Month: January 2013

As a homeowner in Longview, TX, you may have heard about 25C Tax Credits offered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for energy efficient home improvements and the installation of energy efficient air conditioning equipment. These 25C Tax Credits are back and now is the time for local homeowners to take advantage of this money saving opportunity.

Our heating and air conditioning service technicians at JD’s A/C LLC explain how you can qualify for these tax credits and how to arrange for the installation of a new energy efficient air conditioning system for your home.

About 25C Tax Credits

For homeowners who made certain types of energy efficiency improvements in 2012, you may qualify for up to $500 in federal tax credits on your annual tax return. As part of Congress’ initiative to avoid the so called “fiscal cliff”, this tax credit was reinstated, as it had expired on December 31, 2011. The reinstatement of the tax credit allows for up to a 10 percent credit up to a maximum of $500 for home improvements that meet specific energy efficiency standards.

Requirements for the 25C Tax Credit

The energy efficient heating and air conditioning equipment must have been purchased in the years 2012 or 2013 for this tax credit. The qualifying air conditioners include these systems with the following energy efficiency standards:

• Split heat pump systems with a central air conditioners: At least 16 SEER and 13 EER
• Combination system central air conditioners: At least 14 SEER and 12 EER
• Air source heat pumps: At least 15 SEER and 12.5 EER and 8.5 HSPF
• Packaged heat pump systems: At least 14 SEER and 12 EER and 8 HSPF

Homeowners can also make other improvements under the tax credit, including the installation of qualifying roofs, windows, water heaters, insulation and doors.

Receiving the Tax Credit: How to File

In order to receive the tax credit for your purchase, you will need to complete IRS Form 5695 on the 2013 tax filing season’s forms. You will need documentation of the date and purchase amount for your home improvement. Installation of Qualifying Air Conditioners If you would like to take advantage of this tax credit before it expires, now is the time. We install qualifying air conditioners and heat pumps that meet or exceed the requirements for the credit. These HVAC systems will also lower your monthly utility bills.

At JD’s A/C LLC, we help homeowners in Longview TX enjoy lower utility bills and a greater level of indoor comfort. By providing energy efficient home improvements such as Energy Star rated air conditioning systems, we hope to ensure your comfort and help you enjoy the reinstated 25C tax credits on your 2013 tax return. Our team of professional heating and air conditioning service technicians has built a solid reputation for reliable, on time and affordable service that you can trust. For more information about energy efficient air conditioners and how to qualify for this tax credit, contact our service department at any time.

If you are like most people, you enjoy air conditioning in most aspects of your life. Even so, you may not know who invented air conditioning or why. The invention of air conditioning was no accident, as with other technologies. In 1902, Willis Haviland Carrier deliberately set out on the quest to create a system for a printing plant that would reduce humidity. The result was a system that cooled the ambient air as moisture was removed.

Versatility of the Air Conditioner

Cool ambient air was, however, an unintended consequence of Carrier’s invention. As moisture is extracted from the air, the air cools. Very soon after the first air conditioner was placed into commission, the added benefit of the cooling of the air in the dehumidifying process did not go unheeded. The ambient air in the plant cooled and the workers were more productive as a result.

Industry authorities soon created standards by listing the functions that the air conditioning unit should perform:

1. Control humidity
2. Control temperature
3. Circulate the air
4. Clean the air

In 1914, the Buffalo Forge Company reduced their engineering staff to focus solely on manufacturing for the World War I effort. Carrier, the man who invented air conditioning, along with the other seven engineers released from the manufacturing company, combined their life savings to create the Carrier Engineering Corporation. The new company opened in June of 1915. The company was dedicated to refining the air conditioning process and disseminating the new technology for mainly commercial use in manufacturing plants.

Formation of the Carrier Corporation

The Great Depression caused the Carrier Engineering Corporation to suffer financial setbacks, as with most businesses at that time. The company merged with two other companies, York Heating and Ventilating and the Brunswick Kroeschell Company in 1929. The resulting company was named the Carrier Corporation. Since 1929, the Carrier Corporation has been the leading name in the manufacturing and distribution of HVAC equipment.

Growth in Adoption

Willis Carrier’s “Igloo” air conditioner was featured at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. However, the onset of World War II delayed the adoption of the refined invention. As the U.S. experienced economic prosperity after the end of WW II, the air conditioner quickly grew in popularity for both residential and commercial use. As the Sunbelt become more populated in the 1950s and 1960s, the air conditioning industry experienced explosive growth.

Today, Carrier remains the leader in air conditioning innovation and sales. The Carrier Corporation’s annual sales exceed $15 billion per year and the company currently employs over 45,000 people worldwide.
Your Local Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer

Your local Longview TX Carrier factory authorized dealer is JD’s A/C LLC. At JD’s A/C LLC, we uphold the values of Carrier to provide residents and commercial customers of Longview TX with the highest quality of service and HVAC equipment. For all of your heating and air conditioning service needs, call JD’s. As a Carrier factory authorized dealer, we know air conditioning.

Have you ever turned on your air conditioner and noticed it smell bad, emanating from your vents? Sometimes this odor is normal, like when starting up the heating system or air conditioner for the first time in a while. Other reasons require attention. The foul smell could be a dead rodent in your ductwork system. No matter the case, when your air conditioner smells bad, your ductwork may need to be professionally inspected and cleaned.

However, if you smell a foul odor only when your AC kicks on, chances are that the smell is emanating from the AC unit itself. If your air conditioner smells there are a few checks you can perform before calling your professional HVAC service technician.

A/C Smells Bad? Check the Condensate Tray

In most cases, air conditioner smells are attributable to mold and debris trapped in the condensate tray. As the warm air is pulled into the AC unit, the air is passed over the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil extracts the moisture from the air. The moisture collects on the evaporator coil, and then it is disposed of into the condensate tray. The condensate tray contains a drain. When the drain is flowing properly, the moisture is moved through through the drain, into the plumbing system or out of the house. However, if the drain is clogged or failing to drain the moisture for any reason, water collects in the condensate tray.

As water stands in the tray, dust and debris fall into the standing water. Eventually, bacteria, mold and fungus form and emit a foul smell. Even if mold is not present, the standing water can make your air conditioner smell when it kicks on. The first item you should check is the condensate tray to see if water is standing in the tray.

Reasons for improper condensate drainage include:

• Condensate Tray Not Level – Check to see if the condensate tray is level. If the tray is sloped or it has somehow been moved, improper drainage can occur.
• Clogged Condensate Drain – You can unclog the condensate drain with a vacuum cleaner or an implement such as a straightened coat hanger. Remove the obstruction from the drain pipe, and then monitor the system to ensure that water properly drains. The smell should disappear as the water is drained.

Still Smells Bad? Call for an HVAC Inspection

If you have checked the condensate tray and drain, and you do not find any problems with the tray or drainage system, other problems that may cause your air conditioner to smell require an inspection by a professional HVAC technician.

• Compressor Unit Contains Mold or Mildew – A professional HVAC technician can inspect your compressor unit for mold or mildew.
• Air Handler – The AC’s air handler may also be the source of the foul smell. Your Longview TX HVAC service professional will inspect your air handler for any problems that may cause your unit to smell when it kicks on.

JD’s A/C LLC provides AC inspections, maintenance and repairs to customers in Longview TX. If you have inspected your condensate tray and drain, and you are still not able to resolve the odor, call JD’s A/C LLC.

For those who aren’t used to dealing with HVAC components, it may seem a little strange that a cooling system is based on a piece of equipment that is called a heat pump. Whether you are moving into a new home or thinking about your need for replacement equipment, you may wonder how heat pumps work to provide you with the cool air needed during a blistering hot summer in Longview TX.

Basic Heat Pump Operation

Is a Heat Pump Difficult to Maintain?

Isn’t an Air Conditioner Enough?