Pleated Filters Help Keep Your Air Conditioning System Clean
Central air conditioning systems and heat pumps both have an air filter (sometimes called a furnace filter) installed in the ductwork near the blower. Most homeowners probably assume that the purpose of this air filter is to improve indoor air quality and to some extent that’s true, but the real purpose of the air filter is to reduce the amount of dust, dirt, and debris that accumulates on the evaporator coil.
The evaporator coil is located in plenum chamber above the furnace (or in the air handler if you have a heat pump) and is an important part of the air conditioning system. Cold refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil while the blower moves household air across the coil and throughout the home via the duct system.
It is important to keep the evaporator coil free of dust, dirt, and debris because these materials act as a layer of insulation and reduce the system’s ability to cool the air that flows across the evaporator coil. In turn, this means that your air conditioner has to work harder to keep your home cool. You can lower your energy costs and reduce the need for air conditioning service by keeping the evaporator coil clean and free of debris.
Most air conditioning systems come with a flat blue fiberglass filter. These filters are only good for catching large sized dust and debris. Smaller dust particles can make it through the filter and accumulate on the evaporator.
High efficiency pleated filters do a much better job of trapping foreign material from the air. Replacing an old fiberglass filter with a new pleated filter will help your system operate more efficiently by trapping much more debris and preventing that debris from accumulating on the evaporator. You can save yourself the hassle of cleaning the evaporator by installing a pleated filter in your air conditioning system or heat pump.
How Does Your Central Air Conditioner Work?
Every homeowner should have a basic understanding of how their central air conditioning system works. Knowing how the air conditioning system works will help a homeowner understand why regular HVAC maintenance is important to keep the keep the system working great for years while lowering their energy costs.
Most residential air conditioning systems are “split systems” that have an outdoor unit consisting of a fan, condenser coils, and compressor and an indoor evaporator coils located inside the duct system above the furnace. The two components are connected by coolant lines filled with refrigerant. A central air conditioner works by using the compressor to compress the refrigerant which makes it very hot. The hot refrigerant is pumped through the outdoor condenser coils where the fan cools the refrigerant by blowing air over the coils.
The cooled refrigerant is then pumped through coolant lines to the evaporator where it expands and gets very cold. The cold refrigerant flows through the indoor evaporator coil inside the duct system where the blower moves air over the coils. The air is cooled and also dehumidified as moisture in the cooled air condenses on the coils. This moisture drips into a pan below the coils and is drained through the condensate drain.
The cool dry air is then distributed throughout the home through your duct system and the registers (or supply vents). The return vents allow air to flow through the return ducts back to the air handler where the cycle is repeated.
A regular service visit once or twice a year by a professional HVAC technician will keep the system working efficiently. The coolant must be pressurized to the right pressure and the coils should be free of dust and debris. Your HVAC technician has specialized tools and equipment to adjust the system pressure and maintain the system.
As warm weather approaches, this is a great time to schedule your residential HVAC system maintenance to make sure your central air conditioner is working efficiently. Keeping your air conditioner in top working order will help it last longer and reduce your energy bills.
There are a few things you can do yourself, but don’t forget to have the system serviced by an experienced HVAC technician. Air conditioning professionals have special equipment including gauges to check the pressure in the system that homeowner cannot do themselves.
Due to the way that a modern air conditioning system works, keeping the coils clean and free of blockages is important to the efficient operation of the system. A typical residential air conditioning system has a condenser coil located in the outdoor unit and an evaporator coil installed the duct system above the furnace.
Coolant is compressed and pumped through the outdoor condenser coil where it is cooled by blowing air across the coils. The coolant then flows to the indoor evaporator coil where it expands and gets very cold. Indoor air is cooled by blowing it across the coils and is then distributed throughout the home through the ducts.
As you can see, good airflow across the coils is important to keep your system operating efficiently. Dirt, dust, and debris that blocks airflow across the coils makes the system less efficient which means it has to work harder. Keep your condenser coil free of dirt, leaves, grass clippings, and other debris and make sure there is at least two to three feet of space around the unit.
Indoors, change your air filter regularly to help keep the evaporator coil clean. If the evaporator coil becomes clogged with dirt and dust, you can clean it carefully using the brush attachment with a vacuum cleaner. Be sure not to damage the soft aluminum fins.
Cleaning Air Conditioner Coils
If your home is equipped with a central air conditioning system or heat pump, regular service by an experienced HVAC service technician is important for efficient operation of the system. Having the system professionally serviced in the spring and fall will keep it in peak operating condition. Servicing a central air conditioning system requires special skills and equipment so a complete service should be handled by a professional HVAC technician.
One thing the homeowner can do between service calls is to keep the coils clean and free of debris. Good air flow across both the outdoor condenser coil and the indoor evaporator coil is essential for efficient operation of a central air conditioning system. Keeping the coils clean will not only reduce your energy bills by allowing the system to work efficiently, but since the system does not have to work as hard it will last longer and have less frequent breakdowns.
Start by turning off power to the system. Inspect the outdoor unit and make sure there are two or three feet of space around the unit to allow good airflow. Keep plants and shrubs trimmed back and remove any tools or materials stored around the unit.
Carefully remove the cabinet and clean out any leaves, grass clippings, and other debris. If the coils are dirty, carefully brush off the debris with a broom or soft bristle brush but be very careful not to bend or damage the soft aluminum fins.
Regularly changing your furnace filter will help keep the evaporator coils clean, but over time they can accumulate dust and debris. If necessary, clean the coils using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Again, be very careful not to bend or damage the aluminum fins. If you notice any damage to the coils, have them checked out by your HVAC technician.
Replace Your Swamp Cooler With an Energy Efficient Air Conditioner
Many homes in the Phoenix area were built years ago and have a swamp cooler (also called an evaporative cooler) installed instead of a central air conditioning system. Phoenix residents know that some type of air conditioning system is a must but with the cost of electricity in mind, in the past many homeowners chose swamp coolers to cool their homes instead of a traditional central air conditioning system to save on energy costs.
A swamp cooler uses less electricity than a central air conditioner because it uses evaporative cooling instead of refrigerant. A swamp cooler draws air through water soaked absorbent pads and blows the air into the home.
Although swamp coolers used to be a good cooling option, recent advances in high efficiency cooling systems have made them less attractive because of the many disadvantages of swamp coolers. Although an evaporative cooler can cool a home to a lower temperature than the outside air, they do not have the cooling capacity of a central air conditioning system.
Swamp coolers work best in very dry conditions. They are not effective when humidity levels increase or during warm, rainy weather. They also require frequent maintenance and since they are usually located on the roof, maintenance can be inconvenient for the homeowner and the cost of professional maintenance can add up.
The big advantage of a swamp cooler has always been its lower electricity usage, but modern energy efficient central air conditioning systems use 30% to 50% less electricity than those made years ago. That means that the advantage of using a swamp cooler is much less than it used to be, especially once the cost of maintenance is factored in.
If you have a swamp cooler installed on your home, talk to a reputable local residential HVAC service and repair contractor like Jasper Contractors about replacing it with a new, high efficiency central air conditioning system. You will spend a little more on energy costs, but enjoy far greater comfort.
Types of Central Air Conditioners
Central air conditioning systems are far more effective and efficient than window units for residential cooling. A central air conditioning system uses a duct system to distribute cool, dehumidified air throughout the home. Supply ducts run from the air conditioner to each room in the home and deliver cooled air through the vents (or registers). A return duct system pulls air from various locations inside the home and returns it to the air conditioner. In this manner, a central air conditioning system continuously circulates air throughout the home.
There are two basic types of central air conditioning systems: split systems and packaged systems. Split systems are the most common types found in residential applications. These systems have an outdoor unit that contains the compressor and condenser. Inside the home is an air handler that contains the evaporator and a fan that blows conditioned air throughout the home.
Most split systems are combined with a furnace that is located in the indoor air handler and uses the same duct system to supply heated air when needed. Some split systems have a heat pump instead of a gas or oil fired furnace. With a heat pump, the air conditioner operates in reverse to provide warm air inside the home rather than cool air.
In a packaged system, all of the components are located in the exterior unit. Air supply and return ducts are routed to the outdoors unit and then back into the house. These types of systems are more common in small commercial buildings and can include a furnace built into the units.
If you are retrofitting a home with a central air conditioning system and the home already has an indoor furnace and duct system, a split system is usually the easiest and most economical type central air conditioning system to install. A good HVAC replacement and installation contractor like Jasper Contractors recommend the best type of system for your home.
If your home currently has a forced air heating system and you are considering upgrading your air conditioning system from window units or a swamp cooler (evaporative cooler), you will need the assistance of a local HVAC contractor like Jasper air with experience in residential HVAC replacement and installation. This is a pretty straightforward upgrade, but there are some limitations to keep in mind.
Adding a split system central air conditioning system or replacing the existing furnace with an air source heat pump is not a difficult job for a good HVAC contractor. Your HVAC technician will need to route the coolant lines from the outside location where the condenser will be installed to the evaporator coil installed inside the indoor air handler. In addition, power will need to be supplied to the unit and provisions made for a condensate drain line.
The primary limitation on installing a central air conditioning system on an existing forced air furnace or converting to a heat pump will be your existing duct system. In order for a heat pump or central air conditioning system to operate efficiently, the duct system must be matched to the capacity of the cooling system. In some cases, the existing duct system may be undersized, especially if you are planning to install a heat pump.
Unless your home is constructed so that there is excellent access to the ductwork through a basement, crawlspace, or attic, replacing ductwork or installing new ducts can be very expensive. However, if this is the case your HVAC contractor may be able to compensate for an undersized duct system by increasing the energy efficiency of your home with an energy efficiency package. Talk to an experienced HVAC contractor about installing central air conditioning in your home.
Switching Over to Cooling Mode
If you have been enjoying energy efficient heating all winter with your new heat pump, now is the time to switch your heat pump over to cooling mode for the summer. If this is your first year with a heat pump you may be surprised to find that switching from heating to cooling is not much different than with your old furnace and central air conditioning system. Simply change your thermostat from “Heat” to “Cool”, select your temperature setting and you are all set!
If you have a programmable thermostat, set the program for comfort and energy saving settings for the cooling season. Although using a setback program in the winter months is not energy efficient with a heat pump, it is fine to use one in the summer when the heat pump is in cooling mode. In the summer, a heat pump works just like a central air conditioning system.
Check the fan to make sure it is set to “Auto.” In the auto mode, the fan will only run while the heat pump is operating. Many homeowners prefer to leave the fan in the “On” position. When the fan runs constantly, air is circulated throughout the home and temperatures are more even. However, in the summer, leaving the fan on when the heat pump is not running can increase the humidity level inside your home and decrease your comfort level.
Your heat pump removes moisture from the air when in air conditioning mode by condensing the moisture on the coils inside the air handler. The moisture drips into a pan below the coil and drains out of your home. If the fan is running when the heat pump is not operating, some of the moisture remaining on the coils will be blown back into your home which will increase the humidity level. Higher humidity means decreased comfort so remember to switch the fan to “Auto” in the summer months.
As we swing into spring, it’s time to switch from heating to cooling. It seems like just a little while ago we were worried about low humidity in our homes causing chapped lips, respiratory problems, and dry furniture and wood trim. Pretty soon, most of us will have the opposite problem: too much humidity.
For optimal home comfort, most experts recommend keeping the humidity level between 30% and 50%. Fortunately, that is also the most comfortable humidity level. In the winter, when humidity levels drop below 30% the temperature in your feels cooler than it actually is. In the summer months, if the humidity levels climb over 50%, the moist air makes the temperature feel warmer than it actually is.
Keeping the humidity level below 50% in the summer months will improve your comfort level and make your home feel cooler. So if you keep setting the air conditioner temperature lower and lower but still feel uncomfortably warm, maybe you should be cranking down the humidity instead. You will use less energy and save money on your air conditioning bill because you can turn the thermostat up a few degrees while remaining cool and comfortable.
The most effective way to dehumidify your home is to have a reputable HVAC contractor like Jasper Air install a whole house dehumidifier that works in conjunction with your central air conditioning system. The experts at Jasper Air are the New Orleans dehumidifier installation pros. Since it uses your existing ductwork, a whole house dehumidifier can do a far better job of keeping humidity levels uniformly low throughout the house than a portable dehumidifier.
Now is the time to check out your air conditioning system and have it serviced ahead of the summer heat. Take care of it now while temperatures are still mild and you will be all set when scorching summer temperatures begin.
One of the most important items is to change your air filter. Hopefully you have been changing it regularly while running the furnace, but if it has been more than a month this would be a good time to check the filter and change it if necessary. A clogged air filter will reduce your air conditioning system’s efficiency which not only costs you money for higher energy costs, but your system will have to work harder and will break down more often and wear out sooner.
Next, check around your compressor and make sure it is clear of debris. You never know what kind of leaves or other debris was blown up against it during the winter or in the spring storms. The compressor needs plenty of air flow to work properly and even a few leaves and dirt can significantly reduce the compressor’s efficiency. Keep the compressor clear and it will work better and last longer.
Finally, schedule a service call with a good local HVAC contractor like Jasper contractors. They specialize in residential HVAC maintenance and will service the system and make sure it is in top condition when you need it this summer. Your HVAC technician will check and adjust refrigerant levels, lubricate the system, inspect and clean the coils and heat exchanger, and check the entire system to make sure it is operating properly. If you schedule service now you can beat the rush. If you wait too long, the top heating and air conditioning companies will be booked solid and it could take a few days before they can get to you.
