Can You Run An Air Conditioner During A Thunderstorm?

Late August and September are notorious for being hot and humid in South Florida and that’s also the perfect recipe for severe thunderstorms. But you may want to think twice before turning your cooling system on the next time the weather acts up - it could cause serious damage.

Lightning Strikes

Even though lightning striking a home is rare, if it does happen it can really damage your air conditioning system. When lightning strikes, it can send as much as 5 billion joules of energy through your home’s electrical system. That’s way more than enough to damage your cooling system if it’s turned on.

What Can Happen To It?

For starters, lightning can melt the plug to your unit. In addition, it can damage the control panel and corrupt the entire system. The control panel is filled with sensitive electrical circuitry, so it’s best to turn it off when a storm hits.

Can I Turn On The AC If It’s Raining?

Rain alone will not harm your air conditioner. In fact, turning the system on during warm, rainy days can make your home feel much more comfortable. The only time you would need to be concerned is if the rain was severe enough to leave standing water around the unit. In that case, it would be wise to power it down.

Looking for air conditioning experts in Boca Raton? You can always count on Aspen Air Conditioning to be there when you need us, so give us a call today at 561-395-1500.

Common Air Conditioning Terms

Condenser coil. MERV. Refrigerant. When it comes to air conditioning jargon, there are dozens of terms tossed around that may seem like another language to most homeowners. We understand that terms that are common to us may not be so common to you so we’ve put together a list to make it crystal clear.

Airflow: the distribution or movement of air

Bioaerosols: living organisms in the air that grow and multiply in warm, humid climates

Condenser Coil: the outdoor part of an air conditioner that releases  or collects heat

Compressor: the part of an air conditioner that compresses and pumps refrigerant to meet household cooling requirements

MERV Rating: minimum efficiency reporting value, rating of a filter that describes the size of the holes in the filter that allows air to pass through. The higher the MERV rating, the higher the efficiency

Refrigerant: chemical that produces a cooling effect while expanding or vaporizing. Most residential units contain Freon.

Still unsure about what certain air conditioning terms mean? Contact the cooling experts at Aspen Air Conditioning today - we’ll be glad to explain them to you. Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook for all of your South Florida cooling needs!

Removing Mold From Your AC

Is there a mildew smell coming from your air conditioning vents? Are there visible black spots in the air ducts, intake vents or cooling coils? This can mean that you have mold in your home’s cooling system and it should be addressed immediately. After all, South Florida’s warm, moist climate is the perfect breeding ground.

What Causes Mold?

There are two main sources of mold in your air conditioning system: condensation and organic material. Condensation forms when parts of the system get cold while the rest of the room is warm and humid.

Where does the organic material come from? As dust collects both in the unit itself and within the air ducts, it brings pollen and dead skin cells with it. Combine this food for mold with a damp environment and you’ve got the perfect place for mold to grow.

How To Remove Mold

If you have large areas contaminated with mold, it’s best to call in an expert. If you only have a few small areas, you can do it yourself by following the steps below:

• Mix half a cup of baking soda with 1 cup of water and 1 Tbsp of mild liquid detergent
• Put on an air mask, gloves and safety goggles for protection from mold spores
• Apply the cleaning solution and use a damp rag or low-abrasive brush to scrub the mold
• Once the mold is removed, clean up the area and dispose of anything that had contact with the mold

When you need air conditioning repair, service or installations in Southeast Florida, there’s only one company to call. Aspen Air Conditioning has been providing the highest level of comfort since 1983.

How To Keep Your AC Pumping All Summer Long

Have you ever experienced an air conditioner breakdown during the dog days of summer? The weather in South Florida has been unreasonable hot which makes our cooling systems work harder. Why does that matter? The harder our systems have to work, the more likely they are to quit working when we need them most. Find out how to keep them going all season long below:

Clean The Filter

Did you know that a clogged filter can cause ice to form in the coils? If the indoor coil is iced over, clean or replace the filter and turn the unit off. Let it defrost for a few hours before turning it back on because ice can block airflow considerably.

Check The Breaker

This is a common reason for service calls, but this problem can often be handled by the homeowner. Make sure the breaker is turned on at the electrical panel if you have an electric air handler.

Inspect The Thermostat

Check the temperature setting on the thermostat to make sure your house is in fact calling for cool air. If it’s not blowing cool air when it should be, contact the experts at Aspen Air Conditioning - that’s what we’re here for!

Our mission is to provide our customers with the highest level of comfort through quality maintenance, service and installation practices. Since our beginning in 1983, Aspen Air Conditioning has been focused on the comfort needs of Southeast Florida residents at home and at work. Call us today to make an appointment!

Check Out Our 2nd YouTube Video!

When was the last time you performed maintenance on your home’s cooling system? Did you know that lack of proper maintenance is the #1 cause of system failure? By taking just a few minutes each month to check on the system and clean the filter you can increase the lifespan of your equipment and keep your energy bill low.

Don’t want to take the time to do the maintenance yourself? Don’t worry, the experts at Aspen will take care of it for you. With Aspen Air Conditioning’s Maintenance program it’s about more than service… it’s about prevention.  Analogy about your car needing oil changes and maintenance at so many miles.  Air conditioners are another large expense, that if maintained can give you many years of uninterrupted air conditioning.

With typical service agreements, you pay money for priority service when there’s a problem… With Aspen Air Conditioning’s Comprehensive Maintenance Agreement, you not only get priority service, you can prevent those problems from happening in the first place, and save money in the process! In just 2 tune-ups per year, you can help avoid costly breakdowns, extend the life of your system, and even lower your utility bills too!

What are you waiting for? Give Aspen Air Conditioning a call today at 561-395-1500 before you lose your cool!

Where To Position Your AC Unit

Where is your air conditioning unit located? Did you know that how you lay out your cooling system can really make a big difference? The most obvious answer is to locate it where you need it the most, but there are a few other things you should know about an air conditioner’s location before you have a new one installed.

Indoor AC Units

With indoor units, a central location within the room is key. This will allow for cool air to be distributed equally throughout the room. It’s also important to make sure it’s located high up on the wall, but you should be able to reach it for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Outdoor AC Units

You should speak with a qualified, licensed air conditioning expert before having an outdoor unit installed. They will be able to tell you the best location to place the unit. Keep in mind that they often make noise so it might not be wise to locate them near bedrooms. Outdoor units should also have plenty of free space to allow for proper airflow and be sure to keep them clear of dirt and debris.

Have a question for one of our A/C experts? Give Aspen Air Conditioning a call today at 561-395-1500.