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Improving Your Heating and Air Conditioning System
Your furnace and ductwork can become contaminated with dust, dirt, pollen, and other debris. When this happens, these contaminants circulate around your home and can cause asthma, allergies, and other symptoms.
Lexington Heating and Air uses electricity and refrigerant to turn air into warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer. This process is based on the principles of thermodynamics.
You breathe in about 11,000 liters of air a day, and it’s important that the air inside your home or business is healthy. If it’s not, then you might experience a variety of symptoms like irritated eyes and throat, fatigue and even respiratory problems. The good news is that taking proper steps to improve indoor air quality helps alleviate these symptoms and prevent them from developing into more serious health issues down the road.
One of the most common ways to improve your indoor air quality is to control humidity. Having too much humidity leads to excess moisture, which can promote mold growth and increase dust mite populations while also attracting pests. While having too little humidity can cause itchy, flaky skin and static shock while increasing dust levels. A properly functioning heating and air conditioning system balances the level of moisture in the air, ensuring that it is neither too dry nor too humid.
Improving your indoor air quality can help with allergies too. Airborne allergens such as pollen, mold spores, animal dander and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to trigger allergic reactions in building inhabitants. Good ventilation systems remove these irritants from the air, helping reduce the amount of allergy symptoms that people experience such as sneezing, coughing, itching and irritation.
Other factors that can affect indoor air quality include temperature and humidity control, ventilation rates, the use of odor-reducing cleaning products, and the operation and maintenance of HVAC systems. Having these systems working as they should can make a significant impact on your indoor air quality and ultimately help you achieve a more comfortable home or office.
With summer approaching, the 60 million Americans that suffer from seasonal allergies will be battling their symptoms. Tree pollen, neighbor’s mowing lawns and professional golf on the television are just some of the reasons you may find yourself reaching for a tissue or running to your medicine cabinet to relieve itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion.
These allergens can make their way into your home on your shoes and clothing, as well as through the ventilation system and even through your pets, who shed pet dander. You can significantly reduce the amount of allergens in your home by regularly dusting, vacuuming and mopping. A filtration system is also a must, and a humidifier can help keep the air in your home at a healthy relative humidity level.
These allergens can enter your house through the ventilation system, your clothing and shoes, your pets’ hair, and even through your pets themselves. By routinely vacuuming, mopping, and dusting your home, you can drastically reduce the number of allergens present. In addition, a humidifier can assist in maintaining a healthy relative humidity level in your home’s air. A filtration system is also essential.
Unfortunately, these strategies only go so far. Your HVAC system can help reduce allergy-causing airborne pollutants in your home by providing an effective filtration and cleaning process. Regular filter changes, a high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA filter and duct cleaning can dramatically increase your indoor air quality and eliminate many common allergens such as dust mites, mold spores and mildew spores.
It is also important to keep your windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high, and you should avoid using fans that stir up dust and pollen from surfaces in your home. An air conditioning unit with a UV sanitizer is another great addition to your HVAC system because it kills bacteria, viruses and mold spores in the ductwork. An air purifier with a MERV rating of over ten is another helpful device to combat airborne pollutants that your furnace and standard air filters cannot.
When pollen counts are high, it’s also critical to keep your windows and doors closed and to stay away from fans that could potentially stir up dust and pollen from surfaces inside your house. Another fantastic addition to your HVAC system is an air conditioner with a UV sanitizer, which destroys mold spores, viruses, and bacteria in the ductwork. Another useful tool to fight airborne pollutants that your furnace and ordinary air filters cannot handle is an air purifier with a MERV rating of more than ten.
Many people use pesticides to eliminate bugs that scurry into air conditioning vents, and while these sprays can effectively kill the pests, they cannot reach all of the bugs hiding within. Plus, spraying a home with fungicides causes those chemicals to recirculate throughout the house, exposing people and pets to harmful levels of poisonous substances.
Most often, bugs move into AC vents because they have easy access to a resource: water. Cockroaches and other insects are especially drawn to water leaks because they provide a moist environment where they can reproduce easily. So, if you notice any leaks in the walls or ceiling around your home, make sure to seal them as soon as possible.
In addition, if you have outdoor air conditioning units, it is important to keep the area surrounding these clean and free of overgrowth. There should be a 3-foot clearance between the outdoor unit and bushes, flowers, trees, and shrubs to prevent insect migration through these vents into your home.
Another simple way to stop bugs from entering the air conditioning system is to cover all vents with mesh screens, which can be found at most hardware stores and are a cheap and effective solution. Additionally, it is important to explore the outside of your house and check for any cracks or crevices that could allow bugs to enter. Fill these areas with caulk that is safe for your home’s wall material. Finally, if you have a garden, be sure to regularly sweep up leaves and debris to prevent them from accumulating near your home. This will also help deprive critters of their preferred food source and discourage them from moving up to your air vents.
When your HVAC system isn’t running properly, it has to work harder and use more energy. That extra strain costs you in higher electric bills. A yearly AC tune-up by professional technicians will help you save money over time with a well-functioning system that uses less energy to heat and cool your home. You can also save by keeping up with the basic maintenance, like vacuuming your ductwork regularly and keeping furniture away from registers. Also, consider a smart thermostat that allows you to control your air conditioning with a mobile app from anywhere.
According to the Energy Department, your HVAC system consumes 12 percent of your household energy – more than a quarter in hot, humid states. You can reduce your energy consumption by installing a high-efficiency unit with a SEER rating of 16 or higher. Upgrading to a new system will save you more than $660 a year, or $13,000 over 20 years at today’s electricity rates.
Many utility companies offer incentives for homeowners who are willing to go green. If you upgrade to a high-efficiency system and take other energy-saving measures, your utility bill will plummet, and you’ll have a home that’s more environmentally friendly. That’s an investment that will pay off in both the short and long term of homeownership and will improve your home’s value if you ever decide to sell. You can even qualify for tax breaks on your new HVAC system if it meets certain criteria. Contact your local utility company to find out more about their discounts, energy efficiency programs and budget billing options.
The Basics of Air Conditioning Installation
Most local governments require air conditioner installations to be done by a licensed professional. HVAC professionals often get these permits for you, which helps keep the project moving quickly and smoothly.
Some experts recommend using a sealant to fill gaps between the AC and window after installation. This will prevent hot air and bugs from entering. Contact Air Conditioning Installation Los Angeles for professional help.
An air conditioning installation requires many steps to get it up and running, including sizing the unit for your home and determining the correct energy efficiency rating. An HVAC pro should also discuss how to use your air conditioner properly to minimize energy consumption, which helps you save on electricity costs. If you plan to buy an AC unit on your own instead of hiring a contractor for the installation, keep in mind that you’ll need to do the sizing yourself and will be responsible for any problems that may occur.
A common mistake made by homeowners is installing the indoor air conditioning unit outside. This can cause serious problems because the air conditioner needs to be located at a height where it can circulate cool air in your home, not heat it up.
The ideal location for an air conditioning unit is a spot 5 to 6 feet above the ground. This will ensure that the indoor unit can adequately cool your entire living space without cooling hot spots in the room. If the air conditioner is too low, it will not provide sufficient cooling and will force the system to run longer than necessary, which can add up to big energy bills.
In addition, it’s important to choose a place where the indoor air conditioning unit will be protected from direct sunlight. This will prevent the indoor unit from overheating and damaging its components. If possible, it’s best to install the air conditioner in a shady area with trees nearby. But if you can’t, make sure there are no branches or leaves that will fall onto the air conditioner and clog it.
If you’re planning on having a ductless mini-split installed, an HVAC professional will be able to help you determine the best placement for your home. They can give you specific advice on how the air conditioning unit will affect your energy efficiency and noise levels. For more information, call an authorised Daikin specialist dealer today.
Condenser Installation
The condenser is the workhorse of your air conditioning system. It’s where the “magic” happens, so to speak, cooling refrigerant over and over to provide your home with cool, refreshing air. The process begins when air from inside your home blows over a set of evaporator coils, absorbing the heat and turning it into low-pressure refrigerant. This refrigerant is then sent to the compressor, where it’s packed together much more tightly. This process also raises the temperature of the refrigerant, which helps it become a liquid again so that it can return to the evaporator coils. From there, the refrigerant absorbs more heat from the air in the evaporator coils and repeats this whole process over again.
Because the condenser is outside, it must be placed in a location that’s well away from traffic areas and dusty environments. Additionally, it’s important that the unit isn’t in direct sunlight, which could lead to overheating. The location should also be stable enough to support the unit and high enough that children won’t be able to reach it.
Once the condenser is in place, an installer will connect it to the air conditioner using a line set. The line set is a series of tubing that runs from the outdoor unit to the indoor air handler or thermostat, depending on your home’s configuration. The installer will start by installing hangers, which are small metal hooks that the line set will connect to. Then, the installer will roll out a section of the line and push it through a hole that was previously drilled for the indoor air handler. They’ll make sure to use the shortest tubing possible, as any additional length can increase pressure loss and decrease the efficiency of your system.
Because the air conditioning installation process is so complex and involves working with dangerous electrical components and refrigerant, it’s strongly recommended that you have a professional AC company perform it for you. Not only will this help ensure that the installation goes smoothly, but it’ll also protect you from potential damages and safety hazards.
Ductwork Installation
Ducts transport cool air from the condenser to your home’s rooms. The best ducts are well-insulated and properly sealed to limit energy loss. Leaky ducts waste 25-40% of the heating and cooling energy put out by your system, and they increase your utility bills.
During the in-home visit, the contractor will review your current ductwork to determine if it needs replacing or can be modified. If they determine that the ductwork will need to be replaced, the contractor will work with you to create a new layout of ductwork and a schedule for installation.
If you’re planning on using your existing ductwork for your air conditioning installation, you should write out a diagram of where you want the supply and return ducts to go in each room. Your contractor will use this information to make sure that the ducts are sized correctly and are in a good location to serve your home.
It’s also important to have the ductwork professionally cleaned before installing it in your home. Dust and other debris can clog your vents and reduce the efficiency of your system. A professional duct cleaning service will remove any dust, dirt or debris from the interior of your ducts and vacuum the vents to get rid of any lingering particles.
A duct cleaning company can also help you seal your ductwork. The seams should be taped or caulked to prevent air leakage. If you’re taping the seams, make sure to use duct tape with a good bond. Inspectors will look for this type of tape, so you should use it if you want to avoid any unnecessary inspections.
If your house has a crawl space or attic, it’s best to bring in a specialist to install the ductwork. A ductwork specialist will be able to install an efficient system in even the most difficult areas of your home. They’ll know how much ductwork you need, how to seal the joints and what materials to use to ensure an energy-efficient system. They can also help you select the right air conditioner for your home, provide a written estimate and offer affordable financing.
Thermostat Installation
Thermostats have become more advanced than ever before. From smart thermostats to Nest learning models, the range of choices is staggering and the benefits are numerous. Your HVAC professional will help you determine what features are most important to your household and your budget. Once you’ve decided on the model, your technician will install it in the appropriate location in your home. Thermostat installation will require the power to be turned off, so make sure the breakers are turned off in your home before beginning.
To begin, remove the old faceplate from your thermostat. It should pop off easily, but if it doesn’t, don’t force it; you could damage your thermostat and cause an electrical hazard. After removing the plate, take a picture of the wiring setup with your smartphone or camera, and label each wire with masking tape or a labeler (most new thermostats come with wire labels). This will make it much easier to connect the new unit later on.
Next, disconnect the low-voltage wires from the old thermostat. It’s best to use a wire stripper to remove the insulation, leaving only 1/4 inch of exposed wire to prevent over-heating and shorting out the terminals on the thermostat. Then, using your photo or notes, connect each wire to the proper terminals on your new thermostat. Be sure to consult your new thermostat’s installation manual for specific wiring instructions, as each brand is a little different.
If you have a new thermostat that requires a C-wire for its smart functions, be sure to connect the white, W, or W1 wire to the C terminal on your HVAC system’s service disconnect. Be sure to also reconnect the Y wire to the Y terminal on your new thermostat if your heating and cooling systems are set up with two-stage operation.
Once all the wires are connected, screw your new thermostat to its base and mount it on the wall. Ensure the unit is level to avoid inaccurate readings. Once everything is secure, turn the breaker back on in your home and start saving money on energy costs.