Action AC, Author at Action Heating & Conditioning

18 Jun 2014

Air Conditioning, Installation

Where you place your air conditioner will determine how well it works and even how much having it on will cost you. The right placement can regulate your room’s temperature without being too costly.

Here’s our checklist of basic considerations when choosing where to place your air conditioner:

• away from any heat sources like appliances or kitchenware; includes the external portion’s exposure to sunlight
• a height that won’t disturb people with hot or cold air streams, either overhead or down below; keep it from being too level with the head or lungs area
• not blocking a passage way
• not behind doors or furniture pieces

When considering areas to place your unit, keep in mind that the more work it produces, the more energy it consumes. This means spending more money for the electric company.

For smaller, enclosed spaces, you don’t need big air conditioning devices. You don’t even need big ones for big areas. The secret is to choose the right unit for the kind of use you’re planning. The layout of the room is an important factor, too.

If your room has different areas and is not a rectangular shape, place the air conditioner in the largest part of the room. It’s no use to only air condition entryways, foyers, or closets.

Avoid placing air conditioners right over beds. Not only will the electric socket be too close to the sleeping resident, but it also runs the risk of hitting the body with air that’s either too cold or too hot. This won’t be comfortable at all.

Choosing the right type of air conditioning system is integral in your comfort and that of your family’s. The wrong type can lead you with high electricity bills for very little pay-off. Action Heating and Air Conditioning, provides air conditioner installation services in Mobile and Baldwin, Alabama.

What You Need to Know About Indoor Air Quality

15 Jul 2013

If you struggle with respiratory issues like asthma, allergies or colds, then you may be concerned with your indoor air quality. Interest tends to surge in Bay Minnette AL as spring pollen counts rise, but quality issues in your home environment should be a year-round interest. There are several steps you can take to improve the air in your home. Additionally, you need to know when to contact an HVAC professional for assistance.

Know How Your Home Affects Your Air Quality

Indoor conditions tend to be more polluted than outdoor conditions. Most homes are sealed tightly, an important factor when considering efficient use of HVAC equipment. Insulation can save a lot of money when the heater or air conditioner is running, but if dirt and dust get caught in your system it can also cause the pollutants in a home to become concentrated.

Evaluating Air Quality in Your Home

You may suspect the presence of certain pollutants in your airstream. Mold is common in our humid climate. Pollen and dust are common during the spring months. Cold and flu germs are prevalent throughout the winter. However, there are additional materials to think about. These include:

Second-hand smoke
Cooking materials like fine flour and sprays
Air freshener
Laundry detergent and fabric softener
Pet dander
Automobile emissions
Carbon monoxide

A professional evaluation includes taking air samples to provide specific information about materials present in your home. This information can be used to determine beneficial steps for improving indoor conditions.

Selecting HVAC Equipment to Address Issues

One of the simplest ways you can improve quality in your airstream is selecting a high-efficiency air filter. A new filter should be installed before you use your air conditioner for the summer and before you use your heater for the winter. Look for MERV ratings of up to 12 for a residential system. If you exceed 12, you could have problems with a pressure drop. Look also for sturdy construction so that you don’t have to worry about your filter collapsing and becoming ineffective.
An air purifier can provide the ability to capture and kill viruses, bacteria and mold. This is helpful for those whose health is particularly affected by allergies and illnesses. It’s important to have professional assistance in your selection and installation of a unit so that pressure issues aren’t created in your HVAC system.

The Role of Seasonal Maintenance in Indoor Air Quality

Your HVAC equipment includes several hidden areas that can harbor dirt, bacteria and mold spores. Pre-season tune-ups in the spring and fall can address these issues while improving the performance of your system. Coils and condensate pans are cleaned, eliminating materials that can affect indoor air circulation. Your ducts are inspected as well, and recommendations for sealing or cleaning may be made if mold, dirt or leaks are detected. UV lamps may be recommended for keeping mold growth under control at your coils. Action Heating & Air Conditioning is recognized as a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, and we provide you with excellent HVAC services and equipment options for keeping pollutants in your home under control.

Learn how to improve indoor air quality here.

How Often to Schedule Preventative Air Conditioner Maintenance

15 Jul 2013

Air Conditioning, Maintenance

If you live in Semmes AL, Your air conditioning equipment often performs under high demand. With constant stopping and starting, parts wear out and connections loosen. Preventative maintenance keeps your air conditioner performing and helps you to avoid costly repairs.

Recommended Frequency for Air Conditioner Maintenance

In warm climates, such as Alabama, most HVAC professionals recommend scheduling preventative maintenance for your AC system once per year. Experts recommend that routine maintenance be performed in the springtime for three reasons. First, when you maintain your AC unit in the spring, your system is ready when the weather turns warm. Second, maintaining your equipment in the spring gives you plenty of time to repair worn parts and get the system in shape for the season. Third, scheduling maintenance service in the spring will ensure that you receive prompt service. As the summer moves in, HVAC companies receive a high volume of service calls. By then, you may have to wait longer for your service appointment.

Action Heating & Air Conditioning provides air conditioning and heating system maintenance for Semmes residents and businesses. Our technicians perform a series of standardized tasks to inspect and tune your equipment. Action’s heat pump and air conditioning maintenance includes inspection, cleaning and tuning the:

Compressor
Fan Motor and Blades
Indoor and Outdoor Coils
Refrigerant and Refrigerant Lines
Lines Kits

The technicians also check the temperature differential, adjust bolts and belts, check electrical wiring and connections and check the system airflow. The tech will also check systems that integrate with the air conditioning unit, such as the ventilation and ductwork.

Heat pumps, boilers and electric furnaces should also be maintained once per year. Experts recommend that these heating units be maintained in the fall. Because gas furnaces are more efficient, these furnaces should be maintained at least every other year. However, routine maintenance is important for gas furnaces. Gas systems emit small amounts of toxic gas during normal operation. These levels are checked and verified during a maintenance visit. As a safety precaution, routine maintenance for gas units is imperative.

Routine maintenance ensures that your HVAC equipment is clean and ready for the heavy demand of the southern seasons. Remember to schedule your maintenance service with Action.

Will Attic Insulation Make a Difference?

15 Jul 2013

Heating and cooling your home probably accounts for about half of your Mobile AL energy bill. As energy costs rise, homeowners in Mobile and across the U.S. search for ways to lower their energy bills. By reducing heating and cooling costs, you can cut your energy bills and save money. One way to reduce the amount of energy necessary to keep your home comfortable is to upgrade the insulation in your attic.
Most heat loss occurs through the attic and roof of homes. Homes that are not properly insulated can lose up to 20 percent of the conditioned air. Essentially, 20 percent of the cost of heating and cooling the home is simply lost through the attic in many homes. Attic insulation increase the effectiveness of your home’s envelope to retain cooled and heated air.
Evaluate the R-Value
The R-Value of insulation is an evaluation of the material’s ability to resist the transfer of heat. All insulation, including blown, foam and sheet material, is measured using this standard evaluation. If you would like to know if upgrading the insulation in your attic will make a difference in your energy costs, evaluate the R-Value of the insulation that is currently installed.
Using a yard stick or ruler, measure the depth of the insulation in your attic at several points. Multiple each measurement in inches by 3.6 to determine the R-Value of your insulation. Two inches of insulation would have an R-Value of 7.2. If the levels of insulating materials greatly vary, consider the smallest measurement as your guide. R-Value degrades when insulation is sparse or missing.
Recommended R-Value
HVAC experts and home builders recommend for attic insulation to have an R-Value of 30. To conserve energy and save money on heating and cooling costs, upgrade your existing attic insulation to an R-Value of 30. If you have blown insulation, this means that you should have at least 8.5 inches of insulating material covering 100 percent of the attic floor. You should also reinforce insulation around the attic door, windows and other openings. Seal points where wires enter the walls and make sure to wrap beams and joists.
To upgrade your insulation, you can install new material on top of the old. The R-Value is cumulative, meaning that if your existing blown insulation has a R-Value of 10 and you add 5 inches of additional material on top of the existing insulation, the R-Value will be 28.
Upgrading your attic insulation is definitely worth the time and effort if you find your existing insulation is well below an R-Value of 30. If you have adequate insulation, adding more might not produce a noticeable difference in your energy usage. However, the insulation in most attics is considerably less than R-30. Evaluate the insulation in your attic to determine if your home would benefit from an insulation upgrade.
If you would like additional information about how to reduce your home’s energy consumption and save money, contact Action Heating and Air Conditioning. We are Mobile’s first-class heating and air conditioning company.

Is Heat Pump Maintenance on Your Spring Checklist?

15 Jul 2013

As you plan your spring cleaning and household maintenance, don’t neglect your HVAC system. While your heat pump may be taking a break from its duties because of the lovely spring weather, summer is just around the corner. Heat pump maintenance is a year round concern for residents of Bay Minnette AL, and it’s time to add this preventive service to your spring checklist.

Manage Your System with a Tune-Up

Every heat pump has a limited life span. As soon as it’s placed in service, its moving parts begin to wear. A tune-up is an opportunity for a certified HVAC technician to check the condition of these parts and other components in your system to ensure proper function. A neglected system won’t last as long as an optimized system for a number of reasons:

Poor performance leads to overuse of a heat pump, causing stress on the system’s compressor
Low refrigerant levels and dirty coils can cause those coils to freeze, leading to compressor damage
Fragile parts can break and lead to permanent damage to a heat pump

Optimization allows us to diagnose problems and recommend corrections. Low refrigerant levels, for example, indicate a leak. If the leak isn’t addressed, the result could be permanent damage to your heat pump.

Financial Benefits of Heat Pump Maintenance

The most obvious benefit in having periodic service for your heat pump is the extended life. A system replacement can be expensive, and avoiding this expense can allow you ample time to set aside the funds required for the eventual need. Additionally, poor performance affects energy use. If your refrigerant drops just 10 percent below its recommended level, you can expect your energy bill to rise approximately 20 percent. If your dirty coils aren’t cleaned, they can contribute another 20 percent to that bill. Leaky ducts can cause significant energy loss, leading to additional increases in your bills. Thorough maintenance can trim a lot of waste from your household operating costs.

Frequency of Tune-Up Service

We recommend that you add heat pump maintenance to both your spring and fall checklists yearly. Little issues can lead to big expenses if left unchecked over time. Spring service will primarily address cooling needs while fall service will address heating needs. The overall health of your system is assessed every time that it is serviced. Having this done prior to cooling or heating use for the coming season allows plenty of time for corrections to be made. Regular tune-ups can eliminate up to 95 percent of repair needs, providing you with dependable HVAC service when you need it.

Choosing a New Heat Pump

If you’ve noticed poor performance from your heat pump in recent seasonal use, a tune-up may be just what it’s needed. If a tune-up doesn’t improve performance, then you may want to consider upgrading. If your system is older, you can improve your energy usage up to 40 percent with a new model. Modern efficiency levels are remarkably higher than those of just a few years ago, and it’s possible to recover your investment in a new Bryant system rather quickly. Contact one of our technicians at Action Heating & Air to discuss your heat pump concerns today.

Choosing Programmable AC Controls

15 Jul 2013

Air Conditioning, Thermostat

Each year, more Semmes AL homeowners install programmable AC controls to save money on cooling costs. Programmable AC controls in Semmes AL can put you in control over your air conditioning energy use. During long Alabama summers, the air conditioning is the most costly utility. Air conditioning costs can account for as much as 60 percent of the utility bill during the summer.

A programmable digital thermostat is available for nearly every HVAC system. These devices are an inexpensive home improvement that can lower your electric bills. In fact, the cost of the device and installation is recovered in energy savings as long as you take advantage of the programmable capabilities.

Programmable Control Features

All programmable thermostats have a digital display. Some thermostats may monitor the outside air and then adjust the heating and cooling based on external temperatures. Other programmable thermostats can be access remotely by a computer or mobile device. All programmable controls enable you to program up to six different temperatures in a day. These controls can store multiple days of settings, and can be manually controlled to override the programmed data. Some models of programmable controls include a backup battery or alternate power source so when the power goes out, you won’t have to reprogram the device.

To effectively use a programmable thermostat, simply decide which hours on which days you can either turn the AC off or raise the temperature several degrees. For example, if everyone is out of the house in the mornings, set the temperature several degrees higher when no one is home. If the family is out of the house on the weekends, program the temperature several degrees higher during these times. You can save up to 15 percent on your utility bill by using programmable AC controls.

Programmable Heat, Too!

Programmable AC controls also control the heating unit. You can set the furnace to a lower temperature in the evening while everyone is bundled up in blankets. As morning approaches, you can program the heat to warm the house. Programmable controls work for most heating systems.

Replace your analog thermostat with a programmable digital thermostat to lower your energy costs. Your local Semmes HVAC company will provide you with assistance in choosing the right digital thermostat for your system.

Zone Control

If you are considering upgrading or replacing your existing AC unit, consider installing zone controls. Zone controls are an optional feature of many of the new HVAC systems. Many older systems can be altered to provide zoning within the home, too. Zone control also saves in energy usage because you can run only one zone, if desired. With zone controls, you can heat or cool just one room or the entire home. Take control over your energy use with programmable controls for your HVAC system.

Schedule an inspection with Action Heating & Air Conditioning to learn your options for installing programmable controls in your home. Put the heating and cooling of your home under precise control at all times and control energy costs. Your local Semmes AL HVAC company, Action Heating & Air Conditioning has plenty of energy saving suggestions for you. Please contact us for additional information.

Easy Ways to Reduce your Heating and Cooling Energy Consumption

15 Jul 2013