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5 Ways To Lower Your Air Conditioning Costs This Summer

It’s getting warm out day by day (and even at night), so you know what that means: it’s time to put your air conditioner to use. Now, this can either mean a great thing or a bad thing, depending on one crucial aspect: money. It’s a fact that using AC does indeed cost you a lot whenever you run it. That’s because of several factors, such as the energy usage and the electricity used to run the system, both of which impact your utility bills.

Some of you may be wondering “I know this and I want to save money, but I also want to stay comfortable. What can I do?” If this sounds like your train of thought, we’re here to guide you. Here are some tips on how to cut down on your AC usage and costs.

Don’t Leave the AC on Full Blast All the Time

You may be surprised, but it’s actually fine to leave on air conditioning nearly all of the time if you leave it at a low enough temperature. What will actually spike your expenses is when you set the unit to provide cooling at full blast and leave that on all the time. Electricity is what an air conditioner uses the most of and it’s what will cost you the most money more than anything. By being forced to go at full blast, whether all day long or in intervals, you’re putting pressure on your unit that will shorten both its efficiency at cooling your home down and its life span from the strain of being turned off and then on again.

The effectiveness of your unit’s ability to cool air down and the unit itself can also determine whether one should leave the A/C on all day or turn it off at intervals. For example, if you own a central A/C system and it hasn’t been updated since you moved in 20 years ago, it’s definitely inefficient when it comes to energy and costs compared to a brand new air conditioning system made last year. You also definitely should not turn your A/C off during a heat wave, because it’ll make the indoor air’s heat rise faster and then your unit will spend a lot of time and energy while getting the air back down to an ideal temperature. In this case, it makes more sense to leave your air conditioner on all day (again though, not at full blast).

Use a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat can be set to the desired temperature whether at night or when you’re away from your home. Some can be installed directly into your home, while others actually come with their own app on your phone or other mobile device. It’s a good way to ensure you can adjust the temperature if needed, even when you’re not present to change the thermostat yourself.

Keep the Unit Clean

We know it sounds redundant, but that’s because it’s true. Keeping any HVAC unit clean, whether for cooling down or warming up a space, can make a real difference in both costs and your energy usage. We recommend you perform these regular tasks before, during, and after the summer season for best results:

• Clean or replace the air filter, usually every 3 months or once a month if you have pets or kids
• Tidy up the exterior and wipe away any accumulating dust or dirt
• Before and after the summer is over, take some time to clean the fans and vents connecting to the air circulation

For more tips on taking care of your air conditioner prior to any heat waves, you can check out our previous blog post “How to Prepare Your Air Conditioner for the Warmer Seasons“. These tips can apply to during and after summer is over as well.

Invest in Ceiling Fans

If you can afford a ceiling fan or have the right home for it, this will improve things slightly and ensure you can use the cool air you have without relying on the air conditioner so much. Your ceiling fan should be set to rotate counter clockwise in the summer so that the air gets pushed down and you get that desired cool breeze. Remember to switch the fans around come wintertime in order to ensure the heat stays at the bottom of the room where you need it, since heat always rises.

Update Your Windows Slightly

If you keep feeling hot when standing next to a window, chances are there’s a tiny hole forming and you may need to get the caulk fixed. Caulking will seal any holes where cool air in the summer or hot air in the winter can leak out. In terms of staying cooler, you can always use film to tint your windows. This will make a room darker so that the sunlight doesn’t make the heat rise in your home so much. Most film for windows can be sized up and then applied yourself.

Need a More Up-to-Date Air Conditioner?

A new AC system or unit will seem expensive at first glance, but when you add together the cost of maintenance and repairs for a system that’s older and failing constantly, it makes more sense to upgrade. Our technicians can install new HVAC for you if your current system is no longer running as efficiently as it should and you want to stay cool this summer while keeping costs low. Let us know when you contact us if you’d like even more tips on how to save your money. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

The idea of owning an air conditioner while the months are hot and the days are long is a pleasant one. AC units can help people live more comfortably and in most cases they come built in with an air filter to keep the air both cool and fresh.

Keep in mind that just because you want your home to stay cool during the summer doesn’t mean you should simply go out and buy one if you don’t have one. All HVAC systems should be seriously considered an investment before you buy and install one, not a mere impulse purchase. Here’s what you need to know before you purchase and have your new air conditioner installed.

1. Think about more than simply cooling

Air conditioners are not simply machines–they are expensive and require a lot of your forethought before you buy. It not only cools down a room, but also determines how comfortable you are in your space.

Most air conditioners nowadays do more than cool down a room, too. Some of the modern air conditioners on the market can throw hot air into the room to make it more comfortable in winter, such as reversible A/C units and ductless heat pumps. If humidity is a problem in your home, most cooling units can remove the unwanted heat that comes with it. And of course, don’t forget about some of the other handy features such as a timer, remote control, and ventilation to help you use the cooling system only when you need, rather than let it run always.

2. Do you have the time?

If you live a busy lifestyle, you’re going to have to make some adjustments to that schedule because an air conditioner requires a lot more out of your attention than you might realize. All HVAC units require maintenance for at least every third month of the year in order to ensure it stays clean and its lifespan isn’t shortened from neglect.

Tending to your air conditioner outside of regular technician appointments is also going to be the only way to prevent further repair problems going forward. If you can’t find the time to do even that, then renting an air conditioner as opposed to buying one outright may be the better choice for you.

3. Online buyers, beware

There’s a valid reason why us technicians wholeheartedly recommend buying all-inclusive, i.e. where the contractor provides both the A/C unit and installation. It’s because when you buy a certain unit online, there comes with it an entire slew of problems and extras you’ll have to go through:

• DIY installation requires permits that you may not be able to get unless you’re a licensed contractor;
• You could purchase the wrong sized unit by accident;
• The unit could show up damaged in the delivery process;
• You could end up lacking in the proper paperwork needed to run your system;
• It’ll be 10 times more expensive since if your purchased the wrong size, you’ll have to buy another one right after

It may cost more to do initially, but choosing a licensed HVAC technician can ensure you pick the correct size for your space and get a unit that’s exact for your needs. It’ll also save you a ton of money and time in the long run compared to buying online.

4. Always check on the SEER rating

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, is the quintessential system that rates an air conditioner’s energy efficiency. You want this ratio to be high in its number because it’s a ratio of both the unit’s cooling output and the energy used by your system. So, the higher the SEER’s value is, the more efficient your system is.

Keep in mind that having your air conditioner properly installed by a professional technician will also have a hand in how efficiently your system uses energy and overall performs.

5. Location matters big time

The area where your new air conditioner should be installed matters a ton, because if it’s improperly placed then the unit won’t function the way you hoped, plus it may interfere with other objects such as electronics if you’re not careful. In order to figure out the best location, we recommend these general guidelines for heat pumps:

• Your air conditioner’s outdoor unit should at least have 12-24 inches (1-2 feet) of space all around, with no objects in that space
• The air conditioner should not be placed in either hot areas or areas where frequent foot traffic occurs
• The place should be level, ideally on a pad that’s elevated so that the air conditioner’s condenser avoids contact with heavy rain and snow in the winter months

In addition, if your air conditioner is less of a heat pump and more of a wall-mounted indoor unit, here’s what we recommend you do:

• The indoor unit should be at least 7 feet above your floor, with at least 6 inches (1/2 foot) of space both above the unit and on every side
• Keep the unit away from other heat sources, such as the oven or direct sunlight
• Electronics, cables, Wi-Fi modems, and even mobile devices should not be placed near indoor A/C units; keep these about 3 feet away to avoid electrical noise and interference, which is commonly associated with these devices
• Furniture should be kept away so that it doesn’t obstruct the unit’s airflow
• The indoor wall should be strong enough to support the unit for years, so ask for your technician to double-check the integrity of the wall and fasten the unit where needed.

Ready to cool off?

We want our customers to have the best cooling solutions that suit their homes or commercial buildings the most. Our technicians are certified and experienced with installing HVAC systems, so if you reside in the Lower Mainland and need an installation, don’t hesitate to call. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

It’s a fact, we’d all be a lot warmer and uncomfortable without air conditioning! There’s a certain part of A/C units we’d like to talk about today, and that’s a little thing called refrigerant. This substance is what gives air conditioners the ability to produce cool air and expel it out of the system into the indoor air, making homes and commercial buildings alike a lot more tolerable in the warm spring and the hot summer months. When combined with the other valuable components such as a compressor and an evaporator, refrigerant can create that needed refrigeration and air cooling we’ve come to expect from our machines. It’s frequently seen in a gaseous or liquid state.

There are actually a few more facts about refrigerant that are worth addressing, particularly since they involve Canada altogether. So here’s what you need to know about refrigerant for A/Cs.

The Refrigeration Process

Without refrigerant, we wouldn’t have air conditioning or refrigeration technology in the first place. Here’s how it works: the refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air indoors while it’s inside of the copper coils you will typically find in your air conditioner. The refrigerant then shifts from being a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid.

The components inside of your air conditioner will then send the refrigerant outside, where the fan will blow hot air over the coils and exhausts it to the exterior. The refrigerant will then cool down and turn back into a low-pressure gas. Meanwhile, another fan will blow air over the cool coils and send the resulting cold air throughout the building.

This is the cycle that typically takes place for refrigerant.

The Big One: Certain Refrigerants are ILLEGAL to Sell in Canada

Yes, you read that right! In 2020 Canada decided to ban the shipment and sales of certain refrigerants in order to phase out their use. These are:

• Freon, aka R-22
• R-134a, aka Tetrafluoroethane
• R-404a
• R507A
• R410A

Canada has banned shipments on all of these types of refrigerant in an attempt to phase it out of use due to refrigerant’s harsh environmental impact. A branch of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, called the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, was originally signed in 1987 and is the driving force behind this phase-out. It is an international treaty with the goal of preserving and protecting our planet’s ozone layer by phasing out substances that are contributing to its destruction.

These refrigerants contain within themselves compounds which when they reach the earth’s stratosphere after being expelled do not dissolve. This in turn is what’s thinning out our ozone layer and creating the global warming effect we’re all desperately trying to avoid making worse. Thankfully, by phasing these out, improvement is already being seen in our environment and the Montreal Protocol has so far been a success (source).

For more information on the refrigerant phase-out, you can refer to these articles from:

• Canada.ca
• The Environmental Protection Agency

What if my A/C uses one of these refrigerants?

There isn’t any problem if your air conditioner uses these refrigerants nor is it illegal to use them. What this all means is that it will soon become extra expensive to repair your air conditioner if a leak forms in the unit. Central air conditioners and heat pumps are closed off systems and should never have refrigerant “topped off” or be changed. If a leak does form (and they do happen), it’ll be best to replace the entire system outright since replacing the lost refrigerant will only get more difficult and expensive thanks to the phase-out of its usage. It makes more sense to replace the system outright than trying to resurrect an aging system that’s leaking and spending all your money in the process.

Can’t I Just Replace One Refrigerant With the Other?

It’s really not as simple as that. The parts you may need if a leak happens refrigerant are incompatible with older systems. The evaporator coils needed to support your refrigerant are also costly to replace on their own. Leaking components also need to be disposed of in a proper, safe, professional manner. So, no, it’s best to not replace one refrigerant with another. In the event a leak in your A/C unit does happen, it should be dealt with immediately by your technician.

For more information on leaks themselves, you can refer to our blog post “What You Need to Know About Air Conditioner Refrigerant Leaks.”

The Best Course of Action: Replacing the System

From a financial standpoint, it’s best to replace your current system outright and install a new system using refrigerant or other coolants that are much more safe for our environment. If your A/C is getting on the old side, repairs are starting to become frequent, and you want to save money in the long run, financing options are available at our company and you can always give us a call for help with replacement options or if you have any more questions about refrigerant. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

Spring is starting to heat up the air at last, and for some areas in the Lower Mainland, maybe a little too much so! This season is a low one for us technicians, which is why it’s a good time to really think ahead and get some things ready while you’re spring cleaning meanwhile. If your area’s already getting a little too warm to handle, you may be considering putting the A/C on, and this is where we can help. Here are some tips on how to prepare your air conditioning system for the warmer months that lie ahead of us.

Why Now and Not Later?

Some of you may be experiencing more rain than heat and are probably wondering why we’ve decided to talk about this now, as opposed to later when it’s actually more like summer. There are actually a few good reasons for this:

• It’s been a while since you looked at your A/C. Now that your furnace is becoming less relied on with the snow melting and the air warming up outside, it’s easy to realize that it’s been several months since you looked at your air conditioning. That system is going to need more than a simple on and off switch in order to function the way you want it to.
• It’ll cost you less money down the road. As the years go on we’ve been having more summers in the Lower Mainland where we keep saying “I can’t believe it’s THIS hot out!” Having the A/C on all of the time means a lot of money being spent, so the less efficiently your air conditioner is running, the more likely it is you’re going to waste valuable dollars. You can save more money by prepping your A/C unit now as opposed to waiting until later.
• It’s smart to look before you switch it on. With all that time spent off, you may find there’s some dust accumulation (which is a very bad thing!) among other things. Preparing now as opposed to later will mean that the process of switching things on will go a lot more smoothly.
• You’re avoiding future problems. By examining your air conditioning now, you’re going to be able to spot problems that may occur down the road. If you do spot something you’re not sure about, you can definitely mention this to your HVAC technician next time you ask for an inspection. And now while it’s spring is a great time to ask us, because like we said, spring is a low season and a less busy one, so we have more time to look at your system and ensure everything is working the way it should be.

As you can see, there are a lot of great reasons to look at preparing ahead of time. Let’s go ahead and see what we can do to get ready for the warmer seasons.

Step 1: Check the Age of Your System

How long have you owned your air conditioner now? It’s worth looking at the owner’s manual or the details outlined on the machine itself. Some models come with that information on them, depending on their manufacturer. If the date is under 5 years, that’s great—you don’t have to worry about things like warranty for a while. However, if you’re looking at a machine that’s getting past its 10-15 years of usage, it’s probably time to consider getting that system replaced. Your HVAC technicians can take care of the rest.

Move on to step 2 if the age of your system is good to go.

Step 2: Make Sure the Power is Off

This may seem basic, but it matters because it involves your safety. Turn off the air conditioner at its service panel. Some air conditioners also possess a disconnection box, which typically consists of levers, fuses, or a circuit breaker. Be sure that the power is switched off here too.

Performing this task will enable you to look at the condenser in your air conditioner without being electrocuted by accident (one of the main parts you will need to examine while prepping your A/C). Because there’s typically a capacitor inside of the condenser, you should allow 30 minutes to pass in order for the electrical charge inside of the capacitor to dissipate. It’s a good idea to switch off the power to your other HVAC systems as well, such as the furnace, to truly ensure your safety.

Step 3: Clean Out the Air Filters

This step is the easiest to do since it doesn’t require much work other than grabbing the vacuum cleaner or finding replacement filters. Depending on the type of unit you own, you can either take this part out and clean it thoroughly before putting it back inside, or you can take the old one out if it’s grungy and replace it with a clean one.

It’s recommended to replace or clean this at least twice a year or more based on how much dust tends to accumulate. Doing this step will ensure that the dust and dirt buildup won’t circulate throughout the rest of your home.

Step 4: Clean Up the Condenser and Coils

Another fairly manageable task is to clear up any debris or dirt accumulating near these parts of your air conditioner. For central A/C units, this is located outside in the form of a large metal box with grilles covering fan blades. The coils are typically seen as radiator style fins, and this is where air must pass through the cooling process. Dirt can also accumulate on these coils, so you need to clean these up too before turning your air conditioning on. Otherwise, you won’t get as efficient a cooling job of the air that you need, plus it puts a strain on your system while increasing the money spent on energy.

To clean these parts, first unscrew the side panels and pull them away from the unit, then lift the top (be careful—this part may be heavy because of the weight of the fan). Do not pull any wires that are connected to the fan. Use the soft brush of your vacuum cleaner to gently clean the coils. Do not bend or damage these coils as they are very delicate; if you do end up bending one, use a fin comb which was made for this very purpose. Vacuum the coils both outside and inside.

To clean the condenser, scoop out any debris before anything else. Then, use the same soft brush of your vacuum cleaner and a rag to wipe down the fan blades. If your condenser has a drain, make sure this is clear and no debris is present there too.

Step 5: Check Up on the Thermostat

This step is very simple. Check the switches on the thermostat to ensure they are set to ‘on’ and ‘cool’. If you don’t see a digital display of the temperature, then the batteries need to be replaced. Depending on the type of thermostat your A/C uses, you will need the exact kind of batteries in order for it to function properly.

You can ask your technician to change the batteries and run a more thorough examination if you’d prefer.

Step 6: Run a Test

Once everything has been put back together and you’re finishing cleaning and checking things over, it’s time to test the air conditioner out. This will help you be certain that your unit will run as smoothly and efficiently as you need it to when the hot weather strikes. Again, make sure your thermostat is set to ‘cool’ otherwise the test may not work!

If you still find that you’re not getting the cool air that’s typical of your system, the problem may lie deeper and will require a technician to examine and diagnose it.

Important Tips

While you’re preparing your air conditioner, it’s a good idea to keep these tips in mind:

• If at any point you detect something wrong as you’re prepping the A/C, turn the system off right away. Make note of what just happened, and then contact your technician about it.
• Don’t handle any electrical parts or problems yourself. Leave those tasks to a professional.
• Check on the air filters even when it’s not summer and replace them if needed. This is a no exception type of rule since it concerns your health!
• Be sure to keep an eye on your furnace while performing these tasks as well. Sometimes airflow problems are connected to this system as well.

Need an inspection? Let us know

We’re licensed contractors who have spent years inspecting and ensuring that air conditioners are good to go before the summer heat really sinks in. If you’ve run into a hitch while preparing your A/C and following these steps, or you need a professional pair of eyes to find trouble before it starts, give us a call. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

With spring on the way, you may be thinking it’s high time to look into replacing your air conditioner, but there’s one problem: you can’t really afford the latest models on the market. It’s easy to look at the prices and assume you can find a cheaper alternative, but hold that thought before you go any further with it! It’s one thing to find a cheap price on something useful such as at a thrift store, but HVAC is a completely different kind of ballpark altogether. You do not want to skimp on the costs for new systems, because there are so many ways that can backfire. Here’s a look at what can happen when you invest in a cheap HVAC system.

1. More Frequent Breakdowns and Repairs

You know that scenario when you’re tossing and turning in bed because it’s way too hot to handle, or you step onto an icy floor in the morning when the furnace should have been on all night? These scenarios are going to happen much more often if you rely on a cheaply purchased HVAC system. If you don’t know its age or how long it was used before you bought it, the chances of a breakdown or need for repairs are going to escalate.

2. Less Efficient Heating and Cooling

As with most products, a cheaply bought HVAC system will not heat up or cool down a home as efficiently, reliably, or evenly as much as a recent model. Keep in mind that even the cheapest system can cost upwards of over one thousand dollars. Why spend so much on something that’s only going to fail to meet your needs, time and again?

Another factor that applies to this point is the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). At this point, it’s very unlikely you’ll find HVAC without a 16 SEER, or one that won’t have an effect on your energy bill. 

3. Shorter Lifespans

Not only is a cheap system a danger to your wallet and energy bills, but also it’s unlikely they’ll last as long as newer HVAC does. That 10-20 year mark you’re hoping for with a cheaper system is basically non-existent. Instead, your cheaper HVAC will not last nearly that long. This applies to all cheaper purchased machinery whether it’s a laptop, kitchen utensils, or phones. You don’t have to pay a ton for good quality and a long lifespan, but cheap HVAC will not make that kind of cut.

4. Lots More Costs

Not only will you have to pay the same amount it costs for an efficient system, but also you will have to pay more for the frequent repairs and the parts your cheap system requires that are discontinued. You’ll also have to pay your technician several times as opposed to only a few when it’s time for an inspection. Again, why would you consider investing in something that’s only going to cost you more down the road? All these extra costs will add up to an even more unaffordable rate, and then you’re stuck with a system you can’t sell off—you can only get rid of it and pay more by needing a replacement.

5. No Long-term Benefits

Investing in a cheaper system is not as beneficial as you may think. The energy required is double that of the more efficient systems, there’s likely to be more leaks that harm your home and air quality, and you won’t get as efficient a job done of heating or cooling your home anyway. Put all this together and you’re looking at a way more expensive headache you don’t want. Instead of feeling the long-term benefits of newer HVAC such as lowered energy bills and staying comfortable all the while, you’ll be dealing with constant struggle.

Now that you know the dangers of cheap HVAC, it’s time to find a system that suits your needs and budget the best. If you’re looking for a second opinion from an initial price quote, why not talk to our team at Rep-Air? Our HVAC company not only knows how to find the correct sized system for your needs, but also knows how to get the most buck for your bang. We’ve served the Lower Mainland long enough to know how, so you can’t go wrong by giving us a call. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!