Solve Uneven Cooling With These Tricks

Uneven cooling is a common problem, especially in multi-story homes. Dirty filters, ductwork issues, or the age of your air conditioning system can all affect how well your AC cools the various parts of your home. If one part of your home feels like a sauna while another feels like Alaska, the following tips may provide a solution.

Check Your Vents:
Start by making sure that all vents and registers are free of dirt and debris and that they are not blocked by furniture or other items. If the second floor of your home is overly warm, you can partially close some of the first-floor vents. This will help direct more of the cool air to the second floor of your home.

Adjust the Fan Setting:
Most people keep the fan setting on their thermostat in the "auto" position. This means that the fan only runs and circulates air during the cooling cycle. Switching the fan to "on" allows it to continue to run even when the rest of the system cycles off, which can help even out the temperature throughout the house.

Check for Leaks:
Small holes, tears, and gaps in your ductwork can allow cool air to escape before it reaches its intended destination. Ductwork leaks also force your air conditioner to work harder, which can significantly shorten the lifespan of your system. An HVAC professional can inspect your ducts and make any necessary repairs.

Add Insulation:
Adding more insulation to your attic will help you get more out of your air conditioner by keeping the cool air in and the hot air out.

Upgrade Your AC:
Although it does require a larger financial investment, a new zone cooling system will give you the flexibility to independently control the temperature in various parts of your home. An HVAC professional can help you design a zoned system based on the size and layout of your home along with how you use the various spaces within the home. If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it is probably time to considering replacing it. Air conditioning technology has improved significantly over the past decade to provide greater comfort and energy efficiency.

J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling has been providing Phoenix, specifically Scottsdale, and the surrounding area with reliable HVAC service since 1960. To learn more please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.

Five Tips to Extend the Life of Air Conditioning Systems

Our home is the largest investment most of us will incur in our lifetime. It is also the most important. This is where we live, raise our children, and protect our families. The level of comfort in our homes has a direct impact on our happiness. This is why a quality HVAC system is essential to our standard of living.

How we protect our air conditioning system will determine the life expectancy of the equipment. There are steps we can take to safeguard the best return on our investment. Based on years of experience and study, we have listed our top five tips.

1.  Have your HVAC system professionally serviced, twice a year. This is the single most important thing you can do. HVAC equipment requires proper airflow. A dirty unit is less efficient, and it puts a strain on the machinery. The technician measures the levels of refrigerant in the system. They also check for worn parts and other issues, which could cause a future failure. 
2. Change your filters monthly. People often neglect this simple and inexpensive step. Sweeping or vacuuming the filter (or the grill housing the filter) does not clean it. The filter consists of many layers that remove the dust and allergens from the air. Allowing the filter to do its job means those nasty things do not go into the lungs of your family. 
3. Keep dogs away from the condensing unit. Dogs are often the cause of significant damage to outdoor HVAC equipment. They sometimes urinate on the equipment and chew on the tubing. This is dangerous for the unit and for the dog. Consider building a small fence around the equipment. 
4. Trim bushes away from the equipment. Allowing bushes to grow too close to the condensing unit hampers the airflow. Placing an awning or shade over the unit will keep it cooler and allow it to operate more effectively. But, it is important that nothing blocks the airflow around the unit. 
5. If you have a programmable thermostat, use it. If you do not, have your air conditioning company install one. This allows the system to automatically adjust the climate in rooms to a higher temperature during times when no one is home, and to automatically adjust the temperature before the family is due to return. This not only lowers operating costs but allows the system to run less. 

Simple maintenance is the best way to add years to the life of your HVAC system. Call today and schedule a tune-up.