4 Insightful Tips for Improving HVAC Efficiency

June 3rd, 2020

The phrase, “work smarter, not harder” is a good fit for certain situations… It applies well to your AC system! Proper maintenance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system can save you money by considerably reducing the heating and cooling costs. When your system isn’t weighed down by lack of care & maintenance, it’ll pay back in no time. Here are some tips to keep your air conditioner efficient.

  1. Seal Your Home

If there’s hot air entering your room, the air conditioner will have to work harder to maintain a constant internal temperature for your house. Keep the doors and windows closed to reduce air inflow from outside. You can also enhance the insulation in your home to minimize air inflow.

  1. Calibrate Your Thermostat

A thermostat controls your AC unit turning on and off. However, you shouldn’t trust it entirely. It is possible for a thermostat to slightly veer off from the correct temperature with a percentage range of about one to five degrees. You should get an accurate thermometer and keep it close to your thermostat, which will help you calibrate the thermostat appropriately.

  1. Clean Your Coils

HVAC systems are mostly kept in out-of-the-way areas like rooftops and attics. These areas are rarely cleaned; hence your HVAC unit collects a lot of dirt and grime. Dust in the HVAC’s coils makes it work more to maintain the same air quality. Ensuring that you schedule coil cleaning at least once annually will save you money in the long run.

  1. Consider a Home Warranty

A home warranty will ensure that your HVAC is always in good shape. If it breaks down for no apparent reason, your home warranty will be responsible for contracting a qualified HVAC maintenance company to diagnose and fix the problem. The good thing about it is that you will have a lower flat fee for any work that is performed.

With time, your AC system gets older and becomes less efficient than it was when new. You should hence schedule regular maintenance to avoid high replacement costs.

At Conditioned Air, we’ve been providing solutions to the Southwest Florida area since 1962. For any of your HVAC issues, feel free to contact us, and we will be more than willing to assist.

 

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Air Conditioning Services That Contribute to High Performing HVAC Systems

April 21st, 2020

With summer here, homeowners need to give focus to the overall health of their HVAC systems. Our teams of highly skilled and experienced HVAC technicians strive to provide all our valued clients with the highest quality air conditioning services this side of the state. With that said, we want to share some important tasks our techs can perform to ensure that your cooling system is operating effectively and efficiently.

  • Condenser unit checkup – The outside condenser unit pulls the hot air from your home and delivers it to the outdoors. If the condenser is not working properly the heat will not be able to escape freely causing your system to run longer and harder in order to keep the atmospheres cool in your home.  Our technicians will inspect the condenser unit to ensure that all its components are working at peak levels and, perform necessary repairs as needed.
  • Duct sealing – Most homes have leaky duct work that ultimately forces the AC system to work harder and run longer. Our team will perform necessary duct sealing using a sealant or metal tape to cover the existing leaks, add a layer of insulation around the duct work, and will also reseal or refit any ducts that are poorly connected. These effective solutions are not only energy efficient, but will help to provide more comfortable atmospheres in your home.
  • AC system inspection – If your system presents with unusual sounds or unfamiliar smells coming from the ventilation system, be sure to contact our team of specialists. Our certified HVAC technicians will inspect the system, identify problems and their sources, and provide effective and efficient system solutions as needed.
  • Routine AC maintenance – Annual maintenance of your cooling system is essential to the proper performance and functionality of your system. Routine maintenance contributes to the efficiency of your AC, helps to prevent costly repairs and breakdowns, and minimizes energy bills.  We highly recommend you schedule your AC tune-up and inspection in the spring.

We’re at the time of year when having a high function system is critical to avoid having multiple visits to your home from your HVAC company. No one wants to have frequent visits from their HVAC company so be sure to contact our team of friendly technicians to schedule your routine maintenance today. We look forward to serving you and to providing you with only the best all round air conditioning services year after year.

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Information About Tax Credits and Incentives for Energy Efficiency

January 29th, 2020

We have good news! The residential market’s Section 25C federal efficiency tax credits have been renewed. Congress recently passed legislation that renewed the tax credits for 2020 and made them retroactive to 2018. What does that mean for you? If you’re a homeowner, you might be eligible to claim the federal tax credits equal to 10% of the installation costs and a maximum credit of $500 for qualified HVAC improvements.

Click here for more information.

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HONEST AIR CONDITIONING OF VENICE JOINS CONDITIONED AIR; MERGER CREATES ONE OF THE LARGEST AC FIRMS IN SARASOTA COUNTY

October 2nd, 2019

HONEST AIR CONDITIONING OF VENICE JOINS CONDITIONED AIR; MERGER CREATES ONE OF THE LARGEST AC FIRMS IN SARASOTA COUNTY

NAPLES, FL. – Conditioned Air and Honest Air Conditioning of Venice announced a partnership under which Honest Air will be acquired by Conditioned Air and operate as a division of the air-conditioning contracting and service firm. This merger expands Conditioned Air’s presence in Sarasota County and enables Honest Air Conditioning to provide enhanced products and services.

 

“This is a great partnership as our two companies share the same core values and a commitment to serve our customers with honesty and integrity and to provide service that will exceed their expectations,” said Tim M. Dupre, President and Chief Executive Officer for Conditioned Air.

 

Once the transaction is completed, Honest Air Conditioning will operate under its existing name as a division of Conditioned Air. A number of improvements also are in the works to allow the company to better serve customers, such as an updated dispatching/operating software program.

 

“We will have more access to employee training programs to ensure that we have the best technicians in the market,” said Nicholas J. Masher, President of Honest Air. “Our service fleet also will have increased inventory, which will allow us to serve customers faster, and improved buying power will ensure our ability to provide fair and competitive pricing in the local market.”

 

Headquartered in Naples, Conditioned Air is currently the region’s largest air-conditioning contracting and service firm with a total of 390 employees serving Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties. The company expanded into Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties in 2011, mostly to serve existing clients in those markets. The company has since experienced tremendous growth, increasing revenue and boosting its employment throughout the region.

 

To accommodate further growth in the northern region, Conditioned Air last year moved into the remaining flex space in its northern headquarters building located on Knight’s Trail Road in North Venice, growing from about 5,000 square feet up to 15,000 square feet. The company also has been increasing employment and expects to hire an additional 15 to 20 people over the next year.

 

The acquisition of Honest Air Conditioning fits with Conditioned Air’s strategic plan to grow the company both organically and through acquisitions of companies with similar corporate cultures.

 

Honest Air Conditioning has served the South Florida community since 2000. It is owned by husband and wife team, Nick and Brooke Masher. The couple is committed to the local community, to providing superior service to their customers and to running a successful company that provides a rewarding career to their employees. The Mashers will remain in a leadership role.

 

Founded in 1962, 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 additional information or to schedule service, call 1-888-COLD-AIR or visit  www.conditionedair.com.

 

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THE END OF R22: WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR OLD AIR CONDITIONER

August 14th, 2019

Florida homeowners with older air conditioning systems may soon be facing a difficult choice: replace their entire air conditioning system or continue to pursue increasingly costly and hard-to-find R22 refrigerant when it’s time for AC service. For many, the smarter option is upgrading to newer technology, such as ductless mini split systems for additions. Standards for types of refrigerants used in air conditioning repair and maintenance are changing, and this means that this most common and least expensive refrigerant will soon be phased out. When the phase-out is complete in 2020, R22 refrigerant will no longer be available.

Why replacing your old AC may be better than maintaining R‑22 refrigerant?

  • R‑22 refrigerant is being phased out due to environmental rules; no new R22 can be produced.
  • As R‑22 becomes scarce, its price rises and availability becomes limited, making maintenance increasingly expensive.
  • Old units using R‑22 often are less efficient than modern units that use newer refrigerants like R‑410A. 
  • Replacing the entire AC system with one designed for compliant refrigerants is often more cost‑effective in the long run than repeated R‑22 recharges and repairs.

R22 refrigerant, sometimes known as R22 Freon or HCFC-22 Freon, is an environmental danger because it contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. The U.S. government has placed restrictions on R22 and has issued the requirement that R22 refrigerant must be eliminated from use in cooling systems by the year 2020, making regular maintenance tasks like changing your air filters even more important for system efficiency. At this point, R22 will no longer be manufactured and cannot be used as a refrigerant in new air conditioning systems. R22 is being replaced by R-410A, a safer material which is the current, compliant standard refrigerant in air conditioning equipment.

The refrigerant change means several things for homeowners with older ACs:

  • You can continue to use R22 refrigerant in existing systems, but it will only be available through after-market sales, such as when it is recovered from older systems that have been salvaged.
  • Prices of R22 refrigerant have been rising and are expected to continue to rise. By the time the phase-out is complete, R22 will most likely be very expensive. Even if you need a recharge of R22 in the future, there can be no guarantee that the refrigerant will be available, especially as summertime temperatures continue rising.
  • Availability of R22 will be limited since it cannot be purchased new. Even if you need a recharge of R22 in the future, there can be no guarantee that the refrigerant will be available.
  • Complete air conditioning system replacement to an R422 model may be the most cost-effective solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is R‑22 refrigerant and why is it being phased out?
Answer: R‑22 (also known as Freon or HCFC‑22) is a refrigerant commonly used in older air conditioning systems. It is being phased out because it depletes the ozone layer and contributes to environmental harm. Regulations require its production to stop and its use to be restricted. 

Question: Is it still legal to use R‑22 in existing air conditioning units?
Answer: Yes. Existing AC units that use R‑22 can still operate and be serviced, but R‑22 is no longer manufactured or imported. Only recovered or recycled R‑22 is available, which tends to be more expensive and less easily sourced. 

Question: What are the cost implications of continuing with an R‑22 AC system?
Answer: Costs tend to rise because R‑22 supply is limited. Repairing leaks, recharging refrigerant, or maintaining such systems becomes more costly. Over time, these rising service costs can make keeping an old system less economical than replacing it. 

Question: Can I retrofit my old R‑22 air conditioner to use a newer refrigerant?
Answer: In some cases it may be possible to retrofit, but there are limitations. Differences in system design, oil types, and compatibility can make retrofits costly, less efficient, or technically impractical. It’s not always guaranteed or cost‑effective.

Question: When is it more sensible to replace an R‑22 AC unit rather than keep repairing it?
Answer: It’s generally more sensible to replace when the unit is older (often over 10‑15 years), requires frequent repairs, has major component failures, or if the costs of maintaining R‑22 and its parts outweigh the benefits. Also when energy efficiency and environmental compliance are priorities.

Conditioned Air has the mission of keeping the residents of Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Naples, Bradenton, and the surrounding Florida communities cool and their air conditioners working properly and reliably.

Contact us today for more information on the types of refrigerants used in air conditioning system maintenance and what the new refrigerant changes will mean for your cooling system.

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Conditioned Air plots major expansion

August 7th, 2019
Conditioned Air of Naples recently announced plans to build a 52,710-square-foot operations center in Fort Myers.
by: Business Observer Staff

The march up Florida’s west coast from Collier County to grab more market share continues to blow quickly for Conditioned Air of Naples.

The latest news: The company recently announced plans to build a 52,710-square-foot operations center in Fort Myers, a replacement of its current facility in the area and the culmination of a two-year search. The air conditioning contracting and service firm company, with 370 employees and $51 million in revenue in 2018, also plans to double in size in the next five to seven years, mostly in Lee and Sarasota counties. “We are very excited about the future of Conditioned Air, with a combination of organic growth through the company and potential acquisitions,” Conditioned Air President and CEO Tim Dupre says in a statement.

The new complex will be in the Southwest International Commerce Park, just across from Southwest Florida International Airport, off Interstate 75. The building will be slit into some 10,800 square feet of office space, 31,110 square feet of warehouse space and 10,800 square feet of mezzanine for storage and future expansion.

Founded in 1962, Conditioned Air’s 370-person payroll is divided into 185 people in Collier County, 124 in Lee County and 61 in Sarasota County. The new building — replacing an existing smaller facility nearby on Jetport Loop — will be the company’s central hub for the growing Lee and Charlotte county markets. It will provide operational support for its Naples headquarters and Sarasota branches, the release states, and will also be the company’s main training facility, with a fully functional training lab for hands-on education.

Officials hope to break ground for the project in October, with expected completion and occupancy scheduled for July 2020. The developer is Seagate Development Group, and the architect/designer is McHarris Planning & Design.

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CONDITIONED AIR TO EXPAND OPERATIONS

July 25th, 2019

Conditioned Air plans to build a 52,710-square-foot operations center in Fort Myers to accommodate the air-conditioning contracting and service firm’s current and future growth throughout Southwest Florida. The building will be located at the intersection of Jetport Loop and Global Parkway in the Southwest International Commerce Park across from the Southwest Florida International Airport. The building will encompass 10,800 square feet of office space, 31,110 square feet of warehouse space, and 10,800 square feet of mezzanine for storage and future expansion. The building will be Conditioned Air’s central hub for the growing Lee and Charlotte County markets and provide operational support for its Naples headquarters and Sarasota branches. It also will serve as the company’s main training facility, with a fully functional training lab for hands-on continuous education and onboarding of entry-level technicians. The new operations center will replace an existing smaller facility nearby on Jetport Loop. Permitting is currently underway on the location. It is anticipated that ground will be broken on the site in October with completion and occupancy scheduled for July 2020. The building will be designed by McHarris Planning & Design and developed by Seagate Development Group. Conditioned Air plans to double in size in the next five to seven years, according to a press release.

-Gulfshore Business Daily

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Happy July

July 8th, 2019

July is here and it’s time to save big! Lennox has just unveiled new rebates just in time for summer. You can now save up to $1600 on select units. This doesn’t include the money you will save on your utility bills this hot and humid Florida summer. Get in now and find out more here

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Lennox Rebates Are Coming

June 25th, 2019

It’s Summer in Southwest Florida and your AC Unit is running overtime. If your unit is over 8-10 years old, now is the time to be thinking about a replacing that old tired AC unit. You will be amazed by the money a new unit will save you on your utility bill. Our friends at Lennox are offering great rebates to help you save money and stay cool all summer long. Starting July 1st you can save up to $1600 on a new high efficiency AC Unit from Lennox. Find out more details by clicking here

 

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Florida Rainy Season & Your AC Unit

June 6th, 2019

All over Southwest Florida, heavy rains are common, especially as tropical storms or hurricanes approach. No matter if you are in Sarasota, Fort Myers or Naples, Conditioned Air has you covered. If you have ever wondered “Does rain affect my air conditioning unit,” the short answer is “No.” In most cases, rain is safe for your air conditioning system, though there are some exceptions, and a few precautions to take during strong storms.

The Effects of Rain on Your Air Conditioning

The outside portion of a central air conditioning system, known as the outdoor unit or condenser unit, houses both the condenser and the compressor, as well as a system fan, electrical connections and other accessories. Most of the components are made from aluminum, copper, plastics and other materials that are not prone to corrosion or damage from moisture, and the electrical connections are sealed, allowing the system to run properly even in heavy rain.

Only during heavy flooding, when the condenser is partially or completely submerged, should you shut the air conditioning system off, which can be done using the breakers in your main electrical panel. If the system is submerged for a significant period of time, have it inspected by an air conditioning contractor before tuning it back on.

Should the Condenser be Covered?

In most cases, the condenser unit should never be covered. Rain cannot harm the condenser, as long as the moisture can evaporate freely, and neither can the cooler weather of a Florida winter. In colder climates, some people cover the condenser during the winter to prevent accumulations of snow, leaves and debris, but it is not necessary. In fact, it can actually cause damage by trapping condensation beneath the cover, leading to corrosion and other damage.

The only time that you should cover the condenser is during extremely strong storms, such as hurricanes, to prevent damage from wind-blown debris. For this purpose, something strong, like plywood, should be secured with the power off, and it should be removed immediately after the storm. Otherwise, simply keep the condenser free of debris, and rinse the dirt out periodically.

When you have questions like “Does rain affect my air conditioning unit” or if you need air conditioning service, contact our team at Conditioned Air for helpful answers and HVAC advice. Conditioned Air serves customers from Bradenton to Naples, Florida, part of Southwest Florida.

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