Professional Heating & Air Blog: Archive for September, 2014

Is It Time To Get A Dehumidifier?

Friday, September 26th, 2014

Humidity is part of our weather in Louisiana, especially during the warm months of the year. Humidity can be as much a problem for your air conditioner as it is for you. One way to help alleviate the problems caused by excessive humidity is by installing a whole-home dehumidifier. Whole-home dehumidifiers are installed as part of your existing air conditioning system, and work seamlessly with its operation (they can also work independently). Your indoor air quality is important, and part of having good indoor air quality is having a comfortable moisture level. A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning can help you achieve that with the installation of a whole-home dehumidifier.

How Does High Humidity Affect Your Air Conditioner?

As we mentioned above, high humidity levels affect both you and your air conditioner. Here are some of the ways excess humidity affects your AC:

  • It has to work harder – humidity holds heat, so when it’s excessively humid outside, your air conditioner has to work harder to cool your living space.
  • Clinging debris – certain parts of your air conditioner will sweat due to the excess humidity, which can cause dirt, dust and debris to stick to components. Sticking debris can hamper the operation of your air conditioner.
  • Excess water drainage – when there is more moisture in your air, more liquid will drain from your system. If there are existing problems with your condensate drain or tray, you could have the potential for leaks.

Signs of High Humidity in Your Home

  • Condensation on the inside of your windows
  • Mold and mildew growth
  • Clammy feeling when air conditioner is running
  • Bubbling/peeling paint

The Benefits of Whole-Home Dehumidification

Here are some benefits of whole-home dehumidifiers offer:

  • Better health – mold, mildew, dust mites and other contaminants thrive at humidity levels higher than 60%. With a whole-home dehumidifier, you can control your indoor moisture levels to ensure that your humidity level stays below 60%.
  • Improved comfort – removing the excess humidity from the air allows your air conditioner to cool as it should, leaving you with cool, dry air to enjoy.
  • Increased energy efficiency – the dehumidifier removes the excess moisture in the air, allowing your air conditioner to run without being stressed. This can help save energy.

Humidity is a part of our weather, but it doesn’t have to weigh down you or your air conditioner. If you think you, your home and your air conditioner can benefit from the installation of a whole-home dehumidifier, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule a dehumidifier installation in Hammond, LA with one of our experts.

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How Does Duct Sealing Help Air Conditioning?

Friday, September 19th, 2014

Have you ever considered how important the ductwork in your home is for effective air conditioning? The ducts serve as the channel that transport the cooled air from in the indoor AC cabinet and distributes it through vents into the rooms. Problems with the integrity of the ducts, such as gaps and leaks, will have a negative impact on you air conditioning in multiple ways.

Because most of the ventilation system in your home is hidden behind walls and in ceilings, it’s difficult to tell if the ducts have developed air leaks that require sealing. Any time you notice a drop in air pressure, odd smells coming from the vents, hot spots in rooms, or an increase in your utility bills that you cannot account for, contact A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning in Hammond, LA to investigate. If you have leaky air ducts, we will handle the sealing that will solve the problem.

How Duct Sealing Benefits Your Air Conditioner

The manufacturers of ductwork design them to keep an airtight seal from the air conditioner cabinet all the way to the vents. This maintains air pressure and maximizes airflow. Even a small leak will cause a significant drop in air pressure that will lead to reduced airflow from the vents. The lower the airflow, the poorer the AC will work at cooling down rooms. Effective sealing will keep your air conditioner providing the comfortable temperatures you want.

Leaks in ducts also cause an AC to work harder, since it must strain to reach its set temperature. Even a small set of breaches in ducts can cause an air conditioner to lose up to 30% of its efficiency. Keeping the ductwork airtight thanks to professional duct sealing will prevent your air conditioning bills from rising.

Finally, duct sealing helps to protect an air conditioner from damage and repair needs. Holes in ductwork usually open onto closed-in and dusty areas, such as the space between walls, and dust and dirt will start to enter the ventilation system through the gaps. This debris can easily enter the air conditioner’s cabinet, leading to dirty motors that will burn out and other expensive damages. When you call for professionals to seal up breaks in your ducts, you are helping to keep your air conditioner free from unnecessary repairs.

How Can I Take Care of Duct Sealing?

The best way to have your ducts sealed is to call for professionals. Trained technicians use special equipment to locate the air leaks, and then seal them using mastic and metallic tape. Do not attempt to seal the ducts on your own using “duct tape”: despite the name, duct tape is not for use on ducts and is ineffective at sealing them.

For the skilled services you need to keep your air conditioning working its best, call the team at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer duct sealing services in Hammond, LA.

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Upgrades You Can Make to Your Air Conditioning System

Friday, September 12th, 2014

Your air conditioning system is quite a feat of engineering: it removes the heat and humidity from your home and returns cool air that makes your home dry and comfortable. Today’s air conditioners are very energy efficient, but you can still upgrade your AC to make it perform better. As we’ll explain below, an upgrade can help improve indoor air quality or remove excess humidity from your home, depending on the type of upgrade you choose. But without professional installation, you may not gain any benefit from an upgrade, which is why it’s important to hire trained experts, like the ones at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning.

Types of Upgrades Available for Your System

There are a number of ways you can upgrade your existing air conditioner. Here are few examples of the kinds of products we have at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning:

Dehumidifiers

It’s no secret that Louisiana gets hot and sticky. Prolonged periods of excess humidity can put a lot of stress on your air conditioner as it works to remove excess humidity; this can result in higher energy bills and prematurely age your AC. Adding a whole-home humidifier can take the stress off your air conditioner, because it removes the excess humidity from the air before it enters your system. With less work to do, your air conditioner uses less energy and no longer operates under stressful conditions.

Zone Control System

A zone control system offers you temperature control over different zones in your home. The zones are established by you and operate independently from one another, allowing for different temperatures to be set for each zone; you can also turn off air conditioning to an unused or unoccupied zone. A zone control system consists of motorized dampers that are installed into the supply ducts of your system. Each damper is connected to a main control panel and thermostats for the zones are connected to the control panel as well. Zone control systems help improve energy efficiency and comfort levels.

Air Cleaners

Having healthy indoor air is part of your overall comfort. While your air conditioner comes with a standard filter, this filter’s job isn’t to help improve indoor air quality; it’s to block dirt, dust and debris from entering your system. To truly clean your air, you’ll want to consider the installation of a whole-home air cleaner. There are a number of air cleaning products on the market, so the best way to choose one that fits best in your home is to work with a trained professional.

Upgrades to your air conditioning can improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality and your overall comfort. Think an upgrade might help you? Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule AC service in Hammond, LA with one of our experts.

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How Do Your Air Conditioner And Dehumidifier Work Together Against Humidity in the Fall?

Friday, September 5th, 2014

For some, fall brings cooler days and even cooler nights, but here in Louisiana it takes a little more time for the heat and humidity to subside. Warm fall days can rival August heat, which is why it’s important to have your air conditioner running optimally. Your AC removes humidity as part of the air conditioning process, but if you have noticed it needs extra help during long periods of humidity, it may be time to consider adding a whole-home dehumidifier to your property. A-Professional has helped our customers beat the heat for many years, and we can help you, too.

Pairing Your AC with a Dehumidifier

Your air conditioner removes both heat and humidity from your home as part of the cooling process. But during times of excessive humidity, it can be challenging for your AC to meet your cooling needs. This is because humidity holds heat, and when it is in excess, it can be a challenge for your AC to meet the demand.

A whole-home dehumidifier helps both you and your AC. How? A whole-home dehumidifier removes the excess moisture from the air before it enters your system. This takes stress off your air conditioner and helps make the air in your home drier.

Benefits of a Dehumidifier

As we discussed above, a whole home dehumidifier helps reduce the stress on your AC, but there are other benefits as well:

  • Increases comfort level – by reducing the amount of moisture in the air, your air becomes drier and feels cooler.
  • Decreases growth of mold – mold, mildew and fungus thrive in moist settings. By removing the excess moisture from your indoor air, you can help curb the development of these kinds of growths in your home.
  • Helps with allergies – dust mites thrive in moisture, and allergens tend to cling to the moisture in the air. Reducing the level of moisture can help decrease allergic reactions.

Fall is coming, but our heat and humidity are still here, and will be for a while. But, you can help yourself and your air conditioner with the installation of a whole-home dehumidifier. Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule your dehumidifier installation in Hammond, LA with one of our experts.

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