Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Fort Walton Beach’

3 Ways an Old Air Conditioning System Can Cost You

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

Having the same air conditioner for a long time – over 12 years – may seem like a good thing, but the truth is it may be costing you money, even if it still runs ok. Estimates put today’s air conditioners at 60% better efficiency than those from just 10 years ago. In addition, federal laws changed in 2006 to mandate that air conditioners be manufactured with a minimum SEER of 13, up 3 points from the prior minimum of 10. So if you’ve been hesitating with your air conditioning replacement in Fort Walton Beach, FL it may be time to consider whether or not it’s really worth keeping.

Reasons a New AC May Be Better

There are several good reasons to consider replacing your aging air conditioner:

  • Better energy efficiency – as we mentioned above, today’s air conditioners are significantly more energy efficient than older models, and your current AC probably has a SEER lower than 13. When you consider the energy efficiency of today’s models coupled with the fact that you can save an average of 10% with each higher SEER point, you could save significantly on energy costs.
  • Increased comfort – aging ACs can have a hard time keeping up with the cooling load of your home, creating hot and cold spots or failing to achieve the temperature you need. A new system will be better able to provide even cooling and increase your indoor comfort level.
  • Dependability – older air conditioners are more likely to need repair, even when they’ve been maintained. Not only are breakdowns inconvenient, they can cost a lot of money. With a new system, you won’t have to worry about frequent or costly repairs.

Still Have Questions? Call Us

The best way to determine if it’s really time for an air conditioning replacement in your Fort Walton Beach property is to work with a trained expert. Working with a professional from Kool Breeze allows you to take the time to calculate and review how much you’ve really been spending on your aging AC. Call us today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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Air Conditioning Basics: Refrigerant and Why It Is Important

Friday, July 25th, 2014

In order for an air conditioners to cool, they rely on the process of heat exchange, moving heat from the inside of a home to the outside. Refrigerant, the chemical that allows for heat transfer, is the perfect chemical blend for this process because it is non-combustible and easily converts from liquid to gas form and back again.

Your air conditioning system is made up of two major parts, the condenser unit and the evaporator unit. In split systems, the evaporator is located indoors, while the condenser is outside, but packaged systems store every part in one single cabinet. All air conditioning systems have the same components, however, and the four most important components through which refrigerant passes as it moves through the system are the compressor, condenser coil, expansion valve, and evaporator.

Each of these parts is responsible for changing refrigerant so that it can carry out heat exchange. The compressor changes refrigerant from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure gas so that it can give off heat at the condenser. Here it changes into a liquid under high pressure and moves to the expansion valve, where it changes into a low-pressure liquid. At the evaporator, it changes back into a gas, absorbing the heat in your home in the process. It then moves to the compressor to begin the cycle again.

It’s important that the refrigerant level remains constant in order to continue cooling your home effectively. Low levels of refrigerant obstruct the exchange of heat, so that your AC has less cooling power. Additionally, the parts of your system are sized to handle a specific level, and when this changes it can cause the evaporator to freeze or damage the compressor, leading to a costly repair.

Refrigerant will never dissipate on its own. If you have low levels of refrigerant, it may be a result of improper measurements during installation, but it often means there is a leak somewhere along the refrigerant line due to loose connections or corrosion.

The technicians at Kool Breeze can assist you when you notice problems like these for your air conditioning system in Fort Walton Beach, FL. For repairs, maintenance, installation, and more, give us a call today!

 

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How High Humidity Affects Your Air Conditioning System

Thursday, July 10th, 2014

“Sticky.” “Heavy.” “Like a sauna.” These are just some of the words and phrases we’ve heard describe the days of heavy humidity here in Fort Walton Beach, and why it’s so important to have your air conditioning running optimally, especially during periods of excessive humidity. While your air conditioner removes humidity as part of the cooling process, excess humidity can adversely affect it, particularly during long periods of heavy humidity. One of the ways to help alleviate the stress and problems high humidity can cause your AC is to retrofit your air conditioning in Fort Walton Beach with a dehumidifier.

How Does a Dehumidifier Work?

A whole-home dehumidifier attaches to your existing air conditioning system. It pulls in the warm, humid air and passes it over cold metal coils to create condensation. This condensation drops into a collection tank and exits your home through piping. The air is then released into your air conditioning system, minus the excess moisture from the humidity.

Effects of High Humidity on Your AC

There are several ways excessive humidity can negatively affect your air conditioning system:

  • Stress on your system – your air conditioner has to work harder to cool your home during times of excessive humidity. Humidity holds heat, so while the temperature may not have risen, the humidity in the air has made it feel as if it has. In addition, your air conditioner has to remove a larger amount of moisture from the air. Therefore, longer periods of humidity can put a lot of stress on your system.
  • Less energy efficiency – the more your air conditioner has to work, the more energy it needs. As your AC works harder to combat extra humidity, it uses more energy, making it less energy efficient.
  • More opportunity for particles to cling – humidity can cause certain parts of your air conditioning system to become wet with condensation. Water attracts particles, especially dust and dirt; with excessive humidity, a layer of dust and dirt can develop, making your air conditioner very dirty and prone to possible malfunction.
  • Excessive drainage – it is normal for your air conditioning system to collect more water during times of high humidity, but if there is any kind of issue with your condensate tray or drain, you may experience leaks.

Dry Out the Air with a Dehumidifier

A whole-home dehumidifier can help improve comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. To determine if a dehumidifier is right for your air conditioning in Fort Walton Beach, contact Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment with one of our trained professionals.

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3 Key Components of Commercial Air Conditioning

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Commercial air conditioning uses the same basic system that residential air conditioners do: cycling refrigerant gas through a series of valves and coils that first shift it to a liquid form, then revert it to a gaseous form. (The process pulls heat from the air, which can then be blown into your home with a fan.) But while the basics are the same, the specifics vary a great deal. Commercial air conditioning must handle a much larger load than residential systems, and must often adjust to fit the needs of new businesses as old ones change locations. Here in Fort Walton Beach, FL,commercial air conditioning systems need a service that understand the differences to install and maintain them. Here are 3 key components of commercial air conditioning that set them apart from smaller systems.

  • Modular. Business needs change a great deal when it comes to air conditioning. A software company with a lot of high-end computer hard drives needs much more power to keep cool than a greeting card store for instance. But you can’t simply install a new air conditioning system every time a new tenant occupies the space. So commercial systems are designed to be modular. Whenever you need more power, you can simply add a new unit onto the existing system. If you need less power, you can detach a unit, or just shut it off. It retains the required flexibility without skimping on cooling power.
  • Rooftop Placement. All those modular units take up a lot of space, which most businesses would prefer to use for other things. That’s why most commercial AC units are placed on the roof, where they’re out of the way and yet can still do their jobs effectively.
  • Sturdy. Because the units are on the roof, they need to be able to handle the rigors of sun and torrential rain alike. That means they’re very sturdy, as well as being comparatively simple.

Commercial HVAC services in Fort Walton Beach, FL can be performed by the experts at Kool Breeze. We understand the key components of commercial air conditioning and we’re ready to bring our expertise to bear on your business space. Pick up the phone and give us a call today. You’ll be glad you did!

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How Air Conditioning Maintenance Means Smaller Repair Bills

Friday, May 30th, 2014

Air conditioning maintenance isn’t the same thing as air conditioning repair. Instead it acts as a kind of tune-up, fixing a lot of little problems and keeping an eye out for bigger ones that may be lurking in the future. Here in Fort Walton Beach, air conditioning maintenance should be performed at least once a year, before our hot summers kick in in earnest. But homeowners are often looking at the bottom line and may not seen the value “in fixing something that isn’t broken.” In truth, air conditioning maintenance means smaller repair bills, as well as improved efficiency that you’ll see in your bills every month. Here’s a brief rundown on how.

Dust and dirt invariably build up on the internal components of your air conditioner. That increases friction and forces the system to work harder to do its job. The same principle applies to loose bolts, clogged lines and similar issues. They leech your system of efficiency , which means that the individual components are working harder than they should to do their job. A maintenance session removes a lot of that stress and strain, allowing the system to function without the additional burden. That reduces the risk of repairs and allows the system to go longer before a breakdown occurs.

Furthermore, a maintenance session means being able to spot big repair issues when they’re still small. For example, say the technician spots a single component that could use replacing. If he does it immediately (with a new repair session), it will cost a little bit. But if he does nothing, then the faulty component will cascade and damage three or four other components when it finally fails. Suddenly a small repair session turns into a great big one, or it would if the maintenance session hadn’t caught it.

If you know how air conditioning maintenance means smaller bills, then the next step is to call an air conditioning service in Fort Walton Beach, FL that can do the job right. Air conditioning maintenance is one of our core services, and we keep your satisfaction in mind at all times. Give us a call today to make an appointment!

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