Residential & Commercial HVAC and Refrigeration Tips Blog | Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc.

How Did Your Air Conditioning System Do This Summer?

September 14th, 2020

If you remembered to have your annual spring air conditioning tune-up in Maryland, you probably had a problem-free summer of cooling. That’s what these regular maintenance visits are designed to do: prevent repairs from cropping up, stop abrupt breakdowns, and keep the AC from becoming more expensive to operate.

Before your air conditioning system goes off for a few months, it’s a good time to analyze its performance during the previous season and look forward to the future. And the future may be a new air conditioning system installation.

More Ductless Advantages: You Can Use Them If You Have Ducts Already

August 31st, 2020

Among the different services for air conditioning installation in Delaware we offer our clients is installation of ductless mini split heat pumps, which provide both cooling and heating without the need to either put in ducts or use up window space. Ductless mini splits are fantastic ways for older homes to enjoy great heating and cooling while not having to make major alterations to find ways to stick in ductwork. They also work as excellent alternatives for new home construction—you can forget about squeezing ductwork into the blueprints.

However, you’re reading this and thinking, “I live in a house with built-in ducts. Is there any point in having a ductless system installed? What’s the benefit?”

It’s true that if you have a central ducted AC and heater in your house that you are better off staying with this type when you have a replacement. But this doesn’t entirely discount ductless systems. There are uses for ductless mini split heat pumps in homes with ducts. Below are a few of them.

Failed Capacitors Can Leave You With a Failed Air Conditioner

August 17th, 2020

Earlier this summer, we discussed troubles you may encounter with a faulty compressor in your AC. The compressor is an essential part of any air conditioning system, and if it fails, it often means the entire AC must be replaced.

Today we’re going to look at another important part of an air conditioner—one which is connected to the compressor—but which is a part you can expect to replace during the air conditioner’s lifespan. It’s the capacitor. Or the capacitors, since the AC has several of them, with two for each motor. There are capacitors for the compressor motor as well as the motors of the two large fans, the indoor blower fan and the outdoor exhaust fan. A failed capacitor can leave you with a non-working air conditioner. It takes professional air conditioning repair in Delaware and Maryland to put in new capacitors and get the AC back to work.

Did You Know? Ductless Systems Can Help With Your Indoor Air Quality!

August 3rd, 2020

We install and service ductless air conditioning in Delaware and Maryland as part of our effort to improve comfort for our customers. Ductless systems—which, as heat pumps, also work as heating systems—are beneficial in numerous ways. For older homes lacking ductwork, they’re a way to enjoy central heating and cooling without putting in ducts. They allow for the easy conversion of attics and garages into cooled/heated living spaces. They make it simple to provide comfort to add-on rooms. They can lower energy consumption while giving a home zone control.

But you may not have known that ductless systems can also improve the air quality in a house!

Signs Your AC Has Trouble With Its Compressor

July 20th, 2020

The compressor is about as an important a component as there is in an air conditioner. All parts of an AC are important, but the compressor is what allows an air conditioner to cool. If your air conditioner’s compressor fails, the central cooling system will just turn into a big fan that circulates room-temperature air around the house.

Something else that makes the compressor vital is that it’s an expensive part to replace if it fails. In many cases, it’s more cost-effective to have the full air conditioning system replaced in case of a compressor failure rather than replace the compressor.

The best way to keep your AC’s compressor in good shape is to have the system regularly maintained. If you’re keeping up with regular maintenance, it’s still a smart idea to watch for any warning signs the compressor is having problems. That way you can schedule AC repair in Delaware in time to stop the compressor from burning out.

There’s No “End Date” for Commercial AC Maintenance

July 6th, 2020

There’s a persistent myth that floats around in the world of both residential and commercial air conditioning. It’s about routine maintenance. People can all agree that maintenance is important—in fact, it’s critical when it comes to commercial properties. Without maintenance, an air conditioning system runs down faster as it accumulates dirt and stress, loses lubrication on its motors, and builds up potential repair problems with no chance for an expert to notice them.

Handling Thermostat Settings the Smart Way in the Heat

June 22nd, 2020

Although there are many advanced types of thermostats available today, many equipped with special Wi-Fi technology and multiple settings, they still operate on a basic principle: raise the temperature setting for a warmer house, lower it for a cooler one.

But if you handle your thermostat during the summer as if it were something you keep changing as gets too cold and then too warm, you’ll end up consuming more energy than necessary and see larger electric bills. You’ll also put more stress on the components of your air conditioner, potentially shortening its service life and making it more likely you’ll have to call for air conditioning service in Dover, Delaware to fix it during the summer.

We’re going to give you a quick course on the smart way to set your thermostat during the summer heat so you’ll save money and give your AC a life-extending break.

How Air Purifiers Help Protect Your Indoor Air Quality

June 8th, 2020

You probably have plenty on your mind when it comes to home chores at the start of summer. Worrying about your indoor air quality may not be at the top of the list of your current concerns. But when the summer heat turns intense and you start spending more days with your household sealed off from the outside air, indoor air quality will take a big hit. Numerous pollutants from inside sources–cooking and cleaning products, paint and building material, bacteria and mold spores–will circulate through the living space without fresh air to clear them out.

You have multiple options for improved IAQ for your homes, and air purifiers in Delaware and Maryland are among the best. But you’ll have to work with indoor air quality professionals to ensure that you have the right type of unit and the best installation available. That’s where Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning can help out.

Things That May Go Wrong With a Neglected Air Conditioner

May 25th, 2020

We emphasize the importance of scheduling regular AC maintenance in Dover, DE each spring and early summer—it’s that important. And since the summer is rapidly closing in, we want to impress upon all our customers who haven’t yet arranged for their regular air conditioning service visit from our technicians to have it done as soon as possible. It’s simple when you join our Maintenance Agreement Club.

Understanding When You Have an AC Emergency

May 11th, 2020

As the weather is getting warmer as we get nearer to summer, air conditioners are going to get to work—and some of them will start to not work. We offer 24/7 repair service for our customers when they have an emergency situation with their air conditioning systems. We know how vital a cooling system is for the comfort and safety of your family.

But people sometimes have questions about what constitutes a need for an emergency call. An air conditioner that won’t turn on at all certainly seems like an emergency. But maybe there is a simple explanation? Sometimes there is, and we want to help you understand better when you have an actual AC emergency on your hands and how to tell when there’s a simple troubleshooting step that will take care of the problem.