Seal Those Ducts

April 2nd, 2018

Air ducts are a vital component of your home’s HVAC system, and any ducts that are leaking can reduce the performance of the system considerably, increasing your energy costs and making your home less comfortable. Properly sealing your ductwork is a relatively simple process, but there are a few things that you should know first.

Why a Proper Seal is Important

Leaking ductwork can allow up to 30 percent of the air moving through the system to be lost, increasing your heating and cooling bills by up to 40 percent. Additionally, leaks in the ductwork can allow dust, combustion gases from nearby appliances and other pollutants to enter the duct system and be carried throughout the house, reducing your indoor air quality. Properly sealing your ductwork can reduce your energy costs, especially if the ducts run through uninsulated spaces like the attic, basement or a crawl space, and it can improve your home’s indoor air quality.

How to Determine if You Have Leaks

A couple of the symptoms of leaky ductwork are high energy costs, inconsistent temperatures or rooms that are hard to keep heated or cooled. You can also inspect any ducts that are easily accessible and check for damaged tape or mastic at the joints, disconnected or loose joints, holes or other damage, and obvious air leaks. Often, however, the ductwork is hidden in walls or otherwise inaccessible, and you may need a professional to inspect it.

Sealing the Ductwork

Sealing your ductwork can be a difficult job, especially if it’s inaccessible, and it’s often best left to a professional. To do it properly, any loose joints need to be secured, using screws for rigid ducts or the proper clamps for flexible ducts, and each joint should be sealed with mastic or foil tape that is specially designed for HVAC systems. Despite the name, regular duct tape cannot do the job properly. Any holes or other damage should be patched, and kinks or twists in flexible ducts should be straightened.

For more information about sealing your ductwork, talk to our professionals at Conditioned Air, serving Southwest Florida.

Continue Reading

Conditioned Air CEO Judges Business Ethics Case Competition

March 9th, 2018

NAPLES, Fla. – Conditioned Air Company of Naples, LLC announced that Chief Executive Officer and Owner W. Theodore Etzel III was one of a dozen top company executives from across Florida to serve on a panel of judges for the Templeton Southeast Regional Business Ethics Case Competition held on Feb. 22-23 at Stetson University.

Teams from 16 educational institutions from throughout North America participated in this year’s competition. After receiving an actual business case, teams were given two weeks to prepare and submit an executive summary and visual presentation. During the event, teams made oral presentations to the judges. Bracket winners then delivered a final eight-minute oral presentation to the entire body of judges in a plenary session including all conference attendees, members of the Stetson University community and the public.

A native Floridian, Etzel graduated from Stetson University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in economics and finance from the university’s School of Business. He has been Chief Executive Officer and an owner of Conditioned Air since 1995, helping to guide the company into the region’s largest air-conditioning contracting and service firm with more than 340 employees in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Conditioned Air offers local expertise in light commercial and residential HVAC systems, including design, engineer, estimate, installation and maintenance of new construction, refrigeration, indoor air quality and dehumidification systems.

For more details or to schedule service, call 1-888-COLD-AIR or visit Conditioned Air.

Continue Reading

Conditioned Air Supports Race For The Cure

February 28th, 2018

We are proud once again to announce our support for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer foundation. Here is our CEO Theo presenting a $2000 check with Gator Country 101.9 today in Bonita Springs.

Continue Reading

Conditioned Air Continues Southwest Florida Expansion

February 28th, 2018

Conditioned Air Company of Naples announced an expansion of its northern region headquarters and employment base to accommodate the air-conditioning contracting and service firm’s strong growth in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Conditioned Air, headquartered in Naples, expanded into Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties in 2011, mostly to serve existing clients in those markets. The company has since experienced tremendous growth, boosting its local employment to the current 56 people. Last year alone, the company saw sales growth of 14 to 16 percent. To accommodate further growth in the northern region, the company is moving into the remaining flex space in its northern headquarters building in North Venice, growing from approximately 5,000 square feet up to 15,000 square feet. The company also anticipates hiring an additional 12 to 15 people over the next year.

Continue Reading

Spring Training Is Here

February 19th, 2018

Spring Training in Florida is a must see. So many teams reside here in lovely Southwest Florida. We are so thankful that these major league teams are here and what they do for the communities here year around. Baseball is America’s favorite past-time so come be a part of it. At Conditioned Air we love keeping players, teams, coaches and fans cool this season. Give us a call.

Continue Reading

Keeping Southwest Florida Comfortable

February 13th, 2018

At Conditioned Air, our goal is to keep your home or business comfortable year-round. We’re here to help throughout Southwest Florida. No matter if you are in Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Englewood, Port Charlotte or Punta Gorda we have you covered. We cover the beaches too. Longboat Key, Bird Key, Casey Key and Lido Key is in our service area as well. Let us keep you cool.

Continue Reading

Angie’s List 2017 Super Service Award

January 29th, 2018

Thank you Southwest Florida for awarding us the Angie’s List Super Service Award for 2017. The Super Service Award honors service professionals who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews on Angie’s List in 2017.

Continue Reading

BREATHING EASY WITH UV LIGHT AIR PURIFIERS

January 18th, 2018

Ultraviolet light has been used in hospitals for years to kill pathogens like bacteria and viruses as part of the sterilization process. By using a similar technique, a UV light air purifier can help to keep the air in your home healthier, which is especially useful in humid areas like Southwest Florida. There are three different types of UV light air purifiers, but they all function in a similar fashion.

UV LIGHT AIR PURIFIER TYPES

The most common UV-based air purifiers are:

  • Air handler-mounted purifiers: One or more UV lights is mounted inside the air handler cabinet, illuminating the filter, the evaporator coil and the interior surface of the air handler.
  • Duct-mounted purifiers: A special system including UV lights is mounted in the duct system, typically on the return side.
  • Standalone systems: These are self-contained air purifiers that can be used in any room, up to the rated capacity of the system.

How They Work

The UV light inside the air purifier shines on any microorganisms located on nearby surfaces or in the air stream, within a certain distance from the UV source. Any viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms that are exposed to the light for more than about half a second will have their RNA or DNA degraded by the UV light, killing them.

Certain types of UV-based air purifiers work better than others, because they allow the microorganisms to be exposed to the UV light for a longer period. Generally, air handler-based systems or well-designed standalone systems produce better air quality than a duct-mounted system, which sometimes has air moving too quickly to treat effectively. A properly-designed system, however, can overcome this.

UV light can also break down odors and volatile organic compounds, leaving the air fresh. Moreover, it can reduce A/C maintenance by keeping the evaporator coil cleaner and preventing algae growth that clogs the condensate drain.

To learn more about the benefits of a UV light air purifier, talk to our team at Conditioned Air. We serve Southwest Florida, including the communities between Bradenton and Marco Island.

Continue Reading

UNDERSTANDING INSULATION R-VALUES

January 3rd, 2018

Your home heating and cooling system is your primary tool for keeping your home comfortable, but insulation is another factor that can have a significant effect on indoor comfort. The type of insulation you use in your home must be carefully chosen, and the insulation R-values must be appropriate for your geographical area. Here is a brief guide to insulation R-values and why they are important.

THE PURPOSE OF INSULATION

Insulation prevents the flow of heat from warmer to colder areas. In a residential setting, insulation keeps warm air in during the cooler months and out during the hotter part of the year. Without insulation, or without enough insulation, heat from your furnace or heat pump escapes from your home in winter, while your air conditioner is overwhelmed with incoming heat during the summer. This makes your indoor spaces uncomfortable and increases the amount you pay for heating and cooling every month.

R-VALUES AND THEIR MEANING

Insulation R-values indicate how effective a particular type of insulation will be at resisting the flow of heat. There are several types of insulation available to choose from, including fiberglass, cellulose, and foam. Each type of insulation will have an R-value, while better-quality insulation of each type will typically have a higher R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation will be a resisting the flow of heat.

The R-value of insulation can also be affected by the thickness and density of the material, and whether or not the insulation material is compressed. Each layer of insulation is considered separately when calculating R-value, with the values of each layer added together to reach the final R-value rating.

In southern Florida, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends insulation with an R-value of R30 to R60 for attics, R13 to R15 for walls, and R16 to R19 for floors.

Conditioned Air serves heating and cooling customers in the Florida communities of Sarasota, Bradenton, Ft. Myers, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on insulation R-values and the benefits that proper insulation can have for your home. Call us today!

Continue Reading

Happy Holidays From Conditioned Air

December 24th, 2017

We hope you enjoy your holidays with your family and friends. Thank you for your business this year. We really appreciate serving and keeping cool all of Southwest Florida. We can’t wait to see you in 2018!

Continue Reading