5 Questions First-Time HVAC Buyers Should Ask

Just as with other areas of technology, advancements in heating, ventilation and air conditioning are making marked improvements in the comfort and economy of new HVAC systems. That’s why it’s best to examine all parameters when deciding on a new system for your home. Let’s look at five important questions you should be asking as a first-time HVAC buyer. 1. How Do I Determine What HVAC Equipment to Buy? Optimal efficiency and longevity in an HVAC system are achieved when the equipment is just the right size for your home. Buying a furnace, blower or AC that is an improper fit for your living space can burden the equipment while causing you to pay more in fuel and repair expenditures. Contact a competent HVAC technician to conduct a load calculation, which will lead you to the exact equipment sizes you should have installed. 2. How Much Do Ratings Matter? The higher the SEER rating of your air conditioner or the AFUE rating of your furnace, the more efficient the units are at doing their job. Higher-rated appliances may cost more upfront but provide energy savings that override the initial premium you pay. Take the time to compare equipment efficiencies and...

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Signs You’re Overworking Your AC System

Don’t Overwork Your Air Conditioning System Are you noticing higher energy bills for your home? You might have an overworked air conditioning system. When the AC unit has to work harder, it puts a strain on parts and increases your utility bills. Read on to learn more about some signs that you may have an overworked air conditioner. High Energy Bills High energy bills are one of the top indicators for an overworked air conditioning system. When the unit is straining to cool down your home, you’ll see a rise in energy consumption. If you want to decrease the cost of your energy bills in Mesa, reach out to . We can conduct an energy audit for your home. Frequent Repairs If you have to call a repair company on a regular basis, your system may be overworked. With constant usage, some parts can quickly wear out or break down. You’re adding stress to the entire unit and shortening the lifespan of your air conditioner. Short Cycles Air conditioners are designed to run on a regular schedule. If your system is operating on a short cycle, you may be damaging your unit. This means that your system is turning on...

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How to Prepare for Fall Allergens

Get Ready for Fall Allergy Season Fall allergies can affect a lot of people. The cooler air does not help either, and your immune system might not be able to fight off those allergens. However, there are a few things you can do to stop fall allergies in their tracks. If you are suffering from a runny nose or itchy eyes, here are some tips to prepare for fall allergy season. Think About Your Indoor Air Quality If you suffer from fall allergies, you might want to invest in indoor air quality products. These devices can reduce the number of allergens in the air. Air purifiers are great for those who have asthma and severe allergies. They cycle the air through a system and catch those pollutants. At , we can recommend an indoor air quality system for your Mesa home. Perform Some HVAC Maintenance You might want to think about your furnace during this time of the year. You can boost the quality of your indoor air with a few maintenance chores. Your home should get a thorough cleaning, which can eliminate some of the dust and dander that can cause allergies. While you are doing that, make sure...

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What to do About a Rusty Air Conditioner

If you have rust on your air conditioner, there are ways to remove it. Below is a step-by-step procedure for the specific steps you can take. You will need the materials listed below before you get started. Materials List Screwdriver Condenser cleaner spray 1-quart mixture equal parts water and bleach The Step-By-Step Procedure 1. Turn the power off for the circuit breaker at the main electrical panel. Do not attempt to service the unit with the power on as you could easily be electrocuted. 2. Take off the side panel(s) of the AC using a screwdriver. You may need to remove more than one panel depending on the location of your AC’s condenser unit. It is a good idea to check your owner’s manual so you are 100% certain of the condenser’s location. 3. Remove the top lid from the AC in order to access the condenser. 4. Locate the actual condenser unit, which will be a square or rectangular panel that has many coils or fins on the outside. 5. Get the can of condenser cleaner and spray the entire surface of the condenser. You should watch for the foam to rise and cover the whole surface to ensure...

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Steps to Dog Proof Your HVAC System

There are various perils to your HVAC equipment if you have a dog. Of course, you love your four-legged friend, but you also want to protect your investment. Here are a few tips on how to dog proof your HVAC system. Keep Pet Hair Cleaned Up Pet hair can do a lot more than cause allergies. Hair that is left around the home can cause a major mess and eventually get sucked into the cooling system. While AC filters are meant to catch these hairs and prevent them from causing damage, too much hair can overwhelm them. Sometimes, fur and pet dander can work their way past the filters and end up soiling the coils or clogging the ducts. Take the time to regularly sweep or vacuum your home to keep pet hair at bay. When working around the vents associated with your AC system, take extra care to keep hair from getting into them. Protect the AC Condenser Dogs like to urinate on all sorts of vertical objects in a yard. If your dog has access to the air conditioning unit, there’s a good chance they will urinate on it as well. Urine can cause the condenser to degrade...

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What Are Swamp Coolers?

understands that there are many different ways to cool a home. Whether your residence doesn’t have a central air duct system or you want an affordable cooling option, a swamp cooler could be right for you. Swamp coolers are great in areas that have low humidity and can work for homes of any size. They can be installed permanently on the roof of your home and serve as your regular air conditioner. Smaller units can be placed in various rooms in a home to provide localized cooling. Using Evaporative Cooling Swamp coolers operate with the concept of evaporative cooling. This is the same as when you get out of a pool and get chilled by the air. As warm air comes into contact with cool water, heat gets transferred away from the air. Some of the oldest cooling systems used the same concept. Putting a wet towel in a doorway and letting air blow in through it was an old form of air conditioning. Modern swamp coolers use a filter that is constantly kept wet. They blow warm air from your home through the filter to cool it off. The water is constantly refreshed from a reservoir. Swamp coolers are...

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AC Checklist for Your New Home

Congratulations on buying your new home. Now that you’re getting settled in, it’s time to run through an AC system checklist. After all, your air conditioner is what keeps your new home comfortable and livable during Mesa’s hot summer months. Without it, you can’t enjoy your new property. Here at , there’s a checklist we recommend every new homeowner should run through to get to know the new air conditioner. 1. Check the AC’s Age All air conditioners have a set lifespan. Typically, an AC unit will last between ten and twelve years before it needs to be replaced. However, factors like maintenance history and brand quality will impact the lifespan. Do a little digging to find out how old your new home’s AC is so you can plan ahead to have it replaced when the time comes. 2. Check the AC’s Energy Efficiency Not all air conditioners are built alike, and some models are more energy-efficient than others. Your AC’s energy efficiency impacts everything from the amount of electricity it consumes to how much your monthly energy bill costs. You can gauge your unit’s energy efficiency by checking its SEER rating. Newer models are typically more energy-efficient than their...

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How to Measure the Energy Efficiency of Your Home

As a homeowner, you may not know your house’s thermal performance off the top of your head, but chances are you’ll know if you have drafty windows or cold spots. In building-block terms, thermal performance means protecting your home from the elements. The goal is to maintain cool internal temperatures in the summer and a warm interior when the temperature drops.  So, how do you know if your Mesa home is as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible? We recommend performing three different tests that will identify problem areas for repair. Our talented team at can expertly complete each of the following tests for you. Blower Door Test A blower door test is performed to measure how airtight your home is. The test involves attaching a large, powerful fan to a doorway in your house. Once the fan is turned on, the test measures the airflow passing through the fan as well as the pressure between the inside of the house versus the outside.  Low-Emissivity Window Checkers Modern windows are treated with low-emissivity coatings to help reduce the amount of heat transmitted through the pane. This helps to keep your home cool and comfortable. Many windows sold today come with low-emissivity...

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The Consequences of Going Without AC Repairs

Air conditioning repairs are essential to maintaining a quiet, energy-efficient unit. Homeowners who neglect repairs should expect one or more of the following hazards, though most of these apply to central AC units and heat pumps rather than ductless mini-splits. Loud Noises ACs can emit a wide range of unusual noises. Rattling and banging usually point to loose components while hissing and whistling may signify, respectively, a refrigerant leak and air leak. Grinding noises could be produced by the pistons in a worn-out compressor. In any case, the noises can be continuous, loud and irritating. Diminished Cooling Power Issues that go unaddressed will compromise a cooling unit’s performance. So, for example, dirt on the evaporator coil will prevent it from absorbing the heat inside the home. A clog in the condensate drain pipe may lead to flooding. Clogged vents and filters may lead to some rooms being cooler than others. Poor Indoor Air Quality Dirt and the ductwork and filters may also cause pollutants like pollen, dirt, and dander to invade the home. At , we provide duct cleaning and sealing across the Mesa, Ariz., area. When the filters are replaced, they can once more trap those contaminants. High Electricity...

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What is a SEER Rating?

SEER is the acronym for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.” It is a measure of efficiency for your air conditioner — much like miles per gallon is for your automobile. More specifically, your air conditioner’s SEER rating tells you how much cooling you obtain for the energy that goes into the unit over an entire season. In other words, it answers the question: How much cooling do you get out of your air conditioner per watt of electrical energy it uses? What SEER Ratings Can an Air Conditioner Have? Most modern AC units have a SEER rating between 13 and 21. The higher the rating, the more efficient the air conditioner is. Older models can have a rating below 13 while some contemporary, high-tech air conditioners can be rated higher than a 22. How Much Energy and Money Does a Higher SEER-Rated AC Save? Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings do cost more on the market but the energy bill savings you will get from such a unit are well worth the premium you are paying. Though not a precise metric, going up one SEER rating can translate to energy savings between 5-10 percent. For example, when you switch from an...

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