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Call Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric at 508-987-0080
Your HVAC system is similar to you, it’s tired of the cold and windy temperatures that we are starting to emerge from. It’s worked so hard to keep your home warm and cozy from the holidays up to now, that it’s finally time to take a break.
While your HVAC system in Middlesex County might not enjoy a vacation to the Bahamas like you would, it still needs a little bit of TLC before the hot summer gets here. That’s exactly what we aim to do today with this blog post. We want to discuss a few tips for freshening up your HVAC system and keeping your home sparkly clean as temperatures finally warm up.
Get ready to open those windows and smell the fresh air! Your home will feel refreshed and better than ever when you follow these tips to achieve maximum comfort and efficiency.
Cold weather heat pump technology is now available with incentives and rebates through mass-save programs.
Many homeowners wonder, are heat pumps right for Massachusetts Homes?
Ray Landry is the President of Landry Mechanical Inc. A Massachusetts based heat pump, furnace, and electrical contractor with locations in Shrewsbury, Charlton, Framingham, and Millbury.
He shares his thoughts on heat pumps below:
“New England has always burned fossil fuels, because of our uncertain winters, and old drafty homes. Heat pump technology has improved to create better HVAC systems for homeowners in Worcester & Middlesex County, with increased efficiency”
“Heat pump technology has advanced, but doesn’t mean that heat pumps are the best option for everyone!” Ray comments.
These are the top 3 reasons your home may not be a good fit for heat pumps.
1. Homes with Major Drafts
“Homes with loose construction have more hourly air changes, and will require a warmer supply air temperature then heat pumps provide to “feel” warm. Plus, when the temperature falls, your system may not be able to provide adequate heat.”
If you have a drafty home, don’t panic! A Mass-Save energy audit can set you on the right path to seal your dusty home!
Our team fixed a Mitsubishi ductless heat pump in Shrewsbury, MA that a different contractor had installed.
The chief complaint was the customers “were always feeling cold” even with the systems running all the time.
They struggled to reach 67 degrees indoors when outdoor temperatures dropped below 20 degrees.
During a test using an infrared camera, we discovered that the home had insufficient insulation. We determined this through a ‘J load’ test. After one of our home energy partners sealed the home, they solved the problem.
The heat pumps are now the correct size for the home’s needs. Our clients will no longer need jackets in their living room.
2. Homes With Leaky, or Undersized Duct Work
“Even the best HVAC system tied to a faulty duct layout will consume massive amounts of energy. Massachusettshas high electricity rates. Landry says that “improper design of a heat pump can lead to an expensive bill”
Therefore, an assessment of current ducting in place is important to make sure it’s adequate for supporting a new system.
(By the way, just because the old system worked with a flawed duct system, doesn’t mean it was better before. New systems are less forgiving and lack the safety feature that shuts down when detecting improper duct work.)
3. The Electrical Service Is Not Large or Modern Enough to Support a Heat Pump Installation
DANGER Overloaded Electrical Panel
“Heat pumps use a substantial amount of electricity. You must connect a primary heat pump system to an electrical service that is at least 200 amps. Homes over 2500 square feet typically fall into a 400 amp service requirement.
Consider your electrical system, its amp draws, and electrical permits during your heat pump design. We often see contractors who don’t understand the electrical code, and connect to under-sized circuits & panels.
Landry Mechanical provides expert electrical services, and we can include electrical upgrades, in our heat pump proposals when required”
How Do I Determine If a Heat Pump Is Right For My Home?
Our Comfort Advisorswill evaluate your home, perform sizing calculations, and explain heating systems in great detail.
2. Determine ROI (Return on Investment) For Your Project
Don’t just buy a system because of a rebate!
Massachusetts has expensive electricity.
If you deactivate your current HVAC system, you won’t be able to use it in the future. Also, you won’t be able to take advantage of savings if fossil fuel costs decrease.
Landry Mechanical’s HVAC experts can determine your ROI, and the best options for your home.
3. Hire Your Contractor of Choice, and Book Your Installation!
Expect action around your home during the installation. Our teams drill holes for pipes and perform mechanical work both inside and outside your home. We test each system and complete a thorough start-up process.
Now the best part… What does all this cost?
My Best Answer? It Varies!
Older homes in Westborough, MA will cost more to install a heat pump than newer homes in Shrewsbury, MA. A general (and broad) price range for HVAC installation cost (specifically heat pump installation in Massachusetts) is as follows:
Upgrading a central AC system to a modern heat pump can cost between $13,000 and $25,000. This price range exists because of the varying complexity of your homes’ electrical, duct work, and general infrastructure. A new ducted heat pump system installation in Holliston, Millbury, or Framingham, Massachusetts ranges from $35,000 to $65,000. Price can vary based on location, and various other factors.
Ductless heat pump installation costs in Massachusetts
A basic single room heat pump installation can cost as little as $7,000 and as much as $18,000 for complex projects. Multi zone systems can cost between $6,000 to $11,000 per zone. The price varies based on necessary electrical circuit or panel upgrades or lineset runs are long or complicated.
Massachusetts has different town or city regulations, building codes, and permits. This can add substantial costs in permit fees, inspections, and engineering.
I cannot stress enough to shop wisely during this process. Prices differ wildly between contractors.
Price Variation is effected by the following:
-Varying Size of Internal Support
-Quality of Installation
-Staff Vs. Subcontractors
-Post-Install Warranty & Service
-Training Quality
-Tooling Used
-Overall Company Structure
Landry Mechanical is a top heat pump installer in Massachusetts. They offer free in-home consultations to homeowners in Worcester and Middlesex county.
As a Mass-Save licensed HPIN contractor, we can help navigate the Mass Save heat pump rebate and loan process. Landry focuses on heat pumps, oil and gas heating, plumbing, electrical work, water filtration, and drain cleaning services. One call truly does it all!
Aren’t we lucky to have all four seasons in full bloom here in Massachusetts? We just had a pretty intense summer, and now we finally get to see the leaves turn colors and the chillier temperatures come sweeping through. Get those jackets and sweatshirts ready, it’s time to be cozy!
However, there’s one topic we’d like to discuss before we get into more fall talk–and that’s maintenance. Maintenance might seem like an optional service that you can be just fine without, but that’s not really the case. And it’s during the most mild months like September and October, that we’ll try to inform our customers on the true benefits of this kind of service.
So, get cozy and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. It’s time to talk about maintenance in Worcester County, and why now is the perfect season for it.
Although flushable wipes are labeled and marketed as being safe for toilets, they easily rank among the worst things that you can send down your commodes. If you or anyone else in your Sutton, Massachusetts home has been using flushable wipes, now is the time to stop. Even if you haven’t had any problems with these products moving through your plumbing system before, you may be on track for major plumbing issues in the future.
Why Are Flushable Wipes Marketed as Being Flushable if They Really Aren’t?
Just as their manufacturers suggest, flushable wipes can indeed be flushed. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they should. Although these products will successfully go down your commodes more often than not, they aren’t guaranteed to pass through the entire length of your plumbing system without causing issues. Moreover, when flushable wipes do pass through residential plumbing systems unimpeded, they can still cause trouble once they enter the sewer. The cumulative effects of ongoing and widespread use of flushable wipes have been incredibly detrimental in this respect. Currently, they are the only flushable product on the market that doesn’t decompose. That’s because unlike toilet paper, these wipes aren’t actually made from just paper.
What Flushable Wipes Are Really Made Of
Like toilet paper, wood pulp serves as the basis of moist wipes. This, however, is where the similarity ends. To ensure that these products stand up to heavy use without breaking down, they’re reinforced with synthetic, petroleum-based products. Many flushable wipes are reinforced with polyethylene, polyester, and other like plastics. Moreover, they’re also coated in micro-plastics. These micro-plastics add additional reinforcement, and some even come in the form of cleaning agents.
When you flush toilet paper, moving water breaks it into small-sized pieces in virtually no time. When you send flushable wipes down the commode, these products maintain their integrity indefinitely. This means that they have a higher likelihood of getting caught up on snags on their way out of your plumbing system. Over time, these wipes and the solid wastes that adhere to them can create major blockages.
How Flushable Wipes Affect the Environment
If you’re thinking about using flushable wipes in your home or have been already, it’s also important to note how these products affect the environment. Not only are they marketed as being flushable when they really shouldn’t be sent down into plumbing systems, but they’re also labeled as “biodegradeable.” This places consumers under the mistaken assumption that flushable wipes really do break down over time. However, there’s a big difference between being biodegradeable and being able to decompose.
Natural products that aren’t reinforced with synthetic, petroleum-based materials break down completely. Flushable wipes simply shed small fibers over time. These polyethylene and polyester fibers remain intact for decades. More importantly, the micro-plastics that coat them continue to contaminate public water supplies long after they’ve been sent into plumbing systems. As such, not using flushable wipes as part of your personal care is better for both your plumbing and the environment.
What Plumbing Problems Can Flushable Wipes Cause?
There’s really no limit to the amount of problems that flushable wipes can cause. These products can cause issues even before they’ve successfully cleared the toilet. For instance, if you send them down with lots of human waste, toilet paper, or other flushable wipes, you could be dealing with a messy overflow in no time. Flushable wipes can also:
Create blockages in plumbing systems that lead to burst pipes
Cause whole-house back-ups that flood the home with black water
Create problems at residential plumbing-to-sewer connections
They’re also capable of creating something known as fatbergs. Once wipes are introduced into plumbing systems, any fats that are present in the surrounding waste will adhere to them. These fats attract more fat and more flushable wipes until a large, solid mass is formed. This process is expedited in the alkaline environment of sewer systems, but if you’ve got dirty, grease-covered drains, you run the likelihood of developing fatbergs directly inside of your plumbing system.
Are Flushable Wipes Safe for Septic Tanks?
Flushable wipes are just as bad for septic tanks as they are for residential plumbing systems that connect to municipal sewer systems. In fact, they may be even more so. Just as fatbergs are prone to forming in sewers, septic tanks offer the ideal environment for fatberg formation, too.
Are There Easy Alternatives to Flushable Wipes?
Flushable wipes are easy to use and they help people feel fresh. However, the drawbacks of using and flushing these products far outweigh their benefits. One easy way to get the same clean feeling that flushable wipes provide is by investing in low-cost toilet paper sprays. These are gentle cleansing products that turn standard toilet paper into a comfortable, cleansing cloth. They don’t contain any plastics or micro-plastics, and they don’t affect toilet paper’s ability to break down. You can find options that include soothing aloe and other non-irritating, skin-supporting ingredients. When you think about it, this is far preferable to cleaning up with solutions made from micro-plastics.
There are also low-cost bidets that can be installed directly in standard toilets. You don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for a luxury toilet in order to get the functionality of a bidet. These products are offered at home and hardware stores at a fairly nominal cost. Best of all, installing them is simple enough that many homeowners can do it themselves. If you want to install bidets in your home toilets, you can also outsource this job to a trusted plumber.
Finally, if you’re looking for a way to both treat yourself and enhance the value and marketability of your home, you can always opt for a toilet upgrade. A reputable plumber can help you learn more about the best options at your targeted price point. Many products offer bidet functionality, music, heated seats, and lights.
Why It’s Important to Get Everyone in the Home on Board
Flushable wipes may be lurking in more areas of your home than you think. Given that these products are handy, people tend to use them all the time. Moreover, nearly all of them are clearly labeled as being “flushable” and thus, people who aren’t in the know will continue sending them down your commodes. You may have people in your home who are using these or similar products as makeup removal cloths or household cleaning tools.
The best way to avoid backups is to let everyone in your home know the truth about flushable wipes. Sure, they can be flushed, but they probably shouldn’t be. Unless wet, flushable wipes are used to clean bottoms and human waste, it is both safe and sanitary to dispose of them in the trash. Rather than using flushable wipes for personal care after visiting the commode, purchase toilet paper spray or a bidet. You don’t have to subject your plumbing system to extra wear and tear just to feel good about yourself after leaving the bathroom.
At Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric, we’re committed to helping residents of Sutton, MA and the surrounding area keep their residential plumbing in top condition. We’ve been providing reliable HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services since 2008. If you’ve got plumbing problems, we’ve got solutions. Call us today to schedule an appointment for service.
You’re sitting in your home, enjoying a cool breeze on a hot day, when all of the sudden you realize that your air conditioner isn’t working. Suddenly, the weather that was so pleasant just minutes ago has turned into an uncomfortable heat wave. What’s going on? There’s a good chance that your AC unit is freezing up.
So, how do you address this problem? Let’s first take a look at some of the reasons why your AC unit might be freezing up, and then we’ll explore some potential solutions.
Poor Airflow
Air conditioners rely on proper airflow to function properly. When airflow is restricted, it causes the evaporator coils to freeze up. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as dirty filters, closed vents, or a blocked compressor.
As the coils freeze, they become less effective at cooling the air, which can lead to a vicious cycle of poor airflow and frozen coils. In extreme cases, an AC unit may completely shut down in order to prevent damage.
If you notice that your AC unit is freezing up, it’s important to take action to improve the airflow. This may involve replacing dirty filters, cleaning vents, or calling a professional to check for other potential problems.
Low Refrigerant Levels
AC units rely on a closed loop of refrigerant to absorb heat from the air inside your home and release it outside. This process relies on precise levels of refrigerant. If there is too little, the AC will struggle to remove enough heat to keep your home comfortable. If there is too much, it can cause the unit to freeze up.
Low refrigerant levels are often the result of a leak in the AC unit. If you notice that your AC is not cooling as well as it used to, or if it seems to be running more than normal there is a chance that it is leaking refrigerant. A professional HVAC technician will be able to check your refrigerant levels and repair any leaks in your system.
Faulty Blower Fan
If your AC unit is freezing up, it could be because of a faulty blower fan. The blower fan is responsible for circulating air around the evaporator coils. If the blower fan isn’t working properly, the air can’t circulate and the coils can start to ice up.
In some cases, the ice can build up so much that it completely blocks the airflow and causes the AC unit to shut down. If you suspect that your AC unit is freezing up because of a faulty blower fan, you should contact our qualified technicians for a professional diagnosis and repair.
Depending on the extent of the damage, our technicians may simply need to clean or replace the blower fan. However, in more severe cases, they may need to replace the entire AC unit.
Clogged Condensate Drain Line
The condensate drain line is responsible for removing the moisture that collects on the evaporator coils. When the line becomes clogged, the water has nowhere to go and eventually freezes, causing the coils to ice over. This can lead to a number of problems, including reduced airflow and poor cooling performance.
In severe cases, it can even cause the compressor to fail. If you suspect that your condensate drain line is clogged, it’s important to have it cleaned out as soon as possible to avoid any further damage to your AC unit.
What Are the Dangers of a Frozen AC Unit?
Aside from being uncomfortable, a frozen AC unit can cause a number of other problems in your home.
Poor Cooling Performance
The most obvious problem with a frozen AC unit is that it can’t effectively cool your home. As the coils ice over, they become less effective at removing heat from the air. This can lead to your home feeling stuffy and uncomfortable.
High Energy Bills
As your AC unit struggles to cool your home, it will have to work harder and use more energy. This can lead to a significant increase in your energy bills.
Compressor Failure
In extreme cases, a frozen AC unit can cause the compressor to fail. The compressor is responsible for circulating the refrigerant through the system. When it fails, the AC unit will be unable to cool your home.
Water Damage
If the condensate drain line becomes clogged, it can cause water to back up and overflow into your home. This can lead to water damage to your walls, ceiling, and flooring.
How Can I Prevent My AC Unit From Freezing Up?
There are a few things you can do to help prevent your AC unit from freezing up.
Check the Air Filters
Air filters help to circulate air and remove airborne contaminants, but they can also become clogged over time. When this happens, the airflow to your AC unit is restricted, causing the coils to freeze. By checking and replacing your air filters on a regular basis, you can help keep your AC unit running smoothly.
Experts recommend changing your air filter at least once every three months. The frequency with which you need to replace your air filter will depend on the type of air filter you have and the environment in which you live. If you have pets or live in a dusty area, you may need to replace your air filter more often.
Hire Professionals for Maintenance
One of the best ways to prevent your AC unit from freezing up is to have it professionally serviced on a regular basis. HVAC technicians will be able to check for any potential problems and make sure that your system is running smoothly.
The main advantage of having your AC unit serviced is that it can help you avoid costly repairs in the future. Pros will catch any potential problems before they become major issues.
If you need services such as AC installation, AC repair, and ductless air conditioning in Sutton, MA, Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric will help you keep your AC unit running smoothly all summer long.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
By setting the thermostat to a higher temperature, the AC unit will run less often and will have a chance to defrost any ice that has built up. In addition, a programmable thermostat can help to even out temperature fluctuations, which can further reduce the risk of freezing.
Unclog the Condensate Drain Line
To unclog the condensate drain line, start by pouring a cup of bleach down the drain. Then, use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up any standing water. Next, flush the line with clean water. Finally, use a brush to scrub away any remaining debris.
Upgrade Your AC Unit
If your AC unit is more than 15 years old, it may be time for an upgrade. Newer AC units are more energy efficient and can cool your home more effectively. They are also less likely to develop problems, such as freezing up.
Call a Professional
If your AC unit has frozen, you’ll need to schedule a repair with a qualified technician. Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric has been helping customers with their AC units for over 10 years. Our team of highly trained technicians is available 24/7 to provide emergency AC repair services.
Contact Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric today to schedule a consultation. We provide heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical services to Sutton residents.
Several factors determine how long an HVAC system lasts. The type of system, whether it’s gas or electric, the size and number of units, and the care with which it’s maintained are all determining factors. Keeping reading to learn more about the lifespan of an HVAC system:
Typical HVAC Equipment Life Expectancies
Below are examples of HVAC systems and how long they may last:
Boilers
Boilers typically last 20 years or longer, depending on how well they are maintained. A boiler can fail much sooner than expected if it is not properly installed and maintained.
Air Conditioners
Air conditioners typically last between 15 and 20 years before needing replacement, depending on how well they are maintained. If an air conditioner is not properly installed and maintained, it can fail sooner than expected.
Heat Pumps
They typically last 10 to 20 years if properly maintained but may need replacement sooner if not properly installed or maintained by a qualified technician.
Ductless Mini-Splits
Ductless mini-splits have become popular in recent years because they provide heating and cooling without requiring ductwork in your home. Ductless mini-splits, like heat pumps, have an average lifespan of 10 to 30 years.
Major Factors That Affect HVAC System Expectancy
Many factors affect the life of your home or business’s HVAC system, Including:
Condition of Installation
Poorly installed furnaces fail sooner than properly installed units because the installation may have been done incorrectly or incompletely. These issues include improper wiring, poor insulation work around the unit, and poor ductwork installation. In addition, even if a furnace is properly installed, if not maintained regularly, it will operate inefficiently and prematurely wear out components like blowers, motors, and heat exchangers.
Age
The age of the unit is one of the primary factors determining how long an air conditioner will last. Units built between 1993 and 1998 are expected to last about 10 years, while units built between 2003 and 2006 have a lifespan of 15 years or more. If you’re not sure if your unit is from this period or not, you can check by looking at the model number stamped on the back or bottom of the unit.
Usage
The amount of use also affects how long an HVAC system will last. For example, turning on your AC frequently or letting it run when no one is home could shorten its lifespan by hundreds of dollars per year. On the other hand, if you turn it off regularly and don’t allow it to run unnecessarily, this will extend its useful life considerably longer than average.
Air Duct Leakage
The most common cause of system failure is air duct leaks, which can result from cracks in your ductwork or corroded connections. If you notice any leaks around your AC unit, you should have it inspected by a professional before it becomes a bigger problem. The best way to prevent this problem is to inspect your ductwork regularly and replace any worn or damaged parts.
Dryer Vent Blockage
Another common cause of AC failure is dryer vent blockage, which happens when lint or debris gets into your dryer vent and clogs up the return air hose that leads back to the outside air intake. Vent cleaning tools are available at any hardware store and will help you clear out whatever is blocking your dryer vent so that it can function normally again.
Size
The size of your air conditioner plays an important role in how long it will last. Finding replacement parts may not be easy if you have an old unit. On the other hand, newer models are more likely to last longer because they use more efficient technology and components.
Type
The type of cooling system that you have can also affect how long it will last. For example, air conditioning units with refrigerant lines tend to have shorter lifespans than units without refrigerant lines because refrigerants are used in these systems and must be replaced periodically.
Poor Refrigerant Recovery (Refrigeration Cycle)
When your system is not running properly, it may not be able to recover the refrigerant it uses to maintain its temperature. This reduces the amount of refrigerant available for cooling purposes and can lead to compressor failure over time.
Poorly Maintained Systems
Inadequate maintenance will increase energy consumption, operating expenses, and carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, poor maintenance might cause your HVAC system to perform poorly, which can shorten its typical lifespan.
8 Tips to Increase the Life Expectancy of Your HVAC System
There are many things to consider when it comes to increasing the life expectancy of your HVAC system. Below are tips that can help you improve it:
1. Don’t Let Your System Get Too Hot
Heat is one of the biggest enemies of a heating and cooling system. Your system will work at its best when the outside temperature is below 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the indoor temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Change Your Air Filter Regularly
Replace your air filter regularly, about every three months. It’s essential to ensure that your furnace or air conditioner works as efficiently as possible.
3. Maintain an Adequate Supply of Refrigerant
This helps prevent leaks and reduces energy consumption. If you’re noticing issues with the cooling levels of your AC unit, it might need recharging by a professional.
4. Keep It Clean
Dust buildup can reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system and cause it to overheat or over-cool occasionally. Cleaning out your vents periodically will keep them running smoothly, which means fewer repairs down the road!
5. Check for leaks
Leaks in your ductwork can cause your system to run inefficiently or not at all, so be sure to check for signs of leakage every six months or so by using a flashlight while wearing protective gear like rubber gloves and goggles.
6. Be Sure Your Unit Is Properly Installed
Ensure that your air conditioning unit is properly installed to provide proper cooling for your home. A poorly installed air conditioning unit can lead to leaks, overheating, and other issues.
7. Have the System Inspected
Regular inspections can help you detect problems before they become too expensive to repair or replace. It’s also important to check your system regularly for safety concerns like leaks, clogged filters, and carbon monoxide leaks.
8. Regular Maintenance
Regularly scheduled maintenance is an important part of ensuring the longevity and efficiency of your HVAC system. This may include cleaning filters, changing out air filters, and more.
If you’re looking for HVAC equipment maintenance and repair in the Central & Metro West Massachusetts area, look no further than Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric. We offer a broad range of assistance to keep your heating, cooling, and ventilation systems operating at peak efficiency. Our highly trained technicians are well-versed in-home comfort, including ventilation systems, heat pumps, boilers, and more. We can handle everything from simple repairs to full system replacements. If you need an HVAC company in your area that offers comprehensive HVAC services, call us at Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric today.
Your AC condensate drain line removes condensation from the evaporator coil to prevent leaks and ice clogs. The drain has an exterior opening through which sludge, debris, and bacteria can find their way into your system. The buildup of these elements in your drain line can cause clogs, which, if not cleaned, can lead to water damage and mold growth. Drain line clogs are preventable, and homeowners who schedule regular, professional drain line cleaning services will rarely deal with clogged drains.
It does not require a third eye to detect clogs in your air conditioner drain line. Drain line clogs cause almost the same issues other AC problems cause, including poor performance, increased energy bills, and bad odors. An air conditioner with a clogged condensate drain line may also have an overflowing drain pan. Removing drain clogs is not entirely a professional job, but calling your AC technician should be the first line of action when you detect drain line clogs. To unclog your drain lines at home, check out the following tips.
Start By Locating Your AC Drain Pipe Opening
The initial most essential step to removing drain clogs is to identify the exact location of the AC drainpipe opening. You don’t need expensive tools or decade-long skills to locate a condensate drain and exterior AC unit outlet. Finding such pipe won’t be a hassle if the place you live in receives a humid climate throughout the year. The drain works more in humid weather to remove excess moisture, and lots of water pours out during this time of the year. To identify the drainpipe, you need to look at the area outside your ducting system with more water flowing out.
However, in winter, when the climate is super cold, and humidity levels are low, it will not be an easy task to locate the AC drainpipe opening. In fact, it could take you days or even weeks to identify the drainpipe, especially if you’re not familiar with the setup of the outdoor AC unit. However, you shouldn’t subject yourself to days of futile searching. It only requires knowing the shape, size, and possible locations where the drain pipe could be found. To cut a long story short, an AC drain pipe is a 3/4–inch PV pipe that elongates from the eaves or wall of your home. The opening at the end of this pipe is the drainpipe opening.
Locate the Exact Location Where Your Drain Pipe Connects to the Evaporator Coil
Now that you’ve located your drain opening, it’s time to identify the joint connecting the drainpipe to the evaporator coil. Check the opposite end of your air conditioner pipe and locate the joint connecting the line to the evaporator coil. In a standard setting, water extracted from the evaporator coil will accumulate in the drain fan before channeling out into the drain pipe.
Usually, the water flowing out will make the pipe curve down to create a trap. The drain pipe will have a cleanout at its top section just before the trap. You need to identify the cleanout because it’s from that exact point you will be doing the cleaning work.
Open Your AC Cleanout to Locate the Drain Pipe
The cleanout offers access to the drainpipe, allowing easy cleaning of the mess blocking water flow. It’s the exact opening you need to add chemicals and solutions for cleaning clogs inside your AC drain pipe. In the manufacturer’s state, the cleanout will be sealed, although some manufacturers don’t usually cap the cleanout. Start by removing the slip cap encasing the cleanout if your cleanout comes with a seal. Keep the cleanout seal safely because you need to fix it back to its original position after cleaning your drain line clog.
You can tell the amount of clog and how far the clog is through the cleanout opening. Use a torch to observe the inside of the drain pipe. If the clog is in a close view location, you will notice spiteful substances, including mold and green slime. However, if the clog is not in close range, you may not see anything when you flash the light into the drain pipe.
Pour Your Cleaning Agent Down the Cleanout
Now flush out the clog with the proper cleaning agent. Look for a cleaning agent with potent antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. You want to remove the clog and still cleanse the bacteria and fungi accumulated in your drain pipe. You can use standard fragrance-free laundry bleach if you’re low on budget. Ordinary laundry bleach is cheap, available, and can do the job excellently.
Add the right amount into the cleanout outlet, and allow it to flow into your drain pipe. The cleanout opening has a limited circumference, so you need to use a funnel to safely add the laundry bleach into your drain line. Watch the flow of the bleach, and if it gurgles or fails to flow, allow it some minutes to flow. You’re advised to add as much cleaning agent as you can. Don’t cleanse the drain line immediately after adding the cleaning agent.
Now Rinse the Drain Pipe
Now that you have poured the cleaning agent and allowed enough time to bleach and remove the mold and slime, you need to rinse the drain line. The setup of the drainpipe enables most of the cleaning bleach to drain out on its own, but all contents of the bleaching agent won’t be removed unless you rinse it out. Allowing the bleach to sit in the drain pipe for an extended period will damage your PVC pipe. It could as well shorten its lifespan.
Don’t celebrate too early and forget the important step of rinsing your drain pipe. Make sure you rinse everything out using hot water. Confirm all debris and bleach contents have been rinsed out before setting the drainpipe seal back to the cleanout opening.
Other Possible Ways to Remove the Clog
Using a cleaning agent is not the only way to clean drain line clogs. You can also use a wet-dry vacuum or plumber’s snake to remove the clog. If you have a plumber’s snake or wet-dry vacuum, you will need to open and put off the AC service panel to access the drip pan and drain. Setup the wet-dry vacuum hose on the tee feature with the threaded plug on your service panel, and then run the vacuum for approximately five minutes to remove the clog. If you’re using a plumber’s snake, you must do it such that you have removed all the buildup before pulling out the snake. After cleaning with a wet-dry vacuum or plumber’s snake, you’ll need to pour vinegar into the drainpipe to remove the remaining clogs.
Remember that DIY drain line unclogging methods don’t always work. If you tried these tricks to no avail or have no time to conduct DIY drain line clog removal, talk with qualified technicians at Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric. We’re a top-leading HVAC company serving clients in central & Metro West Massachusetts, committed to exceeding our clients’ expectations. We have been in the HVAC and plumbing industry since 2008 and have managed to serve thousands of satisfied clients. The factory-trained and certified at Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric have the expertise to handle air conditioner repairs, installations, and replacements.
With the summers in Massachusetts tending to be quite hot and humid, having adequate air conditioning in your home is vital. In this sense, there are a variety of different options that can help keep your house cool, including portable air conditioners. Although they can help to overcome issues with high indoor heat and humidity, a portable AC usually isn’t the best option. To understand why, let’s look at how portable air conditioners work and how they compare to other types of AC units.
How Air Conditioning Produces Cooling
All types of air conditioning systems, including portable ACs, work in exactly the same way. Although most people believe that air conditioning produces cold air, this technically isn’t true. Instead, air conditioning works by absorbing heat and humidity from the air. As a result, the air coming out of the system is much colder than the air going into it. Typically, the air coming out of the system will be around 20 degrees cooler than the air inside the building.
All air conditioning systems require three main things to function: refrigerant to absorb heat from the air, a fan to move the air, and a compressor to turn the refrigerant from a gas into a liquid. The process works like this. First, the air conditioner draws hot air into the system and forces it over an evaporator coil that contains cold refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant works to absorb the heat from the air. As part of this process, moisture in the hot air condenses into water, which is how air conditioning also reduces the humidity level.
As the refrigerant absorbs heat energy from the air, it warms up the refrigerant and turns it from a liquid to a gas. The heat that’s collected from the air is then vented outside the building. With a central AC or ductless air conditioner, the heated refrigerant is directed outside the building to the compressor unit, whereas a portable AC uses a hose to blow the heat outside. In either case, the refrigerant liquid then passes through the compressor that condenses the refrigerant. This turns it back from a gas into a liquid while simultaneously cooling the refrigerant so that it can be sent back to the evaporator coil.
Types of Portable Air Conditioners
If you’re shopping for a portable air conditioner, there are several options for you to consider. Portable ACs can differ based on both where they draw the hot air from and how they deal with the moisture that they absorb from the air. In terms of moisture, a portable AC will either have an evaporation system that pumps the water vapor outside the house or a reservoir that collects the moisture from the evaporator coil. Portable ACs with an evaporation system are by far more convenient since you won’t have to worry about dumping water out of the reservoir or it overflowing, but they’re also more expensive.
In terms of where the system draws the hot air from, there are both single-hose and dual-hose models. With a single-hose unit, the system will take the hot air directly from the room where the unit is located. The issue with this is that it creates negative pressure inside the space. When negative pressure is created, the air inside the room will need to be replaced.
In most cases, a single-hose portable AC will cause hot air to be drawn inside the building through any windows, doors, or anywhere else where air can leak in from outside. Typically, this results in those other areas becoming much hotter and more humid due to the outside air leaking in. Although this type of unit can be good at cooling one room or area, it will often raise the overall temperature inside the rest of the building.
A dual-hose system overcomes this issue by instead drawing hot air into the system from outside of the house to maintain the pressure inside the building. With this system, one hose is responsible for drawing hot air into the unit and the other hose then vents the heat absorbed by the system back outside. The only real drawback to a dual-hose unit is that they tend to be quite a bit louder than a single-hose system. This is because a more powerful fan is required to draw air in from outside compared to taking the air from around the unit.
Comparing Portable ACs to Other Cooling Systems
Although portable ACs function in the same way as all other air conditioning systems, they tend to use far more energy. This is why they’re usually only recommended for situations where you don’t have any other options, like if your building regulations won’t allow you to install a window AC unit. To understand why this is, it’s important to look at how the energy efficiency of air conditioners is measured.
The energy efficiency of an air conditioner is measured by comparing how many BTUs (British Thermal Units) of cooling are produced per watt of electricity the system uses. Generally speaking, most portable air conditioners consume much more energy to produce the same cooling output as a window AC unit, and this difference becomes even greater when comparing portable ACs to central air conditioning or ductless units.
Compared to other AC systems, portable units are also less effective. In most cases, they’re really only suited for smaller rooms. If you’re trying to cool a larger area, you’ll get much better results and use less energy by using a powerful window AC unit.
All this being said, portable ACs do have their advantages. For starters, they’re much easier to move around and install compared to a window AC unit. This means you can easily cool any space in your home by moving the unit and attaching the hose to the window kit. Another advantage of portable ACs is that they’re usually a bit quieter than window units.
Alternatives to Portable Air Conditioners
Portable ACs aren’t really an effective option for cooling anything other than one room. In most cases, they’re used to supplement a home’s existing AC system or to add cooling to any areas not connected to the central HVAC system. Still, if you’re considering a portable AC for these purposes, you’re generally always better off going with either a window unit or a ductless AC system.
Ductless ACs are usually the most energy-efficient option. In fact, ductless systems tend to be far more energy-efficient than even central air conditioners. These systems work exactly like a central AC, except they utilize one or more separate air handlers for each space. The benefit of this type of system is that it allows you to control the temperature at each air handler independently. Although ductless systems are definitely more expensive than window units and portable ACs, they can be well worth it both for the increased comfort level and energy savings they provide.
If you’re considering your options for cooling your home, Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric can help you determine what type of air conditioning system is the best choice. We specialize in a full range of cooling and heating services from maintenance and repairs to installation. Our team also includes professional plumbers and electricians who can maintain and repair your home’s plumbing and electrical systems. We’re located in Sutton, and our team serves customers throughout central Massachusetts and the MetroWest area. To learn more about your AC options or to schedule an appointment, contact Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric today.
One of the shortcomings of owning an air conditioner is paying for repairs and being on the watch for issues that could wreck and make it fail untimely. One of the issues that rarely happen but have consequential effects on the performance of your air conditioner is water leaks. An air conditioner must not leak unless it has faults. If your air conditioner leaks, you may be looking at a problem that requires hundreds of dollars to repair. Water leaks in air conditioners don’t just happen. When your AC leaks, it signifies an underlying problem that needs professional attendance. Stay tuned to know why air conditioners leak water.
Clogged AC Drain Line
Air conditioner water leaks are customarily linked to clogs in the drain line. It’s a reality that when the drain line gets clogged, water will leak, especially because the humidity from your indoor air won’t be drained efficiently. The drain line’s core role is to make certain humidity formed inside the unit is drained out efficiently. And if by mistake, the unit cannot remove the humidity because of faults or clogging, you will witness water leaking from the sides or below the air conditioner.
Drain line clogs are typical AC issues primarily because the drainpipe handles most of the mess from the exterior unit. If the drain line is not cleaned regularly, the mess may build up to cause clogs. A drain line gets clogged for various reasons, including dust and dirt buildup. Once the drain line has a clog, water drainage will be hindered, causing backup and leaks. Even though drain line clogs are common, they are not as complicated to solve. In fact, with a plumber’s snake or wet-dry vacuum, your technician can have the issue resolved promptly.
Freezing of the Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil may not be one of the AC parts you see and talk about regularly, but that doesn’t make it insignificant. Once the evaporator coil suffers a blow, it will directly affect the air conditioning unit. The evaporator coil is tasked with cooling down the air conditioner’s refrigerant. It has been programmed to extract heat from your home’s air and transmit the heat into the condenser coil in the outdoor unit.
When the evaporator coil gets covered by dirt or dust, making it strain to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air, it will become cold, and ice will form around it. If such an issue is not noticed and sorted with uttermost urgency, the ice will collect around the whole system. And as the temperatures rise, causing the ice to melt, water will be released, which may drip from the unit. A frozen evaporator coil risks the performance and health of your air conditioner, so endeavor to have the problem troubleshot by an expert the quickest you can.
Insufficient Refrigerant
Insufficient refrigerant may also cause leaks in your air conditioning unit. Air conditioners rely on the refrigerant to operate but consume it at a low rate. Indeed, the refrigerant may take twelve to twenty-four months before it’s exhausted. When the refrigerant reduces to an extremely low rate, your AC will start producing a bubbling or hissing sound. The refrigerant helps the air conditioner effectively extract heat from the distributed indoor air.
When the refrigerant level reduces, the unit won’t have the capacity to extract heat from the indoor air. That would make your air conditioner unable to cool your indoor space and possibly trigger the formation of ice around your evaporator coil. And you know, when the ice starts melting, the water will be expelled out through all openings in the air conditioner. So if you notice water leaks in your air conditioner, the culprit could be a lack of sufficient refrigerant.
Filthy Air Filters
Water leaks from the air conditioner when the unit has an issue with filthy air filters. Air filters are supposed to be changed often, especially at a pace of thirty days if you have pets or 90 days if you don’t have pets. It’s not mandatory to keep track of the age and condition of the air filters if you invest in the smart air filters that let you know when they are due for changing.
When the air filters get filthy, they force the air conditioner to overdrive, making it inefficient and unreliable. A dirty air filter can also affect airflow to the evaporator coil, which increases the risk of the evaporator coil freezing. Over time, the ice formed around the coil will melt, leading to water overflowing in the drain pan. Excess water flow will often lead to water leaking into every hole in the air conditioner that penetrates outdoors.
Rusty or Damaged Drain Pan
Another popular cause of water leakage in your air conditioner is a damaged or rusty drain pan. The drain pan is responsible for holding moisture collected from the moisture extracted from the air flowing in your home. Once the moisture has collected into the drain pan, it’s pushed into the drainpipe and later the outdoor unit. It’s the responsibility of the drain pain to contain the moisture and prevent it from dripping into the interior unit to trigger leaking.
The drain pan is shallow and won’t hold much water, so if the drain line has a clog, it may overflow and cause leaking. And as you know, water that leaks out of the drain pain will flow into your home. Similarly, when the drain pan is old or gets damaged, it won’t contain the water channeled through it, meaning it will allow it to leak into the interior AC unit. An old and damaged drain pan may develop cracks and holes that allow water to flow out.
Damaged Condensate Pump
Finally, your air conditioning unit will leak when the condensate pump develops issues. Condensate pumps are installed in your air conditioner to facilitate smooth water drainage from the drain pan. By default, an air conditioner does not have a gravity-supported design that allows water to flow from the drain pan to the exterior by itself. Whether your air conditioner is installed in an attic or basement, it won’t drain out the water on its own.
That is why air conditioners have a centrifugal pump to assist in pushing water out of the interior unit into the exterior unit. That works such that when the condensate moved through the evaporator coil hits a specified level of the pump tank, it will activate the float switch and then the centrifugal pump. In an unfortunate situation where the pump is faulty, water won’t be pushed out. It will overfill the drain pan causing leaks.
These are air conditioner issues that lead to water leaking from the indoor unit. These are issues beyond the knowledge of a homeowner, so it’s advised when you discover them to call our qualified HVAC experts at Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric. We have a long-established reputation as a top provider of top-tier air conditioner repair, installation, and maintenance services in Central & Metro West Massachusetts. Our experienced team works closely with our clients to establish custom and robust solutions to all air conditioner-related problems. Whether you want to install a new system, repair a leaky unit or service the AC to keep it working optimally, consulting Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric is the best decision to make. Call us now for free quotes!
Yes, a smart thermostat will definitely save you money! A conservative estimate is that any household can lower its annual heating and cooling bill by at least 8% by upgrading from a manual thermostat to a smart thermostat. Total savings do vary from home to home because it depends on factors like heating and cooling equipment age, natural and mechanical ventilation, insulation, and the various resources that the smart thermostat has available to it. A smart thermostat will be able to save you more, for instance, if your home HVAC system is zoned. With that in mind, let us consider the major smart thermostat features that are available and how they can help you save money.
Learning
The ability to learn is one of the defining characteristics that distinguish smart thermostats from programmable thermostats. The most advanced thermostats on the market are able to collect data about your household, analyze it, and automatically adjust their programming based on that analysis. Not only does this help you save money, but it makes the device more user-friendly. With a programable thermostat, it is easy to be inaccurate, make a mistake, or forget, but a thermostat that is able to learn is constantly adjusting its programming organically based on your tendencies.
Internet-based Resources
Most smart thermostats are Wi-Fi capable so that they can communicate with other smart devices. But it also allows them to connect to the internet through your home network, and that provides a number of advantages, including the ability to access real-time data. The best energy-saving thermostats on the market are able to poll real-time weather information. If a cold front is on its way, for instance, the thermostat can adjust itself proactively in order to minimize energy consumption.
Mobile Notifications and Control
Another advantage of being online is the capability to communicate with you. Most smart thermostats now have smartphone apps that let you control them. These devices are also able to send alerts and notifications. If your home is equipped with a water leak detector, for instance, your smart thermostat can alert if it senses water.
Geofencing
The ability of a thermostat to learn is a powerful tool that will save you money over the long term. But many modern smart thermostats are able to react to save you money in the short term as well. A prominent example of this is geofencing. Through the use of smartphone apps, a smart thermostat is able to know if the members of your household are at home or not. Your thermostat may have learned that you are out of the house by 8:00 a.m., but if it detects that you left today at 7:00 a.m., it can go ahead and adjust the cooling or air conditioning in order to reduce your costs.
Zoning
Zoned HVAC provides you with much greater control over the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation in your home, and it also provides your smart thermostat with much greater control as well. These systems work by having dampers in the ductwork that can open and close to allow air through our not, and this usually requires a variable-speed air handler that is able to adjust to the pressure differences. Having your smart thermostat control your zoned HVAC can lower energy usage considerably because, for example, the system can maintain a comfortable bedroom temperature without wasting energy heating or cooling the entire home.
Room Sensors
Smart thermostats that support room sensors are able to react to your household beyond geofencing, and there are many types of sensors available, including the aforementioned water leak sensor. There are also motion sensors, which can be particularly useful for basements, garages, and areas of the home that are seldom used. Temperature and humidity sensors allow for more granular control without the need for many thermostats, and it also gives you more freedom for thermostat placement because the device has much more information available to it.
Smart Integration
A smart home requires that its devices be able to communicate with each other. Most smart devices, therefore, are Wi-Fi capable, able to send and receive data, and, if applicable, react to the data they receive. A smart thermostat is an excellent example of this, and there is a wide range of smart devices that are designed to work with your smart thermostat. Smart shades, for instance, can provide your thermostat information about sunlight, and your thermostat can tell the shades to open in order to provide natural heat and lower your heating costs.
Energy-saving Mode
Many smart thermostats now have an energy-savings mode. One reason that this mode is useful is that it lets you shape temperature control based on energy usage as opposed to comfort. Some models are even able to track your local energy rates and make adjustments based on that data. An energy-saving mode is also very useful when you go on vacation or travel on business. The thermostat has safe thresholds that it will maintain but will otherwise seek to use as little electricity or fuel as it can.
Automatic Humidity Control
It is becoming increasingly common to install whole-home humidification and dehumidification systems. These systems tend to pay for themselves over time because they save wear and tear on your air conditioner or heat pump and allow for a higher comfortable temperature in summer and a lower comfortable temperature in winter. Provided a relative humidity range, a smart thermostat can adjust to outdoor humidity conditions in order to keep you comfortable and save you money.
Energy Reports
Another powerful tool that many smart thermostats offer is energy reports. Typically, accessing this feature is as simple as logging in to your smart thermostat via a web browser. This feature also automatically tracks your usage over the years and can even identify when an energy spike may be due to an equipment problem.
Air Quality Monitoring
Many smart thermostats can even track the number of particulates in the air in addition to various contaminants. This is important because indoor pollution is typically more concentrated than outdoor pollution, and on the money-saving front, it is a useful way to monitor your ventilation and identify when to have your ducts cleaned.
Automatic Software Updates
Smart thermostats are essentially small computers with their own operating system and apps. Some manufacturers even let you choose which apps your device will run, and the OS and apps receive updates over time. These updates can make a significant difference when it comes to energy savings, and automatic updates are a useful feature that keeps your device updated without you having to check for them.
Your Thermostat Experts in Southern California
Landry is a company with more than 80 years of experience. We offer a full range of heating and cooling installation, maintenance, and repair services, and we are happy to assist customers with choosing, installing, programming, and calibrating their smart thermostats. Call Landry today or contact us online to learn more about the services we offer and to schedule an appointment!
