Do you know what the refrigerant in your HVAC system does?
Heating season is in full swing. Do you use a heat pump to heat your home? If so, chances are your system contains refrigerant.
There are many components that make your HVAC equipment work. One of these components is your refrigeration system. Refrigerant facilitates the transfer of heat either to or from air that is distributed throughout your home. Refrigerant removes heat from the air as it evaporates and adds heat to the air when it condenses. Evaporation and condensation occurs in coils of the same name – the indoor, evaporator coil and the outdoor, condenser coil. In different portions of the cooling cycle (or heating for heat pumps), your refrigerant is either a liquid of a gas.
A few years back, the HVAC industry had to switch from R-22 refrigerant (Freon) to R-410A. R-410A does not contain chlorofluorocarbons (a.k.a. CFCs). This means that it does not contribute to ozone depletion were it to escape into the air. Other refrigerants, like R-22, do contribute to ozone depletion.
If your heat pump isn’t heating or cooling correctly, there could be an issue with your refrigerant system. Make sure you always call a contractor for HVAC system maintenance. You don’t want to attempt to repair your refrigerant system unless you know what you’re doing. Not only is refrigerant expensive, you could damage one of the other crucial components of your system (like your compressor or coil) leaving you with a much bigger repair bill and a longer time without heating or cooling.
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Are you considering a high-efficiency air conditioning upgrade?
How old is your air conditioner? Did you know that the average lifespan of an air conditioner is approximately 16 years? However, after a certain amount of time, the efficiency and performance of your unit could diminish due to regular wear and tear. There will come a time when it is no longer cost effective to continue making repairs. Instead, you should opt for a replacement.
When it comes to buying a new air conditioner, it always pays to invest in the most efficient air conditioner for your budget. Why is that? Well, here are some perks of a brand-new, efficient air conditioner.
Decreased utility bills. First and foremost, your new high-efficiency air conditioner can make a significant, positive impact on your utility bills. Higher SEER ratings translate to more dollars in your pocket.
Increased comfort. New air conditioners, high-efficiency models in particular, feature comfort-enhancing components that can improve your satisfaction with your cooling equipment. These features include variable-speed motors, swept-wing fan blades, multiple stages of operation and more.
Qualifies for local and manufacturer rebates (if available). To help offset some of those higher initial costs, high-efficiency air conditioners may qualify for local and manufacturer rebates. Make sure to talk to your contractor and see if your new unit qualifies.
Lower your ecological footprint. High-efficiency air conditioners are eco-friendly. Not only do they operate using less energy, but they are compatible with more eco-friendly refrigerant choice – R410A.
The upfront costs of a new high-efficiency air conditioner may be higher than the standard model, but money-saving operation could make up for those cost disparities over the life of the unit. Ask your local HVAC contractor about having a high-efficiency air conditioner installed in your home.
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Are you having a hard time staying comfortable in your house?
Summer may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t hot days left. Is your air conditioner still cooling the way that it should be? If your home is not reaching the correct temperature, there are several things that may be an issue that don’t involve a service call.
Try making these adjustments before you call a contractor.
Close blinds and curtains. Rooms with south-facing windows may feel warmer than those without. The sun can really heat things up! To help counter the warming effect of the sun’s rays, close your blinds and curtains. Your room will stay cooler in the shade.
Close vents. There is a misconception that closing vents and registers in unused/infrequently used rooms is a great way to save money. However, this is not the case. Your air conditioner is designed to cool a certain amount of space. When you start closing vents and registers, you could potentially damage your unit. Not to mention, if you forget to open them again, it could affect the comfort levels of that room. Make sure your vents are open.
Poorly placed furniture. Last time you arranged your rooms, did you make sure to take the placement of your vents and registers into account? If your living room is hot, your couch could be blocking a vent. Try rearranging your furniture if you have a hot living space.
Humidity levels. A humid home is a hot home. How high do you have the humidity set in your home? If your home is too humid, you may want to consider dropping the percentage. This can also help prevent mold growth.
Here are some things that should be dealt with by a contractor.
Poorly sized air conditioner. Did your contractor perform a Manual J load calculation when they installed your air conditioner? If not, you could have an undersized system. An undersized system will result in long run times, potential system damage and uncomfortable living spaces.
Leaky ductwork. When was the last time you had your ductwork inspected? Leaky ductwork can mean that your cooled, conditioned air is not being distributed to every part of your home. It’s a good idea to have a contractor come out and look at your ductwork once a year, especially if you are noticing areas that suffer from extreme cold and extreme heat.
When it comes to installation and repairs, it is best to call your local heating and air conditioning professional. As summer ends, it is a good idea to start thinking about fall preventative furnace maintenance. Remember, it’s never too early to schedule an appointment for the fall.
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How much do you know about your air conditioning system?
This summer has been HOT! How has your air conditioner been tackling the heat? Did you know that air conditioners have only been a widespread household staple with the 1960’s / 1970’s? In the grand scheme of things, that is not a lot of time at all. There may be a lot the average homeowner doesn’t know about the “box that sits outside.”
Here are some interesting facts that you may not have known about your air conditioner.
Original “air conditioners” involved ice. Modern air conditioners use refrigerant. However, we still use some terms leftover from the “ice age.” For example, a “ton” of air conditioner isn’t a measure of a unit’s size. It is actually a measurement of the heating or cooling capacity of a heat pump or air conditioner. A one ton air conditioner can melt a one ton block of ice in one hour.
Did you know that the average lifespan of an air conditioner is 16 years? It is important to know this when it comes to either repairing or replacing your older unit. If your air conditioner is nearing the 10-15 year mark, it may be a good idea to replace the unit rather than continue to make repairs.
Although air conditioners and heat pumps may seem completely different if you just hear the names, they actually have a lot of similarities. Both heat pumps and air conditioners use the same process to cool a home, but a heat pump is able to reverse the process to provide heat for your home on colder days.
Air conditioning is important for the medical profession. The ability to control the environment has helped thinkers develop medicines, perform operations and more! That’s not to mention that air conditioned indoor environments can help prevent death from the heat during brutally hot summers.
It’s a wide misconception that school summer vacations were created mainly for the purpose to cater to farm life. While this may have had an impact, the main factor that led to summer vacation was the heat! Since school buildings didn’t have air conditioning, it was deemed too hot to learn. Lucky for school kids, and maybe unlucky for parents, the practice continued after the widespread use of air conditioning.
Want to learn more about your air conditioner? Get in touch with your local HVAC contractor.
This is part two of our air conditioning facts. You can find part one here.
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What to do when there’s no air conditioning
There’s nothing more aggravating than turning on your air conditioner and discovering that it is not working. You make sure the thermostat is set to the right settings. You make sure the unit is receiving power. And, it’s still not turning on.
Do you want to know the worst thing you can do for your air conditioner? Attempt to fix it yourself. Too often, a contractor will come across a problem that could have been prevented with proper maintenance, repair or installation by a well-trained hand.
If you discover your air conditioner isn’t turning on, here are the next steps you should take:
Pick up the phone and call a reputable contractor. It’s important that the professional you hire is ready to do a great job on your air conditioning repair. If you think it’s expensive to pay for a quality contractor, just try hiring a hack. You may end up paying a bunch for diagnosis and never receiving an adequate repair.
DO NOT attempt to fix your air conditioner yourself. DIY air conditioner maintenance, repairs and installations can result in significant problems for your air conditioner. Not to mention it can be downright dangerous to go poking around in your unit.
Remember, patience is a virtue. Contractors become very busy during the summer. It can take a while for a contractor to make it to your home, or you may have to pay more for expedited emergency service. A good contractor will always be worth the wait.
Find ways to keep cool while waiting for your contractor. Use fans to your advantage. Avoid using the stove or oven – crockpots and grills are great alternatives! Do not go in and out of the house too much. Keep windows closed, unless it gets cooler at night. There are many ways to keep cool. After all, central air conditioning in homes did not become widespread until the ’60s!
Need a place to start the contractor search? You can check out the Maytag HVAC contractor locator.
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How do you keep cool during the summer?
We’re having a heat wave! It has been hot, hot, HOT here at Maytag HVAC. Highs this week are climbing into the 100s, and it’s not even August yet – the hottest month of the year. The question of the day is, what are some of the things you like to do when it is just too hot outside?
Let’s face it, no one wants to stay indoors in the air conditioning every single day. You’ve got to venture outside eventually.
How do you keep cool?
Here’s our best hot weather advice!
Stay hydrated. It is all too easy to forget to drink enough water, especially when you are at the pool or a waterpark.
Stick to the shade. Did you know that the light from the sun can make it feel 10 – 15 warmer? Staying in the shade is a great way to keep cool AND avoid sunburn.
Wear sunscreen. It may not smell great. It may be inconvenient to continue reapplying. BUT, sunscreen is very important to remember during the summer.
Take breaks from the heat and enjoy an air-conditioned area.
Are you ready for fall, or do you enjoy the hot weather?
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Worried about the cost of a new air conditioner?
There are no two ways about it – investing in a new heating and cooling system does require a chunk of change. However, there are plenty of rebates and incentives that can ease the cost burden of investing in a new air conditioner.
Manufacturer Rebate
During various times of the year, HVAC manufacturers offer rebates on high-efficiency equipment. Make sure you talk with your contractor to see if your new system qualifies.
Local Utility Rebates
Homeowners in both the United States and Canada may qualify for local rebates. Search the DSIRE database if you are in the United States or the National Energy Use Database if you are in Canada.
Tax Credits
Did you recently have an HVAC system installed? If your system was installed before December 31, 2016, and you live in the United States, your new equipment may have qualified for a tax credit. Did you make sure to check that out when you filed your 2016 taxes?
Contractor Promotions / Financing
Still need a little help affording that new system? Many contractors participate in financing programs that can make a new high-efficiency HVAC system more attainable. Plus, your local contractor may run different promotions through the year.
Remember, it pays to invest in efficiency. Not only will a more efficient air conditioner qualify for more incentives, it can also help you save money over the life of the system (in smaller utility bills). Make sure you do some research when finding your local HVAC contractor. If you think it’s expensive to hire a quality contractor, you should try hiring one that ISN’T fully qualified to install your equipment.
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What do you do indoors during the summer?
Are you already sick of the summer heat? Need an escape from the sun’s rays? Luckily your air conditioner is here to save the day! There are a lot of fun summertime activities that you can take indoors. When the heat gets too intense, try to think of some things you can do inside. (more…)
How do you keep cool during the summer?
The beginning of summer is only a few short weeks away! Do you have any special tricks for keeping cool during the summer? The best way to keep cool is by enjoying your central air conditioner, but what are the other things you can do to keep cool?
Water-based activities. There is nothing more refreshing than jumping in a cool pool on a hot day! Water-based activities can be a great way to keep cool outdoors. Start a water balloon fight, visit the local pool or turn on the sprinkler.
Practice “smart” entertaining. Save your parties for later in the evening, or create a shaded outdoor living space. It can be significantly cooler in the shade during a hot summer day.
Know how to properly run fans. During the summer, you want your ceiling fans to run in a counter-clockwise direction so that the air blows down into your rooms. You can also point a box fan out of the window to blow hot air out. Just be careful. We don’t want to encourage air leaks and INCREASED utility bill expenses.
Drink plenty of cool beverages. A cool glass of water or tea can help you cool down on really hot days! It is important to stay hydrated!
If you’re really feeling warm…take a cool shower. This can help lower your body temperature.
Of course, nothing quite keeps you cool like central air. Make sure to schedule your last-minute spring maintenance appointment with your local contractor before things really heat up!
What else do you do during the summer to keep cool?
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Did you know that cooling costs comprise over HALF of your monthly utilities during the summer?
Cooling your home can be expensive. And cooling your home with an old, inefficient air conditioner is even MORE expensive. With summer only a few weeks away, now is the time to invest in a new air conditioner. Things are already starting to heat up!
The most important thing to keep in mind while you are searching for a new air conditioner is efficiency ratings. Air conditioner efficiency, measured in SEER, is going to determine just how much money you drop out-of-pocket cooling your home month after month.
SEER stands for the “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration” and is a measure of cooling efficiency over a season of use. This measurement is used for both air conditioners and heat pumps – the higher the SEER, the more efficient the system.
Air conditioners must be at least 13 SEER (in northern states) and 14 SEER (for states in the South). Heat pumps must be 14 SEER everywhere. If you are looking for a high-efficiency model, check out models that have an ENERGY STAR designation. These models go above-and-beyond standard efficiency. However, even a standard-efficiency model can be a significant upgrade from your old air conditioner in terms of efficiency and performance features.
When it comes to selecting a new air conditioner, you should always invest in the most efficient air conditioner you can afford. Although upfront costs for a high-efficiency air conditioner are going to be higher than a standard-efficiency equivalent, the unit may pay for itself over the course of its life in energy-saving performance.
Before you choose an air conditioner or heat pump from your home, make sure you schedule an appointment with your local HVAC contractor.
How efficient is the air conditioner in your home?