Bob Mims Heating & Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

The R-22 Phaseout Is Almost Done—Time to Replace That Old AC

Monday, May 20th, 2019

wall-clock

The clock is running out for old air conditioning systems that use R-22 refrigerant. If you aren’t certain what the R-22 phaseout is or how it affects your air conditioning system, here’s a quick rundown:

R-22, sometimes called Freon (a brand name), is an outdated refrigerant blend that was used for decades in air conditioning systems. Because R-22 creates ozone-depleting substances, the US Environmental Protection Agency started a process of gradually phasing-out use of this refrigerant blend to replace it with R-410A (a.k.a. Puron), which is not only healthier for the environment, but is a more efficient refrigerant blend for heat transfer.

The phase-out is now reaching its conclusion. As of 2020, professional HVAC technicians will no longer be permitted to use R-22 for any repairs to air conditioning systems, even using reclaimed refrigerant. So this means…

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Skipping Spring AC Maintenance Can Mean Plenty of Wasted Dollars

Monday, May 6th, 2019

air-conditioning-maintenance-toolsSpring is the best time to schedule annual air conditioning maintenance in Staten Island, NY. Having this job done before summer arrives helps ensure an AC is in great shape when hot weather arrives, and it gives a homeowner enough time to schedule any repairs that the technician may have discovered during the maintenance inspection. To schedule your regular AC maintenance, call our office to sign up for one of our Bob Mims Service Agreements.

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Should You Talk to Your Maintenance Tech About Getting a New AC?

Monday, March 25th, 2019

air-conditioning-recyclingIn our last post, we put up a friendly spring reminder: have your air conditioning system professionally maintained! There’s nothing better for a hard-working central AC than to have an annual inspection and tune-up. It means better performance, fewer repairs, energy-efficient operation, and a long system life.

But let’s talk about that last advantage a bit more: how long can an air conditioner keep working? Maintenance extends its service life, but no level of diligence can make an AC work forever. Your home’s current air conditioner will eventually need to be replaced. Is this something you should discuss with your HVAC technician during maintenance?

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Spring Is Almost Here: Time for an AC Tune-Up!

Monday, March 11th, 2019

daffodils

The time between winter and summer is when HVAC technicians help customers get their air conditioning systems ready for hot weather. Technicians are dealing with fewer emergency calls for heating repair, and that makes it much easier for customers to schedule an annual AC inspection and tune-up.

We strongly encourage you to arrange for your annual AC maintenance services early this spring. It’s okay if you do it a bit later, but please don’t skip it entirely!

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September Can Be an Awful Time for an Air Conditioner

Monday, September 10th, 2018

autumn-backgroundWe aren’t asking you to show pity for your air conditioner: it is, after all, a piece of machinery. It doesn’t have feelings. But when your air conditioner has an awful time, it can mean an awful time for you as well. It’s important for us to let you know how much September can turn into a dreadful time for your central air conditioning system.

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How to Cure the Mid-Season Air Conditioner Replacement Blues

Monday, August 13th, 2018

woman-in-front-of-fanThe second half of the summer is when the heat can get brutal. Unfortunately, this is also the time when you’re likely to have the blues with your air conditioner. Considering all the stress that the early summer months place on an older AC, now is the time when the cooling system might start to fall behind—or even crash completely and leave you without any cooling at all.

So, is it time to replace your home air conditioner? That may be the cure to your air conditioner blues—and we’d like to help make it as easy for you as possible.

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If You Forgot AC Maintenance—It’s Still Not Too Late

Monday, July 30th, 2018

air-conditioning-manometer-pressure-refrigerantDid you forget to arrange for AC maintenance in Staten Island, NY this spring? Lots of people forget about this important regular service for their HVAC equipment unless they get reminders. With so much going on to take care of a home after winter subsides, calling up from AC maintenance from a dependable contractor can sometimes fall off the list of priorities and never get back on the list.

But if you did miss spring maintenance for your air conditioner, don’t decide that you can just “let it slide” for a year. It’s extremely important for the health of the HVAC system, your budget, and your household’s general comfort to have this inspection and tune-up work done once a year—even if it ends up done in the middle of summer.

Let’s look at some reasons why Midsummer Maintenance is still a good idea.

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AC Tripping the Circuit Breaker? Let’s See What’s Up

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

electrical-panel-repairsYou’ve probably had the experience of plugging in a new appliance or turning on a powerful one and suddenly losing power. That’s the circuit breaker box doing its job: protecting the electrical system from a harmful voltage overload. Fixing a tripped breaker is easy, you only have to reset it. But a tripped breaker is something to pay attention to since it often means something is wrong with the appliance (or the home needs a wiring upgrade).

Has this tripped breaker problem affected your air conditioning system? The compressor tries to come on, but instead the power to the AC shuts off—and you have to reset the breaker to get the cooling system working again. If this happens once, it may not be a serious problem. Voltage overloads can sometimes occur. But if your air conditioner is tripping the breaker repeatedly, it means the system is overheating and causing the motors to put too much electrical demand on the system.

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Leaking Refrigerant May Destroy Your AC!

Monday, June 4th, 2018

terrified-woman-thinks-of-destroyed-air-conditionerMany types of malfunctions can cause your home’s air conditioning system to fail or stop working altogether. A fan motor burns out, and that means no air circulating through the house. Bad wiring to the thermostat means you can’t turn the AC on. But there are some malfunctions that can mean the end of your air conditioner—the point where the only repairs that may fix it will cost more than the price of getting a new AC.

One of the big air conditioning-ending disasters you may run over summer is leaking refrigerant.

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The Advantages of a Programmable Thermostat

Monday, May 21st, 2018

thermostat-adjustmentDo you live in a home where you have to control comfort using a manual dial-and-levers thermostat? These older style of thermostats can get the basic job done, but we recommend you consider making the upgrade to a digital programmable model—or even a “smart” Wi-Fi thermostat.

The Benefits of Going Programmable

The specific benefits of upgrading your home to programmable climate controls depend on the model you get. These are the broad benefits you can expect, but feel free to ask your installer questions about how the new system works—there may be advantages you don’t know about.

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