Even though it may not seem like it today, summer will be here soon! Air conditioners are known for cooling your home in the summer but they do much more than that. Have you ever wondered more about your air conditioner? Here are some frequently asked questions about air conditioners.
*How does an air conditioner work?- Contrary to popular belief, air conditioners don’t add cool air to your home they pull the warm air out of your home and send it outside lowering the temperature. Air is blown over the evaporator coil in your AC where refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air that is blown back into your home. Refrigerant goes out to the condenser outside of your home to release the heat and cycle back into the evaporator coil. The refrigerant is constantly changing from liquid to gas and back makes the system move more energy then the compressor uses.
*What is a ton of cooling?– Before modern air conditioners they used large blocks of ice to absorb the heat from the air. Cooling machines that came next were measured in tons based on the amount of ice that was melted in an hour. Air conditioners are measured in tons. This is not how much they weigh, it is how much heat the air conditioner can remove from your home in a hour. A ton of cooling is 12,000 BTU/hr (british thermal units). A 3 ton air conditioners will be at 36,000 BTU/hour.
*Why do I need an AC filter? Filters are needed in your air conditioner so they can trap and filter out the particulates from the air that we don’t need to breathe in. They trap dust, dirt, viruses, bacteria, and more so the air we breathe is healthier. The more the filter catches, the more efficient it is at catching particulates. With catching particulates comes the potential to clog the filter and reduce air flow to your AC which can cause it to freeze and seize up. You have to change your filters regularly to make sure the filter is not restricting air flow. The filter also protects the parts inside the air conditioner from debris getting stuck in it and damaging sensitive parts.
*Do I really have to get a cleaning every year?- Your car needs oil changes throughout the year right? Just like many thing in life, your air conditioner needs to be inspected and cleaned each year. We do this to ensure everything is working properly and that all your levels are where they need to be to do its job the best it can. You need to have the interior parts inspected by a trained professional each year to make sure that everything is working. They measure things like refrigerant levels and pressures and voltages. The technicians will also give the air conditioner a cleaning to make the air flow better and make sure the AC is ready when the summer arrives.
*How do I increase my efficiency?– Make sure your ducts are sealed so you are not losing conditioned air will be a good start. Keeping your filters clean so the air flow is not reduced which makes the system work harder will save energy. Don’t crank your air conditioner as low as it will go in hopes of cooling your home faster because that will just make the AC work harder and not cool faster so you will be wasting energy. Keeping the AC and areas around it clean will improve air flow and efficiency. One last thing you can do is buy high efficient equipment that is made to use much less energy.
*How can I control the humidity in my home?- The air conditioner was actually invented by Willis Carrier with the purpose of controlling humidity in the factories that printed inks. The humidity in the air was causing their work issues so he wanted to be able to control it. If humidity is uncontrolled you will start having issues with mold and being uncomfortable. People with sensitive repositories are affected by high humidity. The air conditioner works as a dehumidifier as it cools and the water drains from the system after it is pulled from the air. The act of pulling moisture and heat from the air is why it feels cooler and more comfortable. It never hurts to buy a standalone dehumidifier to pick up where your air conditioner left off. Keeping your air conditioner off of “fan on” will help with humidity control. When you have it on fan on, the air is always blowing in your home whether the system is on or not so a lot of the moisture that was just removed from your homes air is blown right back into it. The help mitigate this you can use exhaust fans during activities that produce more humidity such as bathing, cooking, and washing.
Bartlett Heating and Air conditioning can help answer any questions or concerns you may have about your HVAC system. We are also running a $59 air conditioner clean and check special right now. It includes a 28 point inspection and a cleaning to make sure you are all set for summer so call us today!!
