Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality in Arlington, VA

July 22nd, 2017

Forced-air air conditioning systems like heat pumps and central AC systems are some of the most popular cooling systems in the country. They use a series of ducts through which they push the cooled air into the rest of your home. Since the air in your home is cycled through this system again and again, your HVAC system can have a big impact on your home’s air quality.  Read below to see how you can improve your air quality with your HVAC system.

  • Air filters and purifiers – One of the best ways for homeowners to improve air quality is with an air filter or air purifier. These types of products usually sit in the ducts or in the air handler where they can trap or remove contaminants from the air. Air filters usually use a dense material like fiberglass to remove particulates while purifiers use electrostatic energy.
  • Humidity control – Here in Virginia, our summers can get humid and the winters can get very dry. These fluctuations can cause big issues for your home’s air quality. Air that is too humid can allow insect populations and mold levels to increase while dry air can increase dust levels and cause dry throats and nasal passages. That’s why we offer humidifier and dehumidifier installation and repair services. These products can keep humidity levels in your home under control and increase air quality. They are also usually installed in your ductwork or air handler.
  • UV germicidal lights – Many medical facilities use ultra violet light to sanitize their equipment. This is because UV light is incredibly damaging to microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. When used in your home, UV lights are installed after any air filters or humidity control systems so that any large particles like dust or dander don’t get in the way. The UV lights destroy the bacteria or virus’ ability to reproduce which renders them essentially harmless.

If you need Arlington, VA air conditioning and indoor air quality services, call the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

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3 Benefits of Ductless Cooling Systems

July 21st, 2017

Here in Arlington, you can’t go without an air conditioning system for very long. But if your home or new room addition does not have any ducts installed, you may rely on window air conditioners or room air conditioners to provide cool air. However, these systems are noisy, inefficient, and can be obtrusive as placement options are limited.

The solution to this problem? Ductless cooling! Ductless air conditioning systems are growing in popularity since ductwork installation in certain homes can be difficult, and because these systems are far more efficient and have more features than window air conditioners and even many central AC systems. We’ve detailed three benefits of ductless cooling systems below.

100% Ductless Cooling System

Ductless air conditioners use no ducts at all to cool your home. Instead, multiple indoor air handlers are installed in various areas of your home. This is advantageous for a couple of reasons. First, ductwork installation can be a huge hassle if you have an older home or if you are adding a room. Second, a lot of energy is lost in the ducts of a central air conditioning system. Ducts are prone to leaks that homeowners often cannot detect on their own, so they spend more money every month than is necessary cooling unused areas of the home.

Energy Efficiency of Ductless Cooling

Ductless air conditioners are typically very efficient. The SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), printed on the EnergyGuide label of any AC system, can help you to determine how much money you’ll save every month, and ductless systems typically have very high SEERs. Furthermore, the lack of ductwork and addition of zone control can also help you save money on your energy bills.

Zone Control of Ductless Cooling System

Multiple indoor air handlers allow for zone control, which means you can control the temperature in different areas of your home independently of the other rooms. Your family members often have different temperature preferences, so zone control can help ensure everyone’s needs are met. It can also save you money; for example, if nobody occupies the upstairs rooms in the afternoon, you can switch off the AC upstairs to save energy.

When you decide to install a ductless cooling system in Arlington, call the team at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. at 571-322-6209 to talk to a professional today!

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Steps to Clean the Air Filter in Your Air Conditioning System

July 20th, 2017

Every spring, you need to arrange for an HVAC professional to come to your home and provide a thorough inspection and tune-up for your air conditioning system. This routine maintenance will help keep your AC in top shape for the summer, working energy-efficiently and with as few repair issues as possible.

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Why Should I Replace My Thermostat?

July 18th, 2017

It’s easy to put your home’s thermostat out of your mind. It sits unobtrusively on the wall, and you only need to manipulate it to adjust your comfort. The air conditioner and the heater seem to be working, so the thermostat must be just fine. Why would you want to replace it?

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Alexandria, VA Air Conditioning FAQ: What is That Grinding Sound?

July 16th, 2017

You never like hearing it, no matter what the situation: that grating, grinding noise of machinery parts scraping against each other. This is especially true with your air conditioning: an absolute necessity during the summer in Alexandria, VA regardless of whether you’re cooling a home or a business. Whatever the cause of it, that grinding sound likely means a visit from a qualified professional to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

Grinding sounds arise when two or more moving parts come together in ways they aren’t supposed to. With air conditioning, that probably means the fan, which may have bent or broken components striking another metal section of the unit. The fan belt, too, can cause a grinding sound when loose or broken parts start rubbing up against it. In fact, any loose screws or fittings might make a grinding noise when they come into contact with other moving parts. In some situations, the piston in the compressor may fail and need replacement.

Any number of issues can cause this sort of damage, from twigs and stones lodging in the fan array to general wear and tear that may lead to a breakdown. The good news is that it announces itself fairly clearly. You’ll never mistake that grinding noise for an air conditioning unit working like it should. That usually signals a complex problem, however, which means you need a qualified technician to give it a look, rather than attempting repairs yourself. Experienced air conditioning repair technicians can likely spot the source of the trouble very quickly, and diagnose a repair plan before the noise begins to interfere with your AC’s performance.

Alexandria, VA residents can look to OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. to get that grinding noise checked out. We make service calls throughout Northern Virginia and are fully equipped to solve any problem quickly and efficiently before it gets out of hand. Our technicians are familiar with a wide variety of equipment and we’re dedicated to 100% customer satisfaction. Give us a call today to talk to one of our Alexandria, VA air conditioning technicians; we’ll make that grinding sound a thing of the past and make your AC operate at peak efficiency again.

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Why Is My Air Conditioning System Leaking Refrigerant?

July 13th, 2017

One of the problems that HVAC technicians often deal with during the summer is sealing refrigerant leaks in an air conditioner and then replacing the refrigerant that was lost. It’s a common misconception that an air conditioner consumes its supply of refrigerant as it runs and will eventually need to have more put in. The truth is that the refrigerant level in an AC (called its charge) will remains the same throughout the air conditioner’s service life… unless it develops leaks.

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Should I Replace My Old Tank Water Heater with a Hybrid?

July 11th, 2017

You’ve had your current water heater for many years—more than 15—and you’ve recently noticed that it’s starting to fall behind at doing its job. Maybe your heating bills are going up, or the amount of water available for morning showers has decreased, or you’ve spotted corrosion developing along the tank. Whatever the reason, you’ve made the choice to retire the old water heater and have a new one put in.

Should you install a tank water heater to replace it? Or should you go with a different type, like a hybrid water heater?

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3 Noises That Can Indicate a Need for Air Conditioning Repair

July 11th, 2017

Summer can be full of great sounds: birds chirping, kids running around and water spraying from hoses and sprinklers. Unfortunately, there can also be not-so-great sounds, like a clunk, hiss, or bump from your air conditioner. Many times, your air conditioner can still appear to run ok even though noises may occur. But as we’ve seen many times at Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc., those noises can indicate a developing problem, and they usually don’t go away on their own. So, when it comes to noises and your AC repair in Springfield, always call your trusted Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. technician.

What Noises Coming From Your Air Conditioner Can Mean

Your air conditioner will make a number of noises; some will be operational, others can indicate a problem. Here are some of the more common sounds that may indicate a potential problem with your system:

  • Hissing – a hissing sound usually indicates that air is escaping from somewhere in your system; the trick is finding out where. Refrigerant leaks can create a hissing sound, which may also be accompanied by a bubbling sound if the refrigerant is bubbling out from the leak. Leaking valves, can also create a hissing sound. Your air conditioner is a closed system, so a sign of leaks anywhere is something that will require inspection and possible repair.
  • Banging/clunking – when pieces of components come loose in your system, such as fan blades or a loose motor mount, they can bang and clunk around your air conditioner while it operates. Loose or broken components should be repaired as soon as possible to help prevent damage to other parts of your air conditioner.
  • Screaming – a screaming or screeching noise can indicate a serious problem with your compressor. Your compressor operates under a great deal of pressure; a screaming sound can mean that the pressure inside the compressor has gotten too high. A compressor with too much pressure is a dangerous one. If you hear a screaming sounds coming from your air conditioner, turn the system off immediately and contact your air conditioning specialist.

Don’t Ignore That Sound Coming From Your Air Conditioner

Preemptive repair to your air conditioner may seem like an inconvenience, but it will be a much bigger inconvenience if that sound becomes a serious problem.

Don’t hesitate when you hear something “off” with your AC – call Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc., at 571-322-6209 today for all of your air conditioning repair needs in Alexandria.

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Alexandria, VA Air Conditioning Installation FAQ: Should I Go Ductless?

July 9th, 2017

Is it time of you to replace your air conditioning system? Are you finishing building a new home and you need an AC system for it? If so, you may be thinking about the air conditioning options that are available to you. A great option for many homeowners is a ductless mini split air conditioning system. We wanted to use this blog post to let our customers know exactly what ductless AC systems are and when they’re a good idea. Give us a call here at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. if you have any questions or if you need professional Alexandria, VA air conditioning installation services.

Most homeowners are used to the idea of an air conditioning system using a series of ducts to circulate cool air throughout your home. But there are ductless systems that offer some pretty attractive benefits over traditional forced-air systems.

Ductless mini split air conditioning and heating systems use wall-mounted units in each room or zone of the house. Each unit circulates the air in its particular area and either cools or heats it. All the units are connected to one or two central outdoor units similar to the outdoor condensing unit that is used with traditional central AC system. The installation process is actually very simple. The outdoor unit is installed away from the home. A small hole needs to be drilled in your walls to run refrigerant tubes and electrical wires to connect the indoor units and the outdoor unit; then the indoor units just need to be mounted on the wall in an appropriate place.

Benefits of Ductless Air Conditioning

Ductless mini split air conditioning system offer some unique benefits. First, they allow homeowners to control the temperature of different areas of their house independently of each other. This could reduce energy usage because you’ll only need to cool or heat the rooms that you’re using. Second, ductless mini split AC systems don’t have the energy loss that is associated with ducts. And since they don’t use ducts, they can also help keep the air in your home clean and avoid dust build-up.

The best way to tell if a ductless mini split air conditioning system is right for you is to work with a professional Alexandria, VA air conditioning installation technician. Call OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today.

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How Are UV Lights Helpful for Indoor Air Quality?

July 6th, 2017

The air inside your house is filled with many small particles—and quite a few of them are probably not good for you. Fortunately, there are air purifiers and filters that can remove harmful pollutants from circulating through your HVAC system and subsequently from the air in your living spaces. If you hire an experienced professional to handle the installation, you should end up with the purification and/or filtration system that will target the specific contaminants that are problems for your home.

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