7 Tips to Stay Cool This Summer in South Florida

It's getting warm out and as the days pass it will only get hotter! Here are some tips to help drop the temperature in your home without raising your electric bill!

1. Install a programmable thermostat to ensure you only pay for conditioned air during times you’re at home.
2. Take advantage of the cool evening air by opening windows in the later hours and using a window fan to circulate air throughout the house.
3. Turn the temperature setting up. For each degree over 78 degrees, you can save between 5 and 8 percent on your energy bill. 
4. If keeping that dial higher is uncomfortable add a ceiling or floor fan. Fans make rooms seem about 5 degrees cooler!
5. Keep the sun out during the day. Use curtains or blinds to block rays, particularly in rooms that get direct sun. 
6. The right kind of light bulb will keep you feeling cooler!Switch out your incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs which produce less heat.
7. Indoor cooking with your oven can raise temperatures, making your A/C work even harder. Use your outdoor grill as much as possible, or cook indoors during the cooler part of the day.

For more great ways to save money on Air Conditioing consider routine maintenance, upgrading your system or cleaning your ducts! Contact GMC AC Services in Pompano for more information!

Earth Day Tips to Save Energy On Air Conditioning

Earth Day is April 22nd!

With that in mind, we have put together some great tips to help you save energy (and money!) on climate control!


Turn up your thermostat
Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off when you are away. Using ceiling or room fans allows you to set the thermostat higher because the air movement will cool the room.
Try installing an ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat.


Replace air conditioner filters
Dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause the system to run longer, increasing energy use. Replace filters monthly for maximum benefit.


Get an annual checkup
If you have central air, consider an annual checkup. A professional, like GMC Air Services can diagnose any inefficiencies.

Use ceiling fans
Use fans to maintain comfortable temperature, humidity and air movement, and save energy year round. Moving air can make a somewhat higher temperature and/or humidity feel comfortable. Fans can help delay or reduce the need for air conditioning, and a temperature setting of only three to five degrees higher can feel as comfortable with fans.

Don't let the air out
Plug leaks with weather stripping and caulking to keep the cool air inside, where it belongs!

Pricing Policy

We understand that no one is comfortable hiring a company by the hour. After all, we are consumers too! That is why, when you do business with GMC Air Conditioning Services, you will be quoted a flat price for your repair, and that is all you will pay, regardless of how long the job takes. We charge a small diagnostic fee in order to determine the problem with your A/C system and then we let you know exactly what the cost to repair will be. It is that simple, no hidden charges!

Our list of services include...

• Air Conditioning Replacements. 
• Duct Repair. 
• Indoor Air Quality Solutions. 
• 24 Hour Emergency Service. 
• Fast Reliable repairs. 
• Preventative Maintenance Agreements. 
• Free Estimates. 
• Free 2nd opinion of your cooling problems. 

Let us worry about your air conditioning, so you don't have to!

How Central Air Conditioning Works

Air conditioners and refrigerators work the same way. Instead of cooling just the small, insulated space inside of a refrigerator, an air conditioner cools a room, a whole house, or an entire business.

Air conditioners use chemicals that easily convert from a gas to a liquid and back again. This chemical is used to transfer heat from the air inside of a home to the outside air.

The machine has three main parts. They are a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The compressor and condenser are usually located on the outside air portion of the air conditioner. The evaporator is located on the inside the house, sometimes as part of a furnace. That's the part that heats your house.

The working fluid arrives at the compressor as a cool, low-pressure gas. The compressor squeezes the fluid. This packs the molecule of the fluid closer together. The closer the molecules are together, the higher its energy and its temperature.

The working fluid leaves the compressor as a hot, high pressure gas and flows into the condenser. If you looked at the air conditioner part outside a house, look for the part that has metal fins all around. The fins act just like a radiator in a car and helps the heat go away, or dissipate, more quickly.

When the working fluid leaves the condenser, its temperature is much cooler and it has changed from a gas to a liquid under high pressure. The liquid goes into the evaporator through a very tiny, narrow hole. On the other side, the liquid's pressure drops. When it does it begins to evaporate into a gas.

As the liquid changes to gas and evaporates, it extracts heat from the air around it. The heat in the air is needed to separate the molecules of the fluid from a liquid to a gas.

The evaporator also has metal fins to help in exchange the thermal energy with the surrounding air.

By the time the working fluid leaves the evaporator, it is a cool, low pressure gas. It then returns to the compressor to begin its trip all over again.

Connected to the evaporator is a fan that circulates the air inside the house to blow across the evaporator fins. Hot air is lighter than cold air, so the hot air in the room rises to the top of a room.

There is a vent there where air is sucked into the air conditioner and goes down ducts. The hot air is used to cool the gas in the evaporator. As the heat is removed from the air, the air is cooled. It is then blown into the house through other ducts usually at the floor level.

This continues over and over and over until the room reaches the temperature you want the room cooled to. The thermostat senses that the temperature has reached the right setting and turns off the air conditioner. As the room warms up, the thermostat turns the air conditioner back on until the room reaches the temperature.

Source: Energy Quest

Split System

A split system is an HVAC system in which some components are located inside the structure of the house and some are located outside. Split systems should be matched for optimal efficiency.

Dust and Your AC

If dust in your air conditioner made it more difficult and expensive to cool your home last summer, call an HVAC contractor to clean it for you. Although you can remove some of the dust yourself, you’ll need a technician who has the tools and training to access the parts that you can’t.

Dust is a major cause of air conditioning inefficiency and potentially failure. You can eliminate a good deal of dust in your air conditioner by keeping the filter clean for the indoor furnace or air handler. When dust builds on the evaporator coil, it slows the process of extracting heat from the indoor air, and may eventually cause the outdoor compressor to overheat and break. The dust also slows the passage of air through the filter, retarding the cooling process.

The other place where dust collects is in your outdoor compressor. Once you’ve removed all the vegetative debris around the unit, try hosing off the fins and coils with a light to medium spray. This can dislodge some of the dust that slows the cooling of the warmed refrigerant coming from inside.

An HVAC technician goes more deeply into the system by cleaning the outdoor coil and the electrical components. Dust impedes the flow of electricity through the wiring, interfering with the smooth operation of the appliance. The technician uses pH balanced cleaners to remove all the dirt and dust from the compressor’s coil, as well, increasing the efficiency of your A/C.

He also cleans the evaporator coil indoors and measures the amount of refrigerant in your system. The dust that collects outdoors can cause tiny leaks in the coils and connectors. If the refrigerant is low, the technician looks for the leaks and repairs or replaces the faulty parts, and refills your system to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Carrier Ductless Split Systems

Can't install ducts in your home or room? Consider a ductless solution. This is a great option for your addition, enclosure, or Florida room due to flat roofs with no room for duct work.

Click any of the links below for more information:

High Wall (Residential)
Multi Split (Residential)
Cassette Systems (Commercial)
Underceiling Systems (Commercial)
High Wall (Commercial)

Filter Importance

One of the easiest air conditioning maintenance steps is to be sure that you use a high quality air filter. Air filter replacement is the most commonly needed air conditioning maintenance service.

Replacing the air filter monthly protects the mechanical components of your air conditioning system from dirty buildup. A dirty air filter also can impede airflow and force your air conditioning system to work harder and less efficiently to cool your home. A poorly maintained AC System may fail due to abnormal wear and tear. Dirt and dust buildup may cause you to need an air conditioner repair visit or may lead to expensive parts failures or AC Unit replacement. Our air conditioning specialists determine the condition of your AC System and thoroughly maintain it to help preserve comfort to your home.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Maintenance Checklist

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.
• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
• Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.
• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
• Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself

• Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

Source: Energy Star

Air Handlers

Air handlers use smart technology to efficiently circulate the air, varying its speed based on your home's heating and cooling requirements while saving electricity by working only when needed. This means your unit turns on and off (as you may have heard on a quiet evening) and works only when needed. It knows when it is needed because of specialized sensors inside the machine.

Certain brands are more popular, or more highly recommended than others partly because of their life span or cost, but predominantly because of those sensors functioning optimally to keep your home the proper temperature and doing so as efficiently as possible.

AC Tune-Up

OUR EXCLUSIVE PRECISION AIR-CONDITIONING TUNE-UP PROCEDURE INCLUDES, AS NEEDED:

1. Chemically clean and thoroughly wash condenser coil(s).
2. Thoroughly clean or replace standard air filter(s).
3. Wash and level condensing unit for proper motor and bearing wear.
4. Lubricate motor and fan bearings as well as other moving parts as necessary.
5. Clean and inspect evaporator coil and drain pain when readily accessible.
6. Clean and inspect condensate drain lines and fittings.
7. Clean, level and calibrate thermostat.
8. Adjust and thoroughly clean blower motor and fan assembly as needed. 
9. Inspect, tighten and test all electrical connections. This includes disconnect switch.
10. Inspect all cooling system electrical wires, connectors and terminals.
11. Test system starting and running capacitors.
12. Test all controls, switches, relays, transformers, contactors, motors and fans.
13. Measure starting and running amperes, line voltage and control voltage.
14. Test system starting capabilities.
15. Test system for proper air-flow and air delivery.
16. Inspect and adjust all safety controls.
17. Monitor refrigerant (Freon) pressures and temperatures.
18. Test and record super-hear and sub-cooling. Compare with factory specifications.
19. Adjust Freon metering control device per factory/manufacturer recommendations.
20. Test and measure air conditioning system for proper production and capacity.
21. Monitor fan motors and compresser operating temperatures.
22. Apply weather resistant protective coating to the outside unit. (Condensor)
23. Complete and present full written report and make any necessary recommendations.

Why You Need a Maintenance Agreement

10 Reasons you should consider investing in a PEAK PERFORMANCE Precision Tune-Up & Professional Maintenance Agreement
1. Fewer expensive repairs and inconvenient breakdowns.
Professional maintenance results in fewer and less costly repairs.

2. Quick response to your call for service.
As a Peak Performance customer, you are given priority status over other callers.

3. Discounted repairs.
You will receive a discount of 15% on BOTH parts and labor, should your system require any repairs.

4. Never be charged overtime rates again!
As one of our preferred customers, you will not be charged overtime, should a repair be necessary after normal working hours.

5. 24 Hour service available 7 days a week.
Your comfort is our top priority, and we will be there when you need us.

6. Extended Equipment Life.
It is a proven fact that regularly scheduled professional maintenance will enhance the lifetime of your HVAC equipment.

7. Lower utility costs.
Our Peak Performance Tune-Up’s keeps your equipment running efficiently, which will reduce operating costs, and save you money each & every month.

8. Improved Dehumidification.
Equipment with dirty coils or filters can lose as much as 40% of their capacity, which can lead to a lack of proper dehumidification.

9. Improved Health.
A clean system is a healthy system. Professional maintenance will keep your system clean.

10. Improved Safety.
As a part of our Peak Performance Tune-Up, we check all factory safety controls and switches, as well as check for frayed and loose wires, which greatly reduces the chance of an electrical short or fire.

New Home, Old AC

Congratulations on purchasing your new home! 

Let's talk about the elephant in the AC cupboard.

Sometimes a great house needs just one thing to make it perfect. In South Florida, if that thing is an AC unit, it can turn into feeling like a big thing quickly. It could be that your home inspector said

• that there are a couple of years left
• that it needs replacing immediately
• that the load test shows it is too small for the property
• that it is inefficient
• that the ductwork needs replacing

All of these are indicators of needing a new AC unit. Here's the good news:

A new AC will lower your monthly energy bill!

That's right. An older, inefficient unit will cost you more over 3 years than a new unit. It will essentially pay for itself. Plus, there are rebates you can request for replacing your AC unit from FPL and the government. Look at that, you're getting money back already!

Turn that frown upside down and trust us to do a great job replacing your AC unit and ductwork for clean, cold, fresh air!

Contact GMC AC Services at 954-973-5980 for an estimate today.

Home Maintenance

Save a little money later by doing a few small things now to maintain your air conditioning unit.

Change your filters. We will remind you on Facebook at the beginning of every month.

Clean the drain line. Pour a little bit of bleach down the drain line pipe every six months — that will reduce the amount of algae build up in the drain line and reduce the chance of the drain line filling up with water.

Clear the bushes. Check for efficient air-flow around your unit. Make sure your air conditioner has plenty of “breathing” room. Avoid enclosing or covering it; keep leaves, plants and other vegetation at least 18″ away.

Schedule maintenance. Your home's units should be tuned up at least once per year.

AC Q&A

Here is a most informative Q&A from the Palm Beach Post:

What are SEERS?

SEER stands for “seasonal energy efficiency ratio.” The SEER rating is the BTU of cooling output during its normal annual usage divided by the total electric energy input in watt hours during the same time frame.

SEERS range from 13 (lowest) and 21 (highest). The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the system is.

I bought my first house and am now responsible for air-conditioning care. What is the difference between all these stage systems and compressors, and what will help me with my electric bills?
A two-stage system is designed to further reduce electrical consumption. Most people purchase single-stage air-conditioning units because they are less expensive than a two- stage, but aside from the price factor, most people are not properly educated on the benefits of having a two-stage system.

A single stage starts up at 100% capacity while two stages start up at 50-66% capacity, and 15 seconds later switch to 100% capacity. A two-stage system draws less amperage on start up, which helps you save money on the electrical bill. Two-stage systems also automatically switch back to 50-66% capacity when indoor and outdoor temperatures permit, therefore lowering electric use.

Other added benefits of the two-stage system include on-demand dehumidification features. If your home reaches the desired temperature set point but the humidity level is very high in the home, the system will go into de-humidification mode that brings the humidity levels down to the requested level. This allows you to have your home set at a higher temperature set point with less humidity in the air, so you are more comfortable in your home at an even higher temperature set point because there is less humidity in the air.

It’s 98 degrees outside and my AC is not blowing. What do I do?

Check the breakers, and if it is not related to an electrical short, call for service. You can check to see if you have a dirty filter, as this may cause the unit to freeze up.

How do I care for the filter?

Filters should be changed or cleaned once per month. You can clean them by vacuuming it off and washing it with water (if it’s a washable filter). Let it dry completely before placing it back in.

Use a good quality filter like an electrostatic washable, which we sell and can have custom made to fit in the AC unit. If you prefer to change the filter every month, invest in a sponge pad smart filter that has a custom-made aluminum frame and a rubber seal gasket that goes along with the top of the filter.

With filters removed, check the coils by shining a flashlight. If they appear to have microbial growth on the coils or appear to be clogged in any way by dog hair or dirt impacts, have a specialist come in for a coil cleaning.

The fan blower inside the AC should also be removed and cleaned once every two to three years.

How do I care for my AC’s drain line?

Pour a little bit of bleach down the drain line pipe every six months — that will reduce the amount of algae build up in the drain line and reduce the chance of the drain line filling up with water.

How often should I have my AC tuned up?

It is recommended that you check your unit every six months.

SEERs?

What are SEERS?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating is the BTU of cooling output during its normal annual usage divided by the total electric energy input in watt hours during the same time frame.

SEERS range from 13 (lowest) and 21 (highest). The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the system is.

Source: Palm Beach Post

Florida's Winter

We in South Florida don't have to winterize our homes and cover and protect our exterior air conditioner units. However, as the weather is a little bit cooler, and before it becomes necessary to turn from cool to heat, it would be a good idea to prepare your AC unit.

Whether you use your AC every day or almost never, simply switch your AC to heat and let it blow a few moments. This will dust off the heating coils. If you notice a bit of a "burning dust" smell, that's okay. Anything greater than that, including smoke, will need an inspection.

It is better to call us out now, before you need us on a chilly night or with a house full of guests.

Importance of Clean Air Filters

Breathing fresh, clean air is important to our health. But if we don’t make it a habit to change the filters in our home air systems, the equipment can fail, making matters much worse. Maintaining a good filter maintenance schedule protects the air we breathe and the heating and cooling equipment in our homes.

Airflow goes hand-in-hand with the efficiency of your HVAC system, and furnace filters assist with this. Dirty filters restrict the airflow, which results in higher energy and even HVAC repair costs.

With your typical off-the-shelf throwaway HVAC filter, it collects particles in the filtering medium. After it collects a certain amount of particles and is full, you simply remove it, throw it away, and replace it with another.

It is important to remember the more efficient the filter or the dirtier the air, the faster the filter is going to fill up and need to be replaced. It is recommended that HVAC air filters be checked at least every 30 days for an excessive load up of particles. If the filter looks overloaded on day 30, then you will have to change the amount of time you check the filter. On the other hand, if the filter looks particularly clean, you can relax the schedule of checking it.

Aside from keeping the air in your home clean, if your air system is working with a dirty air filter, it will slow down its efficiency as it slows down to do the same job. As a result, you’ll be paying more money to keep your home warm or cool.

And last but not least, an air filter helps keep the interior of your equipment clean. If a dirty air filter I kept in use, it could damage your equipment, or even cause it to break down entirely, which won’t do you any good.

Prevent overpaying for heating and cooling your home, or repairing the equipment by maintaining a schedule to replace your air filters.

Source: Home is Where the Health Is

Satisfaction Guaranteed

With GMC, your satisfaction is guaranteed!

Our goal is that you are 100% satisfied with the products and services we offer you. To this end we make the following pledge. If you are not completely satisfied with a product or service you have purchased from us, simply let us know and we will do what's necessary for you to be completely satisfied. Satisfied customers are our most important product!
Read some of our testimonials here.
Make your opinion known by posting a review for us on Angie's List or Google Plus.

Pricing Policy

We understand that no one is comfortable hiring a company by the hour. After all, we are consumers, too! That is why, when you do business with GMC Air Conditioning Services, you will be quoted a flat price for your repair, and that is all you will pay, regardless of how long the job takes. We charge a small diagnostic fee in order to determine the problem with your A/C system and then we let you know exactly what the cost to repair will be. It is that simple; no hidden charges!

Our list of services includes:

• Air Conditioning Replacements.
• Duct Repair.
• Indoor Air Quality Solutions.
• 24 Hour Emergency Service.
• Fast Reliable repairs.
• Preventative Maintenance Agreements.
• Free Estimates.
• Free 2nd opinion of your cooling problems.

Let us worry about your air conditioning, so you don't have to!