A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., the leader in providing HVAC and solar services throughout Solano, Napa, and Contra Costa counties, earned yet another award to add to its long list. The popular app “Nextdoor” recently announced the winners of its “Neighborhood Favorite” campaign, and A-1 Guaranteed was one of them.

About the Neighborhood Favorite Award

The winners of the campaign were determined by the number of recommendations and “likes” they earned between June 2020 and July 2021. Only 2% of all businesses that are on the Nextdoor app earn the award, which is the only local business award campaign voted on by neighbors.

There were 25 categories for businesses this year, some of which included:

• Favorite Family-Friendly Restaurant
• Favorite Pizza Place
• Favorite Hardware Store
• Favorite Nail Salon
• Favorite Professional Service Provide
• Favorite Home Service Provider
• Favorite Clothing or Gift Store
• And 18 others!

Winners, on average, have 3x the number of business page views, 4x the number of “saves” on their local deals, and 30x the number of recommendations on their business page compared to other businesses.

Businesses that are engaged on the Nextdoor app grow their local presence and stay top of mind with customers who are in need of services they provide. Connections are created while businesses interact with customers and strengthen relationships.

About A-1 Guaranteed

A-1 Guaranteed has been voted the Bay Area’s best heating and cooling company for the past 16 years, earning numerous awards and accolades for unwavering customer service and outstanding service to the surrounding community. In addition, the company has been voted Best of the Bay for five years from KRON 4 TV and has won the Angie’s List Super Service Award for four years.

The team offers installation, repair, maintenance, and service to commercial and residential customers, and is comprised of factory-trained techs and installers. If you’re looking for a Diamond Certified Company that has been on the Better Business Bureau’s Honor Roll for 24 years, you’ve found it.

A-1 Guaranteed is a Bay Area Certified Green Business and is North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified, as well.

A-1 Guaranteed Services

A-1 Guaranteed team offers home comfort solutions that range from air quality audits and hot water heater service to HVAC installation, repair, and more. The HVAC company also provides services like:

• Tune-ups
• Solar energy services
• Air conditioning repair and maintenance
• Tankless water heater installation and repair
• Furnace repair and replacement
• And dozens of others

A-1 Guaranteed offers a 100% money-back guarantee, financing options, and service specials. They serve customers in Solano, Napa, all of Contra Costa County, and throughout all surrounding areas.

About Nextdoor

Nextdoor is an app that brings communities together to exchange recommendations, support each other and local businesses, and get updates on community happenings from public agencies.

Users enjoy access to relevant information that pertains to neighbors, local businesses, and other entities. Touted as “the only way to instantly connect to the people, businesses, and happenings near your home,” the app gives everyone a secure environment in which they can interact. Every user on the app is verified. You can sign up for Nextdoor today.

Trust A-1 Guaranteed for Solar, HVAC, and Air Quality Services

A-1 Guaranteed is a family-owned and operated company with a mission to help improve the lives of everyone living in the surrounding communities. Help from this Energy Upgrade CA participating contractor is just a phone call away Monday through Friday and by appointment on Saturday. Emergency HVAC service is also available 24/7.

Contact A-1 Guaranteed for your Bay Area home comfort needs.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right? Although this little quip is appropriate for some situations, when it comes to your HVAC system, that may not be the best advice to follow.

Maybe you’ve noticed that your furnace or air conditioner isn’t working quite as well as it used to, or that your heating bill has crept up over the past few months. It’s still working, though, so why call a Contra Costa HVAC company for repairs or replacement?

Because that “kinda working” HVAC system is wasting your energy and money, and you risk having it break down completely at the worst time, like during the middle of winter.

Why You Need to Get a New HVAC System

Not everyone needs a new HVAC system right at this moment, of course, but if yours is several years old, isn’t producing air of the appropriate temperature anymore, is making strange noises, or your energy bills are through the roof, you should seriously consider it. A qualified HVAC company in the Bay Area can assess your system and determine if yours should be repaired or completely replaced.

More Comfort, More Safety

No one needs a furnace breaking down in the dead of winter or an air conditioner going out in the prime of summer. Aging and malfunctioning HVAC systems not only gamble with your comfort levels, but also your safety. Cracks and defects could cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home, resulting in serious health issues…or worse.

Save Energy and Money

You might be surprised at just how much money is wasted with HVAC systems that are not functioning at optimal efficiency. Annual tune-ups are key factors in making sure your system operates as efficiently as possible. A system that is poorly maintained becomes more of a money pit than most people realize. In fact, Energy.gov estimates that 42% of a homeowner’s utility bill is a result of a high-energy, inefficient heating system.

Lessen the Risk of a Breakdown

A mid-winter breakdown of your furnace (or mid-summer breakdown of your A/C unit) can often be prevented by replacing an aging unit before it quits completely. If you notice unusual noises or odors from the vents, a lack of warm or cool air, poor airflow, or unusual noises, that’s your warning that a breakdown may be on the horizon.

Boost the Property Value of Your Home

Your first thought here might be, “I’m not planning on selling my home, though.” Whether you are or are not, an HVAC system upgrade is always an excellent investment. When your home value goes up, that becomes a benefit that will pay off later.

You never know what the future might bring, so if you do end up putting your home on the market in the future, you won’t have to worry about inspections and you’ll also get better offers on your home.

Don’t Take Chances with a Sub-Par Furnace this Winter

It’s too risky to ignore a furnace this fall that isn’t performing up to par. Whether your HVAC system is just a year or two old or it’s going on 10 years of service, it needs to be regularly serviced and maintained with an annual tune-up by a Napa County heating technician.

Doing so can bring small issues to light before they become big, expensive, inconvenient problems. In addition, keeping your system properly maintained saves you money, reduces the amount of energy you pay for on your utility bills, and limits the chances of you having to call for emergency HVAC service in the middle of the night during a holiday.

Most of all, making sure that you have a proper furnace keeps you and your family comfortable and safe. If it’s been a while since your HVAC system has had a tune-up, it’s more than a decade old, or you’re noticing some issues with it, contact A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air Conditioning and let us know how we can help.

Half of the biggest wildfires in California in 2021 began in the months of September and October. This is the time of year when the winds are relentless as they bring extremely dry air through the area, exacerbating the risk of wildfires.

However, wildfires are not the only concern during this time of year: It’s critical that air quality remains at healthy levels, but this can prove to be a difficult challenge if a wildfire is in the area.

There are several things every homeowner should do to prepare for wildfire season in California, many of which you may already be aware of. One of the lesser known preparatory steps for homeowners before wildfire season is to integrate a “clean room” into their homes.

What is a “Clean Room”?

A clean room is a closed-off area of a home that is prepared to keep levels of airborne pollutants, particles, and smoke to a minimum during wildfire events. This space should be off-limits to activities that create polluted air, including cooking and smoking.

Windows and doors should always be kept closed during wildfire season to prevent contaminants and smoke from entering. In addition, it’s a good idea to keep a portable air cleaner in the clean room.

The Benefits of a Clean Room

Good air quality is important at all times; however, during a wildfire event, it becomes even more critical. Your home may already have an excellent HVAC system and even a whole-house air purifier, but a clean room can reduce your exposure to smoke and pollutants better than the rest of your home can.

If there is an active fire in your area or the air quality index indicates dangerous smoke levels, you may be advised by the authorities to remain indoors. Conditions can change quickly, so always follow your local media channels for updates.

Do I Need a Clean Room?

Everyone can benefit from maintaining a clean room in their home, as long as it remains safe to stay indoors there. Those who may benefit the most from a clean room during a wildfire smoke event are people who are at an enhanced risk from the effects of smoke. Some of these people include:

• Children
• The elderly
• Anyone with heart disease
• People with breathing problems
• Those with a lung disease

Please note: If the electricity in your home goes out, too much smoke is entering your home, or you cannot stay cool at home, seek shelter elsewhere.

How to Set Up a Clean Room

• The first step is to choose an appropriate room. This room needs to be large enough for everyone to fit comfortably. A good choice would be a large bedroom with an attached bathroom, because you can not only close it off from the rest of the house, but you can do so for a long period of time.
• All windows and doors must remain closed, but don’t barricade it or do anything that would make it very difficult to get out. If there is an exhaust fan in the room you can use it, but only for short periods at a time.
• Use a portable air cleaner that is appropriately sized for the room. If possible, run the purifier continuously on the highest setting. If you have a setting that produces ozone, do NOT use that setting.
• If you have a central HVAC system, consider installing a filter that is high-efficiency with a MERV 13 rating or higher. Run your HVAC system’s fan as often as possible. It should be noted that during times of heavier-than-normal smoke in the air, you should plan to change your air filters much more often than usual.
• Stay cool, but be careful. You can run fans, central air conditioning, and window A/C units. However, if your HVAC system or window air conditioner has a setting that pulls air in from the outdoors (usually a “fresh air option”) do not use that setting. Close the intake, turn it off, or set the system to instead recirculate indoor air.
• Do NOT use a portable air conditioner or evaporative cooler that has a single hose unless there is a heat emergency. These single-hose devices can cause substantial smoke to get into your clean room.
• Don’t create smoke or pollutants in the room. This includes smoking cigars, pipes, or cigarettes, using propane, wood-burning stoves, or gas, spraying aerosol products, frying foods, burning candles or incense, and even vacuuming (unless the vacuum uses a HEPA filter). Wipe surfaces in the clean room with a damp cloth to prevent particles from re-entering the air.

Air Quality and HVAC Services in Solano, The Bay Area, Napa and Contra Costa Counties

A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc is the leader in HVAC services throughout the Napa, CA area. Contact us today to learn how we can help your home achieve a cleaner, healthier air flow any time of the year with our air quality services and air cleaning systems.

The Golden State Is Leading the Charge for Solar Energy

The nation’s most populous state has also become the most energy efficient. California is leading the way when it comes to investing clean, sustainable, renewable energy. The state recently made several changes aimed at reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, including one related to home energy and another focused on electric vehicles.

Find out what these new laws mean for you.

Home Energy

California recently passed new energy codes that will move homeowners and developers toward energy-efficient appliances and HVAC systems. The California Energy Commission says all new residential construction projects and some businesses, including motels, medical offices, retail and grocery stores, and restaurants, should be equipped with this technology.

The homes and facilities must now be electric-ready, which means they draw their power from renewable electricity instead of natural gas. If a developer wants to install a gas hookup, they will have to install the wiring for the home to switch to electric.

The codes also call for better ventilation for gas appliances that contribute to indoor air pollution.

Denise Grab, the manager of the Rocky Mountain Institute’s carbon-free building team, welcomed the news. “This is the first statewide building code across the country that strongly incentivizes all-electric construction,” she said. In fact, in the last code there were actually some disincentives to electrify. This is a big step forward.”

The energy codes are updated every three years. The 2018 codes require every new development to include rooftop solar panels, but this new mandate will take things even further.

“You avoid building out a whole bunch of new infrastructure that can become stranded assets,” she added, while noting that kids who grow up in homes with gas appliances are 42% more likely to suffer from asthma.

Perhaps the biggest change to the codes is that they now require the inclusion of heat pumps in all new developments. This will help establish heat pumps as the standard for HVAC, including heating water and space. These systems can also cool down homes by pulling air from the ground or outside the home inside.

Developers can either install heat pumps or traditional HVAC systems that contribute to climate change. However, if they choose the latter, they will have to use energy-efficient technology in other parts of the home to offset the difference and keep fossil fuel emissions within the accepted limit.

All-Electric Vehicles

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed an executive order calling for all new passenger vehicles to be all-electric by the year 2035. The transportation sector is responsible for around half of the state’s carbon emissions and switching to electric-powered vehicles will help the state reduce its impact on the environment.

Once the rule is in effect, experts say it could result in a more than a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an 80 percent improvement in oxides of nitrogen emissions from cars statewide.

It’s likely that electric vehicles will be just as affordable, if not cheaper, than gas-powered vehicles. The order will also help build charging stations across the state to make these vehicles more accessible to the public.

“This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” said Governor Newsom. “For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse – and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”

If you are interested in going all-electric, contact the professionals at A-1 Guaranteed to learn more about the benefits of energy-efficient technology.