Why Should I Cover My Air Conditioner During The Off Season?

Air conditioning manufacturers make rugged, high quality products that are designed to withstand the elements i.e. snow, wind, rain, sun, and extreme heat/ cold. However, an air conditioner's filters, coils and fins require regular maintenance for the unit to operate effectively and efficiently throughout its years of service. Unlike the evaporator coil, the condenser coil is exposed to unfiltered outdoor air. Air borne dirt will become lodged in the condenser when the outdoor environment is dusty, or if there is foliage near by. Depending on where you live dirt can build up very quickly. Just about everything that contacts the coil surface can have an insulating effect. Dirt, dust, seeds, bugs, foliage, grease, corrosion, pollution, and even bacteria and other microorganisms can act as an insulating barrier. Anything that touches the coil reduces the heat transfer of unwanted heat from the refrigerant to the outside air.

Air conditioning manufacturers design equipment to achieve the highest SEER level of efficiency using the least amount of refrigerant. The systems are perfectly balanced and anything that affects the heat transfer creates an imbalance which drastically affects performance. A dirty coil reduces heat transfer which causes temperature and pressure of the refrigerant entering the compressor to increases above normal levels. The compressor will than work harder and draw more amps to keep up. The cooling capacity of the system will be greatly reduced and the mechanical components will be significantly stressed. A dirty coil means a higher operating cost, more wear and tear on the compressor and fans, and inadequate cooling.

Coils that have little maintenance performed often become clogged with seeds and dirt over time. If the condenser airflow is restricted on a hot day the compressor head and cylinders will become extremely "hot". The oil will than begin to break down and lose its ability to lubricate causing accelerated wear and allowing contaminants to enter the system. This can cause rings, pistons and cylinders to wear resulting in lower compression, leaking valves, and metal debris in the oil. Once this occurs compressor failure will soon follow. Air conditioners are a closed loop system and changing the oil is not a normal or easy procedure. The oil used in air conditioning systems is extremely resilient but will prematurely break down if the system is not looked after. Imagine trying to drive your car for 10 years without ever changing the oil. When a hermetic compressor fails the only way to fix the system is to replace the compressor. This involves opening the system, having the refrigerant and oil removed, and filter dryers installed to clean up the system of moisture and acid that will be introduced from opening the system and left from the failure. This is a very costly procedure and many systems at this point are not worth fixing.

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Need A Vacuum Cleaner? Best Rated Vacuums Can Be Found

So which cleaning system gets the vote of vacuum cleaner best rated? Though it isn’t difficult to locate, especially with the help of the Internet, a vacuum cleaners rating, it seems that very few of the ratings and reviews agree. As is the wont of we fickle humans, it seems that vacuum cleaner best rated depends largely on personal preference.

It is very difficult to identify one vacuum cleaner best rated, though the job becomes easier when categories of vacuum cleaner are introduced. While opinions in any vacuum cleaner consumer rating differ on whether a bagged or bagless vacuum is best, there are trends within each category that help narrow down the contenders for vacuum cleaner best rated. In the bagless category, the high profile Dyson vacuums are often thought to be the vacuum cleaner best rated, but many expert reviews and vacuum cleaner consumer rating do not bear this out. It is the perhaps lesser-known Bissell brand of vacuum that frequently receives a high vacuum cleaners rating.

In the bagged category, other perhaps less well-known manufacturers are voted vacuum cleaner best rated, with makers Kenmore and Eureka rating ahead of other names. Across both bagged and bagless vacuum categories a number of other cleaning requirements must be addressed, such as the size of the area that will need to be cleaned, and how much use will be required. Vacuum price must also be a consideration when assigning a vacuum cleaners rating, as you really do get what you pay for. Once again, it is Bissell that does well as vacuum cleaner best rated in terms of price, but if you have more money to spend on a cleaner, brands like Oreck and Kirby receive a high vacuum cleaner consumer rating.

Unfortunately for consumers, it is difficult to cite one cleaner as vacuum cleaner best rated, but with the help of a reliable vacuum cleaner consumer rating, it is possible to narrow down the list of vacuum contenders. Be sure to review the vacuum cleaners rating of any cleaner before you purchase, and be sure to make a list of your own cleaning requirements to help you determine your own personal vacuum cleaner best rated.

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Purchasing a Wood and Coal Furnace

The majority of individuals in America heat their homes with gas or electricity. Many of those individuals mistakenly believe that gas and electricity are their only home heating options. The fact is that there are a number of home heating alternatives. One of those methods is the use of a wood and coal furnace.

The decision to purchase a wood and coal furnace is a large one. The biggest cost of owning a wood and coal furnace is the initial purchase; however, that purchase can quickly pay for itself in the money that you will be saving. The best way to decide if a wood and coal furnace would be beneficial to your home is by weighing the pros and cons of all heating methods. Once this is done it is likely that you will see the benefits of owning a wood and coal furnace.

Once the decision has been made to purchase a wood and coal furnace you will need to find out where they are sold. There are a number of home heating stores or home improvement stores that sell these furnaces. Making a purchase from a department store is easy to do; however, you may be missing out on other furnaces. The size of a retail store often prevents a wide variety of items from being sold. There are currently hundreds of different wood and coal furnaces. Purchasing one from a retail store may limit your selection to only two or three furnaces. For this reason, there are many individuals who make the decision to purchase a wood and coal furnace online.

The greatest benefit of online shopping is that you can compare products and their prices all in a matter of minutes. While using the internet to purchase a wood and coal furnace has a number of benefits it also has one fairly large disadvantage. The internet makes it possible for anyone to sell just about any item that they want. The purchase of a wood and coal furnace is not a cheap one; therefore, you will want to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company.

The best way to determine if you are dealing with an experienced heating company is by visiting their company website. All reputable online wood and coal furnace dealers should have a company website that offers valuable information on themselves and the products that they sell. It is also important to make sure that a company’s contact information is displayed on their website. If you agree to purchase a wood or coal furnace you may need to contact the seller; therefore, this information is essential.

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