Atlantic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Are Ductless Mini Splits New Technology?

Monday, June 20th, 2022
ductless-system-sending-out-snowflakes

When customers are looking for new HVAC installations, they’ll often come across the option to have a ductless mini split installed. These comfort systems, which provide both heating and cooling to large areas without having to use pre-existing ducts, aren’t as familiar in the US as conventional central HVAC systems. People might recall seeing ductless mini split units hanging on walls and wondering exactly how they worked, but wouldn’t have thought about the technology in their homes. 

Because of this unfamiliarity, it’s easy to think that ductless mini split heat pumps are new technology that only recently hit the market. Although ductless mini splits aren’t as old as central air conditioners, the technology has been around for many decades. In fact, ductless heating and cooling was invented in 1959, which makes it not much older than the invention of the window AC unit.

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What Happens If You Run an AC Without the Filter?

Monday, June 6th, 2022
man-holding-filter

A major piece of advice we like to give our clients about their air conditioning systems is to regularly change the air filter. This filter is sometimes called the “blower filter,” since it’s usually housed near where the blower pulls air into the HVAC system. Changing the filter is a part of regular maintenance for an air conditioner: it’s something our technicians do as part of air conditioning maintenance in Milford, DE, and it’s also a job homeowners need to take care of themselves during the rest of the season. We recommend changing this filter every 1 to 3 months, depending on the filter’s strength. Leaving it in place will lead to it clogging up, which severely affects AC performance and efficiency.

“So why bother with it at all?” you might ask. “Why not just run the AC without the filter?” 

This isn’t a solution! The filter does an important job, and removing it entirely will lead to damage to the air conditioner, extra repairs, and likely an early replacement for the system. Below are some of the specific problems that running an AC without a filter can cause. 

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Answering Your Questions About an AC Leaking Water

Monday, May 23rd, 2022
water-spill-on-floor

If you listen to the sounds your air conditioning system makes when it’s running, you will hear the occasional drip and splash of water. This isn’t a malfunction but a normal sound you can expect from an AC working the way it should. The sound will also help explain why at some point you may notice water leaking out of your air conditioner. 

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Schedule Your Spring AC Maintenance—Here’s Why

Monday, May 9th, 2022
ac-repair

Are you ready for summer? We know we are—we’re ready to help everyone enjoy a great summer with air conditioning systems that work their best. We want to provide you with the most important service you can schedule for your AC: its annual spring maintenance tune-up and inspection.

We can’t emphasize enough how important regular maintenance is for an air conditioning system. This job helps prevent most repairs and breakdowns in an AC’s future and helps it to run at maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Like most maintenance jobs, it has to be done each year, and the only people who can do it are trained and licensed professionals. 

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Some Self-Maintenance Steps for Your AC

Monday, April 25th, 2022
air-filter-change

In our next post, we’re going to talk about one of the most important jobs you can have scheduled for your air conditioning system each spring: annual maintenance. You need professionals like ours to do a complete and thorough series of inspections, cleanings, adjustments, and general tune-ups. 

However, there are several maintenance jobs you can do right now for your air conditioning system. We recommended doing these even before standard maintenance since you may discover a problem with your AC that you can alert the technicians to. Some of these steps are ones you’ll also need to take later in the season to ensure the air conditioning system continues to run at its best and avoid late-summer mishaps.

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It’s Not Too Early to Think About AC Maintenance

Monday, March 14th, 2022
service-time

When it comes to your air conditioning unit, it’s never too early to think about maintenance. Yes, it may mean a small investment, but in the long run, it will unquestionably save you money.

Saving money is only one of the many benefits of keeping your AC maintained. In this blog, we share a few of them.

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A Dying AC in September … Should You Have It Replaced Now?

Monday, September 13th, 2021
fall-checklist

A central air conditioning system that starts to fail in September. That’s almost the textbook definition of a problem you can “put off.” Or one you think you can put off.

But procrastination is rarely a virtue, and in this case, delaying doing something about an AC that’s on the way out can create serious problems. When it comes to your home comfort, it’s always best to act fast, whether you need an air conditioning repair in Dover or it’s time to have the full system replaced. 

We’ll go into more detail about why rapid response AC replacement is always best, no matter the month.

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3 Alternatives to a Standard Central Air Conditioning System for Your House

Monday, August 16th, 2021
air-conditioning-collage

You’re interested in installing new air conditioning in Middletown, DE for your home, but you wonder if you have better options than the conventional central AC you’ve used for many years. The answer is “yes,” although determining if any of these alternatives is the right one for your home is something you’ll want to consult HVAC experts on. 

Below we’ve listed the three most common alternatives to the typical central AC system, i.e. a split system with an outdoor condenser and indoor evaporator and blower connected to ductwork. Each alternative has benefits and drawbacks, and our technicians can help you navigate to the best option.

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Do I Need Professionals for Every AC Repair?

Monday, August 2nd, 2021
hand-holding-wrench

We think a better way to phrase this question is “Do I need professionals to solve every AC problem?” Because when it comes to what we would call a “repair” for an air conditioner, the answer to “Do I need professionals” is a straightforward “yes.” Any work that involves opening up part of the air conditioning system and using tools to fix troubles must be left to licensed and experienced pros. Attempting any of this work on your own, with nothing but store-bought tools and an online tutorial video, will likely make whatever is wrong far worse, create additional problems, and void the equipment warranty.

However, there is a difference between repairs and troubleshooting. Some air conditioning problems don’t require full repairs but only basic adjustments that you can do on your own. They don’t require tools or expertise or any tinkering around inside either indoor or outdoor components. We’ll go over some of what you can do to solve AC troubles before you call us for professional air conditioning repair in Delaware.

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Questions to Ask Yourself If You Plan to Get a New AC

Monday, July 19th, 2021
new-ac

As the summer keeps making things hotter here in Maryland, you and your family will need to rely a lot on your air conditioning system to stay cool and safe from the boiling hot temperatures. Ensuring that you have an air conditioner that can do its job well is critical for your comfort and that of your family. Unfortunately, there comes a time when your trusty air conditioner has had too much, and you have to consider replacing it.

Is your air conditioner showing you some troubling signs? You might be wondering whether you could make do by scheduling repairs again or if it is the right time to invest in a replacement. Knowing when to replace your old air conditioner and scheduling services for air conditioning installation in Maryland on time can be crucial in making a timely decision.

We understand it’s not an easy decision to invest in a new air conditioner. We will help you make an informed decision by listing some questions you should ask yourself before getting a new AC.

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