We get this question all of the time. “How come my air conditioner unit seems to work in some rooms better than others?

There are several reasons for this and one is simply the laws of nature. When buying a new home, it doesn’t take long to figure out that some rooms will occasionally be hotter or cooler than others. Your upstairs bedroom may take longer to cool in the hot summer, or the kitchen may be chillier in the winter.

The good news is you don’t need to worry! There may not be anything wrong with your air conditioning system. If your home is multi-level, you will naturally experience the effect of warm air rising to the upper level and cooler air falling to the lower. In addition, solar gain can cause temperatures to rise in certain rooms. This is definitely the case in rooms with west-facing windows during the late afternoon. But, Central Florida weather and forces of nature are not the only factors that will raise your home’s indoor temperature. Cooking and showering will cause the humidity of your home to increase. Even without a raise in temperature, higher levels of humidity can cause you to feel warmer and uncomfortable.

While the laws of nature (and the law of teenagers blow drying hair & taking long showers may be out of your control, you can use your home’s air conditioning system to improve the situation. By adjusting or closing registers that are too cool in summer or too warm in the winter, you can divert conditioned air to rooms where you need it the most. However, we recommend investing in a new zoning system that allows you to divide your home into multiple cooling and heating areas. With a new zoning system, you will still have only one central air conditioner or heat pump, but you will have a series of dampers installed in the duct system which will direct the air only where it is needed. You will also have thermostats located in the various zones of your house which will give you better control of your homes comfort and help with reducing your energy cost.

Next month we will discuss the benefits of programmable thermostats and how working together with zoning systems can reduce your energy bills by 30%.

Contact Us today for a home comfort evaluation. Comfortable Home Systems 780-458-0706.

We finally got our first snow this weekend.  It’s not too bad since it is already mid November now.  Since the weather is getting colder, I want to offer some handy hints for homeowners.

Try not to wear cotton clothing

Cotton absorb sweat and the moisture stays on your skin.  Any movement inside your jacket will draw heat away from your body and make you cold.
Close your Windows properly
Make sure you close both layers of the windows completely to avoid any air leaking out from the windows.  If you notice a leak at your window, you may consider purchasing a removable window-caulk or plastic to seal them.  For short-term solution, use a towel or an old t-shirt to cover the leak area.

Use Curtains over the windows.
Use cheap clear curtain to block the sun light from the window.  This will keep the cold air out and the heat from the sun warming your house.  If you want to secure it even more, you can cover the windows with “clear plastic sheets and make it airtight.”

Drink warm beverage
Drink warm beverage to keep yourself warm.

Keep warm with Fleece
Fleece to keep yourself warm in cold weather.  If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a fleece, you can consider digging out your old fleece ages ago because your old fleece works as much as a new one.

Wool is the warmest
Wool can take the moist away from your skin faster than other fabric.  Also, it is very good at keeping warm, dry air next to you.

Edmonton had some nice weather in September. I even plugged my air conditioner to cool my apartment and I notice my utility bill went up dramatically. For that reason, it triggered me to write a post to share several tips that could reduce your energy bills at home.

1. Open you windows at home – It is a good idea to keep your blinds and windows open during the daytime. This will enable cool air circulate your living space.
2. Fans are much cheaper than air conditioner. For the best and efficient way to cool your space. Blow a fan on one end and another fan on the opposite end; this way, you can maximize the cooling in our space.
3. Using your thermostat correctly will save you a lot of money in the long run. Increasing the temperature when the house is empty and adjust the temperature by few degrees at night will make a big different on your bill.
4. Cook cold meals more often can reduce amount of heat generate from the appliances so it avoid the work from the air conditioning system. Secondly, cold meal will lower your internal body temperature similar to drinking cold drinks on a hot day.
5. Try to keep your lights off when you don’t need it. These will reduce the amount of heat circulating that area.

The Spring and Fall are the Best Times to Contact Comfortable Home Systems.

Before the Summer and Winter Months are without a doubt the best time of the year to contact Comfortable Home Systems to service and maintain your air conditioning systems.

Why? Proper preventative maintenance will not only save you money but it will provide the assurance that when the temperatures get really hot or really cold outside, your unit will work efficiently to keep you and your family comfortable in your home.

In April and May, the wind, dust & pollen are usually at its highest levels.  It is during this time that your outdoor unit, in particularly the compressor inside of it, works hard to collect all of that dust in and around it.  The compressor helps pump refrigerant through your system so you can enjoy the cool and comfortable temperatures in your home.  Also, when the coils that enclose the compressor get filled with dirt and/or debris, it can cause your compressor to falter or even fail.  Having your system checked twice a year by a professionally trained service technician can help prevent replacing your unit.

The technicians at Comfortable Home Systems will clean-out the outdoor coils and eliminate any debris that happens to be around the unit.

It’s remarkable how often air conditioning and heating systems fail at the most challenging times.  But the truth is… there is never a good time for your unit to fail.  That’s why it’s important to service the unit on your time instead of fixing it on your technician’s time.  Air conditioning and heating systems are not unlike any other product, the best way to maintain its efficiency and to maximize its life expectancy is to take excellent care of it.  Don’t wait too long because inevitably your unit will fail when you’re having a party, or your spouse is out of town, or when your children are home sick.  It’s getting hotter outside!

Don’t wait til it’s too late.  Get your air conditioning system serviced today.  Schedule your air conditioning maintenance by calling 780-458-0706 or contacting us online.

When performing routine maintenance on your heating and air conditioning system, be sure not to overlook your unit’s air conditioning coils. Just as air conditioning filters collect dust and debris, air conditioning coils will become dirty over time, and even begin to rust. This air conditioning part must not be ignored if you want to run an efficient home air conditioning system.
In standard HVAC systems in Orlando, air conditioning coils are spiral copper tubes encased in aluminum fins located in both the evaporator and the condenser. Evaporator coils, which can be found indoors, vaporize refrigerant gas, thereby pulling heat out of the indoor air and cooling your home. Their companion part, condenser coils, which can be found outdoors, compresses refrigerant gas back into a liquid, which then carries the heat outside through the coils.
Because your air conditioning unit’s coils constantly circulate gas and liquid, they are magnets for residue. Over time, your HVAC evaporator coils will accumulate dirt, which reduces air flow and insulates the coil, thus decreasing its ability to absorb heat. Clean evaporator coils contribute to a more efficiently running system and decrease your air conditioning system and refrigeration system’s energy bills. In fact, poorly maintained air conditioning coils can reduce the performance of your air conditioner by up to 10%. To combat this, your air conditioner coils should be checked once a year by a trained air conditioning technician, who can clean, repair, and replace the coils as necessary. In addition, regularly changing or cleaning your air conditioner filter, which is conveniently located on top of the evaporator coils, will prevent dirt and debris from collecting as quickly.

I came across a friend of mine last week and he was telling that his air conditioner is not working as good as it used to, so he was asking me if it is time to get it replace. Since summer is coming close, I think many readers might be interested to know as well. Therefore, I decided to write a new blog post on it this week.

Here are several ways to find out if your air conditioner is at the end of their life-cycle.
-Your air conditioner is 10+ years old. That is usually a good indication that your air conditioner is very close to being its end.
-Your energy bill is very expensive. Most air conditioner in the market are energy efficient these days. Apart the fact that your air conditioner is not working properly, you can save a lot on utility if you replace it to a newer model.
-Some rooms are hot and some are cold. “Duct problems and inadeuate insulation could be the cause.”

-It is making a big noise. Usually that is a good sign that “you have an undersize duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.” Yes, you can repair it, but the repairing fees could cost as much as a new model.

-Energy Savings. Take a look at the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) number on your air conditioner. If it is 10 or under, that is sign to consider getting it replace. This rating is a number of BTUs of cooling energy per watt-hour of electricity. Since 2006, air conditioner is required to have a minumum SEER rating of 10 and 13 for central air conditioners. For EngeryStar labeld air conditioners, you need at least 14. Some efficient models has a SEER rating of 26. You might ask what’s the deal with this number, huh? Well, you can save up to 23% on your cool bill from a 10 rating air conditioner to a 13. You could save up to 37% if your system is rated at 18. If you are interested to get a more specific estimate, click on this energy calculator.

What is the most cost efficient way to replace an air conditioner?
A SEER rating above 16 model generally cost at $3,500 and the installation is another cost factor. For that reason, it is wise too install both the air conditioner and the furnace at the same time. They usually share the same blower motor and an old “inefficient motor will reduce the efficiency of the new air conditioner.”

Lastly, There are advantages of replacing to new air conditioner system at your home. The 10+ years old model are very energy consuming and oversized. You can improve your comfort level, lower utility bills and greener product “by replacing an old air conditioner.” Call an expert and get a free estimate today!

After one of the coldest winter we had in Edmonton, the warmer months is just around the corner. Its that time of year where your air conditioner starts rolling. It is always better to send an experts over and do an seasonal inspection early and have them check and repair if necessary. It’s better to do it early then late since the summer is fully book up with appointments and it might takes couple weeks before any service provider can send someone to your home. Also, you can make your air conditioner works his magic when the hot weather starts striking.

On the other hand, if your air conditioner is 10 years or older, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to replace it to a new one. Apart from the fact that the older model are not eco-friendly, they are very electrical intense appliance. Even though upgrading your air conditioning, lighting and insulation can be a bit pricey, you can save a huge amount of money and energy in the long run.

Now it is time to consider if your air conditioner system is ENERGY STAR® qualified. If your air conditioner isn’t qualfied, the energy Efficiency Fund, Connecticut Light and Power and The United Illuminating Company is offering financial incentives to residential customers who are install a newer, energy efficient that meets Energy Star Standards.

Secondly, when hot weather come around, older air conditioner sometimes fail. Since replacing an air conditioner is not something cheap, it is better off upgrade your current one to a newer model. Since the newer model are more energy efficient and eco friendly, your investment will soon pay off in a couple of years.

If you are not sure if your air conditioner is good or not, call an qualified air conditioner’s expert and have them check it up.

With the increasing utility cost at home, house owners are getting smart and try to find the best and most economical way to heat and cool the home. Hybrid heating has dual fuel systems. It combines the strengths of two heating sources that deliver both warmth and efficiency. It uses the heat-pump to provide with cooling in summer and heating through the changeover season. Lastly, it uses the gas furnace to heat in the depths of winter.
A hybrid system allows you to control your monthly energy bills by letting you select the most economical method to heat your interior space. That is a great benefit since Edmonton has a crazy long winter and tiny difference adds up. As the outside temperature changes, the system automatically switches between the two sources to maintain the most economical way to keep your house comfortable. This system will maintain a more stable and steady temperature throughout your home and greatly reduce the yearly energy costs.
Hydronic-based, radiant floor heating is becoming more popular these days. It’s green and it offers a more energy-efficient way of delivering thermal comfort to the occupants due to the economies of the comparative heat capacities of water and air. By delivering part of that comfort radiantly, they allow indoor air temperatures to be reduced without compromising comfort, thereby also reducing conduction heat loss through walls and windows. IRC research also confirm that central forced-air heating systems circulate the air in a house very well, helping to ensure infiltration and natural ventilation can reach all occupants of the house, regardless of whether adequate distribution of thermal comfort is always achieved.
Carrier, one of the most trusted brands in North American, can customize home comfort systems to completely suit your home. Since Carrier HYBRID HEAT dual fuel systems provide cool, indoor comfort when it’s hot outside, this system becomes a year-round comfort solution for your home. Secondly, the recent increase of SEER rating (SEER=Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of air conditioners and heat pump, a HYBRID HEAT dual fuel system could also save you money long run. For more information, feel free to send us an email at info@comfortablehome.ca
In conclusion, Hybrid heating systems may provide thermal comfort and greater energy efficiency for the house overall. Plus, it’s green.

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