Hail can cause a number of damages to your home including your air conditioning unit. The cooling fins that surround your condensing unit need to be in perfect order for the air to flow between them and allow the proper functions of the heat being removed from the refrigerant. Air blowing over the thin fins cools them, keeping the unit from overheating during times of heavy use, like the hottest days of summer.

The thin aluminum fins on your central air conditioning units are how it disperses heat when it runs. Hail can often pound into the side of the air conditioner, bending the cooling fins flat, or when large enough, damaging the aluminum or copper tubing system that runs through the coil. When the fins are dented, and battered by hail, they cannot conduct heat as effectively. Your air conditioning unit cannot cool itself as well. Overheating can cause the unit to run less efficient and even lead to it ultimately breaking down. Severely damaged fins cannot be reshaped and must be replaced with a new unit. Damage caused by a hailstorm in the fall, winter, or spring might not be noticed until your air conditioner stops working in the middle of summer.

Fan motors and cooling fan blades are well-balanced and precisely pitched. If a large hailstone hit directly, or even near directly onto the motor or fan blades, it may still run, but the long-term damages could occur due to wobbling or the fan cooling system being out of balance. If one of the fan blades were bent, the unit may not cool properly, or worse, shed the blade when the fan is spinning! This would result in a catastrophic failure of the entire AC unit.

Thermostat wiring and high voltage electric connects the air conditioner to the home power and indoor thermostat. If a large hailstone hits the wires, it may have damaged the wire or caused the connection to break free. Even though the copper lines that connect the outdoor air conditioner to the inside coil are somewhat flexible, a sudden jarring blow from a large hailstone could easily rupture the soldered connection and allow the refrigerant to leak out. These leaks may not be noticeable as the system operates under 250 PSI, but if visible dents and damage have occurred it will eventually begin to leak.

The truth may sound a little gross but the mucus lining in our nasal passage is a natural protection method from germs. These mucous membranes perform an important role in our health. When it is very cold and dry outside or the humidity is low in your home your nose dries out. This allows your body to become more vulnerable to infection since the mucous is not present to catch viruses or bacteria.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.

The SEER rating of a unit is the cooling output during the cooling season divided by the total electric energy input during the same period. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit is. Since January 2006, all residential air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 13. ENERGY STAR qualified units must have a rating of 14.

British Thermal Unit – BTU is a unit of measurement for energy. In a furnace, the BTU number refers to the heat output of the unit. The higher the number the more heat the unit is able to produce.

Every system is different depending on your home’s needs.

• Size of the house or building.
• Is the structure well insulated?
• Type and size of the windows.

Let the Preferred Professionals do the math for you as we take all this into consideration when determining the correct system. Give us a call today at (937) 938-7420 and we will provide the perfect unit for your home.

Heat pumps offer an energy efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. These are ideal for climates with moderate heating or cooling needs. Heat pumps use electricity instead of gas to condition your environment.

The most common type of heat pump is an air source heat pump as it transfers heat between your house and the outside air. Generally, if you heat with electricity, a heat pump can heat or cool your home at lower expense than a gas furnace and AC, if the conditions are right.

Heat pumps have two main components, an outdoor compressor / condenser and an indoor air handling unit.

A different kind of heat pump is a ductless mini split system. This would be for someone who does not have duct work in their home, or just needs to condition the air and added space where duct work wasn’t feasible. Just like a standard air source heat pump, there are 2 different components, an outdoor unit, and an indoor unit. The indoor unit of a mini split system is usually mounted on a wall, and can easily heat or cool an individual room.

Many models can have as many as four indoor units that are paired with one outdoor unit. Each indoor unit has its own thermostat (usually a remote control) so it is customizable to suit each room. This not only saves energy but lowers your monthly costs!