Give Your A/C a Routine Check Before It Gets Beat by the Heat

Now is about the time when your central A/C or window units start to get some heavy play time. But with the first day of summer barely behind us, there are a lot of hot days left for those appliances to continue to perform at their best. A quick maintenance check now will give you peace of mind and ensure that your cooling units won’t kick the bucket during the most critical part of the summer. Plus a regular check-up will likely extend the life of the appliance too. Here are some of the things that you can do.

1. Pick a cooler day, such as tomorrow, to work on your A/C as you’ll need to shut off the power. This means both flipping the switch on the button and either unplugging it from the wall or locating the exterior shut off box on a central A/C unit. Remember, these are run on electricity so it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you have a breaker box, you can cut the power there too.

2. For those of you with an exterior compressor, it’s time to remove the fan. First, unscrew the fan cage with a screwdriver and then take the fan right out of the unit. You’ll be shocked to see how many leaves, pollen, and debris can accumulate here. Clean the interior of the unit out with a regular or wet/dry vacuum and wipe down the fan blades too. Any dust, dirt or pollen will slow your A/C down and since there has been so much this year, it’s worth doing a thorough job.

3. Next, use a garden hose to clean the fins from the inside out. I know I spoke about the wonders of a pressure washer last week, but A/C unit fins are delicate and a pressure washer will break them. For this job, stick to the garden hose with a light flow of water. After you clean the inside, you can repeat on the outside. If the exterior is really dirty, you can apply a non-toxic cleaning solution, but just be careful not to damage the fins by scrubbing.

4. Like I said, those fins are easy to break and you may notice that the metal is bent in some places. This can cause air flow reduction and less power in and out of your machine. Using a butter knife, straighten any misaligned fins, taking caution not to pierce the tubing underneath.

5. Now you can put the unit back together. I would clear all debris from around the base of the unit as anything that is constricting the airflow will make the unit less efficient. This is a good time to take a level to it as well. If the unit is out of alignment, this can cause improper function. Remember, the ground often shifts so checking it periodically is a good idea.

6. Finally, it’s time to move inside and clean the vents and filters. Most HVAC specialists will recommend changing the filters at least twice a year and for window units, I recommend cleaning them at least once a month. Not only will your air flow be more efficient, you’ll also reduce the amount of dirty air blowing through the house. When replacing filters, make sure to match the airflow rating from your previous filter to ensure that it will work properly.

Now it’s time to breathe easy and turn your units back on. Remember, there are some jobs that should only be tackled by a professional, so if you come across a leak, major rusting, or something else that doesn’t seem quite right, do yourself a favor and get in touch with an HVAC expert. An early catch might just save you from suffering through a stifling, uncomfortable summer and an expensive bill.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Maintain Your AC Unit for a Cool, Cool Summer

The summer heat and humidity can be a killer, and if you’re like most homeowners you simply crank up the air conditioning when the weather gets too hot to handle. Unfortunately, an overflow of cold air can put your home at risk, and I don’t just mean your energy bills. Just this past week I have had a dozen calls from homeowners in the area whose exuberance for A/C has turned into a leak, damaging internal walls and ceilings and leaving a heck of a mess to clean up. So if you’re inclined to keep those A/C units on heavy rotation, follow these tips to ensure that your home stays protected for the rest of the summer.

Keep the filter clean.

A dirty filter can cut your air conditioner’s efficiency in half, so be sure to replace or wash it at least once a month during the summer. Not only will a clean filter enable more cold air to come out of the unit, it will also decrease the amount of pollen, dander, and even mold that you could be breathing in. Many people don’t know that air conditioning units are rated by their MERV, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value or, more simply, the effectiveness of the filter. MERV ratings are between one and 20, with most home air conditioning units rating between one and 12. If you’re in the market for a new filter, choose one at the top of the scale as they can trap smaller particles and protect your home from mold spores, dust mites, and other nasty contaminants.

Make sure the window is leak free.

Window A/C units are tough to fit and often result in large gaps where the hot air outside can come in. Make sure all the space around the air conditioner is sealed up tight with foam for bigger gaps or simple foil tape for smaller areas. The materials you’ll need can all be found at the local hardware store and you’ll be shocked by the difference in air temperature by just plugging up those leaks.

Run the unit on a timer.

There is no point in running your A/C on high when you’re at work or away for the weekend. A digital timer will lower the unit’s output when you’re not at home, and then bring the house to a comfortable level by the time you walk in the door. By programming a timer to your preferences you can lengthen the life of the unit and lower your energy bills without noticing a difference in the level of comfort. If your air conditioner doesn’t have a timer, you can get one for as little as $10 online or at the home improvement store in your neighborhood.

Up your insulation.

If your attic isn’t properly insulated, it’s going to be a sauna up there. You don’t even need to go up to check - you can tell simply by touching your ceiling. If it feels hot, then imagine how hard it is for a window unit or even central A/C to compete with all that heat. A well insulated and ventilated attic will ensure that the hot air can escape while keeping the cool air circulating in the living areas of the home. Plus, proper insulation comes in mighty handy during the cold months of the year.

Watch for leaks.

Central air conditioning units are notorious for leaks for three reasons: a cracked or broken drain pan, a clogged air filter or a plugged up condensate line. If water can’t drain properly, it will end up in your ceiling or walls which can cause serious and expensive damage. If you see even the smallest leak, shut down the unit and inspect these three areas. A simple fix might save you thousands in damage if you act quickly.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Don’t Let a Poor Installation Void Your Roof Warranty

If you’re like me, you’ve been keeping an eye on the situation in eastern Connecticut where over 30,000 homeowners are dealing with cracking and crumbling foundations. It pains me to see people wrestling with insurance companies and pleading with government agencies for assistance, all while worrying if they’re safe sleeping in their own home at night.

When it comes to building or remodeling a house, two of the things many homeowners rightly need to worry about are defective products and improper installations. After 40 years of being in business, I know all too well how a job that's incorrectly done can cause a homeowner time, money, and headaches that could have easily been avoided if the job had been done right in the first place

About one-quarter of the jobs I get called to today are to inspect a roof that has been installed incorrectly by someone else. A homeowner will call me up wondering why their brand new roof is leaking, or why there is mold growing in their attic, and I have to give them bad news. Not only was the job done wrong, but their product warranty is also void.

Choosing to get a new roof can be a nerve-wracking process, but even more so if poor installation ends up leaving you with a useless warranty and a massive out-of-pocket expense. Most roofing manufacturers offer a 30-year warranty on their products, but that peace of mind is only good if the installer takes the correct measures to properly ventilate the attic. Without that ventilation, you can kiss your warranty goodbye.

Ventilating a home enables good air to get in and bad air to get out. A ventilation system is comprised of 50 percent intake and 50 percent exhaust, whereby air can get pulled in under the eaves of a home and can escape at or near the peak of the roof, ensuring there is constant circulation and no threat of moisture buildup or too much heat.

If moisture builds up in the attic, mold spores will begin to grow. Excess heat will feed that mold, enabling it to colonize and infiltrate the insulation and wood in your attic. In the winter, moisture can become frost, which will melt as the air warms, causing “rain” to seep down into your walls and ceiling. If you think these issues sound rare, they’re not. Only 10 percent of homes are properly ventilated, which is partially due to poor education on the importance of ventilating a home, and partially due to “cutting corners” during the installation process.

Sometimes, when dealing with a faulty product like those folks in eastern Connecticut, there is very little a homeowner can do. But if you’re in the market for the big remodeling job, you as the homeowner can always ask questions, do your research and understand the steps necessary to ensure that your roof, siding, or other home improvement job is being done correctly. For us pros, an educated homeowner is the best kind of customer.  

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.