When it comes to HVAC systems, most homeowners tend to focus on two main components: the AC unit and the furnace. But there's another component to your HVAC system that deserves more attention and understanding: the fan. The fan propels the heated or cooled air into your home, so it gets use throughout the year. Understanding how to use this fan to your advantage can help maximize system efficiency, lower your energy bills, and keep your home more comfortable.
If your home is getting cool, then your AC unit must be working just fine, right? Well, not necessarily. A common problem in AC systems is short-cycling. This is when your system kicks on for just a few minutes, kicks off again, and then kicks on again very quickly. Your system should be cycling on and off only a few times per hour. Here's a closer look at short-cycling, why it's a problem, and what you can do about it.
You depend on your boiler to heat your home's water and to heat your home, which means that it is vital that the boiler stays in good working order. This means you need to get in the habit of doing regular maintenance to ensure the unit is running correctly. Most of these maintenance tips only needs to be acted on every month or two, unless otherwise noted.
Tip #1: Clean the boiler room
Small business central air conditioners operate similarly to residential units, which make the problems easier to diagnose than the more complex commercial units of larger businesses. If your business' air conditioning system has recently started rapid cycling, or turning off too quickly after turning on, you might have a compressor issue that can leave you without cool air until the problem is fixed.
There are two compressor issues that can leave your small business' central air conditioner less functional.
Vented crawl spaces are bad for a home. A study performed by the research firm Advanced Energy in the Southeastern part of the United States showed, among other things, that vented crawl spaces led to moisture, mold, and mildew problems that buckled hardwood floors and lowered the quality of air in houses. The study determined that the best way to correct these issues was to encapsulate the crawl space with a material that serves as a barrier against moisture and air leaks.
