Here’s a secret from our air-conditioning technicians to you – there are some AC problems you can fix on your own. We trust that you don’t want to have to call a technician every time something stalls so we want to help you find a way to minimize cost and time by giving you a few tricks so when your air-conditioning unit breaks down at midnight, you can grab that wrench and confidently get to work!

Clogged Filters

This is one of the most common problems with an air-conditioning unit. Generally, you should change your filters every month. When a filter gets clogged with excessive dirt and debris, it often has a snowball effect on the rest of your unit. Once the air filter is clogged it leads to other parts of the unit not working properly, like the furnace. When the condenser fins in the furnace does not get air, the furnaces freezes up.

The fix: Change your air filter and do it regularly. If, for whatever reason, you can’t change the filter once a month then at least try it for once every couple months but no more than that.

Clogged Fins

The fins are often clogged by dust and debris. When the air conditioners suck in air, the dust and debris present gets lodged in the air filter. Once this happens, it clogs the inside of the condenser.

The fix: Use a special fin brush to clean out the dust particles and debris in the condenser. Also, this is another important reason why you should change your air filter regularly.

Thermometer Doesn’t Work

Does the thermometer no longer indicate the temperature in your home? This is easy.

The fix: If the thermometer in your AC unit is no longer working, it may only require new batteries. If that doesn’t work, then make sure you set the temperature lower than the room temperature as that may be another alternative to fix the issue.

To learn other quick fixes for your home’s air-conditioning unit, contact the professional, friendly team at Ocean State Heating and Air today.

Every home is susceptible to dust mites. They’re small, they’re disgusting, and they cause a discouraging number of health issues, including allergies and asthma. Chances are, your home is filled with them. There is no way around the production of dust mites, but you can reduce the population in your Jacksonville, Florida, home.

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are arachnids, members of the spider family. They live in our mattresses, carpets, curtains, and soft furnishings. They feed on our dead skin cells that we shed. They leave excrement-containing pathogens all over your home.

If you suffer from itchy eyes, runny nose, skin rash, sneezing, snoring, and/or wheezing then you might have dust mites to blame. On your bed alone, you may have 2 million dust mites with you. Starting to feel itchy all over? Don’t fret, there’s a few ways to minimize the growth and population of dust mites in your home.

Invest in better bedding.

New innovation has lent a hand to dust mite reduction. In fact, new bedding, including mattresses and pillow cases are impermeable to dust mites. If you’re unsure if you found the right bedding to perform the task, be sure to ask a store associate for assistance.

Reduce humidity in your home.

You may minimize reduce dust mites by reducing humidity levels to less than 50%. Studies have indicated that air-conditioned homes have 10x fewer dust mite allergens than non-air-conditioned homes. Air conditioning also reduces the humidity levels that are essential to dust mite survival.

Try an Air Purifier.

A study conducted at the University of Texas-Austin campus found that a HEPA air filter is effective at removing dust and reducing dust mites.

Maintain Proper AC Maintenance

Routine air-conditioning maintenance is beneficial for your home in so many ways. It keeps your A/C unit working at efficient levels, allows your technician to notify you of any pending breakdowns, and keeps your system clean thus reducing the impact and survival of dust mites. In addition to proper A/C maintenance, be sure to ask about our air filter replacement and duct cleaning, which is also important to dust mite and allergen reduction.

At Ocean State, we are always trying to find ways to help homeowners save money and energy, but what about renters? Renters have to be very careful about any modifications they make. Many changes to the house could break the terms of the lease. Fear not, you do have some options available!

There are small changes that will impact your energy bill that you can make without permission from your landlord.

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent or halogen light bulbs and unplugging appliances when not in use are basic ways to cut energy costs.

Even if you landlord provides the big appliances such as refrigerator, stove, and oven, you can still look for Energy-Star rated small appliances. Nowadays, TVs, DVD players, and even cable boxes come with Energy Star ratings.

You can also buy an LCD TV instead of a plasma one to save energy. In winter months, putting heavy, dark curtains over your windows will add a layer of insulation to help cut heating costs.

It may take a little convincing to get your landlord to agree to some of these changes, but remind him that most of these energy saving upgrades are eligible for rebates. Offering to share the costs and then let him take the rebate credit could go a long way toward getting you a more energy efficient home.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy-efficient landscape can reduce your heating and cooling bills to give you substantial energy savings. In fact, the study shows the shading under tress close to ground level can reduce surrounding air temperatures by 25 degrees compared to air temperatures above nearby blacktop paving. Whether it’s radiated heat from nearby blacktop or absorbed solar heat from roof and windows, your home’s air conditioning system will have to work overtime to keep you cool during the hot Florida seasons.

The choice of trees in your landscape design can increase your home’s energy efficiency. Try deciduous trees to shade your home in the summer. This type of tree loses their leaves in the winter to allow heat from the sun’s rays on your home in the winter. Maximizing shading benefits to keep your home cooler in summer can be as simple as planting trees that have a high and spreading canopy on the southern exposure of your yard.  Even if you plant slower-growing trees, they will begin shading the outside walls and windows immediately.

Saving on your energy bills doesn’t always mean spending the most money. Try this eco-and-budget friendly alternative and contact our HVAC technicians for more helpful hints.