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Smart Homes

Top Smart Devices to Consider for a Connected Home

Smart homes used to exist only in movies, but today they are a reality. Just about anything can be connected, from cars to refrigerators and even lamps. Connecting your home has many benefits, including improved energy efficiency and convenience.  With smart reporting, a connected home can also give you a better idea of how your home is running on a day-to-day basis. If you are looking to add some smart home features to your life, here are four devices to consider. 1. Smart Thermostat Smart thermostats are becoming an increasingly popular upgrade for homeowners.  Connected thermostats, such as the Google Nest Thermostat, allow you to program your temperature from your smartphone or another connected device no matter where you are. That means you no longer have to worry about remembering to adjust the setting every time you leave home.  Other features are included with smart thermostats, such as motion sensing and even artificial intelligence that learns your daily habits. Smart thermostats can bring added convenience to your home, give you more control, and help you save energy. 2. Smart Video Doorbell Doorbells used to be primitive devices with only one function. Today, they are much more sophisticated and can give

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Is an AC Tune-Up Really Necessary? 4 Things to Think About

If your AC seems to be working fine, you don’t need to call an HVAC company for service, right? Well, it’s not exactly that simple. Just because your AC system seems to be working does not mean it is working well.  Modern AC systems are intended to keep running despite underlying problems like bad parts or misaligned components. While that means fewer breakdowns, it also means your system could be running a lot harder than it should to keep you cool.  Failing to invest in AC maintenance can mean that underlying issues aren’t being addressed and that your system may be experiencing premature wear and tear. Ultimately, a lack of maintenance can leave you with big problems down the road. Here are four reasons you should consider adding an AC tune-up to your yearly home maintenance schedule. 1. AC Tune-Ups Improve Energy Efficiency Many homeowners today are looking for ways to improve their home’s energy efficiency, from smart appliances to reflective shutters to solar panels. Another good way to improve energy efficiency is to ensure that your AC system is properly maintained. If you skip your regular AC tune-ups, over time parts can become worn or misaligned, meaning your unit

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Cost to replace HVAC system

How Much Does a New HVAC System in Los Angeles Actually Cost?

Replacing an HVAC is not the most affordable home improvement project. But the actual figure for an HVAC installation project seems somewhat of a mystery. Most HVAC contractors are hesitant to provide a number without visiting the home themselves. And searching the web isn’t helpful either – the numbers vary by thousands of dollars. How is any homeowner supposed to budget for a project without knowing the cost of a new HVAC system?  It’s not your imagination. There’s a reason you’re struggling to get a straight answer, and we’ll be explaining why in this blog.  Why You Can’t Get a Straight Answer Replacing your HVAC is not like replacing a refrigerator. Although both are appliances, a refrigerator is a direct replacement – just plug in the new equipment and haul away the old.   Heating and cooling systems have many more elements that contribute to installation cost. Depending on the type and size of equipment, difficulty of installation, and other considerations, you can expect an HVAC replacement to cost between $8,000 to $16,000. We know – that’s a wide range. We’re going to explain each of the factors that go into an HVAC installation quote so that you’ll feel confident discussing

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HVAC energy efficiency tips

Improve Home Energy Efficiency in 2022 With These HVAC New Year’s Resolutions

Each year, people all over San Fernando Valley make New Year’s resolutions to help them improve their lives over the course of the next year. But how about changing things up and creating some new year’s resolutions for your home? There are many things that MightyServ homeowners can do to save energy and cut heating and cooling costs this year. Why not create some HVAC New Year’s resolutions? Below, we’ll offer a few tips for saving more energy in 2022. Energy-Saving HVAC New Year’s Resolutions Let’s face it. Much like any other resolution you might make for the new year, saving energy takes some time and effort. However, cutting back on energy usage in the home can offer big payoffs in the long run by lowering your heating and cooling costs. Here are the top 3 HVAC New Year’s resolutions you should make this year to save more energy: Most homeowners know they need to routinely check and clean or change their air filters. However, not every homeowner is as vigilant about this as they should be. Clogged or dirty filters reduce airflow and can cause your air conditioner or heater to work harder than it should to keep your

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heat pump rebates

Homeowner’s Guide to Electrification Rebates and Switching to a Heat Pump

If you’re a homeowner in California, then you’ve likely heard about the recent push for electrification. Sounds good, but what does that mean for you? In this blog, we’re going to break down what you need to know about electrification, what changes that means for you, and how you can get a piece of the $120 million of funding for this program. Electrification Explained The concept of electrification means transitioning all of our energy sources to electricity. Most homes in California use at least two energy sources: electricity and natural gas. Why the push to get rid of natural gas? When we use gas in our homes, the combustion process creates carbon emissions. One of the most common uses for natural gas in Los Angeles homes is your central heating system – your furnace.  You might think that the gas you use in your home couldn’t possibly have a big impact on the environment. Well, we have news for you! A recent study showed that an all-electric home would produce 45% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a home with mixed fuel sources.  The State of California has aggressive goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The State has invested millions of

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furnace repair

HVAC Sounds: If You Hear This, Call Us Now!

The sounds of our home appliances have a funny way of fading into background noise. The churn of the dishwasher, the tumbling of the clothes dryer, and the white noise of an air conditioner can even be soothing! So, it makes sense for an unfamiliar noise to be startling and concerning. If you’re reading this blog, you’ve likely narrowed down the clangs, buzzing, or screeching to your heater or air conditioner.  Before we go any further, we need to be clear: any unfamiliar sounds from your heater or air conditioner are a sure sign that you need a repair. Heating and cooling equipment should operate quietly. So if your HVAC unit is sounding more like a… unique… instrument, it’s important to call a trained professional to investigate. Even if your unit is still cooling or heating your home, these funny sounds are an audible cue that there is a problem. And these seemingly insignificant problems don’t go away – they persist, and often develop into major problems. When you reach out to a professional for repair, it’s helpful to share whether the sound happens all the time while the unit is running or if it is sporadic. In this article,

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HVAC Replacement

What is the Right Size HVAC Unit for My Home?

One of the most common misconceptions that Los Angeles homeowners have about replacing their heating and cooling systems is a “bigger is better” mindset. It’s true that for many things in life, upgrading to a larger size can be beneficial. A bigger car means more space. A larger washing machine means fewer loads. And more storage on your smartphone means you can have more music and videos at your fingertips. Unfortunately, this rule doesn’t apply to home comfort systems. Bigger is not better for HVAC systems – it is essential to choose the size that’s just right for your home. Why Choosing the Right Size HVAC Is So Important A system that is too small has obvious downsides. An undersized unit might work fine during the shoulder seasons in spring and fall, but in extreme temperatures, it will not heat or cool your space to the desired temperature. That means you’ll be uncomfortable when you’re seeking relief the most! To make matters worse, an undersized unit will run continuously as it attempts to bring your home to the setpoint temperature. With higher runtimes, the unit will have more wear and tear than it should. When a system is undersized, it

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furnace replacement

Three Things to Do Before Replacing Your Furnace

Is your furnace giving you the chills? If your furnace is 10 years or older, it may be time to think about replacing your furnace. Just like any appliance, heating equipment degrades from the first day you use it. Annual heating maintenance can go a long way in keeping your system operating, but furnaces won’t run forever.   If you notice that your furnace is not performing as well as you may want it to, we strongly recommend doing research before your heater calls it quits. Investigating a furnace replacement ahead of time ensures that you are prepared for the colder season, without having to worry about putting the task off until it’s too late. Homeowners should always get multiple quotes and investigate rebates and financing options – that’s good practice. But you should also familiarize yourself with the product you’re thinking about purchasing. Often, directly replacing the same type and size of furnace with a newer model isn’t the best choice.  Have Your Heating Needs Changed? Furnaces come in different sizes, and it’s important to choose the right size for your home. Too small of a size, and your home won’t feel warm enough on the coldest days. Too large,

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home maintenance

2022 Home Maintenance Schedule: Keep Your Home in Tip Top Shape

Few of us get excited about household chores. Cleaning gutters, swapping filters, and vacuuming dark corners isn’t exactly how most of us envision spending our weekends. Still, your home is your biggest investment, so maintaining it is a must! With the new year approaching, it’s a great time to reflect on your home maintenance. It’s tough to remember all the things a Los Angeles homeowner needs to do on an annual, semi-annual, or quarterly basis. Follow our home maintenance schedule, and you’ll stay on top of things. Your home will thank you! Automate Your Home Maintenance Many homeowners feel shame or guilt for not keeping up with all the required maintenance. A helpful tip is to automate your maintenance. Many home service providers offer maintenance programs. Once you’re signed up, the home service company will plan your maintenance out for you.   Here at MightyServ, we offer a worry-free maintenance plan to help homeowners take HVAC maintenance off their to-do list. All of our membership plans include scheduling support – that means you don’t need to remember to call. We’ll call you! Why HVAC Maintenance is So Important We’re biased, but for good reason. HVAC maintenance is one of the most

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Fight the Flu with Indoor Air Quality

Fight the Flu With Your HVAC System

 Although we enjoy blissfully mild temperatures year-round here in Southern California, the colder months bring in sweaters, hot tea, and all the pumpkin spice. But there’s something else that Fall brings that’s not as lovely; and that’s flu season. Colds and viruses spread any time of year. But in the coldest months between December and February is when peak spread happens. The Best Way to Prevent Flu Of course, for the most effective way to prevent catching or spreading the flu virus, the CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine before flu season begins, usually by the end of October. However, getting the flu shot anytime will help protect you through the rest of the flu season.  Besides the vaccine, there are some preventive actions you can take to stop the spread of germs. The best things to do are to avoid close contact with people who are ill, wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.  Many viruses, including the common cold, the flu, and even COVID-19, are airborne. So, your HVAC system can also help to prevent spreading illness. Air Circulation is Your Friend! Here in Southern California,

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