If you’ve had the same furnace in your home for many years, you’re probably accustomed to it having a pilot light. If you have newer furnace, or you’re planning on having one installed in the near future, it probably doesn’t use a pilot light at all. Instead, an electronic ignition system ignites the burners. In fact, you rarely see standing pilot lights on newly manufactured furnaces anymore. Why did this change happen? Let’s take a look.
Electronic Ignition in a Furnace: Why It’s Better Than a Pilot Light
November 15th, 2017How to Prepare Your HVAC System for the Winter Months
October 30th, 2017
Although the official start of winter doesn’t arrive until the third week in December, the cooling in the Central Valley often sets in earlier. Right now, we are still experiencing warm days, but the nights are developing a chill. Once Daylight Savings time ends in November, we can anticipate a faster change in the temperatures to the colder side. Right now is the time to see that your HVAC system is prepared for the change in seasons. Here’s what you can do to help prepare it.
Selecting the Correct Heating System Type
October 13th, 2017
Are you looking into having a new heating system installed this fall? It’s a great season to schedule this kind of major HVAC job: you’ll be ready in time for the winter cold, and it’s easy to have it arranged with our installers at a convenient time.
Picking the right new heater can be a bit tricky, however. Let’s take a look at some of the choices we’ll help you make when shopping for a heating installation or replacement.
Ways Your Local HVAC Contractor Can Help You in the Fall
September 25th, 2017
Temperatures are still warm and sometimes hot here in the Central Valley as we enter into the official beginning of fall. You’ll need to keep a close watch on your AC during this time to catch repair issues, but this is also a period to begin preparing for the colder days of later fall—and the winter after it. We’re here to help you with whatever you need for HVAC in Fresno, CA. In fact, we have a couple ideas for how we can be of service to you this season.
Never Leave Air Conditioning Repairs Alone When Fall Starts
September 20th, 2017
September is often one of the hottest months of the year in the Central Valley. We won’t expect relief to arrive until October, when fall has officially started and has had some time to settle in and begin cooling us down.
However, even with the scorching heat around this time of year, people can grow complacent about dealing with their air conditioning systems—particularly if the ACs start to show signs they have something wrong with them. People are already thinking ahead to fall weather, making it too easy to shrug off air conditioning problems as something they can “get to later,” such as during the next spring.
Please don’t let this attitude lead you to leave your AC in questionable condition as the summer ends! For the short-term and long-term good of your residential cooling system, schedule any service for your air conditioning in Fresno, CA as soon as you can. Don’t leave your AC hanging at the end of the season.
Hot Dog Dinner at The Madera Fair 2017
September 1st, 2017Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning along with Randy and Sheryl Berry are hosting the Annual Hot Dog dinner on Tuesday, September 5th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Madera Fair. We will be hosting dinner for all the 4H and FFA Exhibitors and their families for the Madera District Fair. The 4H and FFA kids arrive a few days before the Fair to prepare their livestock animal for show and sale. This is an annual tradition in Madera that everyone at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning looks forward to attending. We cook over 400 hotdog dinners complete with drinks, chips and all the fixings’. It is a great way for us to get out in the community and support our local hardworking kids and the agricultural community!
What to Do if Your Air Conditioning System Is Leaking Refrigerant
August 28th, 2017
Refrigerant loss is one of the major problems an air conditioning system may encounter during its service life. And it’s not only a problem that occurs in aging, over-the-hill ACs. An air conditioning system that’s been in service for around 5 to 6 years can develop corrosion along its refrigerant lines because of exposure to formaldehyde in the air. It’s wise to always watch for indications that your AC, no matter how old it is, may be losing refrigerant to leaks:
- A decline in cooling capacity
- Hissing sounds from the cabinets
- Ice developing along the indoor evaporator coil
- Short-cycling (i.e. the compressor turns on and off repeatedly over a short time)
- Hard starting
- Liquid dripping from the indoor cabinet
These symptoms can point to other problems, but no matter the cause, they need professionals to look into them to see what air conditioning repairs will remedy the problem.
It is with a very heavy heart that we say goodbye to Michael Purl.
August 23rd, 2017
We will miss this great man!
It is with very heavy heart that say goodbye to Michael Purl. Michael was a very respected business man in the San Joaquin Valley and he was known as a man of great integrity. He was a true leader in every sense of the word, and his leadership, friendship and guidance affected us all.
He was proud of the employee’s at Purl’s Sheet Metal and saw the importance in continuous training to adhere to “better than industry standards”. Many of the employee’s on our team have been with Purl’s Sheet Metal over 10 or 20 years. He felt he was very fortunate to have been surrounded by great people over the years. He expressed that this has been a key factor in the growth of Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning. He had an amazing ability to choose the right people for the right job.
He always said “Madera has been good to Purl’s Sheet Metal.” That is absolutely true. Michael and Mickie Purl also showed us the importance of supporting our community and giving back. We learned why it is important to invest time in youth programs. The Purl’s were deeply rooted and involved in countless organizations.
He was very proud of the solid relationship he built with Carrier and very honored to provide Carrier equipment to our customers. In 2010 Michael received a very high honor and was inducted into the Carrier Dealer Hall of Fame. The coveted lifetime achievement award is given each year to only a select few. This was a very special honor and he was humbled by the award.
Michael also shared his love of antique fire engines with us. We have some of the greatest memories decorating and riding on the fire engines in the Madera Light Parade. Even a memory or two of a break down and quick repair to make it back to the shop! This event brought us together each year for some extra holiday cheer!
He led by example. He taught us that the little things can matter. He showed us how to stand back and see the whole picture. He taught us how to respect the American Flag. He expressed we should always be prepared. He wanted us to take pride in our work and our relationships with our customers.
He made time to stop and talk about the latest Giants game or a local little league team. Always a quick wit and smile! He was interested in the important events in our lives. He took the time to create lasting relationships and he made the business atmosphere feel more like a family.
He always did so much for others and wished to remain unnamed in his good deeds. He always said that he wanted to fly under the radar!
Mr. Purl, you may have flown under the radar with some, but for us, you you could never hide how great of a man you were. Words cannot express how much we will miss you!
Wednesday Closure
August 22nd, 2017We are writing with my deepest regrets to announce the recent passing of Michael Purl last Wednesday evening. As many of you have heard, Michael has had a hard fought battle with ALS. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his entire family. Michael was respected and loved by all. He was a man of high moral character, which was built on honesty, respect and solid core values. He worked very hard and always had time to develop personal relationships and connections with each of us. That is the heart of what has made Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning feel like a family and not just a business. His teachings and influence will have a lasting effect on all of us and he will be missed by everyone!
Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning will be closed on Wednesday 8-23-17 in observance of funeral service for Michael Purl. With heavy hearts our Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Family will be attending services and will return to work on Thursday 8-24. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
The Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Family
Are You Paying to Cool Your Attic, Not Your Home?
August 14th, 2017
The question in the title may at first sound a bit strange. Why would you cool your attic at all? You almost never go up there, and there’s no reason to provide cooling (or heating) for it during the year.
But the truth may surprise you—because many homeowners are accidentally paying money during the summer to send conditioned air up into their attics. They don’t mean to do it; it’s the result of a problem that’s alarmingly common in modern homes, which is ductwork suffering from air leaks. The ductwork passing through an attic (one of the easiest places to install ducts so they don’t take up space elsewhere in a house) often loses the conditioned air in it through gaps and holes. That means cooling power goes into the attic, where it’s no good to anybody in the rest of the house.
So it’s possible that right now during our hot later summer here in the Central Valley that you’re paying to cool down air that’s going right into the attic rather than to the living spaces. The people in the household will receive some of the cooled air, but less than they should. (According to government studies, the loss of cooled air to duct leaks can be up to 30%.) The air conditioning system will run more often to make up for this loss, causing electrical bills to climb and placing a higher toll on the AC.