Program Donates A/C Units to the Elderly

With heatwaves imminent this summer, having a healthy and working air conditioner is certainly a vital aspect of staying cool. For elderly people on a fixed income, this is not always an easy endeavor. Air conditioner prices and maintenance fees are only continuing to rise as the years go by. In some areas, such as Janesville, Wisconsin, there is an organization dedicated to aiding these financially strapped citizens to ensure they stay healthy and cool in the hottest times of the year.

The need for an organization of this kind is certainly apparent in a place like South Florida. Here at the Miami air conditioning team, we know how unbearably hot it can get in the winter months. Beneficiaries in Wisconsin have raved that the organization has saved their lives--that there is no way they could have battled the summer heat without air conditioning. By donating wall units, there is assurance that at least one of the rooms in their home can offer cool air.

30 Air Conditioners Stolen from School

While news of air conditioner theft is not anything new, this latest case has certainly set a record of sorts. In Glendale, AZ, all thirty of the air conditioners at the Omega Charter School were stolen or vandalized while the school was on spring break. The students and teachers at the facility are having trouble concentrating in the intense heat. To replace the air units, principal Eric Pawlak has shared that it will cost about $80,000. That money comes directly from classroom funding, thereby limiting resources for the upcoming year.

The Miami air conditioner team has learned that the school is hoping to garner funds from local business donations to help curb the cost from the nonprofit facility's own pockets. If you're interested in helping out, contact the school at 623-979-7173.

Air Conditioning Costs to Soar this Summer

The rising costs associated with the cutback of R-22 production is poised to cause serious problems for many this summer as the temps heat up. The demographic that may be hit the hardest? Elderly citizens living on fixed incomes. The odds of heat exhaustion and death is certainly a possibility.

So what's with the phasing out of R-22? Well, the chemical is a refrigerant for a/c units that also is harmful to the ozone layer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to slow production by 45 percent from last year's amount. Those with leaky a/c's will certainly feel the burn in their wallets as they replace fluids that have skyrocketed in price. How high have price tags jumped? In 2008, a 30lb. drum of R-22 was $55. Two months ago, the same drum cost $385.

It's best to perform a diagnostic check on your Miami air conditioning unit and prevent any leaks from forming or getting any bigger. Schedule an appointment today!

Initiatives to Use Less Energy-A New Trend?

The Public Power District in Omaha is trying to put a cap on residents and their energy consumption with an interesting financial incentive--with locals getting paid for using less energy! Residents enroll in an Air Conditioning Management Program, and a specialist will help you manage your central air and maximize your energy consumption. Here in Miami, we're optimistic something similar could come our way in the future! With how much of our day to day life depends on air conditioning and beating the heat, there could be a great market for air conditioning management.

The management works like this: a contractor will come install a box that is directly wired to the home air conditioner. The management will take place between a window of the day during the hottest days of the year, switching the unit on and off to keep air flowing but not excessively so. Learn more about the technology here--hopefully we'll see if the idea catches on and spreads South!

Earth Week Tips You Can Practice at Home

This year, why not embrace the energy saving agenda of Earth Week and incorporate a few tricks into your home to save money and conserve energy? The Miami air conditioning professionals are here to share a few ideas! Some things are easier than others, but remember that every little bit helps when it comes to conserving the environment.

Still got an old, outdated air conditioner? Now may be the time for you to upgrade to an Energy Star approved unit. These models use up to 25 percent less energy than recent models and up to 40 percent less energy than their prehistoric counterparts dating back longer than a decade.

Clean the filter! This will increase efficiency and cut back on how hard your unit has to work.

Size the air conditioner appropriately. If you get one the right size, you'll cut down humidity, you'll maximize the life of an air unit, and you'll get the most efficiency out of it too.

While Earth Week is a designated week on the calendar, you should really treat every day like it's Earth Day.

Can Air Conditioning Keep Allergies at Bay?

Many people have allergies that come rolling in with the warm weather, and here in South Florida there is certainly no shortage of pollen. However, tree pollen allergies aren't the only allergy culprits coming around this spring--there's another outdoor pollen that could cause discomfort: grass pollen. In some areas, there may even be double the allergies! Molds are also at a high right now, so the outdoors can really cause allergic problems for many Americans looking to get outside.

So, what can you do? According to doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, there's more to combating allergies than simply taking antihistamines. Using your air conditioner to keep cool and shutting the windows can go a long way in deterring pollen problems. In fact, you'll cut the indoor pollen by about 90 percent! If you need further advice on keeping cool & staying comfortable be sure to reach out to your favorite South Florida air conditioner experts!

How Much A/C Drip is Normal?

Air conditioner condensation is a normal part of a healthy, functioning air conditioner. But sometimes, too much drip can be a sign of a faulty machine. So how do you know how much drip (and where) is a sign of a healthy air conditioner? The Miami air conditioning professionals will help you!

Air conditioners can be misunderstood. They don't solely project cold air into your home, they "condition" air, and they work to reduce humidity. The condensation that collects is similar to the process that occurs when condensation forms on the glass of an iced drink, only this condensation is occurring on cold surfaces of the air conditioning unit.

The amount of condensation depends on humidity levels as well as the size, efficiency and installation of the air conditioner. Drips should occur a majority of the time at the back of the air unit--and drips elsewhere may be signs of a problem. Dripping from the front could mean that you have installation errors. This is serious, because it could lead to mold problems.

More info on air conditioner drips & other household air conditioner tips to come soon!

Give Your A/C a Workout

Spring is here, and the need for air conditioning is certainly apparent. In the interest of saving your air conditioner and avoiding problems with your air conditioner unit, you'll want to give it a little workout and make sure that it's up to par for the coming months of summer.

A standard repair for your air conditoner in an inexpensive yet highly efficient part of owning an air conditioner. Considering that here in Miami, your air conditioner will be running an high to beat the 100+ degrees heat. Scheduling a checkup for your air conditioner is a process that you need to have a hands-on impact with. When the air maintenance worker arrives, pay attention to the process and the things that the professional says. Request a checklist that shows the status of your air conditioner parts and anything that may need to be replaced in the near future.