During the long hot dog days of summer, one appliance a household cannot live without is the air conditioner. There are a few things that a person needs to do to keep it running well. There are some tips for air conditioner maintenance that are easy and not expensive.
To keep the air conditioner running in top form, one must do a few things. One such item is to schedule a preventative maintenance check. If a house is running with a heat pump, it will control the heat and air conditioning. If the system runs both, then it needs to have a check in the spring and fall. Remember to have a licensed air conditioning company do the check. If the company is licensed then you can feel confident that any issues can be found before the residence is sitting without air conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter.
An annual check should be completed on a unit if it runs both air conditioning and a heating system. If it best to have the checks completed prior to the season when they are utilized most.
An important tip to help run air conditioners more efficiently is to make sure to change the filter. It should be checked every thirty days. If the unit is run on a heat pump then the system's filter should be changed monthly. If the unit just heats or cools then it is recommended that a filter be changed during the months of operation.
Filters vary is shape, type and size. Some filters can be thrown out after using. Filters are inexpensive and easy to change. Consulting the operation guide is a good way to learn how to change the filter for the system. To change the filter, the homeowner needs to turn the system to off. Running the system without a filter will only cause it to clog and be inefficient. A dirty system will definitely cause an extremely high electricity bill.
A filter that can be disposed of after use is not hard to change. First the correct filter size needs to be bought. The homeowner should document on their calendar which date that they are changing the filter. An idea to make this easier is to wait until the filters are on sale and purchase twelve. The homeowner can store them and therefore make it easier to just swap them out with the used one.
If the filter is not disposable and made of fiberglass, the best way is to clean it outside. Shake it off or vacuum the filter first. Once the dust and dirt is shaken off, the filter should be washed and left outside to dry completely. Do not reinstall the filter until it is dried completely.
Every homeowner wants a residence that operates without any problems. That is not always possible and it is best to do some preventative measures to keep systems running well. The air conditioning system is one that can be maintained easily. A preventative check can foresee any upcoming problems and changing the filters monthly will help with keeping the system running well.
Air conditioners are one of those appliances that everyone loves to have during that summer heat. The months of July and August remind us that this is a must have item. There are tips for air conditioner maintenance that will keep your unit working in top form during that time you need it.
If you own a central air conditioning system, there are a few things that you need to monitor to keep the unit working at top efficiency. One important tip is to schedule maintenance as needed. If the unit controls the heat as well as the air conditioning, then this needs to be maintained in the spring and fall. An inspection by a licensed air conditioning repairman is all that is needed. It can head off any problems before they arise.
If the unit just cools the home or only heats the home, then a preventative check should be completed annually. If scheduling the checks, it is best to have them completed prior to the season they will be needed most.
Another important tip that can save the homeowner money and keep the unit running efficiently is to change the filter. The filter of the air conditioner should be checked and changed monthly. If the homeowner has a system that runs air conditioning as well as heat then the filter should be changed twelve times per year. If the system just operates to cool or heat, then it is recommended that the filter be changed during the months of operation.
Air conditioner repair filters vary in size and type. Some are disposable and some are not. Filters are typically not very expensive and they are easy to change. All units are different so consult the operation guide to find out exactly how to change the filter. Make sure to turn the unit off until another filter is in place. If the system runs without a filter, it will suck in dirt, dust and hair into the unit and that can cause very big expensive problems.
If the homeowner has a filter that is disposable, then it is very easy to change. Purchase the correct size filter, mark a date on your calendar and then change the filter that day each month. Sometimes the filters are on sale, so it is best to buy six or twelve and store them until ready to use.
If the homeowner has a filter that is not disposable, then they should remove the filter. The homeowner should take the filter outside. They can vacuum the filter first to remove dust and hair. If the home has pets, then they will probably see fur on the filter. Shaking and banging the filter may assist with removing some dust and debris. Once the dust has been shaken off, use a water hose and some dish detergent and wash the filter very well. Try to remove as much dirt and dust as possible. Remember the better job you do the less dirt and dust returns inside the house. Lay the filter in the sun and let it completely dry before reinstalling it.
Keeping the air conditioner running efficiently is a priority for many homeowners. There is nothing worse than the air conditioner not running correctly when it is a hot and humid day. Changing the filter and having the unit have a preventative check are two helpful tips that will assist with maintaining the unit so that it can last a long time.
Understanding HVAC Ductwork as it applies to residential use, is a pretty straightforward process. There are generally 2-3 different types of duct you will find in homes and the concept of how it works is relatively the same across all types. This post will help you identify the type of HVAC Duct in your home, as well as understand the job of your home hvac ducts.
What Does HVAC Duct Do?
In homes with a central heating or cooling system, the duct can be viewed as the highway the fresh air, or conditioned air takes, as it makes it way into each of the areas of your home, and back to your central HVAC unit.
All Central HVAC Systems use two main duct runs to move that air:
- Supply Duct - which supplies the conditioned air throughout your home. You can identify with the supply line easiest by going to one of the vents in your floor, wall or ceiling. The air got there through one of the supply ducts. If your unit is in the attic or crawl space of your home, you can immediately recognize the supply duct as it will (should) all be wrapped in insulation.
- Return Duct - which takes air from your home, and returns it to the central unit to be conditioned. To understand the business end of the return duct, just go to the filter grill where you change your HVAC filters every month. The air entering through the filter is the return air. In your attic or crawl space, the return duct may be insulated as well, but in most cases, it is just sheet metal or flex duct.
Types of HVAC Duct in Residential Use
In most homes you will only find a few types of duct.
Sheet Metal Duct - which is a smooth wall galvanized sheet metal, either squared or rounded. Sheet metal duct work moves the air most efficiently through your home, since the inside of the duct is smooth and has no ridges or obstructions to disrupt the flow of air. in addition tot he duct itself, sheet metal duct must be wrapped with insulation before or after it is installed, in order to provide a thermal barrier between the unconditioned space and the air moving through the duct.
Insulated Flexible Duct - Likely the most common over the last 20 years or more, flex duct does exactly what it sounds like, it flexes, making it the quickest to install and easiest to use in most installations. Flex duct generally comes in compressed rolls of 25 feet, in many various sizes and varying r-values, or Insulating values.
Insulated Duct Board - This type of duct has become more popular in the past few years. The easiest way to understand duct board, it to think of a 4x8 sheet of insulated board, 1/2 - 1 inch thick. The board is then cut and squared, to form a box through which the air flows. Many new construction homes have gone to this type of duct due to the ease of installation and high performance insulating value.
In a future post, I am going to get into the duct sizing methodology, and help you understand how different sized ducts can effect your home HVAC system.
