AC World's Blog - Air Conditioner Blog

Should You Cover an AC Unit in Winter?

If you live in certain areas of the country, the above question could be a moot point by now, given the number of feet of snow that might be piling up outside your home. For those who can still see their outdoor air conditioning unit, however, the question raises a number of points. At first glance, [...]

HVAC Forecast for 2015

Now that 2014 is well behind us, what’s on the horizon for the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry for 2015? Kyle Gargaro, the editor-in-chief of The News, which covers air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics, weighed in recently with his predictions. Here’s a roundup:More Governmental Regulation: It’s an oft-repeated sentiment that the government will [...]

AC Know-How for Central and Window Units

Nothing can replace the voice of an expert—whether an art authority or political insider. Or a tradesperson, like Richard Trethewey, who has built a reputation as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on air conditioning issues. For street cred, look no further than the many years that Trethewey has been associated with the PBS program This [...]

Reflecting Heat with Mirrors?

Engineers at Stanford University have come up with a radical coating material that can help in keeping buildings cool, even when the sun is beating down on your neighborhood’s collective roof space, by turning away the sun’s rays much like a mirror would.The revolutionary breakthrough involves an ultrathin material that can cope with both visible [...]

Finding and Eliminating Drafts

You’ve found the perfect Multi-Zone Air Conditioner for your house, installed a Through the Wall AC Unit in your workshop in the shed, double-checked every connection and even added some insulation in ceiling spaces. And yet, the areas you’ve fought so hard to keep cool seem like they never get quite cool enough, not matter [...]

Hiding Exposed Ductwork

Certain living spaces are intentionally designed to allow for full exposure of many architectural elements – whether structural brickwork, beams, girders, electrical conduits or even central ductwork for heating and cooling.If your home hasn’t intentionally been designed to exposed all of its industrial parts, however, nothing looks more out of place there than ductwork that has not been adequately [...]

Dealing with Evening Peak

A new trend has begun to emerge, says the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) , which could have a significant impact on local utility organizations. This involves a shift of peak demand for power from the day’s mid-afternoon hours to the evening hours. The ACEEE says that in many regions of the country, evening peak periods have been on the [...]

Installing AC into Horizontal Windows

Windows that slide horizontally are an idea choice for many locations, especially in spaces that simply can’t accommodate casement or awning windows. One challenge presented by horizontal windows, though, is the installation of room air conditioning, which typically occurs with double-hung windows that are opened and closed vertically. Fortunately the process of installing AC into a [...]

Cooling Options for Garages

On those beautiful warm days when there’s a slight wind, moderate or low humidity and tolerable temperatures, there’s no better way to keep your garage space cool—especially while you’re working in it – than by opening up the garage door and any windows and allowing nature’s breezes to work their cooling magic. For those other times when weather conditions [...]

Scalability for In-Home AC Comfort

When people hear the term Mini-Split Air Conditioner, they often get the idea that these setups are a combination of a central air system and a window unit. While coming to that conclusion is understandable because of the exterior appearance of the units themselves, it’s not quite correct. Mini-splits are entirely new systems that have been [...]