Ross, Author at Ross Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

Smart, Programmable or Manual Thermostats — What’s the Difference?

June 10, 2020 by Ross

Whether it’s 35 degrees or 95 degrees, there’s one gadget that will help keep you comfortable no matter what Nevada’s weather is doing: your thermostat.

From smart to programmable to manual, thermostats come in all kinds. They’ll all help you survive Nevada’s fluctuating temperatures, but some have certain advantages over others. Have you been thinking about upgrading an old manual thermostat? Or not sure what you’d gain by trading in your programmable thermostat for a smart one? Let’s go over the basic differences.

Manual Thermostats

Manual thermostats have been around for as long as any of us can remember. You read the temperature on an analog dial, and to change the temperature, you simply turn the dial or move the little lever arm to the temperature you want. You can only set one temperature and you have to do it by hand. So, for example, if you’re headed to work and want to save on energy, you’d change the temperature on the thermostat before walking out the door, and you’d change it back to a more comfortable temp when you got home.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats are one step up from manual. These can be easily recognized by their basic digital screens and little buttons. The big advantage of having a programmable thermostat is that you can schedule it to change temperature on certain days at certain times. That means, with a little time spent pushing the buttons, you can program it to run minimally on the days and times you’re going to be out of the house, and even when you’ll be sleeping. Programmable thermostats make it easier to keep energy costs down without having to spend a lot of time adjusting the temperature controls (once they’ve been programmed, that is).

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are the newest option. One step further than digital, you can now control your thermostat from your smart device — a phone, computer or tablet. No more pushing buttons and toggling between days and hours. No more getting up from your couch to change the temperature. Setting your thermostat is as easy as setting your smartphone’s alarm clock. Even better, on nights you work late or weekends you’re driving back from a camping trip, you can change the temperature on your way home. You can monitor and adjust your system from wherever you go. Additionally, smart thermostats let you track your energy consumption and the effectiveness of your HVAC system in real-time. That means you can make smarter decisions about what temperature schedule you want to follow.

No matter what kind of thermostat you have, we can help you make sure it’s working correctly and running an optimized HVAC system. If you have any questions about your thermostat, or if you’re interested in upgrading to a newer model, give us a call! We’d be more than happy to talk shop with you and make sure you get the one that’s right for you.

New Air Conditioning Options for Older Homes

May 15, 2020 by Ross

In Nevada, a home doesn’t have to be very old to not have central air. Because of our super dry, high desert weather, swamp coolers were the popular way to cool a house for decades. However, the summers are getting a little hotter every year. If you have an older home, whether it never had central air conditioning or it has an older system, these are your best options if you want a new AC:

Central Air Conditioners

Central air is the most popular form of whole-house air conditioning. Why? It uses a system of air ducts to circulate cool air throughout your entire house, whether it’s one floor or multiple floors.

In order to install central AC, a technician will first perform what’s called a load calculation. This will help determine the proper AC size your home needs in order to fully and properly cool.

Next, your technician will assess whether you currently have air ducts, and if so, what condition they’re in. A general rule of thumb is that ductwork installed prior to 1960 will need to be replaced.

Ductless Air Conditioners

Ductless air conditioners, or mini-split air conditioners, are a good alternative to central air systems. If you don’t want to alter the structure of a historical home, or you don’t want to invest in upgrading your ductwork, ductless air conditioning may be your ticket.

Ductless air conditioners are pretty easy to install compared to central air. You will still need to create holes in the wall in each room you want it installed in, but only to hook up the conduits to the compressor unit. These are not as big as the holes needed to install new ductwork.

Choosing the Right Air Conditioner for Your Home

There are pros and cons to each type of air conditioner. Consider the following when making your choice:

1. Customization. While central air offers a complete cooling system for your home, the temperatures you’ll find in each room aren’t always the same. A ductless system allows you to customize the temperature in each room — that means no more fighting over the thermostat.

2. Smart control. Unlike ductless, a central air system is fully wired to a thermostat. Older thermostats are manual, but newer ones are programmable or even smart, meaning they can be operated remotely from a smart device. In other words, you can set your home to cool down to the perfect temperature on your way home from the office — or vacation.

3. Add-ons. Unlike ductless, central air allows you to install various HVAC add-ons to your system. These include air purifiers, whole-home humidifiers, and energy-recovery ventilators. Air purifiers are especially helpful right now, when we’re so worried about viruses spreading through our home.

4. Energy. Ductless air conditioners tend to be more energy efficient, since they don’t require ducts (where a lot of air and energy leakage can occur). You can also choose which rooms of your house you want to keep cool, since they all work independently of one another.

5. Maintenance. Ductless systems require regular maintenance — more than central air systems. With central air, you might wash or replace your single air filter monthly. With ductless, on the other hand, you have to wash each unit’s filter monthly. Skipping this maintenance will inevitably cost you money.

6. Appearance. Ductless systems tend to be very obvious, since they’re mounted from the wall or ceiling. Some homeowners don’t like the aesthetics of this option.

7. Location. If your home already has functional ductwork, replacing your central air unit makes more sense than installing a new type of system. However, if there isn’t pre-existing ductwork, ductless may be a better choice. It’s also worth considering if you’re adding a new addition to your home, or you want to limit which rooms you cool.

Need help weighing your options or ready to start talking about a new air conditioner? Give us a call! We’re more than happy to talk you through your options to ensure you get the system that best suits your home and your needs. We’re serving our fellow community members and business owners with the utmost precautions for cleanliness and safety. As your neighbors, we want to help and we’re here to provide you with the best service possible.

Last-Minute Summer AC Prep

April 28, 2020 by Ross

When it’s 80+ degrees outside isn’t exactly when you want to start servicing your air conditioner, let alone find out if your AC works or not. But we’ve all been there. If you’re just diving into your AC prep and maintenance for summer, don’t panic. Call us today for seasonal air conditioning maintenance, and we’ll help you get your AC up and running at full strength — and efficiency — in no time.

Summer Air Conditioner Maintenance

Here are the important items that should be checked by your HVAC pro each year:

Clean ductwork — dirt and dust build up in your ducts and can be pulled into your air conditioner, gunking it up
Check refrigerant levels and test for refrigerant leaks, repairing any if found
Inspect the compressor & motor
Replace worn belts & other parts
Inspect & tighten electrical connections
Test the thermostat
Inspect & straighten the condenser fins
Clean the evaporator coil
Lubricate all moving parts
Make sure the condenser unit is level

If you’re flying solo, here are some activities you can do yourself:

Replace your air filter — if it’s clogged with dust, it will hike up your energy bill and shorten the lifespan of your equipment
Clean vent covers and air return covers
Inspect and clean the outdoor condenser unit

Broken Air Conditioner?

Did your AC bite the dust this year? Don’t worry. If it’s fixable, we’ll get it back up and running as soon as possible. If it’s beyond repair, we can help you find a new AC that’s the right size for your home, and we’ll even make sure it fits your budget with our flexible payment options.

Prep your AC for summer now — before you begin running it around the clock — to prevent mid-summer breakdowns. Especially now that most of us are staying home and sheltering-in-place, no one needs to be stuck inside without air conditioning. Good air conditioning. With a little preventative maintenance, we can do our best to make sure your unit is running in top shape all summer long.

Remember that Ross Heating and Air Conditioning is open and ready to help. We’re following all possible safety and sanitation measures including providing gloves, booties and masks for our technicians to wear when they enter your home. Call us today to get your air conditioning in ship-shape. We’ll make sure you stay as comfortable as possible all summer long.

What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need?

April 21, 2020 by Ross

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, it’s important to get one that’s the right size. With an air conditioner that’s too small or too big, you won’t be as comfortable, your energy bill will be higher, and your unit won’t last as long. So how do you know what size air conditioner you need? Check out our tips below.

Signs Your Unit Is Undersized

It’s always running. If your air conditioner is always on, then it simply isn’t cut out to do the job you want it to. Just like you, it wants to take a break every once in a while. If it never cycles off, then it’s using up a lot of extra energy, and it’s going to have a much shorter lifespan.

It isn’t cooling your home. If your air conditioner can’t quite get your home to the temperature you want, then it’s simply not the right size for your space. Sized properly, an AC should cool your home to your desired temperature every 30-60 minutes or so, and then cycle off for some time.

Your electric bill seems high. When your AC has to run around the clock to cool your home, it’s going to use up more energy. Even more so if it’s an older unit with a low SEER rating. Because of this, your electric bill is going to seem high every month.

Signs Your Unit Is Oversized

It only runs 10-15 minutes at a time. If you find that your air conditioner shuts off shortly after it turns on, that means it’s too powerful for the size of your home. The constant switching between on and off will shorten the lifespan of your unit and cause it to break down more frequently.

Your home is unevenly cooled. Because your air conditioner can’t run for very long before triggering the thermostat, it isn’t going to have a chance to circulate cool air throughout your entire house. This will leave you with uneven temperatures — some areas will stay warm while others get plenty cold.

What You Need to Look For

BTU Rating. The BTU rating is an air conditioner’s capacity. It stands for “British Thermal Units.” In order to know the optimal BTU rating for your home, you need to know the square footage of the area you want to cool first, whether that’s a room, a floor or an entire house.

Once you know your square footage, you can use this chart by EnergyStar.gov to determine the approximate number of BTUs needed. Factors that can shift the BTUs you need up or down include ceiling height, the condition of your insulation, sun exposure and how many people are in your household.

SEER Rating. We recommend you select a unit with a SEER rating (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) of 14 or higher. As you increase beyond that, you’re going to spend more money upfront, but save on energy costs over time.

If you have any questions about determining the correct size AC for your home, don’t hesitate to call us. We don’t want you to risk making a bad investment. We’d be more than happy to walk you through what you need to consider in order to select the right size air conditioner.

5 Unexpected Benefits of Installing a New Air Conditioner

April 10, 2020 by Ross

Not quite sure if you want to buy a new AC this summer? There are a lot of benefits to installing a new air conditioner — particularly if the unit you currently have is 10+ years old. Here are some reasons why a new AC may be good for you, especially if you’re going to be cooped inside this summer.

1. They’re a lot quieter.

New units are designed to run more smoothly and efficiently than the older ones. That means the loud rattling and heavy breathing of your current unit will be replaced by the softest hum. Have you ever caught yourself complaining about a person who breathes heavily? Just because you occasionally have to tolerate it from your spouse doesn’t mean you have to tolerate it from your HVAC system. You can have peace and quiet with your comfort — you don’t have to choose between the two.

2. They’re more energy efficient, which means you’ll have a lower energy bill.

If your current air conditioner has a SEER rating (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) of 13 or lower, you could save a lot of money on your energy bill by upgrading. Units now have SEER ratings as high as 23. You’d be surprised by how much money you can save by upgrading to a new air conditioner, especially when you calculate your savings over the lifespan of the unit.

3. Your home will be more comfortable.

This benefit might be our favorite. Air conditioning has come a long way in the last two decades. Current units are far more powerful and efficient than their older counterparts. So long as your new air conditioner is sized appropriately for your home, a new AC will have an easy time keeping you cool and comfortable, even on the hottest days of summer.

4. Your home’s air will be cleaner.

You already know that the air inside your home is 2-5 times worse than the air outside. But it doesn’t have to be. Newer air conditioners come with better filtration technology, so the dust, pollen and mold making its way inside doesn’t build up and circulate endlessly through your home. Older systems don’t provide nearly the same ventilation or purification that new systems do. And if you’re really worried about your home’s air quality, you can always invest in an air purification system to keep it fresh all day and all year round.

5. They’re more environmentally friendly.

In addition to using less energy, new air conditioners also have more eco-friendly refrigerant. A lot of old air conditioners use refrigerants that have been phased out for various reasons. For instance, R-22 freon creates ozone. Newer units use refrigerants that are less harsh on the environment, and they’re cheaper to refill. That means you don’t have to feel bad about running your AC around the clock on hot days and giving it regular maintenance to extend its life.

The benefits of installing a new air conditioner outweigh a lot of reasons to hold onto an old one, especially if it can’t keep up with Nevada’s summer heat or it needs an expensive repair. Ready to start researching new units? Give us a call! We’d be happy to talk to you through your options and help you find the perfect fit. Don’t forget — if you’re thinking about pulling the trigger, now is the perfect time. And if you’re worried about the cost, we offer flexible payment options to suit your needs.