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What Florida’s New Solar Power Amendment Means For You

Florida voters recently passed Amendment 4, a constitutional amendment that will provide property tax breaks for homeowners and businesses that have solar panels installed.

The amendment passed with broad support of 73% of voters, and will expand the use of solar energy across the state.

Gator Air and Energy believes in going green with your air conditioning. As Gainesville’s only certified EnergySmart contractor, we offer full green energy services, including solar installation.

Gator Air and Energy is dedicated to conserving our natural resources in order to keep the environment happy and healthy. Therefore, we specialize in providing green solutions to the modern conveniences homeowners crave.

What Does The Solar Power Amendment Mean For You?

The solar power amendment means you now have tax incentives for going green through solar power.

Tax Breaks

Your tax breaks for installing solar panels work in two ways. First, installing panels cannot be used in determining home value. This is useful because it means adding the value of solar panels to your home will not increase your property taxes.

Second, the solar power amendment removes Florida’s “tangible personal property tax” that was previously placed on solar equipment installed on properties.

Saving The Environment

In the Gainesville area, your AC is running around the clock most of the year. You can’t go without AC, but it does leave an environmental footprint. Making sure your unit is running at peak efficiency and getting it checked regularly helps decrease the impact from your home or business.

Installing solar panels is taking the next step toward reducing your environmental impact by using the abundant natural power of the Sunshine State.

Saving Money

Installing solar panels on your home used to be a dream for the future. Then it became available, but expensive. Now, solar energy is affordable for individuals and families.

When you save energy, you save money. Lower utility bills are just one of the ways solar power makes your home or business more economically sustainable, as well as environmentally sustainable.

If you’re planning on living in your home or working in your business long-term, Energy Informative calculates that the savings from the investment in solar energy currently takes no more than 10 years to break even.

Gator Air and Energy is committed to making Gainesville more energy-efficient and more sustainable, starting with your home or business. Our green services include:

  • Solar Panel Installation
  • Solar Water Heaters
  • Solar Attic Fans
  • Solar Tubes
  • Tankless Water Heaters
  • And More

Contact us for an estimate on installing solar panels or making your home or business more sustainable.

Get An Estimate

Why Your Home is Heated Unevenly (With Solutions)

Many homeowners find that a certain room or floor consistently has a different temperature than the rest of the home. If your home is heated unevenly, there may be a few factors at play. Here, we’ll outline the most common issues, along with solutions to get your whole home consistently comfortable. (more…)

Five Tips to Avoid Costly Commercial HVAC Repairs

Commercial HVAC isn’t something you think about day-to-day. It’s designed to run in the background, take as little active maintenance from you as possible, and let you and your team work comfortably.

Until it doesn’t work. Then, it’s all that’s on your mind.

Nobody ever wants to get to that point. It’s an uncomfortable and frustrating interruption. Luckily, just a little forethought can prevent all that.

Preventative Maintenance

You’ve got two options when it comes to commercial HVAC maintenance: a reactionary approach, where you fix it when it breaks. The issue with that approach is that it involves your system breaking.

The other option is proactive and very low effort. Not only does it avoid the interruption of an HVAC system not running well, but it avoids the costs associated with repairs, and keeps your system running well. It involves your system running at peak efficiency.

Scheduling routine maintenance keeps you, your team, and your system happy.

Change Your Filters

You know that chore on your list every few months at home? The one that takes little time to actually accomplish, but keeps your AC running smoothly?

Yes, your commercial HVAC unit runs the same way. Find out what your manufacturer recommends, and take the simple step of changing out your filter when it’s time.

Clean Condenser Coils

If you have a rooftop unit, a lot of gunk can build up. Using a pressure washer (on a light setting) will help get a lot of the excess off, which can save you up to 30% over 20 years. It will help extend the life of your unit, and your unit will run much more efficiently (saving your money on energy costs).

Repair in the Winter

If you know you’ll need an upgrade or repairs that aren’t immediately pressing, wait until the winter. Or, get them out of the way in the winter before the summer months come around. More commercial HVAC technicians will be available in off-peak months, and it’s much better than dealing with emergency maintenance in the heat of summer.

Ask Your Commercial HVAC Professionals If It’s Time To Replace

Cleaning, regular maintenance, and filter changes will go a long way towards keeping your commercial HVAC running, but units still need repairs from time to time.

If you’re noticing that the repairs are getting more frequent, or more expensive, ask your technician if it’s time to replace. It may be more cost-effective in the long run to avoid costly repairs as they build up.

 

Your HVAC unit is important to your office, even though you rarely think about it when it’s doing its job. Contact Gator Air and Energy for more information or to schedule your next maintenance appointment.

Heating and Cooling Your Home: Does Insulation Matter?

Just about everyone knows one of the best ways to keep your home warm in the winter is to pack in the insulation. The idea seems to be that more insulation means more warmth. While that’s certainly true while you’re running your heater, the fallacy is that people think of home insulation in the same way as they do insulation in, say, a winter coat. (more…)

Indoor Air Quality Cheat Sheet

Think about where you spend most of your time in an average week. If you’re like most Americans, you spend at least 90 percent of your time inside. Your home is an area that you would never consider a hot bed for air pollutants, but you would be wrong. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out that indoor air is often two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, making indoor air quality an important daily consideration. Here’s the ultimate indoor air quality cheat sheet on air quality to help you breathe easier at home every day. 

Choose an Air Filter

While the primary function of an HVAC air filter is to prevent dust from settling on the equipment, an added benefit is cleaner indoor air. When you shop for an air filter replacement, look for the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). This tells you how efficient the filter is on a scale from 1 to 16. To maintain a balance between airflow and efficiency, opt for a MERV 5 to 8 filter. Unless you have severe asthma or allergies, this is plenty efficient for your needs.

Run an Air Cleaner

A small portable air cleaner is perfect for your bedroom at night while you sleep. This device collects airborne dust and debris, leaving the air cleaner than ever. If you opt for a whole-house model, it replaces the air filter. This type of installation is known to decrease asthma and allergy symptoms. To learn how to get a whole-house air cleaner in your home, contact Gator Air and Energy.

Change the Filter Regularly

Changing the HVAC filter is one of the easiest ways to help improve indoor air quality. Stock up on a few at a time, that way you can easily replace the filter when the time comes. Plan to check the filter monthly and change it after no more than three months to keep airflow and efficiency at their peak.

Dust and Vacuum Often

It’s easy to put off dusting and vacuuming, but removing dust means you get rid of one of your home’s most prevalent pollutants. Dust with a wet rag or electrostatic cloth instead of a feather duster to trap debris instead of spreading it around. When you vacuum, turn the thermostat setting to ON so the fan blows continuously, drawing up dusty air and filtering it before sending it back into the air you breathe.

Avoid Chemicals

Everything from cleaning products to air fresheners to personal care items give off harmful vapors that become trapped in your home. Avoid chemically laden products and choose non-toxic, non-aerosol, unscented products instead to promote good indoor air quality.

Make Your Pet a Priority

If you want to avoid putting your furry friend up for adoption, make it a priority to brush and bathe your pet regularly. Wash his bedding frequently and make your bedroom a no-go zone for Fido. These efforts should reduce the amount of dander floating around the air and nestling in the upholstery, especially bedding.

Increase Ventilation

Aside from keeping your windows open all the time, whole-house ventilation is the best way to replace stuffy, stale indoor air with fresh, clean outdoor air. If you’re not ready to take that step, utilize existing spot ventilation around your home. For example, run the bathroom exhaust fan when you shower and clean; flip on the kitchen range vent when you cook and clean; and turn on the laundry room exhaust vent when clothes are drying. These habits help you eliminate pollutants at the source. With our ultimate indoor air quality cheat sheet, you’ll be breathing easier in no time.

Contact Gator Air & Energy for Indoor Air Quality Services

If you’re in the Gainesville, Florida area and are looking to improve the air quality in your home, call Gator Air and Energy. Our technicians care about the comfort of your home and wish to help you live a healthier lifestyle through indoor air quality. Call us today to learn more.

New Commercial AC Technologies

Business owners everywhere understand the importance of technology to the world of commercial AC. However, many business owners aren’t maximizing their capabilities when it comes to efficient AC! Below, the air conditioning experts at Gator Air and Energy discuss the advances in commercial technologies and what it could mean for your company. 

An Intro to Commercial AC Tech

New products, services and technologies are crucial to corporate growth and success. In the commercial AC industry, this pattern is no different. From tankless water heaters to home automation, commercial AC technology is always on the cutting edge.

Integrated Water & Heating

Standard tank water heaters have been the standard for years, but high efficiency products like tankless water heaters are gaining popularity with consumers. These new heaters allow you to run your shower, dishwasher and other home appliances simultaneously without running out of hot water. Instead of heating around the clock, tankless water heaters operate on demand and do not consume energy when water is turned off. This feature alone can lead to substantial savings. In addition to being highly efficient, tankless water heaters are also considerably smaller than traditional heaters.

Due to their popularity amongst consumers, tankless water heaters have quickly become a cornerstone of the commercial AC industry.

Automated Appliance and Temperature Systems

It has become increasingly important for residential and commercial AC clients to be able to manage their temperature at all times. Several new products are delivering on that need by combining AC, heating and appliances into singular digital operating systems. Whereas you used to have to control each appliance individually and pre-set indoor temperatures, now you can do it all from your computer or tablet.

Mobility is Key

Commercial AC technology is no different from residential AC technology in it’s growing need for mobility. In a world where everything from banking to weight loss is controlled by mobile apps, the commercial AC industry has kept pace in a big way. Mobile AC apps can now collect and share data and alerts straight to your smart phone and even offer 24-hour tech support.

These innovations are helping business owners everywhere avoid catastrophe by keeping them connected and fully integrated at all times.

Commercial AC in Gainesville

Gator Air & Energy is Gainesville’s most technologically advanced commercial HVAC contractor. Want to learn more why we’re the best in North Central Florida? Click here to learn about our HVAC commercial services. Or, simply give us a call to learn more!

 

 

 

How to Ensure Maximum AC Efficiency

As the dog days of summer are upon us, lets take a look at your AC efficiency. Are you receiving maximum cooling when you need it most? Are you overexerting your unit? Are there any preventative measures that can be taken to avoid maintenance issues?

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Low Cost, Maximum Cooling

During the summer months, it can be especially tempting to lower your thermostat to 65 degrees and set your fans to the highest settings in order to combat the heat. Meanwhile, proper AC efficiency requires a little bit of restraint. Setting your thermostat at a lower temperature than the room itself won’t actually cool the room any faster. In addition to placing undo stress on your AC unit, it could also dramatically increase your electricity bill.

Can Outdoor Heat Effect AC Efficiency?

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Have you ever noticed how your air conditioning unit can take especially long to cool you off your home when the temperature is hot outside? That’s because before your AC unit can disperse cool air, it must first convert liquid refrigerant into a gas, a process that occurs at a high temperature. When it’s hot outside, the combined heat from the sun and the conversion of refrigerant can delay the process of cooling the air.

Dirty air filters and coils can also effect your AC efficiency, causing your unit to overheat. Preventing these issues could be as simple as checking your coils and filters once a month. Keeping an eye on your AC unit can go a long way in ensuring reliable AC efficiency and extending the lifespan of your unit. In addition to doing it yourself, we also recommend calling your AC vendor to schedule routine maintenance.

For even more AC efficiency tips and tricks, head over to the energy.gov and download their Home Cooling Energy Saver Infographic!

AC Repair for the Summer Months

As we approach the summer season here in the sunshine state, it’s no secret that the weather is going to intensify. With higher temperatures, increased humidity and frequent thunderstorms looming around the corner, now is the time to make sure that none of these weather-related factors will have a negative impact on your air conditioning unit.

Here are a few potential repair scenarios you may encounter during the dog days of summer:

High Cost

When the mercury is climbing outside and just walking from the driveway to the garage becomes a sweaty endeavor, it can be tempting to ratchet down the air conditioning temperature in your home. Unfortunately, the lower the temperature, the higher your energy bill will be at the end of the month.

One helpful way to cut down on energy costs is by programming your thermostat. Many AC units, whether they’re residential or commercial grade, have two different fan settings: ON or AUTO.

The ON setting will keep the fan running and air flowing around the clock. This can drive up your utility costs and sometimes place added stress on your AC unit, increasing your need for potential maintenance or repair. The AUTO setting on your thermostat ensures that once your desired temperature is reached, the unit will turn off automatically. Once the temperature increases past the number you’ve programmed into your thermostat, the unit will turn on once again until the desired temperature is reached. This is a simple, cost-effective, energy efficient way to save money during the summer months.

Overworking Your Unit

This is the portion of the blog where common sense definitely applies. Perhaps you own your own business and you don’t have the luxury of shutting down your AC unit at the end of the work day. Maybe your employees have complained that the office is too hot when they arrive on Monday morning. Either way, it’s your responsibility to find a solution and to keep your employees happy and comfortable in their workspace.

Being that you’re a good boss, you’re going to do everything you can to keep everyone calm, cool and productive. However, you don’t want to over-extend your budget.

Most commercial air conditioning units have a programmable thermostat which allows you to create a cooling schedule based on your hours of operation. This gives you 100% control of your AC unit’s running time and is a surefire way to reduce the cost of energy and repair.

For example, if your doors are open from 9am – 5pm, giving your unit an hour or two head start will provide ample time to thoroughly cool the space before you open for business.

Maintenance

The best insurance you can possibly have during the sweltering summer months is a reliable maintenance plan. At Gator Air and Energy, we provide multiple HVAC repair services that are guaranteed to keep you cool all summer long. Call today to receive more information and helpful air conditioning tips @ 352-275-4827 or send us a message on our website.
As always, we look forward to hearing from you!

How Proper Ventilation Helps Cool Your Home

One of the most critical components of air conditioning maintenance is proper ventilation. In order to ensure that you are breathing clean air and that you’re getting the most efficient output from your AC unit, it is crucial that air ducts are free of debris, vents remain open and routine maintenance is performed on a regular basis.

Maintaining proper ventilation has a number of advantages, but let’s focus on these three key points which are applicable to both residential and commercial air conditioning units:

  1. Better Cooling Efficiency
  2. Lower Costs
  3. Dust and Debris

Better Cooling Efficiency

Its safe to say that when you walk into your office in the morning or open the front door to your home after a long day, you want to feel cool, clean, refreshing air as you move throughout the space. From one room to the next, the temperature on your thermostat should be the temperature of the entire home or workspace.

In order to maintain that balanced, cool, breezy air flow, the vents themselves should be cleaned regularly and remain open. The ducts, which funnel the cool air into your home or workspace are designed to provide a balance and consistency in temperature. By closing the vents, which are the exit points of the ducts, it can cause an imbalance in temperature with some rooms becoming warmer than others.

Allowing the vents to remain open ensures proper ventilation and is also a great way of reducing stress on your AC unit. Since timers and thermostats typically turn on and off based on the temperature of the room, closing vents can cause the unit to have to work harder and run more often in order to account for the warmer temperature. This can lead to added costs on your energy bill as well.

Lower Costs

Let’s be honest – when it comes to your energy bill, you don’t want any surprises. Receiving a bloated utility invoice for your home or business can put a serious damper on an otherwise great day, especially when you consider how simple it is to keep that from happening.

Here are a few short ventilation tips that will save you money this summer and ensure a clean, healthy, comfortable indoor environment for you and your guests:

  1. Take a walk around your home or office. Make sure each vent is open and positioned for maximum cooling. This will allow you to accurately point cool air in a direction that is most convenient for you.
  2. If you do find it absolutely necessary to close one or more vents, it may be a good idea to increase the cooling temperature on your thermostat. This will ensure that your AC unit shuts off instead of continuing to run.

Dust and Debris

Keep your vents clean! If you notice dust, dirt or debris beginning to accumulate on or around the vents, make sure you give them a good detailed dusting. Airborne debris can lead to sneezing, elevated allergy symptoms and irritation of the nasal passages. Clean ventilation is a quick and simple way to keep you and your space healthy and happy.

For more helpful ventilation tips, please contact Gator Air & Energy. We are always striving to provide YOU with the best HVAC services in Gainesville.

How Attics Affect Your Home Cooling

It’s easy to forget about your attic unless you’re making routine trips into it. For most Gainesville, FL homeowners, the attic is a place for storage and is rarely considered unless it’s being used.

Ignoring it could be part of the reason for your escalating utility bills. It’s always possible that the cool air produced by your A/C unit is slipping through your home and into the attic, and the reverse is also true with the hot air from the attic coming into your home. Attics affect your home cooling in a major way.

Here are some tips on how to limit the impact your attic is having on your home as we head into the hot summer months.

Insulation is Important

To keep the cool air from escaping through your walls and into the attic space, insulation is a big deal. If home cooling is a big deal to you, adding insulation during the home building process can ensure savings over the lifetime of the house.

If you built the home, hopefully you had conversations with the builder about how much insulation would be put into the house. If you bought the house when it was already built, it can be tough to know how well insulated the house is. However, if you’re noticing some rooms heat up faster than others in the summer time, that’s a strong sign that those rooms didn’t receive the insulation the others did.

While trying to figure out if the bottom of your attic has enough insulation, a good rule of thumb is to look at how high it comes up. If the insulation ends at the top of the joists, then you should consider adding more. If it comes over the joists, then you should be fine and it wouldn’t make sense financially to add any insulation. Improving the insulation can reduce the way attics affect your home cooling.

Attic Ventilation Plays a Role

Just as insulation is important to your attic, ventilation is also a big deal. There are big problems, like hurting the life of your shingles and supporting mold growth, that come with a lack of ventilation. For home cooling purposes, lacking ventilation can have a negative impact on your attic’s insulation.

During the hottest months of the year, the built up heat in your attic can get over 120 degrees. When that starts to seep into your living space, home cooling costs can increase.

If ventilation is set up properly with your home, it should give a constant flow that pushes air from outside of your home and through your attic space. This gives your attic a chance to breathe and lower the temperature.

Pick a Color

Gainesville, FL homes are in prime location to get beaten down by the sun. One simple way to limit the impact the sun has on your attic is to go with a lighter colored roof. This can help reflect some of the sun’s energy and keep it from heating up your attic space.

If that doesn’t work, you can use reflective coatings on the roof to reflect the sunlight and keep it from having a major impact on the temperature of your attic.

Studies have shown that wood roofing panels under black shingles are usually 10-15 degrees warmer than white shingles on similar days. These temperatures can play a big role on the temperature of your attic and ultimately make your home cooling more difficult.

If you’d like to have your A/C unit looked at by a trained professionals, call Gator Air & Energy at 352-275-4827 or send us a message on our website.

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