Downtown Air and Heat Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

What Should I Set My Thermostat to When I’m on Vacation?

Thursday, November 9th, 2023

Changing your thermostat settings before leaving the house is a simple and effective way to save energy, reduce your utility bills, and enjoy an eco-friendly living environment without sacrificing having a comfortable home. Doing so will have several important benefits.

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Does Your AC Have Water Damage?

Monday, October 17th, 2016

Hurricane Matthew didn’t spare the Orlando, FL area, and as our community assesses the damage and begins to rebuild, don’t forget to give your HVAC system a good close look. Weather of this magnitude can cause damage you may not even be aware of, and with warm temperatures an issue late into the year, the sooner you can get your air conditioner back on its feet, the better. The first step is to contact your insurance company and find out how much they will cover when it comes to repairs.  Once that’s out of the way, it’s time to determine how damaged your AC is and what can be done to make things right.

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Short Cycling is a Big Problem

Monday, May 30th, 2016

As spring turns to summer in Casselberry, FL, you’re going to start using your system a lot more often than normal.That means you need to pay careful attention to the signs that something is wrong, and act quickly when you spot them. One of the more subtle symptoms of a damaged air conditioner is short cycling, which is an air conditioning turning on, running for a short period of time and turning off… only to turn back on again just a few minutes later. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but in fact it can be devastating to your system as a whole.

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Repair or Replace? How to Make That Decision for your AC

Monday, May 23rd, 2016

Summers in Orlando, FL are too brutal to go without reliable air conditioning, and the longer your system runs, the sooner the day will arrive when you have to make a choice. Do you keep sinking money into repairing and maintaining an older system, or do you bite the bullet and get a new one? If you’re wrestling with that possibility, now is the ideal time to think about a replacement. But some older systems can still do quite well, and with regular maintenance, yours may still have plenty of life left. How expensive is too expensive when it comes to repairs? Only you can answer that question, but we have a few quick references to help you out.

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How Does Proper Air Filtration Benefit My Air Conditioner?

Monday, April 18th, 2016

The air filter is a part of every air conditioning system: a screen that filters the dirt and dust out of the air as it moves through the ducts. Central Florida can feature a lot of pollen in the air and other contaminants as well. For those who need more extensive protection, you can have an electronic air filter installed that can cover any and all dirt and dust that creeps into your ducts. For the rest, make sure you clean or replace your filter regularly in order to keep it from clogging. Proper air filtration is a big benefit to the quality of your indoor air, but it can also benefit your air conditioner more directly. Here’s how.

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What is an Air Conditioning Capacitor?

Monday, April 11th, 2016

Here in Orlando, FL, our air conditioners are an absolute lifeline during the heat of summer. Temperatures climb to stiflingly high levels, and when repairs need to happen, they need to happen very quickly indeed. The more you can educate yourself about the various components that make up your system, the more readily you can respond to a problem. Today, we’re going to talk about the capacitors in your air conditioner, which usually serve two distinct functions. In some air conditioners, you have two separate capacitors, and in others, you have one capacitor that does both jobs. In both cases, the component stores an electric charge for running the fan motor and other key parts.

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How Does a Zone Control System Save Me Money?

Monday, April 4th, 2016

Spring is here, and already our temperatures here in Longwood, FL are growing warm. You may be looking for new ways to improve your air conditioning’s performance this summer: cutting down on those high bills without reducing the comfort levels in your home. The solution is a zone control system, installed in your existing air conditioning system and allowing you to exercise a greater degree of control than previously anticipated. How does a zone control system save you money? Read on for the answers.

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What’s Involved in Sizing a New Air Conditioner?

Monday, March 14th, 2016

Many homeowners assume that the bigger their air conditioner is the better. This is not true, though. In fact, if your AC system is too large, it will experience short-cycling, which occurs when your AC shuts on and off rapidly, making the cooling process inefficient. On the other hand, too small of a unit will cause your system to continuously run as it will never be able to effectively cool your home. Having the right-sized unit installed is essential to effective and efficient cooling. But how do you know what the right size is?

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What Is a SEER Rating?

Monday, March 7th, 2016

A SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating is a measurement of your AC or heat pump’s cooling efficiency. It’s calculated by the cooling output for a typical cooling season, divided by the total electric energy input during that same time frame. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the system is.

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Now Is the Time to Schedule Air Conditioning Maintenance

Monday, February 15th, 2016

We may still have a couple months of winter left, but for Orlando, FL residents, air conditioners will get turned on soon enough. Because these systems are used so frequently, it’s only natural that you would want to prolong their life and increase their efficiency.

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