March 2011
By
10 Myths about Air ConditioningIn the next few issue’s we are going to discuss the top 10 myths that people have about air conditioning. In this March issue we are covering the first 4.
#1) To cool off the house faster you should turn the thermostat down cooler than the desired temperature until the house cools off……
False – turning down the thermostat will not make the air out of the registers any colder in fact it will cause the air conditioner to run longer driving up utility bills. Upgrading to a programmable thermostat and programming the unit to kick on before you arrive home in the evening will ensure a nice cool home when you arrive.
#2) All filters are created equal…..
False – Filters are rated by a “MERV” Rating – this standard is used to measure the overall efficiency of a filter. The higher the MERV rating means fewer dust particulars and other airborne contaminants pass through the filter. Ratings range from 1 -16 microns. Most disposable type filters only have a 1-4 MERV rating (Kirk calls those “rock catchers”) where an electronic filtering system has a MERV rating of 14-15 microns.
#3) Purchasing an energy efficient air conditioner will automatically reduce your electric bills….
False – Sizing of air conditioning units are VERY critical. Too small of a unit will cause it to run all the time while oversized units will “short cycle” (turn on/off too quickly) causing higher electric bills and will not remove the humidity out of the air during monsoon season. You can purchase the highest efficient unit out there but if it is not sized correctly, you most likely will not see reductions in your utility bills.
#4) Freon evaporates out of a unit over time…..
False – An air conditioning unit is a sealed system. If freon needs to be added, it is ONLY because you have a leak somewhere. Over time the coils, whether copper or aluminum, will develop small leaks due to the corrosion that takes place between the two dissimilar metals (sheet metal and copper/aluminum) and the condensation that is produced. Sometimes the leak is so small that it is not detected by our instruments and only is noticed because the air conditioner is not cooling properly. This may take several months to several years for the leak to become large enough to find and fix.
Be sure and look for the next 4 myths in next month’s newsletter! And as always if you have any heating/air conditioning needs, don’t hesitate to call us! Sincerely,
Don’t be caught surprised…..
Don’t be caught surprised! Give us a call to get your air conditioner scheduled for its tune-up today! |
Programmable Thermostats
Depending on the model, a thermostat can be programmed in one of four ways:
For more information, give us a call!
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IT’S COMING…… that dreaded day that you wake up and find the day’s high is going to be 100 degrees and you have been putting off getting your air conditioner ready for the summer! You reach for the thermostat, turn it to cool and wait ….and wait …..and wait. NOTHING comes on!
Programmable thermostats basically work the same way as the digital manual ones, but they are far more convenient. Once you program the thermostat to customize the system’s operation to fit your lifestyle and schedule, all you have to do is relax and let it do all the work. To stay comfortable and save energy all season, you simply program into its memory the temperatures you need, at what time of the day. You only need to program your thermostat once – until the season or your lifestyle changes.
