From the beaches of Daytona to the Everglades of Weston, the beautiful state of Florida is riddled with unique landscapes coupled with beautiful historic homes. However, with these beautiful views comes a scorching summer. The state of Florida has the most humid summers in the United States. Summer temperatures in areas such as the Everglades and Weston average around 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity. That is why it is important to keep up with proper maintenance practices and upgrade your air conditioning unit when it is time.
The Importance of AC Maintenance
The best way to get the most out of your air conditioning unit and to extend its lifetime is to schedule regular system maintenance. This will keep your HVAC system running at optimal performance levels. This maximizes your home’s energy efficiency, air quality, and will greatly reduce the costs of your energy bill.
What is AC System Maintenance
Sometimes all your air conditioning system just needs a quick adjustment to extend its lifetime. AC maintenance When you notice that your system is no longer blowing cool air most of the time, the most common repairs are to these system components.
Coolant
When your system is leaking coolant it cannot work properly. Coolant is an essential component in transferring the heat from inside your home to the outdoors. It is important to have this inspected and repaired by a trusted AC company.
Compressor
The compressor is the component that pushes the coolant through the air conditioning system. If your compressor is not working properly your home’s system will not be able to remove the hot air and push through cool air. Most issues with the compressor are due to an overfilling or an underfilling of coolant.
Air Filter
The air, especially during the summer, is full of allergens and other harmful particles. Air conditioners use air filters to remove these allergens from the air. This makes sure the air you are breathing in your home is not only cool but safe. You should check and replace your air conditioning unit’s filter regularly. The frequency of replacements may vary, so replace your filters as needed. Areas with high pollen counts and dust will likely need more replacements than areas with low pollen levels. The best way to check if your filter needs to be replaced is to do a visual inspection. Remove the filter from your air conditioning system and hold up to a light. If you can see light it does not need to be replaced, however if you cannot then it is too dirty and must be replaced. It is important to replace the filter because a clogged filter will cause your system to stall and freeze.
Understand Florida Regulations
When installing a new system or renovating your current air conditioning system it is important to be aware of and adhere to Florida state HVAC codes. These regulations are put in place to protect our environment and make sure energy is being used efficiently. All state and local codes are available online for your reading. Florida Building Code and the 2023 Mechanical 7ths edition give an in depth breakdown of the regulations surrounding energy efficiency standards and standard installations procedures. It is important to be aware of your local laws. Florida counties and cities can impose their own local amendments to Florida building code.This is done to accommodate specific regional needs and requirements. A licensed Florida HVAC contractor can help you understand local codes and make sure your project is following state codes.Let’s break down some important topics to be aware of before moving forward with any HVAC project.
Replacement AC Systems
When replacing your air conditioning unit you must follow state outlined energy saving procedures. Steps like having your ducts inspected and using specific measurements to perform an equipment sizing analysis are crucial in saving energy.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)
This ratio became the new energy standard in January of 2023. New air conditioning systems and heat pumps must have a SEER rating of 15. A higher SEER rating means that a system has higher energy efficiency. Systems with high levels of energy efficiency means your system consumes less energy and saves your money on your energy bill.
Permits
Permits are required for all construction projects in Florida. The permit required to upgrade and replace air conditioning units called a Mechanical Permit. This permit covers any project that requires heating or air conditioning equipment to be extended, relocated, or changed out. A licensed HVAC professional will be able to help you obtain these permits and move forward with the installation or upgrade process.
Installing Your New Unit
Now that you are familiar with Florida HVAC you can confidently move forward with your project. When you choose All Year Cooling you get the best installation process experience available. On the day of your scheduled installation, our team of professionals will walk you through the step by step process and you will meet the team. To install your new unit, first your old unit must be removed. This is done by cutting the electricity to the unit by turning off the circuit breaker, this must be done to EPA standards. Next the unit’s wiring is cut and the unit is removed, opening a space for the new unit. Components such as the old evaporator coil must be disconnected and removed and old copper lines must also be removed. Following that a new evaporator coil is installed with new copper lines. These copper wires play an important role in keeping your system connected and are protected by a dry nitrogen coating. Next filter dryers are installed. Finally the system is wired to connect to the circuit breaker and a drain line is added to help drain collected moisture from your new air conditioning unit. The system is then started and runs for 20 minutes to monitor for any issues.
About All Year Cooling
Here at All Year Cooling we have served South Florida since 1973. With over 350,000 satisfied customers we are happy to serve our community. Our professionals receive year round training and are up to date on all EPA standards. We offer free diagnostics and estimates to all customers and our own internal financing. Contact us today!