Heating And Air Conditioning | HVAC | Heatingandactips.com

AC Brands Matter?!

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 05:04:18 +0000

Sometimes! With over 80 different brands of air conditioners out there, no wonder many have a hard time choosing which one is better suited to their air conditioning and heating needs. The truth is though, that at present, there are only a few compressor and parts manufacturers in the market. What does this mean? Well, if you get the chance to look inside an air conditioner, you will notice it might have a circuit board, capacitors, contactors and other little intricate parts along with some wires connecting the parts. If you would compare two of the major brands, generally any two, you will find that in those air conditioners, some parts are the same. But what does this mean for you as the consumer? That most of the major air conditioning companies all use the same parts but put them together differently.

So why the difference?

Just like the auto industry and many others, air conditioner manufacturers offer more than just a standalone product. They offer upgrades and brand name products. For example, why is it that a GMC Sierra pickup costs more than a Chevrolet Silverado pickup with the same engine and parts? Why does a Ford cost more than a Mercury with the same engine and parts? Not because you are necessarily getting a completely different product, but because you are mostly paying for a name brand. Not that owning a name brand isn’t important but for the consumer who wants a little more for their buck, it matters greatly (i.e. $500 to $1000 or more). So some of the major reasons for this difference in Air Conditioner Brands are warranty, how its built and installed, how quiet the unit is and how easy it will be to make repairs.

AC Brands

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 04:49:30 +0000

Coming from 40+ yrs experience, even the generic or so-called cheap brands, if installed right, can last you a long time. While working in the field, we’ve seen ‘low end’ air conditioning units over 20 yrs old. Again, what does this mean for you as the consumer? A very expensive air conditioner installed improperly will give you the same problems as another brand that is installed improperly. Some air conditioners are just a plain old DOA (Dead on Arrival). Especially when dealing with electrical parts, you just never know what could happen. That is why warranty is very important when choosing which air conditioner is better suited for you.

Great and up to code installation of your air conditioning and heating system is the key! The importance of installing your air conditioner the correct way cannot be emphasized enough. Granted building codes change from time to time and are different in every region, basic installation rules should always apply. Checking the contractor’s customer’s reviews or asking for them should help in determining if you have a qualified and certified contractor. Some states have a licensing website to check and see if said contractor has had any disciplinary actions incurred in the past.

Air Conditioner Maintenance

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:45:44 +0000

1. Changing you air filter 2. Pouring vinegar and water (about a half cup of each mixed together) down the Condensate drain per filter change or every other month. 3. Washing the condenser ever other month of dirt, dust and … Continue reading →

Air Conditioning Filter Change

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:39:47 +0000

For one thing it is one of the only things you as a consumer can do to prevent issues related to your Air Conditioning system that’s not related to a technical issue. The concept of Air Conditioning uses air that passes over metal coils that are made cold using the freon gas. Because of humidity and temperature differences, moisture will begin to accumulate on these coils. Any dust particles that gets past your air filter will in effect, stick to the coils and over time restrict proper air flow.
When this happens it results in your air conditioning system working more harder and longer to achieve its thermostat setting. Therefore, more energy costs to run the system.
Over time problems start to accumulate. With most coils, cleaning them requires extraction. Costs are anywhere between $700 up to even $1500. Whereas a filter at your local hardware store will run you $5-$20 per filter.
A dirty coil begins to shorten the life of your Air Conditioner greatly. And so as the single most expensive equipment in your home, changing your filters could make all the difference in the life of your unit.

More than one Air Conditioning System in your home

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:31:58 +0000

Indoor comfort is what we all look for and try to achieve. Sometimes in a two story house you find that in the summer the upstairs is too cool and in the winter its too hot. Many times that’s because of improper HVAC zoning in your house.
Air Conditioners work with air circulation. The closer the air is able to return to your Air Conditioning unit, the faster and more efficient it will be to control your indoor temperature. That’s why many two story homes or larger houses have more than one Air Conditioning system. But because this process takes longer for a single Air Conditioning System, it creates areas of the house with temperature splits of up to 10 or even 15 degrees. For better and greater insight into what would be best for your home, consult with your local licensed HVAC Contractor.

Air Filters Rated

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:24:11 +0000

The industry standard for measuring these filters is called a MERV Rating. Which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This rating measures how effective an air filter is. It is used to measure how much particles gets past a filter. In other words, the lower the MERV rating, the more particles that gets past the filter. It measures particles on the range in diameters of 0.3 to 10 micrometres. The MERV rating ranges from 1-16. 16 being the highest that takes out up 95% of particles. In other words, 5% of particles gets past the filter. For clean rooms or places like hospitals that need much cleaner air, they use a different kind of filter. One that’s made more for commercial or industrial use. They use a HEPA filter.

Condenser does …

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:18:44 +0000

A Condenser does just that. In an Air Conditioning application, it condenses freon gas from a gas or low pressure state to a liquid or high pressure state. To make sure that compressor doesn’t overheat though, the condenser has some metal tubing usually going in a continuous loop called a coil. The heat transfers from the compressor into these coils. Once that happens, a fan motor with a fan blade sucks cool or outside air through these coils to decimate the heat from the coils and inherently off the compressor. Allowing the compressor to run more efficiently, improving longevity and performance.

Clogged AC Drain

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:12:25 +0000

Clearing a clogged Air Conditioner drain can be a little tricky. Sometimes it will involve calling either a plumber or you local HVAC technician. It will involve loosening or disconnecting the drainage line from the Air Handler or the coil. Once this is done, either water pressure or air pressure can be used to clear this drain. While putting the drain back together, you may need to seal the connections with glue or some kind of adhesive or clamp. To prevent this from happening, proper maintenance should be done to the Air Conditioner system.

Air Handler, What?

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:07:08 +0000

An Air Handler does just that. It handles the Air in your house. It does this by using an electric motor that spins a blower wheel that creates suction from one end of the unit and pushes it out the other end. Most Air Handlers are considered Air Handlers because they have an evaporator coil inside.

Heating Checks

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:58:14 +0000

Checking your Heater for the winter is just always a necessity. Especially if you have a gas furnace. These give off an exhaust and the deadly gas, known as, carbon monoxide. Having your heater checked for the winter will help avoid any foreseeable problems with operation.