St.Augustine

St.Augustine
The sun shines brightest after a storm.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

During Flu Season, Use UV Lights To Combat Germs

If you have already been hit with a winter cold or flu, you may be wishing you had a way to combat germs in your home. If you’re still breathing easy, it’s not too late. Installing UV lights in your ductwork can help remove unwanted organisms such as bacteria and viruses that may cause illness.
Unlike air filters, UV lights do not trap particles. Instead, they target living single-celled organisms like mold, bacteria and viruses. The wavelength of UV light disrupts the cell walls of these biological contaminants, either killing them or making them inert.

There are many advantages to installing UV lights in your ductwork:

■Silent operation: Unlike portable air filters that are constantly blowing, a UV light system makes no noise at all.

■Easy maintenance: There are no moving parts to maintain, and the bulbs typically only need to be changed once a year, which your contractor can do during a routine maintenance appointment.

■Improved energy efficiency: Bacteria and mold can build up on the interior surfaces of your heating and cooling equipment, especially on your air conditioner. Because a UV light system is integrated into your ductwork, it also disinfects the surfaces of the ducts and your home comfort equipment, which will operate more efficiently when it is clean.

■Fewer odors: Many people find that unwanted odors are reduced or eliminated when a UV light system is installed. Mold and mildew are unable to grow, and odor-producing bacteria are destroyed.

■Year-round protection: While it may be flu season now, this is not the only time of year when mold and bacteria can impact your health. Because air conditioners typically run constantly during the long cooling season in Northeast Florida, UV lights can help prevent bacteria from circulating through your home.

We can help you find the indoor air quality solutions that make the most sense for your home. Whether you need to use UV lights, advanced air filters, a humidity-control system or any combination of these, we’ll help you select the right products and provide expert installation. Contact the experts at Action Heating and Air Conditioning ,Inc.today to schedule a consultation.


Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website

Trying to Get Air to a New Space? Ductless Options Can Help


Additions to your home can be difficult to heat and cool. Spaces with hydronic systems, radiant panels, or a bonus room over a garage, can also prove tricky. Ductless heating and cooling is a good option to get airflow to spaces like this. Maybe your existing system does not accommodate certain rooms or additions, or maybe it’s just not possible to install ducts where you need them. In these circumstances, ductless heating and cooling is versatile and practical.

Ductless heating and cooling systems are called mini-splits. Their biggest advantage is their small size, which allows them to heat or cool specific zones. You can purchase a single unit, or a model that has as many as four units that allows you to heat or cool four different zones. Each zone has its own thermostat, so you can adjust each as needed or keep them off if no one is using the space. This makes for great savings because you aren’t using energy you don’t need.

Mini-splits are easy to install. They consist of two units, an indoor air-handler and an outdoor compressor/condenser. The two are linked by a conduit through the wall, which in some models can be up to 50 feet long, giving you a great deal of space to place your units where you need them.

Another advantage of ductless heating and cooling systems is that they can be installed any place a small, 3-inch hole can be made in the wall. They can even be hung in the corner near the ceiling. Most models run very quietly, and many even operate by remote and filter the air as they heat or cool it.

Most mini-split systems are either a heat pump or an air conditioner model. Heat pumps are a good choice for climates that experience both warm and cool weather, since they have the ability to pump heat both into and out of a small space. Mini-split air conditioners work well for consistently warmer temperatures like ours.


Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about mini-split systems and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Get Dehumidification at the Source With a Duct-Mounted System


Excess humidity can cause a whole host of problems. Aside from feeling “sticky” and uncomfortable in your own skin, your home and the health of your family may be affected when too much moisture is in the air. There are several dehumidification systems available today, some of which can be mounted directly to your ductwork.

When humidity levels are too high in your home it can result in mold, mildew and damage to furnishings, paneled walls and even wood. Wood tends to swell in an environment that is too wet, and humidity levels that remain above 60 percent on a regular basis often lead to the growth of fungi which can affect your family’s health.

Homeowners frequently use portable devices for dehumidification, but this method is often insufficient for treating your entire home. To achieve comfortable indoor air that is also healthier, whole-house systems are effective.

A duct-mounted system offers many benefits:

■No tank to empty, as the unit can be drained into a floor drain or attached to the home’s water drainage system.

■Maintains optimum humidity levels automatically, and runs only when excess moisture needs to be removed.

■Can be operated manually when you want to control humidity in a single location such as a bedroom or basement.

■Removes far more moisture from the air than portable dehumidifiers.

A duct-mounted dehumidification system also allows fresh air to come in to your home from outside, while, if needed, removing the excess moisture from this air. In general you will experience improved indoor air quality and comfort levels while lowering the risk of mold, mildew and damage to your home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Life After Freon: New Refrigerant Options for Air Conditioners

In 1987, a little-known piece of international environmental protection legislation called the Montreal Protocol was passed in response to growing concerns over ozone depletion. Among its provisions was an eventual ban on the air conditioner refrigerant R-22, which contains chlorine, a gas known to create harmful by-products.
While the Montreal Protocol allowed for the production of R-22 to continue until the year 2020, it also stipulated that all air conditioners produced in the year 2010 and beyond would not use R-22. Because R-22 has been the standard AC refrigerant for more than 40 years, it’s important that you learn about the alternatives that the HVAC industry has helped develop.

A chemical known as R-410A has become the most popular replacement for R-22. It contains no chlorine and is significantly less harsh on the environment. Still, it is only one of numerous options consumers have, and making an informed choice is the key to reducing the impact of your carbon footprint.

Other modern “R-series” refrigerants include R-134A and R-407C. These gases are similar in makeup to R-410A, but have a broader range of applications. While air conditioning systems that use these gases instead of R-22 are more costly, it is expected that the end price of HVAC units using them will go down as they become a universal standard and technological improvements enable manufacturers to lower their production costs.

If you need advice on new HVAC systems or the refrigerants they use, contact us at Action Heating and Air Conditionig,Inc. We’ve been serving northeast Florida for nearly half a century.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Repair or Replace Dilemma? Facts about Your A/C’s Lifespan

When HVAC problems start to arise, many homeowners struggle with the question of whether to repair or replace their systems. It’s a difficult and complex question to answer, and it requires a careful assessment not only of initial costs, but also of the extended lifespan repairs which must be considered against the benefits of installing a brand-new system.

For the most part, a good HVAC system should last you around 10 years and only require minimal repairs. This is especially true if you conduct regular preventive maintenance to keep the system running strong. It’s not uncommon for people who take good care of their HVAC systems to get 12 to 15 years of use out of it. Thus, when you move into a new home with central air and heating, it’s extremely important that you learn all you can about the history of the system; find out when it was installed, whether it’s had parts replaced, and whether it’s been maintained properly.

Here are some tips to help you solve the repair or replace dilemma:

■If your system is more than 10 years old, a major repair is really not recommended. A system replacement usually makes more financial sense.

Older systems become less efficient over time, even when they’re running optimally. New systems will help you save energy. Make sure to factor in your lowered energy bills when you’re doing your “repair or replace” analysis.

■If you’re getting a lot of hot spots and cold spots, if your system struggles to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside and if your system is making strange noises or vibrations, it may make more sense to replace it.

HVAC repair costs can really add up and if they’re not going to solve the problem and help extend the life of a quality, efficient system, replacing it may make more sense. In northeast Florida, Action Heating and Air Conditioniong,Inc. is a leading provider of reliable, efficient HVAC solutions, and we’ll be happy to provide you with the help, advice or service you need.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

How Bad Is The Air In Your Home?

Indoor air quality is not something most people worry about on a daily basis. However, there can be serious consequences to poor indoor air quality. Dirty air often contains toxins and mold spores that can lead to allergy symptoms and even illness in some cases. We highly recommend taking certain steps to maintaining quality indoor air.

One of the easiest ways to keep your indoor air quality high is to replace the filter on your home heating or cooling system frequently. If you have not changed the filter in the last six months, chances are the air in your home is becoming laden with dust and mold spores. We recommend having the filter replaced at least twice per year. If you have pets, you may need to change the filter even more frequently as dander and hair build up in the system.

Another way that homeowners can keep their air clean is by cleaning the evaporator coils of interior and exterior systems. This is a job that may require some professional assistance and should be done every 2 to 3 years. Also, watch for any ice buildup on the coils. This is a sign of serious malfunction and you should contact a professional immediately if you spot this.

Another common cause of low indoor air quality is an obstructed condenser. The condenser pulls air in around it to allow for heat transfer, and if objects are blocking it, air flow may be restricted. Keep any vegetation away from the condenser to avoid obstruction.

A lack of regular maintenance of your air conditioning and heating systems can easily lead to dirty air. If you haven’t performed these tasks in awhile, be sure to get started as soon as possible.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Don’t Leave Indoor Air Quality To Chance. Control it!

Indoor air quality is a key factor in maintaining your family’s health, and one of our top priorities here at Action Heating and Air Conditioning , to help you stay well and comfortable in your home. Here are some steps you can take to make sure this happens.

Use a dehumidifier.
Keeping the amount of humidity in your home’s air under control improves the quality of the air you’re breathing. Your friends here at Conditioned Air recommend you keep the relative humidity level somewhere between 30 and 50 percent.

Keep your air handler functioning properly. Because the air handler of your A/C system is where dehumidification occurs, it’s important to have a professional contractor inspect it on a regular basis.

Clean or replace your air filters frequently.

A good quality air filtration system creates not only better levels of air purity, but also superior ventilation.

UV lights and other state of the art technologies are additional ways to help keep your indoor air quality at optimum levels for good health.

All family members benefit from an A/C system that cleans the air as well as cooling it. Particularly, those who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems will notice a difference when the air is cleaner. But why leave anyone’s health to chance when you can easily control your indoor air quality? Your air filter helps to trap and eliminate such contaminants as bacteria, pet dander, pollen, mold and other pollutants. Action Heating and Air Conditioning offers a variety of systems and components designed to keep you and your family healthy.
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Modern home construction standards prevent drafts and save energy, but the tight construction may make indoor air quality far less healthy than the outside air. Mold, viruses, dust and even odors that are recirculated via your air conditioning system can cause a multitude of health problems.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website

Thursday, January 19, 2012

During Flu Season, Use UV Lights To Combat Germs

If you have already been hit with a winter cold or flu, you may be wishing you had a way to combat germs in your home. If you’re still breathing easy, it’s not too late. Installing UV lights in your ductwork can help remove unwanted organisms such as bacteria and viruses that may cause illness.
Unlike air filters, UV lights do not trap particles. Instead, they target living single-celled organisms like mold, bacteria and viruses. The wavelength of UV light disrupts the cell walls of these biological contaminants, either killing them or making them inert.

There are many advantages to installing UV lights in your ductwork:

* Silent operation: Unlike portable air filters that are constantly blowing, a UV light system makes no noise at all.

*Easy maintenance: There are no moving parts to maintain, and the bulbs typically only need to be changed once a year, which your contractor can do during a routine maintenance appointment.

*Improved energy efficiency: Bacteria and mold can build up on the interior surfaces of your heating and cooling equipment, especially on your air conditioner. Because a UV light system is integrated into your ductwork, it also disinfects the surfaces of the ducts and your home comfort equipment, which will operate more efficiently when it is clean.

*Fewer odors: Many people find that unwanted odors are reduced or eliminated when a UV light system is installed. Mold and mildew are unable to grow, and odor-producing bacteria are destroyed.

*Year-round protection: While it may be flu season now, this is not the only time of year when mold and bacteria can impact your health. Because air conditioners typically run constantly during the long cooling season in Northeast Florida, UV lights can help prevent bacteria from circulating through your home.

We can help you find the indoor air quality solutions that make the most sense for your home. Whether you need UV lights, advanced air filters, a humidity-control system or any combination of these, we’ll help you select the right products and provide expert installation. Contact the experts (Click Here) at Action Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule a consultation.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Results You Can See: Return on Investment Calculations for High Efficiency Air Conditioning Systems

High efficiency air conditioning systems have many benefits for homeowners. The US Department of Energy estimates the average US household spends about $1,000 per year on heating and cooling. Switching to a high efficiency system could save up to 59 percent of these costs. High efficiency air conditioning systems may cost more up front, but for those who live in areas with long cooling seasons, who consistently have high energy bills, or want to protect the environment, a high efficiency system is a good investment (high efficiency models use the environmentally friendly refrigerant R-410A). How much could you save with a high efficiency air conditioner? Action Heating and Air Conditioning has put together a few facts to help educate you.

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s a ratings system used to estimate the efficiency of HVAC systems, just like MPG rates the efficiency of automobiles. A higher SEER rating means your system gets more cooling delivered per electricity watts. A high SEER means you get better “miles per gallon” out of your system.

Many factors influence how much high efficiency air conditioning systems save. System settings, equipment maintenance, and the system’s design are just a few. For a basic estimate of how much you’ll be able to save take at look at your system’s current SEER rating and your annual cooling costs. Older systems have lower ratings; those installed in 1992 or earlier are usually rated 10 or lower.

Using the average US household’s annual energy costs of $1,000, an 8 SEER system (with very low efficiency) could be spending as little as $410 each year by upgrading to a high-efficiency 19.5 system. That’s a savings of almost 60 percent. A household with a 12 SEER system, spending about $533 annually, could be spending as little as $356 with an 18 SEER system.

High efficiency air conditioning systems cost more up front, but most pay for themselves within several seasons. Visit our website to see a more detailed chart of estimated savings, and if you’re interested in learning more about upgrading to a high efficiency system, call Action Heating and Air Conditioning!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

A Whole-House Dehumidification System: Benefits For Your Northeast Florida Home


Northeast Florida’s mild and wet climate often presents a humidity problem in the home. Humidity levels reach well above 60 percent outdoors, and even indoors. High humidity levels present many problems, including the growth of mold and mildew and the increase of dust mites and bacteria that thrive in wet conditions.
Humid air also feels warmer on the skin. Adding 10 percent humidity can increase the heat index by 3 degrees. When using the air conditioner, additional humidity in the air leads to increased costs.

A whole-house dehumidification system can prevent the humidity levels from becoming too high in your home. The humidification system will keep humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent, which is considered ideal.

The system works by sucking excess moisture from the air. This benefits energy savings because dry air feels cooler on the skin. Dry air tries to suck moisture out anywhere it can, and often takes moisture from your body, leaving a cool feeling behind. With dryer air, you can raise the air conditioner setting by 3 or 4 degrees and feel just as cool as you did at cooler temperatures in humid conditions. You can save up to 10 percent in cooling costs by raising the temperature a few degrees.

For more information on how a whole-house dehumidification system can benefit your Northeast Florida home and save you money this winter and in the future, contact us at Action Heating and Air Conditioning. With more than 30 years of expert HVAC service under our belt, we are happy to answer any questions you have.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Programmable Thermostat Features You’ll Like (Hint: They Go Way Beyond Temperature Settings)

Programmable thermostats offer many features that go beyond temperature control to offer convenience, comfort and more. One impressive feature is energy savings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using the right thermostat and programming it correctly could save you up to $180 a year!



Various models offer different features which complement weekly schedules. There are three common models:

7 day models are the most flexible, allowing you to program different settings for morning, afternoon, evening and night for each day of the week.

5+ 2 day models are a good choice for people keeping one schedule Monday-Friday, and another on Saturday and Sunday.

5-1-1 day models have three programmable “slots,” one for the work week, a second for Saturdays, and a third for Sundays.

Remote access allows for zone temperature control. Sensors are placed in individual rooms or zones throughout the house, and connected to the main unit. If you want your bedroom warm in the morning, you can set the temperature to rise when you wake up in that specific location. You can also keep children’s rooms from becoming too cold without giving the children access to the controls. Some remote access models even allow you to adjust settings by phone or internet before you get home.

Programmable thermostats make keeping comfortable convenient. Action Air will be glad to help you decide which features suit your lifestyle to offer the maximum control, versatility and energy savings!

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website

Poor Ductwork Design and Sealing Can Send Your Conditioned Air Astray: Three Factors To Consider

A home’s poor ductwork design and inadequate sealing can account for significant energy loss on a daily basis. The problem is, you’re the one paying for that energy. With that in mind, it’s time to assess whether your conditioned air is safe within your ducts.

Here are three factors to consider:

Design.
If your ductwork wasn’t designed with certain aspects of your home’s floor plan in mind, your conditioned air may be leaking out. Common problems include ducts that are stretched too tight or kinked to be maneuvered around obstructions, as well as ducts that are installed too close to appliances that could affect the temperature or quality of the air inside.

Sealing.
Duct leaks can cause you to lose as much as 20 percent of your conditioned air. While you can inspect and seal accessible duct leaks on your own, a heating and cooling professional can do a more thorough job, reaching ducts that you cannot, such as those hidden behind walls and ceilings. Common issues include loose connections and rips and tears in flexible ductwork. These can be sealed using duct mastic or metal-backed tape.

Insulation.
In most homes, large sections of ductwork run through unconditioned areas such as the attic, basement or crawl space. Extreme temperatures in these areas can affect your conditioned air. With proper insulation, however, you can reduce energy loss in such situations.

If you suspect you’re losing energy through ill-conceived, leaky or exposed ducts, contact one of our trained technicians for a professional assessment. Using our training, experience and specialized tools of the trade, we can determine where your problems lie and help you form a plan of Action.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website