Name: Bounds Heating & Air
Address: 25645 West, Newberry Road, Newberry, FL, 32669
Telephone: 352-472-2761

Fall HVAC Maintenance Tips

The fall season is approaching, and that means colder weather ahead. Even if it isn’t snowing, drastic temperature changes will affect your home. That means you need your HVAC unit to be in the best condition. As trained experts in HVAC units, we’ve come up with key tips for proper HVAC maintenance during this season.

Inspect Air Filters

Air filters are responsible for keeping dust out of your HVAC unit. They are why you can enjoy warm air with none of the pollutants. Over time, it will accumulate into a dirty blockade. Be ready to inspect and clean your filter. You might also need a backup, in case it needs to be replaced.

Check the Insulation

Proper insulation in the walls and roof keep the temperature stable. The last thing you want is for cold air to interrupt your sleep. That’s why you need to re-examine the insulation. With the right amount, you can avoid the need for future HVAC repair.

Clean the Vents and Grilles

During the fall season, leaves and dirt can create a solid wall of debris around the vents and grilles of your HVAC units. Make sure you inspect all the components before cleaning it. This way, you can make sure if there are blockages, and know how to clean them out properly. This can also lead to the discovery of other issues with the unit.

Get a Proper Inspection

The best way to prepare for the fall is to get an expert opinion. At Bounds Heating and Air, we can inspect your units and ascertain their current condition. We also provide professional air conditioning repair, in case the HVAC system is damaged.

With our help, you can get the best air quality and temperature in your home. Call us at 352-472-2761 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We serve many areas in Florida, including Lake City.

A Brief History of Thermostats

A key component of HVAC maintenance is the thermostat. It controls how much the temperature of each home should be. Essential to keeping you cool (or warm), thermostats are often overlooked. To honor this revolutionary tool, we take a careful look at its history.

Invention: 1830

Back when people had to rely on their senses, regulating temperature was troublesome. Many had to rely on fireplaces and furnaces to warm themselves up. The problem was that it required a lot of physical effort, not to mention resources like firewood and coal.

Things changed in 1830 when a Scottish chemist named Andrew Ure patented the thermostat. He was made of bi-metallic materials and would bend according to the temperature. While it was a remarkable invention, it was considered hardly useful. This resulted in a long wait before it could become important to HVAC repair.

Rise to Popularity: 1883

The thermostat’s popularity rose once the American inventor Warren Johnson stepped in. Unhappy with the cold, he invented an electric thermostat. While it couldn’t directly change the temperature, it was used to signal janitors. This way, he could ask them to adjust the furnace without leaving the room.

Innovation: 1885

Two years later, a Swiss inventor named Albert Butz radically changed the use of thermostats. Ure’s could only detect temperature changes, while Johnson’s could only use it as a signal. Butz went a step further, by letting him adjust it on command.

His device was connected to a pulley system, which allowed one to open and close the furnace door. It was a rudimentary design, the first-ever operational thermostat. Since then, many homes have enjoyed a more advanced form.

At Bounds Heating & Air, we can help you monitor and regulate your own thermostats. We provide professional air conditioning repair and install different products for your HVAC system. This includes heaters, humidifiers, and cooling systems.

Call us at 352-472-2761 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We serve many areas in Florida, including Alachua, FL.

Different Types of Biological Pollutants

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units keep your home cool and healthy. They regulate the air but require proper HVAC maintenance. Otherwise, you are at risk of many biological pollutants. They can have an adverse effect on your health, causing sickness and serious harm. Here’s what pollutants you should be wary of, and what they can do.

Different Types of Pollutants

All of these biological air pollutants can be within your home or come from the outside. These include:

Pollen – released from plants and flowers, and can populate the air during springtime.
Molds – form from wet surfaces, either from your roof or your walls.
Viruses – can spread, either from a person or an animal.
Dust and fungi – can originate from a broken or unmaintained AC unit. Be wary when you need another HVAC repair.

Possible Health Effects

All biological air pollutants can be inhaled, leading to dangerous symptoms involving your respiratory system. This includes:

Allergic reactions
A runny nose
Frequent sneezing and/or coughing
A headache
Wheezing or shortness of breath
Fever
Lethargy

Sources of Contamination

Different factors can cause pollutants to spread. The primary factors can come from poor air quality, usually from a broken HVAC unit. Another key source of pollutants is any damp area. Whether it comes from leaks or gutter failure, prolonged exposure to water can give fungi and bacteria the opportunity to grow. This is also true for dust and dirt, especially when gathering in the same spot.

The Best Fix

When it comes to professional air conditioning repairs, we’ll be more than happy to help you. Bounds Heating & Air provides inspections and installations to ensure smoother operation all year long. With our help, we can prevent air pollutants from affecting your health and your home.

Call us at (352) 472-2761 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We serve many areas in Florida, including Newberry, FL.

Pros and Cons of Different Humidifiers

One of the best installations for HVAC maintenance is a humidifier. With it, you can control how much moisture goes in the air. There are four different types of humidifiers to choose from steam, impeller, ultrasonic, and evaporative. At Bounds Heating & Air, we’ve provided homeowners the pros and cons of each one.

Steam

Steam humidifiers are known as “vaporizers”, and boil water to circulate steam in the air.

Pros: Vaporizers are the most common and affordable. They are also highly recommended to help against coughing fits.

Cons: With a low price tag, the vaporizer surprisingly clocks in as the most energy inefficient. If left unchecked, they could also cause a burn on unsuspecting users.

Impeller

Impeller humidifiers use a diffuser to cool the air, transforming water into droplets that circulate throughout your home. They are also called “cool mist” humidifiers, due to the fog that they leave behind.

Pros: They require less cleaning, so you can save on HVAC repair and maintenance. They are also very quiet, so you won’t be bothered by any unexpected noise.

Cons: The units need to have their water changed regularly. Otherwise, the water will stagnate and release bacteria with the fog.

Ultrasonic

Ultrasonic humidifiers are similar to the impeller, differing only in that they rely on vibrations to create the water droplets.

Pros: Unlike the impellers, ultrasonics have antibacterial filters. This helps solve the water maintenance issue. Some units can switch between warm and cool, to fit the different seasons.

Cons: Some units release white dust, which contains bacteria and can be harmful to air quality. Check carefully for more advanced units, which clean this off.

Evaporative

Evaporative humidifiers differ by using the existing air of your home, then filtering it through a moist cloth or a wick.

Pros: It can reduce the need for HVAC and air conditioning repair because it is low-maintenance. You only need to switch out the cloth on occasion.

Cons: Evaporative humidifiers can be very noisy, so it should be installed in areas where it can reach all rooms without waking up anybody.

Bounds Heating & Air provides different air conditioning, heating, and humidifier units for your home. Call us at352-472-2761 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We serve many areas in Florida, including Gainesville, FL.

Debunking Common HVAC Myths

HVAC units are very expensive pieces of equipment so it’s not surprising that people go to great lengths to take good care of them. Unfortunately, some people end up doing more harm than good to their units because of several misconceptions about proper HVAC maintenance. Our experts shed some light on these common HVAC myths that you should stop believing.

Change the Filter Once A Year

The filter is designed to prevent dust and other particles from clogging up the air conditioning unit. Over time, the dust can completely block the filters, severely affecting the unit’s energy efficiency. Experts recommend having the filters changed on a monthly basis to avoid filter-related problems.

Cover Your Outdoor Unit During Winter

Covering the outdoor units during winter seems like a good idea because it prevents snow from getting in. However, doing that can actually cause more harm than good because the covering could trap in moisture and cause the unit’s components to corrode. HVAC repair experts recommend just putting a board over the unit so moisture can still evaporate harmlessly.

Keeping Your AC on Low If You’re Not Using It

Many people assume that leaving the air conditioning unit at a higher temperature setting is more energy-efficient than completely turning it off. We’re not sure how this myth started, but we’re certain that shutting the unit off uses much less energy than running it even at its minimum settings for an extended amount of time.

Maxing out Air Conditioning Speeds up the Cooling Process

Many people think that their air conditioning unit can cool their rooms faster if they start with the lowest possible temperature setting and then adjust the temperature back to their desired setting. However, HVAC systems are designed to cool the air in a constant state. In fact, switching from an extreme setting and then back to your desired setting only puts unnecessary stress on the unit, not to mention consumes too much energy. Air conditioning repair experts recommend keeping your unit at your desired temperature from the start.

Learn more about proper HVAC maintenance from the pros. Bounds Heating & Air is a leading HVAC company serving clients Lake City, FL, and other parts of Florida. Call us at 352-472-2761 or fill out this contact form to request a free quote.

Author: admin

Bounds Heating & Air provides different air conditioning, heating, and humidifier units for your home. Call us at352-472-2761 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We serve many areas in Florida, including Gainesville, FL.