What type of air filter should I buy?

Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating, LLCThe most important piece of maintenance that a homeowner can do for their air conditioning system is to regularly change your air filters. If you have been to your local hardware store, you have seen a large amount of very different air filters available for purchase. The question now becomes, which air filter is best for me?

The answer to that question is going to vary. Do you have a lot of pets in the home? Kids? Maybe you live in a construction area with lots of dust present in the air. There are many factors that go into choosing the right type of filter. We have a general guideline that we like to follow when choosing the right type of air filter.

  1. Do not use reusable/washable filters. These types of filters are sold as a more convenient option to buying throwaway filters because “all it takes is to wash them”. In theory, this may be the case. In reality, the washable filters can cause more harm than good. To wash these filters correctly, you need to buy solutions that may contain harmful chemicals. Along with that, these filters need to be completely dry before being put back in the system, and if not completely dry these filters collect bacteria and fungus that is then released into your home. These filters also make it harder for air to pass through the system, creating more work for your system.
  2. Do use a disposable air filter. These are the types that you can find at your local hardware store. You will want to look at the MERV rating for these filters and choose one that is between 8-11. Anything higher than this is more than likely overkill and not needed for residential use. If you have an older system, an air filter with a very high MERV rating can restrict the flow of air enough that it can overwork your older system. More importantly, than the rating is to regularly replace these filters. If you decide to use a cheaper fiberglass filter, you should consider replacing the filter monthly if you have pets or children in the house.

We cannot state it enough, make sure you regularly change your air filters. Not only will this keep the air you breathe cleaner and reduce allergens and dust in the air, but it will also keep dust and dirt from building up in your air conditioning system that can decrease efficiency and damage your system. If you need service of AC repair Gilbert.

Looking for a way to save some money on air filters? Check out our Sharp Air Maintenance Program. Along with having regularly scheduled maintenance, we provide you with a full year’s supply of air filters. Give us a call to find out more!

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5 ways to extend the usefulness of your HVAC system

In Mesa AZ air conditioner repair there are many ways that you can help your air conditioner run more efficiently and last a few summers longer than expected. While the typical life of an HVAC system is about 14 years, below are a few tips to help you bump that number a little higher, and get some bonus years out of your system.

Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating, LLCRegularly Change Your Filters

These might be the most basic maintenance points for homeowners. It doesn’t take too much time or effort and can save you costly repairs down the line. When a filter gets clogged up, airflow is restricted to your system which can cause a host of issues. At Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating, we recommend using throw-away filters that can be found at your local hardware store and changing them sometimes as often as once a month. We can even help you with one of these steps by providing you with a year’s supply of air filters through our Sharp Air Maintenance Program. Give us a call for AC repair Gilbert!

Take an AC Time Out –

Like with anything mechanical, your HVAC system will wear out more quickly if it is on at all times, day and night. Try to turn your air conditioner off if you plan to leave the house for an extended period of time. Dialing up the temperature just 5 degrees will allow your air conditioner to get a much-needed break during hot parts of the day, without letting the temperature climb into the 90’s inside during the hot Arizona months.

Give Your Outdoor Unit Some TLC –

If you live in the Valley of the Sun, you are probably familiar with what seems like a new phenomenon… the dreaded Arizona “Haboobs”. If you are not familiar with these yet, it is basically a wall of dirt that covers everything in a fine layer of dust once the storm leaves. This includes the outdoor component of your HVAC system. While one of these storms usually wont deposit enough dirt to have an effect, the build up of a few storms and normal debris outside can build up on the condenser coil and cause problems. Every now and then, try to clear any debris that you can see, i.e. leaves, dirt, etc., even just hose down the outdoor unit. This will continue to allow airflow through the coils and keep you cooling efficiently.

Check For Leaks –

When we say to check for leaks, we aren’t really saying to check for air leaks in the duct system. While this might be a good idea normally, checking for air leaks is something best handled by a technician that can get into the attic to check your ductwork. The type of “checking for leaks” that you as a homeowner can perform, is making sure there isn’t any evidence of leaking Freon at your outdoor unit. If you can see an oily substance on any of the surfaces, turn off your system and call Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating for services of heating and cooling Mesa AZ. If your system is leaking Freon, it can be a costly fix if not caught early on, and a system running without Freon can cause other damages to the system as well.

Is your HVAC System Draining? –

Through normal operation, your HVAC system can build up condensation from cold surfaces exposed to the Arizona heat. All good operating and well-maintained HVAC systems will have good drainage as well to allow this condensation to run off to the ground, or anywhere else besides in your home or back into the unit. Annual maintenance through our Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating Program can make sure your HVAC system is draining properly, saving you from costly water damages that can occur when these drains are clogged, blocked, or installed improperly.

Give us a call for the service of air conditioning Chandler AZ. Find out more about the benefits of the Sharp Air Maintenance Program!

 

Five Signs Your Home’s Air Needs Cleaning

AC repair Chandler, central air is an extremely common (and very necessary) home addition that keeps us cool and comfortable all year long, no matter how hot it gets outside. Central air runs through your home through a series of ducts that are tucked away inside walls and through ceilings, and they circulate air throughout every square inch of your house.

Obviously, you want the air that your family breathes to be the highest quality available, but that’s not always the kind of air that is blowing through your home. Breathing clean, fresh air may be something that you don’t consider all too often, but when the air quality of your home turns from pristine to downright dirty, it can be a lot more dangerous than you think.

While reduced air quality may not be at the forefront of your mind, if you have children in your home or a member of your family suffers from allergies or asthma, the quality of your home’s air can play a vital role in the development of preventable illnesses and breathing issues.

If you think your home’s air quality can stand to be improved, it may be time to consider that your ducts or your air conditioning unit might be the problem.

Be on the lookout for these five common signs and symptoms if you suspect that ducts or your AC may be causing your home’s poor air quality, and breathe easy knowing that you can do something to change the condition of the air in your home’s HVAC unit provides.

  1. Dust and Debris BuildupYes, living in the Arizona desert means dealing with some blowing dust and debris inside your home, but if you have noticed an unprecedented buildup of dust in your home, your AC unit may be trapping and circulating too much dust. When you turn on your air conditioning unit, do you notice a puff of dust from your vents? If so, it may be time for a cleaning.
  2. Uneven Airflow from Room to RoomIf you have noticed that some rooms in your home are no longer receiving the same level of air output that they originally had, you may have a blockage. If every vent is fully open, but the vents continue to blow a reduced amount of air, there could be a clogged duct in need of professional cleaning.
  3. Buildup on Your InletsYour air intake inlets pull in the fresh air, push it through your air filter, and that air circulates through your home. Inspect your inlets for dust and pet hair, and if you see an uncommon amount of buildup on your intakes or a blockage inside the air conditioning unit, full cleaning of the unit and/or ducts can restore your vents to tip-top shape.
  4. Everyone is Suddenly Suffering If you have noticed that members of your family have suddenly developed increased asthma symptoms, runny noses, congestion, and out-of-season allergies, there is a chance that your air quality is to blame. Molds, fungi, and dust are all responsible for decreased air quality, and breathing those dangerous microbes can lead to much more severe illnesses like sinus problems and respiratory infections. An air conditioning unit inspection can help you discover the source of your family’s health issues, so do not hesitate to have your heating and cooling Mesa AZ system checked for signs of mold.
  5. Noises Appear
    When your air conditioner kicks on and the air begins to blow, do you hear any whistling, screeching, or banging noises along with the normal operating hum of your motor? If so, you may have a blockage in your duct or a larger issue in your air conditioning unit. When insulation falls inside your ducts, it can act as both a barrier for airflow and a sponge upon which dust, dirt, and debris attach. While some duct blockages can be seen from inlets and vents, others may be hiding in your walls or ceilings. If your air conditioning unit is making noises, a professional technician can diagnose the problem and repair it to make sure that a small clanging sound doesn’t result in a complete system shut down. If you are still unsure if it is your duct or your air conditioning unit, give us a call today. Our team of expert technicians can resolve any problem of air conditioning repair Mesa.

Why is my Air Conditioner Frozen? Its 120 degrees outside!!

We get this question quite a bit here at Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating. It’s the middle of summer, the Arizona heat is beating down.  And all of the sudden your air conditioning system starts pumping out warm air. After a little bit of inspection, you see ice forming on your air conditioner outside.

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 You would think that would mean your air conditioning is working GREAT, considering its main function is to blow ICE COLD air into your home. What gives? Not to fear, Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating is hear to solve this mystery.

There are a few common issues that can cause an air conditioner to freeze up even during the hottest parts of the summer.

Problems with HVAC systems refrigeration

If your HVAC system has developed a refrigerant leak, this will cause pressures to drop in the evaporator coils, which allows moisture to freeze and accumulate on the coil.

Temperature outside

If you live in Arizona’s high country or even in Phoenix. When the temperatures start to change, night time temperatures can drop below 60 degrees. Most outdoor condensing units, especially in the valley, do not function very well below 60 degrees. If it gets too cold over night, freeze-ups can occur.

Insufficient Air Flow

The most preventable reason for a freeze-up is restricted air flow. Humidity will build up on the coil, causing ice to build up and shut the system down. Dirty filters are the main culprit of this. But this can also come from any other obstructions such as disconnected or undersized duct work. Other components being broken can also lead to frozen coils.

Now that we have pinpointed the issue, what can you do to fix it? Once you have found ice build-up on your HVAC system, the first thing you should do is turn off the system and allow it to defrost. Once it’s defrosted, check to see if there are any airflow restrictions. Replace any dirty filters or clean any visible dirt or debris. Many times, this will fix the issue with no other problems. Other serious airflow problems or refrigeration leaks will require a trained technician to address the issue. Give the pros at Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating a call, and we can free your system from a block of ice and get that ice-cold air back to blowing into your home!

Call us at 480-695-7834 to schedule services of air conditioning repair Mesa and surrounding areas. An appointment or consultation today!

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Why does my AC keep running?

During the hot Phoenix Arizona summers, most people are used to their AC running quite a bit, just to keep up with the 110+ temperatures that we experience here. While it is normal for your AC to be on more than usual when the temperature goes up outside, it shouldn’t be constantly running. Here are a few troubleshooting tips to try before giving Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating a call that can save you some time and money.

  1. Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating, LLCCheck your thermostat – One of the most avoidable issues is to check your thermostat settings. With the more basic thermostats, it can be as simple as forgetting to switch your system from “ON” to “AUTOMATIC”. Having it in the “ON” position will tell your AC system to continue running, even when it satisfies the temperature you have set on your thermostat. With the more complex thermostat options that are on the market now, yours may need a little bit more programming to be set correctly. Check with your owners’ manual, or give us a call and we can try to walk you through some troubleshooting on your thermostat.
  2. Change your filters! – Airflow restrictions caused by dirty filters can greatly affect your AC system’s performance. If your AC system does not get enough airflow, it can not blow out cold air and will continue to run since it is not able to satisfy the thermostat setting. Change those filters!
  3. Dirty coils – Check to make sure there is no debris built up on your condenser outside. This is the same as a restriction for your indoor components. Restrictions can cause the system to not cooling correctly, therefore not being able to satisfy the thermostat settings leading to a constantly running AC system.

If you go through the above steps and nothing seems to work, give Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating a call and we can send a certified technician out to assess what may be wrong. Another cause of a constantly running system can be age. Your AC system may just be worn out from years of use. If this is the case, we can work with you to best determine the next steps to take in replacement.

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Keep Your Sunroom Comfortable All Year Long

If there is one thing that you can count on Arizona delivering plenty of, it’s bright and beautiful sunshine nearly every day of the year. With all that sunlight, it should be no surprise that so many Phoenix-area residents add sunrooms to their homes to take in all that sunshine.

Sunrooms, sometimes called four-season rooms or solariums, are designed to let all that light in without having to bake outside in the heat. Many sunrooms have been converted to multi-use spaces and can include indoor spas, aviaries, green rooms, libraries, and bright, open eating areas where you can sip some lemonade in a cool room during spring and summer barbecues.

Access to sunlight is directly linked to human health and wellbeing. We get 90 to 95% of our necessary Vitamin D from sunlight, and that’s very important. Vitamin D helps keep bones healthy, aids in calcium absorption, and prevents diseases like osteoporosis from occurring. Sunlight also boosts mood and reduces your risk of developing diseases like heart disease and even diabetes.

One of the benefits of adding a sunroom to your home is that you never have to worry about heading outdoors to soak up the sunshine. Sunrooms are created to be comfortable all year long, but that level of indoor comfort with outdoor sunshine requires some proper planning to ensure that the room can be kept at adequate temperatures.

Many homeowners choose to extend their home’s existing heating and cooling systems into a sunroom addition for temperature control. Extending your existing HVAC system into a sunroom requires adding additional ductwork. Of course, this would need to be done by a professional to ensure proper installation.

The primary drawback to this type of installation occurs when your home is using a single thermostat to control the temperatures in every room of the house. A sunroom will do what it is designed to do – deliver lots of light, and that means delivering lots of heat too. The temperatures that a sunroom can reach may be too high for single-zone thermostats, causing them to run continuously throughout the day, resulting in a serious spike in your electric bill.

The aforementioned problem can be solved by adding a zone control thermostat to your home at the same time you install new ductwork. A zone control system allows for a single thermostat to control multiple environments separately so that no one floor or room is heated or cooled unnecessarily.

Another sunroom heating and cooling option that is very popular are mini ductless split systems. Designed to give direct temperature control to individual rooms and spaces, mini ductless split systems work independently off of a primary unit and are an on-the-spot adjustable solution to providing your sunroom with adequate heat and air conditioning only when you choose to turn it on.

There are other options to heat and cool sunrooms, but they are not ideal. Opting for an in-wall, window-style air conditioning unit can help keep you cool in the summertime, but it will have to work hard to cool the room down well enough in the summer heat of Phoenix. These types of units also do not provide heat in the wintertime, making a portable space heater an option for some. Space heaters, though effective, can be very dangerous and should not be left unattended at any time.

If you are interested in exploring your heating and cooling options for a sunroom or other home addition, call the professionals at Sharp Air Conditioning and Heating for a consultation.

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