The Quietest Air Conditioners

I remember the days when I took for granted that I could walk out to the garage anytime I wanted to.

• I’m really not the sort of person who is in favor of taking anything for granted.

But the idea that just walking into your garage seems like something one could rightfully expect. Well, not so much for me anymore. The garage was once sort of a haven. I’d come home from a long day, catch up with my wife in the HVAC comfort of the living room and then head out to the garage. It was just sort of nice to go out there a mess around with whatever I was working on at my work bench. Like some me time, I suppose. When you open the door from the house to the garage now, it’s like getting hit in the face with a stink shovel. This is in direct contrast to our clean, HVAC maintained house. The garage is where things just get shoved. It’s a mess of leaky lawnmowers, a litter box, old paint cans and a variety of other sources of noxious odors. It’s so bad that I’m embarrassed to simply raise the big garage door. Finally, I took a step to remedy this situation. I called the HVAC people out to have them put some exhaust fans out there is order to get rid of the funky smells. It’s the first step to me getting the garage back. It may take a couple of months of my free time to do it. But I’m getting my garage back and I’m never letting it get in this sort of condition again.

thermostat

I didn’t realize that one of the reasons that I didn’t enjoy a gym membership was the HVAC

This past year has brought about all sorts of changes for me. The pandemic was the impetus for much of it. Some of the changes have been really tough. Like I have really missed socializing, seeing live music and eating in restaurants. It’s weird how much I took things like that for granted. I know that once we are able to get out of the HVAC security of home, it will be so nice to get out and do those things I love. However, I have also taken advantage of all this time in the HVAC. Since I have been working from home, I started going outside the HVAC each day in order to get some fresh air and a little exercise. This is a routine that I had wanted to make a consistent part of my life for a long time. Prior to the pandemic, I tended to come home from the office and flake out on the couch to soak up HVAC comfort. That led to too much of a sedentary lifestyle. So I have really worked at getting moving. I’ve done really well and have even put together a home gym in my basement. It was so easy to find good, used equipment online that I just started picking up one piece after the other. Now I have a great home gym. Well, I made it even better by installing ductless HVAC down there. This makes the gym so comfortable. I didn’t realize that one of the reasons that I didn’t enjoy a gym membership was the HVAC. I was never comfortable there. So now, I’m super comfortable with my ductless HVAC right here in my home gym.

Air conditioner install

For some people, it’s a constant struggle to achieve the ideal temperature in their homes.

• It’s tempting to start closing air conditioning vents to increase the heating or cooling effect in other rooms.

This may not be the best or smartest approach. Homeowners commonly misunderstand how the air moves throughout their home. It’s incorrect to assume that by closing air vents in one room, you can redirect more air to another. Your HVAC system comes designed to have the vents open. By closing vents, you do redirect air, but it backs up into the ductwork. This increases the total pressure in the system. This encourages leaks to develop from increased pressure. Now the air you are trying to redirect gets sent into your home’s unconditioned areas. Now your system runs longer and harder to compensate for the lost air. It’s easy to assume that you can save energy by closing vents to reduce the overall square footage required for heating and cooling. However, this isn’t the case. Your system functions with the total square footage of your home. Closing vents create leaks, which causes your system to work harder and increases overall energy consumption. Your energy bill will increase as well. Closing off air vents can hurt your system and require you to hire a repair technician. Closed vents can also reduce the return airflow. When heating, this reduces the amount of a cool air returning to the heat exchanger, causing it to overheat and crack. When cooling your system, there’s a lack of returning warm air. This can lead to frozen coils. This can damage your compressor. Instead of trying to create zones on your own with your current system, consider replacing your system with one that is designed to be zoned. You may be able to retrofit your system. These systems have dampers located in the ductwork and they open and close to direct air without negatively impacting the overall system. If you find that your home isn’t cooling properly, consider having your system serviced.

Whole home heating

Refrigerants are one of the most important components of an air conditioner.

R22 refrigerant is found in many different makes and models of air conditioning units.

This type of refrigerant is known for being efficient and reliable however, it’s also known for its high price. The rising cost of R22 refrigerant has been of utmost interest in the air conditioning industry for a few years now. Increased expenses like this concern both customers and companies alike especially since the problem is expected to continue. This leads many people to wonder what’s causing the price increase, and what is a fair price? While the components and materials used in the air conditioning industry can sometimes be a bit pricey due to their short supply, R22 has recently increased in cost. The main reason for this increase is because the environment issues associated with Freon. The green movement of recent decades has caused materials like this to come under fire by many groups who say it is too dangerous and poses a threat to the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol was an environmental protection agreement brokered by the Environment Protection Authority(EPA) that began the show phase out of Freon. With production of R22 reduced in 2010, the price of this refrigerant has seen a steady increase throughout the years. In three years, it will no longer be produced at all. This means that continual decrease in supply coupled with its popular demand will lead to higher prices in this future. Most companies will charge $75 to $175 per pound of refrigerant. If you can find something around the $120 price range including servicing, you are probably doing as well as possible giving the rising cost. R-410A is a type of refrigerant that some people use as an alternative and it costs less too. It is advised to use the right type of refrigerant depending on your need and budget.

Wireless thermostat

Like most people, you might not have given it much thought about replacing your thermostat since it was installed years ago. Your thermostat is one of the most important parts of my HVAC system. The thermostat is responsible for keeping the air temperature set to a specific temperature. Typically thermostats are very reliable but now and then they fail. A malfunctioning thermostat will have a hard time keeping the temperature constant. One minute or may be cold and the next, hot. This is a sign to replace. Older models of thermostats rely on a glass tube filled with mercury to operate. When the glass breaks, it can send mercury into the air. Upgrade to a newer device with a digital model to avoid this. Digital models are more accurate and hold a constant temperature. A newer programmable thermostat can save you money and cut heating costs. A programmable thermostat will save you money when you turn them off during the day when you’re not home or when you are sleeping. Sometimes, homeowners simply may have the wrong type of thermostat. This is a simple fix by replacing it with one that is specifically made to work with your unit. A HVAC professional can let you know if your thermostat is the correct type for your unit. If it’s been a while since you have taken a look at your thermostat, pay attention to the signs that it’s time to replace. You can always call a HVAC technician to conduct a full inspection and replace your thermostat.

Air conditioning install

If you start to notice less air coming out of your vents than usual, there might be an obstruction in the air ducts.

The most common cause of restricted airflow is a dirty filter.

It’s easy to forget to replace a filter that you installed a few months ago. A good way to remember how long ago it has been since you installed a filter is to write the date you installed it on the filter itself when you first put it in. This can help you keep track of when you should replace it. But make sure it is the right filter. The wrong air filter could also be a cause of low airflow from your HVAC. Due to concern of airborne viruses, more people have begun purchasing higher grade filters. These filters have a tight weave to strain out more tiny particles. This can improve your air quality, however the downside is that more effort is required from your HVAC system to push out air through the filter. Older and lower powered units simply cannot handle those types of filters. Sometimes your ducts are blocked because of a rug or piece of furniture that is placed in front of a vent. If you have a zone control system in your home, a damper could be stuck in its closed position blocking air flow. This can be easily manually fixed yourself. Over the years, ductwork can become damaged or loose and allow air to escape underneath or above your house. Construction debris, insulation fibers, small household objects, or even a rodent could be invading your ductwork restricting air flow. When you need a helping hand figuring out what the cause of your blocked air ducts might be, an HVAC professional could help you clear them out.
Zone controlled HVAC

One of the best parts about working in my office in the winter is the space heater under my desk.

Everyone complains about the lack of heating in the building, but with my space heater, I can hardly tell a difference.

The space heater has many settings and fits nicely under my desk. I always make sure to turn it off in the afternoons before I leave. The nice thing about the space heater is that it has an automatic shut off feature. If it is on for over 3 hours, it turns itself off. This is so that people do not fall asleep with their space heaters on and forget to turn them off. One of the best parts about the space heater is that I can have it on all day while the front door is opening and closing. The winter air comes in, but I stay warm with the space heater under my desk. I like the option to have the space heater in the summer months, as well. The office gets cold in the summer because the AC stays on constantly. I am sure that the space heater will be used year round. I am really happy that I asked for it a few years ago, otherwise I would have suffered through many cold winters and would have not been able to concentrate. Many of my coworkers have ordered space heaters, as well. With the lack of control of the heating and cooling system, we never know what will happen.

furnace filter

I recently got a promotion at my job.

One of the duties I now have is organizing HVAC maintenance for the facilities in my region.

In the region where I work and live, the HVAC industry is booming with AC repair requests. It seems like once a month I am having to go to the other offices to wait on the AC company to come make a repair. I am familiar with most of the HVAC technicians that come around to my offices, and they are all very friendly. One day, while I was out sick, I had a receptionist fill in for me and meet one of the HVAC technicians on her lunch break. She agreed, and called me after the appointment to tell me that everything was great. She even informed me that she had a date with the HVAC repair technician that night! She was so excited and told me that she would love to have my job because of all of the cute HVAC technicians. I checked in with her the next day and she told me that their date went so well that she had another planned for over the weekend. I was so happy that she hit it off with the HVAC technician. All of the receptionstits in my region got word of the cute HVAC technicians, and they all wanted to do my job for a day to see if they HVAC technician had any single friends.
multi split air conditioning

It really is so hot in the afternoons that sometimes my face gets sunburnt

My office is the smallest one in the building. Not only is it the closest to the front door, it is also the only one with West-facing windows. In the mornings, my office is really cold and sometimes there are other people in the office who won’t allow me to change the thermostat. In the mornings, I usually will get really cold and need a space heater or a blanket. There is always an extra sweater in my office, so that’s nice, but it is really cold in the mornings. In the afternoon, that is a different story. I get so hot in the afternoons with the sun beaming through my floor length mirrors all day. Sometimes, it is better for me to work up front rather than roast in my office. Even with the AC on, the little room gets so hot in the afternoon. When I asked the property manager if there had been complaints in the past, he was not kidding when he said that nobody had lasted long enough to complain about the heating and cooling issue in the office. It really is so hot in the afternoons that sometimes my face gets sunburnt. I have to start wearing SPF to the office! My boss decided to get me a blind for the office that pulls down but does not completely block out the natural light. The office is great for a plant, but not so great for a girl trying to climb the corporate ladder.
a/c installation

We all bundled up next to the fire and were able to keep warm

One of the worst winters of my childhood was when I was living in a place with a cold climate and the heater stopped working one day out of nowhere! We were about to leave town for the week, and my parents ended up having to cancel our trip so that they could afford to replace the heater. The HVAC company was not able to do the replacement for 3 week. Either way, we were freezing and had to cancel our family vacation. I didn’t know what was worse, at such a young age. We used the wood burning fireplace to keep warm, and eventually got a few space heaters to stay warm. My brother and I were discussing how much it cost to replace the heater and he told me that it was going to be double the amount of the vacation we had planned. My parents felt really bad, but they were not wrong to cancel the trip. We needed to replace the heater for many reasons, and there would be other trips. I was happy when the heater was replaced. It was nice and warm in the house. My parents were even able to get a deal on the HVAC replacement because they were new clients. I will never forget how cold we were on the last night of the winter before the heater was replaced. We all bundled up next to the fire and were able to keep warm. I am glad that we are past that.

New HVAC equipment