Ideally, never. Refrigerant is not consumed during air conditioning, meaning the only way you can run out is if you have a leak in your air conditioner. Refrigerant leaks should be taken care of as quickly as possible – refrigerant is a controlled substance that can be devastating to the ozone layer. Most modern air conditioners are specially designed to minimize leaks, but if you have an older air conditioner you may not be as protected. Refrigerant leaks, especially slow leaks that are harder to notice. If you think you may have a leak, call Prestige Air Conditioning Systems for an evaluation today! Add Comment If you hear a buzzing or humming noise at least that means you have some kind of power coming to the condensing unit. That's a good sign. The problem could be as simple as a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. If the outdoor fan comes on but the compressor only hums it could be a contactor, capacitor, burnt wiring, a bad connection or a locked compressor. We recommend calling Prestige Air Conditioning to have it professionally diagnosed. WHY IS MY AIR CONDITIONER FREEZING UP 05/17/2011
There are many reasons your air conditioner coils could be freezing or icing up. You may have a Freon leak or have a bad component. A dirty air filter or dirty evaporator coil are also common causes of air conditioning freezing, and they are problems that can easily be prevented with regularly scheduled preventive maintenance. If your system is freezing or icing up, we recommend you call Prestige Air Conditioning to diagnose the problem. In the mean time you should defrost the coils. To defrost the coils you can put your thermostat Fan in the “on” position but turn the system cooling “off”. It may take a few hours for all the ice to melt. Be aware that the melting ice may cause a water leak. AIR CONDITIONING SIZING 04/27/2011
While bigger may be better in many instances, this does not hold true when it comes to air conditioning units. Unless you have added square footage to your home it is recommended that you replace your system with the same size you currently have. When your home was built they would have done a heat load calculation to figure out the proper size system. If you do not currently have central air you will need to have a heat load calculation done. A properly sized air conditioner will cool and dehumidify your home. A system that is too large will not dehumidify the air. While square footage is the main indicator when determining air conditioner size, there are other factors that need to be taken into consideration as well. Rule of thumb size is roughly 500 sq foot per ton. Spring A/C Maintenance 03/21/2011
Before the hot summer is upon us, we recommend having a thorough and complete inspection and tune up on your air-conditioning system. You wouldn’t drive your car 30,000 miles without a tune up would you? Don’t drive your air conditioner into the ground. Throughout our many years of experience we have learned that by taking certain preventative measures such as correcting a minor electrical problem, costly repairs and replacement of parts can often be avoided. Call to schedule your service today 561-833-8861. BEWARE OF DUCT CLEANING SCAMS! 02/25/2011
You have probably seen an advertisement and/or received a coupon in the mail from a company offering to clean your air ducts for the low cost of $19.95 to $79.00 most of these companies will pull a “bait & switch” scam which they have been doing for decades and you will end up spending hundreds of dollars. To properly and professionally clean an average HVAC system it may typically — but not always — range in cost from $350 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility and level of contamination. See our Duct Cleaning Page for more info. Please watch the two video links for more information: Dateline NBC- Duct Cleaning Scams Inside Edition – Duct Cleaning Scams A/C INSPECTIONS WHEN BUYING A HOME 02/21/2011
Most home inspectors do not test or check the condition of each component in the air conditioning system. In most cases they simply visually inspect the equipment and turn it on and see if it works. Most home inspectors are not licensed a/c contractors. It is best to have the air conditioning system inspected by a licensed ac contractor like Prestige Air Conditioning Systems because they have the proper tools to diagnose any problems. Home inspectors are reluctant to and, in many cases, refuse to disclose repair costs, because it is not in their scope of work, calling a contractor will help to determine the expense to fix any problems before you buy. If you have a choice, it is smarter to hire your own contractors and supervise repairs. Remember the seller's incentive to hire the cheapest contractor and to replace components or appliances with the least expensive often low quality brands. Home inspections are for your protection. FEDERAL TAX CREDIT EXTENDED 02/15/2011
Federal tax credits for energy-efficient products are now available for 10% of the cost of installing a high efficiency central air conditioner, up to a maximum of $300 in total, when purchased and installed between January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, provided the expense meets the tax guidelines. Three hundred dollars is the maximum combined total amount that can be claimed for all purchases of qualifying energy-efficient products placed in service during this period. Homeowners should consult with their tax advisors to determine eligibility. As the economy continues to fall deeper into a recession copper theft is on the rise. Some studies report an over 57% increase in the past year alone. Copper theft leaves air conditioning units completely destroyed, requiring home and business owners to replace expensive equipment for a fraction of the cost worth of copper. The average homeowner loss is $2,000-$6,000. For commercial spaces with much larger square footage the cost is often substantially higher and can cost up $30,000 or more! Saving money is important to everyone in today's economy. Why risk losing your hard-earned money to random copper theft? Protect your investment with a rugged and affordable A/C cage from Prestige Air Conditioning. Heating is two to three times more expensive to run than cooling. Following are some suggestions for keeping your heating system running more efficiently: Start by cleaning or replacing the filter. With central heating systems, air returning to the blower first passes through an air filter designed to catch dust and debris and help clean the air before it’s recycled into your home. A dirty filter can force your heating system to work harder and, hence, increase your energy consumption and cause parts to wear out faster. A clogged filter can completely stop your heating system from working. Change filters monthly. Pleated fabric filters are a good, inexpensive choice for reducing dust and allergens. Before heating season begins, have the surfaces of the heat exchanger and blower blades cleaned. Having this done will help alleviate the burning smell when you turn your heater on. It will also reduce the risk of a fire. We recommend running your heat between 65 and 72 degrees depending on how warm you would like it to be in your home. Check your duct system for leaks. You can either feel for leaks yourself with your system blowing or hire a professional to check for leaks that you cannot access. Leaky ducts can cause your electric bill to increase. When your cooling and heating duct system has leaks or holes in it, air is allowed to escape into the attic, which ends up wasting energy and costing you money. In fact, two-thirds of all homes have leaky ducts. If you experience trouble with your heating system, call Prestige Air Conditioning Systems for fast service. |
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