3 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Thermostat in Naples, FL

July 10th, 2023

A thermostat can help you save significant money and energy in your Naples, FL home. However, over time, your thermostat may become outdated and malfunction, leading to under-cooling in your home. Here some signs that could indicate that you need a thermostat replacement..

1. Higher Energy Bills

If you notice a significant spike in your energy bills, it may be because of calibration issues with your thermostat, which leads to incorrect temperature readings. This consequently causes your HVAC system to work significantly harder and for longer hours to achieve the desired temperature levels, resulting in increased energy consumption.

Several factors, such as a malfunctioning sensor, can contribute to these calibration issues. If your thermostat has a malfunctioning sensor and other underlying issues that add to increased energy bills, consider investing in a new thermostat or having your HVAC system checked by a skilled technician.

2. Inconsistent Temperatures

You may notice that different rooms in your house have varying temperatures. This commonly occurs when you have an incorrectly sized thermostat that is unable to efficiently control temperatures throughout your Naples, FL home. The problem may also be a result of loose or corroded wiring inside your thermostat.

Constant indoor temperature levels are imperative to maintaining good indoor air quality. To avoid constant shifts in your indoor temperature conditions, you should upgrade to a smart thermostat that connects to your HVAC or electrical system, allowing you to set automatic cooling schedules to eliminate inconsistencies.

3. Outdated or Old Thermostat

Most thermostats have a lifespan of approximately 10 years, which you can extend by scheduling regular professional maintenance. If your thermostat has missing parts, constantly shuts down without warning or refuses to turn on, it’s probably a sign that the thermostat is way past its operational lifespan.

As a mitigation measure, it would be best to upgrade to a smart thermostat. With a smart thermostat, you can enjoy additional benefits like being able to automatically customize your living space according to your desired temperature preferences. You can also save money on utility bills by utilizing smart features like temperature display and auto-shutoff.

Contact Conditioned Air if you require quality AC installation services. We have fully qualified HVAC technicians and can answer any questions you may have about HVAC units.

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4 Factors That Impact Heat Pump Efficiency in Sarasota, FL

June 19th, 2023

The efficiency of a heat pump in Sarasota, FL depends on many factors. Understanding the components of your system and how each factor contributes to its energy efficiency can help you make decisions that save you money on energy costs. Here are four factors to consider when it comes to maximizing the efficiency of your heat pump.

1. Thermostat Location

Thermostat installed in a location that receives direct sunlight from windows will have to work harder to maintain the desired temperature, resulting in decreased efficiency. The ideal location for your thermostat is away from direct sunlight and drafts. However, if the thermostat gives false readings when not placed in direct sunlight, it could be defective, and you may need to replace it.

2. Size

If the heat pump is too small, it will struggle to keep up with the demands placed on it. Conversely, if your system is too large, it will cycle on and off more frequently than necessary, resulting in higher energy costs. A qualified HVAC technician determines the size of your heat pump by assessing the size of your home and other factors to determine the right unit for you.

3. Age

Most heat pumps last between 15 and 20 years. If you’re using an older unit, it may be time to invest in a new one. Newer models have improved technology that can help you save money on your energy bills.

4. Maintenance

Proper maintenance helps extend your heat pump’s life. Regular tune-ups can help you identify potential problems before they become more serious and costly. During maintenance, technicians can inspect and replace worn parts and check the refrigerant levels to ensure optimal performance.

Reduce the amount you spend on energy costs by making sure your heat pump is running at its highest efficiency. Understanding the factors that affect its performance can help you make decisions that can save you money in the long run. Contact Conditioned Air today for help optimizing the efficiency of your heat pump.

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Don’t Ignore These 5 AC Noises in Venice, FL

May 30th, 2023

Air conditioners are essential to many homes and businesses. They typically make little to no noise, but some odd sounds may indicate a problem that needs addressing by an HVAC technician. Here are five common AC noises you shouldn’t ignore in Venice, FL.

1. Squealing

A high-pitched squealing noise often means that either the bearings or belt need replacing. It’s not something to try replacing yourself; an HVAC expert needs to do it. Not addressing this could cause damage to the motor or other components of the AC system.

2. Rattling

Loose screws, bolts, or other parts of the AC unit may be the source of a rattle. Debris that has become entrapped inside the unit could also be the reason. Additionally, it could be possible that a part of the unit, such as the compressor, is malfunctioning or damaged.

3. Hissing

A hissing sound can indicate a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant cools the air in the AC unit, and a leak can cause the system to stop working efficiently or even break down entirely. An HVAC technician needs to come in and check for the source of the refrigerant leak and determine a solution.

4. Grinding

A grinding noise usually means a malfunctioning motor, worn bearings or a metal component that’s rubbing or scraping against another and causing friction. Not getting the problem fixed immediately could result in the issue worsening and getting more expensive to repair.

5. Banging

A banging noise indicates a broken compressor, an issue with the fan, or a problem with the motor. It’s important to have a professional inspect the unit and have them maintain your system in the future through preventative maintenance visits. The latter can help catch minor issues before they have the potential to become major ones.

If you hear any unsettling noises, turn off your HVAC system immediately. Promptly addressing any unusual AC noise can help prevent further damage to the unit. Contact Conditioned Air to repair or replace your AC system.

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Are Variable-speed Heat Pumps Worth the Cost?

April 28th, 2023

Variable-speed systems deliver consistent indoor temperatures. The high-efficiency HVAC systems accomplish this by making constant incremental adjustments to output based on the real-time needs of your home.

Who Benefits Most With Variable-speed Heat Pumps

These high-end heat pumps deliver maximum homeowner benefits in hot, humid regions like Naples. In cooler regions of the U.S., this cutting-edge heating and cooling technology can still be beneficial depending on your indoor comfort preferences.

What Are the Advantages of Variable-speed Systems

Variable-speed heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient HVAC options on the market. A variable-speed system can boost energy efficiency from 20% to 50% while maintaining your comfort and saving you money in the bargain. These cutting-edge systems maintain consistent indoor comfort by running at low speed almost constantly instead of turning off and on.

These high-efficiency units keep indoor temperatures within one-half of a degree or less of the thermostat setting. With a variable-speed heat pump, you’ll be rid of those sudden temperature shifts. Although variable-speed systems are almost always running, they are still exceptionally quiet. Long running times mean more air passing through the filter and cleaner indoor air. The long, slow running times also permit greater humidity control.

What Are the Disadvantages of Variable-speed Systems

Variable-speed systems are a high-tech and relatively new technology. As such, they are at risk for installation errors. Not all HVAC contractors understand how these complex systems work. If you think a variable-speed system is for you, find an experienced contractor with the skills and expertise to install variable-speed systems properly.

The specialists at Conditioned Air have mastered the science of variable speed heat pump installation. Call us in Naples to learn more about efficient HVAC equipment.

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Reasons Heat Pumps Need Maintenance Twice a Year

March 25th, 2023

Regular HVAC maintenance is essential for any Venice, FL homeowner, but not all heating and cooling systems have the same service needs. If you own a heat pump, scheduling professional maintenance twice a year can unlock the full potential of your system.

All-Year Comfort Requires All-Year Protection

From antique air conditioners to cutting-edge modern furnaces, all climate control systems gradually wear down during normal operation. Belts slacken, filters and internal components become dirty, refrigerant levels drop and mechanical parts experience increased stress and friction. Over time, these seemingly minor issues can evolve into serious and recurring malfunctions that ultimately shorten a system’s lifespan. Consequently, furnaces and air conditioners should each be serviced annually to help minimize damage and prevent major breakdowns.

Of course, unlike conventional HVAC systems, heat pumps are an all-in-one climate control solution. By using the same equipment to provide both heating and cooling, they can effectively keep your home comfortable in any weather. This makes them extremely versatile and convenient, but it also means they’re more susceptible to the cumulative effects of wear and tear. That’s why scheduling heat pump maintenance twice a year is so essential. Keeping your equipment clean, lubricated, and precisely adjusted is key to maximizing its lifespan and ensuring dependable, worry-free comfort throughout the year.

Seasonal Tune-Ups Promote Optimal Performance

Efficient climate control is always important, but it becomes especially crucial during the hottest and coldest times of the year. In Southwest Florida, summer frequently brings oppressively hot and humid weather that may last for days or weeks at a time. Even in the winter, unseasonable cold waves often send Floridians scrambling to crank up their thermostats. In addition to using a lot more energy, these conditions can put a great deal of strain on your heat pump. If your equipment isn’t ready to handle the burden, both your comfort and your bank account are likely to suffer.

Fortunately, keeping your system prepared is as simple as signing up for a biannual heat pump maintenance plan. Ideally, your maintenance agreement should include one professional tune-up in the spring and another in the fall. This schedule ensures your heat pump is always in optimal condition for the peak heating and cooling seasons. As a result, you’ll notice more accurate, even, and consistent temperature control throughout your entire home. What’s more, you can be confident that your system won’t let you down when you need it most.

Sticking to a Service Schedule Saves You Money

When the weather outside is downright miserable, is there anything better than kicking back and enjoying a cozy, relaxing home? Well, how about saving some extra money while you’re at it? In addition to giving your comfort a boost, biannual maintenance can improve your system’s efficiency and lower your utility bills. Heat pumps that are serviced seasonally use up to 25% less energy, providing substantial savings over the course of a year. If that’s not enough, regular maintenance also lowers upkeep costs and may help you avoid expensive repairs. Since well-maintained heat pumps wear down much more slowly, you can even replace your equipment less often.

Finally, your system’s warranty is another crucial consideration. Reputable manufacturers typically offer extended coverage on all professionally installed equipment to protect you from faulty or defective components. However, you may not be aware that this coverage usually comes with a few conditions. To remain valid, most warranties require you to have your system serviced regularly by a qualified service technician. By keeping your heat pump properly maintained, you can ensure you won’t get stuck with the bill if your equipment unexpectedly malfunctions.

If it’s been a while since your last HVAC service visit, don’t put your comfort at risk any longer. Call the qualified service technicians at Conditioned Air today for comprehensive heat pump maintenance plans that you can afford.

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Reasons to Consider Replacing Your Heat Pump

March 10th, 2023

Heat pumps are a practical way to keep things cool in summer and warm in winter in the state of Florida. If your system is getting older, however, a heat pump replacement can be a great way to save money while keeping things comfortable indoors inside your Naples, Florida home or business. Here are three reasons to consider investing in a heat pump replacement this year.

Improved Efficiency

If your current heat pump is more than 10 years old, you can often reduce the energy needed to keep temperatures cool indoors by upgrading to a high-efficiency heat pump. This can lower your carbon footprint while allowing you to enjoy cool comfort indoors during the hottest parts of the year.

Lower Costs of Operation

A heat pump replacement can also save you money on heating and cooling your Florida home or business. Newer systems are less likely to require frequent repair services, which can also cut down on the amount of money needed to maintain comfortable temperatures inside your home or business.

Improved Indoor Comfort

Finding a company that offers professional installation services for heating and cooling systems will ensure that your new heat pump is sized right for your interior spaces. This can ensure that you and your family enjoy the greatest comfort during every season of the year in Sarasota, Naples, and the surrounding areas in Florida.

At Conditioned Air, we serve Fort Myers, North Venice, Naples, Bradenton, and all the surrounding areas in Florida with top-quality systems and friendly service you can depend on when you need repairs, maintenance, or installations. We can design a heating and cooling system that is precisely right for your needs and your interior spaces. To learn more about our heat pump options, give us a call today. Our team is here to help you keep things cool all summer long.

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Why Do Some Homeowners Prefer Ductless HVAC?

February 25th, 2023

Are you looking for a convenient, minimally invasive climate control solution that won’t blow up your energy budget? If so, it’s time to discover why homeowners are increasingly choosing ductless HVAC systems for their Naples, FL homes.

Easy and Compact Installation

The air ducts required for conventional HVAC systems occupy considerable space, which can be problematic in smaller homes. If your house doesn’t already have ductwork, it can also be messy and labor-intensive to install. By contrast, ductless HVAC systems need only small conduits to connect indoor and outdoor units, requiring little space and no disruptive demolition. Ductless air handlers can also be placed almost anywhere, giving you maximum freedom to design a system that works specifically for you.

Greater Efficiency and Comfort Control

With traditional forced-air designs, even the most efficient HVAC systems can be undermined by sketchy ductwork. Leaky, inadequately insulated air ducts waste a lot of energy, costing you money and making your home less comfortable. Dirty air filters and blocked vents only make the problem worse. Since they don’t need to distribute air around your home, ductless HVAC systems effectively eliminate these issues. Instead, they provide precise, energy-efficient heating and cooling right where you need it. With a ductless multi-split system, your family can even control their own air handlers independently to suit their preferences.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

In addition to minimizing wasted energy, eliminating air ducts also eliminates a major source of indoor air pollution. Ordinary HVAC ducts tend to collect a lot of dust and other particulates, especially if they aren’t cleaned periodically. As air flows through the ductwork, these pollutants can become airborne and spread all throughout your living space. That’s simply not a problem with ductless HVAC systems. What’s more, many high-quality ductless units incorporate advanced filtration to further improve air quality.

If this all sounds a little too good to be true, why not call Conditioned Air and see for yourself? With premium equipment and professional installation services, we’re equipped to deliver the best that ductless HVAC systems have to offer.

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How to Check if Your Ducts are Leaking

January 9th, 2023

Over time, the duct system for your HVAC may manifest damage. Small tears, loose joints, cracks, or any other damage can manifest. When it does, ducts with damage typically take on symptoms that can be confused for a lot of HVAC system problems. 

You will notice your utility bills going up, you may notice that rooms that used to be normal temperatures will now vary from the rest of the house, and you may even notice odd smells or dust coming in from the registers. However, the most conclusive way to tell if you have a breached duct is to find the breach. 

In many houses, this is simple. You may be able to find the breach in your ducts by inspecting them in your attic or basement. Unfortunately, other homes can be more difficult. If your ductwork is installed in your concrete slab, you won’t be able to visually inspect it. While this also protects it from air leaks in a way, the unfortunate reality is that you will have to worry about water making its way in there. This means mold and bad smells will become your reality if not repaired eventually. 

If you can visually inspect your ductwork, you will want to look for breaches in the system from every angle. Of course, the easiest way to find breaches is to turn on your HVAC system. When there is air blowing through the ducts, all you need to do is follow the breeze to the problem area. 

Once found, it may be tempting to put a spot of duct tape on it, and that can help, but it is a temporary bandage. You will want to call your HVAC service in order to get the breach properly patched and make sure there aren’t any more breaches lurking around. Contact us at Conditioned Air for more information or to schedule service today!

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5 Benefits of Ductless Air Conditioning Installation 

December 9th, 2022

If you’re living in a small space and are looking for an efficient way of staying comfortable in your home during the summer, you might want to consider ductless air conditioning. Ductless AC installation is a quieter, simpler and more compact way of cooling a home. There are many benefits of ductless systems (also referred to as ductless mini-split units), including the five below. 

1. Simple to Install 

Ductless installation is simple to install. It essentially: 

  • Is hassle-free. 
  • Requires no invasive ductwork. 
  • Can be finished in only a few days. 

The simplicity of ductless installation results in it being less costly than a traditional AC system. 

2. Increases Energy Efficiency 

Ductless AC units are more energy-efficient than regular HVAC systems for various reasons, including: 

  • Traditional HVAC units can develop leaks in the ductwork, reducing the unit’s efficiency. 
  • You can turn off the units in other rooms you’re not using instead of cooling your entire home, thereby reducing your energy use and energy bill. 
  • Most AC units use compressors (one- or two-speed) that cycle on and off in order to maintain the programmed temperature in your home. This results in more electricity use. Ductless AC units use variable speed compressors that make adjustments continuously to keep your house at a consistent temperature. Because they don’t cycle on and off all day long, they’re more energy-efficient. 

3. Ductless Units Run Quietly 

Debris or leaks in ductwork could lead to banging or whistling sounds and you may even hear the scurrying or squeaking of pests that have infested your ducts. Once you have a mini-split system installed, the professional HVAC technician will either seal your air registers or remove your ductwork. This way you won’t need to worry about noisy pests, debris or leaks. 

Also, ductless installation is quieter since the indoor mini-split systems don’t always operate at the same time. Because they don’t require as much power to run, you can use a quieter, smaller outdoor system as well. 

4. Requires Little Maintenance 

To keep your mini-split unit in good working order, you just need to: 

  • Keep the wall unit’s vents clear 
  • Clean the filters 
  • Clean up the outside system to maintain airflow 

There’s no need to seal duct leaks or clean ductwork like you would have to with a traditional AC unit. 

5. Improves the Quality of your Indoor Air 

If you or another family member is suffering from asthma or allergies, ductless AC installation is a great way to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Unlike with traditional HVAC units, ductless units don’t have ductwork that allows the accumulation of dust, dirt and debris. It uses multi-layer filtration that decreases the amount of dust, allergens and pollutants that enter your house, keeping it healthy and clean. For more information or to schedule service, contact Conditioned Air today!

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4 Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak in Your Commercial Air Conditioning System

November 3rd, 2022

Commercial air conditioning systems tend to be larger than their residential counterparts. That means a fault somewhere in your commercial air conditioning system can turn out to be very expensive to repair if it’s not detected early enough. Refrigerant leaks are some of the problems you may experience with your commercial air conditioning system. The refrigerant plays a significant role when it comes to the effective functioning of your air conditioning system. If you are running low on refrigerant due to a leak, your system will be forced to work harder to cool your space, which can result in significant damage to parts such as the compressor and high electricity bills. Being able to identify the signs of a refrigerant leak early enough can save you from significantly costly repairs. Here are some of the signs to watch out for.

Reduced Cooling Power

Loss of cooling power is the first obvious sign that you could be dealing with a refrigerant leak. That’s because of the refrigerant’s vital role in the cooling process, which involves absorbing the heat from your commercial space and releasing it outside. A leak in the refrigerant lines will result in your commercial space taking longer than usual to cool.

Icing

Frost build-up on your refrigerant lines and other parts such as the evaporator coils and the fan motors are also another indication of a refrigerant leak. When you have a refrigerant leak, the refrigerant that remains in the refrigerant lines or coils will lose heat absorption and remain cold such that moisture along the surface of the coils will freeze. Therefore, watch out for iced-up refrigerant lines.

Warm Air from The Registers

If you notice that the air from your vents is slightly warmer than usual, it could be due to a refrigerant leak somewhere. That’s because low levels of refrigerant will affect the cooling power of your air conditioning system, making it struggle to cool your space.

Hissing/Bubbling Sounds

Be keen to identify any strange sounds from your air conditioning system as it runs. Bubbling or hissing sounds are usually associated with refrigerant leaks. That’s because, in most cases, the leaks will be caused by small cracks or holes in the refrigerant lines, which is why you will hear hissing sounds similar to those produced when air is escaping from a punctured tube.

The best solution for refrigerant leaks is finding their source and having it repaired. Topping up the refrigerant may look like a cheaper alternative at first but will turn out to be costly later on because the refrigerant will still leak, meaning you will have to top up again.  If you have a refrigerant leak in your air conditioning system, contact Conditioned Air today.

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