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Jacksonville's climate is very moist and warm, which also brings along high humidity levels with it. Humidity can manifest its way into a home if it is not properly ventilated. If left untreated, it becomes a suitable environment for mold.
There are many ways to reduce a home's humidity. The primary way to do this is to ventilate, especially in areas with high moisture, such as a bathroom and kitchen. Setting up vent fans near these area's will remove the moisture in the air. If one does not currently have a vent fan then opening a window will also help.
Other ways to decrease humidity:
- Use a ceiling fan
- Taking shorter and/or cooler showers
- Run your air conditioner
- When cooking try to cover your pans if possible
- Use a home de-humidifier
Ductless mini-split-systems make great additions to homes without any centralized air ducts. They are also a great choice for rooms that have been added to homes where air ducts would be difficult to implement, and they are best utilized in smaller homes without the space for centralized air ducts. Much like standard air conditioning systems, mini split systems use two important components, the outdoor air-condenser unit, and the indoor air-handler unit. The two units are connected via a conduit which contains the power cord, and refrigerant tubes. They are also very energy efficient compared to the other air conditioning systems.
Advantages
- They are smaller than centralized air conditioners, and their installation placement is very flexible.
- Up to four air-handlers can connect to a single air-condenser.
- Each air-handler has its own thermostat. So each zone can have its own personalized temperature, or be shut off if the zone is unoccupied.
- No ductwork is involved. Ductwork can amount to over 30% of energy loss when they are not maintained or improperly installed.
- They are safer for your home compared to window-mounted units, which provides easy access to your home to intruders.
Disadvantages
- There is a higher cost of installation compared to other systems, although the lower operating cost can offset the higher installation cost over time.
- Some people might not like the appearance of the indoor air handler, though they are still less obtrusive than a window-mounted unit.
- Finding certified installers and service technicians for mini split systems can be difficult to find. However at B&G Heating and Air we are more than capable of installing mini-split equipment.
Maintaining Your Air Conditioner Through Fall and Winter
As the temperature falls, your air conditioner won’t be used as often. However, it is still very important that you maintain it throughout the fall and winter. Properly maintaining your HVAC system in the offseason will increase the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Changing your filters - Filters should be changed or cleaned every three months. You shouldn’t stop doing this just because your unit isn’t used as often. When filters remain dirty they can block airflow and spread dirt, dust, and other allergens throughout your home. Replacing a clogged filter can make your HVAC unit more energy efficiently. Not only is it healthier for you and your unit, but it also saves you money on your energy bill.
Cleaning the coils - Your system’s coils will inevitably attract dirt over time. Dirt build-up on the coils reduces airflow, and prevents the coil from absorbing heat. Coils should be cleaned once a year to keep your system in working condition.
Checking for debris - Your outside air condenser needs to be clear of debris to function properly. When the leaves start to fall, it is important the remove them and any other debris.
Cleaning the fins - The condenser’s fins can become clogged with debris and even bugs. They can be cleaned with a strong stream of water from your garden hose. Avoid using a pressure washer as the pressure will bend the fins.
Clearing the area around the condenser – After you everything else is complete, make sure to rake and remove any leaves, sticks, and vegetation at least two feet away from the condenser.
Pleated Filters
Replace every 3 months
This filter is made from fibers, often from fiberglass. This is the most common and cheapest type of filter, and can range from quality depending on it's MARV rating. They have to be changed out more often than any other kind.
Electrostatic Filters
Lasts over 6 months, needs to be spray cleaned then dried once a month
This air filter's synthetic fibers use static to catch particles. Most of them catch over 95% of air particles, and it helps stop growth of bacteria. They are recommended if you have any pets.
High Efficencty Particulare Air (HEPA) Filters
Residentially can last over 2 years
Made from pleated micro-woven glass particles, it can eliminate 99.97% of particles. That is less that the width of a human hair. These filters are used in hospital operating rooms.
There are many different types of air conditioners. Each kind has a different design and are used in various ways depending on the factors and applications.
| The window unit air conditioner is used primarily for single rooms. All the components from are enclosed in a single box. It is commonly installed on a window sill. |  |
| The ductless split air conditioner is comprised of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit has the major components such as the compressor and condenser. The indoor unit has the cooling coil and fan. The refrigerant is transferred between the the two units through a tube. This air conditioner can be used for one or more rooms. |  |
| The central air conditioner is used to cool entire houses through a duct system. They can come in a packaged unit with all the components boxed in a single unit. They also come with a outdoor condensing unit connected to an indoor air handler unit. |  |
Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat
A basic thermostat will display and let you adjust the temperature. Upgrading to a smart thermostat will give you a ton of more features.
They are programable for daily or weekly schedules. Meaning they can start pre-heating or pre-cooling when you are about to come home.
One of the more popular features is adjusting the temperature from your devices, such as your smartphone.
Some of them can detect light, humidity, and motion, then will adjust the temperature accordingly. It will program your unit to become less active if it detects that you aren't home, and can be programmed to account for any pets too.
The EPA reports that using a smart thermostat will save you over $180 annually.
DIY condenser unit maintenance tips
- Gently brush off any debris from the blades and the coils. Any leaves and debris inside the consenser should also be removed. Doing this will make your fan run more efficently. Make sure you turn the power off before you clean your condenser.
- If you do notice your fan making a noise such as clicking, it might have an obstruction, which could bend the blades. If it is bent, you will need to replace them.
- Make sure any plants and grass clippings are a few feet away from the condenser to prevent any clogging.
- The fan motor should be lubricated at least once a year.
- Keep your compressor under the shade if possible. The air in the shade is about five degrees cooler than the air around it, which can make your unit more efficent.
- When not in use during the winter the condenser unit should be covered. And it's recommended that it not be used when it is under 60 degrees outside.
Researchers from the around the world found that levels of serotonin—a neurotransmitter that regulates appetite, sleep, memory, and 
mood—are lower during the winter than the summer also, patients undergoing surgery who were placed in bright rooms reported less perceived stress and took less medication per hour than patients in dim rooms. Studies also suggests that even indirect exposure to sunlight can improve one’s mood. Other Studies have linked vitamin D, known as the “sunshine vitamin,” to the protection against colon, kidney, and breast cancer. It’s also linked to improvements in bone health and overall mortality. Neurological, cardiovascular, and immune diseases are associated with vitamin D deficiency. By increasing your exposure to sunlight, you can decrease your risk for these diseases.
In the other side, sunlight exposition also can be bad, It is well known that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation present in sunlight is responsible for a lot of cases of skin cancer in humans. Wavelengths in the UV-B (290–320 nm) region of the solar spectrum are absorbed into the skin, producing burns, and eventually skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of human cancer.The question is how to get the benefits of the sunlight without the exposure to the UV-B rays?
Coeluxs, may have the solution.
CoeLux is an optical system based on nano technology to artificially reproduce the natural light and visual appearance of the sun and sky, offering a breakthrough opportunity for indoor architecture by creating the sensation of infinite space.
The CoeLux skylight system utilizes elements to emulate natural lighting. They incorporate select LED lighting to closely resemble natural light and the sun. The team then developed a complex optical system which emulate the sun and its rays using nano-structured materials to recreate in just a few millimeters the same Rayleigh scattering process that occurs in the atmosphere. A clear cloudless day-time sky is blue because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light. When we look towards the sun at sunset, we see red and orange colours because the blue light has been scattered out and away from the line of sight.
In order to achieve a 3D effect and reproduce natural sunlight, CoeLux team had to develop a photo realistic rendering engine that is capable of simulate sky sunlight working with select materials.
Coelux can be be programmed to emulate three different geographic lighting scenarios, such as northern Europe for example, where the light runs at a lower angle relative to the horizon than at the equator
A more detailed project summary of the CoeLux system can be viewed at the European Commission's CORDIS portal.
