Tips for Landscaping the Area Around Your A/C Unit

Drive through any neighborhood and you'll see a boxy, gray air conditioning unit sitting conspicuously next to most houses. Occasionally you don't see one and that's probably because it's hidden by strategically planned trees, shrubs and bushes. Landscaping the area around your A/C unit will improve the appearance of your home while ensuring the outside unit gets plenty of needed airflow and shade for efficient operation.

Maintain Airflow

Maintaining airflow to the outside unit improves the condenser coil's ability to release heat energy into the surrounding air. When that heat exchange process is impeded, your air conditioner will have to work harder to cool your home.

To make sure the unit has plenty of airflow, keep all landscaping elements and other objects at least two to three feet away from all sides of the A/C equipment. Above the condenser/compressor, there should be at least five feet of clearance from overhanging trees or housing fixtures. Landscaping shouldn't prevent easy access to the unit for maintenance and repairs.

Add Shade

Your HVAC installer should choose a location for the outside unit that's shaded most of the day, and you can add landscaping for additional shading. Releasing heat energy from the unit requires less work and energy when that heat is being expelled into cooler, shaded air. In direct sunlight, it has to work harder and use more energy to accomplish this.

Choose Low Maintenance Plants

Of course, landscaping should be attractive for its own sake while hiding that gray box from people walking or driving past your home. If possible, choose trees and shrubs that stay green in the winter. This means less raking and sweeping around the outside unit and less clutter that can potentially block the free flow of air. In the winter, vegetation that doesn't shed leaves will continue to hide the outdoor component. Consider planting attractive hedges and erect lattice work for hanging greenery.

To further discuss the best way of landscaping the area around your A/C unit, please contact the home comfort experts at Air Assurance. We provide excellent services to Broken Arrow and the greater Tulsa area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ARENA Creative/Shutterstock”

How to Troubleshoot an A/C That Is Blowing Hot Air

How to Troubleshoot an A/C That Is Blowing Hot Air

There are many reasons why your A/C may be blowing hot air. This guide will outline five of the most common issues to help you understand what you can fix yourself and when to call a professional for assistance. But first, before you go through this checklist, make sure your thermostat wasn’t switched to heat mode. It could have been switched on accidentally, and it's best to check off the obvious issues first.

Issues With Your Outdoor Condensing Unit

Your outdoor condensing unit compresses and controls the refrigerant's flow through the cooling unit and must be running properly for the system to remove heat from the home. If the condenser is off, it could be as simple a fix as resetting the breaker or as complex as replacing the compressor.

Overheated or Faulty A/C Compressor

The A/C compressor is housed in the outdoor condensing unit. There are several potential problems that could occur within the compressor parts, so it must be examined closely by a professional.

Dirty Air Filter

A dirty air filter will cut off airflow to the A/C coil, waste energy and stress system components. Your filters should be changed following the manufacturer’s recommendations, usually every 30 to 60 days.

Low Refrigerant Levels

This is the most common issue when an A/C is blowing hot air. Refrigerant may be low because of an improper charge during installation, or you may have a small leak. In either case, you'll need an expert to recharge the system and make any necessary repairs.

Unit Not Properly Maintained

Most home comfort systems are taken for granted and ignored until they fail. Routine preventive maintenance can catch small problems before they become repair or replace issues and save you money long-term.

If your A/C is blowing hot air and you need it fixed quickly, please contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality HVAC preventative maintenance and services to Broken Arrow and the greater Tulsa area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Mile Atanasov/Shutterstock”

Tips for Tackling Your Ductless Maintenance

Ductless systems are attractive to homeowners for many reasons. Some may appreciate the versatile installation options when no other option seemed practical. Zoned point-of-use operation and high efficiency components are certainly favorites when energy bills arrive. Low-profile components won't disturb those who enjoy peace and quiet. Whichever aspect of your ductless system you enjoy most, make the most of your system with regular ductless maintenance.

Tackling Ductless Maintenance

Like their larger central system cousins, ductless systems use the same components to provide efficient cooling and heating. They're just packaged differently -- more compact and accessible than central units. Stay on top of the following maintenance tips and enjoy better comfort and lower energy bills this summer:

• Air filtration - It's important to keep the air filtration parts clean. The filters capture dust, germs and other contaminants to enhance indoor air quality and protect the evaporator coil and fan motor. Wash the filters by hand and let them air dry before you re-install them.

• Coil cleaning - The evaporator coil is where heat exchange takes place. To access the coil, remove the air handling cabinet. Inspect the coil for mold development and dirt. Use a disinfectant foaming coil cleaner to clean the coil. Follow instructions thoroughly, as some foam sprays will drip away on their own and others you'll need to use a soft cloth to remove.

• Drainage - The condensate pan is where condensation collects and is drained from your unit. Check the pan for signs of mold and algae. If you see any, pour a cup of 50/50 bleach and water solution into the pan.

• Compressor/condenser unit - The unit located outside the home contains the compressor and condenser coil. These components need to be rinsed off each month you use your ductless system. A dirty condenser coil degrades cooling and heating efficiency, and a dirty compressor can overheat. Make sure the power is turned off for safety when you spray the unit with a garden hose.

For more information about ductless maintenance in your Broken Arrow home, please contact the experts at Air Assurance for the answers.

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Two-Stage Cooling: How Another Speed Makes a Difference in Efficiency

Summer is here in full force in Broken Arrow, and with the temperatures on the rise and staying there, it may be time to look into replacing the old air conditioner. When looking at the new models, it's a great idea to check for a unit that has two-stage cooling options, since it controls comfort and humidity very well. What Is Two-Stage Cooling?The term two-stage cooling comes from adjustable settings on the compressor in the unit. The compressor is what generates the cool air in an A/C. Most compressors only have one setting-- on and running at full speed, or off.  In a two-stage system you have at least two settings on the compressor, often a low and high setting. In the high setting the A/C functions much like any other A/C, running the compressor at full capacity. But you also have the option to run the A/C at the low setting when less cooling is needed, saving energy and providing a low, comfortable output of cold air.What Are the Benefits?In most cases, the two-stage system can keep your home cool at the low setting for the majority of the time. This saves energy since it is using a fraction of the energy required to run at full-blast.The longer running times also allow it to draw more excess humidity out of your home, providing for even greater comfort. An A/C compressor automatically pulls moisture out of the air as it operates. Humidity makes your home feel warmer, even if the thermostat is at the right temperature. Since the two-stage system runs on low for long periods, you get the humidity fighting benefits all day instead of in the short bursts typical with standard A/C compressors.You also don't get the hot and cold extremes that can be common with a regular A/C that turns on and off all the time.For more information on two-stage cooling and how you can use it to increase your comfort and energy savings this summer, please contact Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, serving Broken Arrow and Tulsa.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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A Refrigerant Charge Can Give a Boost to a Warm A/C

Summer is upon us in Broken Arrow, and the air conditioner is something that everyone expects to work as well as last year. However, many homeowners are unaware that they should be checking their refrigerant charge to ensure effective and efficient cooling throughout the hottest part of the year. In a perfect world, your air conditioner would dutifully perform its job until the end of its warranty, but in reality, preventive maintenance is necessary to keep it cooling as it should.

Reasons to Check Refrigerant Charge

An air conditioner is a complex system of copper tubing, compressor and an evaporator coil that should be sealed to keep refrigerant inside. However, minor refrigerant leaks can occur that are not quite bad enough to purge the system of coolant completely. These leaks can cause enough of a leak that your A/C unit has a hard time keeping up with cooling needs in the dead of summer. If this happens, you will need to have your refrigerant charge topped off. Common causes for leaks include:

• Faulty parts

• Worn connectors

• Corrosion eating through components

• Vibrations causing holes in copper line

Schedule a Service Call

Whether you notice your A/C unit struggling to keep up with your annual cooling needs or not, it is a good idea to have a certified technician come out and check your refrigerant charge. Not only will this keep your unit running as efficiently as it should, it may also warn you of any impending problems you may have. Large leaks have to be fixed, and it is much better to discover them before the heat makes waiting on a service call miserable. Setting some time aside to make the call to your local service center to have a technician come out is a small investment considering the benefits of a properly tuned air conditioner.

Keeping your A/C functioning takes active involvement, and if you need expert advice or maintenance, please contact us at Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing. We have been industry leaders in the Broken Arrow region for nearly three decades.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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Your Air-Source Heat Pump Is Also for Cooling: How It Does a Good Job

Your Air-Source Heat Pump Is Also for Cooling: How It Does a Good Job

An air-source heat pump provides Broken Arrow homeowners efficient heating, but it also delivers efficient cooling and humidity management. If you’ve ever wondered how your heat pump does all these tasks season after season, keep reading to learn the basic technology involved, and you may discover a few tips to help maximize energy savings and home comfort.Air-source heat pump technologyAn air-source heat pump doesn’t produce heated or cooled air; it moves heat from one air source to another air source. These are the components of heat-pump technology.

• Evaporator and condenser: An air-source heat pump has two heat-exchanger coils. One is located inside your home (evaporator) and the other coil (condenser) is in a metal cabinet outside the home. Heat is absorbed and released, whether inside or outside your home, at the heat exchangers.

• Refrigerant: The refrigerant is the magic ingredient that moves heat from one heat exchanger to the other. For instance, in cooling mode, the refrigerant inside the evaporator coil absorbs heat from the air inside your home as the air circulates through the duct system. The refrigerant flows through copper tubing to the outside condenser where the heat is released.

• Compressor: The compressor is the heart of the heat-pump system. The compressor prepares the refrigerant for optimal heat exchange, and then pumps it to either the condenser or evaporator.

• Reversing valve: The reversing valve is the component that separates heat pumps from your typical air-conditioning system. The reversing valve changes the flow direction of the refrigerant, which allows for both heating and cooling. When the refrigerant leaves the compressor, it has been squeezed in preparation for heat release. The reversing valve sends the refrigerant to the appropriate coil to release the heat -- outside condenser for cooling mode and indoor evaporator for heating mode.

• Air filter: A quality air filter protects the coils and other components from debris accumulation and mold growth, which would hinder heat exchange. Check your air filter regularly to ensure peak performance.

For more information about your air-source heat pump, contact the professionals at Air Assurance in the Greater Tulsa Metropolitan Area today.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Image courtesy of Shutterstock