A/C Designs of St. Augustine, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘air conditioner tips’

Air Conditioner Maintenance – What You Should and Shouldn’t Do Yourself

Tuesday, March 12th, 2024
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Air Conditioner Maintenance – The Ultimate Homeowners Guide 2025

HVAC systems have evolved over the years and it is now a critical component of any home or office. A good HVAC system can eliminate unfavorable conditions in your area and give you and your family a clean, comfortable space to live.

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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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HVAC Energy Saving Tips for the Holidays

Monday, December 14th, 2020

Christmastime is one of the most wonderful times of the year — and it is also the time of year when the most energy is used around the home. Heating bills go up as temperatures drop, and that’s compounded by frequent visitors coming through your doors. Here’s a list of tips and tricks to help cut down on energy usage during the holidays.

Essential Tips for Saving Energy This Christmas

It’s good to save money year-round, but at Christmastime in particular, you could use some extra savings in your pocket — and energy savings are a key way to do that. Reduce your energy usage in the following ways:

  • If you’re expecting to be away from home a lot over the holidays, there’s no need to let your heating and cooling system keep your home at the ideal temperature when you’re not home. Invest in a wifi-enabled thermostat to remotely control temperature, set your heating lower before you leave, or turn off the air conditioning to save.
  • Holidays mean lots of people coming and going through your doors — and sometimes those doors are left hanging open, which lets warm or cold air out. Save your AC unit some trouble by making sure that doors are closed when people aren’t using them.
  • Many people make Christmas meals to celebrate the holidays, but perhaps you’ve never noticed the indoor temperature going up just a notch while your oven is running. That’s right, cooking with your oven is a good and frugal way to help heat up your home using the heat generated by the machine. You can cut down on your power bill and have a hot home-cooked meal at the same time.
  • Enroll in an HVAC maintenance program so that technicians can monitor your heating and cooling equipment. Routine maintenance lowers utility bills and prevents problems before they can become costly.
  • Don’t just keep the power on. Be it whether you’re leaving a room or the house, remember to turn off unused applications and lights. That goes for power strips too, as they can still hog energy even if you don’t notice them easily. Turning the power off whenever you can is not only good for the environment but also your power bill.
  • Go for energy-efficient Christmas lights. Choose LED ones over traditional light bulbs or other sorts of fancy electronic decorations that eat a lot of wattage.

Contact A/C Designs to Help You Save 

There are other ways you can save, too, such as zoned heating and cooling systems that allow you to use less energy in areas of the home that you aren’t actively using. If you’re looking for services concerning air conditioning in Jacksonville, Florida, contact A/C Designs and let us help you figure out ways that you can get those energy bills lower.

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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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Tips For Your A/C When You Turn on the Heater for the First Time

Monday, November 16th, 2020

As temperatures slowly get cooler in the Jacksonville area, you can expect to start using your heater soon. Before using it for the first time this season, though, you should make sure it’s in good condition. This helps ensure that you’ll have efficient heating in your home all fall and winter long.

Don’t Switch From A/C to Heat Suddenly 

If possible, you should avoid having your air conditioning turned up high and switching over to your heating system later that day or the next. Doing this could make it hard for your HVAC system to work efficiently. Gradually change your indoor temperature over time, so that you’re not going from a very cool temperature to a very warm one. Turn up your thermostat a degree or two while you’re still using your a/c. As the weather gets cooler, stop using your a/c and put your heating system on low when you first use it. You can slowly adjust your thermostat so that the interior of your home stays warm enough on cold days. Taking this approach prevents excess wear and tear on your HVAC system. 

Test Your HVAC System 

Since your heating system hasn’t been on for months, it’s important to test it before using it regularly. Turn your heating system on for about an hour just to test it and make sure it’s working right. This also helps you check to see if your thermostat is functioning properly. Your heat should come on without any problems and blow heated air out of your vents. Keep in mind that you’ll need to have your heating system checked if it’s blowing cool air from your vents, not coming on at all, or turning on and off frequently.

Set Up HVAC Maintenance 

HVAC maintenance is among the most effective ways to make sure your heating system is all set for winter. Having professional maintenance done can also help identify any issues your a/c might have after running for several months. You can have these issues handled now so that you won’t need to have repairs done next spring when you turn your a/c on again. During a routine HVAC maintenance visit, technicians can do a thorough inspection of your heating and cooling equipment. In addition to looking for possible problems with your HVAC system, technicians can clean equipment, adjust or tighten components as needed, and do other tasks to ensure that it’s in good condition and able to work properly.

If you need to schedule HVAC maintenance this fall or winter, contact A/C Designs today. We provide high-quality HVAC maintenance and other services in the Jacksonville area.

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Humidity and Your A/C System

Monday, August 24th, 2020

There are many factors that affect the quality of the air you and your family breathe in your home – especially in Jacksonville. One of the most common problems with indoor air quality in this area is excessively humid air.
Unfortunately, many homeowners underestimate the seriousness of this problem, dismissing it as a minor nuisance or perpetually putting off measures to take care of it. Learn more about humidity and your a/c system.

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Your HVAC System and COVID-19: Your Questions Answered

Monday, August 17th, 2020

Summer is in full swing now, and good air conditioning is essential for your family to stay comfortable during hot Florida afternoons. But since the pandemic is still going on, you might have some concerns about whether your HVAC system can contribute to the spreading of COVID-19. Here, we address common concerns you may have.

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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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