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

How Does Humidity Affect AC Performance?

Thursday, June 26th, 2014

The comfortable range for humidity is 30%-60%; the average humidity levels in Orlando between June and August range from 61%-92%. Clearly, our air conditioners are a necessity.

Not only do our air conditioners cool us, they help remove the humidity, which is a big part of our heat here. Even though your AC system is designed to remove humidity as part of regular operation, there are times when the moisture can be excessive for your air conditioning and potentially affect its performance. This is when you want to call Downtown Air & Heat.

How Does Humidity Affect My AC?

There are several ways in which humidity can adversely affect your air conditioner:

More stress on your system – when there is excess moisture in the air, not only does your air conditioner have more moisture to remove, it also has more heat to fight. More humidity means your air conditioner has to work harder to cool the same way as when there’s less humidity. This can put more stress on your system, particularly if it hasn’t been properly maintained.

More problems for allergy sufferers – not only does pollen like to cling to humidity, too much moisture is one of the reasons dust mites, mildew, and mold flourish. By properly dehumidifying the air, you can help prevent allergens from hanging in your indoor air and developing in your home.

Less comfort indoors – the point of having an air conditioner is to feel comfortable during the hot months of the year. When too much humidity is present, it can make the cool air in your house feel cold and clammy. This kind of discomfort can be as uncomfortable as experiencing the heat, something no one wants from their AC.

The Best Way to Handle Humidity

One of the best tools available for handling the extra humidity that comes with the Orlando heat is a whole-home dehumidifier. Whole-home dehumidifiers help remove the extra humidity in the air, giving your air conditioner the breathing room to operate optimally, even during long periods of excessive warmth. Let Downtown Air & Heat help you lift the weight of the humidity this summer with a whole-home dehumidifier for your air conditioning system. Call us today and schedule air conditioning service in Orlando with one of our experts.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Orlando
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How Can I Get the Most Out of My Air Conditioning System?

Friday, May 16th, 2014

You’ve installed an energy-efficient air conditioning system, learned about your air conditioner and are ready for summer. But there are some additional steps you can take, with the help of your Downtown Air & Heat expert, which can help you get the most from your air conditioning in Winter Park:

Change Your Air Filter Regularly

Your air filter helps to remove dust, dirt and allergens from the air going through your AC system. As such, it can become clogged with these things when your system is in use. By changing your air filter regularly, your air flow can stay clean and at the level it needs to be.

Bi-Annual Maintenance

Springtime provides a window of opportunity to help maintain your air conditioner. Typical maintenance visits include cleaning, inspection and testing of your system to make sure it is running optimally for the summer. Regular maintenance is a great way to maintain the health of your system and help increase its longevity.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Your thermostat controls when your air conditioning system turns on and off, a great tool for property owners not home during certain times of the day. By utilizing pre-programmed settings, your air conditioner will work when you want it to, helping to create a level of efficiency.

Install a Zoning System

Zoning systems can be of help to properties with inconsistent room temperatures due to daytime heat, placement on a higher floor or high ceilings. Zoning allows for different rooms to be set at different temperatures instead of having a single temperature setting for the whole property. You can also turn down/off the air conditioning to spaces that aren’t being used while continuing to cool the ones that are in use.

Seal All Cooling and Heating Ducts

Over time, the seals around your ductwork can become cracked. When this happens, air from your system can escape, reducing the amount of cool air going into your home. By having your ductwork checked, you can get ahead of any seals that may be starting to wear.

Your air conditioner can help give you relief from the heat while also being energy-efficient. If you need help determining how to maximize your AC’s performance, call Downtown Air & Heat today and schedule an appointment for your air conditioning in Winter Park.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Winter Park
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Why Should I Schedule Service for My Air Conditioner Now?

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

At Downtown Air & Heat, we recommend that our customers schedule annual service for their air conditioner during spring. In fact, this is a common recommendation throughout the HVAC business: in spring you have maintenance for your AC, and in fall you have it for your heater. We’ll look at the reasons we think spring is the time for you to have preventive maintenance for your air conditioner.

It’s easy to schedule a maintenance visit: just give our friendly technicians a call. If you have more serious troubles with your AC and you need air conditioning repairs in Altamonte Springs, FL, you can reach our emergency technicians any time of the day or night.

Reasons that spring time is the right time for maintenance

It’s much easier to schedule: Anyone in the HVAC business will tell you that one of the slowest times of the year is the spring. The calm weather between winter and summer means we have fewer emergency calls to fix broken furnaces or failing air conditioners. People often choose this season to arrange for installation of new systems—heaters and ACs—and it’s also ideal for scheduling maintenance, since it isn’t difficult to arrange a convenient appointment day and time.
You’ll avoid spring surprises: Florida weather grows hotter sooner than in most parts of the U.S. We can have stunning heat waves hit us in April and May. You want to make sure that your home’s air conditioning is prepared for the worst at any time: maintenance will help assure you that you’re not only ready for summer, you’re ready for the shocks of spring.
You’ll have time to arrange for major repairs: Maintenance tunes up your air conditioner and makes sure it runs at peak efficiency. But even more important, it locates malfunctions and areas where you need to have repairs done before they develop malfunctions. The last thing you want to happen during the first blazing day of July is to turn on your AC and have it immediately die on you because of a neglected repair. With timely maintenance, you will have time to schedule the professional repairs the system may need.

We are proud of the thorough 33-point inspection we provide for our customers at Downtown Air & Heat during each maintenance call. Along with the inspection, our maintenance plan customers receive 15% off repairs and priority scheduling so they are always top of job our list. Get a head start on summer with our maintenance program and clear away your needs for air conditioning repair in Altamonte Springs, FL.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Altamonte Springs
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Is It Important to Schedule Air Conditioning Maintenance Today?

Friday, April 4th, 2014

“Should I schedule my annual air conditioning maintenance today?”

“Well, I just looked up our weather forecast for the next two weeks. We can expect some rain, and then temperature will start rising back into the 80s, with a chance of highs in the 90s.”

“So—”

“So, yes, it’s very important that you schedule air conditioning maintenance as soon as possible.”

This short conversation is a way of reminding you how soon summer weather begins in Florida. You certainly have already turned on your air conditioner a few times in the last month, and you can expect it to stay on much longer this month. Spring is the best time to have regular maintenance done on an AC to make sure that it’s prepared for the heavy work of the summer months—and it’s practically summer weather already. Call up Downtown Air & Heat today to schedule your maintenance appointment for your air conditioning in Winter Park, FL.

Reminders of why this is so important

You do not want your AC breaking down during a heat wave: Since 90° weather can strike at any time, your air conditioner must be ready to run for long periods. If it has a repair issue or excess wear on its parts—the sort of problems that maintenance inspections will catch—it has a much higher chance of stranding you in the heat when you most need it working.
You may already be wasting energy and money running the system: If your air conditioner has gone for more than a year without an inspection, it will begin to work less efficiently than normal as dust and age start to affect it. Your next utility bill might contain an unpleasant surprise because the air conditioner will siphon away extra electrical power. Maintenance makes sure you jump on the issues that can make your AC a money drainer.
You need to catch small repairs before they become big repairs: Often, repair problems in an AC will start up without giving you an obvious sign that they’re occurring. A small leak in the refrigerant, dirt across the coils, lack of lubrication on the motors. If caught early, they are relatively simple fixes. If they reach the point where they are noticeable and affecting cooling ability, they will be more difficult fixes—and more expensive.

We don’t mean “today” in the post title as a euphemism for “soon.” We do mean today, because HVAC technicians’ schedules will start to fill up rapidly as the heat increases. Call now so you can schedule a convenient appointment for your maintenance.

Sign up for the maintenance program at Downtown Air & Heat and you’ll also receive 15% off all repairs for your air conditioning in Winter Park, FL.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Winter Park FL
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Now Is the Time to Install a New Air Conditioner

Monday, March 31st, 2014

Check the average temperatures for this week, and the expected ones for next week. It looks like a pleasant stretch in the 70s: a nice balmy springtime in Florida. Have you turned your AC on? Probably a few times, but nowhere near what you’ll have it doing when the actual summer heat hits. You could probably go for a day or so without it…

…and that’s why you should grab this chance to have new air conditioning installation done. If your air conditioner is over 15 years old, it’s definitely time to replace it. If it’s over 10 years old and showing signs of a decline in efficiency and performance, it’s also time to replace it. And the best time when it’s time is spring. You won’t need to worry about losing out on vital cooling during the short period the installers are setting up the new AC after they move out the old one. You also will have an easier job scheduling the work, since spring is a slower time for HVAC technicians: they have fewer emergency breakdown and repair calls to follow up on.

Downtown Air & Heat can help you make a smooth transition to new air conditioning system in Altamonte Springs, FL. Since you’ve probably spent a decade at the least with your current AC, you won’t be familiar with the process of picking and installing a new one. But with the assistance of professionals, you’ll find the new unit that will work for you, and have it sized ideally to fit your home: neither too big (which will cause short-cycling) or too small (which will cause discomfort and power drain).

Spring is actually a more ideal time for new installation than winter, which people often assume would be the best season for putting in an air conditioning unit. However, winter is an unpredictable period, both because of the holidays and weather conditions that will make schedules more squeezed for professional technicians. Spring offers a more relaxing time for everybody to make the switch over to a new comfort system.

Remember when you choose your new air conditioning for Altamonte Springs, FL to look for ways to upgrade from your older system. Technology for heating and cooling continues to advance each decade, and without spending a great deal more than you did for your last installation, you can have superior comfort, energy-efficiency, and new features that will improve your life during the sweltering summer months.

Call our friendly AC experts at Downtown Air & Heat today and arrange for an appointment to start your spring air conditioning installation.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Altamonte Springs
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Why You Should Change Your Filter… Regularly

Thursday, November 7th, 2013

Changing your filter regularly keeps your system clean and helps you get the most out of your air conditioning system. It is the single most important thing you can do as a homeowner to maintain your air conditioner, but is often over-looked or forgotten.

Sometimes we forget to change our filter for a few months or don’t have the proper size. Below is a picture of what can happen when a filter goes unchanged for a long time. This was discovered by one of our technicians performing a precision tune up (maintenance check) for a new customer.

The filter for this system was left unchanged for well over a year. At some point, the suction power of the air handler sucked the clogged filter into the return, allowing air and dirt to flow around it. The result was a thick layer of hair and dirt, completely blocking the evaporator coil.

This customer lucked out in a way that very few do. The large volume of hair created a mat that could be peeled off without removing the coil. Most of the time, the refrigerant would have to be recovered, the coil cut out of the air handler, cleaned, reinstalled, the system evacuated, and recharged with refrigerant.

When the job was done the hair and dirt removed from the coil was approximately the size of a grapefruit. Needless to say, this made a huge difference in this system’s performance. If it’s time to change your filter, call the professional Orlando, FL air conditioning technicians at Downtown Air and Heat to set up an appointment.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Orlando
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Air Conditioning FAQ: What Is a Contactor?

Wednesday, November 6th, 2013

Simply stated, a contactor is an “ON/OFF” switch for an air conditioner or heat pump; the unit located outside your home or business. When it becomes too warm or too cold, the thermostat sends a 24 volt current to the contactor and the outside unit comes on. When the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat stops sending the 24 volt current and the unit shuts off.

Here’s how it works?

Two high voltage wires power your outside unit. Under normal conditions, power is supplied continuously. These power wires are connected to your contactor, which breaks, or interrupts the flow of electricity to the system components (Compressor & condenser fan motor). Wires on both sides of the contactor are connected by a spring-loaded metal strip or strips. When the thermostat calls for the unit to come on, a current travels through two low voltage wires to a coil at the base of the contactor and creates an electro-magnetic force pulling the metal strip down and bridging the gap between the two sets of wires. Think of a draw-bridge being lowered to allow traffic to cross a river. When the thermostat is satisfied, the room temperature is where it should be, the electro-magnetic force stops and the spring pushes the metal strip(s) away from the wires, breaking power to the unit (the bridge is up).

Looking at the picture, the high voltage wires are on the bottom and the top. The smaller wires on the sides supply low voltage power to the coil, which is at the base of the contactor (not visible in picture). The metal strip, the part that is raised or lowered, is on the front-right side. This contactor only breaks one of the two high voltage wires, others break both. To learn more about how your AC works, call the Orlando, FL air conditioning experts at Downtown Air and Heat.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Orlando
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What Is a Heat Pump?

Wednesday, October 16th, 2013

Everyone knows that Air Conditioning units cool, but did you know they can also heat?

One of the most common configurations for an AC system includes an outside unit, called a condenser or condensing unit and a furnace or air handler located in your house (closet, attic, garage, etc). The condensing unit provides cooling to the home by circulating refrigerant through the system which absorbs heat energy inside and gives it off outside. Heat is produced in the air handler or furnace by consuming some type of fuel. Fossil fuels are used in furnaces (ex. natural gas), and electricity is used in air handlers.

In our area, air handlers with electric heat are more common than furnaces. While a reliable and effective source of heat, electric heat strips (the component that produces heat in the air handler) are very inefficient and expensive to operate. In this process, electrical energy is being converted directly to heat energy. To produce more heat, more electricity must be consumed. Think of it as a 1 to 1 relationship, one unit of energy to make one unit of heat.

Gas furnaces are much more efficient than electric heat strips, but even the smallest furnaces are often 2 to 3 times more powerful than what is required to comfortably heat your home. They are also more expensive to purchase. If you already have natural gas service in your home, a gas furnace is a good way to go. If you don’t, you’re better off getting a heat pump.

So what is a heat pump?

A heat pump is a condensing unit with a few added components, not an actual pump or individual part. From the outside, it looks exactly like a condensing unit. The added components allow the process or air conditioning to be reversed to heat the home. When your thermostat calls for heat, the reversing valve redirects the flow of refrigerant; heat is absorbed outside and given off inside. It may seem counter-intuitive, but there is still a lot of heat energy in the air at 40 degrees or even 20. A heat pump cost more than a condensing unit, but can save you a lot of money on your winter utility bills, especially if it’s a cold year. That’s because it is more efficient to move heat that convert it from electricity (3 to 4 times more efficient with conventional equipment). The warmer the air outside, the more efficient heat pumps become. This is why heat pumps are so popular in areas with mild climates, such as in Orlando.

If you have any questions about heat pumps or some of the new high-efficiency air conditioning systems out there, call us today at 407-408-7105 and let Downtown Air & Heat educate you on the benefits of these new systems.

Tags: AC, Air Conditioning, heat pump
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How an Air Conditioner Works

Monday, October 7th, 2013

We tend to use our air conditioning systems a lot in Central Florida to fend off the high temperatures and muggy summer air. It’s hardly surprising then that our ACs endure a significant amount of wear and tear during the cooling season. Your AC is a complex machine, comprised of various components and mechanisms all of which must work together in order to remove the heat from your indoor air and provide adequate cooling. Whether you have central AC, a heat pump, or a ductless mini split, your air conditioning abides by fundamental processes of thermal energy transfer. In today’s post, we’d like to offer a brief review of how a basic AC works. While various types and brands operate differently, this will give you a good idea of the basics. Call Downtown Air and Heat for all of your air conditioning needs.

Let’s begin with the compressor since it’s the engine of what’s known as the refrigerant cycle. The compressor functions like any other: it compresses the low-pressure, gaseous refrigerant arriving from the evaporator coil and turns it into a high-pressure and high-temperature gas. The temperature is much higher than that found outside on even the most brutal summer afternoon. In fact, the cycle relies on the ability of the condenser coil to cool the gas into a hot liquid (hence its name) by means of an exhaust fan.

However, the liquid refrigerant cannot yet be used to cool your indoor air. In order to drop the temperature further, the refrigerant needs to be depressurized. A thermal expansion valve does just that. By metering the flow of refrigerant, the temperature is thereby reduced and is now ready to provide cooling for your air. In the air handler, the evaporator coil circulates cool, liquid refrigerant that comes into contact with your warm indoor air. This thermal exchange evaporates the refrigerant while it cools the air. You now have cool air being redistributed through the ductwork, and the cycle continues.

Call Downtown Air and Heat today for professional air conditioning services in the Orlando, FL area.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Orlando
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Check Out Our Blog for the Latest in HVAC Technology

Friday, September 6th, 2013

Be sure to bookmark the Downtown Air and Heat blog for updates on the latest advances in HVAC technology.

We’ll feature money saving promotions here as well.

Call Downtown Air and Heat for all your Air Conditioning, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Ductwork, New Construction HVAC, and Commercial HVAC needs.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Heating, Indoor Air Quality
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