AC Filters

Replacing your air conditioning filter regularly will not only improve the efficiency of your air conditioner but may even prolong its life. When you do not replace your air conditioning filter, dirt, dust and grime block the flow of air, forcing it to bypass the filter and carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil. Because the coil is the part of your air conditioner that absorbs heat, you want to keep the coil clean to keep it functioning smoothly and to prevent your compressor and fans from failing. Fortunately, replacing your air conditioning filter is not as intimidating as it sounds if you follow these tips below:

Tampa Air Conditioning Maintenance

1. Location. Your air conditioning filter will be located somewhere along the duct that returns air from the house and to the air conditioner. Filters are often located in the air conditioner itself or in ceilings, walls or furnaces.

2. System. Different air conditioning filters use different filtration methods to clean the air. Two of the less expensive types of filters use either a fine coating around strands of fiberglass or numerous folded paper pleats to filter the air. There are also reusable filters that use an electrostatic charge to filter the air (these filters need to be cleaned rather than replaced). Although filters that use an electrostatic charge are more costly to start with, over the long term they may end up saving you money, and of course, they are more environmentally friendly as well. To determine which system you have, remove the filter and look at it (it’s usually pretty easy to distinguish the differences). If you cannot identify the filter by sight, you can always bring it with you to the store.

Clearwater Air Conditioning

3. Frequency. If you do have a disposable rather than a reusable air conditioning filter, check your air conditioning filter every month. Chances are that you will end up replacing it every month to two months during the summer season. You may need to replace your filter more frequently if you have pets or a smoker in the house, if your house is particularly dusty (say if you live next to a dirt road or are in the midst of a remodeling project) or if your air conditioner receives frequent use.

4. Size. When purchasing the replacement filter, be sure to measure the existing filter first. My favorite trick is to keep the box so that I can be sure I am buying the correct filter, but in lieu of the actual box, use a tape measure instead and measure the filter to the closest eighth of an inch so that you can be sure you are buying the correct filter for your air conditioning system. There is nothing more frustrating than coming home with a new filter that is an eighth of an inch too big or too small.

5. Efficiency. Don’t be fooled into thinking that replacing your filters less frequently can save you money. Though air conditioning filters are not inexpensive, the efficiency of your air conditioner is greatly increased when the filters are clean. No matter what type of filter you use, make a note to yourself to check it often and to replace it when it starts looking fuzzy.

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AC Doesn't Turn On

On a sunny hot day you are back from home and you switch ON your room air conditioner to get cooled and you find either the air conditioner doesn’t turn on or it doesn’t cool. I am not sure about you but I will certainly get mad in this situation.

Tampa Air Conditioning

Let us now discuss troubleshooting some of these most common room air conditioner problems and solution:

What to do when the Room Air Conditioner Doesn’t Turn On ?

Room air conditioners consume a lot of electrical power. This can lead to less than optimum performance or even complete failure of the system. If your room air conditioner doesn’t turn on:

• 1) Be sure the unit is plugged in and turned on properly.

• 2) Check if the outlet of the AC is working by unplugging the air conditioner and plugging in a light that works (NOTE: do not plug a light into a 220/240-volt receptacle).

• 3) If the light doesn’t go on, the circuit has probably overloaded. You need to check the electric panel or fuse box and reset the breaker or replace the fuse if required.

• 4) If the light works, it’s likely that the air conditioner’s switch is faulty or the thermostat needs some adjustment or needs some repairing.

• 5) Be sure the thermostat is set to “cool” and is below room temperature.

• 6) Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions (repair and care manual) for thermostat repair. If adjusting or repairing the thermostat doesn’t solve the problem then unplug the unit and call an air conditioner technician. If your air conditioner is under warranty, call the customer care of the company.

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AC Doesn't Cool

What to do when Room Air Conditioner Doesn’t Cool

If your room air conditioner doesn’t cool then you may need to clean it or recharge it with refrigerant. You can clean an air conditioner yourself by disassembling the unit yourself or you can call a professional. But before doing the job yourself you need to read the system manual and make sure you have the right skills and tools to do the job. Here is what you may need to do:

• 1) Unplug the unit and remove it very carefully from the window or the wall and place it somewhere outdoors where you can work on it.
• 2) Remove the grille and filter and unscrew the metal case while making sure that you do not damage the coil’s fins.
• 3) Wash out the filter or replace it with a new filter.
• 4) Clean the inside coil’s fins by using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment
• 5) From the fan side, spray water back through the fins. You will have to protect the wiring and motor with plastic.
• 6) Clean the unit up with a rag and allow the system to dry completely.
• 7) You can also lubricate the motor as per the “Repair and Care” manual’s instructions.
• 8) Then reassemble and reinstall the unit.
  

Florida Air Conditioning

If that does not do the work then clean the evaporator and condenser coils. If it still doesn’t works then you may have to call some professional or call the company’s customer care.

Geothermal AC on Fox News!

Watch above or check out at Foxnews!

TAMPA - As those high summer temps continue, so do the high electric bills. So how would you like to cut your air conditioning bills in half? One Bay Area company says it can help you do it by tapping into the earth. It's called a geo-thermal AC system, and it could bring savings of thousands of dollars a year.

Geothermal Put Simply

While temperatures above ground change a lot from day to day and season to season, temperatures in the upper 10 feet of the Earth's surface hold nearly constant between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For most areas, this means that soil temperatures are usually warmer than the air in winter and cooler than the air in summer. Geothermal heat pumps use the Earth's constant temperatures to heat and cool buildings. They transfer heat from the ground (or water) into buildings in winter and reverse the process in the summer.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective systems for temperature control. Although, most homes still use traditional furnaces and air conditioners, geothermal heat pumps are becoming more popular. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Energy along with the EPA have partnered with industry to promote the use of geothermal heat pumps.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Put Simply

While temperatures above ground change a lot from day to day and season to season, temperatures in the upper 10 feet of the Earth's surface hold nearly constant between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For most areas, this means that soil temperatures are usually warmer than the air in winter and cooler than the air in summer. Geothermal heat pumps use the Earth's constant temperatures to heat and cool buildings. They transfer heat from the ground (or water) into buildings in winter and reverse the process in the summer.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective systems for temperature control. Although, most homes still use traditional furnaces and air conditioners, geothermal heat pumps are becoming more popular. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Energy along with the EPA have partnered with industry to promote the use of geothermal heat pumps.

Cost of Geothermal Heat Pump

Utilizing free energy from the earth beneath your feet, it is undeniable that geothermal is environmentally friendly and responsible. Geothermal heating and cooling uses the relatively constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses with 40% to 70% less energy than conventional systems. It also has the added benefit of providing free domestic hot water during the summer season and reduced cost for domestic hot water during the winter. All of these benefits sound good on top of "going green" but it all comes down to one final question. How much will this cost? Is geothermal "green" in both an investment perspective as well as an environment perspective?

Installation for geothermal heat pumps does have a high upfront cost. There are a lot of variables--where you live, the ground to be drilled, the square foot of the house--and though everyone agrees about its high initial expense, exactly “how much” remains vague at best. A good general idea for cost would be twice the price of a regular heat pump system with air conditioning. A geothermal heat pump costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, with the typically sized house needing a three-ton unit and putting the cost at roughly $7,500. Installation can bump the costs up to $10,000 or more depending on depth of pipes, type of equipment, and soil conditions.

On the flip side, the geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating cost. Savings on the electric bill are immediate and considerable. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. Average consensus is that it will take about 5-10 years to see a return in the investment but that utilizing geothermal energy could prove a good financial decision for the long-term homeowner. To encourage the switch to a renewable energy source, some utility companies and agencies may pay a rebate and energy Star-rated ground-source heat pumps may qualify for federal tax credit.

In the end, geothermal heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance. They have fewer mechanical problems and the underground piping used is often guaranteed to last 25 to 50 years. Quiet to operate and pollution free, geothermal heat pumps are an underused technology with a huge potential in the long run. Despite the debate on costs and the tough initial decision, figures indicate that 95% of heat pump owners would recommend a similar system to their friends or family.