Author Archives: matthew.tyner

Is Your HVAC Contractor Licensed, Bonded and Insured?

handy man The first and perhaps most important step when choosing an HVAC contractor is to ensure they meet the basic requirements to do business in your area. This means making sure they are licensed, bonded and insured. Here’s a look at why these qualifications are important to ensuring a job well done.

Licensed HVAC Contractor

To obtain a license, a technician must complete an apprenticeship, provide proof of insurance, pay a fee and pass a written exam. Then the technician must complete continuing education courses to renew the trade license in coming years.

This process tells you that a licensed contractor is knowledgeable in the trade and serious about delivering satisfactory work. If you don’t place priority on hiring a licensed contractor, the work could be delayed or the end product could be unsatisfactory.

Bonded HVAC Contractor

A “bonded” contractor has purchased a surety bond from a third party. This acts as a type of insurance, designed to protect you, the customer, if the contractor installs equipment incorrectly, damages your property, or fails to pay for permits or meet other financial obligations. In serious instances, it also covers lost or stolen property.

In short, a bond protects you from being saddled with the cost of an unpaid worker or having to live with a poor installation. You can receive compensation for unsatisfactory work by contacting the surety company and proving that you were wronged.

Insured HVAC Contractor

Never hire any type of contractor unless they are insured. Look for two types of coverage. The first is a liability policy, which takes the blame off your shoulders if the property is damaged or a worker is injured on the job. The second is workers’ compensation, which provides payments to injured workers and compensates them for lost wages. In the event of death, workers’ compensation also provides benefits to the technician’s family.

It’s easy to make sure the HVAC contractor you hire has these qualifications. Simply ask for the license and bond number and proof of insurance. To work with a contractor that has all the necessary credentials, please contact us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. today.

Spring Means It’s Time for an A/C Tune-Up in Baldwin County

ac hvac repair The hot Alabama summer is on its way, and that means your energy bill is going to start showing the cooling costs of your home. But before you switch on your A/C for good, you should treat it to an A/C tune-up. Not only will you catch any problems before they cause you to endure days without cooling, but a tune-up means a higher operating efficiency and lowers energy bills throughout the cooling season.

Do-It-Yourself Maintenance

Before you schedule a professional A/C tune-up there are a few things you can do yourself:

Vacuum the air conditioner grills and vents.
Replace the air filter. You should be in the habit of doing this every month so that air can continue to flow through the filter and circulate through your home.
Clean the evaporator fins or coils with warm, soapy water. Gently straighten any bent fins with a putty knife or similar implement.
Check the condensate drain, and note any indications that water isn’t draining properly, such as puddles or a musty smell.
Check the outdoor portion of the unit. Ideally, it should be shaded, with any vegetation or awnings at least two feet away.

Professional A/C Tune-Up

Your HVAC professional will give a more technical examination to your unit, focusing on topics like the following:

Is the thermostat correctly regulating temperature?
Are there any problems with the electrical connections?
How much is the unit cooling the air it brings in?
Is the wiring functioning properly?
Are the blower fan and motor in good shape, and delivering the correct volume of air?
How is the system’s overall operation?

An A/C tune-up is a great investment for your home comfort throughout the summer. To learn more or schedule your A/C tune-up today, contact us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc.

Get the Most Bang for Your Energy Buck

Energy bills are pretty much unavoidable. While there are ways to “go off the grid,” most people must rely on natural gas, electricity and other forms of energy to keep their homes comfortable. While you can’t avoid energy bills, there are plenty of ways to keep them in check. In most homes, HVAC equipment accounts for more than 50 percent of the energy that is consumed. With that in mind, it pays to take steps to use your equipment as efficiently as possible.

Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment

Without a doubt, one of the best ways to slash energy costs and save money is by upgrading to air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps that are more efficient. With every passing year, major advances are made in the world of HVAC. Manufacturers are constantly making improvements, so replacing equipment that’s more than five years old is often justifiable. Of course, most people prefer to squeeze as much use out of their equipment as possible. In the meantime, there are other ways to slash energy costs. When the time comes, though, it’s well worth it to buy highly efficient HVAC equipment. The following ratings should steer you in the right direction:

SEER – A SEER rating, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio rating, is used to gauge how efficient an air conditioner is. It’s well worth it to buy equipment that has the highest SEER rating possible. The higher the rating, the less energy it will need to keep your home comfortably cool. An experienced HVAC contractor can help you zero in on an air conditioning system with an exceptional SEER rating and a reasonable price tag. Furthermore, a contractor will use sophisticated calculations to ensure that the right capacity is used, which has a major impact on how efficient this type of equipment operates as well. In the U.S., the minimum allowable SEER rating is 13.
AFUE – When the time comes to replace an old furnace, you may want to consider a heat pump instead. If you do decide to buy a furnace, keep an eye on its AFUE rating, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating. This rating reflects the amount of heat that is generated versus the amount of fuel that is used. The U.S. Department of Energy requires all heaters and furnaces to have AFUE ratings of at least 78 percent. However, you should try to get a model with a much higher rating than that.
HSPF – Heat pumps are more popular than ever, especially in places that enjoy relatively mild winters. By switching to a heat pump, you can save money and enjoy superior year-round comfort. As with other types of HVAC equipment, heat pumps are rated based on how efficient they are. The rating that is used is called a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. It is equal to the seasonal heating output of a heat pump in BTUs divided by the amount of energy that’s generated in watt-hours. Higher ratings equal more efficient operation.

Insulation and Ductwork

Let’s say you upgrade to more efficient HVAC equipment. That’s a great start, but you’ll still waste a lot of energy if your home isn’t properly insulated. You’re probably familiar with the importance of insulating ceilings and exterior walls, but what about the ducts in your home? A huge amount of heated and cooled air can be lost through tiny cracks, holes and gaps in a home’s ducts. An HVAC contractor can insulate your ducts to minimize wastage. This is a great way to get as much comfort for as little money as possible.

Maintenance

Even after insulating your home and upgrading to energy efficient equipment, your bills may let you down over time. This typically happens when people fail to have their equipment tuned up regularly. As with other forms of equipment, air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps become less efficient as they get dirty or as small issues arise. As long as you have an HVAC contractor perform routine maintenance on a regular basis, however, this shouldn’t be an issue at all.

During a tune-up, an HVAC company will carefully inspect your home’s heating and cooling system. The technician will clean the equipment to ensure that it operates in the most efficient way possible. While inspecting the equipment, minor issues may be detected. Whether they are loose connections or damaged fan blades, quick fixes can go a long way toward keeping furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners as efficient as can be. This work has the added bonus of helping you avoid costly repairs and replacements later.

HVAC Maintenance, Repairs and Installations in Mobile, AL

If you live in or near Mobile and would like to keep your energy costs in check, routine maintenance by Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. can help. As a Carrier factory authorized dealer, we have access to a vast inventory of high-quality parts and equipment. Our NATE-certified technicians receive ongoing training, and we must adhere to rigid standards in order to maintain our designation as an authorized dealer. For you, that means affordable, high-quality service. We are experts in the latest energy efficient HVAC equipment as well, and we can help you select the perfect solution for your home. Contact us now to get started.

Make These Energy-Saving Tips Part of Your Regular Routine

Saving energy on a daily basis isn’t really that tough; it simply takes some commitment. To give you a head start, we’ve put together some energy-saving tips that you can get started on today. Try these out for size.

9 Energy-Saving Tips

Replace your outdated light bulbs — Stop holding onto the past and replace your incandescent bulbs with ones that are more energy-efficient like CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps).
Unplug energy vampires — Many electronic devices like cell phone chargers and DVD players continue to drain a small amount of power when they’re switched off. To counteract this, unplug electronic devices from the wall.
Use a surge protector — An alternative to unplugging everything is to use a surge protector and turn the entire unit off, which will cut all power from the devices.
Tune-up your HVAC system — If your heating or cooling system isn’t operating at peak efficiency, it will drain more energy than it needs. Hire a technician to give it a tune-up once a year.
Change your system’s air filter — A dirty filter is an inefficient filter. Replace your filter once every 1-3 months, depending on the dust and debris buildup.
Air dry your dishes — Using the dishwasher to dry your dishes wastes a lot of energy and money, especially considering that there’s a free alternative available.
Turn off the lights — When you leave a room, all lights and electronics should be turned off in order to conserve power.
Replace an old HVAC system — When a system is on its last legs, your home’s energy efficiency suffers. It may be time to bite the bullet and seek out a replacement.
Look for the Energy Star label — When replacing or purchasing any type of HVAC system or electronic equipment, make sure it has the Energy Star label attached to it. The new Most Efficient label is even better, as it indicates equipment that has achieved the highest level of energy efficiency.

For more expert energy-saving tips or other home comfort issues, contact the HVAC professionals at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. We’ve been serving the good people of Mobile and the surrounding areas since 1964.

Air Filters: Change Them, Yes, but Know When and How

air filter dirty detail Air filters capture contaminants in the air toprotect HVAC equipment and household members from all kinds of nasty allergens, particles and biological contaminants. Read on to learn why, when and how to change your filter.

Why Change the Air Filter?

It may seem like an obvious question, but all too often clogged air filters cause an HVAC system malfunction that requires emergency repairs. Here are more reasons for changing your air filter regularly:

Clogged air filters increase energy use
Components of A/Cs, heat pumps, and furnaces endure more stress and wear
If a clogged filter is exposed to condensation, the filter becomes damp and mold growth may occur
Clogged filters create extreme pressure drops across the air handler/blower, which can quickly lead to system malfunction or failure
A clogged filter isn’t good for indoor air quality

When Should I Change the Filter, and How?

The frequency which air filters should be changed typically depends on the presence of indoor contaminants, outdoor contaminants and how often the HVAC systems operate.

Indoor factors: Generally speaking, a filter should be changed once every three months. However, the filter should be changed monthly in large households, households with pets, households with smokers and/or occupants with respiratory issues.
Outdoor factors: Is there construction nearby? Do you have a large garden? Is it pollen season? Keep in mind that the debris you see collecting on cars and outdoor objects may be collecting inside your home.
HVAC operation: During the cooling months, or any time the HVAC system is operating daily, the filter should be checked on a monthly basis. If you use the same type of filter each time, you’ll get a feel for when to change it based on HVAC usage.

Installation Tips

Measure the filter slot or old filter so that you select the correct size. Filters should fit snugly with no gaps around the perimeter. Filters with gaskets are excellent, and tend to be of higher quality.

Contact Keith Air Conditioning in Baldwin County for more info about filters and indoor air quality.

Energy Star Guidelines for Creating a More Efficient Home

energy audit They say the stars over Mobile Bay look so close you can reach out and grab them. When it comes to the Energy Star, however, you really can reach out and grab hold of some money-saving ideas.

The Energy Star program certifies genuinely energy efficient devices. Buying Energy Star-certified products can reduce our country’s dependence on foreign energy sources, help the environment, and save you money.

Heating and Cooling Savings

Heating and cooling your Mobile-area home contributes to about half of your home’s energy budget. Choosing extremely efficient furnaces—some condensing gas models achieve 98.5 percent annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE)—and central air conditioners can reduce your energy use and lower energy bills as a result.

If you have equipment that is more than a decade old, you can reap substantial savings by replacing your energy-inefficient HVAC system with professionally installed Energy Star-labeled units. Modern equipment is not only more efficient, but it is also usually smaller, which can save you money on the installation and monthly usage charge.

Dandy Ductwork

The ductwork in your Mobile-area home may have been installed perfectly many years ago. Over time, mastic comes loose, joints shift, and gaps develop. Sealing and insulating ducts improves efficiency for both heating and cooling—air can’t escape when all the joints are sealed, and insulation keeps cold air from chilling your expensively heated warm air in winter.

Get with the Energy Star Program

Install an Energy Star certified programmable thermostat for both heating and cooling needs. One for each zone in your home will help you save a chunk of cash every year.

Time for a Change

Check your furnace filter every month and replace it frequently (at least four times a year). A clogged filter prevents efficient airflow in your furnace and central air system. Moreover, clean filters improve the air quality, so everyone breathes easier.

A New Tune

Keep your furnace humming and your air conditioner cooing by having all your HVAC equipment serviced annually. Regular maintenance keeps small repair issues from turning into big headaches. For more help with selecting and installing Energy Star equipment in your Mobile-area home, contact us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc.

5 Furnace Troubleshooting Tips To Try Before Getting Help

As a homeowner, knowing a few furnace troubleshooting tips can help you when the system stops working. These could save you the discomfort you could experience waiting for an HVAC technician to repair it. Most of the time furnaces operate seamlessly, but issues with the thermostat, gas supply or electrical components can interfere with its operation.

Check the thermostat. The thermostat controls when yourfurnace turns on and off. If it’s malfunctioning or set to “off” or “cool,” that could be your problem. It could also be set too low. Listen for a click and shortly thereafter, the gas entering the burner.
Look at the air filter for the furnace. Some have switches that shut the furnace off if there’s inadequate airflow through the system. You’ll increase the life of your furnace by keeping the filter clean.
Check the power supply. Look inside the circuit breaker box and verify that the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped. If it has, turn it off completely, and then turn it back on. You can also check the switch inside the furnace, which may be a switch or a button. Push or trip it. Most of the time a furnace won’t shut itself down. If this happens again shortly after turning the furnace on, contact an HVAC contractor to handle this aspect of furnace troubleshooting, and turn the system off.
Check the gas valve. Verify that the gas valve to the furnace or your home is on.
Inspect the pilot if your furnace uses one. Furnaces have a thermocouple that will shut the gas supply off when the pilot stops burning. The pilot or thermocouple may be dirty or need replacing. If you’re an experienced do-it-yourselfer, you may be able to clean it. If you’re uncertain, let a pro do it for you. If your system is pilotless, the flame sensor may be dirty. If you’re confident of your ability, you may be able to clean it. Both the thermocouple and flame sensor are critical safety features.

To learn more about furnace troubleshooting and avoid problems with its operation, contact Keith Air Conditioning, providing HVAC services for Baldwin County homeowners since 1964.

Indoor Air Quality Is Good for You and Your Budget

Over the years, homeowners have perfected sealing and weatherizing their homes to keep the climate-controlled air inside the house. Sealed homes conserve energy and save the owners money by retaining conditioned air. Homes can be so sealed, in fact, that the indoor air quality is adversely affected. Once a contamOinant enters the home, the substance or particulates circulate and recirculate throughout with no escape. Occupants continually breathe the trapped contaminants, many of which are known to contribute to health problems. Once indoor air becomes polluted, the atmosphere inside the house may be 10 times more contaminated than the outdoor air. Some pollutants, such as tobacco smoke, can cause the indoor pollution rate to rise to 100 times over the outdoor pollution rate.

Indoor Air Pollutants

In addition to tobacco smoke, you home’s air quality may be negatively affected by dust, mold, bacteria, VOCs, cleaning fluid fumes, cooking fumes, aerosol sprays and household chemicals. You may have pollen and allergens in the air, as well. If your home has a musty smell while running the heating or air conditioning unit, you may have mold and dust in your ductwork system. If you believe that your ductwork is contaminating the air in your home, call your local HVAC company to perform an inspection. Your home’s air quality may benefit from a professional duct cleaning. Your HVAC professional can also perform an air quality test to determine your home’s pollution levels.

HVAC System

Your home heating and air conditioning systems can also contribute to poor air quality. Your home heating and air conditioning systems should be properly maintained, inspected and cleaned. Your HVAC filters should be cleaned or changed every 30 days. A clogged air filter caked with debris greatly reduces the quality of the air you breathe inside the house. Have your HVAC system inspected and maintained each year to ensure that the system is in optimal form and is not contributing to poor air quality.

Duct System

Your duct system could also be contributing to poor air quality. If your duct system is excessively dirty or leaking in spots, your home will tend to get dusty. If you see particles of dust in the air, your duct system may need some attention. Your local HVAC company will inspect your ductwork for leaks and advise you regarding a professional duct cleaning service.

Effects of Poor Air Quality

The quality of the air inside your home is important for your health and the health of your family. Those who are predisposed to respiratory problems are most affected by poor air quality. Small children and older adults tend to be more sensitive to poor air quality.

Poor air quality contributes to a series of symptoms, including:

Asthma symptoms
Allergic reactions
Problems for those with COPD and emphysema
Colds and flu
Skin and eye irritations
Dizziness
Fatigue

Exposure to certain chemicals in polluted air could show up in future years as:

Heart disease
Respiratory disease
Reproductive disorders
Sterility
Cancer

To further complicate the issue, those who are most vulnerable to poor air quality are also those who spend most of their time indoors. Infants and older adults may spend 100 percent of their time inside. Babies and older folks are not the only ones spending time indoors. Most people in the U.S. now spend the majority of their day inside a building. Adults and children alike spend as much as 90 percent of their time inside school, work or home. Air quality is important to maintain good health no matter where you spend your time.

How to Determine Indoor Air Quality

Air quality may be determined by a professional air quality testing battery. These tests are performed by HVAC companies and air quality specialty companies. However, you can also purchase home air quality testing kits from your home improvement store. Whether you have your air quality test by a professional or via a home testing kit, you should be aware of the quality of air that your family breathes while in the home.

Resolving Air Quality Issues

If you have determined that the air quality in your home leaves much to be desired, you can begin to plot a course of action. Your home and family may benefit from a whole-home air purification system. Portable, room-sized purifiers are also available for smaller spaces. If a member of your family is sensitive to poor air quality, an air purification system may help to alleviate breathing problems and other issues.

An air quality test may show that the air in your home is too dry. If you have static electricity in your home during the winter months, you could benefit from a humidifier. A humidifier will add moisture to the air, making the air feel warmer in the winter. A whole-house humidifier can be controlled by a device similar to the thermostat. The humidistat looks like a thermostat, but allows you to set the relative humidity levels in your home. A whole-house humidification system might also include a dehumidifier, as well. The dehumidifier removes moisture from the air and assists the central air conditioning unit in cooling your home in the summer.

To explore your options for resolving air quality issues in your Mobile AL home, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. We will test the air quality in your home and then recommend a clean-air solution for your home. We install and maintain humidification and purification systems. Call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. for your Mobile AL HVAC needs.

Boost Indoor Air Quality With These 3 Tips

fresh indoor air woman When you think of pollution your mind likely conjures images of smokestacks and a yellowish haze looming over a large metropolitan area. While unhealthy outdoor air is a problem that isn’t going away anytime soon, the reality is that the air inside most people’s homes is far more polluted. Add to that fact that people today tend to spend much more time indoors than they did in the past and you’ve got a potential recipe for disaster. The good news is that with a few relatively simple steps you can improve your indoor air quality. Learn more about indoor air pollution and what you can do to freshen the air in your home today.

Health Effects of Poor Inside Air

You may experience the ill effects of low-quality air in your home soon after exposure, or it could take years for symptoms to appear. The severity of symptoms depends on age, duration of exposure and an individual’s sensitivity to the sources of pollution. Mild reactions can bring on flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and irritation of the skin, eyes and throat. In most cases, such reactions will disappear soon after treatment. More serious cases can become fatal, triggering health issues like cancer, heart disease or respiratory diseases.

Improving Your Indoor Air Quality

Change your air filters frequently. This will help the filters effectively do their job of cleaning up pollutants from your breathing environment. Best practice is to check them once a month.
Keep humidity levels in check. Humidity in your home can have a direct impact on the concentrations of certain pollutants. Humidity levels should remain between 30 and 50 percent. Use a humidifier or vaporizer to raise levels. Open windows (when possible) or turn on your A/C to lower levels.
Control emissions at the source. Reduce indoor concentrations by opening windows on nice days or using your A/C with the vent open. Use your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. When possible, remove individual sources from your home.

Do you need a contractor in the Mobile area to help you improve your indoor air quality? Please feel free to contact us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc.

Why a Licensed HVAC Professional Is The Only One to Hire

If your heating and cooling system needs maintenance or repair, or you’re considering the installation of new components, you may think you can save some money by either doing the job yourself or hiring a friend or relative to complete the work. Unfortunately, hiring an unlicensed person to do the work may end up costing you significantly more in the long run.

Some of the benefits to hiring a licensed HVAC professional include them having sufficient insurance, the correct licensing and permits, and proper certifications and knowledge to do the job correctly. Whenever anyone works on your HVAC system, there are always situations where things can go wrong. If your repairman is unlicensed, the odds are that he doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the cost of unforseen accidents. If this happens in your home, you could conceivably be out thousands of dollars, and your heating and cooling could be out for extended periods of time.

Additionally, if an unlicensed worker is injured at your home, you could be liable for medical bills and any other incurred expenses. Depending on jurisdiction, a number of home repair and remodel projects require different licenses and permits if they’re over a certain dollar amount. A licensed HVAC professional is required to procure and maintain all the necessary permits and documentation, but an unlicensed person may skip this step to save money. If a county or city official finds any permit violations during routine or surprise inspections, you will be held liable for all fees and fines.

A licensed HVAC professional has been in the business long enough to have extensive knowledge of most systems. NATE-certified technicians must be periodically tested on newer, safer technologies and techniques. Installation contractors have tools such as Manual J and Manual D to ensure you have the proper equipment to keep your home comfortable.

Before you do any work to your heating, cooling and ventilation system, feel free to contact us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. Our friendly, NATE-certified technicians have been serving the Mobile and Baldwin County area since 1964.