Tag Archives: cooling

Air Conditioning Maintenance Checklist

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The last thing you need on a hot day is for your AC to go out. Spring is the perfect time to make sure it’s in tip top shape. Similar to our furnace checklist blog post, our specialists have created this air conditioning maintenance guide to get you ready for the dog days of summer.

1. Clean the Debris from your Air Conditioner

Just like your outdoor furniture, you will want to clean the leaves and other debris from the air conditioning unit before using it after it’s been through the winter months. Clearing the leaves, sticks, dirt off the air conditioner is the first thing you want to do before moving on to the next step.

Leaves surrounding AC unit.

2. Clean and Replace Furnace Air Filter

This is crucial to have a working heating and cooling system. You can follow these easy steps we put together in a former post that show you how to replace it.

Filter in furnace.

3. Clean Evaporator and Condenser Coils

The reason is because dust and debris can clog it up making it hard for there to be adequate air flow. Simply take a your hose and spray the water on the AC unit.

Cleaning inside of AC unit.

4. Test it out before you really need it.

The last thing you need if for your AC to go out on one of the hottest days of the summer. Test run your air conditioning unit before you need it running constantly. Make sure to wait until it reaches at least 60 degrees outside before doing this step.

Testing your thermostat.

5. Schedule a tune up.

Regular inspection of your equipment can prevent breakdowns, lower utility bills and lengthen the life of your equipment. Instead of a cut-rate tune-up, we perform a comprehensive inspection of heating or air conditioning systems. Appointment includes:

  • Numerous safety and operational tests on the system
  • Light cleaning of all moving parts
  • Proper adjustments to enhance efficiency
  • Provide answers and advice regarding the system
Warners' Stellian employee working on AC unit.

Your air conditioner will thank you!

Use these tips to have the coolest air conditioner on the block. If your AC is 16 years or older, it might be time to start a conversation on replacing it. Contact our heating and cooling team to see how we can help you.

What’s the Ideal Refrigerator Temperature?

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Your refrigerator likely comes set at the factory-recommended temperature, probably a “mid-setting,” but what is that?

If you set the temperature too low, your food will freeze. Set it too high, however, and your food will spoil quicker due to increased bacterial growth.

The recommended temperature for your refrigerator ranges from 35 degrees to 38 degrees.

Testing Refrigerator Temperature

But the best test for your refrigerator’s temperature is a beverage. If you don’t like the temperature of your beverage, adjust the fridge. If you think your refrigerator is too cold, increase the temperature by 1 degree and allow 24 hours for the compartment to adjust. Obviously, do the opposite if you think your refrigerator is too warm.

To ensure proper temperatures, air has to be able to flow between the refrigerator and freezer sections.

As shown in the super sweet illustration, cool air from the refrigerator enters through the bottom of the freezer section and moves upward. Most of the air then flows through the freezer section vents and recirculates under the freezer floor. The rest of the air enters the refrigerator section through the top vent and flows down the back of the refrigerator compartment.

Make sure the air vents aren’t blocked by some errant food thing. Otherwise, it might block the flow of air to the refrigerator, which in turn causes temperature and moisture problems and melty ice cream, etc.

Also (word to the wise), if your refrigerator can’t exhaust properly, it can’t cool properly. So, vacuum the condenser every three months!

What’s your ideal refrigerator temperature? Let us know in the comments.

HOW TO: buy a window air conditioner

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Don’t expect any reprieve after the weekend’s hot, humid weather. Today’s supposed to see record high temperatures in the 90s.

Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued for this afternoon and early tonight for Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

Here at Warners’ Stellian, that means sweaty, sleepless customers start shopping for window AC units (or wall air conditioners).

If you’re shopping for a window air conditioner but don’t know what to look for, check out our air conditioner buying guide.

Don’t try to sweat it out, either, thinking you’ll save money. Buy early in the season, because window air conditioning is a seasonal item and runs out at nearly every store every summer. TRUST. ME.

I fielded far too many calls from desperate families looking for window air conditioners later in the summer after stores had sold out of normal window air conditioner BTU units (the only units left were the more expensive, 20,000-plus BTU units). My heart broke for families pleading for help for their elderly parents, etc. But once they run out…

Buying bigger than you need isn’t a great idea, either, or moisture won’t be removed from the air. From our buying guide:

In addition to cooling, air conditioners also dehumidify a small amount of moisture from the air. So it’s important to buy an air conditioner with cooling power appropriate to the size of the room it is in. If the air conditioner is too powerful, the room will be cooled too quickly for moisture to be removed. This results in a lower room temperature with high humidity levels. This kind of environment can cause the air conditioner to cycle on and off, ultimately creating a room that feels damp and clammy.

In terms of figuring out how many BTUs you should buy, Good Housekeeping has a great online calculator to take the guesswork out of it.

Of course, Warners’ Stellian can do the calculating for you if you come prepared with your square footage and room information.