Air Conditioning

What You Should Know About the R-22 Refrigerant Phaseout

ApsosMedia — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 21:08:43 +0000

What You Should Know About the R-22 Refrigerant Phaseout ApsosMedia Wed, 01/22/2020 - 22:08

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Have you ever wondered how your air conditioner keeps your home cool on even the muggiest summer days? It relies on a refrigerant called freon or R-22 to remove heat from the air, maintaining a comfortable temperature.

While there are lots of moving parts that make your air conditioner work, the refrigerant is arguably the most essential component. Technically, your air conditioner can run without refrigerant, but asking it to do so can damage your unit and cause you to need repairs.

What Is Air Conditioner Refrigerant?

The refrigerant you rely on to keep your cool all summer is a chemical that can alternate rapidly between liquid and gaseous states. They are perfect for use in air conditioners because the process of cooling air involves condensing a refrigerant from a gas into a liquid.

Unfortunately, refrigerants have had a negative impact on our environment over the years, contributing to global climate change and the depletion of Earth’s protective ozone layer. For that reason, the EPA has been gradually phasing out the use and manufacture of R-22 and similarly harmful chemicals for the past several years.

Refrigerants contain chlorine, which destroys the molecules in our ozone layer. These ozone molecules can replenish themselves through a natural process, but unfortunately, they can’t do so very quickly. Human use of chlorine-based refrigerants has been chipping away at the ozone layer much more rapidly than the planet can recreate it.

The ozone layer is vital to protecting our planet from the runaway greenhouse effect, so the EPA is phasing out and eventually banning the manufacture and sale of R-22 refrigerants to protect our ozone layer from further destruction.

How Does the Freon Ban Affect You?

The answer to that question depends on whether your air conditioner was manufactured and installed before or after 2010. Companies that manufacture air conditioners have been banned from using R-22 since Dec. 31, 2009, so if you got your air conditioner anytime within the past nine years, you can feel confident it uses an EPA-approved alternative refrigerant.

If, however, your air conditioner was manufactured and installed before 2010, you may run into some problems as your system ages.

Here’s what you need to know:

R-22 production will halt completely in 2020, which will make it scarce. Because R-22 will be much harder to find, the cost of getting an A/C recharge will likely become much more expensive.
If your air conditioning system develops a refrigerant leak, a qualified HVAC technician can recharge your A/C unit with R-22 as long as supplies are available.
You do not have to replace your older air conditioner if you’re not experiencing any problems with it.
You will not be able to get an A/C unit that relies on R-22 to use an EPA-approved refrigerant. Your smartest and safest option is to replace the old unit.

What Is the Replacement for R-22?

The most reliable EPA-approved freon replacement currently available is called R-410A. Though it can contribute to global warming to some extent, it does not contain ozone-depleting chlorine. This new class of refrigerants has also allowed air conditioner manufacturers to increase the efficiency of A/C units, which is good news for our environment and your bank account.

The freon ban might increase your A/C maintenance costs if you have an older air conditioning unit, but the overall advantages of getting rid of R-22 far outweigh the downsides. New air conditioners that use R-410A run more efficiently than their older counterparts, and they don’t put a dent in our ozone layer.

Whether your air conditioner is brand-new or approaching the end of its lifespan, regular maintenance by an experienced, qualified professional is the best thing you can do to keep it in good shape for longer. Your locally owned experts at Nu-Temp Heating and Cooling are your best resource for everything from routine seasonal maintenance to buying and installing a new air conditioning unit at your Philadelphia-area home. Contact us today for your free estimate.

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Does Your Loud Air Conditioner Have a Problem?

ApsosMedia — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:12:52 +0000

Does Your Loud Air Conditioner Have a Problem? ApsosMedia Wed, 01/08/2020 - 21:12

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You wouldn’t want to go without your air conditioner in the peak of a Philadelphia-area summer, but when it’s noisy, you may decide it’s better to sweat than to put up with all that racket. However, you shouldn’t ignore the noise – your loud air conditioner may be trying to tell you it’s close to breaking down.

What Is Your Air Conditioner Saying?

When your air conditioner is being noisy, pay attention to the sound you’re hearing and note those details so you can report them to your HVAC tech when you call for service.

Shaking and Rattling

Parts of your air conditioner that experience a lot of movement can shake their way loose and start to make rattling sounds. Motors, screws and ducts are among the most common culprits.

Hissing

A refrigerant leak could be causing you to hear a hissing sound. If that’s the case, you may also notice your system is running more often and not cooling as well as it used to. Call in an HVAC professional to have your coils, lines and refrigerant charge checked for possible leaks.

Whining and Whistling

Whistling noises aren’t merely annoying, but could also be a warning of airflow problems, duct damage, clogged filters or restricted flow.

Squeaking or Screeching

If you’re hearing high-pitched noises coming from your air conditioner, have an HVAC professional inspect your compressor and fan motors. These types of air conditioner noises can result from slipped, damaged blower belts or unlubricated bearings.

Buzzing

Many times, buzzing signifies an electrical problem. If you are also hearing a clicking sound, it could mean your relays are failing. To fix this type of air conditioner noise problem, call a trained tech.

Humming

Rattling or humming can be a warning of a fan problem like dirty blades. Other issues that could cause this air conditioner sound include bent or shifted fan blades or issues inside the fan motor. If you’re hearing a humming noise, be sure to examine your outside condenser unit as well. Often, twigs and dead leaves can get stuck in the fan, so make sure to keep the surrounding area free of dirt and debris.

Don’t Let a Noisy A/C Unit Disrupt Your Life

Your loud A/C system isn’t just inconvenient and annoying. A system that isn’t working at its peak is a waste of money, and you could be tempting fate by ignoring what these noises are trying to tell you. If you’re ready to achieve greater peace, quiet and comfort, call Nu-Temp Heating and Cooling for your free estimate today.

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Energy Saving Tips

Nu-Temp — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 19:40:43 +0000

Energy Saving Tips Nu-Temp Mon, 04/23/2018 - 21:40

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An air conditioning or heating system does much more than simply cool or heat the air. They actually condition the air by removing dirt, dust, mold spores and pollens as the air is drawn through a filter. Your air conditioning system also lowers the humidity making the air much more comfortable at any temperature.

So running your air conditioning and heating system has great benefits. But it can account for up to 50% of the expense on your household budget.

Here are some energy saving tips that can save you money and help you "GO GREEN" environmentally just by properly maintaining and carefully operating your air conditioning and heating system.

Lower the temperature on your thermostat in the winter, or raise it in the summer, during the daytime when you're home. You could save up to 5% on energy usage for every degree you either lower the temperature in winter or raise it in the summer. Instead of making your system do all the work, wear an extra layer in the winter to help keep warm, or wear lighter, well ventilated clothes in the summer to help keep cool.
Lower your thermostat to 65 degrees in the winter, or raise it to 80 degrees in the summer, while you're away from home. However, if you have a heat pump, only lower it by 2 or 3 degrees from your typical setting to avoid making the auxiliary heat kick on when you turn the thermostat back up.
Even better, install a programmable thermostat to adjust temperature settings according to a preset schedule. This way you can warm up your house just before you wake up, or warm it up or it cool off before you get home.
Repair leaky faucets. Even a small drip can be the equivalent of wasting a bath tub full of water each month. If it is hot water... even worse!
Find and plug those leaks. Seal leaks between a door and its frame with weather stripping and fill leaks between window frame and wall with caulking.
Seal light switches and electrical sockets with low-cost foam gaskets.
Make sure your fireplace is properly vented to prevent your chimney from drawing heated air out of your house.
Remove window air conditioning units in the winter time to prevent them from drafting in cold air.
Insulate hot water pipes to prevent wasting heat to unconditioned spaces.
Install low-flow showerheads.
Lower the temperature on your water heater. By reducing it only a few degrees, you will lower your utility costs while still enjoying the hot water you want.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs) to save energy and have them last six to 10 times longer.
Install lighting controls like dimmers, timers or motion sensors.
Install a ceiling fan in rooms you spend the most time in, with an option to reverse the air flow. Most models will allow you to set the direction the motor turns so you can blow the warm air back down into the living space.

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