Three Steps to Ready Your Air Conditioner for Warmer Weather

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Spring has sprung and it won’t be long until summer arrives. This means that your air conditioning system will need to be ready to go on a moment’s notice.

We suggest you take a few minutes to perform some quick and easy maintenance steps. Below are three things you can do now to prepare your air conditioner for the long summer days that will be here before we know it.

Check Your Thermostat and Change the Batteries

The first step in getting your air conditioner ready for even warmer weather operation is to check the thermostat. Thermostats don’t fail particularly often, but you should inspect your device to ensure it can be programmed and is able to cycle through its settings.

If the thermostat display seems dim, check to see if changing the batteries helps. Many thermostats use AA or AAA batteries that fit in place right behind the thermostat cover; simply slide or ‘pop’ off the cover, then replace the batteries with new ones.

Change the System Filter

Another important task when readying your home’s central air conditioning system is changing the filter located in the return air duct. This filter is typically accessible without special tools, though a step ladder may be necessary to reach the filter and opening.

To change filters, remove the grate that covers the old filter and set it aside in a safe location. Next, pull the old filter out and toss it in the trash or recycling bin, as appropriate.

Insert a new filter into the gap and replace the grate. Make a habit of replacing the filter once a month while the system is in use, as dirty filters can lower efficiency and shorten the lifespan of your unit.

Clean the Area around the Condenser Coil

The condenser coil is located outside and is also called the outdoor unit, appropriately enough. You will need to clear away dead grass, leaves and any other materials that cover the condenser coil.

Debris will prevent the condenser coil from exchanging heat with the atmosphere, and your air conditioner won’t operate efficiently. In addition, too much debris could cause components to overwork and may even result in system damage.

We encourage you to contact us at Mid-Florida Heating and Air with your questions and service needs.

Does Your Air Conditioner Need Refrigerant?

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Many HVAC problems are a result of obstruction or irregular maintenance, but sometimes the problems can be the chemicals inside of your unit. If you’ve noticed that something is stopping your house from cooling down like it used to, you might be low on refrigerant.

How does refrigerant work?

Refrigerant is a chemical that pulls in the heat from your home’s air so that it can be released outside. Air conditioners work best when they circulate air throughout a space, pour cold air in, and pull hot air out. Without all of those changes working together, your unit will overwork itself to try and correct the deficiency which can cause a drastically high energy bill, a poorly cooled house, or both.

What are some common signs that your refrigerant is low?

The most frequently noticed sign of low refrigerant is that your house just isn’t getting cooler. No matter how much you lower the thermostat, the temperature stays constant or rises as hot air stays trapped inside. If you notice this, hold your hand up close to a vent and check directly for any sign of cool air. If you feel air blowing against your palm but it isn’t cool, you need to contact a technician to inspect your refrigerant levels and perform a tune-up. Another sign might be that the refrigerant line is icing over. If you open your air conditioner and notice a build-up of ice, the problem needs to be solved before the overly cool chemical can cause damage to the compressor.

If you have any questions, please let us know! Here at Mid-Florida Heating and Air, we are always happy to help.

House Donated for Firefighter Training

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Mid-Florida Heating and Air was featured in The Villages Daily Sun this past weekend! Our president, Kevin Lyons, donated a house to the Lake County Fire Rescue so they can use it for training purposes. Lt. Kraig Gilligan, lead training officer, was very grateful for this opportunity.

Firefighters will be practicing skills like hose line advancement, victim search and rescue and forcible entry in an unfamiliar environment – making it all the more real. Gilligan said this type of field experience is invaluable and forces firefighters to use all the training and techniques they’ve learned in real life situations. Mid-Florida Heating and Air wants Lady Lake to know that we care about our community and want our firefighters to receive all the training they can get!

The house will be completely demolished after the fire rescue team is finished with their training. Mid Florida Heating and Air will be opening up a new location in this area so we can employ more people!

Click here to read the full article.

Furnace Repair and Useful Initial Knowledge

Posted by & filed under Furnace .

If you need furnace repair, it’s a good idea to be knowledgeable about your home furnace before the contractor arrives. You certainly don’t have to be experts on the subject, but contractors will almost always ask residents some questions related to their furnaces, and it helps to have answers.

These contractors should be able to work well enough and figure things out on their own without the answers to those questions in most cases, but it still makes a difference when the you are able to offer some information about your household’s furnace. Next time you need furnace repair, impress your contractor by knowing these important facts:

1) There are different types of furnaces.

Furnaces are often defined according to the exact fuel that they use. Some houses have oil heating systems. Other furnaces primarily use natural gas or propane as fuel. Many modern furnaces use natural gas. However, people who have newer houses shouldn’t just assume that their systems use natural gas.

2) The age of the furnace matters.

Some contractors will be able to estimate the age of a given furnace based on what kind of furnace it is, but this still won’t tell them the furnace’s exact age. Even a few years can make a difference when it comes to the age of a furnace.

3) The performance of the furnace over an extended period of time needs to be taken into account.

The contractor will ask questions about when the problems with the furnace started. Try to describe how the problems began, when they began, and exactly what happened. If the contractor knows about how well the furnace has performed over the course of several months or years and what happened during that time period, it should be even easier for them to get a sense of the problem.

If you still have questions about furnace repair, contact us at Mid-Florida Heating and Air in Gainesville FL.

Own Multiple Rentals? Get Air Conditioning Service for All of Them at the Same Time

Posted by & filed under air conditioning, hvac maintenance .

Owning and managing several rental properties is a lot of work. Hiring a property manager can alleviate some of these responsibilities, but you may enjoy the work and want to just optimize your time. It is important to get the air conditioning systems checked out to make sure they stay working for your tenants. An ideal move is getting air conditioning service for all your tenants at the same time.

Avoid Future Problems

By getting air conditioning service, you will make it easier to avoid future problems. For instance, a part that may have broken in the coming months will be found before it becomes an issue. Since you do not want to allow your tenants to go long without air conditioning, you will appreciate doing this during the offseason when they do not rely on it each day to stay comfortable whenever they are inside the house.

Optimize Spending

It will be easy to optimize spending with air conditioning when you take care of these services at once. Inspections and cleanings are two services that will minimize your expenses in the long run.

If you have any questions about air conditioning service, contact us at Mid-Florida Heating and Air.

Is It Time to Install a New Air Conditioner? Three Questions You Should Ask Yourself

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Replacing your house’s air conditioner is a big decision. The units are expensive, and finding the right window of time to get it installed can be a headache you’d rather just put off, especially if it’s not an emergency. However, it can be better to replace your air conditioner before it finally breaks down. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:

  1. How old is your air conditioner?Most air conditioners are designed to last approximately ten years. While diligent servicing and careful use can add a few years onto its lifespan, it won’t last much longer than that. Older air conditioners are also much less efficient than newer models and use 22 Freon as a coolant. New models are often required to meet Energy Star minimums and use R410A which presents less of a hazard.
  2. Have you had to pay for a lot of expensive repairs?If you’re facing a potential repair bill that’s more than half the cost of a replacement unit, then it’s time to change. Smaller, less expensive repairs can be just as financially draining, so look at your repair costs over the past year. Frequent repairs also mean a great deal of inconvenience, so installing a new unit can save both time and money.
  3. Do you have a hectic schedule that keeps you or your family out of the house? Getting a new model with a programmable thermostat can save you a lot in energy bills by powering down your air conditioner to a lower setting when nobody is home. You can program one according to a set schedule and then make changes remotely if no one’s going to be home.

Having a broken air conditioner is a headache no matter what time of year it is. Instead of waiting for a major breakdown in your unit or having to get a replacement during the busy season, take a minute ahead of time to decide if it’s better for your wallet and your schedule to replace your air conditioner now or continue to maintain your current one.

How Often you Should be Changing your Air Conditioner’s Air Filter

Posted by & filed under air conditioning .

Changing your air conditioner filter regularly and on time is one of the best things you can do to improve your home’s air quality and to lengthen the lifespan of your unit. But knowing when the best time to change the filter can be tricky, and the answer always varies depending on the size of your house, the season, and the occupants. Here’s how to gauge the best time to change your filter:

  • Use the manufacturer’s recommendation as a baseline. The type of filter you use is already specified based on the type and power of the air conditioner you have so start with their recommended timeline; most residential brands suggest changing your filter every two months. However, that number is based on a combination of factors, including environmental agency standards and internal analyses. If you notice that the filter is too dirty by the time you check it or it hardly seems used at all, shorten or lengthen the time accordingly.
  • Account for how your lifestyle impacts the unit’s use. If you don’t use the air conditioner that often, you won’t need to change the filter frequently. But if the unit is used night and day to ward off heat, you have pets, or you’re sensitive to allergens (or any combination of these factors), changing the filter more often will be better. Keep fine-tuning your schedule until its right for you.

Changing your air filter doesn’t just improve your air quality; it makes your machine run better and lowers your energy bill because the unit isn’t overworking. Try setting a reminder in your phone or mark it on your calendar, because air filters are often out of sight and out of mind.

We encourage you to contact Mid-Florida Heating and Air with any questions or air conditioning service needs you may have.

The Importance of Proper Gas Pressure

Posted by & filed under hvac .

There are numerous parts of a gas furnace that must be carefully synchronized and optimized in order for your heating to proceed efficiently. One of the most important considerations is the pressure of the incoming gas. If you would like to learn more about how gas pressure affects the overall performance of a furnace, read on as article will discuss the importance of proper gas pressure.

Gas Flow 

If gas were to simply flow into your furnace’s combustion chamber at the pressure it was entering your home through the gas company supply line, chances are your furnace wouldn’t operate very efficiently. One of the many functions performed by your furnace’s gas valve is to help regulate the pressure of the incoming gas, closely tailoring it to the needs and abilities of your furnace. Over time, however, it is necessary to test your gas pressure to ensure that it still falls within the optimum range, otherwise unwanted problems may ensue.

Pressure Problems 

If the gas pressure is too low, your furnace’s efficiency will go down. Not only that, but it will lead to a greater amount of condensation of burned gases. That is because the proportion of air in the air-fuel mixture will be too great. This condensation tends to accumulate inside of the heat exchanger, where it will eventually lead to the formation of corrosion, thus necessitating the replacement of this vital component.

High gas pressure can be just as bad for your furnace. That’s because it greatly increases the risk of furnace overheating. When this happens, all manner of internal components may become damaged by the excessive heat. Thus it is important to have your gas pressure tested and, if necessary, adjusted, on a fairly regular basis.

 

Call Mid-Florida Heating and Air today with any questions or service needs you may have.

Six Times when Air Conditioning is a Must

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Air conditioning is not only a luxury, but actually essential for your health and well-being. Here are six situations where central cooling is an absolute must.

  • A child and/or senior citizen lives in the household. Those over 65 years of age, as well as young children, are more susceptible to heat stroke than others. Therefore, they should have a cool environment to come home to.
  • You have a breathing disorder. Anyone with allergies or asthma could greatly benefit from air conditioning, especially on the hottest summer days when it is already difficult to breathe.
  • Someone in your family has a weak immune system. A weakened immune system can bring about cold and flu-like symptoms that may include fever. Managing those symptoms and keeping temperatures at bay is much easier when your home is cool and comfortable.
  • You work from home. Staying cool is one of the best ways to prevent physical and mental fatigue to ensure that you remain productive.
  • Furry friends also occupy your home. The four-legged members of your family can be more susceptible to heat injury than humans, particularly long-haired animals or over-sized breeds. Make sure they are protected from heat stroke by keeping the temperature in your home at 72 or below.
  • You plan to sell your home in the near future. These days, selling a home without air conditioning is practically impossible. Installing a new HVAC system is the best way to ensure that potential buyers are not frightened away.

These are just a few occasions, among many, that call for an air conditioned home. If your home is not equipped with A/C, now is the time to consider installation.Call Mid-Florida Heating and Air in Gainesville, FL today!

How Your Backyard Affects Your Air Conditioning

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An air conditioning system works by drawing heat from inside your home into its refrigerant fluid. This heat is expelled from the fluid via the condenser unit located outside your house. Anything that interferes with efficient running of the condenser also interferes with your AC system’s ability to cool your home. Unfortunately, there are many things in your backyard that adversely affect the condenser’s function. Here are six of them:

Dryer Lint

If your dryer’s discharge vent is next to the condenser unit, lint can build up on the unit’s aluminum fins. This buildup is like a covering of insulation that impedes the flow of heat out of the condenser.

Dogs

If you’ve noticed areas of corrosion on the condenser’s fins, it’s possible that a dog is using the condenser unit as a fire hydrant — if you get our drift. Corroded or crumbled aluminum doesn’t conduct heat well, which reduces the heat transfer out of the fins. Erecting a fence around the condenser unit that is spaced about three or four feet away should solve the problem.

Plants

Plants next to the condenser restrict airflow. They are also a source of debris that fill the unit with dead leaves and branches. Never allow vine growth to take hold since they will quickly cover up the condenser unit. Maintain an area free of plant growth (except for grass) of at least three feet around the unit.

Trees

Trees with branches that overhang the condenser unit will drop dead leaves or pine needles on it. Keep the space above the unit clear of branches. Prune dead branches from all nearby trees.

Dirt

With time, the condenser fins will get dirty and there’s no way to prevent this. Airborne dust and dirt driven by the wind will always collect on the unit’s fins. Inspect the condenser during the spring and fall and keep it clean.

Pooled Water

Water pooling caused by landscape issues or a nearby rain gutter spout allows floating debris to collect on the condenser. The water will also contain suspended dirt and soil, which again, collects on the condenser. The constant wetness is also a prime condition for mold growth.

If you are having difficulties with your condenser or any other part of your air conditioning system, call Mid-Florida Heating and Air in Gainesville FL.