Monthly Archives: April 2015

Ways To Increase Your Air Conditioner Efficiency

Increase_Air_Conditioner_Efficiency_Bruces Air ConditioningA large portion of the household energy bill can be attributed to heating and cooling of the home — especially in the extreme seasons of winter and summer. With the amount of energy that homeowners spend just on air conditioning and heating system energy costs, it only makes sense to search for ways to increase your air conditioner’s efficiency and save more money on monthly energy bills.

The following are tips to help you achieve this goal in a cost effective manner:

Ways To Increase Your Air Conditioner Efficiency

The following are several ways to increase the energy efficiency on your AC unit.

Clean The Outdoor Unit On A Regular Basis

If you have a split air conditioning unit or a central air conditioning system with the main unit outdoors, it is important that you clean the area around the outdoor unit. Removing any debris that may obstruct air flow to the unit is very important for not only day-to-day efficiency, but also for prolonging the life of your HVAC system. Restricted air flow normally forces the fan motor to work harder, which will lead to increased energy consumption and wear on parts. This is a simple measure that can be implemented by the average homeowner. However, a more thorough cleaning should be done by a professional.

Replace Your HVAC Filters

Clogged filters can cause a number of problems. For one, it will force fan motors to work harder to push air through the filters. If you find that your air filters are getting dirty very quickly, you may need to have a professional come out and take a look at your indoor air quality situation; you may have extenuating factors that should be addressed to further your indoor air quality as well as your efficiency.

Insulate Your Air Ducts

If you have a central AC, you can improve the efficiency of your system by simply insulating exposed ducts. You can also seal all holes and gaps that may leak cool air, leading to reduced energy efficiency. UL 181 – rated duct sealing tape is perfect for the job. If your ductwork is not adequately sealed and insulated, you may need to call the professionals to get a whole home audit, duct cleaning, and insulating your ductwork.

Close Blinds And Curtains During The Day

When the interior of your home is exposed to direct sunlight, indoor temperatures will rise and your AC will be forced to work extra hard to cool your home. While this will make only a small effect on the overall bills for cooling your home, every little bit counts and adds up to big savings if you take advantage of every bit of energy conservation.

Keep Heat Sources Away From The Thermostat

To ensure that your cooling system works as required, you must keep heat-emitting devices away from the thermostat. Things like furnaces, electric heaters and iron boxes should never be kept anywhere close to the thermostat, as it can give the system false readings of the ambient temperatures. Ensuring that your thermostat is taking correct readings of the internal temperature will help to improve energy efficiency.

While the above referenced tips will get you started on trimming back your monthly energy costs, there are always even more ideas that can help save homeowner money and energy. Follow our blog for all of the best money-savings tips and tricks and call Bruce’s Commercial and Residential Services today for all your heating and air conditioning needs.

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Different Types Of Air Conditioners On The Market

This entry was posted in Air Conditioning and tagged on by .

Types_of_Air Conditioners_Bruces_Air_ConditioningDuring summer months, keeping the house cool becomes a vital task for all homeowners. The task of cooling interiors is usually left up to the humble help of air conditioners that provide active cooling and dehumidifying functions.

While there are many manufacturers in the industry that offer a range of air conditioner types to cover different needs and situations, air conditioners and cooling units usually fall into 1 of four categories.

The following is a rundown of the four major types of air conditioners:

Types Of Air Conditioner

 

Central Air Conditioners

This is a popular choice in commercial buildings and is also widely used in residential settings. Central air conditioners are composed of a condensing unit and an evaporative unit. The former is made up of the condensing coils, condensing fans, and compressor. It sits outside where it can release hot air into the environment. Meanwhile, the latter sits inside the house where it is connected to the same ductwork used by the furnace for the distribution of cold air to different areas of the house.

 

Portable Air Conditioners

While central AC systems deliver optimum performance, there are instances when it can fall short of the cooling requirements in some areas. We all know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Therefore, the eastern part of a home can often feel hotter than the western side in the morning, while the reverse happens in the afternoon. The difference is especially pronounced if there is little shade to shield the house from the sun’s rays. Portable units can be called in to balance things out where they are needed, or to be used in additions that do not have ductwork to support the central air conditioning.

 

Window Air Conditioners

Perhaps a household is keen on having individually controlled units for each room so that unoccupied areas don’t contribute to power consumption. Window type air conditioners fit the bill with a variety of sizes to suit the corresponding floor area of the space where they will operate. This is the most basic and also the most common style of AC. Every component is squeezed into a compact box that is attached to a window to allow unrestricted air flow.

 

Split Air Conditioners

Split system air conditioners are similar to central ACs in that the condensing and evaporative units are separate but they don’t use ducts and ductwork, and are designed to cool a more limited amount of space. In most split system air conditioners, coolant is pumped from the main unit to air regulators in various rooms; the benefit of this is that the coolant will lose its temperature as quickly as air while being transported throughout the house. Their additional benefits include quiet operation, flexible settings, and smaller interior imprint.

These are a few of the air conditioning system types that are available to homeowners for installation, each of which has its own benefits for various HVAC needs and situations. If you are unsure of what your home air conditioning needs require for A/C system types, feel free to call or contact us HERE to speak with one of our knowledgeable technicians… We would be more than happy to discuss all of your options.

 
Call Bruce’s Commercial and Residential Services for all your heating and air conditioning needs and follow our blog for the best resources for your HVAC questions and concerns.

 

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