There are three types of warranties for heating and cooling systems. Be sure you understand what is covered on your system.

The Standard Manufacturer Warranty

This warranty covers parts inside the equipment: the condensing unit and the air handling unit, or the package unit, that fail during the limited warranty period, which begins on the date of original installation and usually covers up to 5 to 10 years depending on the manufacturer. The manufacturer furnishes this warranty at the time of installation of the equipment.

Contractor Limited Warranty

Performance Air warrants the installation of the equipment for a period of one (1) year. It covers labor and the external related components supplied by Performance Air at the time of installation: such as thermostats, wiring, refrigerant lines, and etc. from the date of installation. Existing zone systems of any equipment not installed by Performance Air is not covered. The contractor warranty will be voided if any other company or person works on or replaces anything on the unit and associated components during the warranty period.

Extended Manufacturer Warranty

This warranty can be purchased for an additional charge at the time of sale. It extends the coverage for labor, parts and material for a period up to 10 years (known as 10 Year Parts and Labor Warranty). The manufacturer furnishes this warranty directly to the purchaser.

NOTE: Many manufacturers require a copy of a regular yearly maintenance to keep the warranty in effect and may deny claims if a copy cannot be produced.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your heating or air-conditioning unit warranty, or warranties for new units, call Performance Air at 941.497.7007 or E-mail us at any time.

Al Graf - Performance Air Inc., Florida State Certified Mechanical Contractor, License Number: CMC1249723

The State of Florida requires all contractors to hold a license. All contractors are required to meet state requirements, (insurance, experience, etc.) before they take the test for the license and every two years must complete the required testing to maintain it. Also most counties (like Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee, etc.) and some cities (Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Bradenton, The City of Bradenton, etc.) also require the contractor to be registered with them in order to do work in their areas.

First you should know which air conditioning company you use. You may have a sticker on your refrigerator, your fuse box, or on the unit itself. This would give you a quick reference for the phone number when you need help if your unit is not working properly.

The company truck should have the company name and their contractor’s license number on it and the technician should have a uniform with the company name on it. This goes for all contractors. If you have any question about the company or the technician call the office immediately. We require our technicians to identify themselves before starting any work with a calling card bearing their name. If a contractor asks you to pay cash or if you pay by check and they ask you to make it out to someone other than the company name it should put up a red flag. For instance: If you pay cash and the contractor does not hold a license, the manufacturer may not honor the warranty. Also, be cautioned in this economy many homes are being burglarized and units removed and resold to unsuspecting homeowners.

A permit is required for all equipment replacements, it usually costs about $85.00. The completed job will be inspected by the agency that issued the permit and any discrepancies noted. These must be corrected before it can be approved. It is required by new regulations that all units must match. The age of the unit will determine if it can be matched. At times a match is not available and the condenser and the air handler must be replaced, along with any wiring and piping. If the equipment does not have an ARI match-up number, they cannot pull a permit for that equipment.

Click the image above to view the Performance Air Inc. Licensee Details for the State of Florida.

If a contractor does not produce a permit for a change out the city or county will not inspect the unit installed. A homeowner may not know if there are any problems until it is too late. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to make sure the permit is secured and posted in a conspicuous place on the outside of the home. If the city or county is alerted there is no permit the Contractor will be notified to Stop Work until they secure one and the amount of the permit will usually be doubled. A permit and the resulting inspections are for the safety and well being of the homeowner. If a company were going to do the job properly and according to the existing codes, why would they not want to pull a permit?

Go to http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/ to check that a Contractor license is valid.

An evaporator coil in this condition in your home A/C system will lead to complete failure and a very costly repair

Most home comfort systems consist of two major components; an air-handling unit and a condensing unit. The air-handling unit is located inside your home, and the condensing unit outside.

The unit inside your home houses an evaporator coil which is responsible for pushing cold air through the duct-work in your home. The evaporator coil does this by absorbing heat and humidity from the home and distributing cool, dehumidified air through the duct-work. During the heat exchange process, moisture that collects on this coil eventually migrates to a drain and is removed, essentially lowering the relative humidity of your indoor environment.

A well maintained, clean evaporator coil keeps your home A/C system running efficiently

The condensing unit outside your home contains a coil as well. The condensing coil. It’s purpose is to remove heat from the inside using a cooling refrigerant. The condensing unit and it’s coil expel warm air from your home into the air outside as the refrigerant moves through the coils. A properly maintained home comfort system completes this heat exchange very efficiently.

Over time, both units collect air-born particles including dirt, mold, pet dander and many other allergens (from indoors), and rust, wear and deterioration on your outdoor unit which can form blockages and severely reduce the efficiency of a home air conditioning system and even lead to unrepairable damage costing you thousands of dollars. As a homeowner, you can take preventative steps to avoid breakdowns as the weather gets warmer and your home air conditioning system gets more use.

A clean Air Conditioning System filter is critical in maintaining efficient operation and optimizing energy bill savings

It is crucial that you change your air conditioning systems filters on a regular basis to ensure the evaporator coil on the indoor unit is functioning efficiently to its fullest potential. We recommend inspecting your indoor units filter and changing it at least every 30 days of operation and sometimes more frequently in warmer weather. It is also very important to have a licensed HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) contractor perform a regular maintenance inspection on your home air conditioning system to avoid costly problems from occurring when either the evaporator or condensing coils are not inspected and cleaned routinely.

Call Performance Air at 941.497.7007 or E-mail us to schedule a maintenance appointment today to keep your air conditioning system operating at its highest efficiency. We will make an expert recommendation as to your systems status and advise if any worn or damaged parts (coils) are found during inspection process. Don’t wait for the summer temperatures to stress your air conditioning system to the point of failure. Routine service will keep you comfortable year-round. Be sure to check our service coupons for special offers.

The concerns are a result of the strength and frequency of undesirable odors being disseminated by home heating and air conditioning systems. Contaminated outside air, bacteria and mold are thought to contribute to many health issues. Unfortunately this is quite common, as the interior of HVAC systems provide the prefect growth environment for spores to become active. Along with providing a dark, temperature-controlled area HVAC systems remove moisture from the atmosphere providing mold spores with water, and remove dirt and debris providing mold spores with food.

Look for our follow up article in December to see how regular maintenance can help improve your indoor air quality. Contact Us for home air conditioning service or an estimate on system replacement.

Reference: Today’s AC & Refrigeration Guide

When evaluating your home heating and air conditioning options, efficiency and cost savings are a top priority. One of the best ways a homeowner can help to protect the environment is by using energy efficient products in your home that require fewer energy resources to operate. It’s important to remember that a higher efficiency rating in air conditioners and heat pumps usually equates to a higher initial cost for equipment, but lower long-term energy costs and a greater savings overall. Living in our hot and humid climate, you can expect to realize a cost-payback through lower utility bills in just a few short years. Not only will you make a difference by helping preserve our environment, but you’ll also save on energy costs. It’s a win-win situation.

By choosing to install higher efficient rating air conditioning or heat pump equipment that use Puron refrigerant, you’ll enjoy enhanced comfort, greater reliability through environmentally sound products and increased savings. If you are environmentally conscious, Bryant HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) products can help you realize these savings while using fewer energy resources. Beyond using less energy, Bryant products incorporate Puron refrigerant. Non-ozone-depleting, chlorine-free, environmentally sound and efficient Puron 410-A refrigerant replaces the R-22 refrigerant found in older air conditioning and heat pump systems. R-22 refrigerant is being phased out and is not expected to be available after 2012.

Now through December 31, 2010, if your home qualifies, you can receive an Energy Star stimulus rebate, which when combined with the Federal Tax Credit offered by the U.S. government, will greatly reduce the cost of replacing your home air conditioning or heat pump system. These rebates are offered on a “first come – first served” basis until the rebate fund is exhausted. Funds Are Limited. Don’t Delay!

Call or email us today for information on the application process. Click here to learn more about the requirements of the programs at http://www.scgov.net/retrofit/.

References:
Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems
Energy Star – Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency