Haha's Heating and Cooling

  Usually, no. You should not completely wrap your outdoor AC unit for winter. That surprises homeowners because covering outdoor equipment seems like basic protection. We cover patio furniture, grills, pools, and outdoor faucets. Why not protect an expensive air conditioner the same way? Because the condenser sitting beside your house was built to live outside. Rain, snow, wind, and cold temperatures are part of the environment it was designed to handle. The bigger concern is what can happen when the unit is covered too tightly. A Condenser Is Not Patio Furniture Look closely at an outdoor AC unit and you will notice that most of its sides are open. That is intentional. During summer, those openings allow large amounts of air to move across the condenser coil. During winter, the system may be sitting unused, but ventilation around the equipment is still beneficial. Wrapping the entire condenser in plastic can trap moisture inside. Moisture plus metal is not the protection most hom...

  A lot of homeowners do the same thing before leaving the house for work or a weekend trip. They walk past the thermostat and think: “Why am I paying to cool an empty house?” So they turn the air conditioner completely off. It sounds like an easy way to save electricity. But during a Kansas City summer, shutting the AC off completely is not always the smartest move. The better strategy usually depends on how long you will be gone, how hot it is outside, and how much humidity your home holds. Leaving for a Few Hours If you are leaving for work, shopping, or spending the afternoon away from home, turning the AC completely off usually provides little benefit. Instead, raise the thermostat several degrees. For example, if you normally keep the home around 72 to 74 degrees, allowing it to rise into the upper 70s while you are gone can reduce cooling demand without letting the house become extremely hot. When you return, lower the thermostat back to your normal setting. Ther...

  Most homeowners think an HVAC technician's job starts when they remove a panel and begin checking equipment. Usually, it starts much earlier. Experienced technicians begin noticing things the moment they walk through the front door. 1. The Temperature Doesn't Match the Thermostat A thermostat might read 72 degrees, but the house feels much warmer. That difference often points toward airflow problems, insulation issues, or equipment that isn't operating efficiently. Comfort isn't just about numbers on a screen. 2. Some Rooms Feel Completely Different A cool living room and a warm bedroom usually mean the air inside the home isn't moving evenly. This can be caused by airflow restrictions, duct issues, dirty filters, or equipment struggling to keep up with demand. 3. The System Runs Constantly Many homeowners mention that their air conditioner "never shuts off." During Kansas City heat waves, systems will naturally run longer, but nonstop operat...