Regular air conditioner maintenance helps keep your system running smoothly. Your central A/C is a complicated network, which means even a small problem can spiral into a larger one, costing money, time and your family’s comfort.

Fixing problems while they’re small can also save money on your utility bills, which sometimes spike when an A/C is running inefficiently. Damaged equipment, leaking ductwork and other problems make your equipment work harder and waste the air it has cooled before the air can reach you.

How do you know it might be time for air conditioner maintenance? A few things to look out (and listen) for:

• Has the airflow from your vents decreased recently? There may be a block in your system, a fan may be failing, or there may be a tear or kink in one of your ducts.
• Are there strange noises coming from your air conditioner? It’s not supposed to make any new noises! If there’s something bumping or grinding that hasn’t before, get it checked out.
• Stale or funky smells coming from your vents indicate an issue someplace inside your system. Regular air conditioner maintenance will find and eliminate these odors, which come from sources as varied as torn ducts, mold problems or unlucky animals that crawled someplace they shouldn’t have.
• Does your air conditioner cycle on and off more often than it used to? That may be a problem with your thermostat, or it may be that less conditioned air is getting inside where it belongs, or that cool air is escaping more quickly.
• Are your circuit breakers tripping while your system is on? That may be the result of a serious electrical problem, so contact a professional ASAP.

If something seems off, it never hurts to consult an expert. Please feel free to call on us anytime at Conditioned Air. We’re glad to do our part to keep Naples and Ft. Myers residents cool and comfortable.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioner maintenance and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

A quality air conditioning unit should last about 8 to 10 years, but when it’s time for an air conditioning upgrade it’s important to understand how to choose the perfect system for your home.

Because we know there are many things to consider when upgrading your air conditioning system, the following tips will help you make a comfortable and informed decision.

1. Know the SEER rating for your air conditioning unit.

• SEER ratings are required by the Federal government.
• SEER ratings measure energy efficiency.
• A higher rating indicates a high level of efficiency.

2. Replace outdoor and indoor units at the same time

• SEER ratings measure the efficiency of both units, working together.
• Replacing both units will ensure energy efficiency and system reliability.

3. Have your equipment professionally sized

• Proper sizing results in a more efficient air conditioning upgrade.
• Professional sizing of outdoor and indoor units will make your air conditioned home comfortable.

4. Inspect the duct systems in your home

• A professional evaluation can determine if your duct system is free of contaminants and if each room in your home is receiving the proper amount of airflow.
• Your contractor will also be able to determine if your ductwork is adequate for the new A/C unit.

The decision to invest in an air conditioning upgrade will result in energy savings and increased home comfort.  When it’s time to make this important purchase, contact us.  We will ensure that your air conditioning upgrade is safe, affordable, and efficient.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about upgrading your central air conditioner and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

If you are like most of us in Southwest Florida, you rely on home comfort systems to control  temperatures in your living space year-round. As we all want to get the most value for our money, keeping our homes running efficiently is key. Here are six steps we can take to make sure our heating and cooling systems are performing optimally.

• Set the thermostat properly: This means setting your home comfort systems to a recommended temperature of 76 degrees in summer and 70 degrees in winter.
• Clean and replace air filters: Air filters should be replaced a least twice a year, ideally in the spring and fall, before the onset of extreme weather, when home comfort systems are used most heavily.
• Eliminate leaks: While it seems obvious to close doors and windows keeping hot or cold air inside, smaller leaks can also sap efficiency. Monitor and seal cracks in and around doors and windows.
• Keep coils clean: Both indoor and outdoor air conditioning coils should be professionally cleaned on a regular basis.
• Check for ice on pipes: We recommend calling a technician any time that ice appears on the air conditioning unit, particularly around the pipes. Our Conditioned Air technicians can fix a problem before the unit becomes permanently damaged.
• Keep the area around the unit clear: An easy way to maintain your air conditioner in any season is to make sure there is plenty of room for air to circulate around the condenser and indoor evaporator unit. Remove any plants or furniture that may cause blockage of air flow.

None of us want to pay more than necessary to keep our home comfort systems running efficiently. We recommend that all Southwest Florida homeowners who want to keep their homes affordably comfortable incorporate these tips into their regular home maintenance routines. For more details go to www.energystar.gov or download our free Home Comfort Guide ebook.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about controlling your home temperature and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

This is a topic we can’t talk about enough.  Here at Conditioned Air, we believe that regular maintenance is one of the most important factors in your home comfort.  All of the other measures you take to reduce energy use and increase comfort won’t be effective if your AC is not working properly.  Maintenance ensures that your cooling system keeps you comfortable, works at peak efficiency, lasts longer and costs you less money in repairs.

So, let’s go over some of the basics of AC maintenance for Florida homeowners:

Filters
One of the most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters.  Clogged, dirty filters block normal air flow and reduce a system’s efficiency significantly.  With normal air flow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity.  Keeping the filter clean can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5%–15%.

For central air conditioners, filters are generally located somewhere along the return duct’s length. Common filter locations are in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself.

Some types of filters are reusable; others must be replaced.  They’re available in a variety of types and efficiencies.  We can tell you which kinds of filters are right for your system, and clean or replace your air conditioning system’s filter or filters during regularly scheduled maintenance visits.  You can do the job every month or two during the cooling season, as well.  Filters may need more frequent attention if the air conditioner is in constant use, is subjected to dusty conditions, or you have fur-bearing pets in the house.

Coils
The air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil collect dirt over their months and years of service.  A clean filter prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly.  In time, however, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This dirt reduces air flow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat.  To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary.

Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby.  You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.

You should minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit.  Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources of dirt and debris.  Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and trimming foliage back at least 18 inches to 2 feet to allow for adequate air flow around the condenser.

Fins
The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils are easily bent and can block air flow through the coil. Air conditioning wholesalers sell a tool called a “fin comb” that will comb these fins back into nearly original condition.  We can also take care of this during preventative maintenance.

Condensate drains
Clogged drain channels prevent your cooling unit from reducing humidity, and the resulting excess moisture may discolor walls or carpet. Routine cleaning with a shop vac and approved drain cleaning additive is very worthwhile.

Regular AC maintenance is worth the extra few minutes it takes each month to make sure these important components are working properly.  Another smart idea?  Sign up for a maintenance contract.  Our highly-trained technicians can be your AC system’s best friend!

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioning maintenance and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

If you’ve dared to step outside lately, you know it’s hot. So, when is the last time you checked your central air conditioning? It’s probably been humming along for a couple of months now, taking the sting out of these soaring temperatures. But, only regular maintenance will keep it running smoothly.  Here are a few basic A/C maintenance procedures that you can do to keep your system humming right along through the rest of the summer season.

Some of these steps can be done by homeowners but others are better left to professionals. By having us do them for you will ensure that all aspects of your air conditioning maintenance are covered.  These tips are from the EPA:

• Check the thermostat. Make sure the A/C unit turns off and on at the right temperatures. If it doesn’t, it may indicate a bigger problem.
• All electrical connections should be checked to make sure they are tight. This check is best left to licensed professionals who are certified in this area.
• Check the drain pan and clean it if it’s dirty. If it’s full of water and debris, this can lead to problems with overflowing water and damage.
• Clean your coils. If you have dirty coils, this forces your unit to run longer to cool the air. The longer and harder it runs, the faster it will wear down, and the faster your electricity bill will go up.
• When needed, clean or change the air filter. A dirty filter means your unit is working more to do less. This is one of the simplest, yet most important, A/C maintenance tasks.
• Check the pressure of the refrigerant. This check is best left to licensed professionals who are certified in this area.
• If you feel comfortable doing it, clean the blower to ensure proper system airflow. The more air is displaced, the faster your house will cool down and the more you save on the electricity bill.

In addition to routine A/C maintenance, here are a few other tips to keep your house cool. Keep your air conditioning units clear of bushes by pruning them regularly. Keep your curtains or blinds shut during the day. Consider installing double-pane windows to seal in the cold air.

After all this work, you may need to take a nap. By all means do it; inside, in your well-maintained and efficient air conditioned home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioning (A/C) maintenance and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

Here’s something you may not know– if you want to reduce your energy bills, one of the most effective ways to do it is through your landscaping.  The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the proper placement of just 3 trees will save the average homeowner up to 25% per year in energy costs.  When you implement an energy-efficient landscape design, you can help your cooling system work more efficiently by preventing the weather from affecting its performance.  If you want to take advantage of potentially significant savings on your energy costs, we have some tips for you.

The first thing to consider when installing an energy efficient landscape is your climate zone.   Here in Southwest Florida, we live in a hot-humid zone, which requires a landscaping plan aimed at keeping your home cool naturally.  Anyone who has spent time in a park or wooded area can tell you that the temperature in these places is noticeably cooler than in areas without shade or covered with asphalt.  Your landscaping can do the same thing for your home.

Here are the main elements of energy-efficient landscape design:

Shade- The area around trees is cooler for a reason.  Trees not only provide shade from the sun, they also move and release water vapor in a process called evapotranspiration.  Shading your yard with climate-appropriate trees can lower the air temperature around your home by 9 degrees.   Energy efficient placement of your trees channels breezes toward your home in summer and maximizes shade during the hottest summer days.  Pay attention to where shadows fall during certain times of day to determine where your trees should be planted, and be sure ask us about how to get the greatest energy savings by adding shade to your outdoor spaces.

Remember, it’s a good idea to plant trees or shrubs around your outdoor A/C unit.  Providing shade for your air conditioner can save you as much as 10% on its operating costs.  Just allow two to three feet around the condenser for air flow.

Wind Control- Unlike some areas of the country where windbreaks are desirable, here in Florida good ventilation is necessary in order to keep the home cool and reduce humidity.  So, you may want to encourage wind movement in your yard.  Smart wind control can help keep your air conditioning from working harder than necessary, so consider including this element when designing your landscape.

An energy efficient landscape pays for itself in energy savings within about 8 years, and can reduce air conditioning costs by 15-50% depending on other factors.  So if you’re looking for ways to save money on energy costs, don’t neglect this important element of home comfort.

As a Florida homeowner, you know how much you rely on your A/C unit and heat pump.  You need them to keep you comfortable all year long, even in extreme heat or cold.  But, is your forced-air system working too hard for your comfort?  One way to tell is to inspect your ductwork.  Leaky air ducts could be causing a lot of issues in your home, and worse yet, they could be costing you money.  Ductwork that’s improperly sealed or torn allows about 20% of the air going through it to escape.  As a result, your system has to work harder and use more fuel to keep you comfortable.  Which leads to- you guessed it- higher energy bills.  It also shortens the life span of your heating and cooling equipment.

There are several clues that indicate improperly sealed ducts:

• Energy bills that seem too high
• Areas that are hard to heat or cool
• Stuffy or dusty rooms
• Tangled or kinked ducts
• Uninsulated ducts in the garage or attic

Do any of these issues sound familiar?  If so, you need to check your ducts and make sure they’re performing well.  We do a lot of ductwork inspection and repair, and we know how important it is that they’re in good shape. So, make sure maintenance includes the following steps:

1. Do a thorough inspection of all ducts.  Don’t forget ductwork in the attic and garage.
2. Use mastic, metal tape or an approved sealant to seal up any leaks or poor connections.  Duct tape is not recommended as it’s not durable for this application.
3. Seal ductwork to all registers and air returns.
4. Insulate around ducts in the garage and attic with R-6 insulation.

Keeping your home comfortable requires ducts that are clean, free from obstructions and sealed properly.  Taking these steps will improve your home’s energy efficiency, keep indoor air clean and save you up to 20% off your energy bill.  It doesn’t take much time or effort to keep your ducts in good working order and the payoff could be big, so do yourself and your system a favor– keep your ducts happy with regular inspections.

You probably don’t think much about how your air conditioning system works to keep you cool, but you should know a few things about the refrigerant it uses.  Why?  If you’re looking to replace your current system with high efficiency equipment, you’ll be switching to a new refrigerant.  Right now, about 95% of all air conditioning units produced in the U.S. use R-22 refrigerant, which has been the standard for the past 50 years.

However, the EPA, as part of the Clean Air Act, is phasing out the use of R-22.  As of 2010, A/C systems can no longer be made using this compound.  R-22 refrigerant is known to contribute to ozone depletion when released into the environment.  The new refrigerant, R-410A, contains no chlorine and therefore will meet the strict new EPA standards.

For consumers, this is really no cause for alarm.  You won’t have to replace or upgrade your equipment any time soon.  R-22 refrigerant will continue to be used to service current systems until 2020 and even after.  Since the new R-410A refrigerant will be part of all new high-efficiency systems, the transition for homeowners should be painless.

Remember, though, whether you are installing a new A/C system or servicing your existing one, make sure that your technician has a certificate for handling refrigerants and that he or she properly charges your system.  Field studies indicate that as much as 75% of all cooling equipment is improperly charged, which can lower your system’s efficiency by 5-20%.  Improper charging also leads to equipment failure and costly repairs.

Our technicians are EPA certified to handle refrigerants.  We feel that this is important for homeowners who want to get the most out of their air conditioning, both in energy savings and comfort.  Whether your system uses the new or old refrigerant, it’s vital that you keep it charged and running properly.

Our customers often ask us about ways to keep their air conditioning systems from working too hard.  The simple answer is to create conditions in the home that help your A/C do its job.  If your air conditioning is working against too many factors, such as humidity and poor ventilation, it will run more often than it should and use more energy.  You’re likely to feel less comfortable, too.

One way to maximize your A/C’s cooling power is to use ceiling fans.  Ceiling fans work by creating a wind chill effect that speeds up the evaporation of moisture on your skin.  So, when used in conjunction with your A/C, they can actually make the room feel cooler by making you feel cooler.  Another benefit of ceiling fans is the fact that they allow you to set your thermostat higher while running your A/C and still feel comfortable.  This saves you money on your energy bill and keeps your A/C components from working too hard and wearing out early.

Keep in mind, though, that in order to get these energy savings you should only run your ceiling fans in rooms that are occupied.  Since their cooling effect is due to personal evaporation, it wouldn’t make sense to run them in spaces with no occupants.  Ceiling fan motors generate heat and use electricity, so you may not realize cost and energy savings if you don’t use them wisely.

Another way to help your A/C keep you comfortable is to dehumidify your indoor air.  We’ve talked about the importance of dehumidification for keeping your air clean and healthy.  But, it’s also a major factor in how well your A/C can keep you comfortable.  Your air conditioning system can itself dehumidify the air, using its air handler.  But, whole-house dehumidifiers are also a good option for hot and humid climates.  They act as a supplement to your air conditioner, and will keep your air dry when the A/C isn’t running.

In future posts, we’ll talk about how whole-house dehumidifiers work to provide cool, dry air for your home all year.  For now, remember to get the most out of your air conditioning system by helping it to work smarter, not harder.

Should you consider a maintenance contract for your heating and cooling system?  If your system could take care of itself there would be no need for regularly scheduled maintenance.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case.  Like all the equipment that keeps your Southwest Florida home running smoothly, your heat pump and A/C system need regular attention.  Having a maintenance contract in place will keep them in peak condition and prevent costly repair bills down the road.

Keeping your home comfortable accounts for almost 50% of your yearly energy costs.  Scheduled maintenance is one of the best ways to save money on your energy bills.  Generally, we come out at least twice a year do a checkup on the following components:

1. Electrical- If your electrical connections are not tight and secure, it could shorten the life of your equipment and cause unnecessary repairs.   Regular maintenance checkups are the ideal opportunity to check voltage and tighten all connections.

2. Lubrication- Friction is the enemy of your system’s moving parts.  Without proper lubrication, components wear down and have to work harder. Your technician will lubricate as necessary to reduce electricity usage.

3. Thermostats- Thermostat settings can affect your energy costs.  We make sure your thermostats are set for maximum energy efficiency. If you have programmable thermostats, this can save you almost $200 per year!

4. Controls- Your technician will put the system through all of its cycles, to ensure that it starts up, operates and shuts down properly.

5. Drains- Clogged condensate drains mean higher humidity and possible water damage in your home.  Regular flushing and cleaning will catch these problems before they turn into major issues.

A maintenance contract for A/C units will include an inspection of condenser coils and refrigerant levels. Blower components are cleaned and adjusted for proper air flow.  Your heat pump is checked for dirty filters or improper settings.  Debris is removed and coils cleaned.  This improves fuel efficiency, lowers your energy costs and prevents future repairs.

The benefits of a maintenance contract for your home include:

• Reduced energy costs- When you keep your heating and cooling system properly maintained, you can save up to 20% on your energy bill.  For the average Southwest Florida homeowner this could add up to about $200 per year.
• Extended system life- A maintenance contract extends the life of your system by ensuring that all components are kept clean and operable.
• Lower repair bills- Regular maintenance prevents costly repairs to your heating and cooling system. The longer you can avoid these repairs, the less your system costs you to operate in the long run.

If you want to make sure your home comfort systems are working at peak efficiency for as long as possible, consider a maintenance contract.  When we come out, we cover all important mechanical and electrical components.  It’s all about making sure that your system is running safely and economically.