Best Practices for Air Conditioner Maintenance

September 15th, 2015

The air conditioner in your home or business means more to you than comfort on hot Florida days. It also represents an investment of hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars in equipment that should give you years of reliable service. The best way to ensure your cooling system works at its best for as long as possible is through regular preventive maintenance. Here are some useful best practices for air conditioner maintenance and some reasons why you should consider a maintenance service agreement.

  • Check the filters: The filters in your air conditioner help clean the air moving through your cooling system and into your indoor spaces. They also contribute to the airflow needed to ensure the equipment operates properly. Dirty, clogged air filters are a major contributor to cooling system malfunctions and breakdowns. Check these filters at least once a month and change them when they get dirty.
  • Ensure proper airflow: The conditions surrounding the outside unit of your air conditioning system also affect system airflow. Make sure that grass, weeds, hedges, tree limbs, and other vegetation is trimmed away from the outside unit to provide plenty of clearance for proper airflow. Remove mud, dirt, leaves, sticks, and other material from the cabinet vents.
  • Hire a professional: Almost anyone can change an air conditioner filter, but when it comes to the more complex technical elements of preventive maintenance, always hire a professional HVAC technician. Your HVAC expert will be able to evaluate the performance and condition of your cooling system and make necessary adjustments and minor repairs that will improve performance and extend the equipment’s lifespan.
  • Purchase a maintenance service agreement: Sometimes called a service contract, a maintenance service agreement provides for an agreed-upon schedule of maintenance services from your HVAC service provider. Your HVAC company will schedule maintenance visits for you. Many service agreements also provide benefits such as discounts and expedited service.

Conditioned Air serves residential and commercial air conditioning customers in Ft. Myers, Naples, Bradenton, and Sarasota. Contact us today for more information on air conditioner maintenance and to find out more about our maintenance service agreement plans.

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Picking the Right HVAC Contractor: What You Need to Know

September 8th, 2015

When there is something wrong with your home’s HVAC system, it won’t take long for things to get uncomfortable. You might not have the time to do an extended search of the HVAC contractors in Sarasota to find just the right one. Friends and family can also help steer you in the right direction, so ask them for referrals. You may end up with a couple good names. Still, it’s best to look a little deeper to make the perfect choice for your home. Here are some keys to look for when you are seeking a trusted and respected contractor to do the repairs on your home.

The first item on your list should be asking about HVAC certifications and national memberships. Many such organizations, like the North American Technician Excellence program, are dedicated to testing members on their comprehensive field knowledge, ensuring they are up to date.

It is important that you pick a contractor that is licensed, bonded and insured. The state of Florida requires anyone working in the HVAC industry be licensed through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). Being licensed through the CILB indicates the contractor meets the state’s requirements for training and field experience. Possible contractors should be bonded, which covers you if a contractor fails to meet the terms of your contract. They should also be fully insured, which covers you in case someone is injured while working at your home, or sustains injuries due to their negligence.

There are a number of signs to be wary of, as well. Choosing the right HVAC system depends on a number of factors, including the size of your home. HVAC contractors in Sarasota that offer to quote you an estimate over the phone without having ever seen your home, or that offer what seems to be a very cheap estimate should be avoided.

The name at the top of your list for HVAC service and repair should always be Conditioned Air. We’ve been serving southwest Florida homes just like yours since 1962. Contact us the next time things start to get uncomfortable in your home.

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3 Signs You May Need to Upgrade Your Air Conditioning Unit

September 1st, 2015

With the hot and humid summers in Southwest Florida, air conditioners are all but required, and if the system in your home is showing its age, it may be time for a new A/C installation. There are several signs that it may be time to upgrade, and they should be considered carefully.

Utility Bills Have Increased Dramatically

As the components of your air conditioner begin to wear and fail, the system’s efficiency will gradually decrease and its cooling effectiveness will wane. If the system is a few years old, it may already be inefficient, and though you could keep it running with frequent filter replacements and minor maintenance, its lack of efficiency will start to add up, leaving you with huge utility bills. Eventually, the accumulated operating costs will become higher than the cost of a new system.

Frequent Repairs are Required

When your system starts breaking down frequently, and the repair bills start creeping higher, it may be time to consider a new A/C installation. Once major components like the blower motor or compressor start failing, it’s only a matter of time before the others follow, because they all tend to have similar life spans. Upgrading to a new system can reduce your maintenance costs significantly and it will be far less trouble than scheduling all those service visits.

The System is Over 10 Years Old

Even if your air conditioner is running perfectly fine now, you should be ready to replace it if it is over 10 years old. Most air conditioners have an expected lifespan of 10 to 15 years with proper maintenance, or shorter if the maintenance was erratic or incomplete. At this point major components will begin to fail and it will start to run less efficiently. By upgrading to a new model, you can take advantage of today’s advancements in efficiency, and save up to 20%-40% off your cooling bills.

If you are considering a new A/C installation, talk to our cooling experts at Conditioned Air to learn about your options. We have been serving Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and the surrounding areas since 1962.

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Did You Know Our Ductless Air Conditioners Save Energy?

July 15th, 2015

Considering Southwest Florida’s warm climate, you might already know a little about how convenient ductless mini-split systems are for keeping cool. What you might not know, however, is how ductless air conditioners save energy.

No Ducts Means Less Waste

Air ducts can lose cooled and heated air through leaks. Sealing the duct joints helps, but even after a thorough professional sealing job, the ducts will still lose a small amount of air. That loss adds up over the day. Ducts in unconditioned areas, such as the attics, are affected by the temperature of the surrounding air. For example, a hot attic warms cool air passing through the ducts. Although insulation helps, some waste inevitably occurs.

To understand how ductless air conditioning systems save energy, you’ll need to know how they differ from conventional ducted systems. Instead of using ducts to carry air from a central air handler to your rooms, ductless systems use air handlers on the walls, ceilings or floors to deliver conditioned air directly into your rooms.

Nothing leaks out so you receive all the air the system conditions. The air reaches you without having warmed up in the ducts, so you don’t have to adjust your thermostat to compensate for energy loss.

Precision Control Helps You Save

One ductless system outdoor unit can run up to four indoor air handlers. Each air handler can be independently controlled so you can lower the temperature setting on the air handlers in your hottest rooms, while raising the setting in areas that need less cooling.

You’ll no longer have to set the thermostat low on your whole air conditioning system just to achieve a comfortable temperature in one particular area of the house. This precision control reduces the load on your system, allowing it to use less energy so your cooling expenses fall. Better yet, you’ll also enjoy more even temperatures throughout the house, including in those areas that have always been hard to keep cool enough.

If you think a ductless system might be right for your home, contact us at Conditioned Air anywhere around Southwest Florida.

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Headed out on a Vacation? Save Energy While You’re Away

July 15th, 2015

Heading out for summer vacation can be an exciting time for every member of your family. However, one thing you don’t want to have to worry about during vacation time is whether or not your energy bills are being unnecessarily increased by wasting energy at home. Here are some practical tips for how to save energy during summer vacation so you can enjoy your time away.

  • Use your programmable thermostat:Use your programmable thermostat and its pre-programmed set points to reduce the operation of your cooling system while you’re away. The thermostat can be set to provide a small amount cooling during the day so that the interior of your home doesn’t get too hot. It can automatically shut cooling down even more at night while you’re away.
  • Unplug energy-using appliances and devices:Before leaving for vacation, make sure to unplug appliances and devices that use standby energy. These can include computers, microwave ovens, stoves, televisions, and entertainment systems. Simply shutting them off will not be enough since they use small amounts of energy to maintain clocks, internal settings, and other features even when turned off. Unplug them completely or plug them all into a power strip that can be switched off when you leave.
  • Turn down the water heater:While you’re away on vacation, you won’t need hot water at home, so turning down the temperature settings on the water heater makes sense. Set the thermostat at well below the usual level or, if you are going to be gone for an extended period, shut the water heater off completely.
  • Close window blinds and curtains:Partially closing window blinds and curtains will help reduce sunshine getting into your home and increasing indoor temperatures. This will help keep the inside of your home cooler and prevent your air conditioner or heat pump from switching on unnecessarily.

For more than 53 years, Conditioned Air has been providing expert heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services to customers in Naples and throughout the surrounding communities in southwest Florida. Contact us today for more information on how to save energy during summer vacation.

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6000 Square Foot Naples Luxury Home with Unexplained Odor Problem

March 11th, 2015

Partner: E3 Building Sciences

E3 Building Sciences is a sophisticated engineering service company that, among other things, manages the EPA’s Energy Star program in the state of Florida. They contacted Conditioned Air to solve an odor problem that was traced to a brand new air conditioning system. The system was expensive but it was too big for the job and as a result failed to remove humidity. Due to the humidity, mold began to grow in the house. Conditioned Air was able to add two dehumidifiers, one of which was in a very challenging location, in order to solve the problem. Humidity dropped from an unacceptable level of 64% to 48%.

John Kiefer, cofounder of E3 building sciences, found Conditioned Air to be a natural choice based on his extensive Energy Star testing. He examined more than 250 Conditioned Air installations in Energy Star homes and found everyone to be up to specification. In his experience, that level of performance is extraordinary. John noted that he has worked with them on a number of large, complex projects and in each case found them both thorough and flexible.

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New York Melon Bank, Major Tenant Improvements on a 4000 Square Foot Commercial Building

March 11th, 2015

Partner: Kraft Construction

The necessary improvements required the gutting and rebuilding of the tenant space. The project required demolition and relocation, rerouting of complex duct work, and relocating of HVAC controls.

Project Manager, Janet Cole, said that she chose Conditioned Air because she had heard good things about them. She was particularly impressed with their ability to operate autonomously.  Their high level of supervision delivered reliable performance and kept them from bothering her with any issues.

Janet told how our chief operating officer, Keith Walker, managed to obtain a required Certificate of Occupancy five minutes before Naples city offices closed so the project could be completed. As Janet summed up her experience, “Conditioned Air was absolutely professional and performed the job with no problems.”

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The Remodeling of the Timber Ridge Recreational Center That Involved a Significant Amount of New Construction

March 11th, 2015

Partner: Professional Building Systems (PBS)

As with many relatively complex construction and remodeling projects, the architectural drawings did not match precisely with the actual structure we encountered. We were able to work collaboratively with PBS to make sure that everything was located where it belonged, even when it did not match the original architectural plan. This 5000 square foot remodeling effort involved four air conditioning units that required the relocation of both AC units and drains.

Job Superintendent, Dennis Lumley, remarked that Conditioned Air was always very flexible in working with necessary changes. In particular, he relayed how Vito DiPalma, the head of our New Construction department, met him on a Saturday to sort out problems. Vito also made sure that the flooring that was delivered sat in an air-conditioned space even before the construction was completed. This involved some real improvisation on Vito’s part. When asked to sum up his experience with Conditioned Air, Dennis said simply, “Great as ever!”

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A Complex Residential Installation Requiring Commercial Grade Solutions

March 11th, 2015

Partner: Kraft Construction

We faced a difficult challenge for a large estate in Naples which involved the conversion from a water cooled condenser system to geothermal. The estate was more than 13,000 square feet and had 10 separate air conditioners with multiple zones. We worked with the team at Kraft Construction on a system that involved extracting groundwater from two different wells that were 300 feet away from the home.

In addition to the challenge of installing the geothermal system, the homeowner needed us to install sophisticated linear diffusers that were close to the crown moldings. Extensive work was required to ensure that the diffusers were close to, but cleared the moldings.

Kraft brought us in at the very beginning so that we were able to work hand-in-hand with the mechanical engineer. John Takach, the supervisor at Kraft, noted that our team was just as knowledgeable as the engineer. He also found us to be team players that typically get the work done ahead of time. As John put it, “Conditioned Air is by far the best air conditioning company I’ve ever dealt with. They were able to deal with any need from simple to the most difficult.”

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Hot Air Mystery Solved for Residential Client in New Home

March 11th, 2015

Residential Client:  Irene Hujsa

When Irene Hujsa moved to her house almost 3 years ago, she noticed that the kitchen always felt unusually warm.  She called a local air conditioning service and after several visits, they were unable to resolve the issue.  Instead, they provided excuses that she was cooking too much, or that the extra heat was coming from the refrigerator.  This went on for several months and Mrs. Hujsa became very frustrated.   The electric fan was running constantly, but the room was hot because cool air was not coming in.  Furthermore, the AC unit’s Freon was constantly leaking, so the service company needed to refill it every few months.

Finally, after much frustration, Mrs. Hujsa and her husband asked for a second opinion.  Tim from Conditioned Air came at 6:30 pm in the evening and was the first technician to inspect the attic.   He noticed immediately that the duct work in the attic was not laid out according to the structural drawings.  Apparently, the duct work was the wrong size for a kitchen, which explained why it never cooled properly.

We also discovered a number of other issues that required a comprehensive solution and significant construction work to bring the AC System up to acceptable performance standards.

Working with the builder, Lennar Homes, we were able to deliver outstanding results for the client who is now benefiting from an effective and highly efficient cooling system.

As Mrs. Hujsa exclaims, “I compared my receipts from a year ago and my electric bill is 300 kilowatt hours less, and at a 79 degree setting!  In just one month I have saved 300 hours which is amazing!”

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