Small is Beautiful, Get a Small Air Conditioner

There are many types of air conditioners. Some of them are large while others are small. The small ones are more suitable for small rooms. There are advantages and disadvantages of having small units. Also whether you are going to have a small one or a one has to be decided on where are you going to have it and the size of the room. Another factor to consider is the temperature difference between the outside and inside of the room.

The main advantage of the small air conditioner is its low price. Instead of having one large unit you can have a few small ones. The initial cost of the small one is less and the maintenance costs are also less. Most small units do not need professionals to maintain. It is a case of taking the filter away and cleaning. If you have a big one, it is not easy to clean its ducts. These are jobs for professionals.

Another advantage of having small ones is that in case there is a break down only one room is affected. If it is a big central unit the entire house will get affected. In case of a small one when the repairman takes it away for repair he will probably fix a temporary one until the repaired one is brought back. When a big air conditioner breaks down you need to wait until the repair is complete.

The disadvantages of the small units are few. One is that the efficiency of small one is less than that of a big one. Maintenance too is more frequent with a small one compared to a big air conditioner. Normally break downs are also more frequent with the small units. Still it is good to have a few small ones rather than one big one.

The Trouble With Black Mold In Air Conditioners - And What To Do About It

Both AC units and air ducts make great places for mold to hang out.

With AC units, water leaks out of them and makes a nice place for mold. In these water pools mold grows, and then their spores are passed along through the ducts to every part of the house.

Your heating and cooling system also can suck air out of different parts of the house. This means that mold can be passed all over the place, every which way, by your ventilation system.

The HVAC unit that sits outside your home is perfect for mold, because there's always water around it. Mold often grows in the unit's water pools. The evaporator coil is also a major trouble spot.

How Can You Tell?

First, there are the regular mold symptoms which usually resemble sinus trouble; runny nose, stuffy nose, and sinus headache. If you can smell mold when you turn on or run the AC, you definitely have a mold problem there.

To make sure, you can always get a home testing kit from your hardware store. This might be a good idea anyway, and it can also tell you if the source of your mold troubles is your AC unit.

Take the testing gear and check each room. Check around all the vents. Also, check around the unit itself outside, especially where there is any standing water.

What Can You Do?

If you have mold in your air ducts, it doesn't do much good to clean them. That's not just my opinion; that's what the EPA recommends. If you have mold in your ducts, it's symptomatic of a mold problem elsewhere in the house, and until you address that, you won't make any progress on the mold.

For the AC unit, you have to clean it on a regular basis to keep them mold free. Of course, you have to thoroughly clean up any mold that you find around the unit, or in the little pools of water around it.

In general, keep the fan mode switch on your AC on "auto" mode. If you put it on "on," it will recirculate all that moisture that has collected on the evaporator coil through your house and air conditioning system. You don't want to raise the humidity level of your house; that will cause mold problems all over.

If you are building a home or buying a new AC unit, look for one that has options to control the humidity. Some have variable speeds, or different modes like "moisture removal." This will help greatly in controlling your house's mold.

Another tip on picking an AC unit is that bigger machines usually increase humidity. For some reason, people generally choose oversized AC units for their homes. This is actually not a wise choice, because a bigger unit will create more moisture and circulate that moisture through your home.

If your heating and cooling system is infested with mold, you will probably have to call a professional and have the whole house tested and remediated.

Things to Know About Heating and Air Conditioning Units

There are a lot of heating and air conditioning units to choose from these days. Trane, Carrier, Rheem, York, Lennox, Goodman, and Payne are just a few of them to mention. They are all coming out with scroll compressors, variable speed blower motors, and of course high efficient units. They all have different warranties on the condensing coils, compressors, and parts and labor. You would have to check with the manufacturer for their warranty and procedure for getting repairs done when facing an issue with your system.

During the warranty period you may have to keep records from a qualified service company on preventative maintenance performed on your heating and air conditioning units. You can easily keep that record by taping it to the air handler or unit with dates of each performed maintenance. It is always a good idea to perform preventative maintenance on your system because some companies will not honor the replacement of a warranty part if the part had failed due to lack of proper maintenance. So always check with your installing contractor about your warranty coverage and requirements.

The internet is a good place to start locating information on heating and air conditioning units. All of your name brand manufacturers have web sites with information on how long their warranties last. Some web sites will also tell you which system has the most problems and up-to-date information on rebates or recalls. Not all manufacturers have the same problems.

As the saying goes, just because it is new does not mean it is not going to break down. Be proactive by maintaining your system right from the start with scheduled preventative maintenance. It is the best way to ensure your system runs at its best.

Keep Your Central Air Conditioning Working in Top Condition by Easily Cleaning the Condenser Unit

When people think of central air conditioning they think of a nice cool room and the big box with the fan beside the house. Unfortunately, that typically is as far as it goes. Often overlooked is that the outside condenser unit needs a little TLC from time-to-time to work with optimum efficiency. Take the time to maintain your unit and be rewarded with lower electricity bills and no repair bill!

Safety is most important when dealing with your unit. The condenser and fan are powered by 240 volt connections that can be extremely dangerous if left on while servicing your unit. The unit typically has a breaker box located nearby on the outside wall. Open this box and turn it off. Also, turn off the breaker in your main electrical box that supplies power to the unit.

Once the power is off, you will need to remove the protective grill around the unit. This usually attaches by a few screws or nuts. Once removed, gently vacuum the fins using the bristle brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner. Be sure to go over the entire outer surface. The debris stuck between the fins reduces the efficiency of the unit and should be removed as completely as possible.

Next, undo the screws so that the top grill and fan unit can be removed. Be careful not to damage the wires going to the fan. Scoop out any debris at the bottom of the unit and then vacuum the fin surfaces inside the condenser unit. At this point, you may find debris that is stubborn and will not vacuum out.

To address this issue, cover the condenser and electrical connection with plastic and break out your garden hose. Attach a trigger nozzle and spray the fins from the inside of the unit. Start with a diffuse spray and tighten up to a more concentrated spray gradually. It is possible to bend the fins over so use only as much water pressure as needed to dislodge the debris.

The next step is to clean off the fan blade edges. This will help reduce fan noise and improve efficiency.

Next, oil the fan motor as indicated in your owners manual and reassemble the unit.

Finally, cut back any foliage that might be growing onto or near the unit and then turn the power back on. The plant matter is removed to increase air flow to the unit and keep it working at peak efficiency.

Now drink a cold beverage in your cool home. You deserve it!

Ducted (HVAC) Air Conditioning Essential Maintenance Schedule For Homeowners

Ducted air conditions require very little maintenance. Below are the few things you need to do in regards to regular maintenance for your ducted reverse cycle air conditioner.

The return air grille is the big grille (usually located in the hallway). It needs to be cleaned about every 6 months (or sooner if it gets dirty quickly). Some controller's will display a filter on the screen every 6 months or so to remind you of this.

To clean the filter you need to pull back the clips or turn a screw and the grille should pivot down. Then you can vacuum the filter whilst still in the grille or you can remove the filter and either vacuum or clean with soapy water. If you clean with soapy water, remember to not dry in the sun as this will cause the filter to warp.

Once cleaned the filter will not need to be cleaned again for around 6 months. However,if the return air grille of your air conditioner becomes noisier than usual, or the air conditioner cools/heats less than normal it is a good sign that the filter needs a clean.

The outdoor part of the air-conditioning unit is largely maintenance free. You will notice water dripping from the drains of the system but this is a sign that the air-conditioner is running correctly. Keep the fans clear of debris and sticks and consider applying a spray or film on the outdoor unit to slow down rust if you live in a coastal area. Before applying any chemical however you should check with the manufacturer.

Other than this your air conditioning system is maintenance free. As a precaution it is advisable however to have someone inspect the system every 4 to 5 years to check for any major wear and tear.

Ductless Split Heat Pump Review - Ductless Heating and Cooling of the Hard to Duct Home

You are building a log home or a home that you want the rustic look of the floors above also being the ceiling of the floor below. You hate the thought of having to install ugly heating and air conditioning ductwork in your new home. For you there is hope. You can still have a comfortable home and have the look that you want.

The advancements in ductless heating and cooling has made it possible for you to have those wood ceilings, roof lines, wood walls, and everything you can think of. The new ductless units take up very little space on your wall. They can be placed almost anywhere with a little planning, and they are very efficient at both heating and cooling.

The many features do not stop with the heating and cooling. Most units have remote controls to run the unit. Many of these units can run multiple inside units from one outdoor unit. These units are so quiet that you have to feel the air coming from them to see if they are running. The installation has been simplified to the point that they can be installed very quickly by an experienced professional.

If you are concerned about the looks on the outside, that too can be fixed rather easily. The piping and wiring going to the indoor units is relatively small and can be hidden in many ways by using a little imagination. Colored aluminum can be fabricated to cover the pipes. I have also run the piping through rain spouting and made it to look like just another rain spout coming off of the roof.

If you are looking to build or remodel and are worried about the look you will have on the inside, then take a look at ductless split heat pumps to give the comfort and the looks.

Many heating professionals can find a way to make these units work for you. Make sure that you do not settle for something less than you want. You may need to look at more than a few companies to find the one that will give you the system that you want.

Steps For Installing Flexible Air Conditioning Duct

Flexible air conditionings are used for transferring the air from the duct line to HVAC system. Flex duct is made from aluminum and lines of plastic. The inner layer of this product is surrounded by layer of insulation that is used to protect the barrier of vapor. You need to install each and every layer carefully and you need to follow the procedure of installation properly. If you don't follow it then you won't be able to install them properly. If you want to install it then you need to follow following steps to install your product.

Steps for installing flexible air conditioning duct:

1. Find the distance between the place where you will be placing your flexible duct and the point where you will be connecting it. Use tape to measure the distance. The measures that you get double it and add it to the diameter of your measurement. Then you need to bend your degree up to 90 degree. You need to install your flexible properly.

2. Try to increase the length of your flexible air conditioning duct. You need to make the surface of your flexible smooth. Try to place the stretch tape near the flexible tape. The end of the tape has to be an aligned and try to make the inner of the liner flexible.

3. Try to open the big scissors and try to push the lower blade of the scissor in the flexible duct and try to cut it as per the length of the flexible duct. Ensure that the all the layers of the flexible duct are equal.

4. Try to cut the flexible duct with the help of scissors. Once you have cut the scissors use different types of wires for supporting the inner layer of your flexible air conditioning duct.

5. Try to roll the barriers of the vapor and try to insulate the inner line of the flexible duct from the back of your product. Try to expose 3 inches of the inner line from both the sides of the device.

6. Slide all the liner on both the ends that are found between HVAC system and the register.

7. Place the duct fastening on the each end of the flexible duct. Ensure that the straps are connected with each other and you need to connect with the different point of HVAC system.

8. Tight the plastic strap with the duct fastening. To install it you need to use different tools and the wrap tape to make the plastic duct straps.

9. Once you have installed the flexible then you need to unroll the insulation and you will have to unroll the vapor barrier. Try to cover the inner liner that you have attached with the flexible air conditioning duct. Once you have completed the installation then you can start using the product.