Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for July, 2020

Why Is My Upstairs Hotter Than My Downstairs?

Friday, July 31st, 2020

My high school physics teacher, Mr. Ploplys, said you can’t fight physics.  Hot air is always rising and cold air is always falling.  If you live in a townhome, you know first-hand how this gets worse as you walk to the upper floors.  The laws of physics apply, but we can at least help!  

simpsons-cartoon-angry-homer-with-dialogue-young-lady-in-this-house-we-obey-the-laws-of-thermodynamics

One way to win the fight for comfort in your home is air movement.  Set your thermostat fan setting from “auto” to “on” to constantly mix up and redistribute that hot and cold air.  Properly sized and multi-stage or modulating air conditioners will help with this as well (see below). 

Hot Roofs and Attics  

animated-diagram-showing-home-without-and-with-attic-ventilation

Temperatures in poorly ventilated and poorly insulated attics can easily reach 140 degrees F or more making a sauna seem breezy.  Ensure your attic is well ventilated and insulated or that heat will make your top floor uncomfortable. 

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Your Ductless AC Might Need Repair If…

Monday, July 27th, 2020
air-handler-up-high-on-wall

Air conditioning repair is not a service you should wait on when you know or suspect you need it. This is especially true for ductless cooling and heating systems, that have unique qualities and equally unique repair needs.

While an air handler can be easily replaced, it’s not the cheapest purchase to make, especially if the problem that led to the replacement could have been avoided. And then if the outdoor unit–namely, the compressor–fails, you’re really out of luck!

Essentially, the longer you wait to have your air conditioner professionally repaired, the higher chance there is of a complete system breakdown. And when you do need AC repair, we’re the team to call! But how do you know when there’s a need? Read on as we uncover a few of the top ways to tell if your ductless air conditioner needs repairs.

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“My AC Compressor Failed! What Do I Do?”

Monday, July 13th, 2020
HVAC-technician-working-on-ac-outside-unit

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you might have seen us refer to the thermostat of your HVAC system as the brain of the system. If it fails, you lose all control of your air conditioner and cannot possibly get it to function and cool your home properly. Fortunately, thermostats are relatively easy to replace, and affordable as well, when compared to other AC components.

Take the compressor, for example. This is considered the “heart” of your air conditioner. Unfortunately, when this component fails, the fix is typically an expensive one. And your air conditioner can’t do any part of its job with a failed compressor. Because this is such an essential component, actually, homeowners have an important decision to make if theirs fails. Read on as we uncover what your options are at this point, and if you’ve come across this problem give our team a call for further guidance.

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