The time to think about summers and how will you be cooling your indoor during summers is not in summers at all. These are the things you should be done with well within Spring. And that is because, during summers, the technicians have loads of work. And during that peak season, if you rush out to make a purchase, get an installation tech or find a service for maintenance and repair, it is most probable that you wouldn't find things as easy as they might have been during the spring. So, let's come to the point now; to find out whether or not your system needs a repair/upgrade, the time is now.



Before we talk about identifying system issues, the question is that, should homeowners inspect the system themselves or call a professional technician for this? The answer is; it is better to schedule a session with a professional in order to get a precision tune-up and have the components inspected but there are signs that can help homeowners find out whether or not the system is working properly. These problems indicated by the signs may not always allow the homeowner to resolve by themselves but the one benefit of recognising the signs is that they are identified in the first place and action can be taken in time.

Signs that your Central Air Conditioning Unit needs repair

Warm Air 

Warm Air is one big sign. The Air Conditioner is supposed to spill cool air towards you. When the air from the supply registers is warm to feel, know that the system needs help. It could be a leaking refrigerant, a fault in the compressor or dirty coils. Note that warm air supply instantly after running the AC is normal. But if the air remains warm even after running the system for a few hours, there's a problem!

 Low Airflow

A compromised airflow is another indication of the Air Conditioner needing repair. This could be because of filthy filters or fault in the blower fan. Try replacing/cleaning the filters. If the problem persists, there's a need to call for professional help. You might consider checking the ductwork. As one of the reasons for a compromised airflow is often leaking ductwork.

Unusual noises 

You know well what the usual noises are. Every homeowner can identify them after using the Air Conditioner for a few months. So anything other than the usual noises is the unusual noises. This could be a banging, rattling, hissing or any other sound. If the noise comes from near the registers, the reason could be an accidentally fallen object stuck there. If the noise comes from the main unit, you'd have to call a professional.

Rising energy bills 

A rise in energy bills is not always an indication of high usage. You could be using the Air Conditioner with the same patterns and still receiving high bills. This signifies that the system is pushing hard and running more to cool the indoor because of its reduced efficiency or damaged/unmaintained parts. 

This summer, before you start using your system, make sure to try a test run and see if it shows the above-mentioned signs. If it does, don't delay the repair.

The 5 disturbing things Canadians discover in their air ducts:

The obvious signs that indicate your air ducts need cleaning:

To do's and not to do's for HVAC system landscaping

- Be very vigilant towards maintaining your yard. After a thunderstorm, go to your yard and perform the necessary cleaning. Remove any twigs, leaves and clean the area around the HVAC unit immediately if not the entire area - At the time of clipping grass, it is highly recommended to point the grass clipping away from the compressor in order to not let the popped pieces into the unit - In the case of an upcoming wind, clear the area surrounding the HVAC unit. Wind can bang table, chairs etc in the unit resulting in damage - If you're planning vegetation in your yard, make sure it's 3 to 4 feet away from the compressor unit - While many people do not keep this in consideration, the unit should not be under the direct sun. The efficiency gets affected when the unit is under the direct sun. Also, in the winter season, the compressor unit should be covered to protect it from snow and pets. - On a routine basis, do not allow any pets or stray animals to accommodate the space near the compressor unit. Animal urine corrodes the metal very fastly. - When the compressor fan is running, do not cut the grass around it. The clippings can get stuck in the fan blades and or may clog the compressor coils - When mowing the lawn, make sure no twig or stone is in the way. A rapidly moving mower will throw them and in case it hits the compressor, you are ruined! - In order to keep maintenance, inspection and repair easy for yourself and the technicians, better not try camouflaging the unit with shrubs or plants - And needless to say that the surroundings of the compressor has to be well clear in the times it is being used. The unit needs space to exhaust the heat properly. When tightly packed, it cannot perform the job of exhausting the heat - Last but not least, always choose professionals to install the unit. It is because they know where and where not to install the unit. When the unit is installed in the right place, you don't have to worry too much about it later. And since the location matters a lot, choosing a wrong technician, who would choose the wrong location, will ultimately become a deal of loss for you. With proper maintenance and wisely made HVAC choices, you can manage to enjoy comfort throughout the year, save on monthly energy bills and also reduce the possibilities of sudden breakdown and frequent repairs. For now, you are well equipped to perform a safe and HVAC-friendly landscaping the next time.

While many people out there would try to convince you to call a professional for every single HVAC repair and maintenance need, we won't. Because, the truth is, there are several issues that you can fix on your own and that too very easily. All that is needed is proper knowledge and proper precautions and there you go! \

One of the major summer problems that homeowners face regarding home cooling is the affecting efficiency of the cooling appliances and the sudden rise in energy bills. As the temperature becomes a little hotter than usual, the Air Conditioners often begin to provide with compromised efficiency. And this inefficiency results in over usage of the appliances that further results in high energy bills. But did you know that these consequences are not the result of hot temperature alone, they are mostly the result of unmaintained appliances and wrong HVAC practices. We are highlighting some mistakes that you could be making with your Air Conditioner so that you could enjoy optimal cooling efficiency this summer.

1. Not cleaning/replacing filters

Dirty filters do more harm than you could imagine. Replacing of the filters once every three months is a must. And in the peak season, when the Air Conditioner runs constantly, it is necessary to replace filters monthly. Dirty filters get clogged. This clogging affects the airflow, freezes the evaporator coils, raise energy bills up to 5% and shortens the appliance's lifetime.
This summer, change/replace your filters before the Air Conditioner begins to give compromised cooling.

2. Programmable Thermostat matters!

The latest technology Thermostats helps save massively on energy bills. Did you know that Smart Thermostats if properly used can help lower cooling bills up to 15%? The reason of discomfort in summers could be an absence of a programmable thermostat. If you are still using a conventional knob or mercury Thermostat, you much be forgetting changing temperature in time regularly resulting in more energy usage and improper indoor temperature. Consider shifting to a Programmable Thermostat! 

3. Poorly positioned Thermostat and Vents 

Your Air Conditioner could be absolutely alright but the wrong you could be doing with it is through Thermostat. Since it is the Thermostat that controls your indoor temperature, any issues with it will automatically affect the entire HVAC system. A Thermostat wrongly positioned; in direct sunlight or close to a heat source etc would sense the wrong indoor temperature forcing the cooling system to run more vigorously and constantly.
Similarly, blocked vents and closed vents block the air flow resulting in a burdened motor and uneven temperature.

4. Annual service adds life

Agree with it or not but servicing the HVAC appliances from reliable and licenced professionals annually literally add to their life and of course efficiency. While there are many things that homeowners can do on their own in terms of Air Conditioner maintenance, there are certain things that only a professional can do with perfection. Once the Air Conditioner is serviced, cleaned and tuned-up annually, it gets a fresh start with better performance. So if you are skipping annual maintenance, you are making a grave mistake with your AC.   

5. Delaying repairs 

Postponing repairs don't save dollars. Doing so only add up to the cost that you will have to pay when the system will finally shut off and the problem would aggravate enough to need urgent repair. Delaying repairs affect the efficiency, obviously but it also cost you more, shorten the appliance lifetime and voids the warranty if any DIY repairs are performed. 
Doing DIY repairs or delaying the repairs? You are up to another mistake dude!

Maintenance matters and so do repairs and the right HVAC practices. The right practices can help save on energy bills, increase appliance lifetime and efficiency and moreover offer optimal comfort regardless of the seasons. 
Make this summer wonderful by following the right HVAC practices.