5 Tips ~ Preparing Your HVAC Unit for Spring

Along the Emerald Coast in Florida’s Panhandle our seasonal temperatures vary from day to day and your home or business HVAC unit must be properly maintained in order to work most efficiently and keep your residence comfortable. Check out these 5 Tips for preparing your HVAC unit for the Spring and Summer seasons and ACHI's best practices.

If you have ever experienced an outage of power or disruption in air conditioning or heating in your home, you know the discomfort that a lack of air conditioning or heating can cause. Avoid an unforeseen emergency repair by keeping your HVAC unit properly maintained and regularly serviced by a professional HVAC technician. Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. is proud to be a continued leader in the local HVAC industry providing, for over 35 years, new HVAC unit installation, special projects, Emerald Coast Bronz-Glow application, ongoing maintenance service, and repair 24 hours a day & 7 days a week. Our reputation has been comforting since 1983, we are the comfort experts and look forward to providing you with 5 Tips on How to Ready Your HVAC Unit for the Spring/Summer Season!

 

  • Change Your HVAC Air Filter(s): The most routine monthly maintenance imperative to the efficiency of your HVAC unit is a simple change of the filter. A clean air filter can reduce your energy usage by 15 percent. How often should you replace your filter? Ask yourself a few questions to determine whether you should replace your filter every 30 days or more… do you have animals in the house, are you sensitive to allergies, or do you live near the coast? If you answered yet to any of the following the most likely suggestion would be to replace your temporary filter every 30 days or take out and rinse your permanent filter monthly.
  • Install a Smart Thermostat: Technology allows for the addition of a smart thermostat providing you immediate access to ensure your home or business temperature is comfortable prior to your arrival home or set at the most energy efficient temperature if you are away. A programmable thermostat may also detect any deficiencies that your HVAC unit may be experiencing if the temperature is not being maintained or regulated – allowing you to avoid potential costly repairs with a routine service call.
  • Remove Debris & Clear Drainage Lines: Have you noticed where your air conditioners drainage lines are located? If you have not located these drainage lines located on the exterior of your home be aware of potential blockage that may cause back up. When moister is unable to escape from your lines the risk of mold becomes greater. Small wires may be useful to clear out any small pieces of debris that have collected in your line and be sure to keep the surrounding area clear of brush or loose landscape.
  • Establish a Relationship with Your AC Company: Most homeowners understand the longevity of their home maintenance and the importance of establishing a trusted source for home maintenance service providers. Ask your Air Conditioning and Heating company for references and rates for routine services vs. emergency repairs. Your trusted AC and Heating provider should be transparent in their rates and provide estimates prior to any scheduled repairs, installations, or maintenance services.
  • Invest in a Maintenance Partnership or Annual Maintenance Agreement: Ensure that your AC unit warranty remains effective by the continued annual or semi-annual maintenance services provided by a certified HVAC professional. Check with your HVAC manufacturer on warranty requirements and communicate those requirements with your trusted AC and Heating provider.

Contact ACHI, locally owned and operated since 1983, for more details on what your HVAC unit requires to ensure the warranty is valid and ask our team of comfort experts about the ACHI Maintenance Partnership for ongoing seasonal maintenance services

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Increasing Your Home's Energy Efficiency

Did you know? According to Energy Star as much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Let's discuss how you can create a more energy efficient home or business by making a simple update to your Air Conditioning and Heating unit and incorporating new habits in your home maintenance routine!

Maintain Your Equipment

  • Replace Your Air Filter

Your HVAC equipment can not run efficiently if it is not properly maintained! How do you maintain your unit on a regular basis? The most important piece of routine maintenance can be done in under a minute - regularly replacing your air filter. Checking your filter monthly and changing more often in extreme hot or cold climate seasons can prevent premature unit failure and major maintenance necessity.

  • Routine Professional Maintenance

Get the most life out of your equipment and maintain your warranty by scheduling ongoing annual or semi annual maintenance by a certified technician. The shoulder seasons are the most convenient seasons to schedule your HVAC maintenance to ensure that your unit is prepared to provide the most efficient heating and cooling services prior to the peak cold or peak heat that comes along with most winter and summer seasons.

Use a Smart Thermostat 

There's and app for that? Absolutely! Save money, time, and energy when you update your thermostat with a programmable Smart Thermostat. Ideal for homes that are not occupied continuously throughout the day - conveniently adjust your temperature settings for the most energy efficient daily heating and cooling conditions based on your personal preference! Set your thermostat to your preferred climate prior to your arrival home at the end of the day or during sleeping hours where Energy Star recommends setting your temperatures up or back between 4-8 degrees depending on the season.

Look for ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners when replacing or updating your current HVAC system for the most energy efficient ratings for your home or business and contact ACHI for maintenance, repair, installation, and new unit purchases at (850)  374-6948!

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5 Tips ~ How To Prepare Your HVAC System For Winter

Hey Emerald Coast! Is your home ready to weather the winter chills? Cold fronts and frost bites, we've seen some cool temperatures along the coast. Prepare your home or business HVAC system with a few recommendations that are quick and easy and might just have you saving a little money - now that's something we can warm up to!

Get Efficient With The Temperature Setting of Your Thermostat

  • During the cooler months set your thermostat to 68° F - 72° F during the day (if the home is occupied) and lower temperatures in the evening - between 62° F and 66° F
  • Find the perfect temperature for your family and once you begin to acclimate consider lowering by a degree weekly - This one-degree reduction - maintained for even eight hours - can reduce a home's energy bill by 1 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Invest In and Utilize a Smart Thermostat

  • There is no perfect winter interior temperature for every home, and the savviest homeowners realize there is no perfect temperature for every moment in their homes. Times when your home is left empty – such as work hours or traveling periods – present ideal opportunities to lower the temperature and reduce expenses. Smart thermostats allow homeowners access to the homes climate instantly from most mobile devices. The majority of manufactures offer a manageable app along with their hardware for convenient home comfort and contact.

Keep Your Heat to Yourself

  • Close doors and vents to unused rooms makes it easier for the home's HVAC system  to deliver the desired temperature to occupied living spaces.
  • Schedule annual HVAC maintenance and inspection.
  • Upgrade or add weather stripping to doors and check the seals around your windows.
  • Consider drapes when tall windows or glass doors are prevalent.

Upgrade & Change Your Filter Often

  • Replace air filters at least once every three months. Dirty filters can cause your system to work harder, resulting in lower efficiency.
  • Filter inspection and replacement is one of the most cost efficient maintenance tasks that you can make a part of your home maintenance routine - consider an air filter subscription and automatically receive your new air filters every 30-90 days directly to your door!

Regulate Your HVAC Maintenance - Now Accepting Maintenance Partnerships with ACHI

  • Ongoing Maintenance can save the average consumer 10-12% annually and much more if a major repair is avoided due to ongoing professional care to the HVAC unit.

  • The best time for HVAC maintenance is during shoulder seasons—spring and fall—when your AC and furnace are needed the least. By scheduling bi-annual checkups with your local HVAC technician, you can ensure your system is running tip-top before you need it most.

    Before the pro arrives, check for unusual odors, abnormal noises, and leaks in the ductwork—telltale signs of potential issues, so you can make the most of your technician's time (and your money).

 

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Smart Thermostats | Energy Efficient & Flexible

In a world of fast paced technological advances, it seems like the natural choice for your thermostat upgrade would be a Smart Thermostat. But what makes a thermostat smart?

Most homeowners are of the mindset that saving money is smart and if a thermostat that can be updated, adjusted, and managed from an app on a smart phone or mobile device and hence saving money by way of efficiently heating and cooling a home or business, we are ready to upgrade! Most basic models are equipped with Wi-Fi circuitry to allow for easy communication between your home network, internet, and most convenient your mobile device.

If you’d like your home to be set at the perfect temperature when you arrive home from work or vacation, a smart thermostat should be a strong consideration. Love audio commands? Think Alexa voice service, then a smart thermostat should be on your honey do list. DIY projects don’t scare you in the least. You’re getting warmer, no pun intended, a smart thermostat will fit right in as your home or business air conditioning and heating control system. Want to install your smart thermostat on your own? Depending on the wiring of your existing thermostat most common thermostats can be easily upgraded. However, for those with a multi-component HVAC system, Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. offers professional HVAC technicians for installation to avoid any damage to your system.

PC Magazine offers insight into the world of control communication and features some of the top 2019 Smart Thermostat products, prices, ratings, and editors’ ratings for your consideration.

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