Are you ready for fall?
As we head into September, it’s time to start preparing for sweater weather. What do you think? Are we in for a warm fall or a cold fall?
What to do in case of a warm fall…
For portions of the Midwest, fall 2016 was unusually warm. If we’re in store for the same conditions this fall, temperature swings can make setting your thermostat tricky. The days may call for the air conditioner while the evenings may make your home too chilly. The important thing to remember is to commit to the temperature you choose. Constant temperature fluctuations can result in more often on/off cycles, which can really drive up your utility bills.
An even better solution? Invest in a heat pump and a programmable thermostat. When you pair a heat pump with a gas furnace, you can use the most efficient method of heat for the temperature outside. Your heat pump works just like an air conditioner during the hot days, but can switch over to heat mode on chillier evenings. If you’ve paired it with a programmable thermostat, you can set additional comfort preferences based on your schedule. This can help you save money on utilities.
What to do in case of a cold fall…
The most important thing that people can do during the fall (especially those who experience colder falls and winters) is schedule preventative furnace maintenance. The sooner the better in the case with a cold fall. Fall preventative maintenance is crucial for not only your furnace’s overall lifespan, but how efficiently it runs when temperatures drop. During maintenance, your local HVAC contractor will be able to find small issues before they can turn into big problems.
Which would you prefer…a chillier fall? Or, a warmer fall?
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What do you set your thermostat to during the fall?
Fall can be a tricky time to set your thermostat. Some days will seem hot enough for the air conditioner, while other days will be chilly enough for your gas furnace. So, where’s the healthy medium? Here are our tips for setting your thermostat during the fall for both non-programmable and programmable thermostats.
Non-programmable
Constant temperature setting fluctuations are an efficiency killer for homes with a non-programmable thermostat. Make sure when you set your thermostat for fall, you commit to that temperature. Those looking for a more customized, schedule approach to home comfort should consider a programmable model.
Programmable
Like a non-programmable model, it is a good idea to set your schedule and desired temperatures and stick to it. Think about your home’s situation throughout the day. Is everyone out of the house during the work hours? Does your house get cold at night? The beauty of a programmable thermostat is that you can set your schedule and forget about it. This is the most efficient way to control the temperature of your home.
Want even more savings and comfort options during the fall? Consider a heat pump as your condensing unit of choice. It works just like an air conditioner but can reverse the flow of refrigerant to provide heat for your home on those chillier nights/days. This way you are always using the most efficient energy source for your climate conditions.
Make sure you contact your local contractor to discuss your energy-efficient heating and cooling options. They will know your local area and will be able to recommend a system that will keep your home comfortable efficiently.
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Are you neglecting your furnace filter?
Noticing a foul smell in the air? Air conditioner not blowing enough cool air? Look to your furnace filter. Not only is a furnace filter critical for your indoor air, but a dirty filter can affect the performance of your heating and air conditioning equipment.
A dirty filter can…
- Lower indoor air quality
- Restrict airflow
- Shorten the lifespan of your air distribution equipment and/or outdoor air conditioner or heat pump
- Cause unpleasant odors in your home
Suffer from allergies? You may also want to consider changing your filter up to once a month. Or, you can invest in a more powerful filter. Just remember, there can be such a thing as too much filtration. Don’t get a filter that is too restrictive on your airflow. Talk to your contractor about the best filtration level for your home.
Smell something funny? It could be an odor trapped in your furnace filter. It never hurts to change it out. If that doesn’t resolve the smell, and you still think it is part of your air distribution system, ask your contractor to come out and inspect your ductwork.
If you don’t identify with one of these three conditions, it still doesn’t hurt to change your furnace filter once a month. However, if you don’t think that is necessary, we recommend changing your filter AT LEAST once a season. Make a little note near your thermostat. This way, when you go to change your thermostat settings for a season, you also remember to give your furnace filter a look.
Want more advice on indoor air quality? Give your local heating and air conditioning contractor a call.
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Do you know how much the air conditioner has changed?
When air conditioners were first used in commercial applications in the early 1900s, it operated using ice. A lot has changed since the air conditioner was first created. For one, central air conditioners use refrigerant instead of ice to cool a space.
Things have been progressing at a rapid pace over the past few decades. Regulation changes and technological advances are allowing engineers to improve and refine the central air conditioner. Here are a few of those improvements.
Higher Efficiency. Efficiency standards in the early 2000s were significantly lower than they are today. Back then, air conditioners had to meet a minimum efficiency requirement of 10 SEER. In 2006, efficiency standards were raised from the 10-SEER minimum to 13 SEER. Since then, there have been even more changes. Now, minimum efficiency standards vary from region to region – with homeowners in the South having to meet a higher efficiency minimum than homeowners in the North.
Greater Home Comfort. Technological advances have made it so that maximum home comfort is now more achievable than ever. Air conditioners manufactured today contain innovative technology like variable-speed motors, swept-wing fan blades, modulating technology and more. Not to mention, you can couple your high-efficiency air conditioner with a zoning system and/or a smart thermostat and gain maximum control over your unique comfort needs.
Quieter Operation. Like greater home comfort, technological advances have made it so that air conditioners today operate at noise levels that are lower than ever. For example, air conditioners than use modulation technology ramp up to speed in stages as opposed to going through abrupt on and off cycles. This means fewer noisy on and off cycles.
Smart Thermostats. Thermostats are getting smarter and smarter. There are models that are your standard, digital non-programmable models while others can run based on your schedule and even connect with your phone or tablet for on-the-go temperate monitoring.
Ability to Select the Best Professional for the Job. The internet has made it easier than ever to select the right contractor for your installation, service or maintenance. You don’t have to rely on word-of-mouth recommendations alone. You can look at their online presence, which may even include reviews.
So, how old is your air conditioner? If it is over 10 years old, you may want to call your local contractor and talk about your replacement options.
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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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Do you know the ideal temperature to set your thermostat at during the summer?
Let’s face it – we want to have a comfortable home during the summer, but we don’t want to rack up a big utility bill. Although it’s tempting to drop the thermostat down to 68°F on a 100°F day, this could make your utility bills skyrocket.
Summer may be ending, but that does not mean that Mother Nature does not still have some hot days in store for us. Here are some things you can do to lower the impact on your air conditioner on your utility bill AND make sure that you are experiencing premium home comfort.
The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F when you are home. Seem a little bit warm? Well, the important thing to remember is to set your ideal temperature and leave it be (unless you have a programmable thermostat).
If you have a programmable thermostat, adjust your settings so that your home is warmer when you are not home. This way you won’t waste precious cooling dollars on an empty home.
Try lowering the humidity. Not only will a lower humidity level help prevent mold growth, but it will make your home feel cooler as well. Just remember to not set it TOO low. You don’t wnat your home to suffer from dry air.
Don’t dramatically plunge your temperature settings when your air conditioner starts. A lower temperature setting will not cool your home any more quickly – your air conditioner will just run longer and rack up a higher bill.
If you feel like you are doing everything right, but your electric bill seems unreasonably high, get in touch with your local heating and air conditioning contractor. They can look at your system and diagnose any issues, if they exist.
What do you set your thermostat at during the summer?
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Having a properly sized air conditioner is important.
Did you make sure your contractor properly sized your air conditioner when you had it installed in your home? Proper sizing is a critical step in the air conditioning purchasing process. Your contractor should not simply base equipment size on rule-of-thumb measurements. In fact, they may not want to go off the size that you currently have in your home. An improperly sized air conditioner can have serious implications for your home comfort AND wallet.
If you are noticing any of the following things, your air conditioner may be too small.
- Your home never reaches your programmed temperature.
- Your equipment constantly runs.
- Your electricity bills are high.
- Your air conditioner short cycles.
- Your electricity bills are high.
- Your home is humid.
When your air conditioner is too large, it doesn’t run long enough to get the appropriate amount of humidity out of the air. High humidity in your home can have a negative impact on comfort. A humid home is a hot home – you could find yourself lowering the temperature your thermostat is set at because your home just does not feel cool enough. Plus, high humidity levels can encourage mold and mildew growth, resulting in poor indoor air quality and unpleasant odors.
Think your air conditioner is improperly sized? Reach out to your local heating and air conditioning contractor.
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The latest updates from Maytag HVAC
Have you noticed something different about our split-system air conditioners and heat pumps? We’ve introduced some exciting changes to our units that can help the lives of both contractors and homeowners.
In April 2017, we revealed an all-new jacket design for our split-system air conditioners and heat pumps. This new jacket features sleek panels that make service simpler for contractors. When service is simpler for contractors, homeowners win. Simpler service means less time at your home during service or maintenance.
In addition to our split-system unit changes, we’ve also introduced two new packaged products in 2017 – the PPA3RF packaged air conditioner and the PPH3RF packaged heat pump. Both units have been redesigned to include two Micro-Channel coils – the durable, eco-friendly coil choice. Plus, these models are high efficiency – each reach 16 SEER! And, if we’ve learned anything, it always pays to invest in efficiency.
If you’re interested in an exceptional Maytag unit, make sure you get in touch with your local HVAC contractor.
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Decide whether the statements are true or false.
True? False? You decide.
- Lowering your thermostat temperature cools your home down more quickly.
- Closing vents and registers in unused rooms is a great way to save money.
- It’s a good idea to briefly open a window during the winter to air your home out.
- If you want more cooling power, invest in a bigger air conditioner.
- You should change your furnace filter once a season, or more frequently, especially if you have pets.
- Schedule preventative maintenance once a year – before the summer.
- False. Lowering your temperature settings may ultimately result in a cooler home, but it does not result in quicker cooling. All it does is make your air conditioner or heat pump run longer – raising utility bills.
- False. Your air conditioner is designed to heat and cool a certain amount of space. Closing vents and registers can negatively impact home comfort and damage your cooling equipment.
- True. Opening your windows briefly during the winter can help alleviate stale, stagnant air during the winter. However, keep it brief. You don’t want your heating power escaping outdoors.
- False. Like number 2, your air conditioner is designed to cool a certain amount of space. Your contractor should perform a Manual J load calculation to determine the size of your new air conditioner.
- True. A dirty filter lowers indoor air quality and can restrict airflow. Restricted airflow results in decreased home comfort, potential system damage and higher utility bills.
- False. You should schedule preventative maintenance with your local HVAC contractor TWICE a year – once for your air conditioner during the spring and, again, for your furnace during the fall.