Blog

Who Invented Air Conditioning?

April 12, 2021

As the weather heats up in Lake Charles, you’ll likely be reaching for your thermostat to turn on your air conditioner. While most people don’t give their air conditioner a second thought, it’s important to acknowledge that the modern air conditioner didn’t just happen by accident. Through the efforts of a few brilliant people, homes and businesses everywhere can now stay comfortable all summer long. For further insights into the history of air conditioning, check out this report from ACR Air Conditioning & Heating. Nothing But Ice In the past, the only way to cool a room was to use...

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What Are the Most Common Indoor Air Pollutants?

March 9, 2021

Many indoor air pollutants can be commonly found inside homes. It’s usually the case that the air inside a home has far more pollutants than outdoor air. Some common pollutants are dangerous, while others mainly cause allergic reactions. 1. Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is an invisible gas that results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. It can cause you to struggle for enough oxygen. This can make you tired, nauseous, confused, or give you a headache. At a high enough concentration, it can kill you. Every home should have carbon monoxide detectors. They’re especially important in homes with a...

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How Often Should You Get HVAC Maintenance?

February 5, 2021

HVAC systems keep a home comfortable during winters and summers, or any time heating or cooling the house seems wise. A well-maintained HVAC unit could run more efficiently, and routine maintenance might catch problems before they turn too costly. How often should a homeowner request care, though? The Suggested Maintenance Interval Some suggest that checking the system once per year, usually after the colder winter months, appears advisable. Others suggest doing so twice a year since the summer requires running the cooling unit, which might also strain the system. Going too long without any maintenance inspections might prove regrettable. Parts...

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What Affects Indoor Air Quality

January 5, 2021

If you’ve noticed more coughing, sneezing, irritated eyes, nose or throat irritation, or even more dust in your home, you could have an indoor air quality problem. Many factors can affect the quality of your Lake Charles, LA, home’s air. Here are four factors that impact your home’s indoor air quality. 1. Building Envelope If your home is tightly sealed, this is good for your wallet but bad for indoor air quality. A tight building envelope keeps all the volatile organic compounds and other pollutants inside the structure. It also stops fresh air from seeping into your home. 2. Ventilation...

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Is It Better To Repair or Replace My HVAC System?

December 3, 2020

HVAC systems are a major investment. Homeowners often wonder whether it makes more sense to repair or replace them. There are multiple factors that determine which is the better way to go. Let’s explore a few of them. Safety The safety of your HVAC system is the primary factor in deciding whether to repair or replace it. If your current system is a safety hazard, there is no choice but to replace it. This is especially true if making it safe would be costly and just a temporary solution. For instance, a cracked heat exchanger in your furnace can cause...

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Reasons to Invest in Carbon Monoxide Testing

November 16, 2020

Carbon monoxide, chemically known as CO, is a simple chemical compound found naturally throughout nature. Just one oxygen atom away from carbon dioxide, one of the atmosphere’s most prevalent compounds, carbon monoxide isn’t as safe as its more-common counterpart. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 50,000 Americans visit emergency rooms each year due to carbon monoxide exposure. You should invest in in-home carbon monoxide testing; here are several reasons why. Detect Broken Appliances Most American homes have nearly a dozen appliances, ranging from toaster ovens to water heaters. Any appliances that produce heat...

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SEER Ratings Explained

October 20, 2020

All HVAC systems have what is called a SEER rating. This rating helps to explain the working efficiency of a unit. It’s helpful for both technicians and homeowners to understand what it is. What exactly is the SEER rating, and how do you find yours? Follow along for the quick scoop. What Does SEER Stand For? SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is represented by a number that reflects system cooling efficiency. This figure is found by using the cooling output for a typical cooling season and dividing it by the total electric energy input during that same...

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How Air Pollution Poses Largest Threat to Children

September 13, 2020

Air pollution is bad for all of us. Poor indoor air quality affects your health in many ways — from lack of sleep to poor work performance. Unfortunately, children are among the most affected. It is key to know how air quality affects children and how the impact can be limited. Why Children Are Most Affected by Poor Air Quality Children breathe much more air than adults since their lungs are not fully developed. Their lungs will fully develop during their teenage years. But until then, children will breathe in higher quantities of pollutants than adults. Thus, their ability to...

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AC Won’t Cool? Here’s Why

August 17, 2020

The hot and humid summers in Lake Charles, LA, mean you depend on your air conditioner for relief. The last thing you want is to wake up or come home to a sweltering house. Consider these three reasons why your air conditioner isn’t cooling your home and what you should do about each of them. 1. Dirty Filter or Coils A dirty air filter hinders the flow of cooled and dehumidified air into the air ducts and living spaces of your home. If you barely feel a trickle of air from the vent, check the air filter first. If it’s...

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How to Read HVAC Gauges

July 16, 2020

HVAC gauges allow technicians to take pressure readings and assess HVAC repair and maintenance needs. This type of gauge set reads vacuum pressure and gas pressure. It can also be used to add refrigerant and discharge or reclaim refrigerant from the system. ACR Air Conditioning & Heating has qualified technicians available to conduct your HVAC maintenance tasks. Our team can service customers in and around Lake Charles. Choosing Between a Digital or Analog Gauge Technicians can choose gauges with a digital or an analog reading. The blue gauge is for low-pressure readings, and the red is for high-pressure readings. With...

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