One of the conveniences that we’re all accustomed to, especially in southeast Georgia, is air conditioning. We love coming in on a hot day to a cool room. In fact, we spend most of our time indoors because those temperature-controlled spaces offer respite. But what if the quality of the indoor air was harming us?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the condition of the air we breathe within buildings. Our health and comfort are both affected by air quality. With year-round humidity, Georgia’s muggy climate is the perfect breeding ground for bio-contaminants that cause diseases.

Volatile organic compounds (chemicals from things like household cleaners and cosmetic products), mold spores, and allergens are just a few of the indoor air pollutants we should be concerned with. These can cause asthma and allergies to more severe conditions like lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Air quality also influences our ability to focus and to think clearly, deeply, and creatively. IAQ contributes to our overall health as well as our mental state.

Minimize or eliminate the use of products that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by being mindful of everything you allow in your home. It’s easy to switch to natural cleaning products, soaps, shampoos, detergents, etc. Other common indoor sources of pollutants include paints and adhesives and furniture that emit VOCs. Additionally, cooking, smoking, and burning candles can introduce particulate matter and other pollutants into the air.

Air Concepts frequently installs various systems to improve IAQ. There are dehumidifiers to tackle the southeast Georgia humidity, UV lights to kill microorganisms, mold, and bacteria, whole house air filters to ward off harmful pollutants, and more. Check out all that we offer below.

• Dehumidifier: With year-round humidity, Georgia’s muggy climate is the perfect breeding ground for bio-contaminants that cause diseases. Dehumidifying your home makes it much more comfortable but also helps prevent other issues like mold, mildew, and dust mites. Humidity also takes a toll on our health. High moisture levels can agitate allergies and cause sinus issues.

• UV Lights: These systems use ultraviolet light to neutralize bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and other harmful microbes. Their specific wavelength of UV light destroys microorganisms, rendering them unable to thrive and reproduce. UV lights also clean the HVAC coils as they work, helping the unit to run more efficiently.

• Air Purifier: Air Concepts offers home air purification systems like the REME HALO® to consume dust and dander and eliminate odors, making the air more pleasant for you and your family to breathe. By trapping airborne irritants such as pollen, dust and dander, home air purification systems upgrade the quality of life for the entire family, particularly people with allergies and respiratory problems.

• Ventilators: HVAC ventilators play a critical role in maintaining indoor air quality by ensuring proper air exchange, removing pollutants, and regulating humidity levels. They are designed to bring in fresh outdoor air and expel stale indoor air, creating a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment.

• Routine Maintenance: Having your HVAC systems regularly serviced can prevent IAQ issues. HVAC service maintenance is the process of inspecting and cleaning your air conditioner to ensure that it’s running properly, while also changing air filters and conducting mold inspections. It’s an important part of keeping your system healthy and efficient, and ensuring your air quality is where it needs to be.

Be on the lookout for symptoms of poor indoor air quality which includes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Asthma and similar diseases may also flair soon after exposure to some air pollutants. Other health effects like respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer may show up either years after exposure has occurred, or only after long or repeated periods of exposure, and can be severely debilitating or fatal.

Call Air Concepts today to learn more about your indoor air quality options. (912) 261-9013

Pay attention to your local weather and any storms that may be developing.

Make sure that all items in your yard are stored away. This will minimize the chances of any loose objects flying into your outside condensing unit and damaging any of its components.

If you are in a flood zone, we recommend having your condenser installed on a pressure treated wood stand. If not in a flood area, at least have the condenser installed on an equipment pad or concrete slab to keep it off the ground.

Before the storm is due to affect your area, disconnect your HVAC from the power source or at least turn off the power to the system.

After the storm is over, DO NOT turn the power to the unit back on until the water level is below the condensing unit.

Call us at (912) 261-9013 for any questions, concerns, or to have your HVAC serviced.

If you forget an oil change for a few thousand miles, how big of a deal is it? You might get lucky, or you might cause significant (and expensive) damage to your vehicle. The same is true for your AC unit. You may think your air conditioning system is working just fine, and it may be, but under significant stress, like the heat of a southeast Georgia summer, it can be sent into overload and either slow or shut down completely.

Air Concepts has been in business since 1999 and we see this every year: we get calls that a unit isn’t cooling properly when people haven’t kept up with the routine maintenance. When our customers are ahead of the problem and get their units serviced regularly, they are saved the headache of a warm home, a higher utility bill, and possibly waiting for an available technician to fix their problem.

HVAC service maintenance is the process of inspecting and cleaning your air conditioner to ensure that it’s running properly. It’s an important part of keeping your system healthy and efficient, and it can help you save money on your energy bill. Here are some of the benefits of air conditioning and heating service maintenance:

• HVAC service maintenance can improve your system’s efficiency. A dirty or clogged air conditioner can’t run as efficiently as a clean one, which means you’ll end up using more energy and spending more money on your utility bill.
• Regular service maintenance can help prevent breakdowns. A well-maintained air conditioner is less likely to break down than a neglected one. This means fewer unexpected repairs and lower repair costs in the long run.
• Neglecting your air conditioner can shorten its lifespan by as much as 50%. To extend the life of your system, it needs to be serviced regularly by a professional technician. For most units, this means two times per year.

So, if you’re looking for ways to save money on your energy bill, reduce your risk of breakdowns, and prolong the life of your AC unit, consider investing in an HVAC Planned Maintenance Program.

In addition to having your AC unit serviced regularly, you should also change the filter every month and ensure that there is enough refrigerant in the system. Not sure how to do this? Any of our Air Concepts certified technicians can walk you through it.

Air conditioning units on or close to the beach face even more maintenance needs due to the salt in the area that can corrode AC units and their coils. As the trusted HVAC experts in the Golden Isles, we only recommend the best units that will last longer in Glynn County’s salt air environments. Maintaining your air conditioner on the beach is simple if you have the right team and products. With over 20 years serving Glynn County and maintaining an impeccable reputation, Air Concepts is the right choice for both.

One way to help prevent your air conditioner from breaking down is to have it serviced regularly by a professional technician. Our experienced team of HVAC experts perform service maintenance to a wide variety of air conditioning units, no matter the brand.

Air Concepts encourages regular maintenance so there’s less burden on you and so you can stay comfortable year-round. Our maintenance plan gives you peace of mind with one low annual fee and the option to pay monthly. Residents of Glynn and surrounding counties trust Air Concepts. Call us today at (912) 261-9013 and get ahead of those hot summers.

When summer hits in southeast Georgia, that also means storm and hurricane season. Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen an increase in power surges due to inclement weather. Many of our customers are asking how they can protect their HVAC (air conditioning units) from being affected during this weather and the power surges associated with them. The answer is not popular: turn the HVAC unit off either at the thermostat or even better, at the breaker.

A power surge is a brief spike in voltage as it passes through electrical lines. This could cause damage to many electrical appliances because a surge transmits more power than the appliances can manage. The best way to avoid overloading appliances with too much power is to turn them off completely.

During the summertime, the most common causes are:

• Lightning Storms
• Power Outages
• Downed Power Lines

• Capacitor
• Circuit Board
• Motor
• Contactor
• Compressor
• Relay

Financial institutions will provide loans for houses, cars, boats, and yes, even HVAC systems. Financing allows individuals to achieve their goals, without adding much strain to their everyday life. With financing available through reputable companies like Air Concepts, let’s take a deeper dive into what this could mean for you.

Under the right conditions, financing a new HVAC system may be a smart option, or in some cases, it might be the only option.  In this current economy, some homeowners do not have the extra funds to pay cash for a new air conditioning unit.  A few questions to ask before deciding on whether to finance are listed below.

Interest rates are always an important factor when it comes to financing. Credit terms vary by financing company. As of the date of this blog, with approved credit, there are a couple of different options we offer through Air Concepts to lift some of the burden off you.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

No Interest if paid in full within 12 months with regular monthly payments

Special Rate of 9.99% APR with 96 equal monthly payments

GreenSky A Goldman Sachs Company (usually more willing to work with lower credit scores)

6 months No Interest w/ payments for 84 months (17.99% – 26.99%)

12 months No Interest w/ payments for 36 months (17.99% – 26.99%)

Special Rate of 9.99% APR with 96 equal monthly payments

If you have enough money in savings to pay cash for a new HVAC unit, financing may not be the way to go. The only reason you may want to finance is to hold on to some of your fluid cash and pay off the loan within the no interest period of 12 months.

If you don’t have enough cash to purchase a unit outright, take advantage of our financing options unless you can get a better APR through your banking institution.

All our installs come with a 1-year labor warranty. The majority of HVAC equipment comes with a 5-year functional parts warranty. At Air Concepts, we register all residential equipment so our customers will receive an additional 5 years on functional parts, making that a total of 10 years on functional parts.

Once your unit is over ten years old, you may notice it needs more servicing, especially if you did not have it regularly serviced over the years. Once you begin paying out of pocket for labor and parts you may find that you are better off purchasing a new unit and this can be done through financing or with cash if that’s available to you.

Why does my AC have a drain line? 

When your air conditioner (AC) is running, condensation forms on the evaporator coil inside your air handler, which drips into a pan beneath the coil. That water should travel from the pan to outside your home via a condensation drain line.

What causes the drain line to become clogged?

Inside the drain pan on its way through the drain line, the water will pick up dirt, dust, and even pet hair. This will in turn cause mildew and algae to grow in your drain line.  All of this can cause the drain line to become backed up and eventually the pan will overflow.

If your system was installed within the last couple of years and by a professional installer, your drain system should have a safety switch installed that will shut the system down if the drain becomes backed up. This way you don’t end up with an overflow in your attic, closet, or wherever your air handler is located.  If you do not have a safety switch for your drain, one can be added.

Is blowing out your HVAC drain line enough?

If you are just blowing out the lines, the algae and mildew are still left behind. If you are doing the cleaning yourself, we recommend using vinegar and hot water or even a HVAC approved cleaner that will dissolve the slime buildup.

Our service technicians use a product that contains digestive enzymes that break up and disperse the slime, sludge, and sediment that tends to gum up the pan, p-trap, and piping.  We then add a gel strip to the pan that lasts for up to 6 months. These strips prevent sludge build up and drain pan corrosion, as well as control odors. The strips will dissolve and are safe for metal and plastic drain pans.