A/C Designs of St. Augustine, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘a/c maintenance’

How to Extend the Life of Your AC Unit

Thursday, June 9th, 2022

Unexpected major expenses are never fun, especially when they leave your home with no air conditioning for days on end. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of maintaining your AC unit in Florida. Here at AC Designs, our mission is to keep you informed with helpful upkeep strategies to prolong the life of your AC unit and help avoid costly mishaps. 

Avoiding Unexpected HVAC Expenses

Your AC unit works hard to keep your home cool during our hot, humid Florida weather. It’s normal for issues such as poor calibration, worn parts, or a lack of lubrication to occur over time. Unfortunately, these can cause your unit to function inefficiently or even fail. When these issues are not addressed, you can wind up paying more money for weaker performance. 

Consistently maintaining your HVAC unit is an easy way to increase its lifespan and avoid costly unanticipated repairs. By performing proper maintenance on your unit, you can eliminate common expenses that arise from improper heating/cooling, frequent repairs, and premature unit replacement. Failure to meet regular AC maintenance needs each year can result in larger problems for your unit. 

Short-Term AC Maintenance

A well-maintained air conditioning unit can last over ten years. There are many short-term practices that you can adopt to extend the life of your HVAC unit. This way, you can stay on top of any issues and avoid long-term damage and unanticipated AC repair costs. 

Preventative Maintenance

Consistent maintenance checks can prevent problems before they begin. Extend your unit’s lifespan by getting regular tune-ups, especially before the summer months. At AC Designs, we offer everything you need to take full control over your HVAC unit, from smart thermostats to zone control systems.

Give Your Unit a Rest

Running your air conditioner constantly can cause it to wear out more quickly, so be sure to give your unit a rest whenever possible. For example, turn the unit off when you have doors or windows open so it doesn’t run overtime. Investing in fans can also take some stress off of your unit on moderately warm days, saving you money and energy.

Clean Your Unit Regularly

You should also clean outdoor units regularly to avoid mechanical breakdown. This includes changing air filters and removing dirt and debris as it accumulates on your unit. Make sure that your outdoor HVAC unit is positioned flat on higher ground to avoid water damage from pooling after rainfall. 

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Using a programmable thermostat is a great way to moderate when your unit is running, especially overnight or when no one is home. This allows your unit to respond automatically to your home’s heating and cooling needs. 

Long-Term AC Maintenance

Regular maintenance from a certified HVAC company will keep your unit running smoothly for longer. Joining a maintenance program can provide homeowners with numerous financial benefits, including lower utility bills, fewer annual repairs, and improved unit capacity. 

At AC Designs, our certified technicians are dedicated to extending the life of your HVAC unit. Join our preferred customer maintenance program today to receive service from an AC company in Jacksonville, Florida that you can trust. As a member of our maintenance program, you will receive:

  • Two pre-scheduled system checks per year 
  • Same-day service availability
  • One-day replacement on parts and units (except special orders), 
  • Access to 24-hour emergency service
  • ½ off diagnostic fee
  • 20% discount on repairs

Schedule Your AC Maintenance With AC Designs

At AC Designs, we are committed to keeping Jacksonville and St. Augustine homeowners informed of the best practices to maintain HVAC units and avoid costly repairs. We will ensure that your AC unit is running smoothly throughout the hottest months of the year. Make an appointment with an HVAC technician today to take advantage of our efficient heating and air conditioning services.

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HVAC Tips to Reduce Allergens in Your Home This Spring

Wednesday, April 6th, 2022

Springtime and seasonal allergies are just around the corner. This time of year, it’s crucial to ensure that your AC unit is working correctly to reduce allergens. If it’s not, you and your family could suffer from pollen, pollutants, and worsened symptoms of coughing, sneezing, and itching from allergies or asthma.

The signs of a poorly running unit can be subtle, and you may not notice your indoor air quality isn’t what it should be. By understanding how you can improve your HVAC unit’s efficiency, you can reduce allergens in your home and help your family breathe easily.

Here are our top tips to get your AC unit ready for the spring.

Perform DIY Maintenance

Your air filter plays an important role in your home’s air quality, and one of the best things you can do for your allergies is to keep it clean. On average, air filters need to be changed every 90 days due to the buildup of particles in the air. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, changing your filter every 45 days can help improve your symptoms immensely. This is because your filter collects allergens such as pollen and other air particles.

If you’re not sure whether your air filter is dirty or needs to be changed, you can try a simple method called the white sheet test. Hang a white sheet in front of your AC unit for an hour or so, and then check to see if it’s dirty. If your sheet is grayish or looks dirty, it means that your air filter needs a change. You can also invest in an air quality monitor that alerts you to high allergens, poor air quality, and pollutants.

Managing humidity levels in your home will help keep your allergy symptoms mild as well. The amount of humidity in your home greatly affects your indoor air quality and can irritate your allergies. Investing in a dehumidifier is a great way to control your indoor humidity levels.

Keep Your Home Clean

Keeping your home clean is one of the most important things you can do for your AC unit to reduce allergies. Upholstery, rugs, and carpets can hold in dust, allergens, and other particles that can affect the quality of the air you breathe. That’s why it’s essential to clean them regularly.

Pollen clings to almost any surface, including your shoes and clothes. Remember to take off your shoes when you come into your home, and clean regularly to eliminate the particles you accidentally bring in. Dusting, especially in hard-to-reach areas like ceiling fans, is another great way to help combat pollen and other small particles.

Schedule Routine AC Maintenance

The best way to ensure your AC unit is running smoothly is through routine HVAC maintenance.  Because there are multiple components within your unit that require maintenance from a certified HVAC technician, scheduling professional maintenance twice per year is recommended.

During your bi-annual AC maintenance appointment, your HVAC technician will inspect your entire unit and offer recommendations to improve your indoor air quality. These recommendations may include technical improvements like upgraded air filters, air purifiers, and dehumidifiers. They may even recommend some easy lifestyle changes you and your family can try to improve your home’s air quality.

By joining a maintenance plan like AC Designs Preferred Customer Maintenance Program, you can have regular HVAC maintenance performed on your unit and keep it working to the best of its ability. On top of that, joining our maintenance program helps save you money on HVAC costs in the long run.

If you’re looking for AC maintenance for spring to help reduce allergens in your home, contact our team at AC Designs. We take pride in being the number one family-owned and operated AC company in Jacksonville, Florida, and we’re ready to help you with all your HVAC needs.

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