The calendar might say that we’re in the middle of autumn, but fall can be a tricky season.
Summer temperatures can often linger well into October, leaving us sweating when we’re ready for sweater weather, and relying on our air conditioning systems more than we’d expected.
In fact, that’s what we can expect this year, according to AccuWeather, with warm temperatures hanging around throughout the northeast for several weeks.
“While autumn may take longer than usual to arrive, it will be a picturesque season if forecasters are correct,” Accuweather says on its website. “Dry weather in the Northeast paired will cool nights will pave the way for vibrant leaves to emerge across the region.”
You start your car one morning and notice a weird noise.
But rather than head to the mechanic, you try to
rationalize. It’s probably nothing, you tell yourself. Then one day, that weird
little noise turns into a big problem, and you’re facing a pretty significant
car repair bill.
The next time you’re enjoying sitting inside a cool house on a hot summer’s day, spare a thought for hydrofluorocarbons.
These are the chemicals that make up refrigerant, the substance that is critical to any central air system. In this blog post, we’ll look at what refrigerant is and why it’s so essential.
How many times have you heard someone trot out that line on a 90-degree day?
It’s kind of irritating, but it’s also true.
Uncomfortable summer days become unbearable when the humidity levels make it feel like you’re walking through Jell-O.
And as bad as it is dealing with humidity outside your home, indoor humidity can pose an even greater problem. Not only is it hard to sleep in a humid home, you’re also at risk for mold and mildew.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to control the humidity in your home that don’t just involve turning up your heating and cooling system in Bucks County.
Vacations are designed to be relaxing, but they also take some work.
Whether you’re heading to the Jersey shore for a few days or flying across the ocean for a few weeks, your trip is going to involve some level of preparation.
So let’s see…you’ve booked your hotel reservations, you’re all packed, and you’ve arranged for someone to look after your pets.
But what about your air conditioning system? It deserves some time off as well. Here are a few HVAC maintenance steps you should take before you leave for vacation.
Summer is just around the corner and that means that it is time to blow the dust out of AC units or switch the HVAC switch over to cool in the house. Either way, air conditioning needs to be serviced on a regular basis to make sure that it functions correctly making it less expensive to stay cool in the summer. Here are some helpful summer air conditioning repair tips.
In a perfect world, your HVAC
system would keep you cool as a cucumber through the height of summer and as
warm as toast during the worst of winter.
But we know better. There are several factors, both related
to your system and to your home, that can cause your HVAC to offer uneven
heating and cooling.
In this week’s blog post, we’ll look at a few of the common
causes of uneven heating and cooling and what you can do to fix them.
Subpar insulation
While this is mostly a problem in older houses, any home
that has substandard insulation and thin walls is at risk for becoming too hot
or too cold.
If your home isn’t retaining cool air in the summer or warm
air in the winter, you can expect to waste energy and spend more than you need
to heat or cool the home. It doesn’t matter if this issue is confined to
individual rooms, you’ll be running your system longer than necessary, which
adds to your energy bill.
Leaking ducts
A leak in your ductwork can cause you to lose as much as 30
percent of your airflow. Even a minor leak from a duct that’s poorly insulated
can cause major airflow issues throughout the entire home, while more
significant leaks – for example, the kind caused by loose joints – can cut off
airflow completely to rooms in another part of the home.
Heat rise in multi-story homes
If you have a two-story home, you can expect to find a
temperature difference of anywhere from eight to 10 degrees between your
downstairs and upstairs.
Heat naturally rises, leaving your upstairs warmer than your
lower levels. And most heating and cooling systems monitor the temperature
using a single thermostat. Rooms that are further away from that thermostat
might end up being under-conditioned.
Ductwork or HVAC systems that aren’t sized properly
If your HVAC system or ductwork isn’t the right size for
your home, you’re not going to get the right amount of airflow.
This throws off the balance of cooling and heating in your
home and puts your system at risk for damage. During the cold weather months,
improper airflow can cause the evaporator coils in your system to freeze. And
when summer comes, your system is at risk for overheating.
Older thermostats
Your thermostat is designed to regulate the temperature of
your home. But if you’re still using the thermostat that came with your house,
you’re not getting the most out of your heating and cooling system. Older
thermostats can’t evenly distribute warm or cool air – particularly in large,
multi-room homes – making your home uncomfortable.
The location of your thermostat can also play a role in your
home’s comfort level. Be sure to read our blog on proper thermostat placement
to learn more.
The way the room is situated
Sometimes, uneven heating and cooling is simply the result
of how your rooms are situated. For example, a room that spends all day getting
sunlight will be warmer than one that faces away from the sun. And if you live
someplace that’s especially warm or cold, the size and number of windows in a
room – along with how well the windows are sealed – can affect the temperature.
How can I deal with uneven heating and cooling?
If you’re experiencing uneven heating or cooling, you can make things more comfortable by:
Finding and patching leaky ductwork. In theory,
you can do this with duct tape. But you might want to consider working with a
professional HVAC technician. They’ll know where to look for leaks and will
have more sophisticated equipment to give you a better seal.
Replacing old, ineffective insulation and making
sure your windows are properly sealed.
Installing a programmable
thermostat, which will allow you to control your home’s temperature better.
Is your home feeling humid when it should be cool? Chilly when it should be warm? All Seasons Comfort Control can help. Our technicians can examine your system and make sure it provides even heating and cooling year-round. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
It’s easy to feel ready for the summer, especially after a long, cold winter and dreary, rainy spring.
But although you might be ready for the start of summer, that doesn’t mean your central air conditioner is as well. Your air conditioning unit might be running fine now, but is it prepared to tackle the height of summer when you’ll be running the AC non-stop?
The last thing any homeowner in Bucks County wants to deal with during a heatwave is a failing central air conditioning unit , which is why it’s important to take steps now to maintain your system.
We all want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that
we won’t have to pay too much to repair fairly new products.
But not all warranties are the same. Some offer more than
others, which is why it pays to do some research before you buy. In this blog
post, we’ll look at what to expect from a good HVAC warranty.
Summer is just around the corner and that means that it is time to blow the dust out of AC units or switch the HVAC switch over to cool in the house. Either way, 
