Tuesday, July 13, 2021

5 Tips to Save Long Term Money on an Air Conditioning Service

5 Tips to Save Long Term Money on an Air Conditioning Service


We're on the brink of spring, and as such, millions of Americans are getting their spring cleaning plans in order. However, despite the pro-maintenance mindset, few Americans take decisive care of their air conditioning systems during this time. Some detailed oriented thinking and preventative maintenance can end up saving huge amounts of money on mid-summer breakdowns and costly air condition repair- if your systems are taken care of now. These 5 tips, to be enacted this spring, will keep your AC unit in shape for the long haul and save huge in cost and replacement parts.

Start Slow

Many people choose to unplug their systems through the winter months. This saves a considerable amount of money in the form of preventing phantom electrical usage; when negligible amounts of electricity seep into a plug, building cost over time. When you finally plug back in after winter, allow 24 hours before you turn your system back on proper. If you try too quickly, you compressor could overload or even experience some additional wear and tear. Air conditioning parts (especially compressors) are expensive; no sense wearing them out needlessly. Be patient and wait the allotted time.


Ducts and Vents

When you're going about your spring cleaning, make sure that you pay a little extra attention to the air vents in each room. If they're blocked or covered by furniture, clothes, storage items, what have you; clear up the obstruction. These obstructions not only prevent treated air from getting into a room, they force the AC system to work harder to make up for it. Also, shore up any holes in duct work. Leaky ducts could end up costing hundreds in extra bills due to lost air.

 Don't Play With It

 Resist tweaking the thermostat too often. Spring temperature can sometimes fluctuate between frosty and warm. Find an agreeable seasonal temperature and leave your thermostat at it for the whole season. Turn it up, and down, and back up again, just wastes the energy that is required to kick the system into gear. Save money and environmental impact by not fussing with your system and maintaining a comfortable setting.



Plants and Shrubs

Hang potted plants or buy tall shrubberies for the eastern and western areas of the home's exterior. The plants will act as a shade that will prevent the sun from heating up your home, and as insulation to keep treated air in. Installing them now allows the plant time to grow out and become more effective for the upcoming summer. For an even more long term approach, it could be good to think about larger, thick shrubs or trees. The investment is considerable, and they take a while to grow; but the payoff if huge if you stick it out.

Early Appointments

Schedule your air conditioning service now, before the contractors are completely booked at the beginning of spring. Come summer, you will not often be able to get an appointment to suit your schedule. Now, air conditioning contractors have time to fit your schedule, time to answer any questions you may have in detail, and appliance parts are much cheaper than peak seasons. Schedule your appointment early to avoid midsummer woes.

Follow our tips and your system should stay strong and efficient during the summer. Spring air conditioning repairs are all about long term preparation. Be decisive and act today to protect your comfort in the future.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Do You Need a New Air Conditioning System?

Do You Need a New Air Conditioning System?



Sitting out on the front porch sipping ice tea with lemon can be a little slice of heaven. But not everyone feels as heavenly about it if night after night, that's where they are instead of in their cool, air conditioned home. Summer is the time that air conditioners break down regularly. No one wants to make that call to the A/C repair person when they are dripping with sweat. Here are a few tips to help you find a solution to your air conditioner problem.

Many times, A/C companies will try to get consumers to buy a brand new central air conditioning unit. Not only is this unnecessary, it is also very expensive and time consuming. So, how do you know if you really do need a new air conditioner or if repairing the one you currently have is the answer to your heat-soaked prayers.




Check out the filters. When your filters are dirty, things like dust and dirt get trapped in the filters and prevent air from flowing freely. An easy fix is to check your filters, use the actual vacuum hose on them, or replace them on a regular basis. It's one of the main air conditioner parts that is easy to access. That way, you'll keep your A/C running lean and clean.

Find out if you have any leaks. This is a very difficult situation. Repairing leaks is a major expense and can cost you lots of dollars in energy bills. However, you do not need a new system if the problem is a leak in the current system. Make sure you explore every avenue of finding and repairing the leak before you look into getting an entirely new system.

Have a qualified technician come out and do a check up. Many times, we don't even know what kind of parts are in our system when we first purchase a new home. Having a technician come out and do a tune-up; much like you would on a car, can help find any damaged or poorly made parts. Then, you're in the position of merely replacing a part; not an entire unit or central air system. You may also want to shop around a little bit checking out reconditioned parts or getting a second opinion from a qualified A/C repair technician. Don't jump at the very first offer!

As with any type of mechanical repair work, don't attempt to do it yourself, unless you really, really know what you are doing. Simply getting into an air conditioning system and banging around or tightening or tweaking things may cause more harm than you know. Always check with a qualified professional technician before you start trying the DIY approach. After all, the DIY approach may end up costing you more time, effort, energy, and stress.

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Thursday, July 1, 2021

How Much Is Your Commercial Air Conditioning Unit Actually Costing You?

How Much Is Your Commercial Air Conditioning Unit Actually Costing You?



Understanding the true cost of any commercial air conditioning unit goes beyond simply looking at the purchase price. To determine a unit's true value, you must consider the amount of energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature in the building. There's also the matter of the overall cost of maintenance, upkeep and repairs. Before investing in a new unit, here are some things that you need to know about getting the most from your existing system.

Projecting the Lifecycle Cost

The lifecycle cost is simply the amount of expense involved in owning and operating equipment for commercial air conditioning. The first expense is the purchase price, followed by any costs that have to do with installation. From there, the cost of the utilities necessary to operate the system must be considered. There's also the matter of any type of service contract that is secured for the system. Don't overlook the need to have repairs done from time to time, and allow for both parts and labor.

Understanding the lifecycle cost allows you to determine how your current system measures up to newer systems on the market. By calculating the cumulative expense of the current unit, it will be easy to compare the benefits of continuing to maintain the system versus replacing it. If you find that a new unit would not produce significant savings over your current system, then there is no need to invest in a replacement at this time.



Knowing When to Shut the Unit Down

Depending on the nature of your business, it may not be necessary to run the commercial air conditioning constantly. At certain times of the year, it may be more economical to make use of the cooler air outside. This is often true in the autumn and the spring, when the heat and humidity indexes are a little lower.

The thing to keep in mind is that using this economic approach does require that the system be left off for at least a few hours. Many units utilize a significant amount of energy in order to start up. This means having the unit off for no more than an hour may not produce much in the way of savings. By contrast, if letting fresh air in would keep the building interior at a comfortable temperature all morning and into the afternoon, then opening the doors and windows makes sense.

Look closely at how you are making use of your commercial air conditioning unit and see if there are ways to enjoy the benefits while also reducing operational costs. Regular maintenance and judicious use will often result in allowing the unit to keep running for a few extra years. That provides you with more time to research possible replacements, and be ready to move quickly when the time comes.

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