Man Argues with Mom Over A/C, Puts Her In Hospital

An Indianapolis man got in a heated debate with his mother on Sunday night regarding an air conditioner unit, reports say. The 24-year-old son wanted to take his mother's air conditioner and laptop from her home and when his mother tried to stop him as he walked upstairs to grab the goods, he pulled out a stun gun and fired it at her several times.

When officers arrived on the scene, the 53-year-old woman was unconscious and taken for treatment at St. Vincent Hospital. The son, Adelino Sims, was arrested for battery with injury, criminal recklessness, and theft/receiving of stolen property.

Air Repairs Increasingly Difficult in Panama City Beach, FL

Air conditioning repairs in Florida just got a kink in the process, thanks to Panama City Beach city officials. Now, before an air conditioning repairman can replace an air conditioner in a customer's home, they must obtain a city permit. The purpose of the permit is to ensure that the state and federal energy laws and statutes are followed.

The problem? Air conditioner professionals in the area say that the process will require more labor on the part of the air technician, therefore running up the customer's bill. Basically, the process will make each tech certify a building's cooling needs, conduct a load calculation, and inspect the duct system and insulation before obtaining a permit to move forward with repair.

The city says they are only trying to follow federal and state laws regarding air conditioning.

Air Conditioning Needed Earlier This Year

While the use of air conditioning in March in Miami is no surprise, there are some areas in the country where the need for air conditioning this early in the year is quite abnormal. For example, in Michigan, the need for air conditioning has thrown off automated school air systems and also places of employment, such as Plant Operations.

Most businesses are accustomed to switching on the air conditioning at the end of April, which is when the area would historically warm up and allow for temperatures that let the units work at peak performance. The concern lies in the future temperatures, because if the heat wave subsides and brings back icy temps (like New York recently experienced) then there is a risk of water freezing inside the air conditioner system and damaging the equipment--extensively.

South Florida Man Dies While Installing Air Conditioner

Last week, a young man from Hollywood, FL was installing an air conditioner on the roof of a warehouse in Boca Raton. Reports say that a co-worker of the victim, Jason Baltzley, 34, advised Baltzley to steer clear of the metal sheets on the roof, as they were covering a shaft that plunged straight to the ground level of the building. It seems Baltlzey discarded the warning, and he died upon impact of the concrete floor 30 feet below his work station.

The Miami air conditioning team at Edd Helms would like to extend sincere condolences to everyone who was affected by the passing of Baltzley. As a peer in our industry, it is a reminder that our work is a very serious endeavor and safety should be regarded at all times.

Michigan Students Walk Out of Hot Classrooms

Today, the Flint, Michigan school district had an interesting occurrence, when between 150-200 students decided to walk out of classrooms due to the heat. The Flint Northern High School air conditioners were not turned on, despite temperatures outdoors around 80 degrees. Despite the uncomfortable conditions and amount of students who left, classes were not officially cancelled.

In fact, not only were classes still on, but the students who left can now be disciplined to unlawful protest, according to district spokesperson Bob Campbell.

What do you think? Here at the Miami air conditioning experts, we know what's its like to be in extreme heat and no air circulating. While it may be early for Michigan to experience temperatures like today, the school should have a way to activate the air conditioners to avoid overheating of students. Agree?

Teens Dangerously Abusing Air Conditioner Chemicals

In Virginia, a new problem has arisen involving air conditioners. No, it isn't the theft of copper parts--its something much more dangerous: teenagers are huffing the Freon from the air conditioner units in order to get high. Teens have been found filling balloons and bags with the air as a means of inhaling it. While the story was on the local news in Virginia, we're sure it's happening in other parts of the country as well.

Parents should be concerned not only at the hundreds in chemical costs, but also in the potentially life-threatening side effects that can occur from inhaling Freon. It is a highly dangerous chemical that actually dissolves brain tissue. Schools, businesses, and homeowners are urged to put locks on the air conditioner units to avoid suspicious activity of huffing Freon. If you are a parent, your Miami air conditioner friends want to encourage you to explain the dangers and risks that Freon can cause. Knowledge is power, after all.

Air Conditioning Companies Prepare for Competition

As we begin to near the global air conditioning "season," there is plenty of chatter going around regarding all of the developments in the air conditioning industry. Big Korean brands such as LG and Samsung have reported a loss in sales in recent months, but prices for air conditioning units are on the rise. Japanese and Indian air conditioner brands showed to be viable competition last year, with flagship brands such as Hitachi, Toshiba and Panasonic.

Here at Edd Helms Miami air conditioning, we support brands Rheem, York, Trane and Carrier. We also sell and service every major brand.

Are Air Conditioned Spaceships in Our Future?

Two New Zealand boys are on the forefront of science, thanks to a YouTube Space Lab global science contest. The boys, who are Derek Chan, 16 and Patrick Zeng, 17, beat out thousands of entrants to catch the attention of Stephen Hawking. Their experiment focused on heat transfer in microgravity--how fluids were made hot & cold in space there there was no gravity to move heat around. Their experiment used a heater and thermal resistors.

In short, the experiment could lead to NASA scientists pursuing air conditioning and insulation in spaceships to provide a better environment and more comfortable space for future trips. The boys will travel to NASA headquarters for an an awards dinner in March and will find out if they have won the contest overall.

Air Conditioner Maintenance--for your Safety!

Early this morning in Australia, a man's home caught on fire due to a smoking air conditioner unit. As a witness describes, the air conditioning unit was smoking, and then suddenly lit up "like a Roman candle." The witness ran next door to wake up his neighbor and alert him of the impending flames, and he climbed to the roof (where the unit is located) to attempt to put out the fire.

Firemen who arrived on the scene commented on how homeowners should be on top of their air conditioner maintenance. Keep your ears alert for any change in sounds or any difference in performance--it may mean a part is failing or needs replacement.

While the man from this situation was able to put out the flames, he suffered a bill of $150,000 in fire damage.

Opening Windows May Help Your Health

According to recent studies, friendly bacteria that is found outdoors can fend off potentially deadly microbes that arise from air conditioning in ultra-sterile environments. The studies, by Jack Gilbert of Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, are meant to support the idea that air conditioning and an ultra-sterile space may contribute to infections. While we aren't saying air conditioning is dangerous, we're just sharing that fresh air is also an important element to your daily routine!

The study is supported by showing that open windows help to monitor the composition of microbial bacterias found on surfaces. Excessive use of antibacterial wipes and solutions can actually take away good bacteria, and therefore lose the protective elements that the good bacteria can provide in protecting you from the bad.

Just remember, wherever you are, getting outdoors and allowing fresh air to flow in to your lungs is an essential part of living healthy!

The Rising Cost of Refrigerant

As with most necessities, the cost of air conditioning refrigerant went up this past winter. But they didn’t just rise in cost slightly—they rose over 200 percent!

Most homeowners have grown accustomed to the $150-200 sticker price for replacing the refrigerant, but that number range has easily doubled. In the process of limiting the creation of R-22 and attempting to wean it off the air market, an instant need was created—therefore allowing for prices to rise across the board. In fact, experts say that the compound will become more expensive over the next few years--as it continues to get rarer and rarer.

Despite the recent legislation to cut the production of R-22, about 75% of the home air conditioners running today require the material. The fact that the required component will not be available for all will likely prompt the trend of swapping out older air units for newer models.

Global Engineering Conference Introduces Innovations in A/C

Staying ahead of the game and not only following trends, but creating them, is something that many companies strive to do. With the help of conferences such as the Carrier 2012 Global Engineering Conference, likeminded individuals can come together and share groundbreaking ideas and knowledge. The 2012 conference will be no exception. The 11^th annual event is themed ‘20/20 the Future in Focus: Rethink. Restore. Regenerate.”

From all across the globe, engineers bring forth their new technologies, strategies, and equipment. Keynote speakers round out the event as a must-attend event for anyone in the engineering industry. A particular speaker will discuss refrigerants of the future and their impact on the air conditioning industry.

To review the event, visit www.2012GEC.com

Palm Beach Juvenile Center Has Mold Problem

According to a Palm Beach County health inspector, the Juvenile Assessment Center (which contains the Department of Juvenile Justice) has mold-infested office walls that could be toxic to the health of anyone in the building.

Mold in any residential or commercial building is certainly a top health concern. The toxins emitted from mold can do serious harm to the respiratory system and cause permanent or lethal damage. In addition to mold damaged walls, there were also reports of dirty carpets, slimy and old air conditioning equipment, and broken exhaust fans in need of repair. Mold was behind peeling wallpaper, drywall was found damaged due to water, and dead bugs were amidst the window sills. Bird feathers jammed air filters as well.

While some feel that the building is not dangerous for people to be inside, there are already reports of employees who have been repeatedly ill with no clue as to why. A school district police office from the building was the one who requested air quality inspection.

LG Looks to Expand Operations Overseas

Recently, LG was in Chicago showcasing their new line of air conditioners at the AHR (International Air-conditioning, Heating ad Refrigerating) Expo. LG was displaying their residential and commercial air conditioning units, which each boast different efficiency and environmentally friendly engineering.

The annual show is a global draw, and attracts about 2,000 firms from around 30 global countries. LG hopes not only to become the #1 provider of advanced technology air conditioners and home machinery, but also to make an impact worldwide. Last year, LG's global footprint grew by about 10 percent. The company hopes to significantly increase that number in 2012.

Parents Try to Buy A/C for Baltimore School

In Baltimore, parents of students in Middleborough Elementary in Essex made a generous offer to the school board by offering to pay for window unit installation in the school so that the kids can receive air circulation and cool down hot days in the classroom. The school board unfortunately turned down the parents offer--only to turn right around to the state of Maryland and request $70 million in funding to pay for air conditioning in several schools throughout the area.

The air conditioning problems at the school are so bad, in fact, that one student confessed he falls asleep in class regularly because its so hot he can't stay awake. The parents aren't giving up yet. An online petition has been created where parents can sign their support for accepting their air conditioning offer for the school. The parents know that the wall units are not a long term solution, however, the focus is cooling down classrooms for young ones now--not later in the year pending budget approval.

Panasonic Releases New Line of Air Conditioners

This week, Panasonic unveiled a new line of Cube ACs, upgraded from the original design and targeted at commercial customers. The new split ACs are outfitted by ECONAVI technology, which computes various factors such as human location, activity level, absence and sunlight levels to determine the amount of air that should be pumped into a building and at what temperature. The technology is available among 65 different models from 11 different series.

Currently, the units are being introduced in India, with hopes of becoming a household name in the commercial industries for services. The eco take on air conditioning is one that they hope to catch on among consumers looking to cut utility bills and up the technological advances.

Hopefully the Miami air conditioning scene gets a piece of Panasonic's new models in the coming months!

President Obama Doesn't Use Air Conditioning?!

According to President Barack Obama's right-hand man, Obama loves to leave the air conditioner off--even in the midst of summer--to recreate the climate of his native island of Hawaii. Whether it's in the car or the oval office, Obama likes it in the 80s at least.

These insights to the President's climate choice come courtesy of Mr Love, a man who's been his bodyguard/constant companion since 2006. For those not shy of the heat, Mr Love is stepping down from his position to attend business school--which means there are some shoes to fill in Washington.

With weather preference like this, seems like President Obama should make more visits to South Florida, right?! Here at the Miami air conditioning experts, we sure think so. If you prefer your home a little cooler than 80, don't hesitate to contact your trusted air conditioner team at Edd Helms.

Copper Thieves Target Florida Homes as Well

Throughout the country, hard hit economies have seen an uprising of copper thefts, notably from the outdoor air conditioning units of homes. Here in Florida, we aren't numb to the issue. As reports pop up from near and far, a recent report was filed in the Miami Herald about a vacant Florida City home that was stripped of copper.

A thief broke into the vacant house, located at the 700 block of Northwest 13th Terrace, and stole three sinks (valued at $500), an air conditioning unit (valued at $500) and copper pipes valued at $200. In addition to the lost appliances, the damage to the walls incurred from the removal of these items is around $250.

Across the country in cities like Phoenix, thieves are ruthless--stealing from public schools and therefore causing students to sit in class suffering from unbearable heat.

Amazon Workers Claim Warehouses Don't Even Have Air Conditioning

South Florida air conditioning is an essential function to beating the heat on a daily basis. In fact, in the summer months, that goes for most homes and businesses. However, it's apparent that perhaps not all companies feel that way. A recent expose into the Amazon working conditions in the Pennsylvania warehouse are apparently so poor, that employees passed out during summer heat waves because the company didn't have air conditioning in the factories where shipping was organized. Some people even quit over it. In fact, on June 2, 15 employees passed out inside due to the 102 degree work environment.

Publish Post

Also reported, Amazon even had paramedics on standby to wheel out employees post-collapse. They would revive workers, and if people wouldn't get better right away then they were sent home. Amazon representatives couldn't be reached regarding the high turnover rate or the conditions for employees.

You can read more about the article and the incidents here.

Introducing the Portable Air Conditioner!

With the global fascination on all things "mobile," it was only a matter of time before the industry of air conditioning joined in on the fun. Whether you want a little extra cool air at home, at your office or anywhere else you may need a cool down. Aside from not requiring any installation, it's also extremely energy efficient and used on an as-needed basis. Air conditioner repairs are probably a breeze--considering you can take it to whoever needs to fix it!

While it may seem silly to take a portable air conditioner unit around, it's actually smart. You can position it exactly where you want, and you can cool the general area you're in as opposed to an entire home or office. It's keeping you cool without wasting the effect on empty rooms and spaces.

Not that us here in South Florida have much need for a heater, but for those who get chilly, the air conditioner on the go also doubles as a heating mechanism.