Air conditioning

Since the air conditioning system is combined with the heating system, the maintenance suggested for your furnace should be followed. In addition, the manufacturer’s Owners Manual specifies maintenance for the “condenser” unit. This should be reviewed and followed.

Air conditioning can add much to the comfort of your home, but it can be used improperly or inefficiently, resulting in wasted energy and frustration. These hints and suggestions are provided to help you maximize your air conditioning system.

Whole-House System
To fully and efficiently utilize your air conditioning system, you must understand that it is a total, whole-house system. The air conditioner unit is the mechanism in your home, which produces cooler air. The air conditioning system involves everything inside our home including, for example, drapes and windows.

Closed System
Your home air conditioning is a closed system, which means that the interior air is continually recycled and cooled until the desired air temperature is reached. Warm outside air disrupts the system and makes cooling impossible. Therefore, you must keep all windows closed. The heat from the sun shining through windows with open drapes is intense enough to overcome the cooling effect of the air conditioning unit. Drapes must be closed on these windows.

Time
Time is of paramount importance in your expectations of an air conditioning system. Unlike a light bulb which reacts instantly when you turn on a switch, the air conditioning unit only begins a process when you set the thermostat.

For example, if you come home at 5:30 p.m. on a day when the temperature has reached 90 degrees, and then set your thermostat to 75 degrees, the air conditioning unit will begin cooling, but will take much longer to reach the desired temperature. During the whole day the sun has been heating not only the air in the house, but the walls, the carpet, and the furniture. At 5:30 p.m. the air conditioning unit starts cooling the air, but the walls, carpet, and furniture release heat and nullify this cooling. By the time the air conditioning unit has cooled the walls, carpet, and furniture, you may well have lost patience.

Evening Cooling
If evening cooling is the primary goal, you should set the air conditioning thermostat at a moderate temperature in the morning while the house is cooler, allowing the unit to maintain the cooler temperature through the day.

The temperature setting may then be lowered slightly when you arrive home, with better results. Setting the thermostat at 50 degrees will NOT cool the home any faster and can result in the unit “freezing up” and not performing at all. Extended use under these conditions can damage the unit.

Adjust Vents
You will find it advantageous to adjust the cooling vents to maximize air flow to occupied parts of the home. Likewise, when the seasons change, it will probably be necessary to readjust them for comfortable heating.

Humidifier
If a humidifier is installed on the furnace system, it should be turned off when using air conditioning. Otherwise, the additional moisture can cause a “freeze up” of the cooling system.

Compressor Level
It is important to maintain the A/C compressor in a level position. If it “settles” during the first year, Becker Communities will correct this. After the first year, the Homeowner must maintain it. See “Grading & Drainage” in this Section.

Freon
The outside temperature must be 70 degrees or higher for freon to be added to the system.

Compressor
It is important to maintain the A/C compressor in a level.