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Rochester MN Home Inspector Asks: Is Your Air Conditioner ready For Summer?

rickerickson — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:37:16 +0000

When was the last time that you had your air conditioning serviced? Last year? Two years ago? Never?

We’re at the beginning of June and Summer will be here before you know it! Have you taken the time to make sure that your air conditioner is ready to handle the hot summer days and muggy summer nights to come.

In addition to cooling the air inside of your home, your air condition actually “conditions” the air. The air is cooled, dehumidified and filtered. This is why it is so important to keep your filters clean and change them regularly. Make sure that you install the correct size filter and insert the new filter in the proper direction of the air flow indicating arrows. Always make sure that you can put the filter cover securely in place. You can reduce your energy consumption by 5% to 15% by replacing your filters at the prescribed intervals. Dirty filters result in your air conditioner having to work harder to move and cool the air. Cold air is harder to move that hot air which makes it even more important to keep them filters clean and changed.

Taking the time to perform a little outside inspection and maintenance will also help with your air conditioners performance. Be careful not to blow grass clippings in the direction of your compressor unit when mowing the lawn. Also maintain at least a minimum of one foot clearance around the compressor unit to allow for proper air flow and cooling of the coils.

Once a year, or when you compressor unit appears dirty, you can rinse the unit with a garden hose. Use the water stream to remove debris from the fan blades and the cooling coils. Clean coils and fans move the air more efficiently through the unit.

Never run your air conditioner if the outside temperature is below 65 degrees F. This can damage your compressor. Also, if you shut the power off to your air conditioner in the winter months, make sure that you turn the power back on at least 24 hours minimum prior to using your air conditioning system. There is a small heater in the compressor that keeps the lubricant at the proper operating temperature. If the lubricant temperature is too low you can damage the compressor unit.

You can use your ceiling fans to help move the cooled air in your home can make it more comfortable with your air conditioner set to a higher temperature than in summers past.

If you feel real energetic you could set some time aside to go through your home to ensure that the ductwork is properly insulated, especially in the attic or garage. Be sure that there is no furniture covering up the vents and cold air returns in each of your rooms. As you would in the winter, inspect the weather-stripping around your doors and windows to see if it needs to be replaced. Making sure that your windows, doors and fireplace dampers are completely closed helps to prevent cooled air from unnecessarily escaping your home too.

Try doing laundry or using the oven early morning or late evening. This will help to keep your home cooler during the day when the outdoor temperature is typically at its warmest.

Lastly, it is highly recommended that you have your air conditioning unit inspected by a licensed and insured service technician every couple of years. You want to make sure that your air conditioner will keep your home comfortable for years. Periodic service can prevent unexpected failures, and save you money in the long run.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Home Inspector creates “Buzz” On A Secret Bee Hive

rickerickson — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:12:10 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

At a recent home inspection I came across an opening in the side of a home that was housing a bee hive. This video clearly shows why you should always make sure that openings in the exterior of your home are sealed. These bees get into the wall and displace the insulation as they build their colonies. My recommendation to the new home owner was to have these bees exterminated, removed, and then to have the insulation replaced… Oh, and to make sure that all openings in the home’s exterior are sealed.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspector Asks, Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Summer?

rickerickson — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:28:47 +0000

Just like any of the other systems in our homes, our air conditioners need periodic inspection and maintenance to keep them running smoothly. We want the air conditioner to work when we need it right? Too often though, people wait until the temperatures soar to find out that the old unit just won’t fire up. Summer is coming and soon we will all want our air conditioners to run at peak performance to keep us comfortable. Careful inspection of the air conditioning system prior to peak use can help you to head off problems ahead of time.

First, the more you use your air conditioner, the more often it should perform an inspection. Filters are a good place to start. Cold air moves harder that hot air. If your air filter is plugged, the fan has to work harder to move the air. If the air isn’t moving, the air conditioner has to work harder to meet the desired temperature in the home. Buy a good air filter and make sure to change them at the manufacturers prescribed frequency.

At the condenser, (outside), make sure that there is adequate clearance for air flow around the unit. Three feet above and one foot at the sides, minimum clearance will allow the air to flow freely. Also, make sure that the cooling fins are free of debris and damage. If the fins are clogged with dryer lint or grass clippings, air can’t move freely through the condenser.

Catch small problems before they turn into big problems. Noisy condenser units could be anything from a loose screw on a panel or safety screen, to a loose fan blade. Loose fan blades could also be hitting part of the unit. If everything is tight and there is still a noise, it could be the condenser motor. You should call for service if this is the case. Make sure that the unit is sitting level to prevent unnecessary wear on the motor bearings.

Noise at the furnace could mean a bad motor or loose/worn drive belt. Again, you should call a service technician for repairs.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspector Asks Why Wouldn’t You Cover Your Air Conditioner During The Winter Months?

rickerickson — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:31:57 +0000

Air Conditioner Buried Under Snow

Some experts argue that some AC covers actually trap moisture inside your air conditioner for long periods of time which could then lead to the rust as well as the exact same icing problem as when it wasn’t covered. Others point out that covers on AC units keep them dry and relatively clean and free from a steady cold wind – which makes them a perfect place for mice, chipmunks and other critters to snuggle in for the winter and chew your air conditioners wires to shreds.

To summarize, here are the pros and cons of covering your AC unit in the winter months:

Pros to covering your air conditioner:

Keeps your air conditioner coils a little cleaner so it may run a little more efficiently when you use it again
Prevents heavy debris like sticks, branches and other yard waste from blowing into your AC
Helps prevent water from directly resting on your coils and freezing, which could be damaging.
May save on maintenance costs and help lengthen the life of your air conditioner

Cons to covering your air conditioner:

Could trap in moisture if not done properly
Could provide a tempting spot for small animals to nest during winter months
Most AC manufacturers don’t specifically recommend covering the outside unit

Air conditioner units are expensive to replace and even repair should something happen to it. If you’re not going to use air conditioner for a good six months or so out of the year it makes logical sense to close it off from the elements, at least a little bit. Covering your ac unit each year may allow it to last and run a little longer.

Here are some options to consider:

Cover Just the Top of your Air Conditioner: A lot of people choose taking the middle ground with an AC cover. They cover the top of their unit with a piece of plywood and secure it using a heavy brick or rock. This prevents most of the snow and ice from entering your AC unit from the top and it still leaves the sides open for plenty of cool air to blow through, eliminating the trapped moisture problem.

Fully Cover Your Air Conditioner: If you fully cover your air conditioner, you’ll want to take a few things into consideration. Using plastic makeshift AC covers out of things like tarps or large plastic bags are not a good idea because they can easily keep moisture stuck inside for a long time. They will also almost certain rip or blow off during a long winter unless you get pretty creative with your fastening.

If you’re going to go with a full cover then you might want to consider using a specially designed air conditioner cover.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspector Shares Spring Cleaning Tasks That Can Save You Money

rickerickson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:13:34 +0000

It’s Spring and along with that comes the urge to make everything clean, fresh, and new again. Now is the best time to take care of some often-overlooked household cleaning tasks that can save you big dollars in the future. As a home inspector, I often see that some of the costliest repairs are ones that could easily have been prevented with simple maintenance steps earlier on.

Take a look at your home’s heating and air conditioning system. When was the last time you had your cooling coils Inspected and cleaned?

Cooling coils, which resemble a car radiator, are typically located on top of or inside the air handling unit in the utility room. These coils take the heat and humidity out of the air and are essentially the connection point between your air conditioning system and the air in your home. Over time, household dust and air contaminants, including fabric particles, skin cells, animal dander and other debris, collect on the coils. While your furnace filter will reduce debris — assuming you keep the filters clean — it’s impossible to completely eliminate it and what gets through will end up on the coils. When that happens, two problems can arise:

First, the build-up restricts the flow of air through the unit and decreases its ability to effectively remove heat from the air.

Second, it makes the equipment work harder and longer to get air into your house. So the air handler runs and runs, and the unit consumes more energy and produces less cooling.

If your air conditioner is forced to run 25 percent longer to produce the desired results you will shorten its usable life by nearly 25 percent. And the cost of repairing or replacing a faulty heating and cooling unit far exceeds the cost of having the coils cleaned.

While coils may not need to be cleaned annually, they should be inspected every year. The configuration of some units may make it difficult to examine and clean the coils without removing them from the unit and improper cleaning can actually damage the coils.

If you’re not even sure what part of the system the coils are, where they’re located, or if they’ve ever been cleaned at all, call a professional to do a system check up and cleaning. It’s best to leave the inspection and any necessary cleaning to a trained professional. You shouldn’t assume your coils are being cleaned or even inspected regularly just because you have a service contract with a heating and cooling company. Many companies do not include that service as part of their regular maintenance routine.

Check the internet or yellow pages supporting Rochester and Southeastern MN to find qualified technicians in the area. When evaluating a company to inspect and clean your coils, be sure to ask how long the company has been in business, the average experience level of its service people, and what their regular service includes.

By cleaning your cooling and heating systems on a regular basis you can help extend the life of your systems and ensure it’s functioning at peak efficiency for years to come, thereby saving you costly maintenance in the future .

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspection Company Discusses Air Conditioner Start Up

rickerickson — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:52:05 +0000

Central Air Conditioning should never be operated in cold weather. This can cause serious damage to the compressor unit. You should not use your central air conditioner unless the outdoor temperature has been above 65 degrees for at least 24 hours. Remember to uncover the unit if it has been covered over the winter months. At the start of the cooling season, when you are about to start using the air conditioning unit, you need to make sure that the power is on for a minimum of 24 hours. The thermostat should be switched off, and left off for at least 24 hours before operating the Air Conditioning Unit. Most condensing units have a compressor crank case heater that allows a heater to warm the crank case lubricant. When the compressor crank case is cold, the coolant can be partially absorbed into the lubricant. This will result in frothing of the lubricant, and can cause undue wear on bearings, etc. Turning on power to the unit at least 24 hours before use will allow for the crank case lubricant to heat up and will release any coolant absorption from the lubricant. After a minimum of 24 hours, the unit can be run safely. so, the net is… Just make sure that the power to the air conditioning unit is on at least 24 hours prior to using the air conditioning.

Home Inspector Rochester MN. HomePro Home Inspections. Southeastern, MN. Rick Erickson, 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com