9 Ways To Boost Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality This Summer

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, people spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. That means the quality of the air inside your home will have a significant impact on how you feel and your overall health. Summer is often looked at as a time when air quality is more challenging to control with the added contaminants from outdoor environmental elements. Consider these nine ways you can easily boost your indoor air quality this summer.

1. Change Your Air Filter

Every central HVAC system has at least one filter that’s part of the system. While the primary job of the filter is to remove airborne contaminants before they enter the system and clog it, it also helps improve air quality. However, the amount of air that passes through it reduces as it gets dirtier, not to mention restricting the air moving through the system and impacting its efficiency.

The best way to remove the maximum number of airborne contaminants is to keep your air filter clean. Plan to check it every month and replace it when it becomes visibly dirty. For the common 1- and 2-inch filter, this is about every 30 to 90 days, depending on the filter type and your air quality. When you do check it, plan to gently vacuum off the dirt that’s on it to help it work effectively longer.

2. Control Humidity

Moisture plays a significant role in your home’s indoor air quality. When it’s too dry, airborne contaminants become lighter and will stay in the air longer. Dry air also causes dry skin while also drying out wood and leather around your home and increasing particles released into the air.

On the other hand, too much moisture creates an environment that’s perfect for various biological contaminants to thrive. You may not even see this, but it could be hidden in your ducts or the recesses of your HVAC system.

The best way to reduce the problems that moisture causes is to control it. The EPA suggests that the ideal indoor humidity is between 30% and 50% relative. Summers around Carrollton have an average humidity between 60% and 70%. Therefore, you may need some additional help to keep the humidity in your home in check, such as a whole-house dehumidifier.

3. Improve Your Home’s Ventilation

Ventilation is critical for controlling your indoor air quality, but uncontrolled ventilation can further erode your air quality. Don’t be afraid to open your windows and doors to allow air to flow in from the outside. Before doing so, keep an eye on the conditions outside to strategically plan when to open them. Avoid opening your home when there’s an air quality alert or high allergen counts.

Make sure that you use the ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathrooms. This not only helps control humidity but also helps reduce other contaminants from gas appliances.

The other thing you can do is improve the engineered ventilation that’s part of your home. Consider adding something like an energy recovery ventilator, or ERV, to improve the air exchange between your home and the air outside. The added benefit of an ERV is that it minimizes energy loss during ventilation by using a small heat exchanger in the ventilator that transfers heat between the incoming and outgoing air.

4. Reduce Airborne Contaminants

Aside from relying on your air filter, there are some additional steps you can take to reduce the contaminants inside your home. First, stick to a regular cleaning routine that includes vacuuming and dusting. If you have pets, make sure to groom them regularly to reduce the amount of dander they produce. Leave smoking outside, and only use aerosol sprays when you can properly ventilate your home.

5. Keep Indoor Plants

There are so many benefits to keeping plants in your home to improve indoor air quality that you may not have already known. You may think that plants will add dirt and pollen to the air, and that certainly is a risk depending on the type of plant. However, adding the right plants to your home and maintaining them properly can have measurable impacts. For instance, the Snake Plant has a beautiful green and white striped leaf and is effective at removing benzene and formaldehyde from the air, both of which are common household contaminants.

6. Kick Off Your Shoes

A simple habit like taking your shoes off can make a big difference in your air quality. Your shoes collect all sorts of contaminants as you move throughout your day, and then you bring them into your home when you get home. Try keeping your shoes outside or having a shoe brush you can use before coming in. Also, consider keeping your shoes at the door or in a mudroom so that you can contain how far you spread the contaminants. While these contaminants start on the floor, they quickly become airborne as they dry out and you walk over them.

7. Watch Synthetic Air Fresheners and Cleaners

What you decide to bring into your home can also bring with it a variety of contaminants. For instance, synthetic air fresheners often contain formaldehyde, which paint, glue, linens, and even your clothes contain. Cleaners often contain volatile organic compounds, which cause a variety of problems and irritations for some people.

Consider switching up what you use in your home for more natural products. Essential oils are great for freshening the air, while vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are incredible natural cleaning agents.

8. Get Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Properly maintaining your HVAC system helps improve your indoor air quality in two important ways, while also reducing your energy bills and the wear on your system. First, a tech will perform a deep cleaning of your system while performing maintenance. Just like cleaning your home, cleaning your system removes the contaminants so that they cannot get picked up and recirculated back into your air.

Cleaning the system also means that it will circulate more air through the system. This also means more air flows through the air filter. The more air that moves through the filter, the more contaminants it will remove from your air.

9. Consider an Air Purification System

There is only so much that your air filter can handle before needing some help. You can add any number of devices to your HVAC system to improve your air quality. There are special filters that will remove smaller particles than your standard air filter. You can use an air scrubber to release ions into the air to make contaminants stick together and fall to the ground. Finally, there are purifiers to help render viruses and bacteria inert, such as ultraviolet air purifiers.

When people around Carrollton want HVAC service they can trust, they’ve turned to Dring Air Conditioning & Heating since 1953. We proudly offer heating and AC installation, maintenance, and repair services. In addition, we also offer indoor air quality solutions, duct installation, and thermostat services. Call to schedule your consultation with one of our indoor air quality experts today.

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When Should My Air Conditioner Be Inspected?

Caring for the air conditioner in your Carrollton, Texas home is a year-round, multi-pronged effort. Although you can handle minor maintenance tasks like AC filter changes and removing built-up debris at the outdoor condenser, there are many jobs that require the trained precision of HVAC technicians. Your air conditioner should be professionally inspected and tuned up at least once each year. It should also receive professional attention whenever it makes strange sounds, emits unpleasant smells, or exhibits other signs of distress. The following is everything you need to know about scheduling AC inspections.

Early Spring Is the Perfect Time to Schedule Your Annual AC Inspection

Most air conditioners are built to last between 15 and 20 years. Moreover, throughout much of their lifespans, these units should hold up well without constant intervention from HVAC professionals. Unless any significant functional problems arise, you should be able to get by with scheduling a single maintenance visit each spring.

During this service, we’ll examine and thoroughly clean your indoor evaporator unit and your air conditioner’s outside condenser. We’ll calibrate your thermostat, clear out blockages, replace worn components, and more. These visits prime AC units for the hot summer months. For outside condensers, inspections are also an opportunity to undo the ravages of the winter season.

Scheduling AC tune-up service in spring allows homeowners to beat the hectic, seasonal rush for service that typically occurs in late May and early June. This is when many people turn their air conditioners on for the first time of the season, only to discover that their cooling equipment isn’t working correctly or isn’t working at all. Scheduling spring maintenance eliminates the potential for unpleasant surprises like these, and it makes it easy to nab a timely appointment.

Scheduling Inspections When Problems Arise Keeps Minor Issues From Spiraling

AC inspections are also necessary whenever air conditioners stop performing optimally. For instance, you might notice:

• A sudden and inexplicable spike in your home energy bills
• Loud clanging or rattling sounds during AC operation
• Excess indoor humidity
• Significantly longer or shorter cooling cycles
• Hot and cold spots throughout your home

Even the development of dank, musty smells while your cooling equipment is on is cause for concern. Immediately reporting these issues and having them checked out gives our technicians the chance to mitigate or resolve problems before they’ve spiraled out of control. Having timely repairs performed rather than ignoring problems and continuing to use your AC can drastically reduce your spending as well. It can also play a hand in extending the lifespan of your air conditioner by preventing excess stress from causing accelerated wear.

Your AC May Require Additional Service for Warranty Compliance

If your air conditioner is still covered by its original manufacturer’s warranty, scheduling an annual inspection and tune-up service is often mandatory for remaining compliant with this agreement. This is also true for most AC coverages provided by your home insurance plan, and most AC protections that exist under your home warranty agreement.

Although annual AC inspections are a general requirement for warranty and insurance compliance, it’s a good idea to read through all relevant policies or contracts in their entirety. You may find that your insurer or your warranty issuer requires twice-yearly AC inspections or has other specific instructions for ongoing AC care. Reading these documents will help you avoid costly missteps so that the related protections aren’t lost. There are also times when the costs of mandatory AC inspections are covered in part or in full by home insurance policies or home warranties.

Schedule an AC Inspection After a Local Fire

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has two distinct fire seasons each year. The winter fire season spans from February to April, and the summer fire season runs from August through October. If there’s ever a fire in your neck of the woods, your air conditioner could take a veritable beating.

A local fire could require you to shelter in place, seal up your windows and doors, and use your air conditioner for cooling until the outdoor air quality has improved. Although shutting your air conditioner’s intake valve will keep this unit from bringing outdoor smoke in, this doesn’t mean that your AC won’t be subjected to a lot of extra stress.

Inspection services after local fires ensure that air conditioners are safe for use. Trapped smoke odors and residual chemicals can be just as hazardous to human health as the smoke itself. These visits are also an opportunity for our team to reverse some of the extra wear that air conditioners have taken on by removing toxic build-ups and replacing damaged or worn parts.

Have Your Air Conditioner Checked After a Major Pest Infestation

Central heating and cooling systems are incredibly attractive to pests. From HVAC ductwork to outside condensers, there are a number of warm, sheltered hiding spaces that are appealing to both insects and animals. If you’ve been hearing scuttling, scratching, or thumping sounds in your HVAC air ducts, or if you’ve recently spotted a nest in your condenser, have an HVAC professional check it out. Even when pests don’t cause direct structural damage to heating and cooling equipment, they can still impact its performance and have a major impact on human health. Your air ducts could be riddled with hair, fur, and feces.

There are also instances in which pests crawl into HVAC air ducts and die. This frequently happens when small animals wander into these spaces and cannot find their way back out. Carcasses are often found in HVAC air ducts just after homeowners have used rodent poisoning or other toxic pest control products. Poisoned animals frequently search for remote, closed-off areas during the last stages of their life. If this ever happens in your home, you may be confronted with the overbearing, putrid smell of decomposition. If you have a decomposing animal in your air ducts or condenser, we can remove the offending carcass and deodorize and disinfect all of the affected surfaces.

Model and Age-Specific Requirements for Air Conditioners

As with all complex equipment, the need for professional care will likely increase as your air conditioner ages. If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it certainly won’t hurt to have it looked at a second time after the summer season has ended. You can schedule an older air conditioner’s second yearly inspection at the same time as your autumn furnace service.

Autumn air conditioner inspections tend to be quick and easy. Rather than completely tuning your air conditioner up, we can simply make sure that it’s ready for a long period of dormancy and that when the hot season comes rolling around again, your air conditioner still has life left in it. After the 10-year mark, simply turning air conditioners off at the season’s end and hoping that they’ll turn on could result in unpleasant surprises.

We’ve been proudly serving residents of Carrollton, Texas and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area for more than 70 years. We offer air conditioner, heat pump, and heater installation, maintenance, and repairs. We also provide preventative maintenance plans, HVAC air duct installation, and indoor air quality solutions. If your air conditioner needs annual service or repairs, we can help. Give Dring Air Conditioning & Heating a call today to schedule an appointment.

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8 Reasons to Regularly Change Your AC Filter

Maintaining the air conditioner in your Carrollton, TX home is an ongoing effort. In addition to scheduling annual AC tune-up service, there are several tasks that you should routinely complete on your own. Foremost among these is changing out your AC filter. This small, simple, and relatively low-cost component has a major impact on how your air conditioner performs. If you aren’t regularly changing your AC filter out, the following are eight solid reasons to start.

1. Preserve Your AC Warranty and Other Essential Protections

New air conditioners come with manufacturer warranties. These agreements protect homeowners from the high costs of AC repairs and premature AC replacement resulting from product defects. If something is amiss with your air conditioner’s construction, this warranty will pay for the needed corrections.

Similar protections are provided by home service agreements that cover both home appliances and HVAC systems. If you have a home service agreement, you won’t have to pay for AC problems that are the direct result of normal aging and wear. In like fashion, home insurance plans pay for AC problems resulting from covered perils like floods and fires. With a home service agreement and a manufacturer warranty in place, not many AC problems will result in out-of-pocket spending on your part.

However, the protections of these agreements only exist when homeowners are diligent in AC upkeep. When signing the respective contracts, you agreed to proactively preserve the health of your cooling system by performing basic maintenance tasks and scheduling professional service as needed. Routine filter changes are a standard expectation of insurance companies and warranty issuers. If you file a claim for AC repairs and your provider learns that filter changes have been skipped, the warranty or policy in question could be voided. With this in mind, taking the time to swap dirty filters out is definitely worth the effort.

2. Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Contrary to what many people think, AC filters aren’t designed with human health in mind. Standard AC filters are largely intended to protect cooling systems themselves by keeping dust and other particulates from damaging their internal components. However, having a clean and high-functioning filter in place will limit the number of allergens and contaminants that are circulated throughout your living environment.

In general, AC filters should be inspected once each month. Most households require AC filter changes every one to three months, but factors unique to your home may make it necessary to swap this component out more or less often. If anyone in the home has dry, itchy skin or eyes, difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, or recurring headaches, an excessively dirty AC filter could be the reason why. Neglecting regular filter changes can be especially problematic for building residents with allergies, asthma, COPD, or other respiratory ailments.

3. Prevent Costly Repairs

Thick accumulations of dirt on your AC air filter will inhibit airflow throughout the entire system. As a result, your air conditioner will have to work both harder and longer to achieve the indoor temperature you want. Decreased airflow in cooling systems also hinders the heat transfer process and causes humidity to rise. This can lead to frozen AC coils and give your home a muggy, oppressive feel. It will also greatly increase the likelihood of repairs by subjecting your air conditioner to constant stress. Given that neglecting filter changes can also leave you without the protections provided by insurance plans and warranties, swapping this component out is a great way to save money.

4. Promote Greater Efficiency

At times, there’s very little that homeowners in Carrollton can do to limit their cooling costs. When outdoor temperatures are exceedingly high, running your cooling equipment is essential for keeping building residents safe and comfortable. The only way to keep your utility bill under control in these instances is by optimizing the efficiency of your AC system. This will allow your air conditioner to do more with less energy.

AC systems with blocked filters run longer, work harder, and struggle to create the preferred temperatures that homeowners have set on their thermostats. Making sure that your air conditioner always has a clean filter can make a big difference in how much you ultimately pay for cooling throughout the summer season.

5. Avoid Unpleasant AC Odors

Many of the problems resulting from dirty AC filters come with unpleasant odors. For instance, having too much moisture in your cooling system can leave your home with a damp, moldy smell. Letting dirt, pollen, pet hair, and other contaminants build up on this component can also make your home smell dusty and generally unclean. For fresher, cleaner, and overall healthier indoor air, swap your filter out as needed.

6. Minimize the Likelihood of Mold

Humidity regulation is one of the lesser-known benefits of central air conditioners. Although you count on this system to regulate your indoor temperature, it also extracts excess moisture during operation. When homeowners fail to make regular filter changes and the neglect adversely impacts the performance of their air conditioner, they may notice condensation forming on their windows and walls. Damp, muggy indoor air paired with increased airborne particulates creates the ideal environment for mold formation. This is true both inside of your air conditioner and without.

7. Extend the Lifespan of Your Cooling Equipment

Air conditioners that are constantly forced to work harder than they’re meant to don’t last as long as cooling systems that are diligently maintained. With routine maintenance and care, your current air conditioner could last up to 15 years. By neglecting filter changes, you may be creating the need for total AC replacement much earlier than expected. Worse still, without the protection of your warranty, this is a project that you’ll have to pay for entirely on your own.

8. Clean Air Filters Promote a Cleaner House

Dirty air filters have a limit on how much debris they can ultimately hold. If you ever waited six months or more to change an air filter out, it probably had a thick mat of lint-like material on its surface. Given that air conditioners are constantly trying to push air through these components, these accumulations frequently get blown off. The dust and debris end up in your ductwork and then ultimately are recirculated throughout your living spaces. If you have noticed that your home is dusty or dirty even though you have been keeping up your regular cleaning routine, the issue is probably a filthy air filter. Changing out your HVAC system’s filters will reduce the need for professional duct cleaning and result in a cleaner home that is less of a chore to maintain.

Contact the Professionals

At Dring Air Conditioning & Heating, we have been proudly serving the residents of Carrollton and the surrounding area since 1953. We install, maintain and repair heating and cooling systems. Our clients can also turn to us for indoor air quality service, duct installation, and annual maintenance plans. To schedule an appointment, contact our team at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating today.

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Understanding a Heat Pump’s Defrost Cycle

All heat pumps have a defrost cycle that is designed to ensure the unit doesn’t freeze up when it is heating in cold weather. The way that heat pumps provide heat is by using cold liquid refrigerant to capture heat energy from the air outside the home. This process turns the refrigerant from a cold liquid into a warm gas, and the refrigerant then goes through an expansion valve that instantly turns it into a hot gas. Finally, the refrigerant flows into the indoor coil where all of the stored energy is released into the air flowing over the coil.

The refrigerant that flows through the coil in the outdoor unit is quite cold. As it absorbs heat, moisture in the air always begins to condense on the coil, and this can quickly lead to ice starting to form inside the unit whenever the outdoor air temperature is below freezing. This is where the unit’s defrost cycle comes in as it works to melt any ice to prevent the unit from freezing up. Here is everything you need to know about heat pump defrost cycles, how it works and why it is so important.

How a Heat Pump’s Defrost Cycle Works

Heat pumps are quite similar to central air conditioners as both units cool in exactly the same way. The difference is that heat pumps have something known as a reversing valve that allows them to reverse the direction that the refrigerant flows so the unit can then absorb heat from the air outside and use it to heat the air inside the building.

When a heat pump needs to defrost, all it does is temporarily switch over to cooling mode. This means that the reversing valve activates and the refrigerant starts flowing in the opposite direction. Instead of cold refrigerant flowing through the outdoor coil as it normally does when the unit is heating, it switches so that refrigerant flows from inside the home and then through the outdoor coil to thaw any frost and ice.

The way it works is that the refrigerant flows into the outdoor unit and through its compressor. The compressor greatly increases the pressure of the refrigerant so that it transforms into an extremely hot gas, and this gas then flows through the coil to help it thaw out. For the process to work properly, the fan in the outdoor heat pump unit always shuts off whenever defrosting. This is important as moisture would condense on the coil if the fan continued to run, which would lead to more frost forming and prevent the coil from properly thawing out.

Whenever a heat pump defrosts, it temporarily stops producing any heat. This usually isn’t an issue in Texas since the weather typically never gets cold enough that you would need to worry about not having heat for a few minutes.

However, most homes that rely on a heat pump for heating still require a secondary heat source like an electric resistance heater. This auxiliary source will automatically kick on whenever the heat pump defrosts to prevent the house from quickly becoming too cold. The main reason that this secondary heat source is necessary is that the indoor blower still has to run when the heat pump defrosts, and this would lead to cold air blowing out of the vents if there wasn’t a secondary heat source.

When defrosting, the blower works to circulate warm air over the indoor coil. This is important as the refrigerant that flows through the indoor coil when the heat pump is defrosting is quite cold. This means that the indoor coil would quickly start to freeze up if the blower didn’t continue to run when the system was defrosting.

If the indoor coil ever were to freeze, it would lead to liquid refrigerant flowing into the heat pump compressor. The refrigerant always has to be a gas when it enters the compressor. If liquid refrigerant flows into the compressor, it will get inside the unit’s crankcase and settle below the oil in the crankcase. The refrigerant then starts to boil off and causes some of the oil to vaporize as well. This leads to the oil level quickly dropping to where the motor can’t stay properly lubricated and will quickly start to burn out.

A burnt-out compressor motor is the absolute last thing you want to happen. In most cases, your only option in this situation is to install a new heat pump as replacing the compressor motor is often as much or more expensive than installing a whole new unit.

How Often Does a Heat Pump Need to Defrost?

In colder climates, a heat pump will often need to defrost at least once an hour. However, the fact that the Dallas area rarely ever sees temperatures below freezing means that your heat pump may never need to defrost.

This is because heat pumps only ever defrost when they detect that the temperature of the coil in the outdoor unit drops below 32 degrees. Whenever this happens, the unit will then switch over to the defrost cycle and continue to defrost until the coil temperature reaches approximately 57 degrees. Once the unit is sufficiently warm, it will switch back over and start heating as normal.

The exact length of the defrost cycle can vary quite a bit depending on how much frost has formed on the coil and the outdoor air temperature. The defrost cycle may only last for a few minutes at most in temperatures just below freezing, but it sometimes takes up to 15 minutes in extremely cold weather.

What to Do If Your Heat Pump Won’t Defrost

If a heat pump doesn’t defrost and too much frost collects on the outdoor coil, cold refrigerant will start flowing inside. This will quickly lead to your system blowing cold air out of your vents. If you do ever notice cold air coming out of your vents when you can hear your heat pump running, you should immediately shut the system off at your thermostat to prevent possible damage to the compressor motor. Once it is off, you will then want to go outside and look inside the heat pump to see if there is frost on the coil. If there is frost, you’ll want to leave the system off until you can have a technician inspect your heat pump.

The most common reason that a heat pump won’t be able to defrost is due to an issue with the unit’s reversing valve. The valve can sometimes get stuck in one position, and it can also leak or simply break and prevent the unit from defrosting. Heat pumps can also fail to defrost due to an issue with the compressor. In either case, you will need to have a technician inspect the unit to determine what the problem is and how to repair it.

If your heat pump won’t defrost or has any other issues, you can count on the team at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating for help. We work on all brands of heat pumps as well as furnaces and air conditioners, and we offer 24/7 same-day emergency repairs in Carrollton and throughout the Dallas area. Our team can also assist with heating and cooling maintenance or if you need a new HVAC unit installed. For more information, contact Dring Air Conditioning & Heating today.

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You Should Know About These 3 Major Changes in HVAC for 2023

One of the most important parts of caring for your Carrollton, TX home is maintaining an efficient and high-performing HVAC system. Heaters, air conditioners, and heat pumps play vital roles in keeping homes habitable. In addition to maintaining safe, comfortable temperatures in building interiors, they also filter indoor air and regulate inside humidity. Staying abreast of the latest regulatory changes impacting the HVAC industry is essential for ensuring that your current and future HVAC equipment is on par with expectations. To help, the following covers three major changes in HVAC for 2023.

1. 2023 Sees the Introduction of a Brand-New AC Refrigerant

For quite some time, homeowners throughout the nation were primed for the phase-out of R-22 refrigerant, or Freon. AC manufacturers have long stopped using this coolant in their equipment designs, and the importation and domestic production of Freon stopped altogether in 2020.

Freon’s first replacement was Puron. Puron, or R-401a, was determined to be a cleaner and more environmentally sustainable option for residential cooling systems. However, with regulators and HVAC manufacturers always moving forward in their efforts to ensure the widespread use of eco-friendly products, even Puron is fast becoming old news.

In 2023, AC equipment manufacturers are transitioning to R-454b or Puron Advance. Throughout 2023, R-401a will remain available for the continued maintenance and repair of existing, Puron-reliant air conditioners. Going forward, R-454b will be the new industry standard until a superior refrigerant eventually takes its place.

If you’ve only recently upgraded your air conditioner to one that uses Puron, you may be worried about what this change means for you. The good news is that fast-changing industry standards don’t immediately render functional equipment obsolete. You can still continue using your current Puron-reliant air conditioner throughout the remainder of its lifespan. When your unit needs to be serviced, we have trained technicians on hand who can meet its full range of needs. However, when this unit reaches the end of its lifespan, your options in air conditioners will be limited to products that use R-454b or better.

2. Updated Standards for the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) Rating

One of the most important changes in the HVAC industry for 2023 pertains to how residential cooling systems are rated. In the past, consumers were encouraged to look at the SEER ratings of AC units when making their selections, and AC manufacturers were required to use SEER ratings as their guidelines for minimum efficiency. With higher numbers denoting higher levels of efficiency, a unit’s SEER rating is a measurement of its output throughout the entire cooling season divided by its total energy use over this same period.

Unfortunately, although SEER ratings were sufficiently effective in their time for helping both people and product makers control their carbon footprints, they weren’t an entirely accurate depiction of air conditioner performance in real-world applications. With SEER, air conditioners were field tested in environments that did not adequately account for the air pressure and increased demands applied by central HVAC ducting. As such, SEER ratings have been replaced by SEER2 ratings in 2023. This reflects a dramatic change in how units are tested, and it means that testing results provide better evidence of how efficiently cooling systems perform when installed.

Throughout the nation, minimum efficiency standards for both SEER and SEER2 ratings are broken down by region. For states like Texas in the southeast region, the minimum SEER2 rating for air conditioners is 14.3. This is equivalent to a SEER rating of 15.

As with air conditioners that are still using Puron for refrigerant, if you have an AC unit that conforms to outdated SEER standards, you are not legally obligated to replace it right away. When this unit reaches the end of its lifespan, you can upgrade to an option that’s on par with the latest regulations. However, it’s important to note that both the move away from R-401a refrigerant and the introduction of SEER2 standards have cost benefits for consumers. Not only are these changes better for the natural environment, but the increases in efficiency that they entail can also result in noticeably lower home energy bills.

3. 2023 Has Brought Some Pretty Impressive Tax Incentives for Homeowners

For homeowners in need of new HVAC equipment and homeowners who’ve very recently had new HVAC equipment installed, 2023 is rich with good news. In fact, throughout the year 2032, consumers can now claim up to $3,200 in tax credits for qualifying energy upgrades. These include credits for replacing or improving existing heaters, air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, and more. There are even additional credits for making various upgrades to the overall home envelope.

Introduced as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, these incentives include tax credits of up to $2,000 for the installation of air-source heat pumps. Homeowners can claim up to 30% of their project costs if their chosen models are Energy Star-rated and have SEER2 ratings of 16 or higher. This incentive also applies to non-ducted, certified mini-split heat pumps. If installing a new central air conditioner, you can claim up to $600 or 30% of your project’s total cost for any Energy Star-certified equipment that has a SEER2 rating of 16 or higher.

Annually, you can also claim up to $1,200 in tax credits for installing new windows, adding weatherstripping, increasing your home’s insulation, or choosing insulation with higher R-values. When you schedule your AC or heat pump installation with us, we’ll help you make the most of these incentives. Best of all, 2023’s HVAC tax incentives are additionally retroactively available to homeowners who’ve made these upgrades already and whose equipment was installed and ready for use on or after January 1, 2022.

How to Navigate the HVAC Scene in 2023

Innovations in home cooling equipment are occurring at breakneck speed. This is especially true when it comes to changes that are improving overall system efficiency. For homeowners, learning how to navigate the fast-changing HVAC scene in the most cost-effective way is of the utmost importance. As always, the focus for consumers remains on finding equipment that provides optimum levels of home comfort and safety at an affordable price. We work with our clients as partners in efficiency management. By sharing information on new and upcoming regulatory changes, we help homeowners make informed decisions that are just as beneficial for their budgets as they are for their living environments.

We make recommendations for AC equipment upgrades on a case-by-case basis. You can get one by scheduling a consultation appointment. You might want to swap your current air conditioner for one with an acceptably high SEER2 rating or one that relies on R-454b refrigerant if you’re dealing with recurring repair issues, excessively high cooling costs, or constant problems with indoor humidity or indoor air quality.

For homeowners with air conditioners and heat pumps that are performing exactly as they should, we recommend diligent, ongoing maintenance and advance planning for the replacement needs that will invariably arise at the end of their lifespans. While SEER2 is currently the standard for AC efficiency testing and R-454b is now recognized as the most sustainable, eco-friendly option in residential AC refrigerants, new innovations are bound to arise in the years that lie ahead.

We offer heater and air conditioner repair, maintenance, and installation services. We also provide HVAC air duct installation, heat pumps, and indoor air quality services. If you’re ready to replace the air conditioner in your Carrollton, Texas home, get in touch with Dring Air Conditioning & Heating today!

The post You Should Know About These 3 Major Changes in HVAC for 2023 appeared first on Dring Air Conditioning & Heating.

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How to Properly Maintain your HVAC System

Effective Tips for Maintaining Your HVAC System

There’s a direct correlation between how well you care for your HVAC system and its overall performance. If you’re consistent about maintaining your heating and cooling appliances, they’ll run efficiently, provide you with consistent comfort, and enjoy long, healthy lifespans. If you neglect HVAC maintenance, though, it will likely result in discomfort, costly energy bills, and lots of expensive repairs. Fortunately, keeping your HVAC system in great condition is pretty simple if you approach it correctly. Here, we’ll take a look at a few straightforward tips for proper HVAC maintenance.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance Every Year

Although there are several HVAC maintenance measures you can take on your own, it’s important to bring in the professionals periodically. If you’re in the greater Carrollton, TX area, our team at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating can always provide you with comprehensive HVAC maintenance. This tune-up can focus on your heating system, air conditioner, or both simultaneously. Usually, it’s best to have your heater serviced before winter and your AC unit serviced before summer. During the maintenance appointment, one of our skilled technicians will inspect your system, clean out any accumulated contaminants, make adjustments to the equipment, replace the air filter, and run a few tests.

By scheduling this service every year, you can ensure that your HVAC system consistently operates at peak performance and efficiency. Plus, if our team finds any red flags with the unit, they can take preventative measures to save you money and hassle down the road. HVAC systems that are tuned up by professionals each year tend to have longer, healthier lifespans than those that aren’t.

Clean the Outdoor Unit Regularly

If you have a central air system in your home, one important part of it is the outdoor condenser unit. This unit, which is located right outside your home, plays an important role in heating and cooling your living space. But because of its location, your condenser unit is constantly exposed to the elements. As a result, it’s common for dirt, leaves, branches, and random debris to accumulate on and around the unit. In some cases, dirt and grime can become caked between the condenser coils, which are metal fins on the unit’s exterior. When the outdoor unit gets excessively dirty, it can start to negatively impact the efficiency and performance of your HVAC system. To avoid this, you should clean the condenser periodically throughout the year.

You should be able to clear most of the dirt, leaves, and debris using a broom or a brush. To clean the dirt out from between the metal fins, you can also use a hose with a gentle stream of water.

Replace the Air Filters Frequently

Regularly replacing your HVAC air filters is another crucial aspect of HVAC maintenance. Your heating and air conditioning units are both equipped with air filters. These filters have the important job of catching airborne contaminant particles while your HVAC system circulates air. When the filter catches pollutants like dust mites, pollen, and mold spores, it prevents them from being cycled into the appliance and into the air you breathe. To ensure your HVAC system is circulating air well, it is recommended to check your air filters every couple of months and replace them if necessary.

When your HVAC air filters become overly dirty, they stop trapping pollutants, which leads to your HVAC system getting dirty and your indoor air quality declining. Additionally, it becomes harder for your HVAC system to pull air through, which puts lots of extra strain on the appliance. This can negatively impact your comfort, monthly energy bills, and the health of your HVAC unit. As long as you closely monitor your HVAC air filters year-round, you can avoid these negative consequences. If you’re unsure whether or not it’s time to replace a filter, you can always inspect it visually. Hold the air filter up to a light; if the light can’t be seen on the other side, the filter is dirty and needs to be changed.

Clean Your Air Vents Every Month

Your air vents serve as the last stop for the air your HVAC system circulates before it reaches you and your family. When these registers are clean and unobstructed, it’s no problem for your heating and cooling appliances to push conditioned air through. However, the interior chambers of your air vents naturally build up contaminants over time. If you go a few months without cleaning your vents, they’re likely to be packed with dust, dirt, and small debris. These contaminants can eventually form a blockage, obstructing your HVAC system’s airflow. In addition to causing uneven household temperatures, that can worsen the efficiency and health of your HVAC system. Fortunately, you can prevent these issues by simply cleaning out your home’s air vents once every month or two. You’ll need to use a screwdriver to remove the vent covers, and a vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment should be perfect for the actual cleaning.

Keep an Eye on Your Energy Bills

As a homeowner, it’s always prudent to monitor your household’s energy bills throughout the year. That way, you can notice immediately if there’s an unusual spike. And during the harsher seasons, keeping an eye on your electricity bills can provide you with a lot of insight into the condition of your HVAC system. For example, if your bills shoot up significantly more than they have in previous years during the summer, there’s a very strong possibility that something isn’t right with your air conditioner. It could be that the appliance simply needs a tune-up, but there could also be a mechanical problem that needs to be repaired. Catching those kinds of issues early can go a long way toward keeping your HVAC system healthy and functioning properly in the long run. As soon as you suspect that your HVAC system is struggling with efficiency, contact us at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating to schedule a comprehensive HVAC inspection.

Schedule Regular Duct Cleanings

The air ducts in your home are the pathways for your heating and cooling systems to circulate air and keep your dwelling comfortable. But many different contaminants can accumulate inside your ductwork over time, which can make it much harder for the appliances to cycle hot and cool air efficiently and effectively, and potentially lead to contaminants such as dust mites, mold spores, and other pollutants being circulated throughout your home. For these reasons, it’s imperative to have your air ducts professionally cleaned every two or three years. This will not only improve your HVAC system’s performance, but it will also help it stay healthy in the long run.

Since 1953, we at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating have been a staple in the Carrollton area. We’re a family-owned and operated business, and our family has been in the industry for several generations. Whether you need heating, cooling, indoor air quality, or ductwork services, our expert technicians will be there to assist you. If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment, give us a call at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating today.

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Dring Air Conditioning and Heating

Dring Air Conditioning and Heating has proudly been servicing the DFW community for 70 years. Every step of the way, we have kept our customers in mind by committing to provide excellent service and unmatched value.

As a growing organization, we are incredibly excited to announce our latest merger, which will allow us to bring even more customers into the Dring family. Kleen Air Services, established in 1993 and based out of Plano, TX, has officially joined under the Dring brand. Being that Dring and Kleen Air Service have shared a similar vision, values, and standards of excellence for decades, this merger is a perfect fit. Combined, we now offer 100 years of expertise in the HVAC industry. This is yet another step in our ultimate goal of achieving innovation through excellence and tradition.

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source https://dring.com/dring-air-conditioning-and-heating/