A/C Designs of St. Augustine, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘AC Installation’

How to Prep Your A/C Unit for a Hurricane

Monday, August 16th, 2021

When you live in Florida, your home needs to be prepared for storms during and after hurricane season. Many homeowners overlook their HVAC unit when preparing for storms. Avoid making this mistake by following these tips to prep your A/C unit for a hurricane or other Florida storm in St. Augustine or Jacksonville.

Preparing Your Indoor Unit

Ideally, you should begin hurricane HVAC preparation for your A/C units a few hours in advance. Let your air conditioner cool your home to a comfortable temperature in the hours before the storm. Try setting the thermostat a few degrees cooler than you normally would.

Consider investing in a surge protector specifically designed for your HVAC unit. A surge protector is an excellent way to fend off damage caused by lightning strikes and power surges.

Protecting Your Outdoor Unit

Your outdoor unit will likely bear the brunt of the hurricane. Make sure the outdoor unit is ready by clearing your yard of any nearby objects or debris. During the storm, items in your yard will likely fly around and can potentially damage your unit. Trim back trees and branches away from your unit with the help of a professional, if necessary.

Once you have cleared your yard, it is a good idea to elevate and cover your system. High winds can knock down branches and damage your unit, so it’s important to keep it covered.

After the Storm

It can be tempting to turn your A/C unit on as soon as the storm passes, but try to avoid doing so. Turning your unit on immediately can cause extreme damage if there is standing water in your unit. The first thing you should do once the storm passes, is perform a visual inspection of your outdoor and indoor units. Be sure to remove the covering on your outdoor unit to avoid trapping in moisture that could lead to mold.

Look for water damage, listen for strange noises, and take photos of any damage to send to your insurance company. Once you have assessed your unit, you should clean away any dirt or debris. Keep our Hurricane Prep Guide nearby when caring for your A/C unit before and after a hurricane.

If you suspect that your unit suffered some damage or want an extra set of eyes, schedule an appointment immediately with a NATE-certified HVAC technician. Book an appointment with A/C Designs for storm and everyday HVAC maintenance in Jacksonville, FL.

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5 Common Summertime HVAC Problems

Thursday, July 15th, 2021

When you live in Florida, you become accustomed to the 90-degree weather. Unfortunately, your A/C unit may not be as prepared. Summertime can pose many seasonal problems for your HVAC unit. We’ve prepared the 5 most common summertime HVAC problems and provided easy solutions to help you keep your family cool this summer.

Dirty Filters

One of the simplest ways to maximize your A/C unit’s efficiency is to ensure your filters are clean. A dirty filter will make your unit run less efficiently and worsen your home’s air quality. While most filters are typically replaced every three months, changing them more often in the summer will drastically improve your home’s air conditioning.

During the summer in Florida, most homeowners blast their A/C units all season long. The more your A/C unit is running, the more often you will need to replace your filter. If you notice your unit running less efficiently in the summer, your filters likely need to be replaced.

Low Refrigerant Levels

There’s nothing worse than turning your A/C system on, listening as the fans rev up, just to feel hot air coming through your vents. If your unit’s fans are not blowing cool air, this is likely due to a leak resulting in low refrigerant levels. While this is a common summertime issue, you will need to contact an HVAC technician to professionally seal any leaks and add new coolant to your system.

Failing Capacitors

One of the most common summer problems for A/C units are failed capacitors. If your A/C struggles to start-up and ultimately fails, your capacitor is failing. More often than not, capacitors fail during the hottest months of the year.

The best way to avoid a capacitor problem is to schedule regular maintenance with a certified HVAC company. During routine maintenance, an HVAC technician will be able to spot a weakened capacitor and fix it before it fails during the summer.

Outdoor Fan Malfunction

Summer can be a great time to get ahead on outdoor projects and to break out the lawnmower. However, be wary of any debris, grass, and other items that may damage your outdoor unit. If the fan in your outdoor unit is not encased and protected properly, the blades can be easily damaged by debris.

Fan blades that become damaged will start to bend and cause further damage to your unit. Keep your outdoor unit safe all summer long by keeping any debris, footballs, and toys away from your unit.

Clogged Drain Hoses

A large part of your unit’s job is to pull humidity from the air and keep your home’s humidity levels balanced. As the unit works, the condensed water will leave the system through a drainage line. If this line becomes clogged, your system will begin experiencing problems, including dangerous standing water underneath the system.

With heightened humidity during the summer in Florida, this problem can be very serious. Fortunately, a skilled HVAC technician can flush the drains to remove any clogs.

Florida’s intense summers pose an issue for many aspects of our lives. With these best practices and regular maintenance, you can ensure your home’s A/C system is prepared to keep you comfortable all season long. Schedule a maintenance appointment with the NATE-certified HVAC technicians at A/C Designs today to stay ahead of these common summertime HVAC problems.

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National HVAC Tech Day

Monday, June 21st, 2021

It’s National HVAC Tech Day! Find out why we celebrate our HVAC techs and how you can show your appreciation.

What is National HVAC Tech Day?

National HVAC Tech Day was founded in 2016, in order to recognize the good work of all HVAC technicians in the industry who keep our units working year-round. Central heating and air conditioning were largely invented in the 1900s giving homeowners control over their indoor comfort. Great strides have been made since then in the heating and cooling industry.

Why Do We Celebrate?

These systems couldn’t operate efficiently without reliable A/C maintenance. HVAC technicians can keep our systems running due to their skillset and advanced technology. These techs work in extreme conditions to help homeowners and renters improve their home’s comfort.

Oftentimes, your HVAC technician will recommend ways to save money on the right system for your home or office. That’s why on June 22nd, we show love and appreciation to our HVAC technicians.

Ways to Show Appreciation

If your HVAC tech makes sure your system stays running correctly and gives you good advice, you can show them appreciation in a few ways:

  • Say thank you
    A simple “thank you” can go a long way. Most people just want to know they are appreciated.
  • Leave a review
    Technicians love when you leave amazing reviews. Show your support for your favorite technician by leaving them a personalized review!
  • Share a picture
    Use social media and share a picture of your HVAC tech, HVAC company, or your system with the hashtag #NationalHVACTechDay.
  • Do the work
    Your system won’t work well if you aren’t keeping up with things after your tech has done their job. That means you must change the air filters on a regular basis, insulate your home, and keep up with your maintenance appointments. This makes your technician’s job a little easier.

These are just a few ways you can remember your technician on HVAC Tech Day. As one of the premier firms of HVAC technicians Jacksonville, FL has to offer, you’ll always be in good hands with A/C Designs. For more information, book an appointment with our team of HVAC experts today!

Thank Your HVAC Technician Today – Leave a Review!

Here are a couple of reviews celebrating the A/C Designs’ team!

“Always exceptional professional service. Kevin’s HVAC knowledge is outstanding and his customer service second to none. He never forgets to walk us through the maintenance process and debriefing after service completion. With A/C Design we know that we’re getting the best service. That’s why we’ve been with the company since our house was built in 2017.” – John T.

“Fair price, professional, a clean, quality install. Alex and Jeremy did a great job. I am very happy that I chose AC Designs.” – Rick W.

“Jacob was very professional and polite the entire time during the job. He took the time to explain what was being done and how it affects the system. I would definitely recommend.” – Chan L.

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HVAC Tips and Tricks for New Homeowners

Monday, June 14th, 2021

When you move into a new home, it’s important to make sure your HVAC system stays in good condition. This helps reduce the risk of damage or other problems while also ensuring your HVAC unit reaches its lifespan. Keep the following HVAC tips and tricks in mind, and your new home will stay comfortable throughout the summer.

Understand Your HVAC Unit

When moving to a new home, you should find out the age and efficiency rating of your HVAC system. A home that’s 10 or more years old is likely to have an older A/C unit that will need to be replaced. Older HVAC systems also have lower efficiency ratings.

Ask for the results of the former owner’s HVAC inspection to see how old it is and whether there were any problems with it. You should also be familiar with the terms and conditions of the HVAC system’s warranty if it has one.

DIY Maintenance

At your new home, you can take steps to maintain your HVAC system. These include changing air filters as often as needed to maintain good HVAC efficiency and removing debris and weeds from around the outdoor unit. You should also seal your home to prevent drafts since this can cause you to use your HVAC system more.

Have a programmable thermostat installed in order to decrease the amount of energy your HVAC system uses when you’re not home. Using curtains or other window coverings can also help you run your HVAC system less often, resulting in less wear and tear.

Keep Up With Professional Maintenance

You should have professional A/C maintenance done on your HVAC unit on an annual basis. Going without maintenance could cost you an extra 20 percent on your energy bills. Routine maintenance helps you save on heating and cooling costs while also improving your air quality and extending the lifespan of your HVAC system.

You’ll also have a lower risk of needing emergency HVAC repairs. Join A/C Designs Preferred Customer Maintenance Program, which provides you with important benefits, including two pre-scheduled system checks each year, a 20 percent discount on repairs, same-day service, and more.

HVAC Tips and Tricks

HVAC checklist for new homeowners

Knowing more about your new A/C unit and scheduling HVAC maintenance are crucial parts of ensuring your system lasts for years and runs smoothly. Book an appointment today with the HVAC experts at A/C Designs.

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Tips to Improve Air Quality & Make Indoor Air Safer to Breathe

Monday, May 24th, 2021

Your home’s indoor air quality can affect your health, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory conditions. Taking steps to improve air quality means you’ll have safer and cleaner air to breathe. Keeping these important tips to improve air quality in mind will help you make a healthier home.

Keep Your Home Clean

Making sure your home is clean on a regular basis is an effective way to improve your indoor air quality. You should vacuum all of the carpeting and rugs in your home once or twice a week to remove dust and other debris. Cleaning your bedding, curtains, and other fabrics throughout your home also helps cut down on the amount of dust and other debris that get into the air.

You can help reduce dust and other debris in your home by using dust mite-proof covers on all of your mattresses, box springs, and pillows. While you should be washing these regularly, these special covers also help keep them clean in between washes. Getting rid of trash and clutter in your home is another way to limit the amount of dust, allergens, pollutants, and other harmful particles that get into the air.

Change Your Filters

The air filters your HVAC system uses can have a big impact on the quality of your indoor air. These filters should be as clean as possible in order to cut down on indoor air pollution. Otherwise, pollutants and other particles can get into your air when your air conditioning or heating is running.

Consider using HEPA filters rather than regular air filters; HEPA filters are able to catch dust, pollen, other allergens, smoke, and other particles more effectively. Look for an air filter with a higher minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating. These filters can remove tiny pollen and dust particles from your air.

You should use a filter replacement every three months, or sooner if needed. You should also change the filters in your vacuum cleaner and other appliances on a regular basis.

Control Humidity Indoors

Having the right amount of indoor humidity is an important part of keeping the air clean. Too much humidity, especially in bathrooms and other moist areas, allows mildew and mold to grow. These can lead to significant health issues like respiratory problems.

Because the summer months can make your home even hotter and more humid, you should take steps to lower your indoor humidity. Using a dehumidifier can help with this issue. Dehumidifiers are able to eliminate excess moisture in the air, which helps reduce the risk of mold. Having a lower humidity level during summer also keeps your home feeling more comfortable overall.

Following these tips means you can enjoy having healthier and cleaner air inside your home. Getting air purifiers and measuring indoor air quality from time to time can also help. Contact the indoor air quality experts at A/C Designs to schedule an appointment if you need additional help.

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How to Prepare Your A/C Unit for Summer

Monday, May 17th, 2021

With temperatures heating up, this is a good time to make sure your air conditioning unit is ready. This helps ensure that your home feels comfortable and cool no matter how hot it is outside. Keep these HVAC tips in mind to prepare your A/C unit for a hot Florida summer.

Cleaning the Indoor Unit

Central air conditioning unit cleaning includes preparing the indoor and outdoor unit. To get your indoor unit ready, you should change the air filters. These filters get covered in debris and dust over time, which can cause your air conditioning to run less efficiently. Clean air filters improve the unit’s efficiency and indoor air quality.

Consider upgrading your thermostat to a programmable one this summer. Programmable thermostats allow you to program settings that reduce how much air conditioning your home uses at certain times, such as when you’re out of the house. Other cleaning tasks for your indoor unit include checking your ductwork for air leaks and cleaning the condensation lines.

Cleaning the Outdoor Unit

When you’re getting ready to prepare your A/C unit for summer, you’ll need to clean your outdoor unit. Air conditioner cleaning on this unit helps ensure that your HVAC system works properly throughout the season. You should clean the coils on this unit since they can become coated in mud, dust, and other kinds of debris. If the coils are slightly dirty, shut off the power to the outdoor unit and spray it down using a garden hose.

Cleaning the outdoor unit also involves wiping down the fins using a soft toothbrush. This helps remove debris from these fins. Other tasks to do when preparing your A/C unit include making sure the concrete slab it sits on is even. You can use a level to even it out if needed.

You should also get rid of any weeds, branches, twigs, and other debris that is around your outdoor unit. This kind of debris can blow airflow through your outdoor A/C unit.

Scheduling Annual Maintenance

Having annual preventative maintenance done on your HVAC system helps ensure that it’s able to run at maximum efficiency throughout the year. These appointments allow HVAC technicians to check the components of your HVAC system to make sure they’re in good condition.

These technicians can also inspect parts of your HVAC system that you might not be able to check or clean on your own. If your A/C has any problems, HVAC technicians can find them early during maintenance visits and make repairs when needed. This helps lower the risk of having your air conditioning stop working during summer or develop major problems that require emergency repairs.

Putting these HVAC cleaning tips to use is a great way to keep your energy bills lower while still having a cool home all summer long. Routine maintenance is also an important part of preparing your HVAC system for summer. Please contact the experts at A/C Designs today to schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment.

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Seasonal HVAC Maintenance Tips for Spring

Thursday, April 15th, 2021

Keeping your HVAC system up and running properly requires seasonal maintenance. HVAC maintenance plays an important role in making sure your system runs efficiently and improves your indoor air quality. Follow these seasonal HVAC maintenance tips to ensure your home system is performing at its best.

Replace Your Filter

Your HVAC system’s removable air filter traps pollen and other particles, keeping them out of your home. Tree pollen and other debris can cover these filters during spring, leading to clogged and dirty filters. A dirty filter can lead to damage as your HVAC system attempts to run improperly.

In severe cases, your HVAC system could break down. Keep in mind that lowered efficiency also results in higher energy bills. You should replace your filter as part of your HVAC maintenance routine during spring.

Test and Clean Your Cooling Equipment

Testing your equipment helps determine if it is running efficiently. Turn your HVAC system on and leave it running for a few minutes. This test allows you to determine if your air conditioning is working properly.

You should run your HVAC equipment through one standard cycle to ensure that it’s producing cool air throughout your home. A professional HVAC technician can perform a more in-depth test on your system to determine its efficiency.

When it comes to HVAC cleaning, you can do some of these tasks on your own. Wipe down return registers and supply vents to remove dust and other debris. During a professional HVAC maintenance visit, a technician can clean the internal components of your system, such as the blower fans. Clean components can help your HVAC system run properly.

Preventative Maintenance

Performing preventative maintenance on your HVAC system is a great practice to ensure it operates at its highest efficiency. In addition to the tasks you can do at home, you should schedule an appointment for professional maintenance. Technicians will check the components in your HVAC system to make sure they’re in good condition.

If needed, technicians can repair minor problems and make adjustments to keep your system working properly. They can also inspect your air ducts to check for dents, debris, and other problems that could affect airflow. During maintenance appointments, technicians also look for signs of bigger problems with your HVAC system that require prompt repairs.

These seasonal HVAC maintenance tips can help you enjoy dependable cooling throughout the hot spring and summer months. While you can do some of these tasks yourself, it’s necessary to have a professional technician perform preventative maintenance. When searching for “HVAC maintenance near me,” choose A/C Designs for your preventative maintenance needs. Request an appointment with A/C Designs for your annual HVAC service maintenance appointment.

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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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How to Reduce Air Conditioner Noise

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020


Summer temperatures in the Jacksonville area make air conditioning a necessity. However, when you have a noisy a/c, running it can often be a nuisance. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the amount of noise your air conditioning system makes, so you can enjoy a quieter and more comfortable home all season long.

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