Manufacturers began shipping dry units in 2010, when the EPA rule outlawing new units with R-22 freon took effect. R-22 freon has been replaced by the more environmentally friendly 410-A coolant.

Change is always hard, though, and some manufacturers took advantage of a loophole in the EPA rule and started shipping a/c units without freon in them, AKA “dry R-22 condensing units.” Now, it’s true that  R-22 freon can be purchased separately and installed in dry units, but R-22 is on its way out; it’s in short supply and eventually (in 1-5 years) will become so rare and expensive that purchasing it for an a/c system will be cost-prohibitive.

Manufacturers seem to have little confidence in their “dry” units, which is why they are offering only five-year warranties on them and, in some cases, only a one-year warranty on parts. 

New 410-A equipment, on the other hand, is being offered with a ten-year warranty and, in some cases, a twelve-year or lifetime warranty.

The Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and Carrier want the EPA to close the loophole so manufacturers have to stop shipping dry units. The debate is ongoing, but the dry shipments are expected to continue through 2012.  The only thing that will possibly stop these shipments is dwindling supplies of  R-22 freon.

So, if your air conditioner has died, the best course is to replace it with a system that is guaranteed and can be serviced for many years to come. In this case, what’s good for the environment also is good for your wallet, long-term. Call us now at 407-870-7755 to learn more.

The practice is dangerous and can be deadly for  teens, and it can destroy an air conditioning unit in just minutes.

Fortunately, it’s easy and inexpensive to secure your system with a locking cap. To learn more, check out these news reports:

http://youtu.be/1bd-7rYDENE

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=16266745

Call Franks Air Conditioning at 407-870-7755 for more information.

Other things you should know when you’re considering a duct cleaning:

• Duct cleaning is not a routine part of heating and cooling system maintenance. 

•  EPA neither establishes duct-cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies. 

• Before you hire a contractor, check with your state’s department of professional regulation. Many states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas, require air duct cleaners to hold special licenses. Other states may require them as well.

• It is normal for air return registers to become dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that the air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris. The registers and the duct region surrounding the registers can easily be removed and cleaned. This is always a recommended practice.

• Some homeowners may want their air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will become dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly.  However, if a service technician fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt, and other contaminants. A careless or inadequately trained service provider could damage the air ducts or heating and cooling system.

Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning

Question: Should chemical biocides or ozone be sprayed into air ducts?

Some chemical companies sell products for air duct cleaning that claim a chemical biocide should be applied to the entire inside surface of the air ducts to kill bacteria (germs), and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. Typically, anything that kills living organisms like bacteria and fungi is also not healthy for humans. The widespread spraying of such compounds into the air is not a good idea unless the building is unoccupied for a substantial period of time after spraying. Even then, these killing compounds could be distributed on eating surfaces and food supplies and thus affect inhabitants. 

Exposure to biocides is even more of a problem for pregnant or nursing women and small children. Technicians performing the spraying must wear protective breathing apparatus.  Because the long-term effects of biocides are unknown, EPA has not approved any substance for this type of application. 

Mold spores and bacteria are naturally occurring and are always present in the air. A one-time killing of bacteria and mold will not prevent a recurring problem, because new bacteria and mold spores will simply start re-growing in the water and dirt remaining in the duct work.  Removal of the source of water and dirt (the food supply) is the only real solution to preventing recurring problems. 

Both EPA and Franks Air Conditioning recommend complete removal of any wet or moldy duct board or fiberglass insulation. Franks Air Conditioning also recommends treating replacement duct board or insulation and the surrounding fiber board and insulation with a porous duct sealant.  You do not need to use this duct sealant to treat the entire duct system but just to spot treat and seal problem areas.

Some manufacturers propose  introducing ozone to kill biological contaminants. Ozone is a highly reactive gas, meaning it is a highly corrosive gas that is regulated in the outside air as a lung irritant.  It is not recommended to purposely introduce ozone into the air due to the corrosive and toxic properties of this gas. Many components of the air handling system would be adversely affected by a corrosive gas.  There is no logical reason for the widespread introduction of either chemical biocides or ozone into the duct work.  Possible problems with biocide and ozone application in air ducts include:

Little research has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of using most biocides and ozone inside ducts. Spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct system may cause much of the material to be transported through the system and released into the living areas of the structure. Some people may have adverse health reactions to biocides or ozone.

EPA regulates chemical biocides under federal pesticide laws. EPA must register a product for a specific use before it can legally be used for that purpose. The specific uses must appear on the pesticide or biocide label, along with other important information. It is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide product in any manner inconsistent with the label directions.

Question: Do sealants prevent the release of dust and dirt particles into the air?

Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that they prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air.  Actually, you should clean duct surfaces thoroughly before applying sealant.  Using sealants to coat duct surfaces is appropriate for the repair of damaged fiberglass insulation or when combating fire damage within ducts. Never use sealants on wet or dirty ducts, either to cover actively growing mold or to cover debris in the ducts. Apply sealants only after replacing wet or moldy sections of duct and cleaning the system. You can use a duct sealant which contains a biocide, to help prevent recurrence of mold.  You can also use a duct sealant to spot treat and seal problem areas, but you should not spray it indiscriminately into the entire duct system, because the vapors are harmful to breathe.  Follow all label directions.

Based on the information furnished in summary by the EPA,  it appears that most of the concerns we expressed during the rulemaking process have been addressed to our satisfaction. For example, the rule does allow the sale and distribution of stockpiled inventory charged with virgin R-22 that was manufactured prior to January 1, 2010, and does not specify a date by which such inventory must be sold. It further allows the sale and distribution of pre-charged components, provided they also were manufactured prior to the January 1, 2010 cutoff. In addition, the rule allows R-22 produced prior to January 1, 2010 to be used until January 1, 2015, for the manufacture of thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs) and medical equipment. Unfortunately, the pre-charge rule does not allow charging with virgin R-22 after the cutoff date for equipment intended solely for export.

Equiguard, an extended warranty company, has sent out the following notice…

Failure to submit proof of maintenance with a claim on commercial equipment received by Equiguard after November 5, 2009, will result in the claim being denied.

Claims on Residential Equipment

For Service Agreements covering residential equipment, if the claim is received by Equiguard on or before November 5, 2009, no proof of maintenance is required. If the claim is received by Equiguard after November 5, 2009, but the services were provided before November 5, 2009, no proof of maintenance is required. If the claim is received by Equiguard after November 5, 2009, and the services were provided on or after November 5, 2009, then proof of maintenance is required.

In summary, on a claim for residential equipment, if the service is provided on or after November 5, 2009, you must submit proof of maintenance of the equipment with your claim.

Other Information.

All claims that you have submitted to Equiguard prior to receipt of this letter, and those claims received by Equiguard on or before November 5, 2009, both residential and commercial claims, will be processed without proof of maintenance.

On claims for residential equipment, if the homeowner performed the maintenance, please complete the attached affidavit and have the homeowner sign it.

We understand that submitting proof of maintenance may be burdensome, but this is an underwriting requirement that will be strictly enforced.

Please be advised that as to any claim that has previously been denied for lack of required information and/or paperwork, you will have 10 business days from the date of this letter to resubmit the claim with all required information. This will give our valued customers another opportunity to be paid. Failure to submit all documentation within the time frame will result in the claim being denied, without another opportunity to have it reopened.

If you have any questions regarding the requirements for claims filing, please contact your Equiguard inside sales representative at 1-800-886-9363.
Sincerely,
Equiguard, Inc.
CLSUBV1111009

We do not like to warranty drain line work because it is very hard to trouble shoot. You just can’t see inside the drain to figure out what is going on with it. When the drain just won’t flow anymore we use a shop vac to get the dirt out. Sometimes that doesn’t work so we have to use pressureized air or nitrogen to blow the drain out.

Drains on the inside of a home can cause big damage if the drain plugs up. Many wood floors, carpets, and drywall has been damaged because of the drain line plugging up and the air conditioner keeps running. It is recommended to install a safety device to keep this from happening. You might get hot for awhile but it beats replacing floors and drywall.

We have a tendency to forget about the air conditioner when it is running. It is the hardest working appliance in your home. It needs to be taken care of just like your car. It requires maintenance to stay running and so does your drain line.

Any questions?

When facing a major repair or even a modest service work on an older heating and AC system (generally, 10 years is considered old, especially in regards to efficiency), we are listing: 

Seven Useful Questions For Repair Or Replacing Your A-C Heating System

1- How long do you plan to own your home or building?
2- How much have your repair bills cost over the past 1-2 years?
3- Do you believe electricity and fuel costs will tend to go down, stay the same, or go up?
4- What other repairs might you be facing in the near future, other than the issue at hand right now?
5- How much would you save on your monthly utility bills in electricity and gas costs with the new system?
6- How much are the total rebates and tax credits available on a new system?
7- How many months will it take to pay back the cost of the new AC and heating system? After that initial payback period, how much will I get in return each month as a return on my investment?

If there is literally nowhere to turn for the funds to give you a choice, then you may have to keep your cash outlay as low as possible. However, if you do have choices, making the decision to go with more efficient equipment could pay a monetary return on your investment.  Franks Air Conditioning should be able to answer questions 4, 5, 6, and 7.  With the answers, you will be able to make a well-informed decision.