Downtown Air and Heat Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Altamonte Springs’

How Does Duct Cleaning Help Air Conditioning?

Friday, August 22nd, 2014

Dirty vents don’t just adversely affect you; they can also adversely affect your air conditioner and its operation. Because ductwork is largely not visible, it can be easy to forget that, like other parts of your air conditioner, it needs cleaning and maintenance, too. Accessing ductwork and cleaning it properly can be tricky, which is why it’s important to use certified technicians, like the ones at Downtown Air & Heat, to conduct the duct cleaning for your property.

What Happens During a Duct Cleaning?

Here is a general overview of what happens during a routine duct cleaning appointment:

  • The technician will cover all nearby furniture and carpets with protective coverings
  • The technician will open your ductwork at access points and portals and thoroughly inspect your entire system
  • He/she will then employ the use of professional-grade, HEPA filtered vacuums to remove the dirt, dust and debris from your ductwork
  • He/she may then use a mechanical brush and vacuum to scrape off and remove any debris stuck in your ducts
  • Visual equipment, such as cameras and periscopes, may be used to inspect for any missed areas or lingering debris
  • Once the technician confirms all debris has been removed from the vents, he/she will close the system

How Does Duct Cleaning Help Your AC?

A professional duct cleaning can help your air conditioner in the following ways:

  • Better energy efficiency – large amounts of dust and dirt build-up in your system can constrict air flow, which can make your air conditioner struggle. Any time your AC operates under stress, it uses more power. By removing the excess dust and debris with a thorough duct cleaning, you can help your AC “breathe” better, and alleviate extra power usage.
  • Reveals other potential problems – it can be hard to see holes and cracks when the vent work is extremely dirty. Holes and cracks contribute to air loss, which can tax your system and drive up energy costs. By cleaning your ductwork, you’ll be able to see if there are any developing problems with your vents.
  • Less stress on your system – excessive dust and dirt can put undue stress on your system. Undue stress can prematurely age your systems and its components, making it more prone to malfunction and breakdown.

Ductwork should be cleaned about every 3-5 years – when was the last time yours was cleaned? If it’s been longer than 5 years, it may be time to schedule duct cleaning for your property. Call Downtown Air & Heat today and schedule duct cleaning in Altamonte Springs with one of our ductwork specialists.

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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.

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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.

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