Air Conditioning and Furnace Repair in Austin: ac austin

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Monday, June 16, 2014

Maintaining a Window or Wall Air Conditioner in Austin

Air conditioning is the biggest utility expense in the summer for Austin homeowners. Many homeowners still prefer a window or wall air conditioner that can be installed in any room; it is still an affordable option when compared to a central air conditioning system. Air conditioner maintenance is crucial for your window AC for it to be able to work smoothly in the summer. A window AC can be energy efficient; the latest models come with a good energy star rating. There are many perks of having a window AC in your home; window AC units consume very little electricity. You can cut down on your utility bills with a window AC unit.

A window or wall AC system is very easy to install and put up in your home, it can be maintained easily, and the maintenance and repair costs for a window AC are affordable. It is very easy to locate an HVAC company for window air conditioner maintenance in Austin, annual maintenance and for inspections by a professional tech. For people living in small apartments and homes, a window AC unit can be the perfect choice; the size of AC unit you would choose will depend on the size of the room and cooling needs; you should get an estimate with the help of an HVAC contractor near you.

As we mentioned before, it is easy to maintain a wall or window AC. If you have just pulled out a window AC from your basement for this summer, make sure to call up an HVAC contractor for proper installation. If the window unit is old, it may not work as efficiently as it used to, or may require cleaning and repair. A window AC unit cannot work effectively without cleaning and maintenance. Basic maintenance and cleaning can be done on your own, for example, cleaning and replacing air filters, and basic cleaning of indoor and outdoor units. For more complex cleaning jobs, and repair, you should call up a licensed and professional HVAC company in Austin - such as ABA.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Minimizing Heat Buildup to Stay Cooler This Summer

Your central air conditioning system has a big job to do to remove the heat and humidity that builds up inside your home in the summertime. One way to use less energy and save money on air conditioning is to minimize the amount of heat that your air conditioner needs to remove; it will run less and save you more on your monthly utilities.

Provide Shade

Trees and shrubs provide shade and much needed oxygen for plants and people. Trees, vines or other foliage planted on the sunny side of the house blocks the heat from seeping in through walls, windows and roofing. It is not always possible to shade the sunny side of the house with trees because they take a long time to grow. If there are no trees on your property, you might consider putting up an awning or rolling shade to deflect the heat transfer on the side of the house that gets the most sun.

Cover Windows

Cover your windows during the hottest part of the day, generally between 10am and 2pm. Heavy curtains, shades, blinds or window film will reflect heat keeping it from getting inside and making the temperature go up. Rooms with the windows covered will feel cooler than rooms with the blinds open. Uncover windows after 3pm or whenever the late afternoon sun has passed.

Attic Fans

Warm air rises so it is natural for excess heat to travel upstairs to your attic. Your insulation and weatherproofing should block some of the heat but having an attic fan installed can help remove a lot of the humidity that accumulates in attic spaces. These fans do not cool the air; they just remove the heat by pushing it out through the exhaust vents.

Run Your Dishwasher Later in the Day

Your dishwasher and washing machine contribute to some of the humidity and heat buildup in your home. One suggestion is to set your dishwasher’s drying cycle to “air dry” and wash laundry in cold water to keep excess moisture out of the air. A better suggestion is to run these appliances later in the evening when temperatures have dropped. Running a load of dishes or laundry after 7pm saves money because utility companies generally charge less per kilowatt hour during off-peak times.

These tips will help you stay cooler this summer and keep utility bills down. Taking advantage of natural sources of cooling and blocking the heat transfer are two ways to reduce heat buildup in the summer. Call your HVAC company for regular maintenance and AC tune-ups. ABA Heating and Cooling are experts in AC repair and AC replacement in Austin, call to schedule an evaluation of your current system and see if a new installation may be just what your home needs to keep you cool and comfortable in Austin.

How Does an Air Conditioner in Austin Work?

Turning on your air conditioner is as simple as flipping a switch, but have you ever wondered what makes it work? How does it produce enough cool air to keep the inside of your home cool and comfortable in the summertime? Here is a look at the parts of the central air conditioning unit and how they work together to keep your home cool.

The central air conditioning system is made up of two parts, the condensing unit which can be mounted on the ground or on the roof of the home, and the indoor air handler and blowers. The blowers, or fan and motor, are responsible for blowing the cold air up through the ventilation system where it is carried by the ductwork to the air vents in each room. Here are the individual parts and what each one does.

Condensing Unit

The condensing unit is the part of your air conditioner that is located outside the home. It houses the condensing coils, compressor and condenser fan. The compressor pressurizes the liquid refrigerant (heats it up) and passes it through the condensing coils where it cools off as it travels through a tube to the evaporator coils.

Evaporator Coils

These coils are made of copper tubing which allows them to get really cold. As the refrigerant passes through these coils it becomes super cooled and evaporates into a fine mist. The mist is then blown out through the room vents by the blowers or fans located inside the air handler.

Air Handler

The air handler houses the blowers and connects to the ventilation system through the homes ductwork. Once the refrigerant is evaporated, the air handler draws the air in pushing it over the coils and blows the cooled air out into the ventilation system.

Blower Fan

These are the fans inside the air handler that are responsible for blowing out the cooled air. These fans can have one or two speeds which allow it to work more efficiently at keeping the home cool. With a secondary speed, the fan blades can turn faster or slower which helps you save money and keep cool.

All of these parts work together to make up a central air conditioning unit. Maintaining a system like this is a job best left for qualified, trained professionals in HVAC systems. ABA Heating and Cooling are experts in AC repair and replacement in Austin and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for questions about your central air conditioner or upgrading your old system to a newer one. New installations may qualify for tax rebates and other incentives.