Climate Masters Blog: Posts Tagged ‘St. Augustine’

Why Consider Installing a Dehumidifier?

Monday, April 13th, 2015

Hot and sticky are two very common words heard around here at the heart of summer, and the relief we all feel when we enter our air conditioning is palpable. However, you aren’t the only one feeling the heat – your air conditioner is, too, and the more humid it gets, the harder your AC has to work to achieve the comfort you need and want. But there is a way you lessen the load on your air conditioner while also improving your comfort: install a whole-home dehumidifier.

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Why Work with a Design/Build HVAC Contractor?

Friday, March 6th, 2015

Are you in the process of building a new, or of planning a new home construction project? If so, congratulations! This is truly one of the most exciting endeavors that anyone can undertake for themselves. However, it can also be quite stressful at times. By hiring qualified contractors to handle every aspect of your construction process, of course, you can avoid much of the stress that could otherwise potentially plague the construction process. This extends past the construction of the home itself to include the design and installation of your HVAC system. When it comes to design/build HVAC services, you can’t go wrong when working with a design/build HVAC contractor in St. Augustine from Climate Masters.

When people invest in a new, preexisting home, they often inherit a preexisting HVAC system that was installed in that home at some point. The problem with this is that the HVAC system that they inherit may not be the one that they’d have chosen for themselves. If you are constructing a new home, or if you are interested in replacing the HVAC system in your home with a newer, customized system, working with a design/build HVAC contractor is your best option. When your HVAC system is designed with your property specifically in mind, you can count on getting more from that system that you otherwise might with a more run of the mill, prefabricated system fitted into your home.

Not only will our design/build HVAC contractors work with you to ensure that you choose the HVAC system which best suits your needs, but they will also design your system so that it services your unique property in the most effective and efficient manner possible. This includes ensuring that your new system is of just the right size for your living space, so that you won’t overwork your system and pay too much for too weak of a performance, nor will you find yourself paying for a cooling capacity that you’ll simply never need. Plus, any heating and cooling distribution systems will be custom tailored to the layout of your home, ensuring even and consistent heating and cooling for the greatest level of comfort possible.

The simple fact of the matter is that it is best that your HVAC system fits your home like a glove.

When you hire a professional design/build HVAC contractor in St. Augustine, this will be the case. Just make sure that Climate Masters is the company that you call upon to do so.

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Is It Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner?

Friday, February 20th, 2015

We may be experiencing cool temperatures for our area, but soon enough the hot weather will return – is your air conditioner good for another cooling season? Air conditioners tend to break on the hottest of days because this is when they work the hardest. No one wants to get the news that he/she needs to replace a broken-down AC in the middle of summer, so if you left off the last cooling season wondering if your AC was going to make it, it’s probably time to call the experts at Climate Masters and schedule an appointment. Not sure if you are seeing the signs? Here are some factors that may mean it’s time for an air conditioning replacement in St. Augustine:

Lots O’Repairs

Did you have to make a number of repairs to keep your air conditioner in operation last summer? Are you looking at making a large repair this spring just to keep it going? At some point repairs can turn into nursing a system along, and those kinds of costs can add up very quickly – sometimes to the cost of a new system.

Age

How old is your current air conditioner? Age does matter when it comes to whole-home cooling systems, and knowing when yours is going to reach, or has reached, maturity, does make a difference.  The average lifespan for a traditional split system AC is 10-12 years; the average lifespan of a heat pump system is about 20 years. As air conditioning systems age, they become more prone to breakdown, and they may not function as efficiently as they should, which can cost you money.

Poor Performance

Today’s air conditioners are highly energy efficient. This is partly due to SEER regulations that changed in 2006 and also partly because of advancements in technology and product development. If your AC is ten years old or older, you may not be seeing the performance you need from it for two reasons: first, it may not have the minimum SEER number now required, which is 13, and second, it may be reaching maturity. Poor performance issues are uneven cooling, inability to cool sufficiently and higher than normal energy bills.

Scheduling replacement of your air conditioning system in St. Augustine now can put get you ahead of the glut of spring service appointments, so call Climate Masters today!

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Two Ways to Get Zone AC

Thursday, February 5th, 2015

Sometimes it can be challenging to make all the areas of your home comfortable with a single thermostat. Certain areas may have more exposure to the sun, making them hotter throughout the day, while other areas may be too cool from a lack of daytime heat gain. But there is a way to tailor the cooling (and heating) throughout your home: zone AC in St. Augustine.

What Is Zone Air Conditioning?

Zone air conditioning, also known as zone control, allows you to divide your home into zones, which can be a single room, a group of rooms or a floor of your house. Each zone has the ability to have its own temperature setting, allowing for customized cooling per zone.

How Can I Get Zone AC?

There are two ways to establish zone cooling in your home:

  • Install a ductless air conditioning system
  • Install a zone control system into your existing ductwork

Ductless AC

A ductless air conditioning system automatically offers you zone control because of the way the system operates: an outdoor unit contains the compressor and condenser, and individual indoor blowers that mount to walls or ceilings. Each blower operates separately, allowing you to set a temperature per blower.

Zone Control System

If you already have a ducted AC system, the way to attain zone cooling is to hire a professional to install a zone control system in your ductwork. This type of system uses motorized dampers to control the flow of air coming through the supply ducts. Before installation, you determine the zones; then the motorized dampers are installed and connected to a main control panel. The zones you’ve chosen are each equipped with a thermostat that is also connected to the control panel. The control panel is responsible for opening and closing the motorized dampers as needed to maintain the temperatures in the various zones.

Zone control can help with energy efficiency and comfort level, and reduce the level of stress on your air conditioning system.

All installations should be handled by a professional, so if you are interested in zone AC for your St. Augustine home, call the experts at Climate Masters today.

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What Factors Go into Professional Duct Design

Thursday, January 22nd, 2015

The ducts in your home are perhaps the most vital components in delivering warm or cool air to your living space when you switch on your home HVAC system. When you turn on the heating or air conditioning system in your home, the air that comes out through the vents must first go through a set of ducts which provide a pathway both towards and away from the indoor air handler.

The air handler is the portion of your heating or AC system that contains all of the vital indoor components involved in conditioning your home, including cooling coils, heating elements, and a blower fan. The blower fan sucks in air through the return grille where it usually first passes through a filter to eliminate particles that could damage the air handler or contaminate the air. It then moves through the ducts and is conditioned at the air handler, where it goes back through the ducts that lead to the supply vents in the home.

A single leak or any fault in duct construction can reduce the amount of heating or cooling you feel in your home. It can also cause your unit to become inefficient, taking far longer to increase or decrease the home’s temperature than it should. That’s why designing an HVAC system for new construction is a job for professionals who will take into account the following factors.

  • Materials: There are actually many different types of materials to choose between in duct design. Most ductwork professionals prefer sheet metal ducts to flexible materials, but this will depend on the conditions in your home.
  • Sizing: Ductwork must be sized according to the size of the home and the heating or cooling capacity of your system. This requires some careful engineering calculations, and ducts that are oversized or undersized may run into a number of problems over time, including poor efficiency.
  • Construction: An expert will take the time to decide on the most efficient layout, usually including few twists and turns to provide the most direct route.
  • Location: The location of the ducts can have quite an impact on the efficiency of your system. If ducts are located in an unconditioned area, heat may transfer into or out of the ducts unnecessarily.
  • Sealing: A professional knows that standard duct tape is not the proper sealant and comes prepared with professional-grade materials and tools.

At Climate Masters, our technicians have experience working with ducts of all sizes, and we’re the place to call for ductwork design in new construction in St. Augustine.

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Why Is My Heat Pump Stuck in Cooling Mode?

Monday, January 5th, 2015

You press the “heat” button on your dual-mode thermostat only to feel cool air come from your heat pump. While we may not be as cold as other parts of the country, our nights are getting chilly, and no one wants to add to that chilly air with more chilly air. Why is your heat pump stuck in the cooling mode? Because something has happened with the reversing valve, and you’ll need to call for heat pump repair in St. Augustine.

What Is the Reversing Valve?

The reversing valve is a component that allows your heat pump to change from heating to cooling and back again by changing the directional flow of the system’s refrigerant. The reversing valve is a medium-sized metal tube with four nozzles – three on the bottom and one on top. There is also a small electronic component on top of the pump called a solenoid. This component helps push the sliding mechanism inside the reversing valve from side to side as needed so that the refrigerant flow can change direction.

A “Stuck” Reversing Valve

The reversing valve is a complex component, and sometimes it can get stuck, either in a mode or in between modes. There a few reasons why a reversing valve can become stuck:

  • A bad solenoid
  • A refrigerant leak
  • A problem with the dual-mode thermostat
  • An issue with the sliding mechanism

The main reason for a solenoid to malfunction is because one or both of the wires in the component fray or become corroded; the good news is that a solenoid can be replaced. But should a refrigerant leak develop within the valve, the valve will need to be replaced. Thermostats can also suffer from frayed and corroded wiring, and they can also malfunction due to too much dust or dirt on the instrumentation. In a worst-case scenario, the thermostat can also be replaced. Lastly, should the sliding mechanism malfunction, there is no way to repair it and the valve will need to be replaced.

If your heat pump is stuck in any way, call for heat pump repair in St. Augustine. The trained experts at Climate Masters can help with any issue you may have, so call us today!

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Problems Caused by Damaged Ductwork

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

The ducts in your home are largely hidden from view, passing through the walls, floors, and ceilings in order to reach a vent that delivers conditioned air into your home. That’s why it’s important that the ducts in your home remain in stable condition, without any problems that could allow air to leak out from any random holes or cracks.

Damages in the ducts occur more frequently than you may think. The ducts are subjected to quite a bit of air pressure every day, and certain materials may actually begin to crack under the pressure. Ducts that are not completely sealed or professionally maintained can end up with any of the following problems. In most cases, the only solution is calling a professional for duct repair in St. Augustine.

  • Reduced Efficiency: As air leaks out of your damaged ductwork, it cannot move into your home. This means you’re paying money to condition a space like an attic or crawlspace while your unit continues to run at full force for long periods of time.As it attempts to get your home back to the right temperature, you’ll end up paying a lot more on your utilities.
  • Poor HVAC Performance: When air leaks out of the ductwork, your HVAC system will have to struggle in order to work as it should. Parts can become overworked as a result and wear down to the point that they need replacement.
  • Contaminants in the Air: Finally, damaged ductwork allows air from unoccupied spaces to enter your home. Air flowing through the ducts may suck in contaminants from unconditioned areas like the attic, and some of the dust or insulation material can be inhaled as it moves through your home, negating the purpose of the AC filter in your house.

It’s imperative that you have a professional repair your ducts, as they have the tools and expertise to find areas of reduced pressure in order to properly determine from which areas your ducts are leaking. Furthermore, they have the right types of sealants and tapes: standard duct tape is NOT a good solution for damaged ducts and could actually pose a fire hazard and emit some dangerous fumes when heated.

Climate Masters is the only company you’ll need for duct repair, duct sealing, and more.

Contact us today to schedule duct repair in St. Augustine if you suspect a problem due to heating inefficiency, strange noises, or any other suspicious activity.

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How Does Hybrid Heating Work?

Thursday, December 11th, 2014

One of the reasons people love heat pumps is because they offer both heating and cooling. But there can be some concern about the heating heat pumps can provide when the air temperature dips below 32 degrees. If you have concerns about using just a heat pump to heat your home, you may want to consider the installation of a hybrid heating system. Why? A hybrid heating system is comprised of a heat pump as your main source of heating, with a back-up gas furnace. This means that no matter what the temperature may be outside, you will always be warm and comfortable inside. First, let’s take a look at how a hybrid heating system works.

There are two main components of a hybrid heating system: the heat pump and the gas furnace. Heat pumps provide heat by absorbing the available heat in the outside air, concentrating it, then distributing it to your living spaces. As the air becomes colder, less heat is available in the air for the heat pump to absorb; this is why, when it’s 32 degrees or colder, your heat pump may not heat your home as well as you need it to. This is where the back-up furnace comes in. With a hybrid system, your heat pump is equipped with a sensor that is programmed with a set-point temperature that automatically switches your heating system from the heat pump to the furnace. Typically, this temperature is set a few degrees above the freezing point. A set-point temperature is also set to switch back to the heat pump. The switch is automatic and works in conjunction with your home’s dual-fuel thermostat.

Benefits of a Hybrid Heating System

  • Energy efficiency – with a hybrid heating system, you will still gain the energy-saving benefits of using a heat pump, which can improve your home’s overall efficiency levels.
  • Comfortable heating – with a hybrid heating system, you’ll never have to worry about a lack of heat as the gas furnace back-up ensures that heat is always available.
  • Heating and cooling – with a hybrid system, you can still enjoy the heating and cooling offered by a heat pump.

If you’ve been concerned about your heat pump’s ability to provide enough heat during winter, a hybrid heating system in St. Augustine may be just what you’ve been looking for.

Contact Climate Masters today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.

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Don’t Wait for a Breakdown before Scheduling Heating Repair

Thursday, December 4th, 2014

A sudden heating breakdown can be a major annoyance during a particularly cool day. It’s especially a nuisance for those among us who have ill family members or other circumstances that require the temperature to remain consistent throughout the day and night. Whatever your situation, it’s important to pay attention to the signs that your heating system may be in need of repair so that you won’t be put out by a sudden system failure.

You may think that a seemingly minor problem can wait for repairs. Your heat pump or furnace may simply not produce as much heat as you’d like, or a small noise can be a bit of an inconvenience. However, it’s important to note that even the smallest of issues can signal major trouble for your heater. Problems can develop until the parts begin to wear down and, eventually, fail. Let’s look at a couple of examples.

Let’s say the lack of heat from your heat pump is due to a refrigerant leak. If you let the leak go on for too long, it can continue to drip out of the refrigerant line. Your compressor requires a certain amount of refrigerant to move through it at each cycle, so the leak may cause the compressor to become overworked and fail. Alternatively, imagine that the lack of heat from your furnace stems from a faulty fan. The fan will continue to attempt to run at high speeds, wearing down the motor and consuming a lot of energy in the process.

Not experiencing any heating problems? You should still consider calling a technician for annual maintenance sometime soon. Heating maintenance is vital in preserving your heating system for a long period of time and preventing repairs. A tune up can also keep your heater running more efficiently, saving you money every month. Besides, you may have a minor repair need which you had not noticed, and it’s better to know now than to wait for a breakdown later on.

Contact Climate Masters for fast and reliable repairs for your heating in St. Augustine. We offer 24-hour emergency service so you can get your heater back to normal as soon as possible.

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Why Doesn’t My Pool Heater Provide Enough Heat?

Monday, November 17th, 2014

Pool heaters are one of the best parts of having a pool in the first place. After all, a body of water as large as a swimming pool takes a very long time to heat up on its own, and is completely dependent on the day’s current climate. You spent all that money for a pool, so you probably want to use it whenever you feel like it, not just when it’s a hot day out. As such, it’s really horrible to jump into your pool expecting it to be heated, only to find that it’s absolutely freezing. Let’s examine what might be causing your pool heater to malfunction, so you can see about getting fixed as soon as possible.

Thermostat

As with almost every heating problem, the very first thing you want to do is check the thermostat. It may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many heating problems can be solved through simple thermostat adjustment. If everything is set correctly but still isn’t working, you may also have a malfunctioning thermostat.

Pump Blockage

In order for your pool heater to actually heat the water, it needs to pump it through the system and back out into the pool. Debris can often block the intake for the heater pump, restricting the water flow and reducing the amount of water it can heat. Be sure to check your pump intake and clear out anything that may be obstructing it.

Pilot Light

Just like most heating systems, a lot of pool heaters are gas-powered. This means they have a pilot light, and it can blow out just as easily as any home heating pilot light. Check to make sure that your pilot light is lit, if you have one. If it isn’t, you can either relight it yourself (if you know how) or have a professional do it for you. If you’ve relit your pilot light several times and it keeps blowing out, you may have some more serious issues.

If you’re having problems with your pool heater, contact Climate Masters. We conduct pool heater repairs throughout St. Augustine.

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