Touchstone Heating & Air Inc Blog | Air Conditioning and Heating Tips

Air Conditioning: Reducing Energy Costs

September 23rd, 2013

Did you look over your air conditioning bills after a muggy Florida summer and wonder what you could’ve done to lower them? Touchstone Heating & Air has some good advice on what you can do to get those AC electric bills down and keep them down. When it comes to air conditioning in Gainesville, FL, trust our experienced team to help you get the most from your system.

A very simple step you can take to use less power with your AC is to make more use of the “fan only” mode. Some people don’t realize that this mode uses significantly less power than when the unit is set to cooling. With the air conditioner set to “fan only,” no power goes to the compressor that sends refrigerant through the system. Although you won’t get cooled air from your vents, you will get excellent air circulation to provide you with relief from stagnant air.

Try to avoid the temptation to crank your AC to its coldest setting. According to the EPA, if you raise your thermostat a mere six degrees from 72° to 78°, you can save up to 18% on your electricity bill each year. Most people will find 78° comfortable no matter the weather outside. Stabilize your daytime use at this temperature, and then take advantage of the cool evening temperature to raise it further or to shut it off and you should see a positive effect on your monthly power bills.

Finally, have a professional complete preventive maintenance on your air conditioner to make sure that it operates efficiently. Dirt building up inside the case, overworked motors, poor connections, and refrigerant leaks will all lead to an AC that sucks up more energy than it should. The better your AC runs, the less power it will waste. Plan to get check-ups twice a year for your air conditioner. The fall is a good time to start, since technicians will have more open schedules.

Touchstone Heating & Air takes pride in making customer satisfaction our top priority. Your air conditioning in Gainesville, FL is in good hands when you call on us.

Air Conditioning Repair: Fan Not Turning On

September 16th, 2013

With high levels of humidity and a warm season that lasts all year, living in Florida requires a reliable air conditioner to keep you comfortable. If an important part of your AC stops working, like the fan, you can’t afford to wait to do something about it. If you need air conditioning repair in Gainesville, FL, look no further than the skilled staff at Touchstone Heating & Air for professional help.

Your air conditioner needs two fans to operate, one each in the inside and outside units. The inside fan blows cool air through your vents, and the outside one takes care of removing the heat. If either fan stops working, you will not receive the cold air you expect from your AC.

The most common cause of the fans failing to turn on is a burned out motor. Without maintenance, the motors can run down from long use and overheat, damaging their wiring. It’s a good idea to have an HVAC specialist take a look at your AC after the intense summer months so you can avoid a motor failure that will leave your fans stuck in one place.

A problem with the capacitor could be one of the reasons for your fan not turning on. The capacitor is a small cylinder-shaped device that acts as the catalyst for the motors that run the fans as well as the compressor. If the capacitor is unable to send voltage to the fan motors, they won’t operate. Don’t try to repair a burned-out compressor on your own—there is a danger of electrical shock! Let a professional handle this problem.

It’s possible that all the components inside the air handler and the condenser are working fine—and the problem is actually the thermostat. If your thermostat is improperly calibrated, it might think that your home doesn’t need the fan in operation and won’t turn on. You might need to have the thermostat fixed or perhaps have an up-to-date unit installed in its place.

A non-working fan needs attention right away. Don’t hope that it will fix itself and start spinning the next time you turn on your AC. Regardless of the root problem, Touchstone Heating & Air can get your air conditioning repair needs taken care of in Gainesville, FL. Contact us today to schedule service.

Air Conditioning Tip: Your AC and Your Generator

September 9th, 2013

Hurricane season is coming up, and power outages are something Florida residents need to seriously consider. Using an emergency generator or a standby generator is something many people rely on. But how does a generator affect your air conditioning system, and vice versa?

Touchstone Heating & Air has many years of experience with the air conditioning trouble you might expect with the troublesome hurricane weather in Gainesville, FL. Here are a few things you should know about your air conditioner and your generator:

Starting up your AC: Like many machines, the time where your air conditioner needs to draw the most power is when it turns on. When using an emergency or standby generator, try to avoid numerous start-ups with your AC. Think of it like flooding the engine of a car: too many tries, and the whole thing shuts down.
Know your power needs: How much energy does your AC require to run? How much can your generator give it? You don’t want your air conditioner overloading your generator, or your generator to fail to provide enough electricity to operate your air conditioner. An HVAC expert can help you determine the best fit between the two.
Prepare Your AC for the season: If your air conditioner has not received regular preventive maintenance, some of its components can cause serious problems when hooked up to a generator. An overloaded compressor, a malfunctioning capacitor, or overheated fan motors: any one of these could cause a power surge and damage your generator. You will need to call in a specialist to diagnose possible voltage issues with your air conditioner before hurricane season starts. With this kind of power involved, don’t risk trying to fix any the AC yourself!

Hurricane season can be a frightening time. But if you’ve taken care of your air conditioner, you shouldn’t have to worry about it causing trouble with your emergency or standby generator. To get ready for the season, call our Gainesville, FL air conditioning technicians. We can help you with the maintenance you need to feel secure. We also serve Lake City and the surrounding areas.

Happy Labor Day!

September 2nd, 2013

On the first Monday of every September, we celebrate Labor Day in honor of workers everywhere who strive to make our local community and country great. We enjoy the holiday like any other business as a time for BBQ, hanging out with friends and family, and celebrating the end of summer. It also means the start of the NFL and college football seasons.

The origins of Labor Day are disputed, as is the case with many other holidays. Some cite Matthew Maguire, the machinist and secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York, while others cite Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor. By 1894, the holiday had become widely recognized and was designated a federal holiday by Congress and President Grover Cleveland immediately following the Pullman Strike, which pitted US Marshals and US Military against employees of Pullman Palace Car Company outside Chicago. At the time, it was a way of recognizing the importance of our workers’ contributions.

Today, we see Labor Day as an opportunity to recognize all the people who work hard to contribute to our county. Thank you, and Happy Labor Day from all of us!

Benefits of a Home Generator

August 29th, 2013

Electricity is the foundation of modern civilization, providing us with the power to run everything from our computers to our electric dishwashers. Most households get their electricity from the local power company, which in Gainesville, FL, likely means Gainesville Regional Utilities, which has served the city for over 100 years. However, you may wish to consider using a home generator to supplement your power needs. It can provide a number of benefits including (but not limited to) the following.

Emergency power: Gainesville is hurricane territory and when the rain starts falling you can’t always be assured that the lights will stay on. A home generator lets you power the your house during an emergency, keeping your house safe and comfortable.
Food storage: If your power goes out and the refrigerator isn’t running, you run the risk of losing your perishable food items. A generator will save you money by making sure that no matter how long the power is out, you won’t have to throw away all the food you have stored in the fridge.
Electrical appliances: Everything from your TV to your AC runs on electricity. If you are in an area prone to power outages, a generator can keep them from disrupting your daily life. This is especially important if you have any medical equipment in the house that a family member relies on.

Hurricanes are no laughing matter and even during milder storms, the electricity can cut out at inopportune times. A home generator serves as important insurance against that happening, help to keep you home comfortable and safe when the weather takes a turn for the worst. If you live in Gainesville, FL, talk to the experts at Touchstone Heating & Air for advice on home generators. Not only can we find the right generator to fit your home and lifestyle, but we can set up a maintenance plan to ensure it’s always running at top efficiency when it’s needed. Contact us today to set up a consultation.

Air Conditioning Guide: 3 AC Components You May Not Know About

August 22nd, 2013

Air conditioning units are complex pieces of machinery, requiring numerous components to function together if they’re going to work as they should. Most people are aware that refrigerant is used, and you can hear fans and blowers run any time you turn the air conditioning system on. But other components play an important role in the process – especially in cities like Gainesville, FL, where AC units run constantly during the hot summer months – and non-experts may not be familiar with their purpose and function. Here are 3 AC components you may not know about and the roles they serve in the cooling process.

Condensate pan: The condensate pan collects condensation that forms on the evaporator coils, then moves it out of the system via a condensate drain. This prevents the condensate from infiltrating the rest of the system, possibly causing water damage.
Expansion valve: The expansion valve serves as a sort of “gateway” to the evaporator coils, where the actual cooling process takes place. Refrigerant arrives at the valve in liquid form and under a great deal of pressure. The valve acts in a manner similar to an aerosol can, releasing a set amount of the liquid into the coils. The liquid evaporates and pulls heat from the nearby air, which a fan then blows into your home.
Condenser coils: The condenser coils put the refrigerant in a liquid state before it moves to the expansion valve. The refrigerant enters the coils as a gas, where it its then cooled to a liquid form. This heat dissipates off the coils, which is then blown out of the system by a fan. For this reason, condenser coils are a part of the outdoor unit.

If you experience problems with your air conditioning system, whether it stems from an unknown component or something more recognizable like the thermostat, it pays to contact a professional as soon as possible. The experts at Touchstone Heating & Air handle air conditioning issues throughout the Gainesville FL area. Call us today and make an appointment.

Don’t Settle for Expensive Air Conditioning

August 13th, 2013

When it comes to air conditioning systems, Gainesville, FL residents can’t be casual. The city’s constant warm temperatures and high humidity make cool, comfortable indoor temperatures an absolute must. But just as air conditioning systems are so necessary, so too do homeowners need to use them in such a way that keeps their monthly electric bills in check. Some people think they have to accept higher costs if they want to stay cool. That’s not necessarily the case. Don’t settle for expensive air conditioning costs when a little foresight and planning can save you a great deal.

Don’t Skimp on Installation or Maintenance

Saving money on air conditioning doesn’t mean “buy a cheap AC unit.” The less expensive the unit, the cheaper its component part are, and the more apt it will be to break down, Moreover, cheap AC units often lack the efficiency of higher-end models, costing you in monthly bills every month. Inexpensive labor, too, can cause problems, since an improperly installed air conditioning unit is more vulnerable to wear and tear, and may create serious problems far sooner than a unit installed by a trained expert.

Furthermore, an air conditioning unit that doesn’t receive routine upkeep and maintenance can drive those monthly bills higher. Components can get dirty, leaks can form from loose fittings, and the normal grind of wear-and-tear eventually takes its toll. When air filters get excessively dirty, they can impede the flow of cool air, while clogs of obstructions at various points will also slow down the flow of air. If your refrigerant leaks, your air conditioning unit will struggle to cool the air in your home. All of these can result not only in higher energy bills, but also more frequent repairs.

Maintenance Saves Money

You can help prevent those higher costs with a regular maintenance plan. A trained professional can come to your home and give your air conditioning system a thorough going over: cleaning dirty components, sealing leaks, recharging refrigerant and identifying faulty components in need of further repair. That process not only saves you money in deferred service calls, but it improves your unit’s overall efficiency, letting it do more with less energy and cutting down on your monthly bills.

For quality air conditioning installation and maintenance in Gainesville, FL, speak to the professionals at Touchstone Heating & Air. We can install your air conditioning unit right the first time, every time, and our maintenance program help you keep your system running at top capacity.

What are Some Environmentally Friendly Air Conditioning Options?

August 5th, 2013

Air conditioning installation can be a major operation, but the benefits are also considerable. Not only does it allow you to replace an older unit with a newer (and presumably more efficient) model, but it can increase your house’s resale value a well. If you’re looking to install a new air conditioning unit, you might want to think about an environmentally friendly option. Gainesville, FL has been moving in an environmentally friendly direction for years as evinced by the municipal government’s recent backing of solar power for homes and small businesses. You can contribute to an environmentally friendly city by looking into greener options for your air conditioning installation.

The biggest environmentally friendly decision you can make concerns the choice of air conditioning unit itself. Systems that are ENERGY STAR rated have a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings, and use less energy than their counterparts, which helps you save energy and money by keeping you AC energy costs low.

Depending upon your living situation, you may also wish to consider a geothermal system or a heat pump of a traditional AC unit. Geothermal systems use very little energy since they use the ambient temperature of the earth to heat and cool your home. Air source heat pumps are simpler to install than geothermal systems, and they are also a good choice if you want a single solution for both heating and cooling your home.

Two-stage compressors in your new air conditioning unit provide another environmentally friendly option. These units operate on one of two separate speeds. The low speed runs when temperatures are mild while the higher speed kicks in when the heat really rises. It uses less energy, since it can adjust its output to match the climate, and cuts down on the environmental impact.

If you’re looking for eco-friendly air conditioning options, call the experts at Touchstone Heating & Air. We provide a variety of green air conditioning options and have been providing Gainesville, FL air conditioning installation service for years.

Why Integrate Zone Control into Your Air Conditioning

July 29th, 2013

In Gainesville, FL, air conditioning is no laughing matter. Hot, humid summers necessitate an escape into the cool comfort of your home, making a proper air conditioning system far more of a necessity than a luxury. But you may find that your air conditioning cools your house unevenly, or cools parts of the house that you rarely spend extended periods of time in. In that case, you may want to integrate a zone control system into your air conditioning system, which provides better control over the air flow in your house and could save you money on your electric bills.

A zone control system basically divides your home into separate zones, then establishes controls allowing you to alter the temperature in each zone. So if one family member can set the temperature to 68 degrees in the living room, while another can sleep in the bedroom with the temperature at 72. Zone control systems do this through a variety of methods, including dampers in your existing duct system that control the air flow to different parts of the house.

There are numerous reasons for doing so. The biggest is probably energy savings. By cooling only specific parts of the house, your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard, and thus spends less energy to perform its job. In addition, zone control allows you to maintain an even temperature throughout your house more readily. An upper story, for example, tends to be warmer than a lower story, since hot air rises. Zone control lets you maintain the same temperature much more easily, so that no single story is warmer or cooler than any other.

If you want to integrate zone control into your air conditioning system, it pays to consult an expert on the best way of going about it. In Gainesville, FL, Touchstone Heating & Air has the expertise to both advise you on your options and to install a zone control system in your house. Contact us today to set up an appointment, and let us show you what a difference our experience and professionalism can make.

Air Conditioning Repair: Why is My AC Blowing Warm Air?

July 22nd, 2013

When you turn on your air conditioning system, you expect it to start producing cool air immediately. But if it is pumping warm air into your home, it likely means that you need to call for air conditioning repair in Jacksonville, FL. Here at Touchstone Heating & Air, we’ve responded to countless calls for service and we often get asked why our customers’ AC system is blowing warm air. Here is a quick explanation of what might be causing this problem and why you should call for repairs immediately.

Low refrigerant – Your air conditioning system uses a compressed refrigerant to remove heat from your home and exhaust it outside. If there isn’t enough refrigerant in the system, then your AC won’t be able to remove the heat from your home’s air and it will just get circulated back into your home.
Broken compressor – Your air conditioning system uses a compressor to compress the refrigerant that it then uses to remove heat from your home’s air. If the compressor is broken, it won’t be able to compress the refrigerant, which means that your AC won’t be able to provide you with any cooling. Instead, the fan will just circulate the warm air from your home back through your ducts and into your house.
Thermostat issues – An often overlooked component of your air conditioning system is the thermostat. Your thermostats detect the temperature in your home and then activate your AC based on the temperature that they read. If the thermostats aren’t working ell they could be telling your AC that your house is cool enough and to just run the fan. This would cause your air conditioner to just circulate hot air through your home.

No matter what kind of air conditioning repair in Jacksonville, FL you need, just call Touchstone Heating & Air immediately. Your air conditioning system won’t automatically fix the issues that its having and they will likely only get worse. Calling for professional repair early is a great way to nip the problem in the bud before it causes further issues with your home’s AC system.