Replace Dirty Air Filters:

Dirty filters do not only cause there to be poor quality air that is entered into your home, but it also impacts the airflow that is delivered to your home as well. A layer of debris or dust can quickly reduce the air traffic that is sent to your home, which can create poor results when operating your unit. To avoid the chance of running your AC unit for a long period of time due to you not feeling the results that you would like because of a lack of airflow, be sure that you are replacing your filters on a regular basis so you can create a steady amount of air that enters into your home.

Clean Coils in Condenser Unit:

If you want to be confident that your air conditioner produces cold air quickly and on a consistent basis then you will want to be certain that you clean the coils inside of your condenser. The coils in your condenser are want chills the air that your condenser unit pulls in, which is then delivered to your home. Because your coils are what create cold air for your home, it is important that they remain clean from dust and debris.

Keep Air Intake Levels Consistent:

If your condenser is often clogged then this can become a constant issue where you may see a lack of performance. Grass, weeds, and bush trimmings can often get caught in the condenser unit, which can reduce the amount of air your unit is able to take in and this can minimize the airflow that is processed into your home. So, if you want to be certain that you are maximizing the full potential of your unit, be sure to clean the condenser often so you can increase airflow. A routine cleaning will consist of you brushing and power rinsing the vents surrounding your condenser. This is a great and easy way to remove dust and debris, allowing the vents to be more exposed and this will help increase air intake performance.

Routine air conditioning maintenance is not only great to keep your air conditioner safe from potential damages, but it is also a great run to ensure your air conditioner runs efficiently so you can avoid the need to utilize an excessive amount of energy each time you want to run your unit. This will also help you see fast and great results from your unit so you can feel comfortable in your home and not have to dread the hot weather conditions this upcoming summer.

The post Tips For Getting The Best Performance From Your AC appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Why are ductless cooling systems sometimes referred to as mini-split systems?

Ductless cooling systems are termed mini-splits because of their “split” design. The system is compromised of two main pieces: the condenser outdoors and the cooling distributor inside. The condenser is situated in a stationary place outside and is connected to the interior unit through a passageway through the wall. The mini tag refers to the fact that the entire system is small in stature. Both the exterior condenser and the interior cooling unit do not take up a lot of space in comparison to the traditional cooling units. 

How much is a ductless home cooling system?

Ductless home cooling systems can range in price according to:

• the size of the system needed and how many interior units will be necessary
• whether or not your electrical panel will have to be upgraded to support the new system
• the difficulty level of creating an opening through the exterior of the home
• if you will have to have a concrete platform installed outside to situate the condenser

In general, however, you can expect the cost of the ductless air conditioning system and installation to be somewhere between $2,500 and $7,000. 

Will a ductless home cooling system keep the entire house at a comfortable temperature?

It is a common misconception that ductless cooling systems are only suitable for small spaces, such as apartments or small homes. However, a ductless system can keep your entire home cool regardless of its size. There are a range of different system sizes that are fitting for different home areas. Ductless air systems can have more than one interior unit to distribute cool air, each connected to the exterior condenser unit. For example, in a multi-level home, there will be a condenser outside and most likely a cooling unit on each level. 

www.arlingtonheating.com

The post Ductless Home Cooling 101: Faqs For Homeowners appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Use a Thermal Wrap

The laws of physics cause heat to try to even itself out. That’s why your coffee gets cold when you leave it out and your refrigerator runs when you haven’t even opened it.

When you drink coffee, a paper cup will cool off faster than a well-insulated thermos. The same concept applies with your hot water heater.

While a hot water heater isn’t quite as thin as a paper cup, it also isn’t as well insulated as it could be. Wrapping a thermal blanket made for hot water heater insulation around your hot water heater can turn it into the well-insulated thermos and reduce how much your hot water heater runs to maintain the water temperature when no water is being used.

Be Mindful of Which Tap You Use

Do you mindlessly turn the faucet to hot when you’re quickly rinsing off a plate or your hands? For these quick rinses, you probably never even feel the water getting warm.

However, because you opened the hot water, your hot water heater is sending hot water out into your pipes. This water will then cool down in your pipes while you pay to heat the new water that was pumped into your hot water heater.

Always use the cold tap unless you really need hot water.

Replace Your Older Hot Water Heater

Over the years, the government has passed laws that require hot water heaters to achieve higher levels of energy-efficiency. Additionally, as consumers have placed more importance on going green, manufacturers have pushed even further to provide maximum energy efficiency as a key selling point.

The odds are that you’re using a hot water heater that’s decades old if not the same age as your house. If it’s older than 10 years old, it may have missed out on these energy efficiency improvements, and it could be costing you more to run it than a new, efficient model would cost.

To learn more about lowering your hot water heater’s energy use or to schedule a water heater repair, contact a local HVAC contractor today.

The post How To Keep Your Hot Water Heater From Draining Your Bank Account appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Duct Cleaning

If the building is old and unmaintained, then the ducts throughout the HVAC system probably haven’t been cleaned in years if ever. There could be rodent or other pest droppings in the system, along with dust and other debris that circulates in the air around the building every time you turn the furnace on. Have the ducts cleaned and inspected, and ask about having the ducts sealed to save on your energy bills all year.

Air Conditioning Installation

A building without air conditioning can cause a variety of issues for your staff and for the structure. Air conditioners help regulate the moisture in the building and prevent moisture and condensation during the warmer months. With air conditioning, you won’t have to worry about mold and mildew from condensation or any metal machines or components getting rusty.

When your staff and customers are more comfortable, they will work harder and enjoy themselves more in the building. The air conditioning can help prevent heat related health problems in the workplace, and can prevent machines and other electronics from overheating.

Boost Property Value

The resale value of the building and property appraisal will increase with a central air conditioning system because people purchasing or leasing the building in the future will want that amenity. This makes purchasing the unit a great investment for the future, because you could see a return in the sale cost. Talk with the HVAC professional about getting a unit that is energy efficient, to help keep the cooling costs affordable during the summer months.

While the HVAC professional is in the building, you should have them inspect the furnace at the same time, to ensure that there aren’t any major problems or concerns with that appliance. You may have to update the HVAC system, but it’s worth the investment if you want to have a high quality building.

For more information, contact HVAC & R Solution or a similar company.

The post Buy A Commercial Property Without AC? Improve Your HVAC System And Make A Great Investment appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Keep Up With Air Conditioner Maintenance

When was the last time that you actually looked at your air conditioner? Chances are it’s been a long time. It’s important to keep up with regular maintenance so that your unit works well and properly. If you ever start to notice weird noises or if it feels like your unit isn’t working as efficiently as usual, it’s a good idea to have an air conditioner repair company come to your home to see what is wrong. In addition, you can take steps to keep up with maintenance yourself, such as replacing the air filter every few months. This can keep your air fresh and can allow the unit to work as well as it can so you’re not wasting energy. 

Shade Your Home with Proper Landscaping

If you’ve never considered hiring a landscaping professional to transform your lawn space into something great, now is the time to do so. With certain landscaping upgrades, you can add shade to your lawn area and around your home. This can help to minimize the heat and sun that comes into your home, allowing you to run your fans and air conditioners less. With help from a professional landscaping team, bushes, trees, and shrubs can help to add shade to your home and can keep you cooler so that you waste less energy and spend less on energy costs.

Don’t Forget About Fans

Fans are another important tool that lower energy costs and help keep you cool. You may not need to run your air conditioning unit as often or may not need as many units if you invest in good fan systems. Many individuals choose to install ceiling fans in their home to help spread cool air around during the warmer months. You can also place standing fans around your home to help circulate the cool air. This can cut down on energy costs and usage because you can use your air conditioner less. 

Just because it’s warmer doesn’t mean that you need to overpay for energy usage. Take the above tips into consideration so that you can stay comfortable and not overspend on energy. For more tips, contact a company like R & B Heating & Air Conditioning.

The post 3 Ways To Reduce Energy Costs During The Warm Months appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Heat Moves From Warm to Cool Objects

This law of physics states that systems tend to move from an ordered to a disordered state, much like a teenager’s bedroom a couple of days after it has been cleaned. As the law pertains to temperature, cold, which is a more ordered state of the molecules, tends to move toward a disordered state where the molecules are moving faster, which is the definition of heat.

40 Degree Air Still Has Heat in It

Temperature is relative. You walk outside into 40-degree weather to walk the dog and it feels cold. But the air is still warmer than 30-degree air. Relative to 30-degree air, 40-degree air is warm and that is the warmth that your heat pump wants to capture for your home. To do this, your heat pump must produce colder air to draw the heat from the 40-degree air.

Your heat pump has coils which contain a refrigerant. This is a gas, which is also used in your refrigerator and car air conditioner. This gas is forced through an expansion valve which causes the gas to cool down. The gas is cooled to below the outside air temperature and circulated through coils outside of your house. The coils are now cooler than the outside air and attract the heat contained in the air. The heat is absorbed by the refrigerant and brought into the house.

One limitation is that heat pumps don’t work well when the temperature is freezing outside. To function, the heat pump would need to cool the refrigerant to below freezing to get any heat out of the freezing air. People who live in colder climates will have a backup system, such as a gas or electric furnace.

Some heat pump systems come with a backup heat source in the form of electric strips. Every system does this differently, so have a manufacturers representative explain how their heat pump generates heat when the outside temperature gets close to freezing.

Cooling Your Home with a Heat Pump

One of the advantages of a heat pump is that you don’t need to install a separate air conditioning unit to cool your house. The Second Law of Thermodynamics works for you here, too, by reversing the flow of the refrigerant. The refrigerant is cooled down lower than the temperature in your house and draws the heat out of the air. It forces that air outside then returns to pull more heat out of your house.

Whether you’re heating or cooling your house, the heat pump manages the cycle without any intervention by you. Which is probably not the case when it comes to convincing your teenager to keep their room clean.

The post Understanding How A Heat Pump Heats And Cools Your House appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Keep Debris Away

Because your air conditioning unit is outside, it’s easy to forget about it. However, leaves, twigs, dirt, plants and other debris can interfere with the functioning of the unit. They can coat the condenser coils and reduce airflow, which will cause your unit to work harder. In that case, you might need repairs more often. 

To avoid problems, keep the area around the air conditioning unit clear. Pull weeds and trim bushes so that nothing interferes with the unit, and make sure that you check condenser coils. You can clean dirt off them by scrubbing them with a hard-bristle brush. 

Clean Dirty Filters

The air filter in your air conditioning unit ensures that the air flowing into your home is clean air, and over time it can become clogged and dirty. When this happens, it is harder for air to flow into your home, and your unit is less efficient. It is a good idea to check the filter regularly, so that you can clean the filter when it becomes dirty. Brushing the dust off the filter with a hard-bristled brush is usually all you need to do. If the filter has holes or tears in it, replace it.

Inspect Insulation on Coolant Lines

The tubes that lead from your air conditioning unit to your home are typically covered with insulation. To keep your air conditioning unit working efficiently, it is important that the coolant lines remain insulated. Every now and then, look at the lines to see if the insulation shows signs of fraying or other damage. You can purchase pre-cut foam insulation sleeves to put on the coolant lines if there is insulation missing or damaged.

Use the tips in this article to make sure that your air conditioning unit will work properly when you need it. Also have a professional HVAC contractor, like Air Pro Heating & Air, come and inspect your entire air conditioning system so that you can stay cool in your home throughout the hot summer.

The post Keep Your Air Conditioning Unit In Good Shape With These 3 Tips appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Monitor Cooler Temperatures

Your cooler can maintain an appropriate temperature for hours even if it’s not working. However, each time you open the door, you run the risk of letting cool air escape. To make sure your cooler maintains a constant temperature, place an appliance thermometer in your cooler. Look at the thermometer each time you open the cooler doors. If the temperature rises above 40 degrees, start checking the temperatures of individual food items. If any item gets warmer than 40 degrees, throw it out. 

Order Ice

Placing dry ice or large blocks of ice in your cooler will help keep your food cold while you’re waiting for you cooler to become operational once more. If you choose to go the ice route, be sure to continue to monitor both cooler temperatures and food temperatures. Since ice may keep one part of your unit cooler than the rest, you don’t want to assume the food is still cold enough just because the appliance thermostat says the cooler is below 40 degrees. Items placed the furthest away from ice may get warmer and start to spoil.

Throw It Away

Do not take any chances when it comes to your customers’ safety. If you have any doubts about the safety of a certain food item, throw it out. Also, be sure to take inventory of all your items and their temperatures as soon as the cooler becomes operational. If you wait too long, food items that got too warm will be cool again, but they won’t safe to eat. 

Managing a restaurant with a broken cooler can be stressful. While it takes a lot of extra work to monitor food and cooler temperatures, you have to remain diligent. If even one spoiled item slips through, there may be major consequences.

The post Faulty Cooler? 3 Ways You Can Keep Your Customers Safe appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Stay Current with Your Maintenance Schedule

Many sudden troubles aren’t as sudden as people like to think. Problems can build up without anyone taking notice. These problems can lead to an abrupt failure. That’s why it’s important to have your HVAC system routinely inspected and maintained.

You can do a lot of maintenance yourself just by following your owner’s manual. If you don’t have access to the manual, then check the manufacturer’s website. Beyond that, there are many general rules to follow for your AC maintenance. There’s a lot you can and should do on your own.

Performing basic maintenance is a good way to help prevent sudden shutoffs. But having a professional perform maintenance as well will increase your chances against suddenly losing your AC. They can,

• Check the refrigerant
• Check the motor
• Check for leaks
• Check electrical connections
• Lubricate parts
• Tighten fittings

Personal and professional maintenance are key in preventing sudden AC failures. However, knowing what to do to prevent possible failures aren’t really much help when you’re faced with an abrupt AC outage.

Dealing with an AC Emergency

What if, despite all your preventive measures, you still suffer an AC emergency? Don’t panic. Do a little preliminary investigation. First, if you smell or see smoke, then contact emergency services. Similarly, if there’s a burning smell or smoke if you do turn the AC back on, then you should cut it back off immediately. Otherwise,

Check the thermostat – Is it set to AC? Is the temperature reading correct? Try turning it down to see if the blower fan kicks in. Is the thermostat even on?

Check the breaker – Did a breaker trip? Does manually tripping and resetting it helps?

Listen for activity – Do you hear the AC running but feel no cool air? Can you hear the fan turning? Do you hear noises that you know your AC doesn’t normally make?

Check your filters – Don’t just check the filters, but also your grilles and vents. These things can all block airflow.

Checking these things can help you solve a simple problem. Unfortunately, many sudden AC failures represent far larger issues. Fortunately, by gathering a little information during that preliminary investigation, you can help your HVAC repair service pinpoint the issue that much quicker.

If you want a quick resolution to your AC outage, then it’s best if you contact a professional, 24-hour AC repair service. When time is of the essence, you can’t wait until the next day for a visit or after the weekend for an appointment. If you have specific questions about how your air conditioning system is functioning or how to maintain it, contact a company like Elite Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.

The post Tips For Preventing, And Dealing With, A Sudden AC Failure appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.

Let it Air Out

One thing you can do every time you wash your clothes is leave the washing machine door open after you are done using it. This will air it out and give the standing water inside the machine a chance to dry. By letting this water dry with the open air, you will reduce the amount of mildew and keep out that musty smell. If the open door gets in the way when you are in the laundry room or garage, at least leave it open for several minutes after you are done doing laundry for the day.

Wipe it Down

Another way to reduce bad smells inside your washing machine is by wiping it down on a regular basis. Many areas inside your washing machine can get soap build-up, water that hasn’t evaporated, and various debris. Pay close attention to the rubber seal near the door, as this is where a lot of soap residue and debris ends up.

Once you have wiped down the rubber seal thoroughly, wipe inside the washing machine thoroughly, and don’t forget the inside of the door. While it needs to be done less often, wiping down the outside of the machine is also a good idea.

Be Careful With Your Soap Use

Make sure you know the recommended amount of soap for your size of laundry load, and don’t go overboard. If you make a habit of using more laundry soap than you need, you will end up with excess soap residue inside the machine’s drum. The extra soap that was not needed for that load of laundry ends up attaching to the side of the drum and getting caught inside the rubber seal.

Even if you wipe it down regularly, this excess soap can still cause a bad odor. Using the right amount prevents this from happening and reduces how much needs to be cleaned.

Run a Load With Hot Water

Try to run a load of laundry about once a week or so with hot water. While your regular clothes probably use cold water, linens and towels can be washed with hot water. The high temperature of the water helps to rinse the washing machine thoroughly and break up residue and debris that gets caught inside the drum. You can even run an empty cycle by using hot water to rinse the inside of your washing machine.

To learn more, contact a company like A Z Appliance Heating & Cooling with any questions you have.

The post How To Get Rid Of Washing Machine Odors appeared first on Talking About Air Conditioners.