We might not think much about how easy it is to turn down the temperature on our thermostats and enjoy cool, conditioned air. At one time this “luxury” didn’t exist! We go back in time to follow the invention of the Air Conditioner down thru history to our modern day. Check out our latest, fun infographic!
There are many cooling options to choose for your home, but really, which one is right for you? We cover some of those options and share the benefits and also things to consider before purchasing. Check out our latest infographic!
As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines it, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle “is a scientific term that describes the fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Equatorial Pacific.” There are two phases to ENSO: El Niño and La Niña.
La Niña refers to the cold phase of ENSO while El Niño is the warm phase. El Niño is marked by warmer-than-average sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. The phenomenon often causes warmer temperatures over central and western Canada along with areas of the western and northern United States. Depending on its severity, El Niño can also lead to more rainfall in areas like California and the Gulf region while dryer conditions occur in the Ohio Valley and the Pacific Northwest.
In March of 2015, the NOAA announced that El Niño had arrived. With a good chance that El Niño will continue throughout the summer, this means that North American residents should prepare for less-than-typical weather patterns in their region. Check out what this year’s El Niño is likely to bring in summer 2015.
In January, the governor of California declared a drought State of Emergency. But as Climate.gov points out, “only about 3 of the past 10 El Niño years exhibited above-average rainfall in California during March-April-May.” Unfortunately for California residents, El Niño hit later in the year and at a milder level than anticipated, so it’s unlikely that heavy rainfall will provide any drought relief for Californians.
Time.com reports that 2014 was the hottest year on record. While scientists can’t be certain, it’s speculated that rising global temperatures combined with the El Niño pattern could put 2015 in the lead. This is a real possibility since last year, there was no El Niño. However, El Niño years tend to be hotter on average than non-El Niño years. Put continuously rising temperatures together with a mild El Niño, and we may just see the hottest year on record.
Vox.com explains why this might be the case. Thanks to the release of greenhouse gasses, we’re trapping heat on Earth’s surface. Approximately 90 percent of that gets absorbed by the oceans. During times of La Niña, the heat is trapped below the ocean’s surface. In El Niño events, that heat is transferred to Earth’s surface, where we begin noticing the effects in precipitation and temperature changes.
Typically, temperatures peak about three months after an El Niño event, but everything considered, 2015 may pose some of the hottest temperatures on record.
If El Niño does bring a warmer-than-average summer this year, you’ll want to prepare for the heat, which can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat cramps among other complications. Get yourself ready for the summer with the following tips.
Before the heat hits, you’ll want to ensure your HVAC system is ready. Start by making sure your system is in working order by switching it on. The last thing you want is to turn it on during a hot day only to find out it doesn’t work. Chances are when you call for maintenance, half the people on your block will be having the same problem and you could be left to face the heat. Instead, be sure it’s working now so that if there is a problem, you can get someone in there quickly to fix it.
Even if everything seems to be working fine, be sure to check on parts like your air filter. A properly cleaned filter will help your air conditioner run more efficiently, which helps reduce costs and energy. You’ll also want to check your condenser unit and remove any debris that has accumulated over the winter. Remove the panels if necessary, and use a vacuum cleaner to clear away debris.
If anything needs repairs, be sure to call a professional instead of trying to tackle the situation on your own.
Hot days, especially when combined with exercise, can pose many health risks. Each year, almost 100,000 high school athletes alone experience heat-related complications. These heat-related illnesses can often be attributed to dehydration. During a hotter summer when you’re sweating more than normal, it’s crucial that you keep hydrated.
Knowing that this summer will be a hot one allows you to prepare for high temperatures like this. A few things you can do to keep yourself and your children hydrated this summer:
You already know to keep lights and appliances off when not in use in order to save energy, but you’ll also be keeping your house cool since any energy you’re using is also producing heat. Furthermore, think ahead for what you’ll prepare for dinner. Plan for meals where you don’t have to use the oven or stove, which will only heat the house. Alternatives include salads—including fruit salads and other tasty combinations—sandwiches, and raw fruits and veggies.
While scientists can’t be certain about what summer 2015 will bring, there’s a good chance that the Northern Hemisphere will see high temperatures. How will you prepare for what’s likely to be one of the hottest summers on record?
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.
Keep a calendar of HVAC maintenance tasks that you should perform on a regular, monthly, seasonal, or annual basis. Here’s a simple checklist:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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!
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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
"*" indicates required fields
