What is an Air Handler's Exact Purpose and How Does It Work?

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The term “air handler” may sound like a job description with no heavy lifting. Actually, it’s a vital component in your air-conditioning system. Most central AC systems incorporate two units: the indoor air handler and the outdoor condenser.

An air conditioner is essentially a heat mover. It takes heat from the indoors and disperses it outside. What’s left behind after heat energy is removed from indoor air is simply cool comfort.

How Air Gets Handled

The air handler inside the house — typically located in the attic, basement, or a small closet enclosure — is the component that extracts heat. Here’s how the cooling sequence proceeds:

• Warm air is drawn out of rooms in the house by the system blower, which is located in the air handler.

• Return ductwork conveys the warm air to the air handler, directing the flow of air through the air filter that removes particles like dust and lint.

• Filtered air passes through the evaporator coil inside the air handler. Frigid refrigerant circulating through the coil chills the evaporator passages and extracts heat from the warmer airflow.

• Because dry air cools more effectively and efficiently, a dehumidification process also occurs as the warm, moist air contacts cold coil surfaces and liquid condensation occurs.

• At this point, the airflow temperature as it leaves the indoor air handler will typically be somewhere between 55 and 60 degrees.

• The blower pushes cooled air out of the air handler and into the supply ducts that extend to all rooms in the house.

What Can Go Wrong

Potential problems occurring inside an AC indoor air handler include:

• Refrigerant leaks. Often through tiny pinholes in the evaporator coil that can only be detected and repaired by a qualified, licensed technician.

• Ice obstructing coil airflow. Frequently a symptom of low refrigerant charge caused by leaks.

• Clogged air filter. For efficient, effective cooling, change the air filter monthly all summer long.

• Blower malfunction. System airflow volume declines and eventually ceases.

• Condensate drain pan overflow. Usually due to a clogged condensate drain line.

For more about air handler functions and possible issues that may arise, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

What Exactly Is a BTU and How Does It Affect Your AC's Performance?

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BTU is an abbreviation for British Thermal Unit, but what does it have to do with keeping you cool this summer? The BTU is also the standard specification for the heat that an air conditioner extracts from a house in a certain time frame. A higher BTU rating means the air conditioner moves more heat faster out of the house.

Sizing Up Your Home

Calculating the precise BTU capacity of an air conditioner for efficient, effective cooling is called sizing. It takes into account the total square footage of a house, as well as factors such as daily exposure to sun, insulation type, and the number of doors and windows. Performed by a professional HVAC contractor, the sizing calculation uses industry-standard software to determine the home’s cooling load. The cooling load is the air conditioner BTU capacity required to cool the home in typical summer conditions.

BTUs By the Ton

Residential central air conditioners are typically rated from 1.5 tons up to 5 tons of cooling capacity. One ton in HVAC terms equals 12,000 BTUs of heat removed from the house every hour by the air conditioner.

Not Too Much, Not Too Little

Accurate BTU sizing is critical for both optimum cooling in the house as well as the lowest operating costs. If the house isn’t properly sized, AC performance and efficiency suffers. Consider the following two scenarios:

• Undersizing. An AC unit with insufficient BTU capacity comes with a less-expensive price tag, yet it can be costly to operate. Struggling to meet thermostat settings, the unit will run very long cooling cycles, consuming excess energy and raising monthly operating costs. It will also incur more wear and tear and have shorter service life.

• Oversizing. An AC with excessive BTU capacity tends to “short cycle,” — turning on and off rapidly — which accelerates wear on components. Temperature control is then uneven, with some rooms too warm and others overly cool. Because the unit cycles off rapidly, the AC dehumidifying function is not fully functional and the home feels humid and clammy.

Get more facts and figures about the BTU capacity of air conditioners by contacting the professionals at Air Assurance.

How to Conserve AC Energy During the Summer

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With the cost of so many things having risen recently, we're all concerned about saving money wherever we can, and one way to do this is to conserve AC energy. Since the cost of energy to run your air conditioner is probably your greatest energy expense, it makes sense to conserve AC energy and keep your utility bill in check.

Here are some tips for how to conserve AC energy in your home this summer.

1. Air seal your home. When your home is not airtight, conditioned air can leak out and unconditioned air can make its way inside the house. If you have an older home or a home where the construction is not that tight, you may need to go around the house and look for air leaks. Leaks are typically found around baseboards, around door and window frames, around electric switches, near recessed lighting, and linked to your HVAC ductwork. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping.

2. Close out solar radiation. You can lower your energy bill significantly by keeping solar radiation from penetrating windows. Close drapes, blinds, and shades in the daytime.

3. Schedule AC maintenance. Every spring, it's a good idea to schedule AC maintenance to ensure your equipment is running as efficiently as it can. Your tech can find problems that may lead your AC to labor to cool and correct them.

4. Change your filter regularly. A dirty filter will impede airflow, causing the air conditioner to struggle to meet thermostat set points. A clean filter allows air to flow freely through your system so that it cools as expected.

5. Insulate the home as needed. Adding insulation at key sites around the home will help it stay cooler and keep out intrusive hot air. Look into adding a layer of insulation on the ceiling floor of your attic. This layer will help keep cool air from migrating into a hot attic, increasing the efficiency of your air conditioner. You may also need to insulate air ducts so your system's conditioned air is not subject to compromise from heat or humidity.

For more on how to conserve AC energy, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.

Is It Possible to Have a Too Cold AC?

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A too cold AC might seem like a blessing on one of our hot Oklahoma summer days. However, things aren't always what they seem. Setting the home’s thermostat excessively low isn’t good for your air conditioner or your monthly energy budget.

The 78-Degree Sweet Spot

According to research by the Environmental Protection Agency, 78 degrees is the optimum thermostat setting at which a typical AC cools most effectively and economically. A residential air conditioner’s capacity to cool the indoor environment is generally limited to 20 degrees below the outdoor temperature. For example, if it’s 95 degrees outside, you shouldn’t expect the AC to maintain inside temperatures below 75 degrees no matter how low you set the thermostat. Attempting to maintain a too cold AC thermostat setting can impose excess stress on HVAC components and may eventually cause expensive damage too.

Here are some examples of what may happen when homeowners expect too much cool on too-hot days via a too cold AC:

• Cooling costs rise sharply. For every degree you lower the thermostat setting below the 78-degree standard, energy consumption climbs, causing the air conditioner’s contribution to the monthly electricity bill to increase by 1% to 3%.

• Longer cycles cause more wear and tear. An excessively low thermostat setting will cause the air conditioner to run longer and longer cooling cycles, perhaps eventually running nonstop. This overheats the AC compressor, which may lead to an automatic system shutdown — not a welcome event on a hot summer day. Permanent damage to the compressor, which is typically the most costly component in the system, may also occur.

• Evaporator icing. A too-cold thermostat setting may cause layers of ice formation on the air conditioner’s indoor evaporator coil, eventually totally blocking airflow through the coil. This can be another potential cause of a system shutdown, as well as permanent damage to the compressor.

Talk to the experts at Air Assurance for more information about the drawbacks of a too cold AC in hot summer weather.

Why Small AC Systems May Be Better for Today's Homes

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Small AC systems have long been considered to be underpowered. However, technological advancements have significantly improved the performance of these systems. Certain circumstances may make it better for you to invest in one of the small AC systems. Here's more on why small AC systems may be better.

Oversized Units

When it comes to AC units, bigger isn't always better. An AC unit that's too big for your home will use more power to deliver cooling. It will cool your home quickly and then turn itself off. The compressor will turn on and off in fast intervals, making the system more inefficient.

An oversized AC unit won't stay on long enough to remove moisture, dust, and other particles from your home's air. As a result, your home will have high humidity levels and bad air quality.

To avoid the problems that come with oversized units, seek professional advice to ensure the new air conditioner you purchase is the perfect size for your house.

Positioning Flexibility

A small AC system will be right for you if you need a unit that you can move in and out of storage or from one room to another. Portable air conditioners have roll-on casters that make them easy to transport.

You can take a portable unit to the room where you need it the most and even store it easily when there's mild weather and you want to open the window. With a small unit, you can point the cool air in different directions.

Supplement Your Central AC System

You can use a small portable unit or ductless mini-split system to cool off rooms that don't get conditioned air from your central AC system, such as the sunroom, attic space, or garage workshop. A small unit can also be useful for cooling a space where you'll be spending lots of time, such as the bedroom at night, to avoid blasting your whole home for that period.

Portable units provide a short-term fix when your existing AC system requires service at the height of summer.

If you need help choosing an ideal AC system for your home, don't hesitate to contact a professional to avoid making a costly mistake. To learn more about small AC systems, contact us at Air Assurance. Since 1985, we've been handling all the air-conditioning needs of Broken Arrow homeowners.

How Do You Decide Between HEPA and MERV Filters for Your AC Unit?

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When you’re thinking about HVAC air filtration, there are basically two main options: HEPA and MERV filters. These terms differ in both filtration media and efficiency rating. During an average day, the entire air volume inside your home circulates through the system filter many times. The type and quality of your system's air filter directly affects the health and comfort of your indoor environment. It also impacts system energy efficiency as well as monthly operating costs.

Here are some facts about HEPA and MERV filters to help you make an informed decision about which is most suitable for your home.

HEPA

Short for High Efficiency Particulate Air, HEPA filtration removes more than 99.97% of airborne dust, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, smoke, and other particulates. However, the drawback of HEPA filtration is airflow restriction. In a typical residential HVAC system, installing the thick HEPA filter in the standard duct-filter mount will reduce system airflow excessively. However, two HEPA alternatives are available for consideration:

• Alteration of the home’s return ductwork to include a duct-bypass loop that diverts only a portion of airflow through the HEPA filter at any given time.

• For limited spaces such as single rooms, stand-alone HEPA filtration units incorporating powered fans are widely available.

MERV

HEPA and MERV filters do differ, and MERV filters are the most common type for residential HVAC use. Filtration is rated according to the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) numeral—a number between 1 and 20. Here are some facts about MERV filters to help you make an informed choice.

• MERV ratings below 5 are usually inexpensive fiberglass filters that trap only the largest visible particles of dust. They are not ideal to support optimum indoor air quality.

• Filters with MERV ratings of at least 8 provide the best balance between cost, filtration efficiency, and airflow. These are typically pleated cotton or polyester filters which provide increasing efficiency up to MERV 13.

• Filters rated MERV 14 and above may not be appropriate for standard residential use due to excessive airflow restriction.

For more information about the pros and cons of HEPA and MERV filters, talk to the professionals at Air Assurance.

What is the Best AC Temperature as the Weather Gets Warmer?

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As the temperatures get warmer outside this spring and we start using the air conditioner in earnest, what is the best AC temperature to set the thermostat at?

Setting the Thermostat to the Best AC Temperature

Programmable and Wi-Fi thermostats offer possibilities for increasing comfort in the home while simultaneously saving a bit on energy. Typically, this is accomplished by setting the thermostat up a few degrees at night and in the day when everyone's out of the home. The temperature resumes a more comfortable setting in the morning and evening, when, presumably, the home's occupants are present and active.

People vary as to what they feel is a comfortable temperature, but for most, it's around 72 degrees. This setting doesn't usually cause the unit to run without stopping, and it's a temperature at which most people feel moderately comfortable. For those who feel warm at 72 degrees, turning on a fan can help. For those who feel chilly, they can put on a sweater.

Another common set point is 78 degrees. While this may be on the warm side for some, it's generally agreed that this set point offers considerable savings on energy. However, a 78-degree room will likely require that some individuals augment the cooling with a fan. In fact, you might experiment by setting the thermostat at 75 degrees. You'll save some money on energy, but folks will be a little cooler than they will at 78 degrees, and fans will make the temperature bearable to the hot-natured.

Keeping a Home's Occupants Cool and Happy with the Best AC Temperature

In addition to fans, there are a few other things you can do to ensure even the warm-tempered folks in your household feel comfortable if you set the thermostat between 72 and 80 degrees.

• Close blinds, curtains, and shades to keep out solar radiation.

• Look into installing a zoned system, where individuals can control temperatures with their own thermostat in their zone by closing and opening dampers in ducts.

• Control humidity in the house so that people do not feel as warm and so they won't require lower set points.

For more on the best AC temperature, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding community.

What Are the Top Five AC Issues As the Weather Gets Warmer?

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Air-conditioning systems work overtime during the cooling season, making them more vulnerable to problems. Many of these problems are preventable with proper care. Here's a closer look at some of the most common summer AC issues.

Dirty Filters

A clogged filter can cause a variety of problems, such as airflow issues and inadequate cooling. It's a significant impediment to AC efficiency. You can avoid the AC issues that result from a clogged filter by checking your filter at least once a month and replacing it if it's dirty.

Refrigerant Leaks

This is one of the most common summer AC issues. The refrigerant in your air conditioner sucks up heat from your home and expels it outside to cool your indoor air. If you have a refrigerant leak, your air conditioner can't work efficiently and won't adequately keep your house cool and comfortable. Refrigerant leaks get bigger over time if you leave them unrepaired, so it's crucial to call in a professional if you suspect a leak has occurred.

Clogged Drains

Your air conditioner also dehumidifies the air as it cools it. The water from your home's air is removed through the condensation drain. Dirt and sludge can clog the condensation drain, leading to water backup and leaks. You should call an HVAC technician for service if you see water in or below your indoor HVAC equipment.

Constantly Turning On and Off

A system turning on and off constantly, also referred to as short cycling, is a problem that could damage AC parts like the compressor. A clogged air filter, electrical issues, dirty AC coils, or a unit that's too small could be the reason behind the issue. An HVAC professional will diagnose the problem and fix any damaged components.

Inadequate Cooling

If a new system isn't cooling your home adequately, the system's capacity may be inadequate for the size of your house. However, if the problem occurs after several years or months, it could be caused by an issue like a refrigerant leak or a damaged AC component. You'll need to contact a professional to check the system.

You can prevent most of these problems through proper AC care, such as scheduling annual maintenance and changing your filters regularly. If you need help with AC issues in the Broken Arrow area, contact Air Assurance.

What Are the Links Between the AC and Heat Pump?

When the time comes to replace your cooling system, you'll have the option of choosing between an air conditioner and a heat pump. Knowing more about these two systems will help you make a more informed decision. Let's explore the similarities and differences between an AC and heat pump.

How Are They Similar?

Both an AC and heat pump cool your home by removing heat from it and pumping it to a location outside your house. They use compressed refrigerant to absorb indoor heat and move it outside. It's difficult for the average homeowner to tell the difference between the outdoor unit of a heat pump and an AC system.

When running in cooling mode, there's no significant difference between an AC and heat pump with regard to the method of operation, energy costs, and efficiency.

What Are the Differences?

The primary difference between these systems is an air conditioner can't provide heating, whereas a heat pump can cool and heat your home. Heat pumps have a reversing valve in their outdoor unit that reverses their process of operation.

In the colder months, geothermal heat pumps extract heat from a water source or below the ground, whereas air-source heat pumps absorb heat from the air outside. The heat is transferred inside your home and released into your home's air.

A furnace is usually paired with an air conditioner to provide heating. Together, they make a heating and cooling system. The efficiency of air-source heat pumps is affected when outdoor temperatures fall below freezing. The units use more energy to maintain warm indoor temperatures. As a result, you may need a furnace to act as a backup heating system because it's more efficient than an air-source heat pump during extreme temperatures.

When choosing between an AC and heat pump, what's appropriate for you may not be suitable for someone else due to several important factors. For that reason, it's essential to have an HVAC expert evaluate the heating and cooling needs of your house to determine your ideal choice. If you're in the Broken Arrow area, contact the experienced pros at Air Assurance to handle all your heating and cooling needs.