Author: acshvac

Think of your heating and cooling (HVAC) system components as the instruments in a quiet symphony.

When all the pieces are in good condition and work in harmony, the only sounds you will hear will be the quiet hum of a motor and whisper of air as it exits registers in your Arizona home.

An HVAC system operating at peak efficiency is music to the ears.

An HVAC system in need of professional attention produces noise.

Unusual sounds may indicate the need for a tune-up, cleaning, or repair. The experts at ACS Air Conditioning Services can decipher the noise and get your system back on track. They have the knowledge and experience it takes to keep your HVAC equipment running at peak efficiency and delivering the comfort you expect in your Tucson home.

According to ENERGY STAR®, annual energy bills top $2,200 in the average household. Half of that cost goes to heating and cooling systems. Maintaining HVAC equipment is essential to keeping costs down and more money in your pocket.

You can troubleshoot your furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, and ductwork by paying attention to sensory cues. If the equipment emits strange odors or working parts look worn and dirty, it may be time to call for professional help. Listening to your HVAC system is one of the easiest ways to be proactive.

What is your HVAC system trying to tell you? Here is a guide to some typical sounds:

1. Screaming—If your air conditioner sounds like the victim in a horror film, it may have a refrigerant leak or too much pressure in its compressor. Turn the system off and call one of our professionals.
2. Squealing or screeching—These sounds are like the high-pitched noise from worn brakes or metal on metal. They may indicate a worn belt or motor bearing. Sometimes the motor simply needs lubrication. Replacing the belt and lubricating the motor are not for do-it-yourselfers. For fast, quality, and expert service, call the professionals at ACS Air Conditioning Services.
3. Rattling—If you notice rattling near an air register, it could mean the grille is loose. A rattling sound from within an air duct usually signals the presence of debris. Did you inadvertently drop a nail through the register or did someone in the family force a tiny toy through the grille? It may be time for a thorough duct cleaning.Debris inside the outdoor unit of the air conditioning system also can cause rattling. Other possibilities include a loose fan and loose parts in the blower or motor. These also can cause rattling sounds from the outdoor unit of your air conditioning system. The fan could be loose and there might be a problem with the blower or the motor.

4. Banging or clanking—A loose part that rattles can eventually break or disconnect, causing a banging sound. Your furnace blower also could be unbalanced, or your compressor might be loose.
5. Scraping—A metal scraping sound likely means a component is broken and possibly moving around in the unit. It might also indicate damaged or obstructed fan blades.
6. Loud humming or clicking—Humming, clicking, even buzzing usually indicate electrical problems, such as loose wiring, a defective capacitor, or failing thermostat.
7. Hissing—If you hear hissing from your air conditioning unit, it could be a refrigerant leak or a problem with the compressor motor. If the sound is inside the walls of your home or from the furnace, it likely is a leaky duct. Either way, you will need to call a professional for repairs.

Call Us Today

Now that you are fluent in HVAC sounds, listen for noise that might indicate a potential problem. Be proactive and call ACS Air Conditioning Services in Tucson, AZ, for an inspection and tune-up. Call 520-230-5668 or request service online.

Our team at ACS Air Conditioning Services regularly gets calls about frozen heat pumps. Though common, a heat pump freeze-up usually means your system’s components are not working correctly. Sometimes you can fix it yourself. But oftentimes, you will need to call a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional, like us, as the problem may require a part replacement or complex repair.

Heat Pump Brain Freeze

To help sort things out, here are the six usual suspects causing heat pumps to freeze up:

1. Clogged Air Filter

When air filters are left to collect particles for too long, they become clogged. This hinders airflow, trapping moisture. Dust, pet dander, and smoke are just a few examples of things that can clog your filter.

The National Air Filter Association (NAFA) recommends changing your system’s filter as soon as it is loaded with dust and debris. How quickly your filter becomes clogged depends on many factors in your home. At ACS Air Conditioning Services, we recommend switching to a new filter minimally every three months.

Try replacing your air filter, then running your unit’s heat setting to melt the ice. If this does not clear the problem, contact one of our trained experts to come out to help.

2. Low or Empty Refrigerant

If your heat pump is low on refrigerant, it may be leaking. This can be from of a weakened solder joint, a failed valve, or unsecured fittings. Also, when a component rubs against the refrigerant tank over time, it could eventually puncture it, leading to a freeze-up.

When the pipes start rattling, play it safe and power down your heat pump. Then contact one of our HVAC professionals for immediate inspection.

3. Filthy Evaporator Coil

Refrigerant flows through your heat pump’s evaporator coil. It transports heat into your Oro Valley home during cool weather and pulls it out during hot weather. When the coil becomes dirty, its ability to transfer heat is impaired. Compromised airflow can lead to a freeze-up.

If you notice ice on your coils, power down your heat pump. Then gently pour warm water over the coils to melt the ice. If your coils freeze back up, call one of our HVAC team members.

4. Faulty Blower Motor

If your blower motor is not up to speed, it can wreak havoc on your system, leading to a freeze-up.

The fan may start and stop intermittently, run at a reduced spinning cycle, or not run at all. If this is the case, have someone from ACS Air Conditioning Services replace it.

5. Dirty Fan Blades

When the blower’s fan blades are dirty, this compromises the system’s airflow and exhaust output. Moisture may become trapped and turn into ice. If this happens, give us a call to correct it, as the fan blades are quite delicate.

6. Wintertime Neglect

Depending on your heat pump model and your Arizona home’s geographic location, some air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) do not always operate efficiently in colder temperatures. Check with one of our experts if this is an issue for your heat pump.

Also, the unit should be completely level with the ground; any tilting can cause moisture to get trapped and become frozen. Again, talk to our HVAC professionals if you believe your heat pump is not level.

Finally, your unit should be away from gutter flow, as this can cause ice formation. During the winter, always check for ice accumulation around or on your unit, and clear it to prevent further issues.

Contact Us With Any Heat Pump Issues

Experiencing a frozen heat pump? Our ACS Air Conditioning Services team of experienced HVAC professionals is just around the corner in Oro Valley, AZ, to assist you. Call us today at 520-230-5668 or request service online if you need a repair or are interested in upgrading your current system.

If your furnace is producing a strange smell, you should always treat it with caution. While the cause for the odor may be benign, it could just as easily be harmful to inhale. When in doubt, always open windows to ensure ventilation, and evacuate your Arizona home.

For your convenience and protection, our ACS Air Conditioning Services team developed a list of five common furnace smells and what they mean.

1. Burnt Plastic

If you just turned on your furnace for the winter, your nostrils may detect a burning smell. If this is the case, you don’t need to panic yet. Furnaces collect dust over time, which is burnt off when you first turn on your furnace.

It might be a good idea to check your filter to see if it needs replacing. However, if the smell doesn’t dissipate after about 30 minutes, contact one of our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals to check it out.

2. Rotten Eggs

The sulfuric rotten-eggs smell usually points to a natural gas leak. Gas distributors often give it this smell in order to tip you off when a leak occurs, since gas is typically odorless.

If you believe there is a natural gas leak, open your doors and windows, then be sure everyone gets out of the house to safety. From there, you should call 911 as well as your Marana gas company.

3. Musty and/or Mildewy

This smell is usually indicative of dirty air ducts. Over time, your ductwork becomes overrun with dust, debris, mildew, and mold. Your home’s ventilation carries this smell throughout the house.

Not only is this smell unpleasant; it’s bad for your indoor air quality (IAQ). Indoor air quality can be decreased by several contributing factors. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. To solve the smell issue, have your ducts cleaned by a professional.

4. Metallic and/or Electric

This is likely the smell of your motor overheating. In this case, it’s a good decision to power down your furnace immediately. Then, schedule a repair with one of our professional  technicians.

5. Formaldehyde

If you can smell a pungent chemical smell similar to formaldehyde, this presumably means you have a cracked heat exchanger. You should evacuate immediately and call 911. Cracked heat exchangers are known to release carbon monoxide (CO) fumes that are potentially lethal when inhaled.

Contact Us for All Your Furnace Needs

Our team at ACS Air Conditioning Services hopes you found this list of common furnace smells useful. Remember, always treat chemical smells with the utmost wariness. Call us at 520-230-5668 or request service online here in Marana, AZ, or any of its surrounding areas with any additional questions or to schedule service.

With all the options available for setting your programmable thermostat, it is easy to get confused. Of course, this defeats the purpose of a programmable thermostat––it is designed for you to “set it and forget it,” making your life easier. Naturally, anything can be confusing at times, so feel free to contact our qualified ACS Air Conditioning Services team members with any questions you may have about your programmable thermostat.

Forget About It

With a programmable thermostat in your Tucson home, you are able to program your thermostat once with the changes specified. Quite literally, you can “set it and forget it.”

Changing Temps Really Does Help

Why even bother to set different temperatures on your programmable thermostat?

Because living here in Arizona, it will save you a decent chunk of money. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), if you turn your heat down 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours, you can achieve a 5 to 15 percent savings on your heating bill.

This goes for your air conditioning as well. Turn your air conditioning down (or the temperature up) when you are out of your house or sleeping, then do the opposite when you are back home or awake.

A Plethora of Programmables

If you are in the purchasing stage of a new programmable thermostat for your Tucson home, know  what type of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment you have for compatibility reasons. Also, keep in mind you will need to set a different program for the cooler months than the warmer months.

Here are a few of the main types of programmable thermostats and how they function:

• 7-day programming. This thermostat allows the most flexibility. You can set individual temperatures for each day of the week.

• 5-1-1 programming. This thermostat allows one schedule for the week (five days, Monday through Friday), then a separate schedule for Saturday and then Sunday.

• 5-2 programming. This thermostat is very similar to the 5-1-1 programming type, except Saturday and Sunday are combined into one plan.

• 1-week programming. This thermostat allows you to only set one repeated schedule, the same for every day, regardless of weekdays and weekends.

Programmable Thermostat Dos and Don’ts

Depending on the type of programmable thermostat you have, there will be somewhat different choices. This said, most programmables generally work on the same time options: Wake Time, Sleep Time, Leave Time, and Return Time.

Be sure when programming your thermostat you enter realistic times—accurately reflecting your schedule. You want to get the most from your thermostat.

These are a few things to keep in mind prior to setting your schedule:

• Install name-brand batteries, and change them annually. Cheaper batteries do not have as long of a charge in them. You want your thermostat working when you need it.

• Feel free to temporarily override your set schedule and adjust the temperature when needed. This override automatically cancels and then resumes to normal programming. Do not select Hold/Permanent/Vacation (depending on your thermostat, and unless you are actually going on vacation), and just choose Temporary.

• Avoid cranking temperatures to extremes with the mindset of heating up or cooling down your home quicker. The system does not work that way, and it just uses up your energy faster, costing you more money. Your equipment will heat or cool your home just as quickly when setting it at the accurate temperatures.

In general, here is how to set your thermostat:

1. Be sure to follow your manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Choose either heating or cooling—whichever you will be doing, obviously dependent on the season.

3. Set the temperature for weekdays by setting the switch to heating or cooling and selecting the weekday program. Start with Monday or just weekday, depending on your model, and select the time and temperature for the day(s) you wish.

Continue with the remaining times for that day(s) with temperatures. For example, you may want your air conditioner to cool your home to 72 degrees at 7:00 a.m., so when your alarm goes off at 7:30 a.m., your home is nice and cool for you. Then when you go to bed at 11:00 p.m., you would want to set your air conditioning to 76 degrees at 11:30 p.m. so you are saving energy while asleep.

The same procedure goes for the heating setting. Many thermostat models allow you to set times and temperatures up to four times during weekends. So if you work or leave during the day, you can change the temperature to reflect this and save even more money.

4. Set the temperature for weekends in the same manner. However, since most people tend to be home more during the weekend, you may only want to set the temperature for your wakeup and bed times. You can use a temporary override to adjust the temperature if you decide to leave the house during the day.

Contact ACS Air Conditioning Services for All Your HVAC Needs

Programmable thermostats are really designed for you to “set it and forget it.” A programmable thermostat will help make your Tucson, AZ, home comfortable and may allow you to save money at the same time. Call ACS Air Conditioning Services at 520-230-5668 or request service online if it is time for a new thermostat or if you need help programming yours. We are always happy to help.

Winter is right around the corner and with it comes freezing temperatures, frequent illness, and dry indoor air. If you struggle with discomfort during the winter in your Oro Valley home, you may benefit from investing in a humidification system.

Our professionals at ACS Air Conditioning Services are here to inform you about home humidification, different systems available, and the benefits they can provide during the winter season.

What Is Humidity?

Humidity is a measure of how much moisture exists in the air. Typically, humidity is lower in the winter and can be very high in some areas in the summer. A more important question, however, is what is the relative humidity in your Arizona home? Relative humidity takes into account the temperature and moisture levels, which directly affect how comfortable we are in our homes.

For instance, a room that is 77 degrees Fahrenheit can hold 22 grams of water in a cubic meter of air. If that much moisture actually exists, you have a relative humidity of 100 percent. If only 11 grams of water exists, your relative humidity is 50 percent.

At 100 percent relative humidity at any temperature, the surrounding air will be holding its maximum amount of water, which means sweat cannot evaporate from human skin, making us feel hotter.

When relative humidity is low, any moisture on our skin does evaporate, making us feel cooler. Ideally, your home should have a relative humidity of about 40 to 50 percent.

How Does a Humidifier Work?

A humidifier is a device that emits water vapor to increase the humidity in your home. There are many different mechanical systems that allow you to do this. Here are the humidifiers commonly available and how they operate:

• Evaporative humidifier. As the most common type of humidifier, an evaporative system takes water from a holding tank, moves it to a basin that contains a wicking material, and then uses a fan to blow air through the wet filter. This moisture moves to the surrounding air in the room.

• Steam vaporizer. This system essentially boils water and releases steam into your home to provide humidification. It is the simplest and least expensive option.

• Impeller humidifier. In an impeller-based system, a spinning disc throws water at a diffuser, which further breaks down the water droplets to create a cool mist.

• Ultrasonic humidifier. Operating silently, an ultrasonic humidifier has a metal component that vibrates at a high frequency to create water droplets.

Many room humidifiers can be purchased just about anywhere and work especially well in bedrooms when family members are trying to recover from a winter illness. However, if you live in a very dry climate, it may be worth investing in a whole-house humidifier that works with your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Whole-house humidifiers can help balance the moisture levels throughout your home. Many whole-house humidifiers are bypass systems that add moisture to the warm air blowing from your furnace.

When air comes through the heating ducts, it passes through a built-in water panel, picking up the moisture that can be distributed throughout your home. Fan-powered humidifiers take the bypass systems one step further by using a fan to force air through the water panel, which increases evaporation further.

Just like steam vaporizers can humidify a single room, whole-house steam humidifiers can use the same technology to blow steam throughout your house regardless of whether the furnace is operating or not. This is the fastest and most effective method of humidification.

How Does Low Humidity Affect My Life?

When you have very dry, winter air in your home, you will experience overall discomfort. First,  you’ll feel colder because all the moisture from your skin evaporates into the air around you.

Many people are plagued with dry, chapped skin or uncomfortable sore throats as a result. Humidity below 30 percent can also make seasonal colds, the flu, and respiratory illnesses more uncomfortable.

In addition, very dry air can damage things like wood furniture or sensitive musical instruments in your home.

Let’s Discuss Your Home’s Humidity

If you’re looking for humidification solutions or have other heating, cooling, or ventilation needs, call ACS Air Conditioning Services in Oro Valley, AZ. Our professionals can help recommend equipment as well as provide repair and maintenance services. Call 520-230-5668 or request service online today.

Short cycling is a term used in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) world to explain a situation where a furnace or air conditioner turns on and off too frequently. The “short cycle” is the period of time that your HVAC equipment is actually running, and the shorter this cycle, the harder your system needs to work.

Our team at ACS Air Conditioning Services wants you to understand the concept of short cycling, why it can be harmful and costly, what causes the problem, and what you can do about it.

Root Causes of Short Cycling

If you notice your HVAC system is kicking on and off more than normal, you may be facing a short-cycling issue in your Marana home. Before short cycling causes expensive damage, you’ll want to get to the root cause of the problem. Here are some common causes of short cycling:

• Incorrect unit size. If you have a furnace or air conditioner that is too large for your Arizona home, it will short cycle. Essentially, an oversized furnace or air conditioner repeats the cycle of heating or cooling an area quickly and then shutting down immediately over and over again. According to ENERGY STAR®, ensuring you have the correct-sized air conditioning system can minimize this problem as well as reduce your energy bills.
• Repair issue. If you recently had a bad storm that resulted in a power outage, this could cause short cycling. In addition, breaker problems, condensate switch issues, a corroded flame sensor, or objects stuck in your vents could also be a root cause. Contact our professional team to inspect your system to help you identify the cause.
• Maintenance issues. Homeowners who fail to regularly maintain their HVAC systems may cause short-cycling issues to arise. For example, a dirty air filter can restrict airflow, which may lead to short cycles. Regular cleaning and inspections can go a long way to prevent short cycling.
• Thermostat problems. If you’ve recently installed a new thermostat, be sure it’s in a location where you can get an accurate temperature reading. For instance, thermostats that are in direct sunlight or near heat-generating appliances or vents may misread your home’s actual temperature and signal your HVAC system to turn on and off incorrectly. A broken thermostat could also be the root cause of the problem.

Before You Notice

Today’s technology does have some built-in protection against HVAC short cycling. Similar to an overload trigger on an electrical motor, shut-off controls will often prevent catastrophic HVAC equipment failure. For instance, if temperatures or pressures exceed maximum preset ranges, these safety devices will kick in and shut down your HVAC system for a certain amount of time.

Whether you notice short cycling or your HVAC system shuts down due to this issue, it’s important to resolve the root causes for the long-term health of your heating and cooling system. Living with a system that short cycles can lead to poor temperature-, ventilation-, and humidity-management; a strain on electrical and lubrication systems; and energy wastage.

What You Can Do

The most important thing you can do to prevent short cycling is to regularly maintain your HVAC system with biannual inspections and cleanings. During this process, a trained technician can spot potential problems and correct them before you experience short-cycling problems.

You can also invest in technologies such as variable capacity furnaces and air conditioners, which will adjust the output of your equipment instead of simply shutting down. Look into dead-band settings on your thermostats as well. These allow you to specify an acceptable temperature band so your HVAC equipment cycles less frequently.

Contact Us for All Your Heating and Cooling Needs

For more details about short cycling, its causes, and how to prevent it, call our professionals at ACS Air Conditioning Services in Marana, AZ. Our trained, experienced team can help you address short-cycling issues with repairs, maintenance, and new equipment suggestions. Call us at 520-230-5668 or request service online.

Once the cooler weather hits here in Tucson this fall, you are going to want the inside of your home toasty and comfortable. This means turning on your furnace. Long before the first night you’ll want to use it, you should have your furnace cleaned and checked by a professional from ACS Air Conditioning Services.

You may think this maintenance is unimportant and you can save money by forgoing it, but you would be mistaken. Here are five reasons you should call to schedule your appointment today.

1. It prevents unexpected and costly breakdowns.

When you schedule your furnace clean and check regularly on an annual basis, you are preventing breakdowns. By having one of our seasoned experts inspect and clean your system, he or she can spot any impending repairs or weaknesses. This alerts you so you can take care of the issue in a timely manner, circumventing middle-of-the-night emergencies when emergency services will cost you more.

2. It saves on monthly energy bills.

By having your furnace cleaned regularly, which includes replacing or cleaning your filter, your furnace can work more efficiently, saving you energy. Once it gets dirty, airflow becomes diminished and blocked. This causes your furnace to work harder, using more energy to do the same amount of work it normally does under easier conditions.

3. It keeps you and your family safe.

When your furnace is not inspected and cleaned before you use it every fall, you run the risk of missing a possible unsafe issue or repair. Sometimes something as dangerous as a cracked heat exchanger can occur.

According to the Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), this can leak toxic carbon monoxide into your Arizona home’s air, and you may not be aware of it at the beginning stages of the problem. By then, dangerous levels of the poisonous gas could already be in your home. One of our professional and highly trained technicians can spot and address safety issues prior to them becoming unsafe.

4. It extends your furnace’s life span.

Your furnace is meant to run smoothly and efficiently, with an expected life span of 15 to 20 years (for gas furnaces). When you neglect its annual clean and check, the dirt and dust accumulated inside builds up and causes problems.

This in turn forces your system to work harder, wearing down its parts sooner. Keeping things running smoothly helps your furnace live a long and healthy life.

5. It keeps the warranty valid.

Your furnace most likely came with a manufacturer’s warranty. Many of these warranties specify that regular maintenance needs to be performed to keep the system in tip-top shape and to prevent unneeded repairs. By not scheduling these maintenance appointments, your chance of incurring repairs increases and may void your warranty.

Schedule Your Furnace Clean and Check Today

To ensure the best results for both your furnace and your pocketbook, be sure to schedule your annual furnace clean-and-check appointment before the cold weather hits here in Tucson, AZ. You want your furnace to start right up without issue. Call one of our ACS Air Conditioning Services team members at 520-230-5668 or request service online to make your appointment today.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters and the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield have a lot in common. They both can tout, “I don’t get no respect!” Most people do not realize how pivotal the HVAC air filter is to both their homes and their HVAC systems.

Respect Yourself, and Your Air Filter

Here in Arizona, you may think about your filter only when the seasons change, particularly transitioning from the warmer temperatures of summer to the cooler temps of fall, but filters need more attention than that all year long. Both our ACS Air Conditioning Services HVAC professionals and ENERGY STAR^® recommend replacing your filter as frequently as every month, but at the very least every three months. Here’s why.

1. Keeps Your Indoor Air Quality High

The purity of the air you breathe inside your home, your indoor air quality (IAQ), is not always high. By changing your filter on a monthly basis, you can improve it. Here are a couple worthwhile statistics to know.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Americans now spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors. And according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), our indoor air is two to five times as toxic as our outdoor air.

These indoor pollutants cause or can worsen allergies and respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, as well as other long-term conditions and diseases like heart disease and cancer. In other words, keeping the air you breathe in your Oro Valley home as clean as possible should be a priority. Change your HVAC filter monthly to help keep those toxic particles out of your lungs.

2. Increases the Efficiency of Your System

By changing your filter on a regular basis, you can help increase the efficiency of your HVAC system. A dirty filter is a common reason for breakdowns due to overworking furnaces and air conditioners.

With a clogged filter, the air can’t get through, causing the system and its motor to work harder and run longer. When everything has to work harder and longer than designed, it causes system stress and decreases your system’s efficiency. So keep it running smoothly with regular filter changes.

3. Saves You Money

Despite the argument that changing your filter on a monthly basis costs you more money, in actuality, regularly changing your filter can save you money. By giving your HVAC system clean filters, your system does not have to work as hard to heat or cool your Oro Valley home. Less stress on your system’s components extends their life making them less likely to need premature replacement.

4. Leaves a Green Footprint

Being a good steward of Mother Earth and all her resources is more important than ever. When your filter is dirty and causing your system to work harder—since it is stressed—using more energy. These days, HVAC systems are designed to run efficiently, in an eco-friendly manner, so you will be doing your part simply by changing your filter.

Call ACS Air Conditioning Services for All Your Air Filter Needs

Now it’s plain to see; so much of both your indoor air quality and your HVAC system’s health depend on a clean filter. This everyday item wields mighty power and certainly deserves more attention, and respect, than it usually receives.

Give your filter that attention by replacing it on a regular basis, and the dividends will outweigh the investment. If you have any concerns or questions about your HVAC system’s filter, speak to one of our ACS Air Conditioning Services HVAC specialists at 520-230-5668 or request service online today here in Oro Valley, AZ.

In many places, evidence of fall’s presence is obvious by way of beautiful fall colors. But many only experience fall with its subtlety through lower humidity levels.

No matter which way you experience it, one thing is evident in them all––fall brings drier air. The cooler air simply can’t hold as much moisture as warm air, resulting in the dry air. While it can make for crisp mornings for walking, the lack of moisture in the air can also take its toll on you, your home, and your overall comfort.

That’s why we at ACS Air Conditioning Services recommend a humidifier for your home, especially for the cooler months. It helps to maintain the necessary humidity in your Marana home, making everything, including you, run as it should.

Which Type of Humidifier?

There are several types of humidifiers out there, but essentially they boil down to either a whole-house humidifier or a portable humidifier. The whole-house humidifier attaches to your furnace and the fan blows across the humidifier pad, which is hooked up to a water supply, sending the moisture throughout your home via the ducts. This type of humidifier benefits your whole house at once.

A portable humidifier is exactly that. It’s a smaller humidifier that’s portable—you can put it exactly where you need it in a room. It benefits one area at a time. At ACS Air Conditioning Services, we prefer a whole-house humidifier as the benefits are more comprehensive at once. But we encourage you to call and speak with one of our professionals to assess which type would work best for you and your home.

Protecting Yourself

The ideal humidity level for a home is between 30 and 50 percent. When and if your Arizona home’s humidity drops below 30 percent, you’ll definitely have noticeable issues, especially when it comes to your body. It’s best to monitor your home’s humidity level to protect yourself.

Some of the most prevalent negative issues have to do with your breathing and skin. Lower humidity levels affect your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ). With decreased indoor air quality, if you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies or asthma, you’ll notice more breathing problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, humidifiers may help ease breathing problems for those with allergies or asthma, especially children.

Also, though many people think the increase in spreading of germs and bacteria through the cooler weather is due to the lower temperatures, the cause is actually more-susceptible body membranes. Germs and bacteria actually spread less in cooler weather because there’s less moisture in the air in which for them to travel. But due to that same lack of moisture, the body’s membranes are drier and crack, thus making them more receptive to these alien body invaders.

With proper home air humidity, you’ll suffer less bouts of colds, flu, and viruses in general. Your skin will also be properly hydrated, resulting in less dry, cracked skin and the issues that can result.

Protecting Your Home

Just like your body, your home’s contents need protecting from the fall’s lower humidity. Your furniture, especially your wood furniture, needs a certain level of moisture to maintain its beauty and proper function.

With drier air, wood furniture will dry out and crack. You may notice your home’s woodwork and trim cracking or separating from your walls, ceilings, or floors. This could be due to lower humidity.

The same issue can affect your home’s systems and electronics. To run smoothly and properly, certain air conditions need to be met. Too dry of air can sometimes be as damaging as too moist of air.

Increasing Your Comfort

Along with protecting you and your home, humidifiers simply add to the overall comfort in your home. Humidifiers help you sleep better at night. Have you ever woken up with a nosebleed, dry throat, or a cough? These are all symptoms of dry air. The too-low humidity dries out your nasal passages while you’re sleeping, causing interruptions in your night’s sleep. Putting the humidity where it needs to be will allow you a comfortable night’s sleep, making your day that much better.

Another way a humidifier can increase your comfort at home is eliminating static electricity. Getting a small zap, known as electrostatic discharge (ESD), every time you touch something in your home can be unpleasant and annoying. But did you know it can also cause damage to your home’s electronics? Again, a home humidifier can take care of that uncomfortable issue as well.

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Maintaining your home’s humidity is important for many reasons, especially as the weather shifts to cooler temperatures. While it definitely increases your home’s comfort, it has more far-reaching advantages—protecting both you and your home.  If you don’t currently have a humidifier in your home, or if you do and are still noticing any of the issues described above, call 520-230-5668 or request service online and speak with one of our ACS Air Conditioning Services professionals today. We want to help you make your Marana, AZ, home the best it can be.

The average air-source heat pump lasts approximately 15 years. But your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit’s life span is dependent on several factors, including its design and overall quality. However, there are many factors that you, as owner, directly control.

Pump It Up, Perfectly

Caring for your heat pump requires diligence, but is quite manageable if you get into the habit of it. Often, tasks are easier if you break them down into steps. So, from our experienced team at ACS Air Conditioning Services, here are five steps you can take to keep your heat pump in tip-top shape and help make it last even longer:

1. Change Your Air Filter

Changing your heat pump’s air filter is key to its long life. Filters help provide cleaner air for you to breathe in your Tucson home. They also protect your heat pump’s equipment from dust.

If a filter gets too dirty, it does more harm than good. With more and more built-up debris, your filter hinders air from passing through the way it should. A dirty filter means your heat pump will work harder and longer to reach the desired temperature, or it may even short cycle. Either way, it is definitely hard on your heat pump’s internal components.

Both ACS Air Conditioning Services and ENERGY STAR^® recommend changing your filter every three months—even more frequently if you have pets or a smoker in your Arizona home—but double check your manufacturer’s guidelines.

Additionally, it is a good idea to habitually check your filter. If it looks like it needs to be changed, it probably does.

2. Keep Your Outdoor Unit Clean

The cleanliness of the area around the outdoor components of your heat pump is often overlooked. Remove sticks, leaves, and excess dirt from your outdoor box. Trim any shrubbery or vines growing near it.

During cold weather, snow and ice can be the enemy of your unit. Be conscious of the outside component’s appearance during wintertime. If it becomes ridden with snow or ice, power your unit down. Then pour warm water over it, and clean off the remaining frozen buildup.

3. Have Your Ducts Cleaned

Dust, debris, and even mold can settle in your Tucson home’s ductwork over time. This can have negative effects on your indoor air quality (IAQ). In addition, it is rough on your system’s components.

To ensure proper airflow and clean air, you should have your ducts professionally cleaned periodically. As a result, your system’s internal parts will be less likely to develop residue and more likely to last longer.

4. Schedule Routine Maintenance

What is the best way to prevent system breakdowns? Maintenance, of course.

By scheduling professional preventative maintenance at least once every year, you will ensure your system is running at peak performance. During the visit, our ACS Air Conditioning Services licensed professional can quickly diagnose and treat potential problems. Any faulty parts, loose screws, or dirty components can quickly be remedied.

5. Have Repairs Performed by a Licensed Professional

If your heat pump needs to be repaired, have it done by one of our highly trained and experienced pros. While an under-qualified technician may tempt you with dirt-cheap prices, it is best to have a knowledgeable professional take care of the repair.

Many factors in the repair, if wrongly executed, can void your heat pump system’s warranty and lead to future problems. So you should always trust one of our team member’s expertise to address your issue.

We Are Your Heat Pump Experts!

ACS Air Conditioning Services is a team of fully licensed professionals. We go above and beyond to protect the condition of your heating equipment. For any questions or to schedule service, call our Tucson, AZ, office at 520-230-5668 or request service online today.