Monthly Archives: May 2018

Avoid Summer Colds

Summer colds are the worst! There’s actual medical science behind this saying. Over 200 viruses can cause common colds. Most of these, like the rhinovirus – tend to peak in the fall. Most summer colds, however, are what’s known as enteroviruses, which bring with them more severe symptoms, and even on occasion, unusual symptoms such as rashes. There is something you can do in an effort to avoid the dreaded summer cold…improve your indoor air quality!

Missing out on the summer festivities that are taking place make summer colds truly the worst. Of course, this summer, you can do your part to wash your hands frequently, get good sleep, minimize stress, and exercise regularly to fend off the common cold in addition to taking the right steps to clean up your home’s air.

3 Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality This Summer:

1. Preventive Maintenance – Preventive maintenance of your HVAC system can significantly increase your indoor air quality (and reduce your chances of suffering with a summer cold). This routine, regularly-performed maintenance includes some do-it-yourself actions as well as more complex maintenance tasks your experienced HVAC service provider can assist with. For the best indoor air quality, make sure you keep up with the following maintenance schedule:
   1. DIY preventive maintenance – clean or replace your air filters and ensure your HVAC system is free from debris.
   2. Count on your HVAC service provider for checks of your operating system, electrical checks for connection and voltage, motor lubrication, checks for proper air flow and cleanliness among many other checks and maintenance activities that directly impact your indoor air quality.
2. Repairs – If you have an air purifier in need of repairs or you fear you have poor indoor air quality in your home, don’t wait until a summer cold outbreak hits your household. An HVAC technician can test your indoor air quality and provide an accurate and cost-effective plan to get your air quality at its best.
3. New Unit Installation – If you don’t currently have an air purifier installed or if the state of your current air conditioner is needed to improve your home’s indoor air quality, now is the time to get started – before the summer festivities get underway.

Don’t wait until the summer cold spreads like wildfire throughout your entire family, wreaking havoc on your summer fun. Improve your indoor air quality with the help of the HVAC professionals at Keith Air.

The pools and other recreational activities are beckoning, don’t miss a minute of the fun. From routine servicing of your HVAC system to DIY actions like changing the air filter as well as upgrading to an air purifier, Keith Air will assist in improving the air quality in your home and reducing your risk of airborne infections which can ruin your summer.

Keith Air was founded in 1964 by the late Stan Keith and since then has remained a family-owned and operated HVAC service provider, proudly serving homeowners in Mobile and the surrounding communities. We are NATE-Certified and experienced with all the popular makes and models of both residential and commercial air conditioning or heating systems.

Contact Keith Air for a consultation for your home or business today.

It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity. Anyone who lives in a humid climate during summer understands the effect humidity can have on your overall comfort. While there’s not much you can do to control the humidity outside; there are a few things you can do to ensure that the humidity inside your home does not creep too high.

Of course, high humidity makes us feel uncomfortable. This is something we shouldn’t have to feel inside our lovely homes, but it can also have some more serious side effects. Humidity creates an environment or breeding ground for all sorts of microscopic organisms such as mold spores, mildew and dust mites. Mold and mildew can still spread throughout the vents, or behind walls. Dust mites also love humidity, and they’re one of the biggest enemies for people who suffer from asthma and allergies.

Will A Whole House Dehumidifier Make My Home Feel Less Like a Rainforest?

• How does a whole house dehumidifier work? A whole house dehumidifier is typically installed in your ductwork of your HVAC system. Your whole house dehumidifier should be sized to your house and specific situation. Whole house dehumidifiers can remove, on average, 90 to 150 pints of moisture from the air in your home. This water is then drainer through your home’s plumbing system.
• The advantage of using a whole house dehumidifier –
  • You can control the desired humidity levels of your home using a dial. The moisture content of the whole house can be set to a fixed percentage, making measuring and controlling your home’s humidity much easier.
  • You can prevent many health risks – High humidity means a more suitable environment for mold, mildew and bacteria which can cause allergies, bronchitis, asthma and infections.
  • You can avoid home damage – Mold, mildew and bacteria can also cause damage to the walls, fabric and furniture of a home as well as causing wallpaper to curl and paint to peel from the walls.

Of course, your lack of comfort inside your home is of the utmost importance. No one should have to feel clammy and uncomfortable inside their home due to excessive humidity. Even more critical, however, may be the health issues caused by too much humidity. If you have noticed a feeling of too much moisture inside your home or, even possibly smells of mold or peeling paint, creaky as well as warped floors, these are all signs you may have a humidity issue that needs to be addressed.

Keith Air offers multiple solutions, including whole house dehumidifiers to help combat the humid climate we experience in Mobile and the surrounding communities.

Keith Air has two decades of experience helping homeowners in Mobile and the surrounding communities address issues that are specific to this unique region. We specialize in helping homeowners deal with the issues too much humidity can cause.

A whole house dehumidifier may be the perfect option for your home, and our technicians can help you weigh out your options. We are here for you 24/7 if an emergency repair is ever needed, as well as for routine maintenance of your HVAC system.

Contact Keith Air to explore lowering the humidity in your home today.

Don’t ignore the strange sounds coming from your air conditioning unit! Summer is on our doorstep, and the mercury is going to start climbing. Of course, we love summer and can’t wait to get outside, but on the first 90-degree day or your first family pool party of the season, it’s Murphy’s Law that your faulty AC is going to finally give out. You are not, however, at the mercy of Murphy’s Law, there is something you can do. Get your air conditioner serviced to address the noises it’s making before summer gets into full effect!

4 Common Air Conditioner Noises And What Might Be Causing Them:

1. Screaming – If your air conditioner noise sounds like a high-pitched scream that seems to be coming from the outside of your air conditioning unit when the AC first turns on, you may have an issue with your air conditioner’s compressor. This could be an extremely serious condition, and you should contact your HVAC service provider ASAP to prevent things from getting worse.
2. Clanging/banging/knocking – When your air conditioner noise is a clanging or banging sound, it is most likely caused from the unit’s fan hitting an obstruction (i.e., a stick or branch which has fallen on it). In this case, you may be able to remove the obstruction yourself, but if left unattended, it will likely cause serious damage to your HVAC unit.
3. Bubbling/gurgling – If you’re hearing an air conditioner noise that resembles bubbling or gurgling, it could be your condensation drain line, or there could be a refrigerant leak. Check with your HVAC professional to determine what kind of service your unit may require.
4. Screeching – Screeching, not to be confused with screaming, is an air conditioner noise which may sound like metal scraping on metal. This is usually caused when the fan motor bearings have gone bad and the solution is most likely a fan motor replacement.

While these air conditioner noises could mean a multitude of things, these are some common issues homeowners experience. Routine, preventive maintenance from an experienced HVAC provider like Keith Air can help you stay on top of small issues before they lead to a complete breakdown, at the worst possible time!

Keith Air has 50+ years of experience in providing the very best in HVAC services to Baldwin County. Whatever the strange air conditioner noise means, our NATE-certified technicians will be able to quickly determine the source and get things repaired as affordably and quickly as possible.

We’re here for you 24/7 when an emergency repair is needed, but we recommend an air conditioner service appointment to ensure your system is working at its best as we get closer to the hot days of the Alabama summer.  

Keep in mind if you are in need of a new, more energy efficient air conditioner, Keith Air offers convenient and affordable financing options to help offset the initial outlay to keep your home cool this summer.

Contact Keith Air to schedule your air conditioner service today.

If you could be saving money on your monthly energy bills, wouldn’t you? Of course, you would! At this time of year as the temps begin to climb, homeowners everywhere begin to think about their energy bill and how it climbs during the hottest months of the year. The truth is an HVAC upgrade can save you big time on your energy costs this summer.

It’s time to learn more about how an investment in a new heating, ventilation and cooling unit can improve your energy efficiency and, in turn, reduce your costs.

Understanding the SEER: SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is used as a metric to determine the ratio of cooling capacity to power input. Your AC unit’s efficiency is positively correlated to a higher SEER rating.

Why it matters: With technological advances, air conditioner manufacturers have been able to optimize the SEER rating, resulting in increases even in the last one to three years. As a result, homeowners with an HVAC system that is 10 to 15 years old, it can be much less energy efficient than a newer model.  An HVAC upgrade into the newest model allows you to tap into units miles above older models in terms of efficiency.

How the EPA weighs in: The rules for air conditioning units manufactured after January 1, 2015, as set by the EPA, require a minimum rating of 14 SEER. Prior to this regulation, systems manufactured after Jan. 23, 2006, were required to have a minimal 13 SEER rating. 

Do the math: A point often missed by homeowners is an HVAC upgrade from a 10 SEER unit to newer AC unit boasting 13 SEER can save up to 30 percent off your monthly energy costs. Over time, this savings will add up and cover the cost of your investment in an HVAC upgrade.

As the temps climb up this summer, we all look forward to arriving home to cool off inside with our AC’s cranking! The downside of all this coolness is, of course, the skyrocketing energy bill we get each month. Fortunately, with a new more energy efficient system, an HVAC upgrade can allow us to enjoy a comfortable and cool living space without the sticker shock of an energy bill set to break the bank.  

Keith Air has more than 50 years of experience in providing the very best in HVAC services to Baldwin County. We partner with homeowners to help them get the most out of their HVAC systems and even make recommendations for small improvements, whenever possible, to help you save on your energy expenses. If an HVAC upgrade is the best course of action, our skilled, NATE-certified technicians specialize in installing the most cutting-edge systems available. Keep in mind that Keith Air is a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer.

Contact Keith Air to explore an HVAC upgrade for your home today.