Beat the Heat: Top 5 Ways to Maximize Your AC Efficiency in Florida Summers

With a combination of drastically high temperatures and even higher humidity levels to tag along, Florida summers can be absolutely brutal. What’s the best way to make matters much worse? – An underperforming or outright broken AC unit. This climate puts a significant demand on air conditioning systems, making it essential for residents to maximize their AC efficiency to maintain comfort while managing energy costs. It’s critical to take steps both before the summer begins and during the summer season to ensure your AC efficiency is at its maximum. This article explores the top 5 ways to maximize your AC efficiency, ensuring that you can beat the heat without breaking the bank.

1. Routine Maintenance and Cleaning

The best thing you can do to maintain an efficient AC system is to stay up to date with routine maintenance and cleaning. Just like getting an oil change for your vehicle or getting a routine checkup at the doctor, your AC system needs to get its checkup on a regular basis to ensure that it is performing optimally, especially heading into the summer season when AC systems are consistently set to full blast. The most energy-efficient AC units are the ones that get a routine checkup from HVAC professionals on a consistent basis.

It is far too common for households to seek maintenance once an AC system is not performing well or is completely broken; that is why we recommend scheduling routine maintenance so you never run into a hot and sticky summer day with no AC at all. Not only does regular maintenance prevent any major issues that could end up being very costly, but a well-maintained system operates more efficiently, consuming less energy while providing optimal cooling.

2. Optimize Your Thermostat Usage

install a smart thermostatOptimizing your thermostat usage will help ensure your AC does not overwork itself at times when nobody is home. There are two ways to go about doing so. The first step to take with your thermostat is to raise the thermostat temperature when nobody is home. There is no point in having your AC on full blast when you are at work or away for extended periods of time. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F (26°C) when you are home and higher when you’re away. If you share a home with pets, especially those that are more temperature-sensitive, be sure to consider them. While it’s important to save energy, ensuring the optimal temperature for your pets is equally vital, especially during the hot and sticky Florida summers.

The second and more effective option to optimize your thermostat is to upgrade to a programmable or smart thermostat. These thermostats are much more common in newer homes. Smart thermostats take the guesswork out of adjusting your home’s climate, which means that you won’t have to worry about remembering to adjust your thermostat every time you leave your home. A programmable thermostat allows you to set your heating and cooling schedule in advance, according to your daily routines and preferences. A smart thermostat goes a step further by learning your habits and adjusting the temperature automatically to maximize your AC efficiency. Investing in a modern thermostat, such as a smart or programmable thermostat, can be a wise decision for keeping your AC system from overworking itself and keeping electricity bills down.

3. Keep It Cool: Enhance Your Home’s Insulation

The more cool air you can keep in your house, the less cool air that has to be pumped by your air conditioner, ensuring a more efficient AC unit. Proper insulation in your home prevents cool air from escaping, but how do you set your home up to be properly insulated? There are a few ways to do so, we’ll break down the best and most effective options.

First, start with windows and doors. Any gaps or small openings can contribute significantly to letting out the cool air. Thoroughly inspect all windows and doors to see if there are any openings that exist, and promptly seal them with weather stripping or caulk to avoid cold air from escaping.

Second, inspect your existing insulation in “insulation hot spots,” including the attic, walls, and floors. Make sure these areas are covered with insulation, especially the attic, as proper attic insulation significantly reduces heat transfer from the roof into your home. When the Florida sun is blaring on your roof, you want to make sure this area of your home can handle it. It’s important to note that for the most accurate inspection of the insulation of your home, it’s advisable to consult a professional.

The last step towards enhancing your home’s insulation to make for an efficient AC system is to consider installing thermal curtains on your windows. Thermal curtains are designed to minimize heat transfer through windows, making them effective at enhancing the energy efficiency of a home. They are constructed from multiple layers of fabric, with a core layer of foam, reflective film, or a thick, woven fabric designed to trap air and minimize the amount of heat that passes through the window.

4. Optimize Air Flow

use ceiling fansSetting up your home to optimize air circulation is key to keeping cool and maximizing your air conditioning system’s effectiveness. The first step to optimizing your home’s air flow is to use fans. Ceiling fans or standalone fans will do the trick, as fans help keep the cool air moving, allowing the cool air that your AC system produces to be circulated throughout your home. Typically, the cost and energy levels of running fans are significantly lower than that of an efficient AC system. In addition to running the fans in your home, also take a look at the vents which the cool air comes out of. Are they obstructed at all? Removing objects such as furniture, curtains, or plants that block the air from coming out of the vents can drastically reduce poor airflow throughout your home. Lastly, be sure to maximize natural ventilation. Although not typically the best solution in the humid summer months, opening windows when the temperature is cooler outside instead of running the air conditioner will reduce the strain on your AC system. Once in a while, there may be a cool night or two, even during a Florida summer, so be mindful and consider getting some natural ventilation!

5. Strategic Landscaping

This last recommendation is our favorite recommendation for Florida homeowners. Utilize plants outside! The warm and humid Florida climate makes for a great environment for growing plants and trees. Strategic landscaping is considered as designing the outdoor space surrounding your home with the goal of enhancing overall energy efficiency. Although not the favorite solution to solar panel salesmen, large plants and trees that provide shade to your home can be an excellent way to block the sun from hitting your home directly, therefore reducing the strain on your AC system and keeping your AC system efficient for a longer period of time.

heat pump

Learn All About Heat Pumps

FAQs About Heat Pumps

When looking for a new HVAC system in St. Petersburg, FL, homeowners will consider numerous types of heating and cooling systems. One HVAC unit they should look into is a heat pump. These can heat and cool homes, but many property owners might only consider them if they are familiar with the systems.

St. Petersburg, FL technicians answer common FAQs about heat pumps, including what they are, what benefits they offer to households, and what signs can indicate a heat pump needs repairs.

heat pumpsWhat Is a Heat Pump System

One of the main reasons homeowners don’t purchase heat pumps is because they are unfamiliar with how they work. These units can both heat and cool homes through unique functionality.

Heat pumps heat and cool homes by transferring heat from one location to another through a refrigerant cycle. When used to heat a home, the heat pump transfers heat from the outside air, ground, or water into the house. When used to cool a house, the ducted heat pump works similarly to a forced-air AC unit, taking heat from inside the house and transferring it outside to remove the extra heat from the home.

These environmentally energy-efficient systems provide even heating and cooling throughout a property.

What Are the Benefits of Installing a Heat Pump?

There are many advantages to adding a heat pump to a house. After a heat pump installation, homeowners may experience the following benefits:

  • A more energy-efficient unit that results in lower utility bills
  • An all-in-one system that both heats and cools your home
  • Consistent and even heating and cooling throughout the home
  • A quiet unit compared to traditional air conditioners and furnaces
  • A longer-lasting unit lasts around 15 to 20 years as a heat pump
  • A more environmentally friendly unit that uses renewable energy sources

heat pump serviceWhat Are the Signs Heat Pump Repair Is Needed?

When heat pumps malfunction, it’s essential for homeowners to schedule repairs as soon as possible. St. Petersburg HVAC contractors recommend that property owners watch for the following symptoms that can indicate ductless heat pumps and mini split heat pumps need to be repaired, including:

  • Insufficient heating or cooling as the unit struggles to keep the home comfortable
  • Strange noises coming from the system, including banging, grinding, rattling, or squealing
  • Higher energy bills than usual without a change in usage
  • Frequent turning on and off of the system
  • Frozen coils with ice or frost buildup on the indoor or outdoor coils
  • Uneven heating and cooling throughout the house, with some areas of the property warmer or cooler than others
  • Signs of water leaks that can indicate problems with the drainage system, refrigerant lines, or other components
  • Foul odors coming from the unit

If homeowners notice signs that their heat pump needs to be repaired or replaced, they must schedule services with an experienced HVAC technician.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for heat pump services in St. Petersburg, FL.

How to Beat Your Allergies This Spring Using Your HVAC System

3 Easy Ways to Breathe Easier This Spring

If homeowners notice their family members sneezing more than usual inside their house, they should take key steps to reduce allergy symptoms. There are simple ways to improve the indoor air quality and lessen sneezing, congestion, and watery eyes this spring.

St. Petersburg, FL HVAC technicians provide key steps homeowners should take, including replacing air filters, installing an air filtration system, and performing routine maintenance on heaters or air conditioners.

Replace Air Filters

Replacing the air filter in their heater or air conditioner might seem optional. Still, it’s crucial to keep HVAC systems working correctly and increase indoor air quality in a house. Replacing AC filters as recommended by heating and cooling technicians—about every 1 to 3 months—can provide numerous benefits for households.

Changing dirty furnace filters can improve indoor air quality by removing dust, pollen, pet dander, and other contaminants. Air filter replacements can also improve the efficiency of a heater or air conditioner by allowing the air to flow properly through the system. Reducing wear and tear will also let the HVAC system last longer and reduce a home’s energy costs.

Install a Whole-House Air Filtration System

Another way homeowners can reduce allergy symptoms in their houses is to install a whole-home air filtration system to purify the air throughout their entire house.

A whole-house system, incorporated within the HVAC system, provides numerous benefits to households. Some of the top advantages include:

  • Improved indoor air quality by removing dust, pollen, mold, and other pollutants from the air
  • Reduced allergy and asthma symptoms by eliminating common allergens from the home
  • Protection against airborne pathogens like bacteria and viruses by catching them with HEPA filters
  • Eliminate foul odors from a house
  • Reduce buildups of dust from throughout the house

Routine Maintenance

Homeowners can reduce spring allergy symptoms by scheduling regular maintenance services for air conditioners or heaters. If routine tune-ups are neglected, HVAC systems can accumulate dust and pollen, which circulates throughout the house’s air. Instead, allergy symptoms can be eliminated by performing routine AC maintenance.

Numerous tasks can reduce allergens in a home, including:

  • Changing the air filters to remove allergens from the air
  • Cleaning the ductwork to eliminate dust, dirt, and allergens
  • Removing mold and bacteria from dirty coils
  • Sealing leaky ductwork to prevent allergens from entering the air

If households are experiencing increased allergy symptoms, they need to take key steps to remove allergens from the air. Replacing the air filters, installing air filtration systems, and performing routine air conditioning maintenance and heating maintenance can eliminate allergens from a home.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for HVAC and indoor air quality services in St. Petersburg, FL.

heater

When to Schedule Heater Needs Repairs

Signs You Need Heater Repairs

When the chilly winter air arrives, St. Petersburg, FL homeowners should ensure they have a fully functioning heater. Even if it’s not used often, property owners must ensure it works to keep their house comfortable when needed. This requires heating repairs at the first signs of an issue.

St. Petersburg, FL heating contractors offer tips for homeowners to use when spotting the signs that their heater needs to be repaired, including higher energy bills than usual, odd sounds or odors, and inconsistent heat in their house.

billsIncreasing Energy Bills

One sign technicians recommend that homeowners watch for is rising utility bills. If property owners notice their energy bills are getting higher and higher, it can indicate their heating system is losing efficiency and needs repairs.

Energy bills can increase if the unit stops working efficiently due to a problem. Some of the most common causes can include clogged or dirty filters, leaking ductwork, inefficient equipment, heat exchanger issues, poor insulation, or a lack of routine heating maintenance.

A malfunctioning thermostat can also cause energy bills to rise. If these are not properly signaling the heater to turn on or off, it can cause the system to run more than it needs to.

bad smellStrange Sounds or Smells

Another sign homeowners should watch for is strange sounds or smells from their heater. If they notice unusual noises or odors they should schedule repairs.

When calling for heater repair services, property owners should tell technicians what noise they hear. This will help contractors understand what might be causing the strange sounds. For example, rattling, banging, or clanging can mean there is a loose or damaged component. Sounds similar to screeching or squealing can indicate a problem with the blower motor or fan, clicking can signal a problem with the ignition or gas valve, and buzzing can indicate an electrical issue.

Property owners should also be descriptive when they notice strange smells. The type of smell can let them know how severe the problem is. Rotten egg odors or oil or fuel smells can indicate gas leaks and must be addressed immediately. Some other smells homeowners might notice are:

  • Musty or moldy odors can signal the system needs to be cleaned.
  • Burning odors or burning dust can be expected if it’s the first time the heat has been used. But if there is a burning smell each time the system is being used, then it can indicate a problem.
  • Burning plastic or electrical smells can indicate a serious problem like an overheating system, electrical issues, or damaged wires.

Absence of Heat

One of the first signs a homeowner will notice that can indicate they need heater repairs is if there is a lack of heat in their house. Whether they notice cool air coming through the vents or intermittent heating or if the system isn’t running, it can indicate a problem that needs to be inspected and repaired by a professional.

Uneven heating can indicate a problem with the blower motor, damaged ductwork, or clogged air filters. Cool air coming through the vents can indicate a problem with the thermostat, heat exchanger, or ignition system.

If less air is coming through the vents than usual, it can signal that the air filters are blocked or that there is an issue with the blower motor or air ducts. When homeowners notice signs that their heater is malfunctioning, they should schedule repairs with a trusted heating service company.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for St. Petersburg, FL heater repair services.

thermostat

Start the New Year With a Smart Thermostat

Why Install a Smart Thermostat?

Homeowners need to get complete control over the indoor climate in their St. Petersburg home, especially during the summer months when air conditioners are working full blast. Installing a smart thermostat can get the job done.

These devices help homeowners control the temperature in their house, reducing energy. St. Petersburg, FL HVAC technicians explain a smart thermostat, its benefits, and signs it needs to be replaced.

What Is a Smart Thermostat?

A smart thermostat is a thermostat that can be controlled with a smartphone, tablet, or other internet-connected device. It allows homeowners to adjust the temperature from anywhere – the office or even on vacation. It can also learn a home’s behaviors, adjusting the temperature to make the house more comfortable.

These capabilities allow households to save money on their energy bills by allowing their HVAC units to operate more efficiently. Smart thermostats offer more capabilities than programmable thermostats, giving households more connectivity and other options.

Some common types of smart thermostats include:

  • Learning thermostats that can learn a home’s heating and cooling preferences over time
  • Remote-controlled thermostats that let households control their heating and cooling systems remotely through a smartphone app
  • Voice-activated thermostats that can integrate with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or others
  • Zoned thermostats for homes with multiple heating or cooling zones that allow homeowners to control the temperature independently in different areas of their homes
  • Wi-Fi-connected thermostats that let property owners connect them to their home network

save moneyBenefits of a Smart Thermostat Installation

Smart thermostats offer many advantages to households over manual thermostats. Some of the biggest benefits include:

  • The ability to control the temperature anywhere using a smartphone or an internet-connected device
  • Reduced utility bills by decreasing energy consumption through optimized HVAC systems
  • Scheduling abilities to heat and cool homes on a schedule to match daily routines
  • Cost savings by taking advantage of off-peak electricity rates and reducing energy
  • The ability to integrate with a home’s other smart devices
  • The ability to receive alerts and notifications about the system’s status, maintenance reminders, or other warnings

smart thermostatSigns Homes Need a Thermostat Replacement

Homeowners should recognize the signs that their smart thermostat needs to be replaced so they can install a new unit without disrupting the usage of their air conditioning and heating systems.

Some key signs to watch for are:

  • If the thermostat is aging and doesn’t have the latest features or technology
  • If the unit is no longer compatible with a home’s HVAC system
  • If the thermostat is not working as efficiently as it used to
  • If the unit malfunctions or requires repairs

HVAC technicians can inspect thermostats during annual heater or AC tune-ups. They will ensure the devices work correctly and are connected to their HVAC systems.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for HVAC and smart thermostat services in St. Petersburg, FL.

humidifier

Avoid Dry Air This Winter With a Whole-Home Humidifier

How Humidifiers Prevent Dry Air Homes During Winter Months

When the chilly winter temperatures arrive, and the heater starts to kick in, Florida homeowners might notice that their typical humid air is replaced by dry air. This can have more negative impacts on a household than expected, as it can cause respiratory issues, dry skin, and even impact the health of indoor plants.

Fortunately, there is a cure for this dry air. St. Petersburg HVAC technicians recommend whole-house humidifier installations. Learn about the humidifier benefits households can experience.

Fewer Respiratory Problems

One of the biggest impacts dry air can have on a household’s health is increased allergy, asthma, and other respiratory issues like coughing and nasal irritation. Installing a whole-home humidifier can benefit family members by reducing these symptoms.

These systems add moisture to the air to prevent respiratory tracts and nasal passages from drying out. This can benefit allergy and asthma sufferers by reducing symptoms and lessening irritation of their throats and nasal passages.

Whole home humidifiers also help reduce cold and flu symptoms and eliminate the spread of respiratory viruses and other illnesses. They can also benefit those with sleep apnea by making sleeping more comfortable.

For households who have family members with asthma or severe allergies, they should have their indoor air quality tested by an HVAC contractor to determine the humidity levels. The benefits of a humidifier can help eliminate these issues.

skin careImproved Skin Health

When dry air enters a house, family members might notice their skin getting dry and flaky or even developing cracks in the knuckles or fingers. Fortunately, these issues can be corrected by installing a humidifier.

Humidifiers offer many benefits to family members’ skin, including:

  • Add moisture to the air to prevent skin from drying out
  • Ease skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis
  • Improve skin injuries like cuts, irritations, or abrasions
  • Prevent chapped or cracked lips
  • Reduce signs of aging by keeping skin looking younger

If Florida households notice their skin getting dryer or more frequent cracks in their hands, they should schedule an appointment with an HVAC technician to test their air quality and determine the amount of moisture in the air. This can help decide if a humidifier would help.

plantsHealthier Indoor Plants

Humidifiers not only help family members in a household, but they also benefit indoor plants. By adding moisture to the air, humidifiers help indoor plants flourish.

After installing a humidifier, homeowners may notice reduced wilting and browning in their plants. They might also notice fewer leaves falling off plants and fewer insect infestations. Humidifiers give plants the added moisture they need to grow healthier and bigger.

These systems also give homeowners more choices when selecting indoor plants, allowing them to buy more tropical varieties. These plants in particular flourish with added moisture in the air.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for HVAC services in St. Petersburg, FL.

thanksgiving table

This Thanksgiving, Say Thanks To HVAC Technicians

Heating and Cooling Technicians Provide Services To Be Thankful For

When North Carolina property owners sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, they likely have a lot of people on their list to be thankful for. One person they might overlook is their HVAC contractor. However, technicians deserve to be on the list.

Furnace and AC contractors provide many services to homeowners. Learn how they keep their HVAC systems running to keep their homes at an ideal temperature all year round, and how they keep their families healthy with improved indoor air quality.

heater serviceKeep Homes Warm All Winter

During the winter months, temperatures can plummet, causing homes to be frigid – even dangerously cold. Households need a fully functioning heater or furnace to keep their homes comfortable, and safe. Technicians enable heaters and furnaces to work correctly by performing routine maintenance and heater repairs.

By performing these services, technicians keep families healthy by avoiding illnesses from cold homes and preventing dangerous situations, like carbon monoxide leaks.

Heating contractors also help households avoid risky situations like frozen pipes – which can cause burst pipes. In addition, they keep heaters and furnaces working efficiently, saving households money on utility bills.

air conditioner serviceKeep Homes Cool, Comfortable in the Summer

During the sweltering summer heat, homeowners need a working air conditioner to keep their houses cool and comfortable. Households rely on AC technicians to perform air conditioning services, repairs, and installations quickly to keep their systems working and their homes comfortable.

By keeping their AC units running, technicians help homeowners by:

  • Keeping their home cool and comfortable on even the hottest days
  • Keeping them healthy and helping them avoid heat-related illnesses like heat stroke
  • Keeping their indoor air quality high by allowing the AC unit to run correctly to remove particles from the air

To allow AC contractors to inspect and repair their systems quickly, homeowners must schedule AC repairs and air conditioner services at the first signs of an issue with their unit.

Improve Indoor Air Quality

Technicians also improve indoor air quality by keeping a home’s HVAC system working correctly.

Fully functioning air conditioners and heaters remove particles, contaminants, and other items from homes. This keeps the air healthy and helps family members avoid health risks. At-risk household members need to have high indoor air quality. If family members suffer from allergies or asthma, their symptoms can be increased if there are allergens and other contaminants in the air.

Poor indoor air quality can also cause higher levels of humidity in homes. If this happens, households can suffer even more health risks if mold and mildew form due to the high moisture levels in the home.

Reduced indoor air quality can also cause poor ventilation in homes. This can make breathing difficult for family members as they struggle with hot and stuffy air.

To ensure their air is clean and safe, homeowners should schedule indoor air quality services with a technician to test their air and install an air cleaning system.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for HVAC services in St. Petersburg, FL.

home furnace

Prevent a Frightening Overheating Furnace This Halloween

What Homeowners Need to Know About Overheating Furnaces

Halloween can be scary, with haunted houses, scary costumes, and spooky movies. But an overheating furnace is one of the most terrifying situations a homeowner can encounter.

When this happens, it can lead to serious threats to a household – including fires and carbon monoxide leaks. To avoid these dangers, property owners can use tips from furnace technicians on overheating symptoms to watch for and how to prevent an overheating furnace from occurring.

Dangers of an Overheating Furnace

An overheating furnace can be incredibly dangerous for families. It can lead to many safety concerns, including:

  • The risk of furnace fires.
  • A carbon monoxide leak if the heat exchanger is damaged or suffers a crack. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a deadly threat to families.
  • Damaged furnace components that need to be replaced.
  • An overworking furnace that leads to rising energy bills.
  • Wear and tear on the system, causing the system to need replacement.

To protect their families, homeowners must schedule services with an HVAC contractor to make the necessary repairs.

bad smellFurnace Overheating? Signs To Watch For

An overheating furnace can be incredibly dangerous. To avoid these problems, homeowners should recognize the signs quickly and schedule professional repairs.

There are many symptoms homeowners need to watch for, including:

  • Odd smells like burning odors coming through the vents or near the furnace
  • Humming, popping, or banging sounds coming from the system
  • Rapid cycling of the furnace, with it turning on and off quickly
  • Warmer than usual air coming from the vents
  • Signs of damage to the furnace, including melted wires, burnt components, or scorch marks
  • A circuit breaker that keeps tripping
  • Higher than usual energy bills due to the furnace overworking

Homeowners should schedule professional repairs immediately if households experience any of these symptoms.

furnace filterWays to Prevent a Furnace From Overheating

The best way to avoid the risks of an overheating furnace is to prevent it from happening. There are many ways households can avoid these issues, including the following tasks recommended by furnace contractors:

  • Book annual furnace maintenance services with a professional to have the furnace cleaned and tuned up
  • Schedule air filter replacements regularly, at least every 1 to 3 months
  • Keep the air flowing properly by removing obstacles from around the furnace
  • Control the furnace and indoor climate through a smart thermostat
  • Clean the blower motor and fan blades to remove dust and dirt
  • Inspect the air ducts to look for leaks or defects
  • Install a new furnace if the system is aging and showing signs of wear and tear

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for heating services in St. Petersburg, FL.

Signs You Need Evaporator Coil Cleaning

When To Schedule Professional Evaporator Coil Cleaning

When homeowners notice that their air conditioner is running, but their house is not cooling off, it can indicate they need evaporator coil cleaning services. If debris or frost builds up on the coil, it cannot work properly. And to run correctly, air conditioners rely on evaporator coils.

These coils help remove hot air from homes and send cool air through the house. The house cannot cool to the desired temperature if the evaporator coil malfunctions.

Fortunately, scheduling evaporator cleaning services can prevent these problems. Households should schedule an appointment if they notice their HVAC is not properly cooling their house, if there is frost on the coil, or if other problems prevent it from properly cooling the house.

Loss of Cooling Function

One of the biggest effects of a dirty evaporator coil is if the house fails to cool to the desired temperature. When a family notices the house feels warmer or stuffier than usual, it can signal a problem with the evaporator coil.

If there is frost or ice built up on the AC coils, if the coils are corroding or damaged, or if there is dust, dirt, or debris built up on the device, it can fail to work properly.

If homeowners notice these symptoms, they should call an AC contractor to inspect the air conditioner and schedule cleaning services on the AC evaporator coils. During an appointment, technicians can also ensure the problem is due to a dirty coil and not another problem, including a refrigerant leak.

Frost

When frost accumulates on an evaporator coil, it should be removed during professional coil cleaning services. If there is frost build up on the coil, the air conditioner will not be able to properly cool the house.

Frost can develop on the coil if there is a blocked vent or air filter. When frozen evaporator coils occur, the frost can prevent air from properly flowing through the component, and will not allow the AC to operate correctly.

The AC Runs Longer

A dirty evaporator coil can also cause air conditioners to run continuously – even when the house has cooled to the desired temperature. This can lead to the air conditioner overworking and can cause energy bills to increase.

A dirty evaporator coil can cause an AC unit to run continuously by creating an issue in the heat exchange process or interfering with the sensor that prevents the air conditioner from knowing when it needs to turn off.

Fortunately, homeowners can prevent longer cycles by scheduling evaporator coil cleaning services when they first start to notice problems like inconsistent cooling, or if their house fails to cool to the setting on the thermostat.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for HVAC services in St. Petersburg, FL.

Central AC vs Ductless Cooling: What’s Best For Your Home

Differences Between Central AC and Ductless Systems

When the heat and humidity make summer days unbearable, St. Petersburg residents turn to their cooling systems to keep their houses comfortable. Two of the most common methods are central AC systems and ductless AC systems. These can both remove heat and humidity from homes, but they do it in different ways.

Learn more about central air conditioning and ductless split AC systems and the benefits both provide. HVAC technicians also offer recommendations on other types of cooling systems. 

Central AC

Most St. Petersburg residents rely on central AC units to keep their house comfortable all summer. These systems can accurately remove heat and humidity from homes, making them tolerable in summer. To work properly, these units use a compressor, condenser, evaporator coil, air handler, ductwork, and a thermostat.

Central AC systems provide numerous benefits, including:

  • Consistent Cooling: These units provide efficient and even cooling throughout homes to cool the entire property.
  • Safe Air: These systems use filters to remove particles from the air, such as dust, allergens, and pollutants. This will improve indoor air quality.
  • More Energy Efficiency: These units cool homes more efficiently than individual units like window ACs or portable ACs.
  • Less Noise: These units are more quiet compared to individual units. Since the compressor and condenser are outside the building, they can operate quieter inside.

Ductless Mini Split Systems

Another reliable option to cool homes is a ductless mini split air conditioner system. These units, also called ductless air conditioning systems or ductless heat pumps, do not require ductwork to cool homes. This can be ideal for homes or buildings that don’t have existing ductwork.

Some of the advantages ductless systems provide are:

  • More Options: These units can be installed in homes that don’t have ductwork. They can also work in new additions or spaces that don’t have access to ducts.
  • Increased Climate Control: These units can be set at individual temperatures, allowing for different temperature settings in different zones or rooms.
  • More Energy Efficient: These systems don’t experience the energy losses associated with ductwork. They also prevent homeowners from cooling rooms they’re not using.
  • Easier Installation: Since these units don’t require ductwork, adding one is simpler than a central air conditioning installation.

Other AC Systems

In addition to central AC systems and ductless mini split AC systems, there are numerous other cooling units property owners can choose from. Some of these include:

  • Window AC Unit: These units are installed in a window or a specially prepared opening in a wall. While these are great for cooling a room or a small space, they cannot cool an entire home.
  • Portable Air Conditioners: These portable systems can be moved to various rooms. These are easy to install in a single room, but they are not meant to cool a whole house.
  • Split Air Conditioners: These are similar to ductless mini split units, but these ducted air conditioning systems require ductwork.

About Air Mavericks

Air Mavericks provides comfort to its neighbors in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. They guarantee quality with every appointment and promise to have the lowest prices. Call them today for HVAC services in St. Petersburg, FL.