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

Spring Air Conditioning Checklist: What to Do before Summer

May 2nd, 2016

Throughout the Delaware and Maryland area, homeowners are completing various spring cleaning projects. Perhaps, you’ve already set foot in the garden, you’re thinking about a remodeling project, or you’re just enjoying the transition to the summer. But let’s not forget that when it really starts to heat up, you’ll need to turn on that air conditioner once again. Consider taking care of the following when preparing your air conditioner for summer:

Clean air filter? One of the most common, but easily avoided, issues in the HVAC world occurs when homeowners forget to change their air filter. The filter is not for you, but for the system’s components, which can accumulate debris over time. This leads to inefficiency and even long-term damage.
Right amount of refrigerant? Refrigerant is the blood of your AC or heat pump, and you’ll receive no cooling if your system does not have the right amount (also known as its charge). A professional on our team can quickly determine if you’re operating with low levels.
Outdoor unit clear of debris? If you see any twigs, branches, mulch, leaves, dirt, or anything else pressing up against your outdoor AC unit, then make sure to take the time to clear it. There must be sufficient space around the unit to dissipate thermal energy.
AC tune-up? Want to avoid all this hassle? Let a pro do it. For a relatively small cost, you can have a trained and experienced professional come to your home and complete a detailed inspection, tune-up, and cleaning of your entire air conditioner. It’s proven to improve performance and energy efficiency, and also cut down on the number of problems that you may run into this summer.

Is your AC ready for summer? If not or you’re unsure, then now is the time to schedule your annual AC maintenance from Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc. Call now!

Get a Zone Control System Put In

April 25th, 2016

Summer is on its way here in Bridgeville, DE, and with it comes those depressingly high energy bills. You need to keep your house cool and comfortable – things get too hot and muggy around here to go without – but you shouldn’t have to pay and arm and a leg for the privilege. Now is the time to think about alternatives. It starts with simple steps like setting your thermostat to 78 degrees and dressing lightly while in the house. But it also can benefit from an upgrade to your air conditioner: something like a zone control system which can be put into your existing system by a trained professional. It can make a huge difference in your bills, while providing a number of other benefits as well.

Why Is There Ice on My Air Conditioner?

April 18th, 2016

Temperatures are slowly warming up here in Milford, DE and while you’re likely not using your air conditioner every way, chances are you’re using it increasingly often these past few weeks. That makes this an excellent time to troubleshoot your system for any problems that could cause a breakdown later in the summer. That way, you can get them repaired before your air conditioner needs to be used every day, preventing a lot or consternation and heartache in the process. Among the things you should watch out for is the formation of ice on your air conditioner’s coils. It may not sound like much, but it’s actually a very big problem.

3 Considerations When Replacing Your Commercial Air Conditioner

April 11th, 2016

Dover, DE is a business friendly city, and as such, we have a lot of commercial space that needs caring for. If you’re a business owner or an office manager, you know how important a good commercial air conditioning system can be, and when the time comes to replace yours, you want it to be put in the right way. The good news is that there are quality professional services standing by to help. But you can do yourself a favor by carefully considering your options when replacing your commercial air conditioner and understanding the factors involved. That way, you can be assured of choosing the right one for your space.

3 Things to Look for in an Air Conditioning Service

April 4th, 2016

A good air conditioning service can be as important as your auto mechanic. You need to know when you call that number that you’re going to get reliable service at a fair cost and that whatever they do for you – be it installation, repair or replacement – it will keep your air conditioner running the way it needs to. Our summers get too hot here in Seaford, DE to expect anything else. But how can you tell when your service has the right stuff, and when you’re dealing with someone who just isn’t up to the task? Here are 3 things to look for in an air conditioning service that can help you separate the real deal from the fly-by-nighters.

Common Spring Problems for your Heat Pump

March 28th, 2016

Heat pumps have become increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional heating and air conditioning systems here in the Ocean City, MD area. They use the same principles as air conditioning – circulating refrigerant through a closed loop of valves and coils – to both heat and cool your home, helping you save money on monthly bills while combining all temperature controls into a single unit. This is the time of year when heat pump owners shift from heating to cooling mode, and as such you may run into a few common problems that we see a lot of this time of year. We’ve provided a short list of them below.

Now is the Time to Work on Your Commercial Air Conditioner

March 21st, 2016

The snows of winter are finally fading here in Lewes, DE, and if you’re a business owner or an office manage, you know that means you need to think about the state of your commercial air conditioning system. Temperatures are still cool, but summer will be here before you know it, and when it arrives, you want your space to be comfortable for employees and customers alike. Now is the time to work on your commercial air conditioner, not only to ensure it’s in working order, but to consider any add-ons or upgrades that might improve its performance.

Low Refrigerant Is a Problem for your Air Conditioner

March 14th, 2016

With spring slowly pushing away the cold winter temperatures, residents of Smyrna, DE are going to be dusting off their air conditioners for another summer of keeping their homes cool. But sitting for those winter months can leave your air conditioner vulnerable to some common problems, especially leaking refrigerant. Refrigerant isn’t consumed by your system; it needs to appear in certain set amounts, and if a leak springs up during the off-season, it could go for months without being detected. Why is that a problem? It helps to understand how refrigerant functions in your air conditioner.

What to Look for in a New Furnace

March 7th, 2016

As we approach the end of winter here in Bridgeville, DE, you may be looking at the end of your furnace’s life too. When properly maintained, a furnace can last for many years, but sooner or later, every system gives up the ghost, and if you were wrestling with high monthly bills or frequent repairs with an older furnace, this off-season may be the perfect time to replace it with a new one. Planning for it now gives you the most amount of time to have it installed, leaving plenty of room to ponder your options and have it ready to go before the temperature drop next fall. Here’s a brief list of what to look for in a new furnace to give you an idea of the variables involved.

3 Reasons to Install an Energy Recovery Ventilator

February 29th, 2016

If you live in Milford, DE, you know how tough it can be to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Our weather has plenty of ups and downs, and the trick for more homeowners is to keep their homes as insulated against those variations as they can. An energy recovery ventilator – a pair of ducts connected to a heat exchanger, which swaps out stale air in your home with fresh air from the outside – makes a powerful weapon in that fight. It can be hard to understand what an energy recovery ventilator (or ERV) can do for you in this situation. Here are three handy tips to help explain the benefits that a good system can provide.