Douglas Cooling & Heating Blog : Archive for the ‘HVAC’ Category

Birmingham, Alabama is known for southern hospitality and extreme humidity so you may wonder, will a dehumidifier help my air conditioner? If you’ve lived in Alabama for any length of time, you know humidity doesn’t just affect you outside. It seeps into your home through your cooling system, leaks in your ductwork, and gaps throughout the structure.

The discomfort is only one side effect of extreme moisture levels in your home. High humidity levels create complications for those with respiratory illnesses, allergies and certain heart conditions. It also reduces the overall indoor air quality in your household.

If you are tired of battling the swamp-like humidity, consider a whole-home dehumidifier installation. Install a dehumidifier within your air conditioner and gain many benefits besides humidity management. 

In this blog we’ll cover why too much humidity is a problem, how a dehumidifier helps air conditioners keep you more comfortable and the difference between their functions. 

The Effects of High Humidity

What’s the big deal? Plenty. Let’s review some of what excessive humidity brings. 

Mold, Mildew

A moist environment is a prime breeding ground for microscopic organisms, like mold, to grow and thrive. In turn, the risk of mold spores and dust mites throughout your home increases. 

The spores travel through the air vents in your ductwork and infest your HVAC system. Excessive humidity compromises your indoor air quality and increases the chance of illness in your home.

A whole-home dehumidifier controls the moisture indoors and helps air conditioners create the ideal humidity level to stop mold in its tracks!

Healthy humidity levels in a home are between 30 and 50 percent for most of the U.S. In Birmingham, a realistic level with air conditioners is closer to 50 or 60 percent. When the levels go well above, your home becomes a breeding ground for all sorts of allergens.

Although air conditioners are designed to remove moisture from the air, they can’t remove all of it. They struggle when the humidity levels are high. 

Allergy Symptoms Occur When Humidity is High

Humidity allows several different allergens to grow and thrive inside your home. Small and poorly ventilated areas, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms or small kitchens, are prime spots for moisture to accumulate. If you experience any of these symptoms, high humidity might be part of the problem:

• Sneezing
• Difficulty breathing or constant wheezing
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Stuffy nose
• Skin irritations and rashes

How Does a Dehumidifier Help an Air Conditioner?

A dehumidifier helps your current air conditioner maintain ideal humidity levels in your home twenty-four hours a day. A dehumidifier offers many benefits to you and your home, such as:

Fewer Allergens

There are a variety of allergens waiting to trigger an individual’s allergies or their symptoms. Dust mites, mold, and mildew are the most common allergens in a humid home. They thrive in moist environments, which means rooms with poor ventilation will yield higher allergens. Bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements are the most common areas.

Prevents Dust Mites from Spreading

Dust mites are nasty microscopic organisms that feed off dead skin cells. They live and grow in bedding, upholstery and mattresses. When homes are too moist and hot, dust mites reproduce rapidly.

Pest Control

Moist environments also draw in nasty pests, such as roaches and spiders. A dehumidifier will help your air conditioner control moisture and reduce the number of creepy-crawly things invading your home.

Increased Comfort

Ideal humidity levels keep you, your family and guests comfortable regardless of the weather outside. You will enjoy lounging in your home while sipping a sweet tea as the humidity levels continue to rise outside with the temperature. A dehumidifier helps the air in your home feel cooler, so you can sit back and enjoy yourself and your company.

Reduced Energy Costs

Surprised? It’s true! A dehumidifier helps your cooling system work more efficiently day-after-day. By removing excess moisture from the air, your air conditioner isn’t required to work harder to maintain ideal temperatures in your home. 

You save energy when your air conditioner works a reasonable amount, and your cooling system experiences less wear and tear.

Increases Air Conditioners Efficiency

Air conditioners can remove some moisture when the humidity is low outside. However, installing a whole-home dehumidifier with your air conditioner increases its performance and efficiency throughout the summer.

Moisture can accumulate inside air conditioners when the humidity is high, which can interfere with the inner components and force units to work harder to deliver controlled temperatures throughout homes.

By reducing moisture inside your air conditioner, your unit will operate smoothly and experience less wear and tear when the heat is high outside.

Reduce moisture by pairing dehumidifiers with air conditioners, which will increase the performance and efficiency of cooling systems. You will feel healthier and experience less allergy and asthma symptoms when your home is dry.

Controls Moisture in Every Corner

Portable dehumidifiers only alleviate the moisture in a set space, while whole-home dehumidifiers work with air conditioners to control humidity throughout entire homes.

As your air conditioner operates, the dehumidifier removes the excess moisture in the air before circulating it through the air ducts. By removing moisture from the air-conditioned air, you experience less damp spots throughout your home.

Extreme humidity even damages your home. You may notice paint peeling from the walls, wet spots forming on the walls and ceiling, and the foundation growing weaker because of too much humidity. Furnishings and doors bend and swell when moisture is too high in a home, including wood floors and wooden furniture. Instruments like pianos and guitars are frequently out of tune.

Benefits of a Whole-Home Dehumidifier

A whole-home dehumidifier offers many benefits besides controlling and maintaining your moisture levels in your home. Portable dehumidifiers require you to move them from room to room. Or they require you to buy multiple units to cover several spaces.

Whole-home dehumidifiers remove moisture from every room in your home by working with your current heating and cooling system’s ductwork.

This allows your air conditioning system to work less often because the lower humidity levels make the air feel cooler. A whole-home dehumidifier helps your air conditioner run more efficiently because it only has to work to cool the air and not dehumidify it.

To further fight allergens, many people use air purifiers, ultraviolet light, and high-efficiency filters with their air conditioners.

Air Conditioner Versus Dehumidifier

Simply maintaining an ideal temperature in your home during the summer months isn’t enough to keep you comfortable. However, creating a healthy environment is possible when you know the difference between your air conditioner and dehumidifier.

Each one helps by controlling humidity, and they work together to maintain optimum temperatures in your house when humidity levels are high.

What’s the Difference Between the Two?

Both an air conditioner and a dehumidifier circulate refrigerant through a continuous loop, switching between liquid to gas repeatedly. However, regardless of their similarities, both have subtle differences. The first difference is air conditioners move warm and cool air and dehumidifiers don’t.

An air conditioner has a fan system design to move air in a room over the evaporator coils, which cools the warm air. The leftover warm air is exhausted outside, so your home remains cool.

A dehumidifier uses a fan to pull in the moist air and deliver dry air back out. The warm air isn’t disposed of so it comes back inside, which plays an adverse effect on the cooling process in your home.

The next difference is moisture control. Both deal with moisture by condensing it on the cooling coils. However, the air handler pools the condensate in a pan, which drains. There might be a drip edge or drainage tubes, either avenue gets the moisture out of the house.

A dehumidifier pulls the water from the air, allowing it to accumulate in a water reservoir. A hose is attached to the reservoir for a dedicated drainage area. An automatic shutoff prevents spills.

Controlling Humidity with an Air Conditioner

Because your air conditioning system can remove some of the moisture from your home, it’s a great option for moderate humidity areas. However, if your current air conditioning system isn’t correctly sized for your house, it won’t effectively eliminate excess moisture.

If you live in Alabama, where the humidity is unbearable during the summer months, combining a whole-home dehumidifier to help your air conditioner is the best option.

Will a Dehumidifier Help Your Air Conditioner? Call Douglas for a Free Estimate!

A dehumidifier with your current HVAC system is more efficient compared to portable units and come in a variety of sizes. Douglas Cooling & Heating carries several dehumidifiers to choose, and our NATE-certified technicians will suggest the best option for your home. Concerned about expenses? We offer HVAC financing!

Using a whole-home dehumidifier with your air conditioner improves energy-efficiency in your home and keeps you feeling comfortable all summer long. So yes, a dehumidifier does help your air conditioner. 

Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating if you are ready to take control of the Alabama humidity issues in your home. Our NATE-certified technicians are experienced and skilled to install a quality dehumidifier with your air conditioning unit.

Make it even easier with membership in one of our service plans. We offer plans at three different levels to fit any budget. So call Douglas Cooling & Heating today and schedule an HVAC maintenance call for your heating and cooling system. 

Our team serves homeowners throughout the Birmingham, Alabama area, including Mountain Brook, Pelham, Bessemer, and Calera. You’ll also find our team in Vestavia Hills, Chelsea, Helena, Homewood and Hoover. 

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Who knew you had to protect your AC unit from dog damage? Raise your hands. Anyone? Unless you’ve experienced this or you’re a home inspector or HVAC tech, you may be unaware of this risk. In this blog, we’ll review the signs of doggy damage, how to protect your AC unit from dog mischief, and what to do if it’s already happened.   

Results of Not Protecting AC Unit from Dog Damage

Simply, when a dog marks his or her territory, sometimes it chooses your AC compressor. The urine corrodes the metal, leaving a rusty, beat-up mess. Some newer air conditioner compressors often have durable paint and heavy-duty grates. Unfortunately, these usually hide it instead of protecting the AC unit from dog urine. 

Why it Matters: What Your Outdoor AC Unit Does

At a high level, your air conditioning system cools because it removes heat and moisture from the air indoors. Unlike a furnace, which creates heat to warm the air, an AC cools by removing heat. The outside AC unit’s task is to exhaust the heat your air handler (indoors) collected from your home’s air.

Step One: Hot refrigerant flows through the condensing coil, which is basically a copper tube. 

Step Two: A blower fan pushes air over the coil. 

Step Three: The refrigerant cools as the air absorbs heat from the condensing coil. 

Step Four: The AC compressor returns the cooled refrigerant to the indoor air handler to absorb more heat and repeat the process. 

Aluminum fins attach to the condensing coil and increase the coil’s surface area. This improves the air conditioner’s efficiency because it helps the coil expel the heat quickly. The dog urine usually eats away at the metal until the fins literally disappear.

Too Late to Protect AC Unit from Dog Damage: What to Do

Ignore it?

The efficiency suffers, though, which means higher electric bills and an increased risk of AC repairs and breakdowns. If a small area of the aluminum fins are damaged, say, less than a quarter and the there’s no leak from the coil, you could leave it alone. 

The fins improve air conditioning efficiency, their absence doesn’t mean the AC doesn’t work anymore. If you choose to ignore it and absorb the higher electricity bills, take steps to prevent it from getting worse. 

Purchase a new condensing coil?

If, however, the coil is damaged, it needs a new one. Replace the coil if the dog urine has corroded more than 25 percent of the aluminum fins, your AC is fairly new, and there’s major coil damage. 

Be advised, a replacement coil should be 50 percent or less of the cost of a new outside AC unit. 

Replace the entire outdoor AC compressor?

How to decide? Use these criteria:

• The cost to replace the coil exceeds 50 percent of an AC compressor replacement. 
• Your air conditioner is ten years old or more. In the south our air conditioners run so much, they tend to skew toward the lower end of the lifespan. 
• A replacement coil is unavailable. 

Click Here to Schedule a Free Estimate

How to Protect AC Unit from Dog and Other Animal Marking

So, now that you’re familiar with the cost – potentially thousands – some dog urine can do, what steps can you take? 

If you have a dog, install a fence around your AC compressor. Wait! Before you run to the home improvement store, we have more details for you. Airflow is to an HVAC system like oxygen is to you and me. 

We frequently caution homeowners against planting hedges or other invasive plants near AC compressors. Likewise, do not install a solid fence. Any shrubbery or fencing should be at least three feet from the air conditioner. 

Also, choose a style air flows freely through, like lattice or a wide-picket. The idea is to deter dogs from getting close enough to urinate on the metal of the AC compressor. 

AC Compressor Repair, Service and Installation Pros: Douglas Cooling & Heating

So, now you know why it’s important and how to protect your AC unit from dog damage. If it’s already happened, decide the best course of action for your budget. Our team is always happy to consult and provide a free estimate. 

In the meantime, take care of your heating and air system with one of our service plans. We offer three levels of plans to fit any budget. So call Douglas Cooling & Heating today and schedule an HVAC maintenance tune up for your heating and cooling system. 

Our team serves homeowners throughout the Birmingham, Alabama area, including Bessemer, Chelsea, Calera and Helena. You’ll also find our team in Pelham, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Mountain Brook, and Hoover. 

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We may have hot weather, but even in Birmingham, you should know what to do when your AC unit freezes up. What? An AC freezing up in the summer? Before you call us crazy, it happens frequently. 

In this blog, we’ll review why an AC freezes even without Jack Frost around and what to do when your AC unit freezes up. We’ll also include tips to prevent frozen HVAC coils. With our tips, you may avoid an AC repair visit but if you need us, a friendly Douglas Cooling & Heating HVAC tech is ready to help!

What to Do When Your AC Unit Freezes Up in the Summer in Two Steps!

Step One: Thaw it Out

Turn off your AC unit at the electrical breaker and let the ice thaw. Be advised, it could take a whole day for the ice to completely thaw. Pick a day when you plan to spend time elsewhere, just be mindful of any pets in the house and the forecast. If a day’s rest is impractical, turn the AC off but leave the blower running. 

Make every effort to avoid using the AC while the evaporator coils are frozen. Running the AC with frozen coils strains the AC compressor. 

The AC compressor is the most expensive component in your air conditioning unit. The strain may damage this valuable part and set you up for an unplanned expense. 

Finally, don’t listen to advice that you should break up the ice with a heavy object or sharp tool. This easily damages components and creates new problems.

Step Two: Dry the Coils

Once the ice is gone, dry the evaporator coils. If off, restore the power to your system and turn the blower on. Set the thermostat to only run the blower or fan. This circulates air around and through the coils to dry them quickly. 

Once the coils are dry, your system should operate normally. It’s important, however, to prevent it from happening again, even if you now know what to do when your AC unit freezes up. 

Why an AC Freezes Up 

1. Dirty Air Filter
2. Refrigerant Leak
3. Airflow Obstruction
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil

Simply put, when your air conditioner suffers from poor airflow, the evaporator coil gets too cold. This is the part that “cools” the air and without good airflow, it freezes. 

Why? Because your AC’s evaporator coil is really just a cluster of refrigerant coils. As the refrigerant passes through, the chemical reaches temperatures as low as 10 – 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 

During normal operation, warm, unconditioned air passes over the coils. The existing warmth in your household’s air prevents ice or frost formation. If, however, there’s a lack of warm air moving across the evaporator coils, they ice over. The ice even travels along the refrigerant lines. 

As humid air, which we have a lot of here in Birmingham, meets the coils and condenses, it freezes even faster. 

How to Prevent a Frozen AC Unit

Now you know what to do when your AC unit freezes up and why it does it. How to stop it from happening in the first place? Here are some preventive measures you can take to keep your HVAC system from freezing over.

1. Change Your Air Filter

A dirty air filter is a top cause of a frozen HVAC system. The air filter cleans the air circulated into your home. Over time, it clogs with dirt, pollen, dust, and other allergens. This restricts the airflow and the HVAC coils freeze.

Typically, we recommend you check your filter monthly. Change it as needed. For most folks, this is one to every three months. Filter changes vary based on factors, such as:

• The type of filter you have
• Presence of children or pets in the home
• The season and if you live in a high-pollen count area
• Whether a household member smokes
• A household member lives with asthma, allergies, COPD or congestive heart conditions
• If you frequently run your system

During regular HVAC maintenance, Douglas Cooling & Heating professionals inspect your filter and will change it for you if a new one is available. 

2. Schedule Regular Maintenance to Check Coolant Levels

As part of a seasonal tune up, a professional HVAC contractor performs a comprehensive inspection. This includes checking coolant levels and charging if necessary. 

Think you might have a coolant leak? There are a couple of signs. For example, does your AC blow hot air? Do you hear a hissing? Douglas HVAC techs use measuring instruments to check levels as well. Avoid handling coolant chemicals, because they can be toxic. Leave it to the professionals if possible. 

3. Get an Airflow Inspection

Obstructed airflow is a major reason heating and cooling systems malfunction or function inefficiently. Similar to a clogged filter, blocked vent returns and registers prevent adequate airflow. 

This causes your system to work harder without a way to release the cooled or heated air. Are vents and registers clear from any obstructions? Your problem may be poorly designed or installed ductwork. In some cases, the ductwork is installed well but the wrong size for your house or the capacity.  

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for HVAC maintenance. Our trained professionals inspect your ductwork and offer redesign solutions, if necessary. If there is a clog, like nesting material or other signs of pests, we clear obstructions blocking proper airflow. 

4. Clean Evaporator Coils

The condensate lines drain excess moisture from your HVAC system. If there’s a clog in the line, the water becomes stuck and the excess water freezes. With frozen water in your lines, you could be left with frozen HVAC coils as well. 

Over time, evaporator coils attract dust, hair, grime and form a clog. If there is moisture trapped inside the clog, the moisture freezes and the coils freeze as well. Frozen coils restrict airflow. This causes your system to struggle or not work at all.

The best prevention for frozen HVAC coils is to schedule preventive maintenance. Douglas Cooling & Heating checks the evaporator coils and the rest of your AC unit’s lines during an AC tune up. 

Save money, avoid AC repairs, breakdowns and a frozen HVAC system in the future with routine air conditioning service.

Related blog: How a Condensate Pan Works

Need More Assistance with What to Do When Your AC Unit Freezes Up; Call Douglas!

A proactive and preventive mindset saves you money throughout the year on your energy bill and keeps your air conditioning running well. Avoid the headache of ice on your HVAC system’s evaporator coils with good airflow and regular service. 

Make it even easier with membership in one of our service plans. We offer plans at three different levels to fit any budget. So call Douglas Cooling & Heating today and schedule an HVAC maintenance call for your heating and cooling system. 

Our team serves homeowners throughout the Birmingham, Alabama area, including Bessemer, Calera, Chelsea and Helena. You’ll also find our team in Vestavia Hills, Pelham, Mountain Brook, Homewood and Hoover. 

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When shopping for a new air conditioner, you’ve probably asked this question: What size air conditioner do I need? Air conditioners aren’t one size fits all, but not any size will do. Did you know bigger is not better? It’s important a new air conditioner is sized correctly for your Birmingham, AL home. It’s the best way to deliver the performance and efficiency you deserve.

In this blog, we’ll cover the importance of air conditioner sizing and the problems when you have the wrong fit. Our NATE-certified technicians are here to help you find the right answer to that all-important question: What size air conditioner do I need?

What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need? Here are the Factors

The right way to determine what size air conditioner you need is to work with Douglas Cooling & Heating to find the right fit. There are many elements used to determine the appropriate size. Hint: it’s more than square footage.

Some of the many characteristics considered to properly size an air conditioner include:

• Square footage of the home
• Volume of living space
• Climate
• Height of ceilings
• Age of the home
• Sunlight exposure of the home
• Shade around the home
• Foundation type
• Color of the roof and exterior materials
• Type of windows, age, orientation, and how many
• Insulation
• Existing ductwork
• Average occupancy
• Energy goals

These factors and more allow our NATE-certified technicians to find the right size air conditioner for your unique house. We look at these factors to determine your home’s cooling load, which is the amount of heat to be removed from your home to keep temperatures manageable. All the factors above contribute to heat gain indoors, which your new air conditioning unit removes.

Click Here to Request a Free Estimate

Air Conditioner Sizes & Efficiency

Air conditioners are sized by tons. This is not the actual weight of the unit, but tons of cooling capacity. A ton of cooling equals 12,00 BTUs (British thermal units) per hour. A one-ton air conditioner provides 12,000 BTU/hr, a 2-ton air conditioner provides 24,000 BTU/hr, and so on.

Separate from size is the air conditioner’s efficiency rating, which is measured in SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). Our selection of Bryant air conditioners offers 16 SEER all the way up to 19 SEER. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner.

Problems with Too Small or Too Big Air Conditioners

Now that you know what goes into answering, “What size air conditioner do I need,” let’s go over why it’s so important to get the right size.

Oversized air conditioners (too big for your home) and under-sized (too small for your home) do not cool your home efficiently. In fact, they are often unable to adequately cool it in the first place.

Too Little

An undersized air conditioner doesn’t have the ability to keep your home cool. It simply doesn’t produce enough cooling. As a result, the unit runs longer in attempts to keep up. This places more stress on your unit and consumes more electricity, which results in higher energy bills, more breakdowns and shorter system life.

Too Big

An oversized air conditioner provides too much cooling too fast for your home. This creates shorter cooling cycles unable to properly remove moisture. This allows high humidity in the home and poor air quality.

Because they cool the home too fast, the system short cycles (turns on and off frequently). This excess wear and tear to the system means it’s more likely to break down and require early replacement.

An improperly sized air conditioner costs you more in unnecessary equipment cost (common when buying an over-sized unit), more repair expenses, and higher energy bills. Additionally, the wrong size air conditioner costs you as it denies you comfort.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for a Free Estimate for a New Air Conditioner or Heat Pump

“What size air conditioner do I need?” is a question we hear from many of the Birmingham, AL homeowners we serve. Our NATE-certified technicians know the right techniques to properly size a new air conditioner for your home to ensure excellent cooling performance and efficiency.

Contact us today to learn which size air conditioner is right for you in Bessemer, Pelham, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Calera, Mountain Brook, Chelsea, Vestavia Hills and many other Birmingham communities.

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The AC compressor is an important component of your Birmingham, AL home’s air conditioning system. With the right protection and care, your AC compressor runs at its best all summer long. Learn more about the AC compressor’s function and what you need to do to keep it safe from the elements.

Quick Review: What Does An AC Compressor Do?

Your AC compressor is located within the outdoor unit of your air conditioning system. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system for heat exchange. It also applies energy to the system’s refrigerant.

The AC compressor is powered by a motor. It compresses refrigerant gas to raise its temperature and pressure to move it through the refrigerant lines. As refrigerant passes through the system, it absorbs heat in its gaseous form. As heat’s released, it turns it back to liquid.

Protect Your AC Compressor

Your cooling system’s compressor undergoes a lot of stress during air conditioning season. Because it is housed outdoors, the elements affect its performance, too. Without proper care, this stress hurts the performance and efficiency of your air conditioning system.

Protect your AC compressor to improve performance and energy efficiency when you take these steps each year:

Preventive Maintenance for Your AC Compressor

Book a preventive maintenance tune up with Douglas Cooling & Heating’ NATE-certified air conditioning technicians each year. Your tune up ensures all vital components are clean and functional for efficient performance each summer.

Click Here to Schedule Preventive Maintenance 

Clean Air Conditioner Coils

The coils within your air conditioner allow the heat exchange between indoor and outdoor air. They collect dirt, dust and other debris over the course of normal operation. This compromises the heat exchange process. Your air conditioner, therefore, does not operate at peak efficiency.

Dirty air conditioner coils cause your AC compressor to work harder to facilitate heat exchange, which places the compressor under excessive stress. Have your air conditioner coils professionally cleaned and protect your AC compressor.

Let Your AC Compressor Breathe

Your AC compressor requires proper ventilation to cool down between air conditioning cycles. If it isn’t allowed to cool down, the compressor overheats and turns off. Frequent overheating causes failure, which requires replacement.

Keep your outdoor unit clear of debris to allow airflow through to the AC compressor.

• Clean off grass clippings, leaves and other yard debris on the outside of the AC unit.
• Clear away vegetation growing around the AC unit.
• Do not store outdoor furniture or items near the AC unit.
• Keep at least two feet of clearance surrounding your outdoor AC unit for proper ventilation and access.
• Change your air filter regularly to maintain proper airflow through your cooling system.

Help Your AC Compressor Cool Down

In addition to proper ventilation, protective shade helps your AC compressor cool down between cooling cycles. Shade your exterior air conditioning unit from direct sunlight to prevent compressor overheating.

Careful planting of large shade trees and pruning of those already in your yard keep your unit out of the sun’s direct rays. Deciduous trees become leafy in the spring and shield it from the hot summer sun. In the fall when the trees lose their leaves, the unit is exposed to sunlight. Because the temperature is lower, the heat is less of a problem.

Be mindful of fallen leaves, however. Don’t let them crowd your AC unit or let wet leaves clog the internal components. Also, take care of dead or dying trees before a limb falls and damages your AC unit.

Think A Fan Blade is Bent? Strange Noises or Yard Waste in the Fan? Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for AC Services

Take care of your AC compressor and it remains in good shape to serve your family for many cooling seasons in the Birmingham heat. Make preventive maintenance easy with a Priority Service Plan – we have several options.

Douglas Cooling & Heating provides the care your AC compressor and other cooling system components need to maintain performance and efficiency.

You’ll find Douglas serving customers in Birmingham and surrounding areas including Mountain Brook, Pelham, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Hoover, Calera, Chelsea, Helena and Bessemer. Contact us today to learn more!

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The condensate drain pan in your heating and cooling system allows moisture to exit the equipment and your home. A properly functioning condensate drain pan protects your HVAC equipment and your home from water damage. Know how your condensate pan works and when to call for help from an HVAC technician.

Understanding a Condensate Drain Pan

During operation, heating and cooling equipment generates condensation. When the cooling process begins, the evaporator coils within your interior HVAC equipment fall to low temperatures and become cold. This allows the coils to absorb heat from the incoming air in order to cool it.

The warm air that enters your system from the home is moist, but that moisture is removed as heat transfer is conducted by the evaporator coils. As your AC extracts moisture from indoor air during the heat transfer process, condensation forms along the evaporator coils. How a condensate drain pan works is by collecting this water as it drips from your air conditioner’s evaporator coils. 

The condensate pan is attached below the evaporator coils. It must be correctly fitted to catch moisture without leaks. Moisture flows to the condensate drain line and out of your home. Starting at the condensate pan, excess moisture from your home’s air is able to exit your home and the cooling process leaves you with the added bonus of dehumidification indoors.

Where Is My Condensate Drain Pan?

Due to the nature of how a condensate drain pan works, it is always positioned with your system’s evaporator coils. Where these components are located depends on the furnace or air handler type you have installed at home.

• In a vertical application, the furnace or air handler are in an upright position. Usually, they are installed in a home’s garage or a dedicated utility closet. In a vertical application, the evaporator coils are located at the top of the unit, so you are able to find the condensate drain pan just below.
• In a horizontal application, the furnace or air handler is installed on its side. This installation application is typically seen when the unit needs to be placed in an attic, due to the limited space available in this area depending on roof pitch. Airflow moves from side to side instead of up and down when the unit is installed this way. Find the evaporator coils located beside the furnace or air handler near the return air ducts, and below it you see the condensate drain pan.

How A Condensate Drain Pan Works When There Are Two…

If you happen to have a horizontally installed furnace or air handler in the attic of your home, notice the unit has a second condensate drain pan. Now, your system does not need two condensate drain pans to operate correctly – this second pan is a backup that offers added protection.

Condensate drain pan failure poses a significant risk of water damage in a horizontal HVAC system. With the unit positioned on its side, a condensate pan failure allows water to drip out across the unit, instead of it funneling to a general location as with a vertical HVAC unit. Water leaks from a failed condensate pan in a horizontal HVAC system leads to damaged wood, drywall, ceilings, and insulation.

How a condensate drain pan works if it is the secondary component is to catch water that may leak out across the unit if the primary condensate pan fails. With its own dedicated drain line, it safely catches spilled condensation and directs it out of your home to prevent damage. 

How Do I Tell the Difference Between the Two Condensate Pans?

The secondary condensate pan on a horizontal HVAC unit is much more visible than the primary one located under your evaporator coils, because you are able to see it as it is not encased in the equipment cabinet. It sits below the system and spans the width and depth of the unit with a little extra area just in case.

Condensate Drain Pan Problems

Problems with how a condensate drain pan works often cause a water leak within HVAC equipment and water damage in the home. If you have regular AC tune ups with Douglas Cooling & Heating, our technicians inspect your system’s condensate pan. They look for issues such as:

Misalignment

If not correctly fitted within the system, water leaks outside the air conditioner. This leads to water damage to the surrounding area if the issue is ignored.

Clogs

Due to the moist environment, mold and mildew may grow. These contaminants, as well as particles in the air, clog the drain pan. This stops the flow of moisture to the drain line and out of the home which impedes how a condensate drain pan works.

Moisture backup results. Depending on the orientation of your HVAC equipment, water backs up into the system. This leads to component damage. In this case, water also spills over the edges of the condensate drain pan and damages the area around your HVAC system.

Don’t risk water damage and mold. These are often expensive restoration projects.

Damage

Due to how a condensate drain pan works, it experiences wear and tear just like other HVAC components. Damage allows water to leak. An obvious sign of a damaged drain pan is water or water damage around your HVAC unit.

Additional Signs of Condensate Pan Problems

These symptoms also alert homeowners to the presence of a problem:

• Higher humidity in the home
• Odors from the HVAC system
• Mold growth
• Higher energy bills
• No water coming from the condensate drain line

Protect Your Condensate Drain Pan

Prevent water damage to your home and HVAC equipment and ensure your air conditioner runs properly this summer with these tips to protect how a condensate drain pan works. To provide the best care for your condensate pan, take the following steps:

• Schedule a preventive maintenance tune up so our NATE-certified technicians inspect your drain pan and correct any issues detected.
• Change your air filter on a regular basis. This keeps contaminants out of the system and prevents clogs. A dirty air filter allows more contaminants to form clogs.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for Air Conditioning Services Including AC Tune Ups and AC Repairs

If you have a problem with how a condensate drain pan works in your home’s HVAC system, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for help. Our NATE-certified technicians perform the repairs your system needs to keep condensation moving out of your house.

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When researching new central air replacement cost, most Birmingham, AL homeowners focus on sticker price and the cost of installation. While a new air conditioner or heat pump comes at a price, so does sticking with your old unit. How? An older air conditioning system costs you more in energy expenses as well as frequent repairs or breakdowns.

See how an upgrade to a new cooling system generates savings. Be sure to factor these in when you evaluate new central air replacement cost.

Efficiency & Central Air Replacement Cost

One of the biggest savings you gain from a new air conditioner or heat pump is improved efficiency. Older systems experience wear and tear over the years and lose efficiency. This is especially true if owners skipped regular maintenance.

The SEER rating on your current air conditioner or heat pump may not be the actual level it delivers. Also, in Birmingham, Alabama, we ask a lot of our air conditioning equipment. We use it a lot more and a lot longer than our northern neighbors. As a result, the average lifespan of a heat pump or air conditioner in our climate tends to be lower.

New air conditioners and heat pumps offer much higher energy efficiency levels than those manufactured even five to ten years ago. Energy-smart components such as variable-speed compressors draw less electricity as they maintain temperatures and dehumidify the home.

When you upgrade your air conditioner or heat pump to a unit with a higher SEER rating, less energy is used to cool your home. The result is lower energy bills!

Consider the savings generated through a cooling system upgrade when you weigh central air replacement cost versus staying with your existing AC unit. Calculate the difference in energy consumption to see just how much you stand to save with a new air conditioner or heat pump.

Breakdowns & Central Air Replacement Cost

Did you know HVAC systems experience more breakdowns in their last two years of service life? The older your air conditioner or heat pump gets, the more you call for service. Air conditioning repair bills add up, and you need to consider whether it is better to put this money toward new central air replacement cost.

New air conditioners, for example, come complete with a new warranty, which gives you valuable coverage if you need a system repair. Depending on the age of your existing system, warranty protection may not be available. Without warranty coverage, you are responsible for the costs of repairs needed to get your system up and running.

Lack of Maintenance Often Voids Warranties

Also, if you or the previous homeowner let preventive maintenance slide, it may have voided the warranty. Most homeowners are busy and it happens easily.

It’s one of the reasons Douglas Cooling & Heating offers multiple preventive service plans, called Priority Service Plans. Different levels are offered at different price points, but they all include routine inspections and service. Some plans include repair discounts and credits toward a new system if needed.

Most new air conditioners on the market include a 10-year limited warranty, which covers critical system components. Some models offer longer or shorter warranty terms.

Talk to our air conditioning replacement specialists about the warranties available on the efficient Bryant cooling systems we represent. We offer free estimates on new systems, so ask away!

Air conditioner and heat pump repairs drastically range in price, depending on the issue. Minor repairs may run a few hundred dollars, while more serious issues can cost over a thousand dollars to solve.

Plus, factor in service call costs for each breakdown you experience. Don’t forget the disruption to your schedule if you’re without air conditioning during our hot and humid Alabama summers.

Many people with certain health conditions depend on controlled humidity and cooling, so it’s often more than just comfort at stake.

New air conditioner warranty coverage helps protect your household from the mounting expenses associated with repairs for an aging cooling system.

For a Free Estimate on a Central Air Replacement Cost Call Douglas Cooling & Heating

Don’t let the sticker shock of central air replacement cost keep you from lower energy bills and better comfort this summer. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers skilled installation for high-quality cooling systems to improve indoor comfort in your Birmingham, AL home.

We also offer HVAC finance options to make air conditioning replacements easy on household budgets.

Contact us today for a free quote for central air replacement cost. We install new air conditioners and heat pumps all over the Birmingham area, including Bessemer, Hoover, Pelham, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Chelsea, Calera, Homewood and Helena.

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Heating and cooling systems consume approximately 50 percent of a home’s energy use each year. With half your Birmingham home’s energy spend going to HVAC, these systems play a huge role in home energy efficiency. Improving their performance improves home energy efficiency, benefitting your family with better comfort and lower utility bills. Douglas Cooling & Heating helps Birmingham homeowners boost HVAC efficiency with these helpful tips:

5 Home Energy Efficiency Tips

1. Programmable and Smart Thermostats

Advanced thermostats are great tools for improving energy efficiency when it comes to your HVAC systems. Programmable thermostats allow you to set temperature schedules around your household’s schedule, so heating and cooling system setbacks occur automatically. Smart thermostats take this a step further, learning your schedule to make the most energy-conscious adjustments for your home.

Douglas Cooling & Heating provides installation for various models of programmable and smart thermostats. Learn more about the great products we offer and find the best fit for your home!

2. Preventative Maintenance

Preventative maintenance is a necessary step to keep your heating and cooling systems’ efficiency high throughout the year. For best performance and maximum efficiency,  these HVAC tune-ups should be performed twice a year – once for heating and once for cooling. With professional preventative maintenance, system issues standing in the way of home energy efficiency are resolved. Your system will operate at its best to keep utility bills in check.

Douglas Cooling & Heating offers a preventative maintenance program to boost home energy efficiency. In addition to bi-annual tune-ups, you receive special deals on future repairs and system upgrades to increase savings.

3. Ceiling Fans

This spring, utilize your Birmingham home’s ceiling fans to reduce energy consumption and give your cooling system a break. Fan blades should be set to rotate counterclockwise, which creates a draft and wind chill effect on your skin. With the use of a ceiling fan when a room is occupied, you can set back your thermostat about four degrees without sacrificing comfort.

4. Filter Changes

When you operate your cooling system with a dirty air filter, home energy efficiency greatly declines. A filter caked with debris does not allow air to move through the system as it needs. This forces your air conditioner to expend more energy to make up for the restriction, which results in higher electricity bills.

Check your air filter once a month. This is especially important during heavy use periods in spring and summer. Change it according to the manufacturer’s schedule, unless you find an early change is warranted upon inspection. This is often the case during periods of heavy system use or heavy pollen seasons.

5. Reduce Heat Gain

Reduce the amount of work your air conditioner must do when you keep heat out of your home. The more the temperature rises indoors, the harder your cooling system must work to keep your living areas comfortable. Reduce heat gain from the sun by using energy efficient window coverings such as shades or blinds. Use bathroom exhaust fans to pull warm, moist air out of your home after showers. When possible, cook outside to eliminate the heat created by your oven.

For More Home Energy Efficiency Tips Call Douglas Cooling & Heating

Take the steps to improve home energy efficiency today with the help of Douglas Cooling & Heating. We help you implement the above measures to reduce energy consumption and boost efficiency to maximize comfort and savings. Contact us today to get started.

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Spring is officially here and it’s time for your annual HVAC service call checklist. Do you know what all is performed when a Douglas Cooling & Heating technician visits your Birmingham home? Our HVAC service call checklist tells you what to expect and why these steps are important.

Have you signed up for a preventive maintenance agreement with Douglas Cooling & Heating? Our 24/7 Club membership is the best way to guarantee your heating and cooling equipment are maintained correctly, season after season.

With our 24/7 Club membership, your spring and fall maintenance tune-ups are covered, plus you receive additional savings and priority service!

HVAC Service Call Checklist

During your spring preventive maintenance tune-up, our technicians work through the following HVAC service call checklist to thoroughly care for your cooling system.

Outdoor coil cleaning

Your system’s condenser coil (the one outside in your air conditioner condenser unit) becomes caked with dirt and grime over the course of normal use.

This buildup reduces the coil’s ability to release the heat absorbed from inside, lowering cooling efficiency and stressing the system. We clean the coil to remove buildup, providing plenty of surface area for heat exchange.

Indoor coil inspection

The indoor coil is responsible for absorbing heat in your home. If it’s not working right, you won’t receive the cooling power you need. We inspect the indoor coil to make sure it’s clean and in good working condition.

Electrical inspection

Air conditioning systems are powered by electricity. For your safety, we inspect the system’s electrical elements to ensure there is no damage or other malfunctions that could pose a danger when in use.

Capacitance check

The air conditioner’s capacitator stores energy to power the unit when it’s time to start up. To ensure it does its job, we measure capacitance to learn if it needs repair or replacement before cooling season starts.

Oil motors

The blower motor inside your home is responsible for the circulation of cooled air. We oil the necessary components to keep the motor working smoothly and efficiently.

Tighten connections

Your air conditioner has many electrical connections within. We examine each connection and make sure it is tight for good contact because it aids performance and safety.

Filter change

Start cooling season with a clean air filter for better cooling system performance and efficiency. We change your filter, installing a new basic filter within the filter compartment.

Clean and treat drain line

The drain line allows condensation from the cooling process to cleanly exit your home. We examine the drain line, clean it, and treat it to prevent mold and mildew growth.

Check pressure levels

For your air conditioner to run efficiently, it needs precise refrigerant pressure levels. We measure these levels to ensure proper performance and efficiency.

Vacuum air handler

Dust and debris often settle within the air handler or blower motor compartment, where they may cause damage to components. We clean these chambers to prevent future problems and keep your system clean.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for Preventive HVAC Maintenance in Birmingham

In conclusion, make sure your cooling system is ready for warmer temperatures. Schedule a preventive maintenance tune-up with Douglas Cooling & Heating today. We go through every item on our HVAC service call checklist to ensure your cooling system will work efficiently this season and provide the performance you expect. Contact us today to learn more.

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New federal regulations are going into effect likely to impact new central air conditioner prices as early as this summer. What do these regulations mean for Birmingham homeowners? Douglas Cooling & Heating shares more information about the new regulations and how they impact new cooling system upgrades.

New Regulations Affecting Fan Efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has placed into effect July 3rd new regulations impacting the energy efficiency level of furnace fans, known as the fan efficiency rating (FER) ruling. Newly manufactured systems must use electronically commutated motors, also known as ECMs. While ECMs were in use prior to the regulations, most furnaces utilize a standard induction motor, which offers a much lower efficiency level (typically between 60 and 65 percent).

What is the purpose of the new regulations? ECMs offer a much higher blower motor efficiency than standard induction motors, improving the overall energy efficiency of a home’s heating and cooling system.

What the New Regulations Mean for Central Air Conditioner Prices

The DOE expects the new fan efficiency rules to greatly impact HVAC energy efficiency in American homes. In most systems, cool air created by the cooling system circulates using the furnace’s blower motor.

It’s best to replace your indoor components (furnace or air handler) at the same time you replace your outdoor components (central air conditioner or heat pump). So, when you upgrade your cooling system, your heating equipment should be upgraded as well. In the HVAC industry, we call this a matched system. It means the entire HVAC system and its components are paired together for best energy efficiency and performance.

Therefore, central air conditioner prices will likely go up, as manufacturers expect price increases due to the new fan efficiency ratings. If you’re not ready to upgrade to ECM technology, you may repair your induction motor when called for, if possible. This is the more affordable upfront option, but you will not benefit from the drastic efficiency improvements that upgrading to an ECM provides.

Energy Savings Balance Higher Central Air Conditioner Prices

The initial investment will likely be higher to purchase new cooling equipment. The improved fan efficiency, however, will generate more energy savings for your Birmingham home. Through a reduction in energy consumption, systems using ECMs are also better for the environment.

The DOE anticipates the fan efficiency rating ruling to positively impact American households. With an ECM fan anticipate the following savings:

• Energy savings of approximately 50 percent in the home
• More than $9 billion in residential electricity savings through the year 2030
• A total of 3.99 quads of energy saved
• Approximately 34 million metric tons of carbon pollution eliminated

Experts expect the improved efficiency of an ECM to generate consumer savings between $340 and $500 over the component’s service life.

Ready to Get An Estimate? Call Douglas Cooling & Heating and Be Prepared

The new fan efficiency regulations impact Birmingham homeowners in improved energy efficiency as well as higher central air conditioner prices. Is an air conditioner upgrade the right move for your home? Douglas Cooling & Heating is happy to help determine if a new central air conditioner is right for your home. Contact us today to learn more.

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