Archive for May, 2012

Indoor and Outdoor AC Components Should Be Replaced at the Same Time in Peoria

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Does one of your ductless air conditioner components need replacing? If so, you are probably tempted to just replace whichever unit is failing in order to fix the problem quickly and cheaply. This is not always the best way to go, however. Here are six reasons why you should replace both the indoor and outdoor units at the same time.

#1: Cost

Although replacing just the failing component – whether indoor or outdoor – will be less expensive up front, that choice often proves more costly overall. You will see just what that means in the rest of these reasons.

#2: Advances in design

Heating and cooling technology is always advancing, so since you purchased your AC system, the products on the market have gotten quieter, more efficient and better overall. By replacing just the failing indoor component, you won’t reap all the benefits of this new technology, as the older outdoor component will still lag behind the times.

#3: Higher efficiency

When both units are replaced at the same time, and with models that have the same technology, they work together more efficiently. That means more savings on your bills and a more comfortable home.

#4: Matched system

Split AC systems are designed such that the indoor units are engineered to work best with a matching outdoor unit. When the system is matched, you get optimum performance and efficiency. By replacing just one component, you lose the benefits of that matching, meaning degraded efficiency and performance.

#5: Warranty considerations

A new system means new warranty coverage. Replacing both units at once means a whole new warranty that covers your whole cooling system, so you won’t have to worry about paying for any more replacements jobs for a long time.

#6: Wear and tear

Finally, think about the wear and tear your air conditioning system has undergone since it was installed. Maybe only your outdoor unit needs to be replaced now, but since your indoor unit has tolerated the same number of hours of use, it may be on its way out sooner than later. It’s like when you buy new tires for your car– you don’t buy one or two, you buy a whole set of four so that the whole system starts fresh. That way you only do it once, and not again in six months or a year.

For all these reasons, replacing both components of a split system is often the best and least expensive route to choose when facing a replacement.  For help with air conditioning replacements please call Cool Touch Air Conditioning & Heating Specialists.

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Outdoor Air Conditioning Components for Tempe Homes

Monday, May 21st, 2012

As long as all the parts are working well, air conditioning in Tempe is a modern convenience we can easily take for granted and overlook. Cool air makes our lives simply better, but is a complicated process based on an old theory and modern technology.

No matter the size, in every unit, the basic purpose is one of extracting heat from the conditioned space and moving it to the outside, leaving cool air in its place. This process easily divides into indoor and outdoor components.

Air Conditioning 101

Utilizing the basic principal of thermal energy that heat gravitates toward cooler temperatures, compounds known as refrigerants travel through a closed looped system, repeatedly transforming between liquid and gas forms. Chosen for their ability to rapidly change at low temperatures, they alternately absorb and release heat along the way.

Having expanded to a vacuous state with plenty of room between molecules to absorb heat, the refrigerant is compressed tightly, condenses back into liquid form and releases the heat to the outdoors.

In the Box Outside

Placed on a small slab on the ground alongside many homes or on the roof of large buildings, air conditioning units contain the compressor and condensing coils that enable the main (and noisiest) function of the process.

The refrigerant is contained within a closed loop, entering the compressor as an expanded gas full of heat.  Under pressure, that heat is released when the molecules are squeezed so tightly together the refrigerant returns to its liquid state.

The passing into the condensing coils, a series of delicate fins, the released heat is allowed to dissipate through the fins into the air where a small fan blows it away.  Water is also a by-product of the condensation and drains into a pan and eventually into the ground.

The condensing coil ends at the exchange valve where it is held to create just the right pressure for the evaporating coil indoors to operate at its maximum efficiency.

Refreshing Maintenance

If air conditioning maintenance is performed regularly, the system requires little attention and over sight beyond scheduled appointments with a company like Cool Touch Air Conditioning & Heating Specialists.  Even in the most brutal of climates, relaxed and comfortable in our spaces, we are able to do our stuff and sleep well at night.

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The Importance of Maintenance

Friday, May 18th, 2012

The function of your Heating and Cooling system is largely dependent on whether you are providing regular maintenance. Call us today to schedule a maintenance appointment and learn more about maintaining your equipment.

 

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Spring Cleaning and Your HVAC System in Buckeye

Monday, May 14th, 2012

If you are working on cleaning your home for spring, don’t forget your heating and air conditioning system in Buckeye. If you are turning your furnace off, you should change the air filter so it is ready to go next heating season. It is also important to check your air conditioner’s filter, which needs to be clean to ensure efficient operation. A dirty AC filter can reduce air flow, which can not only waste energy but possibly cause ice to build up on your coils.

While you are checking over your AC equipment, it’s a good idea to schedule an annual air conditioning maintenance visit with your HVAC contractor. One of the many things they will do is clean your AC, including the evaporator and condenser coils, which will help your unit maintain its energy efficiency. Since you are cleaning the rest of your home anyway, it’s a good idea to get your air conditioner in peak shape at the same time. If you don’t know how to change your AC’s air filter, ask your maintenance technician to show you. You should also determine how often you should change your air filter, which can depend on the amount of dust in your home, the number of pets you have, and the type of air filter you use.

Other important spring cleaning tasks include changing the filter in your vacuum, which can help maintain indoor air quality, and changing your water filter. Whether you have a whole house water filter or a Brita pitcher, the filters need to be replaced on a regular basis to keep them working effectively. If you have an air cleaning system, it’s probably a good idea to replace those filters as well, and check to make sure you don’t need UV germicidal light bulb replacement. While each of these steps seems simple, it they can add up to a healthier, more efficient house.

To schedule an HVAC maintenance visit, call Cool Touch Air Conditioning and Heating Specialists today!

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Gilbert Indoor Air Quality Tips: Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds

Monday, May 7th, 2012

Microbial volatile organic compounds are chemical agents produced by organic materials like mold that can have a potentially dangerous effect on your nervous system, and negatively affect your indoor air quality in Gilbert. In fact, some MVOCs have an equal or even worse effect on the human body as petroleum based VOCs which have long been labeled as dangerous to inhale by the EPA.

The problem of course is that there are too many talking heads out there telling you that MVOCs will kill you or that they can be ignored. The truth is in between, and for your family to remain safe and healthy you need to keep a close eye on the effects of potential black mold patches in your home.

Toxicity in Many Molds

The most commonly cited “toxic” mold is black mold or stachybotrys. This mold produces a mycotoxin that can quite literally poison anyone who breathes or ingests it. However, other forms of mold which might appear as red, white, green or grey produce MVOCs that are equally dangerous. Many people with mold have these dangerous chemicals in their home and don’t even realize it.

Typically, MVOCs can be smelled as a musty, organic gas that develops from the mold as it matures. Mold produces a variety of chemicals including benzene, aldehyde, tulolene, more. These chemicals create that musty scent and are all quite dangerous to the human body. Just because a chemical is organic doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous to your health. Imagine if man made formaldehyde or benzene were in the air near your children – what would you do?

Handling MVOCs

The first step to reducing MVOCs in your home is mold abatement. Proper removal and air purification will reduce the volume of mold that can off gas these chemicals. Additionally, you should reduce your use of such chemicals as aerosol sprays, paints and paint thinners, hobby supplies, air fresheners and other chemicals compounds that produce manmade or petroleum based chemicals that feed mold.

Finally, make sure you have your home inspected as soon as you suspect the presence of mold. Regardless of the mold’s color and the smell you notice, it should be checked by a professional in the mold detection and abatement field. It might be nothing, but if it is something, you want someone you can trust to take care of it immediately.  Call Cool Touch to set up an inspection today.

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Cinco de Mayo Family Fun!

Friday, May 4th, 2012

Enjoy this fun and easy Cinco de Mayo craft project with the little ones in your family!

Paper Lunch Bag Maracas

What you’ll need:

  • Four paper lunch bags
  • One handful of dried rice
  • 12″ square piece of foil
  • Rubber band
  • Paint: red, green, white, yellow
  • 8″ x 1″ strip of red felt
  • Tape

How to make it:

  1. Nest three of the four paper bags inside each other. The last bag will be used to make the handle. (See photo.)
  2. Place your hand in the center of the foil square and loosely gather it up and around your wrist. Insert your hand inside the bags and place the foil at the bottom. (See photo.)
  3. Spread the sides of the foil up and around the sides so that they are flush with the edges of the inside of the bag. The foil will give a little more strength and body to the bag and will provide a better noise for the shaker!
  4. Place a handful of rice inside the bag and then fold the edges of the tin foil closed (See photos 1, 2.)
  5. Take the remaining paper bag and cut up one of the sides and then around the perimeter of the bottom of the bag. Lay the bag flat on the table.
  6. Fold the bottom flap in, then starting at one end, roll up the bag to create the handle. Roll it up tight and tape closed. (See photos 1, 2.)
  7. Put a piece of tape across the center of the handle. Place the handle into the bag with the rice and press the tape to the side of the bag. The handle should be half in and half out of the bag. (See photo.)
  8. Gather the top of the open bag around the handle and secure with a rubber band. (See photo.)
  9. Decorate the maraca with paint using stripes, dots and curved lines. Let dry completely. (See photo.)
  10. Tie the red felt strip around the rubber band to conceal it.

Tips:

  1. You can use brown or white lunch bags for this project.
  2. If you prefer, have children decorate the bag first, let dry, and then proceed with assembly.
  3. Be sure that children shake gently to allow their maracas to last!

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