Good Mold vs Bad Mold

Mold is everywhere and can have many benefits.  However, it can also lead to poor indoor air quality and even sickness. 

Good Mold

Molds are the “bleu” in bleu cheese and Roquefort. Molds improve our wine. They produce penicillin and antibiotics and are used widely in the food and beverage industry. Without mold and mold’s decaying mechanism, the natural environment would be overwhelmed with large amounts of dead organic matter.

Bad Mold

Despite many harmless and beneficial molds, some molds can be toxic and pose very serious health threats to humans. The Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) cautions that all molds can cause health problems under the right conditions. The word “toxic” is used to refer to mold that produces toxic compounds, or mycotoxins.  Often included in the list of toxic molds is Stachybotrys Chartarum, a greenish-black mold, which can grow on high cellulose, low nitrogen materials such as fiberboard, drywall, paper, dust and lint in the presence of moisture.

Check back next week for our blog on the Adverse Health Effects of Toxic Mold

Castellano AC Services is a heating, ventilation, air conditioning Tampa Bay contracting business. Our HVAC service area covers the Tampa Bay area of more than 25 cities.  We are committed clean indoor air quality.  With more than 40 years experience, our technicians are all highly trained, qualified and licensed to diagnose and repair all types and brands of HVAC systems.  Learn more at www.aircastellano.com.

4 Tips to Keep Your Tampa HVAC System Running Smoothly All Year Round

Last week, we spoke about the importance of having your heating, air conditioning, and ventilation
(HVAC) system checked twice a year for safety and comfort.  Today, Castellano AC Services would like to present you with some tips on what you can do to keep your HVAC system humming in between regular maintenance visits.

Tip 1: When you cut grass near the outdoor condensing unit, make sure grass cuttings are blown away from the outdoor coil.

Tip 2: Cut, pull, or trim shrubs, bushes, plants, and weeds around the condenser to allow a free air flow.

Tip 3: Keep the area around the condensing unit cleared of leaves, dirt, grass cuttings, and other debris that can cause clogs and restrict the flow of air.

Tip 4: Be sure not to build fences, walls, or other obstructions too close to the unit or cover
it with a roof  or overhang.

One Last Idea from your Tampa HVAC Experts

In addition to following these four tips, the easiest way to stay cool in summer...and warm in winter...
is to have a Planned Maintenance Extended Care Plan with Castellano AC Services.

Castellano AC Services is a heating, ventilation, air conditioning Tampa Bay contracting business. Our HVAC service area covers the Tampa Bay area of more than 25 cities.  With more than 40 years experience, our technicians are all highly trained, qualified and licensed to diagnose and repair all types and brands of HVAC systems.  Learn more at www.aircastellano.com.

Clean Air Conditioning Coils Keep You Cool All Year Round

Clean Your Coils! Save money and keep comfortable year-round!

Now is the time to think about getting your air conditioning system in shape so you can keep your comfort...and keep your utility bills comfortable, too. It’s a breeze to do when you call on one of the Tampa Air Conditioning professionals at Castellano AC Services for help.

Keeping Cool

You should have your heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) system checked twice a year for safety and comfort.  For summer’s heat and winter’s chill, one thing is a must: a clean outdoor coil.  To provide cooling in the summer, air conditioners work by moving the hot air in your home to the outside. A refrigerant in the system picks up the heat at the evaporator coil inside the house and takes it to the compressor and condenser outside.  There, the hot air is released and the refrigerant turns back into a liquid and returns through the coil for another batch of heat. Fins in the condenser can become clogged with dust and dirt, which act as insulation and slow the process. The condenser has to work harder, so it uses more electricity.  Eventually, the strain becomes too much and the system fails.  To provide heating in the winter, air conditioning heat pumps work in reverse operation. However, whether for cooling or heating, improper maintenance of the outdoor coil can lead to problems.

A Better Idea from your Tampa HVAC Experts

To maintain year-round comfort, have Castellano AC Services service your system regularly.  It’s your best bet for energy efficiency, safety, and comfort. One of our trained technicians will perform a number of inspections, checks, and tests of the indoor and outdoor components of your HVAC system and clean the condenser with a brush, vacuum, pressure washer, soap, water, steam, or non-acidic cleaner as recommended by the manufacturer.  The HVAC technician will also inspect the outdoor coil fins (straightening them as needed) and he or she will clean and lubricate the condenser fan and motor if necessary. Additionally, the technician will advise of restricted outdoor air flow due to vegetation or other obstructions.

Check back next week for HVAC Maintenance Tips that you can do yourself between services.

Castellano AC Services is a heating, ventilation, air conditioning Tampa Bay contracting business. Our HVAC service area covers the Tampa Bay area of more than 25 cities.  With more than 40 years experience, our technicians are all highly trained, qualified and licensed to diagnose and repair all types and brands of HVAC systems.  Learn more at www.aircastellano.com.