How To Landscape Around Your A/C Unit

Even though the compressor is the workhorse of the air conditioner, it can be an eyesore to your home and property.  Here are some landscaping suggestions:

Decide if you want to work with edging such as rocks or a fence.  

Choose plants that are taller than the height of the compressor (standard is 1-2 feet).   

If you choose immature plants, keep in mind how tall and wide they will be when they reach maturity. Mixing and matching shrubs with bushy perennials will help fill in the area and provide continuing color and greenery throughout the year.  

Select perennial plants or shrubs that require little to no maintenance and will stay or return each year.  

Astilbe grows in most plant hardiness zones. The plant reaches up to 29 inches in height and has a lush green foliage lasting throughout spring in summer. Puffy plumes of color in your choice of pinks, reds and whites appear throughout the summer.  

Hydrangea that reaches up to four feet in height. The hydrangea blooms in your choice of bright colored pink, white or blue spheres -- throughout the summer into early fall.

Place plants at least 3 feet away from the compressor.   Overcrowding of plants and shrubs will block air flow in and out of the compressor -- leading to overheating and permanent damage to your central air system.  

Should You Replace A Working A/C System?

Now that Spring has officially arrived and we know the temperatures will stay warm, we'll begin the task of making sure the lawn is mowed and fertilized, the vegetable garden is weeded and hoed and our landscapes are adorned with beautiful flowers and pruned shrubs.

Don't forget your air conditioning system as well.  We've already experienced how crazy Mother Nature has been lately.  One never knows what the Summer has in store for us.  While most might think, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it,"  there are still  "fixes" that don't have anything to do with being broken.  They are called upgrades and improvements.

If your system is over 8 years old, you have an energy hog on your hands.  Air conditioners always go out at the worst time possible, so be sure to schedule a checkup before the summer swings into full gear.  Even if you don't need to buy a new unit, you'll be comfortable during the hot months knowing your unit isn't about to kick the bucket.

If you do need to replace your unit, consider this fancy little acronym SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.  The higher the number, the more energy efficient the unit is, which means the more money you will save on your energy bill.  The number to look for is 16-23.  They have a higher upfront cost, but will save you $$$$ in the long run.

If you live in the Capital District Region in upstate New York, give us a call today.  We'll be happy to inspect your system for you.  518- 462-5454

What Is HVAC?

Enjoying a finished attic space in the summer sounds like a nice idea, but the room is like a sauna. Can anything be done to make the top floor as cool as the first and not cause the utility bills to skyrocket? Yes! Choosing an efficient system and making sure that ducts are well sealed are critical steps to keeping every room of the house cool.

Air conditioning is a component of the HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) system. The air-conditioning unit sits outside of the home and pumps liquid refrigerant (a liquid that cools something -- often referred to as "Freon") into the air-handling unit (AHU), the unit inside the home that generates heated or cooled air. The AHU generates cool air and forces it through the home via supply ducts and into rooms. (Ducts are passageways, usually tubular and made from sheet metal, flexible material or rigid insulation, that deliver air from the AHU throughout the home, and also return air from the rooms back into the AHU for re-circulation.) Meanwhile, the slightly warmed refrigerant travels back outside to the air conditioner, where it's cooled and re-circulated.

It's important to note, however, that even a high SEER unit may not perform well if the overall HVAC system, including how the air is distributed through the home, hasn't been well planned. As part of the HVAC system, duct work plays a critical role in delivering cool air to the rooms. A state-of-the-art air conditioner is only effective if the air it cools reaches the family.