Author Archives: matthew.tyner

5 Ways You Can Help Your Air Conditioner Be More Efficient

Spring is a perfect time to prepare for summer. With hot weather on its way to Mobile, Alabama, it’s time to change your filter and seal your ducts to keep up your air conditioner’s efficiency. Keep your unit working at its peak all through the summer by keeping the area around your outdoor unit shaded and clear of debris.

Complete Regular Maintenance

For your air conditioner to work properly, regular maintenance is important. During a routine visit, a technician checks for worn or loose parts in your unit and replaces them as necessary. The professional also checks your coolant levels and the airflow over the cooling coils, both of which affect efficiency.

Regular maintenance not only improves your unit’s performance, it can also prevent breakdowns in the future. A qualified technician finds and fixes small issues before they become big problems. Sign up for a maintenance plan to make sure that you don’t forget your maintenance before the summer heat hits Alabama.

Change Your Filter

Change your unit’s filter before summer begins so it’s ready to work hard for you during the hot weather. Check your filter every month and replace or clean as necessary to keep things running efficiently.

The filter on your air conditioner traps airborne particles that build up on your unit’s coils and affect your home’s indoor air quality. Keeping your filter clean helps your unit take air in so it can cool your home efficiently. When your filter gets clogged your equipment has to work harder to bring air in, reducing efficiency.

Shade Your Outdoor Unit

When the summer heat beats down on your outdoor air conditioning unit, it heats up, making it more difficult to cool the air in your home. By shading your outdoor unit, you’re keeping your air conditioner cool, so it’s easier for the unit to keep your living space cool.

If possible, have your unit installed on the shady side of your home or beneath a shade tree. Installing a small roof or shelter overtop of your unit also keeps it protected from the hot Alabama sun, helping it work at peak effectiveness.

When landscaping your yard, keep in mind that large rocks and asphalt radiate heat, so it’s best to keep them away from your outdoor air conditioning unit.

Keep It Clean

Leaves, twigs, grass clippings, and other yard waste accumulate around your air conditioner’s outdoor unit, affecting its performance. When debris gets on the outdoor compressor, it blocks the unit, making it difficult for the machine to push the heat out of your home.

Cleaning yard waste from around your air conditioning unit regularly helps it to keep working efficiently. Be sure to clean around your unit after windy days that bring down more leaves and twigs than usual.

Also, make sure any growth such as decorative plants or shrubs is at least three feet from your air conditioner unit to make sure you’re getting proper air flow. Obstructions make it more difficult for the machine to cool your home efficiently.

Seal Leaky Ducts

Before the cooling season begins, inspect your ducts to see if they need sealing. Leaky ducts result in energy loss and make it difficult for your air conditioning unit to cool your home even when the unit itself it working at maximum efficiency. When you have a professional seal them for you, it increases the efficiency of your cooling unit by 20 to 40 percent.

It’s also important to make sure your ducts are properly insulated, especially in attics, garages, or crawlspaces where the conditioned air loses energy. Without insulation the cool air in your ducts heats, making it difficult for your air conditioner to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Before summer arrives, prepare your air conditioner to work efficiently, and don’t forget to keep it up throughout the hot season. In Mobile, Alabama, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. for maintenance, repairs, and installation. Our plans help you keep your unit working at top condition, worry free. Call us today at 251-476-3610 to speak to our knowledgeable staff about your air conditioning needs.

How an Air Purifier Beats Spring Allergies

If you’ve lived in Mobile, Alabama, for long, you know that spring allergies tend to start early and can last for months. While most residents’ symptoms tend to be worse on warm, sunny spring afternoons, you can get some relief from all the sniffling and sneezing if you invest in an air purifier. An air purifier helps beat spring allergies by removing allergens from the air in your home.

Get a Whole-House Air Purifier

Portable air cleaners can tackle limited areas in your home, but they’ll never do a thorough job of removing allergens from your home. To get clean air and complete relief in every room of your home, you need a whole-house air purifier.

These innovative systems are compact but hardworking, and they integrate seamlessly with your HVAC system. That allows them to filter and purify with each air cycle. Depending on how frequently your air conditioner turns on, a whole-house air purifier could clean your home’s air supply several times each hour.

Eliminate Pollen From Your Home

Air filters are designed to keep dust and debris from entering your HVAC system and reducing its efficiency, but not all filters can capture microscopic pollen particles. Fortunately, most whole-house air purifiers can tackle pollen, removing this sneeze-worthy substance from your air supply.

If you’re ready to invest, we at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. recommend the Infinity Air Purifier GAPA for optimal indoor air quality. These innovative air purifiers capture up to 95 percent of microscopic particles and even use an electrical charge to inactivate pathogens.

Trap Secondary Allergens

A high-quality air purifier like the Infinity GAPA doesn’t stop with just pollen. It also traps pet dander, tobacco smoke, mold, and other common allergens. That means you’ll breathe much more easily in spring and throughout the year.

Are you ready to say goodbye to spring allergy symptoms? To learn more about our air purifier options, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc., the indoor air quality experts, at 251-476-3610 .

3 Ways to Lower HVAC Costs This Spring

Even if you love the warm temperatures and spring sunshine in Loxley, Alabama, you probably aren’t a fan of the high cooling bills that this season brings. Fortunately, you can keep your utility bills low with a few cost-effective steps. From using ceiling fans to installing a smart thermostat, find out how to lower your HVAC system use costs this spring.

Use Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans seem simple, but they offer expert-level energy savings when used correctly. In the summer, set them to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to keep cool air circulating. Keep them on and lower your thermostat as much as 4 degrees less than normal, and you won’t feel any less cooler in your home.

Install a Smart Thermostat

Replacing your old manual thermostat with a smart model such as the Côr Wi-Fi Thermostat is one of the easiest ways to lower your cooling costs. Set an efficient base temperature of 76 or 78 degrees, and program the thermostat to maintain that temperature only when your family is home to enjoy the cool air. Set the thermostat to increase the temperature by 8 to 10 degrees while you’re away or asleep, and you can look forward to lower electricity bills.

Invest in a New Air Conditioner

Buying a new cooling system might not sound like the most cost-effective way to save money, but for many homeowners, buying a new unit is a smart choice. If your current air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it’s more likely to run inefficiently and generate costly repair bills.

At Keith Air Conditioning, we recommend investing in the most efficient system possible, such as the Infinity 21 Central Air Conditioner. This system features two-stage compression, which it runs in low mode most of the time to reduce your energy costs as much as possible. A system like this one can help you lower your energy consumption and save money throughout the cooling season.

Whether you’re in the market for an energy-efficient air conditioner or a new smart thermostat, call our professional Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. team at 251-476-3610 . We’re here to help with all of your home’s comfort needs.

Do Candles Impact IAQ?

Burning candles is a popular way to create welcoming, clean scents within your Daphne, Alabama, home. The flickering flame of a candle helps boost a cozy ambience when you have company over, or when you want some alone time. Unfortunately, most candles contain IAQ-damaging chemicals you don’t want to be released into your home’s air.

Paraffin Is Dangerous

Candles seem pretty harmless: after all, they’ve been around for centuries and almost everyone burns candles once in a while. Unfortunately, candles aren’t harmless to your IAQ. Candles (even soy candles) contain paraffin wax. The paraffin wax is part of what gives a candle its consistency, but it also contains harmful chemicals you don’t want in your air.

In fact, paraffin has only been around since the mid-19th century. It can contain formaldehyde, dioxins, and other noxious chemicals that are bad for human health and can exacerbate allergies. Even candles that claim to be healthy or clean probably contain paraffin if you read the ingredients.

Better Home Scents

How your home smells gives you cues to your IAQ and can impact how you, your family, and your guests feel inside your house. Burning candles with pleasing scents certainly adds to your home’s positive ambience. If you love to burn candles, make sure you’re not burning them to cover up an unpleasant odor somewhere in the house. The root of that unpleasant odor could be something like mildew or pests, which negatively impact IAQ.

To get better scents inside the home, burn beeswax candles. Beeswax is a natural substance that will scent your home without injecting paraffin into the air. You can also create your own potpourri from dried flowers, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.

Burn candles sparingly, or not at all, to improve your IAQ. For other IAQ tips, including which air purifiers and air filters we recommend, contact Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. Reach us at 251-476-3610 so we can answer your IAQ questions and assist you with your IAQ needs.

How Does Duct Cleaning Work?

You’ve heard that HVAC technicians sometimes clean ducts, but how can we get your Mobile, Alabama, home’s ducts clean when they’re so hard to reach? Using a powerful vacuum and some great cleaning tools like brushes, we dislodge the dirt and remove it from your ducts.

Cameras Show Inside

To start a duct cleaning, we use mirrors and cameras to get a good look inside. This helps us identify any problem areas where dirt and other debris are accumulating. Getting a good look inside your ducts also gives us the chance to inspect for holes or damage where debris might be getting in. We can assess whether you need any duct repairs.

Small Holes Give Access

We seal up all your vents and returns using pressure-sensitive tape so nothing we dislodge can enter your home and damage your IAQ. Then we cut a small hole to give us access to your ducts for the cleaning process.

Powerful Air and Brushes Dislodge Dirt

Using a vacuum and powerful brushes, we dislodge all the debris from inside your ducts. The vacuum hooks up to the hole we cut near the air handler. The purpose of the vacuum is to both dislodge debris and create negative pressure within your ducts.

One by one, we uncover the registers and start cleaning. Using our special brushes and air tools, we agitate and dislodge anything within your ducts. The vacuum sucks everything up so it doesn’t end up in your house. We catch it in sealed containers within the vacuum. Once that’s done, we seal up the holes and remove the tape from your supply and return vents.

Finally, we clean the other components attached to your ducts, like the insides of your air handler.

Do you think your ducts need to be cleaned? Call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. so we can examine the guts of your system. If we see debris built up, we can clean your ducts and improve your IAQ. Call us today at 251-476-3610.

Which HVAC System is Best for My Home?

So you’re tired of the wasted energy and low comfort of your outdated HVAC system. But looking for a new HVAC system can be as daunting as looking for a new car. While there are many factors to consider, finding a new HVAC system is all about finding the technology that will best fit the needs of your Mobile, Alabama, home. After all, that conventional HVAC system isn’t the only heating and cooling technology out there.

Use this simple guide to find a heating and cooling system that meets the needs of you and your home and brings efficiency and comfort to your life.

Standard HVAC Unit

Don’t just dismiss the possibility of a new standard central HVAC system because you were disillusioned by your old one. If your original system lived out its prescribed lifespan, then you can bet that the technology in central heating and cooling has drastically improved in 10 years. The staples of this kind of heating are its power and the duct network that brings air to every room in the home. To present a bigger picture, here are some pros and cons of a standard HVAC system.

Pros:

Provides comfort in every room of the home.
Powerful heating and cooling. The system can maintain comfort even when the outdoor temperature is extreme.
Relatively affordable to install (although duct networks can be expensive if your home didn’t previously include ducts).
Maintains indoor air quality.

Cons:

Ducts can leak and reduce efficiency.
Not as efficient overall as other types of heating and cooling.
Can’t personalize temperature in individual areas of the home.

Ductless Systems

Ductless heating and cooling systems have grown in popularity in recent years, and with good reason. Since these units do not require a duct system, air handling units can be placed anywhere in a room: floor, wall, or ceiling.

Pros:

Lack of ducts makes system more efficient. Less air is lost.
Temperature control can be personalized depending on the area of the home. Not only does this increase comfort, but it also ensures efficiency in rooms where heating or cooling is less necessary.
Units require little maintenance.
Use less power than central HVAC systems.

Cons:

Air handlers only heat and cool the rooms in which they are installed. This means that any other area of the home will go without temperature control.
More expensive than central units (not including the duct network associated with a central unit).
Air handlers must be placed just right and configured to the size of the room, or short-cycling will reduce efficiency and raise utility costs.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heating and cooling has been around for a long time, but the improving technology continues to make this type of heating and cooling a very viable option for your home. Geothermal heating works by moving heat between your home and the relatively constant temperature of the ground. Heat is transferred through rods or pipes that must be placed deep in the earth.

Pros:

Considerably more efficient than other types of heating and cooling since heat is simply moved rather than produced.
Uses less electricity than both central HVAC and ductless systems.
Very minimal maintenance required and fewer issues with parts.
Longer lifespan than other types of HVAC.

Cons:

Very expensive to install. Because installing the rods requires digging up your yard, installation will likely cost more than it would to install other types of HVAC systems.
Heat pumps are not generally as powerful as a central HVAC system. If temperatures ever stray into an extreme end of the spectrum, a geothermal heat pump will be less efficient at maintaining a comfortable temperature.

Each type of HVAC system has its merits, and the worth of each system can only be determined by your needs. But don’t stress, because whether you’re just looking for efficiency or something that can always keep your entire home comfortable, there’s a system out there for you. If you have more questions about the various types of HVAC systems, or would like a new system installed, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610.

When Do I Need HVAC Maintenance?

It’s easy to take care of the things you see everyday. That rattling dryer receives quick attention. Your cracked smartphone tempts you to buy a new one, or at least spend the money to replace the screen. The HVAC system in your Mobile, Alabama, home, however, is out of sight and easy to forget about. But that doesn’t make it any less important. If you pay attention to your HVAC system’s maintenance, you’ll reap the rewards in comfort, health, and cost-savings down the road.

How Often Should I Conduct Maintenance?

Your HVAC system doesn’t necessarily require a once-over every day (although you should watch and listen for anything out of the ordinary). What your system does need is a thorough checkup at least twice a year. Ideally, you should schedule these checkups during the spring and fall, in preparation for summer and then again for winter when your system will be working hardest. However, you should seek professional help immediately if your system is suddenly making strange noises or releasing foul odors. You can perform simpler (yet still important) maintenance tasks, such as changing the system’s air filter, about once a month.

The Benefits of HVAC Maintenance

You might be surprised by the difference in your home’s comfort following thorough HVAC maintenance. Maintenance from one of our experienced technicians improves your system’s efficiency and makes sure you’re getting your money’s worth in comfort. A well-cared-for system also maintains a healthy level of indoor air quality, which reduces you and your family’s chances of getting sick. In the end, your peace of mind and the money you’ll save every month in utility costs will more than counter the cost of HVAC maintenance.

Don’t put off HVAC maintenance for the sake of saving a few bucks. If you do, you’ll end up losing more money than you would have saved. Instead, trust your system to a reliable HVAC contractor. To discover the benefits of HVAC maintenance firsthand, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610.

Cut Commercial Cleaners, Cut Allergies

Your home is spotless. You’ve spent hours scrubbing and cleaning, and you’ve thrown in some air freshener as a final touch. The rest of Mobile, Alabama, would envy the cleanliness and fresh smell of your home. But if everything is so clean, why is your throat itchy? And why does your child get a headache whenever you clean? Commercial cleaners, unfortunately, are not everything they seem. Commercial cleaners contain chemicals that exacerbate allergies and other health issues. If you want your home to be both clean and allergy-free, consider cutting commercial cleaners for these more organic alternatives.

Commercial Chemical Cleaners

That synthetic citrus scent that you love is unfortunately one of the culprits. These “fragrances” actually emit dozens of chemicals, many of which are derived from petroleum products. The chemicals aren’t listed on the can or box, but are usually shrouded by a simple “fragrance” ingredient. Hazardous chemicals can be released by everything from dryer sheets, to laundry detergent, to (especially) air fresheners. When these cleaners or detergents are used, they can irritate the eyes and throat, cause headaches, and contribute to other health problems.

Alternatives to Chemical Cleaners

If you can’t use mirror cleaner, how will you get those stains off your mirror? How will you leave your home smelling fresh? Fortunately, nature has many alternatives to chemical cleaners. If you can’t live without your cleaners, then look for ones that are fragrance-free or naturally scented. Warm water and soap, however, is a natural alternative that usually gets the job done. If you need some extra scrubbing power, add some baking soda to the mix. For mirrors and windows, use a mix of water and vinegar.

To leave your home smelling as fresh as it would with an air freshener, use sliced lemons and some baking soda. Plants also absorb chemicals and odors.

Cleaning your home shouldn’t bring discomfort and irritation to you and your family. So cut those commercial cleaners, cut your allergies, and see what nature has to offer. For more help increasing the indoor air quality in your home, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610

Does Your Home Smell? Here’s How to Fix the Problem

Does your home smell like the home of that nice old lady who had too many cats? Or maybe like someone has hung soggy socks by the air vents for a few weeks? Your home should never have unpleasant odors. Take these simple steps to remove bad odors and leave your Mobile, Alabama, house smelling fresh.

Identify and Remove Culprits

If the odor permeating your home reminds you of sweaty socks, you may have a mold or mildew issue. And if that’s the case, you need to determine the source — fast. Sniff around to find where the smell seems to be the strongest. If mold or mildew isn’t behind a wall or under the floor, you should be able to see it. Look thoroughly in dark, damp places, where mold is likely to grow.

Once you’ve identified the source of the unwelcome fungi, the next step is to show it who’s the boss. If molds have damaged a part of your home, you’ll need to have whatever was affected removed and replaced. If molds or mildew are just on the surface, scrub it with a mixture of one part bleach and four parts water, then rinse off the residue. Be sure to take all safety precautions. Wear gloves and a mask whenever you deal with molds.

Ventilate

Open doors or windows occasionally to let fresh air inside. In the past, people were hesitant to do this because of concerns about the quality of the outdoor air. However, outdoor air has been found to be significantly more polluted than outdoor air.

If you’ve been destroying mold and mildew spores with bleach, you need to get a breeze going. Open some windows and get fans going to move air throughout the rooms in your home. To prevent future mold and mildew growth, ensure damp and dark areas, such as laundry rooms and bathrooms, are well ventilated and dry moisture from condensation as soon as it appears.

Make your house feel fresh by eliminating unpleasant and harmful odors. For more help with improving the air quality in your home, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at
251-476-3610

How to Keep Your Home at the Right Temperature for Your Guests

As a gracious host or hostess in Fairhope, Alabama, you make the comfort of your guests your top priority. However, despite your best intentions, keeping your home at a welcoming temperature can be tricky. Guests from northern states may not be accustomed to the southern heat. Or you may find that your guests prefer specific temperature settings that differ from what your family normally uses. Next time you play host, follow these tips to keep your home at the right temperature for your guests.

Start With Expert Recommendations

Do a little research on what temperatures are considered comfortable for most people. For instance, according to some sleep experts, the best temperature for sleeping tends to be between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Although this is the recommended range, it’s possible that the ideal temperature falls anywhere outside this range for many people. Your thermostat settings will be affected by personal preferences, clothing choices and even the time of day.

At any given time of the day, no one temperature will work for everyone. Choose the best setting possible and avoid constant adjustments that will only increase your energy bill.

Don’t Assume They’ll Say Something

Don’t assume that your guests will let you know if they’re uncomfortable. Many people will be too polite to comment on the temperature, so if you want to know if the temperature works for your guests, just ask.

Offer an Explanation and Alternatives

Another approach is to explain your family’s typical habits. Let your guests know upfront what temperature your family prefers and why. If you tend to keep things a little cooler than normal during winter, explain what you do to compensate. You can also offer blankets, portable heaters, or whatever else might keep your guests comfortable. If you don’t mind, you can even show them how to adjust the thermostat themselves if they need to.

Houseguests provide the perfect opportunity to re-examine your heating and cooling habits, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. Need some expert insight? Call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610 to schedule an HVAC maintenance visit today.