Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for March, 2016

Air Conditioning Guide: What Are Capacitors?

Monday, March 28th, 2016

In order to operate effectively, your air conditioner requires that various components, circuits, and connections work correctly. Among the key components of your AC unit are capacitors. Without these, the motors that power your compressor and fans won’t function.

Continue Reading

Why Consider Using a Whole-House Fan?

Monday, March 21st, 2016

Your AC system may work effectively to cool your home, but what if you could do more? A whole-house fan can greatly reduce the temperature in your entire home, and prevent your air conditioner from working so hard. It is installed on the ceiling between the attic and living space, and works by pulling air in from open windows and exhausting it through the attic and roof. In addition to whole-house cooling, a whole-house fan provides good attic ventilation.

Continue Reading

Signs of a Refrigerant Leak

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

It will be a while yet before we are squarely in the middle of the hottest weather of the year. That being said, though, you may already be using your AC on occasion, or will be in the coming weeks. If your system is leaking refrigerant, then you are not going to be able to do so with the outstanding results that you deserve. A refrigerant leak can be seriously detrimental to both the overall operational quality of your air conditioning system, and to the condition of your AC system itself. Learning to spot the signs of a refrigerant leak can benefit you greatly.

Continue Reading

Why Consider an Evaporative Cooler?

Monday, March 14th, 2016

While weather has been on the colder side for the last couple of weeks, spring will be here soon enough, and with spring comes the warm weather we know so well in Fresno, CA. If you are thinking of replacing your current AC system or are installing a brand new system, you would do well to consider an evaporative cooler. This type of cooling unit works by circulating water from a reservoir within the system onto a saturated cooling pad. A fan draws air from outside the unit through the pad. As it passes through, the air is cooled by evaporation.

Why Should I Consider One?

There are many benefits to evaporative cooling. First off, they work best in dry climates such as ours. They are also extremely energy efficient, using significantly less electricity than a traditional air conditioner. This could result in big savings, especially with how often you need to run your AC. These are not the only advantages of an evaporative cooler though. We’ve highlighted some more benefits below.

  • Environmentally Friendly: Evaporative coolers do not use refrigerants for the cooling process. Therefore, there are no greenhouse gases emitted.
  • Low Maintenance: While any AC unit needs regular maintenance, the technology for evaporative coolers is fairly simple and maintenance and repair costs are typically low.
  • Air Filtration: While not comprehensive, evaporative coolers can help improve your indoor air quality, as the cooling pads act as natural traps for dust and pollen.
  • Humidity: These coolers add moisture to your home naturally. This can keep your wood furniture and fabrics from drying out, therefore keeping your home in good condition.

To learn more about evaporative coolers and your air conditioning options in Fresno and surrounding areas, contact Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning today!

 

Continue Reading

Now Is the Time for an AC Tune-Up

Monday, March 7th, 2016

Although we still have some cool days ahead, it’s only a matter of time before spring brings warmer weather. However, before you turn on your AC for the first time this season, ask yourself, “Has my unit been tuned up in the last year?” Routine AC tune-ups are essential to keeping your unit in good working order throughout its lifecycle.

Continue Reading