A/C Designs of St. Augustine, LLC Blog: Archive for the ‘AC Maintenance’ Category

Save on HVAC Costs in 2021 with Preventative Maintenance

Friday, January 8th, 2021

Your HVAC system is crucial to keeping your Jacksonville home comfortable in all seasons. When you’re finalizing your 2021 budget, make sure it includes HVAC costs for preventative maintenance. This kind of maintenance can improve the average lifespan of HVAC systems. While these systems can last for over a decade, their lifespan can be cut short without proper care. 

Keep these maintenance tips in mind to reduce HVAC costs in the new year.

Extend Your HVAC’s Lifespan

Your HVAC system will last longer with preventative maintenance. Include the cost of routine inspections in your budget for the new year. Schedule them through your local service team once or twice a year. Routine maintenance checks will keep you from having to invest thousands of dollars in a new system before it is absolutely necessary to do so.

Reduce Your Risk of Repairs

Your HVAC system can cost a significant amount of money if you need emergency repairs. While you might not be able to prevent repairs entirely, such as storm damage, you can lower the risk of needing them with preventative maintenance. This type of maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system runs properly. HVAC technicians can inspect your system and make minor repairs as needed, such as tightening loose components. Over time, this can lower the risk of your HVAC system breaking down.

Boost Indoor Air Quality

The condition of your HVAC system can have an impact on your budget when it comes to healthcare costs. Routine maintenance can help you improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) throughout the year. Healthier indoor air means a lower risk of catching colds and other viruses for you and your family. In turn, better air quality results in fewer healthcare costs for existing respiratory conditions that may worsen with poorer IAQ.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Having maintenance done on your HVAC system doesn’t only help it last longer. This kind of maintenance can also help your HVAC system run with better energy efficiency. This can help you save on your energy bills. Running your air conditioning in summer and your heating system in winter can add up throughout the year. With routine maintenance, you can ensure your HVAC system uses less energy all year round, resulting in reduced heating and cooling costs.

If you’re looking for more ways to save on HVAC costs in the new year, contact A/C Designs. We’re here to handle all of your HVAC needs, including preventative maintenance. We have years of experience providing heating and cooling services for homeowners in and around Jacksonville.

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How to Avoid Creating Hot & Cold Spots in Your Home

Thursday, November 19th, 2020

Your HVAC system can help your Jacksonville home feel cooler or warmer as needed. However, you might notice that certain areas feel warmer or colder than others. Knowing how this might happen and what you can do to prevent it from occurring can help you keep your home feeling much more comfortable this season.

Replace HVAC Filters

Preventing hot and cold spots in your home might be as simple as changing your HVAC filter. The filter in your HVAC system traps particles and stops them from getting into your home’s indoor air. This results in HVAC filters that are covered with dust and other particles over time. When filters are coated with these particles, they aren’t able to work as well. This can cause your HVAC system to run more often or work harder at keeping your home warm in winter, which can result in more wear and tear. Replacing your current HVAC filter with a new one helps ensure that your HVAC system can work more efficiently and heat your home more evenly.

Check Your Airflow 

Air should be able to go through vents, ducts, and registers without any blockages. Clogged or damaged ducts can affect airflow, which makes it harder to maintain even temperatures throughout your home. Having furniture or other large items in front of vents and registers can also make it more difficult for air to move without any obstruction. Ensuring that you have good airflow in your home can help lower the risk of ending up in spots that are too hot or too cold.

Add Insulation if Needed 

Insulation helps your home stay warmer in winter. If certain areas in your home feel colder than they should, check to see if you have enough insulation. You might need to add insulation to areas that tend to get colder than others, even when the heat’s running. Keep in mind that proper insulation can help you heat your home more efficiently all winter long.

Double Check Your HVAC Size 

Is your HVAC system the right size for your home? If parts of your home feel colder than others in winter, you might have an HVAC system that’s too small for your heating needs. Have a professional HVAC expert help you determine if your HVAC system is properly sized for your Jacksonville home. Keep in mind that zone control systems are an option that allow you to better control the temperature in different parts of your home.

Use Ceiling Fans 

Ceiling fans aren’t just for staying cooler in summer. You can turn ceiling fans on so that they run clockwise in winter. This helps distribute heated air more evenly in rooms, which can eliminate hot and cold spots.

Contact Us A/C Designs

If you need help balancing the temperature throughout your home, we can help. Contact A/C Designs today for all of your HVAC needs. Our team offers timely and reliable repairs, maintenance, and installations in and around Jacksonville.

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What’s That Spooky Noise Coming From My A/C?

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020


Halloween is here, and with all the scary movies you’ve probably been watching, you might be a little spooked by the strange sounds coming from your air conditioning. Thankfully, there are no ghosts lurking in your a/c. Learn more about common noises in your a/c, what causes them, and how to fix them.

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GUIDE: Should You Repair or Replace Your A/C?

Thursday, July 30th, 2020

Should you repair or replace your a/c unit? This is a common question among those of us surviving this Florida heat, and knowing the answer could save you a lot of money. Having an air conditioner that isn’t working can be frustrating, however, the cause is usually one of a few components. That’s why we have created this simple questionnaire to help you decide whether to repair or replace your unit.

To better understand your HVAC system and diagnosing your a/c issue, click the link below and download your FREE Repair or Replace Guide.

Click to Download (opens in new window)

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Checklist: HVAC Summer Maintenance

Monday, July 13th, 2020

High temperatures and humidity in the Jacksonville area mean it’s time to think about HVAC summer maintenance. Performing maintenance tasks help your HVAC system run more efficiently for lower energy bills and reduces the risk of repairs. Keeping your system in excellent condition helps ensure that you can look forward to walking into a cool home throughout the summer months. Use the following checklist while doing maintenance on your HVAC system this season.

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Ways to Stay Cool and Save Money During the Summer

Thursday, June 25th, 2020

The heat and humidity in the Jacksonville area during summer can easily lead to skyrocketing energy bills. While you need to run your air conditioning in order to keep your home comfortable, you might not need to worry about high cooling bills. Keep the following tips in mind to help you save money and reduce energy usage while still having a cool home interior throughout the summer months.

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What Are Some Ways to Extend the Life of an HVAC System?

Monday, June 15th, 2020

No matter how old (or new) your home’s heating and cooling system may be, there are steps you can take to prolong its life. And when you consider that a new furnace or air conditioning unit can easily cost thousands of dollars, you’ll want to keep your current system running smoothly for as long as possible.

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How Often Does a Central Air Conditioner Need Refrigerant?

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

Even if every other component of your a/c is in perfect working condition, without the proper level of refrigerant, it can’t produce cool air. And if your a/c unit spends much time running while it’s low on refrigerant, it could suffer potentially expensive damage.

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How to Prepare Your HVAC for the Winter

Friday, December 20th, 2019

Though Florida doesn’t experience the same cold winter temperatures as the rest of the U.S., it’s still important to “winterize” your heating, ventilation, and a/c unit each fall. The fall season presents a prime opportunity to inspect your unit and correct any issues before the cold weather arrives and the hot weather returns. Learn more about the steps you should take to prepare your HVAC for the winter.

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