It’s summer in Gainesville and the rest of Florida, which means the heat is on! If you prepared for the summer with steady air conditioning maintenance, then you should be in good shape for the rest of the season. However, if air conditioning maintenance wasn’t on your spring to-do list, that’s ok! At Gator Air & Energy, we have a few tips on how to resolve some common HVAC problems that Gainesville homeowners experience in the summer.
If you’re experiencing problems with your air conditioning unit this summer, give us a call for your repair!
1) Refrigerant Leaks
In the summer, your air conditioner is working overtime to cool your home. If there are leaks in your refrigerant lines, then you’ll notice that your air will blow warmly. Over time, your coils and lines develop tiny pinhole leaks, and when the air conditioner is used like it is in the summer, those leaks become more pronounced. Soon, your system will be undercharged with refrigerant, and will have trouble cooling the air which leads to longer runtimes, wasted energy, and even overheating.
To fix this, you will want an HVAC professional to seal the leaks in your system. We advise that you don’t try to fix your refrigerant lines with products from the store that advertise “leak seal”. More often than not, those products do more damage than good to your system and end up in expensive repairs down the line.
2) Humidity
Ah, humidity. This phenomenon defines a Gainesville Florida summer. If you notice that your home is feeling more humid than it should, even with the air conditioner running, it may be a sign that you need a little extra help. Typically, good quality and efficient air conditioners offer enough humidity control to tackle this problem, but if you’re still experiencing uncomfortable levels of humidity, it’s worth investing in a dehumidifier. However, we advise that it’s better to replace your air conditioner with a new unit in the long term. Humidifiers are a temporary solution, and with the Florida humidity, it’s worth the investment for a new air conditioner. If you need help paying for a new unit, we offer special financing to qualified customers!
We’re offering 0% APR for 24 months for qualified customers! Don’t wait, get your new air conditioner today!
3) Low Air Flow
Air flow to your air conditioner is important to ensure that your unit is running as efficiently as possible. If your ductwork is clogged or your air filter hasn’t been changed in a while, then you risk the unit working harder than it needs to. In the summer, your air conditioner is working hard already, and cycling more air than normal. We recommend that you change your air filter at least once a month during the summer.
Another important thing to check is your outdoor condenser. In the summer, as you’re doing lawn work, it’s easy for your unit to get caked in dead grass and foliage. Make sure you keep it free of debris to avoid any airflow issues or damage to the fan.
4) Indoor Air Quality
If you have summer allergies, you know the importance of indoor air quality in the summer. If you need ideas on how to improve your air quality in the summer, read our blog “5 Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Summer“.
5) Expensive Energy Bills
In Gainesville especially, the energy bills can skyrocket in the summer months. There are a few ways to combat this, including turning your temperature up to 78°, using a zone-controlled smart thermostat, and using fans. However, we recommend upgrading your air conditioning unit to a newer, more energy-efficient model. We won’t replace units that don’t need to be replaced and we’ll work with you to repair the unit you have, but at some point, it just makes sense to purchase a new unit. If your unit is 10 years or older, then it is probably time for a new air conditioning unit. Air conditioners are more energy-efficient with each passing year, so you’ll probably end up saving more on energy bills to pay for your new unit in the long run.
Call Gator Air & Energy for Your Air Conditioning Needs This Summer
If you’re concerned about any of the issues described above, then give us a call! We’re happy to offer advice and look at your unit to determine the best course of action. Summer is brutal in Gainesville, but your home can be an oasis! Give us a call for air conditioning repair, maintenance, and installation. We’ll get your home or business back to a comfortable temperature for the summer.
