R-22 is a refrigerant that was used in most residential air-conditioning systems until just a couple years ago. It is considered a greenhouse gas since the manufacture of R-22 it results in a dangerous by-product that adversely affects the environment.
The United States began phasing out R-22 in 2004, and from day one Sean McCutcheon's Air conditioning and Heating, Inc. informed customers of the eventual complete phase out of R-22 and recommended their customers consider purchasing new systems that used Environmentally Safe refrigerants.
As of January 1st 2010 – New A/C systems manufactured cannot use R-22 refrigerant.
Some air conditioning businesses have purposely mislead their customers about the future availability of R-22. There are some large Air Conditioning companies that have warehouses full of “new” systems manufactured before 2010 – and they will sell this equipment to customers at a discount without fully explaining the phase out of R-22.
Not only is R-22 harmful to the environment, but it will become more expensive and harder to get over time. Systems that use R-22 cannot easily be converted to the new refrigerant so customers will also experience costly repair bills in the future.
The average life of an Air Conditioner is 10 to 12 years, so HVAC companies that have sold systems in the last couple years without educating their customers about the future of R-22 have been doing their clients a great disservice!
Recent actions by the EPA have led to uncertainty about the availability of R-22 in the coming months. The EPA controls the production R-22, through allowances that limit how much each gas manufacturer and importer can produce or import in a given year.
The EPA recently realized that R-22 was not being depleted as quickly as expected, which led them to consider a more aggressive phase down. In other words, this means even less production of R-22 to a total of only 55 million pounds in 2012 versus approximately 100 million pounds in 2011.
This has already resulted in the price for R-22 skyrocketing to more than a 250% increase with limited supplies.
Eventually pricing and availability may stabilize, but consumers need to be informed about R-22 so they do not purchase a “discounted” system that will be very costly to maintain and repair down the road.
If you are buying a new system, make sure you select a dealer who will take the time to help you choose the best system, and will help you understand your different options.
If a company is offering a system at a price that seems too good to be true – chances are it probably is….
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Free Mobil Phone APP will help you steer clear of unlicensed contractors!
All of us like to try and find the best deals – especially when it comes to expensive home improvements.
However, if a plumber, electrician, or air conditioning contractor has just given you a very low quote that seems too good to be true, there is a good chance they are unlicensed.
As tempting as it may be to hire an unlicensed contractor who offers a great bargain, it is against the law!
Now if you are ever in doubt you can whip out your smart phone and make sure you have the right person for the job!
Just search for the Florida DBPR Mobile App – it’s free, and will let you easily search for companies and individuals to make sure they are licensed.
Besides it being illegal to hire unlicensed contractors, unlicensed contractors are subject to arrest and prosecution for working without a license.
Here are some other reasons not to use them:
Unlicensed contractors may not have the proper skills and experience. They also don’t have professional or legal standards they must abide by.
Unlicensed contractors are dangerous because they expose you to significant financial harm if injury or property damage happens.
Homeowner's insurance does not cover unlicensed contractors, and by law the homeowner is held responsible for hiring an unlicensed contractor and is held accountable for any work associated with the contractor. If a unlicensed contractor's carelessness leads to injury or damage to your neighbors property, the problem is yours.
If a contractor files bankruptcy or skips out while working on your home, you are responsible for all fines and unpaid bills to suppliers. You're also responsible for the wages of employees who worked for the unlicensed contractor.
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
However, if a plumber, electrician, or air conditioning contractor has just given you a very low quote that seems too good to be true, there is a good chance they are unlicensed.
As tempting as it may be to hire an unlicensed contractor who offers a great bargain, it is against the law!
Now if you are ever in doubt you can whip out your smart phone and make sure you have the right person for the job!
Just search for the Florida DBPR Mobile App – it’s free, and will let you easily search for companies and individuals to make sure they are licensed.
Besides it being illegal to hire unlicensed contractors, unlicensed contractors are subject to arrest and prosecution for working without a license.
Here are some other reasons not to use them:
Unlicensed contractors may not have the proper skills and experience. They also don’t have professional or legal standards they must abide by.
Unlicensed contractors are dangerous because they expose you to significant financial harm if injury or property damage happens.
Homeowner's insurance does not cover unlicensed contractors, and by law the homeowner is held responsible for hiring an unlicensed contractor and is held accountable for any work associated with the contractor. If a unlicensed contractor's carelessness leads to injury or damage to your neighbors property, the problem is yours.
If a contractor files bankruptcy or skips out while working on your home, you are responsible for all fines and unpaid bills to suppliers. You're also responsible for the wages of employees who worked for the unlicensed contractor.
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Heat pumps during colder weather.
Many people prefer to have a heat pump. With a heat pump, you do not need to have a separate AC system and a heater, the heat pump actually provides both heating and cooling capabilities.
During colder temperatures a heat pump will extract heat from the air outside and pump it inside. This means that they use much less energy than even the most energy efficient furnaces.
Unfortunately however, heat pumps work best at temperatures above 40 degrees.
When it gets very cold and the air temperature falls below 40 degrees, the unit can freeze up. When this happens the system has to defrost itself. During a defrost cycle the air conditioning has to run in order to melt the ice, and the backup electric heater will turn on so cold air is not blown into the home. So basically you have AC and heat working at the same time which isn’t all that efficient.
The way to avoid this situation is to go ahead and turn the heat on before it gets that cold. On most thermostats this is listed as EM Heat (Emergency Heat) When a thermostat is set to this, only the heat will turn on when the temperature drops.
Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. advises that you test your electric heat before the temperature gets very cold. This way you know that you will have heat on those cold nights.
Most people never think to make sure the heat is working properly, and every year this results in great numbers of people calling AC repair companies for emergency service calls. There just aren’t enough AC techs to handle these calls and some people go days without heat.
Another great idea is to sign up for a preventative maintenance program. Your AC System will be completely checked every spring and fall so you will have peace of mind knowing it will heat when it needs to. Also, with a maintenance agreement, if you ever do need a repair, you will get priority as a preferred customer.
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
During colder temperatures a heat pump will extract heat from the air outside and pump it inside. This means that they use much less energy than even the most energy efficient furnaces.
Unfortunately however, heat pumps work best at temperatures above 40 degrees.
When it gets very cold and the air temperature falls below 40 degrees, the unit can freeze up. When this happens the system has to defrost itself. During a defrost cycle the air conditioning has to run in order to melt the ice, and the backup electric heater will turn on so cold air is not blown into the home. So basically you have AC and heat working at the same time which isn’t all that efficient.
The way to avoid this situation is to go ahead and turn the heat on before it gets that cold. On most thermostats this is listed as EM Heat (Emergency Heat) When a thermostat is set to this, only the heat will turn on when the temperature drops.
Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. advises that you test your electric heat before the temperature gets very cold. This way you know that you will have heat on those cold nights.
Most people never think to make sure the heat is working properly, and every year this results in great numbers of people calling AC repair companies for emergency service calls. There just aren’t enough AC techs to handle these calls and some people go days without heat.
Another great idea is to sign up for a preventative maintenance program. Your AC System will be completely checked every spring and fall so you will have peace of mind knowing it will heat when it needs to. Also, with a maintenance agreement, if you ever do need a repair, you will get priority as a preferred customer.
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
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