3 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your A/C

Date: October 28, 2014 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

Houston, Texas is an area where having an A/C unit is more of a necessity than a luxury. Of course it will cost money to use on a daily basis, but there are things you should know that can help you keep those costs lower throughout the life of owning your system.

save energy, air conditioning, A/C systemFirst, the correct size air conditioning unit for your home is important. Bigger is not always better when it comes to an A/C unit. The wrong size unit can actually waste a great deal of energy and not keep your home comfortable like you want either. A trained A/C technician like the one’s here at Cool Dude will be very helpful in addressing what size unit will be best for your home while also considering the comfort level you want.

Second, according to recent statistics only 1 in 5 consumers actually get a yearly maintenance A/C check-up. The life of an A/C system can be increased if this is done yearly and it will keep your system performing at the best level possible year round. To keep your system energy efficient get your system looked at by a professional each year.

Third, 8 out of every 10 system failures is caused by dirt and dust. Changing your filter as often as necessary is the best way to keep this from happening to you. Remember pets and other indoor pollutants such as smoking decrease the life of your filter faster than normal, so it will need to be changed more often. With the average home producing 40 pounds of dust each year it is important to keep filter changes a priority. This will keep your system cleaner, and a cleaner unit uses less energy.

A/C Fun Facts

Date: October 21, 2014 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

If air conditioning did not exist most of the southern United States would be scarcely populated. Houston, TX certainly would not be what it is today.

air conditioning, fun facts, A/CThe movie industry got a boost thanks to the development of air conditioning. Before A/C theaters were very uncomfortable and stuffy, but with A/C became enjoyable and comfortable.

Before A/C units became common place in office buildings, government offices took a summer vacation for 2-3 months each year.

The first air conditioner to be installed in an office building was in 1902 at a publishing office.

In 1930 trains began to install air conditioners in passenger cars making this mode of travel much more comfortable.

The use of an A/C system can account for 47% of the total energy bill in most homes.

Without the invention of air conditioning there are many curable diseases that would be incurable today, because the invention of their antidotes required steady cold environments to be created.

October Houston Weather Facts

Date: October 14, 2014 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

October is a month where Houston certainly sees a change in temperature. This month the temperature will fall houston, october, weatheran average of 8 degrees from the 1st day of the month to the last day. The average high is 82 degrees and low is 59 degrees.

October is considered the rainiest month in Houston, on average it will rain at least 7-10 days during October. Rainfall averages 4.5″ during this month.

Humidity averages 75% and sunshine will be evident 19-20 days during the month.

Daylight decreases quite a bit this month dropping a total of 50 minutes from October 1st to October 31st.

 

Helpful A/C Filter Facts

Date: October 8, 2014 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

Here in the Houston and Sugarland area using the air conditioner in to the fall months is not unheard of. With temperatures still averaging above 80 degrees everyday it is still a must to keep our homes and businesses comfortable. Although cooler temperatures are coming around it is important to make sure we are doing what we can to keep our a/c unit healthy. A great way to do this is to change your filter and consider upgrading to a better quality filter. Here are some helpful facts to get the best filter for your unit.

ac filter, air conditoningCheck the MERV Rating

This is a standard rating system that helps you compare a filters efficiency from different manufacturers on a scale of 1 (low)-16(high). The higher the MERV rating the better the filter performs at removing small particulates from the air in your home. Be careful though, your a/c system is set to perform best with a particular MERV rating so call your a/c technician to check on what your system requires.

Pets

If you have pets they may be spending more time inside as the weather gets cooler and wetter outdoors. For the best results look for filters that specifically address pet dander and pet hair. This will keep your system cleaner and the air quality in your home better. However, remember that you may need to change your filter more often with indoor pets.

Reusable/Washable Filters

Making sure to keep these clean is very important. Once a month they should be rinsed off and dried before putting them back in your system. These filters are more costly but do have a longer use spanning 5 years on average. They do not perform as well as some filters concerning small particulates but can be a great way to save money on your filter needs.

 

Keep the Humidity Outside Please

Date: September 29, 2014 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

No one enjoys high humidity that much, especially when accompanied by high temperatures. Whether it is hot air conditioning, houston, humidityor cool outside high humidity is something that does effect your central air system. During summer months in Houston this can be particularly noticeable because Houston is one of the most humid cities in the U.S. One purpose of having an air conditioning unit is to remove excess moisture from the air in your home to keep it more comfortable. When humidity levels are high it causes your unit to work harder to keep the moisture level and temperature in your home at a comfortable level. This not only puts wear on your system but can increase your energy bills as well. If you are noticing that you have more moisture in your home than usual, foggy windows, or even areas of your home that have a musty smell you may need to get your system checked out. It could be that something is not functioning properly or it could be that your system is not the right size for your home or business. One way to combat excess humidity is to have the professionals install a dehumidifier into your central air system to aid in the removal of excess moisture. Long exposure to excess moisture can lead to other problems such as mold growth in your duct system and even window sills. The key is to pay attention to the air quality in your home so that you can detect changes quickly and act to keep your system performing at its best year round.