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.
With energy costs recently skyrocketing, it is crucial for all homeowners to be aware of how to get the most out of their heating and air conditioning systems. No matter if you use central air conditioning or individual units, oil, or gas heat, these essential utilities can be very pricey if you do not do correct upkeep on them. In addition, depending on where you live, you may have to use them for many months of the year.
In this piece, we will give homeowners some good advice on how to get the most out of their heating and air conditioning systems.
Hint 1 - No matter if, you are thinking about hot or cold air, you must make certain that you constantly have adequate airflow. The top reason why airways are blocked is dirty air filters. This is why it is important that you inspect your filters at least once a month. If you see that they are worn or dirty, and then just go to a hardware store and purchase new replacement filters. This easy hint can save you hundreds per year in energy costs.
Tip 2 - The next thing to check is your evaporator and condenser coils. This may sound very technical to you, however it is easy to ask a professional how to check and perform upkeep on them while they are being installed. It is important to check on the evaporator because it may become blocked up, which will make your system work more than it usually would.
This will eventually raise your utility rates and make your system wear down quicker than it should. If you can manage it, you can always clean your condensing coils by running them under the hose. Make sure you handle them gently and do not use a strong stream of water. The fins in the condensing coils are fragile and if they are damaged you will have to buy new coils, and they are costly.
As well, you can clean your evaporator coil with some dish soap and warm water. You can use an old toothbrush to clean the insides but be cautious as to not damage the fins.
Tip 3 - Fallen insulation and crumbled or damaged duct lines will affect the temperature in your home. If you find either of these issues, then you must contact your service company to come and replace them for you. Do not go crawling around your attic trying to find the issue yourself unless you have a lot of experience dealing with insulation or duct repair.
Tip 4 - In the end, it is a superb idea to buy a service agreement from a service company. Such agreements are commonly inexpensive and will ensure that a trained professional will come to your house and examine your system at least twice in a year and will do upkeep and repairs and do the required cleanings on all of your filters and coils.
Do your due diligence to see which company gives the most ideal service agreements, as they will vary in cost and features. Same as having our automobiles serviced, having the heating and cooling systems in our homes serviced is a way to prevent problems from happening and a great investment that will save you significant amount money per year in energy fees.
About the author: Jerry Dyess has been specializing in the Electricity market segment for the past 7 years. He has published many articles on Business Electric prices.
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.
Quite a few visitors have been coming in looking for system reviews, so I thought I would start a new series of posts, geared around specific units, and reviewing why you may or may not, want to install them. Today, we start with a Carrier HVAC System, the top end Carrier infinity System Review.
Carrier Infinity HVAC System Review
If you got this far, chances are pretty good you are already interested in a top of the line HVAC system. If you are price shopping, this review is not for you... the Carrier infinity Systems are one of, if not THE, most advanced residential HVAC system on the market, and along with that advanced technology, comes a much higher pricetag!
What is a Carrier Infinity System?
The reason you see the word "system" after the name, is because the Carrier Infinity Systems work best when all components are perfectly matched to each other. The Infinity series is referred to as a "Communicating" system, since each of the components communicates with the others to achieve a perfect balance of comfort and efficiency. This means you want to be sure the following items are matched:
- Infinity Gas Furnaces or Air Handlers
- Infinity Air Conditioner or Heat Pump Condenser
- Infinity Thermostat Control System
- Infinity Whole House Air Cleaners (Optional)
- Infinity Whole House Humidifier
- Infinity Zoning Systems (optional)
Every function of the Infinity systems are monitored by sensors, which in turn communicate with the control system. If one of the sensors detects low airflow, it automatically calls for an increase! If it detects problems, it automatically shuts the unit off to prevent damage. Even if your filters are dirty, the control system will let you know that it needs to be changed due to low airflow!
What Does a Carrier Infinity System Cost?
Compared to other types of units on the market, the Carrier infinity Systems are a bit pricey! You can reasonably expect to pay at least 2 times the cost of a standard changeout to have it installed by a Carrier Contractor!
- A Typical changeout that costs between $3500-$6000 will easily cost $8000-$13000 for an Infinity System!
- Get 3 Free Carrier Infinity Price Quotes Now
While most will consider this out of bounds, keep in mind that the contractor installing your Carrier Infinity system DOES need some additional expertise to make sure your system is perfectly matched and installed properly.
Efficiency wise - you may never recoup the extra cost for ultimate indoor comfort, but your indoor air quality will be considerably higher than that of a standard HVAC system.
Buying Carrier Infinity Online
Carrier is actually one of the few companies that came right out and said they do not honor Internet purchases under warranty. From a user perspective, I can find and buy several Carrier systems on the web right now, that they could instantly have removed from places like eBay if they truly wanted to. It's a catch 22 - they want to honor their Contractors by saying they don't honor online sales... but at the same time, they don't stop them from happening!
Best Way To Buy a Carrier Infinity System
Bottom Line - If you really want a Carrier Infinity System - you are better off getting Free HVAC Quotes from Local Contractors in your area. This way you can be sure you are not only covered by the Carrier Warranty, but also get the Best Price on a Carrier Infinity!
Additional Reading
Your Central Air Conditioning System is one of the most important appliances in your home during the hot summer months, but most people simply neglect it until it breaks or just doesn't keep up with the outside temps! This post talks about some very simple and basic things you can do, to make sure your Central AC System keeps you cool when you need it most!
Change Your Filters Every Month!
I realize this is a very basic thing to find as the number one thing to do, but it is also the most neglected home ac maintenance item, and also causes the most issues! The main reason most people forget to change their home HVAC filters, is simply because they don't keep them on hand and when the time comes to replace the filter, they do not have one! Get yourself a case of HVAC filters and keep them in a utility room, or some other out of the way place.
Wash The Outside Condensing Unit Every Month!
The second most important thing you can do for the health of your Air Conditioning System, is keeping the outside condenser clean of debris! While some people choose to do this only once or twice a year, I recommend you clean your ac unit at least once a month!
Try to create a habit of hosing off your condensing unit every time you cut the grass! Eventually, it will become second nature and your clean ac unit will love you even more!
Keep the Area Around the Outdoor Condenser Clear of Everything!
It is very tempting to plant a shrub alongside your outdoor condenser... thinking it will provide shade to the unit and help it work better... wrong! Manufacturers of HVAC equipment have specific clearance guidelines they recommend to make sure the unit can breath properly and vent the heat from the unit.
A good general rule of thumb is to make sure you have at least 12-18 inches of clearance on all four sides of the central condensing unit, and at least 3-6 feet of clearance on the top or side with the fan!
Install Ceiling Fans in All Rooms!
Many people try to balance the air in their home by closing off vents in one room, thinking it will divert the air into other rooms. While this works in principal, all you are effectively doing is creating a pocket of WARM air in the central duct system, and creating a high risk for moisture inside your attic, crawlspace or wall, nearest the closed vent!
Ceiling fans are an inexpensive and simple DIY way to get the air moving inside your home, and when you install fans in every room, the home AC will naturally balance itself throughout the home and help your AC system operate more efficiently!
Have the Unit Serviced Twice Each Year!
I realize money is tight in this down economy and spending money on something you rarely think about is one of the last things you want to do! That said, almost every HVAC Contractor offers a Peak Performance, or some other type of maintenance plan for your home HVAC system, usually less than $120 per year!
What you get from that $120 is generally a full system checkup twice a year, focused on the seasonality of the unit. In the springtime, the technician will come out and inspect and clean the entire air conditioning system, letting you know if any issues were found. In the fall, they will return and inspect the heating system, making sure you have a worry free winter ahead!
I can tell you from experience, having the central HVAC system serviced by a professional twice a year, is well worth the money! Make sure you ask your HVAC Contractor about it next time they call you!
User Provided Tips!
I would love it if some of you shared your tips for maintaining and extending the life of your own Home AC System. Please submit them by using the form below... and help others get the most from their own HVAC Systems!
This has got to be one of the most common questions I get at the Web HVAC website! The truth is... A Gas Furnace is actually a key component in a Hybrid Heating System!
What is a Hybrid Heating System
To better understand how a Gas Furnace fits into a Hybrid HVAC System, you need to understand there are 2 key functions to a central HVAC system, Heating and Cooling! As it relates to a Hybrid System, the heating portion is all you are really interested in, since the cooling will remain the same, regardless.
Hybrid Heating Systems give you the ability to decide how you wish to heat your home, by providing 2 sources of heat!
- Gas Furnace, Preferably High Efficiency!
- Heat Pump Condensing Unit, Preferably High Efficiency!
How a Hybrid Heating System Works
Scenario 1 - High Cost of Natural Gas
Assume for a minute that this year, natural gas costs rise considerably, yet the cost of electricity remains low. In a scenario like this, you would tell your heating system to use the electric heat pump for as much of your heating needs that it will handle, usually down to about 32 degrees outside.
You step over to your thermostat and program it to read the outdoor temperature. When the temp outside drops to 32 degrees, the heat pump will automatically switch over to the gas furnace for the heating of the home.
Scenario 2 - High Cost of Electricity
In this second situation, you are one of the fortunate ones that gets super cheap natural gas in your area! In this case, you reverse the above mentioned strategy, and instead, tell your hybrid heating system to use natural gas as much as possible for your heating needs, never really using the heat pump at all for the purpose of heating your home.
Hybrid Flexibility Pays Off Over Time!
Why anyone would install a simple AC Condenser outside their home nowadays is beyond me! Heat Pump units only cost about 50% more for the equipment, but can save you a significant amount of money over the course of a lifetime with your unit! Ex: 2.5 ton AC only unit costs about $800, the same size Heat Pump Condensing Unit costs about $1200. That extra $400 in the cost gives YOU control over how you heat your home in the colder months!
Even though one utility may be cheaper right now, history shows that the costs will fluctuate over time. Having the ability to make your own choice is priceless!
Carrier, one of the leading manufacturers of HVAC equipment in North America, has quite a line up of Gas Furnaces for your home! From the every popular and expensive Infinity Series, down to the less efficient Carrier Comfort series furnaces, you are bound to find the right unit for you own needs.
Before you can decide which furnace is right for you, you need to have a bit of understanding about which efficiency is best for your own needs. Read more
I was going to include a picture of a Dirty HVAC Filter on this post... but they are just too nasty!
One of the most common points of your home hvac system you have access to, is often the most neglected, your HVAC Filter. When you hear people say you have to replace it often and wonder why, this post will help explain it in straight terms.
Visit the HVAC Media Filter Aisle in our store
To best understand the importance of replacing your home hvac filter, lets look at a similar situation on our cars. As you drive down the road, the radiator in the front of your car allows air to pass through, thus cooling the refrigerant (antifreeze) that passes through your engine. Imagine if someone sprayed mud all over the front of your car and the radiator became completely plugged... no air would pass through, the coolant would not dissipate the heat from your engine, and eventually... your car would just overheat and leave you on the side of the road.
in your home HVAC System, there is actually a very similar process! Inside your system is what we call and evaporator coil - it works very similar to the radiator in the front of your car, except you cannot see it! When your outside condensing unit pumps ice cold refrigerant into the evaporator coil, air from your blower passes over it and blows that cold air into your home. The coil relies on being clean to work efficiently and when dust or dirt build up on it, the flow of air is reduced and it eventually freezes up into a block of ice!
Really, you don't even need dust on the coil to cause a freeze up situation. If your HVAC Media Filters are dirty, they will reduce the amount of air that your blower can use flow across the coil. Try this... take a deep breath and fill your lungs with air. Felt good no? Well, now cover your mouth with your hand and try to do the same thing! Your lungs will starve for air since you plugged the opening that feeds them. Same thing... Dirty HVAC Filters block the airflow into your system, which leads to the unit starving for air, and eventually freezing or complete failure!
Changing your hvac air filters is the easiest thing you can do to make sure your system runs at its highest efficiency. Some brands, such as Honeywell, make filters that are supposed to last longer periods of time due to being thicker... dont fall into the trap!! Even if you buy high efficiency air filters, you MUST remove and clean them every 30 days. Failure to do this will leave you sweating in the middle of the summer!
Visit the HVAC Media Filter Aisle in our store
In a future post, I will talk about the differences in HVAC Media Filters...
As we have been adding categories to our Online HVAC Store, we wanted to step back and explain what you could expect to find in each. Today, I will explain the FULL HVAC Systems Category.
In the Full or Complete HVAC System category, we are listing all complete systems you may be interested in seeing. Within the category, you notice there are a few different types of systems:
- Split HVAC Systems with Gas Furnace
A split system with a gas furnace, usually involves three main components. A Gas Furnace, and evaporator coil, and of course the outdoor air conditioner condensing unit. - Heat Pump Split Systems
A heat pump split system is generally comprised of two components. Indoors you will have what is called an Air Handler. The air handler has a blower and an evaporator coil installed in one unit. Outside, you will have the heat pump condensing unit, which provides your air conditioning and heat. - Heat Pump Package Units
A heat pump package unit is one large unit, usually attached to the side or back of your home. These are 100% electric heating and cooling units, that connect directly to your duct system. They are very common in mobile homes. - Gas Package Units
Gas packs, as they are commonly referred, are similar to the heat pump package units, with the exception that they use gas or propane as the source of heating in the winter months.
Tomorrow, we will add another explanation of the areas within our HVAC Store.
Thats actually a very good question! The biggest benefit to buying a Bryant or any Hybrid HVAC system comes when you live in a place that your utility costs fluctuate often. Natural gas may be high this year and electric low, or vice versa.
The main benefit of a Hybrid HVAC System is that you have the ability to set your progammable themrostat to use the source of the least cost! In your question you mentioned the Bryant Hybrid Furnace, but in reality... a Hybrid system consist of ANY type of furnace and a heat pump condesing unit, versus a straight AC unit.
Heat pumps have the ability to heat your home to an effective outside temp of about 32 degrees, below 32 however and they cannot remove enough heat from the outside air to transfer into your home.
If you do plan on going Hybrid HVAC, dont short change yourself and go with a 16 seer heat pump and a 90% or higher efficiency furnace. You should also check to see if there are any tax credits both locally and federal.
Thanks for the question...
Greg
