…

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The Importance of AC Maintenance

May 12, 2016

An air conditioner, just like a car, needs regular maintenance and service for it to run efficiently. We recommend getting your AC unit serviced and cleaned once a year. You should do this in the spring, to ensure that your unit will run with the most efficiency during the hottest summer months. Why is this…

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All About Your Air Conditioner

April 30, 2016

An air conditioner is a standard appliance in home comfort. The Energy Information Administrations reports that 87% of homes have and AC unit and it accounts for almost 20% of yearly electricity consumption in the US. At West Mechanical we believe the knowledge is power, the more you know about the appliances you are using…

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Air Conditioner Installation

May 5, 2015

Just wanted to pass along that I am impressed with your work. Nice job. The first time I realized one of the fans was running was when I saw the leaves in one of the fruit trees moving. I couldn’t hear it. -Bill

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