Design Comfort Blog

Air Conditioning Problems Caused by Low Refrigerant

June 19th, 2014

Refrigerant is the chemical in your air conditioning system that makes it possible to cool the indoor air. Refrigerant can do this because it can easily turn from a liquid to a gas and back again, all within the closed system of your air conditioner. The interesting thing is that the refrigerant in your air conditioner doesn’t deplete; it was designed to stay at a set amount for the life of the air conditioner. As such, the only ways refrigerant can run low in an air conditioning system are: a) the amount of refrigerant put into the system during installation was incorrect or; b) there is a leak. In either case, your air conditioning system needs the help of a trained professional, so call the ones to trust: Design Comfort.

AC Problems Caused by Refrigerant Leaks

Several problems can arise from a low refrigerant level and all can cause operational issues with your air conditioning system. Therefore, it is always advisable to repair a refrigerant leak as soon as possible. Here are some of the more common problems our experts at Design Comfort have encountered when dealing with low refrigerant:

  • Warm air – when your system is low on refrigerant, there isn’t enough of the chemical in the system to correctly execute the heat release and cooling process necessary for cooling the air. The result can be warm air blowing into your property.
  • Icing – low refrigerant causes an imbalance in the system. When your system forms ice, the parts that are supposed to be hot are too hot and not cooling off properly; conversely, the cool parts are too cold because they aren’t warming up as they should. These two very disparate air temperatures meet in the air conditioner and create condensation – but because the cool parts are too cold, the condensation quickly turns from water to ice.
  • Air conditioner won’t start – some systems have a built-in safety switch that turns on when the refrigerant goes too low. If your air conditioner is equipped with this kind of safety switch, don’t try and force your AC to turn on; call a technician to inspect your system.

Call an Expert for Refrigerant Repairs

Finding a refrigerant leak isn’t easy, and handling refrigerant requires training. The bottom line: fixing a refrigerant leak isn’t a DIY kind of job. If you are seeing signs your air conditioner may be low on refrigerant, call Design Comfort today and schedule an appointment for your air conditioning repair service in Salt Lake City.

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Should I Replace My Thermostat When Upgrading My Air Conditioner?

June 16th, 2014

When you have new installation for air conditioning in Bountiful, UT, you don’t necessarily have to change your current thermostat. The installers can connect the new AC system to the older control panel, and you can continue to control your cooling system the way you always have. But if your thermostat is the same age as the air conditioner that you’re replacing, then it is a smart idea to replace the thermostat during new installation with an upgraded model.

Our Design Comfort air conditioning installation team knows as much about thermostats as they do about fitting a new AC into your home. If you want to an up-to-date thermostat as part of the new air conditioning installation job, you can arrange they job with us.

Why a Thermostat Upgrade Is a Wise Choice with AC Installation

The advances in thermostat technology have mirrored those in HVAC technology. If your old thermostat is a manual model with sliders and dials, then you should definitely upgrade to a digital model. A digital thermostat can reach more precise temperature settings, and this will mean an improvement in comfort and energy savings. Digital models also have easy to read displays that will make it simpler for you to set and understand the temperature.

But there are even superior upgrades than going digital. Programmable thermostats allow you to control when the AC turns on and off even when you aren’t home. This is about more than convenience: a programmable thermostat will save power because you won’t need to keep an air conditioner running all day just so you can come home to a cool house. Instead, you can keep the AC turned off and saving power until the thermostat activates it a half hour before you come home.

The newest innovation in thermostats is the “smart” thermostat. These units permit homeowners to control them wirelessly from mobile devices or computers anywhere they have an Internet or satellite connection. Smart thermostats also learn a homeowner’s air conditioning comfort control patterns, and develop their own pattern to provide a house with cooling that best matches the owner’s needs while also saving energy.

Choosing the New Thermostat

In general, replacing a thermostat as part of AC installation is an excellent idea. You can upgrade to better technology, and you will have a system that is specially fit to your new air conditioner. To decide which new thermostat you should have installed, call professionals who can provide a range of options for thermostat replacement.

Our technicians at Design Comfort handle thermostat installation, repair, and maintenance services. Call us for installing air conditioning systems in Bountiful, UT and also for installation of a new top-of-the-line thermostat.

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3 Advantages of a New Air Conditioning System

June 5th, 2014

Many people have a difficult time deciding whether or not to replace an aging air conditioning system, particularly if it’s still working. It’s an understandable conundrum: replacing an air conditioner is a big decision that affects your household long-term. One of the best ways to help determine whether or not your air conditioning system needs replacement is to see what kinds of advantages you stand to see with a new air conditioning system.

Here Are 3 Advantages Our Technicians Have Seen Our Customers Gain as a Result of Replacing Their Air Conditioners:

  • Greater comfort – aging air conditioners struggle to reach your desired comfort level. At some point, they may not reach it at all, or you may experience varying temperature spots around your home. A new air conditioner, on the other hand, will be able to fully handle the cooling load of your property, keeping you and your family comfortable during the hot summer months.
  • Less repair work – have you had to do a lot of repair work to your current AC? Air conditioning repair bills can add up quickly, and at some point, you can spend as much on repairs as you would have to replace your system. With a new air conditioner, repair work becomes minimal, and with regular bi-annual maintenance, you can help prevent large repairs from occurring.
  • Greater energy efficiency – today’s air conditioners are up to 60% more efficient than ones from just 10 years ago. Not only are today’s air conditioners more technologically advanced, they need to have a minimum SEER number of 13; 8 years ago, that number was 10. In addition, today’s air conditioners can have upgrades like programmable thermostats, zone control systems and dehumidifiers, all of which help make your overall air conditioning system more effective and efficient.

Thinking About an AC Replacement? Call a Professional for Help

Choosing a new air conditioner for your property requires calculation and decision-making that is best accomplished with the help of a trained professional. Many factors go into determining how much cooling your home needs to feel comfortable; in addition, there are several types of whole-home air conditioners from which to choose. To ensure you purchase an air conditioning replacement in Draper that best fits your home, call Design Comfort today and schedule a consultation with one of our trained experts.

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How Do Air Conditioners Get the ENERGY STAR Sticker?

June 5th, 2014

This is a question that air conditioning repair and installation specialists often hear: “What is that sticker with ENERGY STAR on it mean?”

No, it’s not a brand name, nor is it similar to the stickers you often see on computers that indicate a type of proprietary technology or component inside. (In fact, it can mean just the opposite, as we’ll get into below.) What the ENERGY STAR label indicates is that the particular air conditioning system has met the requirements of a voluntary government program that oversees energy-efficient performance and pollution control among appliances for both homes and businesses.

At Design Comfort, we encourage our customers to look into ENERGY STAR-approved products when they are starting out with air conditioning installation in Salt Lake City, UT. This way, they can receive savings as well as quality cooling power. However, it’s still important to rely on the assistance of professionals when selecting a system—and our staff will always be here and ready to help you.

How ACs qualify for the ENERGY STAR label

The ENERGY STAR program started in 1992 when the U.S. EPA initiated a voluntary set of guidelines to help homes and businesses reduce energy use and the emission of greenhouse gases without sacrificing productivity or comfort. Each type of appliance has its own set of requirements that an individual model must meet in order to receive the approval sticker from the program.

For central air conditioners to receive ENERGY STAR certification, they must have a minimum SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) of 14.5 and an EER (energy efficiency rating) of 12. In addition to this, the technology required to achieve the high efficiency must be non-proprietary and available to all manufacturers. (The idea is that saving energy must belong to everyone, not just a few companies.) The units must also have basic features that the program has determined consumers want.

The ENERGY STAR requirements are a good baseline for homeowners who are shopping for a new AC to install. With the ENERGY STAR label, you can feel assured that the system will save you money over one that lacks certification, and that you are doing your part to better the environment.

However, energy efficiency isn’t your only concern when it comes to air conditioning installation in Salt Lake City, UT. You will need the work of trained installers to make sure you have the proper sized unit to provide you with sufficient cooling, and to see that it is installed correctly. Call up Design Comfort when you are getting ready for a new AC for your home. We will guide you to the right ENERGY STAR system for you, so you will have savings and comfort for many years to come.

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3 Causes of Low Air Flow in Your AC Unit

May 23rd, 2014

When it comes to comfort from an air conditioning system, it isn’t only cooling power that’s necessary to keep you cool. The air conditioner must be able to blow out enough of that conditioned air through your vents to provide an even spread of lower temperatures through your home. If you notice that the flow of air from the vents has dropped, something is wrong and you should contact specialists to look into it.

When you need repairs for your air conditioning in Millcreek, UT, pick up the phone and call Design Comfort right away. You can trust our trained staff with all your home comfort concerns.

3 reasons you might experience low airflow

  1. Clogged filter: This is one of the more common troubles that can afflict an air conditioner, and fortunately it is one that you can easily prevent. The filter is designed to catch outside particles that enter the return vents and stop them from entering the AC’s cabinet. If the filter isn’t changed often enough, it will catch enough debris that it will start to cut off the flow into the AC, and that will cut down on the flow out of the AC as well. Along with lowering airflow a clogged air filter will force the system to work harder and could trigger icing across the coils. Change the filter once a month to prevent this from happening; should serious trouble start, call for repairs.
  2. Blower fan malfunction: The blower fan in the air conditioner’s air handler send air from the return vents across the evaporator coil and then into the ventilation system. This is the work horse of airflow, so if the fan malfunctions because of a broken motor or mechanical problem, you’ll need to have trained repairs to restore it and your airflow.
  3. Broken ductwork: The ducts that carry the air from the air handler to the rooms must maintain a tight seal along their length so they will not lose air pressure. It only takes a small hole of gap between sections to lead to a drop in the air pressure that will result in lowered airflow from the vents. Breaks need professional indoor air quality technicians to repair and seal them (no, duct tape isn’t the answer) not only to restore the AC’s airflow, but to protect the ducts from dust and debris contamination.

Call for the right repair technicians

Because a drop in airflow can come from either problems in the air conditioning or the ductwork, make sure that when you call for repairs from technicians with skill in both HVAC work and indoor air quality services.

For the proper work for air quality and air conditioning in Millcreek, UT, look to the comprehensive services of Design Comfort. We are ready 24 hours a day to help you.

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The Importance of Sizing an Air Conditioning System

May 23rd, 2014

When you have a new air conditioner installed, one of the most important decisions to make is how powerful a new unit you need. This is called “sizing” an AC, and it’s more difficult than you may imagine. This isn’t a case where you can simply choose the largest system available. If your air conditioner is too large or too small, it will have serious consequences and the system will probably need early replacement.

Proper sizing requires calculations from HVAC professionals. Since professionals are necessary to correctly install an AC, make sure you have them on the job from the beginning. Call Design Comfort today to speak to our technicians who handle air conditioning installation in Salt Lake City, UT. They can assist you with finding the right system for your comfort.

Problems with an AC That Is Too Small

If you have an air conditioner that is too small to cool down your home, the system will start to run longer than it should to struggle to reach the desired temperature. This puts extreme stress on the AC and will wear it down rapidly. It will also fail to evenly condition the house, with many rooms developing hot spots because the system cannot produce effective cooling levels.

Problems with an AC That Is Too Large

It sounds logical that if an air conditioner is too large you can simply decide to run it less often. However, the problem that an oversized air conditioning system encounters is that it will start short-cycling: it will reach its target temperature so rapidly that the compressor will turn off early before completing the cooling cycle, only to turn back on again a short time later. This creates a huge power drain because the AC uses the most electricity when it turns on the compressor. The amount of strain put on the compressor will also threaten to burn it out after only a few years, and when this happens the whole air conditioner usually must be replaced.

You don’t want either situation to occur, so make sure you have AC installation done right the first time. Professionals will perform a heat load calculation which will factor the amount of heat your home traps and generates, and how much power is needed to overcome it and provide all rooms with even cooling. Once they finish the calculation, the technicians can select the air conditioner size that will work for you without draining power or wearing down rapidly.

Since 1982, Design Comfort has delivered quality air conditioning installation in Salt Lake City that has kept our customers cool and content through the hot summers. Make us your first call when you need a new AC for your home.

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How Does an Air Conditioner Cool the Air?

May 16th, 2014

Air conditioners are quite a feat of engineering. While they seem to just blow cool air, there is actually much more going on than appears to the eye. Simply put, your air conditioner takes the hot air from your home, runs it through your air conditioning system, and then returns it as cool, dry air. So, what appears as cool air blowing into your home is actually the same air with the heat removed. Want to know how your air conditioning does this? Let the Millcreek air conditioning system specialists at Design Comfort explain how this happens.

Refrigerant

You may have heard your air conditioning specialist say the word “refrigerant” in regard to your air conditioner. Refrigerant is the chemical your air conditioner uses to facilitate the heat transfer process. It does this by completing a cycle in which it changes from a liquid to a gas and back again, taking on and then dispersing heat from the air within your home.

The 3 Main Components of Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioner has 3 main parts: the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator. These components are responsible for changing the refrigerant from a liquid to a gas and back to a liquid, all within your air conditioning system.

How Do the Refrigerant and Components Work Together to Cool the Air?

In its different states, the refrigerant carries out heat and then helps to cool the air that is brought back into your home. How? When a liquid converts to gas, it absorbs heat. So when the refrigerant is in a gaseous state, it absorbs the heat from your property. As the refrigerant gas moves through the system, it passes through the outside unit, where the heat is released and the refrigerant cools. The cooled gas moves back into the house to the evaporator, where warm air is blown onto the evaporator coils now holding the cooled refrigerant. This creates chilled air, which is delivered to the inside of your property via the ductwork.

Removal of Humidity

In addition to lowering the temperature, your air conditioner does a second important job: it also removes humidity. Moisture is a conductor of heat, which is why humidity makes things feel so much hotter. As your air conditioner removes heat, it also removes moisture from the air and drains it outside your home. Without this function, you would have cool, moist air in your home rather than cool, dry air.

It’s a Complex System

Your air conditioner is a complex machine that benefits most when a licensed professional manages its maintenance and repairs. For over 30 years, Design Comfort has been working on air conditioners in Millcreek. If you would like to know more about our products, installation or repairs, call us today!

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3 Reasons to Replace Your Water Heater

May 7th, 2014

You turn the handle with the letter “H” or the red mark on it, and hot water pours out of a faucet or showerhead. This is something you expect to happen every day, and thanks to a sturdy water heater, you will get it almost every day.

But then that day will come when it won’t happen: you have a dead water heater and you need to replace it with a new system. This happens to all water heaters eventually—no home appliance can endure forever. But you may decide to replace your heater before this occurs: here are three good reasons to schedule water heater replacement service in Salt Lake City before the heater gives out on you entirely.

Installing a new system to provide you with the hot water necessary for daily comfort is a simple task for the right professionals: call on Design Comfort, where water heaters are one of our specialties.

1. It is exceptionally old

You should know the age of your system and the manufacturer’s expected lifespan for it. (Look on the heaters tank to find this information.) Most heaters will last 1–15 years with maintenance. A heater over 15 years could begin to fail at any time, and should be replaced before it turns into a money waster and a source of numerous repairs. You have already received a great return on the initial investment; get ahead of the heater before it begins to fail.

2. It has started to corrode

Corrosion striking the tank is often the sign of a water heating system in its final stages. When rusty brown water starts flowing from the taps, or if you spot corrosion on the water tank, then the water heater is on the verge of dying and repairs will not reverse the process.

3. You want to shift to a tankless water heater

If your family has grown since you installed the water heater, you might start to find that the old heater is inadequate for your needs and runs out of hot water too rapidly. In this case, consider the switch to the technological advance of the tankless water heater, which not only saves power (no need to keep a tank of water constantly hot with continuous energy use) but provides you hot water on-demand… so you’ll never run out of hot water, no matter how many people in your home need morning showers. Ditch the old storage heater for a tankless model if your installer thinks it will better fill your needs.

Remember that you need to have trained and qualified installers put in a new water heater for your home or else it will not work as expected and encounter efficiency and performance issues. Trust the work to the staff at Design Comfort, where water heater replacement in Salt Lake City is one of the services we take pride in.

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How Can My Air Conditioning System Help with Humidity?

April 30th, 2014

It’s not so much the heat as it is the humidity.

We’ve all heard this phrase before, and we’ve all experienced it: the higher the moisture level in the air, the more uncomfortable a hot day will feel. The reason for this is that high humidity makes it more difficult for our pores to sweat. Sweating is our bodies’ defense against overheating; the release of moisture from our bodies also releases heat. But with too much moisture in the air, we sweat at a slower rate, and lose heat at a slower rate as well. We end up feeling hotter than temperature around us.

Air conditioners can help make your home more comfortable during sweltering summer days when the humidity level contributes to your discomfort. But your AC needs to remain in good operating condition for this to work. When it’s time for repairs for your air conditioning, call Design Comfort. We have 24-hour emergency air conditioning service available in Salt Lake City for when that busted AC can’t wait.

Why Air Conditioning Helps Reduce Humidity

Modern ACs are not designed specifically as dehumidifiers (although some have humidity controls as extra features, and the first electro-mechanical air conditioner was specifically engineered to reduce humidity within a paper plant), but the process of evaporation that creates the feeling of cooler air in your home also draws moisture out of the air.

The evaporator coil in an air conditioner is located in the indoor cabinet of the system. As refrigerant runs through this coil, it absorbs heat from the air, cooling the air down. But it also absorbs moisture from the air, which condenses along the coil. This moisture collects into a shallow pan below the coil (the condensate pan) and from there a pump removes it through a drain. The moisture does not re-enter your home’s air, and so you experience a pleasant humidity reduction.

Watch Out For the Opposite Effect, However

Low humidity is often a problem in Salt Lake City, and this can feel as uncomfortable as high humidity. An air conditioner can end up drying your home out too much, and if this is often the case, consider investing in a whole-house humidifier to create a balance. The combination of the two will help your home achieve the right humidity level no matter the weather.

Design Comfort, along with offering excellent service for air conditioning systems in Salt Lake City, also installs humidifiers. Call us today and talk to our indoor air quality specialists to find out the best way to achieve the right moisture balance inside your house.

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Steps to Take with Your Furnace at the End of Heating Season

April 29th, 2014

Another season of using furnaces to keep our homes warm has come to an end, and the hum of air conditioners will soon take over. But as the calendar moves toward the end of spring and into the heat of summer, there are some important steps to take regarding the furnaces that will sit tranquil for the next few months.

No, you’re not done with your furnace yet.

Our professionals at Design Comfort have some advice on steps you can take to make sure your furnace has a good vacation and will be ready for the return of cooler weather in fall. Contact us for help with furnaces in Holladay, UT. We have NATE-certified technicians on staff with the skill and knowledge to handle any issues with your furnace.

Some steps for retiring your furnace for spring and summer

  • Check and change the air filter: This filter protects the interior of the furnace from debris that gets drawn in through the return vents. As debris collects in the filter, it will begin to clog and may reach a point where it chokes off airflow. Check the furnace’s filter, and if it is highly congested with dust, dirt, lint, and hair, change it for a fresh one so the furnace is ready to come back on whenever you need it.
  • Run the furnace for an hour to look for problems: It’s a good idea to have any necessary repairs for your furnace done long before winter arrives, and spring is an especially good time to take care of them because HVAC repair technicians have less crowded schedules. Turn on your furnace for an hour and listen for odd noises from the cabinets or weird smells from the vents. Check the airflow from the vents. See if the heat level feels right for what the thermostat displays. Should anything seem amiss, call for repairs right away.
  • Schedule maintenance if more than a year has passed: Annual maintenance for a furnace from a professional is a must. It helps avoid breakdowns, energy waste, and safety issues. Usually, furnace maintenance takes place in the fall. If you did not have it done then, and more than a year has passed since the last maintenance session, have it done now. Make sure your furnace is in the best shape possible for when it roars back to life in fall.

We want you to have any concerns about your furnace removed from your mind as you enjoy the spring and summer. Let our Design Comfort specialists in furnaces in Holladay, UT help you make the final fixes, adjustments, and inspections on your heating system so you can turn it off for the next few months without worrying about turning it back on again in fall.

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