The weather is getting warmer, and you know the blistering heat isn’t far off. Is your air conditioning system ready for another hot summer in Katy, TX? Chances are that even if it is ready, it could also be more ready. We have some tips to make sure you have the best possible start to using your air conditioning system this season.
AC Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Katy’
Getting the Best Start With Your AC This Season
Monday, April 5th, 2021Just Getting a High-Efficiency AC Isn’t Enough: Here’s the Secret!
Monday, March 22nd, 2021
With summer coming up, you might be in a position where you’re ready to replace your old air conditioning system and start fresh. We think this is a good idea, especially if your air conditioner is more than 15 years old or it is showing signs it can’t keep up with the heat the way it used to. And if you’re thinking about investing in a high-efficiency air conditioning system with features like a variable-speed fan and multi-stage compressor, we also think that’s a good idea.
But we want to caution you that simply purchasing a high-efficiency AC isn’t an automatic ticket to lower cooling bills. It might not even be a way to get sufficient cooling.
A Gentle Reminder in Strange Days of AC Maintenance
Monday, March 8th, 2021
A few weeks ago, we posted about air conditioning maintenance, which is an important job to have done each spring to prepare a residential cooling system for the rigors of another summer. And then the big chill hit Texas, and we have to wonder if the people who read that original post still have AC maintenance in mind. We wouldn’t be surprised if you and everyone else was strictly focused on heating systems. We certainly were busy helping customers handle heating difficulties during this time.
We want to bring up AC maintenance again because even with the bizarre cold weather we’ve just gone through, the march toward summer has already begun, and you still need to have air conditioning maintenance in Katy, TX to get you off to the best start. If you’ve managed to settle any heating problems you experienced recently, it’s time to move on to preventing cooling problems.
Too Early to Schedule HVAC Maintenance? Not at All!
Monday, February 8th, 2021
It’s early February, and the ol’ groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. However, the groundhog has been right approximately 30% of the time, which is less than chance, and we live in Texas where we generally don’t need to worry about long winters.
And that’s a lengthy way of saying that we’re already heading toward warmer weather here and it’s time to think about scheduling routine HVAC maintenance so your AC is ready to go into spring. But you shouldn’t just abandon your heater. Take advantage of this slower time to have any lingering heater repair in Katy, TX taken care of. In fact, why not arrange for both at one time? Call us up about your heating problems and ask to get on the schedule for HVAC maintenance through our Safety and Efficiency Cool Club.
How Does an Electric Furnace Fare Against a Heat Pump?
Monday, January 11th, 2021
If you live in an all-electric home, there are several choices available to you when it comes to heating during the winter. The two main ones are the electric furnace and the heat pump. Because we don’t experience fierce winters here in Katy, your heating system will run for only a short season—but that doesn’t mean that just any heater will do.
In fact, choosing between a heat pump and an electric furnace is a big decision, because it will also affect how you cool the house. A heat pump is a two-in-one system that works as both an air conditioner and a heater, so if you choose a heat pump installation, you’re also making the decision on how you’re cooling the house. If you choose an electric furnace, you’re also deciding to either keep your current AC or install a separate AC unit.
Proper Thermostat Handling for a Texas Winter
Monday, December 28th, 2020
It’s the end of the year, and we’re experiencing bone-chilling temperatures here of around … let’s see … 67°F during the day. Yes, not exactly the Blizzard of 1888 (fun facts on that, if you’re interested) and not quite the temperatures that will make you depend on your home heating system.
But the mild temperatures of winter do pose a challenge to us because finding the ideal setting on the thermostat can be tricky. Sometimes days will warm up just enough that you’ll need the AC running, and then the next day drop down just cool enough to have the heater come on. If you’re moving the thermostat setting up and down all the time, that’s probably creating energy waste without giving you the comfort results you want.
No Matter the Temperature, Remember these Two Facts…
These two facts will help you understand the “why” of how the thermostat is set.
- Heat loss or heat gain slows down the closer indoor and outdoor temperatures are to each other. This is why extreme temperature settings on a thermostat are so wasteful. Cranking the heat up too far means heat leaves the house faster. Blasting the air conditioning causes heat to move into the house faster. Aim to find a temperature inside that’s comfortable but also as close as possible to the outside temperature.
- The thermostat is a switch, not a throttle. You won’t get more heating or cooling delivered faster with extreme high or low settings. You’re only telling the heater or AC to stay on for longer. Steady settings are better for energy efficiency and comfort.
Now let’s look at the recommended thermostat settings.
When You Have the Heater On
Set the thermostat at 68°F during the day when people are home. This is a comfortable enough temperature for most people. Most of the time, the heater won’t even need to turn on or stay running for long. Lower the temperatures further at night or when the house is empty, usually around 60°F.
When You Have the AC On
The best daytime setting for staying cool is 78°F, and with proper ventilation, open windows, and fans you may not even need to have the AC running until the temperature has risen into the 80s. At night time or when the house is empty, raise the temperature by 8°F to 86°F.
A Smart Thermostat Is a Great Help
The best way to avoid having to change the programming regularly on the thermostat to adjust to days that are hot or cold is to have a special “smart” thermostat installed. This thermostat learns from your patterns of climate setting and from the house conditions to create its own programs that maximize energy use. In our area, this kind of thermostat is especially beneficial, since it adapts to our mild climate and can change between heating and cooling easily.
Get in touch with us for thermostat installation, as well as AC and heating repair in Katy, TX whenever you run up against serious comfort trouble.
At AC Comfort, “Your Comfort Is Our Business!” Reach out to us today if you need help with your heating and cooling.
5 Signs of Compressor Trouble in Your AC
Monday, September 21st, 2020
Last year we wrote a post about what to do about your air conditioning system when the compressor fails: do you pay to repair it or have the entire AC replaced? The reason this question comes up is because the compressor is vital to an air conditioner and expensive to replace if it does fail. This is the part of your air conditioning system that you want to watch out for the closest so you don’t end up having to make this big decision.
Since we’re at the tail end of an extremely hot summer, the compressor in your air conditioning system has gone through a heavy workload. We have listed five signs to watch for that you need AC repair in Katy, TX to rescue a compressor that’s entered a risky zone. A fast response can repair a compressor before it’s beyond help and you’re looking at possibly replacing the entire air conditioner.
Too Much Refrigerant in the AC? Yes, It Can Happen—And It’s Bad!
Monday, August 10th, 2020
A common and major repair problem air conditioning systems run into is leaking refrigerant. Tiny holes along the copper refrigerant lines allow the refrigerant level in the system to drop, and that puts the entire air conditioner in jeopardy. Air conditioning systems are manufactured to run a specific charge (amount) of refrigerant. If that drops, it will not only lower cooling capacity, it will eventually inflict irreparable damage to the components, concluding with a burnt-out compressor.
There’s an opposite to the problem of the undercharged air conditioner with refrigerant leaks. It’s the overcharged air conditioner. The refrigerant level cannot be more than the unit’s specified charge, because that puts the system in danger as well.
Is a High SEER Rating for a New AC Always Good?
Monday, July 13th, 2020
In the world of air conditioners, SEER ratings are just about everything. We’re sure that when you started looking into an air conditioner, you did a little research and quickly stumbled upon SEER ratings. SEER stands for Season Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s what you use to measure how efficient an air conditioner is. Most of the time, you’d think that the higher the SEER rating the better, right? But what if this isn’t always true?
We’re going to get into everything that you need to understand below. For now though, just know that you can contact us for everything air conditioning in Katy, TX. We’re the professionals that know their stuff. You won’t be disappointed with our work.
Can My AC Deal With the Summer Humidity?
Monday, June 15th, 2020
Nobody likes it when the humidity rises on a hot summer day, because we know what that feels like—a much hotter day. The truth is that high humidity doesn’t raise the temperature of the air. What it does is make it harder for our bodies to release heat through our skin. More heat is trapped in our bodies, and so we feel even hotter. Think of humidity as like throwing a blanket around your body on a hot day. Not something you would want to do.
“Yeah, humidity is rough in summer,” you say, “but I’ve got my air conditioner to handle it.”