Air Conditioning Services - Air conditioning and Heat Pump Specialists

Maintaining your home air conditioner

2011-05-15T14:49:00.001-07:00

A split-system home air conditioner provides heating and cooling all year round, is unobtrusive within your home, and works quietly for minimum interruption to your home life. But after awhile, you may notice your air conditioner growing louder, working less efficiently, or taking longer to heat and cool your room. If this is the case, it's time to give your air conditioner a good clean!

Without regular cleaning and maintenance, an air conditioner can become clogged with sludge and particles from the air, leaving less space for the fresh, clean air to travel through into your home. Regular cleaning of your air conditioner keeps it working at optimum efficiency, as well as prolonging its lifespan.

Here's how to clean your home air conditioner:

Before you do any cleaning, ensure power is off on all home air conditioner units.

On the inside unit, you will need to wipe down all the surfaces with a warm, damp cloth (you can use a mild detergent too, as long as it isn't abrasive. You don't want to ruin the plastic). Inspect the coil on the indoor unit, if it needs cleaning, use a brush or damp cloth to remove dirt. Be careful when cleaning not to bend any of the fins. You can use a comb to straighten them again.

Remove the filters and use a vacuum to clean out the dust and debris. You can also wipe the filter down with warm water to remove any dust.

If the outdoor unit is dirty, remove it from the wall or window and rest it on a clean, hard surface. Clean the filters out and make sure any electric elements are switched off or covered with plastic before beginning to clean the coils.

Use a spray detergent or coil cleaner on the coils – wait for several minutes before washing and wiping off with a little water. Dry the air conditioner in the sun before replacing it in the proper position.

The frequency with which you need to clean your home air conditioner depends on the amount of time you regularly use it – but, for proper maintenance, it should be cleaned once a month and the filter cleared out once a fortnight during heavy use.

Proper cleaning and maintenance of your home air conditioner will prolong its life and keep it working efficiently all year long.

Looking after your air conditioning system

2011-02-20T00:06:00.000-08:00

A small amount of maintenance ensures the long term high performance of you air conditioning system. Regular air conditioning maintenance prevents break downs and ensures your system performs at maximum proficiency.

When you buy a new air con system your provider will outline the maintenance requirements of your specific system. You can perform most air conditioning maintenance tasks by yourself, but some systems require serviced maintenance by a qualified professional to comply with OSH guidelines.

To conduct your own air conditioning maintenance, perform these tasks:

• Shut off the power to your unit before performing any air conditioning maintenance
• Change or clean the furnace filter at least once a month. You may need to change it more often in summer as more particles circulate.
• Check the condensate tube drains freely and there are no leaks in the hose connections.
• Spray the outside compressor with water and wipe away any dust.
• Clean the ducts every few years.
• Check furniture, drapes and plants are standing away from the system.

In addition to these air conditioning maintenance tasks, have your system checked annually by a qualified technician.

It can be easy to neglect air conditioning maintenance, but an improperly maintained system could be causing long-term health problems for your family, as well as emitting sound levels loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss.

With proper air conditioning maintenance, your unit will continue to heat or cool your home for over 15 years. Air conditioning maintenance ensures your system remains cost effective, energy efficient and safe.

The benefits of an underfloor heating system

2011-01-20T00:03:00.000-08:00

Underfloor heating might seem like an unnecessary luxury, but it's one of the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally-friendly ways to heat your home.

As opposed to fireplaces, radiators and other heating systems, underfloor heating uses heat conduction to regulate air temperature. Underfloor heating heats evenly over the whole house. By maximising energy output when cooling or heating, underfloor heating systems create a more energy efficient home and reduce your power costs.

If you're building or renovating a property, the cost of installing underfloor heating is low compared to other heating systems. Once the system is installed, it needs little maintenance, and properly installed underfloor heating lasts for the life of a building.

As the entire heating system sits beneath the floor, it creates more space in your home for furniture and artworks. Unlike fireplaces, which can be messy, and radiators, which can be an eyesore, underfloor heating is invisible, allowing you the freedom to decorate your space.

Underfloor heating drastically reduces dust and particles and improve the air quality, resulting in a cleaner, healthier home. Family members suffering from asthma, allergies, respiratory and sinus problems, fatigue and headaches will notice an instant improvement in their condition.

With no naked flame or exposed part, underfloor heating is completely safe to use with children and pets.

If you're looking for a cost-effective, unobtrusive and comfortable way to heat your home, underfloor heating could be the solution. Hire a professional to assess your home and install your underfloor heating. An improperly-installed system can leak and damage your home, so always trust a qualified underfloor heating expert.

Review your heating system post the winter cold

2010-12-19T23:57:00.000-08:00

Now that the winter chill has gone and spring has finally arrived, it's time to take stock of your home heating system. How did your home heating system fare against the winter cold?

With so many residential heating systems to choose from – wall mounted units, radiators, fireplaces, underfloor heating and heat pumps – you can be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed. This handy list of questions can help you assess your home heating system and decide if it's time for an upgrade.

Cost: Look over your electricity bills for the winter. Have they increased or decreased since this time last year? What have you been doing differently? Have you noticed a cost difference since changing your residential heating system?

Performance: How long does your unit take to heat up a room? Does your home heating system heat the whole house evenly or just part of a room? Has your residential heating broken down or malfunctioned?

Aesthetics: Does your unit look unsightly? Are you happy with its placement or do you want something less obtrusive? Have you shifted furniture and found the unit no longer heats effectively?

Noise: How much noise does your home heating unit emit? Do you think it's got louder over the last six months? If so, it's probably time you performed some home heating or air conditioning maintenance.

For some families, certain factors weigh more heavily than others. When choosing a home heating system, it's important to weigh all the factors and decide on the best fit option for your family. Talk to a qualified residential heating specialist for expert help and advice.

Health benefits of air conditioning systems in the office

2010-10-08T01:45:00.000-07:00

As a business owner, you're responsible for providing comfortable and healthy premises for your employees. Ineffective office air conditioning and ventilation can spread irritants, chemicals and germs throughout your building.

Installing or upgrading your office air conditioning system could drastically improve the health of your workforce, resulting in fewer sick days and happier, more productive employees.

When a person feels too hot or too cold, their body uses energy trying to regulate their temperature. This takes energy away from other tasks, such as cognitive functions. If the office air conditioning is too hot or too cold, employees don't function at optimal capacity and are at greater risk of developing colds, flu, headaches, allergies and other health problems.

A properly functioning office air conditioning system provides numerous benefits:

Office air conditioning regulates the temperature to a comfortable level. Employees will no longer be wrapping up in summer and sweating during winter.
A good office air conditioning system is quiet and won't disturb employee's concentration.
In areas using chemicals and other pollutants, office air conditioning removes harmful particles from the air.
Office air conditioning prevents the spread of germs and bugs, resulting in happier, healthier employees.
Productivity increases and sick days decrease as employees benefit from healthier, cleaner air.

Installing the right kind of office air conditioning system could be the best business decision you make this year – happier, more comfortable employees means increased outputs and a reputation as a caring, healthy company.

Are your air conditioners ready for summer?

2010-09-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

With winter behind you and the summer months fast approaching, it's time to take stock of your current air conditioners. To prepare for the onslaught of summer heat, you need to ensure your air conditioners are working the maximum efficiency.

During summer, air conditioners work overtime to rid the air for pollinating spores from plants and flowers. These airborne spores cause asthma, allergies and hay fever. Add this to the heat of New Zealand summer, and it's not surprising more air conditioners break down over the summer months than any other time.

If you don't want your air conditioners to fail during summer, you need to perform the necessary air conditioning maintenance. Not only could broken or dirty air conditioners stop functioning, they can cost you more on your power bill and cause permanent hearing damage.

If you or anyone in your family suffers from asthma, allergies, hay fever or respiratory and sinus problems, keeping your air conditioners functioning at optimum efficiency helps clear the air of dust and plant spores and prevent the spread of harmful particulates.

Aside from your usual air conditioning maintenance (cleaning the filters, checking the hoses, wiping dust and grime from the grill) you should have your air conditioner checked and serviced by a qualified professional.

If your air conditioning unit emits a burning smell, buzzes loudly, smokes or otherwise malfunctions, turn the power off immediately and seek help from a qualified air conditioning maintenance professional.

Health benefits of air conditioning systems in the home

2010-08-11T01:30:00.000-07:00

Although many people think of New Zealand as a tropical paradise, the truth is our weather patterns are changeable and unpredictable. With many homes not properly insulated, Many New Zealanders suffer from health problems as a result of extreme temperature changes.

Installing air conditioning in your home can make a vast improvement on your health. If you suffer from respiratory or sinus problems, allergies to airborne particles, have limited mobility or live in an area of poor air quality, consider the health benefits of installing an air conditioning system:

Excessive heat or cold cause long-term stress on the body - headaches, colds, excessive coughing, and other persistent symptoms are often the result of long exposure to extreme temperatures. Installing air conditioning can instantly relieve these stresses.
Temperatures and humidity affect how the body works. Too much heat or cold can use up energy, quite rapidly in some cases. The body burns energy trying to regulate its temperature, leaving you feeling fatigued. Using air conditioning to regulate indoor temperatures can help you feel more energised.
Air conditioning banishes stale air, bad odours and airborne chemicals, making your home more safe and pleasant to live in.

Even people in good health fall ill from air particulates and temperature changes. Constant stress on your body from extreme temperatures, poor ventilation and harmful air particulates causes your immune system to work overtime, leaving your family vulnerable to more serious health problems.

Air conditioning makes your home a clean, safe and pleasant environment to live in. Even the most basic air conditioning system will drastically improve the quality of life for you and your family.

Air Con in the office

2010-05-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had trouble with the temperature in your office? Many office air con systems are either too hot or freezing leaving your employees to rug up in summer or sweat it out in winter.
Having the right temperature in the office is essential to the comfort and productivity of your employees. Being too hot or too cold affects the brains ability to function at its best and that means work will suffer as a result.

An office air con system should be able to regulate the temperature to a level that is comfortable so that employees don’t notice the temperature. A good system should be quiet and visually non offensive.

There are many options that are suitable for an office, the one you choose will depend on the size of your space and how many rooms need heating or cooling.

Some potential options for air con include;

• A wall fitted air con unit
• A heat pump
• Underfloor heating system
• A ceiling air con system, or
• Ducted air con system

Air con systems and heat pumps also reduce humidity and dust in the air and will contribute to better health within your office.

Getting the balance right with the temperature of your office is essential to creating a more comfortable and therefore more productive working environment.

Getting the most out of Your Air Conditioning System

2010-04-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

Air conditioning systems provide superior climate control for your home or office all year round. Balancing heat distribution to regulate the temperature to cool or heat the air. Air conditioning systems reduce humidity and dust in the air to create a healthier environment.

Ensuring the long term high performance of you air con system requires a small amount of maintenance. Some of this you can do yourself by cleaning the filter on a monthly basis.
Air conditioning maintenance is essential for preventing break downs, keeping the air clean and ensuring the air con system is performing at maximum efficiency.

Air conditioning maintenance ensures your air con system saves you money by saving energy expended to regulate the temperature. A clean well maintained system is more energy efficient and doesn’t have to work as hard to heat or cool your home or office.

When you buy a new air con system your provider will outline the maintenance requirements of your specific system. Some air con systems require serviced maintenance to comply with OSH guidelines.

Choose a Superior System – Underfloor Heating

2010-02-04T12:06:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for an air conditioning or heating system that offers you multiple benefits and saves you money?

Underfloor heating systems are perfect for the home or office providing a climate control solution that you can use all year round. They operate very quietly making them great for offices and take up no space as they are fitted under the floor.
Simple to operate under floor heating regulates the climate to perfection whether heating or cooling. These systems require very little maintenance so your ongoing costs are greatly reduced.

The way an under floor heating system works is by using heat conduction to regulate the air temperature. This kind of heat conduction reduces dust and humidity in the air making for a healthier environment and cleaner space.

The efficiency of an underfloor heating system provides significant savings. By maximizing energy output when cooling or heating the space these systems reduce the cost of power in your home or office.

How do you know if under floor heating is for you?

The way your home or office is built will have some impact on the suitability of underfloor heating. When exploring your options talk to an expert who can provide you with the criteria for installing an under floor heating system in your home or office.

Choosing the Right Air Conditioning System for Your Home

2010-01-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

As summer approaches and things start heating up across New Zealand it’s a good time to think about how to keep things comfortable in your home. An air conditioning system is a cost and energy efficient way to ensure that when its hot outside it’s cool inside for you and your family.

Some things to consider when selecting an air conditioning system for your home;

Aesthetics – which system will work best with your homes décor? Would you prefer a system you can’t see at all? How much space will the air conditioning unit take up?

Energy Efficiency – what features does the unit have that will ensure it is cost effective in terms of your energy bills? How much is the average cost of running the various air conditioning systems?

Space - Which air conditioning system best suits your space? Would a portable system be sufficient for your home?

Noise – how much noise do the various air con systems make?

So how do you know what system will work for your home? There are numerous types of air conditioning systems suitable for home use. These include wall fitted units, portable units, central air conditioning units and window units. Each has its own benefits and the one that is suitable for you will depend on your space, needs and budget.

Once you have established what it is you want and need it’s time to take the next step and speak to the professionals who will be able to recommend the perfect solution.

Dodgy heat pump wiring threatens thousands of homes - 3 News

2009-12-03T16:09:00.001-08:00

Many of you might have seen the segment last night on 3 News regarding the potential risks associated with sub standard installation of heat pumps in New Zealand homes.

If you didn't see it then you can watch the clip directly from the 3 News website here.

According to the 3 News story:

"Around 140,000 heat pumps were installed in New Zealand homes last year, and with subsidies offered, it is likely their popularity will continue to grow. But also increasing is the industry's concern about the amount of dodgy installation work turning up"

This concern is based on the belief that as many as 10% (14,000) of heat pump installations in the last year don't comply with regulations. The problem is mainly to do with attaching the heat pump wiring to existing wiring with no checking to see how safe or stable that wiring is.

The potential for a fire or loss of life as a result of this is real and if that is not enough there is the added risk that your insurance policy will not cover this if it is voided as a result of uncertified installation.

"If it's not installed properly it could cause a fire, it may malfunction, it could electrocute," says electrical inspector Garry House. "The danger is people are tagging on to existing wiring - the condition of that old wiring is unknown."

Here at Air Conditioning Services Limited we have already received a few calls from our own customers who saw this on 3 News last night and want to know about the heat pump installations carried out by us. It didn't take long to ease their concerns by telling them that we are one of a small number of professional and compliant suppliers and installers of Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps in New Zealand. We are members of RACCA (Refrigeration Air Conditioning Companies Association) and SiteSafe and all our contractors are aware of and comply with local and national policies and regulations.

I do hope the government steps in on this and takes up the offer to run checks on all these homes to ensure installations are done properly and I hope this is done before someone is seriously hurt.

Save Energy this Summer with an Air Conditioning Heat Pump

2009-11-30T18:19:00.000-08:00

Heat pumps do a great job of keeping the home warm in the winter, but what about keeping things cool? Simply flick the switch and you have an air conditioning system that is cost and energy efficient, versatile, ascetically non offensive and quiet.

A heat pump will remove hot air and humidity from your home leaving you with a healthier environment and a great temperature. Heat pumps work like a fridge in the way that they recycle warm air and regulate the temperature to a desirable range.

You can save energy this summer by giving your heat pump a helping hand;

Keep your heat pump filters clean and clear to maximize energy output
Never put things in front of your heat pump, this restricts the air flow and reduces the effect of cooling
Ensure you give your heat pump plenty of time to do its job, cooling gradually rather than rapidly will save energy use
Use the timer on your heat pump to allow for gradual cooling
When using your heat pump keep windows and doors closed

All of these tips will ensure your heat pump is working at its best and saving you money this summer.

Energy Saving Advice

2009-11-07T01:18:00.000-08:00

Most air conditioning systems use a lot more power than is necessary. This is usually easily remedied by improved maintenance or adjustments to the operation or design of the system.

Here are some ways you can reduce energy use, improve your air conditioning’s efficiency and reduce costs. These are, in most cases, simple and inexpensive to implement.

1. Time-clock Adjustments

Most air conditioners are regulated by a timing device which automatically controls operating hours. Although convenient, this feature is often the main cause of energy wastage; starting up too early or left running after the family has left home.

Start-up times can be easily adjusted to suit variable air conditioning requirements as follows:

a. Set start-up and shut-down times relative to requirements.
b. Regulate settings to account for daylight saving and seasonal changes.
c. Avoid unnecessary operations, eg. After business hours, on weekends or on public holidays.

2. Improved Maintenance Systems

Maximise the efficiency of your air conditioning system to use the least amount of energy. Blocked filters and dirty coils or fans mean your system works harder to achieve the same result.
Ensuring an accurate refrigerant charge is important, (ie. under-charge or overcharge can have a negative effect on system performance, efficiency and energy use.)

Get the most from your air conditioning equipment by having a planned maintenance routine. Energy savings alone should more than pay for the cost of maintenance.

3. Temperature Control

Larger sites sometimes require individually controlled zones in conjunction with location. For instance, a north-facing zone will need will need additional cooling during summer. Correct thermostat setting in relation to location is critical for optimum performance and efficiency of your air conditioning system.

4. Balanced Air Distribution

Incorrectly balanced air systems typically cause hot and cold spots, uncomfortable draughts and annoying whistling air noises.
These make not only for an uncomfortable environment, but also waste energy as the system struggles to compensate – often by switching on and off more often than is necessary or alternating between heating and cooling as it reacts violently to the temperature swings.

5. Fresh Air is Best

A certain amount of fresh air needs to be introduced in every workplace for safety and comfort. Once again it is a question of balance. Hot and humid outside air needs to be conditioned, while cool outside air can be used effectively to cool or pre-cool a premises; for example after a hot weekend. This relatively simple adjustment could make a significant difference to energy consumption and operating costs.

Choosing an Air Conditioning & Heat Pump Provider

2009-11-07T01:17:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things to consider when choosing the most appropriate company for your air conditioning needs:

Contractor or Service Provider?

You can generally expect a contractor to be better at installations and a service provider to be better at providing an on-going service. Both types of companies have an important role to play, depending on your requirements.

Customer Service Record

Longevity alone does not guarantee good service; some companies have been around a long time but take their clients for granted, so try to ascertain whether they are progressive and client focused. However, if a company has been trading successfully for some time they are probably doing something right and are likely to be around for some time yet.

Geographical Coverage

Some smaller companies are reluctant to travel far, concentrating on serving their local area. Service providers usually travel throughout the wider metropolitan area and the location of their head office can be irrelevant.
If you own or manage several properties throughout the country, a service provider with interstate branches may suit you.

Response Time

Some service providers (and contractors) promise good response times but let their clients down when it comes to actually showing up on time. It is difficult to judge how well a service provider will respond, but you could contact one of their existing clients, if possible, or just try them.

Choose a Specialist

For expertise and competence, choose a specialist. Service technicians possess very different skills to installers (the reverse also applies). A company specialising in this area employs technicians who perform many day-to-day repairs, so become very skilled at it.

Pricing

Be careful of selecting on the basis of hourly rate alone; if the service provider is not competent, the job may take longer and cost you more. Good service with competent, well-trained employees inevitably costs a little more, but if you feel you are being overcharged or are not happy with the workmanship you should look elsewhere.

Licenses, Insurances and OSH

Dealing with a fully licensed and insured company provides you with peace of mind and is an indication of its competence. The company should also have all Occupational Safety and Health procedures in place to ensure a safe working environment for all.