Tag: saving money

How Interior Paint Colors Affect Your Energy Savings

by Cris Scott

In the mood to Paint It Black!    When you were a teenager and wanted to paint your room black to match your wardrobe or a garish green to match the new album cover you got for Christmas, the idea probably didn’t sit well with your parents. Now you’re a homeowner and anything goes when it comes to color choice! This is the time to consider how the colors you choose will impact your energy costs.  Better do a interior paint & AC replacement Westchase and save some money.

How Dark Paint Colors Make A Room Warmer

If you paint a room with no windows a dark color, it is very possible it will cost you no more in terms of your cooling costs.      However, dark colors do tend to make a room feel smaller, so they are rarely chosen for rooms that don’t have at least a few windows in them.  When you paint a room with one or two windows a dark color, the light from the sun will absorb into the room more than it would with a lighter color, making the room’s overall temperature warmer and requiring your HVAC system to work harder to properly cool that room.

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What To Do To Cut Down Energy Costs In A Dark Room

If you have a room in your home that you want to paint with dark colors, there are a couple of things you can consider to help cut down on energy costs to cool that room.     Consider painting only one accent wall in the room with a darker color, then the remaining walls in the room with a light color.      If you do decide to paint all the walls the same dark color, make sure you cover all the windows in the room with heavy curtains that will reflect the light from the sun back out of the room.      While this will make the room feel smaller and more closed in, it will also help cut back on the cost of cooling the room.      Regular maintenance will help as well.

 

If you are concerned about your energy bills, call an EasyBreezy AC professional technician today for an in-home assessment of the efficiency of your current system.

 

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Why Do My AC Bills Keep Rising?

by Cris Scott

Ask anyone what keeps making your AC bills rise and you will likely get the same answer – something along the lines of “your HVAC system is not working as efficiently as it should be.” While this is certainly the quickest and most common answer, it doesn’t actually answer your true question “what is causing your AC system to run so inefficiently that it is causing your bills to keep rising?” The answer to that question isn’t quite as simple. There are many different things that could be going on within your HVAC unit to cause it to run inefficiently. If you suspect your AC system isn’t running as efficiently as it should be, it is extremely important that you hire an experienced technician to inspect and diagnose any problems.

How do I know if my HVAC unit is running inefficiently?

Besides taking into consideration the rising costs of your AC bills, there are other signs which may be present that can alert you to an issue with the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. These signs include:

  • Warm air blowing out of the vents
  • Reduced airflow
  • Strange noises – particularly when starting your AC
  • Your AC is having difficulty keeping up with the job of properly cooling your home
  • Poor indoor air quality

These are just a few of the most common signs that something is going on deeper within your HVAC unit to cause your AC to run inefficiently. Some simple maintenance may be able to be done on your own, but if there is a problem with your unit that goes beyond routine maintenance it is probably time to call a professional.

 

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What is causing my HVAC unit to run inefficiently?

Once you have determined one or multiple signs of AC inefficiency are present, you are likely going to wonder what is causing it. There are a few different things that could be causing your air conditioner to run inefficiently and raise your energy bills, but a few of the most common issues include:

  • A Refrigerant Leak – Too many people improperly assume that their AC’s refrigerant needs to be regularly refilled or recharged to keep it running efficiently. However, AC refrigerant is not intended to be refilled or recharged. If you are having to replace your AC’s refrigerant, this means only one thing – there must be a leak somewhere causing you to lose your refrigerant. And any leak in your HVAC unit will affect the overall performance of the cooling system. You will most likely be able to detect a refrigerant leak through the existence of ice on your system’s coils or reduced cooling power.
  • Overheating of Your HVAC Unit – If you are having a problem with a part of your HVAC unit overheating, your system’s fan motor is probably to blame. In this scenario, you will likely need to have the unit’s fan motor replaced. If you do not replace the fan motor, the heat it is putting off will likely seep through into the indoor air and thus produce even more heat for your unit to have to remove and cool, which will significantly decrease the overall efficiency of the HVAC system.
  • Damages to Your System’s Ductwork – There are a few different manners in which a damage to your HVAC unit’s ductwork can impact its overall efficiency. Which problem damaged ductwork will cause for you depends on what the damage is and where the damage is located. It is possible for damaged ductwork to cause your system to pull in hot air, which means your system has to work harder to cool the air that is put back out into your home, but it is also possible for damaged ductwork to cause your unit to blow cool air out into unoccupied spaces that don’t need it such as your attic or basement.
  • Problems With Insulation – It is possible your home never had proper insulation installed to begin with, but even if it did, insulation can also deteriorate as time goes on. Proper insulation helps our units keep warmer air indoors throughout Florida’s very short winters, but more importantly, it helps keep the warm air out of our homes during our long, scorching summers. If your home has poor insulation, it requires your HVAC unit to work harder in order to properly maintain a comfortable temperature within your home.
  • Outer Obstructions to Your HVAC Unit – It is important to keep your outdoor HVAC unit clean, clear, and free of clutter. As your AC system pulls the warm air out of your home, it needs to expel this warm air outdoors. But obstructions such as fallen leaves, grass clippings, mulch, and other debris can quickly clog your system and cause the warm air to become stuck inside the system, which can cause additional damage to your unit.

The harder your HVAC unit has to work to continue to do its job of maintaining a comfortable temperature within your home, the more inefficiently the system is going to run and the more expensive your cooling bills will become. As with many things, preventative care and routine maintenance is the best thing you can do to protect your air conditioning system from common issues that can lead to it running inefficiently.

If you have noticed a consistent spike in your energy costs, or if you would like to schedule preventative maintenance, contact the experienced professional technicians at EasyBreezy A/C Services today.

 

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What To Do About Hot And Cold Spots In Your Home

by Alicia

Walking from one room to another shouldn’t cause you to feel like you walked through an invisible wall – with one side much warmer or cooler than the other. Warm and cold spots in a home can be frustrating – your bedroom doesn’t get as cool in the summer or as warm in the winter as your kitchen or living room. Inconsistent temperatures throughout your home may be able to be corrected easily, depending on what is causing them in the first place.

Some of the more common reasons for hot and cold spots in your home and, maybe you have to call an AC technician, are:

Dirty Air Ducts

Over time, dust and debris builds up in your ducts. Often from filters not being changed on time but dirty duct work can also occur from small holes or tears in your ducts or large holes that are repaired that let in excess dust and air debris. The distribution of the dust is often not even throughout your duct work, causing some areas to allow air flow to continue like normal while other sections have limited air flow. The rooms the ducts with limited air flow lead to are often the areas in your home that suffer from hot or cold spots.

The Fix: Be sure to regularly change your air filters – on average every 1 to 3 months. Homes with children or pets should change their air filters more often, typically every month. Another way to prevent hot and cold spots is to have your ducts inspected and cleaned. A duct inspection will catch and air leaks that need repair and a duct cleaning service will remove build up in your ducts – leading to better air flow throughout your home.

 

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Air Leaks in your New AC

Aside from leaks in your ducts or your AC system, leaks through windows and doors can also cause a room to become to warm or cold compared to the rest of your home. During the summer months, while your air conditioning is pumping through your home, cool air is escaping through leaks in certain rooms making the room seem warmer than other areas. Comparably, in winter, the warm air is escaping into the outdoors making the room colder than expected.

The Fix: Inspect window edges for any holes in the seal and check around doors for gaps (the bottom of doors is a common culprit). You can DIY repair the seals around windows and replace the weather stripping around the doors and along the bottom. If a window has a bad gap or is loose or your AC installation is irregular, you may need to contact a handyman or window installer for more serious repairs and an AC repair company.

Air Conditioner Age

As air conditioners age, they become less efficient or their technology is out dated compared to newer models. If they are unable to put out adequate air flow or are not properly warming or cooling the air, then it could be the cause of your hot or cold spots in your home.

The Fix: A new air conditioner can resolve your efficiency problem but since it can be costly to fully replace an air conditioner you can attempt other solutions while you save for a new air conditioner. Check for the above issues to help minimize risks of hot and cold spots caused by other issues. Also, you could try HVAC Zoning, which is the use of multiple thermostats to control the temperature in different areas of your homes. Like in two-story homes, a thermostat is installed upstairs and another downstairs that enables the homeowner to control separate temperature in each level of the home. If your hot and cold spots are severe, then a thermostat in that room may help you better manage the temperature in it.

However, if you do not see the problem clearly or none of these tips helped you to solve your A/C problem, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!

 

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Factors That Are Affecting Your Home AC Performance

by Alicia

 

High-efficiency air conditioning systems provide homeowners with many excellent benefits including a comfortable home. But at some point, you observe it is not functioning as it supposed to be. What could be the main reason? Discover what significant factors are that affect the overall performance of your New AC unit.

  • Unit Size

Size plays an integral part in the performance of your HVAC. Larger ACs will cool or warm home immediately, while smaller units will have struggle meeting your temperature needs. Not to mention, too large of an air conditioning system can cause it to cycle on and off, eventually wasting valuable energy.

  • Poor Airflow

There are various things that affect the airflow of your unit. Dirty condenser coils, for instance, limit airflow and affect cooling performance. The filter becomes dirty over time as it gets rid of dust and other particles from the air, thereby, minimizing airflow. A condenser unit that is choked up by obstructions, such as leaves, is another issue to tackle. You need to clean the coils at least once every season to eliminate dirt and dust (or have a professional ac repair technician clean them for you).

  • Air Leaks

Cracks around windows and doors as well as damage to the roof or poorly-sealed pipes and ducts can all enable air exchange. This ultimately affects the humidity and temperature of the air in your home and the performance of your air conditioner.

  • Poor Insulation

A poorly performing insulation also affects the efficiency of your AC system. It allows the heat to transfer between the interior spaces of your residential and outdoor air, which increases the temperature and requires ample amount of work from your unit to achieve the right cooling level as per your demand.

  • Duct Conditions

Air ducts supply the air to the rest of your house. So, if they are clogged, leaking, dirty, or in bad condition, the overall efficiency of your air conditioning unit is at stake. Clear out severe buildup and patch holes to ensure your ducts perform their role appropriately. But since ducts are hard to see, allow an HVAC professional to diagnose your ductwork for potential issues.

 

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  • Cooling Load

The amount of area your AC has to cool, the location of the unit, the heat produced inside, and other significant factors combine to make a cooling load for the unit. The higher the cooling load, the harder it is for your air conditioner to cool efficiently.

  • Debris on the Outside Unit

Debris surrounding outside unit are common, affecting the AC’s performance. Make sure the unit is always clean and free from debris. First, vegetation and bushes must not slow down airflow. Allow your unit to have enough room to breathe.

  • Dust in the Air Filters

There are still some homeowners who do not see filter replacement as an important task. This should not be the case, though, because you are only allowing your unit to lose efficiency. Change the filters every month or every 2 months to keep airflow moving and reduce dust.

  • Age of the Air Conditioning Unit

The AC’s age is another obvious reason why the performance of your unit is deteriorating. Models that are twenty years or older are possibly to be less energy efficient. Over time, the HVAC system loses their efficiency as well. The average lifespan of an air conditioner is around 15-20 years. But somehow you can update your AC system with AC repair service and have it running smoothly again, at least for some years more.

  • Thermostat Problems

All air conditioning units depend on thermostat setting to determine when your indoor air needs cooling. Insufficient cooling is the main issue here, mainly due to a malfunctioned thermostat or a thermostat that is not properly set. If necessary, the battery.  

  • Maintenance

Your air conditioning system essentially requires routine cleaning and maintenance to work properly. Sure, you can clean the coils and change the filters on your own, but maintaining your unit requires more than just that. There are other tasks that need the assistance and help of a professional HVAC, like ductwork cleaning and checking refrigerant levels.

Air conditioning units are among the prized machines of your home as they contribute a lot to make your home very comfortable to live in. These units conserve more energy, save money, and give better results.

However, if you want to know more about this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!

 

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Why Regularly Changing Your Air Filters Is Important

by Alicia

You put a lot of work into maintaining your home and keeping everything running as efficiently as possible. At the center of it all is your heating and cooling system, which ensures the temperature in your home is well maintained throughout the day and night. EasyBreezy AC states that is important to make sure your HVAC system is running efficiently, but many people do not realize how simply changing your air filters regularly can maximize the potential for your HVAC system.

Here are the top reasons we believe regularly changing your air filters is so important:

MAXIMIZE YOUR HVAC’S EFFICIENCY

In order to change and properly maintain your home’s temperature, your heating and air conditioning system must pull air in from a room, pull it over coils to either heat or cool it, and then blows the newly tempered air through ducts to the other rooms in your home. The air filter is essential to the first step of this process. The air filter’s job is to trap air-borne particles like dust and dirt that get sucked up with the air being pulled into the HVAC system and prevents those air-borne particles from blocking the blower and clogging up the coils.

If the blower gets blocked or the coils get clogged on your HVAC system, then it cannot properly perform its job and could eventually damage your system and lead to costly repairs. So, keeping your air filters changed regularly can continue to ensure your entire HVAC system stays clean, clear, and running at it’s maximum efficiency.

MAINTAIN CLEANLINESS OF YOUR AIR DUCTS AND AIR QUALITY

Because your air filter serves as the first line of defense against air-borne particles and pollutants entering your HVAC system, dirt and dust can build up on your air filter quickly. If your filters are not changed regularly they are less capable of capturing and blocking these air-borne particles and pollutants from entering your HVAC system, which will dirty the air ducts and reduce the quality of air being blown back out into your home. Keeping your air filters changed regularly performed by a qualified AC technician will ensure that both your air filters and your HVAC system stay clean and produce the highest quality air for your home.

MINIMIZE ENERGY COSTS

It should come as no surprise that your HVAC system is able to perform its job more easily when your air filters are working properly to keep it clean and running more efficiently. As air-borne particles and pollutants build up on your air filters it makes it more difficult for the air filter and your HVAC system to perform their jobs and the harder your HVAC system has to work to perform its job, the higher your energy bill costs will go.

Therefore, regularly changing your air filters will ensure that both your air filter and your HVAC system stay clean and running at their maximum efficiency and will help keep your energy bill costs to a minimum.

SO, WHAT IS CONSIDERED “REGULARLY” WHEN CHANGING AIR FILTERS?

Now that we know how changing our air filters regularly can help keep our HVAC system running more efficiently and cleaner, how do we know if we are actually changing our air filters enough? How frequently is “regular”? The answer to this question depends on a number of factors including the amount of people in your home, whether or not you have any pets, the number of air-borne particles and pollutants in your home’s air, and how frequently you run and use your HVAC system. You should check your air filters every month and change them every 1-3 months as needed.

If these tips helped you to solve your A/C problem, you want more orientation or you want to request a service, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!

Welcome Spring Cleaning and HVAC Maintenance

by Alicia

Now that we are fully in the throws of the Spring season we know that our nice days of cool weather will be fading away and will soon be replaced with the hot and humid days of Summer. Spring is the best time of year to have maintenance done on your AC unit as it is right around the corner from the hottest days of the year, but your AC unit has not yet been completely stressed and pushed to its limits. Proper maintenance will ensure that your AC unit is up to the task when that time soon comes.

WHY DO OUR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE EACH SPRING?

 
Allergies


Spring follows the harshest time of year for your AC system: Winter. You start by bringing out your thick winter clothes and blankets – which are now introducing more lint and dust your home than what you had before. Because of the cool weather you are running the furnace much more frequently which keeps your air dry.

You also are not likely to be leaving doors and windows open – which means that dry air and extra lint and dust does not get “aired out” of your home. By this point, your air filter is likely the worst it has been all year, especially if you haven’t been changing your filter regularly. Your home has now become a breeding ground for the ever-dreaded allergies and Spring is right around the corner to add to this poor air quality with pollen. And this year’s pollen season has started early and is expected to be a rough season.


Efficiency


Because of the reduction of air quality both inside and outside of your home, your system is running harder and becoming less efficient each day. The less up-to-date your system is on maintenance, the harder it is working to continue to keep your home cool. Annual maintenance helps you find problems with your central air unit and ventilation system, which in turn will help restore your AC system to its best efficiency.


Longevity


If your system is not running as efficiently as it could then it is no surprise that you may also experience break downs and additional problems at a faster rate. Annual maintenance will keep your system running as efficiently as possible which will slow down wear and tear on your system and may even keep it running longer than its expected life span.

If you want more orientation or you want to request a service, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!

Improving Indoor Air Quality In 3 Easy Steps

by Alicia

It is important to keep the air that we breathe clean. Proper use of filters, frequent cleaning of the HVAC unit, and maintaining a clean environment will help ensure cleaner air.

Proper Use of Filters

Filters are usually effective for up to three months. Change your filters frequently to keep unwanted particles out of your unit, out of your ducts, and out of your indoor air. Filters are the most important boundary between polluted air and your HVAC unit, so changing them in a timely manner is imperative.

Frequent Cleanings

Just like keeping a clean oven or washing machine, it’s known that certain machines cannot function properly if they’re dirty. Having the AC unit cleaned periodically will help maintain the integrity of the unit and keep it working at full capacity. In order to do this, you will need coil cleaner, a hose, gloves, and eye protection. You will need to know how to turn off the unit from the circuit breaker as well and have time to complete the task. There are a series of steps you will need to take in order to open the unit and clean it. Or you can call the pros; they’ll be able to knock it out in no time.

Maintaining a Clean Environment

The best thing you can do for your indoor air quality is to clean the inside of your home on a daily basis. Keep surfaces dust-free, sweep and mop regularly, and groom your pets each day to keep pet dander at a minimum. Since HVAC units are designed to pull air in and out of the house – they do not bring “fresh” air into the house. The EPA recommends opening windows about once a week to cycle fresh air into the house to prevent a stuffy feeling in the air and reduce odor in the home. You can also utilize the bathroom fans and the exhaust fan over the stove to help pull moist air out of those rooms.

Make sure you’re taking care of the machine that takes most care of you and your home will be a cleaner and more efficient one.

If these tips helped you, you want more orientation or you want to request a service, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!

Why You Should Have Regular Maintenance For Your HVAC System

by Alicia

Its Springtime! Which means many individuals are beginning to pack away winter clothes, are getting ready to deep clean their home, and are preparing their patios for barbecues. One important thing to remember during this rush into Springtime is your air conditioning unit. It has likely sat dormant the majority of the last few months.

Perhaps the heat was on during a few nights during the Florida winter or the AC may have run for a short bit as Spring fought its way to us, but it likely did not get as much use in the last few months as it is about to get in the coming months. Regular maintenance is the key to your A/C unit functioning and cooling air properly and efficiently.

Here’s why it is important to perform (or have a pro perform) regular maintenance on your HVAC:

Prolong the Life of Your A/C Unit

Much like an oil change to your car, regularly scheduled maintenance is one of the most important ways to care for your unit. Regular maintenance of your air conditioning keeps parts well lubricated and clean, so that they can function as best as they can. That means parts are able to last longer and when they show signs of too much wear, they can be easily spotted and replaced during your A/C tune-up.

Keep it Running

The last thing you want in the Florida Summer heat is for your air conditioner to break down. A poorly maintained unit is more likely to break down or not run as efficiently as it could. Save yourself from a costly repair or replacement by getting your HVAC system tuned up, call the pros at EasyBreezy AC.

Save on Your Energy Bill

When your air conditioning system is properly maintained, it does not have to work harder to meet the demands of keeping your home cool. When an A/C system is overworking itself, that means you are footing the bill for the extra energy needed to get the job done. Having your air conditioner receive regular maintenance will save you some money on your energy bill.

If these tips helped you, you want more orientation or you want to request a service, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!

What You Need To Know About Wall Air Conditioning Units (Ductless Mini-Splits)

by Alicia

Whether it’s muggy, humid, or hot outside, we are unconcerned as long as the air conditioner is are running smoothly. Many people believe the only way to get reliable and successful indoor air comfort in the summer is with central air conditioning. The reality is, there are several benefits of a ductless mini-split ac unit – a unit in that is installed through an opening in a wall.

 

Cost

Ductless mini-splits are cheaper to purchase and install than most central air conditioners. Also, they are cheaper to operate in comparison to a central system. Wall units are more efficient for people who just use particular rooms within their home or office or have smaller homes that don’t require much cooling. Property owners can cool a room when necessary and turn off the unit when the room no longer needs cooling. With a wall air conditioning unit, you only pay for the rooms that need cooling rather than spending the extra money to cool the entire house; areas that remain vacant and unused.

Maintenance

Ductless mini-splits are much easier to repair and cheaper to replace compared to a central air system. You just replace the individual wall unit rather than buying a brand new air conditioner.  Also, when a central air conditioner system breaks down, you are stuck dealing with the undesirable indoor air quality. However, if a wall unit stops working, you can simply move to a different room that has a functioning unit while repairs for the malfunctioned AC is ongoing.

Lifespan

Depending on the make and model of the AC unit, mini-splits can last up to 12 years or more. It also depends on how well the unit was maintained and the frequency of its usage. Smaller sized brands, or lower-end wall AC units tend to last a maximum of 9 to 10 years. For models such as these, it is not advisable to pay for repairs if they break down. Even though AC systems are more affordable nowadays, it is better to buy a brand new AC unit than waste your money on expensive maintenance.

Professional Service

Ductless mini-splits do break down from time to time just like any other ordinary house equipment. It is good to be positive about replacing your mini-split unit before it stops working, especially if it the only means you have to cool your home or office. Do not be stuck in the hot damp, sticky weather this summer without good indoor cooling.

Instead, ensure that your mini-split is inspected or replaced before something like this takes place. The moment a wall air-conditioner device shows signs of damage or malfunction, call a licensed HVAC technician to inspect or service it as soon as possible. Indications of possible breakdown include clinking sounds, burning smells, strange sounds, and decreased or stained performance.

If you want more orientation or you want to request a service, please do not hesitate to contact us to receive more information about it!

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