Air Conditioning & Heating Blog | Articles, Updates, News & More

What “Energy” Is an Energy Recovery Ventilator Recovering?

February 10th, 2020

Fresh air—everybody wants it, but they don’t know how to get it when they need to have the windows and doors of their homes closed against the Florida heat and humidity. We know a great way you can have the fresh air you want without the heat and humidity problems. It’s an energy recovery ventilator, a nifty installation for your HVAC system that draws fresh air into the house and pre-cools it.

Energy recovery ventilators have a name people find a bit confusing. What “energy” is the ventilator recovering, and how is this helpful for fresh air? Answering questions like this is why we have a blog! So, it’s time for some science. (Light science, don’t worry!)

Old Furnace Broken? Here’s What to Do

January 27th, 2020

When your home’s elderly furnace decides that today, one of the days you need it in a Florida winter, is when it will fail, it’s not a fun time. Depending on the outdoor temperature, your first concern may be staying warm. You can find tips around the internet for temporary ways for your family to keep warm until the heating problem is resolved. Our warm winters usually don’t make this a huge emergency, but you don’t want to feel uncomfortable for long.

What we’re looking at in this post isn’t how to stay warm in the meantime, but what to do about the failed furnace and the future of your home comfort.

Troubles With Heat Pumps Our Technicians Often Repair

January 13th, 2020

A heat pump looks like an air conditioner, sounds like an air conditioner, has components like an air conditioner, and sends out cool air like an air conditioner. But it’s not an air conditioner, because it can also provide heating. It takes special components to allow a heat pump to perform this dual function, but those differences are vital for technicians to know so they can effectively service a malfunctioning heat pump.

We want to help you understand the heat pump that keeps your house comfortable. That means you’ll have a better idea of when to call an HVAC contractor in Clearwater, FL (i.e. us) to repair it when it isn’t working right. Here’s a list of heat pump problems we’re often called to fix.

Why We Often Recommend Ductless Heating

December 30th, 2019

We often advise our clients to consider ductless heating systems in Tampa, FL as one of the best ways to stay warm during the local short and mild winters. Ductless heating systems are types of heat pumps (a.k.a. ductless mini split heat pumps), which means that investing in one is investing in heating and cooling for the year. Ductless heating systems come with the many benefits of heat pumps (such as how energy efficient and safe they are in heating mode compared to electric furnaces and space heaters) plus the additional benefits of going ductless.

Below are our top five reasons we recommend ductless mini split heat pumps.

Winter Is a Great Time for a New AC

December 16th, 2019

Winter in Tampa Bay doesn’t so much mean turning up our heaters as it does turning off the ACs. Yes, you’ll need a central heating system working at times, and heat waves can always swing through and force your air conditioning system back into action. But during most of this month and the next two, you won’t have to depend on your heating and cooling system too often.

This lull in the weather extremes makes winter an ideal time for an AC system installation in Tampa, FL. Summer heat may feel distant, but it can arrive faster, and sudden heat waves are simply a way of life. With our technicians less busy handling air conditioning repair emergencies, they’re available to help you find the best new air conditioner and have it installed at a convenient time. You’ll be ready for the next hot day.

The Heat Pump Benefits for Florida Homes

December 2nd, 2019

How much do you think about your home heating in Clearwater, FL? Not much, we’d guess. Tampa Bay is a warm and tropical place, and many people travel from northern states to vacation with us during the winter because of how mild the temperatures are.

However, it’s still a good idea to have a central heating system for your home to deal with the occasional cool days. If you still think this isn’t a logical route for you, we’d like to introduce you to the heat pump. It’s an HVAC system that is an ideal fit for the weather in Tampa Bay and the comfort needs of homes. Many of our customers arrange for a heat pump installation when they decide to replace their old air conditioning systems—and most of those people love the heat pumps and the benefits they bring.

How You Can Add Central AC to Your Older Home

November 18th, 2019

Are you sick of using window air conditioners to provide cooling to your house? We don’t blame you. Although a window air conditioner can cool down a medium-sized room, it can struggle with larger areas—unless you add extra window units. Window ACs also block up light entering your house, look ugly on the outside of the house, create too much noise, and have poor energy efficiency.

But if you’ve never had central air conditioning in your home, how can you have a new AC system installed in Tampa, FL that will provide cooling throughout the rooms? Are window ACs the only affordable choice?

The answer is no. You may be surprised at how easy and affordable making the conversion to central cooling is.

Regular Filter Changes Are a Year-Round Job

November 4th, 2019

Can you imagine living in Florida without an air conditioning system in your house? You need to have cool air circulated around the rooms during most of the year, and even winters only give you a small break.

Because you run the central air conditioner in your house so frequently, there are some maintenance steps to remember. These aren’t as crucial in cooler parts of the country where air conditioners often go on vacation from October to May. But here in the Sunshine State, ACs need some special attention. In particular, they need to have regular filter changes throughout the year.

Heat Pump or AC—Is There a Clear Choice?

October 21st, 2019

“Is there a clear choice between installing a heat pump or AC for my home?”

We’ll supply the answer we’d give for any choice between different types of comfort systems: “Yes—but you’ll need the help of professionals to find the clear choice for your circumstances.”

In other words, we can’t give you a definite answer on a blog post. Each home is different, and each homeowner has specific requirements. However, we can provide information about the AC/heat pump choice to help you understand the direction to head. When you’re ready, call our experts for heat pump or AC services in Clearwater, FL. We’ll put our knowledge to work locating the ideal installation.

The AC Compressor—Understanding the Heart of Your Home Cooling

October 7th, 2019

You don’t need to be an expert on the science and mechanics of air conditioning to enjoy cooling from an air conditioner, the same way you don’t have to be an electrical engineer to benefit from the lights in your house. Trained professionals exist to help you in these areas.

But extra knowledge of home services is always advantageous. When you understand the basics of the operation of your household cooling system, you’ll have a better idea when you need air conditioning service in Dunedin, FL.

Preamble over. Let’s examine the component at the heart of your air conditioning system: the compressor.