Posts Tagged ‘Air flow’

Air Conditioner Disguises and Sun Exposure

May 16th, 2011

For most homes, the air conditioning condenser is placed on the ground somewhere in the yard. For those that take pride in the external beauty of the home, this can be a problem. Most air conditioning units, especially those that are older, are not very attractive, and many homeowners will try to disguise their unit in any way that they can. If this sounds like your condenser, you may have a couple problems on your hands. Excessive amounts of sun exposure and air restricting disguises could be decreasing the energy efficiency of your air conditioner.

Air Restricting Disguises

Bushes and A/C covers may seem like a good way to bring a little beauty to your air conditioner’s condenser, but running the unit with these disguises tight around the condenser could cause major problems for your system. The problem is air flow, or the lack of it. The air conditioner needs ample amounts of air exposure in order to function properly. Large bushes and covers prevent this from happening, and the air conditioner will quickly choke, overheat, and fail to function. If your condenser is this unsightly, maybe it is time for a replacement. » Read more: Air Conditioner Disguises and Sun Exposure

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Information, Money Saving

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Spring Filter Questions

March 7th, 2011

Spring is a new season, and with the new season comes new questions concerning your HVAC system. As you being to bring the air conditioner out of hibernation, you may have some questions regarding the air filtration of the system. Filters are a vital part of your HVAC system all year round , and special care and attention needs to be paid to this component of the system during the spring and summer months as well. Hopefully these responses answer some of your filter questions:

  • Does the air conditioner even need a filter?

Answer: Many homeowners don’t even realize that there is a filter that needs to be changed during the summer months. They assume that because the furnace isn’t making heat, they no longer need to change the filter in it during the off season. However, the filter in the furnace is the same filter the air conditioner uses during the summer months. The blower on the furnace that disperses heat also disperses cooling. Failing to change this filter during the summer months could cause major problems for the air conditioner and your entire HVAC system.

» Read more: Spring Filter Questions

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Quality, Furnace, Maintenace

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Furnace Filters: MERV Ratings

November 15th, 2010

If you do nothing else to care for your furnace, you should at the very least replace the furnace filter on a regular basis. Some people get lucky and the only negative consequences of furnace neglect are poor air quality and low efficiency, but failing to replace the filter regularly could potentially choke the life out of your furnace. Chances are you don’t want any of these problems in your home, so now is the time to give your furnace and the air in your home a little TLC by replacing the air filter. But, how do you know which one to choose?

Look for a MERV Rating

MERV ratings make it easier to choose the perfect filter for your furnace. A MERV rating is a measurement of the filters ability to remove particles from the air down to a specific micron. A micron is extremely small. 1 micron is equal to 1/25,000 of an inch, and the human eye can only see down to 10 microns. We would need a microscope to see anything smaller. The smaller the particles that a filter can capture the higher the MERV rating that filter receives on a scale from 1 to 16. » Read more: Furnace Filters: MERV Ratings

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Posted in Air Quality, Furnace, Heating, Information, Maintenace, Safty

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Flex Duct Disaster

September 1st, 2010

Many homeowners pay little to no attention to their duct work, but if you have flex duct in your home, it probably deserves a good inspection, because it could be costing you hundreds of dollars annually not to! Flex duct is a type of duct work that consists of wire, plastic, and insulation. It is very flexible, ergo the name “flex duct”, and has been used by thousands of contractors as a cheap and easy way to install duct work in a home.  The problem lies in the installation of flex duct. Unless your contractor really knew what he was doing, odds are it was installed improperly.  Improper installation of flex duct can lead to poor airflow, and it may be chocking your HVAC systems.

Big Problem #1

The first major problem with flex duct is  air friction. Flex duct creates more air friction than any other type of duct work even if it is installed properly. Unfortunately, this problem only gets worse when it is installed improperly. Many contractors assume that, because flex duct work is so bendable, it is ok to bend it around tight corners.  Just because it is capable of doing something, it doesn’t mean that it should.  Bends and kinks in the duct work increases the air friction which decreases air flow into the various rooms of the house. » Read more: Flex Duct Disaster

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Consumer Protection, Contractors, Heating, Money Saving

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