Home comfort, plain and simple
Honest tips on heating, cooling, and plumbing from the folks who service thousands of Fresno Valley homes every year.
What Furnace Size Do I Need for My House?
Quick Answer: You need a furnace sized by a Manual J heat-load calculation. A pro gathers your home’s insulation levels, window types, air leakage, room uses, duct design, and climate data, then matches the result to a furnace with the right input BTUs, staging, and blower capacity so it heats evenl
How Often Should You Service a Furnace and What Does a Furnace Tune-Up Include?
Short answer: A furnace tune-up should be done once a year, ideally before the heating season. A professional tune-up cleans critical parts, checks safety controls and combustion, verifies airflow, calibrates the thermostat, and tests the system under load so it runs safely, efficiently, and reliabl
Are Heat Pump Water Heaters Worth It for a Typical Home?
Short answer: Yes. When a heat pump water heater (HPWH) is properly sized, placed in a room with adequate airflow, and commissioned with the right operating mode, it delivers the same hot-water comfort as a standard tank while using far less energy. The long-term value comes from lower energy use, s
Can a Ductless Mini-Split Cool and Heat an Entire House?
Short answer: Yes. When a ductless system is designed room-by-room and installed with clean refrigerant practices, a properly sized multi-zone mini-split can cool and heat an entire home. The essentials are accurate load calculations, thoughtful zone planning, correct indoor-unit placement, verified
How Often Should You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?
You should schedule professional air ducts cleaning every 3-5 years on average, but households with pets, people with allergies, recent construction dust, or chronic indoor odors benefit from cleaning closer to every two years. The goal is to keep debris, pollen, and dander from piling up until they
How Do You Find a Hidden Water Leak Inside Your Walls?
When paint begins to bubble, your water bill skyrockets for no reason, or you notice a faint musty odor, a hidden leak is usually the culprit. Because those drips are out of sight, most homeowners wonder the same thing: “How can I find a water leak behind my walls before it destroys the drywall?” Th
I fixed the leak in my house, so everything’s fine now, right?
Hey there! First off, great job on fixing that leak – seriously, that’s no small feat! But before you breathe a sigh of relief and move on, let’s talk about a few things that could still be lurking beneath the surface. Hidden Moisture: Water has this sneaky way of hiding in
How Often Should AC Filters be Changed?
Knowing how often your AC filters should be changed can vary from home to home, but we have three tips to help you know when it’s time to make that change. The first sign that your AC filter should be changed is when you start noticing discoloration or visible dirt covering the surface of the&
What to Do When Your AC Stops Working
There's nothing worse than your AC going out in the middle of a Fresno heatwave. Don't panic — follow these 10 steps to diagnose the problem, handle what you can yourself, and know exactly when to call a pro.
The 10 Most Common AC Repairs Performed on an HVAC System
The 10 Most Common AC Repairs Performed on an HVAC System Air conditioning systems are essential for maintaining a comfortable indoor environment, especially during those scorching summer months. However, like all mechanical systems, they are prone to occasional hiccups. Here, we’ve compiled a
How to Choose the Right AC Repair Company
How to Choose the Right AC Repair Company Summer is in full swing, and the last thing you want is for your air conditioning system to fail on the hottest day of the year. If your AC is acting up, it’s time to call in the professionals. But with so many companies out there offering…
How Can I Repair My AC Myself? Know the Risks and Limitations
Air conditioners are complex machines with a host of intricate parts and electrical components that keep our homes cool and comfortable. But what do you do when your AC breaks down on a hot summer day? The temptation to dive in and fix it yourself can be strong, but it’s essential to understan
The Comprehensive Guide to Professional Duct Cleaning Services
The Comprehensive Guide to Professional Duct Cleaning Services Why Duct Cleaning is Essential for Your Home Regular duct cleaning is crucial to maintaining a healthy and comfortable living environment. Over time, dust, allergens, and contaminants accumulate within your duct system, affecting air qua
How Does a Heat Pump Work in Winter?
If you live in a climate that experiences all four seasons, you know that your HVAC system has to work hard to keep your home comfortable year-round. In the summer, it’s all about keeping things cool and preventing your AC unit from overworking. But in the winter, it’s all about generati
What are Plumbing Snakes and How Are They Used?
What are Plumbing Snakes and How Are They Used? Plumbing Snake Plumbing snakes is a method of Drain Cleaning used to clear clogs from drains. Inserted into the drain and rotated to break up the clog removing it from the pipe. Why you should clean your lines The main benefits of having your plumbing
When to Replace Your Air Conditioner: How to Know When It’s Time
When to Replace Your Air Conditioner: How to Know When It's Time to replace your AC unit Replace your AC Unit Need to replace your ac unit? It's that time of year again. The weather is starting to warm up and you know that your trusty old air conditioner is going to have to work…
Ways to save on your energy bills while cooling their homes this summer
Summer is a time when energy bills tend to skyrocket. This is because so many people are using air conditioners to cool their homes. However, there are ways to save on your energy bills this summer while still keeping your home comfortable. In this blog post, we will discuss seven different ways tha
Heat Pump Frozen?
One of the most common problems with heat pumps is that they can freeze. This can cause all sorts of issues, from decreased efficiency to a complete system failure. In this blog post, we will discuss the causes of heat pump freezing and provide some solutions to help you prevent it from happening! R
Gas Furnace Recalls the Need to Get Immediate Help
Gas furnace recalls If you’ve been living in Fresno, CA for the past two years, there is a good chance you’ve had a newly installed system by Goodman Manufacturing or Private Labeled system which may call for a gas furnace recall. And that means you will need to seek out qualified techni
Is Your Home Properly Insulated?
Properly insulating your home has many benefits. Most notably, a well insulated home will be able to regulate its temperature in a consistent and efficient manner, taking stress off of the heating and cooling system, which both lowers the utility bills and improves the quality of life of the inhabit
Is a Radiant Barrier Effective?
Radiant Barriers Determining if a radiant barrier is effective you must understand what it is. Radiant barriers are used in homes, mostly in attics, to diminish the heat and lower the air conditioning bills. These barriers are made of shiny, reflective material, and they operate by reflecting the ra
Benefits of Home Energy Rebates in California
Benefits of the Home Energy Rebates in California You can now upgrade your home with highly energy-efficient equipment. And energy providers are at the forefront to roll out various home energy rebates in California. Homeowners who invest in energy-efficient products significantly improve the air qu
What are Attic Baffles?
Attic baffles are an often overlooked, yet vital component to any attic insulation. The main function of baffles is to supply a channel in which air can flow from the vents into your attic. This may seem counterintuitive – for after spending time and energy in insulating the attic, why would y
What are the Benefits of Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is the green solution when it comes to insulating your home. This type of insulation is made primarily from recycled material, about 80% being newspaper and cardboard, about 20% being a fire retardant. Applied in either its wet or dry form, cellulose insulation comes with many b
Time for an Attic Cleanup?
What Causes Damp or Musty Odors in the Attic? Many people don’t realize the importance of attic cleanup, but it’s actually a really important task to keep your home in top condition. An attic is a perfect place for dust, dirt, and other debris to accumulate because it’s out of sigh
Sealing Air Ducts In Your Attic
Sealing Air Ducts In Your Attic It is recommended that you inspect the air duct system in your attic once a year. The ducts are the large tubes in which your air conditioned air flows throughout the house. A leak in the duct can have major negative impacts on the overall operation of your HVAC&helli
Why Schedule an Annual Attic Inspection?
Inspecting your attic is often neglected by home owners, yet it is recommended that this be done on a yearly basis. In particular, these inspections should be scheduled for the Spring, since any repairs that may need to be done can be finished during the warm Summer months and will be completed befo
Will Heat Pumps Work in Freezing Temperatures?
There are a lot of myths out there about heat pumps. One of the biggest myths we hear constantly is that heat pumps will stop working if the temperatures drop below freezing outdoors. If you have been questioning if your heat pump will hold up in the winter, the answer is yes; however, for efficient
Heat Pumps vs. Gas Furnaces
Heat pumps and gas furnaces are both great options for heating and cooling your home; however, they work in completely different ways. One may be more efficient than another when it comes to temperature control in your home. If you are looking to upgrade or replace your HVAC system, you should know
What are Heat Pumps?
What are Heat Pumps? Heat pumps are the most essential component of your heating and cooling system and yet many homeowners have no idea what they are or how they work. Even though most of your HVAC system may be, out of sight out of mind, maintenance on the entire system is vital, but most…
What is an Inverter Heat Pump?
Installing a heat pump is a wonderful choice for homeowners who are looking for environmentally friendly options to heat and cool their homes. Heat pumps do not use gas fossil fuels and are renewable sources of energy production which make pumps very attractive to eco-conscious homeowners. However,
The importance of mechanical engineering in HVAC
Mechanical engineers are involved in the design, testing and operation of many products you use every day, including the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning systems in your home, car, office or hotel, all places where a comfortable, productive environment must be created. Because HVAC is the m
How To Size Ductwork: Avoid Costly HVAC Mistakes in Residential Projects
Ductwork is the tubing connected to the HVAC system, used to funnel air throughout the building. It’s critical to size ductwork for residential projects correctly. Ducts too small force your HVAC system to overwork, while oversized ductwork slows airflow and reduces efficiency. Finding the rig
Title 24 Cost Calculation
Title 24 Cost Calculation Putting the final stamp on a build and handing over the keys can be the culmination of years of work. From the architect planning stage; designing the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing; to coordinating with a general contractor and permits, each project presents its own
What is NICET?
Engineer technicians who are looking to gain a certificate in particular engineering technologies will have to gain that certificate from a recognized organization. NICET – the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies – is a well-respected organization which grant
Why are Heat Load Calculations for Restaurants Important?
In most cases, the highest cost for the maintenance of a restaurant will be in the heating and cooling. You may not have considered it, but due to their complex designs and high energy consumption, restaurants require a very delicate, custom designed HVAC system to maximize energy efficiency. Now, i
Title 24 Performance or Prescriptive? California Building Energy Code
Title 24: Performance vs. Prescriptive Approach to Compliance Title 24 of the Building Standards Code in California is an energy efficiency standard which is used to make sure that buildings are efficient with their energy use. It is used not only for the design and construction of new buildings but
Title 24 Compliance HVAC Requirements
Title 24 Compliance HVAC Requirements Over 4,000 5-Star Review Real Solutions, Real Savings Family-owned and local, Balanced Comfort is committed to straightforward guidance and honest service. From energy modeling to HVAC design support, we help you meet every part of California code compliance whi
Sprinkler Pre-Action Systems Explained
Sprinkler Pre-Action Systems When it comes to fire protection systems for buildings, there are three basic models. Firstly, there is the common, traditional wet-pipe model, which most buildings have these days. With this model, water is constantly under pressure within the piping, ready to deploy at
Why a Manual N for Commercial Load Calculations?
The Manual N for commercial load calculation is designed to instruct contractors and others on how to meet the complicated new heating and air conditioning requirements for commercial buildings. This manual treats in detail all that you will need to know, including the latest developments in the com
What Are Deluge Fire Sprinkler Systems?
Deluge fire sprinkler systems are generally used in industrial type hazard areas which will require water to be applied over a large hazard area during a fire emergency. In a deluge sprinkler system, water is held back in a separate supply zone, and is not sitting within the piping itself that conne
Can the AC Spread COVID-19?
We are currently living in uncertain times under the pandemic of COVID-19, and many people are worried about the ways the virus can spread, including breathing it in, touching your face, and lasting on surfaces. In April of 2020, a study was published by the Center for Disease Control that
It’s Important to Check Out Your Exhaust Fans
The exhaust fans in your home are one method of removing moisture and indoor pollutants. Often times these fans are ignored which may cause an abundance of moisture in bathrooms and kitchens. Too much moisture may allow mildew and other moisture borne issues to thrive. You may believe th
How much does clean air cost?
How much does clean air cost? Here in Fresno we have the worst air in the country and it should cost a whole bunch, but it doesn't. When you go to the store are you overwhelmed by the number of filter choices? Plenty of colors, sizes, prices and ratings make things confusing and diff
How Heat Moves – 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
How Heat Moves The 2nd law of thermodynamics tells us that heat, energy, and pressure move from high to low. This is important to understand because when it’s hot outside like it often gets in Fresno, that heat outside wants to attack the cooler air indoors. If your home has a larg
How does HEPA compare to MERV Ratings?
Air filtration is one of the best ways you can make sure your indoor air stays clean. However, knowing the best way to go can be confusing, because there are two main types of filters that air filtration systems use: MERV and HEPA. To help demystify the subject, we’ve created a quick guide on
How Long Does AC Last?
A central air conditioning unit is an investment in your home that will not only raise the value of the property but make it much more comfortable and enjoyable to live there. When shopping for AC units, you’ll find that while there are many different options, the average lifespan of one is going to
Insulation Contracting
In the Fresno and surrounding areas, Balanced Comfort provides general contracting services to improve efficient and sustainable residential homes. We provide efficiency upgrades including: insulation removal and air sealing, insulating, window upgrades, and heating ventilating and air conditioning
Air Sealed Attic For Energy Effieciency
The Benefits of Air Sealing your Attic Once the old insulation is removed, the next step is to air seal your attic, making it as tight as possible. The benefits of air sealing your attic are plentiful, and in this post we will highlight the top three advantages for the homeowner and inhabitants. Dur
What is HEPA Filtration and Do I Need it?
Now, more than ever before, people are concerned about their air quality. Not only are we contending with pollution in the air, animal dander, pollen, dust and other irritants, the threat of virus spread through the air has people around the world rethinking the best ways to have clean air in their
Home Purification: The APCO X And iWave
Home Purification: The APCO X And iWave Many homeowners in Fresno, CA, are shocked to learn that the air in their homes is two to five times more polluted than the air they breathe in their backyards. When you think of air pollution, smog and smoke from wildfires probably come to mind first, but you
Why Do I Need a Heat Load Calculation Service?
A heat load calculation is a complicated mathematical process used to measure a number of variables inside a building in order to determine the best possible design for the HVAC system for that building. Heat Load Calculation Service Getting a heat load calculation service by a professional is highl
Why You Should Get Your HVAC Duct Design Right
You already know it takes a lot of forethought and planning to set up your next building project for success. Between the permitting, architectural design, MEP design, and everything else that goes into a new build, there are a lot of hats to wear — so why is it so important to have the ductwork&hel
Reasons to Consider Heat Load Calculation for Basements
Reasons to Consider Heat Load Calculation for Basements A heat load calulation is a complex calculation that measures heat gained and lost from a building or room, and based on this calculation the proper HVAC system is recommended for that building or room. Choosing your HVAC system based on the he
How to Insulate Your Attic with Fiberglass Batts – DIY Project
Insulate Your Attic With Fiberglass Batts When it comes to insulating your attic, there are really only two types of insulation worth considering fiberglass batts or blown-in insulation. Blown-in insulation consists of bags of fiberglass or cellulose that are chopped up and blown-in to the attic or
Sick House Found – Water Heater Problem
A rusted out water heater flue to furnace flue connection. Another sick house found and in this case the problem could have caused serious health and safety issues, possibly even death. What was the problem? Improper venting of the water heater caused the flue to rust out. So, in a
Blown-in Insulation Vs Batts: 3 Critical Differences You Must Know
When looking to insulate your attic floor there are a variety of different types of insulation that you can choose from. By far the two most common and most effective types are batt and blown-in insulation. When comparing blown-in insulation vs batts for your attic, which one should you choose? Well
Whole house fans, good or bad?
Are Whole House Fans Good Or Bad?Make sure your whole house fan is insulated and airtight so it doesn’t look like this! There are a number of companies promoting and selling large fans that are installed in the ceiling of a central location (typically) that pull in air from the outside and for