Why Your AC Needs Effective Humidity Control for Optimal Performance

September 16, 2019

An air conditioner’s most important role is adjusting how cool your home feels; however, multi-stage ACs—which we offer at GVEC Home—also help control humidity. The amount of moisture in the air can heavily influence indoor air quality and comfort, so it’s important to have an AC system that keeps humidity at desired levels. When you properly control humidity, you get the following helpful boosts to performance. More Comfortable Indoor Temperatures When humidity is high, the human body feels hotter than the number indicated on the thermometer. This is because we cannot produce as much sweat—the body’s primary cooling mechanism—in a humid environment. As a result, you’ll need to crank your AC temperature lower if humidity is high inside your home. If humidity is properly controlled though, you can set the thermostat higher and save on energy bills. Reduced Wear and Tear Regardless of what the actual temperature is within the home, a high humidity level can make you feel a few degrees hotter—maybe more. The system must work harder to achieve your desired comfort, and the more it runs, the greater the stress on system components. If your AC is always operating in a home with high humidity, you’re more...

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Three Common Signs You May Need to Replace Your AC

June 1, 2019

Symptoms of an Ailing AC During the height of summer here in South Central Texas, there are days when your AC runs almost nonstop to keep up. This makes it a critical appliance for your family’s health and wellbeing. AC systems last, on average, between 10 and 15 years. After that, you’ll probably need to start thinking about a replacement. Here are a few common signs that it might time to replace your AC. 1. Rising Energy Bills It’s normal for your electric bill to rise as you begin using the AC more often during spring and summer; however, the increase shouldn’t be much higher than the annual costs in prior seasons. AC systems can become gradually less efficient as they age. This could be due to the age of individual parts, or it could result from undetected mechanical issues. Whatever the reason, this loss of efficiency causes your AC to use more energy in cooling your home than it did when it was new. There will come a point when you’ll need to decide between continuing to invest in an old system or purchasing a new, more efficient model. A new unit will instantly save money on energy bills...

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Six Reasons to Sign Up for Rush Hour Rewards

May 29, 2019

GVEC and Rush Hour Rewards: Peak Time Payback As GVEC’s latest peak time rewards program, Rush Hour Rewards is designed to reduce the overall load on the Cooperative’s electric grid when usage tends to be at its highest. You’re eligible for this program if you have a Nest® thermostat connected to your HVAC system. If you don’t have a Nest installed, but would like to participate, GVEC sells two Nest models, both of which are compatible with Rush Hour Rewards. Plus, when you purchase a Nest through GVEC and sign up for this program, you’ll get special savings on both the thermostat and on installation! Undecided about Rush Hour Rewards? Wondering if Rush Hour Rewards is worth it? If you’re still on the fence about participating or whether it’s worth investing in a new Nest, here are six benefits Rush Hour Rewards provides. 1. Rush Hour Rewards Saves You on Utility Costs One of Rush Hour Reward’s most appealing incentives is the chance to save on your electricity bills. Who doesn’t like saving money? Program participants receive a one-time $85 bill credit just by signing up for Rush Hour Rewards and another $30 bill credit each year they’re enrolled between...

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Why Your AC Unit Should Be Sized Exactly for Your Home

May 2, 2019

Proper HVAC Sizing is a Must No matter the season or time of year, it’s important to have a correctly sized HVAC system. Because these systems work overtime in the Texas heat, summer is an especially critical time for proper sizing. An improperly sized AC/heating system can lead to a number of problems. The Perils of Improper HVAC Sizing One of the problems that can be caused by an improperly sized HVAC system is higher-than-normal humidity levels in the home. Other potential problems include higher-than-average electricity bills and increased system wear-and-tear. Improper HVAC Sizing and High Humidity Oversized AC/heating systems tend to run shorter heating/cooling cycles. Reduced run cycles leave the system with insufficient time to remove excess water vapor from the air, leading to humidity issues. Higher-than-normal humidity in the home can make it feel hotter inside than the temperature indicated on the thermostat. More significantly, high inside humidity can cause mold growth on walls, ceilings, and floors, creating an unhealthy environment. And once your home develops mold, it can be difficult and costly to correct. A correctly sized AC/heating system allows water vapor to be adequately removed, maintaining a dry and cool environment in the home. Improper HVAC...

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How to Fix an AC That Won’t Turn Off

April 20, 2019

Usually, having an AC that runs is a good thing. However, when it never turns off, you can end up with a freezing cold home and excessive utility bills. If your AC unit will not stop running, then follow these tips to address the issue. Look at Your Thermostat The very first thing you should do is take a look at the thermostat. The problem might be as simple as a button that was accidentally pressed. To see if this is the issue, put your thermostat at a temperature above the current room temperature. Wait a moment to see if the system switches off. Check Your Fan Limit Switch This is another thing to consider before you assume your AC unit is broken. Most AC units will have a fan limit switch by the blower that is meant to let you run the fan without having to mess with the thermostat. Switch the fan limit to “auto” so it is not manually overriding the thermostat and continuing to blow all the time. Clean Your Condenser Sometimes, the problem is that your condenser is too dirty to disperse heat. Therefore, the AC runs without accomplishing anything. Cleaning the coils can be...

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What is Super Cooling?

August 21, 2018

In the HVAC space, supercooling refers to cooling your home at a time of day known to retain low temperatures for the rest of the day. This helps minimize the workload for your air conditioning system. It cools air the easiest way possible and when it is least expensive to do so. The Super Cooling Advantage Supercooling allows you to manage your power usage and the resulting bills. It helps save money spent on energy bills. Supercooling helps cut your energy usage by 25% to 33% compared to other times. This is a significant percentage especially during summer when air conditioning costs are at their highest. How to Super Cool Your Home First, acquire your time-of-use plan from your utility. Explore the varying rate plans. The plan indicates cheaper rates for electricity during specific hours of the day and higher rates during other times. Once the plan is activated and running, set the temperature of your thermostat to as low as you can stand it between 68 to 74 degrees. This should be done throughout during off-peak hours with regards to your plan. It will get quite chilly so break out the sweaters and blankets. A programmable thermostat will ease...

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