Lethbridge Air Conditioning

Having a central air conditioner not only cools your home on a hot day, but also can reduce the humidity levels in your home. By moving the warm air that has accumulated inside your home that leaves the cooler air to be circulated through your existing duct system that is present for your furnace.

Air Conditioning Basics

All air conditioners, whether cooling a room or an entire house, operate on the same principle. An air conditioner cools your home with a cold indoor coil called the evaporator. The condenser, a hot outdoor coil, releases the collected heat outside. The evaporator and the condenser are coils of copper tubing surrounded by aluminum cooling fins. A pump moves the refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser. Liquid refrigerant evaporates in the indoor coil pulling heat from the air and then moves to the outdoor coils where heat is released and the refrigerant is reverted back to a liquid where the process is repeated.

Care and Maintenance

Routine care of your air conditioner ensures that it runs efficiently and will ultimately extend the life of your unit which should last around 15 years with proper maintenance. One step that you can take to ensure your air conditioner is running at its highest efficiency include checking all tubing for leaks and ensuring that the condensate tube is draining freely. A second tip is to change the filter monthly while in use, especially during the summer months when dust and allergens are prevalent.

Thirdly, keep an adequate distance around the air conditioner unit (approximately two feet) free from shrubbery or plants to maintain adequate air flow around the unit. A final maintenance tip is to keep furniture away from and vacuum vents and registers or grills regularly and consider having your ducts professionally cleaned every few years.

Preparing for Purchase

When preparing to purchase a new air conditioner for your home there are several considerations which should be taken into account including efficiency, size, noise, and warranty. The efficiency of the air conditioner is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the number of SEER, the better the energy performance, and an increase of 1 SEER indicates a 10% increase in efficiency and a 10% reduction in costs. The size of air conditioner that should be purchased is affected by many different variables including the size of your home and how many windows, skylights, and people are in the home. The best way to have your best air conditioner size established is by having a professional evaluate and determine your needs.

The sound of an air conditioner turning on or off is an easily recognizable sound by many, but not a sound that you must put up with in order to cool your home. Newer air conditioners are able to operate much more quietly and efficiently while being able to operate virtually unseen. As with the purchase of any product it is important to understand the warranty that is offered with your purchase. Included in the warranty and what you should be aware of are whether the parts are included with labour or simply one or the other. Also, the length of the warranty should be determined prior to you purchasing an air conditioner from your provider.

Charlton & Hill Limited and Charlton & Hill Welding Ltd. would be pleased to provide you with quotations and service and advice in any of our areas of specialization. Lethbridge Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, Fireplaces and Water Heaters.