"My A/C is on but not cooling!"

Potential issues: Refrigerant

A common summertime complaint is that your AC is on, set to "Cool" but not cooling! Prime suspect is the Refrigerant. Get your Preventative Maintenance service done now before temperatures start soaring!

In the short run, a low refrigerant charge or low refrigerant levels will cause your HVAC system's efficiency levels to go down and your utility bills to go up. In the long run, running your outdoor heat pump or a/c unit on low or undercharged refrigerant will cause your unit to overheat and will result in additional charges to the cost of repair.

Recharging the system will return it to its proper operating state, however, if a refrigerant leak is not located and repaired, the system will suffer the same problem again depending on how quickly it loses refrigerant charge.

Ease to fix : 2
Cost to fix : $$

Get more information on our website : www.feelairconditioning.com

Smart thermostats make smart decisions

Programmable thermostats have long been considered an effective tool to help homeowners manage the operation of their heating and cooling systems. Consumers can program the thermostat so the heating or cooling system comes on and goes off at certain times of the day or on certain days of the week.

At one time, programmable thermostats were the darlings of energy efficiency. Too often, though, consumers don’t program their thermostat or program it incorrectly. In fact, some studies supported by the U.S. EPA state that programmable thermostats can actually increase energy consumption if not properly programmed. 

When Dallas resident Alan Prather decided it was time to ditch his old non-programmable thermostat in an effort to reduce his energy bills, he looked at all of his options, including a programmable thermostat. Instead, though, he invested a little more money into a new type of thermostat; one that learns the schedule and temperature preferences of the homeowner and creates a personalized schedule based on temperature setting preferences and activity in the home.

Learning thermostats – also known as smart thermostats – can cost upwards of $200, but Prather feels they’re worth the investment. During the scorching Dallas summers, prior to installing his learning thermostat, Prather says his energy bills would exceed $300. This summer, they were down to about $200.

“I love it,” Prather says. “My air conditioning bills were beginning to get really outrageous. Anything you can do to get the most out of what you’ve got without having to spend $10,000 to $15,000 without replacing the whole (HVAC system) is a good thing. In three months, it paid for itself. “

Think gravity

Heat rises. During those hot summer months, the heat in your home will rise to the ceiling or the second floor of your home. To help that hot air on its way out of your home, fans can be a great tool. 

Either ceiling fans or standing fans help move the air around the room, creating a cooler environment for your family. Good air circulation helps your home maintain an even temperature, giving your HVAC a chance to work less.

Make sure that your vents are clean and open

It may be obvious but it is truly remarkable what you may not notice about your own home. Vents can be accidentally shut for cleaning purposes and never reopened. If you notice an unusually warm room or area in your home, don’t forget to check the vent. 

A clean vent also keeps debris from flowing through your home. Dirt and dust can easily collect and can be overlooked; be sure to focus on the inside of your home as well as the outside and ensure your vent and air filters are in good condition.

Protect your HVAC unit from sun and debris

An awning or tree can provide shade to your unit and cut energy consumption while helping your unit operate more smoothly. However, note that shrubbery or branches that can get into the system and can hinder the systems performance and may lead to permanent damage.

Don’t forget about your air filters.

Air filters should be replaced monthly to promote a more efficient system performance. Clogged or dirty air filters can cause a disrupt in the airflow and even lead to health concerns.

Invest in a programmable thermostat

Programmable thermostats allow you to control your HVAC units even when you’re not there. Match your thermostat to your schedule, use a timer for when you leave for work and when you come home, set it for particular rooms, and even set specific temperatures.

Replace old air conditioning units with newer, efficient models

If you have an older unit that has not been properly maintained, invest in a new model. The replacement costs may seem daunting, but in the long run, they are well worth it. Manufacturers such as Trane, Rheem and others are labeled with Energy Star ratings. Energy star products us up to 50 percent less energy than other manufacturers.
Visit us for more information: www.feelairconditioning.com  

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How To Clean Your Air Conditioner Unit Yourself!

Clean your air conditioner unit with these essential maintenance steps that should be conducted each year. You can clean the exterior condenser as well as the accessible areas of the indoor evaporator. In just a few hours with no special tools, you can give your AC system the thorough cleaning it needs to work efficiently all cooling season. In order to accurately test your AC unit after you’ve performed cleaning tasks, it needs to be at least 60°F outdoors, so reserve performing maintenance tasks for a day when the weather is warm enough. - See more at: http://www.hvac.com/blog/how-to-clean-your-air-conditioner-unit-the-condenser-yourself#sthash.jhkKLIDq.dpuf

Cleaning your exterior condenser

Your outdoor condenser’s components can become caked with dirt and other debris, which can restrict the unit’s ability to cool your home by blocking air flow. Your main target for this cleaning is the fins, which are the thin metal blades that encase the unit. To clean your condenser, follow these steps:

1. Turn off power to the unit at the exterior shutoff. Also, shut off power at your home’s electrical panel.
2. Using a wet/dry vacuum with a soft-bristled attachment, vacuum away dirt, leaves, grass, and other debris from the fins.
3. Remove all brush, vegetation, and debris from around the condenser.
4. If any of the fins are bent, you can use a butter knife to gently straighten them out. Be careful not to stick the knife more than a half-inch inside the unit

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HVAC: Home Tips. Maintenance Part V

Maintenance Tips for Your HVAC

Ultimate Air

An HRV or ERV will keep indoor air fresh while minimizing energy loss.

Keep your HVAC investment in tip-top shape for maximum comfort, energy efficiency, and long operating life:

·         Change the blower filter at least twice a year – once before the heating season and once before the cooling season. More often if you live in a more dusty area.

·         Keep components clean, especially the outdoor condenser/compressor unit. Remove dirt & debris, and cut back vegetation at least two feet on all sides.

HVAC: Home Tips. Ventilation Part IV

Ventilation

According to the EPA, indoor air is five times more contaminated than outdoor air. As a society, we’re spending more and more time indoors - as much as 90% of our time, by some estimates. That’s why indoor air quality (IAQ) is being implicated in health problems from asthma to cancer. An air filter can filter out large particles, but fumes from cleaning products, paints, furniture, and other sources can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can negatively affect our health. These are more difficult to filter from indoor air, so they should be vented to the outdoors.

HVAC: Home Tips. Cooling Part III

Cooling

Energy.Gov

Geothermal heat pumps use and store heat energy in the earth.

Cooling is achieved via the electric air-conditioner (or cooling cycle of the heat pump). Refrigerant gas (more commonly known by the trade name, Freon) is compressed by a compressor into a high pressure gas. The compressor pumps the high pressure gas through a radiator-like condenser coil of copper (or sometimes aluminum) tubing and aluminum fins where a large fan transfers heat to the outdoors. This is all accomplished in the outdoor component of your air-conditioning equipment. Next, the cooled, compressed, refrigerant liquid is pumped into the house via the copper tubing, arriving at the also radiator-like evaporator coil. There, under less pressure, it vaporizes from a liquid to a gas once again. A natural property of this change from liquid to gas is that the refrigerant absorbs heat rapidly from the air being blown through the evaporator by the blower. The cooled air is circulated through the home via the ducts. The refrigerant gas then heads back outside to the compressor, where the cycle starts over again.

Part of our discomfort in the summer comes from high humidity in the air which makes us feel sticky or clammy. So, at the same time the air in your home is being cooled by your air-conditioner, it’s also being dried. The blower draws warm, humid air from the home through return ducts and across the evaporator. Humidity from the warm, moist air condenses on the cool evaporator coil as liquid water, dripping into a drain pan below. The air leaving the evaporator is then not only cooler, but drier. That’s why we call it “air-conditioning” and not just “air-cooling.”

HVAC: Home Tips. Heating Part II

Heating

Oil or gas furnaces work by burning oil or gas in a sealed chamber. The blower circulates air around the outside of the chamber, where the air absorbs heat before it is circulated back into the home through the ducts. The byproducts of burning oil and gas are combustion gases, some of which are lethal. Those gases are vented to the outdoors via a metal or plastic flue pipe. Newer systems include a second pipe which gathers air from outside the home for the fire in the combustion chamber. Older systems pulled conditioned air from inside the home for this purpose. As that air was used in combustion, cold air from outside the home was pulled through cracks in the building’s shell, making the home feel drafty and cold, and lowering efficiency. “Newer furnaces, by bringing in outside air for combustion, don’t pull replacement air through a home’s gaps and cracks,” says Moody, “That means they’re more efficient, operate more safely, and make a home more comfortable than older furnaces.”

Electric furnaces use electric strip elements which convert electricity to heat, much like in a toaster or hair-dryer. Air from the house absorbs heat as it passes by the red-hot heating element. That air is then distributed to rooms in the home via the ducts. While quite simple, reliable, and safe, resistance heating is generally considered a less efficient and more expensive way to heat a home.

Heat pumps, either air-source or geothermal, are the most efficient way to heat and cool with electricity. Air-source heat pumps are the most common, and use a refrigerant or chemical to absorb heat from the air outside the home, concentrate it, and use the concentrated heat to warm the home. While quite efficient, air-source heat pumps can lose efficiency as the outside air get very cold. Geothermal uses heat energy from the earth for the same purpose. Since geothermal systems use heat from the ground, it’s immune to the very cold weather inefficiency that air-source heat pumps experience.

HVAC: Home Tips. System Components Part I

Most homes are heated and cooled through a central, whole-home, Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning system (HVAC). The HVAC may well be one of the most expensive and energy hungry systems in the home, so the more you know about your HVAC, the better. A well-informed homeowner will save money and have a healthier, more comfortable home.

HVAC System Components

Central HVAC systems are often called “split” systems because some of the components are installed inside the home and some of the components are installed outside a home. Inside your home, usually installed in the basement, attic, or a closet, you’ll find the furnace (oil, gas, or electric) and the evaporator portion of the air-conditioner. You’ll also find the blower (sometimes called an air handler), which serves both the furnace and the air-conditioner. Attached to the blower are ducts, which are tubes acting as pathways to deliver heated or cooled air to various rooms in the house.

The air-conditioner’s (or heat pump’s) condenser/compressor unit is installed outside the home. The furnace, evaporator, and blower are installed inside the home.

If your HVAC system is a heat pump, it won’t have a separate furnace. Dave Moody, an HVAC industry pro with Service Experts, explains, “A heat pump works like a regular air-conditioner in the summer, then essentially works in reverse in the winter, serving both cooling and heating purposes.” A heat-pump system will still have indoor and outdoor components.

The Basics Of Portable Air Conditioners

Most people are familiar with two main types of air conditioners - window mounted units and larger home HVAC systems. But in some cases, these two aren't right for a home or office. Condos and other buildings may have restrictions in place that don't allow for window units, and their cooling systems may not be efficient enough to work properly. In these cases, a portable air conditioner may be needed.

A portable air conditioner is just what it sounds like. It will be a smaller size system that is mounted on wheels and can be moved from room to room in a matter of seconds. They're easy to use, easy to move, and convenient for plenty of situations. But while they're not as effective as the more common units, they could be the right answer for you.

There are actually two main types of these portable air conditioning units - the evaporative type and the refrigerative type.

Refrigerative units work in much the same way that window units work, and come with a duct that runs from the rear of the unit and must be placed outside. The unit draws in warm air in the room and then ejects it outside, just like window units. However, it lacks the cooling aspect that many larger window units have, and its main drawback is that it can't replace the air it removes with cooler air. This means that it takes much longer to reduce temperatures in the room.

Evaporative units rely on evaporation to cool the air. Water evaporates on cooling fins, and the vapor created during the process helps to draw in heat and cool the room. This option is less reliable than the refrigerative type, but costs up to 70% less in energy to run. It also won't work that great in areas with high humidity.

Deciding that you need to buy a portable air conditioner is just like deciding on purchasing a traditional one. It's a large purchase, and one you'll need to consider carefully. Don't just let hot weather force you into it - consider the pros and cons of a portable unit before you make the purchase.

Pros:

• More affordable than other options
• Simple to install
• Easy to move
• Allowed in any building

Duct Cleaning Q & A

Ventilation ducts are one of the most commonly overlooked areas of the house when it comes time for spring-cleaning. They are the ultimate “out of sight, out of mind” area in the house. Not only are they eminently forgettable, they are also difficult to clean effectively without special equipment. Compiled below are a number of commonly asked questions about duct cleaning, along with advice from the experts.

Q.- I am a DIYer. Is duct and vent cleaning something I can do on my own to save money?

A.- Probably not. It is true that duct cleaning services can seem expensive, especially for families on a tight budget, but it is still not recommended to try on your own, if only because you won't get very far. While you could take a screwdriver to the vent covers, give the area a good dusting and maybe stick a vacuum hose as far in as it will go, you won't likely clean more than a fraction of the labyrinth of ducts that go through most homes. Duct cleaning services use very specialized equipment not generally available to consumers to thoroughly clean out the ducts.

Q.- How do I stop my ducts from getting dirty in the first place?

The Key To Summer Comfort Is Servicing Your Air Conditioner

Summertime is filled with good times, fun, and happiness. But it's also filled with high temperatures – temps that can be almost unbearable at times. That's why the miracle of air conditioning has been embraced by so many Americans. It offers a way to head inside and enjoy a reprieve from the summer heat. Of course, if your AC unit doesn't work the way it should, enjoying those cooler temperatures will be a lot harder to do.

You need to think of your air conditioner in the same way that you think of your car. It's a vital machine that adds a lot to your life, one that is very durable but that needs regular care to keep operating properly. Ignore those oil changes for too long and the engine may go, leaving you with a metal husk on wheels. The same goes for your AC unit – ignore regular maintenance and you'll end up with a maze of vents and a chunk of metal and wiring that won't lower the temperature in your home by a single degree.

Studies have found that for every year of an air conditioner's usage it loses 5% of its efficiency. However, this is preventable and with regular maintenance you can keep your unit working exactly the way it should be. With regular, routine maintenance from a professional, AC units can actually maintain as much as 95% of their efficiency over their lifetime.

In other words, looking at a summertime maintenance call as an expense isn't the right way to think. Instead, you need to look at it as an investment that can end up saving you money over a single year. That base fee for the service call will pay for itself and then some with lower energy costs each month.

A good service call will focus on a lot of different things. When your technician arrives, you can expect several steps to take place including:

Breathe Easy At Home With Clean Ducts And Vents

Cleaning your ducts can be a big hassle, and one that can be easy to put off or even forget. For the most part, our air ducts are out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately, leaving our air ducts unattended can have serious implications for the quality of the air in our home and the health of our families. Not only that, but keeping your ducts and vents clean can also save you money on your energy bills.

Unless you keep your windows and doors open 24/7, a large percentage of the air in your home has been circulated through your ventilation ducts. This is due, at least in part, to the growing popularity of energy efficient doors and windows and heavier home insulation which prevents any fresh air from entering the home. While the energy savings from these practices is good for both the environment and our wallets, it also means that we are exposed to a greater concentration of airborne dust, debris and organisms that may have built up in the duct work.

Ducts, being dark, moist, temperature controlled environments make for a perfect breeding ground for many types of mold, fungus and bacteria, many of which can harm humans. That means whenever your heating or air conditioning system fires up, along with that rush of comfortable air comes a blast of these organisms, as well as dust and debris which can adversely affect respiration. That is why it is so important to keep your ducts clean.

There are two ways to go about cleaning your ductwork. The first utilizes a special hose that connects to the ducting to provide suction. A high pressure air hose, much like a vacuum cleaner, is run through the ducts, sucking out all the loose particulates that would otherwise be blowing around the interior of the system and eventually wind up in your home.

More Common Air Duct Cleaning Methods

Over the years, there have been numerous changes to industry standards and the methodology involved in HVAC duct cleaning. The advancements that the industry has witnessed over the past decades have not only improved the cleaning quality but the safety of the different duct cleaning methods as well. The following are some of the more common duct cleaning methods that professional services usually employ.

• Air Sweep or Power Vacuum method - This is the most thorough duct cleaning method that is currently used today. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive, but it does the best job of rooming the dirt. The vacuum is so powerful, that it can damage the ductwork but that is a rare occurrence as most professional duct cleaning services are extremely careful when using this particular method.
• Contact or Point of Contact cleaning method - Although this is not as thorough a method as others, it is considerably safer for your air ducts and vents. This method also carries a smaller price tag as well. The

The Best Practices For Cleaning Air Ducts

The majority of all commercial and residential structures today are constructed with HVAC or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ducts. Since most of these ducts are constructed and assembled tightly, fresh air and stale air rarely circulates together. When this happens, pollutants tend to accumulate within the ducts and creates unhealthy air that everyone in the home will be breathing. These pollutants will act as irritants can aggravate health conditions such as respiratory afflictions and possibly damage your home in the process.

Cleaning those HVAC ducts will help to eliminate (or drastically reduce) the amount of those pollutants so that you are breathing the healthiest air possible and living in a healthy indoor environment. There are a number of recommendations for cleaning out the ductwork yourself but if you are not somewhat knowledgeable of these practices, you should hire the services of a professional HVAC contractor to ensure the job is done properly. Duct cleaning not only improves the quality of the air you breathe, it might chase away pesky rodents.

The downside to cleaning air ducts too often is that you could damage them, so a professional duct cleaning service will be able to determine when to schedule your next cleaning. However, knowing about the different methods for cleaning out your air ducts will help you determine which one will be best for you. Again, it is best to rely on the expertise and knowledge of a professional. However, it never hurts to gain a little personal knowledge so you will know what the contractor is talking about.

When Should A/C Service Be Scheduled?

During the winter time, your HVAC system works tirelessly to keep you and your family warm and with summertime just around the corner, it will be working just as hard to keep them comfortable and cool. For all intents and purposes, you should have your A/C system serviced between winter and well before summer hits. It's best to have it done when outside temperatures are nicer than they are in winter but much cooler than what they will be during the summer. So schedule the service call in the springtime before temps really warm up.

The HVAC service technician that you contact will make an appointment to come out to your home to inspect your entire system. In most cases, this will include:

• Cleaning or replacing the air filters
• Clearing any debris from inside the compressor housing
• Removing any blockages in the ductwork or grills
• Tightening any screws that may be loose

How to Spot Common Heating Repair Problems

There are literally hundreds of reasons that a home furnace or heating system will need to be repaired or replaced, several of which are extremely common among home or office owners and can cause your system to break down. Whether you are keeping your home or office warm during the winter or preparing it for the cold weather season, the secret to avoiding costly repair bills and keeping your system operating properly is preventative maintenance. Additionally, identifying or spotting the more common heating problems can save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

• Air flow problems - one of the more common heating repair problems, improper air flow results from worn out bearings, belts, and fan motors. A good indication of these issues is a furnace that is overheating or improper heating controls.


• Basic mechanical wear and tear - there are a number of essential mechanical components that the operation of your furnace and heating system relies on. Your unit's performance can be negatively impacted by normal wear and tear of these different components. This will result in poor air flow, furnace overheating, and improper heating controls.

The Best Ways To Reduce Allergens In The Home

It is well known that allergens cause a number of health issues including congestion, runny noses, and [especially] sneezing. Although it is easy to control these issues with certain OTC or prescribed medications, the key is to eliminate or reduce these allergens before the health issues arise and avoid their reoccurrence in the future. If you or your other family members are sensitive to the many allergens that are floating around in the air throughout the year, it makes sense to do everything possible to reduce or eliminate them altogether.

In a recent American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI) publication, it was estimated that 1 out of every 4, or 25%, of all Americans suffer with a number of respiratory conditions including allergies and asthma. If you are allergic to animal dander, dust mites, mold, or a combination of the three, there are several precautionary steps that you can take to avoid suffering during the different allergy seasons throughout the year. The following tips will help you reduce the number of symptoms you normally suffer with during the year or the severity of the ones you are currently suffering with.

Identify exactly what you are allergic to - the first step to eliminating or reducing your allergy symptoms is to identify what is causing your allergies. You will have to consult with a physician in order to identify your different allergies. The physician may be one of the following specialists:

• Dermatologist - treats a wide variety of skin allergies
• Ophthalmologist - offers the treatment of burning and itching eyes that result from seasonal allergies
• Otolaryngologist - specializes in treating allergies and sinus problems

Armed with the knowledge that the above medical professionals can offer you, you can greatly reduce the number of allergens entering your home and hopefully eliminate some as well. Additionally, the two suggestions that follow will enable you to reduce the number of allergens that enter the home and negatively affect those individuals living in it. You will also be able to reduce your suffering and theirs in the process.

Keep doors and windows shut as often as possible - although you may need to open up your home in order to air it out once in a while, the downside is that you will be letting in a lot of allergens when you do. Mold and pollen spores can easily travel through screened doors and windows so you should try to keep them closed as often as you can.

Tips For Reducing AC Costs On Your Electric Bill

One of the issues that many of us are constantly concerned with today are ways to lower our monthly utility bills especially the cost of our air conditioning during warm weather. Our comfort is extremely important to us, but it seems highly improbable that we could actually stay cooler during the hot weather months without breaking the bank in the process. With record setting heat waves becoming more common every summer, even cheapskates aren’t left with much of choice where cranking up the air conditioning is concerned.

Cutting Utility Bill Costs Without Suffering In The Process

When you do need to run your air conditioning more frequently to keep the house cooler, the following tips could help you reduce those inflated A/C costs on your monthly utility bills while not sacrificing any comfort in the process:

• If your A/C unit is an older model, replace it - older A/C units should be replaced with newer, energy-efficient models. These are labeled with an Energy Star rating and will consume up to 50% less energy compared to those models that were manufactured during the 1990’s. Despite the size of the initial investment involved with replacing an older unit, the cost can easily be recouped as a result of the savings that are realized during your first year of utility bills.
• Inspect your ductwork regularly - if gaps or seam separations are found, seal them off immediately by using duct tape (of course). Older homes tend to lose up to 20% (or more) of the cold air generated by their A/C units when the ductwork is leaking and never reaches the intended area of the home where it is needed most. Another suggestion is to install caulking and weather stripping in the gaps around doors and windows. This will save you money on your monthly cooling (and heating) costs.

A Seasonal Guide To HVAC Maintenance

One of the sad facts of life is that all works of Man, including our beloved HVAC systems, eventually start to fall apart. One of the primary responsibilities of a homeowner or landlord is to ensure that their family or tenants are able to dwell comfortably in the building all year long, and that means keeping them cool in the summer and warm all winter long.

Another unfortunate truth is that HVAC repair and maintenance requires special expertise and equipment that most people just don't have. That is why we have HVAC repair specialists.

The real trick to saving yourself some money and getting a prompt appointment with HVAC services is to know when to make the call. If you wait until your system has already broken down, at the height of the warm or cold seasons, it could take days or weeks to get an appointment and cost you an arm and a leg once they get there. This seasonal guide will give you some tips on when to call the repairmen to keep your HVAC system running smooth and tight all year long.

Spring

The middle of spring is a good time to call an HVAC repair specialist to have them take a look at and perform some preventative maintenance on your air conditioning system. You won't have to wait forever for them to come by. Wait times during the height of summer, on the other hand, can be ridiculous, since everyone who didn't do their yearly maintenance is sweating and panicking, and a maintenance check will be cheaper than having a broken unit repaired. They will likely replace or clean filters, lube your motor, and check balance your refrigerant levels. These simple actions can prevent most of the major causes of AC failure.

Summer

4 Things To Be Aware Of Before Hiring An HVAC Repair Technician

Nothing is more frustrating during the hot summer months than a poorly functioning A/C system that is not cooling down the home as well as it should. Interestingly enough, that frustration you may be experiencing could have been avoided if you would have performed a little preventative maintenance. However, it is also a good idea to contract to an HVAC repair technician to perform the more complicated preventative maintenance tasks so your cooling and heating systems continue to operate efficiently and properly.

You can perform the simpler tasks such as checking for restrictions in the airflow that are typically caused by dirty air filters. Additionally, if you have a weak airflow, there may be a problem with the blower or the ducts. In that case, you should hire an HVAC contractor or technician to correct those issues. Here are 4 things to beware of if you are thinking about contacting a contractor or technician:

Beware of any deals that seem too good to be true - remember the old adage “if it seems too good to be true then it probably is.” HVAC companies are always running deals and seasonal specials throughout the year. But the companies that advertise service calls that are far cheaper than all the others or even offer FREE service calls are the ones you want to avoid. These companies may bury those charges in other repair or replacement fees.

Duct Cleaning Q & A

Tags: Air Duct Cleaning, Stop Air Duct From Getting Dirty

Ventilation ducts are one of the most commonly overlooked areas of the house when it comes time for spring-cleaning. They are the ultimate “out of sight, out of mind” area in the house. Not only are they eminently forgettable, they are also difficult to clean effectively without special equipment. Compiled below are a number of commonly asked questions about duct cleaning, along with advice from the experts.

Q.- I am a DIYer. Is duct and vent cleaning something I can do on my own to save money?

A.- Probably not. It is true that duct cleaning services can seem expensive, especially for families on a tight budget, but it is still not recommended to try on your own, if only because you won't get very far. While you could take a screwdriver to the vent covers, give the area a good dusting and maybe stick a vacuum hose as far in as it will go, you won't likely clean more than a fraction of the labyrinth of ducts that go through most homes. Duct cleaning services use very specialized equipment not generally available to consumers to thoroughly clean out the ducts.

Q.- How do I stop my ducts from getting dirty in the first place?

Have Your HVAC's Back And Change Those Filters!

The filters in your HVAC system are the first and most effective measure in protecting your heating and cooling system. Any HVAC specialist or home improvement guru will tell you, change your filters often. Keeping your system in fresh filters will greatly extend its life expectancy and this small bit of preventative maintenance can save you money on repairs down the road, not to mention help keep up the air quality in your home.

Although some products claim to be effective for ninety days or even longer, most industry experts recommend changing your filters every thirty days. In any case, you should inspect your filters regularly, as often as once a week, as the age of your HVAC system and the level of usage will determine how much wear and tear a filter suffers.

You know it is time to change your filters when it is coated in thick dust, usually gray or black. When a filter is clogged up like that, not only is it no longer doing its job, it is decreasing the efficiency of your heating system as the trapped dust absorbs heat. Plus, it also creates a serious fire hazard.

What filter is best for your? That depends mostly on your budget and the level of effort you want to put into maintaining your air conditioning system.

Fiberglass Filters:

These are your standard filters for a homeowner on a budget. Basically composed of several layers of fiberglass meshing, these filter particulates by physically trapping them in a dense net. While fiberglass filters are better than nothing, they are apt to clog quickly and allow a large percentage of smaller particulates to get through.

Why does the human body work better at 22 degrees Celsius and not 37?

How hot, or cold we feel depends not only on the actual temperature of the ambient air but also on the relative humidity of that air and on whether it is still or moving. How cold one feels in an air conditioned room depends on how close one is to the vent, and on how the flow of air from the vent is directed. 

When we are outdoor, the "actual" weather temperature may  not be actual even when measured by an outdoor temperature gauge at the airport (location of most weather report temperature gauges) instead of in the yard; we would feel warmer if the sun is shining, and the gauge in the shade would not know that.

 

I have heard that it is more energy efficient to set air conditioner at a temperature of 26 celsius. Is it true?

It's a little more efficient, yes, because the difference between the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature is lower, so the AC unit doesn't have to work as hard to 'lift' the heat to outdoors.  But more importantly the cooling load is lower too, for the same reason, the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures is lower, so the unit can maintain the setpoint more easily, and will cycle off and run less.  So both of those factors will make your electrical bill lower, but you might drip sweat on it as you read it because 26 degrees is higher than what most folks consider 'comfortable'.

Why does an 18 degree Celsius setting in an air conditioner feel a lot colder than an actual 18 degree Celsius weather temperature?

Air conditioner doesn't output air at the temperature it's set to. That would be very inefficient.  It outputs air at a temperature well below that which it is set to and depends on advection - heat transfer through mixing - to get to the desired temperature.  So if you stand near the vent of an air conditioner, chances are you're not only feeling cooler than you would at the same temperature the air conditioner is set to, the temperature is actually lower than the set point.  The temperature variation exists because the rooms we air condition often have poor air circulation.  If you stand directly in front of the vent, then of course you feel colder than the temperature setting, because it is colder.

Humidity effects also matter, because cooler air has a lower carrying capacity for water vapor.  However, most air conditioning units don't include integral dehydration, so this effect is only really discernible in tropical regions where it is both hot and relative humidity is well above 50%.  In addition, if standing directly in front of the vent, you will experience wind chill.
Stay smart with Feel Air Conditioning :)