People don’t tend to give much thought to their air conditioning system until something goes wrong with it. We’re readily available 24 hours a day for emergency repair work if anything goes wrong with your HVAC systems.
1. Cooling History
Ancient Egyptians utilized to cool their indoor air by hanging wet mats on their entrances. Even Benjamin Franklin the innovator whose kite experiment exposed much of what we now know about the nature of electrical energy dabbled in the air conditioning world, working with coworkers to figure out how to manipulate liquids that have cooling residential or commercial properties. Regardless of these, and other, contributions, the creation of the very first modern air conditioner in 1902 is credited by a lot of to Willis Carrier, an American engineer.
2. A/C Anatomy
It’s helpful to understand how the air conditioning unit works in the first place. This will assist all other information to make sense, and will provide you a massive gratitude for the specialists whose task it is to keep you’re A/C in working order. The little things make a substantial difference.
– Inside your A/C, there is a set of pipes filled with refrigerant, which (just as it sounds) refrigerates or cools the air around it. The set of pipes is likewise called an evaporator coil.
– Hot air from outdoors is pumped into your a/c unit by a blower (or fan), running the air over the cooling coils, and blowing it into your home.
– The refrigerant in the evaporator coil changes from a liquid into a gas while soaking up heat from the air.
– At the exact same time, the hot air inside your house is being pushed outside with another fan.
– The refrigerant is pumped outside the house to another coil (called a condenser), launching its heat and altering back (condensing) into a liquid.
– The refrigerant is returned and forth within the a/c by a pump called a compressor, which controls the rate of motion so that the refrigeration and condensation happens within the right coil.
– Your A/C also has a motor, which runs the compressor.
3. Set The Right Temperature
As a basic guideline, your air conditioning unit can keep indoor temperatures about 20 degrees cooler than outdoors. This indicates that on a 100-degree day, your A/C might have a hard time to cool your house below 80 degrees. Setting the thermostat any lower than that will strain your system unnecessarily, and will most likely result in it continuously running in a noble attempt to reach the cooler temperature. If the heat is excruciating, try using a ceiling, table, or other type of fan to keep the air moving.
If you have a central unit, you can buy a thermostat with a timer that can be set to get used to greater temperatures when you’re gone, and cooler temperature when you’re house. It’s not a great idea to turn your system off totally unless you’re going on getaway. Turning it off will result in the unit needing to work additional difficult to cool the home at a later time.
4. Change Your Filters
If you have a central or window unit, you require to change your filters about when a month throughout the cooling season. In-home filters have a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), which is a number in between 1 and 12. A higher MERV ranking ways higher purification, and it is generally suggested that you utilize filters of a 6 or greater.
Filter gunk (not a clinical term) will prevent the air from flowing easily, which will prevent you from optimizing your comfort. Modification your filters to keep the breeze … and keep the peace.
5. Clean Your Outdoor Condenser
Your condenser has to survive a lot being exposed to the elements throughout the year. If you see that your system is not cooling too, it might be because the condenser needs cleansing. Leaves, branches, yard, and other particles can get caught in its fins, and this will block its cooling capability.
Tidy Your Outdoor Condenser
Prior to you get started with the cleaning, make sure to turn the condenser off. This can be done by pulling out a fuse block linking the unit to your home, or moving the switch to the “off” position. Make certain that the temperature level is at least 60 degrees outside so that you can check the a/c unit to be sure that it works.
If you discover that they are bent, attempt utilizing a butter knife from your cooking area to push them back into shape. Keep in mind to refer to your owner’s handbook for directions that are particular to your system.
That takes care of the outside. Now we will cover the inside parts.
6. Examine Your Coolant Levels
The amount of refrigerant in your A/C system is called its “charge.” If there’s a leak and the refrigerant charge decreases, you will have issues. A leak will lower your system’s ability to work correctly, and your house will not get the cooling it requires.
Because of international warming, discovering the ideal cooling gases to utilize in residential and industrial homes has been a quite big deal. Some have been determined to be ozone-depleting substances by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and are for that reason prohibited from being utilized in brand-new systems. Here’s a run-down of what’s ok and what’s not:
– HCFC-22: This gas was prohibited in brand-new equipment in 2010 by the EPA. It is only readily available for older design A/C systems.
– R-410A: This is one option to HCFC-22, and is being utilized in the United States. Although it has a high global warming impact, it triggers no ozone exhaustion.
– R-32: This gas is being evaluated by the EPA, and is understood for being mildly flammable. Its global warming effect is moderate, and it causes no ozone deficiency.
– Hydrocarbons: These are being utilized in commercial refrigeration, but not yet in houses, unless systems have been revamped. The global warming result is low and there is no ozone deficiency.
It’s not an excellent concept to attempt handling any of these coolants by yourself, so contact your HVAC professional if you suspect that something is amiss with your coolant levels.
7. Maximize Your A/C’s Effectiveness
If you have a fan, run it when your A/C is on so that the cool air can circulate more freely. You must also keep all doors in the house open so that air can flow easily.
If you need to make home repairs, such as replacing your windows or your roofing system, make decisions with the understanding that insulation is everything. A house that is not well insulated will result in air leakages … which force your ac system to work more difficult than it would generally require to. Proper insulation may cost more on the front end, but over time, the savings will be significant.
Some other tricks to optimizing your air conditioning unit’s efficiency consist of:
– Using your washer/dryer throughout cooler times of the day.
– On cooler nights, opening windows so that the outside air can fill the house.
– Making sure your ducts are sealed to prevent air leakages. You can seal them yourself with mastic – the thick, white, water resistant sealant that can be painted over them. Small ducts leaks can be sealed with foil tape.
– Keep the blinds on the west side of your house closed on hotter days.
8. Pay Attention To Efficiency Rating
Along the lines of effectiveness, effectiveness matters. If you have a main A/C unit, inspect the seasonal energy-efficiency ratio, or the SEER. In a window unit, it is called the energy-efficiency ratio (EER). Your SEER ought to be at least a 13, and your EER ought to be no lower than 8. The higher the number, the less costly and more efficient the system.
Buy a system that is a good match for your climate. If you live in a damp area, find an A/C that likewise dehumidifies. If you reside in a dry climate, find one that will run efficiently in hot, dry temperature levels. Making the effort to customize your purchase to your specific needs will save you a lot of loan and heartache in the future.
9. Get An Air Conditioning Check-Up Annually
Just like our bodies and cars and trucks need check-ups, a/c unit benefit from them too. Make certain your expert looks at the following:
– Get An Air Conditioning Check-Up Annually
– Inspecting and cleaning coils,
– Replacing fan belts if needed,
– Checking refrigerant charge and pressures,
– Cleaning or replacing filters if you’re not able to do it,
– Lubricating motors and bearings,
– Cleaning and inspecting blowers and fans,
– Inspecting controls and securities, and
– Checking temperature controls.
10. Humidity Matters More Than Heat
Humidity, if not regulated, can cause some serious problems. Not only does it make you feel worse about the heat, however it can support the development of mold and other germs that can affect the health of those residing in the area. If you’ve ever observed the condensation that can collect around air conditioning vents, you are aware that the majority of A/C systems actually pull the moisture out of the air.
Your A/C does not have to do all the work alone, be sure to utilize your exhaust fans when bathing, showering, and cooking. You can likewise utilize a fan to assist with moving some of the air outside. If these options aren’t working as they should, buy a different dehumidifier to help things along. Sticky skin is the least of your concerns when thinking about the threats of mold and damp environments. It can result in breating problems, coughing, wheezing and inflammation of asthma signs.
11. Choose A Unit That Makes Sense For You
The size of your ac system need to be proportionate to the size of the area you wish to cool down. If your A/C is too big, it may cool the space quickly, but it will not effectively dehumidify the area. Energy Star offers a chart that will help you decide just how much cooling capability, measured in British thermal systems (BTU), you will need per hour. This cooling capability is also called “tons” – One lot of cooling equals 12,000 BTU/hour.
Additional things to consider are the perks that come along with your purchase. When working out costs, pay attention to whether or not the cost consists of a service plan, discount rates on repairs, or a labor service warranty. Aquisition is only the first step … maintenance will soon follow.
12. Select The Right HVAC Professional
The Air Conditioning expert you select should to be certified by a reputable organization such as the North American Technician Excellence (NATE). When you call them to come to your house be sure to have information about your unit’s brand as well as the level of cooling and convenience you are desiring.
Real professionals will ensure you understand exactly what is going on with your central air system and will patiently put in the time to answer all your questions.
For more information contact AC Contractor Referral Network.
