Most homeowners would call for air conditioning repairs as soon as they noticed a problem with the system. That’s all well and good, but what about problems that don’t have obvious symptoms? If you’re really interested in keeping your air conditioning system in the best possible condition, it’s a good idea to schedule preventive maintenance at least once a year. Read on to find out more about the benefits of preventive maintenance, and why you should schedule yours this spring.
Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’
Why Spring Air Conditioning Maintenance is so Important
Monday, May 18th, 2015Why You Should Consider a Heat Pump for Air Conditioning
Monday, May 4th, 2015When you think about air conditioning, chances are you imagine a traditional central air conditioner. While central air conditioning units are quite effective at keeping homes cool, however, they are not the only option available. Plenty of other options exist for cooling your home during the warm season, one of which is a heat pumps. Have a look at the reasons why you should consider a heat pump for air conditioning this summer.
How Duct Sealing Can Improve Your Air Conditioner Efficiency
Monday, April 20th, 2015With summer almost upon us, it’s time to start making sure that your air conditioner is ready for the hottest days of the year. Annual maintenance and timely repairs are obviously both a good idea. However, there is one thing you can do to improve your air conditioner efficiency that most people never think about: duct sealing. Read on to find out more about duct sealing, and how it can help your air conditioner keep you cool this summer.
3 Air Conditioning Problems That Require Immediate Repair
Monday, April 13th, 2015No air conditioning problem should be left alone, once discovered. The longer a problem with your air conditioning system is allowed to continue, the worse it’s going to get. However, there’s a difference between problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible and those that need to be fixed right now. There are some problems that, if allowed to continue for any appreciable length of time, could cause catastrophic damage to the air conditioning system. The following are 3 of those problems.
How a Whole-Home AC System Helps Control Humidity
Friday, March 13th, 2015Air conditioners are interesting systems. Many people believe that they cool by blowing cool air into warm air, but this isn’t actually what’s happening. Yes, cool air blows in, but more importantly, air conditioners remove the heat and humidity from your living spaces and release it, then use this air to cool your home. It’s all part of the heat release/cooling cycle, and one of the benefits of this cycle is that humidity is also removed. How does your Lake City air conditioning system do this? Let’s take a look.
How Humidity Is Removed
Air conditioners use refrigerant to help facilitate the transfer of heat to the outside. The cycle starts with the heat from your return ducts being absorbed by the refrigerant. The refrigerant travels to the compressor where it is pressurized; as the pressurized refrigerant leaves the compressor to enter the condenser, the heat is released and the refrigerant starts to cool. The refrigerant travels from the condenser to the evaporator, where warm air from your home is blown over the evaporator coils that now contain cooled refrigerant. When hot air meets cool air, condensation is formed, and this condensation is removed via the condensate array of your air conditioning system. This is how your air conditioning system helps remove the excess humidity in your home.
Benefits of Removing Humidity
Humidity holds heat, which is why a humid day at 70 degrees feels much more uncomfortable than a dry day at 70 degrees. But excess humidity does more than make you feel uncomfortable – it can lead to mold and mildew development, dust mite populations and create rot. When you install a whole-home air conditioner, you gain the benefit of dehumidification along with improved comfort.
Get Ahead of Humidity with a Whole-Home Air Conditioner
Today’s air conditioners are some of the most energy efficient around, and can offer your home cool, comfortable air for years to come.
If you’ve been struggling with indoor comfort because of heat and excess humidity, call the experts at Touchstone Heating and Air Inc., today.
Tools Used for Professional Duct Cleaning
Friday, January 2nd, 2015The ducts that lead from the air handler to your home are vital to proper heating and air conditioning, but they can also contribute to poor indoor air quality. Contaminants like dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, and viruses can dwell in the ducts and may be forced into your home as you run your heating and air conditioning system. But professionals are equipped with the proper tools to eliminate these pollutants and help you to maintain the quality of your home.
- Access Tools: First, a technician must access the remote areas of the ducts by using some sort of tool to access the inside of the ducts from multiple locations. They may use these tools to pierce a small hole in the ducts to seal up later or to remove an entire section of ductwork to replace afterwards. First, however, they must access the type and design of the ductwork in order to determine the proper steps to follow.
- Inspection Materials: A quality technician will inspect your ducts before any cleaning takes place to make sure there are no areas with major leaks or portions of ductwork that require a particular set of tools for cleaning. They may use anything from small handheld mirrors to video cameras, depending on the size of the job, the level of experience of the technician, and the tools they have on hand.
- Vacuums: Perhaps the most important tool at a professional’s disposal is a high-pressure vacuum. This vacuum creates negative pressure in the ducts so that debris is knocked loose from the lining of the ductwork and gets sucked into the hose. These vacuums have far more power than home vacuum cleaners, and are rather difficult or homeowners to access themselves.
- Brushes: During, before, or after the duct cleaning, the technician will also use soft brushes or other cleaning tools to rub off any remaining dirt and contaminants. Contaminants may cling to the ducts even after the powerful vacuum is employed, but a simple brush and perhaps a non-toxic cleaning agent can take care of anything that remains. However, the technician will need to make sure that the brush is soft enough not to damage the ducts, particularly if your home uses a flexible ductwork that can easily collapse.
The professionals at Touchstone Heating and Air Inc. can ensure that your next duct cleaning in Fort Worth is handled with care and that no harmful contaminants threaten to enter your home. Give our team a call today!
Upgrades for Your Air Conditioning
Tuesday, August 12th, 2014We are more than half way through summer, and your air conditioning in Gainesville has probably been running full-time. As you’ve gone through the summer, have you wondered if there are ways to increase your energy efficiency or improve your indoor air quality? Upgrades to your existing AC can offer these kinds of increased benefits, and Touchstone Heating and Air, Inc., has the team to help you choose and install the upgrades that can most help you and your home.
What Kinds of Upgrades Are There?
There are many different kinds of upgrades you can add to your air conditioning system, but here are 3 to consider:
- Air cleaners/purifiers
- Thermostats
- Dehumidifiers
Air Cleaners/Purifiers
Do you have allergy sufferers in your home? Or family members with asthma? Are you concerned about biological pollutants? Then you may want to consider adding an air cleaner or purifier for your home. Air cleaners refer to mechanical filters and ion generators, and air purifiers are UV germicidal lighting. There are several different types of air cleaners available, so it’s important to work with a professional to understand exactly what each can do for you and your home.
Thermostats
It may seem like a small thing, but having an efficient, precise thermostat can save you energy, money and time. First, dial and slide thermostats typically group degrees in sets of five, such as 65-70 degrees, etc. – this makes for imprecise setting and energy efficiency. Second, these types of thermostats are not programmable. Programmable thermostats allow you to create 7-day programs that can help you reduce or increase temperatures as needed, which can help a great deal with energy efficiency. Third, “smart” thermostats, which use wi-fi, can be accessed from any smart device, virtually anywhere at any time. This gives you incredible control over your entire system.
Dehumidifiers
We get pretty sticky here in Gainesville, and your AC feels it, too. Adding a whole-home dehumidifier can help you and your air conditioner by removing excess humidity from the air before it gets into your air flow.
Whether you want to have cleaner air to breathe, use energy more efficiently, or do both, upgrades to your air conditioning in Gainesville from Touchstone Heating and Air, Inc., can help get you there.
If you are interested in learning more about what Touchstone Heating and Air, Inc. can do for you call us today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
Some Benefits of Air Conditioning Maintenance
Friday, May 2nd, 2014Did you know that a 10% loss of refrigerant in your air conditioning system can cost you up to 20% more to operate it? Or that getting a programmable thermostat can save you annually on energy bills?
These types of savings come from a simple source: routine air conditioning maintenance in Starke. Here are a few reasons why Touchstone Heating and Air Inc. highly recommends regular air conditioning maintenance:
Reduced energy bills – when your air conditioner is not running optimally, it needs more energy in order to achieve the temperature you want. This means it costs you more to run it. There are two culprits that frequently contribute to this: a dirty air filter, which constricts the air flow in your system, and/or dirty condenser coils, which put stress on the compressor to run harder. In either case, you are running up your energy bills. Monthly checking and changing of your system’s main air filter eliminates a dirty filter problem, and a routine maintenance check by a specialist will keep the coils clean and stress free.
Better indoor air quality – when vents, ducts and filters become dirty and clogged, the air quality in your property reflects this. This can be especially uncomfortable for those with allergies. As stated above, your system’s main air filter should be changed monthly, and a regularly scheduled cleaning of your vents and ducts will keep them free of dust and dirt.
Lower repair costs –regularly scheduled maintenance means you have a much better chance of catching a small problem – such as a loose belt or faulty switch – before it turns into a much bigger, more expensive problem. It’s a lot less expensive to replace a belt than it is to repair a broken down system.
Extension of system life – regular maintenance means that all components in your system are properly tuned up. This cuts down significantly on the wear and tear of the entire system, extending its life and your investment in it.
When Should You Schedule Your Maintenance?
Most air conditioning maintenance should be performed by a specialist, but there are a few things property owners can do to help maintain their systems:
- Replace disposable filters once a month
- Wash out washable filters once a month
- Keep outside, ground-mounted units clear of any kind of yard debris, including grass, branches and leaves
Touchstone Heating and Air Inc. recommends a bi-annual inspection of the entire system, in the spring and fall.
Need to have your air conditioning checked by professionals in time for summer? Call and schedule air conditioning service in Starke today.
My AC is On, But Hot Air is Coming Out of My Vents
Tuesday, November 12th, 2013It can come as quite a shock, especially on a hot day. “My AC is on, but hot air is coming out of my vents!” You don’t need to be an expert to know that something’s wrong, and when problems arise with your air conditioning, Gainesville FL weather can be particularly unforgiving. What causes an air conditioner to blow hot air? The obvious answer is that the thermostat hasn’t been set properly, or perhaps needs replacing. Beyond that, the possible causes grow more serious.
Air conditioning systems depend on refrigerant gas cycling through a closed system in order to function as they should. If the unit is blowing hot air (as opposed to not blowing any air at all), then the problem likely lies somewhere within this system. For instance, if the compressor is malfunctioning, it won’t be able to turn the refrigerant gas into a liquid – a vital step towards allowing it to cool the air.
The problem may also stem from a leak in the system, releasing refrigerant into the air. If too much refrigerant is lost, the process can’t work at all, and no cold air will be generated. You can spot this condition by the presence of frost on the evaporator coils: evidence of all the coldness that isn’t going into your home.
In some cases, the problem may be caused by a leak in your duct system or somewhere similar. Leaks can pull hot air into the ducts while the air conditioner is running, substituting the cold air with warm air.
Regardless of the causes, you need a trained expert to find a solution. The pros at Touchstone Heating & Air handle any problems you may have with your Gainesville FL home’s air conditioning system. Call us today to schedule service!
Air Conditioning Tip: When to Use the Fan Only
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013We experience some seriously hot and humid weather around here, and a reliable air conditioning system is often your only weapon against the soaring temperatures outside. That air conditioning system uses a lot of energy, however: as much as 16% of your total household electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can cut that down by using your system’s “fan only” feature, which stops the cooling process but continues to circulate the air in throughout your home.
The most obvious period is right after you’ve shut your air conditioning down for the day. With the cooled air still in your house, you can turn on the fan and help circulate it, staying cool for longer. This can keep your house from becoming stuffy when the AC is not running, and also make sure your air is going through your air filtration system.
You might also consider using the fan only after the sun goes down, or when cooler breezes blow near your house on days when the humidity levels are lower. The flow will refresh the existing air while keeping your temperatures down to agreeable levels.
You can help this process by ensuring that your air conditioner is functioning as it should and that the blower fan isn’t bent or damaged. Knowing when to use the fan only won’t do you much good if the air conditioner itself is broken. For expert service and advice, contact Touchstone Heating & Air!