Month: February 2020

Whether you’re talking about an air conditioner that keeps your inside environment cool on a hot day or the refrigerator where you store your food all year long, it’s important to know the refrigerant in either appliance is doing the work intended. Remember that if the levels drop in an air conditioner or other appliance even 10%, there can be a 20% rise in electrical costs for the homeowner or business.

If the levels fall low enough, the compressor can fail or the evaporator coils can even freeze. These systems are not designed to use any refrigerant and because they are completely sealed, the levels of refrigerant should never drop.

In some cases the valves or access ports might need to be cleaned or replaced by a professional. Where there is copper tubing used, the repair is often about soldering the damaged part. When it comes to air conditioners that are over a certain age, the problem is often with the condensing or evaporator coil and these usually need to be replaced entirely.

While the issue could very well be with a dirty cooling coil that needs to be blown clean, adding more refrigerant to a broken system isn’t generally considered a good idea. The best bet when you notice there’s a change in performance on any of your cooling appliances is to call in the qualified professionals that can find and fix the problem properly the first time.

When you stop to consider the fact statistics tell us Canadians spend almost all of their time indoors, it becomes obvious the quality of the air in our homes is a priority. While everyone needs to be concerned with air quality whether it’s at home, at work, or even in the classroom, there are a few groups that need to be especially aware for specific health reasons.

Those with suppressed immune systems, allergies or asthma are particularly susceptible as are children and people with lung diseases. Of course, you need to be aware of the sources of indoor air contaminants and these are classified as either biological like the dander from pets, or chemical like carbon monoxide and even second hand smoke.

Being aware of the symptoms that affect your health in important. While coughing and sneezing can mean that you’ve caught a virus or cold, these two factors can also mean you’re dealing with poor indoor air quality.

Other aliments include dizziness and nausea, as well as nose, throat and even eye irritation. One quick way to determine if there is an issue is by comparing the air inside and outside of your home. If your symptoms clear up dramatically when you stay away from home for a short or longer period of time, the issue could very well be with the air quality inside your residence.