The Easy Guide to Delray Beach Air Conditioning: 8 Things You Need to Know

Posted on August 20, 2017October 9, 2017 by pulleye

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

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!

How do I Know When to Replace my Air Conditioner?

Posted on August 16, 2017October 9, 2017 by pulleye

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.

how to reduce the cost of air conditioning

6 Surefire Ways to Reduce the Cost of Air Conditioning Right Now

Posted on August 7, 2017October 9, 2017 by pulleye

Living in the sunny state of Florida is like a two-edged sword. We enjoy a temperate climate; have easy access to the most beautiful beaches in the country (as a matter-of-fact, Floridians anywhere in the state are never more than 45 minutes away from the beach); and can boast a diverse, thriving economy.

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.

So here’s what you do. Set the thermostat to four degrees warmer when you’re not home. That’s it. This simple trick can save you as much as 5 to 20 percent on your electricity bill!

Leverage the Power of your Home’s Ceiling Fans

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.

There are different ways to do this. If you’re a homeowner, cultivate flora to keep the light out. Planting trees, vine, and the like are easy, low-cost solutions to reducing your home’s exposure to the sun.

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.

To learn more about our Indoor Air Quality, Air conditioning duct cleaning, repair, sales, services,installation, maintenance,seacoting, coil cleaning, financing, contact the Air Conditioning Excellence Inc. Office at

(954) 368-0655

Air Conditioning Excellence Inc.

Proudly Serving South Florida Since 1986:

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