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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5 Times to Install a New Air Conditioner

February 17, 2022

Most people begin to think of their air conditioning unit when the temperature rises. If your unit needs replacement, getting a new one at the beginning of the heating season will cost more. Note that most HVAC technicians are usually busy attending to emergency calls in the summer. During this time, air conditioner prices also skyrocket due to the high demand. So, if you want to enjoy a quick replacement, consider getting a new unit during the off-season. The key to getting a great deal is targeting the opposite of the market. Note that AC companies tend to lower the prices when fewer buyers are in the market. You will save both money and time if you choose to buy a new air conditioner when there is less demand for one. However, people have different needs, so we cannot all replace our units at one time. If you want a seamless experience, these are the best times to install a new AC. 1. During Spring One good time to buy a new AC is during spring, especially when the central air conditioning unit will require professional installation. There are fewer buyers in the market in the spring, so you will...

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5 Signs Your Air Conditioner Has Sustained Storm Damage

August 19, 2021

Air conditioners are designed to withstand constant exposure to the elements and nearly all weather conditions. However, many severe weather events can certainly take their toll. Whether your air conditioner has been subjected to heavy wind, rain, hail, dust, or snow, making sure it’s okay is important. Catching and repairing storm-related damages early on can prevent energy waste, needless wear, and outright failure. Following are five signs your home cooling system has sustained storm damage along with several tips for putting things aright. 1. Your Air Conditioner Won’t Turn Back on Severe storms often cause the power to go out. In most instances, if your HVAC was on before the power went off, it will automatically show signs of life once the power is restored. However, if it does not, this could mean that the equipment has sustained damages as the result of a power surge. Fortunately, your air conditioner should be well-protected against power surges by the circuit breaker. You may simply need to reset it. If the AC system doesn’t power up after the breaker has been reset, schedule HVAC repair services right away. 2. Heavy Winds Have Caused Refrigerant Loss Refrigerant is basically the lifeblood of your...

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Avoid Making These Summer Cooling Mistakes

August 9, 2021

Cutting down on cooling costs is on a lot of people’s minds during the summer, but there are some myths floating around. If you follow them, you might find out that your cooling costs are actually more expensive than they would be if you just learned more about how air conditioners work, what they can and can’t do and how you can make your home better prepared to keep the heat out. A Larger Air Conditioner Isn’t a Good Idea One of the biggest myths that some people think is true is that a larger air conditioner will solve all of their problems and make their homes cooler that much quicker. While it’s true that a larger air conditioner will cool off your house more quickly, it will also do so at a cost. Namely, the air in your house will remain humid because removing moisture from the air takes several cycles. When the air conditioner is so large that it cuts down on the cooling time, it also doesn’t have enough cycles to pull all of the moisture out of the air, which results in a cool but clammy feeling that most people don’t enjoy. Appliances Can Heat Up...

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Setting Your Thermostat When You Go on Vacation

July 27, 2021

When you’re out of the house for an extended period of time, the topic of your home’s temperature must come into play. There are several possible pitfalls that could happen while you’re away having fun in the sun. However, allowing your home to stay at a proper temperature could save you a big headache when you return. The question is how cool should your home be while you’re lounging on the beach? There are several things you will have to consider when making your decision. So before you hit the airport, make a mental checklist of the things you want to protect in your home while you’re out on vacation. Why Cool Your Home Most people would agree that they want to save money while they are away on vacation, and some think that leaving their air conditioner off is their best option. Unfortunately, there are a few things that could go wrong with that scenario. While heat builds up in your home, there are many things at play. Speaking of money, imagine how much energy you would need to use if you leave your home for an extended period of time without the AC. Your house will sit for...

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Common AC Problems in the Summer

July 12, 2021

Is your air conditioner underperforming? Below, we highlight some of the most common problems that could be affecting your AC unit. If you think your equipment is suffering from any of these issues, take a look at our solutions to get your system back to working like normal. 1. Mold and Dust in HVAC Vents Air duct cleaning is a necessary service. According to some estimates, there are 300,000 cases of asthma each year in the United States alone, which may be attributed to living in an unclean indoor environment. The NCBI reports that numerous studies have demonstrated a significant association between increasing levels of indoor pollutants and allergies, neurological impairment, cardiovascular effects, and cancer. Mold allergies are a serious, widespread health threat. Therefore, good indoor air quality should always be your highest priority. The mold that grows in the air ducts of your house is a severe risk factor for asthma and allergies for you and your family. Mold growth can be hard to locate in your ducts, but the presence of mold spores indicates that you need a professional service to come and take a look at your system. Mold growth is caused by moisture and humidity. For...

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How To Prepare Air Conditioner for the Summer

June 29, 2021

In the sweltering peak hours of summertime, your family’s comfort hinges on one appliance more than anything else: your air conditioner. If your AC breaks down completely or stops producing cold air, rest and relaxation are off the table, especially for days when temperatures can reach upwards of 90 degrees. Doing a comprehensive maintenance check of your air conditioner prior to summertime is a good way to identify any minor issues that require the attention of a professional. Some of these steps will require specific tools, but most of the skill set and maneuvers involved can be done by any homeowner with limited to zero experience in HVAC systems. Without further ado, here are 10 tips to keep your AC unit in tip-top shape. 1. Buy and Install a Programmable Thermostat If you are using a standard thermostat that came with your air conditioner, you may want to upgrade to a new programmable one. As with any technology, thermostats become outdated over time. The life expectancy of most household thermostats is around 10 years. If yours is nearing its lifespan, replace it with a programmable thermostat that automatically switches the AC unit on or off, depending on your presets. Aside...

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4 Ways to Reset Your Air Conditioning System

June 13, 2021

An air conditioning system is critical for productivity, safety, and comfort. One of the most frustrating experiences is when it fails to start during O’Fallon’s sweltering, muggy summer weather. There are many reasons the AC may not work, such as faulty equipment. However, sometimes you can solve the problem with a restart. In this article, we will outline how to reset your system and why it may be essential. 1. Use the Reset Button Your AC may fail to start if the compressor does not engage the electrical system. Such faults are common in digital appliances, which are prone to electrical discharges. Using the reset button could solve the problem after an outage or a sudden disconnection. Before you reset your system, ensure there is an adequate supply of power. You can determine if there is electrical energy by switching on other appliances. Once you’ve established there is power, you can restart your AC using the reset button. Some air conditioning systems have a reset switch, which is a small, red button. Typically, the button will be on the outdoor unit. If you have a problem locating it on the outdoor unit, you may find relevant details on the equipment’s...

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Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell?

May 25, 2021

If you are dealing with persistent smells in your home, there is a chance that your air conditioner might be the cause. Air conditioners usually help improve your indoor air quality, but if something goes wrong, they might get stinky. It is important to identify the source of a smelly air conditioner, so you can fix the problem right away. How to Tell If Your Air Conditioner Is Smelling When you notice a weird smell around your home, the first thing you need to do is pinpoint the source of the smell. It might be tempting to assume that any strange smells are coming from an unemptied garbage can, a clogged drain, or lingering cooking odors. However, an air conditioner is actually one of the most common reasons for a smelly house. If you have cleaned up every source of a weird smell you can think of but are still getting odors, your air conditioner might be the culprit. To see if the smell is coming from your air conditioner, pay close attention to when you are smelling it. Does it only happen when the air conditioner is on? Do you get a particularly strong whiff of it when you...

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