When you’re installing air conditioning in a new home, you can rely on Conditioned Air’s expert service. We will put in a cooling system that is carefully evaluated and designed to meet all indoor comfort needs. It will run safely and reliably and to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Our HVAC professionals can design, estimate the cost of and install an air conditioning system designed to keep everyone in the home cool and comfortable throughout Florida’s hottest summer days. They can add a dehumidification system that will reduce indoor moisture, preventing problems associated with high humidity. Because the home will feel cooler, the temperature can be kept a bit higher, and energy bills will fall.

Conditioned Air experts can conduct a complex technical assessment of the cooling load — what’s needed to meet your desired comfort level — and can design a system to meet that cooling load. They can provide energy load calculations and an airflow design that will work best. They can work with your architect  and builder to incorporate air conditioner design, ductwork and other elements directly into blueprints and building plans. This ensures that construction professionals will know where cooling system components are going.

At Conditioned Air, our technical abilities are supplemented by our on-site duct fabrication shop. We can work in both sheet metal and fiberboard to create the ductwork system you need.

Whether you’re a construction professional or you’re a homeowner who’s building a dream home, the experts at Conditioned Air can provide the system you need.

For 50 years, Conditioned Air has provided air conditioning sales, maintenance and repair to residential and commercial customers in Naples and southwest Florida. Contact us for help, whether you’re buying and installing a new system or maintaining the one that you have.

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

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One of the key components of professional air conditioning maintenance is coil cleaning. It can mean the difference between a central A/C system that performs well, saves energy and money, keeps the home comfortable and lasts a long time – and one that performs poorly in all areas.

Regularly scheduled preventive maintenance (which includes coil cleaning) is the most cost-effective way to ensure that your system is always in top shape.

Why are coils so important? Here’s how they function:

• The evaporator coil (indoor or cold coil) absorbs heat from inside air blown over it by the air handler fan
• The condenser (outdoor or warm coil) repels heat as the fan blows outdoor air over its surface

Of course, the air blown over the coils is filled with dust, pollen, mold spores and other lung-irritants, allergens and air pollutants, causing coils to get dirty and become less efficient. The evaporator coil and condensate drain pan are especially vulnerable to bacteria and mold. Recirculation of these contaminants will ruin your indoor air quality.

Here in Southwest Florida, we depend upon our central air conditioners for much of the year, so coil cleaning is well-advised and it’s simple to set up. Just call your local HVAC expert. Remember, ignoring economical preventive maintenance for your home comfort system can lead to:

• Higher monthly energy costs
• Frequent equipment breakdowns and repairs
• A shortened life span for your system and a possible need  for early replacement
• Poor indoor air quality
• Poor ventilation and airflow, possibly leading to health issues and leaving unpleasant, stale odors around the house
• Compromised comfort level in the home, or parts of the home
• Energy waste and harm to the environment

To avoid all of these issues in your home and maintain excellent air quality for your family, just talk to your air conditioning contractor to request a routine inspection and maintenance visit. Your technician will clean coils using specialized equipment and perform all other necessary upkeep tasks to get your A/C ready for summer.

Questions about coil cleaning and system maintenance? Contact the professionals at Conditioned Air. Visit our website to learn more or just give us a call.

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

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Did you know that replacing your air filter monthly (or whenever it appears dirty) is one of the easiest and more cost-effective ways to keep your air conditioner in shape for the coming summer season? It’s true. 

Unfortunately, the job is also easy to forget and sometimes confusing to carry out. Your HVAC contractor will replace your filter for you during a semi-annual maintenance visit, but in between it’s up to you. Let’s look at the many benefits of a clean air filter:

• Your indoor air quality depends upon it. Here in Southwest Florida, you probably use your cooling system much of the year, and hopefully you also have humidity control incorporated into your central A/C system. But your home comfort system also has another job – circulating clean air through your home. Your filter is a key component in the system to improve your indoor air quality. Poor air quality can be harmful to your family’s health.
• Your air conditioner’s efficiency depends on it. A clean air filter saves you money on utility bills. When the filter’s clogged, your A/C works harder to push air through the dirty filter and uses excess energy.
• The life of your cooling system depends on it. A clogged filter won’t provide enough airflow through the system, allowing dirt to accumulate on internal parts. The result is stale air and a shorter life expectancy for central air conditioning equipment. System failures are also a concern. Restricted airflow puts extra stress on the fan motor, causing overheating and possible breakdown.
• Your ducts depend on it. Dirty filters cause your ductwork to accumulate dirt internally. This can reduce air flow, contaminate the air and lead to duct-cleaning expenses to rid the system of uncontrolled mold growth or insect infestations.
• The environment depends on it. Decreasing your carbon footprint helps reduce global warming.

Questions about air filters? Talk to the experts at Conditioned Air. We can help you choose the best filter for your A/C system and explain how to replace it. Visit our website to learn more about our services or just give us a call.

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

Air filter image via Shutterstock

No one likes calling their HVAC contractor to make surprise repairs to a broken-down or poorly performing system. Like any mechanical equipment, your air conditioning system needs regular maintenance to protect your investment and avoid the cost and hassle of major fixes. Establishing annual HVAC maintenance service with a professional contractor helps keep your system tuned and efficient.

Three good reasons to stick to a preventive HVAC maintenance schedule with a certified contractor:

• Preventive maintenance helps your equipment last longer. Your cooling and heating system is a major investment that’s key to your home comfort — and it’s expensive to repair or replace. Annual HVAC maintenance and service — which includes cleaning coils and checking pressures, voltage, electrical connections, belts and refrigerant levels — helps your technician catch small problems before they contribute to bigger ones that damage your equipment, cutting its life short.
• Regular service boosts energy efficiency. To get the most savings out of your cooling system, specific areas need to be checked by an HVAC professional. Refrigerant levels must be very close to the manufacturer’s specifications. Blowers/air handlers need to be checked and adjusted if necessary for correct airflow. A visual inspection of your ductwork system is a must — many homes lose a lot of energy to inefficient ductwork. Sealing leaky joints and checking for adequate insulation goes a long way toward achieving maximum efficiency and safety.
• Well-maintained systems keep your home more comfortable. Poorly maintained systems are less able to work as they were designed. That often means homeowners experience uneven heating and cooling throughout their living spaces and temperatures that never quite reach the settings at the thermostat. Poorly maintained HVAC equipment can also contribute to stuffy rooms, poorly regulated indoor humidity and poor indoor air quality.

To speak with a service-oriented contractor with 50 years experience in Southwest Florida, contact Conditioned Air. We are committed to customers and community.

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

HVAC maintenance image via Shutterstock

Because of our long, hot and humid summers, most homes in Southwest Florida require some sort of dehumidification system to feel comfortable. Many air conditioners come with a dehumidifying function, but because their main role is to cool the air, they can’t always achieve ideal humidity levels.

That’s why many homeowners turn to whole-house dehumidification systems dedicated to removing excess moisture from the air. Whole-house dehumidification systems are installed as part of your existing HVAC system, so they can control humidity levels in every room in your home.

Among the benefits of whole-house dehumidification for homeowners:

• Better health. Mold, bacteria and viruses thrive at relative humidity levels above 60 percent. These and other microorganisms in your home can contribute to asthma attacks, allergy problems and other respiratory conditions, as well as damage to your furnishings and the structure of your home. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping your humidity between 30 percent and 50 percent, levels whole-house dehumidification systems can achieve with ease — limiting the proliferation of potentially harmful microbes.
• Improved comfort. Hot, sticky days can be unbearable without an air conditioner. But sometimes even the dehumidifying function of the A/C unit can’t keep up with demand. And then there are mild days where the temperature is at the thermostat set point and the air conditioner doesn’t run, but the air still feels too humid. That’s where whole-house dehumidification comes in to remove moisture without overcooling your home. This helps to avoid that clammy feeling or stuffy smell.
• Energy savings. By running the whole-house dehumidifier without overcooling your home, you save energy. Also, because your skin feels cooler when there is less moisture in the air, you can set the relative humidity lower and the temperature a few degrees higher and still feel comfortable. You don’t have to run the air conditioner more than necessary simply to remove moisture from the air.

A whole-house dehumidification system could be the solution you have been looking for. To learn more, contact the certified HVAC professionals at Conditioned Air.

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

Indoor air quality image via Shutterstock

Much like buying a new car or upgrading a large appliance, you want to be sure you have received the most from your existing equipment before you make a major investment. However, if you wait too long, costly repairs and poor performance could end up being more expensive. The same is true when you decide to replace an HVAC system: you want to get the most from your existing equipment while avoiding breakdowns and discomfort.

Of course, nobody can predict the future, so this can sometimes be a difficult decision to make. Use these six tips to help you decide when to replace an HVAC system:

• Equipment age: If you have had your furnace or air conditioner for 15 years or longer, it is probably time to consider an upgrade. New models are much more efficient and replacing your equipment before it breaks can save you a lot of stress and discomfort.
• Increasing energy bills: Although fuel and electricity are getting more expensive, as your equipment ages it will become less efficient and cost more each month to operate. Your contractor can help you compare monthly usage to costs to help you determine whether your HVAC system is getting more expensive to run.
• Frequent repairs: If you have had any necessary repairs in the past two years it is a sign of equipment aging and may be time to replace an HVAC system.
• Strange noises: Any odd noises coming from your HVAC system should be examined by a professional. Another sign to watch for is excessive running of the blower fan.
• Home comfort: Do you achieve home comfort in every room in your home?
• Humidity levels: If you experience extreme humidity or dryness in your home, you may benefit from new equipment that has more advanced features.

If you are ready to replace an HVAC system in your home or business, call the trained professionals at Conditioned Air for expert installation and maintenance. We’ll help you properly evaluate your cooling and heating needs so you can get the most from your new investment. Serving Southwest Florida, we’re always happy to help.

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

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Even on the hottest Florida summer day, it can be uncomfortable to feel an icy blast of cold air when your air conditioner kicks on. With a variable-speed air handler, you get a constant flow of heated or cooled air, so you have more precise comfort control all year long.

A variable-speed air handler provides consistent airflow at a low fan speed. When additional heated or cooled air is needed, the speed of the fan increases until the thermostat temperature is met. This type of home comfort technology provides many advantages to you and your family:

• Quiet operation: If you have ever been jolted awake by the sound of your heating and cooling system coming on, you know how noisy a conventional system can be. Constant operation at a low speed is almost unnoticeable, and when the higher fan speed is needed, it gradually increases without making sudden noises.
• Enhanced air quality: Because variable-speed air handlers constantly filter the air that flows through them, the air in your home is much cleaner than with a traditional blower motor. Constant air circulation also means fewer odors and unwanted contaminants, because stale, old air is regularly removed and replaced with air that has just been through the air filter.
• Better energy efficiency: The electricity consumption of a variable-speed air handler is significantly less than a conventional system, saving you hundreds of dollars each year.
• Consistent humidity levels: When your heating and cooling system cycles completely on and off, it also affects the humidity levels in your home. How many times have you turned on the air conditioner not because you were warm, but because the air in your home felt too humid? Constant operation means a consistent humidity level, too.
• Improved home comfort: With no more major temperatures swings, you can feel comfortable all day long.

If you are interested in having a variable-speed air handler installed in your home, call the professionals at Conditioned Air in Naples, Fort Myers, Charlotte or Sarasota. We’ll match your new air handler to your heating and cooling system for optimal operation.

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

Fan image via Shutterstock

Your heating and cooling system is just that — a system. Several components play a role in the overall energy efficiency of the system, including the HVAC equipment, ductwork, thermostats and your home.

Inefficiencies in any one of these areas can result in higher utility bills and reduced home comfort. However, duct efficiency plays a particularly important role because ductwork is the delivery system for heated and cooled air.

In Southwest Florida, the highest energy expense is typically for air conditioning during the long cooling season. Improving duct efficiency can help reduce energy bills by keeping more cooled air within the ductwork so it is delivered to your living spaces. These three tips will help improve duct efficiency in your home:

• Find and seal air leaks: Over time, joints between ducts can become loose, flexible ductwork can tear or be punctured and seals can become cracked. Look for air leaks near supply and return registers, at the point where the ductwork connects to HVAC equipment and at any other connection points in the duct system. Seal leaks with mastic tape and replace flexible ductwork when necessary.
• Insulate ductwork: If you have ducts running through unconditioned spaces like the garage or an unfinished basement, heat can be transferred between the air in the ducts and the air outside, heating conditioned air in summer or allowing heat to be lost in winter. This heat transfer causes your heating and cooling system to run more frequently to keep your living spaces at the desired temperature and increases energy bills.
• Ensure proper equipment sizing: If you are purchasing a new heating and cooling system, a proper load calculation is essential for maintaining good duct efficiency. While it may be tempting to buy a larger air conditioner, overloading the ducts can actually reduce energy efficiency and cost you more in the long run.

The experts at Conditioned Air can help you evaluate the performance of your entire HVAC system, including duct efficiency. Contact us at any time to schedule an appointment or just to ask for advice from one of our courteous professionals. Serving Southwest Florida, we’re always happy to help.

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

Ductwork image via Shutterstock

The typical home cooling and heating system is made up of three main components that work together to keep your home comfortable year-round. These components are:

• The thermostat, which tells the system when to turn on and off.
• The heat pump, furnace or air conditioner, which is responsible for producing warm or cool air.
• The ductwork, which distributes the conditioned air throughout the home.

The key to improving the energy efficiency of your home cooling and heating system is to first improve the efficiency of each individual component. Try using the following tips to impact energy savings:

• Invest in a programmable thermostat to automatically raise or lower the temperature while you are away from home or sleeping. This helps you avoid wasting money on heating or cooling your home when no one is up or around.
• One easy way to boost the efficiency of your home cooling and heating system is to regularly replace the air filter on your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. This improves airflow to the system, which in turn helps it consume less energy during normal operation. Additionally, you should schedule regular service visits with a qualified HVAC company to keep your equipment operating as efficiently as possible.
• Leaky ductwork is a leading cause of residential energy loss. Locating and sealing air leaks in your duct system can dramatically improve energy efficiency. In addition to duct sealing, you should consider insulating your ductwork in areas where it runs through unconditioned spaces, such as your attic or garage.

Taking the time to improve the efficiency of each component of your HVAC system is a great way to ensure that the entire system operates more efficiently. If you live in Southwest Florida and would like to learn more about the benefits of programmable thermostats, duct sealing or regular service visits, contact the professionals at Conditioned Air.

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

Programmable thermostat image via Shutterstock

You may have heard that refrigerant standards have changed. But have you wondered if and how much those changes affect what you do on a daily basis?

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happened with refrigerant standards – and don’t worry, you won’t have to go out immediately and buy a new central A/C system for your home.

Unless you purchased a new system in 2010 or later, your air-conditioning system uses R-22 – a refrigerant that has long been known to contribute to ozone deterioration. The search for an alternative led to an international collaboration, known as the Montreal Protocol, and resulted in the development of a new, environmentally friendly refrigerant called R-410A. This refrigerant is effective to use for the cooling process in both A/Cs and heat pumps, but it doesn’t create or release ozone-depleting chemicals.

Homeowners needn’t be concerned, however, if they currently have older systems that use R-22. The refrigerant will continue to be manufactured until 2020 so that homeowners can have their systems recharged. In fact, if you have an A/C that uses the older refrigerant, you’re in good company, as the majority of Americans also currently use it.

If you have an older system but you’re tempted to switch over to R-410A to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions — don’t. Newly designed A/Cs and R-410A are not compatible. Using the new refrigerant in an old system could lead to serious problems or damage.

When the time comes to upgrade your systems, you’ll be able to take advantage of the benefits of the new refrigerant standards and know that you’re contributing to a greener environment. In the meantime, just do what you’ve been doing – get regular maintenance for your system to ensure its efficiency, but more importantly, to avoid hazardous refrigerant leaks.

Advancements in refrigerant standards will benefit everyone. If you’d like help understanding how the changes affect the equipment in your Southwest Florida home, or if you’d like to upgrade to new equipment to reap the benefits of the new refrigerant, give the professionals at Conditioned Air a call. We are always happy to help.

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

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.