Heating Your Home This Winter

heating

There are several things that you need to consider when efficiently heating your home. We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning would like to share some information with you as winter approaches. We always hope for a mild winter but as always it is too early to make that call.

Here are some things you should consider when looking to efficiently heat your home.

  • If you are considering a new heating system, you should investigate a heat pump system. In the South, where we live, a heat pump system can effectively heat your home using electricity more economically than a furnace heating system. An air source heat pump system is an efficient heating system with low maintenance costs, and it should last a long time.
  • Use a smart thermostat. Program it to turn down or off when you are away from home. Also program it to reduce the heat when you are warm under the covers when sleeping.
  • Look at zoning your system if possible so that it only heats the rooms that you are using versus every room in your home.
  • Check your insulation. Insulation is important to help reduce the amount of heat you can lose.
  • Timers are another option that you can use to turn off the heat when you are away and turn it on and up shortly before you return so that you walk into a warm home. Timers can be used similarly when you go to sleep and rise in the morning.

We hope these tips were helpful. 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,   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.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Action Heating and Air Conditioning.

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Looking for a new Air Conditioning System

air conditioning

There are several things you need to take into consideration when you are looking for a new Air Conditioning System.

First of all, you need to be sure you have the right size to properly cool your home. The unit needs to run efficiently without creating a huge utility bill. You need to get quotes for a few contractors with their quote explaining what that size unit and brand.

You need to understand what the term SEER means. This term stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. If you want the quietest unit with the most features, you want an air conditioning unit with a higher SEER rating. The higher the SEER is the lower the operating cost will be but at the same time, the unit will cost more upfront plus a higher installation charge. So, it is important to get the most energy efficiency unit you can for the size of your home without overpaying for it.

Next let’s talk about the term “tonnage”. This term refers to the about of heat that can be removed from your home in one hour. For example, a one-ton unit will remove 12,000 BTUs of heat from your home in an hour. It is important to know that a unit that is too small will not efficiently cool your home and one to large will wear out faster because it will cycle off and on too often. It also will not effectively remove the humidity from your home. In both of these situations your energy bill will be too high.

There are several factors that will be important in determining the proper tonnage.

  1. The climate you live in
  2. The size of your home
  3. How much insulation you have
  4. How many windows are in your home
  5. How your house relates to the sun shining down on it.

You need to ensure that the technician takes all these factors into account when trying to efficiently determine the right tonnage for your home. He needs to go through every room in your home, your attic, basement, and crawlspace (if you have these) to evaluate the correct size unit.

Buying a new air conditioning system is important and expensive. So be sure to do your homework, ask questions, and get more than one option before buying a new unit. Window units and ductless units sometimes are a possible option, but in most cases a central unit is your best choice.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning sale and install affordable air conditioning and heating systems. Our technicians have been thoroughly trained to perform the needed services to ensure your HVAC system is right for your home and will be the most energy efficient.

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.

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What is My Condenser

condenser

Most of us really don’t become concerned about what makes up the component of our HVAC system until something goes wrong and your AC or Heating system is not working.

We thought that it would be a good idea to let you understand what a Condenser is and what it does, so that you are aware if you have a problem with your Central Heating and Cooling system and the technician says you need a “ new condenser.”

A condenser is your outdoor unit. The condenser will collect heat when it is hot outside, or it will release heat when it is cold outside. Its main purpose is to transfer heat. When you look at the condenser you will see the fan at the top. Inside is the compressor, condenser coil and many controls. The compressor which we have discussed in another article is responsible for compressing refrigerant. It will pump this heat to the condenser coil as a gas. The condenser coil may be aluminum or a combination of copper and aluminum. The coil allows for heat transfer.

The condenser has important functions that are critical to your AC working at its best. These functions are to reject superheated refrigerant gas, condensation, and subcooling the refrigerant once it is returned to a liquid.

We will talk in another article exactly how all this works.

It is also important to keep this unit clean. You should remove dirt, dust, leaves etc. that get on your condenser. You should not plant anything or have bushes or trees within 3 feet of the unit. This is important to allow for proper air flow.

You should have annual maintenance performed on this unit, to ensure it is working properly, which can help extend its life.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning hope this simple explanation gives you enough information when the HVAC system technician says you have a condenser problem.

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 working 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.

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Heat Pump System vs. Furnaces

heat pump system

If you are needing to replace your HVAC system, you may need to ask the question, “Do I need a heat pump system or a furnace for heating purposes?”

When it comes to a furnace, you could have one that runs on natural gas, electricity, or oil. Typically, where we live in South Alabama most furnaces are run by natural gas. So, for argument sake, we will compare the benefits of a heat pump system with a furnace fueled with natural gas.

When you compare the 2 systems there are several factors you need to consider.

  • How Much Space They Take Up
  • Energy Efficiency
  • How They Work
  • How I would Maintain It
  • Unit Cost

Space

Your furnace would take up around 30 inches of clearance on all sides. The furnace is installed inside your home. On the other hand, the heat pump is installed outside your home and needs 6 inches less clearance. A heat pump system may have an indoor unit as well.

Energy Efficiency

In a warmer climate like we live in here in South Alabama, the heat pump system uses less energy source than a furnace. This would be a cost saving to you.

How They Work

Furnaces burn gas to heat your home, whereas the heat pump system runs on electricity. It draws the heat from outside. The concern would be, what if we have an unusually cold winter this year. The heat pump will not heat up your home as quickly and possibly as effectively as the furnace.

How To Maintain Each System

Both systems should have maintenance performed on them annually by a licensed HVAC technician. You will have air filters for both types of systems, and you should check your filters monthly whether it be in the winter or summer months.

Unit Cost

The upfront cost of a furnace is typically less than the heat pump system but has a higher price tag on installation. Since heat pump systems are normally more effective in warmer climates, you may possibly have a lower operating cost over the life of the system.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning hopes this information was helpful to you when deciding on a new HVAC system for your home.

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 HVAC system needs. When needing a new HVAC system, we offer excellent finance options. 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.

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My Furnace- Shoud I Have It Checked?

furnace

My Furnace – Should I have it Checked?

Winter is right around the corner, so you may be wondering whether you should have your heating system checked out before you need it. One question that needs to be addressed is do you have a heat pump system or a furnace for heating.

If you have a furnace, here are some reasons why you should have it checked out yearly.

Safety

Even a minor crack in the furnace lines can be a safety hazard for you and your family. Faulty furnaces are one of the major causes of cardon monoxide poisoning.

Energy Efficient

If your furnace is not heating your entire home or area completely, it is not working properly which could cause higher than needed energy bills.

Warranty

Be sure and check your warranty information well, annual maintenance on your furnace may be a requirement to maintain your warranty. If you cannot locate your warranty paperwork, the company that installed the unit should be able to help.

Fire Hazards

Faulty furnaces or heating systems can cause a fire in your home. This is a huge reason to have it inspected yearly before use.

Longer Life

Most furnaces are good for 15 to 20 years, the better it is maintained the longer life you should receive from your furnace, as well as lower repair costs.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning hope this information was helpful for you as you prepare for the winter ahead whether it is mild like last year or severe like a few of years ago.

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.

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Duct Work – Should I Be Concerned?

duct work

Duct Work – Should I Be Concerned?

Well, the hot Summer appears to be over, and Fall is here. It’s time to check your HVAC system to ensure it is properly working before you need to the heating system for this winter.

But what about your Duct Work, should you be concerned about it? Here are some questions that indicate you may need your duct work checked and possibly repaired.

  • Are you having uneven distribution of air from your duct work?
  • Is your utility bill for electricity getting higher than usual?
  • Are your vents making an unusual noise?
  • Is there a low air flow coming from your air registers?

This could be an indication your duct work may need a professional HVAC expert to it out and possibly do some repairs. Your duct work should be properly installed and insulated initially. Some of the problems above may be an indication something was not properly done when the HVAC system was installed or possibly something has occurred over time to cause these problems.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning hope this information was helpful. We believe that semiannual maintenance of your HVAC system can help uncover issues like those mentioned above and help fix problems before they become too costly.

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.

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.

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