The Top 3 Air Conditioner Supplies to Stock Up on Each Year

Extreme weather years like 2018 create a particularly demanding environment for your air conditioning system, from top to bottom. That's why now is the perfect time to check up on and maintain your temperature or environmental control systems, as on the milder days it's easier to work outdoors. If you need to expose the internals of your air conditioner or open a duct for maintenance, warmer weather is the preferred circumstance.

With that in mind, it's a great time to take stock of your air conditioner and figure out what you might need to prepare for demanding weather conditions! Here are the top 3 air conditioner supplies that we at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling recommend our professional and home owning customers look into each year:

Air Intakes                                        
The duct joints that "pull in" the cooler air produced by your air conditioner are called air intakes. They are a common stress point due to the temperature fluctuation, air pressure, and physical stress inherent to their location within your duct system. Check out your intakes, look for any stressed or misshapen areas, and mark any showing wear or with leakage points for replacement.

Air Filters
Air filters are usually made of fiberglass, are inexpensive to replace, and come with immediately noticeable benefits for your air quality when transitioning from a thoroughly used filter to a brand new one. Your air filter is the first line of defense between debris and dust from the outdoors and the inside of your home or business. Every summer, check and replace your filters to eliminate the health risks associated with poor air quality.

Air Conditioner Covers
Replace your air conditioner covers every few years. While you're checking the above points, it's worth giving a yearly look to the condition of your cover. Even the highest quality cover takes a heavy toll from the condensation inherent to air conditioner operation, and will eventually become less useful for its intended purpose over time.

Ready to check out your air conditioning system to make sure it's prepared for this summer and beyond? Great! If you have any more questions on maintaining your air conditioner, don't hesitate to contact the professionals at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling today!

JR Perkins Heating & Cooling is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley, servicing the Phoenix area, specifically Scottsdale. To learn more, please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com.

Help! My Air Conditioning Unit is Leaking Water

Most air conditioning units produce water as part of the cooling process. They use the water to cool the warm air that your home discharges. However, the water produced should run out of the back or through a specific drain line within the system. If you notice that water is leaking from somewhere else and pooling in your home, you should be alarmed. Here are some of the top reasons why your AC is leaking water and what you can do about the problem.

Clogged drain lines

The air conditioner is designed to drain most of the water that is produced during the cooling process. Unfortunately, with the debris and dust in the air, your drain lines may get clogged over time. This causes water to collect in the unit instead of getting discharged. The accumulated water leaks through the ducts and other indoor components. If you notice that the AC is leaking, unplug it and inspect the drain line for blockage. Ensure that it is clean before plugging in the unit.

Ice collection in the coils

During the warm weather, the AC unit may collect a lot of water due to high levels of humidity. When there is too much water in the air conditioner, the fans blow some of it on the cold coils. This can cause the coils to collect ice. As warm air blows into the air conditioner, it melts the ice and causes water to pool beneath the AC. Your air conditioner coils can collect ice even during the summer; therefore, you should check the coils if you notice puddles of water below the unit.

Infiltration of warm air

Your window air conditioner requires proper sealing to prevent warm air from infiltrating your home. If the unit isn't sealed correctly, air flows through, and as it hits the conditioned air in the house, it condenses. Humidity is forced out of the air, and this leads to the formation of water droplets which drip down the sides of the AC unit. You should seal it properly to prevent warm air from infiltrating the house.

Water leakage can significantly affect the performance of your AC unit's components. If you are unable to pinpoint the source of the problem, don't hesitate to contact us. We will inspect the AC unit, identify the problem, and carry out the necessary repairs to restore its performance. We service Phoenix, AZ, specifically Scottsdale. JR Perkins is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley. To learn more please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.

The Hidden Costs of Your Old Air Conditioner

I recently heard a homeowner bragging about their old air conditioner "it still runs." Unfortunately, he doesn't realize his electric bill is probably quite higher than necessary. An air conditioner is not an heirloom possession.

Better Efficiency

Over the past decade or so, efficiency has dramatically improved. This is because of public awareness of energy and the government enacting efficiency requirements. Your airconditioner efficiency is very low if it was installed before 2006. Today's air conditioners are more than twice as efficient as the pre-2006 units (based on government-defined efficiency ratings).

Imagine the cost of electricity for the major electricity consuming appliance in your home as half as much.

Over-sizing was the Rule

Rule-of-thumb was the method for sizing old air conditioning systems. That rule was to make sure it was big enough to cool the house. Unfortunately, in keeping to this rule, a rather generous safety margin emerged. Everyone knew it would use a good amount of energy, but electricity was cheap back then.

There are two problems with this sizing rule. The obvious one, electricity rates have increased tremendously over the decades. The other problem has to do with the cooling needed by the home. If you have done absolutely nothing to your home since installation of the air conditioner, then its capacity is probably about right. But, if you have replaced windows, added siding, or added insulation above your ceiling, then the cooling requirement for the home could be less. An over-sized air conditioner causes temperature swings in your home due to rapid on and off cycling.

Do Not Decide on Your Own

Even if it seems that you should replace your air conditioner, you will need assistance in selecting the best economical size and efficiency. The professionals at J. R. Perkins can provide this assistance and they can provide more insight than provided in this short article. After talking to J.R. Perkins, you can do the bragging. JR Perkins is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley and services Phoenix, specifically Scottsdale, AZ. To learn more please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.