One of the questions we are often asked is “should I install air conditioning and a furnace, or just install a heat pump?”
The basic difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner is that heat pumps can both cool and heat your home. An air conditioner is slightly more efficient at cooling, but if you live in an area where the temperature doesn’t drop below 40 degrees – a heat pump may be the best choice for you.
Of course there are those rare occasions when the weather does get unusually cold – even here in Sarasota. For example, back in 1983 the temperature actually dropped to 20 degrees. But normally there are few days in the winter when you’ll need to turn the heat on, and a heat pump will be more than sufficient for this task.
If you live in an area where the temperature often drops below 40 degrees, or if you just want the security of a furnace, you may choose to add a heater as your primary heating source.
The advantage of using a heat pump is that it draws heat from the air outside your home and transfers it to the inside of your home which makes a heat pump substantially less expensive to operate than a gas or oil furnace. So if the weather rarely falls below 40 degrees you will be able to heat your home much more affordably with a heat pump than by using a furnace. If the temperature is frequently colder than 40 degrees you may want to consider a backup furnace.
So is a heat pump right for you? Generally a heat pump is slightly more expensive than a central air conditioner, and they may cost a little more to install and maintain. Overall however, a high efficiency heat pump will save you much money in heating and cooling bills.
If you are considering replacing your old system, or if you are interested in learning more about heat pumps and if one would be a good choice for you, please call Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. at 941-921-7208.
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
Showing posts with label sarasota A/C. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sarasota A/C. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Clogged Drain Lines - An Avoidable Problem.
A very common reason for calling an air conditioning technician is when an air conditioning drain line becomes clogged. This is easily fixed and an avoidable problem, but a clogged drain line can potentially cost the homeowner much money and frustration.
When warm air from your home comes in contact with your air conditioning evaporator coil it creates a certain amount of condensation. This water has to go somewhere, and that is why air conditioning systems are equipped with a condensate pan and a small PVC pipe that leads to a drain system in or outside your home.
Unfortunately if the drain line becomes clogged it can back up into the pan and create a water leak. Depending on where your AC unit is located, a leak could cause some real damage, for example: if the system is located in an attic and the water leaks through the ceiling.
Drain lines clog up from dust and other matter that get into the AC System, as well as fungal and other buildup within the pipe. When an Air conditioning technician services your A/C System they will make sure you have a clean condensate drain line. One of the methods is to attach a wet/dry vacuum to the end of the drain line and forcibly draw any buildup from the pipe while they pour a non-hazardous natural cleaning agent into the drain line. They will also place anti fungal condensate pan tablets to the condensate pan that will also help to prevent sludge and buildup.
When Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. installs a new system they will take the extra time to create a cleanout in a section if the drain pipe that facilitates proper cleaning of the drain lines. Some systems do not have a cleanout and eventually the drain pipe needs to be cut in order to clean it.
In Florida, where we use our air conditioning for most of the year, drain lines should be cleaned twice a year to prevent water from leaking into the home. You should also use a quality air filter and make sure to change it regularly since dust particles and other matter can accumulate on the evaporator coil and end up in the drain line which can contribute to a drain line clog.
If you are the kind of person who likes to change your own oil, you may decide to clean your own A/C drain line. However, your Air Conditioning technician is the best person to do this work, and if you have a maintenance service agreement with a company they will check the whole system while they are there.
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
When warm air from your home comes in contact with your air conditioning evaporator coil it creates a certain amount of condensation. This water has to go somewhere, and that is why air conditioning systems are equipped with a condensate pan and a small PVC pipe that leads to a drain system in or outside your home.
Unfortunately if the drain line becomes clogged it can back up into the pan and create a water leak. Depending on where your AC unit is located, a leak could cause some real damage, for example: if the system is located in an attic and the water leaks through the ceiling.
Drain lines clog up from dust and other matter that get into the AC System, as well as fungal and other buildup within the pipe. When an Air conditioning technician services your A/C System they will make sure you have a clean condensate drain line. One of the methods is to attach a wet/dry vacuum to the end of the drain line and forcibly draw any buildup from the pipe while they pour a non-hazardous natural cleaning agent into the drain line. They will also place anti fungal condensate pan tablets to the condensate pan that will also help to prevent sludge and buildup.
When Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. installs a new system they will take the extra time to create a cleanout in a section if the drain pipe that facilitates proper cleaning of the drain lines. Some systems do not have a cleanout and eventually the drain pipe needs to be cut in order to clean it.
In Florida, where we use our air conditioning for most of the year, drain lines should be cleaned twice a year to prevent water from leaking into the home. You should also use a quality air filter and make sure to change it regularly since dust particles and other matter can accumulate on the evaporator coil and end up in the drain line which can contribute to a drain line clog.
If you are the kind of person who likes to change your own oil, you may decide to clean your own A/C drain line. However, your Air Conditioning technician is the best person to do this work, and if you have a maintenance service agreement with a company they will check the whole system while they are there.
Sarasota Air Conditioning Repair, Service, And Maintenance
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