Blog - Page 2 of 7 - Action AC | AC Repair and HVAC Contractor in Mobile & Baldwin, AL

July 9, 2024

Need a New Central HVAC system? What should you do?

If you need to replace your current heating and cooling system, there are several questions you need to ask yourself before calling a HVAC systems contractor to purcahse your new central HVAC unit.

You need to calculate the square footage in your home that the central HVAC unit is to cover.
What is the most efficient system for your home, heat strip unit, heat pump, or gas furnace system?
What does SEER rating mean to you?
Should you replace only the outside condenser unit or the inside air handler as well?
What brand should you purchase, and which manufacturers have the best warranty?
Does my duct work need repairs or cleaning?
And finally, how do I choose the best local contractor to replace your unit?

All these questions need your evaluation to help you make the best Central HVAC unit purchase for your particular need.

Measuring the square footage of the area you need to cover is easy. Below is a guide to the size (tonnage) of the unit you need.

1.5 tons – 600 to 1100 square feet
2-tons – 901 to 1400 square feet
2.5-tons – 1201 to 1650 square feet
3 tons – 1501 to 2100 square feet
3.5 tons – 1801-2300 square feet
4 tons – 2101 to 2700 square feet
5 tons – 2401 to 3300 square feet

When it comes to what type of outside condenser to purchase, a system that uses heat strips is the most inefficient when it comes to heating your home. A heat hump system is more energy efficient but does not heat your home as well as a gas furnace system, especially when the temperature gets below 40 degrees. Also heating with natural gas will give you the lowest cost on your utility bill in the winter months.

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiently Ratio.

It is a rating system that measures how efficient your unit is at cooling over a typical season. A higher SEER rating indicates greater efficiency. This will help lower energy bills. With this you will have greater indoor comfort.

The concern here is with the cost of a unit that has a higher SEER. The higher the SEER the more expensive the unit. So, if you are a senior citizen, you may not over your live span recoup this extra cost in energy savings cost.

It is normally better to replace both the outside condenser and inside air handler, but the overall age of your unit’s system may come into play.

Most reputable manufacturers will offer a 10-year warranty on the unit and all parts, with the local contractor offering 1-year free labor. Just review with the local contractor you choose the warranty on the brand they represent before your purchase.

When making this purchase it is always a good suggestion to have the local contractor look at your current ductwork for repairs and possible cleaning needed.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning offer an affordable new unit installation program to fit your need and budget. Our technicians have been thoroughly trained to perform the needed services to ensure your HVAC system is installed properly.

We have been serving the Mobile, Semmes, Theodore, Daphne, Fairhope, Silverhill, Foley, Robertsdale, Loxley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and surrounding areas in South Alabama since 1997. We are in our second generation of ownership with trained technicians that are always friendly and courteous. Please call us at 251 272-5900 if we can help you with any of HVAC system needs. Also, you can check out our website at https://www.callaction.net to learn about us and all the services we offer as well as some informative blogs that you may find interesting.

July 9, 2024

Uncategorized

Summer is Here. Has Your AC Maintenance Done?

Summer is here. We already are having temperatures in the upper 80’s and low 90’s and we are not even to July 15^th. So, are you prepared for another South Alabama blistering summer like we had last year? AC maintenance is important to ensure your HVAC system

Well, if you are, I sure hope you have made all the do-it-yourself checks on your air conditioning system. Like checking your air filters regularly and ensuring all the debris is removed around your outside air conditioning condenser. But even if you have, are you sure you are ready?

Having your heating and cooling systems checked twice a year by a trained HVAC technician can only save you money in the long run.

First of all, regular AC maintenance can help your home stay safe if you go away for vacation. This can ensure your unit is working well while you are away as well as lower your chance of carbon monoxide poisoning and even catch issues that could result in a fire in your electrical system.

Secondly, regular AC maintenance helps extend the life of your HVAC system. This means that it will be a longer time before you will need to replace the unit.

And finally, your HVAC system is designed to help keep your home at a temperature you are comfortable with year-round. Regular maintenance allows your system to distribute air more evenly and efficiently. This means your home with stay comfortable in the hottest day this Summer and again in the coldest day this Winter.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning offer an affordable maintenance program for your entire HVAC system to fit your needs and budget. Our technicians have been thoroughly trained to perform the needed services to ensure your HVAC system is ready for whatever winter we will have this year.

We have been serving the Mobile, Semmes, Theodore, Daphne, Fairhope, Silverhill, Foley, Robertsdale, Loxley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and surrounding areas in South Alabama since 1997. We are in our second generation of ownership with trained technicians that are always friendly and courteous. Please call us at 251 272-5900 if we can help you with any HVAC system needs. Also, you can check out our website at https://www.callaction.net to learn about us and all the services we offer as well as some informative blogs that you may find interesting.

March 26, 2024

air conditioning

Spring Is Here, Are You Ready

Spring is here and it is time to get your Central Air Conditioning System ready for the long Summer ahead of us here in South Alabama. If we have a heat wave anywhere similar to 2023, your Air Conditioning system will be working hard this year.

So here are some things you can do to ensure you are ready.

If you are going to check anything on your units yourself, be sure you turn off the circuit breaker first for your safety.
Check and change your return air filters.
Remove any debris or plants near your outside condensing unit.
Clean the air conditioner condenser coils.
Check the coolant lines.
And of course, test the unit out to see if it is cooling properly.

All of these things could be checked by a proficient Do-It-Yourselfer, but if you are like most of us several items on this list plus more should be checked out by an HVAC system professional.

It is a good practice to investigate the twice a year maintenance programs most Air Conditioning Contractors offer at a reasonable rate. By doing so you can avoid that last minute program with your unit when the heat arrives, and the reliable and dependable HVAC contractors are swapped with work and may not be able to get to you right away. In addition to this regular maintenance of your AC units can help avoid costly repairs.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning offer an affordable maintenance program to fit your needs and budget. Our technicians have been thoroughly trained to perform the needed services to ensure your HVAC system is ready for whatever winter we will have this year.

March 1, 2024

heating

Look Out for those High Utility Bills This Winter

Well, if you are like me, you cannot believe our heating bills are this high this year. We bought a new home in March of last year. We of course had everything inspected, including the HVAC system. Actually 2 of the 3 HVAC units in our new home were fairly new, one compressor installed in 2019 and another in 2020. We still have one of the original units from when the home was built in 1997.

Everything was going well through the extremely hot summer we had as it related to our utility bills. But all of a sudden, our January and February bill jumped completely off the charts. I thought maybe January was so high because our large family came to stay with us during the Christmas holidays. But when I received the February bill for usage in January, I immediately called the utility company to see what was going on.

First of all, I did not realize it cost more to heat your home than to cool it. Next the home we came from, which we had lived in for 22 years, was heated with a gas furnace and when we purchased a new unit in 2020, we put in a combo heat pump and furnace unit. So our heating bills were not high.

I assumed since we had 2 new units installed at our new home in 2019 and 2020, that since they had no furnaces that both units were heat pumps. Well to my surprise, this was not true. The previous owners put in the same cheaper units as they had previously, which were heated with heat strips.

So, the morale of this true story is before buying a home regardless of the year the compressors were put in or replaced, you need to be ensured they are heat pumps or a gas furnace heating systems being used. Using a Heat Strip heating system can run your utility bill off the charts.

When you are looking for maintenance, repairs, or inspection, I recommend Action Heating and Air Conditioning in Semmes, Alabama.

Action Heating and Air Conditioning offer an affordable maintenance program to fit your needs and budget. Their technicians have been thoroughly trained to perform the needed services to ensure your HVAC system is ready for whatever winters we may have.

They have been serving the Mobile, Semmes, Theodore, Daphne, Fairhope, Silverhill, Foley, Robertsdale, Loxley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and surrounding areas in South Alabama since 1997. They are in their second generation of ownership with trained technicians that are always friendly and courteous. Please call them at 251 272-5900 if they can help you with any of HVAC system needs. Also, you can check out their website at https://www.callaction.net to learn about them and all the services they offer as well as some informative blogs that you may find interesting.

December 21, 2023

heating

Humidity in the Winter

How do I Control the Humidity in My Home This Winter? Humidity could be a problem in your home during the winter months. Below are some tips that can help you control this.

By raising the temperature in your home, you can decrease relative humidity. The downside to this is the cost of extra energy.
Opening the blinds and the curtains can help let out some air that may be moisture laden.
Turn on your exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms to help eliminate moisture. Leaving them on for a little extra time will help.
Your celling fans can also help with moisture by keeping the air circulating.
May sure that all your appliances have the proper ventilation where needed.
Regulate your level of humidity percentage in your home.
Fix any leaks that may be causing water to get into your home that can create a moisture problem.
If you have a crawl space putting a vapor barrier can help prevent moisture from coming from the ground.

Humidifiers can help but can have some negative effects as well. They need to be cleaned regularly to avoid problems that can occur. Too much humidified air can cause an excess of humidity.

Here in South Alabama, it is good to keep your level of humidity between 40 and 60 percent year-round, this will ensure that you have no moisture issues in your home and under your home if you have a subfloor. This will help avoid any condensation issues.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning hope this information was helpful as you deal with humidity this winter.

We have been serving the Mobile, Semmes, Theodore, Daphne, Fairhope, Silverhill, Foley, Robertsdale, Loxley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and surrounding areas in South Alabama since 1997. We are in our second generation of ownership with trained technicians that are always friendly and courteous. Please call us at 251 272-5900 if we can help you with any HVAC system needs. Also, you can check out our website at https://www.callaction.net to learn about us and all the services we offer as well as some informative blogs that you may find interesting.

December 4, 2023

heating

My Central Heating Will Not Come On?

When winter gets here and our central heating system doesn’t heat up your home, what do you do? Well before you panic and call an HVAC system technician, there are a few things you need to check. You may still need a professional after checking but it may save you some money by checking these areas first.

Here is the list:

Check Out Your Thermostat

Regardless of what type of thermostat you have, it may require something done when moving from hot weather to cold weather. First make sure it is set to heat. Then turn the temperature up some and see if the heat kicks on. If this doesn’t work, you will need to move to the next step.

Check Your Air Filters

You should check these filters regularly. If your filters are dirty your air flow may be restricted, therefore creating a problem for your heat to work properly. May sure that there is nothing too close to your registers or vents that may create blockage of air.

Check your Power Source

For instance, does your heating system work off natural gas, is your pilot light lit? Is your gas control valve turned to the on position? On a unit that works off electricity, be sure your circuit breaker is on.

If all this is fine, the next thing to do is check your condensation pan. If it is full of water, you need to drain it and make sure it is not clogged. Your unit may have an automatic cut off if this pan is full to ensure that it does not overflow and cause damage to your walls or floors.

Check Your Motor

If the motor of your heating system is overloaded your system will shut down. This can happen because of dirt. Turn the system off and wait a while for it to cool down. You can try this a couple of times. If it doesn’t work, you will need a professional to check it out. On a furnace system you need to check the blower compartment, if the light is flashing red or not at all you will need this inspected.

With all this checked out and your heating system is still not coming on, then it is time to call a professional.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning have been serving the Mobile, Semmes, Theodore, Daphne, Fairhope, Silverhill, Foley, Robertsdale, Loxley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and surrounding areas in South Alabama since 1997. We are in our second generation of ownership with trained technicians that are always friendly and courteous. Please call us at 251 272-5900 if we can help you with any of HVAC system needs. Also, you can check out our website at https://www.callaction.net to learn about us and all the services we offer as well as some informative blogs that you may find interesting.

Need a New Central HVAC system? What should you do?

Summer is Here. Has Your AC Maintenance Done?

Spring Is Here, Are You Ready

Look Out for those High Utility Bills This Winter

Humidity in the Winter

My Central Heating Will Not Come On?

SERVICES

PRODUCTS

INFORMATION

RECENT BLOGS

Recent Posts

CONTACT US

Action Heating & Air Conditioning