Air Conditioning Experts Blog : Archive for August, 2014

How Air Purifiers Use Electricity to Clean the Air

Thursday, August 28th, 2014

Using electricity to clean your indoor air may sound like a strange concept, but it is actually very effective, especially when used in conjunction with an air filtration system. Cleaning the air with electricity entails charging pollutants in the air via ionization, forcing them to adhere to a cleanable surface. There are two kinds of electronic air purifiers from which to choose: electronic precipitators and ion generators. Each uses electricity to charge particles, but in a different way.

If you are interested in installing an electronic air purifier in your Lithia home, be sure to call the experts on whom you can count: Air Conditioning Experts.

Ion Generator

An ion generator cleans the air by dispersing negatively-charged ions into the air. These negative ions are created by sending high voltage electricity through thin metal wires or fins that create a negative charge on surrounding gas molecules; the ions then adhere to the particles in the air. Once the particles are linked with a negative charge, they are attracted to their opposite polarity on the surfaces in your home, such as walls, tables and counter tops, where they can be cleaned up.

Electronic Precipitator

Electronic precipitators are similar but have a different way of managing the particles. Unlike ion generators that disperse negative ions into the air, electronic precipitators draw particles in with fans. Once inside the precipitator, these particles are charged in a space known as a charging section or ionization section. The charged particles are then collected on oppositely-charged plates and permanently removed from the air.

Electronic air purifiers can be great at eliminating odors, smoke, allergens, dust particles and some biological contaminants. To fully maximize on the benefits of an electronic air purifier, it is recommended that they are paired with an air filtration system.

If you have questions about your indoor air quality, or want to know more about how air purifiers can enhance the indoor air quality of your Lithia home, call Air Conditioning Experts today and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.

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Is Ductless Air Conditioning Right for Your Home?

Thursday, August 21st, 2014

Ductless air conditioning once meant “window unit,” small ACs that might effectively cool down an apartment, but which were not meant for homes. However, combining the point cooling power of a window unit with the efficiency and reach of central air conditioning produced ductless air conditioning systems, which can handle the cooling needs for a whole home without the need for space-consuming and dust-collecting ducts.

Today, professional heating and air conditioning companies can install a ductless system (also known as a ductless mini split heat pump) for almost any home.

If you would like to investigate further into ductless air conditioning for Plant City, FL, contact Air Conditioning Experts today and talk to our ductless installation specialists.

But is ductless a good idea for your home?

We can’t answer this question in a blog post because we don’t know about your home’s layout and its cooling needs. But we can give you some pointers that will help you frame your decision. Always speak to professionals before you make a final decision, however.

If you are planning to replace an air conditioning system that uses ducts, then a ductless system isn’t the best choice because you already have a ventilation system. Ductless mini splits works best for the following situations:

  • New home construction: If you are planning to build a new house, then choosing a ductless system is a great idea. The lack of ductwork will give you greater freedom to design the home as well as creating additional space.
  • Remodeling: For an extensive remodel of your current home, ductless gives you more options to create the design you want—without worrying about duct placement. You can have the old ducts taken out and reclaim the space during the remodeling.
  • Old or historic homes: Older homes often lack ductwork entirely, and until ductless mini split heat pumps arrived on the scene, only multiple window units could provide cooling for them. Ductless mini splits now let these older homes enjoy the benefits of central air conditioning without having to tear apart walls and use up space.
  • Add-on rooms: When you build a new room onto your house, you can choose to hook up a ductless mini split for the space. This means you don’t have to connect the room to the ductwork and install a larger central air conditioner to accommodate the enlarged space.

Here’s something else to keep in mind for ductless systems: they are heat pumps, and so they can work as heaters as well during the winter. If you are also thinking of replacing your home’s heating system, a ductless mini split heat pump will take care of two problems at once.

Air Conditioning Experts is here to help you make the best choice for your home and family. If you think that ductless air conditioning in Plant City, FL is the right option for your home, contact us and we will put our skilled staff to work for you.

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How Frequently Do I Need Duct Cleaning in Lakeland?

Friday, August 15th, 2014

Ductwork is the unsung hero of your air conditioning system, delivering cool air seamlessly to your indoors. Because it is hidden behind walls, in attics and in crawlspaces, it is easy to forget about. While ductwork doesn’t need bi-annual maintenance like the in-and outdoor units of your air conditioning system, it still needs to be maintained. There are a lot of companies offering cheap duct cleaning services in Lakeland, so it’s important to hire a company you know and trust, like Air Conditioning Experts.

Why Do I Need Duct Cleaning?

There are several reasons why duct cleaning is important for both you and your air conditioner:

  • Indoor air quality – while your air conditioner is equipped with a filter that helps reduce the amount of dust and dirt entering your system, this filter can’t get all of it. As such, dust and dirt can build-up inside your vents and pollute the air that enters into your living spaces.
  • Better energy efficiency – the buildup of dust and dirt doesn’t just infect the air you breathe, it also chokes up your air conditioner. Dust and dirt build-up in the vents can restrict air flow and cause “breathing” problems for your AC, resulting in stress on your system. Any time an air conditioner operates under stressful conditions, it needs more energy to run.
  • Removal of contaminants – ductwork can be a great place for growths like mold, mildew and fungi to thrive; duct cleaning helps remove these contaminants from your ductwork.

How Frequently Should Ductwork Be Cleaned?

The industry standard for duct cleaning is 3-5 years, but the following factors can shorten that time period closer to 3 years:

  • If there are smokers in your home
  • Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander
  • Prior water damage to the home or HVAC system
  • Pest infestation
  • Home occupants with allergies or asthma
  • Recent home renovations or remodeling
  • If you are moving into a new home

Always Use Certified Professionals

As we mentioned above, there are a number of companies offering quick deals on duct cleaning and may not clean your ductwork as needed.

The NATE-certified technicians at Air Conditioning Experts are trained duct cleaning professionals in Lakeland, and will do it correctly. Call us today.

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Reasons to Schedule Commercial Air Conditioning Maintenance

Thursday, August 14th, 2014

Air conditioning is a necessity for residential properties in our part of the country, and this goes double for your commercial property. As a business owner, it’s imperative to have a cool, comfortable place where your customers and/or clients can conduct their business with you. This is why it’s important to schedule maintenance for your commercial air conditioning in Tampa, and even more important to schedule it with professionals, like the ones from Air Conditioning Experts, Inc.

Why Schedule Maintenance?

Maintenance for your commercial air conditioner may seem like an unnecessary expense, but here are some items to consider about scheduling regular air conditioning maintenance:

Would you like to reduce the amount of repairs your commercial AC needs?

Maintenance can help achieve this. How? During a maintenance appointment, your commercial air conditioner is thoroughly inspected and cleaned. The technician takes care of small, developing problems, like worn fan belts, that can grow into much bigger problems, as well as detect any major problems. In addition, cleaning and lubrication are a big part of a maintenance appointment, so the smaller components of your air conditioner can run optimally.

Would you like to see smaller energy bills?

Saving money where you can is important to any business. Did you know that every year your air conditioner isn’t scheduled for maintenance it can lose up to 5% of its original energy efficiency? How about that scheduling regular maintenance keeps your AC operating at 95% of its original efficiency? An air conditioner that hasn’t been maintained can become stressed; stressed ACs need more power to work, which can increase your monthly utility bills.

Would you like to extend the life of your system?

When an AC works under stress for a long period of time, different parts of the system can age prematurely. On the other hand, when regular maintenance is scheduled, all parts are kept in good working order, which means the system isn’t working under stressful conditions. This can help extend the life of your system.

Maintenance is an excellent way to ensure that your commercial air conditioning works as you need it to.

If it’s been a while since your commercial air conditioning in Tampa was scheduled for maintenance, make an appointment with the professionals you can trust: Air Conditioning Experts, Inc.

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How Does Geothermal Cooling Work?

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Beneath the surface of the earth, the temperature remains at a consistent 55° throughout the year, no matter which part of the country you call home. Geothermal cooling and heating systems take advantage of this stable source of thermal energy to efficiently cool and heat a home. Geothermal systems are a “green” alternative to conventional central air conditioners, and, here in Tampa, they may be the perfect choice for your new heating and air conditioning system.

Installation

The installation process for geothermal systems involves a complex underground piping system through which a refrigerant solution or water cycles continuously. You usually need a relatively large outdoor area for installation, so it may be a fairly involved process. However, the results certainly make up for this small disturbance.

The technician buries a set of coiled tubes underground through which refrigerant will travel. Holes are drilled into the ground for vertical installation, or you may have a trench dug out of the ground by a backhoe if your property is large enough for horizontal pipe installation.

How It Works

During the cooling season, the refrigerant solution travels through the indoor portion of your system and removes heat, then deposits this heat into the ground outdoors. In the heating season, the flow of refrigerant reverses. It absorbs heat from the ground and releases it into your home. A fan blows the cool or warm air into the home.

Geothermal systems require very little energy to run, as electricity is only needed to pump refrigerant and run the fans. This helps to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the air by air conditioners. The high efficiency also means that many geothermal systems do not need repairs as frequently as conventional air conditioning units. Furthermore, geothermal systems often have a longer lifespan than conventional AC, partially due to the fact that outdoor components are not exposed to the elements and, therefore, may not be subject to as much wear and tear.

Not all air conditioning technicians are qualified to install a geothermal system.

At Air Conditioning Experts, our technicians are trained in installing these complex systems. For geothermal cooling in Tampa, call us today!

 

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