Storms don’t just bring rain and wind. They also cause power outages that can leave you without the comfort of your air conditioning and other home appliances for hours or days. Check out Ready.gov for ways to prepare your entire home for bad weather. Be sure to take special care with your A/C system, so you can stay cool between storms.
PROTECTING YOUR AIR CONDITIONER
Below are 5 steps you can take before, during and after a storm to minimize damage to your air conditioner and get it up and running faster when the power comes back on.
Pre-cool your home. If you think your power may go out during a storm, go ahead and cool your home in advance so you can stay comfortable until power is restored. Set your thermostat to a cooler setting than usual, close curtains and blinds and keep doors and window shut to keep the cold air inside.
Turn off electricity to your air conditioner. Electrical surges from lightning strikes during the storm can damage your A/C unit. There’s also a chance that debris could get stuck in your outdoor unit and burn out the motor. Play it safe by shutting off power to your A/C system. We recommend you turn off power from your thermostat and circuit breaker.
Cover your outdoor A/C unit. This step is only really necessary if you’re expecting a hurricane and high winds. After you’ve turned off your air conditioner, cover it with a tarp or plywood to protect it from flying debris. High winds can knock down branches and trees that could damage your unit if they land on it. Be sure to remove the covering as soon as it’s safely possible. Keeping your unit covered too long can trap moisture which leads to mold and mildew.
Secure the unit. If you have an elevated air conditioner on a second story, be sure to secure your outdoor condenser unit with hurricane straps to keep it in place during strong wind gusts. If your area is prone to flooding, you may want to get an HVAC professional to elevate your unit for better protection.
Check for damage before you turn your air back on. This is one of the most important steps. Don’t forget to assess the storm damage before you turn your system back on. Flooding or flying debris could have damaged your unit and turning it on can make the problem worse. Also, storm winds many cause disconnections within your AC unit, which could lead to toxic refrigerant leaks. Do turn your A/C on as soon as it seems safe. This will keep mold and mildew from settling in.
Our staff is fully trained in the HVAC techniques required to ensure this process is carried out efficiently. The result is that your air will be fresher, easier to breathe, and less likely to cause allergic reactions.
To learn more about Energy Assessment can benefit your home, contact the ACExcellence office today at 954-368-0655 or email us
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Why is Important to maintanance your heater and air conditioner each year
When thinking of your furnace and air conditioning unit, refer to the care you take for your car. Fresh, oil changes, new spark plugs, and a fresh battery help the car to run more efficiently. Your furnace and air conditioner work in the same way. With proper maintenance, these units will work correctly and efficiently and will last many years.
It is recommended that each unit be serviced once a year. To beat the rush, schedule the service of your air conditioner unit in the spring and your furnace in the fall. This routine check-up will prolong the life of your units and ensure proper operation. Either unit should last 12-15 years.
At the yearly AC unit inspection, the professional will check thermostat settings to ensure their accuracy, tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage, lubricate all moving parts, inspect the condensate drain, and check all of the controls of the system. The technician will also clean the evaporator and condenser coils, check the refrigerant level, and clean and adjust blower components.
At the yearly inspection for the furnace, the professional HVAC technician will perform many of the same checks that were completed on the air conditioning unit. In addition, he or she will check all of the gas/oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion, and heat exchanger. Here are a few suggested maintenance tips that the homeowner can regularly complete for the furnace.
1.) Test the heater before the first frost. If you do not feel warm air from the vents, call a professional HVAC technician.
2.) If your unit is powered by natural gas, verify that the pilot light is on. The flame on the pilot light should always be blue.
3.) Change your filters often (once a month is typical in the winter months). The furnace has to work much harder to push air through a dirty filter.
4.) Make sure the vents are not blocked by furniture, window coverings, or plants.
Below are additional maintenance tips and suggestions for the AC unit that the homeowner can complete.
1) Make sure your unit is not leaking or storing too much water. Your air conditioner will not work properly if it is too dry or too wet. Check hose connections for leaks and cracks. Verify that the condensate tube is draining freely.
2.) Change the filter frequently and regularly (every 4-6 weeks).
3.) Clean off the outside air compressor with the hose.
4.) Keep compressor free from clutter. Anything stacked around the unit can impede air flow.
5.) Schedule a duct cleaning every 3 or 4 years. Dust accumulating in the ducts can reduce the air flow and create more dust in the household.
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Heat, ventilation and air conditioning system or HVAC system is something that almost every home in Florida has. This is a very complex system that has many components which allow the system to manage the temperature in any space. In order to understand how the HVAC system works and in order to fix some smaller issues it is crucial to learn more about the basic elements of an HVAC system. Of course, it is always a good idea to ask for help from a professional AC repair service whenever you experience problems with the HVAC.
Heat Exchanger
This element is the main element in the furnace unit. When the thermostat triggers the furnace, air is sucked in the heat exchanger from a special duct that extracts cold air from all the areas in your home. AC professionals call this procedure cold air return chase. Once the cold air gets inside the heat exchanger it is forced out and heated through the ducts and spread all over your home.
Furnace
The furnace is typically the biggest part of this system and requires special space in the home. In most cases this AC unit is installed in the closet or attic. This part is here to push cold or hot air in the ducts that work in each of the rooms in the home. Inside the ducts, we can find small vents that direct the warm and cold air and allow its circulation in the areas around the house and regulate the temperature there.
Condensation unit
This is one the only basic element of the HVAC system that is installed outside of the home. This where the refrigerant gas is cooled with the help of outside air and heat and the refrigerant is turned into liquid and directed through a solid metal tube which is linked to the coil used for evaporation. After that, the liquid is returned to a gas condition and the system drives the heat in which leads to rapid decrease in temperature. The same process takes place when we want to create cool airflow. This is a complex procedure and even a slightest problem can result in malfunctioning. If something like this happens call AC specialists.
Evaporator coil
These coils are placed in a metal enclosure located above the furnace. These coils work when you need cool air. So, the evaporator coil is here to provide cold airflow which is drawn with the help of a furnace blower and redirected to the ducts and eventually out of the vents.
Thermostat
You can easily locate the thermostat because it usually leads to the furnace. It comes with user controls and sophisticated technology. In most cases the thermostat is positioned in a place where we can check and adjust the temperature easily. Thermostats are very easy to use and even your children can set the thermostat to a desired temperature.
Remember that these are not the only HVAC system elements, but they are surely the most important ones.
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Air conditioning units are created to have a pretty long life, but sometimes they do not last as long as we expect them to last. Most of the quality air conditioners have a life span of about 15 to 20 years, but the life span depends on different factors. Just because the warranty covers the AC unit for some time, it does not necessarily mean that it will last that long. Replacements of AC units can be quite expensive, so you need to take some measures in order to extend the life of your AC. Here are some things that you can take in order to extend the life of the AC unit.
Clean your air conditioner regularly. If you do not know who to clean the unit, check out the instructions that come together with the unit. Standard way of cleaning is to use a brush and a hose for cleaning the debris, dirt and leaves that are stuck inside the system. AC coils can also sustain some damage, so be cautious when you clean around them. Also, always turn off the air conditioner before you start cleaning it.
Keep the AC cool at all times. It is advisable to plant small plants or bushes between your AC unit and the sun. That way you will redirect the sunlight from the unit, which in turn will reduce its work and increase its efficiency.
Cooling vents should be away from your things. Objects like furniture should be kept away from the unit. That way there will be clear path for the air to enter and to circulate around the room. AC unit saves energy if there are no obstacles nearby.
Change the AC filters Once per month is the standard time for changing the filters, but how often you change your filters largely depends on how often you use your air conditioner.
Condenser of the AC should be kept clean at all times. The condenser is located outside, and it is the cooling part of the unit. Shrubs must be trimmed always, because sometimes lots of debris like grass clippings can enter into the condenser. If you keep the debris out of the condenser, then your AC unit will be way more efficient and you will prolong the AC life.
Use additional methods for cooling of your home. You can lower the temperature inside your home if you install shades, blinds or drapes on the windows. Installation of ceiling fans is also advisable, because that way you will improve the circulation of the air inside the room.
Annual tune-ups of the air conditioner will also extend its life. These tune-ups should be done by professionals, and it is suggested to be done before the start of the summer season. These annual tune-ups are very helpful, because the professionals can quickly detect any possible problems and point out to solutions. That way your air conditioner will run smoothly and efficiently when you need it the most.
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As soon as the summer arrives, we all start thinking about how to cool off. Air conditioners are always the best choice, but good air conditioning requires constant maintenance of the AC unit. If you have some worries about your air conditioner, you will be calmer if you take some time to clean it before the summer season. That way you will extend its life, and the air conditioner will run smoothly throughout the whole summer.
Cleaning your air conditioner not only will extend the life of the unit, but it will also ensure that your unit will be more efficient, functional and with constant airflow. You electric bill will also lower down, so there are lots of benefits of regular cleaning of the AC.
There are several methods of cleaning the air conditioning system. The first step is cleaning the unit which is located outdoors. The outdoor unit is always exposed to weather conditions, so it also gets dirty quite more often. Outdoor units take a lot of dust, dirt and different debris, so that is why it is always a better idea to start cleaning from the outside. Duct cleaning is also important because it increases the efficiency of the air conditioner.
You do not have to call a service to clean up your air conditioner, and by following some steps you can easily clean it up by yourself. That way you will also save some money, and you will learn some techniques of cleaning the unit. Before you start the process of cleaning the air conditioner, you need to get some items that will help you in the cleaning process. You need a damp cloth for cleaning, gardening or work gloves, screwdrivers, vacuum machine with an attached brush, and a spray hose.
The first thing to do when starting to clean the outdoor unit of the AC is to turn the power off. The power switch is usually located close to the machine in a small box. Next step is to remove all other debris, leaves, dust, branches, etc. that got stuck inside the condenser fins. With the vacuum cleaner go over the fins, but be very cautious not to bend or damage any of the fins.
Next phase is to unscrew the top grille of the unit. Once again, use the vacuum cleaner to remove the debris and dust around the motor of the air conditioner. After you are done with that, use the hose to directly wash the interior side. However, since this is an electric machine, be extremely cautious and avoid spraying on the electrical parts. Also watch out not to bend the fins. Last step is to wipe out and clean the fan blades by using the soft cloth. After you are done with that, reattach the top grille.
Always remember that your air conditioner requires constant check-ups and cleaning. If you maintain your air conditioner in a proper shape, you would avoid any unnecessary AC repairs of the unit.
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Living in South Florida is fantastic—we love it, and that’s why we’ve chosen to live and work here for decades. But, of course, the beauty of our beloved state is balanced by the pervading threat of huricanes and tropical storms. Learning to properly prepare for a hurricane is an absolute must.
Hurricane and storm preparation is most effective when done year-round. Purchasing supplies and tools for surviving in a high category hurricane requires significant investment, so it’s best to space out your purchases over time.
Additionally, there are the processes of developing emergency, evacuation, prep, and contingency plans. These should be written out, memorized, and even rehearsed with your family. The last thing you want is to create an emergency plan when the eye of the storm is upon you!
But if the warnings are out and you’re short on time before the storm strikes, it’s useful to have a tangible list of items that require your immediate attention. Follow this guide to know how to prepare for a hurricane in the 24 hours before it arrives.
Decide Between Evacuating or Weathering out the Storm
If you meet the criteria for evacuation, do it–trying to protect your property isn’t worth putting you and your family in harm’s way.
You have two choices when you know a hurricane is approaching, you can stay or you can leave.
There are lots of reasons why people choose to remain at home when aware of the dangers. Often, this involves financial considerations; many lack the money to travel to safe zones and pay for food and lodging out of town. There’s also the desire to protect one’s property, be it from the effects of the storm or from looters.
As legitimate as some of these considerations are, remember that your first and greatest priority is your personal safety and that of your family. Putting your life on the line for the sake of your home and belongings isn’t worth it if your actions result in injury or death.
Also, remaining in a high-risk area during a storm can lead to you needing emergency rescue services; in such a case, you’re now endangering the life of the rescuer in addition to yours and your family’s.
You should evacuate under these circumstances:
You live in a tall building. The fast winds of a tropical storm or hurricane make tall, multi-floor buildings sway. If you’re in a high rise, it’s best to get out rather than place yourself in jeopardy.
You live in an area prone to storm surge. Storm surge is a rise in water levels above that of the regular tides, and it’s directly caused by a storm. Storm surge was responsible for 1500 deaths during Hurricane Katrina. Research your property and area to determine the threat of waves and flooding.
Your live in a mobile home. As nice as mobile homes are, they’re not the safest structure for emergency situations, especially tropical storms and hurricanes. The strong winds alone can blow your home over and the storm surge can drag it out to sea. Make plans to evacuate if you’re in a mobile home.
You receive an evacuation order from the local authorities. If the government and appropriate agencies issue an evacuation order in your area, pack up and get moving. They know what’s coming and what will happen if you stay.
You’re a Medically Dependent Consumer of Electricity (MDC). If your health condition requires the use of electrically-powered equipment (ventilators, oxygen concentrators, ventricular assistance devices) or appliances (for instance, a microwave for heating fluids), you should strongly consider the viability of evacuation. Should you decide to shelter in place, keep in mind that you become more vulnerable the longer power is out.
Many local governments administer programs designed to keep track of and offer help to people in such situations. See the Broward County Vulnerable Population Registry for an example.
How to Plan an Evacuation
Try leaving in the early hours when traffic is low.
If you meet the criteria for evacuation, take every measure possible to make it happen. As mentioned above, no consideration is more important than your life and safety.
If money for a hotel out of town is an issue, try calling in favors. Find someone at whose place you can crash or who can lend you the funds for lodging. You surely have distant family or friends who are understanding and more than willing to help in such an urgent situation.
If you have no one to help you out, you can find a shelter and wade the storm out in a safe location green-lighted by the government.
When you leave to escape the a storm, you want to make sure not to forget any of these items:
Food (non-perishables like canned food)
Drinking water
At least a week’s worth of clothes
Laundry detergent in case you’re out longer than a week
Container for gas in case stations on the road are low
Important Documents (birth and marriage certificates, medical records, insurance policies)
Items of High Personal Value (family photographs, family heirloom, etc.)
If you can, leave at a time when there’s not much traffic on the road, like between midnight and 4:00am.
Before you leave, be sure to your home is protected against the storm (and possible looters) as much as possible. More on that below.
If You Stay, Prepare Yourself
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Since we’ve already established when you should be evacuating, I’m going to assume that if you’re staying, it’s because you actually have a high probability of surviving without injury or ailment.
First, it’s time to stock up. Hopefully you’ve already assembled a viable emergency food and utility supply throughout the year. Waiting until the day before the storm guarantees long lines, scarcity, and probable unavailability of many of the things you’ll need.
Nevertheless, if you need to begin building your supply now, or if you just want to review necessary items to know whether you’re missing anything, here’s what to include:
Hurricane Tools and Utilities
Withdraw cash to use during a tropical storm or hurricane, since electronic pay methods may be out of order.
Flashlights, glow sticks, candles
Battery-operated radio
Extra batteries
Matches
Plastic garbage bags
Blankets
Duct tape
Clock/Watch
Can Opener (essential if you want to eat!)
Several sets of clean clothing
Toiletries
Keys to house and vehicles
All your important documents (ID, passports, etc.)
Pet supplies if you happen to have pets
Medical Supplies
Injury may occur during a storm and medical attention will be scare, so it’s critical you have first-aid supplies on-hand. Here’s what you need:
Prescribed medication
Bandages and adhesive tape
Sunscreen
Thermometer
Tweezers
Medicine apt for children
Hygiene items for women
Anti-septic Solution
Medical tags if you suffer from a particular condition
And, naturally, there’s the matter of food. No hurricane supply is complete without adequate food and water.
Drinking water: 1 gallon daily per person
Enough canned food to last at least a week
Snacks: dried fruits, cereal bars, chips, whatever lasts and helps lighten the situation
You’ll want coolers to store your victuals. Devote one to water and one to food. Also, it’s wise to invest in a camping-style range that you can hook up to a propane tank and use to cook in the event power and public gas are cut (which is most likely during a major storm).
Getting Water
Water is perhaps the single most important item you should stock up on. You need ample drinking water because your body can’t go more than a few days without it. And non-drinkable water for bathing, flushing the toilet, and similar activities will make the uncomfortable situation a bit more bearable.
If you find yourself short on water, there are ways to get it.
One method is to heat a large pot of undrinkable water and capture the vapor with a rag, towel, or garbage bag. The water captured is drinkable.
Also, if you happen to have a water heater that stores water in a tank, you can use it to get up to 60 gallons of clean drinking water during a storm. Follow the instructions here (note: this technique doesn’t work with tankless water heaters).
Protecting Your Home
Board up your windows to prevent water and dangerous flying objects (as well as looters) from getting in.
Now it’s time to set up your home defense. Take the following steps to strengthen your home against a Tropical Storm.
Trim the trees near your home to prevent weak/dead branches from falling onto your house
Board up the windows or use shutters
Lock your doors and put up drapes (this deters looters and criminals)
Put away everything that can be blown around indoors, preferably into the garage
Keep a radio with hurricane news switched on
Put all your important documents in a water-proof container
Make sure to select a room that’s centrally located and preferably without windows as your place to wait out the storm.
Using a Generator
A generator can make life a lot easier when the power goes out.
Buying a generator is a good idea. Depending on the severity of the storm, you may be without power for days. A generator can help you be more comfortable.
Purchase 5-gallon gas cans and fill them up so that you have enough to run your generator. Check to be sure it’s working prior to the storm so that you don’t have an unpleasant surprise when you really need to use it.
If you don’t have a generator and can’t acquire one in time, try a more affordable DC to AC converter for your car, which you can use to power appliances in your home.
Just don’t do it when the car is in the garage, since the fumes are poisonous. Like wise, keep the generator away from the windows to prevent carbon monoxide from entering your home.
Always remember to exercise maximum safety when storing gasoline. Use tightly sealed containers and keep the gasoline in a shed, garage, or other place apart from where you live.
Learn more about proper gasoline storage and handling here.
Considerations for Apartment Dwellers
Securing yourself and your living space is a bit different when your live in an apartment. Here are some things to take into account:
With duct tape, tape the panes of glass (windows, sliding doors) and then put a barrier like blankets or furniture between the glass and the room.
Don’t risk going outside in the hours or first few days following a storm. You don’t want to draw unwanted attention to yourself from possible criminals.
Don’t light candles or use flames in general during the storm, as they can blow over and cause a fire.
Taking Care of Your Pets
When a storm arrives, you want to take every step necessary to care for your pets. They’re part of the family, after all.
Take these steps to give your beloved creatures the best chance of survival:
If your plan involves evacuating, remember that emergency shelters normally don’t allow animals. This means you need to make arrangements for your pet with a veterinarian, pet motel, or family friend outside the evacuation area.
Pets are part of the family. Whatever you do, DON’T leave them behind during a storm!
Assemble the following items: pet food, drinkable water, waste pan/litter box, animal first aid kit, medications, eating tray, and all veterinary records. Take these with you if you evacuate with your animal, or keep them in a safe, water-proof place if you ride the storm out at home.
In the event you stay at home, be sure to tie your pet up in a safe location during the storm. The last thing you want is for him to wander out to a dangerous area, something that could endanger your life as well.
Final Tips
Just a few last things to take note of before the storm hits:
As soon as the storm hits, treat any water coming out of your faucets as contaminated, since water treatment plants may be damaged or closed. Purify by boiling and/or using chlorine bleach.
If you don’t have enough water to flush your toilets, don’t flush (unless you want foul odors in your home!). Instead, line-up a garbage bag to the toilet to collect waste. Collect water in your bathtub before-hand for use in flushing and bathing.
Place barricades against your entrance-ways to stop intruders. After the storm, one of the biggest threats you face is desperate people acting dangerously, as well as delinquents who take advantage of the situation.
Post-storm, be sure to treat all water before consuming or using it to bathe, wash, clean, or cook.
Proper preparation is vital in the hours preceding a storm. It can mean the difference between life and death. Review these steps carefully and use other available resources from trusted community organizations in preparation for hurricanes and tropical storms.
For help knowing what to do with your Air Conditioning Equipment when a hurricane strikes, have a look at the following videos from our sister company, Aloha AC Repair Fort Lauderdale:
If you live in Florida, you probably use an air conditioning system almost all the time. In case you come back in your home only to find out that there is an unpleasant smell in it you will certainly be annoyed and unpleasantly surprised. If this odor comes from the AC unit, you should definitely spend some time to recognize the type of smell and where does this odor come from. The following is a list of typical smells that come from AC units due to certain technical issues.
Rotten eggs odor
In case you notice that the AC unit smells like rotten eggs, it is very likely that you are facing a difficult problem. This is a type of smell that comes as a result of a broken sewage line. This is where methane gases pass and in case it is not working properly, they will leak directly in the AC unit and spread the odor around your home. It is the best idea to locate the place where your air duct is damaged / broken. However, if you want to fix this problem for good, call some air conditioning repair professionals.
Burning smell
We all know how burning smell looks like. In case this smell comes from the air conditioning system, you have an electrical issue. This specific smell comes from the overheated blower motor or from a certain type of mechanical failure. The reason is simple – accumulation of heat from the plastic insulation located over the wires. They start to melt and hence the burning odor. In addition, if objects made of rubber, plastic or similar materials get stuck in the ductwork they can cause this smell too.
Decomposed animals odor
If you walk into your home and notice a smell like the one that comes from decomposed animals in the AC unit, then there is damage in the air conditioning ducts right under your home. It is not unusual for animals in Florida to look for a place to stay during better weather and they usually go in the vents where they are trapped and die. This is not something that is happening frequently, but it happens.
Damp smell
In case your air conditioning system produces damp smell, it is very likely that mold is accumulating inside the air conditioner. Professional AC maintenance technicians often deal with this type of situation. You can remove this smell by cleaning the AC unit. Change the filter and clean the inner side of the AC, the front grille, perform AC coil cleaning and wipe the drain line. Of course, don’t forget to turn off the AC unit completely when performing this task.
Gas odor
The HVAC system has a cooling and heating part and the heating part is usually working on natural gas. So, in case you notice gas odor, open all the doors and windows in your home and leave your home. Call the gas company and ask for their help.
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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 before, 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
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:
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!
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We’ve been in this situation before: the air conditioner breaks down in the middle of summer, leaving you exposed to the merciless South Florida heat. And you’ve already had the AC unit repaired twice this year! You’re more than likely asking yourself “how do I know when it’s time to get a new air conditioner?”
We strongly believe in the philosophy that if something’s broken, fix it—don’t throw it away! However, there are times when an HVAC replacement is not only justified, but necessary. After all, having efficient, up-to-date equipment saves you money in tune-ups and energy usage in the long-term.
So how do you know when to call for a repair and when to replace your air conditioner? Here’s a quick guide that will tell you everything you need to know about how to know it’s time to get a new AC unit.
You have an Air Conditioning Unit That’s Over 15 Years Old
Although we humans pride ourselves on aging gracefully, the sad reality is that the same cannot be said for our AC equipment. An old unit develops numerous problems that simply become too costly to fix.
This is especially true with air conditioners from or before the early ‘90s. These simply aren’t up to the energy standards offered by modern equipment. By not replacing units this advanced in age, you’re not only setting yourself up for unending repairs (until the HVAC system finally crashes and burns), you’re spending way too much in electricity every month!
Your Air Conditioner Doesn’t Work Consistently
This is a major tell-tale sign that it’s time to replace your ac unit. Issues with insulation, ducts, and other important component of your HVAC system lead to cooling inconstancies. For instance, you have one room that is scorching hot and another that’s too cold.
Other related problems that become apparent are problems with indoor humidity, dust accumulation, and noise.
You’re Experiencing Leaks
Here’s one of the most important indicators that can let you know when you should replace your air conditioner. If you’re seeing leaks in R-22 refrigerant, that’s foreshadowing an impending malfunction of your AC’s compressor. The cost of a new compressor, along with the related costs of fixing leaks and adding additional refrigerant, can set you back well over $2,000.
Even after the issue is addressed, it’s likely you’ll see additional issues arise within the next couple years or less. With such high costs, you might as well invest in a new unit that you know will work efficiently over the course of the next decade.
A great rule-of-thumb is to replace your AC unit when it’s three-fourths of the way through its lifespan and the cost of repair is a third of the cost of replacement.
Guidelines for Buying a New Air Conditioner
When shopping for a new AC unit and hiring a contractor, make sure you choose an experienced technician who calculates your home’s cooling needs according to the standards set forth by the Air Conditioning Contactors of America.
Invest in a high efficiency-unit that’ll save you money over the long-term. Look for the Energy Star label in the equipment you consider.
Getting the Air Conditioning You Need at an Affordable Price
When it’s time to replace your AC unit, one of the major worries on your mind is probably the cost of a new unit. In fact, many people day swapping out a malfunctioning unit because of the high prices of new equipment. That’s why you should work with a contractor who offers affordable, flexible payment options.
Here at Aloha Air Conditioning, Inc., we have a wide variety of financing plans suited to your needs. No matter your budget, you can find the rates and installments that’ll let you quality equipment for your home without stressing out over the price tag.
Give us a call at any time of day, or get in touch online to learn more about our service. We’ve been providing South Florida with unmatched cooling and heating since 1986. We’ll be more than happy to send an HVAV technician out to you to help you decide when you should replace your air conditioner.
We look forward to working with you.
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However, the same warm weather we love so much can get really overbearing. High humidity and average yearly temperatures of 82°F make air conditioning man’s second best friend for most South Floridians. Thus, it’s no wonder that our energy bills are some of the highest in the nation. The average household in the state of Florida pays a whopping $121.00 every single month to keep the electricity running. Home air conditioning cost plays a big part of those hefty bills.
But you don’t have to settle for that huge financial strain. Just think what you could do if you could save a fourth or even a third of that money a year. Invest? Treat yourself to something nice? To say goodbye to an exorbitant bill, here are six surefire ways to significantly reduce the cost of air conditioning in your home today.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
One of the easiest ways to level the central air conditioning cost of your home is to use your thermostat wisely. A lot of people don’t change their thermostat settings when they’re away from home. By keeping your living space cool (or warm, if we’re talking winter-time) when no one’s even home, you’re spending needlessly. Yeah, it’s nice to come to come home to a well-cooled house after a long day out and about in the heat, but the luxury is costing you hundreds of dollars over a lifetime.
Hey, that thing hanging from your ceiling is more than a nice decoration! It’s a great device for keeping your home’s air condition cost at a reasonable level.
Interestingly, fans don’t cool your space. What they do is circulate the air. So why does that make the heat subside? Well, remember that hot matter rises while cold matter sinks. All you need to do get rid of the hot air is move it up and out. To do this, simply spin your fan counter-clockwise.
If you don’t have a ceiling fan, you can also use standing fans throughout the house to achieve the same movement of air. By so doing, you can raise the thermostat setting by 4°F without sacrificing any comfort whatsoever.
Get Some Shade
Hey, remember that sunlight carries heat with it. If you block out potent solar rays, you can effectively cool your home naturally and thereby lower the cost of air conditioning.
If you rent, or if planting trees isn’t an option, you can buy shades or blinds for your windows. Although the sun will still be hitting your house, at least you’ll cut down on the amount that gets into the interior of your home.
Make Sure to Clean your AC Filters
One of the biggest contributors to an inefficient HVAC system and a high central air conditioning cost is having dirty air conditioning filters. When your filters are dirty, airflow is obstructed and the evaporator coil’s heat-absorbing capacity is impaired. It’s important to tend to them at least on a monthly basis. Some coils can be cleaned while others need to be replaced. You can either hire help or do it yourself without too much difficulty.
Service Leaky AC Ducts
Cracks, leaks, and splits in your home’s ductwork can account for as much as 40 percent of lost air. This is especially true in older homes. Because detecting and sealing leaks is a pretty intensive process, you may want to seek an HVAC expert to help you get the job done and stabilize the cost of air conditioning in your home.
Get your Air Conditioner Replaced
If it comes down to it and you’re fighting to keep alive an AC unit that’s nearly keeling over, it may be time to buy a new air conditioner. You’ll have to spend some money to make the purchase, but in the long-term you’ll save as much as 50 percent on your home’s central air conditioning cost. Plus, there are all kinds of financing options available that fit your budget.
Conclusion
There’s no secret to cutting down on the cost of air conditioning. With a few simple modifications, you can save big on your electricity bill while still enjoying the comfort of a cool home. If you need help with services like duct maintenance, filter replacement, or unit installation, you can contact us to get the job done at low prices.
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