Climate Masters Blog: Archive for June, 2014

How Do UV Germicidal Lights Protect My Home?

Friday, June 27th, 2014

If you’ve installed a whole-home air filtration system, you have most likely seen for yourself how clean your indoor air is. Air filtration systems are great, particularly for allergy sufferers, but what about germs and viruses? One of the best ways to manage biological pollutants in your St. Augustine home is with the use of UV germicidal lights. UV lights can eliminate biological microbes from your air conditioning system with incredible efficiency, helping to make your indoor air as clean as possible.

What Are UV Lights?

Used in hospitals, food processing plants and other places that come into contact with biological pollutants, UV lights are light bulbs that produce c-type ultraviolet wavelengths to destroy the DNA of different types of germs, including viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew spores and fungus. UV germicidal lights can kill over 99% of any micro-organisms in the air, making them extremely effective in destroying many particulates that may be in your system.

How Do UV Lights Protect?

The first way, as described above, is by killing the vast majority of bad microorganisms that can be in your indoor air. Other benefits include:

  • Stopping mold and mildew growth
  • Eliminating odors
  • Destroying volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Changing Lamps

UV germicidal lights do require replacement to be effective. When used in conjunction with your air conditioning system, the recommendation is to replace the lights every 2 years, even if the lights are still working.

Dust

While UV germicidal lamps can kill micro-organisms on dust, they cannot filter it out like an air filter or air purifier can.

Light Up Your Health with UV Germicidal Lights

Having truly healthful indoor air can be great for everyone in your home, especially younger children, those with respiratory issues and allergy sufferers. UV germicidal lights can be powerful, and if not installed properly, may not be as beneficial as they should be; this is why we recommend using trained professionals for your UV germicidal light installation in St. Augustine.

Whether you want to add UV lights, or explore other upgrades to your air conditioning system, schedule an appointment with Climate Masters today and work with our trained experts.

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How to Factor Your Air Conditioner into New Construction

Friday, June 20th, 2014

New construction, such as a new room added on to your house, is a big undertaking, and can involve a number of different factors. When you embark upon such a project, it can be easy to overlook certain factors like the air conditioner, which will presumably need to cool the new room with the same efficiency it does the old. This can be trickier than it sounds and without proper preparation, it could cause you quite a few headaches in the process. The good news is that when it comes to new construction, St. Augustine has plenty of professional services that can help you with the specifics. Here’s a few general tips on how to factor your air conditioner into new construction.

Air conditioning units need to be sized properly to fit the space they’re cooling. If you use a centralized air conditioner, you need to factor in the additional space and determine how that will affect its performance. In some cases, the unit won’t be affected unduly. In other cases, however, it’s going to place additional strain on the unit. You may need to be prepared for higher electric bills and possibly a greater risk of repairs as well. In addition, you’ll need to plan for an extension of your ductwork, allowing the system to reach your new room and cool it properly.

In many cases, an easy solution is to install a new ductless AC unit in the new room. This is a single stand-alone unit, similar to the one you might find in a small apartment or a hotel room. It’s sized to cool that room only, which means your existing system won’t face any additional strain. It also does away with the need for new ducts and other unwieldy components to your new room.

We can plan out every step to get your new space properly set up with an air conditioner, and we won’t rest until you’re completely satisfied. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

For more ideas on how to factor your air conditioner into new construction, St. Augustine residents can turn to the experts at Climate Masters for sound advice.

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What’s Covered in an Air Conditioning Maintenance Session?

Friday, June 13th, 2014

Annual maintenance for an air conditioner is not optional: it is mandatory for the system to last its full lifespan, work efficiently, and avoid surprise breakdowns and repair issues. With a yearly visit from an experienced maintenance technician, an AC will live up to its manufacturer’s promise of years of efficient and effective cooling.

If you haven’t had your air conditioning maintenance in St. Augustine, FL for the year yet, now is a great time to schedule it—you can beat out the rest of the summer heat!

Contact Climate Masters today and ask about signing up for our maintenance program to receive a full inspection and tune-up that will make sure your AC can handle the stresses of a Florida summer.

So what actually happens during maintenance?

The technician who comes to your home will go through a checklist that covers every part of your air conditioning system. Here are some of the major steps involved in regular maintenance:

  • Checking the thermostat. The thermostat’s operation is crucial to making sure that the air conditioning behaves the way it should. The technician will see that the thermostat is calibrated correctly.
  • Cleaning the condensate line and drain. This will ensure that the AC will not start to drip water because of a blocked drainage system.
  • Oversee the electrical system. The technician will make tightenings and adjustments where necessary to ensure that the electrical system is in good shape.
  • Check on the compressor and make sure that its motor amperage is correct. Damage to the compressor is one of the most serious issues and AC can encounter, so this is an especially important step.
  • Check airflow and change the air filter.
  • Looking over the evaporator and condenser coils to see that they are clean and free from damage. The technician will clean the coils if necessary.
  • See that the refrigerant in the system is at its proper charge, and adding the necessary amount if it is not.
  • Lubricating of all mechanical parts that require it. This will reduce the mechanical stress that can lead to motor burn-out and energy-draining operation.

If there are any repairs your system needs, your technician will ask for your approval before starting the work. If you sign up for the maintenance program at Climate Masters, you will receive a 10% discount from the total repair costs; this will also apply to any emergency services. (Some exceptions apply.) The program also delivers you a yearly inspection and tune-up for your heating system, so you will have year-round comfort protection.

For air conditioning maintenance in St. Augustine, FL, look no further than our superb team.

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Air Purifier: When an Air Filter Is Not Enough

Friday, June 6th, 2014

The air filter in your air conditioner does an important job: it helps keep dust and dirt from accumulating in your system. This can improve the air quality in your home, but that is a secondary feature of the built-in air filter. If you need to improve your indoor air quality, the best place to start is with a whole-home air purifier from Climate Masters – your St. Augustine air cleaners.

What Does an Air Purifier Do?

An air purifier takes your indoor air and passes it through stringent filters that capture different types of particles existing in your indoor air. Air purifiers purify the air with this process, filtering the air in your home so that it becomes cleaner.

What Types of Particles Are Captured?

Air purifiers are designed to capture:

  • Dirt
  • Dust
  • Allergens (pollen, pet dander)
  • Smoke
  • Mold spores
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses

Understanding MERV Numbers

Just as an air conditioning system comes with a SEER number, a whole-home air purifier comes with its own number, too, called a MERV number. MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, and it measures the level of efficiency at which an air filter functions. The MERV scale starts at 1 and ends at 16, with 16 being the most efficient. Our minimal MERV recommendation when choosing an air purifier is 8.

Why Install an Air Purifier?

There are several reasons our customers install whole-home air purifiers:

  • Helps relieve allergy symptoms
  • Helps relieve asthma symptoms
  • Increases overall indoor air quality
  • Further reduces the presence of dust and dirt

What Types of Air Purifiers Are Available?

There are several types of whole-home air purifiers from which to choose:

  • High Efficiency Filters –high efficiency filters are great at removing pollutants from the air, such as allergens, smoke and pet dander.  However, it is important to have a professional install a high efficiency filter as some may constrict air flow in your system.
  • Electronic – using an electrostatic field, an electronic filter pushes particles into a confined space with a fan, electronically charges them, then attracts the particles using an opposite electrical charge. These filters are highly efficient and require fairly minimal maintenance.
  • UV Germicidal Lights – UV germicidal lights use a safe amount of ultraviolet radiation to destroy biological pollutants in your air conditioning system. UV germicidal lights are excellent for destroying microbes, mold and mildew spores, and harmful bacteria and viruses. However, UV lights do not have a filter, so they do not help eradicate dirt and dust

Looking to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality? Call an Expert

For over 25 years, customers have turned to Climate Masters to be their St. Augustine air cleaners. If you are looking to improve your air quality with a whole-home air purifier, call Climate Masters today!

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