Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Why Matching Coils are Important to Air Conditioning Systems

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Within our air conditioning systems the evaporator coil and condenser coil work together to cool our indoor air.  Because whole building AC systems tend to use split systems with an outdoor condenser unit and an indoor evaporator unit it is important that these two systems work properly together.  The Orange County AC professionals at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning understand how to properly size AC systems while also matching condenser coils and evaporator coils.

The Importance of Matching Evaporator and Condenser Coils

Air conditioning manufacturers tend to lab-test and rate their air conditioning systems together.  Thus having the same brand evaporator coil as condenser coil means that they have already been tested while working together and you will possibly get the most efficient usage out of each.

Proper sizing of an evaporator coil to a condenser coil is of vital importance.  If they are sized differently they will not work together as designed.  The evaporator coil can be up to a ton larger than the condenser coil, but it is not recommended to go much beyond a one ton difference.  A bigger condenser should never be used with a smaller evaporator.

When the entire air conditioning system is properly sized for the internal space which it is cooling as well as properly sized to its own separate parts you get the most energy-efficiency.  This means that not only the evaporator and condenser are properly sized, but the refrigerant tubing, circuit breaker, fuses, and electrical system all function as intended.

When matching evaporators and condensers to one another, there are a few main items that must be considered by your air conditioning technician that is performing the job.  These can include air flow and fin spacing, in addition to performing a manual load calculation for proper AC sizing, ensuring proper ductwork sizing, and that the blower is properly sized for both coils.

It is normally recommended that when the compressor goes out, both the compressor and evaporator are both replaced at the same time.

Contact Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning and get assistance with your Orange County AC system and all its vital parts including the condenser coil and the evaporator coil, while ensuring that all your questions are answered along the way.

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Air Conditioning Tip 9: How to Use A/C Efficiently

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

Air conditioning is a great comfort in Tustin, but it can also be a big waste and expense when used inefficiently. There are plenty of ways to waste cooled air from your Tustin air conditioner, but fortunately there are also several ways to increase efficiency. Try these, for starters:

  1. Keep filters and coils clean

Filters and coils need to be kept clean in order for an air conditioner to run optimally. Clean or change your filter once a month, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. A tech can should inspect the evaporator and condenser coils every summer, and clean them as necessary.

  1. Look at efficiency ratings

All air conditioners bear a rating that reflects their efficiency, called the seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER. The SEER rating is a measure of how much cooling capacity a unit has in relation to how much power it draws. For more energy efficiency, opt for a model with a higher SEER rating.

  1. Use the “auto” fan setting

Most thermostats have an “auto” setting that will take control of your AC for you by turning it one when the temperature is high and off again when it is sufficiently low. Make use of this setting for better cooling and energy efficiency.

  1. Program your thermostat

A programmable thermostat saves a lot of wasted cooling by keeping the house a few degrees warmer during times when no one is home.

  1. Zone your home

To get really serious about cooling efficiency, consider zoning your home. This allows for independent cooling of different parts of the house, so that no extraneous rooms are cooled unnecessarily. For example, if your family likes the bedrooms cooler at night, you can defines them as one zone so that they can be cooled more, but without wasting energy cooling the rest of the house.

  1. Get an annual inspection

A machine that is in good working order is a machine that will run efficiently. Air conditioners are no exception. Have a licensed Tustin air conditioning professional look over your whole system every year to ensure peak operation and maximum efficiency.

Any of these tips on its own will help your air conditioner’s efficiency, but for best results you should combine them. In particular, the maintenance steps go a long way toward not only improving efficiency, but also maximizing the life of your AC system. Call Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment!

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Air Conditioning Question 1: What is Involved in Installing a Programmable Thermostat?

Monday, July 16th, 2012

If you’ve decided to replace your old manual thermostat with a new programmable model, you’ve made a smart choice. At Saddleback we like to keep our customers informed, so here’s what to expect when having your new thermostat installed.

First of all, location is key. Your thermostat will be installed on an interior wall, and will perform optimally when kept away from sources of heat or drafts such as heating and cooling vents, windows, doorways, and so on. To ensure that you are getting the most accurate performance out of your thermostat it should be in a spot representative of the room’s true temperature.

Your technician will most likely shut off the electricity during the installation. If the electricity is not shut off, the job is not being done safely. The fact that thermostats run on low voltage wiring does not make it acceptable to rush a job. Depending on your specific heating and cooling system you can expect to see anywhere from 2 – 10 wires at the point of connection.

If you are replacing your existing Irvine central air or heating system, we strongly advise that you also upgrade your old, manual thermostat. There is no comparing the accuracy you get from the old manual models to that of the new, programmable thermostats. Remember, with greater accuracy comes better efficiency and more effective performance levels from your heating or cooling system. Before you decide on a new thermostat for your heating or cooling system upgrade, talk with a professional. There are a lot of options out there, and you want to be sure that you are making the right purchase for your individual needs.

Also, if you’re having an old manual thermostat removed it is possible that the model may have a mercury switch inside. Mercury is a liquid metal once commonly used in thermostats to complete connections. It is also toxic. Your Irvine air conditioning technician will make sure that this substance is safely removed from your home and properly disposed of.

Upgrading to a programmable thermostat may not be a big job, but it is an important one. After all, this is the control panel you rely on to keep your home comfortable. Call the professionals at Saddleback and know that your new thermostat is properly installed.

 

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AC Question: What Causes Evaporator Coils to Freeze?

Monday, July 9th, 2012

When warm temperatures arrive it is important that your Orange County cooling system is performing at peak levels. Not only do you want your home to be cool and comfortable, but you want your system to be working efficiently. One of the most common problems with cooling systems is the freezing of AC or evaporator coils. There are many factors that can lead to this problem, and eliminating these factors will ensure that your air conditioning system is up to the task of keeping you comfortable during the hottest times of the year.

First things first, it is important that your AC system be turned off if you develop a frozen evaporator coil. Prolonged operation in conjunction with a frozen coil can cause serious, unnecessary damage to you system’s compressor. Don’t let a relatively small problem become a bigger one.

Restricted air flow across the evaporator coil is a very likely cause of its freezing. If the temperature is allowed to drop below freezing, the humidity and condensation that it is evaporating will freeze up. Maintaining proper air flow is a priority. Your air filters should be replaced if dirty and the evaporator coil’s intake must be free of blockages. Also check to make sure that multiple service registers in your home are not closed or blocked off. If cooled air has no outlet it can freeze up your evaporator coil.

Check your blower motor. If it is not running your evaporator coil is very likely to freeze up. Insufficient refrigerant in your system can also be responsible. If your systems refrigerant is low, call in an HVAC technician to recharge your system and to check for any potential refrigerant leaks. If you’re running your air conditioning system when the temperature outside is low, there will not be sufficient pressure to push the refrigerant through the evaporator and the coil will freeze.

The only way to sure of what is causing your evaporator coil to freeze is by having an Orange County AC specialist investigate the problem. Don’t get stuck in the heat when warm weather arrives. Call Saddleback and get your home’s cooling system back on track.

 

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