what could be lurking in your air ducts

Decades ago, having central air was a luxury. These days, however, it's much more common. In many regions of the country, almost every home has central air. Even in areas with a more temperate climate, there tend to be more homes with central air than without it. So, why is central air so popular? In addition to the fact that it simply keeps your home cool and comfortable, it has a lot of key benefits over other home cooling options.

Replacing your air conditioner before it fails can be costly, and it's important to understand the warning signs so you can avoid these costs. When your AC is not cooling your home as it should, there are several things to watch for. Here are the most common signs that your AC unit needs to be replaced. Not Enough Cold Air Not getting cold air is the most common sign that your air conditioner needs replacement.

There are many ways to heat and cool your home. Heat pumps, however, can do both. If you need a new HVAC system and you are considering a heat pump, keep reading to learn more about the differences between geothermal vs. air source heat pumps. What Is a Heat Pump? A furnace uses gas, oil, or electricity to create a flame that makes heat. This heat is sent throughout your home through vents and ducts.

If your home doesn't have air conditioning, or if you are using window or wall air conditioning units, then you should learn more about central air conditioning. There is a big difference between having a central system and the other kinds of air conditioning for many reasons. The information contained in this article will cover some advantages of switching to a central system. Some advantages of central air conditioning You can save money

Most modern homeowners rely heavily on their air conditioners during the summer months. Without a functional AC system, it would be nearly impossible to maintain a cool and comfortable home interior. Unfortunately, many homeowners don't give their cooling system much thought until it stops performing as it should. Regular maintenance is essential to the longevity and efficiency of any cooling system. Here are three things you need to know about routine AC maintenance so that you can better care for your cooling system in the future.

Mini-splits are efficient appliances and great solutions to problems like when residents of one home disagree on what temperature the thermostat should be set to. As efficient as they are, however, they can start to malfunction just like any appliance can. One particular issue can create a chain reaction leading to other issues: a lack of refrigerant. What Refrigerant Leaks and Low Levels Can Do A refrigerant leak that isn't allowing enough refrigerant to stay in the system and cool the air passing by it means that the air the system blows out into your home won't be as cold as it should be.

If your home uses hydronic heat, you rely on a boiler to provide hot water to your radiators, baseboards, or other heating elements. Most modern homes use hot water boilers instead of steam boilers. Despite the name, these appliances heat water to sub-boiling levels. In other words, a central heating boiler is usually more like a water heater. Unlike steam boilers, hot water boilers can't rely on gravity to do the hard work.

The condenser is one of the crucial components of an AC appliance. You will typically find it outside the home, close to the back wall of the building. Its function is to take the heat from the refrigerant and release it into the environment. When it is working, your unit will cool the air inside the house simply and efficiently. On the other hand, if the condenser breaks down, the entire air cooling system will be stressful to handle.