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

The Benefits of Regular AC Maintenance

Monday, March 31st, 2014

Here in Jacksonville, FL, air conditioning maintenance is an absolute necessity. As the winter draws to a close and our long, hot Florida summer gets underway, your air conditioning system is the best weapon you have to keep your home cool and comfortable. If you want to keep it functioning as it should, you should schedule an AC maintenance visit at least once a year and perhaps more often depending on your circumstances. With AC season about to get underway, now is the perfect time for it.

Here’s a brief list of the benefits of regular AC maintenance:

  • A more efficient unit: A maintenance session cleans dirt off of the interior components, tightens loose fittings, recharges refrigerant levels and performs other key “tune-up” functions. That means your air conditioner will work more smoothly and without wasting as much energy. You’ll be able to see the difference when your monthly bills arrive: depending upon the specific conditions, you could save a great deal of money.
  • Fewer repairs and a longer lifespan: Maintenance also serves to catch big problems when they’re still relatively small ones. Such repairs tend to cost less than they might otherwise, and with less wear and tear on the system as a whole, you’re apt to see fewer of them than you would without a regular maintenance visit. All of that translates into a longer life for your air conditioner, delaying the day when you’ll have to replace it.
  • Peace of mind: The best benefit of an air conditioning maintenance visit is the peace of mind it brings. The last thing you want is a full breakdown just when temperatures peak. An AC tune-up helps prevent that, letting you sleep a litte easier at night.

To schedule a maintenance visit, contact the experts at AC Designs Inc. Here in Jacksonville, FL, air conditioning maintenance shouldn’t be left to amateurs. We stand by our service and we think you’ll agree that your air conditioner will work much more effectively after a visit from one of our techs. Give us a call today to make an appointment!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on The Benefits of Regular AC Maintenance

Here Is How Professionals Perform Duct Cleaning

Thursday, March 20th, 2014

Calling professionals for duct cleaning in Jacksonville, FL will help you have cleaner indoor air and a more efficient and effective HVAC system. Duct cleaning specialists come equipped with special tools to get this job done, so leave the work in their capable hands. Contact AC Designs Inc. for skilled duct cleaners ready to take care of your ventilation system.

The way professionals clean ducts

Duct cleaning requires more than sticking a vacuum hose into an open vent. Ductwork is extensive, and dirt that can get ground into it is resistant to standard “scrub and suction” methods. Duct cleaners must take a different approach.

To clean your ducts, technicians will bring into your home an immense power vacuum, which doesn’t simply suck up dust, it also places whole areas of the ducts under “negative pressure.” The technicians place the power vacuum near your HVAC system, shut off the blower motor, and then cut a hole into the main duct leading from the HVAC system into the ductwork. They attach the wide end of the vacuum to this hole and seal it, then activate the vacuum to put the entirety you ventilation system under negative pressure. This dislodges dirt and floats it away from the walls. The technicians then turn on the suction, and the vacuum collects the freed dirt, dust, and grime.

If necessary to dislodge other debris, the technicians will use powerful rotary brushes on long lines to reach inside and agitate the debris from the walls, then use vacuum power once more. After this, cleaners may use deodorants on the ducts (which aren’t harmful to the air) as a final cleaning touch.

How often should you schedule duct cleaning?

Aside from when you know you need it (as we showed at the beginning of this post), duct cleaning is something you should have done every one or two years, based on the advice of your cleaners. You can’t stop dust from gathering inside your ducts, but you can have it cleaned out regularly.

To schedule duct cleaning in Jacksonville, FL, contact our air quality specialists at AC Designs Inc.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Here Is How Professionals Perform Duct Cleaning

Furnace Guide: 3 Important Components

Thursday, March 13th, 2014

Here in Jacksonville, FL, furnaces are a common home heating system, providing reliable and inexpensive warmth by blowing heated air through a system of ducts. The process used to create that heat is actually fairly straightforward, but like a lot of mechanical systems, it requires multiple components working in conjunction to create the heat. Understanding those components is a big step towards understanding why a furnace develops problems from time to time.

Here are 3 important components you should be aware of:

  • Ignition/thermocouple. The ignition system used to be the pilot light in older furnaces, and is now usually an electrical ignition system designed to ignite the flow of gas. The thermocouple is a valve that controls the flow of gas into the furnace, and will only do so if it detects the ignition system functioning. (That keeps your home from being flooded with gas if there’s a problem.) Many times, the ignition and the thermocouple are part of the same component.
  • Burners. Once the gas is lit, it moves to the burners which channel the heat into the heat exchanger. Burners can become clogged with dirt, which may restrict their functioning, and can also suffer damage and wear-and-tear. Most furnaces have multiple burners, which means a damaged burner won’t shut off your heat. It will lower the heating potential, however, and force your furnace to work harder to do its job.
  • Heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is essentially a long metal tube with openings at either end. Heated gas passes through it, heating the surface and passing the heat along to the surrounding air. Trace toxins in the gas are removed through a venting pipe, while the heated air can then be blown into your house with a fan. Heat exchangers don’t have moving parts so they rarely suffer damage, but when they do, it usually means you have to replace the entire furnace.

If you detect a problem with these important components or you need repairs in some other portion of your unit, it pays to call on someone who knows. Here in Jacksonville, FL, furnace repairs can be made by the experts at AC Designs, Inc. Call us today to make an appointment and let us show you what we can do!

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Furnace Guide: 3 Important Components

Ways to Lower Your Heating Bills

Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

In Jacksonville, FL, heating doesn’t concern us nearly as much as air conditioning does. We’re a warm weather city and heat tends to cause more discomfort and worry than cold does. Even so, our heaters get called into service on those winter nights when temperatures drop, and our nonchalant attitude about the issue means that many homeowners just accept higher heating bills without taking steps to reduce them. This can be a costly mistake. With a little care and foresight, you can save money on your monthly bills without skipping on a warm home during those cold winter days. Besides the obvious solution of lowering the thermostat and dressing warmly, here are some ways to lower your heating bills.

Start by programming your thermostat to lower or eliminate the heat when you leave for work each day. There’s no need to warm an empty house and with a programmable thermostat, you can schedule it to turn the heat on ten minutes before you arrive home, eliminating the need to wait. You can also lower your thermostat at night before you go to bed and bundle up with extra blankets and comforters.

You might also look into installing insulation in your home, or if you already have insulation, adding more. Not only does this help retain warm air in the winter, but it keeps cool air inside in the winter, lowering your air conditioning bills as well as heating bills.

Finally, you should schedule a regular maintenance session at the beginning and end of each heating season in order to keep your heater running as efficiently as possible. A technician will clean dirty components, tighten loose bolts and run the heater for a period to look for any specific problems. That allows you to catch small problems before they become big ones, as well as reducing friction on moving parts and other key components.

For more ways to lower your heating bills, or to schedule a repair or maintenance visit, call AC Designs Inc. today. You’ll be glad you did!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Ways to Lower Your Heating Bills

Choosing Between Gas and Electric Furnaces for Heating

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

Jacksonville, FL residents have a lot of different options when it comes to heating their homes. Our mild winters and variety of housing types mean that homeowners can choose a system that works best for their budget and circumstances. Gas and electric furnaces rank among the most popular choices for homeowners in our area. If you’re looking to install a new system, choosing between gas and electric furnaces for heating is one of your first and most important choices.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of each one:

In terms of cost, you’re looking at a question of up-front investment vs. long-term savings. Electric furnaces usually cost less to install than gas furnaces, and often last longer to boot (sometimes as many as 10 to 15 years longer depending on how well you maintain it and other conditions particular to your home). On the other hand, natural gas costs less than electricity, which means that a gas furnace will save you money month to month over an electric furnace used for the same period of time. Because they have fewer moving parts, electric furnaces tend to break down less frequently than gas furnaces, necessitating fewer repairs.

Then there’s issues of performance and overall comfort. Gas furnaces work faster than electric furnaces do: heating your home more quickly and effectively. They tend to be noisier than electric units, however. Electric furnaces tend to be quieter and they also don’t have any of the potential safety concerns that some people might have about gas furnaces.

All of that is a roundabout way to saying that both systems offer their share of advantages and disadvantages. Choosing between gas and electric furnaces for heating in Jacksonville, FL means weighing the pros and cons of each one against your particular circumstances. At AC Designs Inc. we can provide sound advice on the best type of furnace for you, as well as providing top-notch installation and repair services once you’ve made a decision. When it comes to heating, Jacksonville FL residents can count on us. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Choosing Between Gas and Electric Furnaces for Heating

What Are the Best Ways to Avoid Heating Repairs?

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

Here in sunny Florida, heating problems are pretty low on our list of concerns. Our summers are long and hot, our winters short and mild, which means that air conditioners play a bigger role in our comfort on the whole than heaters. But problems with your heating system do happen, and that can be a big concern on a cold winter night. So what are the best ways to avoid heating repair in Jacksonville, FL? .

The best method is to schedule regular maintenance visits from a trained technician. These tune-ups are intended to reduce overall wear and tear. The technician cleans the dirt and grime off of the interior components, which reduces friction and helps them perform at their best. He also tightens any loose bolts or fittings (which also reduces wear and tear) and runs he heater to check for any specific problems. If he spots one, he can then schedule a repair before the issue gets out of hand. Ideally, you should schedule you tune-up before heating season begins, but it is never to late to have someone perform maintenance on your heating system.

Along those lines, you should pay close attention to any warning signs your heater gives, which usually indicates growing repair problems. This can be anything from unusual noises to reduce air flow to higher monthly energy bills despite not using the heater any more often than normal. Catching those problems early means getting a big jump on repairs, and preventing large bills in favor of smaller preventative ones.

If you need heating maintenance or repair in Jacksonville, FL, contact A/C Designs Inc. for help.  Pick up the phone and call us today to make an appointment.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on What Are the Best Ways to Avoid Heating Repairs?

Signs of a Problem with Your Heat Pump Defrost Cycle

Tuesday, January 14th, 2014

Heat pumps use the same basic cycle as air conditioners to both warm and cool your home, making them an excellent all-in-one system for your home. They work especially well in areas with warm winters, making them a very good fit for places like Jacksonville, FL. You can help minimize repair costs by identifying potential trouble spots early and calling in a qualified repair technician with all deliberate speed. For example, look for signs of a problem with your heat pump defrost cycle.

The defrost cycle is activated by the defrost control, which detects ice building up on the evaporator coils and uses the reversing valve to briefly reverse the heating process to melt the ice on the coils. When the ice has melted, the control turns off, and heat pump returns to its normal heating mode. You probably can already spot places where problems may occur:

  • The defrost control may misread the temperature, preventing the cycle from starting.
  • The reversing valve solenoid my malfunction, preventing the heat pump from reversing the heating.
  • The defrost control may misread when the ice has melted, meaning that the process will continue to run even when it’s no longer needed.

When you spot signs of a problem with your heat pump defrost cycle, you can contact the experts at AC Designs, Inc. to help. We operate in Jacksonville, heating repair is our specialty, and we understand the particular repair needs of all varieties of heat pumps. If yours is acting up, whether it’s the defrost cycle or some other issue, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away. You’ll be glad that you did!

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on Signs of a Problem with Your Heat Pump Defrost Cycle

Common Thermocouple Problems

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013

The thermocouple is a safety component placed near the ignition or pilot light in your heater. It regulates the flow of gas into the system: when the heat from the pilot light is detected, the thermocouple releases the gas. If the heat isn’t detected, it cuts off the flow of gas, keeping your household safe. If the thermocouple is broken, the entire system usually won’t start. That’s a good thing since it keeps your home from being flooded with gas, but it also means you won’t have access to your heat until it’s fixed.

Here is a brief list of some of the most common thermocouple problems.

  • Gas flow. The thermocouple may be hampered by a clog in the gas line or some other issue which prevents the gas from reaching it. This means it won’t work even if every other aspect of the heating unit is functioning as it should.
  • Sudden loss of heat. A faulty thermocouple will often “cut out” when it’s experiencing problems, meaning that it misinterprets the pilot light’s temperature and shuts off the gas. This can lead to your heater turning off unexpectedly, even though there’s nothing wrong otherwise. The issue can usually be solved by recalibrating the thermocouple to more accurately measure the pilot light’s heat.
  • Loose wires. The thermocouple wires need to be screwed into their terminals in order to accurately read the pilot light’s temperatures. Otherwise, the unit won’t turn on. The wires also need to be placed in the proper screws (not reversed, a common error among laymen attempting to fix the problem themselves) and properly tightened in order to do their job.

The good news is that a Jacksonville, FL heating repair company is standing by to help you with common thermocouple problems. AC Designs Inc. offers 24-hour emergency service and has a trained staff of professionals on hand to get your heater up and running again quickly. If you need expert help to handle your heating problems, pick up the phone and give us a call today.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Common Thermocouple Problems

3 Heating Systems to Consider in Jacksonville, FL

Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

You have options to consider when it comes to heating your Jacksonville, FL home. Here are 3 heating systems you can choose from:

  • Gas furnaces. Gas furnaces are the traditional means of warming you home, using natural gas lit by a pilot light to heat air that is then blown through a series of ducts into the different rooms in your home. Gas furnaces often use the same duct system that your air conditioning system does. They’re also comparatively cheap and easy to operate, as well as being familiar to most homeowners.
  • Electric furnaces. Electric furnaces use electricity to heat the air instead of natural gas. Because they have fewer moving parts, they are often quieter than gas furnaces and tend to last a lot longer. They can cost more to operate depending on the price of electricity in your area. They do tend to cost less to install,  and they are great for areas without natural gas lines.
  • Heat pumps. Heat pumps act as a combination of heater and air conditioning: cooling your air in the summer and then using a variation of the same methods to warm your air in the winter. Heat pumps benefit from mild winters like we have her in Jacksonville, FL, and tend to be more efficient than gas furnaces: costing you less in monthly bills. This can help make up for a somewhat more expensive installation cost, saving you money in the long term at the cost of a short-term investment.

For more advice on heating systems to consider in Jacksonville, FL, call upon AC Designs Inc. to help. You’ll be glad you did!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 3 Heating Systems to Consider in Jacksonville, FL