Author Archives: matthew.tyner

HVAC System Maintenance Check List for Spring

Spring is on the way, and the long, hot Alabama summer won’t be far behind. That means it’s time for Mobile area homeowners to think about getting their HVAC systems ready to handle the warmer weather. If you’re not sure just what needs to be done to ensure your system runs smoothly throughout the cooling season, here’s an HVAC system spring maintenance checklist that can help.

Schedule a Tune-Up

Having preventive maintenance performed by a qualified HVAC technician is an item that should be at the top of the pring maintenance checklist. This simple step is the best insurance against HVAC system problems throughout the cooling season, and it will help keep your utility bills low by making sure your system is running efficiently.

Have Ductwork Inspected

Leaky ductwork can cost you in terms of home comfort and energy bills. If yours hasn’t been looked over lately, having it done as part of spring maintenance is a good idea, ensuring that ducts are properly sealed and insulated before the cooling season begins.

Upgrade the Thermostat

Programmable thermostats offer increased comfort and energy savings, so if you haven’t installed one, you should. With a programmable model, you can take advantage of the eight or more hours you’re gone to set the thermostat for increased energy savings. Simply program the thermostat to return to your desired temperature right before your return; you’ll never feel the difference, but you’ll notice the impact on your monthly bills.

Clean the Outdoor Unit

While you’re waiting for that service call, you can get a head start on spring maintenance by cleaning up any debris that’s collected around your system’s outdoor unit. Cleaning the outdoor coils is a simple task you can do as well, just shut off the power and hose it down.

Change the Air Filter

This simple DIY task should be tackled monthly. Check the air filter each month, and as soon as dust and dirt has begun accumulating, replace the filter with a clean one. A dirty air filter blocks necessary airflow, causing the cooling system to work harder to maintain the same temperature.

Learn more about spring HVAC system maintenance available from Keith Air Conditioning, Inc., or contact us today at 251-476-3610 to schedule an appointment for your home!

Allergy Season in Mobile Benefits From Indoor Air Cleaners

Allergy symptoms are far from being an outdoor problem. In most cases, outdoor air is actually cleaner than indoor air. You’re 1,000 times more likely to inhale indoor pollutants than outdoor emissions. If allergy season is effecting you inside your home, an air cleaner can help improve your indoor air quality.

Signs of Indoor Allergies

Before you can effectively treat your symptoms, it’s important to make sure they’re coming from indoor allergies. Indoor allergy symptoms include irritated eyes and nasal drainage, among others, and lingering symptoms can last for several weeks.

If you have yellow or green nasal drainage and your symptoms last less than two weeks, you’re probably dealing with a cold and not allergies.

Adjusting Your Environment

If you’re not careful, your home could provide allergy triggers with the ideal environment. Dust mites prefer rooms that are 70 degrees or warmer and with a humidity above 40 percent. Running your air conditioner during the spring and summer can help you maintain the proper comfort levels. A programmable thermostat makes it easier to monitor and maintain low humidity and moderate temperatures.

Installing an Air Cleaner

Air cleaners are available as standalone units, but one of the easiest and more efficient ways to incorporate an air cleaner into your home is to add HEPA filters for your HVAC system. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter captures at least 99.97 percent of the particles that pass through it, provided they’re at least 0.3 microns in diameter.

Be sure to talk to your HVAC professional for help exploring the right filtration options for your home’s heating and cooling system. HEPA filtration can block airflow in some HVAC systems that don’t have the capacity to handle their density.

Learn more about filtration and air cleaner options available from the HVAC experts at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. or contact us today at 251-476-3610 to schedule an appointment!

Heat Pumps Are the Latest Air Conditioning Options

For Mobile area homeowners who want a highly efficient and cost-effective source of residential cooling, heat pumps offer benefits that standard air conditioners can’t match. The following brief introduction can help you understand how a heat pump can keep your home comfortable throughout cooling season at a lower cost and with less use of energy.

Basic Heat Pump Function

Heat pumps work by moving heat from one place to another. For cooling operations, they pull heat out of your home and disperse it into the air outside. This is accomplished with a liquid refrigerant that circulates between the indoor and outdoor units of the heat pump. Indoors, the refrigerant is evaporated into a gas. As it changes state from liquid to gas, it absorbs heat. The gaseous refrigerant circulates to the outdoor unit, where it’s condensed back to liquid form. The gaseous refrigerant releases the heat it contains during this second change of state. The liquid refrigerant moves back to the indoor unit and the cycle begins again.

Heat Pump Benefits

Heat pumps are extremely energy efficient, which means they use less energy to produce excellent levels of cooling. They require minimal amounts of electricity to power the functions that generate cooling, which reduces overall demand on your local utility company. Their high rate of efficiency means that heat pumps are much less costly to operate on a month-to-month basis.

Heat Pump Types

Most heat pumps are air-source models, which means they use the air around the equipment as the source of heat transfer and release. Geothermal heat pumps use the ground outside your home, or a nearby body of water, as the medium for heat capture and release. Ask your local trusted HVAC contractor if a geothermal model would be right for you.

Learn more about Keith Air Conditioning’s heat pump options, or contact us today at 251-476-3610 to schedule an appointment for your Mobile area home!

Home Ventilation and Clean Air Health Benefits

The quality of the air in your home can have a significant effect on your overall comfort and health. Poor indoor air quality can cause respiratory issues, even in those who aren’t allergic to dust, pollen or mold. Allergy sufferers can have their misery increased substantially when indoor air is contaminated with particulates and allergens. Here are a few ways to keep your indoor air cleaner and some of the benefits that attic ventilation, air purification and air cleaning can provide.

Source of Home Ventilation and Air Cleaning

Whole-house ventilators: Whole-house ventilation systems, which are commonly installed in the attic, provide airflow that helps keep your indoor air fresh and clean. They get rid of stale indoor air while bringing in fresh, clean air from the outdoors. Energy recovery ventilators use outgoing air to either heat or cool incoming air, recycling heating and cooling you’ve already paid for and reducing stress on your HVAC system.
HVAC air filters: Air filters in your home heating and cooling equipment help capture particulates and remove them from your indoor air. High-efficiency filters with higher minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) ratings remove even more contaminants. Air filters should be checked at least monthly and changed when they get dirty.
Air cleaners: Air cleaning systems are installed within the airflow of your HVAC system and add an extra layer of high-quality filtration to the air moving through your heating and cooling equipment.

Health Benefits of Ventilation and Air Cleaning

There are several benefits to these indoor air solutions, including:

Fewer allergy and asthma attacks
Reduced effects of particulate exposure, including less coughing and sneezing, less eye irritation and less nasal congestion
Decreased chance of germs, bacteria and viruses being spread throughout your home, reducing likelihood of colds and flu
Less dust on indoor surfaces such as shelves
Easier breathing and a more comfortable, physically pleasant indoor environment

Learn more about attic ventilation and other home ventilation techniques from the pros at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. or give us a call today at 251-476-3610 to schedule an appointment!

Humidifiers Are Key To Better Indoor Air Quality

A healthy home requires clean, fresh indoor air. For Mobile homeowners, this involves more than just changing the HVAC filters regularly and installing an air purifier.

Humidifiers also play a key role in creating high-quality indoor air. Maintaining optimal humidity levels has a beneficial effect on health and can reduce annual heating costs.

You can easily measure indoor humidity with a hygrometer. Also called a humidity meter, this inexpensive gadget can tell you exactly what your indoor humidity level is. You can purchase a hygrometer at any drug store or a supercenter like Walmart. A healthy humidity level should between 35 and 50 percent, but for those living along the Gulf Coast, winter humidity levels are often as low as 5-15 percent.

Because humid air feels warmer than dry air, adding moisture to your living space in winter will give you greater indoor comfort, and you’ll also pay less for heat. When moisture evaporates, air feels colder. During the winter, it’s natural to turn up the thermostat when this happens, thereby increasing energy usage and jacking up utility bills. When you add moisture to the air instead, you’ll feel warmer at a lower temperature, and your energy costs will decrease as a result.

What Does Humidity Have to do With Indoor Air Quality?

Low humidity levels mean dry air. Dry air can be responsible for a variety of physical symptoms such as:

Sore throat
Itchy, flaking skin
Cracked, dry lips and hands
Dry nasal passages
Sinus problems and sinusitis

How Does Indoor Humidity Improve Air Quality?

Many airborne pollutants such as dust mites thrive in a dry environment. When you add moisture to the air, it gives these contaminants less space in which to circulate.

How Do Indoor Humidity Levels Affect Health?

There are a variety of health benefits that come with proper humidity levels. Here are just a few:

Sinuses stay healthier, especially for those with sinusitis and congestion
Reduces the potential for nosebleeds
Helps those suffering from colds and asthma by lubricating nasal passages
Can eliminate snoring caused by a dry throat
Helps skin to stay moisturized and reduces dryness on hands and lips
Helps nose hairs to trap bacteria and viruses that cause colds and flu
Reduces nasal, throat and bronchial irritation
Helps to clear up laryngitis
Helps those with respiratory problems to breathe easier

Besides keeping your Mobile, AL, home comfortable in winter, reducing energy usage and delivering a variety of health benefits, humidifiers also reduce static electricity and can keep wood surfaces from shrinking, swelling and cracking. To learn more about healthier indoor air, contact the Mobile, AL, air quality experts at Keith Air Conditioning. They’ve been helping homeowners to have greater indoor comfort since 1964, and their air quality testing service can tell you everything you need to know about the state of your indoor air.

Choosing a New Heating System For Your Home

Choosing a new heating system for your Baldwin County home can be a tough decision to make, especially with the wide variety of options available. Gas furnaces and air-source heat pumps are two popular options for most homeowners in the Mobile area. Hybrid systems are also gaining popularity thanks to their ability to combine both gas and heat pump-based heating for optimal efficiency. The following takes a look at all three of these options.

Gas Furnaces

When it comes to solid, reliable heating, gas furnaces are the gold standard, so it’s no surprise that many homeowners throughout Baldwin County choose gas furnaces as their primary heating system. Furnaces offer an affordable, reliable source of heat, regardless of outdoor conditions.

Gas-powered furnaces can also be surprisingly efficient for heating systems reliant on combustible fuels. Most furnaces offer annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 90 percent or higher, meaning that at least 90 percent of the fuel used by a gas furnace is effectively converted into usable heat.

Many modern furnaces offer a 98 percent AFUE thanks to a variety of advanced features, including electronic ignition, secondary heat exchangers for condensing flue gases, and burners that work in concert with variable speed blowers to modulate heat delivery, thus preventing cold spots and eliminating the energy-robbing on/off cycle.

Air-Source Heat Pumps

An air-source heat pump is a unique type of heating system that operates a bit differently from the standard furnace. Instead of burning natural gas, oil or other fossil fuels to generate heat, heat pumps rely on the same basic principles that make air conditioning work, but in reverse.

Whereas a typical air conditioner is designed to extract heat from indoor air and expel it outdoors, a heat pump extracts the latent heat found in outside air and transfers it indoors. Even at temperatures just above freezing, a heat pump effectively and efficiently generates and distributes comfortable heat throughout your home.

Heat pumps are surprisingly energy efficient and economical to operate, with the typical heat pump being as much as 40 percent more efficient than a comparable gas-fired heating system.

In addition to having a heating system, you also have your air conditioning in the same unit. Tackling the summer heat is as simple as readjusting the thermostat. Once the heat pump switches to cooling mode, you can enjoy cool and comfortable temperatures in your home all summer long.

The Best of Both Worlds

Air-source heat pumps offer extraordinary efficiency until the point where outdoor temperatures drop below freezing. Gas furnaces offer reliable heat no matter the circumstances, but they lack the sheer efficiency of its heat pump counterpart. So why not combine them?

That’s exactly what a hybrid heating system does. Hybrid systems are designed to offer the best traits of both heat pumps and gas furnaces by combining the two within a single, unified package. These dual-purpose systems offer smart technology that allows an effortless transition between gas heat and heat pump operation according to weather demands.

For instance, a hybrid system can seamlessly transition to gas heat whenever outdoor temperatures fall below freezing, giving your home reliable heat under harsh weather conditions. When the mercury climbs above freezing temperatures, the hybrid system transitions back to heat pump operation.

Which Should You Choose?

All three heating options have their compelling attributes, but your final decision will likely depend on your immediate and long-term home needs. For new homes and renovations, a heat pump can make the most economic sense. You’ll save hundreds of dollars each year in heating costs when compared to other forms of heating, plus you’ll also have air conditioning available throughout the summer months.

If you already have a central air conditioning system and want to keep it around a while longer, choosing a gas furnace is a more economical solution than replacing the existing A/C with a heat pump. If you want to enjoy the benefits of both heating systems, investing in a hybrid heating system is your best bet. It’ll also help you avoid the problems faced by heat pumps during an unexpected cold snap, since you can rely on gas heat as a backup.

When it comes to choosing your next heating system, you can count on the pros at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. to lend a helping hand. Contact us for all your installation and service needs throughout Mobile and Baldwin County.

Healthy Home Ventilation Tips

When it comes to indoor air quality and circulation, residents of Mobile and the surrounding region have more than their share of challenges. Year-round high humidity levels make warm indoor temperatures feel even more uncomfortable and provide the ideal breeding ground dust mites, mold and mildew. With the oppressively humid warm-weather season on Alabama’s Gulf Coast fast approaching, it’s time to take steps to ensure that your home has proper ventilation without exacerbating respiratory issues like asthma and allergies.

Why Home Ventilation Matters

With people spending up to 90 percent of their time indoors at home and work, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a closer look at indoor air quality. Studies have shown that stale air inside homes is often more polluted than outdoor air in large, industrial cities. For those suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, lack of air circulation can have devastating health consequences, but a poorly ventilated home can impact otherwise healthy people too. Physical symptoms to watch for include:

Nasal congestion, sneezing or post nasal drip
Itchy, red or watery eyes
Soar throats or mouth breathing at night
Coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath

Keeping Allergens at Bay

Opening windows to allow the air to circulate offers some relief in poorly ventilated spaces but lets common allergens in Mobile like ragweed, pollen and animal dander entry into your home. To avoid exposure to allergens, Dr. Druhan Howell of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine recommends the following simple strategies:

Close windows at night whenever local pollen levels are high.
Minimize exercise between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. when pollen is typically emitted.
Keep damp environments like bathrooms and kitchens scrupulously clean.
Ensure that humidity levels in your home are properly managed.

HVAC Ventilation Solutions for a Healthy Home

From air purifiers to germ-killing ultraviolet lights, the professionals at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. offer a wide array of indoor air quality solutions that can lower indoor humidity levels and improve air circulation, including:

Using energy captured from outgoing air to precondition incoming air, energy recovery ventilators allow you to enjoy fresh air without sending energy bills soaring.
Sealing and insulating ductwork in central HVAC systems prevents pollutants and allergens from entering your home through leaks, cracks and loose connections.
An air quality analysis of your home by a skilled HVAC technician lets you know which product or service will best meet your needs.

Serving Mobile and the surrounding communities since 1964, Keith Air Conditioning professionals are experts at ventilation and resolving your air circulation problems. To learn more about how to make your home a healthier place to inhabit, please contact us today.

Savings are Hidden In Your Utility Bill

Keeping an energy efficient home is no easy feat, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Have a look at your utility bill and follow these five common sense tips to make your home more efficient and cost effective.

Update Your Heating and Cooling System

How long has it been since you installed your last HVAC system? If the answer is 10 years or more, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Today’s HVAC systems are more energy efficient than ever before, offering a tremendous savings over older systems. For example, you can save money (as much as 20 percent) on cooling costs by replacing an old air conditioning with a brand-new model.

Change Those Light Bulbs

If you haven’t swapped out incandescent bulbs in your home for newer and more energy-efficient bulbs, you’re missing out on the savings. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can help trim lighting costs by half. Switching to newer LED bulbs offer even more savings, plus you’ll get greater longevity from them.

Say Goodbye to Old Appliances

If you think old light bulbs can suck down energy, just wait until you see what old appliances can do. Switching your old standard appliance with an Energy Star-labeled appliance can help you save money each year on energy costs. Some Energy Star appliances are even eligible for tax credits from your state or federal government.

Beef Up Insulation

Poor insulation leads to drafty houses, which leads to bigger heating and cooling bills. Unfortunately, many homes are short on insulation. Inspecting and fortifying your insulation can help lower energy costs over the long run.

Keep Up With Regular Maintenance

Maintenance is the key to affordable operation in an energy efficient home. Seasonal maintenance can help keep your home in excellent shape while catching potential problems before they spiral into expensive ones.

For more advice on saving money and creating a more energy efficient home, call us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. We’ve proudly served the Mobile and Baldwin counties since 1964.

A Professional Energy Audit Can Save Energy and Money

Many homeowners are concerned about high utility bills, especially during the heating season. There are many ways to make your home more efficient and lower energy costs, but even small improvements can seem intimidating if you haven’t had much experience. With energy audits, you can make a small investment to let a professional do a lot of the work for you, then get specific instructions for follow-up tasks.

What the Energy Audit Involves

Once you’ve scheduled a professional energy audit, a certified inspector will arrive at your home prepared to conduct a thorough walk-though of the house. The attic, the basement and even unused rooms will be on the list, so make sure the entire house is accessible. While inspecting the house, the auditor will look for leaks or gaps in insulation that might be wasting energy.

Bills and Electricity Use

Be prepared to show the auditor what you have paid for your utilies over several months, as these can show inconsistencies or even major issues. The auditor may also use a wattage meter to directly examine the amount of energy used by your major household appliances and electronics.

Energy Evaluation Tools

Some of the tools used by the energy auditor might seem futuristic and unfamiliar. Thermographic cameras are a popular and extremely useful tool, as they read temperature, making it easier to find otherwise invisible gaps in insulation. Your auditor will also likely use a blower door test, which will cause a temporary change in air pressure inside the home in order to locate leaks.

Analysis and To-Do List

Once the energy audit is complete, you’ll receive an analysis of your home, along with suggestions for improving your home’s overall energy efficiency. For the audit to be beneficial, it’s important that you follow the advice and make needed improvements as soon as possible.

Contact Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. for more advice on improving your Mobile home’s energy efficiency with a professional energy audit. We’ve been serving southern Alabama since 1964.

Ductless Heating and Cooling System Benefits

If you’re planning to renovate an attic or porch, or create a new addition to your home, consider using a ductless heating and cooling system for maximum comfort and energy efficiency. These systems, also called mini-splits, are heat pumps that don’t require any ductwork to distribute the conditioned air. Heat pumps are ideal HVAC appliances in this mild winter climate.

Like HVAC systems, a ductless heating and cooling system uses an outdoor condenser and an indoor air handler. A narrow conduit connects the two and delivers the power, refrigerant and the drain line. The condenser can either rest on a pad outside or hang from the exterior wall. The conduit comes in a variety of lengths. The air handlers can hang on the wall, from the ceiling, or sit on the floor.

Energy Efficiency

Ductless air handlers deliver the air directly into the room, so there are no air or thermal losses that normally occur in a central HVAC system. Ductless systems also must meet the same minimum standards for central air conditioning systems and heat pumps. Ductless Mini-splits often have their own thermostat, so when you’re not using the area, you can turn it off, which offers greater energy savings, just like a central zoning system does.

Installation

Ductless systems require a professional HVAC contractor for installation. Once you decide where to place the air handler and the condenser, the technician will drills a three inch hole to run the conduit to connect the two. The refrigerant product for a ductless unit is installed at the factory. Once installation is complete, the technician will check the level and verify all the electrical components perform according to specification.

To learn more about the advantages of ductless heating and cooling systems, contact Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. We’ve provided outstanding HVAC services for Baldwin County homeowners since 1964.