Signs You Need Commercial Air Conditioning Repairs

August 20th, 2014

When it comes to your business, you can’t be without air conditioning. Commercial air conditioning repair in Pensacola Beach is not the same as residential repair, so it’s important to hire technicians with commercial AC experience, like the ones at Kool Breeze. There are a number of things that can go wrong with your commercial cooling system, and it’s imperative that, no matter the reason for the malfunction, your air conditioning is restored as soon as possible. Since 1986, Kool Breeze has helped many commercial air conditioning customers, and we can help you, too.

Signs You May Need Repair

There are some common signs that it may be time to repair your commercial AC system:

  • High energy bills – are you seeing a sudden spike in your monthly energy bills, but haven’t changed the way you cool your space? When air conditioners malfunction, they typically use more power to operate because they are stressed. The clearest sign of this is a higher monthly energy bill.
  • Uneven cooling – there are a number of reasons you can experience uneven cooling, including obstructed air ducts, broken fans, etc..
  • Decrease in cooling – is your thermostat at 72 but the temperature feels like 79? A decrease in cooling is not normal, no matter how hot it may be outside. If you are not achieving the temperature you’ve set, call a technician.
  • Decrease in air flow – the air may be the right temperature, but if you don’t have enough of it, your cooling is still compromised. Low air flow can put a great deal of stress on your air conditioning system, which can lead to other systemic problems.
  • AC won’t turn on – if your air conditioner isn’t responding at all, call a technician right away.

Commercial AC repair varies greatly from residential air conditioning repair, so it’s critical to hire professionals who are trained to handle commercial air conditioning repair in Pensacola Beach. If you see signs of poor AC function in your business space, call Kool Breeze today.

Continue Reading

Why Ductless May Be Your Best Choice for Commercial Air Conditioning

August 15th, 2014

The most common way for commercial buildings to equip themselves for air conditioning is through packaged units, usually located up on the roof. Packaged units combine the evaporator, condenser, and compressor into one cabinet, instead of using the split system that is popular for homes. Packaged units are excellent choices for many businesses, but they are not the only option. Many companies use ductless mini split heat pumps, which are especially popular in restaurants and bars.

If you are looking for a replacement commercial air conditioning in Navarre Beach, FL, or if you are planning new construction or moving to a new building, place ductless AC on your list of options. It may turn out that its many advantages are just what you need for a comfortable work place around the year. Contact the commercial specialists at Kool Breeze to learn if going ductless is one of your best choices for new installation.

Some Reasons That Ductless Mini Splits Are Good Alternatives

  • Heating and cooling: All ductless mini splits are heat pumps, so you will not only have quality cooling for the long hot season in Florida, but you’ll also have the right level of heating for the short, mild winters.
  • Better control over cooling: Ductless mini splits work through a series of individual blowers units mounted in different parts of a business, all of which connect back to the single outdoor unit. You can shut down cooling to parts of the workplace that don’t need it, saving money that a central AC would otherwise waste. Employees can also adjust the temperature in their area to fit their comfort without affecting the rest of the workplace.
  • Less energy loss: Air sent along ductwork loses energy and makes the HVAC system less efficient. Ductless mini splits have higher efficiency and will lower your utility bills.
  • Improved indoor air quality: Ducts collect dust, dirt, and other contaminants over time, and this will end up getting blown into the workplace air, leading to discomfort and health issue. Eliminating ducts means eliminating these threats to your business’ indoor air quality.
  • More space and design freedom: You don’t have to worry about a large network of ducts taking up room in your establishment, which will free up a tremendous amount of space. If you are designing a new building, the lack of ducts means you’ll have greater freedom to create the space that you want.

Ductless is not the ideal choice for all buildings, so bring in experts before you make any commitment. Call Kool Breeze and set up an appointment to explore your options for commercial air conditioning in Navarre Beach, FL. We are now approaching our 30th year in business, and you can count on our extensive experience to deliver you the best possible comfort solutions for your business.

Continue Reading

3 Ways an Old Air Conditioning System Can Cost You

August 6th, 2014

Having the same air conditioner for a long time – over 12 years – may seem like a good thing, but the truth is it may be costing you money, even if it still runs ok. Estimates put today’s air conditioners at 60% better efficiency than those from just 10 years ago. In addition, federal laws changed in 2006 to mandate that air conditioners be manufactured with a minimum SEER of 13, up 3 points from the prior minimum of 10. So if you’ve been hesitating with your air conditioning replacement in Fort Walton Beach, FL it may be time to consider whether or not it’s really worth keeping.

Reasons a New AC May Be Better

There are several good reasons to consider replacing your aging air conditioner:

  • Better energy efficiency – as we mentioned above, today’s air conditioners are significantly more energy efficient than older models, and your current AC probably has a SEER lower than 13. When you consider the energy efficiency of today’s models coupled with the fact that you can save an average of 10% with each higher SEER point, you could save significantly on energy costs.
  • Increased comfort – aging ACs can have a hard time keeping up with the cooling load of your home, creating hot and cold spots or failing to achieve the temperature you need. A new system will be better able to provide even cooling and increase your indoor comfort level.
  • Dependability – older air conditioners are more likely to need repair, even when they’ve been maintained. Not only are breakdowns inconvenient, they can cost a lot of money. With a new system, you won’t have to worry about frequent or costly repairs.

Still Have Questions? Call Us

The best way to determine if it’s really time for an air conditioning replacement in your Fort Walton Beach property is to work with a trained expert. Working with a professional from Kool Breeze allows you to take the time to calculate and review how much you’ve really been spending on your aging AC. Call us today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

Continue Reading

Are There Any Air Conditioning Repair Jobs I Can Do on My Own?

July 31st, 2014

Our current culture has an obsession with “do-it-yourself” jobs. Much of this is due to the rise of the Internet and the easy spread of information regarding how to perform tasks that were once mysterious to non-professionals.

Although DIY work can make for an interesting hobby, it is inappropriate for many jobs that require more than just a checklist printed up from an amateur webpage. One of these jobs that needs a trained professional is air conditioning repair. The complexity of current ACs is far too much for most people to handle fixing malfunctions without training.

If you are experiencing issues with your cooling system thus summer, call for air conditioning repair in Pensacola Beach, FL from Kool Breeze. We have the experience, training, and equipment to handle the necessary repairs fast and right.

But Can I Do Anything About the AC on My Own?

With regards to opening up either the indoor or outdoor air conditioner cabinet and attempting to fix anything… no, you can’t take care of an AC repairs. The operation of the system is too intricate, and repairs often require having the right type of replacement part.

However, there are a few things you can do when your AC shows signs of failure that may help, or perhaps identify a simple cause for the problem.

  • First, check the air filter. This filter need to be changed (or cleaned, if it is a permanent filter) once a month during seasons when your AC runs regularly. If it becomes clogged, it can result in a drop in airflow that will create extra strain on the system. Sometimes changing a clogged filter is all you need to do to get back system operation.
  • You can also look into the thermostat. Make sure that the thermostat is set correctly; a simple error in programming a digital thermostat can result in the system behaving erratically. The thermostat could also be malfunctioning, and this will require professional repairs.
  • Find all the vents in your home and check to see that they aren’t blocked or partially obstructed. Sometimes this can account for uneven heating for an AC working too hard. Also look around the outside cabinet to see if any large object has blocked it.

If you cannot find a basic solution to the AC’s problems from the above inspections, then it’s time to call for the professionals to track down what is causing the air conditioner to act up and then fix it.

It’s easy to find quality air conditioning repair in Pensacola Beach, FL. You only have to call Kool Breeze and talk to our expert technicians. Our staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergency service.

Continue Reading

Air Conditioning Basics: Refrigerant and Why It Is Important

July 25th, 2014

In order for an air conditioners to cool, they rely on the process of heat exchange, moving heat from the inside of a home to the outside. Refrigerant, the chemical that allows for heat transfer, is the perfect chemical blend for this process because it is non-combustible and easily converts from liquid to gas form and back again.

Your air conditioning system is made up of two major parts, the condenser unit and the evaporator unit. In split systems, the evaporator is located indoors, while the condenser is outside, but packaged systems store every part in one single cabinet. All air conditioning systems have the same components, however, and the four most important components through which refrigerant passes as it moves through the system are the compressor, condenser coil, expansion valve, and evaporator.

Each of these parts is responsible for changing refrigerant so that it can carry out heat exchange. The compressor changes refrigerant from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure gas so that it can give off heat at the condenser. Here it changes into a liquid under high pressure and moves to the expansion valve, where it changes into a low-pressure liquid. At the evaporator, it changes back into a gas, absorbing the heat in your home in the process. It then moves to the compressor to begin the cycle again.

It’s important that the refrigerant level remains constant in order to continue cooling your home effectively. Low levels of refrigerant obstruct the exchange of heat, so that your AC has less cooling power. Additionally, the parts of your system are sized to handle a specific level, and when this changes it can cause the evaporator to freeze or damage the compressor, leading to a costly repair.

Refrigerant will never dissipate on its own. If you have low levels of refrigerant, it may be a result of improper measurements during installation, but it often means there is a leak somewhere along the refrigerant line due to loose connections or corrosion.

The technicians at Kool Breeze can assist you when you notice problems like these for your air conditioning system in Fort Walton Beach, FL. For repairs, maintenance, installation, and more, give us a call today!

 

Continue Reading

3 Ways to Detect a Refrigerant Leak

July 15th, 2014

One of the more common problems that an air conditioning system can encounter is a leak along the refrigerant lines. As refrigerant leaks out, it drops the set “charge” in the system, which must remain at this level for the AC to work correctly. A loss of refrigerant will mean a loss in cooling ability for the system, and it will also cause problems such as a frozen coil and even serious, irreparable damage to the compressor when it starts to overheat. When leaks begin, they need immediate repair from specialists, followed by a recharging of the system to the correct refrigerant level.

You cannot fix this problem on your own: although signs of leaks are often obvious (loss of cooling, iced evaporator coil, hissing sounds), locating the often tiny leaks themselves can be tricky. Here are three way that our Pensacola Beach, FL air conditioning repair specialists at Kool Breeze handle finding refrigerant leaks.

  1. Electronic detectors: In the HVAC world, these are usually called “sniffers,” and are the most common device used to pinpoint refrigerant leaks. Sniffers generate a high voltage spark that will drop in voltage when it encounters an insulating gas—such as R-410A, the refrigerant blend used in most modern air conditioners. The technicians run the sniffer along the refrigerant line until registering a large drop in voltage.
  2. Fluorescent detection: Fluorescent lights are helpful in picking out the otherwise hard to see escaping refrigerant gas. The technicians first add a fluorescent dye into the air conditioner’s system, and then scan UV lights over the AC. The leaking gas will appear as green.
  3. Bubble solution: This is an old technique that was around long before using UV lights and high voltage detectors. It doesn’t work for very small leaks, but technicians may use it if they suspect a large leak. Using squeeze bottles, the technicians apply a soapy solution along the area of the refrigerant lines where they think leaks may be. The escaping gas should create bubbles from the soap.

Although you could potentially try a crude version of the third method on your own, you still wouldn’t be able to fix the problem. Once the air conditioning experts have located the leaks, they will seal them up. Afterwards, they will recharge the system with the appropriate amount of refrigerant to replace what was lost. It’s important that they use both the right type of refrigerant and do not under- or overfill the system.

At the first suspicion of refrigerant leaks, call our team at Kool Breeze for air conditioning repair service in Pensacola Beach, FL. We are ready to assist you…24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Give a us a call today.

Continue Reading

How High Humidity Affects Your Air Conditioning System

July 10th, 2014

“Sticky.” “Heavy.” “Like a sauna.” These are just some of the words and phrases we’ve heard describe the days of heavy humidity here in Fort Walton Beach, and why it’s so important to have your air conditioning running optimally, especially during periods of excessive humidity. While your air conditioner removes humidity as part of the cooling process, excess humidity can adversely affect it, particularly during long periods of heavy humidity. One of the ways to help alleviate the stress and problems high humidity can cause your AC is to retrofit your air conditioning in Fort Walton Beach with a dehumidifier.

How Does a Dehumidifier Work?

A whole-home dehumidifier attaches to your existing air conditioning system. It pulls in the warm, humid air and passes it over cold metal coils to create condensation. This condensation drops into a collection tank and exits your home through piping. The air is then released into your air conditioning system, minus the excess moisture from the humidity.

Effects of High Humidity on Your AC

There are several ways excessive humidity can negatively affect your air conditioning system:

  • Stress on your system – your air conditioner has to work harder to cool your home during times of excessive humidity. Humidity holds heat, so while the temperature may not have risen, the humidity in the air has made it feel as if it has. In addition, your air conditioner has to remove a larger amount of moisture from the air. Therefore, longer periods of humidity can put a lot of stress on your system.
  • Less energy efficiency – the more your air conditioner has to work, the more energy it needs. As your AC works harder to combat extra humidity, it uses more energy, making it less energy efficient.
  • More opportunity for particles to cling – humidity can cause certain parts of your air conditioning system to become wet with condensation. Water attracts particles, especially dust and dirt; with excessive humidity, a layer of dust and dirt can develop, making your air conditioner very dirty and prone to possible malfunction.
  • Excessive drainage – it is normal for your air conditioning system to collect more water during times of high humidity, but if there is any kind of issue with your condensate tray or drain, you may experience leaks.

Dry Out the Air with a Dehumidifier

A whole-home dehumidifier can help improve comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. To determine if a dehumidifier is right for your air conditioning in Fort Walton Beach, contact Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment with one of our trained professionals.

Continue Reading

The Famous Painting of the Declaration of Independence Isn’t What You Think It Is

July 4th, 2014

If you grew up in the United States, you probably first saw John Trumbull’s painting of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence in an elementary schoolbook. This oil-on-canvas 12’ x 18’ painting hangs in the rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It is one of the most famous symbols of freedom in the country and almost every citizen can conjure it from memory.

Except… the painting isn’t of the singing of the Declaration of Independence. The actual title of the work is Declaration of Independence, and although it does portray an important moment in the history of the document that announced the Thirteen Colonies’ decision to break away from British rule, the event in the painting occurred on June 28, 1776, not July 4, 1776.

John Trumbull, a Connecticut native who fought in the Revolutionary War and whose father was the state governor, was commissioned to create the painting in 1817. He did painstaking research on the figures in the picture and also visited Independence Hall to see the actual chamber where the Second Continental Congress met. Trumbull only included 42 of the original 56 signers, because he could not find adequate likenesses for 14 or them, and added a few figures who were not present (most of whom declined to sign the actual document). In fact, the men depicted in the painting had never been present in the same room at one time.

So if the painting does not portray the signing of the Declaration of Independence, what is happening in the image? The Trumbull’s scene depicts the presentation of the draft of the declaration to the Continental Congress for editing and approval. The five-man drafting committee (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin) is handing over their finished work, which congress would then edit carefully over the next few days before voting on it and signing it on the day that we now celebrate as the start of the United States of America.

One last, odd, fact: two of the five-man drafting committee, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both died on July 4th—although many years later.

Our family at Kool Breeze hopes that your Fourth of July (or Twenty-Eighth of June if you decided to start celebrating early) is a memorable and happy one.

Continue Reading

The 3 Most Important Things to Consider Before Air Conditioning Replacement

June 27th, 2014

As summer deepens in Florida, you may start to consider replacing your aging air conditioner with a new system that has superior performance and energy-efficiency. This is a big decision, and it requires thinking over a number of important factors. Here are the 3 most important things you should consider when you are in the market for air conditioning replacement in Pensacola Beach, FL.

You don’t need to worry about making this decision on your own: with the help of the professionals at Kool Breeze, you will soon be on your way to the best cooling for your home for this summer and the many summers after.

1. Is your old air conditioning system ready for replacement?

In other words: “Do you actually need an air conditioning replacement yet?” You don’t want to schedule a replacement if there are targeted professional repairs that can keep your current system running for a few more years without a significant loss of efficiency. If your air conditioning system is still a few years below its estimated lifespan, call for a technician to look into repair possibilities when the AC begins to malfunction. The technician can tell you if it is worth it to pay for repairs or not. In general, if it costs more than $500 per year in repairs to keep a cooling system operating, then it isn’t worthwhile maintaining it, and you should schedule a replacement.

2. Do you want to replace the AC with a different type of system?

You have more options for air conditioning replacement today than to simply have a standard central AC installed. You can choose to have a heat pump put in instead, which will give you both air conditioning and heating. Another possibility is a ductless mini split system, which bypasses the need for ductwork. Not every home is suited for these options, so consult with installers about the choices available to you and which ones are the most suited for your home and budget plans.

3. How large and powerful a system do you need?

Please note we didn’t write “How large and powerful a system do you want?” Each home has specific requirements for cooling it, and an AC that is either too large or too small for the space will end up wasting energy and providing insufficient comfort. To properly size a system, you must know the heating and cooling load requirements for your home, and this takes the help of professional installers. Before choosing a new system, have the installers perform a heat load calculation to determine the BTUs in cooling necessary to provide you with comfort.

At Kool Breeze, we know that considering air conditioning in Pensacola Beach, FL can be intimidating: you want to make sure that you have the best AC possible for the humid summers. You can trust our staff to help you make the right decisions, the same way they have helped other homeowners since 1986.

Give us a call today and speak with our qualified team of AC experts to schedule an appoint with us.

Continue Reading

3 Key Components of Commercial Air Conditioning

June 20th, 2014

Commercial air conditioning uses the same basic system that residential air conditioners do: cycling refrigerant gas through a series of valves and coils that first shift it to a liquid form, then revert it to a gaseous form. (The process pulls heat from the air, which can then be blown into your home with a fan.) But while the basics are the same, the specifics vary a great deal. Commercial air conditioning must handle a much larger load than residential systems, and must often adjust to fit the needs of new businesses as old ones change locations. Here in Fort Walton Beach, FL,commercial air conditioning systems need a service that understand the differences to install and maintain them. Here are 3 key components of commercial air conditioning that set them apart from smaller systems.

  • Modular. Business needs change a great deal when it comes to air conditioning. A software company with a lot of high-end computer hard drives needs much more power to keep cool than a greeting card store for instance. But you can’t simply install a new air conditioning system every time a new tenant occupies the space. So commercial systems are designed to be modular. Whenever you need more power, you can simply add a new unit onto the existing system. If you need less power, you can detach a unit, or just shut it off. It retains the required flexibility without skimping on cooling power.
  • Rooftop Placement. All those modular units take up a lot of space, which most businesses would prefer to use for other things. That’s why most commercial AC units are placed on the roof, where they’re out of the way and yet can still do their jobs effectively.
  • Sturdy. Because the units are on the roof, they need to be able to handle the rigors of sun and torrential rain alike. That means they’re very sturdy, as well as being comparatively simple.

Commercial HVAC services in Fort Walton Beach, FL can be performed by the experts at Kool Breeze. We understand the key components of commercial air conditioning and we’re ready to bring our expertise to bear on your business space. Pick up the phone and give us a call today. You’ll be glad you did!

Continue Reading