Residential | All Things HVAC

Carrier AC Review: Pros, Cons, Performance, Top Picks

Our Carrier AC buyers guide includes information about the top models in good/better/best Carrier AC series, efficiency ratings and Carrier air conditioner pros and cons. If you want a premium central air conditioner, then Carrier should be on your short list of brands to consider.

But homeowners can also compare Carrier central air conditioners with other top brands we’ve reviewed like Trane and Goodman. However, its units are priced at the top of their classes. But the quality, reliability and durability are among the best too. This brand launched by Willis Carrier 1902 was independent for decades and is now a division of United Technologies Corporation along with subsidiary Bryant.

Carrier Brand Overview

The 17 Carrier AC models represent one of the largest lineups in the industry with Infinity (best), Performance (better) and Comfort (basic) lines. You have choices for efficiency and indoor climate control performance to fit your local cooling. Also, there are dehumidifying requirements whether the AC will be used occasionally or you need a workhorse AC to combat extreme summer heat and humidity.

Carrier AC Technical Specifications

Here’s a detailed summary of the three Carrier AC lines and what they offer in efficiency, performance and value.

Note: SEER ratings are Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a rating like gas mileage. The less energy required for the cooling you desire, the more efficient the unit is, and the higher its SEER rating will be.

Carrier single-stage AC models are the most affordable and range in efficiency from 13 SEER, the least efficient currently allowed by law, to 16 SEER.
All Carrier Comfort Series air conditioners are single-stage. Because the compressor always runs at full capacity, slight over-cooling can result at the end of the cycle.
The top Carrier Comfort AC is the Comfort 16 24AAA6 with 16 SEER efficiency, good enough to be Energy Star rated.
Carrier two-stage AC models run at low capacity most of the time. So cooling and de-humidification are more even and efficient than with single-stage models.
Only one Carrier Performance Series AC has two-stage performance. This is the Performance 17 24ACB7 AC with a 17 SEER rating.
There are three two-stage models in the top series, Carrier Infinity, with the top pick the 21 SEER Infinity 21 24ANB1.
Carrier’s top AC for indoor comfort is the variable-speed Infinity 19VS 24VNA9 with 19 SEER cooling and a compressor that modulates from about 40 to 100 percent capacity to cool with little temperature fluctuation. So it dehumidifies more effectively.

Pros and Cons of Carrier Air Conditioners

As with all brands, there are good and bad points with the Carrier AC lineup.

Carrier Air Conditioner Pros

This brand’s Infinity Series and Performance Series are highly rated by consumers for quality and reliability.
These two series will last up to 25 years when properly maintained.
Carrier is a popular brand. So repair parts are widely available and they can be serviced by any certified HVAC pro, not just a Carrier dealer.
There is a Carrier model for every climate – affordable Comfort Series ACs for cool climates and part-time use, 16-19 SEER models in all series for areas with warm but not extreme summers and the 21 SEER Infinity model for very hot climates.
All Carrier AC models use Puron-branded R-410A refrigerant. This one is better for the environment than earlier formulas.
Models are offered from 18,000 BTU (1.5 ton) sizes to 60,000 BTU (5 ton) sizes to cool up to about 2,500 square feet depending on climate, home layout and other factors.
The Infinity 21 24ANB1 with 21 SEER efficiency is very efficient, but it is a two-stage model. That makes it more affordable than if it were variable speed. So it has been rated an excellent value by a leading consumer group.
The Infinity 17 Coastal AC has an enhanced coating and other features designed for areas where sea spray is an issue. Also, it comes with a 5-year coastal corrosion warranty that is decent but not outstanding.
The Performance 14 24AHA4 is a compact AC requires only 6” of clearance and can be stacked for multi-family housing.

Carrier Air Conditioner Cons

Despite being highly rated for durability, Carrier does not offer great warranties – 5 years on most Comfort models and 10 years on Infinity and some Performance models. Meanwhile, Goodman, Maytag, Heil and others have longer or more comprehensive warranties.
Carrier AC models are the most expensive in their respective good (Comfort), better (Performance) and best (Infinity) classes. So, prices are not disclosed without having a sales person to your home to provide a written estimate.
Carrier was one of the first major brands to have variable-speed/modulating technology. But it has fallen behind more efficient models from other brands like the 26 SEER Lennox XC25, the 25.5 SEER Maytag PSA4BI and the 24.5 SEER Amana AVXC20.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Carrier AC

Know what your air conditioning priorities are before meeting with a Carrier salesperson:

Do you want high efficiency for green cooling regardless of your climate? Or do you prefer to match the SEER rating needed for cost-effective cooling given how warm your summers are?
Also, do you want improved climate control from a two-stage or the variable-speed 19VS 24VNA9? OR would you prefer to live with minor temperature fluctuations of a single-stage model that costs significantly less?

The proven strategy for getting the best price on a new AC or entire split system is to request estimates from three local companies and letting them know they’re competing for the job.

Be sure that the salesperson does a sizing test for your home, so that the unit isn’t too small and won’t cool adequately or is too large and over-cools your home.

Carrier AC Review Wrap-Up

Thanks for checking out our Carrier AC review. We trust it has been helpful. If so, please share it with your friends and followers on social media. They might benefit from a pro’s perspective on this leading AC brand!

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Mitsubishi Air Conditioners Review: Pros, Cons, Performance, Top Picks

This Mitsubishi air conditioners guide includes information that will assist you in researching a ductless AC system for your home or commercial space. Performance and technical specs are included for comparing Mitsubishi ductless air conditioner models to one another and to other top brands See our reviews of Trane air conditioners and Rheem air conditioners for comparison. We have also reviewed ductless Mitsubishi heat pump systems and the recently released ducted Mitsubishi AC and heat pump systems.

Mitsubishi Electric is known globally as an innovative producer of technology including HVAC equipment. It has been one of the pioneers in ductless heating and cooling. The Mitsubishi company was founded in 1921 in Japan and split into several companies after WWII. Today, Mitsubishi Electric has its headquarters in Tokyo with offices in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Mitsubishi Air Conditioners Brand Overview

Mitsubishi remains the world leader in ductless systems. These split systems are often called mini-split systems because both the outdoor condensing units and indoor air handlers are smaller than those of standard ducted split system components.

The AC-only systems include an outdoor condensing unit and one indoor unit installed on the floor, wall or ceiling. Each indoor unit cools a single room or zone. Refrigerant is carried from the condensing unit to the indoor unit where it captures heat. Then it carries it outside and disperses it through a radiator-type coil, effectively cooling the air indoors.

Mitsubishi AC Technical Specifications

Reviewing the specifications of Mitsubishi air conditioners is made easier by dividing the equipment into outdoor units (condensing units) and indoor units.

Mitsubishi air conditioners outdoor units:

13 Mitsubishi condensing units are manufactured with capacity ranging from 9,000 BTU to 42,000 BTU. By contrast, ducted split system condensing capacity ranges from 18,000 to 60,000 BTU.
Model MUY-GL09NA-U1 is the top pick for efficiency at 24.6 SEER. But it is the smallest too at 9,000 BTU, and it is suitable for one small room such as a bedroom.
Efficiency of Mitsubishi air conditioners drops with size. So the Mitsubishi PUY-A42NHA6 is 42,000 BTU, but it just has 14.4 SEER efficiency.
Sound level of outdoor units ranges from 48 decibels to 55d decibels compared with about 65 to 75 decibels for ducted split system ACs, and capacity of the outdoor unit is not.

Mitsubishi air conditioners indoor units:

Upfront note: Unlike ducted split systems that have one outdoor unit and one indoor unit, split system outdoor units support up to four indoor units. And the total BTU capacity of indoor units must match the capacity of the outdoor unit. For example, a 36,000 BTU outdoor unit can be installed with one +/-36,000 BTU indoor unit, two indoor units of +/-18,000 BTU, four indoor units of +/-9,000 BTU units or another combination that adds up to +/- 36,000 BTU.
Floor-mounted units are made in four sizes from 9,000 BTU to 18,000 BTU.
All four floor-mounted indoor units include 5-speed fans for comfortable cooling.
There are currently more than 40 wall-mounted indoor units ranging in capacity from 9,000 BTU for a small room to 34,200 BTU for a large room or open floor plan zone.
Wall-mounted units are available in one style and three colors: white, black and silver.
Wall-mounted indoor unit fan speeds range from 3-speed to 5-speed. It has sound levels as low as 19 decibels on smaller units and up to 40 decibels on larger units.
MSY series indoor units are cooling-only. PKA and MSZ series indoor units accommodate both Mitsubishi air conditioners and heat pumps.
Top picks are the MSZ-EF series wall-mounted indoor units with 17,200 BTU capacity cooling and 5-speed fans for optimal comfort.
Ceiling-cassette indoor units install in the ceiling. So they are ideal for drop-ceiling locations and use where a low profile is desired.
Nine ceiling-cassette units are offered in the SLK 3-speek series and the top-pick PLA 4-speed series with capacities from 8,400 BTU to 42,000 BTU.
All cassettes accommodate both Mitsubishi air conditioners and heat pumps.

Pros and Cons of Mitsubishi Air Conditioners

Mini-split, ductless systems from Mitsubishi have their advantages and disadvantages compared with competitors and other HVAC system types. Here are pros and cons to consider and compare to other brands.

Mitsubishi AC Pros:

Mitsubishi air conditioners are considered among the most durable and reliable ductless units available;
The efficiency of the smaller units, up to 24.5 SEER, is excellent;
Old ductwork allows up to 25 percent loss of cooled air, but that is not a factor with ductless AC;
Ductless systems are ideal for retrofitting areas where installing ductwork isn’t a practical option;
Ductless systems are easier and less costly to install than ducted systems;
The large variety of indoor units gives you style options and installation flexibility;
Because Mitsubishi air conditioners are a popular brand, it is easy to find parts and service.

Mitsubishi AC Cons

As a reminder, these are Mitsubishi air conditioners, so they are not suitable for locations that require heat too. See our Mitsubishi heat pump reviews for AC/heating systems!
The mid-size and large-capacity Mitsubishi air conditioners offer SEER efficiency ratings that are mediocre compared with the best standard split system air conditioners from Trane, Lennox, Carrier and other top brands.
While ductless outdoor units are relatively quiet, these systems require that an indoor unit with a fan in each room or zone. There might be more noise in the immediate area than a standard split system would produce.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Mitsubishi AC

The first and obvious issue to consider is whether you need AC only or both AC and heating. These Mitsubishi air conditioners are for installation in:

Very warm climates;
Summer homes where heating isn’t necessary;
Locations without AC or where the existing air conditioning isn’t adequate.

If you already have duct work, installing a conventional split system is probably a more cost-effective choice. This is especially true if you have a large home. This is because the largest of these Mitsubishi air conditioners is 42,000 BTU, only enough cooling capacity for a home of approximately 2,000 square-foot and in a warm climate.

Are You Going Ductless?

Ductless systems are growing in popularity due to their flexible installation options, competitive cost and good energy efficiency. Are your family and friends considering going ductless? It should be one of their options, so consider passing this information on to anyone who might appreciate the information.

All You Need to Know about Current Home Energy Efficiency Standards

Living with Home Energy Efficiency

Home energy efficiency is essential in today’s eco-conscious world and there is little inside a residential property that does not come into play, toward creating more energy efficient homes. From light bulbs to water heaters, from home appliances to the way a home is insulated, energy savings always start in the home and they always lie in the details. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home uses 42 per cent of its total energy expenditure on space heating, 18 per cent on water heating, 6 per cent for cooling the home, 5 per cent for lighting and refrigeration (each), while the remaining 24 per cent is spent on other uses. This is why regular home energy audits are important and why they can dramatically improve any home’s energy savings standing.

What makes a home energy efficient?

According to the generally accepted energy efficiency definition, a home is efficient in terms of energy expenditure, when its occupants actively manage and maintain energy consumption levels. The more energy efficient a residence, the more performance and services it manages to deliver, for the less energy consumption. The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) with the U.S. Department of Energy designs, improves, and enforces energy-efficient standards and technologies in several aspects that relate to home building and ownership.

Home building efficiency. The EERE runs several research and development plans, as well as a host of market stimulation plans, such as Building America and the ENERGY STAR approach to building homes as a whole. It also awards homes an energy score, which gauges their overall energetic performance, encourages students to develop energy efficiency programs and designs, and enforces residential energy building codes.
Lighting standards. The Office is currently working to promote LED lighting better and to make sure the facts circulated about this technology are accurate. At the same time, it is encouraging the use of SSL (solid state lighting), which may one day cut down nationwide energy consumption levels to half their current values.
Equipment and appliance standards. The Building Technologies Office of the EERE is already enforcing energy savings standards for some 50 discrete categories of equipment and appliances. Thus far, this has resulted in saving some $55 billion on power bills in 2014 alone. The office projects that the amount of money saved from 1987, when the standards first came into effect, until 2030, will surpass $1.7 trillion.

What is energy conservation?

Energy conservation is closely tied in with energy efficiency. It is a concept that stems from physics, as the energy conservation definition illustrates. In terms of the home use of energy, conservation refers to cutting down on the amount of power used, by saving energy, reducing waste, and making sure the energy available is used rationally.

Nowadays, with several programs across the country aimed at improving energy consumption levels in the residential segment, it’s actually not that difficult to create a tailored energy conservation plan for your own home. For instance, best practice recommendations from the University of Colorado state that an occupied house can reach its maximum energy efficiency when its thermostat is set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The same recommendations advise against installing a central A/C system, save for the situation in which the whole house requires cooling down. Other tips include recycling old appliances and having them replaced with newer ones, which observe ENERGY STAR standards. Finally, if you’re thinking of building yourself a home, or of purchasing a new residential construction, you shouldn’t underestimate the potential of sun-tempered homes. By using passive solar energy, a super-insulated home of this type stands to cut down your energy consumption levels by up to 40 per cent.

Here are some other useful tips for homeowners interested in devising a customized energy conservation plan:

Thermostats should be set back during the night (by some 8 F) or when the house is not occupied for 24 hours (down to 50-55 F);
Unused rooms can be heat-sealed by keeping their doors, windows, and heat registers closed.
Heating systems need to be regularly cleaned, with filters replaced about once a month during the months when heating systems are in use.
Hot water leaks and other losses can also render a home less energy efficient. As such, owners should make sure none of their faucets are leaking and have low-pressure shower heads installed. Make sure the water temperature on your washing machine is set to an appropriate level and invest in an ENERGY STAR water heater.
Refrigerators should be set to 35-40F, with freezers at 0-5F. Don’t hold fridge doors open for too long and keep ice buildup levels in the freezer down to an absolute minimum.
Reduce the intensity of any gas cooker to the point where the flames are blue instead of yellow.
Only run the dishwasher when it’s full and let them air dry in there. Newer models no longer require that you rinse the dishes before washing them.

Best Central Air Conditioner Prices

When looking for a new central air conditioner, it’s important to know that the lowest central air conditioners prices are not necessarily the best prices. In fact, pricing should be among the last criteria on your list. Here’s what to focus on when buying a central air conditioning unit, and how each aspect influences the pricing of said unit:

Central Air Conditioner Prices: Why the Big Differences?

Central air conditioner units prices start off at about $800 for a new appliance and can go well beyond $10,000. This means installation and any additional work will increase the overall cost. Although the price range is extensive, it’s not unjustified. The most important variables when talking about central air conditioners prices are capacity, efficiency, and brand. Here’s a breakdown of the costs involved in acquiring and installing a new central air conditioner:

Central Air Conditioner Prices by Brand

Here are the most popular central air conditioner brands and their lowest, highest, and average prices:

Brand	Lowest Price	Average Price	Highest Price
Rheem	$1,000	$1,500	$3,700
Bryant	$900	$1,300	$3,900
Amana	$1,100	$1,600	$3,200
Lennox	$1,200	$1,800	$3,800
Trane	$1,300	$2,000	$16,000
Carrier	$1,500	$1,900	$3,900
Goodman	$1,100	$3,100	$8,000

Note: These prices only refer to the central air conditioner unit; Installation costs are not included in the examples above.

As you can see, the price range is considerable for many manufacturers. The lowest price usually refers to the small, less efficient, and usually, older models that are still available for sale. The highest prices are those of new appliances that feature the highest efficiency ratio and the most powerful compressors.

Even though the manufacturer is an important criterion when looking for a new central air conditioner, it is not the only one to matter. Capacity and efficiency are critical aspects that need to be taken into account when looking for a new central air conditioner.

Central Air Conditioner Prices by Capacity

Generally, the climate zone you live in determines the capacity of your future central air conditioner unit. However, the area of your home is a decisive factor, too. Here are the average prices for different central air conditioner units in terms of capacity:

Central Air Conditioner Capacity	Average Price
1 Ton (12,000 BTU)	$900
1,5 Tons (18,000 BTU)	$1,200
2 Tons (24,000 BTU)	$1,300
2.5 Tons (30,000 BTU)	$1,400
3 Tons (36,000 BTU)	$1,500
3.5 Tons (42,000 BTU)	$1,700
4 Tons (48,000 BTU)	$1,800
4.5 Tons (54,000 BTU)	$2,000
5 Tons (60,000 BTU)	$2,300

Note: 1 ton = 12,000 BTU (British Thermal Units) = the amount of energy it would take to melt 1 ton of ice in 24 hours. To put things in perspective, a 12,000 BTU central air conditioner will be able to cool off about 500 square feet.

When buying a central air conditioner, it’s important to accurately match the unit’s capacity with the space it needs to cool off. An appliance that is too weak will obviously not be able to provide a comfortable temperature during summer months. However, one that’s too strong will cycle on and off every few minutes, thus becoming inefficient. In addition, given it will not work permanently, it will not be able to control the air humidity – an important factor when it comes to your comfort.

Central Air Conditioner Prices by Efficiency

The most efficient central air conditioners are usually the most expensive, but they are the cheapest to run. Therefore, the cheapest appliance is not always the best one for long-term use. in fact, efficiency should be among the first things to take into account when looking for a new central air conditioner. Here are the average prices for central AC units in terms of efficiency:

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)	Average Price
<14 (Low)	$1,250
15-17 (Average)	$1,800
18-20 (High)	$2,200
21-24 (Highest)	$2,900

No matter their efficiency ratio, central air conditioners can be heavy consumers – especially if you live in warm or hot areas. At the moment of writing, the U.S. government offered a tax credit of about $300 for those who purchase central air conditioners that comply with Energy Star rules and have a SEER of 16 or more.

The highest efficiency central air conditioners are the best for our environment: They use significantly less energy and produce fewer greenhouse emissions. However, when it comes to our wallets, things are not that simple. There’s a fine balance between efficiency and overall costs, balance that mainly depends on the following factors:

How much and often you will use your central air conditioner.
How well insulated your home is.

For example, if you live in the northern part of the country and only use the central AC 2 or 3 months per year, sending more than $3,000 for a highly efficient appliance will not make as much sense as spending $2,000 for an average efficiency one. On the other hand, if you live in Southern California, a highly efficient central AC is the best way to go – but only if you have proper home insulation.

Extra Costs of a Central Air Conditioner Unit

The following initial expenses might save you more in the long run:

A Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to reduce energy consumption in your home. It can cost anywhere from $20 to $400, but will pay for itself in a month or so. A thermostat adjusts the activity of your central air conditioner based on a pattern inputted by you.

Extended Warranty

If you feel the manufacturer’s default warranty is not enough, you can invest in extending it. Default warranties usually last between 8 and 15 years, with an average of 10 – 12 years. Many sellers offer 1, 2, or 5 extra years of warranty for a few dozens or hundreds of dollars. This is particularly important for those who live in warmer climates since the appliance will be used more frequently.

Keep in mind the lifespan of a central air conditioner unit depends on how often you use it. The average lifespan of 10 years that most manufacturers promise refers to temperate areas where the appliance is used a few months per year. If you live is warmer climates with high humidity, or by the ocean where the air is saltier, your central AC is likely to last about 8 years or less.

Extra Functions

Most central air conditioners today come with a humidity control function. However, other features might be desirable for some customers. Quiet operation functions can be extremely useful for small homes or for those where the outside unit is placed near the bedrooms. Multistage compressors are another desirable feature in central ACs. They can significantly lower your energy bills and extend the appliance’s lifespan.

Central Air Conditioner Prices: Installation

Installation costs alone for a central air conditioning system range between $350 and $8,000 for a new appliance. Here’s the breakdown:

Delivery costs: Completely depend on each retailer.
Materials & supplies: Between $50 and $150 if your home already has ducts and they are properly insulated.
Contractor(s): Between $300 and $2,000, depending on the amount of work needed to install the central AC unit. Some appliances can be installed in just a few hours with minimal effort, while others require extensive work. Under no circumstances should you install the central AC unit by yourself. This is a complex project that involves handling refrigerant, high-voltage electricity, and sensitive electronics – not to mention the environmental concerns that come with improper
Ducting: Between $400 and $3,500, mainly depending on the size of your home.
Insulation: Between $450 and $3000, depending on how many ducts you have in your home.
Debris removal & cleanup: If you do not want to do this by yourself, be prepared to pay $100 at most for these services.

Some high-SEER central air conditioners will also require solar panels to keep the energy consumption to a minimum. Therefore, you might need to be ready to invest in these, too.

How to Find the Best Central Air Conditioner Prices

As mentioned before, the lowest price rarely is the best price. Here’s how to effectively find the best central air conditioner price and contractor:

Ask yourself how long you plan on living in this house. If you are not sure, installing an expensive appliance might not be the best idea.
Always check for references and read reviews for contractors.
Ask recommendations and quotes from at least 3 professionals. Analyze what they have in common – ideally, they should have identical or similar capacities. Then, analyze their differences and see which ones matter the most to you. Maybe a certain model has an extensive warranty, while another is highly efficient. Use what you read in our article to decide which will fit your needs.
Do not cheap out, but don’t go above your budget either.

Central Air Conditioner Prices Recap

All in all, installing a new central air conditioner will cost between $2,000 for small homes or apartments and $15,000 or more for large homes. Given the significant number of variables that decide the central air conditioner prices, it would be impossible to give a more accurate response.

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Air Conditioning Service, Repair, and Maintenance – All You Need to Know

Choosing the Right Air Conditioning Service: Comfort or Misery

The air conditioner is a vital part of our homely existence. It has multiple functions that keep us happy and comfortable, which include cooling, heating, dehumidifying, and cleaning the air of possibly dangerous particles. Therefore, when it breaks down, immediate action must be taken, to ensure it’s back on track in no time. But how do you do it? Do you do it yourself or do you use the proverbial ‘call a guy’ method? If you’re not quite sure what to do, this article will definitely help you. Moreover, we have also listed some top tips and tricks to maintain your AC unit, apart from fixing it.

What does actually go wrong with an AC unit?

As opposed to furnaces, which are quite simple, AC units are complex pieces of equipment. This means they require a whole array of conditions to work properly. For example, they need to have a certain size, so as not to hang too heavy on the house. They must also have a certain volume of refrigerant, also known as the ‘charge,’ they need a certain amount of air to flow through the coils and many other criteria that need to be met. When one of these criteria is not met, the entire system will suffer.

Here are some examples of things that may go wrong with your AC and what causes them.

if you generate more heat indoors than you normally do, because you are having a party and there are a lot of people in the house or because you’ve plugged in a high number of appliances at the same time, the AC will not be able to keep up
if the refrigerant leaks out, evidently the AC will not have the same power to cool the air anymore
if airflow across the condenser reduces, so will the AC’s ability to reject heat outdoors. Yet again, its capacity to keep up when the load increases will diminish, especially when confronted with high outdoor temperatures
the same problem occurs in dry climates, only with the indoor (evaporator) coil. A low airflow hurts it.
In humid climates, the problem tends to become more complex. When the airflow is high, there will be less humidification, which will lead to high indoor humidity. But, if the airflow gets too low, the evaporator coil will actually freeze. Not only will this make the AC’s performance drastically decrease, but its compressor can fail. This means you will have to seek help to repair it, and it will not come in cheap.

Air conditioning repair and service – how to do it yourself

If you’ve decided not to ‘call a guy’ and tackle the AC repair yourself, it’s best if you start by doing some research. To help you with that, here are some DIY AC repair and service projects you can try at home and all the ins and outs to help you make them successful.

#1. Cleaning the AC in the spring

This is one chore you’ll be grateful you performed. Not only will you be more comfortable in using you AC afterwards, but you will also pay less on your cooling bills. There are three ways in which you can clean the AC.

Method 1 – Cleaning the indoor unit of an AC

Turn off the power towards your furnace or blower. If you can’t find the switch, turn it off from the main panel or unplug it.
Replace the air filter. Make sure you consult the manual before you buy a new one, to make sure it’s the right size.
Vacuum all the visible dust, hair, and debris in the blower compartment.
If the motor is equipped with lubrication ports, pour a few drops of oil into it, according to the manual specifications.
Check to see if any algae have grown in the condensation tube. If so, remove them and pour a solution made of bleach and water into it.
Clean the drain tube using a brush with small bristles
Hook the drain line back to the unit and restart it carefully.

Method 2 – cleaning the outdoor unit of an AC

Shut down the power at the shutoff box which should be located on the exterior of your house. If there is no visible shutoff box, turn off the circuit breaker which normally powers the AC. Either way, the appliance needs to be turned off completely, to avoid it starting unexpectedly and causing accidents.
Vacuum the condenser fins using the attachment that has a soft-bristle brush. Make sure to check for any debris or gunk that might be trapped in there, such as leaves, grass or weeds. Also, trim all the greens surrounding the box, so that it’s completely free on a 2 feet radius.
There should be a grille on top of your AC, which you need to unscrew and take off. You will notice the fan lifts even without it, so be careful not to damage the electrical wires. Gently clean the fan with a damp cloth.
Should your fan have lubrication ports, pour a few oil drops into it. Make sure the oil is specially made for electrical motors and not regular oil.
You can also clean the empty unit from the inside out, by lowering a water hose in it and lightly spraying it.
Re-assemble everything together and screw the lid back on.
Disable the AC by going inside the house and switching it from ‘cool’ to ‘off’.
Allow it to sit idle for 24 hours so that it has time to dry out completely.
Restart it and wait at least 10 minutes for it to start working again.
Check to see if it works correctly.

Method 3 – cleaning a room AC

Just like for the other two, you need first to unplug the room AC or turn off the breaker that leads to that circuit.
Remove the appliance’s rear exhaust panel and clean all its fins and coils with the soft-bristled brush of your vacuum cleaner.
Remember to check the drain channels for clogs. They are usually located at the bottom of the AC. Should you find any clogs, clean them with a pipe cleaner.
Remove the ACs front grill, take out the filter and clean it. You can do so by either vacuuming it or washing it with some sudsy water, lukewarm. Before you reattach the filter to the unit itself, make sure it has completely dried off.
Power it back up

Maintaining your AC

As far as central air maintenance goes, the old saying does prove to be correct once more – it’s better to maintain it than having to fix it. There is a whole array of things you can do to make sure it keeps running as smoothly as when you bought it. These things, if done correctly and at regular intervals, will not only help your AC not breaking down but will save you energy as well. Therefore, here are the most important things you can do to maintain your AC.

Arguably the most important task you need to perform is to clean regularly the ACs filters. It will ensure it keeps on running efficiently, because a dirty or clogged filter blocks the normal air flow and forces your AC to run twice as hard, overheat and, sometimes, malfunction.
Also, replacing a dirty filter will lower the unit’s energy intake by 5% to 15%. Filters need to be replaced every one or two months, but you may need to do it more often if there is an infant or a pet in the house.
Cleaning the evaporator and condenser coils is important as well. They collect an incredible amount of dirt over the years which insulates the coils and reduces their ability to take in heat. Therefore, the coils need to be checked and cleaned every year. The time between cleanings can be even longer, seeing as the filters, if clean, normally trap all the dirt and dust before they reach the coils.
Clean the coil fins. The evaporator and condenser coils have some fins that can easily be clogged by debris or get bent. If so, they will block the airflow that should normally run through the coils. Use a ‘fin comb’ to comb them back into their original position.
Clean the unit’s drains by inserting a stiff wire through them from time to time. If they are clogged, they will stop the AC from absorbing humidity. In turn, this might discolor your walls and carpets and produce condensation.
Cover the outdoor part of your AC in the winter to protect it from the bad weather and debris flying around.

Hiring a professional to manage the central air conditioning repair service

In case you do not wish to turn fixing and even maintaining your AC into a DIY job, you can always hire a professional. In terms of central air service, here’s what he or she should do.

Check if the unit has a sufficient volume of refrigerant
Test said refrigerant for any leaks that might damage the unit
Capture all the refrigerant that escapes the unit and not release it into the environment, as that is illegal
Check to see if there are any seal duct leakages in the central system
Check the evaporator coil by measuring the airflow that passes through it
Inspect all the electrical terminals, apply a non-conductive coating if they need it, and clean and tighten all the connections
He or she should also check the oil motors and the belts to see if they have worn down or lost their tightness
Check how accurate the thermostat is.

Checking, maintaining, and repairing the AC unit might seem like a daunting task or a somewhat unpleasant chore but, as we demonstrated above, it’s crucial. Not only will checking and maintaining it keeps it from breaking down, but it will save you money and energy as well.

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The Best 9 Through the Wall Air Conditioner Systems of 2016

Through the wall air conditioners are also known as in-wall air conditioners or, simply, wall air conditioners. They are called thusly because they are mounted into a hole in the wall and because they are attached on a permanent basis to your house. They are the perfect solution if for example, you’ve just bought your dream home or if you’re planning on living in the same house for a longer period. However, if you know this is the right solution for you but are not quite sure which particular one to purchase, don’t worry. Here is an excellent list of the best 9 through the wall air conditioner systems of 2016.

Top through the wall air conditioners and their reviews

#9. The LG LT123CNR

Reviews give this one 6.5 out of 10. That is because it lacks some main features and because of its size. Users believe it to be far too big for the power it offers.

It’s well suited for average and small rooms, and it has a remote control and a timer which you can program. Unfortunately, it’s not equipped with a sleep-mode option and, most importantly, it’s not very energy efficient. For example, say your average use over a three-month period is of 8 hours per day. Then you will have to pay some $113.18, which is quite high compared with other units we have on this list.

It’s quite big and heavy, weighing about 80 pounds, but it’s great for removing moisture from the air, should you live in a humid climate. Also, the LG LT123CNR retails at about $1 150.

#8. The LG LT1235CER

This one retails for approximately $600, and it received a 7.93/10 from users and reviewers. It was designed for large rooms and it really does fulfill its purpose, because it manages to cool them off easily and very efficiently. It has a moderate BTU capacity of 11 500. This means that the size of the room it needs to cool can go up to 700 square feet. Also, its 310 cubic feet per minute air-flow capacity means it will cool a room that large quickly enough.

Its energy-efficiency ratio is of 9.8, which puts it at number two on our list from this point of view. The estimated annual energy cost for this through the wall ac unit is $101.09, better than most products. Apart from that, it’s ENERGY STAR qualified.

As far as size goes, it’s quite small, coming in at 14-13/32 inches tall, 20-3/32 inches long and 24 inches wide and weighing 80 pounds. However, you should know that it doesn’t have a sleep-mode or an auto-mode function, which is why it’s placed almost at the bottom of the list.

#7. The Impecca

The Impecca received a 7.98/10 from users and reviewers alike, and it retails for $500. Its primary quality is that it has an impressive BTU power for heating, cooling, and fan speed options. It comes to some staggering 14 000 BTUs for cooling and 10 600 BTUs for heating a 700 square foot room. Also, it can eliminate up to 2.9 pints of moisture per hour.

Its energy efficiency rating goes up to 8.5, but it’s still one of the lowest on this list. Even if it is ENERGY STAR certified, it will still cost you some $142.56 per three months to run it. On the cons side, the Impecca comes with many acccessories and features, one of them being the remote control. It also has a programmable 24-hour timer and an auto-mode feature which allow you to run it as efficiently as possible.

Another great thing about it is that it goes beyond heating and cooling. It also has the option of circulating the air without refrigerating it, should you consider it’s not hot enough to use the ac. Apart from that, this unit allows you to use only its dehumidifying mode, separate from the ac itself.

#6. The GE AJCQ10ACF

It costs approximately $700, and it received an 8.4/10. Its BTU power is quite median, as the unit offers 10 400 BTUs. These are sufficient to cool a 425 square foot room. It has a moisture-removal feature that can remove up to 2.7 pints per hour in said room. One of its main pros is that it works on R-410a refrigerant. It’s known to be a lot friendlier to the environment than some older refrigerants, such as R-22.

As far as cost and energy-effectiveness go, the GE AJCQ10ACF is one of the best on the list. It has two certifications, one from ENERGY STAR and the other from AHAM (The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). Its energy-efficiency ratio is a whopping 9.8.

#5. The GE AJCQ12ACF

Another GE model is the AJCQ12ACF. It retails for $711, and it received an 8.4/10 from users and reviewers alike. It was designed for medium rooms of about 550 square feet, so it offers some 12 000 BTUs. It uses the R-410A refrigerant, which is known to be environmentally-friendly. As far as humidity goes, this ac is among the best. It’s actually able to remove some 3.4 pints of moisture from the air. But, it lacks the ability to use the dehumidifier separately from the ac, so you need to run them both at once.

Its estimated annual cost goes up to $105.41 for three months. It received its certification from both ENERGY STAR and AHAM. Also, it’s UL listed. This translates into the fact that it has passed public safety standards. Its energy-efficiency ratio goes up to 9.8.

#4. The Frigidaire FFTA1233Q1

The Frigidaire through the wall unit costs approximately $620, and it received an 8.68/10. It too was designed for medium rooms, which means it brings some 12 000 BTUs to the table that can cool down a 550 square foot room easily enough. In a humid climate, it removes up to 3.3 pints of moisture from the air in the space of an hour.

Its energy-efficiency rate is high – 9.8, it costs a little over $100 to keep it running for three months, and it received its certification from ENERGY STAR. It has an auto-restart function which allows it to turn itself back on after a power shortage. It’s quite small and only weighs 72 pounds. Another great pro for the Frigidaire is that its filter is made of antibacterial mesh and is very easy to clean.

#3. The Friedrich Uni-Fit US12D10B

We have now reached the best three through-the-wall air conditioners of 2016. Third place goes to the Friedrich Uni-Fit US12D10B. It retails for about $690, and it received an 8.68/10.

For its cooling abilities, users and reviewers awarded it 8.1/10. It packs some 11 500 cooling BTUs, enough to cool down a 550 square foot room. This means it’s perfect for people living in apartments. Its humidity removal feature is quite impressive as well, the unit being able to remove 3.8 pints per hour. But, again, just like with other units, you can only run the dehumidifier along with the cooling mode.

For efficiency, it received a whopping 10/10 and for ease of use – 6.3/10. It also has a great design which users loved because it has six-way directional air louvers while most units have only four.

#2. The Keystone KSTAT12-1B

It retails at $635, and it was awarded an 8.73/10. It’s worthy of the silver medal mostly because of its energy saving features. Its energy-efficiency ratio climbs to a satisfying 9.8, as it will cost you approximately $105 to run it 8 hours a day for three months. The unit is ENERGY STAR approved, and it made it onto UL’s list as a public-safe appliance.

It also has quite a few features that will prove highly convenient for the every-day user. It has a remote control which will give you more freedom in operating it and an auto-restart function in case there’s a power-outage, and you forget to turn it back on or you are not at home when it happens. Apart from that, it also has and energy-saver mode, a sleep mode, and a programmable timer.

#1. The Kenmore 70151

The Kenmore 70151 takes home the gold medal for being the best through the wall air conditioner with heat of 2016. It costs $500, and users say you will love it. It’s very effective when installed in large rooms of up to 900 square feet, seeing as it has 15 000 cooling BTUs. Its maximum air flow of 362 cubic feet per minute makes it the most powerful unit on the list. However, take into consideration that, if you have a small room that needs ac, you might be better off with a slightly less powerful unit. The Kenmore might freeze up the space.

It has energy-efficiency ratio of 10.7, the highest on the list as well. The average cost of running this beautiful appliance for three months 8 hours a day is just $121. It has a remote control that manages all its features, a programmable timer, and a very sensitive sleep-mode. Another great thing about it is that it has a fan-only option. This means you can create a breeze without turning on the compressor. You will truly appreciate this feature at nighttime, in the spring, and autumn.

Installing a through the wall air conditioner

After you have decided which of the above 9 through the wall air conditioner systems is best for you, you need to install it. You have two options – calling in a specialist or doing it yourself. In case you have picked the latter, here are the quick steps you need to follow.

Select the location of the ac
Locate the wall studs by lightly rapping on the wall and lightly mark them in pencil
Clear the selected area of molding, drywall, and insulation
Relocate the ac’s dimensions or sleeve into the inside of the outside wall
Create the hole that will fit the actual unit
Build the necessary support
Fabricate the header which will be top of the opening framework
Add the studs
Finish the unit’s frame
Install all the electrical outlets you believe the ac will need while the wall is still open
Carefully reconstruct the wall
Install the actual ac unit
Caulk around it very carefully, as this is the layer that will keep water out
Install the molding and secure it with finish nails

Here are the top 9 through the wall air conditioner systems of 2016. Before deciding which one to purchase, make sure you carefully read all the details regarding it. As shown above, the shopping choice very much depends on the requirements of the room you’re planning on putting it in. Even so, you can’t really go wrong if you thoroughly read our guide!

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10 Amazing Decorative Floor Vent Covers to Keep Your House Stylish

Vent covers can be a real eyesore. We are entirely dependent on vents themselves because our houses need to be ventilated as well as possible. They can be air conditioning vents, heating vents, and even bathroom vents. We need them to ensure the air inside the house is fresh all year long. But what do we do about the vent covers? They can truly ruin a beautiful indoor design and create an unpleasant sight for both home owners and their guests. Fortunately, the answer to that question is a simple one, and it comes in the shape of decorative floor vent covers. And just to make sure you are covered not only on vents but ideas as well, here are 10 amazing floor vent covers which you can use as inspiration.

#1. Corinthian floor vent covers

This strikingly beautiful design was thusly named because it shared elements and takes after the Corinthian order. This was one of the orders the Greek used to decorate their famous columns, along with the Doric and Ionic. It’s the most ornate out of the three and, also, the most elegant. It means it’s perfect if your house is elegantly designed and painted in warm browns and soft ivories.

It’s best that you choose a metallic floor vent cover if you have your heart set on this model, because brass, for example, looks much better than wood or plastic. As far as colors go, the best fitting ones would be white, black, brown, silver, and a gracefulOuse oil-rubbed bronze. You can also ask for it to be sand-papered to some extent, so as to give it an antiquated look.

#2. The industrial vent cover

It’s not exactly industrial, but its design has been stylized so as to look it. It’s also very glamorous in a retro kind of way since the vent holes are straight and perfectly aligned on the horizontal. This would be ideal for a bachelor’s pad, a man cave, a bar or restaurant, and even high-class shops.

Another great thing about this model is that, if you’re not a big fan of the metal, you can also get it in wood. Make sure to place it near an antique armoire, a vintage wooden entertainment unit or a wooden cabinet. In this way, it will completely blend in with the rest of the room. As far as the flooring goes, this particular design is best matched with wooden floors, if you want to have the floor vent cover made out of wood. You can use it on any other type of flooring if you’re going for the metallic cover.

#3. ‘Natural’ design floor vent cover

Here is an unusual pattern that is trying to recreate a bit of the natural surroundings. This particular example was made to include vine leaves, but you can have it custom made according to your personal wishes. One great inspiration idea can come from the area you live in. For example, if your house is situated in a somewhat mountainous region, you can go for pine needles. If you have a lot of oaks around your house, then maybe oak-leaf is the pattern for you. You can also try flowers, albeit some that can easily be stylized, such as daisies or daffodils.

#4. The Victorian design floor vent cover

This particular design is somewhat of an all time favorite. Partly because the Victorian era inspired it, a charming one as far as design, pattern, and architecture goes, and partly because it fits almost any house with any type of interior design. From high-end mansions with marble floors to lofts with cozy plush carpets, the metallic Victorian era floor cover vent is one the best options for your venting needs.

You can opt between two designs. Either you go for the traditional, historically-accurate design, for a touch of authenticity and actual history in your home, or you can personalize it if you feel it’s a bit too outdated for your tastes.

#5. The ‘stonewall’ design floor vent cover

As far as floor registers go, this model was designed with classic stone walls in mind. This layout is as ancient as mankind. You can see it displayed everywhere, from Ancient Rome to the Mayans and the Trojans. The fact that it still hasn’t gone out of style says quite a lot about this pattern. What’s even more beautiful about it is that it’s so simple, yet so powerful. It will add a touch of class to any room you might decide to put it in.

Again, going metallic is the best option here, but you can have it sandblasted, to actually make it look antiquated.

#6. The Renaissance floor vent cover

Another style which you can draw inspiration from is the Renaissance one. It traditionally emphasizes on proportion, symmetry, and geometry. This is why you will see mirrored patterns, composed of both curb and straight lines. It’s perfect for a traditional style house, with an artsy vibe. The fabulous thing about it is that it has crossed the line into modernism as well, and you can see it spread all around the city, no matter where you live. It saw a very conscious revival during the 1800s, which means you can still see buildings built or adorned in a Renaissance style today.

If you’re interested in adding a touch of well-stylized and geometrical elegance to your home, then this is the style for you. Try choosing metallic vent covers, colored in black or deep shades of cold browns, for an authentic patina.

#7. The ‘luxurious’ decorative vent cover

It’s imperative to remember two things when going for this particular model. First of all, you need to have an in-door design up to par. Adding such a high profile floor vent cover to a minimalist apartment will make it look somewhat out of place. Also, it’s a design meant for houses with personality and age. Younger designs are better fitted for some other covers.

The second thing you must pay attention to is the material you choose. This is a model that works very well in wood, as opposed to metal, plastic or cardboard. The reason is that a metallic one will be too much for any home, a plastic one runs the risk of looking fake, and a cardboard one may be difficult to manufacture or support its weight. Here is a beautiful example from which you can always draw inspiration for your house.

#8. The contemporary design floor vent cover

In case you are not such a big fan of the classic designs, such as Victorian, retro or Renaissance, you can also opt for a contemporary or minimalist design. You can choose from a range of existing models, or you can ask your selected manufacturer to customize one for you.

As an example, here is a beautiful black metallic piece. Its pattern is composed of simple straight lines, dotted here and there with circles and squares. As simple as it is, it’s also very effective. Pair it with a monochrome striking shower curtain, if you need to place it in the bathroom or a carpet that follows the same minimalist design. It’s important to keep the colors dark and cold, as a multicolored floor vent cover in this design might look too ludic.

#9. The ‘fun’ floor vent cover design

All the models and designs we’ve presented so far are predefined. This means you can choose the shape, size, color, and material, but not the grilling in itself. However, should that not suit yours and your house’s personality, you can always go for the custom made, fun covers. You can come up with your own model such as these fun monkeys drinking martinis or you can ask the manufacturer to design something for you.

This is an amazing way to truly personalize your house. Instead of adding the same floor vent covers in every room, you can actually choose specific ones. For example, you can go for butterflies for the baby room, soap bubbles for the bathroom, cupcakes for the kitchen and clouds for the bedroom. The possibilities really are endless.

#10. The ‘business’ design floor vent cover

This last idea is meant for offices and businesses in general. It’s simple but amazingly efficient at personalizing the working space and truly making it revolve around a unified idea. When you have your own business, be it an office or a restaurant, for example, you want to display you logo as often as you possibly can. On the front door, above the entrance, on napkins, tablecloths, and walls. But details should never be overlooked.

Here is where floor vent covers come in. Choose metallic ones and have your logo inserted into them, as you can see here. It also adds a touch of class to the entire interior design, while making your business look serious and well-established. Once again, attention to detail pays off.

As you can see from all the amazingly creative ideas we’ve brought forward, floor vent covers don’t have to be dull and classic anymore. From Renaissance models to animals and vine leaves, this essential part of your house can now be reshaped and revamped to suit all needs and tastes.

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Here’s What You Need to Know about the Honeywell Lyric Thermostat

Those days when you used to argue with the rest of your family about the temperature in the house are over and done with. You don’t even have to get up off the couch or be at home anymore, because Honeywell have introduced their brand new super ‘smart’ line of thermostats, specifically designed for you to control via your smartphone. The Lyric thermostat is so smart that it will actually sense when you come home or when you leave and it will set the temperature in every room according to that. It’s a revolutionary product and here are all the details you need to know about it.

The Honeywell Lyric’s Design

The Lyric thermostat is a round device, with a white interface and chrome trimmings. It has a rather small round touch pad in the center that normally displays the temperature. On top of this brand new smart thermostat you will find a screen shaped like an arc, which is there to tell you if the Lyric is cooling or heating up. You also have a weather icon to the left which, upon touch, will tell you the local weather. On the right you have the ‘Away’ button, which will allow you to set your preferences for when you are not at home.

The way in which you can operate the device, meaning turning the temperature up or down is by gently turning its outer ring. As far as the design goes, the Lyric thermostat also comes equipped with a white plastic shield that you can use or not, if you wish to cover up any holes in the wall.

Installing Honeywell’s Lyric Thermostat

Fortunately for all home users out there, installing this super smart thermostat is actually very easy, thanks to the people over at Honeywell. First of all, you need to download the Lyric app on your smartphone, because you will receive all the instructions there.

Then you need to shut down the system’s power. After you’re done with that, mount the thermostat’s baseplate on to your desired wall, cable in all the required wires and then strap on the top half to the baseplate. This piece will complete the set up and hide all the wiring.

You can then connect to the Lyric thermostat through your phone, as long as you have Wi-Fi. While connected, you need to configure the device to the hot and cold temperatures your desire, tell it the type of system you have and let it know your location. Reviews report that, on average, installing a Honeywell Lyric thermostat takes somewhere between 20 to 25 minutes and it doesn’t require a pro to come in and do it for you. You can do it yourself. Make sure it’s well wired before you turn it on.

In order for the Lyric thermostat to work, it will need one lithium AAA battery, which you will need to change every year. Something that you need to know about the installation process is that, after you have put the battery in, you have to let the heating mode run for 5 minutes, then the cooling mode for another 5 minutes, so that the smart thermostat can determine what are your HVAC system’s power requirements.

The Lyric’s App

Reviews show that the app as well, just like the thermostat in itself, is very easy to use and will become your best friend when it comes to acclimatizing your house. When you open it, a small circle placed at the top of your screen will show you the exact temperature in your house, even if you are away from home. The background will be either blue, for when the thermostat is in cooling mode or amber for when it’s in heating mode.

Below this, your entire interface will show your event settings, which you can configure according to your preferences, like “I’m leaving”, during the day or “I’m going to sleep”, during the evening. You can even set the Lyric thermostat to go into Eco mode, for night time and you will find that this particular feature will save you a lot of money when it comes to your heat and electricity bills.

The app itself allows you to virtually control the device from anywhere you are, as long as you have a smartphone, a tablet, or an Apple watch. It has the Geofencing function that uses your location to control all your settings in an automatic way. For example, if you set it up correctly, the programmable Lyric via the Geofencing function will know to start heating up your home right before you come home so that you don’t walk into a freezing house.

Another great app that comes with the Lyric thermostat is the Fine Tune one, which will make slight changes in the inside temperature according to outside weather conditions. So, you really don’t have to worry about anything, just sit back and let the Lyric take care of everything.

It also has a Smart Cues alert which will notify you when your Lyric requires attention, like replacing one of its filters, its battery, or some service. You can use whatever Apple device you own and link it to the thermostat, even your Apple watch, and you can use Siri as well in order to give it commands. However, Siri requires you to install the Apple HomeKit first.

Apple’s HomeKit works like an intranet, which takes control of all your home products via its apps and enables them to interconnect. Privacy is a given with this Apple add-on, so you needn’t worry, because all your personal data is encrypted at all times. This means that when you program your lights to turn off or your thermostat to turn on, for example, the only people who will be aware of these changes and of your settings are the ones who are actually inside the house at that given moment.

As far as the app and programming goes, it will also send you signals or notifications when a person enters or leaves your house, but some users reported that it actually took a few weeks before this feature kicked-in properly and started notifying them about human transit through their house.

On the cons list, users also added one problem that Honeywell seems to be aware of and working on as we speak. The thermostat is not compatible, unfortunately, with every kind of wireless router. So, make sure that you check what kind of router you have before purchasing and installing the Lyric, at least until the mother company takes care of this issue.

Users have also found the Lyric to be a major update in the thermostat world from Honeywell’s older digital models, such as the DT90E, the DT92E, the Honeywell Electric TL8230a1003, the TH8110u1003, FocusPRO® 5000 Honeywell digital thermostat or the VisionPRO 8000. Therefore, when it comes to replacement, the Lyric is the way to go.

Key Elements to Be Aware of Before Installing

Here are some technical facts you need to know about the digital Lyric thermostat, so that you can make sure it’s completely compatible with your house.

As far as third party products go, the Lyric works with Apple devices, Samsung SmartThings, and the Apple HomeKit. Apart from that, even if you do have Apple products, you need to set them properly in order for them to work with the Lyric. You can find the instructions on Honeywell’s website.
The Lyric app works with Android as well, versions 4.2 and above, which means starting with Jelly Bean, but Apple is preferable. It’s not supported, however, by Blackberry or the Microsoft technology.

There are a number of third party apps that can hook into the Lyric and which you can use in order to make it work even better, but you need to check their website to see exactly what those apps are, what they do and how you can install them.
The Lyric Honeywell thermostat can also control your dehumidifier. If you don’t have one, it’s capable of dehumidifying your home via your air conditioner.
In order for all the Lyric’s apps to work you need to have Wi-Fi in your home at all times. If you don’t, the apps won’t work, but you can still use it as a basic thermostat and make the changes manually. Be aware that, in this case, the thermostat will be non-programmable remotely.
The Lyric comes equipped, right out of the box, with a wallplate, a trim ring which is optional, two screws that you will need for mounting, its wall anchors, and a Quick Start Guide that is basically a manual and which will show you how to install and use the thermostat.
If you have troubleshooting problems, you can visit Honeywell’s website, where you will find all the help you need.

The Honeywell Lyric thermostat retails for $279 and it’s one of the best smart thermostats out there. It offers a variety of apps that will truly make your life easier and definitely more comfortable.

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Everything You Need to Know about Central Air Installation

Central air installation is making its way into every household. And it’s no wonder, since no one likes sweating in the summertime. No longer a luxury, air conditioning units are a must, in areas where summer temperatures spike and the nights are unbearable. New models are becoming more efficient, quieter and cheaper. With all this in mind, it’s difficult to say no to central air conditioning installation. Thorough research on the internet and time spent reading reviews will help you decide what the best air conditioning for your home is, and it will shed some light on the steps you have to go through. But the ultimate question is “how much to install central air?”

The ABCs of central air

There is something you should do before drafting up a budget, starting to save money for the investment, and even before you ask around “how much does it cost to install central air?” Read all about the basics and know exactly what you need for your house. There is a significant difference between an air conditioning unit that can cool down 200 square feet and a central air installation that can handle a couple thousand feet. Narrow down your search and focus on an installation that will be able to cope with the square footage of your home. But don’t go overboard. While buying a central air installation is a sensible investment, don’t fall into the trap of buying more than you need.

An air conditioning that is too big will be difficult to handle, uncomfortable to set-up and more expensive. You might also want to get familiar with specific air conditioning terms. For example, tons are used to measure the output of an air conditioning unit. The higher the number, the more heat the installation will be able to remove from your house within an hour. If you’re looking for a central air conditioner installation that meets the expectations of a home measuring 1,500 square feet, look at units that are around 2.5 tons. But there are other factors to consider, besides central air installation cost. The rooms on the second and third floor are bound to become hotter during summertime than the basement. To make sure you factor in all the variables, you might want to hire an air conditioning contractor, who will help you make the right choice to suit both your home and your budget.

Cost to install central air

You might be tempted to keep an eye on sales and seize an air conditioner deal from a local wholesaler. This could bring down the central air installation cost, but you’ll need some expertise in order to make sure the installation job is done properly. We recommend you leave the whole process to professionals who’ll ensure that the job is done flawlessly and there are no faulty parts within the installation. If you’ve just moved into a new house or apartment that has never had air conditioning before, you’ll find there is an entire list of things to take care of. This is where a HVAC contractor will come in handy. The air conditioning installation will require additional breakers in the electrical panel, as well as wires within the foundation. You’ll also need a separate duct connected to the HVAC unit. An experimented air conditioner contractor will be able to give you an accurate estimate on the cost of installing central air in your home. Be prepared to pay anywhere between $3,000 for the cheapest models and $5,000 for a two ton unit. The latest systems can set you back by up to $10,000 if you are interested in top notch quality and an extended warranty.

Additional costs

There are a few things that could spike the price of your central air installation. If the design of your house is tricky, it might require additional duct work, which is bound to increase the total cost of the investment. Likewise, if you’re in need of a new thermostat, get ready to add that expense to the list of additional costs. If you don’t want to put up with a noisy air conditioning unit, there are ways to reduce the noise levels and make sure air conditioning doesn’t keep you up all night. Most units run at around 75 decibels, which translates to a noise that is loud enough to be heard through a window. Recent air conditioning models come with an implemented noise reduction feature. However, this doesn’t come cheap. If you decide to invest in a durable installation, expect to pay more for extra options that will keep you comfortable and happy on hot days.

How it works

A central air conditioner installation works in the same way a refrigerator does, only on a bigger scale. Employing chemicals that change their state from gas to liquids over and over again, the heat within a house is sucked out and replaced with cooler air. An air conditioner comprises an evaporator, which is part of a furnace, a compressor and a condenser, which are on the outside. When the compressor receives low pressure gas, the fluid is squeezed and it exits as a high pressure gas. As the fluid passes through the condenser, it cools down and shifts to a high pressure liquid. This goes on to pass through the evaporator, and, as its pressure drops, it transforms into a gas. The evaporating process draws out the heat within the room. When the fluid goes through the evaporator as a low pressure gas, it returns to the compressor to restart the process again. The fan that is attached to the evaporator is in charge with circulating the air within the rooms of a house. Since hot air is lighter, it rises above cooler air to be sucked into the central air unit.

Troubleshooting

After spending time on tackling the issue of how to install central air, and after investing in extra features, air conditioner maintenance will be minimum. However, you might deal with various issues like leaks or poor airflow over the years. Before you rush to the phone to schedule a service check-up, there are some steps you can perform to try to fix the problem yourself. These are the most common issues that tend to pop up over time.

Air conditioning not working at all

If you’re taken by surprise by your central air conditioning that has stopped working, you should first head to the thermostat and check if it’s working properly. If there’s nothing wrong with the thermostat, try checking the following:

Head over to the electrical panel and look for any tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. Resetting them should solve the problem and restore your air conditioning to proper functioning.
Check to make sure the furnace power switch is on. You will find a power button on the outdoor unit.
Switch off the central air conditioning’s power and replace the batteries on your thermostat. Wait five minutes before giving the unit another try.

The central air unit is not cooling properly

If your air conditioning is working but it’s doing a poor job, there are some steps you can perform to locate the issue.

The first thing you should check is the filter. A clogged panel will most likely obstruct the air from flowing into the room, leading to poor cooling. Filters should be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis in order to avoid damage to the other parts of the air conditioning unit.
If the coils are surrounded by ice, you can close the unit, switch it back on and turn on the fan. You should notice the ice melting in a couple of hours.
Since they suck out all the moisture from the air, central air conditioners are bound to produce a lot of water. The drain pipe that is supposed to evacuate the water can get blocked, resulting in the air conditioning breaking down and creating a puddle on your floor. Cleaning the drain will take care of the issue.

Unusual noise coming from the A/C

If you start noticing a strange sound coming from your central air unit, it’s probably produced by a faulty or worn out belt. Generally, the belt that links the motor to the slips of the blower slips and needs to be replaced. A grinding sound coming from the blower usually points towards a motor problem. For this, you might want to call a professional service person. A rattling noise from the furnace might indicate that the panels are not tightly screwed on.

Air conditioning maintenance and guidelines

You might be tempted to neglect periodical maintenance for your central air unit. But if you want your investment and efforts to pay off, keep this check-list in mind so you can strike the perfect balance between cost efficiency and performance levels.

Air conditioning filters are often neglected and forgotten. Regularly replacing and cleaning your central air filters will improve the unit’s efficiency and increase its longevity. Filters do not only keep your air clean, they also keep the essential parts of the system dirt free.
Air conditioning coils are bound to clog and collect dirt over the years. An obstructed coil will lead to poor airflow and decrease the performance of your air conditioner. You should periodically clean the area surrounding the condenser unit and remove falling leaves and other debris that could clog the coils.
The condensate drains play a major role in the well-functioning of your central air unit. To keep them clean and dirt free, take a wire and pass it through the drains to clear out any debris. This way, your system will be able to prevent excess humidity that could produce condensation and affect the walls and woodwork in your house.

When looking for a suitable central air installation, you have to ask more questions than the classic how much does central air cost? You should take into account the square footage of your home, employ a seasoned HVAC contractor and also get ready to pay for extra options that will ensure you’re comfortable during the oncoming hot summer months. Latest air conditioner models come with top of the line features, but maintenance is a requirement that shouldn’t be neglected or postponed.

Image sources: 1, 2, 3.

All about Lyric Thermostat & the Other Top 4 Best Programmable Thermostats

Home automation is the latest trend and it makes perfect sense that it should be. After all, this is the year 2015, when online connections and Wi-Fi networks are readily available to most middle income earners. And since most such people are busy professionals, it is absolutely reasonable for them to want to come back home to a perfectly heated home. However, as is the case with most other electronic gadgets out there, sometimes the range of choices can get a bit overwhelming. This is why today’s post is a guide meant to help you sail through the options and decide which smart thermostat is the right one for you. We’ve ranked the best of the best below, based on temperature control, energy management, design, setup, and support.

1. Honeywell Lyric Thermostat [$229]

The Honeywell Lyric thermostat is probably your best bet, when it comes to finding the right programmable device. It’s averagely priced and comes with great customer support feature. In fact, Honeywell lives up to its name in this sense, since they’ve been acknowledged for this quality for quite a while now. It’s impeccably designed (another Honeywell staple), and does a great job at managing your home’s energy resources and controlling temperature. It supports up to three stages of heating and works well with most HVAC units available on the market at the moment. It also has a feature that determines the optimal temperature based on humidity and the weather outside. The only negative aspect to the Lyric Thermostat is that its app may prove a bit difficult to use, especially for those who are not exactly technology literate.

2. Nest Learning Thermostat [$249]

The Nest Learning Thermostat was actually one of the first products in its category to emerge on the market, as early as the end of 2011. Here was a product that combined home security with automation, all with environmental protection in mind. By far the most unique aspect about this thermostat, which actually comes with a higher price than the Lyric Thermostat, is that it will come to learn your preferences in time – hence its straightforward name. It’s well designed and comes with a great help and support team; there’s really just one snag to it, which detracts from its potential and has it pegged at number 2 on our list. It has a two year warranty, which is shorter than the industry average.

3. Ecobee3 [$249]

The Wi-Fi-ready Ecobee3 thermostat will give you a hint as to what its manufacturer’s priorities are. This is a company that is genuinely cares about protecting the environment and this is also easily noticeable from the design and features of its flagship programmable thermostat. The Ecobee3 comes with not 3, but 4 temperature control stages. It also has a remote sensor, which will allow you to better manage the energy expenditure of your home heating system. The central user interface has a slightly different design from that of most other products in the same category, but this is not to say that it is at all worse. It’s simply in a league of its own in this respect. The only problem with this otherwise great thermostat is that it does not provide geofencing support (i.e. changing the temperature in your home based on the location of your home).

4. Radio Thermostat CT-80 [$169.99]

Unlike the previous three entries on our list, this one comes from a less known brand. However, it performs so well in most respects that we just had to include it. With it, you have complete control over your home environment and the device is also Wi-Fi ready. It can also be programmed via the user-friendly interface and, although it comes with a lower number of thermostat sensors than the other contenders in this chart, it still provides great temperature control in three distinct stages. It also supports geofencing, which can be adjusted to best suit your needs. However, just like with the Nest Learning thermostat, there’s a problem in terms of warranties with this device. Its manufacturer only offers buyers a one year guarantee.

5. Ecobee Smart Si [$159.54]

Unlike the Lyric Thermostat from Honeywell and most of the other brands on our list, the Ecobee Smart Si comes with no light and motion sensors. In plain English, this means that the thermostat can only be used to adjust your heating and cooling system and does not, in fact, allow you to program other things in your house. Indeed, it does a very good job at this, by collecting data from your specific HVAC systems and adjusting its settings based on it. Also on the plus side, the Ecobee Smart Si thermostat has an awesome mobile app, which has been clearly designed with the consumer in mind. The app and the design of the thermostat’s user interface make this one of the friendliest and easiest to program thermostats out there.

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