Cost of Freon Skyrockets by 300%

R-22 (most commonly known as Freon by consumers) is no longer used in the manufacturing of new air conditioners.  Due to its ozone-depleting properties, R-22 is considered harmful to our planet.  New air conditioners and heat pumps use a more environmentally sound substance called R-410A.

Although R-22 Freon  is still the most commonly used refrigerant due to a lot of older air conditioners, production of R-22 has almost disappeared due to the Montreal Protocol. Due to high demand, and short supply, the prices of R-22 could have increased by 300%+.  It has reached the point that if your AC is out of R-22 refrigerant, it probably makes more sense for you to just buy a new air conditioner.

The EPA has prohibited freon production by 2020.

In the meantime, adding freon to your old system can cost hundreds if not … read more

HVAC pre- and post-storm damage prevention and maintenance

HVAC pre- and post-storm damage prevention and maintenance
During a severe weather event such as Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Hermine in 2016, the last thing we want to think about is our AC system, but catastrophic storms such as these can cause just as much damage to an AC system as anything else.  Here are some pre-storm damage prevention and post-storm maintenance tips:
Pre-storm:

• Check for overhanging limbs and cut any directly over outside condensing units.  Clear shrubbery from the units so blowing limbs won’t damage the coils.
• Remove any outside chairs or other large items near the units that could become wind-enabled projectiles.
• Make sure outside AC units are bolted or strapped down to their stands.  This will keep the units from shifting or toppling over in high winds. Such movement is detrimental to the compressor and coils.  
• Clean gutters if they are directly over outside units.
• Shore up any fencing around the units and reinforce post supports.  Make sure the fencing doesn’t fall over on units. 
• Before leaving, turn AC to the “off” setting. Then turn off both inside and outside units at the power panel by flipping their respective breakers.
• Once power is off, cover the outside unit with a tarp and secure it so that it doesn’t blow away.

Read More: http://www.wtoc.com/story/36254284/hvac-pre-and-post-storm-damage-prevention-and-maintenance
Related Article: HVAC Tips To Prepare For Spring