I never realized just how hot car engines can get while you’re driving peacefully down the road. Even when your temperature gauge is sitting safely at the middle point between hot and cold, the area underneath your car’s hood is still extremely hot. The air that is pushed into the engine as the car flies down the road is part of what cools these warm components. The primary source of engine cooling is the radiator. If the radiator leaks or naturally burns down its supply of coolant, then you run the risk of your engine overheating. As long as the radiator is maintained without damages, your car should stay at a safe operating heat at almost all times. Air conditioning systems, whether in commercial or residential applications, are much the same way. They have a transfer of energy from hot to cold—the refrigerant gets warm after energy is absorbed during the cooling cycle. The heat has to be released somewhere, which is why you see condensers sitting in yards instead of inside homes. If they weren’t outside, they would be warming the very space they’re trying to cool. This is the exact paradox you deal with if you buy a portable air conditioner. The warm compressor is inside the same enclosure as the cold evaporator coil, so the device has to draw some of the conditioned air back into the system to cool the warm components. This warm air is pushed outdoors through the exhaust hose. For this reason primarily, they’re not as energy efficient as window air conditioners. If you don’t have the right kind of window in your home, you might have no other choice but to use a portable air conditioning system.
This is how air conditioning repairs go
I hate it when something breaks and needs repairs. My lawn mower gave me nearly 10 years of nothing but reliable service before refusing to start last week. I kept yanking on the cord to no avail, worried that something was seriously wrong with the engine. I was forced to take my mower to a repair shop and found out that there is a tiny rubber diaphragm inside a lawn mower carburetor that gets worn down over long periods of time. It’s as simple as taking the carburetor apart, replacing the torn diaphragm, and then reassembling the engine. Even though it turned out to be cheap and easy in the end, the process was hectic and stressful. At one point I was scared that my lawn mower had seen its final days. I was happy to get it back in the end, but the situation had a lasting effect. When my air conditioner started exhibiting similar problems while trying to keep the temperature low in the afternoons, I was extremely worried.
Repairs on any kind of air conditioners can either be simple and straightforward or stressful and expensive. Other times it can be as bad as a system replacement altogether. Thankfully, I just needed a new fan motor. Most people would not be happy with this news, but I am just happy the repairs are not going to be any more extensive than they are. In a week’s time, I should have the new fan motor installed inside my central air conditioner. To make things even better, it was covered by my manufacturer’s warranty. I didn’t have to pay for the part, I only had to pay for the labor fee.
When it’s hot outside, you need it cool inside!
When I got up this morning, it was such a beautiful day that I decided to go for a run. I thought it would be a nice break from running on the treadmill inside. I looked forward to enjoying the lovely weather, scenery, and fresh air. I quickly realized that the day was super hot and humid, and within a couple of minutes, I had sweat running down my face. It was difficult to enjoy the fresh air because the exhaust fumes gave me a terrible headache. I ran really fast, however, because I got chased by a mean dog. I also got chased by an angry bee, and nearly broke my ankle stepping into a pothole. When I was about three miles away from my house, it started to rain and the batteries in my ipod died. I was thirsty, wet, and I desperately needed to use the bathroom. A half an hour later, I was extremely thankful to finally complete my run. I stepped inside my temperature controlled house and loved the feel of the air conditioning blowing on me. I was thrilled to have water to drink, access to a bathroom, and my thermostat.
The humidity, rain, and heat were no longer a factor, because my air conditioner maintains the ideal temperature at all times. There’s no problem with road dust or exhaust fumes, because my air conditioner also filters the air as it circulates. If I want scenery, I can watch television while I run on the treadmill. While running outside sounds like fun, I prefer the luxury of having a thermostat at my fingertips which controls the central air conditioning.
Information on electric heat pumps
When my husband, Dave, and I built our home, we relied heavily on the advice of the building contractor. We should have either done a lot more research ourselves, or hired professionals in the various fields. Unfortunately the building contractor only had general knowledge of plumbing, wiring and heating/cooling. We took his recommendation and invested in an electric heat pump to handle our year round temperature control. The general contractor assured us that the heat pump would effectively and efficiently combat local weather. This is not the case. The heat pump is absolutely wonderful during the summer months. It operates very much like a central cooling system, extracting heat from the air and pumping it outside through the use of refrigerant. The equipment is extremely quiet and energy efficient, and it successfully reduces humidity levels. During the cooler months of the fall, the heat pump is able to maintain comfort. The equipment actually reverses operation to find ambient heat in the outside air and transfer it into the house. This process if exceptionally energy efficient, and keeps our heating costs quite low. We get into trouble when the outside temperature drops below freezing. At that point, there is not sufficient ambient heat available and the heat pump can’t keep up. It doesn’t matter how high we set the thermostat or how hard the heat pump struggles, our house is downright chilly. Since the heat pump is running non stop, it costs us a lot in monthly heating bills. We’re not happy spending a fortune for heat and then bundling up in layers of sweaters to keep warm.
Air Conditioning that works well in the south
I live in the deep south, and heat and humidity is a year round problem. I’ve spent a small fortune on a central cooling system which runs just about non stop. The air conditioner is extremely powerful and wonderfully energy efficient. It is equipped with variable-speed capability, which allows the equipment to adjust speed in tiny, one percent increments. It can operate anywhere between forty and one hundred percent capacity. Because of this, the air conditioner runs for longer cycles at lower speeds, and achieves greater efficiency and dehumidification. Despite this state-of-the-art cooling system, excess moisture is still a concern. The air conditioner is designed to create a cooling affect, and not specifically to remove moisture. Since high humidity makes the air feel warm and sticky, it encourages lower thermostat settings. The air conditioner ends up working harder, using more energy and costing more to run, and yet the house isn’t entirely comfortable. Freezing cold temperatures don’t offset an abundance of moisture. There’s the potential for health hazards such as a higher dust mite population, and mold and mildew growth. Condensation can lead to property damage. In the my local area, it’s necessary to partner the air conditioner with a whole-home dehumidifier. The dehumidifier pays for itself through lower thermostat settings and reduced strain on the air conditioner. It makes very little noise, requires hardly any upkeep, and allows customized settings. Because the dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the indoor air, my home is far more comfortable, cleaner and healthier. I sleep better at night and have more energy during the day.
How zone control systems work
Last winter, I got injured in a car accident and spent almost a week in the hospital. The experience was horrible. Although the doctors and nurses were wonderful, the hospital is unpleasant in every way. I was in quite a bit of pain and simply wanted to sleep. The bed and pillow were uncomfortable, and the sheets were thin and scratchy. The room was never dark enough, and there was constant noise. Nurses repeatedly entered the room and woke me up. The food was downright awful, and I hated the antiseptic smell of the air. The worst was the freezing cold temperature. I understand that the hospital maintains a very low temperature to combat the spread of bacteria and infection, but I shivered the whole time. There were half a dozen vents in the ceiling, and no escape from the blast of air conditioning. I kept asking if the thermostat setting could be raised just a bit and was assured it would be taken care of. Nothing was done, and the air conditioner never shut off.
I finally begged my husband to bring in warm clothes and a heavy blanket from home. I couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital and enjoy my own bed. At my house, I have zoned heating and cooling, as well as a smart thermostat. I can make adjustment to everything from fan speed to temperature from an app on my phone. I can target the bedroom without affecting the rest of the house. I was so much happier and more comfortable once I was back home. This new technology has made my home more comfortable. I highly recommend zone control and a smart thermostat.
Outdoor pollutants can cause issues with your HVAC system
A couple of years ago, my husband and I moved from a small apartment in the city into a big farmhouse in the country. We were extremely excited to finally have a garage to park our cars, a big kitchen, plenty of closets, and a huge backyard. Our home is surrounded by pastures and fields with a large pond in the backyard. We are located on a dirt road, nearly fifty miles from the nearest town. We moved in during the fall, when the weather was already quite chilly. There was no opportunity to sit on the front porch, take advantage of the lawn, hang laundry on the clothesline or open the windows. The furnace installed in the home is rather old and outdated, and it struggled to handle the severe winter temperatures. We hired an HVAC contractor to thoroughly clean and service the heating system, and got a free estimate for replacement. We were hoping to upgrade to a more modern, energy efficient furnace within the next year. Because we are located in the northern part of the country, with long winters and short summers, we didn’t anticipate the need for air conditioning. However, once the weather warmed up and we opened our windows, we realized our mistake. The dirt road is horribly dusty, and every time a car drives by, the dust wafts directly into the house. Sheep, cows and horses graze on the pastures surrounding our house, creating a terrible odor and drawing in an abundance of flies. We have no choice but to keep our windows closed, but then the house becomes overheated. Instead of spending our savings on a new furnace, we purchased a central cooling system.
It’s always nice to have a friend who works in HVAC
At twenty-seven, my brother, Sam, has still not found a career path. At that age, most young men have finished college or trade-school, and are anxious to start earning money, if they aren’t doing so already. I don’t know whether he is lazy or merely indecisive. One thing is certain, those of us he has been sponging off are going broke, so he has to find a way of earning a living, and quick.
Sam is good at fixing things so I have been advising him to get trained as a repair man. Whenever the HVAC system technician comes by to check our unit, my brother is constantly at his elbow. Whether he is changing filters or checking vents, Sam is always there. Sometimes I wonder if the technician isn’t tired of him, but they appear to get on well together.
Then, a few days ago, Sam surprised us all by electing to fix our HVAC system. It was still working but the air from the A/C had begun to get musty. I was so scared that he would mess up the entire unit, but we had to acknowledge his skill when fresh, clean air began flowing from air conditioner again, after Sam was done with it. My mother and sister joined me in encouraging him to get serious about becoming an A/C repair man. With HVAC systems being installed in homes all over the country, my brother’s skills as an A/C technician would always be in demand.
The best thing about that is that since Sam will be earning his own money, the rest of us will be able to keep ours in our pockets!
Reasons why you should call an HVAC technician for service
Most people don’t really think about their HVAC system. They just know that it blows cold air when it’s hot outside and warm air when it’s cold outside. They don’t think about the inner workings or installation procedures or even preventative measures and easy upkeep. But when something breaks, they definitely think about the cost! I personally have had some expensive repairs but also some not so expensive quick-fixes that have increased the life of my A/C unit. It’s nice to have an A/C serviceman you can trust because no one wants to go without heat and air conditioning or have to pay for a whole new unit before they were financially ready. Some of the preventative maintenance I have been told about requires a professional, but some of it I can do on my own. For example, I can easily replace the air filters. But most of the work requires the special knowledge and expertise of a certified HVAC repairman. The can check the air flow and heat exchanger. The know how to replace any worn out parts on the unit. And all HVAC techs should be able to clean evaporator and condenser coils and clean pans and drain lines. To my knowledge, you can basically purchase preventative maintenance typically through a contract. You would have scheduled visits where the HVAC service providers would come to your house to provide the cleaning and any basic repairs. Obviously older HVAC units would require more visits and may cost more, but it’s better than having to replace the entire heating and cooling unit before its time!
This is why you shouldn’t fix an air conditioner with no training
When my air conditioner malfunctioned, I was reluctant to call for professional repair. I am currently living on a very tight budget, and hated to spend the money. Since my cooling system is fairly new, I doubted the problem was all that involved. I figured it was most likely a maintenance issue. Hoping to save money, I had neglected to have the air conditioner professionally serviced for the past three years. I suspected that a buildup of dust within the inner workings had caused the equipment to quit. I decided to attempt the repair on my own. I first did some research into air conditioner repair online. I read up on how to take the cooling unit apart, and studied all the various parts. I learned about the motor, belts, cooling coil, fan blades, condenser, evaporator, condensate drain, and refrigerant. I was a little surprised by the amount of parts involved but hoped the cleaning process would be fairly simple. Once I opened up the air conditioner, I was able to see the accumulation of dust, mold, and some green slime that I assumed was algae. I tried to be extremely careful and not damage anything, but I ended up bending several fan blades and breaking a belt. This required the purchase of replacement parts, and I had some trouble installing them. When I put the whole thing back together, the air conditioner wouldn’t start up. I went without air conditioning for several weeks, until I couldn’t tolerate my overheated house any longer. When I finally hired a licensed contractor for air conditioner repair, he got the cooling system running within twenty minutes. I was relieved, but also a bit aggravated.