Nothing beats living in sunny Delray Beach, Fl. The beach is close, the weather isgreat, and there’s a great culture made up of thriving businesses and bustling entertainment. But if you live in Delray Beach, air conditioning in your home is a must—as with any city in South Florida.
It’s funny, but AC is one of those things that we sometimes take for granted. It has a vast influence on our lives for good, but we often don’t stop to think much about it—until it stops working that is!
However, there are some things you need to know as a person living in the hot and humid state of Florida with an interest in staying cool and comfortable when temperatures are high. This quick guide breaks down, in short and digestable terms, exactly what you should know about Delray Beach air conditioning.
What’s HVAC?
HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning. It not only encompasses your air conditioner and heater, but the systems that remove impure air from your home (ventilation). Read more.
How Does Air Conditioning Work?
Delray Beach Air Conditioning, as with AC in general, works by moving refrigerant in a cycle throughout the AC components in a process that repeatedly changes its state between liquid and gas.
This process extracts the heat from your home’s air, bringing the temperature down according to your thermostat settings. Learn more.
What are the Main Parts of my Air Conditioner?
As a home or business owner dealing with Delray Beach air conditioning, it’s good to be familiar with the different parts of your AC unit so that you can be on top of maintenance schedules and keep your costs down. Terms to know are:
- Air Return Vents: Collect air to be cooled
- Compresor: Works to change refrigerant from gas to liquid. Sends it to the evaporator.
- Evaporator: So-called because the refrigerant evaporates here, causing cool indoor air.
- Condenser: Aids in the transfer of heat throughout the AC system.
- Filter: Gets rid of debris in air stream to keep your indoor air and AC system clean.
- Ducts: Deliver the air throughout your home.
Find out more here about the components of your Delray Beach air conditioning system.
What Size AC Unit do I Need?
That depends on the cooling requirements of your home, which is determined by your property size and other factors.
There are various unit sizes available in Delray Beach. Air conditioning units are classified by tons. “Ton” in this case doesn’t refer to the unit of measurement for weight, but rather to the amount of hear they can remove in an hour.
A one-ton unit can get rid of 12,000 British Thermal Units in one hour. A two-ton unit removes 24,000 BTOs per hour, and so on.
Homes typically require units of one-to-five tons. Units above six tons are normally used for commercial purposes.
The number of people who live in a home, the size of your home, the geographic location, and the number of windows you have are all some of the factors that determine the appropriate AC unit size. Delray Beach air conditioning contractors use an in-depth calculation called a Manual-J calculation. They often use specialized software for this purpose.
You can get a general idea of the right size for your AC unit using the following graphic.
Click to enlarge
Read the full article here. Nevertheless, do not make a purchasing decision without having a profesional air conditioning company perform a Manual-J calculation for you.
How do I Prepare my AC Unit for a Hurricane?
Hurricane preparation is simply part of life for residents of Delray Beach. Air conditioning practices should be adapted to local weather needs.
In case of an impending storm, take the following measures be
fore, during, and after:
- Prior to the storm, turn off your air conditioner to prevent the effects of power surge
- Secure your unit
- Wait, don’t turn your unit back on immediately post-storm!
- Perform a thorough inspection of your unit and the nearby area
Take a look at our Youtube Channel for more hurricane tips.
How do I Choose a Delray Beach Air Conditioning Contractor?
There are a lot of great Delray Beach air conditioning companies, but there are also some not-so-great ones. When selection a contractor, follow these tips:
- Make sure your contractor is licensed and insured
- Look for companies certified by organizations like the ACCA and SMACNA.
- Your contractor should do a thorough inspection before giving a quote
- A reliable company will give you a written bid that includes equipment and labor costs
For more help choosing a trustworthy Delray Beach air conditioning contractor, check out this article.
What Maintenance Does my AC Unit Need?
When summer starts, you definitely don’t want to be without AC in Delray Beach! Air Conditioning requires regular maintenance to work well. Here are some things you should regularly be doing to keep your unit running smoothly:
- Change disposable filters every one or two months, clean washable filters every two weeks
- Check and clean evaporator coils at least once a year
- Get air ducts cleaned every two-to-five years
- Install a float switch to prevent condensate leaking (learn more here)
If you’re Delray Beach air conditioning is giving you a headache, you probably want to know whether you’d be better of repairing or replacing. Read our guide on how to know when to replace.
How do I Keep my Electricity Bill Down?
Due to the high usage of AC in Delray Beach, air conditioning costs can be hefty. Unless, of course, you follow energy-saving tips like these:
- Use a Programmable Thermostat
- Use ceiling fans
- Use plants and window blinds to shade your home
- Service leaky AC ducts
Find out more about how to reduce the cost of air conditioning here.
Now that you have that information at your fingertips, you’re much better armed to make important decisions with respect to Delray Beach air conditioning.
Have questions? Feel free to share in the comments below!