Tips for Keeping Cool when your Air Conditioner is Struggling

Texas heat can definitely be a struggle. Homes with properly or even over sized air conditioners can have a hard time staying cool.

Every summer you can find lots of tips on how to save energy and keep cool at home: Keep the sun out/close all your blinds, use ceiling fans, wear cooler clothes, go to a movie, go to the water park, get your air conditioner serviced, caulk your windows...









It's helpful to remember how the whole cooling thing works in your home.  I read expression once:  Your air conditioner is the faucet; the building envelope of your home is the cup.  If  you have a leaky cup, your air conditioner has to work harder. If your AC is already doing all it can, you may need to take a look at your building envelope. Also, to return to the metaphor, a leak in your water pipe may make it impossible to fill up the cup, even it's not leaking much.
Here are three questions to ask as you try to keep cool with an air conditioner that struggles on those really hot days:

• What can I do to reduce the amount of heat getting in?
• What can I do to make my air conditioner more effective?
• What else can I do to keep cool?

Keeping heat out

1. Keep the sun out. Windows can be the largest contributors to your heat gain. When the sun shines directly into the house, it usually brings a lot of heat. Solar screens on the outside of the window are great for keeping heat out. Consider temporary shading or dark curtains.
2. Seal the strange air leaks. Standard energy-saving advice tells you to caulk your windows and weatherstrip your doors.  Don't ignore some of the much bigger leaks, like crawl space vents that may open into conditioned spaces.  Look around in your attic or basement and you'll find the worst offenders.

Helping your air conditioner

4. Change your filter. Most people let them get too dirty, and this is one of the most common reasons for poor performance in air conditioners. A dirty filter adds resistance and reduces air flow. Go ahead and check it now.  Good rule of thumb to help you remember to change it monthly is when you pay your electric bill.
5. Improve air flow.  Dirty air filters aren't the only thing to cause air flow problems. A dirty evaporator coil will prevent air to move across it and your home won't cool off well. If the condenser coil is dirty, it won't dump enough heat to the outside. If your condenser coil is crowded with vegetation or other obstacles, clear it out. You can trim the bushes yourself, but you should probably call a pro to clean the coils.
6. Look for disconnected ducts. If your ducts are outside of the conditioned space in your home, check to see if anything has come loose. Fixing a supply duct that's sending all its cool air to the attic or crawl space (as shown below) can have an immediate impact on your comfort. This problem is more common than you may think.

Other cooling tips

7. Use fans. Yes it's common, but it helps keep air flowing and your comfortable when your AC is working the best it can on those super hot Texas days.  If you have empty or rooms your don't use, turn those fans off to help save energy and prevent adding more heat to your home.
8. Use a window air conditioner. Yes I know their not the prettiest thing, but if nothing else has helped keep you cool then it may give you that extra cooling you need to get you through the hottest part of summer.

It's always best to have a licensed technician come and do a proper assessment and preventative maintenance checkup at least once a year.  Call Supreme Air Service today for an appointment (214) 310-1680.

Simple Money Saving Tips for your Air Conditioner

When it comes to running your air conditioner we all want to save money and help our systems last as long as they can.  Here are a few simple tips to help you save money.   A little planning before installing your air conditioner will save you energy and money.

• Setting your thermostat between 72°F and 78°F. You can increase you energy consumption by approximately 8% by each degree setting below 78°F.  That can add up to a lot of money over a year.   
  

• Clean and inspect your AC/Heating coils both the indoors and outdoors. The indoor coil in your air conditioner acts as a magnet for dust because it is constantly wetted during the cooling season. Dirt build-up on the indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor efficiency. The outdoor coil must also be checked periodically for dirt build-up and cleaned if necessary.

• Check the refrigerant charge. The circulating fluid in your air conditioner is a special refrigerant gas such as 410a puron and the soon to be phased our R22 Freon that is put in when the system is installed. If the system is overcharged or undercharged with refrigerant, it will not work properly. You may need a service contractor to check the fluid and adjust it appropriately.
• When using the fans in your kitchen and bathroom use them sparsely when your air conditioning system is running.
• Using cost-effective conservation measures will help reduce the cooling load. For example, delay heat-generating activities, such as dishwashing or baking, until the evening on hot days. Try and efficiently shade east and west windows.
• If possible don't use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is running.  The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder, which in turn increases your utility bill.
• During the hot summer days when your using your air conditioning system the most, try and keep the house closed tight.  Try not to let in any unwanted heat and humidity.  If practical, ventilate at night either with fans or naturally by opening some windows.

I hope some of these tips will help you out. As always its best to have a licensed technician come out before summer season to check you air conditioner and before winter to check your heating system.  Give Supreme Air Service a call at (214) 310-1680 and we will be more than happy to help you.

Have a great day!!

The Importance of an Annual A/C Tune Up

If you want to stay relaxed and cool in your home this summer without worrying about your energy bills going through the roof, keeping your air conditioning unit tuned up is a good place to start.

A spring checkup of your home’s A/C system can extend its life by several years, as well as save you up to 15 percent a month on your energy bills. That will more than pay for the estimated $85 to $125 yearly maintenance expense – and the annual visit from your HVAC representative can help you find small problems before they grow into bigger, more costly ones.

Look at it like your maintaining your car.  It's good to have the oil changed and tires rotated every 3000-5000 miles.  It helps make them all last longer.  Anyone who has spent a lot of money on a new unit should be looking at it as an investment. During the general maintenance, we check the functionality. We’re also going to clean the (condenser) coil; we make sure it’s clean and free of debris. We’ll check how well the system is working and see if there’s an improper connection and make sure there’s no leaks.

A well-looked-after unit can last up to 15 years, compared to seven years for ones that are left ignored. When units aren't maintained and serviced at least once a year they can lose up to five percent of their efficiency each year, which leads to a new A/C system that can cost from $4000-7000 to replace.

Best thing you can do as a homeowner is change your air filters monthly.  This will help keep your system running smoothly and improve your homes airflow and monthly cost. Best way to remember when to change your air filters is when you pay your monthly electric bill. 

One of the most expensive repairs to have is a refrigerant leak.  The common refrigerant, R-22, also known as Freon, is in the process of a mandatory government phase out, resulting in rising prices to replace it.  R-22 has been replaced by R-410a puron, a more environmentally friendly refrigerant, which cannot be used in older units.  People with R-22 units that experience a leak will be paying more than the worth of the unit. It would be worth the investment to replace that unit with a new one with R-410a.

Spring is the best time to have your units tuned up before the Texas summer heat hits us.

 

The key to prolonging the life of your unit and to get high efficiency is to maintain it.

Call Supreme Air Service today and schedule an appointment for one of our highly trained technicians to come and give you a good service.  214-310-1680 or 214-228-1009.

Have a super day all!

 

 

 

How To Survive The Extreme Summer Heat

 

Hot enough for you?” just isn’t a funny greeting any more in most parts of the United States–or in the rest of the world, either. Today’s summers are very hot for almost everyone. Heat-related illness strikes when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. Even short bouts of high temperature can cause serious health problems.

To protect us all, some quick tips from the experts:

 

Heat is cumulative.

Never, ever underestimate the power of hot weather. If your body can’t compensate by cooling you off, the heat can undermine your plans, make you or loved ones sick, or incapacitate you for days. It might even kill you if you don’t pay attention. Historically, more people in this country die from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

Pace yourself.

The most important thing you can do in this weather is slow down. Don’t let the hot weather undermine you or put you into a panic. Use common sense: think ahead about what you need and want to do in the heat. Minimize physical activity and postpone or avoid strenuous exercise and tasks.

It helps if you check the weather forecasts every morning and evening. Then you can plan your day, days, or week around the heat. Schedule outdoor activities for yourself and loved ones carefully. Try not to go outdoors during the hottest part of the day. Limit your sun exposure, especially at beaches, at midday. Avoid strenuous exercise between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“As well as the temperatures, keep an eye on the humidity. When it’s high, sweat does not evaporate as quickly as under dry conditions. A constant coat of perspiration keeps your body from releasing heat as fast as it may need to. Age, overweight, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, prescription drugs, and alcohol can each affect a person’s ability to cool off sufficiently in very hot weather.

If you absolutely must exercise or do demanding tasks in hot weather, try to do so during the coolest part of the day. Usually, this is in the early morning before and just after daybreak. Limit all your outdoor activity to morning and evening if you can. Take breaks more often than usual if you work outdoors. Rest now and then in the shade. Look after your family and buddies for signs of heat problems, and have them keep an eye on you.

Adapt your habits to hot weather.

Regardless of what you’re doing, drink more than usual, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to stay hydrated. Sports drinks (not caffeinated “energy” drinks) can help by replacing salts and minerals your body loses when you sweat. Do not take salt tablets except under a doctor’s orders. Carry water with you when you go outdoors, especially if you’re exercising or on a long commute.

”People who stay inside most of the time during a heat wave should drink at least two quarts of water per day. People who go outside should ALSO drink two to four glasses of water, fruit juice, or a sports beverage for every hour of time in the heat. If you’re active outdoors, you should be extra-careful, because your body can lose up to a gallon of water per hour.

 

Eat smaller meals, and eat more often. Avoid heavy meals, hot foods, and foods that are high in protein, because they increase your metabolic (interior) heat.
 

Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, breathable clothing. Stick to clothes made from natural fibers, like cotton. Light-colored clothes will reflect away some of the sun’s energy; dark colors absorb the sun’s rays, making you hot. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, even an umbrella, are also wise precautions.
 

Stay indoors when possible. “Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death,” the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated as the month began. Indoor temperature control has enabled us to ignore many of the negative aspects of hot weather until about the past ten years, when climatologists started noticing an unprecedented rise in global temperatures.
 

“If you do not have air conditioning where you live, go for a brief swim, enjoy a sprinkler in the shade, or take a cool sponge bath, shower, or bath to chill out. It’s also important to plan at least one cool break that’s several hours long. Try to take it early or late, so you’re not outside at peak sun hours. A movie in an air-conditioned theater, a leisurely meal at a cool restaurant, a visit to the shopping mall or library, time spent with others who do have A/C, or finding heat relief in a local public health-sponsored shelter–is a must every 24 hours. Time off from the brutal weather can break the worsening cycle of an extensive heat wave.

 

Help others.
 

Remember that heat threatens other people and animals as well as yourself. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially if they do not have air conditioning. Look out for people who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat (seniors, infants, children up to age 4, and people with mental illness or chronic diseases). Have someone else do the same for you. Never leave infants, children, or pets in a closed car, even if you think you’ll only be a minute. Remember that even young and healthy people can get sick or die from the heat. Be ready to give first aid to those who may need it.
 

Be proactive.
 

“Taking precautions to stay cool, hydrated and informed helps to prevent serious health effects, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke during extreme heat,” says Christopher J. Portier, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

Monitor yourself and others for signs of too much heat. Overly hot weather negatively affects our quality of life, whether by a lot or a little. Watch out for these harmful consequences:

·         heat stress,

·         heat rash,

·         sunburn,

·         heat cramps,

·         heat exhaustion, and

·         heat stroke, which can kill.
 

For more detailed information about warning signs, first aid, and medical attention for each type of heat-related illness please go to: http://firstaid.webmd.com/understanding-heat-related-illness-symptoms
 

I do hope some of this information was helpful. Please feel free to leave us a comment and or share.

As always if your in need of Air Conditioning Service please don't hesitate to call Supreme Air Service (214) 310-1680.  Don't take a risk and wait to have your system serviced, we will try our best to get there same day you call.
 

Have a great day!  Stay Cool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

How the Ban on Ozone-Depleting Refrigerants Effects You

What You Need To Know About New R-22 Freon Laws

This year, 2013, is the first year that there will not be enough R-22 refrigerant produced to meet residential demand. You and I both know that when supply tightens up prices rise. Freon is already expensive. So plan on prices rising this summer and over the coming years.

 

Ozone-depleting R-22 Refrigerant

 

But terms like R-22 are a little technical, let me explain; R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice for residential heat pump and air-conditioning systems for more than four decades. Unfortunately for the environment, R-22 contributes to ozone depletion. In addition, R-22 is a greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.

What is being done to keep us cool? 

 

As R-22 is phased out over the coming years manufacturers of residential air conditioning systems are offering equipment that uses ozone-friendly refrigerants. Many homeowners may be misinformed about how much longer R-22 will be available to service their central A/C systems and heat pumps. Homeowners need information about the transition when deciding whether to purchase a new A/C system or heat pump, or when having an existing system repaired.

Existing units using R-22 can continue to be serviced with R-22. There is no EPA requirement for homeowners to change or convert R-22 units for use with a non-ozone-depleting substitute refrigerant.

New refrigerants have been developed and many companies are using them to replace R-22 in existing systems. Such changes, called "retrofits," are allowed if the alternative has been found acceptable for that type of use.

WARNING: Use a reputable Air Conditioning contractor

One important thing a homeowner can do for the environment, regardless of the refrigerant used, is to select a reputable dealer that employs service technicians who are EPA-certified to handle refrigerants. Technicians often call this certification "Section 608 certification," referring to the part of the Clean Air Act that requires minimizing releases of ozone-depleting chemicals from HVAC equipment.

A Reputable Air Conditioning Contractor will take the time to learn and train their service technicians how to properly retrofit an air conditioning system with ozone friendly refrigerant.

There are steps that need to be taken and a specific way these retrofits need to be handled so extra training is required to be able to properly provide new safer refrigerant.

If your home or business is located in the DFW area Supreme Air Service technicians are all trained in the replacement of R-22 and they can be reached by calling (214) 310-1680.

 

Have a great day!

 

Learn Why Dirty A/C Coils Are a Real Problem

When your cooling system has dirty A/C coils, you’re paying more to cool your home and getting less cooling than you’re paying for.

An air conditioner doesn’t add coolness to the inside of your house; it removes heat. What’s left behind when you take out the heat energy is a cool, comfortable home.

The components that make heat transfer happen are the evaporator and condenser coils. Since these coils are continuously exposed to both indoor and outdoor fan-driven airflow, they easily accumulate layers of dirt and dust that degrade optimal heat transfer.



Indoor evaporator coil

In addition, passages inside the indoor evaporator coil are constantly damp with condensation. Airborne mold spores can find a perfect breeding ground in those wet coil passages. Mold growth inside an evaporator coil can eventually obstruct airflow through the coil.

Outdoor condenser coil

 

While the outdoor condenser coil can be washed down with a garden hose to remove external dust accumulation, do-it-yourself methods seldom reach the interior coil passages where dust and dirt inhibit heat transfer.

 

 

 

 

 

The indoor evaporator coil is even more problematic. Installed inside the air handler, the coil is often a sealed component that’s not user accessible. The expertise of an HVAC technician is required to access the evaporator coil for inspection and cleaning.

 

 

Here are some of the methods a professional will use to clean dirty A/C coils:

• Low pressure air blown through the coil and use of a soft brush can remove minor accumulations. More stubborn deposits require application of special solvents designed for coil cleaning.
• Small low-pressure steam cleaners are also utilized in some cases.
• Pump sprayers can be used to infuse foaming coil cleaner into the interior of the coil. The coil is then flushed clean with fresh water.
• Pressure washers combined with a pre-application of coil cleaning solvents are increasingly the choice of professionals. These are followed by pressure rinsing with clean water.

 

Supreme Air Services has been the DFW's premier source of HVAC sales and service since 1975. Ask us about professional services to clean your dirty A/C coils just in time for another long cooling season.

 

Call today for an appointment 214-310-1680.

 

Have a great day!

Repair or Replace your Air Conditioning System?

Repair or Replace? This is always a difficult decision. On one hand you don't want to spend money on a new system, but on the other hand, you don't want to throw good money after bad. Which way should you go? It really boils down to the condition and age of the air conditioning system.

If you have been keeping your equipment properly maintained by a licensed air conditioning technician, then perhaps the current repair is isolated to a single, simple problem and not indicative of a major or potentially recurring issue. In this case it might make sense to repair and fix the problem. However, with any equipment it is important to consider its efficiency and the impact that wear and tear has on that efficiency and on your monthly electric bill.



Importance of Efficiency

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rates the efficiency of an air conditioning unit. A unit somewhere around 10 years old would probably have been an 8 SEER unit at time of purchase. Over time this unit will wear down and operate somewhere around the 5-6 SEER level. The higher the SEER rating, the higher the efficiency of the unit. In 2006 the minimum SEER rating for an Air Conditioning unit was raised to 13 SEER. Upgrading to a newer Air Conditioning unit is surprisingly affordable based on the efficiency level of modern equipment. The money saved on your electric bill from upgrading will pay for the unit itself. So transitioning from an 8 SEER unit to a new 18 SEER unit will allow better performance at your current budget.

Should I Finance?

Monthly finance charges never sound like a good thing. What if there was a way to stick with your current budget and have a brand new A/C Unit? Well using a higher SEER unit this is a very real possibility. The amount of savings generated from your lower monthly electric bill could very well take care of any finance charge. Imagine - a cooler house, with a better unit, at your current budget.

It all adds up

When your A/C unit starts giving you trouble, the A/C Technician is usually your first call. But when you begin calling them day after day the bills add up and you are left with the same outdated inefficient unit. A new unit produces cooler air, with less energy. Less energy means a lower utility bill. Which means you could be paying for a new unit, rather than life support for your old one.

Doing your part in Going Green

Using a higher SEER unit saves energy. Saving energy saves the environment. Using technologies such as the eco friendly R410A refrigerant will also minimize the overall environmental impact. Therefore, you can feel good about saving both the planet and money on your energy bill with your new air conditioner.

Have your system checked today to make sure its running properly. Supreme Air Services is here to help you make the right choice.  Give us a call today! (214) 310-1680 or (214) 919-9960

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Have a nice day!