HVAC Myths Explained by the Professionals at Cox Air
Like most people, you are probably familiar with the age-old saying, “Don’t believe everything you read.” This applies to pretty much anything, and the HVAC industry is no exception. Whether from old wives tales or people who think they know it all, there are plenty of myths out there about the field of heating and cooling. As one of Clearwater’s most reliable hvac maintenance companies, we have heard them all.
You may have even been subjected to a few of them. Everyone is quick to offer advice on how to save money and cut back on utility bills, but how do you know what information to trust? While some suggestions are blatantly obvious, others can seem to be backed by only a small bit of truth.
How Does the Salt Air Affect My A/C Unit?
Homeowners who have the pleasure of living on the coast are the envy of many. However, there are a few downsides to being in close proximity to the ocean — including the fact that salt air is a major source of harm to air conditioners.
Shopping for a New Heat Pump? 4 Simple Questions
If it’s time to replace your old heat pump, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the newer innovations that you can opt for when shopping for a new one. Ask for these advanced features to improve the performance of your heating system, making it more effective and more efficient.
Compressor Options
While standard compressors can only operate at full capacity, two-speed compressors enable heat pumps to operate closer to the heating or cooling capacity needed at the time. This saves a lot of electricity and has the added benefit of reducing wear and tear on the compressor.
Another available option is a scroll compressor, which compresses refrigerant by forcing it into increasingly smaller areas. These types of compressors are not only more quiet when operating, but they also have a much longer operating life. Heat compressors with scroll pumps are capable of providing noticeably warmer air when compared to heat pumps with piston compressors.
Motor Speed
Some heat pumps are equipped with dual or variable speed motors which attempt to keep the air moving at a comfortable and more consistent velocity. This helps to minimize drafts and increase your savings on electricity. Variable speed motors tend to be more quiet when running at full speed.
Desuperheater
When you’re shopping for a new heat pump, you may notice that high-efficiency models come equipped with a desuperheater. The desuperheater heats water by recovering waste heat from the heat pump’s cooling mode. This allows the unit to heat water up to three times more efficiently than an ordinary electric water heater.
Backup Heating
Most heat pumps employ electric resistance heaters as a backup in the event of cold weather, but they can also use burners powered by propane or natural gas to supplement the heat pump. Back-up burners assist the heat pump when the weather is cold, so it doesn’t supply relatively cool air on a cold day.
For help with shopping for a new heat pump, or any other questions about home comfort, contact us at Cox Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve provided expert service to Clearwater area homeowners since 1958.
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Use Programmable Thermostats Properly to Maximize Cooling in Your Clearwater Home
A programmable thermostat can keep your home comfortable while maximizing your summertime energy savings. However, unless it’s used correctly, it will not do its job. Learn how to make your Tampa-Clearwater area home more comfortable while saving money at the same time.
Use programmable thermostats properly to manage your air conditioner. Select the model that best fits your lifestyle.
- A 7-day model is excellent if your daily schedule varies greatly from day to day. It gives you the flexibility to set different programs on different days to meet your schedule.
- A 5+2 day model uses the same schedule Monday through Friday, with a different schedule for the weekend.
- A 5-1-1-model is best for those who have a regular schedule through the week, but varying schedules on Saturdays and Sundays.
Set your HVAC thermostat program based on your schedule. Each day will have four settings: wake time, daytime, evening time and sleep time.
- Wake time should be when the first person in the house gets up for the day, and at a setting that’s about 78 degrees in the summer.
- Day time begins when the last person leaves for the day. The setting should be at an energy savings level, usually 7 to 10 degrees higher than wake time.
- Evening time starts when the first person returns from work or school. The setting should be at a comfortable level (about 75 degrees in summer, more or less depending on your preference).
- Sleep time begins when the last person goes to bed usually. The setting should be set 4 degrees higher than evening time, but not as high as daytime. This saves money without heating up the house at night.
Use the thermostat wisely:
- Install the thermostat on an inner wall, away from windows and heat producing appliances.
- Use the “hold” button only when going away for the weekend or on vacation.
- Resist the urge to override the programmed settings, unless someone is in the home at an unusual time.
If you want to learn more about programmable thermostats, contact us here at Cox Air Conditioning & Heating. We are your Clearwater and Tampa area home comfort specialists.
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Dirty Air Filter: 3 Problems It Can Cause
Although the air filter may seem like a minor part of your home’s HVAC system, its job is essential to keeping your family healthy, keeping your home clean and comfortable and prolonging the life of your HVAC system. Changing a clogged or dirty air filter may be inconvenient and messy, but by doing so in a timely manner, you can help prevent the following problems:
Reduced System Airflow
A dirty air filter will reduce the airflow through the forced-air cooling or heating system, which not only decreases your comfort level, but forces the HVAC system to run longer and work harder to move the air. This can prematurely wear out sensitive system components including compressor motors, blower motors, fan motors, pulley bearings and belts. Air conditioners may begin to freeze up if the reduced airflow slows the heat absorption in the evaporator coil, or furnaces may stop heating when the reduced airflow in the heat exchanger causes that component to overheat, shutting off the burners. Additionally, because the system is running much less efficiently, your utility bills will increase, sometimes dramatically.
Higher Indoor Air Pollution
With a dirty air filter, airborne particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander and other harmful pollutants will remain in the air, continually circulating throughout the house. This can cause breathing difficulties for anyone living in the home, but the situation is much worse for those who suffer from allergies, asthma, emphysema or other respiratory illnesses. Checking the air filter monthly, and cleaning or replacing it when necessary, can help keep your indoor air quality high and your family safe.
Accumulation of Excess Dust
Without being removed by the air filter, dust will begin to accumulate in more places around your home, increasing your cleaning workload. In addition, the dust will begin to gather in the air ducts, costing you extra money to have them cleaned.
To learn more about the effects of a dirty air filter on your health and your HVAC system, consult our experts at Cox Air Conditioning & Heating. We have been serving Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg and the surrounding areas since 1958.
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