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

Why You Should Schedule Regular Commercial AC System Tune-Ups

March 6th, 2015

When the heat of the summer season hits in the Dover area, it can hit pretty hard. We are not quite at the cusp of the heat’s real arrival just yet, but this is certainly the time at which you start thinking about the way in which you will cool your commercial property in the hottest months to come. The changing of the seasons may sneak up on you, but it is vital that you do not allow the heat of summer to sneak up on your commercial cooling system. That is why Atlantic Refrigeration recommends wholeheartedly that you schedule your commercial AC system tune-up in Dover today. That way, you can count on your system being ready for whatever type of heat the summer months can throw your way.

Routine commercial air conditioning tune-ups benefit the commercial property owner in a few different ways. First of all, this is the best way in which to ensure that your commercial cooling system functions as efficiently as possible. You are going to be running your commercial air conditioner a lot throughout the summer season. If you hope to do so without suffering exorbitant commercial cooling costs, then you are wise to schedule a professional commercial AC system tune-up with a member of our staff. This gives our technicians the opportunity to thoroughly inspect your system, making any necessary adjustments to ensure that your system functions at peak performance levels. Of course, this is not the only way in which routine commercial cooling maintenance can benefit your system, nor is it the only way in which it can protect your budget.

A poorly maintained commercial air conditioning system is far more likely to suffer operational problems than one that is routine tuned up is. As your system works throughout the summer season to cool your property, it is going to incur no small amount of general wear and tear. When you fire up your system early in the following cooling season, you may find that this wear and tear has left your system vulnerable to problems and even a potential break down. Having it tuned up before putting it back into heavy use can really help you to avoid such unpleasant situations.

To do so, just dial our number. The pros at Atlantic Refrigeration are here to keep your system in excellent working order.

If you want to cool your commercial property effectively and efficiently, then you must schedule professional commercial AC system tune-ups in Dover with Atlantic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

Which Air Purification System Do I Need?

February 27th, 2015

In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to worry about the pollutants that can drag down the quality of the air in your home. This is not a perfect world, though, and if you are waiting for your indoor air quality to clean itself, we don’t suggest holding your breath. Instead, dial our number and work with one of our fine air purification technicians. Not only can we help you to choose the most appropriate air purifier for your needs, but the Milford, DE air purification professionals on our staff will ensure that you get the very best performance possible from your new equipment. Here are a few tips to consider when determining which air purification system best suits your needs, courtesy of the IAQ specialists here at Atlantic Refrigeration.

First of all, know that different air purification systems are appropriate for different air quality problems. For many homeowners, using the right mechanical air filter is all that they need in order to resolve problems with airborne pollutants. Mechanical air filters are installed into your HVAC air distribution system. As air passes through the filters, a media filter traps pollutants while letting the air pass through. In some homes, though, more specialized equipment is necessary.

Electronic air purifiers are another great way in which to remove airborne pollutants from the air in your home, but they are not passive in the manner of mechanical air filters. Instead, these systems draw air into an ionization chamber. In this chamber, the pollutants within the air are given an electric charge. They are then trapped on oppositely charged collector plates. These plates are easily removed and must be cleaned from time to time. When the air leaves the ionization chamber, it is of a much higher quality and purity than when it went in. Not all pollutants can simply be removed from the with the utilization of such techniques, though.

Biological pollutants are of much concern to homeowners, as these pollutants can have seriously negative implications for one’s health and even a home itself. Mold, viruses, and bacteria all fall into this category. These living organisms must be destroyed, not simply trapped on a filter where they can continue to reproduce. With the use of a UV air purifier, which uses small amounts of UV radiation in order to destroy such pollutants, you can protect your property and the health of everyone therein from the adverse effects of such pollutants.

Schedule your air purification services in Milford, DE with the professional indoor air quality technicians on the Atlantic Refrigeration team.

Repairs a Geothermal Heating System May Need

February 20th, 2015

Geothermal systems are built to last – after all, they do have an average lifespan of up to 50 years – but that doesn’t mean they won’t ever have repair issues. There can be some concern over geothermal repairs because parts of the system are so different from more traditional heating systems, but when you hire trained experts, like the ones from Atlantic Refrigeration, you can rest assured that your geothermal heating repairs in Dover, DE, are in good hands.

Types of Repairs

Here are some of the repairs that can develop with a geothermal system:

Issues with the Heat Pump

Geothermal systems use a heat pump to transfer the heat back and forth. The heat pumps will either be water-source or ground-source, depending on the type of geothermal system you’ve installed. One of the most common problems with heat pumps is compressor issues. The compressor pressurizes the anti-freeze in the system, so problems with the compressor can create heating issues. Other issues that can develop are problems with the coils and issues with the condenser.

Scaling

There are a number of minerals in water, and sometimes these minerals can form a build-up in piping called “scale”. The ground loop of geothermal systems, and even the heat pump, can develop scale, which, if significant enough, can restrict the flow of the anti-freeze in the system. An acid flush performed by a trained professional can remove the scale build-up easily.

Ground Loop Leak

The ground loop developing a leak is one of the top concerns about geothermal systems, but it doesn’t have to be. First, leaks rarely develop and second, technicians use a specific process to pinpoint the leak location before digging. The process involves injecting non-toxic dye into the ground loop and waiting for the dye to bubble to the ground’s surface; the location of the dye on the ground’s surface indicates where the leak has developed. Once the dye appears, digging can begin and the leak can be repaired.

Geothermal systems are the most energy efficient systems available and their long lifespan can mean years of comfortable, very environmentally-friendly heating and cooling.

If you have concerns about geothermal repair in Dover, DE, call the experts at Atlantic Refrigeration today!

Some of the Unusual Movies Released for Valentine’s Day

February 14th, 2015

Hollywood has always tried to match movies up to the seasons to draw droves of viewers to the theaters: October is packed with fright-offerings, while the winter holidays skew toward warm and pleasing family films (as well as Oscar hopefuls). Valentine’s Day falls in an odd spot when it comes to the movie release calendar, however, since February tends to be a slower time for the film industry. The studios are as likely to slot strange movies that don’t fit anywhere else in their annual schedules into the Valentine’s Day weekend as they are films with powerful romantic appeal.

So, while the second weekend of February has featured hugely successful romantic comedies like Hitch, The Wedding Singer, and (of course) Valentine’s Day, some truly weird choices have debuted in this weekend as well. And a few have even gone on to tremendous success despite the bizarre match with the holiday. Here are a couple of the odder Valentine’s Day movie releases:

Dracula (1931): Yes, this Halloween perennial and the start of Universal Studio’s Classic Monsters actually came out on Valentine’s Day! But perhaps this makes some sense, as the Dracula legend has often received a “doomed lover” approach in the many years since Bela Lugosi made the aristocratic vampire a screen icon.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Does any film seem less appropriate for Valentine’s Day than this unnerving and sometimes very violent psychological thriller? What’s even more astonishing than the film’s release date is that The Silence of the Lambs eventually nabbed the Oscar for Best Picture, an almost unheard of occurrence for a movie released so early in the year.
Daredevil (2003): This Marvel comic adaptation featuring Ben Affleck as a blind superhero does contain a romantic subplot, but the stronger connection to Valentine’s Day may just be that Daredevil wears a bright red costume.
A Good Day to Die Hard (2013): The least successful of the Die Hard film franchise, this is an excellent example of a studio dropping a film into a weekend where it doesn’t fit in the hopes that it works as counter-programming. (It didn’t.)
Wayne’s World (1992): Now here is an example of counter-programming that clicked with audiences. This comedy based on a Saturday Night Live sketch turned into one of that year’s biggest hits and spawned a sequel.

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day with a trip to the movie theater, or you have your own special plans, everyone here at Atlantic Refrigeration hopes you and your loved ones have a wonderful weekend.

What’s Included in a Quality HVAC Maintenance Program?

February 5th, 2015

Your heating and air conditioning systems go through a lot in the course of a year. Air conditioning systems contain many mechanical components that require quite a bit of electricity to operate. And on a particularly warm day, these parts can begin to wear down, which means they must work even harder to cool your home. Heating systems may contain burners and ignition equipment that can malfunction from just a little bit of dirt. Keeping parts in top shape is key to the performance of your heating and air conditioning system, which is why technicians usually recommend that you enroll in an HVAC maintenance program.

If you’d like to sign up for a complete, quality HVAC maintenance program in Georgetown, DE, call the professional maintenance team at Atlantic Refrigeration today. Here’s what you’ll get from a maintenance plan:

Twice Annual Inspection: If you so choose, you could skip enrolling in a maintenance program and just schedule maintenance when you feel it is necessary. However, this means you’re not getting all of the additional benefits of an HVAC maintenance program (such as special offers and discounts), and you may forget to schedule appointments.
Adjustment and Cleaning: Over time, parts are bound to become a little bit dirty, especially the outside portion of your air conditioning system or heat pump and the exposed, dusty areas of your air handler. Technicians will clean several of the key components, such as the indoor and outdoor coils and the blower fan, and they’ll make any adjustments that may be necessary.
Additional Benefits: Most HVAC maintenance programs also include additional benefits that may actually compensate for the annual fee. At Atlantic Refrigeration, for example, we offer priority service to all customers enrolled in our twice yearly maintenance program, so that is a sudden repair need does come up, they’re moved to the top of the service list. We also give discounts to these customers for parts and labor.

Call Atlantic Refrigeration today to enroll in an HVAC maintenance program that can help to save you money, reduce repairs, and potentially extend the life of your heating and AC equipment.

When the Thermostat Is at Fault for Your Commercial HVAC Trouble

January 29th, 2015

When the heating and air conditioning system won’t come on in your home or business, the first thing you check is the thermostat. The thermostat is the most accessible portion of your HVAC system, and it’s natural to assume that this piece is at fault. The thermostat may be at fault if it is not programmed properly, if the wiring is faulty, or if it needs a thorough maintenance check. However, oftentimes, it turns out that the thermostat is working just fine and another component of your HVAC system is at fault. The following guide details common thermostat problems, and why replacement is often the best option for faulty commercial thermostats in Smyrna, DE.

Learn How to Program the Thermostat

Sometimes, thermostat trouble occurs simply because the people on the property are unsure of how to operate the thermostat. Take the time to learn about the operation of your thermostat by reading a guide or consulting with a technician upon installation or maintenance. You may even want to communicate some vital information back to tenants and employees on the matter so that they can check the thermostat first if trouble occurs. Programming settings can be difficult to understand, and you want to make sure that it is programmed to remain running when people are in the building.

Signs of a Faulty Thermostat

If all of the settings are correct and the unit is not running, it’s possible that the wiring in the thermostat has gone awry. Sometimes, the technician can make repairs for this type of problem, but other times a replacement is necessary. Another common issue that could indicate faulty wiring (but may also result from a number of electro-mechanical issues) is short cycling—when the unit turns off soon after starting and before the heating or cooling cycle is complete.

When Replacement Is the Best Option

Sometimes, a thermostat simply fails to do its job, and replacement is a more cost effective option than any lengthy repairs. However, you shouldn’t attempt replacements yourself and assume that the thermostat is at fault, as it could be any of several other problems instead. On the other hand, a replacement thermostat with advanced settings may make your system run more efficiently even if your older one did not appear to be in trouble.

Call Atlantic Refrigeration for service, repair, or installation on commercial thermostats in Smyrna, DE.

Energy Recovery Ventilators vs. Heat Recovery Ventilators

January 22nd, 2015

Homeowners who are conscious of their monthly energy spending can take just a few simple steps to keep their bills reasonable. Keeping doors and windows shut while running the heater or air conditioner is an important part of energy efficiency, as is sealing any leaks around the home and weatherization. But all this sealing and reinforcing can lead to some consequences for your family’s health.

When your home is sealed up tightly, your air conditioning and heating system won’t have to work as hard to get your home to a desirable temperature. But this also means that there is no fresh air coming into the home. We need fresh air to dilute the effects of cooking and cleaning and to allow any chemicals from the building material in our homes or other home processes to vent. That’s why many homeowners bring in a professional to install heat recovery ventilators or energy recovery ventilators. We’ll go over the difference in the following post.

Heat Recovery Ventilators

If you want fresh air in your home, you could simply crack a window, but this brings along with it undesirable temperatures. In the winter, you don’t want heat to escape from your home, and in the summer, you don’t want to let it in. A heat recovery ventilator uses fans to pull in the fresh outdoor air while exhausting the stale outside air. However, as it flows through the HRV some of the heat from the warmer air transfers to the other air stream. In other words, the heat from the incoming air stream transfers to the exiting air stream in the summer so it does not move into your home. In the winter, the heat from the outgoing air stream is transferred to the incoming fresh air.

Energy Recovery Ventilators

An energy recovery ventilator does everything that a heat recovery ventilator does, except that it is more effective at transferring moisture. The moisture in the humid air stream transfers over, so moisture can move into your home when the air is too dry and moisture moves out when it’s hot and sticky, without mixing the two airstreams.

Contact Atlantic Refrigeration to discuss your needs and decide whether energy recovery ventilators or heat recovery ventilators in Bethany Beach, DE are best for you.

Signs That a Commercial Boiler Needs Repair

January 15th, 2015

As a business owner, you know how important it is that your workspace be adequately heated throughout the winter. Having an uncomfortable indoor atmosphere can impact your business significantly, so it’s always best to be ahead of repairs instead of waiting for a total breakdown of your heating system before addressing problems with your commercial heating system. However, it can be a challenge to pick up on the signals from such a large heating system, so to help you decipher some of the signs that indicate it’s time for commercial heating repair in Dover, DE, our Atlantic Refrigeration commercial heating experts have put together a list of signs of which to be aware:

Leaks

Boilers are part of hydronic heating systems, which means they use water to heat your business space. Even though water is part of the system, leaks are not a normal part of operation and need to be attended to right away. Leaks aren’t always readily apparent, so if you see wet spots on your ceiling, hear a dripping noise or have noticed that a radiator or baseboard isn’t working but there’s water around it, it’s important to call for an expert right away.

No Heat/Low Heat

An office space that is too cool can’t operate correctly. There can be multiple reasons for poor heating, including issues with the burner, air lock in the piping system or the off chance that your boiler has run out of fuel. As soon as you detect that your commercial boiler is not heating as needed, it’s time to call for a specialist.

Strange Noises

One of the benefits of a boiler system is that it is a very quiet system to operate. Therefore, if you are hearing strange sounds coming from your heating system, such as pipes banging, a technician should take a look at your system.

A poor heating system can affect your employees, your customers and ultimately, your business.

If you are seeing the signs that you need commercial heating repair in Dover, DE, don’t ignore it – call Atlantic Refrigeration and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

Types of Commercial Reach-In Coolers to Choose From

January 8th, 2015

Starting or renovating a new company that needs a commercial kitchen or supermarket equipment is exciting, but also involves many time consuming decisions. The layout of the space is of concern first and foremost, as the arrangement of your store or kitchen will determine what products you can stock. And some of the most expensive equipment in your business that you’ll rely on for storage and display purposes are part of the commercial refrigeration system.

Choosing a commercial reach-in cooler in Ocean City, MD can be difficult since there are so many different varieties to choose from. But when you speak with the friendly technicians at Atlantic Refrigeration, they can help you plan where display cases and coolers are best suited for installation and which of the following styles or models are most appropriate.

Solid Door or Glass Door Cooler: You may choose a cooler with a solid door as opposed to a glass door if you only plan to use the unit in a commercial kitchen or storage area rather than as part of a display. Either way, there are generally numerous sizes and layouts you may choose from as well as variable temperature settings.
Self-Contained System: While most refrigeration equipment is hooked up to the central refrigeration piping, a few display cases (such as those that store soda at the check-out line) may be self-contained, rejecting heat into the immediate area rather than at a rooftop condenser or cooling tower.
Sliding Door: A sliding door is usually ideal for areas in which there is limited space or in order to suit your design needs.
Dual Temperature: Dual temperature coolers allow for refrigeration and freezing in separate cabinets.
Open Deck: Open deck coolers were once considered ideal for marketing purposes, but new studies show that they may not stimulate sales as much as it was once believed. Closed cases are far more efficient, while open display cases can actually affect the temperature inside of the store nd eave customers feeling uncomfortable.
Deli Cases and Other Display Options: Finally, you can choose from a variety of case styles designed for different purposes, such as cases designed to display meat, produce, and milk, single-deck cases or multi-deck cases.

The commercial experts at Atlantic Refrigeration are your go-to source for professional installation and expertise about reach-in coolers in Ocean City, MD. Give us a call today!

3 Common Furnace Repairs

January 5th, 2015

Whenever you have an issue with your heating system, no matter what kind it is, you should rely on a professional to fix it for you. Using professional heating repair ensures that your heating system is fixed safely and effectively. However, that doesn’t mean that you should remain ignorant of the process. Knowledge is power, and knowing more about your heating system could help you take better care of it. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 3 common furnace repairs.

Broken Pilot Light

There are a few different kinds of pilot lights these days, but the most common is still the standing pilot light. This is a small flame that burns underneath your furnace 24/7. This flame is responsible for lighting the burners to start the furnace when the thermostat commands heat. Unfortunately, pilot lights are notorious for going out on a semi-regular basis. Normally, this is simply due to a gust of air, and the pilot light is easily relit. Occasionally, however, the pilot light refuses to light in the first place. This is often caused by a faulty thermocouple, which is the heat sensor that determines when to supply fuel to the pilot light. Replacing the thermocouple tends to fix the problem.

Clogged Air Filter

The air filter is a fiber-mesh woven over a frame and installed in the air return of your furnace. It is responsible for capturing all the dust and debris commonly found in a home’s ductwork before it can enter the furnace and cause problems. If the filter is not changed every 1-3 months, however, it can become so clogged with debris that it restricts air flow to the furnace. This causes the furnace to overheat, causing damage and creating fire risk.

Broken Air Handler

The air handler is the part of the furnace responsible for circulating warm air throughout the house. It is mainly comprised of a motor, fan, and fan belt. Any one of these parts is capable of failing, with the most common being the motor and fan belt. If you hear grinding or squealing noises coming from your furnace, it is likely a problem with the motor or fan belt, respectively. Call a professional as soon as possible.

If you’re having furnace problems, call Atlantic Refrigeration. We provide heating repair services throughout Lewes, DE.