Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Blog: Archive for April, 2017

Why You May Need AC Repairs with a New Unit

Sunday, April 30th, 2017

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When you have invested in a new air conditioner, then you may finally have peace of mind that you won’t be worrying about expensive AC repairs for quite some time. But then one day, you wake up to discover that you don’t have the air flow you should, your cooling system isn’t turning on at all, or your energy bill is oddly high. When this happens, you have to call in the pros for AC repair, and here are a few reasons why you may need to involve the experts not long after a new unit is installed.

You May Have Had the Wrong Size Unit Installed

One of the most important tips when having a new air conditioning unit installed is to make sure you go with a reputable company. Amateurs may slip up on measurements or won’t have an understanding of the sizes of units designed for specific square footages. When a wrong-sized unit is installed, then your cooling system will struggle to meet the comfort level needs of your space whether you have commercial or residential property. This will leave you with a unit that needs AC repairs more frequently and a higher energy bill.

You May Have Had Amateurs Remove the Old System

Some people will offer to remove your old unit because they want the scrap metal while others think it will save them a little money to DIY this job, but you should be very cautious. You don’t want to take out certain components like ductwork, and you want to be sure you are handling the air conditioner in a safe way. If you want to ensure a smooth install that won’t cost you extra money, then make sure professionals remove the old system.

The Ductwork May Not Be the Right Size

If you have an AC repair company that installs a unit without checking the size of the ductwork, then you may have problems early on with air flow. The most reputable companies will check everything from the ductwork to the thermostat so that each aspect is covered and you’re left with a comfortable home.

The Filters May Not Be Cleaned and Changed Enough

When you get a new unit, you might need to adjust the frequency that you change filters. Just because your unit is brand new and more efficient doesn’t mean that it collects less dust and dander. Keep up with this to ensure you don’t see problems early in the lifespan of your unit and to prevent future AC repair.

You May Think Your Unit Is Younger Than It Is

Sometimes you need to go back to the paperwork of when the unit is installed because you may not realize that your air conditioner is actually older than it is. Because a quality installation and premium HVAC system will have a long lifespan that can last anywhere from ten years plus, it can be easy to think your five-year-old system is a little over two years.

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Who Can You Rely on For AC Repair?

Saturday, April 22nd, 2017

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When it comes to AC repair, we tend to ask people from all walks of life what they think the problem is from co-workers to family members. However, you have to be careful where you gather your information because you don’t want to end up causing more damage due to bad data. Here we review a few trusted sources that you can go to for quality advice and service when your air conditioner isn’t working quite right and you think you need a repair.

The Experts

There are some outstanding AC experts in the industry and you want to be sure that this is where you begin your quest for knowledge about AC repairs. You can find experts online that will help you identify common issues and let you know what will be a simple repair you can fix on your own and which ones will require that you call in the professionals. However, you should be mindful when you are looking at sources online and make sure that they are certified and trustworthy. The best bet is to find a company that has a brick and mortar office in your area.

Yourself

You can rely on your skills for minor AC repairs if you are confident in doing the job yourself. Over the years, many homeowners do learn a thing or two about how to spot issues and can then resolve them on their own. As long you know your limitations and educate yourself on the best safety rules and accurate practices, you can accomplish quite a bit. But when even the slightest amount of doubt crosses your mind, call in the experts because you can’t leave this up to guesswork or you’ll have a much bigger problem on your hands.

Your Landlord or Property Manager

If you live in an apartment or lease office space and you notice that you need an AC repair, don’t try to fix it yourself. Speak with your landlord or property manager to find out if they need to call in the experts or if you do, and get information about payment and other factors that concern you. Getting the issue resolved quickly is important, but you also want to ensure it is done correctly and that all parties involved understand how to move forward.

A Local AC Repair Company

Going local when it comes to AC repair is important because you won’t have to worry about finding them when something goes wrong. When someone sweeps into town during the peak season (such as right as the weather gets warm) and everyone starts turning on the units, you’ll find that they may do a quick job that lasts for a little bit, but can’t be found when you need the same AC repair again. Going with a local company that has a good reputation will be a wise choice and one that you can call on for years down the road.

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5 Tips to Prepare for the Arrival of an AC Repair Technician

Sunday, April 16th, 2017

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When you call in an AC repair technician, you may be anxiously waiting for them to arrive to get your unit working in prime condition again. To help ensure the process goes smoothly, there are a few things that you can do before the arrival of the technician. While you may already do most of these, here is a quick checklist to help you prepare before your next AC repair so you don’t miss anything.

#1: Know the Age and Manufacturer of Your Unit

To help the AC repair technician learn more about your unit, you’ll want to have some basic information handy such as the age of the system, the brand, and the manufacturer. While the technicians will come prepared with tools and parts, the model can alert them to the inner workings, common issues and the specific parts that should be brought.

#2: Have Information Ready to Help Identify the Problem

Have information ready such as when the problem started occurring and any warning signs such as poor air flow or strange noises. You should also let the AC repair technician know how often you change filters and how often you have service calls. Even information that feels minor to you like your past energy bill can help move the process along faster and give the technician a better idea of what they are up against.

#3: Clear a Path Around the Unit

Make sure that the AC repair technician can easily get to the outside of the unit without too many obstacles. You can clear a path around the unit by removing any ladders, vines, and debris that is in the way. Safety is going to be the primary concern of the technician, and you want to make sure that they can reach and see all of the components easily.

#4: Learn About Finance Options

While you are preparing for the AC repair company to show up, you can learn about finance options and what getting a new unit would entail if that is recommended. The more you know about what your next steps are if a repair isn’t going to get the job done, the better prepared you’ll be if you need a new installation.

#5: Write down Questions and Take Notes

There are plenty of questions that will pop in your mind when you know the AC repair technician is coming, and this is the ideal opportunity to write them down so that you can get as much information as you can to care for your unit. Trust that the best technicians want you to save money and have fewer AC repairs, and they’ll be more than happy to guide you towards the best practices you can do at home to ensure this. And don’t forget to write down the answers to the questions you ask so that you can refer back to them when the time comes.

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Air Conditioning History Is Part of Gulf Coast History

Friday, April 14th, 2017

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Air Conditioning History Is Part of Gulf Coast History

Everyone living on the Gulf Coast in the Cities of Panama City, Destin, Fort Walton, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Pensacola should know the history of the air conditioner because it took place in their back yard. Air conditioning is a necessity on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Even though many people consider air conditioning a necessity, they do not know who invented it or where it was created. Many Florida residents would be shocked to find out that the origins of the air conditioner go back to a small town east of Panama City.

The beginnings of the mechanical air conditioning and refrigeration began in the town of Apalachicola. Apalchicola is a small town located south east of Tallahassee in Northwest Florida. In 1833, A doctor named John Gorrie moved from New York to Apalachicola. At the time, Appalachicola had become the center of a large timber industry. The thriving timber industry drew many people to Apalachicola. Because Apalachicola is on the gulf coast of Florida, it experiences warm temperatures and heavy rainfall. These factors combined with the swamplands around the Apalachicola River basin caused many people in the area to suffer diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Gorrie moved to Apalachicola to study the tropical diseases. Gorrie believed that the heat had something to do with the illness because malaria and yellow fever were very prevalent in tropical areas. The word malaria acutally means bad air in Italian and Gorrie believed that the air and the heat was causing the illness.

Gorrie believed that the cure for these illnesses lied with cool, clean air. He began subjecting his patients to cooler temperatures in order to heal them. In the 1800’s the only way to cool his patients was to use ice. At that time ice was hard to come by in Florida. To get ice in Florida, blocks of ice were cut from lakes up north and shipped south. In order to keep the blocks they were placed in ice houses underground. As you can imagine this was a very expensive way to cool patients and Gorrie began to search for a better way. Gorrie began to experiment with a way to make ice. He began to work on what would become the beginnings of mechanical refrigeration.

Gorrie’s experiments would lead him to use mechanical energy to compress air. By compressing air and then releasing it, Gorrie found that the air would absorb heat and this would eventually chill what ever was in contact with the cylinder. Gorrie had discovered that when air is compressed and released it expands and absorbes large amounts of heat. When this process is repeated many times the air would eventually remove heat from the water that surrounded the cylinder. Eventually, this machine would cool the water enough to turn it into ice. In 1948, Gorrie filed the first patent for an artificial refrigeration machine. Granted on May 6, 1851 the U.S. Patent No. 8080, “Improved process for the artificial production of ice” was official.

After his patent was officially granted, Gorrie would become the Father of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Many experiments in refrigeration were being conducted at that time but Gorrie was the first to patent a mechanical refrigeration machine. It would be many years after Gorrie’s patent that refrigeration and air condition would make it into modern lives. Although Gorrie was unable to capitalized off of is invention, his contributions to mechanical refrigeration have impacted the lives of many in the modern world.

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Services Offered by Most AC Repair Companies

Friday, April 7th, 2017

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If you’re unfamiliar with the services provided by air conditioning companies or you’re unsure of what to look for in an AC repair company, here is a brief review of the services that most AC companies offer. Whether you need a unit installation, AC repair or regular maintenance, you’ll be able to decide which service is right for you.

AC Installation

If you’re looking to install a brand new air conditioning system, most companies can help in finding and choosing the right unit for you. With their expertise and experience, they may offer a variety of AC systems that may be ideal for your home. Whether you’re looking for energy efficiency, a “smart” system, or money savings, an AC repair company can help you chose the right air conditioning system for you. They keep you in mind by giving you the best possible system for your particular home, including one that requires the least amount of maintenance and will help you avoid any unnecessary future AC repair.

AC Repair

The majority of AC repair companies offer 24/7 emergency repairs. Any company that offers this type of service is considered a good choice because of their willingness to serve at any time. Scheduling AC repair, even for just a minor issue, will save you money in the long run. Small repairs will generally keep you from having to make large repairs that will, of course, be significantly more costly.

Discounts and Deals on Air Conditioning Equipment

Many AC repair companies will offer discounts on air conditioners and their components when you schedule an installation or repair with their company. These companies can make recommendations about the best brands, units, and parts for your particular home and budget, so discussing the entire process of buying, installing, and repairing with them will only prove to be beneficial in the end. Many AC repair companies also offer extended warranties on your purchases, sometimes at a discounted rate, to ensure that you get the most out of your air conditioning system.

Regularly Scheduled Maintenance

Many companies will complete regular maintenance checks for you, particularly before extreme weather seasons take place, to ensure that your unit and all of its components are working properly. An AC repair technician will come by and make sure your air conditioning system is running smoothly and at peak performance levels. This allows you the peace of mind that a professional is keeping an eye on your unit, while also maintaining the system and helping you to hopefully avoid any emergency AC repair. Regular maintenance generally includes changing the filters, inspecting and cleaning coils, removing any clogs, and looking at your unit overall to ensure everything is in proper working order.

These services are offered by most AC repair companies, including Peaden. Whether you need an installation, repair, new parts, or regular maintenance, we can help. If you are unaware and unsure of what service is right for you, please feel free to contact us.

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