Believe it or not, summer is right around the corner. Sunshine, blue skies, and warm weather are just weeks away! As exciting as that is, once it starts to warm up out there, you’ll want to make sure your air conditioning unit is ready to keep your home cool and comfortable. Take a few steps now to make sure your air conditioner is in tip top shape so that when those warm temperatures hit, you can simply flip the switch for cooler indoor air. Follow these 9 steps before turning on your air conditioner this year. 1. Inspect Air Vents and Ductwork Move items that are on or near air vents that could block the flow of air, such as furniture or drapes. Take a peek inside the grate to check for any items that have fallen through. Lift up the grate to remove items if needed.  Check exposed ductwork for wear and tear. A few common issues to look for are: Gaps between duct sectionsFallen duct sectionsDisconnected jointsTears in flexible duct sections Seal up any problem areas, and contact a professional to make the necessary repairs. Worn ducts can be a major source of cooling loss and system inefficiency, leading to less efficient cooling, higher energy bills, and future air conditioning repairs.  2. Change Air Filter Your HVAC air filter traps contaminants that your system removes from the air as it runs. Once your filter becomes too full, it can no longer trap these contaminants, and excess dust and debris settle within your HVAC system. This in turn contributes to malfunctions or even breakdowns. To prevent this and maintain good air flow throughout your system, your air filter should be changed every 2-3 months or so. You should change the filter more often if you have indoor pets or family members with asthma or allergies. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your air filter every month and changing it when it appears clogged.  3. Check Drain Line Your system should have a drain by the indoor cooling coil (often mounted above the furnace). The drain line can become clogged with dirt buildup as the system runs. If that happens, water could back up in the drain pan, potentially resulting in water damage to your home. You can flush the drain using bleach and water (one cup of bleach to one gallon of water), or have a professional clean it out for you. 4. Upgrade Your Thermostat If your thermostat is outdated, consider installing a new programmable or smart thermostat to save both energy and money. Replacing an old, inefficient thermostat with a new one can result in more even temperature regulation throughout your home. A new programmable or smart thermostat will be more efficient and better able to respond to changes in outdoor temperatures. 5. Inspect the Outdoor Condenser Unit Check the panels that encase your unit’s electrical connections, and call for repair if any are missing or misaligned. Harsh winter weather and storms with high winds can damage these panels or knock them loose. Running your air conditioner with missing or damaged panels can pose a major safety risk. 6. Clear Away Debris and Trim Landscaping Around Exterior Unit Leaves, twigs, grass clippings, or other debris can block the components of your outdoor A/C unit, resulting in reduced performance. Clean the area surrounding the unit, removing any blockages. Use a light spray of water to rinse away built-up dirt, pollen, and grime. Keeping your air conditioner and the area around it clean and free of obstacles will help promote good air flow and maximum cooling efficiency. 7. Check Insulation on Refrigerant Lines Your outdoor unit has coolant lines that run to...

We recently began offering an exciting new product here at Titan—a bipolar ionization system by Global Plasma Solutions (GPS). This system removes pathogens (including COVID-19) from the air using your existing HVAC system. It has become an important part of health protection protocols in thousands of offices, airports, hospitals, schools, and other community spaces worldwide, and now you can have this system installed in your home as well! How the GPS Bipolar Ionization System Works GPS uses a patented technology called needlepoint bipolar ionization (or NPBI™) to purify indoor air by reducing airborne particulates, odors, and pathogens. To accomplish this, NPBI™ creates and releases ions into the airstream using an existing HVAC system. These ions disperse throughout the home, forming bonds with particles in the air through a process called agglomeration. This process forms large clusters of particles that are more easily filtered out of the air by your HVAC system. In addition, the ions themselves have a microbicidal effect on pathogens, rendering them inactive. Even better, NPBI™ technology accomplishes this without producing ozone or other harmful byproducts, so it’s safe to use in your home. (Please note the disclaimers on GPS’s website stating that this technology is not intended to take the place of other precautions to prevent disease transmission, and that compliance with health authorities and CDC guidance is still important.) A New Way to Clean the Air in Your Home Since NPBI™ technology uses your existing HVAC system, it can be easily implemented in your home. Even beyond preventing the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, creating cleaner, safer indoor air will always be a part of maintaining a healthy home.  In the past, homeowners often relied on UV lights to address their indoor air quality concerns. And UV lights can certainly be effective against bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in the air. However, those systems require their bulbs to be replaced yearly, and those costs can add up. The GPS Bipolar Ionization System achieves the same effect as UV lights without parts that need to be cleaned or replaced. This means cleaner air with fewer ongoing costs for you. The Benefits of Using a GPS Bipolar Ionization System in Your Home  Having cleaner air to breathe is a significant benefit in and of itself, but NPBI™ technology can do even more. The GPS bipolar ionization system can: Trap bacteria and viruses, helping to prevent the spread of germs.Trap dust and dust mites.Trap pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens.Reduce odor-causing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These things are especially beneficial to those who suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems. In fact, if you are someone who suffers from one or more of these health issues, a bipolar ionization system could prove to be an indispensable part of maintaining your health. If you have pets or smokers living in your home, you likely understand how difficult it is to manage odors and keep your indoor air fresh. And even if you don’t, cooking, garbage, smoke from a fireplace, and more can quickly fill your home with unwanted odors that are difficult to remove. With a NPBI™ system, the struggle for fresh indoor air could be a thing of the past. Imagine having clean, fresh air throughout your home without the air fresheners, cleaners, and other products typically needed to remove smoke and odors! Titan Brings GPS Bipolar Ionization to You Here at Titan we have installed GPS’s NPBI™ technology in local schools and universities over the past several months, as they work to create safer indoor air for students during the pandemic.  We have installed many NPBI™ systems in homes throughout our service area, as homeowners are beginning to take advantage...

February is all about love, so it’s a great time to think about how you can show your HVAC system a little love! While your HVAC system won’t appreciate flowers or chocolates (save those for your loved ones), there are a few things you can do to give it the attention it deserves. If you take good care of your heating system, it will reciprocate by keeping you cozy all winter long. Change Your Air Filter The most important thing you can do for your heating system is to change the air filter regularly. A clean filter allows air to flow freely throughout your HVAC system. As your system runs, the filter collects debris, pollutants, and other particles from the air that flows through it. When the filter becomes too full of contaminants, it can cause your system to struggle, resulting in: Higher energy billsOverworked componentsUneven heating throughout your home Make sure to change out your filter at least every 60-90 days. During months when your system is running more often, or if you have pets or family members who suffer from allergies or asthma, you will want to replace it monthly. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your air filter every month. If it’s looking good, you can let it go another month. If not, it’s time to change it out. Check to Make Sure Vents Are Unobstructed Each month when you check your air filter, take a walk through your home to check your vents as well. Make sure vents aren’t blocked by furniture, clutter, or other obstructions. Blocked vents can cause uneven heating and other HVAC performance issues, resulting in higher energy bills and potentially costly repairs. Your HVAC system is made to move air, and when the vents are blocked it can’t do its job.  If you can access them, don’t forget to check vents that lead outside the home as well. As it runs, your heating system produces carbon monoxide(CO). CO is typically vented outside where it’s safe to release, but if the vents are blocked it can build up inside your home. Because CO can be toxic at high levels, it’s a good idea to both check your outside vents regularly and install CO detectors throughout your home. Schedule Regular Professional Maintenance Even with regular air filter changes, your HVAC system can get bogged down with dust, dirt, and grime. This can reduce your system’s efficiency and increase your energy bills. Having your air ducts cleaned regularly is the best way to keep that from happening. In addition, treating your HVAC system to regular tuneups will help keep it healthy and running efficiently. Routinely inspecting the various components of your system can help identify potential issues before they become big (and expensive) problems. Ideally, you should have a tuneup done on your heating and cooling systems twice a year.  Air duct cleanings and regular tuneups should both be handled by a professional. Show Your HVAC System a Little Love this Winter With a Maintenance Plan From Titan Here at Titan, we know that a well-maintained system can bring you lower energy bills, fewer serious repairs, and peace of mind. That’s why we recommend taking advantage of one of our HVAC maintenance plans. Our plans offer you priority service, meaning you’ll jump to the front of the line when your system needs service. You’ll also enjoy discounts on parts, labor, and installation. And with our Titan Plus HVAC maintenance plan, you’ll have scheduled maintenance each spring and fall on your heating and/or cooling system. Learn more about our maintenance plans here, and don’t hesitate to contact us at 651-714-8931 with any questions or to schedule...

While indoor air quality has always been important, up until recently it isn’t something many of us thought about on a regular basis. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the quality of the air in our homes and workplaces to the forefront of our minds as we work to make our indoor spaces as safe and healthy as possible. You may not realize this, but according to the EPA, the air inside a home or business can be 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside! Indoor air can be polluted with a variety of different things, including mold, bacteria, and viruses. But luckily there is something you can do about that: Installing an HVAC air purifier can significantly improve the quality of the air in your home or workplace. Let’s take a closer look at how an HVAC air purifier does this. HVAC Air Purifier vs Paper Filters—What’s the Difference? Ordinary paper filters found in most HVAC systems do a great job of removing dust from the air, but many of them stop there. Your indoor air can still be full of other tiny particles that can be harmful to your health. Air purification systems, on the other hand, do much more. In addition to removing dust from the air, HVAC air purifiers can also remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold, bacteria, and viruses (including COVID) that circulate throughout your space, leaving your air significantly cleaner than with a traditional paper filter. Benefits of an HVAC Air Purifier Having cleaner air to breathe is a benefit in and of itself, but there are several specific ways that an HVAC air purifier can benefit you: Trapping allergens such as pet dander and mold.Trapping dust mites and dust.Removing VOCs from the air.Neutralizing smoke and odors from cigarette smoke, your fireplace, cooking, garbage, and more.Trapping bacteria and viruses, helping to prevent the spread of germs. These things can benefit anyone, but if you suffer from allergies, asthma, chronic respiratory problems, or other breathing-related health issues, an air purifier could prove to be an indispensable part of maintaining your health. Who Should Consider an HVAC Air Purifier? An HVAC air purifier can benefit anyone who wants to create cleaner air in their home or workplace. But in some cases installing an air purifier is imperative to maintaining a healthy indoor environment.  For example, any business that uses VOCs, cleaning chemicals, or printers—including salons, print shops, dry cleaners, auto repair shops, and furniture refinishers—should consider an air purifier to keep the air free of toxins. And for those who regularly use a fireplace, those who live with a smoker, and those suffer from allergies or other respiratory troubles despite their best efforts to maintain a clean, dust-free home, an HVAC air purifier would be a worthy investment toward better respiratory health. Types of HVAC Air Filtration & Air Purifier Systems There are several types of HVAC air purifiers on the market, and they don’t all provide the same function. A few of the more common air purifiers are: HEPA filters can trap more than 99 percent of airborne particles that are .3 microns or larger. But HEPA filters don’t work for every system, so depending on your system this type of purifier may not be an option for you.Carbon-activated filters have absorbent pores that trap contaminants as they pass through, and work well to remove VOCs, smoke, and odors.HVAC ultraviolet light air purifiers are often used alongside HEPA filters, and use rays of ultraviolet light to kill tiny microorganisms like bacteria.Electrostatic air purifiers use static electricity to clean the air. Air flows through a network of static-prone fibers to create an electrostatic charge, which traps airborne particles.Ionizing air...

Christmas lights, holiday movies, hot cocoa, time with family around the fire...