Just about every type of mechanical system or unit comes with a rating that tells you how much energy the device will use or how the device is expected to perform in terms of fuel usage. For air conditioners, this rating is known as SEER: seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Technically SEER is a rating that describes the ratio of cooling in BTUs to the amount of energy that is consumed; the energy consumed is measured in watt hours. However, you won’t have to worry about being this technical. What you have to know is a) what the scale is and b) what the numbers mean, and the experts at Downtown Air & Heat can help with that.
Downtown Air and Heat Blog : Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category
What Is SEER and Why Is It Important?
Monday, June 8th, 2015Why Do I Have to Change the Air Filter on My AC?
Monday, June 1st, 2015Every whole home ducted air conditioning system comes with an air filter, but unlike other components in your AC system, the air filter needs to be changed every three months. Why? The standard air filter that is part of your system collects dust and dirt, and within 3 months’ time, the amount of dust and dirt collected can be considerable. If you aren’t sure how to change your air filter, the trained experts at Downtown Air & Heat are here to help you.
My Air Conditioner Has Capacitors?
Monday, May 4th, 2015Your air conditioning system has many different components that allow it to provide your home with the cool air it needs. However, without the right amount of electricity, your system won’t do a thing. The electricity that runs through your home’s air conditioner is alternating current, also known as AC, and this type of electricity may not be strong enough to give the different motors in your AC system the boost they need at start-up. This is where capacitors come in. However, it’s important to allow a trained expert to handle all aspects of your air conditioner, particularly where electricity is concerned, and the specialists at Downtown Air & Heat are here to help. If you suspect you may have an electrical problem with the air conditioner in your home in Orlando, FL, don’t take a risk by trying to repair it yourself; instead, call us and schedule an appointment.
3 Signs That You Need Air Conditioning Repair
Monday, April 27th, 2015We live in Orlando, FL, which means that a reliable air conditioner is vital to handling the heat and humidity of the summer. Those hot days are just around the corner, and the last thing you want is to have a malfunctioning air conditioner when the temperatures hit triple digits. If you need maintenance or repairs, now is the time to do it, but how can you tell that a repair is necessary? Beyond the obvious (like the air conditioner simply failing to turn on), here are 3 signs that you need air conditioning repair:
Why Doesn’t My AC Have Enough Power?
Monday, April 20th, 2015It’s getting pretty toasty here in Orlando, FL, and the temperature is only going to go up. If you’ve turned on your air conditioner and noticed that it doesn’t seem to be blowing as much air as it should, there are a few reasons for this. Instead of trying to muddle through your system to discover the problem yourself, call the experts at Downtown Air & Heat. We can assist you with any AC repair you may have, and we have emergency service available around the clock. Call us today!
Why Is There Ice on My AC?
Monday, April 13th, 2015It can be a very strange site, especially when it’s hot outside: ice on your air conditioner. However, this isn’t just some strange anomaly. Ice on your AC indicates that there’s an issue with your system and it needs to be repaired. Otherwise, you could find yourself with warm air blowing through your home’s vents. Scraping off the ice doesn’t fix the problem, and it isn’t a good idea to try and detect the problem yourself unless you have expert training about your AC system. The air conditioning specialists at Downtown Air & Heat can help you with all your repair needs, so if your air conditioner is “on the rocks,” give us a call.
How to Ensure a Successful Air Conditioning Installation
Monday, April 6th, 2015Once the heat of summer is in full swing, you are going to be using your air conditioner extensively in an effort to keep your home cool and comfortable. If you hope to do so successfully, then it is absolutely necessary that you have the right air conditioning system for your needs in place, that that system is well-designed for your home, and that it is installed by a qualified, trained professional. To guarantee that this is the case, you need only work with the professional AC technicians at Downtown Air & Heat. We install quality air conditioning systems throughout the Orlando, FL area, and we are more than happy to help you to find the right system for your unique situation. Give us a call today to discuss available options.
The first step that you should take prior to your air conditioning installation is to familiarize yourself with the various makes and models on the market today. This may be more of an involved process then you’d expect. This is because modern technology has left homeowners today with more options to consider than ever before in terms of how they choose to heat their homes. There are always quality split central systems available for installation. Some homeowners may choose to use a heat pump, though, so that they can both heat and cool their homes with one convenient system. Ductless mini splits allow for this versatility as well, while eliminating the need for ductwork entirely. There are also high-efficiency systems to consider, which offer great dependability even in our hot weather, while also helping you to cool your home with reduced energy usage.
The next step to take is to hire a professional technician whom you can count on to get the installation itself completed properly. Our technicians are some of the finest in the business, and we have plenty of experience in installing air conditioners of all types. We will make sure that your system is of the right size to handle your cooling needs, and we will guarantee that every step of the installation process is completed with the utmost care.
Our summer seasons around here are just far too hot and far too long to take any chances with the quality of your air conditioner or its performance. Make sure that your air conditioning installation goes off without a hitch. Let Downtown Air & Heat ensure that you are able to cool your home all summer long in an effective, efficient, and reliable manner.
What Factors Are Part of a Load Calculation?
Friday, March 20th, 2015There are a number of factors that need to be taken into account to properly heat and cool your home or business, but one of the most important of these factors is correct sizing. You may hear that all you need to know in order to correctly size and HVAC system for your home is the square footage; this simply isn’t true. Why? Every property gains heat throughout the day via a phenomenon known as heat gain, and daytime heat gain can increase the heat in your property up to 10 degrees. If you don’t account for this daytime heat gain, you could purchase and install an HVAC system that isn’t the right size. The heating and cooling experts at Downtown Air & Heat know how important it is to correctly size an HVAC system for any property, which is why we offer load calculating services in Orlando and the surrounding areas. If you are planning to install a new heating or cooling system, and need help, call us today!
Factors in a Load Calculation
No one really thinks about the various elements that may contribute heat to a given property, mostly because the focus on the main source of heating or cooling: the HVAC system. But there are a number of ways a property can gain heat:
- Through exposed walls
- Solar gain through windows
- Conduction movement through doors and windows
- Latent gains from electronics, lighting and people
- Fireplaces
So, in order to properly calculate how daytime heat gain affects your property, the following items need to be considered:
- The orientation of the property
- The location
- Climate
- Types and number of windows and doors
- Floorplan
- Number of stories
- Number of rooms
- Number of occupants
- Insulation levels
- Square footage
Once all these factors have been determined, your technician can perform the calculation. The calculation will yield how much heating and cooling you’ll need, and as a result, what size HVAC system you’ll need.
A number of problems can develop when you install an HVAC system that is too big or too small for your home or business.
Contact the load calculation experts at Downtown Air & Heat today and schedule an appointment for your Orlando property!
Can I Do My Own Spring AC Maintenance?
Friday, March 6th, 2015Maintenance for your air conditioner is important, and because it is important, you should always hire an expert to perform your spring air conditioning maintenance in Orlando. Our technicians get asked a lot by homeowners if they can perform the maintenance on their AC, and our answer is this: unless you have expert knowledge about your air conditioning system, including expert electrical knowledge, it’s always best to hire a trained professional to do the work. It’s hard to gain the benefits a maintenance appointment has to offer when the work is done by an amateur; you also run the risk of damaging your system and causing some serious problems. The bottom line? Always call an expert, like the ones at Downtown Air & Heat, to perform all work done to your AC, including maintenance.
What Does a Professional Have That I Don’t?
Here are some reasons why calling an expert is always the best idea:
- Knowledge and experience – air conditioning professionals do this kind of work every day, so they know exactly what to do and what to look for, no matter the job.
- Training and certification – your air conditioner is a complex electro-mechanical device; as such, it’s important to have someone with the right training and certification working on your system.
- Specialized tools – professionals have all the tools they need at their disposal, and many of these tools are specialized; this means there is a good chance you won’t have the same tools readily available.
What Benefits Does Maintenance Offer?
Wondering why maintenance, performed by a professional, is so important? Here are some reasons:
- Better comfort – maintenance is a full tune-up for your air conditioning system, and when the system works optimally, it won’t have any trouble reaching your desired indoor temperature.
- Better energy efficiency – your AC was made to operate at a specific level of energy efficiency; when the system is carrying wear and tear from last year, it can be hard for the system to achieve optimal energy efficiency.
- Prevents repairs – part of the maintenance appointment involves the thorough inspection of your air conditioning system, which allows the technician to find existing and developing problems; this helps get you ahead of potential repairs.
To ensure that you gain the benefits of spring air conditioning maintenance in Orlando, it’s critical to hire a trained professional for the work.
The experts at Downtown Air & Heat are here to assist, so if you are ready to schedule spring maintenance for your AC, call us today!
Why Consider a High Efficiency AC System?
Friday, February 27th, 2015Have you been looking for a way to significantly lessen the amount of energy you use annually for your home’s air conditioning? Are you in need of a new AC installation and have energy efficiency as a top priority? Then you may want to consider the installation of a high efficiency AC system in your Altamonte Springs home. What makes a high efficiency AC system different from other AC systems? The main difference is that high efficiency systems have SEER ratings of no less than 16 – a full 3 levels higher than the federally-mandated minimum SEER of 13. But proper installation, repair and maintenance is critical to enjoying the energy efficiency you can achieve with a high efficiency AC system, and this is where Downtown Air & Heat comes in. Our trained and certified AC specialists can help you with all of your air conditioning needs, so call us today!
Understanding SEER
Just as combustion heating systems are rated by AFUE, air conditioning systems are rated by SEER numbers. SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio, and it is a scale that tells you how energy efficient a given air conditioning system will operate. All air conditioners must be manufactured at a SEER rating of 13, as this has been the federal law since 2006. The SEER scale runs from 1 to 23, and for an AC system to qualify as high efficiency, it must have a SEER rating that is no less than 16. SEER is important because it tells you that a particular AC will cool your home the same as another, but the AC with the higher SEER rating will cool your home using less energy. However, high efficiency does typically come with a higher initial price tag. So where does the savings come in? With your monthly energy use. According to Energy.gov, every SEER point higher on the SEER scale can save you up to 10% on your annual cooling costs. This means that if you replace an existing AC system with a SEER of 11 with a high efficiency system with a SEER of 16, you can save up to 50% on your annual cooling costs.
Consult with a Professional
Is a high efficiency AC system in Altamonte Springs for you? The best way to assess how a high efficiency system can benefit you is to sit down with a Downtown Air & Heat expert and review the numbers. Call us today, and schedule an appointment with one of our AC experts!
