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Ductless Air Conditioner Maintenance In The Fall

It’s inevitable, summer is slowly coming to a close. The days are getting shorter, the air is cooler at night, and you may even notice your furnace kicking in from time to time. One thing to keep in mind is that just because summer is ending doesn’t mean that you should neglect the maintenance on your ductless air conditioner. In fact, fall is the perfect time to perform annual maintenance on your ductless air conditioning system.

Ductless Air Maintenance

Vacuuming and general cleaning of your ductless air conditioning components should be something you take care of regularly, but if not then fall is the perfect time to do so. Cleaning out the filters, and wiping the dust off all the surfaces makes it easier for your unit to move air around and actually increases the efficiency of your system.

Check all the connections at your indoor and outdoor units. Ensure that there are no leaks or loose wires, or any corrosion on any of the elements. A good visual inspection should be sufficient to identify any obvious problems with your units.

Above and beyond a simple cleaning and checking of the components, it’s a good idea to contact a professional and experienced HVAC company for additional maintenance. Having a complete understand of the workings and functioning of ductless air systems is essential to ensuring they are operating properly and efficiently.

Some systems might be larger, older, and have unique things about them that only professional technicians will understand.

Ductless Air Repairs

When an inspection and maintenance is being done on a ductless system, an HVAC technician will also look for components that are wearing out and in need or repair and replacement. This is one of the most important things about having a professional take care of your unit’s maintenance. In order to ensure your unit lasts for many years to come certain components will need to be replaced as they wear out in order to maintain efficiency as ductless units age.

For more information about ductless air conditioners, maintenance, repairs and installation contact Novel Care today: 905-737-5016. Novel Care has been serving Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years.

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In Lieu of Air Conditioner Maintenance

Guess what? The heat of summer isn’t going anywhere. In fact environment Canada is predicting that this beautiful weather will continue right through September. If you haven’t had a chance to call a professional HVAC technician to take care of your air conditioner maintenance yet you might risk a breakdown at the worst possible time. At Novel Care Toronto we’ve had a very busy summer performing regular maintenance and other service for our customers in Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA. Our customers who’ve planned ahead have been able to get air conditioner maintenance appointments at the beginning of summer so they’ve enjoyed efficient and reliable cooling all summer long.

We have encountered some clients that have waited a little too long to get air conditioner maintenance and they’ve either had to pay for repairs or a new air conditioner altogether.

If planning in advance isn’t your thing here’s a quick and easy solutions to ensure your family has home cooling if your air conditioner breaks down.

Building your own air conditioner is easier than you think and only costs about $30. You can pick up everything you need at a hardware store:

  • A Five gallon bucket
  • Some PVC pipe (threaded or unthreaded)
  • A Desk-top fan
  • Ice
  • A Sharpie marker
  • A Pocket knife

For more information about air conditioner maintenance contact Novel Care Toronto today. Otherwise watch the video to see how to build your very own air conditioner, we’re ready when you are.

Novel Care has been providing air conditioner maintenance, repair, and installation services in Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years.

CONSUMER WARNING: Create this cooling system at your own risk. Novel Care is not affiliated with the CBC. Novel Care takes no responsibility for any injuries or damages that may occur.

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Don’t Forget To Change The Air Conditioner Filter

Purchasing a new high-efficiency heating or cooling system from a reputable HVAC company like Novel Care Toronto is an excellent way to ensure you save money on your energy bills. One of the easiest ways to keep it running efficiently is to keep changing the furnace or air conditioner filter. Depending on your type of system this might be the same filter, but since it’s summer let’s discuss the air conditioner filter.

The Importance of The Air Conditioner Filter

Changing the filter in your air conditioner is one of the most important things you can do, and it should be done regularly. Dust, pollen, and other airborne impurities are always being drawn into your home’s HVAC system and being filtered out of the air instead of being spread throughout your home. As your filter slowly gets clogged it can allow more and more dust and other particles into your home via the duct system. A clogged air conditioner filter also makes your air conditioner work harder to circulate air, which reduces its efficiency, and in turn increases your monthly energy bills.

Even when your system isn’t active and your air conditioner isn’t running, the fan might still be running. Many system constantly have the fan going in order to circulate the air throughout the house. Even if you haven’t used your air conditioner recently the filter still might need changing as the system continuously filters the air.

Essentially, it’s a good idea to check your filter every month and change it if necessary. If you find that your filter isn’t getting dirty and doesn’t need changing there may be another blockage somewhere in your system that’s preventing airflow. This should be investigated by an HVAC or air conditioning professional.

Overall changing your air conditioner filter is an easy task, but if you don’t know how to do it contact Novel Care Toronto today: 905-737-5016. Our technicians have been working in Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years.

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3 Top Factors That Affect New Air Conditioner Pricing

You might think that there are numerous factors that affect the price of a new air conditioner, but realistically there are 3 main factors.

  • Efficiency (SEER rating)
  • Single-Stage vs. 2-Stage Cooling
  • Size

New Air Conditioner Efficiency (SEER)

SEER is the measurement of the efficiency of your new air conditioner, it stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER ratings for any new air conditioner start at 13 and go into the 20’s. Popular air conditioners that combine affordability and energy-efficiency are typically rated between 13 and 17. These popular units are also typically single-stage air conditioners.

As it goes the higher the SEER rating the more expensive a new air conditioner usually is.

New Air Conditioner Stage Cooling

Single Stage Air Conditioner: These air conditioners function like a light. They either get switched on or off. They operate at either 100% capacity or 0%, there’s no in between.

2-Stage Air Conditioner: These air conditioners start-up running at about 2/3 of their maximum capacity and then increase to 100% only if the outdoor temperature warrants it. This ensures that the unit is operating as efficiently as possible at all times. 2-stage air conditioners typically cost about $1000 more than a single stage unit, but over time that cost can be recouped on your energy bill.

New Air Conditioner Size

When referring to the size of an air conditioner it’s not in reference to the physical size of the unit. Air conditioners are measured in tons, which indicates how much cooling capacity it has. Typically, central air conditioners increase incrementally in size by 1/2 tons. The larger the unit the more expensive it will be. To find out what size init your home or commercial space needs it’s usually best to consult with a reputable and experienced HVAC technician.

Overall, there are numerous factors that can affect the cost of your new air conditioner, but these 3 factors carry the most weight so understanding them is important. Now that you know more about the reasons for the cost of your air conditioner you can have an educated conversation with your Novel Care Toronto HVAC technician about which new air conditioner is right for you.

For more information about installing a new air conditioner or for a free estimate contact Novel Care Toronto today: 905-737-5016.

Novel Care Toronto has been installing new air conditioners in Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years.

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The Forefront of HVAC: The Ductless Air Conditioner

The HVAC industry is always silently evolving. Consumers aren’t as acutely aware of the technological advances taking place in products like the ductless air conditioner, the furnace, the boiler and the heat pump, but they’re fast and impressive. Initially a ductless air conditioner would be very unique to the region it was purchased in as manufacturers didn’t distribute globally and technology wasn’t as widely shared or available. Today the ductless air conditioner market is extremely competitive with companies worldwide constantly innovating and creating new technologies. The race to make their ductless air conditioners more attractive to consumers has never been more competitive.

Ductless air conditioner systems are equipped with intricate but easy to use controls, which allow consumers to switch between cooling, heating, ventilation and in some cases dry mode operation. Dry mode is a technology that removes moisture from the air via the inverter technology in the unit. Removing moisture in a similar way to a de-humidifier also results in a small reduction in temperature in the space surrounding the unit.

Other technologies like occupancy sensors that tell units to turn on when people are around allow consumers to customize their comfort levels. Units now feature rapid cooling and heating features as well that provide bursts of cooling and heating when quick temperature changes are needed. Some units can also be controlled via smart phone or the internet, allowing users to make changes while they’re not present. The volume control of units is constantly being amended. Quieter units are very popular and technology has definitely kept up with demand in this respect. Overall efficiency is always going to be a game-changing technology as consumers are constantly looking for the most efficient units that also provide a plethora of other features.

The Key to Ductless Air Conditioner Technology

One key thing that ductless air conditioner manufacturers do well is listen to their consumers. The continuous innovation is meeting the demand for higher efficiency and cool features, which makes the lives of front line HVAC suppliers much easier.

For more information about HVAC technology or ductless air conditioner technology contact Novel Care Toronto today: 905-737-5016.

Novel Care Toronto has been serving Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years.

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Millennials Don’t Care About An Energy Efficient Air Conditioner

In case you don’t know millennials are the trendy 20ish demographic that lives in urban and densely populated city areas, they ride the subway to work, they love eating out and they don’t care at all about an energy efficient air conditioner. Well, that’s not entirely true. They do care about energy efficiency, the environment and the like, but they’re predominantly renters. This means that without owning a house they haven’t even regarded the needs that come along with it.

A recent report by the National Association of Home Builders found 75% of millennials want homes, and 66% would actually prefer to live in the burbs. 28% indicated that Energy Star appliances were essentials, while 84% of those also said an energy efficient home is ideal. Overall, they do value an energy efficient air conditioner, but haven’t even gotten around to considering it yet.

Alternative reports have indicated the same results, but have included costs. This is where millennials become price sensitive to the added costs of energy efficient appliances.

The Value: Energy Efficient Air Conditioner

The challenge the HVAC industry and leading HVAC companies in Toronto like Novel Care Toronto have encountered is there is a lack of education about the long-term benefits of energy efficiency versus the short-term cost.

Overall, energy efficient air conditioners, furnace, boilers and other appliances do cost slightly more, but in the long-term reduce energy bills. These reductions easily compensate for higher initial costs, produce fewer emissions, and quite often perform better.

Energy efficient air conditioners and other appliances should be viewed as an investment just like many other pieces of a home. They do have the ability to produce good returns in lower maintenance and monthly costs, and will last for many years.

For more information about energy efficient HVAC components, Energy Star appliances, or to schedule a free estimate appointment contact Novel Care Toronto today: 905-737-5016.

Novel Care Toronto has been serving Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years and has a reputation for excellent service and competitive prices.

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Ductless Mini Split Installation Is Easy!

If you’re thinking about ductless mini split installation for your home then you probably already know about the many benefits of this type of air conditioner. Ductless mini split installation will result in an energy-efficient and very controllable unit that creates excellent circulation and indoor air quality. On top of that you won’t have to worry about all the expensive issues that come with owning a central air conditioning system and installing ductwork. The one thing that stops most people from moving forward with ductless mini split installation is understanding how much work is involved.

Ductless Mini Split Installation

One important thing to understand about ductless mini split installation is that you can leave all the work to the Professionals at Novel Care. While installation is easy for a professional HVAC technician, it’s important its performed by one to ensure its done properly. Professional installation ensures that your unit is installed correctly, that it’s optimized and efficient, and that you don’t have any repair issues in the near future.

Overall, these units are some of the easiest air conditioning units to install.

Ductless mini split installation happens in two stages: installing and configuring the outdoor condenser unit, and mounting, configuring and connecting the indoor air handling unit. The air handling units are the ones you’ll see inside your home. Typically, they’re mounted on the wall, but there are also units that can be mounted on the ceiling and rest on the floor.

Connecting the two components merely consists of drilling a whole through an exterior wall in order to run the power, refrigerant, and condensate lines through the wall. Following the connection of the two units, all that’s required is understanding how to properly set the temperature and taking care of a few small bits of maintenance.

For more information about ductless air conditioners or ductless mini split installation in Toronto, York Region or anywhere in the GTA contact Novel Care Toronto today: 905-737-5016.

Novel Care has been providing professional and reputable ductless air conditioning services to Toronto and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years.

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3 Important Questions About Air Conditioner Size & Rating?

Our customers constantly have questions about their air conditioner. Whether we’re installing a new ductless air conditioner or performing maintenance on a central air conditioner our customer have asked lot of questions over the years. While we’ve answered lots of them in person here are a few of the less common questions we get that might be useful.

Q: What’s Variable Speed Mean?

A: Variable speed is referring to the blower motor on your air conditioner. Variable speed blower motors are designed to provide enhanced comfort throughout your home with reduced air velocity and noise. When this type of blower turns on it operates at a low-speed, which makes less noise and allows the compressor and coil to get warmed up prior to forcing large amounts of air through the units or system.

Q: What Size Air Conditioner Should I Install?

A: So, it’s finally time to replace your old air conditioner. While considering a new unit can be exciting it’s important to take a few things into consideration first. While there are similar models available by different manufacturers you must first calculate the heat-load of your home. This calculation provides you with the proper size of unit for your needs, the size of your home, it’s layout, and a few other variables. The best way to find out what size unit is best for your home is to contact a reputable and professional HVAC technician from a company like Novel Care. They have the knowledge and experience to properly evaluate your home and provide you with recommendations. Aside from that we always recommend installing high-efficiency units that will save you money on your energy bills in the long-term.

Q: What Is A SEER Rating?

A: SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration. This is a measurement of the efficiency of an air conditioner. The higher the SEER Rating is the more efficient a unit is and the less it will cost you to operate. Most brands have a number of units with great SEER ratings and highlight them so they’re easy to find and understand. A Novel Care technician can assist you in selecting a unit within your price range that has a great SEER rating.

For more information about choosing the right replacement air conditioner for your home or office contact Novel Care today: 905-737-5016.

Novel Care has been providing reputable and professional HVAC services in Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA for over 30 years.

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Choosing A Central Air Conditioner

Eventually most homeowners will need to replace the air conditioner they rely on to keep their families cool in the summertime. Choosing an air conditioner isn’t an easy task as there are hundreds of options on the Toronto market, each with its own specific benefits and faults. Finding the right central air conditioner for your home or office is very important as it’s a purchase that will only be made every 15-20 years, so getting it right the first time is imperative to the comfort of your space.

At Novel Care we typically recommend that our customers install a high-efficiency central air conditioner as there are numerous benefits to them, but here are the main things to consider when buying a new central air conditioner.

Central Air Conditioner Purchasing & Installation

There are a number of things to consider when it comes time to replace your existing central air conditioner. Here is a short list of the most important factors.

Reliability: One of the most frustrating things that can happen is for your air conditioner to breakdown in the dead heat of summer when you need it most. While inconvenient to the core this can also be dangerous for young babies, senior, and anyone with a respiratory disease. Your air conditioner not only keeps your home cool but it also filters out the pollens and humidity from the air it circulates through your home, which in turn makes your home a healthier environment. Ensuring that the brand and model of air conditioner you purchase is reliable is one of the most important things to consider.

Energy-Efficiency: As mentioned, regardless of the make or model of air conditioner we always recommend purchasing an energy-efficient model. Energy-efficient models are designed to ensure that reliability and efficiency are primary aspect to their functioning. Energy-efficient models reduce your carbon footprint and can save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bills each year. Overall, an energy-efficient central air conditioner is a win-win for everyone.

Size: You may think that bigger is better, but when it comes to a central air conditioner it isn’t. If your central air conditioner is too big or too small it will cost you more to operate it than it should and if it runs too long or short-cycles all the time it may not last as long as it should either. A Novel Care HVAC technician is able to help you determine what size air conditioner is best for your size of your home or office based on your usage needs and the layout of your space.

Cost: The cost of your new central air conditioner will be a deciding factor as to which make and model you purchase. With a sea of options available in Toronto and the GTA a Novel Care HVAC technician can help you find an appropriately sized, reliable, and energy-efficient model that fits within your budget.

For more information about buying a new central air conditioner contact Novel Care today: 905-737-5016. We’ve been helping customers in Toronto, York Region and the rest of the GTA purchase and install new air conditioners for over 30 years.

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Why Change Your Furnace Filter?

Most of us know that we’re supposed to take care of certain things around the house like raking leaves, cutting the lawn, vacuuming, dusting, etc. All of these little jobs ensure our home looks good and functions properly. One thing that many people fail to do or are intimidated to do is changing their furnace filter. While it might not seem like a big deal, changing your furnace filter is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your furnace is functioning properly and the air in your home is as clean as possible.

Indoor Air Pollution & Your Furnace Filter

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that indoor air pollution is typically worse than the air outside of your home. Replacing your furnace filter is the best way to reduce indoor air pollution and improve the efficiency of your furnace. As the efficiency of your furnace increases the costs are reduced, so by simply changing your furnace filter you’ll be saving money on your energy bills and in the long-term with reduce wear and tear.

Regular Checking

Ideally, your furnace filter should be checked on a monthly basis. Most furnace manufacturers recommend changing furnace filters every 3-6 months, but the duration is heavily dependent on a number of factors. These can include the quality of the filter, what time of year it is, if you have pets in the house, how sensitive you are to allergens, the usage of your HVAC system, and anything else that can affect the quality of the air in your home. As there are so many different things that can affect the life of your furnace filter taking a look from time to time is the best way to know when it’s time to change it.

Types of Furnace Filters

There are lots of different types of furnace filters, all at different price points and levels of quality. There are pre-cut media air filter pads, pleated furnace filters, electrostatic air filters, HVAC filters, and activated carbon air filters. Typically, fibreglass panel filters are the cheapest types of furnace filters and can be found at most hardware stores. The most expensive filters are reusable electrostatic filters, which are designed to trap smoke and smaller airborne particles. They can be rinsed in a large sink or with a hose when they get clogged up and dirty, and if properly maintained they will last for many years.

If you’re unsure about which furnace filter is right for your needs and lifestyle contact a professional HVAC technician at Novel Care today at 905-737-5016

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