Harper’s Air understands that air conditioning is crucial for comfort in your daily life here in Lauderdale By the Sea, FL. A well maintained AC unit, with yearly inspections and monthly filter changes, can last up to 10 or 15 years.
How do I know if I need repairs for my unit or if I need a replacement?
How old is your air conditioner? The most common reason for a new unit is age. The older your unit gets the less efficient it is and it will continue to lose energy efficiency over time.
Pay attention to how often it needs repairs. Once a year isn’t quite indicative of the need for a new unit yet, but it certainly means you could be getting close to the time to replace it. Getting a new unit can actually save you money in the long run on energy costs and repairs.
Replacing an old unit can also have unseen benefits, including improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions.
How stable does your unit keep the temperatures in your home? This isn’t always directly related to needing a new AC unit, but combine this with the age of your unit and you could be looking for a new one soon.
Temperature inconsistencies also can be the result of leaky ductwork or poor insulation. Contact our officetoday and we can have one of our service technicians diagnose the problem for you.
When a unit gets older it performs less and less efficiently. One thing to pay attention to is the humidity level in your home. A unit that is aging won’t dehumidify as well as it should.
Older systems don’t perform as efficiently and in fact can diminish in efficiency each year. If you have noticed a steady increase in your utility bills, it may be time to examine whether or not your system needs replacing.
The experienced technicians at Harper’s Air can help diagnose any problems you are having and let you know whether or not the problems you are having mean you need a new HVAC system. Call us at 305-266-1040 today or request service online.
A major part of your health relies on getting a good night’s sleep. That’s why it’s not just important to run your air conditioner during the hot summer days. You also need to keep your home comfortably cool at night as well.
At Harper’s Air, we understand that depending on your air conditioner to run efficiently is crucial to helping you get the good night’s sleep you deserve. We also know how critical sleep is to everyday life, so we make it a priority to provide our customers in the Fort Lauderdale, FL, area a cooling system that ensures the utmost comfort all hours of the day or night.
According to a study published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), part of the US National Library of Medicine (NLM), it’s recommended to set your thermostat between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night for a comfortable full night’s sleep. By comfortable, we mean not constantly waking up to add blankets or to turn down the thermostat in the middle of the night. Additionally, your body will not have to worry about regulating its own temperature, because your room will already be set to the ideal sleeping condition to do that for you.
By keeping your air conditioner in tip-top shape all year long, you can help prevent any potential problems that can arise during the times when you need your cooling system most. That means scheduling regular maintenance for one of our professionals to come out and thoroughly clean your unit of any debris, dust, or dirt, and confirm there are not any leaks or cracks.
Once you know your system is working in prime condition, here are three health benefits you can experience from lowering your thermostat’s temperature at night:
1. Helps your mood
It’s not just your physical health that will improve—your mental health will significantly change as well. Getting uninterrupted sleep is essential for staying alert, energetic, and keeping a positive outlook on life. The less signs of irritability and exhaustion you show, the more likely you will be able to function at your best.
2. Fights aging
Resting comfortably and staying cool are not the only advantages of lowering your home’s temperature before going to bed each night. While sleeping, your body is also more likely to release melatonin, a hormone that fights symptoms of aging and helps prevent getting wrinkles sooner than you should.
3. Contributes to weight loss
It’s not just a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise that are the necessary components to losing weight. You also need a healthy sleeping pattern to help shed those unwanted pounds. Without a comfortable and proper sleep schedule, your weight-loss plan will not be as effective and ultimately can increase your odds of losing muscle mass instead of fat.
Follow our simple air conditioning tips, and schedule your seasonal maintenance today. Give our Harper’s Airprofessionals a call at 305-266-1040 or request your service online. We can help you live healthier by keeping you and your family comfortable at home throughout the hot summer months ahead.
At Harper’s Air, we’re often asked, “Do air conditioners kill off mold?” This is a common misconception. A properly maintained and functioning air conditioner (AC) can decrease the likelihood of mold growth. This is because it acts as a humidity balancer. But if mold forms, the air conditioner can’t prevent it from growing. This is why it’s important to occasionally examine your ducts for any leakage, which can cause mold. The spores from the mold can circulate through the vents and cause your lungs to become irritated, especially if your suffer from allergies.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mold exists in nearly every home. It usually doesn’t become a noticeable problem until dampness and/or humidity are introduced. Having a well-serviced air conditioner is a good step towards preventing mold.
Here are some tips to keep mold from forming:
Though you might be tempted to save on electricity, this is a smart way to keep mold out. By preserving balanced humidity inside, mold won’t have a leg to stand on. Besides humidity, mold also likes air to be stationary. With the ventilation your air conditioner provides, mold growth is less likely. This is well worth the extra money, especially if you have allergies.
You may feel like doing it yourself, but it could be a risky move. Mold spores are a health risk. Our technicians at Harper’s Air have plenty of experience safely removing mold from equipment. During routine HVAC maintenance checkups, it’s not uncommon to find mold growth on evaporator coils, air handlers, and condensation pans.
In addition to any mechanical problems, our team of professionals can spot mold growth and stop it in its tracks. Our examiners are thorough and will fix any leakage found in your air conditioner or ducts. We want our homeowners here in Miami, FL, to lead healthy and productive lives. You shouldn’t have household allergens standing in your way.
Remember, mold is a silent lurker. Keep your house’s humidity balanced, and be on the lookout for leakage. If you discover a large amount of mold, play it safe, and have a professional take care of it.
We hope you’ll keep these tips handy and reference them as needed. If your air conditioner is moldy, damaged, or in need of inspection, give us a call at 305-266-1040.
An air conditioner, just like a car, needs regular maintenance and service to run efficiently. At Harper’s Air, we recommend getting your air conditioning unit serviced and cleaned once a year. The optimum time is in the spring to ensure your unit will run with the most efficiency during the hottest summer months. You need to be able to rely on your air conditioner for your comfort here in Miami, FL.
The short answer is it saves you money!
An air conditioner collects dust and dirt continuously as it sits throughout the year, not only in the months when it’s running. Though this tiny debris may not seem harmful, when it accumulates throughout the year, it can make its way into the cracks and crevices of your unit, as well as everywhere else. This creates gunk and wreaks havoc on the different parts involved in the cooling process.
When this happens, parts break down much sooner than expected and can add up to costly repairs. It also decreases the life expectancy of your system, forcing you to purchase a new air conditioner much sooner than you may have planned.
Regular air-conditioning maintenance also supports your system’s energy efficiency. Simple acts you can perform yourself, like replacing a dirty and clogged air filter, can reduce your energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent. This translates to you spending less money on your utility bills. Professional and DIY maintenance alleviates higher bills and keeps your air conditioner working at its manufacturer’s intended efficiency.
Even if you are fastidious with doing your own regular home maintenance, you should always have your unit cleaned and checked in the spring by a professional. There are many tasks only a professional technician is trained and certified to perform. Neglecting these professional tasks constitutes poor maintenance and will negatively affect your system in the long run, again, costing you money.
Here’s a brief overview of what our knowledgeable and experienced technicians do during your air-conditioning-maintenance appointment:
