Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. Blog: Archive for June, 2013

Consequences of Neglecting Air Conditioning Repairs

Thursday, June 27th, 2013

When you live in as hot a climate as Florida, your air conditioning system needs to be prepared to keep your home cool and comfortable throughout the hot summer months. If you notice any irregularities with the performance or operation of your AC, schedule repair immediately. Putting service off is never the right decision, as problems simply will not go away on their own. In fact, they will only get worse. This can have a seriously negative impact on your comfort, the condition of your system and your budget. To schedule any necessary air conditioning repairs in Gainesville, FL, contact Touchstone Heating & Air today. We have the training and experience necessary to get your AC back on track.

One of the most serious consequences that you risk by neglecting any necessary air conditioning repairs is further damage to your system that will wind up costing you more money, both in cooling costs and expensive repairs. When you contact an AC repair technician at the first sign of trouble, problems can be resolved before having a big impact on other components of the system. If you allow a problem to gestate while forcing the system to operate in a compromised condition, though, the other components of your AC may also be affected. The more components that are compromised, the more expensive any resulting repair needs are likely to be. Plus, a damaged AC will always cost more to operate than on that is in good working condition, no matter how “minor” the problem may be.

The other big risk that you are taking is disruption to your service. Not only will a damaged air conditioning system fail to keep your home comfortable, but allowing your system to operate while neglecting repair needs means that when the time for repair does come it will likely be more complex and time consuming. This means that you risk longer disruption to your comfort and AC service during the hottest time of the year.

To learn more about why you should never put off air conditioning repairs in Gainesville, FL, call Touchstone Heating & Air today. We have the information you need to keep your AC operating properly. Let us know what concerns you have about the performance of your AC.

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AC Question: Why Is Air Conditioning Maintenance So Important?

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

Are you fully satisfied by the performance of your AC? Do you feel like you pay too much to stay cool and comfortable during the summer months? If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to ensure that your Lake City, FL home’s AC remains in good shape for the years to come, then you should probably consider air conditioning maintenance. Unfortunately, many homeowners stop at professional installation, because they assume that once integrated into the home, the AC can then be forgotten about and left to its own devices. Nothing could be further from the truth. While professional installation is a necessary ingredient to a successful, energy efficient air conditioning system, it needs to be looked after on a regular basis by an AC technician. Call Touchstone Heating & Air if you need air conditioning maintenance.

During maintenance visits, your local technician will closely inspect your system, taking into consideration its performance, cleanliness, voltage, and refrigerant levels, among others. Any lurking problems can also be brought to your attention so that you can fix them before they become major, costly repairs or replacements. Your technician will also perform a comprehensive cleaning of your system to make sure that dirt, dust, and debris are removed from the system. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why air conditioning maintenance is important:

  • Performance: You need to make sure that your AC performs well throughout the summer, no matter how hot or humid it may get. But it cannot reach its cooling potential if it is dirty or parts are malfunctioning.
  • Energy efficiency: Your energy costs are probably high enough as it is, so you need to make sure that your AC is operating efficiently at all times. Maintenance not only ensures solid performance, but also boosts your energy efficiency.
  • Reliability: One of the greatest benefits of regular maintenance is that your AC will be as reliable as it was designed to be. It’s a great way to minimize repair needs and extend system longevity.

Call Touchstone Heating & Air today for comprehensive air conditioning services in Lake City, FL.

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How Problems with Your Thermostat Can Affect Your Air Conditioning

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Thermostats are one of the most-overlooked and underestimated components of your home’s air conditioning system. While they are small and almost unnoticeable on your wall, they can have a huge impact on your AC. The Lake City, FL air conditioning professionals at Touchstone Heating & Air have years of experience working with all different kinds of thermostats. We wanted to shed some light on these important pieces of equipment that run your whole AC system.

ThermostatThermostats detect the temperature of the air around them and then they activate your AC when that temperature increases to a certain point. They also shut-off your air conditioner once it has cooled your home enough. This is a huge responsibility for your thermostat which means that if they start to have any issues it can negatively impact your AC and your home’s comfort.

  • Not enough cooling – If your home isn’t getting enough cooling it could be the fault of your thermostats. They might be detecting the wrong temperature in your home and directing your AC to provide insufficient cooling.
  • AC not turning on – If your air conditioning system isn’t coming at all, it could be the fault of your thermostat. It could be that they are out of battery or it might mean that they need to be replaced.

But there are also a few ways that thermostats can positively impact your home’s air conditioning system.

  • More control – By upgrading your thermostats to programmable ones you could be able to more accurately control your home’s AC. If can set programmable thermostats to turn your AC off when you leave for work in the morning. You can also set them to come back on 30 minutes before you get home so that your house is always comfortable.

When you need Lake City, FL air conditioning services, just call Touchstone Heating & Air today. We can work with any type of thermostat that you have and we can also help you replace or upgrade your thermostats as well.

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Ways to Avoid Problems with Your Air Conditioning

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

Homeowners throughout the Gainesville, FL area are looking to improve their air conditioning systems now that June is here. If your AC was professionally installed, that’s a good first step. Unfortunately, some homeowners stop there. This type of neglect can lead to frequent repairs, energy inefficiency, and even premature replacement. While repairs are an inevitable factor in owning a home, there are some things you can do to avoid problems with your AC. In today’s post, we’ve given you several. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a service, call Touchstone Heating & Air for all of your Gainesville, FL air conditioning needs.

The best thing you can do for your AC is to enroll in a preventive maintenance program. The majority of maintenance duties must be carried out by a trained professional. During these routine visits, an AC tech will arrive during a scheduled time to inspect your system closely, noting any potential issues in the process, such as low voltage or refrigerant. This will be followed by a comprehensive cleaning of your coils and other parts of the system, so that your AC performs well and operates efficiently. Finally, a system adjustment is taken care of so that your AC runs optimally.

Keep your air filter clean. During the cooling season, the air filter designed to protect your components from accumulating dust and debris can itself become a problem. When it becomes dirty and clogged with debris, it blocks the flow of cool air. This can lead to frozen coils when the cold air can’t escape the air handler. It can also disrupt performance across the entire system, and any imbalance typically causes problems elsewhere.

You should also make sure to keep your outdoor unit free of any encroaching vegetation. The outdoor unit contains both the compressor and condenser coils. The purpose of their location is not only related to noise, but also because it needs to dissipate heat into the outside air. It won’t be able to do this if it is partially covered by shrubs, hedges, low branches, or tall grass. If your outdoor unit cannot perform its function, then it may result in warm air and high energy costs.

If you’d like to schedule routine maintenance to avoid problems with your Gainesville, FL air conditioning system, call Touchstone Heating & Air today! 

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