As Southern California residents, we know the Santa Ana winds. They’re a classic part of our fall and winter, bringing those famously warm, dry gusts that rustle through the palm trees and often carry a distinctive scent. While they might offer a temporary reprieve from cooler temperatures, these winds are also notorious for stirring up trouble – not just for our outdoor plans, but more importantly, for the air quality inside our homes.

At Kahuna Comfort Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’re all about ensuring your indoor environment is as comfortable and healthy as possible, no matter what mother nature throws our way. And when the Santa Anas come blowing, one crucial aspect of your home comfort often gets overlooked: your HVAC filters. If you’re not changing them more often during Santa Ana season, you could be compromising your air quality, reducing system efficiency, and even shortening the lifespan of your valuable HVAC equipment.

The Santa Ana Effect: More Than Just a Warm Breeze

So, what exactly makes Santa Ana winds such a challenge for your home’s air? It’s not just the wind itself; it’s what the wind carries.

Originating from high-pressure systems over the Great Basin, these winds pick up speed and heat as they descend through mountain passes towards the coast. Along the way, they become incredibly dry and, crucially, gather vast amounts of dust, dirt, pollen, and other particulate matter from the desert and chaparral landscapes. This isn’t just a slight increase; it’s a significant influx of airborne contaminants that get pushed directly into our communities.

When these winds are strong, they can also exacerbate wildfire conditions, and even if a fire isn’t directly nearby, smoke particulates can travel hundreds of miles, further degrading air quality across a wide region. These microscopic smoke particles are particularly harmful to inhale and are notoriously difficult for standard filters to capture if they become overloaded.

Your HVAC Filter: The Silent Guardian Against Airborne Invaders

Think of your HVAC filter as your home’s first line of defense against all these airborne invaders. Its job is simple yet critical: to capture dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and other particulates before they circulate through your living spaces or, worse, build up inside your HVAC system.

Most residential HVAC systems use pleated filters rated by a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) number, ranging from 1 to 20. A higher MERV rating means the filter is more effective at trapping smaller particles. While a MERV 8-11 is generally recommended for homes to balance air purification with good airflow, the increased particulate load during Santa Ana events puts even these efficient filters to the test.

Why “More Often” Isn’t Just a Suggestion – It’s a Necessity

During normal operating conditions, we typically recommend changing your HVAC filters every 1 to 3 months, depending on factors like pet ownership, allergies, and system usage. However, when the Santa Anas are active, that timeline drastically shortens.

Here’s why increasing your filter change frequency is non-negotiable during these dusty periods:

1. Protecting Your Indoor Air Quality

This is perhaps the most immediate and impactful reason. As Santa Ana winds blow in vast amounts of dust and irritants, your HVAC system pulls this air directly into your home. A clean filter acts as a barrier, trapping these particles and preventing them from circulating into your lungs, settling on your furniture, or aggravating allergies and respiratory conditions.

When a filter becomes clogged, it can no longer effectively trap new incoming particles. This means that more dust, pollen, and potentially harmful smoke particulates bypass the filter and are distributed throughout your home, significantly reducing your indoor air quality. For those with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory sensitivities, this decline in air quality can lead to exacerbated symptoms and general discomfort.

2. Maintaining Optimal Airflow and System Efficiency

Your HVAC system is designed to move a specific volume of air across your evaporator coil and through your ductwork. A clean filter allows air to flow freely, enabling your system to operate at peak efficiency.

Imagine trying to breathe through a thick, clogged sponge. That’s what your HVAC system tries to do when its filter is packed with Santa Ana dust. A dirty filter creates a barrier to airflow, forcing your furnace or air conditioner to work much harder to pull and push air. This increased strain means:

• Higher Energy Bills: Your system consumes more electricity or gas to maintain your desired temperature, leading to noticeable spikes in your utility costs.
• Reduced Comfort: Insufficient airflow can result in uneven heating or cooling, leaving some rooms too hot and others too cold, making it harder to maintain consistent comfort throughout your home.
• Increased Wear and Tear: The prolonged strain on components like the blower motor can accelerate wear and tear, leading to premature breakdowns and costly repairs.

3. Preventing Damage to Your HVAC System

Beyond just reduced efficiency, a severely clogged filter can actually cause significant damage to your HVAC unit.

• Blower Motor Strain: As mentioned, the blower motor works harder, leading to overheating and potential failure. Replacing a blower motor is a substantial repair.
• Frozen Evaporator Coil (AC): During cooling cycles, restricted airflow across the evaporator coil (where refrigerant absorbs heat) can cause the coil to get too cold and freeze over. A frozen coil can’t absorb heat, leading to warm air from your vents, potential water leaks from melted ice, and system shutdown.
• Overheated Heat Exchanger (Furnace): In heating mode, restricted airflow can cause the heat exchanger to overheat. This is a serious safety concern as it can lead to cracking, which could allow carbon monoxide to leak into your home. While modern furnaces have safety limits that shut them down, repeated overheating reduces the lifespan of this critical component.

Kahuna Comfort’s Recommendation: Check and Change Proactively

At Kahuna Comfort, we understand that remembering to change filters can slip your mind amidst daily life. But during Santa Ana season, it’s a habit that pays dividends in comfort, health, and savings.

Our best advice for Southern California homeowners during Santa Ana events: check your filters at least once a month, and be prepared to change them every 2-4 weeks. If you’re unsure about what type of filter is best for your system or need assistance with any HVAC concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Kahuna Comfort. We’re here to ensure your comfort is always a breeze, even when the Santa Anas are blowing strong.

As homeowners in Anaheim, we all rely on a steady supply of hot water for daily comfort—from morning showers to washing dishes. But what many of us don’t realize is that the appliance working so hard behind the scenes to provide that comfort, our water heater, requires regular attention to perform at its best. One of the most important maintenance tasks is flushing the tank.

At Kahuna Comfort, we believe in the spirit of “Ohana”—treating every customer like extended family. Our mission is to provide you with honest recommendations and 5-star service with aloha spirit. We want to empower you with the knowledge to keep your home running smoothly. So, let’s dive into the how, why, and when of water heater flushing.

Why is Flushing Your Water Heater So Crucial?

Even though the water coming into your Anaheim home looks clear, it contains naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium. While these minerals are harmless to drink, they can cause problems for your water heater. Over time, these minerals settle at the bottom of the tank, forming a thick layer of sediment.

This sediment buildup creates a barrier between the heating element or gas burner and the water itself. For gas water heaters, this means the burner has to work harder and longer to heat the water, leading to a loss in efficiency and higher energy bills. For electric heaters, the sediment can actually cause the heating element to overheat and burn out prematurely. Ignoring this buildup can lead to several major issues:

• Reduced Efficiency: Your unit has to work harder, leading to higher energy costs.
• Reduced Lifespan: The constant overheating and stress can cause the tank to corrode and fail years earlier than it should.
• Noisy Operation: As the sediment heats up, it can create “popping” or “rumbling” sounds as water bubbles through the dense layer.
• Lukewarm Water: The barrier of sediment prevents the heating element from properly warming the water, leading to inconsistent or lukewarm temperatures.
• Potential Leaks: Over time, the corrosive effects of the sediment can cause tiny cracks in the tank, leading to leaks and costly water damage.

Flushing your water heater isn’t just about maintenance; it’s about protecting your investment and ensuring your family’s comfort and safety.

How Often Should You Flush Your Water Heater?

The general rule of thumb for water heater flushing is once a year. However, this recommendation can change depending on a few key factors:

• Your Water’s Hardness: Anaheim’s water can be on the harder side, meaning it has a higher mineral content. If you have hard water, we recommend flushing your water heater every 6 months to prevent excessive sediment buildup. You can often check your local water quality report to determine your water’s hardness.
• The Age of Your Unit: A brand-new water heater may not need a flush in its first year, but an older unit with a history of sediment buildup may benefit from more frequent attention.
• Your Usage: A large family that uses a lot of hot water daily will cycle more water through the tank, which may require more frequent flushing than a household with a low hot water demand.

If you’re hearing strange noises from your tank, like a rumbling or banging, or if you’ve noticed your hot water takes longer to heat up, these are clear signs that a flush is overdue.

Can I Flush My Own Water Heater?

While many guides online will walk you through a DIY water heater flush, it’s a task that can come with risks, especially if you’re not experienced. You must shut off both the water and power (or gas) supply to the unit, and if done incorrectly, you could cause a leak, damage the drain valve, or even risk an electric shock or gas leak. For older units, the sediment can be so packed that attempting to flush it can actually dislodge a large chunk and clog the drain valve, leaving you with a bigger problem than when you started.

For peace of mind and to ensure the job is done right, it’s always best to call a professional. Our licensed technicians at Kahuna Comfort are trained to safely and efficiently flush your water heater, identifying any potential issues along the way. We’ll perform a thorough inspection, test the pressure relief valve, and make sure your system is ready to provide reliable hot water.

Ready for an Aloha-Approved Tune-Up?

Don’t let a sediment-filled water heater get in the way of your family’s comfort. A simple, professional flush can extend the life of your unit, improve its performance, and help you save on energy costs. At Kahuna Comfort, we’re dedicated to providing honest recommendations and top-tier service that you can trust. Our Ohana Happy Guarantee means we aren’t satisfied until you are.

For all your plumbing, heating, and air conditioning needs in Anaheim, give us a call today at (714) 426-9207. Let us bring our aloha spirit to your home and make sure your comfort is never compromised.

Kitchen garbage disposals play an essential role in getting rid of discarded peels, expired food, and leftovers. However, it’s quite unfortunate that most homeowners rarely give a second thought to their disposal systems until something goes wrong.

When your garbage disposal system isn’t functioning, decaying foodstuffs will remain in the appliance, making your kitchen or even your entire house stink. In most cases, these issues are avoidable if you take care of your unit and use it properly.

By applying the eight garbage disposal system tips below, you can avoid unnecessary repairs and keep your unit running smoothly.

1. Run Your Garbage Disposal Unit Regularly

Even if you’re not grinding and disposing of any food scraps, it’s in your best interest to regularly run cold water through your unit. This keeps the blades on the inside from rusting due to lack of use. Doing this also washes out any food substances that might have stuck on the unit’s sides previously.

Failure to do this every few days can freeze up your appliance, leaving food remains inside to harden, which can cause clogs and bad odors. Running your garbage disposal device regularly is sort of like exercising your body to stay fit; if you put in the effort, you’ll see good results.

2. Don’t Send Hard, Fibrous, or Starchy Leftovers Down the Drain

Whenever you’re using your garbage disposal system, you should avoid putting in things that can interfere with its smooth flow. Although it may seem like your unit can handle anything, dropping the wrong things into it can lead to clogs, bad smells, and ultimately a broken unit. Some of the things that are better off in your compost pile or trash rather than down your garbage disposal include:

• Fat, grease, and oil
• Pasta, rice, and oats
• Coffee grounds
• Broken glass or metal
• Bones

While your appliance can handle semi-solid or liquid fat, oil, and grease, the rest of your kitchen’s plumbing system can’t. Instead, throw the fatty leftovers out with your trash.

Your garbage disposal unit may break fatty substances and grease into small pieces. However, this won’t solve the problem with oil substances. The small pieces can pile up, forming a tough clog down the drain. Additionally, both fat and liquid oil can clump together and accumulate down in your pipes. Over time, this sludge can build up to a point where it blocks the pipe’s opening.

Although they’re small and easily breakable, pasta, rice, and oats can cause damage when they get into your appliance. This is because they continue to swell when in contact with water, even after cooking. You should consider tossing them in the compost pile unless you’re ready to risk a clog.

Coffee grounds may seem fairly safe when dealing with your garbage disposal system. However, they’re among the worst substances that you could never put down your drain. Coffee grounds can build up and form sludge, which creates a clog. Rather than throwing them into the trash, you can use them in your garden or compost.

3. Clean Your Garbage Disposal Unit Every Two Weeks

To clean your disposal unit, fill it with ice cubes and rock salt, and then leave it to run for a minute. With this precaution, the natural abrasives will scrape away the grease lining inside your disposal system. You can also pour a half-cup of baking soda and vinegar to kill bacteria.

However, you need to check the manufacturer’s recommendations before you start cleaning your appliance. Some of the advanced garbage disposal models lack blades, so they use different techniques to grind food particles. In these instances, using traditional cleaning methods such as citrus fruits and ice cubes won’t be effective.

4. Use Cold Water

Anytime you’re using your garbage disposal, ensure that you pour in plenty of cold water while the system is chopping your food wastes. Don’t be tempted to use hot water while grinding. Hot water works best for cleaning many different things in your home, but when it comes to cleaning your garbage disposal, warmer temperatures can affect the grinding process by melting the food remains. This allows the waste to stick on the sides and clogs the entire unit.

On the other hand, cold water will harden the food remains, making it easier for your disposal to push the waste down the drain pipe. Cold water also keeps the bearings, shredder assembly, and motor from overheating.

5. Run Your Garbage Disposal Longer

When the disposal device is done grinding up the waste, it’s always best to keep water running through it for a minute longer. This way, you’ll rest easy knowing that all the leftovers have been flushed out, thus preventing debris from clogging it up.

To be on the safe side, you can also run a small amount of dish soap and cold water down the drain. This helps remove any remaining stuck on the sides of your device.

6. Cut Waste Into Smaller Pieces

Your garbage disposal isn’t that big, and its motor and blades are built to match. Therefore, you shouldn’t expect any miracle to happen when chopping up large chunks of fruit, vegetable, or meat.

One of the best ways of ensuring your system runs smoothly for years to come is by cutting waste into smaller pieces before putting it into your disposal system. Otherwise, you might overwork your unit and clog it or, even worse, cause it to break down.

7. Don’t Use Your Fingers to Remove Items From the Garbage Disposal Unit

First things first, it’s essential always to be cautious when retrieving anything from the disposal unit. Before dipping a tool down there, turn off the power to the disposal and the water supply.

When you want to retrieve a metallic object, you can tie a string around a magnet and lower it slowly into the sink. For non-metallic items, you can use a flashlight to locate them. Should you see anything, try getting it out with pliers, tongs, or a wooden spoon. Either way, avoid sticking your fingers down there.

8. Grind Citrus Fruit

In addition to using soap and cold water to keep your appliance clean, you can toss in a peel from a lime, a lemon, or an orange. These citrus rinds can help keep your disposal fresh, and they will also remove any waste that may have remained at the disposal. Through this, you’ll eliminate unpleasant odors and get rid of bacteria.

Contact the Plumbing Professionals

When searching for a dedicated, highly skilled, and professional plumber in Anaheim, look no further than HomeX Plumbing & Rooter. We’ve been providing top-quality garbage disposal services since 2018. No matter the problem with your plumbing system, our competent and experienced plumbers can get the job done correctly and on time.

We’ve been highly rated on Angie’s List because of our reliable and top-class services and received accreditations from the BBB. From slab leak services to drain cleaning to water heater replacement, we can help. Contact HomeX Plumbing & Rooter today if you’re having questions or issues with your garbage disposal.