Articles tagged with: houston

Keeping an Eye on Your Outside Unit

There is plenty you can do to keep your a/c unit clean and working properly longer including keeping an eye on the parts of your unit that are outside of your home. air conditioning, a/cThe compressor/condenser unit is usually located outside in your back or side yard area. In most cases it should be about 2 feet away from your home’s foundation. A great way to keep this part of your a/c unit healthy is to keep it free from obstructions.

Many people do not realize how easy it is for these units to be compromised by weeds, grass and debris. Make sure that you check it out at least every two weeks to see if there are any obstructions to do away with. For the best performance try to keep a 2 foot radius of clear space around the compressor, and also trim back trees or bushes that overhang.

Another thing to pay attention to is the duct system that is in your attic and crawl space, this is where a lot of heat can build up throughout the day. Try to get a good look at the areas you can at least 2 times each year to see if there is any tearing in the insulation or seals. Ensuring that these ducts are insulated well will keep the air traveling through them much cooler. Also, looking for any leaks in these ducts can help you save money and not waste cool air in spaces where it is not needed.

It’s HOT!! Give your A/C a helping hand..

With Houston temperatures hitting the triple digits this summer your air conditioner is working harder than ever to keep you and your home cool.a/c, air conditioning, Houston, summer heat

Give it a hand by doing some simple things to keep it running smooth.

  • Change your filter often. With your unit working overtime it may be necessary to change the filter more often during summer months. Keep in mind that indoor pets can shorten the life of your filters as well. Clean filters will help keep a/c coils working properly.
  • Check your thermostat. Making sure it is registering the proper temperature will keep you aware of any signs that something may be wrong with your system.
  • When away, adjust the temperature. Increasing the temperature while away from home by just 2 degrees can allow your system to get a little rest while still keeping your home cool. Not to mention save you a little money.
  • Get a check-up. Yearly check-ups from the professionals can help maintain your system in the summer months and extend the life of your air conditioning/heating unit.

 

 

Houston May and June 2014 Weather Facts

May 2014

houston springAverage high temperature: 83
Average low temperature: 65
Highest High: 88 (3 days)
Lowest Low: 50
Precipitation: 10.37 inches

In May 2014, there were 5 days with higher than average high temperatures There were 20 days with below average low temps. Precipitation was 5.62 inches above normal (YAY!). The record low for Houston in May was 44 degrees set in 1978; the record high was set in 1998 with 100 degrees.

June 2014

Average high temperature: 90
Average low temperature: 75
Highest High: 93
Lowest Low: 69
Precipitation: 2.98 inches

June 2014 had 12 days with above average high temperatures. There were 7 days with below average low temps. Precipitation was 4.12 inches below normal. The record low for Houston in June was 56 degrees set in 1984. The record high for June was 105 degrees in 2013.

History of Air Conditioning in Houston

air conditioned neon signHouston was once touted as the “World’s Most Air Conditioned City”. Quite a claim for a city that by 1920 cooled its rooms, auditoriums and restaurants by placing a block of ice in a container and then circulating the ice water to fan radiators.

The first public room in Houston to be air-conditioned was the Rice Hotel cafeteria which was air-conditioned in 1922. The Second National Bank was the first air-conditioned building in Houston. An air-conditioner unit was installed there in 1923. Two years later, the Majestic Theatre followed suit. And by 1927, the other movie palaces on Main Street were air-conditioned as the public began expecting cool comfort to enhance their movie viewing pleasure. Houston’s first private home wasn’t air-conditioned until 1932.

The May 1938 issue of “Houston”, the old Chamber of Commerce magazine, described air conditioning as “manufactured weather”. According to that issue, there were 427 air conditioning units already installed, including 126 private homes. Houston at that time had a population of almost 400,000.

Air conditioning was still a luxury for most people through the  World War II era. It wasn’t until the 1950s that air conditioning became a middle-class necessity. All new office buildings were constructed with air conditioning. Local city journalists kept a close eye on the expansion of air-conditioning, using Census results to explain how Houston was indeed “the air-conditioning capital of the world.”

In 1965, Houston opened the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. The Astrodome was not only the world’s first dome stadium, but it was also the first air-conditioned stadium.

The overall acceptance and need for air conditioning was the beginning of the end for the typical home design with big front porches, wide eaves and high ceilings. The new, sought-after ranch homes with their low ceilings were much easier to air-condition than the old styles with their high ceilings. Air conditioning also claimed responsibility for the tremendous growth of Houston and other Sunbelt cities. Well, of course! Living through a Houston summer is only endurable if you have access to air conditioning!

Heating Your Houston Home

warm feet by fireHouston homeowners are home-heating challenged! Keeping your home warm and comfortable can seem like a waste for just a few weeks in the winter. But when we have a frigid winter like this one, its necessary to have a dependable heating system.

The relatively cheap gas furnaces are common, but older models are notoriously inefficient and can be dangerous. You’ll probably see a difference in your monthly bills from a new gas furnace in Houston, but even newer models can’t match the energy efficiency of other heating alternatives.

If you are able to build your heating system from scratch, the most viable alternative is a heat pump. Heat pumps work by exchanging warm and cold air from your home’s interior and the outside air. Because heat pumps simply move air around, no original heat needs to be generated, making these units extremely efficient.

The real advantage of heat pumps is that your heat pump can also work as a “cooling pump.” When you combine your heat pump with an already established air conditioning unit during the full heat of a Houston summer, you’ll be able to keep your home comfortable and save mileage on an older A/C unit.