Chad's AC Direct Archives - Page 9 of 28

A Homeowner's Guide to the Basics of Home Air Conditioning Systems

Getting to Know a Home’s Air Conditioning System

When a home depends on its air conditioning system for comfort and cool air, it’s important to be familiar with it. From central AC units to a ductless mini split system, familiarity with the basics helps homeowners better understand their system and be proactive with air conditioning maintenance, repairs, and care.

Exploring Common Air Conditioner Systems

There are many different types of air conditioning systems out there. For this guide, the focus will remain on the two most common home systems in use.

Central Air Conditioning: distributes air through a ductwork system set to a specified thermostat temperature. The unit effectively cools large areas with consistent temperatures throughout the entire home.
Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner: great for cooling in specified zones without any ductwork needed. Set to an internal thermostat to maintain a small area to the selected temperature. Provides targeted or zoned cooling.

Both central AC and a ductless mini-split system have great benefits depending on the home's needs. They can be efficient and reliable when properly maintained and cared for.

Identifying the Signs for Air Conditioning Repair

Being familiar with how a home system operates is crucial. When a homeowner is familiar with their system, they can understand when repair or maintenance is important. Understanding the common signs of potential issues is important so homeowners can call a professional to help prevent unit failure or significant repair needs.

Common signs to be aware of include the following:

Poor airflow through the vents of the system
Increase in energy bills from a struggling unit
Cooling that is inconsistent with the AC unit in place
Strange or unusual noises coming from the system
Frequent cycling or turning off and on too often

If these issues are noted, the best thing to do is contact a professional to inspect the system and perform air conditioner maintenance and repair as needed.

Understand the Value of Routine Air Conditioning Maintenance

Homeowners can proactively maintain air conditioners to help prevent or avoid bigger issues. Scheduling annual or biannual maintenance is an investment that prevents system malfunction. This allows professionals to clean and inspect the unit and discover any early indicators of potential problems.

Hiring routine maintenance has some great benefits, like these:

Improved unit efficiency
Enhance performance capability
Reducing or preventing breakdowns
Extending the lifespan of the unit

Maintenance will include a thorough inspection of the entire unit. The professionals will inspect and clean all components, check refrigerant levels, inspect the ductwork if applicable, and test the system for optimal functionality. Most technicians will change the air filters during maintenance calls as well.

However, homeowners should also stay on top of AC filter changes. If the unit takes a filter, it should be changed every three months and sometimes more often. Staying on top of filter changes can have a positive impact in a household.

About Chad’s AC Direct

Chad’s AC Direct believes HVAC service and care should never be a hassle. The company works hard to provide personal attention and accurate service that is of great value for every homeowner’s air conditioning needs. Contact them today for air conditioning maintenance in Montgomery, AL.

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Replacing an Old AC With a New AC Installation

Advantages of Installing a New Air Conditioner This Summer

Although it isn’t a project that every homeowner has to do often, some homeowners will need to replace their air conditioners this summer. While this can seem like a headache and a hassle, a new air conditioner carries plenty of benefits to help prevent losing an air conditioner for a day or two and forking over money for a new one.

Knowing and understanding the benefits of a new air conditioner can help make replacing the air conditioner easier. If an air conditioner is aging and starting to cost much money, here are some benefits of upgrading to start saving funds instead.

Lower Monthly Bills

The price of a new air conditioner can be so high that homeowners will do anything to avoid the cost. However, owners who want to avoid making repairs and are considering an AC replacement don’t mind the fee they pay because the cooling cost is such a large portion of the monthly bill. Like they always say, an air conditioner loses efficiency as it ages.

When the air conditioner nears the end of its useful life, around the 20-year mark, it will be so inefficient that it costs extra monthly money. With a new air conditioner, homeowners can reset their bills to the lowest possible level, saving monthly money for years. Owners will often take this opportunity to purchase more efficient equipment to maximize their savings.

Eliminate Repair Costs

While AC repair costs are substantial, they are nowhere near the cost of a new AC installation, that is, a single AC repair. When AC repair bills start to stack up for a few years, it can be obvious that a new air conditioner that requires no repairs is a good idea. Furthermore, the air conditioner will require bigger and more expensive repairs as it ages.

Generally, if a repair costs about 50% of the cost of an air conditioning replacement, it is a good idea to skip it. When calculating the cost, include reduced repairs and lower bills as part of the calculation in favor of replacement.

Resize the AC Unit

One of the biggest problems facing home comfort is that the size of the air conditioner that cools a space may need to be more appropriate over time. When an air conditioner is undersized for the load placed on it, long cycles will drive up monthly cooling costs. When the air conditioner is oversized, it will short cycle, resulting in more frequent repairs.

While homeowners are considering AC replacement, they should get an expert opinion about the size of the air conditioner needed for the space. Professionals will consider things like windows, solar exposure, and insulation and recommend the correct unit size. If a home has had updates like the ones mentioned or additional square footage was added, resizing the AC is necessary.

About Chad's AC Direct

Chad's AC Direct gives itemized invoices for every job, even big jobs like AC replacement. They recommend the latest technology for good reliability and high efficiency. Call today for AC installation in Montgomery, AL.

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How Dehumidifiers Contribute to Comfort

Raindrops on a window frame, highlighting condensation above a window sill at Chad's HVAC services location.

Dealing with Humidity in the Home

Local weather conditions during the summer make humidity more favorable, but when it creeps into our homes, the heat can be unbearable. Without being able to escape from the heat and humidity, homeowners can begin to hate summer.

High humidity is the result of moisture evaporating into the air. Coincidentally, sweating relies on evaporation to cool the body. When the air is already laden with atmospheric humidity, sweating is less efficient, and people feel warmer than they are. Luckily, dealing with high humidity levels in the home is easy with whole-home dehumidifiers.

How Do Dehumidifiers Work?

A dehumidifier works by blowing air across a cold coil. If this sounds familiar, it's because an air conditioner works similarly. This main difference is that an AC’s coil gets much colder. Dehumidifiers only slightly chill the coil to the point that they effectively remove moisture without using up too much energy.

Whole-home dehumidifiers are superior to portable units because they work hand-in-hand with air conditioning equipment to keep the home comfortable. Instead of tripping over a portable unit and constantly emptying the collection bucket, whole-home dehumidifiers are installed automatically in out-of-the-way places and drain condensate.

With less moisture in the air, evaporation, and by extension sweating, becomes more effective at cooling the body. Since the body is constantly sweating, even without people noticing, the body can stay cooler. This allows homeowners to turn up the thermostat without sacrificing comfort.

When Does a Home Need a Dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers may not be necessary in every home. If a home is newly built and constructed to the highest home-building standards, it may be sealed well enough to prevent too much moisture from migrating indoors. The air conditioner will handle the little moisture that does make it inside. However, more homes need dehumidifiers than do not, so knowing the signs that a dehumidifier is necessary can be helpful. Some of the signs are:

40-60% humidity levels according to hygrometers
Musty odors
Mold growth
Condensation
Stubborn odors
Discomfort
High utility bills

If these signs are present, then a dehumidifier may be a good investment.

Benefits of Drier Air

Most people can immediately recognize the main benefit of drier air. For locals, the humidity during the summer is no secret, so it is easy to see that the main benefit of a dehumidifier is comfort. However, the benefits don’t end there. For starters, dehumidifiers can save homeowners money during the summer.

Saving money with dehumidifiers is easy. When the humidity levels in the home are under control, the thermostat can be set higher. The air conditioner will run less often when the thermostat is set higher. While the temperature in the home is high, the lower humidity will make the space much more comfortable.

As a secondary benefit, controlled humidity will protect the healthfulness of the air in the home. When humidity is allowed to creep up, moisture fuels the growth of allergens like mold and mildew. By lowering the humidity, homeowners can experience better health outcomes.

About Chad's AC Direct

Chad's AC Direct helps home and business owners overcome humidity problems with dehumidifier installation. They offer competitive pricing and easy financing options. Call today to schedule a dehumidifier installation service in Montgomery, AL.

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Common Culprits of Airflow Problems

Person inspecting an air vent at home, showing the white slatted design, related to Chad's HVAC services for comfort.

What Causes Poor Airflow?

HVAC stands for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.” During the summer, most people are concerned with the “AC” part and tend to overlook the ventilation component. However, ventilation is critical to comfort inside the home all year long. When airflow is restricted, the HVAC system can’t properly ventilate the home. Hot and cold spots will form, humidity may climb, and the home generally becomes less comfortable.

Homeowners can troubleshoot airflow problems on their own to determine whether they need a contractor’s help. Here are three common places to start looking to find the source of airflow problems:

Dirty Air Filters

The best place to start looking for the source of airflow problems is at the most common cause. Time and time again, HVAC contractors are called in to address airflow issues only to find that the air filters are dirty and haven’t been changed. By simply replacing the air filter, homeowners can restore good airflow to their homes and enjoy better performance from their air conditioner. As a general rule, air filters should be changed every three months. If pets are present or the home is particularly dusty, more frequent filter changes may be required.

Damaged Ductwork

Another major cause of airflow issues is with the ducts that carry air around the home. Over time, most ductwork will form one of these issues:

Leaks: Each joint of air ducts should be completely sealed. When the duct tape or joint compound ages, it can allow air to escape, reducing the air volume reaching its destination.
Obstructions: Obstructions come in the form of dust and debris inside the air duct. Debris usually enters ductwork through floor vents, while dust is allowed into air ducts by dirty air filters.
Insulation: All ducts have insulation as a part of their makeup. When the insulation degrades or gets damaged, it can affect the temperature of the air and cause the perception of low airflow.
Damage: Ductwork is fairly fragile because it isn’t intended to withstand outside forces. When people are working around ductwork, they can damage it by crimping it to restrict airflow.
Air duct repair can restore lost performance and allow air to flow freely around the home.

Dirty AC Coils and Refrigerant Leaks

A qualified HVAC professional should verify the final causes of poor airflow, which the homeowner initially diagnosed. When airflow is restricted, air filters are clean, and ductwork is intact, the likely cause is a dirty evaporator coil. Evaporator coils get dirty when air filters aren’t changed for long periods. Cleaning the evaporator coil can restore airflow and performance to the unit.

Similar to insulation damage, refrigerant leaks can cause perceived airflow to drop. While the same volume of air is still moving, refrigerant leaks inhibit the cooling of the air as it passes over the coil. Warm air is then delivered to the vents, making it seem like there is less airflow.

About Chad's AC Direct

Chad's AC Direct excels at troubleshooting the causes of AC problems and airflow issues. They are experts in diagnosing the problem and giving upfront written estimates for transparency, listing all the needed parts to make sure it gets addressed. Call today for personalized AC repairs in Montgomery, AL.

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How To Reduce Cooling Costs During the Summer

Young woman relaxing indoors with natural light and greenery, representing comfort in an HVAC setting.

Save Money and Stay Cool

Since the invention of the air conditioner, folk wisdom has existed to prevent energy bills from getting out of hand. There is a reason that stereotypes about kids touching dad's thermostat exist. With the cost of energy always increasing and the cost of living worsening, people need to try everything they can to keep cooling bills low without making life miserable. Luckily, there is an authority that can help to clear up the facts and fiction about reducing cooling bills. Here is some advice from local HVAC specialists to help homeowners reduce cooling costs while staying cool.

Utilize Ceiling Fans as They Were Intended

Before air conditioning was common in homes, people beat the summer heat with indoor fans. Even now, ceiling fans are standard in multiple home rooms, but most people have forgotten how effectively they can keep a space cool. The easiest way to remember which direction the fan should spin in the winter is to understand how the body cools itself. The body is constantly sweating, albeit in small amounts.

As air causes the sweat to evaporate, the body is cooled. The more air that rushes past the skin, the faster the evaporation and the more cooling effect is present. During the summer, making the fan spin counterclockwise causes a draft of air to rush downward from the fan, quickly cooling anyone under it. In the winter, the fan is reversed, so the draft is pushed upward, mixing the warm air near the ceiling with the cooler air pooling near the floor.

Remember AC Filter Changes

As every homeowner knows, there are chores associated with owning a home. Take out the trash once a week, clean the flowerbeds every spring, and pay bills on time. With all these recurring responsibilities, it can be easy to forget to do some very important things. One thing that homeowners should make every attempt to remember is air filter changes, especially during the summer.

Air filters help to remove dust from the air to keep the home healthier and protect the AC equipment from dust buildup. They also have a dramatic impact on the cooling bills during the summer. When air filters get dirty, air can't effectively flow through the filter media. As the filter clogs, airflow is continuously reduced, causing the air conditioner to work harder to move the same amount of air around. Even the slightest restriction can cause a noticeable increase in the runtime of the air conditioner. Remember to change air filters at least every three months to keep bills low. In some cases, changing air filters more often will be more beneficial.

Install a Smart Thermostat

Folk wisdom aside, smart thermostats are the future wave that implements the wisdom of the past. The truth is the best way to reduce cooling bills is to turn the AC on as little as possible. Smart thermostats automatically handle this process so that the home is allowed to warm during the day when no one is present. When people return home, the smart thermostat has already begun the cooling process, resulting in less total runtime while keeping the home cool.

About Chad's AC Direct

Chad's AC Direct helps homeowners save money with AC maintenance service and reliable repairs. The company's core value of transparency is providing all pricing upfront with handwritten, itemized estimates. Call today for AC service in Montgomery, AL.