Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning Technician with Sarasota homeowners.

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AC And Indoor Air Quality

Sarasota skyline.It is estimated that in Southwest Florida many people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors.

Unfortunately, the air within our homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the air outside since it is constantly being recycled.

Indoor air quality problems can not only affect your comfort - but also your health. People who are the most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill. Anyone suffering from respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, or compromised immune systems should be extra careful.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution. Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products (like air fresheners), release pollutants nearly continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking; the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters; the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities; the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities; and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in house-keeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.

Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not introducing enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.

If you are concerned about your indoor air quality, please call Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. We have the expertise and the products to improve your indoor air quality.

Environmentally Safe Refrigerants

Until recently, R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice for residential air conditioning systems.

The manufacture of R-22 results in a dangerous by-product that adversely affects the environment. Older air conditioning systems can develop leaks that are slowly depleting the ozone. R-22 is considered a greenhouse gas.

R-22 is being phased out and manufacturers of residential and commercial air conditioning systems are now offering equipment that uses ozone-friendly refrigerants. Many homeowners have been misinformed about how much longer R-22 will be available to service their central air conditioning systems.

Sean McCutcheon's Air conditioning and Heating, Inc. has been recommending Environmentally Safe refrigerants such as Puron® since 2004. Unfortunately, not all air conditioning companies have been informing their customers of the phase out of R-22 and, as a result, those customers will see sky rocketing maintenance costs. R-22 has steadily increaesed in price.

Consumers need to take the phase out of R-22 into consideration when purchasing a new A/C system, or when having an existing system repaired.

As of January 1, 2010 the U.S. was required to reduce its consumption of HCFCs by 75%. R-22 may not be used in new equipment. As a result HVAC system manufacturers cannot produce new air conditioners and heat pumps that use R-22.
By January 1, 2020 the U.S. will reduce its consumption of HCFCs by 99.5%.

Refrigerant that has been recovered, recycled and reclaimed will be allowed to service existing systems, but chemical manufacturers will no longer be able to produce R-22 to service existing air conditioners.

The Clean Air Act does not allow any refrigerant to be vented into the atmosphere during installation, service, or retirement of equipment. Therefore, R-22 must be recovered and recycled (for reuse in the same system), reclaimed (reprocessed to the same purity standard as new R-22), or destroyed. Sean McCutcheon's Air conditioning and Heating takes great care to properly dispose of R-22 when removing old units.

We recover the R-22 refrigerant and turn it in to reclamation and recycling depots for proper disposal or reuse.

Earth Friendly Air Conditioning Systems and Products

Sarasota and Manatee county home and business owners recognize the importance of preserving our environment and taking steps to reduce our effect on our planet.

Service technician repairing commercial ductwork.Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. incorporates "Green" practices that significantly reduce or eliminate adverse environmental effects.

Air conditioners can be the single most energy draining appliance and a poorly maintained or older system will significantly run up your electric bill. In addition, an older air conditioning unit can emit 1.34 lbs. of carbon dioxide for every kilowatt hour it is used.

By replacing older air conditioning units with more efficient models, you can stop hundreds of pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each summer. This will not only help save the environment but will also save you money.

Always look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR approval is given by the Environmental Protection Agency to products that are 10 percent more efficient than what is required by the minimum federal standards. This is good for the environment and for your budget.

Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. recommends quality products like Bryant's Evolution® and Preferred™ Series Central Air Conditioners which combine up to 15 SEER cooling efficiency and quiet, ultra-dependable performance for whole-house comfort. These Systems use environmentally friendly Puron® refrigerant to reduce emissions and increase efficiency.

We are dedicated to being environmentally friendly! We install the most energy-saving and eco-friendly heating, ventilation and air conditioning solutions for your home and business.

When we service your air conditioning and heating, we use earth friendly, non-toxic, cleaning products and we recycle all old heating, ventilation & air conditioning equipment and any unused materials to keep our planet healthy.

One of the ways we protect you and our environment is to keep the AC units we are replacing out of our landfills.

Parts that a typical Air Conditioning company would just toss into a dumpster are salvaged. The old refrigerant is carefully removed and processed in a safe environment.

94% of an old Air Conditioner can be recycled – this includes materials such as copper, aluminum, sheet metal, and all wiring.

Bryant Evolution System

Bryant's dependable Evolution® System is the heating and cooling system of the future.

The Evolution® System is the most energy-efficiency and most complete home system for keeping your family comfortable.

Evolution® is the only system that allows you to precisely control temperature, humidity, air quality, fan speed, and ventilation - it can even detect when your air filter needs to be replaced! Evolution® is so comprehensive that it automatically adjusts to your needs for peak efficiency and performance.

Click here to visit the "Bryant" website.

Bryant's Zone Perfect digital thermostat lets you program temperature and humidity levels in 7-day cycles, variable in up to 8 zones. You'll enjoy both greater comfort and lower energy costs, all from one single, powerful source.

Evolution® Zoning features improved energy efficiency - you will save up to 29% on your heating bills. Bryant's Evolution® Zoning system incorporates a clean filter reminder, along with smart temperature sensors, duct temperature (LAT) sensors, and an outdoor temperature sensor. Fully modulating dampers regulate airflow.

For more air conditioning information, please visit the Bryant website.

About UV Lights

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of short wavelength radiation.

Although exposure to UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds can be dangerous, ultraviolet light has a variety of uses. One of the more beneficial uses is to install UV lights in Air conditioning systems as a way to purify the air.
Indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air because the ultraviolet component of sunlight destroys microbes.

Unlike filters, which collect pollutants as they pass through the system, UV lights actually kill organic matter, such as bacteria, mold, and viruses. UV light is highly effective at penetrating thin-walled germs like viruses and bacteria. The light alters the genetic structure of the germ and they die.

While UV light sanitation may seem like relatively new technology, the use of UV light to kill germs on surfaces, in the air and in the water dates back to 1916.

UV light has been proven to kill up to 99.9% of germs.

The warmth and moisture found in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems of households and office buildings make the perfect breeding ground for airborne molds, microorganisms and bacteria. These HVAC systems also provide an ideal way to circulate viruses and germs around an entire office building or home in a relatively short time.

Many air conditioning companies offer UV sanitization but not all are equal and UV lights will be more or less useful depending on the environment they are placed in. The effectiveness of UV lights depends on the UV irradiation dose, the system design, age of the lights and other factors.

There are many different types of UV sanitization systems. One of the systems we recommend is most effective when the ultraviolet rays from the probes shine on the cold air side of the air conditioner evaporator coil. This keeps the evaporator coil in a healthy condition by eliminating the normal mold, algae, slime, and gel formations that can act as breeding areas for bacteria. This also prevents buildup that can plug the coil, inhibit air flow, and increase cooling costs. A very thin film just .002'' thick on your indoor coil is all it takes to reduce airflow by as much as 9%*. UV Lights can clean the coil and virtually eliminate additional build up.

Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. recommends quality Bryant Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights.

They can help to rid your home of bacteria, viruses and germs that reside in the air you breathe every day. UV lights will prevent these and other particles from building up on the indoor coil which can inhibit airflow and reduce heating and cooling efficiency.

When the UV Lights are properly mounted inside your system near the indoor coil, they will direct UV light to the source of potential fungal and microbial growth. When combined with a Bryant high efficiency air cleaner, you can enjoy substantial improvements to the quality of your indoor air.

UV Lights retain their effectiveness for 1 ½ to 2 years. After the initial installation, additional replacement bulbs are relatively inexpensive. Depending on the age and condition of the existing HVAC system and/or ventilators, it is suggested to assess the unit to determine what needs to be done prior to installation of UV lights

AC Air Filters

It is very likely that at one time or another you have wondered about your AC and indoor air quality.

Sean McCutcheon service technicians installing a unit.We are constantly being bombarded with information and statistics from a variety of places ranging from legitimate sources like the EPA website to misinformation deliberately put out there by unscrupulous companies trying to scare you into buying unnecessary equipment or services. For example, there are companies that prey on the unsuspecting consumer by operating duct cleaning or duct sanitization scams intended only to get a salesman into your home to sell you services or equipment you probably don’t need.

Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. of Sarasota understands that sometimes it’s very hard to separate the truth from the fiction so we painstakingly research all new technology so that we can educate our customers, and we only recommend products that we genuinely believe in so that we can help you make the best possible choice.

Are we breathing healthier air?

We live in a world where Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs as they are commonly known are less prevalent, cigarette smoking is becoming increasingly unacceptable and Americans, for the most part, are trying to live a healthier lifestyle, but we are still exposed to plenty of unstable environments and toxic substances that can adversely affect our health on a daily basis. It is a fact that indoor air can have higher levels of pollutants than outdoor air.

In our warm Florida climate, most people will keep windows and doors shut tightly while they run the air conditioning units for months at a time. If there is not enough outdoor air entering a home, pollutants can accumulate to hazardous levels.
These pollutants can come from anywhere; some more obvious sources include pesticides, paints and cleaning products, but indoor air pollutants can also come from furniture, floor coverings or even certain types of pressed wood used for cabinets.

In addition to these indoor air pollutants that can accumulate in your home, improperly maintained air conditioning and heating units can create the perfect breeding ground for airborne microorganisms and bacteria. HVAC systems can circulate these viruses and germs around an entire home or office building in a relatively short amount of time.

HEPA Air filters are an effective way to enhance the quality of air in your home.

High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filters are the most efficient filter at trapping very small particles, including the following: mold spores, many bacteria and viruses, and, of course, larger items such as dust.

The American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the air filter industry have come up with a standardized rating system - the MERV rating. This numbering system makes it easier to evaluate and compare mechanical air filters.