There’s hot, and then there’s too hot.
Many of us look forward to summer’s arrival, but some summer days go past “uncomfortable” to flat-out dangerous, with heat so high that staying outside becomes unadvisable.
We’re writing this on a day so humid that Pennsylvania feels more like Louisiana. Air conditioning is keeping us cool, but the world outside is grey, dreary and sticky.
A few weeks earlier, a different story. Breezy, warm but not too hot, clear blue skies. The ideal summer day. Perfect summer weather like that is hard to come by.
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.
Americans love candles. They’re a multi-billion dollar industry, with entire sections of retail spaces devoted to various candle options.
And it’s easy to see the attraction. With the flick of a match or a lighter, your home can smell like fresh linens, autumn spices or a bouquet of lilacs.
When you bought your house, one of the biggest selling points was the sunroom. And with the warmer months here, you can take full advantage of this space, allowing you to enjoy summer weather while avoiding insects and rain.
You step into a friend’s house for the first time and sneeze.
Then you sneeze again, and again, and again.
When you finally stop sneezing, you ask your friend (through watering eyes), “Do you have a cat?”
Pet allergies can be tough, especially because you don’t need to be near the animal in question for your symptoms to manifest.
Congratulations. You’ve just marked your first decade as a homeowner. You know what kind of care your lawn needs to get through the summer and the best way to keep water out of your basement.
Years of performing HVAC maintenance has taught us most people want the same thing from their home: a space that’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what rodents and snakes are looking for as well when they creep into your ductwork. Same thing goes for roaches, forever on the hunt for cool, dark places.
Imagine you’re running in a 10-mile foot race. (We realize you might be wondering what air conditioning companies know about running. Please bear with us.)
You’re at the starting line, the whistle blows and you begin sprinting as fast as you can. You’re leading the pack…for a little while, anyway. Then your energy saps and you have to rest until you can run again.
During the all-too-brief lull between the chill of late winter and the heat of summer, spring offers a little bit of a rest.
You might find that you can spend a few weeks with the heat off, the windows open and your home full of fresh air.
That doesn’t mean your heating and cooling system is off the hook. You might still encounter these springtime HVAC problems, which will need to be addressed if you want your air conditioning to function this summer.
1. Dirty air conditioner coils
It’s easy for these coils – both internal and external – to become dirty. The evaporator coils inside the air conditioner can collect dirt and dust as the air from your home moves past.
And the outdoor condenser coils can collect dust and dirt during the winter. It’s possible to rinse these coils off, although they’ll often need a more serious scrubbing with a coil cleaner and a brush. You may want to leave this task to a professional AC company when you have maintenance performed.
2. Wear and tear on your refrigerant lines
The outdoor lines that transmit refrigerant through your AC system can develop leaks over time. And the insulation covering the cool line can become worn. You should have these lines inspected each year to make sure they’re in decent shape, which will ensure proper cooling.
3. A clog in the condensate drain
As your AC system pulls in air, this air passes the evaporator coils. Moisture from the air condenses on the coils, then drains through the condensate pan and drain. But like all drains, this one can become clogged and sludgy.
You can tell if you have a clogged condensate drain when you see pools of water under the unit or hear water dripping inside. Rinse the pan with bleach and remove the clog to restore order. Again, a professional AC company can advise you on the best way to do this.
4. A surprisingly high electric bill
This last point is something that you might not notice until summer, so why not address the problem now? The spike you’re seeing in your energy bill might be the result of something as simple as a clogged, dirty cooling filter, which is causing your system to work harder than it needs to.
As we’ve said before, these lulls in between the months when your heater or AC will be in high demand are the perfect time to schedule maintenance on your system.
With routine maintenance, you’ll:
- Keep your system from breaking down when you need it most – Your AC company can look for the issues we’ve mentioned above, lubricate moving parts and fix any loose or worn electrical connections.
- Cut down on your energy bill – Regular maintenance can reduce your monthly energy bill. When all the parts of your HVAC system are working properly, your heater and air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to do their jobs.
- Extend the life of your system – Just as regular oil changes and inspections keep your car running longer, routine HVAC maintenance will help your system last for several years.
Don’t wait until June’s first heat wave to find out whether your air conditioner is up to the task of keeping you cool. Contact All Seasons Comfort Control to schedule maintenance on your system.
We offer four different levels of maintenance plans designed to fit any budget.
