Jacksonville, Florida, can get surprisingly cold during the winter months. As Floridians, exposed to heat on an almost yearly basis, our reaction to this sudden drop may get drastic. To stay warm, we do everything from investing in wearable blankets to buying enough firewood to build a log cabin. What’s the most detrimental thing we do to keep warm? Up your heater to temperatures that will break your bank.
Archive for the ‘HVAC’ Category
Save on Your Heating Bills in Jacksonville, Florida
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011Remove excessive moisture from your home
Saturday, October 15th, 2011Does your house suffer from excessive moisture? Do you find condensation puddles on windows, black mildew speckles on walls and ceilings, and/or mold in closets?
Sometimes moisture damage is not noticeable to the naked eye. For example, moisture may be building up in the walls and dampen insulation and rot wood framing. If left in the walls too long, the excess moisture can produce mold-stained wallboard, water-soaked insulation, or rotten wood framing that needs to be replaced and that can become very expensive.
To rid your home of the excessive moisture, here are just a few steps:
- The first step is one of the easiest – crack open a window to allow moist air to escape. If you have a basement, open windows on opposite side of the walls to create a cross breeze or place a fan (facing outside) in one of the openings.
- Turn down your humidifier or turn it off altogether. These appliances are a source of damaging water evaporation.
- When in the kitchen or bath, use the exhaust fans. If your family’s activities produce above-average moisture, like cooking large meals or taking excessive showers, then be sure to run the exhaust fans for even longer.
- Ensure your clothes are dry before storing them in a closet. In doing so, you will prevent mold and mildew from forming inside a closet.
- Contact the professional team at Ocean State to perform a thorough diagnosis and clean up of excessive moisture in the home. We’ll be happy to inspect ducts, walls, and closets and give you our personal recommendations to rid your home of excessive moisture.
To schedule your appointment with Ocean State, contact us today. We’ll also be happy to answer any questions you may have about excessive moisture and the best way to rid your home of it once and for all!
A Good AC Checkup Should Include
Sunday, September 4th, 2011It’s a common fact that the best way to ensure the quality of your air-conditioner is with proper A/C maintenance. Despite its benefits, many homeowners deter from completing routine preventative maintenance. When a breakdown occurs, many homeowners are left wondering “what went wrong?” when the problem may have been solved more costly through maintenance. What’s more, preventive maintenance can save you up to 30% in annual cooling costs. These days, that’s a savings that can really add up.
On the other hand, routine maintenance is no good if it’s not completed properly. During a quality preventative maintenance, your A/C system undergoes an in-depth analysis where your HVAC contractor examines and adjusts cooling components to ensure that your system is running at its top efficiency. So what comes with a quality preventative maintenance service?
At Ocean State, we ensure your service will always include the following:
- System controls are tested for operational safety
- Lubrication is provided to moving parts to prevent unwanted friction in the motor
- Evaporator and condenser coils are cleaned
- Condensate drains are cleared of debris and blockage
- Refrigerant levels are adjusted
- Thermostats are checked for accuracy
- Air filters are changed
- Air blowers are adjusted to provided maximum airflow
All of these services are part of a thorough evaluation and system adjustment that boosts your system’s efficiency and allows your HVAC contractor to catch potential problems before it causes damage to your air-conditioning system.
If your system has not had routine maintenance in a while, now is the time to schedule it. Call Ocean State today for an expert maintenance service. Our trained, friendly technicians will provide top-quality service while taking good to assess any potential threats or trouble areas. It’s your air-conditioner, treat it with care by relying on our air conditioner specialists to get the job done right.
Do You Know When Your Air Ducts are Dirty?
Friday, July 29th, 2011Maintaining superior air quality in your home is only done through proper ventilation and suitable ventilation requires your air ducts to be clean and free of dirt and debris. A dirty air duct system can lower the quality of air of your home, promoting poor circulation and causing high indoor humidity, which can spur mold and algae growth.
By getting an air duct cleaning, you are freeing your home’s air of allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust. The parts of your air ducts that should be cleaned are the blowers, fiberglass, metal ducts, air vents, access doors, drain pans and coils. After the cleaning, your air ducts should be free of stains, mold, dust, insects and any particles left behind. The trained professionals at Ocean State Air Conditioning and Heating will always do a test run afterwards to make sure your system is working properly and is dispensing clean, fresh air.
How do you know when you need an air duct cleaning?
- If a professional finds mold growth inside the ducts or on the surface of the cooling or heating system.
- Infestation of insects or small, unwanted pests inside the ducts.
- If any are clogged with a great deal of dust or other debris
It is imperative to have a professional look at your system occasionally to ensure everything is clean and producing proper air quality. If any of the above problems are prevalent, it is certainly time to get your system inspected and probably cleaned. The professionals at Ocean State Air Conditioning and Heating are fully licensed and insured to properly clean ducts and repair or replace any AC or Heating system. Give Ocean State a call today for your free estimate on a air duct cleaning!
Everything You Might Not Want to Know about Dust Mites
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
No one wants to think about it – dust mites living in your pillows, feeding off your dead skin and hair. It’s enough to make you feel like they’re crawling all over you as you lay in bed. Not only are they disgusting and cringe worthy, they are also a major cause of asthma and allergies. According to the American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, approximately 10% of Americans exhibit allergic sensitivity to dust mites.
What are dust mites?
Dust mites are microscopic bugs that mostly live on dead skin cells that shed from humans and pets. Although generally harmless, dust mites can cause allergic reactions in asthmatics and others who are allergic to their feces. Despite popular belief, dust mites do not carry diseases and are often confused with bed bugs.
Skin cells and scales, or dander, are often concentrated in lounging areas, mattresses, and popular furniture. The average human sloughs off 1/3 ounces of dead skin a week giving dust mites a lot to eat. Even more, cats and dogs create far more dander than that of humans.
What’s scarier? A typical mattress can contain tens of thousands of dust mites. Nearly 100,000 mites can live in one square yard of carpet. It gets worst – a single dust mite produces about 20 droppings each day, each containing a protein to which many people are allergic.
Symptoms of dust mite allergies
- Hay fever
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Asthma
- Itchy, red, or watery eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
- Postnasal drip
- Cough
- Facial pressure and pain
- Frequent awakening
- Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes
Poor ventilation can make symptoms worst
To decrease symptoms caused by dust mite allergies, start with your air conditioning unit. Keep up with routing AC maintenance to deter poor ventilation in your home. Also, keep humidity low and temperate low as well. High temperatures (above 70 degrees) will also increase your symptoms. Contact Ocean State today to schedule your free consultation.
Is the Air in Your Home Making You Sick
Friday, July 15th, 2011
Having some unexplained sniffles? Is your littlest one constantly coughing but shows no other signs of illness? It’s not the common cold; it could be the air in your home. Poor indoor air quality may be the main cause of your family’s health concerns, including scratchy throat, watery eyes, and runny nose. If not taken seriously, those small health issues can become big medical problems. For instance, you could be facing respiratory diseases, heart disease, depression, and even cancer.
Indoor air pollutants may come from different sources, including a dirty air filter, tobacco products, pet dander, and dust embedded into the carpets. Want to hear something even scarier? Over two million dust mites live in the average double bed and millions more in carpets and rugs.
On average, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. Of that, 65% of that time is spent at home. It’s time to take action and clean the air in your home. Here are some steps to breathe deeply and confidently:
Air Ducts Cleaning
Air ducts are naturally clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris. The particles are then released into the home. To enhance air quality, hire a professional HVAC team to provide a thorough air duct cleaning. An experienced team can help clear any debris, including ducts infested with vermin, rodents, or insects. Also, cleaning of the heating and cooling system components may improve the efficiency of your system in addition to its health.
Change Air Filters
Changing your AC unit’s air filter once a month will significantly increase your air quality. Clogged, dirty filters may block normal air flow thus reducing your unit’s system efficiency. With normal air flow obstructed, air bypasses the filter thus passing dirt directly into your home. It’s one of the simplest ways to improve air quality.
Request an Indoor Air Quality Evaluation
The professionals at Ocean State Heating & Air Conditioning can perform a quality indoor air inspection for less than you think. In doing so, you’ll get a thorough evaluation that will help you decide what your best options are.
Contact the professionals at Ocean State Air Conditioning & Heating to schedule your routine air duct cleaning.
Our Summer Promotion is HOT!
Thursday, July 7th, 2011
Infinity Greenspeed® Summer Blowout! Total Consumer Incentives up to $1400!
Ocean State AC is pleased to announce a summer blowout sale to help introduce our Carrier Infinity with Greenspeed®Intelligence Systems. For a limited time, consumers that purchase a new Infinity system with Greenspeed®Intelligence will receive a $1000 rebate, and be eligible for a $300 federal tax credit. AND 6 months with no interest with minimum payment.
- Promotion runs from July 1 – August 31, 2011.
- Installations must be completed 15 days after the end of the promotion and claims must be submitted 30 days after the end of the promotion.
- All rebate amounts are provided to the homeowner at time of purchase.
Our other systems are eligible for great rebates too!
Factory Authorized Dealers can also offer an additional $100 rebate to consumers that purchase a Florida Five-Star Warranty with their system. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of the Carrier Infinity with Greenspeed®Intelligence Systems.
The Carrier Spring 2011 Cool Choices Promotion
Friday, February 25th, 2011The Carrier Spring 2011 Cool Choices promotion starts March the 1st and runs through June 30th.
It includes a Carrier Factory Rebate Offer of Up To $1350.
You can also finance your purchase for 12 months with No Interest with a 3.5% Monthly Minimum Payment. Offer is with approved credit only.
Giving Back… The “Extreme Makeover” Way
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Ocean State AC is taking time to give back to their community by dedicating their time and skills to ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition! The Ocean State team has also donated a brand new home efficiency heating and air-conditioning unit for the family’s new home and will be installing it on the hit show. Check out our Facebook page for the most current photos and videos!
Carrier Corp.’s HVAC Trade In Promotion
Saturday, January 1st, 2011Trade in Used HVAC Equipment and Apply Towards a New System
Ocean State is pleased to be participating in Carrier’s 2011 HVAC Trade In Promotion program where we are offering customers credit towards a new, high-efficient Carrier HVAC system for trading in your old system. Times are tight and in an effort to help our customers save money while at the same time promote a greener environment, Ocean State has partnered with CE Florida to roll out this promotion that started on January 1, 2011 and runs through February 28, 2011.
When customers trade in their older, less efficient HVAC systems, Ocean State in conjunction with Carrier is offering an immediate trade-in credit of up to $800 to be used towards a new, high efficiency Carrier System. In addition, Carrier will recycle your old system at one of their 17 locations throughout Florida and donate a tree to be planted by American Forests® for every system recycled.
Below are details of the program:
- The trade in promotion runs from January 1, 2011 through February 28, 2011. Installations must be completed by March 15, 2011 and claims must be submitted by March 28, 2011.
- Receive up to $800 credit for all qualifying Carrier systems with a 5-Star Warranty. All other qualifying Carrier systems are eligible for a max of $500 trade-in value.
- Qualifying systems and corresponding trade-in amounts can be found HERE.
- All trade in amounts are provided to the homeowner at time of purchase. Carrier Dealers should show the trade in amount as a reduction to the sales price on the homeowners contract.
- An Official Claim Form must be submitted along with a copy of the sales contract.
- Ocean State will credit the dealer 50% of the qualifying trade in value when the proper claim form has been submitted.
- Dealers can bring the old system to any Ocean State (or Carrier?) location and we will recycle and dispose of the system in proper fashion. For each old system dropped off, CE Florida will donate a tree through American Forest®. The more systems donated, the more we can help the environment
The use of high performance HVAC equipment can result in considerable energy, emissions, and cost savings of up to 10%-40%. That’s why Ocean State wants to make this option more affordable to you by helping you recover any remaining value from your existing HVAC system to help offset the cost of a new, higher efficiency purchase. Contact us today for more details.
