Air Conditioners and Aesthetics: Your Questions Answered

Your air conditioner, very like a automobile, is a big funding. It’s pure to fret about not simply its long-term efficiency but additionally the way it appears to be like. When attainable, most individuals preserve their automobile in a storage to guard towards the wear and tear and tear of the weather, they’ll wash and wax the automobile, and can attempt to forestall deterioration in different methods.

So, do you have to be anxious about the identical on the subject of your air conditioner?

There are a number of myths on the subject of air conditioner look and upkeep, and we would like you to concentrate on these. However there are additionally instances once you’ll need to know what to do (or keep away from) to keep up not simply the looks of your air-con system, but additionally its efficiency and effectivity.

What Causes Your A/C System to Look Unhealthy?

The outside unit of any air conditioner goes to be uncovered to the weather. That is merely a truth of how they operate, pulling heat air from the house and releasing it exterior.

The excellent news is, common solar, wind, and rain isn’t going to have an effect on efficiency besides in excessive circumstances the place there’s further bodily injury to the unit. Air conditioners are constructed with these situations in thoughts, and are examined to make sure that they carry out properly in a wide range of climate situations.

Some supplies are extra immune to rust than others, and this typically varies primarily based on model or mannequin. A very good HVAC contractor can stroll you thru numerous choices if this stays a priority for you. However even a unit that begins to rust outwardly can proceed to carry out effectively for years to return.

Whereas rust and corrosion from the weather may be the obvious, it’s not the one approach the looks of your system can undergo. A number of others can certainly have an effect on efficiency, which we’ll speak about shortly.

What About Indoor Items?

Comparatively talking, indoor items are going to be much less subjected to put on and tear which might end in it trying worse.

Sometimes, although, you’ll see signs of underlying upkeep points, which is able to manifest as aesthetic points. For instance, a leak in your system’s flue pipe can create moisture buildup. This, in flip, can create corrosion each inside the flue in addition to on high of the indoor unit whether it is leaking.

The identical goes for a coil leak, the place you’ll begin to see acid corrosion because of the leak.

These are upkeep points, not strictly aesthetic ones. In the event you discover these or different abnormalities within the unit’s look, it’s greatest to schedule a upkeep go to with a licensed HVAC contractor as quickly as attainable.

Upkeep, Look and Air Conditioner Efficiency

The problems above are examples of a bigger level: that your air conditioner and full HVAC system ought to have common upkeep that features any mandatory tune-ups, assessments, and cleansing. Your indoor unit, ductwork, and even outside unit ought to operate effectively for the lifetime of the system.

Environment friendly operation, in flip, contributes to how a system appears to be like and sounds. Specifically, whereas we frequently take into consideration how our tools appears to be like, the noise it generates could be much more annoying. Making certain that the system must run as little as attainable to warmth or cool your own home, which correct upkeep can help with, will reduce this potential annoyance.

HVAC Ductwork: Kind and Operate

Ductwork is commonly one of many forgotten components of HVAC work. It will probably contribute to each the shape and the operate of a system.

There are various kinds of ductwork, and every has totally different issues:

• Inflexible Metallic – That is most conventional in fashionable houses, and tends to each look the perfect and carries the smallest threat of harm that would have an effect on the look or operate. Nonetheless, if improperly put in, you possibly can see poorly designed corners that each look dangerous and might leak airflow.
• Duct Board – That is strengthened picket panels, which usually have fiberglass lining. This materials tends to not be as sturdy as inflexible steel, so it’s vulnerable to dents, cracks, and runoff of heating or cooling in consequence. It’s typically a budget-conscious different to different types of ductwork, and will not be your best option for you for purely aesthetic causes as properly.
• Flex Duct – Prized for its flexibility, flex duct is however most in danger for dangerous set up that impacts each look and efficiency. If it isn’t hung correctly, or if there are kinks or sharp turns within the ductwork, it may be very inefficient.

Understanding the categories, and what to search for in every, is essential in understanding which might be best for you.

Set up & A/C Aesthetics

We’ve stated it earlier than, we’ll say it once more: The day your system is put in is an important day within the lifetime of your HVAC tools. That is very true of efficiency, however could be true on the subject of the noise ranges and look of your tools.

For instance, HVAC contractor will create a gravel mattress upon which a plastic pad might be positioned. Your outside A/C unit then, in flip, is put in on the pad. This does a number of issues:

1. The plastic pad is each sturdy sufficient to face up to the weather and cheaper than pouring a concrete pad.
2. The plastic additionally absorbs vibrations higher than a concrete pad. This implies much less noise, and fewer long-term put on and tear from vibrations.
3. The gravel mattress creates a “secure zone” across the tools, dissuading householders from planting grass or crops within the space.
4. The mattress additionally ranges the unit, guaranteeing that there aren’t aesthetic or efficiency points because of the tools tilting barely.

The same instance is that if your air conditioner is on a raised platform that’s connected to your home. Some householders take pleasure in this, however it’s not excellent for a number of causes. When your system runs, the vibrations and noise will extra simply journey all through your own home. With a more recent system, this isn’t as a lot of a problem, however it may be as a system ages.

On this case, we’ll typically suggest eradicating the platform. This requires removing of the raised pad, which could be worrying if it’s constructed into the house foundations. A cautious installer will do all the things attainable to take away any unpleasant protrusions, with out damaging the muse or stonework of your own home. With correct slicing and sanding instruments, mixed with placing a brand new air conditioner in entrance of the world, the consequence often isn’t noticeable in any respect.

Caps and covers may also be used for some holes which can be drilled by way of a house to hyperlink indoor and outside tools. The instruments required are very exact, and the impact is usually minimal.

Your private home might have particular issues that embody these, or others not listed. Usually, there’s an set up answer that can be capable to handle the job correctly. It’s greatest to debate these with the installer earlier than any work is finished to your own home.

Transferring an A/C Unit

Perhaps you’re planning on constructing an out of doors deck, however your air conditioner is sitting instantly the place it would go. Or perhaps the unit is just making an excessive amount of noise or is inconveniently positioned, and also you’d like to maneuver it across the nook of your own home.

Air conditioners can at all times be moved. The query is whether or not or not merely shifting the tools is the perfect answer.

Transferring an out of doors unit requires the tools to be uninstalled, moved, then reinstalled. It’s a prolonged, difficult course of that’s nearly as concerned as a full substitute. The fee can shock many owners.

If a unit is older, making noise, or is unpleasant, it’s typically higher to think about a full substitute. The brand new tools could be moved to wherever you’d like, however you’re additionally getting a quieter, extra environment friendly system. If it’s not an older system, although, however you’d nonetheless prefer it moved, then it’s a call you’ll must make relating to price and comfort.

Portray, Planting & Cleansing Air Conditioners

Are you able to paint an out of doors unit? We don’t suggest it, however it’s been completed. In the event you’re going to aim this, eradicating any exterior elements to color them individually is advisable, since many inside elements are delicate and could possibly be broken even with a coat of spray paint.

What about crops? Once more, the reply is sure, however you’ll need to be certain that you’re giving the system 12-18 inches of freedom, at minimal. If crops get too shut, they will get into your system, they usually will have an effect on efficiency.

Relying on what forms of crops are across the tools, you might also be prone to leaves, flowers, or different, smaller particles gumming up your system. Common upkeep can deal with a lot of this, however it’s nonetheless one thing to concentrate on.

We’re additionally typically requested about energy washers. There isn’t any state of affairs wherein you’ll need to use an influence washer on an out of doors air-con unit. Keep away from this altogether. In the event you completely have to scrub one thing off, we’d suggest even eradicating the hose head so that there’s little or no water stress. Ideally, although, you’re coping with any cleansing points by way of repeatedly scheduled upkeep and discussing another plans along with your HVAC associate.

HVAC Line Hides

Line hides are usually related to ductless mini-splits, however can often be utilized in bigger techniques. They exist to cowl a line that must be run from an indoor unit, alongside the surface of your home, then to an out of doors unit. The ductless strains embody condensate line, electrical hook-ups, and could be unpleasant, even from a distance.

The road cover appears to be like extra pure with a house’s exterior, and may also be painted to match a house’s shade.

In conditions the place, for instance, a part of a house has a basement and one other is on a slab, and the A/C unit is subsequent to the slab portion, a line might have to run alongside the house for 8-15 toes. In these circumstances, a line cover might assist to keep away from it trying dangerous.

Only a few contractors use line hides. Fireplace & Ice contains them commonplace with ductless installations. Be sure you’re asking about one when you assume you’ll profit.

What You Can Do (and Keep away from)

This would possibly all sounds intimidating, however a lot of this may be dealt with with just a few easy issues:

1. Vet your HVAC contractor to make sure they’ll set up your system in keeping with the rules listed right here, in addition to all producer tips for the system you select.
2. Don’t skip upkeep. That is essential to make sure not simply the look of your system, however the consolation and lifespan of it as properly.
3. Be aware about work that you just do round both the outside tools or inside round ductwork.
4. Keep away from planting too near the outside tools, energy washing, or portray it.
5. In the event you discover a change in both efficiency or look, contact your HVAC companions to schedule an inspection.

The lifetime of your air conditioner ought to be lengthy and wholesome. Look and efficiency go hand in hand. Preserve this in thoughts, and also you’ll be set along with your new or present HVAC system.

In the event you’re nonetheless involved about any facet of your HVAC system, give us a name. We’d love to examine any points it’s possible you’ll be having and suggest a plan of action that ensures the well being of your heating and cooling system.