The US federal government strongly recommends that homeowners with air conditioner units more than ten years old should replace the units. This recommendation comes with strong reasoning. The Department of Energy and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) points out that air conditioners and heat pumps that are ENERGY STAR-qualified can result in significant energy savings for the homeowner. So it makes sense to replace your old, inefficient AC unit with a new and more efficient unit.

Considering your older AC unit may be a power-hungry system that makes up a substantial portion of your energy bill, hundreds of dollars-worth of wasted energy may occur every year. Maybe you have had an energy audit done on your home and your aging AC unit has been identified as responsible for rising energy bills. If this is the case and you are a homeowner, you will probably want to know what is involved in installing a new air conditioning system. The following are the main points that should be considered: Read more »

 
If you have an HVAC system installed in your home, you have probably heard the term ‘‘heat pump’’ used. What exactly is a heat pump? Using technical jargon, a heat pump is defined as a refrigeration system that works on a mechanical-compression cycle and is used to either heat up or cool down a controlled space. The installation of a heat pump consists of two main parts, an indoor unit, aka an air handler, and an outdoor unit that is similar to an air conditioner. A compressor is used to circulate a refrigerant that absorbs then releases heat as it moves from the indoor to the outdoor unit.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

A heat pump works by either heating up your home when it’s cold or cooling it down when it’s hot. When the air temperature inside your house drops too low, the heat pump removes heat from the outdoors and uses it to heat the house. The opposite action is completed when the air temperature indoors becomes too high. A heat pump does not generate its own heat, but merely transfers it from one place to another. This results in a more efficient operation. The pump is powered by electricity or gas. Heat pumps are much more efficient at heating homes when compared to other commonly used methods. A Trane model XL20i heat pump for instance is highly regarded in the HVAC industry and has a SEER rating of 19 with 9.00 HSPF. Read more »

 
Our homes can be incubators for all types of smells. How your home smells can affect your own mood and influence the impression guests have of your home. The smell of your home, whether good or bad, is a factor that everyone who enters the home notices. A bad odor in your home is the last thing you need.

Fortunately, there are plenty of products that we can use to get rid of bad smells. The method you use to remove odors from your home depends on the cause of the odor. One common source of odor is that of having pets in the home. Strong odors, from cat boxes, can linger in the house for days, even after eliminating the source of the smell. If your pet soils your floor or carpet, wash the area thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Make sure you then air the room by using the fan to circulate the air. Use a household cleaning agent or products such as vinegar to neutralize the odor. If the carpet is soiled, soak the soiled area with a cleaning agent as directed. Avoid rubbing since this is may spread the stain or push the odor further into fabric. Read more »

 
When you have an independent air conditioning unit or when it is part of a HVAC system, you need to carry out simple maintenance. This helps in prolonging the life of your expensive equipment and also in improving the efficiency of your air conditioner and heating systems. Some simple steps like cleaning the a/c unit and replacing parts like the filter regularly will help you save significantly on the energy bills.

For Independent A/C Units

First unplug the air conditioner and remove the front cover; a filter will be placed in front of the coils or it might be attached to the back of the cover; remove this filter and clean it with soap and water. If it is very dirty, use warm water. Once the filter is clean, allow it to dry completely before putting it back in; if the filter is damaged or torn, then replace it immediately. Then gently vacuum the evaporator coils and the grill; be careful because heavy air blowing might damage the delicate vanes of the evaporator. Wipe them down clean and replace.

Remove the drain tube from the air conditioner and clean it; remove any blockages and then you can use a chlorine bleach diluted solution to clean the accumulated grime and moss inside the draining tube. This will give it better drainage and also keep it clean for months to come. Other precautions for ensuring a long life for your a/c unit include protection during winters, turning it off when you go away, even for a day; and checking for any leaks in the seams around your window unit. A properly sealed air conditioner is more efficient than one with minute leaks.

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When you are living in a hot and humid climate like Florida, your summers are going to be horrible without an efficient air conditioner. Keeping your air conditioner serviced and at the peak of its performance is really important once summer is under way. However, if there are any issues, you might be better off having a look and troubleshooting before sending for the professionals. This can be a great help, especially at a time when their services are in such a huge demand.

Here are some tips for troubleshooting when your A/C is not working

Condenser isn’t working – check if the power is still on; there might be blown fuses or tripped MCBs which are installed to protect your expensive air conditioning equipment during power surges. Check the thermostat and change the setting and see if the a/c starts working. If the above two check out, then the problem might be with your motor or your compressor and so you have to call the repair man.
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Almost all air conditioning units have an evaporator coil that serves the purpose of removing heat from the air that passes through the filters of the units and making the coolant liquid in the evaporator coils absorb the heat, thereby cooling the air. This is part of the fundamental working principle of any a/c system and thus it should be obvious that anything that causes the evaporator to malfunction would vastly hinder the proper operation of the device. The best way to deal with the issue is to contact a professional air conditioning and heating company like Snyder AC, Jacksonville, FL.

A dirty evaporator coil is not a simple thing to identify and tackle. This is because the evaporator is not a part that is open or easy to access – it is usually found deep within the bowels of the casing of the air conditioner unit. At the least, a few screws and maybe some plastic or metal casings will have to be removed to be able to reach the evaporator easily. It would be prudent to check the user or service manual of your product to correctly identify where the evaporator is and how to access it easily. Once the evaporator coil is identified and located, it is still not easy to identify if a dirty coil is the cause of the problem. Read more »

At this point, most people are likely well aware of the fact that the amount of pollution in the atmosphere in their city can have a serious impact on their respiratory health. Pollutants in the air inside a home or office can have an equally significant impact on your respiratory health and this is particularly the case when the weather is very warm or very cold. With the windows and doors closed, your ventilation system dictates how clean and comfortable the air is in inside your home and has a real impact on your overall health.

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Whether you have just had an air conditioning installation from your Jacksonville, FL contractor or you are getting some repairs on your existing heating or cooling units, you probably want to understand the expected lifespan on this costly equipment.
This is not something that can be answered easily because there are so many factors to consider. For example:
• What brand was installed? Some firms are known for making remarkably durable units, such as Trane AC, and some are not. The quality of the brand has a lot to do with anticipated life expectancies.
• How well was the machine maintained? Even a new unit, if treated badly by an owner, will fail faster than anticipated. For instance, if a machine is run constantly, installed in a way that is not ideal, and covered with debris that blocks air flow or clogs filters, it may fail a lot earlier than expected.
• Where is the unit installed? Geographic regions can also play a role in the life of a heating or cooling unit. If it is run constantly for a major part of the year it is going to sustain classic “wear and tear” that may shorten its lifespan.
• How easy is it to make repairs or to maintain? Some companies designed systems that are easy to maintain and for which replacement parts are readily available. Some manufacturers do not do this, and this can lead to problems. Read more »

Indoor air quality is often quite poor. We may not realize that our chronic sinus headache or our ongoing respiratory trouble is due entirely to the terrible conditions within our home and sleeping areas. Fortunately, all kinds of air filters are available, and are even commonly included as part of our home air conditioning and heating units. Read more »