If you expect your cooling system to handle the heat of the greater Cleveland area’s summers, you’ll need to stay on top of your air conditioner maintenance. Annual professional maintenance alone isn’t enough. There are still a few things you as a homeowner need to do to keep your system going strong.

Clear the Way for Good Airflow

When an air conditioner doesn’t receive the airflow it needs, its energy efficiency drops and its components are placed under strain. A dirty air filter alone can cut your system’s efficiency by 5 to 15 percent. Check your filter monthly and replace it if it’s accumulated a layer of dust. Cheaper filters usually need monthly replacement, while higher-efficiency pleated models last longer.

Leaves and other debris around your outdoor condenser unit also impair airflow. As part of your regular air conditioner maintenance, periodically clean the outdoor unit’s exterior fins with a stiff brush. Once a year, shut down your system and use a wet  vac to suck dirt from the fins. Remove the top grill and vacuum inside around the motor and fan.

Look After the Components

Dust on the evaporator coil acts as insulation, impairing the refrigerant’s ability to absorb heat. This lowers your system’s efficiency and strains the evaporator coil and compressor. Once or twice a year, inspect the coil and, if it’s dusty, clean it with foaming coil cleaner or compressed air. A coil with a thick layer of dust or corrosion should be professionally cleaned.

The condensate drain can develop algae blockages that stop water from draining. If this happens, either a safety switch will be triggered to shut down the system or the water will back up, possibly causing damage. To inhibit algae, pour half a cup of white vinegar into the drain once or twice a season. Carefully insert a thin wire into the drain to clear it. Periodically clear the outdoor end of the drain by sucking out debris with a wet vac.

If you could use a little help with your air conditioner maintenance, talk with the pros at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We proudly serve the greater Cleveland area.

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When the temperature outside your home rises, chances are your electricity bill may as well. Like most homeowners, you don’t want to swelter inside your own residence, but you also don’t want to shell out more money during the summer months running your air conditioner to stay cool. When the weather heats up, use these simple tips to reduce cooling costs.

How to Reduce Cooling Costs This Summer

1. Use a programmable thermostat – By increasing your home’s temperature when you’re gone during the day, you can shave up to one percent off of your energy bill for every degree you raise the temperature.
2. Don’t set the thermostat too low – The highest comfortable setting—ideally 78 degrees or higher—is best, as the closer the indoor and outdoor temperatures are, the lower your cooling bill will be.
3. Use ceiling fans – Fans are less expensive to run than air conditioners. Turning your ceiling fan on while your air conditioner is running will reduce cooling costs by allowing you to raise the thermostat by up to four degrees without feeling warmer.
4. Avoid heat buildup – Turn indoor lights off during the day and air dry clothing and dishes to avoid the heat generated from clothes dryers and dishwashers. Use an outdoor grill or microwave for cooking.
5. Lower the shades – Pulling the shades down or drawing the curtains on hot, sunny days means your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep your house cool.
6. Perform monthly HVAC maintenance – Clean or replace the air filters regularly so your system won’t have to work as hard. Keep the exterior coils free of dirt, leaves and debris.
7. Keep your windows closed – Keeping your windows closed, even at night, will reduce the humidity build up and result in cooler, drier air indoors.
8. Schedule regular maintenance – Have an HVAC system inspection performed by a professional, certified technician to keep your unit working properly and to avoid costly repairs.

For more information about how to keep your home cool and comfortable when the outdoor temperature soars, contact the greater Cleveland area home comfort experts at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing.

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Dust can be discouraging. Some homes just seem more prone to dust than others, as it penetrates through tiny leaks around windows or enters when the door is opened. If your home seems perennially dusty, take heart. There are ways to improve conditions and reduce household dust. 

First, though, understand that dust is minute particles of dirt, hair, skin flakes and fibers from textiles, carpets and paper. For some, dust is a mere annoyance; for others, it can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks. It’s always smart to keep it under control.

Tips to Reduce Household Dust

1. Use a good quality air filter in your HVAC system. Choose a pleated filter, with a minimum efficiency reporting value of 8 to 12 to help eliminate dust that may be re-circulating in your home’s air.
2. Clean your home often. That means vacuuming carpets, rugs and upholstery regularly with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, mopping hard floors with a damp mop and using a damp cloth, or one with an electrostatic charge, to dust furniture. Avoid sweeping with a broom or dusting with a feather duster. Turn on the HVAC system while you vacuum to capture any dust you stir up.
3. Encase pillows and mattresses in allergen-proof coverings to deter dust mites. Wash linens often in hot water.
4. Keep windows and doors closed. Search for air leaks around windows and doors with a lit incense stick. Seal up cracks around doors with weatherstripping and caulk leaks around windows.
5. Minimize figurines and other dust collectors around the home.
6. Beat area rugs and pillows outdoors.
7. Consider an air cleaner. Whole-house air cleaners installed into the HVAC system do the best job of controlling dust and other pollutants in a home, while portables clean one room at a time. Air cleaners with an electrostatic or electronic charge attract dust particles to their filters and—while effective—must be cleaned

For more information on how to reduce household dust, contact Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing. We’ve served our greater Cleveland customers for more than 75 years.

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The post Easy Ways to Reduce Household Dust and Improve Indoor Air Quality appeared first on Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing.

             

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If your household water consumption is comparable to the average American family’s, you’re paying for approximately 3,000 gallons of water a month per person. Implementing the following strategies to reduce your water bill can help you save money and conserve a valuable, exhaustible resource.

Find and Fix Plumbing Leaks

One running toilet can waste roughly 200 gallons of water per day. Factor in leaking water lines, dripping faucets and shower heads, and it’s easy add up the potential savings of fixing all the plumbing leaks around your home. To get water waste issues dealt with promptly, have a qualified professional perform a periodic inspection of the plumbing system and all fixtures in the home.

Reduce Kitchen and Laundry Water Use

Composting food waste instead of using the garbage disposal can save four gallons of water per minute of run time. Always run the dishwasher full on the most economical setting, and scrape dirty dishes instead of rising them to save about 20 gallons a load. Avoid small loads in the clothes washer as well, since they take twice as much water to wash as full loads.

Avoid Water Waste in the Bathroom

Running the water while shaving or brushing your teeth wastes two gallons a minute, so always shut off the faucet. Taking showers instead of baths saves between 10 and 15 gallons of water. You can conserve even more by placing a bucket in the shower to collect “warm up” water and use it in the garden or for houseplants.

Make Conservation-Focused Upgrades

When it’s time to update toilets, faucets and shower heads, invest in WaterSense products that are certified to curb water usage by approximately 20 percent. In the meantime, take steps to control unnecessary water waste by installing inexpensive low-flow aerators on all the faucets and shower heads to cut flow by about 50 percent. When replacing the clothes washer, dishwasher or water heater, choose the most efficient units available within your budget.

To learn more ways to reduce your water bill this summer, contact the greater Cleveland area home comfort pros at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today.

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The post How to Reduce Your Water Bill This Summer appeared first on Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing.

             

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One of the first things you may do when your A/C is blowing hot air is check the thermostat setting while thinking to yourself, “There must be some mistake.” Sometimes we set the thermostat to heating instead of cooling. If that doesn’t solve the problem, there could be something wrong with your system. Try to diagnose and fix the problem these troubleshooting tips.

Ice Buildup on the Evaporator

The evaporator coil is located in the indoor air handler, usually just above the furnace in an upflow system. Cold refrigerant flows through the evaporator and extracts heat from your home. If airflow is obstructed, such as from a clogged air filter, ice begins to form on the coil, further obstructing airflow. The problem snowballs from there, and soon you’ve got an evaporator encased in a block of ice. What can you do?

• Turn off the A/C and let the ice melt before changing the air filter.
• Clean the evaporator with a foaming coil cleaner when the ice has completely melted. Debris and grime can also block heat exchange enough to cause ice accumulation.
• Turn on the air conditioner and keep an eye on the evaporator for the next 48 hours. If the ice returns, call your HVAC professional. There may be a problem with refrigerant charge, compression or the electrical system.

Dirty Condenser and Compressor

If the evaporator and air filter are fine, check the outdoor half of the cooling system where the condenser coil and electric compressor are housed:

• With a hose, thoroughly spray the sides of the unit. A dirty condenser obstructs heat release, and a dirty compressor can overheat and malfunction.
• If you hear humming or buzzing coming from the outdoor unit, the compressor is malfunctioning and may not be processing refrigerant correctly. A clicking noise indicates a faulty electrical relay. Call your HVAC technician for either problem.

For more troubleshooting tips when your A/C is blowing hot air in your greater Cleveland home, or to schedule an A/C maintenance appointment, contact Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today.

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The post Common Reasons Why Your A/C Is Blowing Hot Air appeared first on Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing.

             

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Air conditioners are complex machines. Like any other machine, they make noise, but there are some air conditioner sounds you don’t want to hear. Before you get hot under the collar, try these troubleshooting tips to see if you can find and fix the problem.

Squealing or Screeching

Squealing or screeching noises from the indoor or outdoor blower motor indicate a frayed belt or problems with the motor bearings. If it’s a worn belt, it should be replaced before it breaks and the fan stops rotating. If the sounds are coming from a blower motor, turn off the system and contact your HVAC professional.

Clanking Sounds

The outdoor blower assembly is exposed to the elements. It’s inevitable that debris falls into the unit. Sometimes the debris becomes lodged in the fan blades and makes a clanking or “thwapping” noise. If you can see the obstruction, you can try fishing it out. Make sure power to the air conditioner is turned off at the outdoor disconnect box.

Rattling or Banging

Rattling or banging are sure sounds that something has come loose or broken. The sounds could be caused by loose motor mounts, a misaligned motor or rattling air ducts (though not technically an A/C component). Motor mounts and motors may be tightened and aligned, respectively, if you feel confident. Seal duct leaks with duct mastic and metal tape.

Humming or Buzzing

Humming or buzzing is a sign of a failed capacitor. If you’re handy with do-it-yourself projects and have the correct tools, you may be able to change the capacitor, though it’s not a job for an amateur. Consulting your HVAC tech is the smarter way to go.

Clicking

Rapid or intermittent clicking sounds are indicative of an electrical signal problem, which could originate with the thermostat or with the relay located next to the capacitor. Check the thermostat’s wiring for tight connections. Changing a relay requires the same handy skills and tools as changing the capacitor.

If you need help diagnosing unusual air conditioner sounds in your greater Cleveland home, contact Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

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The post 5 Air Conditioner Sounds Your System Should Never Make appeared first on Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing.

             

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Installing UV lights in your home HVAC system helps close a critical gap in your strategy to promote healthy indoor air quality. Airborne particulates continuously circulate through the ductwork as the system blower moves over 1,000 cubic feet of air every minute. Common inert particles like household dust, dirt, and lint are normally removed by the system air filter. However, invisible living microorganisms such as mold spores, bacteria, and viruses are small enough to pass through filter media and continue infecting the breathing air in your living spaces. As these pathogens naturally reproduce, the concentration in household air may soar to levels that produce allergic reactions or illness.

Utilized for over a century in hospitals, laboratories—and even municipal water facilities—ultraviolet wavelengths of light are harmless to humans but toxic to airborne microorganisms. By penetrating the DNA of living spores, viruses or bacteria, light rays in the UV spectrum disrupt reproductive capacity and microorganisms are exterminated. Most UV lights resemble small fluorescent tubes. A typical stick-style UV light tube ranges from eight inches up to 16 inches long and consumes only about 24 watts of electricity. For the most effective disinfection, lights may be situated in two locations in a residential heating and cooling system:

• Ductwork – Installed inside the return duct through a small access hole, an ultraviolet light tube constantly exposes the circulating airflow to germicidal UV light. Because the entire volume of air inside your home moves passes through the ducts several times daily, continuous disinfection of indoor air is ensured.
• Evaporator coil – The air conditioner evaporator coil inside the indoor air handler provides a perfect environment for the growth of toxic mold and bacteria. Even during winter when the A/C’s not operating, furnace airflow still passes through the air handler and coil and can be contaminated by airborne microorganisms. A UV light tube permanently mounted inside the air handler sterilizes coil surfaces and prevents mold and bacteria from growing.

For more information on the air quality benefits of UV lights in your HVAC system, in the greater Cleveland area contact Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

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The post How Can UV Lights Help Your Indoor Air Quality? appeared first on Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing.

             

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Should I switch from a traditional tank water heater to a tankless model? We get this question from many Greater Cleveland homeowners these days–and the answer is “maybe.” Storage tank water heaters are better for some households. They can be nearly as efficient as “on-demand” or “instantaneous” tankless water heaters. Often, homeowners don’t want to invest in replacing tank water heaters–unless absolutely necessary. For those who don’t mind some initial expense and more complex installation, tankless units are more efficient, especially gas models.

Advantages of Storage Tank Water Heaters

• Traditional storage water heaters offer more capacity. If you need to use many home water sources at once, for instance if you have a large family on similar schedules, you may prefer conventional water heating. To ensure adequate water flow to simultaneous users, you’ll need more than one tankless water heater. You may need a dedicated model for far-flung parts of the home–like a hot tub out back, or for high capacity appliances/areas like the washing machine/laundry room. Too few tankless units means someone showering may get a slow, skimpy hot water flow, as the tankless struggles to instantly heat water. (Tank models can run out of water in the tank, however.)
• Standard tank water heaters are cheaper to purchase and install. Although tankless models are smaller (suitcase sized) and lighter weight, you may need more than one, and your gas line must be enlarged for gas-fired tankless units. You’ll need a large flue and careful installation to prevent air leakage. An electric tankless model gets around the latter issue, but operating costs are higher than gas units.
• Conventional tank-style water heaters need less (and cheaper) repairs than the newer tankless technology.
• Storage water heaters encourage thriftiness. When showering, most people keep in mind that there’s only so much hot water in the tank.
• Standard water heaters can be energy efficient. Storage water heaters with insulated tanks and/or insulating “blankets” experience less storage-tank heat loss. Newer tank heaters are programmable to use electricity during non-peak hours when energy demand is lower/costs less.

Need HVAC help? Contact Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing, serving greater Cleveland.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about storage tank water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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