Air Conditioning - Bob Jenson

Why Regular HVAC Maintenance Really Pays Off

Written by Kevin on June 1, 2015. Posted in Air Conditioning, HVAC. No Comments on Why Regular HVAC Maintenance Really Pays Off

Benefits of HVAC Maintenance

Keeping your HVAC system in top working order is important to maintain the comfort of your home or business, to save money and energy while it’s in use, and to avoid costly repairs down the road. Ideally, the ratio of HVAC costs should be 70 percent preventative and 30 percent corrective. But if you are doing your maintenance right, you may even be able to keep even more of those corrective-cost dollars in your bank account.

In this article, we will look at the benefits of regular HVAC maintenance—but first, here’s a look at what exactly that looks like.

What HVAC Maintenance Should I Be Doing?

Keep a calendar of HVAC maintenance tasks that you should perform on a regular, monthly, seasonal, or annual basis. Here’s a simple checklist:

Regularly

Sweep away debris and leaves from around HVAC units.
Ensure that at least two feet of space exists around AC and heat units.

Monthly or seasonally

Replace air filter monthly (every 90 days is acceptable during non-peak season)
Check refrigerant lines monthly
In fall, turn on water and replace humidifier filter
In summer, turn off water connected to furnace humidifier
Have a licensed HVAC technician perform a furnace inspection just before the cold months and an air conditioning inspection just before the warm months

Annually

Clear out the air conditioning condensate drain with a water-bleach mixture
Change out carbon monoxide detector batteries

6 Benefits of Regular HVAC Maintenance

If you take good care of your HVAC unit, it will pay off. Just a few of the perks of a well-maintained HVAC system include:

Longer system life

If you maintain your HVAC system, it will last longer. Just as a car has a longer lifespan when it is properly maintained and repaired, an HVAC unit will give you more years if it is kept in good shape.

Fewer repairs and associated costs

Avoid the higher cost of emergency repairs or replacements by keeping up with maintenance as you go. Simply changing air filters on a monthly basis can make a huge difference in the amount you ultimately spend on repairs over the long term. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

System efficiency

A well-maintained HVAC system will also save you money on monthly utility costs. When your HVAC system is not working at its highest efficiency level, it costs extra to keep it running. Dirt, debris, and even old parts in need of replacement can all slow down the speed of your HVAC units and hit you hard on your utility bills.

Health

You want the air that you breathe to be as clean as possible for optimal health. Clean ducting and air filters ensure that you aren’t cycling allergens, toxins, and dirt around the home, while optimally working units can actually prevent the growth of toxins like mold in the first place.

Safety

If you have a gas-powered HVAC system, it is imperative to have regular tune-ups to keep everyone safe in the house. Carbon monoxide and fire risks are a scary part of any gas-powered appliance, but when kept in good shape and checked regularly, gas appliances are safe and sound.

Comfort

You deserve to enjoy your HVAC investments and live in a home or work in an office with a comfortable climate. Maintaining your HVAC system means you can relax and avoid the frustration that goes along with inefficient heating and cooling.

Stay ahead of any potential HVAC problems by doing what you can to maintain your system and scheduling regular maintenance appointments with your HVAC professional.

Should You Zone Your Existing Comfort System?

Written by Kevin on November 17, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, Zoning. No Comments on Should You Zone Your Existing Comfort System?

Should You Retrofit Your Current Air System with Zoning Capabilities?

Although some air systems are already pre-set for zoning (the ability to adjust the climate of individual rooms), others are not. If your current air system does not have zoning capabilities, it can be retrofitted. But are zoned systems all they’re cracked up to be?

Zoning can be fraught with problems if not handled correctly. With installation issues, inefficiency, and price, there are quite a few factors to consider before you make the choice to retrofit your current air system. Here we’ll discuss zoning, the issues that zoning can cause, and how to ensure your retrofitting is a solution, and not a problem.

What is Zoning?

Without zoning, when the heat or the air conditioning goes on in the house, an equal amount is distributed everywhere. This means that if you work in one room of the house, you must keep every other room in the house at the same temperature as that room in order for you to be comfortable. With zoning, you can control different areas of the home at different temperatures. This means that you can keep your unused rooms at a neutral temperature during the day and save money by doing so. You can also heat and cool different rooms in the house to suit different family members at different times.

Just like we zone our lights and our faucets (when you turn one on, you don’t turn them all on at the same time all over the house) we can zone our heating and air conditioning and therefore vastly improve our energy efficiency. Theoretically, that is.

What Problems Can Zoning Cause?

Improper Installation Can Be Costly. If you have more than one thermostat in your home, it is already somewhat zoned. For example, a two-story home may have a thermostat for each floor. But it is not truly zoned if each thermostat is connected to its own heating and cooling system.   Zoning, in the true sense of the word, is a single duct system controlled by multiple thermostats. Dampers in the HVAC system control which zones the air flow is shunted off to heat or cool. But improper installation or unregulated dampers can put strain on the system and cause pressure differences throughout the system. Proper installation requires thorough design and airflow that is carefully matched to the home.

Bypass Ducts Can Cause Inefficiencies. Studies have shown that although increased comfort can be achieved through a bypass system, they can also increase energy consumption, lead to high duct pressures, and increase energy costs. Because adding zoning to a single thermostat means that some zoned rooms are being heated or cooled at a greater distance from the system, this can require a greater use of energy and varying air pressures in order to condition different zones at comfortable temperatures.

How Can You Ensure Zoning Is Done Correctly?

Installing additional HVAC systems for different areas of the home can be expensive, but bypass zoning can also cost a homeowner if it’s improperly installed. A well-trained professional with an eye for proper HVAC design can help you install a system that—when used properly—can keep pressure consistent, keep your system from running down prematurely, keep your costs low, and keep your home comfortable.

For example, an educated professional can install either a barometric bypass or a static-pressure-sensing bypass. Both of these options relieve the amount of back-pressure needed to balance the system and reduce strain. This keeps all of the ductwork at a constant pressure, protecting your equipment and reducing unnecessary energy expenditure. Also, by installing high and low pressure limits, you can protect your equipment and keep your HVAC system running smoothly.

If you live in the San Diego area and are considering having a zoned system installed or your current system retrofitted, give us a call for a consultation. We can help ensure your investment is well-spent and that your home’s energy-efficiency doesn’t suffer.

Understanding Ductless Mini Splits & How They Work

Written by Kevin on October 20, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, Ductless. No Comments on Understanding Ductless Mini Splits & How They Work

Technology has seen some amazing achievements in the past few decades. Ductless mini splits are one of the greatest triumphs in commercial and residential heating technology, combining quality performance with improved costs.

This advanced technology has been around for over 60 years, finding great global popularity, but ductless mini splits have only recently made a splash in North America. With the addition of inverter technology, mini splits are more popular than ever. Let’s take a minute to learn what these systems are, how they work, and why they’re so efficient.

What Are Ductless Systems?

Ductless mini split systems offer heating and cooling in one quiet, compact, and energy-efficient package. Like standard systems, mini splits are comprised of two primary components: an indoor unit and outdoor unit(s). The outdoor unit houses the condenser and compressor. The indoor unit conditions the air and returns it right back to the room without the need for a ducting system.

The two components are connected via a conduit containing:

Electrical wires/power cables
Condensate drain lines
Refrigerant tubing

This conduit line is fed through a small hole in the wall to the outdoor unit and is concealed in a plastic cover. You can connect several indoor air handling units to a single outdoor unit, assigning each air handling unit to a different room. You can then control each air handling unit with its own thermostat.

How It Works

When you grab your remote and turn on your ductless system, the indoor unit tells the outdoor condenser that you want it cool. The outdoor unit tells the compressor and outdoor fan to start working at just the right level to achieve the temp you want.

The compressor in the outdoor unit compresses refrigerant to a high pressure and pumps it thru sealed refrigerant lines to your indoor cassette. A small device called an expansion valve acts like a restriction and only allows a small amount of refrigerant thru the other side. This creates a large pressure and temperature drop, which converts the liquid refrigerant into a gas.

Now the refrigerant is primed and ready to soak up a lot of heat from the air that passes over the coil in the indoor unit. The refrigerant, in a gas state, carries it’s payload of heat back to the outdoor unit where it is compressed again and releases it’s heat thru the fan pulling air across the outdoor coils. Next time your air conditioning is running go outside and feel the air coming off the condenser, it will be nice and hot! Finally as the compressed refrigerant gives off heat, it reverts back to a liquid state again and travels back inside to continue the cycle all over again!

No Ducts, No Problem

Part of what makes ductless cooling and heating systems efficient is the lack of ducts. With improper maintenance or old equipment, ducts can account for significant energy loss. Up to 30% of the air that moves through your ducts is lost thanks to holes, leaks, and poor connections. This becomes especially true in unconditioned spaces, like your attic.

With a ductless system, you don’t have to worry about these energy losses, nor do you have to think about the general upkeep and associated costs that go into maintaining your ducts.

The Compressor

The compressor is the heart of any cooling system, acting as a pump that puts the refrigerant gas under high pressure—part of the process of turning the refrigerant back into a liquid. A standard fixed-speed scroll compressor starts when the thermostat is turned on, runs at full speed, and turns off once the room reaches the desired temperature. This uses a lot of energy and isn’t very efficient. There are also 2-stage compressors, which are a little more efficient.

A ductless inverter compressor is unique in that it can vary its power and performance to match exactly what’s needed in the home. Inverter compressors generally stay on standby idle, making incremental changes to maintain a consistent temperature. This offers much more efficient cooling and heating. It also allows the system to control multiple indoor units in different rooms of the house! Research shows that inverter compressors reduce power consumption up to 60% over a standard fixed-speed compressor.

Ductless mini split systems are an amazing, money-saving investment. In part two, we’ll take a look at the environmental and financial benefits of having a ductless system in your home.

Infographic: A Look at San Diego’s Climate

Written by Kevin on October 6, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, San Diego. No Comments on Infographic: A Look at San Diego’s Climate

One thing we enjoy about San Diego is that the weather is pretty mild, but we have a lot of variety of weather, sometimes all at the same time! Here is a fun look at San Diego’s climate and why we use our air conditioning and heating throughout the year!

An infographic looking in depth at San Diego's climate and ecological zones

Air Conditioning Buyer’s Guide: Part 1

Written by Kevin on October 2, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, San Diego. No Comments on Air Conditioning Buyer’s Guide: Part 1

Where to Start with Air Conditioning?

The chances are good that at one point or another, many of us will need to purchase an air conditioning unit. The chances are also good that most of us are not air conditioning experts. But that doesn’t mean we have to walk into a purchase completely blind to the fundamentals. When purchasing an air conditioner, you need a unit that can filter air, remove moisture, and lower temperature.

Here we’ll cover the basics of air conditioning, including the different types of air conditioners, how to determine which one is right for your home, and how to size your air conditioner properly.

Types of Air Conditioners

Central: A common type of air conditioning in many homes built in and after the ‘70s, central air conditioning usually consists of an outdoor condenser unit that is connected with refrigerant lines to an indoor coil. The furnace, which the indoor coil is attached to, contains the blower motor that moves the air across the coil to cool it and distribute it throughout the home via a network of ducts.

Ductless: Ductless air conditioners are gaining more popularity for their superior efficiency and effectiveness without needing ductwork. There are separate indoor and outdoor components, similar to central air, which allows you more flexibility on where you choose to place your unit within the home. But this does require running some wires or hoses through your home’s walls. Although a bit labor-intensive, it is worth the work (and not as intensive as installing new ducts). These systems are powerful and as close to central air as you can get without having central air.

Window: Window units are a common type of air conditioner. They are portable, easy to install (just be sure to follow all safety precautions), and cost-effective for the general user. Most of these units can be installed in a standard window. If you have an even smaller space, air conditioners come in miniature sizes not much more than a foot wide. One advantage of window units is that all of the parts are housed in a singular box. This makes them the most cost-effective and simple solution while still providing adequate cooling power. They are also great for renters who do not have the opportunity to further modify the home. Some negatives are that these units can be noisy and are limited in there efficiency.

Portable: Portable units are another simple solution. These devices are usually placed on the floor and have singular or dual hoses that pump air in and out of the building. Portable units are not always the most desirable, as they can be more expensive than a window unit but are overall less efficient. These systems are usually used to cool a specific location for a short time.

How to Determine What Air Conditioner Is Right For Your Home

The size of your home and the relative environment in which you live are both factors that must be considered when choosing an air conditioner. If you merely need to cool one room, then a window or portable unit may be adequate. If you are installing your air conditioner by yourself, then a window unit may be for you. With adequate assistance and the need to cool a larger home, a ductless option is more preferable. Take into account budget, installation requirements, and just how powerful your unit needs to be to adequately satisfy the needs of your particular space.

How to Size Your Prospective Air Conditioner

Not only does type matter, but size matters when choosing your air conditioner. One without enough cooling capacity will wear out quicker and increase your electricity costs. A unit that is too large will continually cycle on and off, wasting energy, lowering its efficiency and will result in an uncomfortable environment.

A standard unit of measure for air conditioners is British thermal units, or BTUs. This number tells you how efficient a unit is at cooling a room. Selecting the right size begins with measuring the square footage of your space. Once you have determined the square footage, you can consult a BTU graph to calculate the correct number of BTUs for that space (see below). Always err on the larger size, and add or subtract BTUs by 10% respectively for rooms in a sunny vs. shady location.

Good Housekeeping sizing calculator

Of course, this is to help give you just a general idea of the size of you’re a/c system. Every home is different and has different challenges. Consult a professional you trust and they will be able to come out and inspect your home and share with you exactly the size and type of system based on your home needs and your requirements as well. In the San Diego area, count on Bob Jenson to help you. They give free consultations to homeowners looking to install the right air conditioner for their home.

How Did People Keep Cool Before Air Conditioning?

Written by Kevin on September 22, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, HVAC. No Comments on How Did People Keep Cool Before Air Conditioning?

No A/C, what will we do?

It’s easy to take modern conveniences, like a climate-controlled home, for granted. For most of us, keeping the home cool on the hottest days of the year is as easy as tapping a button or turning a dial on the thermostat. That wasn’t always the case, though. Before air conditioning was invented by Willis Carrier in 1902, and before it became a mainstream appliance about 60 years ago, people had to deal with the heat a little more creatively.

Shade.

It’s simple, but true. During stifling heat waves, people often left the hot, still air of their homes to find refuge in the shade of the biggest and most sprawling nearby trees. A home with trees in the yard was about more than having nice curb appeal. It was a hot commodity, especially for the hottest days of the year.

Damp sheets/linens.

This technique is believed to date back to the time of ancient Egyptians, who would dampen thin materials and then hang them in doorways. The dampness combined with a breeze provided at least some relief when the temperature spiked above what was tolerable. It’s been reported that on his deathbed in 1881, President James Garfield received some relief from the heat with a more advanced version of this trick: cotton sheets drenched in ice water with air blown through them. It took a lot of energy and manpower to keep this system going, though. Garfield’s caretakers burned through 500,000 pounds of ice in a two-month period trying to keep him comfortable.

Aqueduct technology.

Ancient Rome is known for its amazing aqueduct advances that made it possible for citizens to easily obtain water. The wealthier citizens were able to take this technology one step further by installing mini-aqueduct systems in their own homes that circulated cool water through the walls. By keeping the materials of the walls cool, the entire home was less hot despite the temperatures outside.

Snow/ice.

In the summer? Yes, actually. During the Renaissance period, it was common for men to haul blocks of snow and ice from mountainous regions and then sell it to the locals. There were no freezers, but special cooling pits were created to transport the cool materials from one spot to the next. In homes, people would use the snow and ice for drinks or to keep food from spoiling. Some even used the evaporation from the coolness to create an ancient version of the modern air conditioner.

Fans.

Electric fans have been around for over 100 years, but before that people were smart about using the materials around them to stay cool manually. It still works today, of course. Fanning oneself with hand-made fans, palm fronds, or feathers creates a nice breeze on the skin, which helps your body’s natural cooling function—sweating—by helping to cool and evaporate the moisture more quickly.

Shaded porches.

If you’ve ever driven through a post-World War II neighborhood, you’ve probably noticed some similar exterior design techniques among the homes. One of the most prominent features is the shaded front porch. This was a luxury before the days of air conditioning. People would escape the trapped heat of their homes for at least a little relief outside. Porch swings, chairs and even front steps provided a cooler spot to sit and deal with the warmest weather of the year. Once in-home air conditioning went mainstream, shaded front porches became more of curb-appeal feature and less of a functional space for keeping cool.

The next time you adjust the temperature of your home with the simple push of a button, remember that there was once a time that keeping cool wasn’t so easy. Air conditioning is one of the greatest modern conveniences—and one that deserves plenty of credit for keeping people safe and comfortable when the temperature spikes. Enjoy it!

5 Air Conditioning Mega Maintenance Tips!

Written by Kevin on August 18, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, Maintenance. No Comments on 5 Air Conditioning Mega Maintenance Tips!

Keep your A/C in Shape

Like your car, your air conditioning unit will operate better and more efficiently when properly maintained and cared for. Energy efficiency, cooling efficiency, and cost-effectiveness all improve when you are operating a properly maintained air conditioning system. Here are some tips to keep your cooling system in tip-top shape.

1. Keep your filters clean.

The single most important maintenance task any system owner can perform is to keep the unit’s air filters clean and fresh. Changing your air filters can increase your unit’s efficiency by 5-15%. A dirty filter can clog and block airways, diminishing airflow and allowing dirty air to bypass the filter and flow back into the coils. This could create even more maintenance issues.

Some types of filters are reusable, making cleaning them vital to the operation of your unit. Others need to be replaced on a regular basis. Check with your system’s manufacturer recommendations to discover which type of filter you have and how to properly clean or replace it.

2. Clean your coils.

Your unit’s evaporator and condenser coils collect dust and dirt over time. A clean filter prevents this from happening too quickly, but it will happen eventually. To keep your coils clean, you need to keep your filters clean. You also need to keep any dirt and debris away from your coils, especially in outdoor units. Trim back any foliage that may be growing around the unit, and check every year to make sure that leaves, dirt, and other debris have not gotten on the coils.

Make sure your indoor unit’s coils are free of dust and dirt. This may require a technician to be able to access and clean it properly.

3. Clean and inspect your ducts.

Dirty, unfiltered air in your ducts can cause your unit to lose efficiency. Check ductwork for leaks periodically. Leaky ducts can lead to lost air, less cooling, and an overall inefficient air conditioning system. Most reputable air conditioning companies will inspect your ducting while they are out to maintain your system, just ask!

4. Keep track of your thermostat.

Make sure your thermostat keeps an accurate temperature. Setting your thermostat between 76 and 78 degrees when you are home and higher when you are away will force your unit to run less, making it more energy efficient and keeping cooling costs down. Installing a programmable thermostat will also save wear and tear on you unit. Setting your thermostat at a higher temperature when you aren’t home can cut as much as 3-6% off your cooling bills, and a programmable or a smart sensing thermostat on your air conditioning system can avoid the “oops, I forgot to reset the temperature” problem.

5. Unclog your drains.

Your condensate drains can get clogged with dirt, debris, and hard water deposits. Clogged drains can prevent your air conditioning unit from properly removing moisture from the air. This can cause discoloration and damage of your walls, furniture, and carpets. It also creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth in your ductwork. Avoid clogged condensate drains in your air conditioning unit by having an annual maintenance on your system.

Your air conditioning unit’s ability to cool your home, reduce extra humidity, and keep your wallet from becoming a cool, dry place devoid of cash all depends greatly on how well you maintain it. A properly maintained air conditioning system can keep you cool and comfortable without being a cash drain. Don’t be afraid to contact a professional to inspect and maintain your air conditioning system. Keep your cool by keeping your cool clean.

Cures For A Noisy Air Conditioner!

Written by Kevin on August 11, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, Home Improvement. No Comments on Cures For A Noisy Air Conditioner!

What in the World is that Sound?

Air conditioners are not perfectly silent appliances, but they shouldn’t be an audible nuisance. Common noises that are not usually a sign of issue include soft motor whirring while the system is running, the expulsion of air through the air ducts, and clicks when the system is started up or shut down.

If you’re hearing odd sounds that are new, consistent, or loud, there’s a chance that they signal an issue that should be addressed. Sounds such as grinding, loud humming, squealing, banging, thumping, or clanging can be indications that something is wrong. Here we’ll take a look at a few of the common noises that can signal issues and how to cure the clamor of this handy appliance.

Note: With any maintenance of a home appliance, make sure that you first shut off all power to the unit to prevent the chance of electric shock or injury from spinning fan blades while removing debris.

Fan Noise

If the outdoor fan is humming, clacking or sounds loose, it may need to be serviced. Watch the fan as the unit is running. Does it wobble and shake? A technician can oftentimes fix this issue by simply tightening screws to stabilize it. Check for debris around the fan that may be getting sucked into the blades during use. Check the blades as well to make sure they are not bent and rubbing up against their encasement.

Motor Noise

If you hear the motor constantly humming, it may be going bad. Your trusted air conditioning technician can perform a few tests to tell if the motor is on its way out. A new fan motor can be more energy efficient and improve the transfer of heat from the compressor and coils.

Coil Fins

Outdoor coil fins can also become a problem if they are dirty. Check the coil fins and clean out any dirt or debris that has collected. You can pull out leaves and lightly spray down the coils with your gardening hose. Bent coil fins can also cause excessive noise. If you notice the fins of your coil pushed in or flattened, ask your technician if he can straighten them while he’s doing the maintenance. A special fin comb can be inserted between the coil fins and slid through them to straighten the coil back to its original shape. This will improve your a/c’s performance as well!

External Conditions

If you’re hearing rattling, there is a chance that you may simply have an issue with your air conditioner not being stably supported. Concrete can transfer vibration noise into your home. You can add rubber pads under each of the feet of the a/c unit to reduce this noise. Ask your technician about these, he may even have them on his truck!

Old Condenser or Compressor

The compressor is by far the biggest noisemaker in older air conditioning units. After years of working hard the moving parts start to breakdown inside and it may be time for replacement. New units are more efficient and quieter. Some modern mini-split compressors are virtually silent! If your condenser is older, you may be able to purchase a sound blanket from the manufacturer and have it installed it over the compressor to help dampen the noise.

If you cannot find the issue or are having trouble diagnosing the issue with your air conditioning unit, it may be time to call in a professional who can give you expert advice. Bob Jenson Air Conditioning will be able to quickly diagnose the issue and make an expert recommendation on whether to replace or repair parts or the entire unit, if necessary.

Do You Believe These 3 Myths About Air Conditioning?

Written by Kevin on August 8, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, Energy. No Comments on Do You Believe These 3 Myths About Air Conditioning?

Get the Facts!

Air conditioning is a much-needed household utility in many areas of the country. But although it is so common, there are still myths floating around about how to get the most out of your unit. Here we’ll address some of these common myths and get to the bottom of what works and what doesn’t in terms of keeping your air conditioning unit running at its best.

Myth 1: It’s more efficient to keep your unit running all the time than to turn it on and off.

Many people believe that leaving an air conditioning unit running all day and maintaining a consistent temperature requires less energy to cool a home than turning it on and off. We hear this about idling a car (vs. turning it off and restarting it) and also about keeping the heat on day and night within our homes. But in the case of an air conditioning unit that recycles warm air into cool air, there’s no need to keep recycling air that has already cooled. Therefore, turning off your air conditioning when you’re not home will consume less power than when it is operating on high for short intervals. Air conditioning units are more efficient when they are running full speed for a short amount of time vs. a lower speed for lengthy periods.

TIP: To increase efficiency without using power, consider replacing or supplementing the insulation in your home, or investing in heavy drapes and better windows to keep out the heat.

Myth 2: To cool air faster, set a lower temperature on your air conditioning unit.

Conventional units are only able to turn a compressor on or off. This means that regardless of what temperature you set it for, the air conditioning runs at the same speed. This means that it will run for longer to reach that temperature, but it will not cool air faster. If you want to cool air faster, try running a fan that blows warmer air out of a room. Turn on any ceiling fans and portable fans, and open doors to help air move about and redistribute throughout your home faster. Work on creating cross-breezes that move air quickly from one area of the home to another.

Fans redistribute air and help to cool you down by creating a draft that makes you feel cooler. But the actual temperature of the air does not change. In short: fans cool air, not people. So don’t waste money running a fan in an empty room.

Myth 3: The location of your air conditioning unit doesn’t affect its performance.

Surprisingly, it actually does make a difference where your air conditioner is stationed. Placing your thermostat in a warm area of the home or near lights or appliances can give off a false reading as to the temperature of the home, making your air conditioner work in overdrive to cool the house. It can also make a difference where in the home your unit is kept in relation to the sun. If your air conditioning unit is installed on the south or west side of the house, sunlight may warm your unit’s outdoor heat exchanger and negatively affect performance.

Are any of these myths causing your unit to lose efficiency and hiking the cost of your electric bill higher than it needs to be? Take some time to evaluate the use of your air conditioning unit and ensure that you are getting the most out of this important utility and conserving its longevity. In turn, this can help you keep your household comfortable during the warmer seasons for years to come.

Infographic: How to Stay Cool on a Budget!

Written by Kevin on July 31, 2014. Posted in Air Conditioning, San Diego. No Comments on Infographic: How to Stay Cool on a Budget!

The heat and humidity are here in San Diego and you’ve probably flipped on your air conditioning keep comfortable. Though we love our cool, comfortable homes we have a nagging sense we are going to pay for it later. Here is our latest infographic on ways to keep cool on a budget!