5 Important Things to Consider When Remodeling Your HVAC System

Why Does My Air Conditioner Run So Often? If you're noticing that your air conditioner is running much longer than usual, it's important to consider all the factors that determine the length of a cooling cycle. The air temperature outside, the size and condition of air ducts, the amount of insulation, and the condition of the weather stripping around windows and doors are just a few of the factors that will determine the length of the cooling cycle. How Long Should a Central Air Conditioner Run? Outside Temperature The cooling cycle will last until the temperature set at the thermostat is reached. It shuts off at that point and starts again when the house begins to warm up again. If it is just a few degrees warmer outside, it may run for a few minutes. If it is very hot and humid, with a 30 degree difference between the thermostat setting and outside temperature, it may need to run much longer to reach the desired temperature. Air Ducts and Circulation Because a central air conditioner performs best when cooling the entire house, it's important to keep all vents and doors open in every room when possible. Closing off rooms will not save energy, it will only make the AC work harder. Keeping your AC properly maintained, including changing the filter regularly, will also ensure that it's performing at peak efficiency. AC Sizing Air conditioners perform best when they are properly sized for the space they are cooling. The size of an air conditioner is measured in BTUs. One BTU is equal to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. If your air conditioner has more BTUs than necessary, it will cycle more frequently. If it has too few BTUs, it will run much longer per cycle. Assuming your central air conditioner is properly sized for your home, it should be able to cool and remove moisture from the air in 7- to 10-minute cycles. If not there could be a problem. Have questions about your central air conditioner? Call Hickey Plumbing, Air & Electrical. We're here to help.

AC Not Keeping You Cool? Here Are A Few Things to Check With the hottest weather of the season upon us, you may be noticing that your home's central air conditioner isn't able to keep you cool enough during the steamy, dog days of summer. Before calling a Hickey Plumbing, Air and Electrical for help, there are a few things you can check first if your home is not staying cool enough. 1. Is the air filter dirty? It doesn't take much dirt to reduce the airflow in a typical fiberglass or paper filter. Even if the filter looks relatively clean, if it's more than a couple months old, replace it. 2. Is the airflow obstructed? Ensure that the supply registers AND returns are not blocked. Move furniture well away from vents to allow the air to flow. While It may seem like a good idea to close vents and doors in rooms that are unoccupied, it can actually make your AC work less efficiently as a result of having lower air volume than the system was designed to handle. 3. Reduce heat sources inside the home. Closing blinds on the south facing windows and skylights and cooking outside during the hottest days can make a significant difference in how much heat accumulates during the day. Also ensure that bathroom ventilation fans and range hoods are effectively removing humid air from the home. 4. Improve air circulation. While ceiling fans won't lower the temperature of the air, they will move the cooler air down into the living space and provide some evaporative cooling to help make warmer rooms feel more comfortable. 5. The AC is maxed out. It's important to understand that most central air conditioners are designed to deliver only a 20 degree temperature difference between outside and inside temperatures. If the temperature hits 100 degrees and the thermostat is set to 75, it's going to be running almost constantly. In this case, turning down the thermostat is not going to cool the house down any further. Need air conditioner service? Call Hickey Plumbing, Electrical & Air. We can help keep you home cool and comfortable all summer long.

Choosing a Ductless Cooling System As technology and efficiency have improved over the years, ductless cooling and heating (also call mini-split systems) have increased in popularity. For homes without central heating and cooling or air ducts, and difficult to cool and heat rooms like attics, garages and additions, ductless systems can be a great option. When deciding which ductless system is right for your home, consider the following questions. How Many Zones Do You Want to Cool? One of the advantages of ductless mini-split systems is the ability to control each zone independently. Depending on the model, you can have from 1 to 8 separate zones. Maybe you will have only one zone, say a 3-season porch. Or, you may have a zone for every room in your home. Having multiple zones controlled independently not only improves comfort in each room, it can save you a lot of money in lower utility bills. What Size Unit Will Need to Be Installed? Choosing the right size unit for each room is critical to ensuring comfort and efficiency. The power of air conditioners is measured in BTUs. The higher the BTUs, the larger the volume of air an air conditioner will be able to effectively cool. Some product specs will list the size of a room it is designed to cool. Or, you can also do the calculations yourself based on the products BTU rating. Generally, the square footage of a room translates into the following number of BTUs needed: 300 sq. ft. – 7,000 BTUs 350 sq. ft. – 8,000 BTUs 400 sq. ft. – 9,000 BTUs 450 sq. ft. – 10,000 BTUs 500 sq. ft. – 11,000 BTUs 550 sq. ft. – 12,000 BTUs 625 sq. ft. – 13,000 BTUs 700 sq. ft. – 14,000 BTUs 1,000 sq. ft. – 18,000 BTUs Installation Location One of the main advantages of ductless systems is the flexibility of installation locations. While a window air conditioner is stuck in the window, a ductless unit can be installed in the floor, the ceiling or on the wall. Wherever they are installed, most mini-split units are compact and unobtrusive. Additional Features Remote control operation - Most ductless systems come with a wireless remote for controlling the unit. Some offer smartphone apps that let you monitor and control the system while you're away from home. Timers - Set individual rooms to turn on or off depending on when they will be occupied. Reusable filters - Some models have washable filters which can save money compared to disposable filters. Have questions about ductless cooling and heating for your home? Call Hickey Plumbing, Air & Electrical. We can help answer all your questions.