In the market for a new air conditioning unit? If so, then you may be feeling a little overwhelmed by your options. Fortunately, by keeping a few of the most important considerations in mind as you shop around, you can ultimately make the right choice for your home, budget, and lifestyle.
A/C Designs of St. Augustine, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Orange Park’
What to Look for in a New A/C Unit
Thursday, June 15th, 2017Indoor Air Quality – Why It Matters & Ways to Improve It
Friday, May 5th, 2017Clean air is something that many people tend to take for granted. However, if you have allergens or other small particles of debris floating around in high levels in your home, you are probably affected by symptoms that you may not realize are a result of poor air quality.
4 Reasons Why Your A/C Unit is Not Cooling
Thursday, April 13th, 2017Your air conditioning unit is on, and it appears to be running just fine. You’ve noticed, though, that you are still uncomfortably hot and sticky. There could be a few reasons why your A/C unit is not cooling the interior of your home properly.
Are Ductless Mini Splits a Good Choice for Every Home?
Monday, November 16th, 2015Whole-home air conditioning and heating systems traditionally use air ducts in order to move air from the central blower unit into the various rooms of the home. For many years, this was the only way to get heating and cooling throughout a building, unless you were willing to install separate window air conditioners and space heaters in the different rooms of the house. However, doing so comes at a cost, and it is an inconvenient way to achieve whole-home comfort.
Take Out that Window Unit and Schedule Ductless AC Installation
Monday, July 13th, 2015Summer would certainly seem a lot longer without air conditioning in the house. Some homes aren’t set up to install a conventional central AC system, but homeowners do have other options. One of the most common solutions is a window air conditioning unit, mostly because they are relatively inexpensive to purchase. However, due to the inefficiency and inconsistent cooling of these units, we strongly recommend a ductless system instead for most homes and even single rooms without ducts.
3 Common Heat Pump Problems
Monday, February 16th, 2015A heat pump is a great choice for a home heating system. They are energy efficient, safe, and versatile. However, heat pumps are also vulnerable to just as many repair issues as any other kind of heating system. As heat pumps tend to be more uncommon than furnaces or boilers, many homeowners are unaware of the symptoms that indicate a problem with them. Let’s take a look at 3 of the most common heat pump problems, and how you can easily identify them.
Loss of Heating Function
When a heat pump loses the ability to heat, it can often be contributed to one of two factors. The first factor is that the heat pump’s outer unit has lost access to the ambient thermal energy that it needs to heat the home. The second factor is that a leak in the refrigerant line has deprived the heat pump of the medium it uses to transport heat.
A good way to check for the first factor is to examine the outer unit. Oftentimes, the unit can be deprived of thermal energy by ice building up on it in cold weather. Normally, a defrost cycle activates periodically to melt any ice off of the unit. If the defrost cycle stops working for whatever reason, however, the unit can ice over and begin to blow cold air instead of warm.
Refrigerant leaks are often identified by a gurgling sound or pooling liquid around the heat pump units. If you see either of these symptoms, call a professional immediately.
Becoming Stuck in One Mode
Heat pumps are unique among heating systems, in that they can switch between heating and cooling modes. This is accomplished through the use of a part called the “reversing valve,” which reverses the flow of refrigerant through the system. Inside the reversing valve is a slide that directs the flow of refrigerant. If that slide becomes stuck for whatever reason, the heat pump can become stuck in either heating or cooling mode. If you notice this happening, you’ll need to have a professional look at your reversing valve.
Broken Air Handler
The air handler is the part of the heat pump responsible for circulating air through the house. The motor that turns the fan in the air handler is put under quite a bit of stress during operation, as it has to move quite a bit of air over a long distance. In order to help compensate for the strain, air handler motors are equipped with lubricated bearings that lessen the friction. As these bearings wear down, however, the stress on the motor increases. If not treated quickly, the motor can overheat and burn itself out. If you hear a grinding sound coming from your heat pump, that is the sound of the bearings wearing out. Have a professional look at it immediately.
If your heat pump is having issues, call AC Designs Inc. to make an appointment with us. We provide heat pump repair services throughout Orange Park.
Warning Signs You Have Leaky Air Ducts
Tuesday, January 13th, 2015Most homeowners don’t pay too much attention to the ductwork of their home as long as they have somewhat sufficient heating or cooling power. Of course, the ducts are vital in the heating and cooling process, bringing air to the HVAC equipment so that it can heat up or cool off and then delivering the newly conditioned air into the home. But unfortunately, ducts are often poorly installed or sealed, and you end up paying more to keep your home comfortable.
In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, most homes have a problem with leaky ductwork, with the average home losing about 20% of the air that moves through the ducts due to cracks, holes, and loose connections. So how can you tell there’s a problem in your house? Look for the signs in today’s guide, and call AC Designs Inc. for immediate duct repair in Orange Park to learn how sealing and repairing ducts benefits you.
There are a couple of ways to tell that you may have leaky ducts. Perhaps the most noticeable is limited airflow in one or more areas of the home. Perhaps you have rooms that take longer to heat or cool or areas that always feel stuffy. In any case, spotty airflow is likely a result of air leaking out in one or more areas of the ducts.
Another common way to tell is if you seem to be spending far too much on air conditioning and heating costs. While this may be due to faulty HVAC equipment, it’s best to find a contractor who will check the ducts as well, to make sure that there are not multiple problems affecting your energy costs.
You may also be able to tell whether a home has poorly performing ducts by paying attention to the signs given off from your air conditioning and heating system. A system that appears to struggle may only do so because it’s running for too long to meet your home’s temperature demands. A unit that has to work overtime to heat or cool the home may end up breaking down sooner than you’d expect, or it may develop problems resulting from low airflow such as a frozen evaporator coil.
Whatever your heating and air conditioning needs, call AC Designs Inc. for a thorough check of all of your equipment and professional duct repair service in Orange Park.
Reasons to Consider a Furnace for Your Home Heating
Wednesday, December 10th, 2014If you need to have a new heating system installed to warm your home, either to replace an older heater or as part of a new house, you have many options to consider. At the top of the list will be the heating system that has provided more homes in the U.S. with winter comfort than any other: the furnace.
Although you have other heat system choices aside from a furnace, there are some excellent reasons to give this old standard serious consideration. During the more than 10 years that we have been in business, AC Designs Inc. has installed numerous furnaces throughout the Jacksonville and Daytona areas. We have seen firsthand how effective furnaces—electrical and gas powered—are for providing reliable comfort. If a furnace in Orange Park, FL is one of your top options for heating, call us for the sizing and installation work that will see you receive quality warmth for many years to come.
The Benefits of a Furnace
- Powerful heating levels: Gas-powered furnaces are among the most powerful heating systems available to consumers. Their output of BTUs of heat is high, which makes them effective for homes that lose large amounts of heat through poor insulation. They also heat up homes fast, which means you won’t have to run them as long.
- Low-cost heating: Gas furnaces cost far less to run than electrical systems because natural gas is a less expensive source of heat. Modern furnaces also score high efficiency ratings, with less exhaust waste than ever before.
- Flexibility: Furnaces come in a large variety of types and sizes, and that means there is almost always a furnace to fit any given home. For example, if you do not have a gas line for your home, you can choose to have an electrical furnace put in instead.
- Connects to existing ductwork: If your home already has ducts for a central air conditioning system, a furnace is simple to have installed, since it will connect to the same set of ducts and share them with the AC.
Even though our team at AC Designs Inc. can find a furnace that will match your home’s needs, a furnace may not always be the #1 choice. Let our heating specialists look over your house and help you decide on the best option to deliver you quality heating combined with energy efficiency. When you think you want a furnace in Orange Park, FL, give us a call.
How Electronic Ignition Works in a Furnace
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014For many years, furnaces were lit using standing pilots. While there are a number of furnaces in existence that use a standing pilot, today’s furnaces use electronic ignition to light your furnace. There are two types of electronic ignition, and while each works differently, the both help reduce fuel usage. If you are interested in finding out how electronic ignition might help you and your furnace in Orange Park, call AC Designs, Inc., today and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
Types of Electronic Ignition
There are two types of electronic ignition:
- Intermittent pilot
- Hot surface ignition
Intermittent Pilot
As the name indicates, the intermittent pilot is a pilot light that turns on intermittently, i.e., when the thermostat cues your furnace to start. With an intermittent pilot, a small gas line dedicated for the pilot light opens, and an electronic device creates a spark that lights the pilot. A flame sensor, one of the safety mechanisms, monitors the flame to see if it is present and viable; if the flame is viable, the flame sensor allows the main gas valve to open. Once the gas flows from the main gas valve, the pilot lights the burner, and the small gas line for the pilot closes, extinguishing the pilot.
Hot Surface Ignition
Hot surface ignition uses a metal probe to light your burner directly. The probe is made of metal, and heats like a light bulb. When the thermostat cues your heater to begin ignition, a current passes over a silicone filament that heats up to a temperature that will ignite the gas. Once this temperature is reached, the main gas valve opens and the gas is ignited, lighting the burner. Hot surface ignition is an easier ignition system than intermittent pilot, and as such, is used more frequently.
Some furnaces can be retro-fitted with electronic ignition, but there can be some cost associated with this upgrade.
If you are experiencing problems with your furnace’s electronic ignition, or any other heating problems with your furnace, call AC Designs, Inc. for professional furnace service in Orange Park, FL.