Beat the Heat
Preparing Your Air Conditioner for Summer

Hell hath no fury like a Houston summer. Here in southeast Texas, summer arrives with the force of an eighteen-wheeler barreling down an empty highway. A few simple preparations can help your air conditioner to run more efficiently and reduce the risk of a breakdown when the heat index soars into the triple digits.

		Change your return air filter if you have not done so in the last month. Clogged filters can keep an air conditioner from cooling properly.
		Cut back any shrubs or tall grass which have grown around your outside condenser unit. Vegetation can restrict the airflow around the unit and reduce its cooling ability.
		Clear away any leaves or pine needles which have fallen on top of your outside condenser unit. If the unit itself is full of leaves or other debris, have it cleaned by a qualified technician.
		Eradicate any ant mounds close to your outside condenser units. Ants will often infiltrate condenser units, causing them to shut down. [more]

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Texas Offers Rebates for Energy Efficient Air Conditioners

If you're in the market for a new air conditioner, this could be your opportunity to get a share of the stimulus funds. Congress has appropriated $300 million dollars in stimulus funds to support state rebate programs for energy efficient appliances. Just over $23 million dollars has been allocated for distribution by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to distribute as rebates. Eligible appliances, which include air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, washers, dryers, and dishwashers, must meet Energy Star standards. In the case of air conditioners, they must operate at or above 14.5 SEER. A chart specifying the energy standards other appliances must meet is available on SECO's website.

If you wish to capture one of these rebates, timing is crucial. [more]

You may have heard that under its Stimulus Package the United States Government is offering an AC Tax Credit of up to $1,500.00 to taxpayers who have high efficiency air conditioning systems installed in their homes between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. This tax credit applies only to those split-system central air conditioners which operate at an efficiency rating of 13 EER or above or at 16 SEER or above. [more]

As a result of federal mandates intended to protect the ozone and to reduce the greenhouse effect, all manufacturers of air conditioning equipment sold in the United States have ceased production of R22 based equipment and replaced it with R410A based equipment. Most consumers knew R22 refrigerant by the brand name Freon. When it escapes into the atmosphere, R22 emits ozone-damaging chlorine atoms. In contrast, R410A refrigerant, commonly known by the brand name Puron, does not emit chlorine and is environmentally friendlier.

While it might sound like a simple thing to replace one type of refrigerant with another, the fact is that substantially different mechanical designs [more]

While you can't control the weather, you can reduce the risk of water damage from your air conditioning system. Air conditioners produce an astonishing amount of condensation. Without proper maintenance, that condensation may lead to water damage and can even cause ceilings to cave in. Undetected water damage may also foster the growth of mold.[more]

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Bigger is Not Always Better
How many tons of air conditioning does your home really need?

One of the most common mistakes made by air conditioning contractors is the oversizing of equipment. When it comes to cooling your home, bigger is not always better. While it is essential that your air conditioning unit be large enough to cool down your living space, equipment which is oversized will cycle on and off more often, resulting in uncomfortable temperature swings and increasing the risk of breakdowns. An oversize unit will cool your home to the desired temperature more quickly which sounds good until you discover that the unit shuts off before it has adequately dehumidified the air. Your home will be cool, but the air may feel clammy. The excess humidity also increases the risk of mold. [more]

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While most air conditioning and heating contractors promote one specific brand of equipment, think twice about selecting a contractor who refuses to sell any alternative brands. While the brand he sells may be a reputable one, it may not be the best choice for your situation or your budget. As with cars, different makes and models of air conditioners and heaters have different strengths and weaknesses. Some are more dependable than others, some quieter, some more economical to purchase up front, some maintain their efficiency over a longer period of time, some come with better warranties than others, some will fit better than others in your existing space, and some are better known than others. A highly advertised brand may be the way to go if you live in an upscale neighborhood and plan to sell your house in the near future. If you plan to stay put for another ten years, a less known, less expensive, but equally dependable brand would be a better choice.

An air conditioning contractor who is not tied exclusively to a single brand but who sells several different brands can assess your existing HVAC system and take your personal short term and long term needs and your budget into consideration and then advise you of your options. A reputable contractor will steer you away from any brand that has a poor track record and from any manufacturer which does not stand behind its warranties. [more]