Design Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

Air Conditioning Tip: New AC Installation Options

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioning in your home, the range of types and brands of air conditioners can be somewhat daunting. Like many homeowners, you’re probably trying to weigh your options, and choose a model that is both good for energy efficiency and cooling performance, all within your budget. You also need to ensure that your AC is properly sized for your home, so that it performs efficiently. If it is too big, it will short-cycle and waste energy; if it is too small, it will struggle to cool your home at all, and may overwork itself, leading to increase wear and tear. Most importantly, you need to ensure that you receive professional air conditioning installation so that it is both effective and efficient. For more information about Salt Lake City air conditioning services, call Design Comfort today!

Let’s take a look at two major types of air conditioning:

  • Central split air conditioning. Central air is the most popular type of AC system on the market today. It is a “split” system, which simply means that there is an outdoor unit comprised of a condenser and compressor, and an indoor unit comprised of an evaporator and air handler. Like all ACs, it relies on the refrigerant cycle to remove warm air from inside the home and distribute cool air throughout the home. It does this by pressurizing chemically designed refrigerant and making it change from a liquid to a gas, and from a gas to a liquid. It requires a system of ductwork to extract and distribute air.
  • Ductless mini split air conditioning. As its name suggests, ductless mini split air conditioning does not use ducts to extract and distribute air. It sidesteps the energy loss and poor indoor air quality caused by ductwork by installing the air handlers directly into the living space. These sleek, compact units sit high on the wall, or recessed in the ceiling. Refrigerant, drainage, and electrical lines connect the indoor and outdoor units through a relatively small hole. Each indoor air handler can be separately controlled, making the ductless mini split a versatile choice.

When you need Salt Lake City, UT air conditioning, call the experts at Design Comfort today!

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Air Conditioning Tip: Getting Your AC Ready For The Cooling Season

Monday, April 15th, 2013

If you’re not yet ready for the summer, that’s ok. There’s still to prepare your home for this upcoming cooling season. Spring is an excellent time to fire up your AC so as to ensure that it still works properly. If you have any misgivings about its operation, then you can take care of the problem well before you need your AC night and day to stay cool. In this post, we’d like to share with you some things every homeowner can do to prep his or her system for the summer heat and humidity. For Salt Lake City air conditioning, contact the experts at Design Comfort  today!

  • Schedule air conditioning system maintenance. There’s no substitute for professional attention and care. April is a great time to ensure that your AC is ready to go. Your SLC air conditioning technician will thoroughly inspect, clean, and tune-up all aspects of your system, including checking for low levels of refrigerant, cleaning the evaporator and condenser, and inspecting the compressor. Make sure that your cooling system receives the maintenance it deserves so that you stay comfortable this summer.
  • Check, clean, and replace your air filter. While you probably know to check your air filter at least once a month during the peak cooling season, it’s also important to start off the cooling season on the right foot. If you haven’t already, put in a new air filter. Your air filter is designed to prevent dust and debris from settling on your AC components, but it also affects the quality of your indoor air. Most critically, a clogged air filter can actually force your system to work harder than it should, and can increase your energy bill.
  • Clear debris. Make sure that your indoor and outdoor units have adequate airflow clearance, so that they can properly transfer heat. This simple step can save you from jammed mechanical parts and inefficient cooling.

We hope you find this brief guide helpful. For more information about your Salt Lake City air conditioning system, and how to improve it, contact Design Comfort today!

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Why Take the “Whole-Home” Approach to Home Efficiency

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

If you are thinking of installing a high-efficiency heating or cooling system in your Salt Lake City home, there are many things to consider before doing this. At Design Comfort, we can help you by looking at other potential home improvements that could be made before you upgrade. And there are many reasons to do this.

First, take a look at some of these improvements:

  • Adding Insulation
  • Sealing Air Ducts
  • Air Balancing
  • Adding a Better Ventilation System

Making these improvements along with upgrading your home comfort system is considered the “whole home approach,” because you are taking into account all the areas in the home that could be more efficient. When you do this, you get more out of your investment because the new system will not only operate at efficient levels, but you’re also not losing energy in places that could be less expensive to upgrade.

For instance, if a homeowner adds solar panels but is losing air through improper sealing, or if there’s no moisture control in the house due to poor ventilation, then the heating and air conditioning system that works off of those panels may have to work extra hard. Then the homeowner isn’t getting full value out of those solar panels since the HVAC system is using more energy due to other issues in the home.

This is why most contractors recommend that you upgrade other areas before making expensive investments. It will also help ensure that the system will last longer and that your new heating or cooling system works in tandem with the other elements of the home.

Call Design Comfort if you would like to know more about home energy efficiency services in Salt Lake City. We would be more than happy to speak with you about our services and how we can help you save energy and money.

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AC Tip: Why is My Air Handler Squealing?

Monday, October 1st, 2012

In Salt Lake City, unusual noises coming from your expensive HVAC system is never a good thing. It’s true that an unusual noise does often mean that something needs to be fixed; however, a noise emanating from your HVAC system does not necessarily mean a major repair. You should always have a technician check it out if you suspect a problem with your system, but not all problems are going to be an expensive to fix.

One common noise that homeowners notice and complain about is a squealing noise originating in the air handler. Usually, this noise is coming from the fan belt that connects the blower fan and the motor. Over time, the belt can stretch out and become worn or misaligned, which makes it slip and generate that aggravating squealing noise.

So, while the squealing can be annoying and unpleasant, a slipping belt is by no means major. A belt is an inexpensive part and a technician can install it in just a matter of minutes.

As long as the noise is a squealing and not a grinding, this simple fix will often take care of the problem. If you hear a grinding noise, however, immediately shut the unit down and call a Salt Lake City air conditioning technician. This may mean that your motor bearings are worn out and need to be replaced ASAP before further damage is inflicted on the motor itself.

Contact Design Comfort for any help with your HVAC system today. Over the years, Design Comfort has been building a loyal clientele through uncompromising service and integrity.

 

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AC Guide: Why Replace Your Indoor and Outdoor AC Components at the Same Time

Monday, September 10th, 2012

Do you need to replace one of the main components of your Salt Lake City split AC system? If so, you are probably tempted to just replace whichever unit is failing in order to fix the problem quickly and cheaply. This is not always the best way to go, however. Here are six reasons why you should replace both the indoor and outdoor units at the same time.

 #1: Cost

Although replacing just the failing component – whether indoor or outdoor – will be less expensive up front, that choice often proves more costly overall. You will see just what that means in the rest of these reasons.

 #2: Advances in design

Heating and cooling technology is always advancing, so since you purchased your AC system, the products on the market have gotten quieter, more efficient and better overall. By replacing just the failing indoor component, you won’t reap all the benefits of this new technology, as the older outdoor component will still lag behind the times.

 #3: Higher efficiency

When both units are replaced at the same time, and with models that have the same technology, they work together more efficiently. That means more savings on your bills and a more comfortable home.

 #4: Matched system

Split AC systems are designed such that the indoor units are engineered to work best with a matching outdoor unit. When the system is matched, you get optimum performance and efficiency. By replacing just one component, you lose the benefits of that matching, meaning degraded efficiency and performance.

#5: Warranty considerations

A new system means new warranty coverage. Replacing both units at once means a whole new warranty that covers your whole cooling system, so you won’t have to worry about paying for any more replacements jobs for a long time.

 #6: Wear and tear

Finally, think about the wear and tear your air conditioning system has undergone since it was installed. Maybe only your outdoor unit needs to be replaced now, but since your indoor unit has tolerated the same number of hours of use, it may be on its way out sooner than later. It’s like when you buy new tires for your car– you don’t buy one or two, you buy a whole set of four so that the whole system starts fresh. That way you only do it once, and not again in six months or a year.

For all these reasons, replacing both components of a split system is often the best and least expensive route to choose when facing a replacement. For more information about replacing your Salt Lake City AC system, give Design Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

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AC Tip: Energy Efficient Home Cooling

Monday, August 27th, 2012

Having an energy efficient air conditioning system in Salt Lake City place is a great way to keep cool in the summer for less. But that is far from the only thing you can do to help reduce your energy bills throughout the hottest months of the year. In fact, there are several simple steps you can take to start cutting down on your cooling costs right now and lighten the cooling load that your air conditioning system has to bear.

One of the main things to remember when you are trying to keep your house cool is that every door and window is potentially letting in warmer air from outside and letting the cooler indoor air escape. You can cut down on this considerably if you simply take the time to seal up these access points and any others you are able to find.

Putting up plastic over unused doors and windows and checking all areas of the house for drafts and adequate insulation will dramatically reduce the cost of keeping your house cool in the summer. Also, you can keep the sun from warming up your indoor air by drawing the blinds, particularly on those windows that let in the hot afternoon sun.

Putting up light colored siding and reflective roofing will also do a great deal to keep your overall cooling costs down. That is because these materials are able to direct the heat of the sun away from your house rather than letting it be absorbed so that it can heat up the inside. The vast majority of the heat that your air conditioning system has to remove from your house comes in through your roof and walls, so blocking this access point is extremely helpful in keeping your overall cooling costs down.

All of these are steps you can take to reduce the total cooling load that your air conditioning system has to deal with. But if you want your system to continue to function at peak energy efficiency, you will have to take care of it as well.

This typically means having someone come in once a year to perform a thorough inspection of your Salt Lake City air conditioning system and to clean out any debris that may have accumulated over time. Having this done will make it possible for your air conditioner to continue to function at the highest possible levels of energy efficiency for years to come. Call Design Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment!

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AC Repair Question: Why is My Central Air Conditioner Making Noise?

Monday, August 13th, 2012

A good air conditioner in Salt Lake City is a life saver in the midst of a hot and sticky summer, but just because the system makes you comfortable and makes the hottest months bearable doesn’t mean you want to hear it clanging and banging all summer. If you notice excess noise coming from your air conditioner, it might be a problem that can be fixed by your technician. Here are some common causes of excess noise from an air conditioner and what you can do to fix them.

  • Blower – The blower is a motor and fan blade assembly. If the blade touches the housing or if the motor needs a tune up, it might start to make excess noise. Loose screws, foreign objects, or a need for oiling or new parts will all cause noise problems.
  • Ductwork – If the sounds you’re hearing are in the ductwork or vents, it may be due to expansion and contraction in your ventilation system. This is normal and while it may be obnoxious, it tends not to persist during the hottest months as temperature won’t fluctuate as much.
  • Bubbling Sounds – If you hear a gurgly or bubbly noise coming from your indoor unit, it may be due to a blockage in the condensate line. The easiest solution is get someone to clean the condensate line and check for any clogs or blockages in the system.
  • Clicking Sounds – If you hear a clicking sound, it is likely from the relay or contactor in the system. If this is the case, have a professional check it right away. Electrical problems are not to be taken lightly where your air conditioner is concerned.
  • Foreign Objects – Sometimes, the condenser fan will make a lot of loud noise because foreign objects get stuck in there. Sticks, leaves, toys, food from small animals – it can all get stuck in the fans and make a tremendous amount of noise. Keep the area around your condenser unit clear of debris and check it often if you hear loud noises.

Most noises from your Salt Lake City central air conditioning unit are explainable and can be fixed relatively easily. If you cannot find the source of the noise, however, and it is only getting worse, call Design Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning before the problem grows.

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Important Things to Remember When Installing a Central Air Conditioner

Monday, July 16th, 2012

A good central air conditioner is a big upgrade for most Salt Lake City homeowners. If you’ve been using window units for the last few years or have an older central unit that simply doesn’t get the job done any longer, a brand new central unit will feel incredible. But, before you run out and hire someone to install your new Salt Lake City central air conditioner, there are a few things to remember.

  • Space – Make sure you have enough space for both the outdoor unit and the indoor evaporator coils.  If space is limited, there are smaller units that will use less and still provide a decent amount of cooling.
  • Supply Registers – Make sure there are enough registers in your home, in the rooms where you need the cooled air. Insufficient depositing of cooled air won’t keep you cool and will run up your energy bill.
  • Ducting – Check the duct work and make sure it can support an air conditioning system. Seal up any ducts leading into spaces you don’t want cooled like the attic or the basement.
  • Condensing Unit – Clear away a space outside where your condensing unit will be placed. It should be clear of debris and be easy to maintain throughout the year, even in the winter when snow might block it in. It should also be easy to access for installation and annual maintenance.
  • Sizing – When you call a professional, they should properly size your home and match it to a central air conditioner that fits your needs. Something too small won’t provide the level of cooling you need and something too large will cycle on and off frequently, costing you more money and putting unnecessary stress on the machine.

If you’re ready for a central air conditioner and want to start the processor, call a Salt Lake City air conditioning professional like Design Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning who can help you go through each of these issues and make sure your home is ready for the new device. Once you’ve done that, you can select a model and have it installed.

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Air Conditioning Tip: Your HVAC System’s Condensate Drain Line

Monday, June 18th, 2012

There are a lot of components involved in a properly working HVAC system. One component that many people overlook is the drain line for their Salt Lake City air conditioning system. Your air conditioning system has condenser coils that sweat the water drawn from the air in your home as it is cooled by your AC unit. These coils produce a significant volume of water, especially when it humidity is high, so a condensate drain pan is installed to capture the moisture and keep it from damaging your home.

A drain line from the drain pain out of your home is required to transfer all that extra water, but it can easily become clogged by debris in the area or simply from heavy condensation. If this happens, the drain line might need to be cleared or even replaced.

Inspecting your Condensate Drain Line

Full inspection of your drain line involves checking quite a few components, but, in short, you want to look for evidence that your condensate drain is overflowing or that the liquid in your drain pan is backing up into the air handler.

You may also notice that there is no liquid coming out of the condenser – a sign that there may be a major problem in the system that needs immediate inspection. If this happens, make sure you check for blockages and if nothing is present, call a contractor.

Cleaning Your Drain Line

Each year, it is recommended that you clean your drain line to make sure it is clear and ready for the summer’s heavy cooling and high humidity. The simplest way to do this is to disconnect the drain line and attach a hose to blow the line clear. This can get a little messy, so make sure you dress for the occasion. Another option if you have a wet/dry vac is to attach the hose to the end of the drain line and suck free any moisture still in there. Most wet/dry systems have attachments for drain line clearing or you can order one.

If your drain line is not clearing properly or you think there may be structural damage suffered during the winter, call a Salt Lake City air conditioning professional for a more thorough inspection. If you have regular maintenance done on your AC system each spring, this should be part of the process so make sure you write down any questions you have for when Design Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning visits your home.

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How Much Will a High Efficiency Air Conditioner Save You?

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

When it comes to your air conditioning system in Salt Lake City, the energy efficiency rating really does matter. While you may be paying a bit more for products with higher energy efficiency ratings to begin with, you will certainly save a significant amount on your monthly cooling bills in the years to come.

Before you can evaluate your options in terms of energy efficient air conditioners, however, you will need to know how their efficiency is represented. Most air conditioners come with what is called a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER). A higher SEER means a more energy efficient model, and likely a higher price tag as well.

But how much more energy efficient is a SEER 10 air conditioning unit as opposed to a SEER 11? Well, the truth is that it is about 7% more efficient. However, a SEER 14 will be 23% more efficient than a SEER 10, but only 5% more efficient than a SEER 13 model.

While all of these numbers can help give you some context in which to evaluate the various air conditioners out there, they can only go so far. Turning these percentages into dollars is what you really have to do when you are trying to figure out what your monthly or yearly savings will be.

So to give you a bit of perspective, imagine that your annual cooling costs come to around $480 with your current SEER 10 air conditioning system. If you choose to upgrade to a SEER 13, you will save somewhere in the neighborhood of $110. But if you opt for the SEER 14 instead, you will gain an annual savings of closer to $140 compared to your current bill.

Of course, the SEER of a particular air conditioner is not the only thing that will cause the price of the unit to rise, nor is it the only thing that can cause your monthly cooling costs to rise. Air conditioners also need to be matched to the size of the space they will be asked to keep cool.

If the unit you have is too small to effectively cool the area in question, you are likely paying more than necessary in terms of cooling costs for less than ideal results. Similarly, if your unit is too big, you will be paying too much no matter how high a SEER rating it has. If you need help picking the unit that is right for you, contact your local professional.

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