R-22 Refrigerant Phase Out

R-22 freon is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) that has been the primary refrigerant choice in the heating and cooling industry for many years.  Due to the negative effects that CFC’s and HCFC’s can have on the environment, an HCFC phaseout schedule has been adopted under the Clean Air Act.  As the refrigerant is phased out, manufacturers will offer heating and air conditioning systems that use a more ozone friendly refrigerant known as R-410A.  Vero Beach homeowners should be aware of how this phase out will affect the servicing of their existing equipment and how to plan for equipment replacement if necessary.

The phaseout period provides homeowners time to switch to ozone-friendly refrigerants when you normally would replace your refrigerant and air conditioning equipment.  It is important to know that as of 2010, there is not a ban on the sell of R-22 for use in existing equipment, only the production of equipment using R-22 will be banned.  In simple terms, as of 2010 these basics apply:

• Only remaining stock of R-22 systems will be available for sale
• R-22 will still be available until 2020 for existing equipment only
• Homeowners looking to replace their air conditioning systems in 2010 and after will greatly benefit by the purchase of a new high efficiency R-410A system.
• The price of R-22 will begin to increase as the price for R-410A will decrease
• Homeowners looking to replace only their air handler or condenser will, in most cases, will need to replace the entire unit as mix-matching systems may not meet code requirements.

Look for more to come on the R-22 phase-out.

New! Florida Air Conditioning Video

Star Quality Air Conditioning in Vero Beach, Florida is proud to announce our new company video on YouTube.  Check it out!

Vero Beach air conditioning company offers fast, friendly air conditioning service, repair, maintenance, and installation.

Spring Time Air Conditioning Maintenance

It’s that time of year again when we want to remind everyone to have your home’s air conditioning system tuned up before the hot summer temperatures.  Summer is undoubtedly our busiest season and by taking advantage of a tune-up now, before we are up to our ears in service calls, you can prevent those unexpected and inconvenient break-downs that often occur in the hottest (and our busiest) time of the year.

Remember, proper maintenance prolongs the life of your system, protects equipment warranties, and reduces operating expenses…so don’t wait!

Reasons to Properly Maintain Your Air Conditioning System:

• A clean system operates more efficiently resulting in lower utility bills
• A clean system protects and extends the life of your equipment
• A clean system and air filter protects the quality of your home’s indoor air
• Prevents inconvenient and unexpected emergency repairs
• Increases heating and cooling efficiency resulting in a more comfortable indoor environment
• Not maintaining your system can void manufacturer warranties
• Receive 15% off any repairs
• Receive priority service
• Allows for fixing small problems before they turn into larger, more expensive repairs

Click here for more on air conditioning system maintenance.  To schedule your Spring Time Tune-up on your Vero Beach home, call Star Quality Air at 772-299-9818.

Duct Sanitizing Improves Indoor Air

The EPA ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health (American Lung Association). The damp environment inside your air conditioning equipment can be an ideal breeding ground for biological contaminants and micro-organisms that can then be distributed throughout your home through your duct system.

The most common pollutants that are often found inside the home include pollen, dust, dirt, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, bacteria, fungi, smoke, pesticides, etc.  These pollutants can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.  One solution is to introduce an anti-microbial sanitizer spray into the duct system.  This process, known as duct fogging, eliminates microorganisms associated with mold, mildew, and odor causing bacteria by destroying the organisms at their origin.

An added benefit of this product is its low toxicity and safety rating from the EPA.  It contains no alcohol or perfumes and leaves no residue.  The disinfectant does not mask odors, it eliminates them without your family having to leave the home and without using environmentally damaging or flammable ingredients.

It is recommended that as a part of a proper air conditioning system maintenance program that you sanitize, deodorize, and disinfect your system and ducts to ensure the quality of your indoor air.