Tag: Air Conditioner Tune Up
22 Energy Saving Tips To Save You Money
Little changes that can add up to big savings on your annual cooling costs
With energy prices on the rise, these energy saving tips can amount to big savings on your cooling and heating expense. Energy costs in South Florida are 40% higher than the national average, according to EIA’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Your air conditioning system is responsible for up to 60% of your energy consumption in South Florida. With just a few simple changes to your lifestyle and your home, you could be saving hundreds of dollars on your annual energy bills.
- Use ceiling fans to cool off for less. Ceiling fans use no more electricity than a standard light
bulb. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave the room. - Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter-clockwise direction In the summer; in the winter, run it at low speed, but clockwise.
- Cool your home at 78 degrees or higher with the thermostat fan switched to auto. For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or higher when you’re away.
- Install a programmable thermostat to adjust your temperature during the day.
- Close your exterior doors and windows tightly when the AC is on. Save even more by turning off kitchen and bath exhaust fans.
- Window tinting can help reduce room temperature in rooms that have a sunny exposure. Especially a south west exposure in late afternoon when the outside temperature is at its highest.
- Clean or replace the A/C filter at least once per month to help your unit run more efficiently and trim cooling costs.
- Consider purchasing an lifetime electrostatic air filter. It will do a better job of keeping your coil clean and trap allergens better than the thick hypoallergenic disposable air filters that restrict air flow.
- If you have an older air conditioner with a SEER rating of under 16, consider upgrading to a higher efficiency model. Not only will your AC be more efficient, you could also be eligible for a utility company rebate and Energy Star Federal Tax Credit. The higher the SEER rating, the more your will save. Consider a two stage or multi-stage AC unit for even more saving.
- If you have a manual thermostat be sure the fan switch is set to “auto” to save energy. Leaving it in the “on” position keeps air running constantly.
- Block the sun from overheating your home! Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs..
- Get a AC tune-up. Running an inefficient AC system can result in high monthly bills.
- Open interior doors so that cooled air flows freely throughout your home.
- Repair leaky ducts to reduce heating and cooling costs.
- Install attic insulation to reduce high home cooling costs up to 20%. You’ll save money each month and may qualify for a rebate.
- Check for household leaks to make sure air isn’t escaping through openings such as fireplace dampers, doors and windows. Make sure your weatherstripping is not allowing air to escape. If it is, replace it.
- Decorate for a cooler home by hanging light-colored curtains that allow light to enter a room while blocking some of the sun’s rays, and light-colored paint to reflect heat.
- Close unused air vents. If you have central AC you can close air vent and doors in rooms you’re not using so you’re not paying to cool them.
- Plant trees to provide shade on the sunny side of your home. Use large potted plants that can provide adequate shade (Ficus Trees) if you have a patio apartment.
- Install more ceiling fans. Because the breeze of a fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler, you can raise that thermostat and still stay comfortable.
- When you have your roof replaced, go with a lighter color. The more reflective the color the lower your attic temperature. One study showed a 20 degree temperature difference in the attic when the homeowner changed from dark grey roof tiles to white.
- Have your AC system evaporator coils cleaned, if needed. Restricted air flow will not only cause your air conditioning unit to freeze up, it will impact your cooling costs. An air conditioner with restricted air flow causes your air conditioner to work much harder and can potentially damage your air conditioner and reduce its lifespan.
Your comfort is our top priory.
Universal air and Heat is dedicated to providing the best air conditioning repair and installation service from South Florida to Tampa, Florida. We have become a leader in the air conditioning industry by consistently delivering outstanding customer service.
We offer Free AC System Estimates and Free Service calls ($49 value) with repair.
Call Universal Air and Heat for all of your air conditioning and indoor air quality needs.
Energy Savings Tips – Air Duct Cleaning Saves At Least 11 Percent On Your Annual Energy Costs
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning a home or small commercial building is requires a lot of energy.
Your HVAC (heating, air conditioning and Ventilation) system accounts for 30 percent of the energy used in an average home or small building. In addition, heating and cooling larger dwellings accounts for up to half of the energy use. On the whole, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are by far the largest sources of energy use within a home or building. Heating and air conditioning systems tend to be the most important and expensive investment we make to our property but somehow, we take it for granted and most heating and cooling systems tend to be poorly maintained. These systems, which are used every day of the year, get dirty and can become heavily contaminated with dirt, dust, animal dander, and more.
Your HVAC (heating, air conditioning and Ventilation) system accounts for 30 percent of the energy used in an average home or small building.
Believe it or not, heating and cooling systems in new homes and buildings are often heavily fouled before occupants move in due to construction debris. Contaminated heating and
cooling systems contribute to poor indoor air quality in the form of increased airborne particulates and reduced comfort. Fouled systems have to work much harder due to decreased air flow which makes them more prone to failure. When it comes to having a productive, energy-
efficient heating and air conditioning system, air flow is king. Increased air flow equals better performance. When HVAC systems become fouled, air flow is reduced. Dirty filters, clogged coils, fouled blowers and other components impede air flow and and make your air conditioning unit work harder and result in increased energy costs.
The solution is to have the heating and air conditioning system professionally cleaned by a NADCA certified Air systems Cleaning Specialist. Professional cleaning for a heating and air conditioning system entails cleaning not only the ductwork, but also the vents, registers, blower, coils, and other complete cleaning of the heating and air conditioning system is a highly specialized duct cleaning service that differs from the routine maintenance provided by the air conditioning technician sent out to clean and adjust the air conditioners. Complete cleaning of the heating and air conditioning system is important to ensure your air conditioning system continues to operate at peak efficiency. Call Universal Air and Heat to thoroughly clean your air handler components. 813-510-5667
So how much does it cost to operate a fouled heating and cooling system?
That is the question asked by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), a not-for-profit association representing companies around the world that inspect, clean and restore heating and air conditioning systems. In 2008 NADCA initiated a project with researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) to conduct an in-depth study of this issue. Researchers conducted two field trials to assess the accuracy of the computer model.
Through this process, researchers came to realize that there was no comprehensive data available to quantify the savings that can be achieved through cleaning of heavily-fouled systems, typical of systems regularly encountered by NADCA members. (For purposes of this research, “Heavily-fouled” systems are defined as systems where complete cleaning results in a pressure change of at least 30 percent. Pressure change is simply an easier way to measure air flow.)
The calculations in the computer model were based on data collected from lightly-fouled systems – systems that are not very dirty.
According to the results of the study, cleaning even lightly-fouled systems can produce substantial energy savings. These findings are based on complete cleaning of heating and 
air conditioning systems in accordance with NADCA’s ACR 2006 Standard, which includes cleaning ductwork, coils, blower, other air-side system components, and changing the filter. Based on the initial research, cleaning a lightly-fouled system provides, on average, an 11 percent savings off of the energy used for heating and air conditioning systems.
Researchers have proven that cleaning even lightly-fouled heating and cooling systems can result in energy savings of 11 percent. Cleaning heavily-fouled systems is expected to produce an even greater savings than cleaning systems that are essentially clean. In addition to these savings, consumers who have their heating and cooling system cleaned can benefit from improved indoor air quality, reduced maintenance costs and extended life expectancy for the heating and cooling system. While not yet confirmed, cleaning
heavily-fouled systems is expected to produce even greater energy savings.
We Repair Your AC Unit Right The First Time
Universal Air & Heat: ‘Doing it right the first time’
Palm Beach Post 2:48 p.m. Friday, July 27, 2012
By Keith Merritt
There is certainly no shortage of competition when it comes to addressing your heating and cooling needs — especially here in South Florida — but the key is finding a company that truly meets (and exceeds) your needs in every possible way. If your search ends with Universal Air & Heat, you’ll be in good hands.
Mike Thompson, 35, started the company in 1997. In just 15 years, he has transformed the business from a one-truck operation to a 22-truck fleet, and now services all areas from the Florida Keys to Port St. Lucie, as well as Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties on the west coast of Florida.
Universal Air & Heat is an ASCS (Air Systems Cleaning Specialist) and NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) certified company, and is a state-licensed air-conditioning contractor. They are also members of the Better Business Bureau, where they maintain an A+ rating.
Professionalism
It would be extremely difficult to find a more professional operation than the one Thompson and his team run at Universal Air & Heat.
For starters, all technicians are company employees and are EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) licensed and NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified. The company fully insures all of its techs and carries the highest limits of insurance coverage on all jobs — including property, worker’s compensation and general liability.
All techs wear uniforms, and their trucks are adorned with the Universal Air & Heat logo. A company badge and credentials are also visible, and they treat each home they enter as if it were their own: using shoe covers, drop-cloths and other items to preserve the property’s cleanliness.
It’s important to note that when you hire Universal Air & Heat, the service will be provided by a company employee, as Universal does not use subcontractors.
Certified
“An employee typically values their relationship with customers more than a subcontractor does, and subcontractors oftentimes carry only the minimum requirements of insurance liability,” Thompson explained.
When installing a new A/C unit, Thompson points out that Universal Air & Heat always pulls a permit.
“It is very important that a permit is pulled on every job, to ensure that equipment is installed correctly and safely for the customer. We adhere to all local and state codes that are required for proper installation, and they are approved by the appropriate inspector,” Thompson noted. “If a contractor tells you he can do a job without a permit, chances are that you will incur a problem — not to mention fines and other penalties.”
Products
Universal Air & Heat sells only the highest-quality level of products by companies such as Rheem, Trane, Carrier and Bryant, and the staff recommends super-high-efficiency units.
NADCA-approved services
are available on request.
Call for pricing and details.
“When you consider the savings on electric bills, the air conditioners we suggest to our customers actually pay for themselves within four or five years,” said Thompson. “And we make them available at the best possible price.”
In addition to selling and installing new air-conditioning units, the list of services provided by Universal Air & Heat is far too long to list. But it includes air-duct cleaning and dryer-vent cleaning.
Duct-cleaning services
Two types of duct-cleaning services are offered. There
Air Conditioner Tune Up Specials – How to Stay Cool in Florida During the Summer Heat
AC REPAIR SERVICE – MIAMI FL – BROWARD COUNTY FL – PALM BEACH COUNTY FL – TAMPA FL
It’s that time of year again… Summer in South Florida where the average daily temperature is 95 degrees with 90 percent humidity. That’s a lot of wear and tear on your Air Conditioner, the most essential and expensive piece of equipment in your home. Can you imagine surviving the hottest time of year without your AC Unit? Like all machinery your air conditioner requires routine maintenance in order to cool at peak efficiency and help prevent costly breakdowns. The best way ensure your air conditioning system will cool reliably and keep your energy bills in check is to call the professionals at Universal Air and Heat. Our air conditioner Tune Up includes a 24 point check up in addition to checking for microbial growth inside you air conditioning unit. Schedule your appointment online and enjoy additional savings. That’s right, take 10% off any AC Repair, air conditioner tune up or duct cleaning service when you schedule your appointment online. Our certified air conditioning technicians will keep your A/C system working properly to keep you cool during the hottest summer days in South Florida. All of our professional air conditioning service technicians are employees of Universal Air and Heat. This ensures the highest quality AC repair service every time you call. Our friendly and knowledgeable customer service staff are always here to assist you.
Call Today
Universal Air and Heat is gearing up with amazing air conditioner Tune-Up specials for Summer…
Beat the heat at unbelievable savings!
