This is a short podcast Q&A (episode 395, #AskDerekCole) where Derek Cole answers homeowner HVAC questions: what to check before calling (breaker and thermostat), the central role of dirt and routine maintenance (filters, cleaning) as the primary cause of failures, an EPA-cited stat that 1/20" of dirt can reduce efficiency by ~21%, and technical guidance that upsizing blowers or compressors won’t help if ductwork or design conditions (about 95°F) limit capacity. He also notes envelope/moisture issues (crawl-space sealing, dehumidifiers) as non-equipment causes of comfort problems and closes with a host promo and sharing call-to-action.
Questions this episode answers
Check the breaker box for a tripped breaker and verify the thermostat is on and set to the correct mode (cooling or heating).
Dirt — Derek states 98% of breakdowns are dirt-related and emphasizes filters/cleaning/maintenance to keep dirt out.
According to Derek (citing EPA), 1/20 of an inch of dirt can reduce efficiency by 21%.
No — increasing blower or upsizing the unit doesn't increase capacity if the ductwork and distribution only support a smaller capacity; capacity is also rated at a design temperature (about 95°F).
He cites 95°F as the design temperature at which unit capacity is specified.
Is there anything I can check myself before booking a service call?
Yes, a few things you can check yourself. One is the breaker box inside. Make sure a breaker hasn't tripped. A lot of times this time of year, after a thunderstorm or a storm goes by, power has the means to trip. So check that out to make sure you're not, you know, without power, because it needs power to actually work. So I would check that and I would check your thermostat. A lot of times we go to a house and the thermostat is not actually on, which is kind of weird. So check your thermostat to make sure it is on. It is calling for whatever season you're in. If you're in cooling, make sure the cooling is set on. If it's in heating, then make sure the heating is set on. So those are a couple things you can check quickly before you give us a call. But if you need us, please call us.
What's the worst enemy for my heating and air system?
The worst enemy for any system is dirt. 98% of all breakdowns are dirt related. So the one thing we do as technicians, as professionals is we got to figure out a way to keep the dirt out of the system. So if 90% of breakdowns are dirt related, then our goal is to stop the dirt. So changing filters, getting maintenances, all this will help you along the lines of keeping the dirt out the system. Because most time when the fan motor goes out, you know, sometimes it has to do with it failing on that end. But most of the time it's because dirt is got on the fan, therefore it is overheated and it ran out sooner than its life. So again, maintenance is key. Keeping it clean is key. I think I talked to somebody, they said, oh, I got a brand new unit. I don't need to do maintenance. That is 100% not correct. You need to do maintenance because the units today, again, are not like the units 25 years ago. You don't have a thick piece of copper. You have a thin piece of aluminum today. And dirt, according to the EPA. Now, this is EPA, so EPA.gov look it up. 1 20th of an inch of dirt can affect your efficiency by 21%. That's unbelievable. I mean, 1/20 of an inch is very, very, very small. So that's why you need to do maintenance. You need to keep it clean. Change your filter, Check your filter. That is the biggest problem we've seen in homes. Again, 90% of all breakdowns are dirt related. So our job is to Keep the dirt out of the system.
Will a larger blower help my ac?
No, it won't. You gotta look at two things, okay? And I've told some, some guys this before, they said, well, I can go from a 3 ton unit to a 4 ton unit. I'll get more air. All right? So think about that a little bit. You have a three ton duct system, so it doesn't matter if you have a 20 ton unit, you're only going to get 3 ton in your house. So the blower size, all that stuff is not going to matter if your duct work or air distribution system is not going to allow it to happen. So it doesn't really matter. So no, a larger blower on the same size duct, same size outdoor unit, same size unit, it's not gonna help you out. I mean it's gonna might blow a little harder, but it's not gonna give you more capacity. And that's what you're looking for. Looking for capacity. That's why I think that question is worded in that way is because you're trying to get, you know, it's 90 degrees, my thermostats getting behind. I need more of a unit, I need a bigger blower, I need more capacity. Well, not really because units are only designed at 95 degrees. Here resides at 95 degrees. So if you have a 310 unit and it's 98 degrees, then yes, you have lost capacity because now you're at 98 and not 95. So you're not at design temperature anymore. But then step back and think about it. How many days do we actually have 98, 100 degree weather? Well, in the scheme of 365 days, what is it like 10, 20 days? They're like that. So you'll be over capacity for 340 days of the year to be comfortable on 20 days. So you don't want to do that. So no, a bigger blower is only help you out. A bigger unit is not going to help you out. So again, it doesn't matter if we upsize the unit. If you still have a two ton duct system and you upsize to a four ton, it's not going to matter. You only get two tons of air. So think about the whole scenario in which you're working in and think about what all is happening. So I tell the techs all the time is we check the unit, we check the duct system and then we check the envelope which is the house or the conditions around the house. So if the unit's working great and the duct system is sized properly, then it has to be a house problem. We had an issue with excessive moisture. Well, the problem is that there's excessive moisture under the house which is coming into the crawl space which is then going into the unit up to the house. So we don't have a unit problem or a duct problem. We have an envelope problem and we can fix that envelope problem with some crawl space sealing dehumidifiers, sump pumps. We can fix those problems. But so we'll look at all three to get you a choice on what is the best way to go. That is a long answer for a question about a blower motor, but there you go.
Okay, I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Derek Cole Podcast. Tell some people about this episode. It's on each of us really, to spread the better ways to to be healthier and more comfortable in our homes and workspaces. I'm asking you to be the dealer of positive and life changing messages in your circle of influence. Take a screenshot right now and share the screenshot and the link to this episode with three of your friends today. Share on social Media Use the hashtag Healthy Home. That's Healthy Home. We are always giving away shout outs prizes to our community. If you would like to help me personally then please rate and review on Apple podcast. Give it some stars. Leave a review because that stuff actually does help and I read all the comments. So my last thought for today Please remember you deserve better air at home and greater comfort at home. Don't settle for being uncomfortable for your heating and air every single month. We are so thankful for having you here in our community and be sure to go deeper with us@simmons1hour.com.
