What Size Air Conditioner is Right for Your Home?

If you are in the market for a new air conditioner, the choice can be surprisingly overwhelming. J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling is here to help you make the right choice. Not only are there different brands and designs to contend with, but there are so many other factors as well. When choosing a new air conditioner, it is best to take the process one step at a time. Your first step should be deciding on what size air conditioner you need.

For every home, the size of an air conditioner matters. If you choose one that is too small or even too big, it won't efficiently cool your home, meaning you will be spending much more than you need to.
Any of our experienced air conditioning technicians will be able to give you an accurate estimate on what size you want for an air conditioner. If you simply want to cool one room, you may not even need a whole house model. For most homes, you won't need an overly large model. What you want is an air conditioner that will cycle properly. This means it will not cool down the home too fast (as a large model would) so that it doesn't remove the humidity from the air. Furthermore, you don't want it to take too long cooling the home because it will send your energy bills rising.

If you are in the market for a new air conditioner and aren't sure what size your home needs, it is best to talk to a professional at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling before buying. Sometimes you will find that your home needs much less of an air conditioner than you were ready to buy. Of course, the opposite can also be true. If you are looking for a new air conditioner or just have endless questions before you feel comfortable enough to buy, give us a call and we will be willing to sit down with you.

J.R. Perkins is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley, servicing Phoenix and more specifically Scottsdale, AZ. To learn more, please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.

Why Does My Air Conditioner Keep Turning On and Off?

If your air conditioner is constantly turning on and then back off again, it is a problem that shouldn't be ignored. This issue is known as short cycling, and it not only means something is wrong with your air conditioning system, but it also means your home is not being properly cooled. You need to determine what is causing this short cycling and have it fixed. A trained technician at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling can help diagnose the issue for you. If left alone, short cycling will cause damage to your entire air conditioning unit. 

Thermostat Issues

The most unsuspected cause of short cycling could very well be your thermostat. A thermostat gauges the air around it, and as such, it decides when it needs to activate your air conditioning based on that ambient temperature around it. This means that something like sun shining on your thermostat, for example, could cause your thermostat to misread the home's temperature. However, when it senses cool enough air, it will turn your air conditioning off. Having a thermostat in the sun or over a vent can cause short cycling issues.

Low Refrigerant

When the refrigerant is low in your air conditioner, the compressor levels become unstable and it can cause short cycling. Refrigerant is necessary for absorbing heat and producing cool air from your air conditioner. However, refrigerant doesn't just run low. When you have low refrigerant, it means there is a leak that needs to be rectified before your air conditioner stops working altogether.

Air Conditioner is Too Large

When it comes to air conditioners, bigger is not better. Any air conditioning technician at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling will agree. What happens when an air conditioner is too big for your home is that it cools the house too fast and causes the air conditioner to short cycle. This seems like it would be preferred, but air conditioners take increased wear while short cycling, and also suffer from diminished energy efficiency.

J.R. Perkins is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley, servicing Phoenix and more specifically Scottsdale, AZ. To learn more, please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.

Boost A/C Performance with These Tips

It's hotter than blazes, and if you feel like your air conditioner isn't keeping up with the cooling demand in your home, a few simple and inexpensive tasks can boost its performance—and save you money on energy costs. From the team at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling, here are five surefire ways to enjoy cool comfort without cranking down the thermostat.

1. Seal air leaks.

If your home's envelope is leaking air, your air conditioner has to work overtime to compensate as cool air escapes and warm air infiltrates. Caulk around leaky windows and baseboards, and install weatherstripping around exterior doors. Seal around pipes and service entrances on exterior walls, and make sure the attic hatch is well-sealed. 

2. Install a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat that's properly installed and programmed can shave ten percent off your cooling bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To enjoy savings without sacrificing comfort, set your thermostat to eight degrees higher than normal while you're at work and four degrees higher than normal while you're asleep. You'll never have to worry about forgetting to set it back, and you can program it to have your rooms cool by the time you wake up or arrive home.

3. Get a tune-up.

Your air conditioner works hard all season long to keep you comfortable. Much like a car, your system loses efficiency over time, but an annual tune-up can restore peak operation and prevent common problems. During a tune-up, a certified technician will test the controls, remove dust buildup, tighten belts and electrical connections, and check for refrigerant leaks and other problems.

4. Turn on those fans.

When you're hot, sweat evaporates from your skin to eliminate heat and regulate body temperature. Fans keep the air moving around your skin to promote more evaporation, which keeps you cooler. Turning on your fan increases your comfort, even at higher thermostat settings. But remember: Fans cool people, not air. Turn them off when you leave the room to save energy.

5. Replace the air filter.

A dirty air filter restricts airflow and makes your air conditioner work harder to keep you cool, wasting energy and dollars. Replacing a dirty air filter with a clean one can increase system efficiency by up to 15 percent, according to the Department of Energy. Choose a high quality, pleated air filter, and check it each month. If it's coated in dust, replace it. 

Comfort doesn't have to be costly, and you can even save money on cooling bills by keeping your air conditioner in top condition and maintaining an energy efficient home. For more information about ways to stay cool during the dog days of summer, feel free to contact J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling.

J.R. Perkins is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley, servicing Phoenix and more specifically Scottsdale, AZ. To learn more, please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.

Air Conditioning Maintenance for Pet Owners

At J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling, we find that one of the often overlooked aspects of pet ownership (or pet parenthood, if you prefer) is the amount of hair and dander that animals can produce. This is a problem with the most common household pets: dogs and cats. Hair and dander can vary dramatically between breeds, but are still major household problems in most cases. It can have a significant impact on a home's indoor air quality and an equally significant impact on its air conditioner. If you are a pet owner, you can help to protect your air conditioning unit and other parts of your HVAC system by following these steps:

Bathe and Groom your Pets Regularly

Bathing and grooming are important for your pets' wellbeing but it is important for your HVAC system as well. It can help to control the amount of hair that the animal sheds and which can end up inside your air conditioner.

Change or Clean your Filters More Frequently

The most common recommendation our team at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling offers for homeowners regarding filter-changing schedules is to do it monthly. If you have a pet that sheds a lot (or multiple hairy pets) you may want to shorten the length of time you go without changing or cleaning your filter. Clogged filters increase energy costs and can cause your system to break down.

Brush your Pets Outdoors

Brushing pets inside will result in the dispersal of filter-clogging hair and dander throughout the rooms in your home. Even if you vacuum some of it up, you will never get all of it. What escapes will eventually make its way into your HVAC system and may cause issues.

Even if you clean your home frequently, you should still have your HVAC system inspected by professionals on a regular basis. Contact us by calling (480) 422-4437 or visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com. We serve the East Valley area (Phoenix, and more specifically Scottsdale) and can help you to keep your HVAC system running smoothly even with pets in your household.

3 Reasons to Leave Air Conditioning Repair to the Professionals

When it comes to air conditioning repair, it is wise to leave it up to the professionals. Keep reading to learn three reasons why.

Keep Your Warranty Valid

When your air conditioning unit is initially installed, it comes with a warranty on it. However, if you do something yourself to try and repair or alter the system in anyway, then the warranty is no longer valid. This means that anything that happens beyond that point, you will have to pay for entirely out of pocket. In contrast, when you hire a professional HVAC technician at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling, your warranty will still be valid and the issue can be taken care of.

Accurately Find the Problem

When you self-diagnose what is wrong with your air conditioning unit, you run the risk of misdiagnosing. You may know enough about an air conditioning unit to see one issue, but be completely oblivious to other issues that may be occurring as well. This could end up costing you more money and time than you'd like because you keep realizing that the issue you discovered isn't the main issue, or perhaps it wasn't really even an issue at all. By calling a professional the first time around, you fix the issue immediately and have a fully functioning air conditioner once again.

Keep Yourself Safe 

Trying to fix your own air conditioning unit can actually be a lot more dangerous than you think. This risk is then heightened by the fact that you don't know what you are doing. You could potentially electrocute yourself, which has the ability to kill you if the shock is strong enough. This kind of risk simply isn't worth it when you can instead hire a professional who will execute the proper safety methods and fix the issue with your air conditioning unit.

It is definitely best to leave air conditioning repair to the professionals at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling, because it keeps your warranty valid, they can accurately find the problem on their first try, and your safety is ensured.

J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling is the first heating and air conditioning company in the Easy Valley servicing Phoenix, specifically Scottsdale. To learn more, please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.

Repair your Air Conditioning to Fight Airborne Bacteria

Bacteria are pretty amazing living beings; they make up most of the biodiversity on Earth, and yet we sometimes forget they exist. What's more is that they are so small that the airborne particulates, like pollen and dust, can contain bacteria and viruses. Obviously, one bacterium here or there isn't going to make you sick, but occasionally bacteria or viruses from someone else's cough or sneeze can transmit airborne illnesses.

Your Immune System Fights Your Battles

Many people assume that if they don't touch surfaces that are covered in bacteria, they are unlikely to be exposed to bacteria at all. In fact, your immune system is always working to catch and kill bacteria you are inhaling; it's usually not a problem because your immune system is strong enough to fight off the vast majority of bacteria. The issue comes when you are in a very particulate-laden air environment and when you also have a compromised immune system, like when you haven't slept enough or have recently had a cold. You are then more vulnerable to other airborne illnesses.

Results of Long-Term Exposure to Airborne Bacteria

The biggest result of these exposures is more infectious disease, but some other effects have been observed from airborne bacteria, viruses, and particulates. In fact, a study in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene found that bio-aerosols found in workplaces of recycling, food, and biotechnology can sometimes impact allergies and, depending on the material can also have some toxic effects. The impacts are hard to measure, but there is some evidence that it is a good idea to limit your exposure to unknown bacteria, viruses, and particulates when possible; the point of the research is not to generate worry but definitely is something to consider and bring up with your workplace if you are in a high-particulate area for long amounts of time.

Reducing Exposure to Airborne Bacteria

Take a serious look at your home environment: how is the ventilation? Does air circulate, ensuring that particulates released and dust generated will quickly be dispersed outdoors? It is essential to evaluate if the particulates in the air are affecting you. Has it been too long since you had your air conditioning serviced or your filter checked?

If you are concerned about the air quality in your home, contact us at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling; a healthy air conditioning system is the first step to reducing airborne bacteria and promoting healthy, clean, cool air.

JR Perkins Heating & Cooling is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley, servicing Phoenix, specifically Scottsdale, AZ. To learn more, please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.

Air Conditioning in Allergy Season

If allergy season is hitting you hard, it may be time to ensure that your air conditioner is a helper and not a hindrance. By keeping the places that collect dust, pollen, mold, and other harmful particulate matters spic and span, your air conditioner can aid in preventing an unnecessarily uncomfortable spring.

Vents and Filters

Keeping your doors and windows shut while allergy-triggering pollen flies around outside may not be enough to prevent the sniffles and sneezes. Keep your vents and filters clean as a whistle so that stealth pollen doesn't bother you or your family members. You may also want to consider a Home Performance Audit to find out just how air is circulating in your home, seal up unsealed ductwork, or fix problematic areas like air leaks that might be causing minor health issues for your family.

Ducts and Carpets

It's also important to keep your ducts and carpets as clean as possible. Leftover particulate matter from home renovation projects or just plain old dust left in ducts and circulated by your AC will agitate your allergies. Furthermore, mold growing atop tile or in damp corners can become mold particles in your circulated air. Your properly maintained air conditioner can work as a dehumidifier to keep your home dry and prevent growths. It's also important to keep tiled areas clean of any possible mold to prevent reactions. You should always consult your J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling technician before deep cleaning carpets and ducts.

Air Quality

You may want to consider a HEPA filter or air cleaner, but it could restrict air flow. Consider a Trane CleanEffects Air Cleaner for the prevention of allergic reactions in your household and improved air quality.

When you come home from a long day during allergy season, your home should be a haven and not another place that might agitate you and your loved ones further. For more information, contact the professionals at J.R. Perkins Heating & Cooling.

JR Perkins is the first heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley servicing Phoenix, specifically Scottsdale. To learn more, please visit our Website at www.JRPerkins.com or call (480) 422-4437.