Summer may be over now, but it’s technically the low season for maintaining and installing new air conditioners and furnaces regardless. For now, let’s talk about air conditioning.

You may think that central air conditioning in your home may be the best means of cooling it down, so you might ask your technician to get an installation done (see our tips on how to tell the signs that it’s needed very badly). Like everything in life, however, be careful what you wish for or it might come true—including the consequences. To help you determine if it’s the best solution for your home, here is a lowdown on the pros and cons of residential central A/C.

Pro: A Consistent Temperature Year-round

If you live in the southernmost part of BC, or in a part of the Lower Mainland where summer is almost too hot, then central air conditioning is the best way to ensure your home is constantly cool in every room. This is the major benefit of this type of A/C system: the consistent temperature wherever you go, all year round. Hot summers are the reason why homeowners invest in this air conditioning, and in the long run, the choice is worth it.

Con: More Expensive Energy Bills

It’s no joke that the longer you leave air conditioning on, the more it will cost you. There is now new evidence to support that fact as well. According to a recent BC Hydro survey, a whopping 93% of British Columbians are increasing their costs in electricity usage to run their air conditioning by leaving the temperature much lower than the recommended number. It’s also costing $300 to run an A/C system as opposed to $6 for a fan. That’s a lot of money being spent on air conditioning!

Depending on your home’s humidity levels and size, among other factors, you could be looking at even bigger energy bills than you were previously used to before you installed central air conditioning as well. If you can’t budget for central air conditioning, or you keep lowering the temperature below the recommended 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), then central air conditioning is not the best choice for your home.

Pro: Filtered Air

Air is usually circulated through the ductwork in a central A/C system, and it’s usually filtered in the process. That means the air quality of your home will improve and there will be less allergens and potentially harmful gases being distributed to each room. If you live in a humid and warm location, the humidity levels will also improve because of the filters. This ensures your home stays at a comfortable temperature regardless of the humidity levels inside and out.

Con: Mould and Mildew Develop More

Sure, central air conditioning does not require so much maintenance as its counterparts, but gunk and gross particulates can still develop if it’s left alone for too long. The air quality can drop and mould and mildew particles will travel to other rooms in the house while the cool air is being circulated. Both of these things can be harmful to our health if left untouched for too long, and sadly central A/C is more susceptible to development than other air conditioning systems. Unmaintained air conditioning can also render the previous benefit of filtered air useless if you don’t clean and maintain it regularly.

Pro: The Thermostat is Programmable

Every central A/C system on the market now comes with a programmable thermostat, which means it’s a ‘smart’ system. This type of air conditioning comes with its own slew of benefits, which we’ve actually covered in a previous blog post before. The biggest ones that are worth mentioning again is that you can adjust the temperature on a timer rather than having to do it manually. You can also program the thermostat to switch on and off at certain times when no one’s home so that you save on the money used to cool the house down. These and many more features are why central air conditioners are really useful for homes, especially the smart kinds.

Con: Ducts and Installation Can Also be Expensive

When it comes to these types of A/C systems, the ductwork is what can make or break a decision for installation. If your home already has ducts for a furnace, then all that’s needed is to hook up the central air conditioning unit to your home’s duct system. It’s a simple enough task for your HVAC technician.

However, if your home doesn’t have a furnace or the ductwork, you need to consider the cost of installing this aspect as well. Installing ductwork is a huge undertaking and involves renovating your home entirely; floors and walls both need to be opened up. While installing new ducts and a new central A/C unit will certainly increase your home’s long-term value, it’s a major investment that requires expertise, planning, and a massive budget.

Have you looked through the list up to this point and determined central A/C is still the best thing for your home? If so, give our professional team of technicians 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!

Proper ventilation for any restaurant business is a crucial part of its design. Finding the right restaurant hood vent, as well as installing a proper kitchen ventilation system, are some of the most complicated parts in designing a good restaurant. After all, the kitchen is the heart of your restaurant business.

Do you need assistance with ensuring your commercial kitchen is properly ventilated? If so, read on! Here are 3 tips to ensure there is maximum ventilation cycling throughout your restaurant’s kitchen.

1. Necessary Ventilation

In restaurants there are two kinds of ventilation you need to have to guarantee things will stay cool: necessary ventilation and general ventilation. We’ll talk about what exactly necessary ventilation entails first.

An exhaust hood counts as necessary ventilation. This system is what captures and filters all of the heat, fumes, smoke, and other air particulates that are not needed inside the kitchen. The kitchen vent hood is another essential component to your kitchen’s ventilation system. This component is usually attached to the top of your ovens. Wall-mounted hoods are usually a better option as opposed to traditional overhead option for safety reasons.

Another component of necessary ventilation is makeup air. Air is continuously exhausted outside of the restaurant at a 100% rate, so it’s very important to take in an ample amount of air from outside at a rate of 80%. This is makeup air—it compensates for the exhausted air. Without it, it can cause negative effects in the restaurant building such as poor air quality, back-venting of combustible gases, drafty or stuffy areas, and reduced energy efficiency.

Lastly, fire suppression systems must be integrated with exhaust hoods according to your building codes. Fire is the number one cause of destruction in the kitchen, so for everyone’s safety and security this type of system does count as necessary. To ensure no fire starts in the first place, get all of your vents and equipment properly cleaned and maintained by a licensed company.

2. General Ventilation

General ventilation consists of systems that aren’t as necessary as exhaust hoods, but they can still help if things are still a little too hot to handle. The make-up air will generally come from a wide variety of sources such as a rooftop intake unit or properly screened doors and windows.

General ventilation can be as simple as shutters on kitchen windows that are exposed to full sunlight daily. It can also include opening doors and windows in the cool of the morning or late in the evening. Not only does this count as general ventilation, but also it’s good cooling practice (see our previous blog post for more cooling tips!).

Air that goes out kitchen exhaust vents is replaced with a mix of make-up air from a variety of sources, including the dining room, a rooftop intake unit or open doors or windows that are properly screened to prevent insects and other pests from invading food preparation areas. To reduce heat, shade or shutter kitchen windows that are exposed to full sun. Open in the cool of the morning or later in the evening to let in fresh air.

If the kitchen is still too hot for everyone to handle, fans may be worth considering to add to your restaurant’s general ventilation. You may have to experiment with placement to find that sweet spot for the best circulation. Fans should be aimed away from hot food and prep areas where lighter items could scatter. Auxiliary fans must not interfere with exhaust fans, either. You could consider using a floor fan with another propped on a steady surface above, such as the top of the refrigerator. However or wherever you decide to use fans in your restaurant, make sure their blades and systems are kept clean and maintained as well.

3. HVAC

One of the best ways to ensure there is proper ventilation being circulated throughout the entire restaurant is to integrate it with an HVAC system. While the kitchen is the heart of the restaurant, the other rooms such as the dining room need to stay cool and consist of good air quality too.

Central air conditioning is going to be the best choice for your restaurant. Why? Because you can’t use portable fans or window air conditioners around a hood vent system. Doing so will force hot, greasy air out from under the hood and dispense to the dining room (not what anyone wants to smell!). There is in fact a 10 foot minimum to hood rule for air diffusers placed near a hood. This is why it’s best for any cooling system in a kitchen to be handled by a professional technician.

Remember, the HVAC part of your commercial kitchen only works so as long it’s properly cleaned and maintained, as well as working in sync with the rest of the ventilation. If you still find it difficult to keep the temperature down, or you’ve found a problem that requires an HVAC technician, give our team 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!

“Do gas fireplaces need to be cleaned?” If you were to ask us this question in person, the answer would be a resounding “YES!” Most homes now feature a fireplace using natural gas as opposed to wood for the sake of minimizing the number of chores to be done when winter fully hits. There are still some homes that use wood or electricity, and these all have their purpose no matter what type of fuel source you’re using.

If you want further explanation about why we insist on cleaning your gas fireplace, here are those very reasons:

Obstacles can develop

Nature has a way of interfering with getting the fire going, especially since we all gravitate towards warmth when it’s too cold. These obstacles can create some very nasty ventilation problems and even spark a fire where it’s not wanted:

• Birds
• Bats
• Raccoons
• Squirrels

All of these wildlife species prefer to build their nests near warm spots, which can include your home’s chimney and the chimney’s flue. If you start a new fire while these critters are occupying your chimney, expect to discover a very unpleasant smell as a result.

Buildup, debris, and all that junk and gunk

Yes, buildup can occur even in the most energy efficient fireplaces (which is what natural gas ones are these days). If you don’t maintain and clean your gas fireplace, buildup is more likely to occur where it shouldn’t be.

A few examples of dangerous buildup includes soot. Considering that your fireplace is fuelled by gas and not wood, soot is a danger sign that needs addressing and the buildup will only get worse if left unaddressed. Dust and cobwebs can also build up and become a hazard, especially if the gas fireplace has gone untouched for some time.

While the faux logs that may come with your gas fire can be reused, these can deteriorate over time too! They can cling to the sides of their insert and become trapped if they’re not replaced beforehand. Cracked or fractured logs should also be replaced for best heating output.

What’s that smell?

We’re not just talking about the aforementioned wildlife obstacles! Carbon monoxide is a smell you can encounter and a dangerous threat if you don’t clean out or tend to your gas fireplace. Usually it is emitted when natural gas is not burned completely. Being exposed to too much can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Headaches and fatigue are just the start of physical symptoms when one is exposed to carbon monoxide. More alarming symptoms involve nausea, loss of muscle control, abdominal and chest pain, dizziness, and bright pink skin and lips. Call 911 if this is happening and get medical attention immediately!

Natural gas can become its own threat if the pipes are damaged and left untended to, not to mention it’s a highly flammable substance. Signs of leaks include dead houseplants, a rotten egg smell, a hissing noise, white fog or mist, and bubbles in water. If you detect any one of these signs, stop what you’re doing immediately and go outside. Call 911 or the FortisBC 24-hour emergency number 1-800-663-9911 and report the gas leak to your technician.

Now you know what dangers lie ahead if you don’t clean your gas fireplace! If you need assistance with gas fitting and proper cleaning and maintenance, or you’d like a professional to address concerns such as a pilot light that won’t stay lit, 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!

It’s just turning October now, but that doesn’t mean it’s quite time to turn on the heat yet. There’s still a little bit of time left before it’s best to turn off the A/C and turn on your furnace.

Regardless, we’ve noticed that there are quite a lot of questions people ask about temperature and thermostats this time of the year, especially now that it’s almost time to make that shift from staying cool to staying warm. We figured we’d answer some of those questions to help you best understand how to save money and energy without giving up your sense of comfort. Let’s get started, shall we?

1. Is it better to keep the thermostat at a constant temperature?

No it’s not, actually! Leaving your thermostat at a temperature all the time, even when you’re not at home, is a waste of your time, energy, and money. It also creates more wear and tear to your HVAC systems over time, thus reducing the lifespan and increasing the risk of repair jobs needed.

You need to adjust your thermostat whenever the heat goes up in the summer or the temperature drops in the winter. The recommendations according to Energy Star are to set your temperature between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius (70 to 78 Fahrenheit). Energy Star also suggests that you turn your thermostat up by another 8 degrees when you leave your home. That way your HVAC systems will work at a lesser pace, thus reducing your heating or cooling costs.

2. Is it cheaper to leave the heat on low all day?

This is another myth! In fact the only way you can save money via heating is to literally only heat up your home when you need it. Using a timer is the best solution, because the thermostat on your HVAC systems is designed to turn the heating on and off. That way it can keep your home at the temperature you set it at.

It’s certain that you leak energy out of your home constantly—although how much will depend on how good your home’s insulation is. Therefore, if you keep the heating on low all day, you lose energy all day too. That’s why it’s really for the best you don’t leave the heat on all day long.

3. How much money can you save by changing the thermostat?

The amount of money you can save depends on several other factors, such as how old or new your HVAC systems are, how well-insulated your home is, how many people live in your home (i.e. you live by yourself or you have a family or roommate), and the current status of your thermostat. Obviously if your HVAC is getting on in its age it can cost you more, while newer models are more energy efficient and can reduce costs tremendously.

How much you save will really depend on where you live, your current lifestyle, and the state of your home’s insulation. To reduce costs, look into any potential areas where heat or cold air can leak out and get any issues, such as drafty doorways or windows, resolved.

4. Should I turn the heat off at night?

It’s actually for the best to turn your heat down before you go to bed, as opposed to off entirely. Turning your heat off altogether can make your nights restless and uncomfortable. Your home may also cool down so much when the heat is off that heating it back up when you wake up will waste more energy.

For an ideal temperature when it’s time to go to sleep, it’s recommended to set your thermostat between 17 and 19 degrees Celsius (62 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit). This will ensure you stay cozy while getting some good rest.

5. How do I keep my home warm or cool without changing the thermostat?

You can stay warm or cool even when the temperature is at either extremity by doing the following things:

• Seal all drafty areas in your home before the temperature really drops. The most likely places to find these drafts are in doorways and windowpanes.
• Keep vents and doors closed in any unused rooms. This will make it easier for your furnace or air conditioner to deliver your desired temperatures to the rooms you spend time in the most.
• Add some layers to your clothes in fall, and remove them in spring. Those are the two seasons when the temperature shifts and you need to dress warmly or cool, even in your own home.
• If your home has ceiling fans, you can use them to keep the air cool or warm in either season. They can speed up the ventilation process and redistribute the hot or cold air you want to regulate throughout your regularly occupied rooms.
• Schedule an annual HVAC inspection and maintenance. Now is one of the best times of the year to do so, because the summer rush is over and it’s not yet time for winter. Likewise, spring is when the winter rush is over for furnace maintenance.

Got any more questions about the temperature and thermostats? Is it time to get your HVAC inspected and maintained? Give our professional technicians a call. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have! 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 common fact of life that “nothing lasts forever”—that phrase especially applies to commercial fridges. If the lifespan is over 10 years of age, it’s time to replace the entire system. It sounds expensive, we know, because it is, but it’s better that way for your everyone in the long term.

That being said, there are certain parts of your commercial fridge that you can keep in tip-top shape to ensure you get the most out of the system, and even extend its lifespan somewhat. Here is the lowdown on the most important parts of your commercial refrigerator you need to maintain regularly.

Why it Matters

If and when your commercial fridge isn’t working the way it should, it can help you to know the most common replacement parts even if you don’t plan to perform the repair job yourself; maybe you want an HVAC technician to look into it, but you’ll need to know ahead of time what’s wrong otherwise you’ll both spend a long time inspecting and perform an incorrect diagnosis. Having a correct understanding of which appliance parts are what will also help you better understand the diagnosis your technician will give you when they quote you for the repair job.

Now, these parts require your attention and maintenance:

Compressor

The compressor is one of the most important parts. It moves the refrigerant throughout the entire machine, creating that cooling effect we want for our food. A variety of issues can arise if the compressor gets too dirty or dusty, or if it breaks.

Condenser Coils

These help with the cooling process in that they help move air over the compressor up to the condenser fan motor. If these also get dirty and dusty, the cooling process will come to a halt.

Condenser Fan Motor

This motor draws air through the coils and over the compressor. It is what circulates the air throughout the entire machine, thus regulating the temperature in the process. You’ll know if this is the part that requires your attention if there is a loud noise coming from your commercial fridge that doesn’t sound normal. The problem may either be debris caught in the fan blades, or the bearings need replacement and fixing.

Thermistor

What the thermistor does is send the reading of the current temperature in your fridge using metals different from those within a thermostat. Thermistors are designed to read changes in conductivity as reflecting changes in temperature, even minute changes.

A thermostat, if you wondering, is a cruder version of the thermistor. It only permits the metals contained inside it to rise up or press on a contact to a certain level as the temperature fluctuates.

Whether your commercial fridge contains a thermostat or a thermistor, they are both an important part because they tell you what an acceptable level of temperature is for the food you’re preparing and selling. If this part becomes faulty, it needs to be replaced.

Evaporator Fan Motor

This part has a key role in the cooling process. Much like the condenser fan motor, if your commercial fridge is running noisier and louder than usual, this is a sign of either imminent failure for the part, or the fan motor windings need to be checked for continuity. The noise will be especially noticeable when the fridge door is open, and can be detected when the freezer part is still cold while the rest of your fridge is not.

The placement of all of these parts in your commercial fridge varies from model to model. That’s why it’s so important to hold on to the owner’s manual; it will help you determine which part is located where and how best to approach proper cleaning and maintenance. Some placements may require your HVAC technician team to maintain as they may be a little tricky to get to in terms of cleaning!

All of these parts we’ve listed can be maintained, and when properly done your commercial refrigeration may last beyond the estimated lifespan. However, if a fridge is too old, say over 10 or even 15 years, it’s too old to repair—not to mention the parts you may need for repair jobs are no longer manufactured. That’s why in some cases, you need to hire a professional technician team to maintain and inspect your commercial refrigeration.

Get professional repairs done if the task is too big to handle, or a new installation if your commercial refrigeration has reached the end of its lifespan. 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!

If you’re looking to buy a new home or your old HVAC equipment has bitten the dust, you may be thinking either one of two things:

1. “Well, it was good while it lasted, but I don’t need this anymore.”
2. “I don’t need to have this installed in my home, do I?”

Wrong! HVAC equipment does in fact have more uses than the very obvious heating and cooling features. We’re going to go over those very reasons right now.

Reason 1: Temperature Control

Let’s just get the obvious out of the way first. Yes, heating and cooling are both very handy to have in order to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. That’s why most homes built now usually contain a furnace and central air conditioning when they’re first built. However, these are not all features that come when, say, you rent an apartment or move into an older house. Regarding the latter, we’re not just talking about housing that existed 5 years ago; we’re talking about real estate that existed circa 1980 and older.

Whatever home you live in, no one wants to find out they can’t control the temperature when things get too uncomfortable. Having HVAC equipment installed can help maintain a livable temperature and ensure everyone is comfortable living where they’re living.

Reason 2: Ventilation

Sunny rooms in a house are not the only rooms that benefit from ventilation. Computer rooms that contain many wires and electronics, kitchens, bedrooms, and virtually any area where people with allergies are living (more on that later) will require ventilation. This will not only keep the rooms cooled down and the temperature under control, but also it will help other assets keep running at their usual capacity without risk of overheating or underperforming.

Reason 3: Allergen Prevention

Those living with allergies know how important it is to keep everything clean, including and especially the air! Every piece of HVAC equipment that is built now comes with a filter (and extras if it gets too dirty to clean) so that allergen triggers such as pollen, dust, or other debris are filtered out by the system, whether it’s in the furnace or air conditioning. This helps make sure the air is fresh and free of allergens.

Reason 4: Comfort

A/C and furnaces are not the only things considered to be essential for a comfortable lifestyle. Refrigerators, outdoor heaters, hot water tanks, and heat pumps are all built to keep our lives comfortable by warming things up or cooling them off when we want them to. These are all engrained into our daily lives so tightly that it’s easy to take them for granted…that is, until something in the units breaks down or stops working properly. That’s why maintenance is so important! (We even have a full article explaining why.)

Reason 5: Cost

Did you know that it actually costs more money to rely on older equipment than it would to replace it with the latest tech? It’s also important to note that the older your house is, the more expensive it can be to keep it properly hot or cold. If your home has any equipment within it that predates the 80s, you may want to consider upgrading to newer systems. That way, after the fact, you will actually be saving money rather than spending it on your energy bills (not to mention the new stuff is built to be safer for homes!). Speaking of energy…

Reason 6: Energy Efficiency

Our energy costs are higher now than they used to be back in the 80s. We also have better insulation in the homes we build and less interest in being wasteful with our money. Most of the latest HVAC equipment built today is not based upon how fast a room can be cooled down or heated up. Instead, they’re built based on how much energy they spend, which is typically measured by the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) and however many BTUs (British Thermal Units) are required to get the job done.

However efficient the systems are, their efficiency will all depend on your home’s location, climate, humidity levels, and size. If you’re not sure about any of these things, it never hurts to ask a professional!

Whichever HVAC equipment you own or choose to own, it should do all of the following:

• Make your life easier
• Keep your bills at a low cost
• Be energy saving
• Make your home comfortable and awesome to live in

If there’s a problem or repairs are needed, or you need HVAC equipment to be properly installed, ask for professional help.

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.comand don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

It never hurts to be early when it comes to getting air conditioning for your home! This is especially true if you want to get a head start on staying cool once summer rolls in.

Hold on though! Before you go shopping, did you know that there’s more than just one aspect of A/C units to look for? Does your home even accommodate an A/C system? You may need to read this article if you’re not sure or if you need to shop, but don’t know where to start. Here are some tips.

Before Shopping

Before you go out and buy a new A/C system, take a look at your current one (if you already have it). If it’s not running at its full capacity, check to see if there are repairs needed and if they’re fixable, get the job done (this may or may require a professional, depending on what needs to be fixed and where the problem is located). If the repairs are too costly or the system is too inefficient and expensive, then you should go ahead and shop for a new one.

Types of A/C Systems

First, determine which system you need based on your home. Is your home an actual house with a backyard, or an apartment? What is the climate like where you live? Do you get a lot of sunlight pouring in, or are there heavily shaded areas?

Next, you need to take a look at the systems available, and there are a few types: central, window, portable, and in-the-wall single room air conditioners. The central air conditioner would be the most ideal if you want your entire house to cool down, whereas the latter options may be better suited for apartment suites or condos.

Sizes

Air conditioners are normally measured by their BTUs, or British Thermal Units. This measurement helps determine how effective and fast a room can be cooled down. Picking a system with too few BTUs will result in not enough cooling, whereas too many than necessary will lead to energy waste and decrease in its ability to dehumidify a room. It’s also important to consider the following before determining which BTUs you should aim for:

• Ceiling height
• Sun exposure
• Insulation
• Location
• Climate

Cooling Capacity

You will need to calculate the required cooling capacity of your air conditioner beforehand, because size does matter (we have an article explaining why!). A room with excessive sunlight should have a unit up to 10% more BTUs than required. If the unit is going into the kitchen, the unit should go up to 4,000 BTUs more than the required room size. Add an additional 600 BTUs per person if there is more than one living in the designated home. The BTU should be reduced by 10% if the room is heavily shaded.

Energy Efficiency

Efficiency, not size, is what matters more when it comes to A/C. Ideally, you want to choose an air conditioning system that will maximize the cooling effect while costing you minimal money. You can try and identify the most energy efficient A/C units by checking out their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER for short. This is one of the most important ratings to check before buying! Basically, the higher the SEER number is, the more efficient the unit is and the less costly it will provide cooling.

A SEER number can be raised if the air conditioning unit possesses the following energy efficient features (note that this applies to central A/C systems only):

• A filter indicator light (handy for regular maintenance!)
• A fan-only switch (you can turn off the cooling but the fan will still run)
• Large coils (makes for more efficient heat transfer)
• A higher temperature rating that’s greater than 11.6 (translates to higher efficiency when the weather is its hottest)
• An automatic fan delay switch (keeps the fan on long enough to cool the air after the compressor switches off)

For window/portable air conditioners, these features would be especially handy to have:

• Digital temperature control (numbers instead of High or Low settings, to help you save on energy)
• Easy to access filters (for easy, regular maintenance and to reduce allergens and dust)
• A timer (handy if you don’t want it running all the time)
• Sleep/energy settings (this will help it run at its lowest setting during the night, making for a more comfortable good night’s sleep!)
• A programmable thermostat (so you can program different temperatures for day and night)

Hopefully you’re now ready to shop! If you’re still not sure which A/C unit is the most appropriate for your home, or you need help with installation, leave those steps to the professionals.

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!

When it comes to shopping for HVAC equipment, whether it’s for your very first house or you need to upgrade your air conditioning, the last thing anyone tends to think about is the size of it. This is not a safe way to shop! You may not think size matters when it comes to having an HVAC system installed, but you couldn’t be any more wrong. Here is why you need to consider sizing before moving forward with an installation or upgrade.

Efficiency

There is a misconception going around that “bigger is better”. However, that saying applied to 1980s equipment when HVAC units were massive, required a lot more energy to run, and they cooled down or warmed up a building in 15 minutes tops. Back then, electricity was cheaper than it is now, and insulation was minimal if not non-existent.

Now, we have modern housing, better insulation, and higher priced electricity in addition to knowledge of more efficient ways to use energy sources. So no, bigger is no longer better. Efficiency is now the name of the game, so your unit shouldn’t be bigger if you want to keep your energy bills nice and low and your equipment running for longer than a full year.

Run Time

Going back to the 80s style units, these could certainly cool down or heat up a building in a short amount of time. However, once the air was cool, the unit would automatically shut off, and then switch back on when the heat returned. This action would repeat for the rest of the day. In reality, this is a terrible solution and it will cut down a unit’s run time! Rapid cooling may sound nice at first, but it’s better to cool down or heat up the temperature at a slower, gradual pace rather than a rapid one. All modern units built for heating and cooling work at this pace now. This ensures that the run time of the unit will not be shortened by how much energy it uses.

Another way to cut down on the run time is—you guessed it—improperly sized equipment. If it’s too small, the unit will run all the time to try and reach the desired temperature, but it still won’t reach it, and thus its run time is shortened. If it’s too large, then you’ll get cool fast, but then you’ll have to wait for the unit to switch back on, leaving you completely uncomfortable!

Expense

Like we said, bigger does not equal better in the case of HVAC equipment. The bigger your units, the more expensive they are. That being said, if the equipment is too small, it won’t be nearly as efficient enough at its job, whether that’s chilling or warming up the air in your home. A too-small unit may also require more repairs than necessary if something goes wrong.

Either way, installing the best-sized equipment that’s just right can and will save you money in the long run.

Noise

A constantly running HVAC unit creates a lot of noise, you know! This is especially the case if your units are too small to handle the job. Excessive noise can also be an indicator of an underlying problem going unaddressed or noticed. Whatever the reason, a great deal of noise should not be something you hear once a new system is installed.

Now that you know all of this, it’s time to be a smarter shopper. Do you need help figuring out the measurements beforehand? Let us know!

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.comand don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!