A new air conditioner is a significant purchase, and involves a number of considerations before pulling the trigger. You may not be aware of all of them, but they can have a serve impact on your new purchase, and require the services of a professional technician to get right. This is particularly important for residents of Dover, DE, and surrounding suburbs: facing another hot summer and requiring a new air conditioning system to function as efficiently as possible. In order to ensure that, you need to have your air conditioner properly sized to your home. By “sized” we mean the relative cooling power of your new unit, instead of the physical sized. “How is my air conditioning sized and why is that so important?” you ask. Let us provide you with a few answers.
Atlantic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Dover’
How Is My Air Conditioning Sized?
Monday, May 18th, 2015What Constitutes an Air Conditioning Emergency?
Monday, May 11th, 2015Summers here in Dover, DE are as hot and humid as they come, and when the temperature starts to spike, you need your air conditioner to function at top capacity. Unfortunately, breakdowns don’t always follow a 9-to-5 schedule, and sometimes your air conditioner runs into trouble much later than most businesses stay open. The good news is that professionals in the Dover area are on call 24 hours a day, and in the event of an emergency, they can come to your home to repair your system. But what constitutes an air conditioning emergency? At what point do you summon aid in the middle of the night and when do you simply hold on for normal business hours the next morning? It’s usually a matter of individual judgement, but here are a few guidelines to help you make the call.
Why You Should Schedule Regular Commercial AC System Tune-Ups
Friday, March 6th, 2015When the heat of the summer season hits in the Dover area, it can hit pretty hard. We are not quite at the cusp of the heat’s real arrival just yet, but this is certainly the time at which you start thinking about the way in which you will cool your commercial property in the hottest months to come. The changing of the seasons may sneak up on you, but it is vital that you do not allow the heat of summer to sneak up on your commercial cooling system. That is why Atlantic Refrigeration recommends wholeheartedly that you schedule your commercial AC system tune-up in Dover today. That way, you can count on your system being ready for whatever type of heat the summer months can throw your way.
Routine commercial air conditioning tune-ups benefit the commercial property owner in a few different ways. First of all, this is the best way in which to ensure that your commercial cooling system functions as efficiently as possible. You are going to be running your commercial air conditioner a lot throughout the summer season. If you hope to do so without suffering exorbitant commercial cooling costs, then you are wise to schedule a professional commercial AC system tune-up with a member of our staff. This gives our technicians the opportunity to thoroughly inspect your system, making any necessary adjustments to ensure that your system functions at peak performance levels. Of course, this is not the only way in which routine commercial cooling maintenance can benefit your system, nor is it the only way in which it can protect your budget.
A poorly maintained commercial air conditioning system is far more likely to suffer operational problems than one that is routine tuned up is. As your system works throughout the summer season to cool your property, it is going to incur no small amount of general wear and tear. When you fire up your system early in the following cooling season, you may find that this wear and tear has left your system vulnerable to problems and even a potential break down. Having it tuned up before putting it back into heavy use can really help you to avoid such unpleasant situations.
To do so, just dial our number. The pros at Atlantic Refrigeration are here to keep your system in excellent working order.
If you want to cool your commercial property effectively and efficiently, then you must schedule professional commercial AC system tune-ups in Dover with Atlantic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
Ways to Prevent Commercial Heating Repair
Thursday, December 11th, 2014There is no guaranteed way to prevent ever needing repair for your commercial heating in Dover, but there are a few things you can do to help reduce the incidence of repair. As always, any repairs you do have should be handled by a trained commercial heating technician; commercial heating systems are complex and require expert handling.
Steps That Can Help Prevent Repair
Here are a few steps you can take as a business owner to help reduce the amount of repair you may need to your commercial heating system:
Don’t Ignore Signs of Problems
Are you hearing strange sounds, experiencing uneven cooling or seeing high energy bills when you haven’t changed how you use your heating? These are all signs that your commercial heating system may be experiencing problems, and ignoring them could lead to malfunction or total breakdown. Sounds, smells and poor performance are strong indications that your system isn’t working as it should, so if you are seeing these signs, call for a commercial heating technician.
Schedule Annual Maintenance
Maintenance for your commercial heating system is a full tune-up that involves cleaning, inspection, adjusting and lubrication of all moving parts. It also entails a visual inspection of the ductwork, safety checks and a review of the thermostat. Annual maintenance allows you to get ahead of potential repairs, increase energy efficiency and extend the life of your equipment.
Have the Air Filter Changed
Homeowners can usually change the air filter in their heating units themselves, but with the complex mechanics of a commercial heating system, and location, it’s best to allow a trained expert to do this. Air filters are usually changed during annual maintenance, but they should be changed every three months; you can schedule a technician to change your air filter for you, making the process worry-free.
Your commercial space needs to be comfortable in order for you to properly conduct your business. One of the best ways to ensure your business space is always comfortable is to have a reliable commercial heating repair company on hand. Atlantic Refrigeration has the trained and certified commercial technicians you need, so contact us today!
If you are in need of commercial heating repairs, call the people you can count on any time day or night: Atlantic Refrigeration.
Why You Should Consider Zone Control for Your Heating System
Monday, October 20th, 2014As we head toward cooler weather, you may already be thinking about how to more comfortably heat your home. One great way to achieve better comfort, and some other benefits, is by installing a zone heating system in Dover. Professional installation is important for any upgrade to your heating system, so make sure you call the trained professionals you can count on: Atlantic Refrigeration.
What Is a Zone Control System?
With a zone control system, your home is divided up into different zones, as designated by you, and each zone is given its own thermostat for temperature control. The system is comprised of a series of motorized dampers that are installed into the supply ducts of your ductwork, and the dampers are connected to a main control panel. The thermostats for each zone are also connected to the main control panel, which allows the dampers to open and close as needed to maintain the temperatures that are set in the different zones.
What Kinds of Properties Benefit from a Zone Control System?
Just about any type of home can benefit from a zone control system, but certain types of homes may find them particularly beneficial:
- Homes with specialized architecture like floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings or loft space
- Multi-story homes
- Homes with finished basements
- Homes with multiple wings
What Are the Benefits of a Zone Control System?
- Customized comfort – with a zone control system, you won’t have to worry about complaints regarding individual comfort or uneven heating.
- Better energy efficiency – with a zone control system, you use only the heating you need. This can reduce your overall energy usage and save you money on monthly energy bills.
- Less stress on your heating system – zone control can reduce your overall system usage, so there can be less stress put on your system when you install a zone control system.
A zone control system can give a level of control over your heating that you won’t be able to achieve with a single thermostat. Call Atlantic Refrigeration today.
Warning Signs That You May Need Heating Repair
Monday, September 22nd, 2014The colder weather hasn’t yet arrived in Delaware, but it won’t be long before you will need to turn on your home’s heating system once again for the winter weather. Is your heater prepared for the job? Now is the best time to find out if the system needs to have any repair work done and have the job taken care of before the outdoor thermometer starts to drop.
To find out if your heater requires repairs, take it for a “test drive” during a warm fall day and turn it on for an hour. We’ll list some of the warning signs to watch for during this time that will indicate you should call professionals in Dover, DE for heating repair. You can reach Atlantic Refrigeration any time of the day or night when you need skilled technicians to fix your heater in time for the colder weather.
Watch for these warnings from your heater
- Strange noises: This is the most common indication that something is malfunctioning inside a heating system. Mechanical grinding and groaning, clicking, hissing, and rumbling are all noises that you shouldn’t hear coming from your home’s heater. Anything that sounds out of the ordinary should prompt you to call for repairs.
- Odd smells from the vents: If you use a forced-air heater, such as a furnace or heat pump, then musty or burning odors wafting from the vents could mean a number of problems are afflicting the heater. Don’t try to diagnose the source on your own: leave this to the professionals.
- Water leaks: This is specific to boilers. Look to see that no water is dripping from the pipes or pooling in the area around the tank.
- Low airflow: Check on the air coming from the vents in each room. If the airflow feels lower than it should from one or more of the vents, then you should contact repair technicians to see what the problem might be.
Another sign to watch for when your heater begins to run regularly is an increase in your heating bills above what you normally expect to pay. This kind of cost spike usually means the system is experiencing a malfunction that is cutting into its efficiency.
Even if everything seems fine during the test run for your heating system, you still need to schedule a pre-season inspection and tune-up for it from professionals. Atlantic Refrigeration offers a comprehensive maintenance program that will make sure there are no impending repair issues with your heater, and also see that it is working at its most efficient.
Contact the heating professionals at Atlantic Refrigeration today to schedule a maintenance session or for any heating repair in Dover, DE you may need.
What Are Energy Recovery Ventilators?
Wednesday, August 20th, 2014Having an energy efficient home is important for you, your family and your wallet. However, some homes can be too airtight, which can cause problems with proper ventilation. No one wants to throw open a window in the middle of summer or winter to allow fresh air into the home, and with an energy recovery ventilator in Dover, you don’t have to. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) from Atlantic Refrigeration can help you properly ventilate your home while also reducing your energy usage.
How Does an ERV Work?
An ERV is a component that attaches directly to your HVAC system, and is used year-round. ERVs capitalize on a law of thermodynamics that states energy will spontaneously move from areas of high energy to low energy. As such, when two different temperatures meet, the heat, which is energy, transfers from the higher temperature to the lower one. Additionally, ERVs transfer moisture in a very similar way to heat. Inside every ERV is a heat exchanger that allows moisture to transfer between incoming and outgoing air. As with heat, high levels of moisture move to lower levels of moisture.
How Does It Differ Seasonally?
Here is how an ERV works during summer and winter:
Winter – upon expulsion from your home, the warm, humidified indoor air transfers moisture and heat to the cold, dry incoming air, preheating it and adding needed moisture as it enters your HVAC system.
Summer – the cool, dehumidified air is expelled, and as the fresh, more humid air enters, the expelled indoor air absorbs the excess heat and moisture from the incoming air before leaving the system. This pre-cools and dehumidifies the incoming air before it enters your system.
Benefits of an ERV
- Greater energy efficiency – the pre-treating of incoming air reduces the amount of work your HVAC system has to do, which helps reduce the amount of energy it uses
- Better indoor air quality – the constant stream of fresh air increases your indoor air quality
- Better moisture control – the transfer of moisture helps maintain balanced humidity levels in your home year-round
Installing an energy recovery ventilator to your Dover home is an easy way to increase your energy efficiency and comfort.
For more information on this technology, call Atlantic Refrigeration today and speak to one of our experts to see what an ERV can do for you.
Indications That You Need Air Conditioning Replacement
Tuesday, August 5th, 2014The average lifespan for an air conditioning system is 10-12 years, so it is likely that you will need to replace yours at some point. Replacing your air conditioner offers you the opportunity to install a system that is more energy efficient, better for the environment and can better meet your cooling needs. Atlantic Refrigeration has helped many customers in Dover with air conditioning replacement, and, as such, we know the signs of a failing system. Here are some more common ones of which to be aware:
- Your home isn’t comfortable – do you have a hard time keeping your home cool, or are there hot and cold spots throughout? This could be the sign of an aging or incorrectly-sized system. In either case, your comfort is compromised, which negates having an air conditioner at all.
- Your air conditioner is more than 10 years old – according to EnergyStar.gov, today’s air conditioners can be as much as 60% more efficient than ones from just 10 years ago. Part of the reason for this is that in 2006, federal guidelines mandated that the minimum SEER number be raised from 10 to 13. Considering you can save up to 5% per SEER point in energy costs, upgrading your system can lead to substantial savings.
- You’re facing expensive repairs – if you are facing a repair that financially would cover a large part of the cost of a new system, it may be time to consider full replacement.
- Constant repairs – is your air conditioner constantly breaking down? Are you calling for air conditioning repair frequently because another problem has developed with your system? Repair costs can add up, and it may not make sense to keep paying for them on an aging unit.
- You air conditioner uses R-22 (Freon) – R-22 is being phased out by the federal government; for now, if your AC uses with Freon, you can recharge it if needed, but prices on it are rising rapidly. Additionally, if your air conditioner uses Freon, you’ll have to replace the system by 2020 because Freon will no longer be available. As such, if you’re having continued problems with your R-22 refrigerant, you are probably paying more money for the repairs simply because it’s R-22. Both problems may make it worthwhile to replace now.
When It’s Time to Replace, Call an Expert
Choosing, sizing and installing a new air conditioner take into account many important factors, which is why it’s important to work with a trained professional from start to finish.
If it’s time for air conditioning replacement in your Dover home, call the people you can trust: Atlantic Refrigeration.
Reasons to Look into Geothermal Cooling
Tuesday, July 29th, 2014During the summer, the largest share of electrical power in your home goes straight to the air conditioning system to keep the rooms cool. Over only a single season, the costs to remain comfortable in your home using the AC can run quite high.
There are many ways to cut down on your air conditioning bills. One of the best long-term solutions is to install a geothermal cooling system as a replacement for your current AC. This will lower your bills, but also offer numerous other advantages that make this an appealing change—even with the large amount of work required for the installation.
However, you don’t need to worry about the intensive labor involved, because Atlantic Refrigeration can handle that when it comes to geothermal cooling in Dover, DE. Here are some of the reasons we think you should contact us to learn more about geothermal power for your home:
Geothermal cooling is also geothermal heating
The first important thing to understand about a geothermal system is that it is actually a heat pump, and that means it can provide heating as well as cooling. Like all heat pumps, a geothermal (or “ground-source”) heat pump moves heat from one location and deposits it in another. A geothermal heat pump can remove heat from indoors and place it in the ground, cooling your home, or it can move the heat from the ground and bring it indoors for warmth.
Efficient, reliable operation
The secret to the lower costs of geothermal cooling is that the heat pump uses the stable temperature of the earth 6–10 feet under the frost line for its heat exchange. No matter how hot it grows outside, the heat pump always has a cool place to deposit heat from inside you home. A geothermal system works even more efficiently during cold weather, when standard heat pumps (“air-source” heat pumps) will suffer drops in efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that geothermal heat pumps work 3–6 times more efficiently than air-source models.
Longevity
There are few home comfort systems that will last as long once installed as a geothermal heat pump. The ground loops can endure more than 50 years, with only minimal repairs and easy regular maintenance. This means you will have many years to enjoy the savings from the geothermal heat pump past the initial payback period.
There is one caution with geothermal systems, which is that they will not work in every location and climate. For the loops to effectively draw and deposit heat, they must have sufficient space and depth, and small properties may not offer enough.
It is easy to find out if your house and property are suited to geothermal installation. Rely on us for the installation work for whatever cooling system you decide on.
Call the Dover, DE geothermal cooling experts at Atlantic Refrigeration, and we will send a professional to your house to survey the possibilities.
Problems Caused by Low Indoor Air Quality
Monday, July 14th, 2014According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), low indoor air quality is currently one of the major health threats in the country. Because modern buildings have heavy heat sealing on them to conserve energy, very little fresh air can circulate indoors and clear out the stale air. The air that continues to circulate through a building’s HVAC system begins to collect dust, dirt, pollen, dander, dust mites, and other contaminants that have no way to escape except to return to the air that people inside the building breathe.
Your home can suffer from this problem, but you have options available to increase your indoor air quality. To find out some of the methods that will protect the your family’s health, contact our Dover, DE indoor air quality professionals at Atlantic Refrigeration.
The problems of a reduction in indoor air quality
- Health issues: This is the primary concern of contamination in a home’s air. The EPA links low indoor air quality to a number of health problems, such as bronchitis and increases in asthma and allergy-related symptoms. Insomnia, skin- and eye-irritation, coughing, wheezing, congestion, lethargy, and headaches are also connected to drops in indoor air quality. People who already suffer from asthma and allergies are particularly susceptible to poor air in a home.
- HVAC system inefficiency and malfunctions: The dust and dirt that collects inside the ventilation system of a home (the main reservoir of pollution) will create resistance against airflow from the heater and air conditioner. This will lead to an increase in utility bills as the system struggles to reach its expected level of heating or cooling. The contamination in the ductwork can also cause damage to the interior components and clog the air filter, leading to poor performance and unnecessary repairs.
- Dusty and dirty home: The average amount of dust that a six room house circulates through its HVAC system each year is 40 lbs.! It won’t stay in the ventilation system either: that dust and dirt will settle all over a home, making it difficult to keep furnishings and floors clean. A house that seems to never stay dust-free for long, no matter how often you dust, is warning you that the air quality is poor and something needs to be done.
What you can do to raise your air quality
There are many ways to combat poor indoor air quality, and professionals like those at Atlantic Refrigeration can help you. Air filtration systems and electronic air purifiers can prevent particles from entering the air and the ventilation system. Energy recover ventilators and heat recovery ventilators allow fresh outdoor air into your home without losing energy and jeopardizing comfort. Duct testing and sealing can prevent excess contamination from entering the ductwork and subsequently into your home.
If you want to breather easier call our Dover, DE indoor air quality specialists today and get started with cleaning the air in your home.