Air

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How to Make Sure Your Air Conditioner Is Working Before the Summer

Living in Central Florida, Air Conditioning is a BIG deal for us! I mean, it was a big deal before, but now it’s an even BIGGER deal since we have two toddlers running around. Because, in case you weren’t aware, when a toddler gets overheated, it makes for a VERY CRANKY ATTITUDE. 

So when we bought our current home, we were happy to know that the air conditioner passed the inspection and there were no issues. Fast forward to Easter weekend this year, when we had to have a new unit installed after the compressor blew up. Even though we knew it had to be done, it was still a kick in the gut to bite the bullet and pay for it!

So when James Memije, the co-owner at AccuServ Heating and Air Conditioning in Toronto, Ontario, Canada contacted me about sharing a post here on air conditioning maintenance, I was all about it! He’s got some great tips to share – keep on reading!

How to Make Sure Your Air Conditioner Is Working Before the Summer! #airconditioning #summerheat Click To Tweet

So we’ve just about “hit” summer. We haven’t had too much hot weather yet, but there was the occasional heat spike during the spring that has you worried your AC won’t be able to keep up during the hot days of July and August.

A battle planned is already a battle half won, and preparation here is key. Being proactive and checking your air conditioner will give you the peace of mind that it’s ready for the onslaught of high temperatures. So how exactly do you know if your AC is ready?

Turn it On

One simple test you can do yourself is just to try turning it on. Many homeowners don’t realize their AC isn’t even working until there’s sweat on their foreheads. They flip the switch and then… nothing! Giving it a test run during cooler temperatures (not too cool or you’ll damage the system, above 60°F is ideal) will help you detect a dead AC unit early and make the fix before the real heat moves in.

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Superheat and Subcool

Now that you’ve completed this basic test, more in-depth tests will have to be conducted by a trained air conditioner professional. These tests will give you a better picture of the AC’s overall health.

One of the first tests an AC technician will perform is a “Superheat and Subcool” calculation. No, these are not comic book heroes, even though names sound perfect for the next Marvel movie. In a nutshell, these calculations allow the technician to confirm the AC is operating at the correct pressures and temperatures. If any of these numbers are off, you may have developed a refrigerant leak, blockage or another refrigerant flow issue.

Without this test, your AC may slowly be failing, which you won’t realize till the hot weather hits!

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7 Air Freshening House Plants That Are Easy to Grow

This is a guest post by Michael from ThinkCrucial.com, a home improvement brand that helps people save money on replacement parts.

As we all learned in elementary school, plants play a crucial part in the planet’s ecosystem. As animals breathe in oxygen and let out carbon dioxide, plants absorb that carbon dioxide and process it back into oxygen. Plants within the home can be put to the same task, providing your home with fresher air. Not only that, but many plants can actually clean toxins out of the air, and make your home a better place to live and breathe in.

7 Air Freshening House Plants That Are Easy to Grow! #gardening

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Of course, not everyone is a natural gardener, and some plants are harder to keep alive than others. Here is a list of seven plants that are not only best at keeping your home’s air clean, but are also the easiest to take care of!

Florist’s Chrysanthemum (chrysanthemum morifolium)

mums-indoors

In NASA studies, the florist’s chrysanthemum, also known as the garden mum, was the best performer out of all of the plants tested. The studies examined a number of plants in their effectiveness in removing five toxins:

  • Ammonia
  • Trichloroethylene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Benzene
  • Xylene

The garden mum was capable of dealing with all five in their experiments. Not only that, it’s very easy to tend to. Simply put it in direct sunlight and water it a light amount every other day. It is a perennial flower, however, so it only flowers for six weeks, and it only filters when it’s flowering. Once it is done, you’ll have to wait until next year, or else simply go out and get a fresh one. It is poisonous to pets, however, so be wary of keeping one in a home with pets, and take yours to the vet immediately if they consume any.

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