How to Help Your AC Perform at Its Best

July 20, 2022

It’s no secret that an efficient air conditioner is crucial during hot days. When your AC isn’t functioning properly, your home’s air isn’t the only thing that suffers. The energy bill takes a hit, too. Before tackling the ways to fix this problem, here are some things to look for when determining your AC’s performance. Your Unit Cycles Too Often An AC that’s functioning properly should have fairly set schedules of running and turning off. If your unit seems to turn on and off too quickly, there may be a problem with your thermostat. If your thermostat isn’t reacting to the temperature changes correctly, it will tell the AC the wrong information about when and how long to run. The Compressor Has Ice on It A leak in your AC’s coolant line is the most common cause of ice buildup on the unit. Another potential cause is a dirty filter. If there’s ice on the AC’s compressor, you can be certain it isn’t functioning properly. It’s best to call an HVAC professional to get the matter handled. Strange Sounds Although your AC will make certain sounds when functioning normally, sounds that are loud or unusual suggest something isn’t right. If...

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Air Conditioning and Humidity in Your Home

July 15, 2022

If you’ve noticed that your home feels sticky or damp, you may be experiencing high humidity levels. High humidity levels can be caused by a few different things, including the weather, but if your home feels muggy, it’s a good idea to make sure that your air conditioning system is running properly and working the way it should be. High humidity levels in the home can often be a sign that your air conditioning system is failing. Can an AC System Cause High Humidity Levels? Generally, air conditioning systems should help to dehumidify your home, as opposed to increasing humidity in the home. If your home feels stickier or more humid than normal, it could be a sign that a key component of the system has failed or that the air conditioning unit isn’t working efficiently. Most air conditioning systems work by pushing warm air over a series of coils located in the main air conditioning unit. These coils quickly cool the air, and that air is brought back into the home through vents, fans, and ducts, cooling each room to the proper temperature. As the warm air passes over the coils and cools, water vapor in the air also...

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A Guide to Get Started With HVAC Dampers

June 20, 2022

An HVAC damper is a device that regulates the airflow in and out of your home. It’s used in heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. It’s important to understand how they work and what they’re used for to maintain your system and keep it running efficiently. A damper is usually placed near the end of each duct run and has three positions: closed, half-open, and fully open. The closed position blocks airflow completely, while the half-open allows only partial airflow. The fully open position allows maximum airflow out of the ductwork. When Can You Open and Close the HVAC Damper? The short answer is that you can open and close anytime the temperature in your home or building needs to be altered, according to [company name] in Anoka, MN, where the temperature fluctuates dramatically. The longer answer is that you should open or close your HVAC damper when the outdoor air temperature is higher or lower than the indoor air. Opening the damper allows more fresh air, lowering its temperature as it passes through the building’s ducts. Closing down the damper restricts airflow outside, forcing your heating or cooling system to work harder. If you have a forced-air furnace or central...

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How Your AC Is Causing Air Pollution

June 7, 2022

During the hot summer months, our air conditioning systems help us stay cool. While some use them for comfort, others need them for health and safety reasons. For instance, those with lung disorders, allergies, and other respiratory conditions may experience severe negative effects if they lack AC systems. Nevertheless, while we’re all staying cool and comfortable indoors, we might be causing damage to the environment. In part, AC units harm the environment. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), found in ACs release ozone-depleting pollutants. Also, ACs take vast quantities of energy to function. The energy comes from fossil fuels combustion, which further contributes to ozone depletion. However, we can’t simply just get rid of them. What options do you have if you wish to maintain safety and contribute to environmental protection? Learn more about air conditioning systems and how you may enjoy the perfect blend with ecologically friendly air conditioning unit solutions. How AC Systems Pollute the Air When you think about pollution, you generally envision trash by the side of the road or on the shore. Or perhaps you consider the massive volume of gas emissions emanating from certain industrial sites. Only a few think about their AC systems. Turning...

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Learn Why Your AC Is Leaking Water

May 18, 2022

An AC comes in handy when dealing with the hot summer climate. It’s one of the best ways to keep your home cool and comfortable. However, over time, you have to deal with repairs and maintenance issues, especially if it is nearing the end of its life cycle. One of the main problems you should be ready to deal with is a leaking air conditioner. If not handled on time, this small problem can evolve into other issues, including mold growth, damaged walls and ceilings, and wet floors, not to mention the poor performance of your AC. To understand why your AC is leaking water, you need to know how an AC works. How Does an AC Work? The first thing you need to know about air conditioners is that they don’t cool the air; they remove indoor heat and transfer it outside. Among other components, the unit works via filtered return vents, an evaporator coil, and a condenser. The return vents suck the warm, humid air from living spaces and blow it over the evaporator coil. The heat is absorbed by the refrigerant, turning it into a hot gas. Free of humidity and heat, the air is then blown...

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How Long Can an AC Run Continuously?

May 15, 2022

Whether you own your home or you’re renting, odds are that your air conditioner is one of the most important appliances in your home during the hot summer months in O’Fallon, MO. Not only does it keep the indoor temperature comfortable, but it also helps to remove humidity from the air. However, some air conditioning systems have a limit on how long they can run continuously. This begs the question: How long can an air conditioner unit run continuously before it needs to be shut off? The answer depends on the type of unit. How Long Can a Wall AC Unit Run Continuously? You may have heard that air conditioning systems need to be rested periodically in order to prevent overheating and damage. Exactly how long the air conditioner can run continuously without causing problems, however, varies depending on factors such as the unit’s size, age, and cooling capacity. In some cases, you may not need to turn your home’s air conditioner off at all! The biggest determinant in how long you should run your AC is whether your home uses central air or a wall/window unit. In general, wall and window air conditioning units with smaller capacities can typically...

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How Ductless Air Conditioners Work

April 19, 2022

All About How Ductless Air Conditioners Work When it comes to keeping your home cool over the summer, the common approaches are central air conditioners and window unit air conditioners. Discover how the increasingly popular ductless air conditioner works and the benefits it’ll bring compared to the traditional options. Major Parts of an Air Conditioner Both central air and ductless air conditioners share the same primary components. There is the indoor unit that contains the evaporator coil. This is where the refrigerant gets cold enough to absorb the heat from the air inside. Then, there’s the outside condensing unit. This contains the condensing coil and the air conditioning compressor. It’s the outside unit that vents the heat absorbed from inside your home to the air outside. Finally, there’s the control unit for the air conditioner. A central air conditioner uses a thermostat to control the unit. A ductless system uses an on-board thermostat combined with a remote control. If you get an advanced system, you may have a control app for your smartphone. The Difference Between Central Air and Ductless AC If both systems operate by absorbing heat from inside your home and transferring it outside, how do they differ?...

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Does sleeping With the Windows Open Save Energy?

April 14, 2022

Can I Save Energy by Sleeping With the Windows Open? As the summer months fade into fall in O’Fallon, Missouri, the temperatures drop, and the wind picks up. In the evening and at night, it can be downright cool outside. The summer in Missouri is hot, so your air conditioner is running every day. It is expensive, so you might be looking for a way to reduce your energy expenditure now that the temperatures are getting cooler. Some people have considered the option to run the air conditioner during the day when the weather is the hottest outside and then open the windows at night to cool the home. There are definite health benefits to opening your windows and letting fresh air in your home from time to time. If you are strategic about when you open your windows during the summer and early fall, you might be able to save some money on your utility bills. However, there is no 100% guarantee that opening your windows at night instead of using your AC will lower your energy bills. There are several scenarios in which letting the outside air into your home in the evening will increase your energy bill....

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6 Ways To Assess Your New Home’s Heating and Cooling Systems

March 16, 2022

When you purchase a home, there’s always a little uncertainty about what you’re getting, especially if it’s not a new construction. At the top of that list of things that could go wrong are typically the roof and the heating and cooling system. The roof is normally included in the pre-purchase inspection, but the HVAC system may not get that much attention. Given that, consider these six ways to assess the condition of your new home’s heating and cooling system. 1. Review Your System’s Service Life When it comes to evaluating your new home’s HVAC system, you can get a good sense of where it’s at by assessing its current age. The average air conditioner will serve your home for about 10 to 15 years while a furnace may last 15 to 20 years, both with proper maintenance. If you don’t have the paperwork from when your system’s components were installed, you can easily find it on the unit itself. The easiest one to find is the air conditioner. There should be a nameplate on the unit’s housing, which will include the date that it was manufactured. The furnace can be a bit more tricky because you’ll be looking for...

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6 Reasons for Hiring Licensed HVAC Professionals

March 2, 2022

HVAC refers to systems that transport cooled or heated air throughout a home or commercial property to maintain comfortable temperatures for the occupants. An HVAC contractor’s work is to install, maintain, repair, regulate, and upgrade these climate control systems so that the residents can enjoy acceptable air quality and thermal comfort. Cooling and heating tasks aren’t DIY tasks, so it’s important to work with a licensed HVAC professional to make sure everything gets done right. If you have a furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, or air ducts needing repair, maintenance, or installation, you need to call in an experienced contractor to help you with the task at hand. Saving money is important for homeowners and business owners. So, there’s always the temptation to handle the tasks yourself or engage the cheapest contractor to save some cash. However, you might end up with regrets and losses later if that individual doesn’t install, fix, or upgrade the unit the right way. Here are more reasons to hire a licensed contractor for all of your cooling and heating needs. 1. Skills and Tools Licensed HVAC professionals have something you don’t have: training in HVAC care and maintenance and years of experience. The many...

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