Q. I have been told my compressor is bad. What makes a compressor go bad?
Should I replace just the compressor or the whole unit? A. 1. Components wear out due to age (average life span is 8 to 12 years). 2.
Overheating due to brownouts, power surges and short cycling causes motor
winding deterioration. 3. The system has become contaminated due to refrigerant
leaks with air/moisture entry. 4. The system may have been operated at some time
with dirty coils or filters, causing overheating. If your compressor is older
than five years and not in warranty, consider unit / system replacement. Today's
systems are much more efficient, saving money in operating costs. We will be
very happy to come out at no charge and give you a second opinion on your
compressor. We give no charge estimates or second opinions on all major repairs,
unit replacements, and duct cleaning.
Q. My A/C system has completely frozen up. What caused this?
A. There are several reasons why an A/C system may freeze-up. Check your air
filter. A plugged filter will make the system overwork. When was the last time
you had your coils cleaned, indoor and outdoor? Dirty coils again make the
system overwork. Has anyone recently added Freon to your system? Over charging
your A/C system is just as bad as leaving it undercharged. There may be a Freon
leak which must be repaired before Freon can be added again. Whatever the reason
for the freeze up, please shut off the A/C so the system can thaw before we come
to do the repairs. You can turn the fan on to circulate air. All of the above
listed problems are reasons why you should have your system professionally
maintained on a regular basis.
Q. I change my throw-away filter every month and yet the coil was very dirty
when you technician did my last tune-up. Why? A. Most throw-away filters don't actually stop anything but the very largest
pieces of dirt. All other particles are stopped by your coil costing you higher
utility bills. The coil does not have the air flow needed so it works harder and
longer to cool. You might want to consider purchasing an electrostatic filter.
The Total Air Care filter we carry removes 90 percent of all pollen, dust,
dander, smoke and mold spores from indoor air. This is also beneficial should
you have an allergy problem.
Q. How does an electrostatic filter work? A. The air flowing through several
layers of different types of material creates a static charge. Particles in the
air are given a negative charge as they pass through the first material layer.
Then they stick to the interior layer, which has a positive charge. This static
charge attracts and holds imitating air-borne pollutants until they are released
by washing.
Q. My compressor received a power surge and shorted out. Now I have an
expensive repair. Is there a way to avoid this in the future? A. While nothing
protects from a direct lightning strike, we have a whole house surge protector
that will guard against power surges. We install the Whole House Surge Protector
directly into your main power box. If lighting comes in through your main power
source, this device will be your first line of defense. Since central Florida is
the lightning capital of the United States, the Whole House Surge Protector can
be a wise investment.
Q. My heat pump is not working. Should I have it repaired or replaced? A. If
your heat pump is more than 10 years old, now is the time to start thinking
about replacing it, not simply repairing it. Why? Because today's generation of
heat pumps are so efficient, they can often pay for themselves through decreased
utility bills.
Q. How do I purchase the most efficient heat pump? What do all the ratings
numbers mean? A. The efficiency of a heat pump is indicated by two ratings, one
for heating and one for cooling. The heating rating is called the Heating
Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), the cooling rating is the Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio (SEER). In both cases, the higher the number, the greater the
the efficiency and the lower the operating cost.
Q. My house is so dry in winter. What can I do? A. Humidifiers are not
normally necessary in Florida unless you have gas heat, which is a much dried
heat. We now have residential Aprilaire humidifiers which attach to your duct
system. Please call us for a free estimate or you can put a pot of water on the
stove and let it steam. It will add humidity to your home, but you must watch is
closely so the water doesn't boil out and don't leave it on all night.
Q. I can get a new A/C at a cheaper price. Why should I buy from you? A. You
look for three things when you spend money. You look for the finest quality, the
best service, and of course the lowest price. No one company can offer all
three. They can't offer the finest quality and the best service for the lowest
price, and I'm curious for your long term happiness which of the three you would
be most willing to give up? Fine quality? Excellent service? Or the lowest
price? Quality and excellent service are always going to cost more because it
costs more to provide it to you. If you are not satisfied with a product or
service you would still be unhappy with it even if it was free. For a no-charge
in-house quote or a second opinion, call us at 624-4000.
Q. Why do I need a tune-up on my heating and cooling system? A. Keeping your
system in top shape through regular tune-ups is the best way to insure that it
will keep working for you. Preventative maintenance is the least expensive kind.
Tune-ups can also save you up to 30 percent a month on your heating and cooling
bills. Regular maintenance extends the life of your equipment and makes it more
efficient. If your system is dirty it has to work much harder and doesn't cool
as well. Most of your customers are on our Energy Savings Maintenance Agreement.
We service their systems every six months. Being an agreement customer also
gives them other benefits such as priority service, 15 percent discount on any
parts and labor if they have a mechanical breakdown, no overtime charge for
after hours, weekends or holidays. Think of your heating and cooling system much
like a car that must be maintained.
Q. How do I know if my ducts really need to be cleaned? A. We offer a free
second estimate and opinion on duct cleaning. We are hearing from many people
who have been told their ducts need to be cleaned and when we check out their
ducts we find this is not always true. Our comfort consultants will come out and
inspect your ducts and show you what the situation is. Duct cleaning should not
be sold over the phone. Many people are paying for a service they don't don't
need. It is also best to get a second opinion. Don't throw your money away,
check with a company you can trust and rely on.
Q. My ducts are leaking even though they have been patched several times.
What should I do? A. In your case I would call our office for a free estimate on
replacing your complete duct system. You are wasting approximately 20 to 40
percent on your power bill with leaky ducts. You will also notice how much more
comfortable you are with the proper air flow. Your A/C & heating system are also
working harder than necessary.
Q. I have a water leak where my air conditioner sits in the closet. What is
causing this? A. You have not had your A/C system cleaned in over a year. Also
you say you can't remember when you changed your air filter last. Both of these
conditions will lead to a water leak. There is a condensation drain that gets
plugged with slime and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. When it backs up
there is no where to go but on your floor. Call our office and schedule a
Precision Tune-up. It will take approximately 1 1/2 hours to complete and will
solve your water problem and your system will run much more efficiently.
Q. Please print your list again of those who may need to have their ducts
cleaned. I want to give it to my neighbor. A. We will be happy to come out and
inspect anyone's ducts for possible problems. Here is the list I printed a few
months back. 1. Does anyone in the house have allergies, asthma, or other
respiratory problems? 2. Does anyone in your family suffer from headaches, nasal
congestion, or other sinus problems at night or in the morning? 3. Is there a
smoker in the house? 4. Do you have dogs, cats or other pets? 5. Do you notice
"musty" or "stale" odors when the furnace or air conditioner runs? 6. Do you
notice dust on your furniture shortly after cleaning? 7. Do you have just a
standard throw-away fiberglass filter? For a free, in-house duct cleaning
inspection, please call 624-4000.
Q. I'm not sure if I need my ducts cleaned. How do I find out? Another
company told me on the phone that every home needs this done. Is this true? A.
We will send out a comfort consultant to check out your duct system. Eight out
of ten homes do not need duct cleaning, but this can only be determined by
examining your ducts and A/C & heating system. Precision Air does not charge for
this service. If you do have a problem and someone in your home suffers from
allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems, headaches, nasal congestion or
sinus problems at night or in the morning, then duct cleaning could be a very
beneficial service to ensure comfort in your home.
Q. How do you clean ducts? A. A HEPA-AIRE power vacuum is connected to the
duct system near the furnace or air handler. Long lengths of air hose with
special 360 degree high velocity nozzles are connected to a compressor and
'snaked' through the entire duct system, dislodging debris that has accumulated
on inner duct surfaces. The HEPA-AIRE unit creates a powerful vacuum, pulling
dislodged contaminants into its filtration system. It is so efficient that it
captures contaminants 1/300th the diameter of human hair and returns filtered
'hospital grade' air to your home. And it's so quiet you'll hardly know it's
running. There is no mess for you to worry about. For a free in-home estimate,
call 624-4000.
Q. I have a breathing problem. What kind of air filter would you suggest? A.
for clean air, there's Space-Guard. Absolutely silent operation, minimal
maintenance and 99 percent efficiency on pollen and spores have made Space-Guard
my clean air choice. Space-Guard is widely recommended by allergists to help
relieve a variety of allergies. For most sufferers, hay fever and similar
illnesses are a result of breathing pollen, molds, spores or pet dander.
Space-Guard removes more than 99 percent of these irritants from the
circulated air stream. In addition to providing protection for your family,
Space-Guard also protects your heating and cooling equipment. Also, carpeting,
furniture, draperies and walls need less cleaning and look better, longer. That
means less work for you, which makes Space-Guard an essential part of your total
indoor air-comfort system.
Q. You talk a lot about humidity control. How can I have less humidity? A.
High humidity can make you miserable. But Trane has the answer with the Florida
Comfort System. It can remove up to 15 gallons of water a day from the average
home. That's up to FOUR TIMES more than a conventional system. Trane's variable
speed air handler has a patented computerized controller called ComfortR.
Because of this feature, no other variable speed unit can achieve Trane's
humidity control capacity. The Florida Comfort System no only gives you
incomparable comfort, it also saves you money. In fact, the combination of the
XL 1400 and the Variable Speed Air Handler may save you up to 60 percent on
current heating and cooling bills.
Q. I need to replace my air conditioner. What should I look for in an air
conditioning contractor? A. Here is a ten-point checklist for making a
selection. 1. Check credentials. 2. The dealer should be affiliated with a
nationally known manufacturer. 3. Ask for references. 4. Expect an on-site
evaluation visit. 5. Check local licenses. 6. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
7. Get a cost estimate. 8. Inquire about equipment and labor warranties. 9.
Inquire about preventative maintenance programs. 10. Finally, insist on a
written proposal.
Q. How long should an air conditioning or heating system last? A. Because
systems are mechanical, this is extremely difficult to predict. Average life
spans may be in the range of 8 to 12 years. However, if the system has been
properly tuned-up and cleaned on a regular basis the equipment's life will be
extended.
Q. How much could 'high efficiency' air conditioning save me? A. A
considerable amount. Many times we remove older, inefficient systems, replace
them with "high efficiency" systems and the owner gets a 20 to 40 percent tax
free return on his investment.
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