Tag: AC

Some Summer Tips for your HVAC

Summer is here (in a way). While the extremely hot temperatures haven’t hit our area, what has come has been muggy some days. This increase in humidity might have some of you turning on your AC, even if only for a short time. Even without heavy usage, it’s still a good idea to practice these maintenance tips for your HVAC system.

Summer Thermostats

Summertime means schedule changes, especially for kids out of school for the summer or families planning to travel for vacation. Make sure to adjust your thermostat settings to account for your family’s new schedule and any vacations that occur. Examples include:

  • Later wake-up times in the morning, since there’s no bus to catch for kids
  • With family members home all day, adjust setbacks for more occupancy hours rather than a vacant home from 8am to 5pm
  • Summer sports and activities that keep you out of the home for periods of time
  • Later bedtimes

Improve Your Airflow

Good airflow through your air conditioner helps the system function efficiently and deliver better comfort throughout your living areas. These HVAC maintenance tips show you how to improve airflow through your cooling system this summer:

  • Change your air filter on a regular basis. In the summertime, filters often fill up with debris quicker than in the spring because the system runs more frequently. Check the filter each month to determine if a change is necessary.
  • Clean off the exterior air conditioner. Do this whenever you do lawn maintenance or cut grass. Grass clippings, mulch, leaves, and other outdoor debris can gather on your condensing unit and block the fins that allow heat to leave the system.
  • Clear the area around the outdoor unit. In addition to cleaning, make sure there are no plants or other items in the two feet of space immediately surrounding the unit. Prune shrubs and branches nearby and pull up vegetation that has grown around the unit’s base. Relocate outdoor storage away from your unit to eliminate any airflow obstructions.
  • Ensure vents are open and unblocked. Walk through your home and check every vent, register, and return air grille. All vent and register louvers should be set open. Move rugs, furniture, and other items away from the vents and grilles to allow air to freely circulate through the ducts, into your home, and back to the air conditioning system.

Fighting the Dust War

It’s the time of year when you may be starting to run your AC unit (or at least be making sure it’s ready for the hot days to come. If so, then you should also be making sure that you home is ready for your system to com on. One thing you should be considering is dust buildup.

Most of the time, dust may collect and you clean that spot. However, there are some places that aren’t dusted as often, such as the blades of a ceiling fan or the window blinds. These places can sometimes be tricky to clean, but don’t worry! We found some good tips for you at HGTV.com. These tips will help you get rid of the dust in these hard to handle areas and help keep your unit running smoothly.

Tips for Heating and Cooling Old Houses

Originally posted on HVAC.com

Old houses are notoriously challenging to heat and cool. Structural differences from modern homes make efficient heating and cooling difficult to achieve, but enjoying the history and beauty of an older home doesn’t have to mean paying an arm and a leg to stay comfortable! These HVAC options for old houses keep your interiors at the right temperatures throughout the year.

Best Way to Cool Old Houses

Many older houses were built long before air conditioning was standard in the home. Therefore, they lack the infrastructure (ductwork) needed to accommodate modern forced air cooling systems. Therefore, the traditional central air conditioning system is not always the best way to cool old houses.

Luckily, there are energy efficient solutions available that work well for an older home’s cooling needs. As a bonus, these systems provide heating as well!

High-Velocity HVAC Systems

Ductwork is most often nestled in the areas of the home we cannot see – if central heating and cooling wasn’t included when your home was first built, it may not have the space necessary to install unobtrusive ductwork to accommodate central HVAC. High-velocity systems use a dedicated HVAC unit connected to the mini-duct system to provide heating and cooling throughout the home.

High-velocity systems use mini-ducts, which are much smaller than standard ductwork, so they can be more easily incorporated into the home in many cases. Mini-ducts are approximately three inches in diameter. Because of their smaller size, they may be snaked over ceilings and through walls for installation. Their vents are small, creating less disruption in the interior aesthetics of the home.

Ductless Mini-Split HVAC

Another solution to the ductwork dilemma many older houses face is a ductless HVAC system. As the name suggests, these units do not require ductwork installation, making them a best way to cool old houses when ducts are not an option.

Ductless mini-split HVAC systems utilize an exterior heat pump connected to interior air handling units which directly distribute conditioned air to the living areas. One exterior unit can support a number of interior air handling units (the capacity depends on the model you select). The interior and exterior components are connected via a line set containing wiring and refrigerant piping, through a small hole in the exterior walls of the home.

Interior air handling units are mounted on the wall (either up high or down low) or can be installed within the ceiling of a room, controlled via a remote. A great benefit of ductless HVAC is the zoned heating and cooling they provide – each individual air handler can be controlled independently. Occupants can adjust temperatures just for the space in use, saving energy in unused areas of the home.

Best Way to Heat Old Houses

The cooling solutions mentioned above are also some of the best ways to heat old houses. Another option which may be appropriate for your older home is radiator heating. Many older homes have radiator heating systems in place, as this technology was quite common in the 18th century.

Upgrading old, inefficient radiator heating components with new, high efficiency models provides an excellent solution for whole home heating in an older house. Your HVAC contractor can examine existing components to determine which upgrades are needed and if the old system is still usable. In many older systems, in-room radiator units are often in good condition and can be used with a new boiler to provide heating throughout the home.

New modulating-condensing boilers offer better efficiency for hot water radiator heating systems compared to older home heating boilers. These boilers heat only the amount of water needed to provide for the home’s heating needs, rather than heating all the water within the unit at once. This technology provides great energy conservation, drastically cutting energy bills as a best way to heat old houses.

Comfort Matters: Preparing Your Home For Spring

Article originally posted on Lennox.com

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the squirrels are chasing each other up and down the trees. With all this activity going on, it’s hard not to get excited about the arrival of spring. So if you’re feeling energized and enthusiastic about this bright and breezy season, why not seize the moment and get some spring cleaning and much needed seasonal home maintenance done!

Get the clutter gone.

Decluttering is a great way to rid your home of stuff you no longer want, need or value. The benefits of owning fewer things are manyfold and include: fewer things to clean, fewer dust traps, less stress, less to organize, and more free time to do the things you really want to do. 

Decluttering also frees up space in your home, which makes spring cleaning even easier. And if decluttering the whole house in one go feels too daunting, then simply tackle it one day at a time. If you get rid of one item every day for a whole year, by the time you’ve finished the project, your home will be 365 items lighter.

And for the items you want to keep, why not consider new ways of storing them or keeping them tidy. There are plenty of home organizational tips and tricks available to help you get ideas. Sometimes, just reorganizing your home can help you maximize the space you have and minimize the hassle you experience every time you want to find or use something.

Clear and clean—inside and out.

The outside of your home has probably taken more of a beating from winter than the inside, so start there. Walk around your home and examine caulking around the outside of windows and doors, and open those windows and doors and examine the weather stripping. Replace old or cracking caulk and worn weather stripping, where necessary. Also, inspect the roof for broken or missing shingles or tiles, and clean out gutters and downspouts at the same time. 

Remember to check the air conditioner unit.

And while you’re outside checking the house and tidying the yard, remember to also check the air conditioner unit to ensure it’s debris free and in good working order. In fact, springtime is an ideal time to get your air conditioner, and the rest of the HVAC system, cleaned, serviced and ready for summer. So contact your local Lennox® Dealer soon and schedule an HVAC maintenance check. Clean coils, ducts and filters help to ensure that the system works efficiently and effectively all year long. 

Think about cleaning the air in your house, too.

Cleaning the windows is a great place to start your inside spring cleaning. With so much more light filling your home, it’s easier to see just how much cleaning needs to be done. From ceiling fans to carpets and curtains, and from bathroom tiles to the top of kitchen cabinets, once you start clearing away the dust of winter, it’s really hard to stop. 

But here’s one thing you may not have considered during your spring-cleaning frenzy, how clean is your indoor air? Springtime, especially, means the release of a lot of pollen and mold spores into the air, which in turn can cause a lot of unpleasant allergy-related symptoms. Lennox has Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) solutions that can remove 99.9% of allergy-causing irritants from your home’s air, providing extremely effective allergy-season relief. So when you’re getting your HVAC system serviced, ask your Lennox Dealer about what type of IAQ solution would be right for your home. He can recommend solutions that will combat your exact IAQ problems. So even if you can’t change the season, at least you can change your home into a sneeze-free, cough-free, and itchy-eyes-and-runny-nose-free zone.

A Special Special

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The perfect system should adapt to your life to deliver the ultimate in energy savings and precision temperature control. We agree.
And that’s why we’re proud to be a leading provider of innovative, home heating and cooling systems. Our high-efficiency, Lennox® residential air conditioners, furnaces and HVAC systems help maximize comfort while reducing utility costs. Plus, our Lennox air filters, humidifiers and dehumidifiers help create healthier and cleaner indoor environments. Call now and save with REBATES UP TO $1,250 OR 0% APR for 60 MONTHS with the purchase of qualifying equipment!

Check out our Specials page for more information.

Special for the Change of Seasons

Check out our latest special! Just in time for Fall!

There are countless reasons to do regular routine maintenance on your home’s heating and air system.
When your system is working its best, you’re more comfortable, your utility bills stay at a reasonable level and you can sleep in peace knowing your system won’t be taking the night (or day) off any time soon. Lennox® is proud to be a leading provider of innovative, home comfort heating and cooling systems- it’s just another way we make you feel better. Call now and save with REBATES UP TO $1,600 OR UP TO 60 MONTHS EQUAL PAYMENTS, NO INTEREST FINANCING on qualifying equipment.

Check out our Specials page for more information.

Air Conditioning Tips

Summer has been trying to leave us for some time now. However, among the few days of cool relief, we keep seeing days near or over ninety degrees. Until these days are gone to make way for Autumn weather, you should make sure your air conditioning unit is still working properly to keep your home comfortable. Here are a few common air conditioning problems to keep an eye out for:

  • Less/No Cool Air

Can you hear your unit working but you’re not feeling any cool air? If so, your refrigerant levels might need to be checked. Refrigerant helps make sure your air conditioner is actually cooling the air that blows out of it.

  • Fan Not Rotating

Your condenser fan may have burned out and need replaced. Another possible issue is humidity. It can cause more condensation to form, so you should also watch for water not draining correctly or a restricted drain.

  • Not Cooling Properly

A good first step is to try lowering the temperature on your thermostat. If that doesn’t work, check the air filter. A dirty air filter can cause major cooling troubles. Another possibel issue is that your air conditioner is not properly sized. This is a frequent issue when homes are constructed.

  • Short Cycling

Short cycling, or turning on or off repeatedly, can mean one of multiple things. Your condenser or evaporator could be dirty and in need of cleaning. After cleaning the unit and ensuring all blockages are removed, you may be good to go. Humidity also plays a part. If your home cools to the correct temperature, but then humidity causes your home to quickly heat up, it could result in your air conditioning working harder to keep your home comfortable.

If you’re facing these or other air conditioning troubles, give Air Handlers Inc a call. We can help you check your system and make sure everything is working properly.

More Happy Customers

We love hearing from our customers! Here are a couple examples of recent testimonials we’ve received. If you’d like to give us your feedback, you can send us a form here, visit our Google listing here, or leave a review on Facebook here.

Wonderful Company

I’m very pleased that I chose Air Handlers for a new furnace 4 years ago. Since then, every interaction I’ve had with them has been 5 Star! Excellent customer service from the office employees and field staff. Always on time. Never leave me wondering when they will show up. I’m looking forward to using my new air conditioner this summer. I highly recommend Air Handlers Inc. in Tumwater.

Susan S.

Outstanding Installation

I was impressed by how quickly and efficiently the group from Air Handlers installed both a new furnace and a new air conditioning unit. Then they cleaned up so well you wouldn’t have known such a big job had taken place. Now, 24 hours later it’s working great. I no longer fear the arrival of hot weather. A big thanks to all involved at Air Handlers.

Prudence K.

Efficiency Tips for the Summer

Summer is pretty much here. Schools are either out or extremely close. Temperatures are rising and the days are longer. Will your home cooling system be able to keep up? Here are some good tips everyone should bear in mind for helping their cooling system work efficiently and keep their house as cool as possible.

    1. Cover your windows. Blinds/curtains are your best friend when it comes to keeping the heat of these summer days out of your house. They block much of the light and keep a lot of heat out of the room. You can also hang blankets over the windows to block out the heat or put foil in the windows to reflect the sun.
    2. Make sure any room fans or ceiling fans are situated to help move cool air around the house. This can help your system work less and save money without sacrificing comfort.
    3. Turn off unnecessary electrical items. If you don’t need a light in a room (due to natural lighting, for instance), then leave it off. Done using that computer or television? Make sure they’re turned off. Electronics like this create heat during use.
    4. Summer is a heavy use time for your cooling system. Make sure you check the filter. A clean air filter can help your system work smarter and save your money.
    5. Seal those cracks! Just like in winter, it’s a good idea to make sure there isn’t any outside air seeping into your home. After all, if warm air is coming from outside, then some of that cool air is escaping, which makes your system work harder and costs money.

Another tip is proper maintenance/check-up of your system. Have a professional come and see if your cooling system is working properly, or if it needs an upgrade. Check out this video about Lennox’s Precise Comfort technology, if you’re considering or need a new cooling system:

The Importance of HVAC Maintenance

Your heating, ventilation and cooling system is integral to your comfort, whether at home or in your place of work. To ensure this comfort is sustained, you should take every necessary step to ensure that you keep your HVAC system working all year round.

The benefits are incredibly long term. If your air conditioning system is maintained it can last for ten to fifteen years, while your heating can give you twenty to twenty-five years of quality service. This means lower cost of maintenance and the absence of major costs in case of a breakdown. However, getting the best deal off your HVAC system is not an overnight thing; you have to be deliberate about it.

You shouldn’t wait for something to go wrong before you schedule a maintenance visit. Anticipating problems and nipping them in the bud is one sure way to make sure that you get the best value out of your HVAC system for years to come.

In this article, we examine how you can ensure that your HVAC delivers the best value for years and the benefits of it.

Get an expert

While there are a lot of routine maintenance tasks that you can do on your own, some will require the input of a professional. An experienced technician will be sure to check loose connections, ensure your thermostat is working well, lubricate parts, and check system controls.

Nothing beats efficiency

A well-maintained HVAC system will perform at an optimum level of efficiency. Without regular maintenance, you might still have a working system but it is delivering poor value and is severely less efficient. Your system might keep cooling or heating but the strain on its internal workings means that it is consuming much more energy to perform at that level. The end result is a massive energy bill at the end of the month that leaves you scratching your head.

Comfort

There is nothing worse than your heating system breaking down right in the middle of winter or your cooling system leaving you stranded on one of the hottest days of the year. At those times, you would give almost anything to have it up and running. The key to ensuring comfort when you need it the most is to pre-empt it and ensure that you have your heating or cooling system running smoothly as you enter the appropriate season.

Safety

Proper maintenance does not only guarantee cost-effectiveness and comfort, it can also be the difference between you and a major hazard in your home. When your heating or cooling system is not properly maintained for a long while, it can quickly lead to problems that can affect you and your home. From short-circuiting to electrocution and air poisoning, the risks are much too high to compromise on maintenance.