Orlando, Tampa, & Jacksonville Air Conditioning Educational Center

AC / Heat Pump Tax Credits Coming to an End

Time is ticking away for all the homeowners that haven’t taken advantage of the Federal Tax Credit for replacing their AC or Heat Pump Systems with one that qualifies. Remember, this is a TAX CREDIT, not just a tax deduction. for homeowners who have a total tax liability of at least $1,500.00  This is a unique opportunity to save an extra $1,500.00 over the normal cost of a high efficiency, green system that will continue saving you money in the years to come.  Also, Carrier Corporation has extended their Spring Time Cool Cash Promotion through the end of august for additional potential savings of up to an additional #1,300.00……Plus OUC, TECO,  Florida Power and Light, Progress Energy and Clay Electric all offer rebates as well, either off the cost of the new system or as a credit to your utility bill.

Let’s review the Potential Savings on high efficiency AC systems before Time completely Ticks Away (Tax Credit Eligible Systems must be installed by 12/31/10):

Federal Tax Credit of 30%, up to a maximum of $1,500.00, for new Heat Pump systems meeting the following criteria:

• SEER of 15.0
• EER   of 12.5
• HSPF of   8.5

Carrier Cool Cash Credits of $50.00 to $1,300.00, determined by the Carrier equipment, accessories and warranties  purchased.

Utility rebates ranging from $100.00 to nearly $1,000.00 determined by your utility, efficiency rating and size of the equipment.

Your total savings, on eligible tax credit systems, can range from $1,500 to nearly $4,000 when you include all the above savings.  Call Air Flow Designs today at 321-397-2110 for Central Florida and 904-398-0831 for NE Florida and 813-961-7887 for the Greater Tampa Bay Area to arrange to have one of our representatives come out and discuss your potential savings in more detail….or call us at 1-800-AIR FLO1 to arrange the visit.  Just remember, there’s never been a better time to invest in your comfort, our environment and your family’s health than right now…but the clock is ticking!

Check out our countdown clock on our website’s home page to see just how many days you have left to save…. Don’t let these savings slip away and cost you dearly next year.

If you current system experiences a breakdown this summer, and it’s starting to show its age, you’ll have a decision to make…..do you repair it or should you replace it? In many cases, repair is the right answer but in many cases replacement is the right answer as well.

Since 01/01/10, no R-22 or Freon Based equipment may be manufactured in the United States.  Also the production of Freon was federally mandated to be decreased by 35% in. 2006 and again decreased by another 35% this year.  As one would expect, with consumer demand staying high for all the current systems out there requiring Freon for repairs and the production of Freon being down by over 55% in the last 4 years, the price for Freon is skyrocketing.  The long-term costs of maintaining an older system is escalating rapidly and, when it is compounded with the lower efficiency of most of the Freon based systems, it may make logical sense of to make the conversion to a Puron based system.  Today’s systems are a minimum of 13 SEER while many of the existing systems are 8 and 10 SEER systems.  This could represent savings on the AC and Heating portion of your utility bill of anywhere from 30-40%.  Also, remember that 13 SEER is today’s minimum….there are systems that go into the high teems now-18-19 SEER and will save you even more in the long run..

So again, how do you make the decision to Repair or Replace? Some guidelines are below:

Age of the equipment—You should strongly consider replacing any system that is over 10 years old.  Repair expense will continue to be an issue and you are losing out on the improvement of efficiency of today’s systems.

Cost of the Repair—If the repair is going to be “substantial”, it may make sense to replace the entire system.   You may want to consider replacement if the cost of the repair is $700.00 or more.

Savings in Utility Usage—If you’ve seen your utility usage go up (especially the kilowatt hours usage) in either the simmer or winter months the last few years, it may be time to replace.  Your system obviously isn’t as efficient as it once was.

Special Promotions, Tax Credits Utility Rebates— Most of the major manufacturers of Heating and Air Conditioning equipment run Special Consumer Rebate Promotions in the Spring and Fall.  These can reduce the cost of the higher end equipment by as much as $1300 with Carrier’s Cool Choices.  There frequently are also Credit Promotions as well where there is no interest if the system is paid off in 6 or 12 months.  This can save the consumers literally hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, too.  Finally, the federal government is offering consumers up to a $1,500 Tax Credit if they install a new system this year that meets certain Energy Efficiency Guidelines.  This is a Tax Credit, not a Tax Deduction but be sure to discuss it with your tax advisor for more details.  Lastly, many utility companies are offering rebates which are either handled as a credit to your utility bill or as a deduction from the initial cost of the system.   All of the above reduce the cost of purchasing a new system and also reduce the long term investment cost of you comfort with improved efficiency.

So, be careful to look at all the angles, gather all the information, and make an informed decision.  Repair or Replace—it’s your call.

Air Flow Designs was recently awarded FCCI’s top Safety Award for 2009 as a reflection of the company’s commitment to maintaining workplace safety.  As one of the largest new construction, remodeling  and replacement air conditioning and heating company’s in the state, Air Flow Designs has shown significantly reduced field, warehouse and support team accidents over the past several years.  Pictured above is Barry Weiss, Vice President of Operations for Air Flow Designs accepting the award from the FCCI Management Team.   FCCI is one of Florida’s premium Worker’s Compensation Insurers and has underwritten Air Flow Designs for several years.

FCCI’s Award was based upon the following criteria:

>> Top Management’s Commitment to Safety

>> Proactive Safety Program

>> Sound Management Claims Practices

>> Accident Severity Rates

>> Loss History Results

>> Working Closely and Cooperatively with FCCI relative to Safety and Claims Management.

“We are excited that our efforts and commitment over the last few years have been rewarded, not only by this plaque but also by the simple fact that fewer of our employees have been injured or hurt in any way.,” said Barry Weiss.

Accidents unfortunately do happen but make sure your home improvement company   practices safe work habits and is fully insured with Worker’s Compensation and Liability Insurance. Call Air Flow Designs today to arrange a free estimate on replacing your system.  In Orlando, call 321-397-2110.  In Tampa, 813-961-7887 and in Jacksonville, call 904-398-0831.  There has never been a better time to replace your inefficient system with a new Air Flow Designs System with higher efficiency standards, Carrier Cool Cash wit instant rebates up to $1,300.00, Utility Rebates and up to $1,500 in Federal Tax Credits for qualifying systems and purchasers.  CALL TODAY!

Why would you want to spend anywhere from a few thousand dollars to significantly more money when your air conditioning system is still working?  Let Professor Cool run down the list of reasons for you quickly:

• The systems of today are typically anywhere from 20-50% more efficient than 10 SEER systems that were the norm just 8 years ago saving you potentially big money on your utility bills.
• The major air conditioning and heating manufacturers are getting ready to start their Spring Pre-season Rebate Programs with savings on their top equipment being up to $1000.00 and more!
• The Federal Government is providing Tax Credits (that’s right…Tax Credits, not tax deductions) of up to $1,500.00 to encourage homeowners to upgrade their equipment and these credits are scheduled to go away at the end of this year.
• Air Flow Designs offers a number of Financing Plans with No Interest and minimal payments for up to 6 months so you can start enjoying the savings immediately.
• Utility Companies such as Progress Energy, Florida Power and Light Orlando Utilities and Tampa Electric all offer rebates for higher efficiency equipment ranging from $100.00 to over $1000 based on size and efficiency.
• With a new Air Flow Designs air conditioning or heat pump system, you have the peace of mind of our Air Flow Designs Protection Plan with no Repair Costs for Parts or Labor as long as your system is covered.
• If you are already an Air Flow Designs Protection Plan holder, you even qualify for additional discounts!

All of the above reasons apply whether you have a heat pump for heating and cooling your home or an air conditioning system with a gas or electric furnace.  The higher the efficiency, the more you save in the long run and with the cold winter we’ve had with record utility usage throughout Central and Northeast Florida, isn’t it about time to start saving?   So, now you understand why Professor Cool says “Now is the Best Time in Years to Invest in a New High Efficiency Air Conditioning and Heating system!

Call Air Flow Designs today in Central Florida at 321-397-2110 or in Tampa, call us at 813-961-7887.  In Jacksonville and Northeast Florida call us at 904-398-0831.  Or call our toll free #, 1-800-AIR-FLO1 (1-800-247-3561) and we’ll be happy to arrange a free, no obligation estimate on replacing your aging system. .  Be sure to ask our representative about our Duct Cleaning Specials and our Indoor air Quality Products to improve you and your family’s health.  We feature the RGF Guardian Air Cell which has an amazing kill rate on both air borne and surface viruses and bacteria.

Also, if your system is only 4-5 years old but you haven’t had it maintained or serviced in a couple of years give our Service Departments a call at the above #’s and we’ll dispatch one of our quality technicians to your home to do a complete and thorough tune-up for just $77.77…….but call today so you can start saving today!!

As record sub-freezing temperatures have hit Florida this week from Jacksonville to Tampa, many homeowners have turned their thermostats up substantially to stay warm inside their homes.  This may well work from a comfort point of view…..until the Discomfort of the Utility Bill arrives and all of last summer’s utility bill records are broken.  This makes sense when you consider the following: When it’s 93 degrees outside in the summer and you want it to be 78 degrees inside, you are only asking your system to adjust the temperature by 15 degrees.  But when it’s 35 degrees outside and you want it to be 72 degrees inside, you are asking your system to overcome a 37 degree difference, more than twice as much as the summer differential.  Obviously your system is going to run longer and harder to accomplish this.

It is generally recommended that you try to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees during the summer and 68 degrees during the winter for both comfort and efficiency.  For each degree you lower it below 78 degrees in the summer and each degree you raise it above 68 degrees in the winter, you are impacting your heating and cooling use by between     5-7%.   So, if you must have it 74 degrees when it is 35 degrees outside, you are going to pay between 30-40% more in heating costs more for that comfort than if you were able to be comfortable at 68 degrees.  Does that extra sweater or extra pair of sock look good, now???  Try to layer clothes to stay warmer both outside and inside…and turn that thermostat down to 68!  Also, make sure, if it’s going to be a reasonably warm day, to open your blinds and drapes to capture the radiant heat but then close them at night to keep that heat trapped inside your home.  Little things like this, and making sure you have a clean filter in your AC/Heating system, can make big differences in your overall utility bill.

If your system requires service or is beginning to show its age, be sure to call Air Flow Designs today to have a qualified Technician or Comfort Advisor come to you home and discuss what can be done to save you energy $’s in both the short and long term.  Call 321-397-2117 in Central Florida or call 904-398-0831 in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.  For our Tampa Bay location, call 813-961-7887 or call 1-800-AIR-FLO1 for any of our areas served. Or you can visit us on the web at www.airflowdesigns.com.     Be sure to ask about our Current Specials and about the federal government’s tax credit of up to $1,500.00.  Call TODAY to start saving!! Why continue to pay your utility company more than you have to….and many of them will even help you invest in your new system with rebates as well!!!

Most major heating and air conditioning manufacturers run air conditioning and heating rebate centered promotional sales in the Spring and the Fall.  While it’s hard to believe here in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, the Fall Rebate Programs are about to end in the middle of November, just 10 days away.

Act now to take advantage of the best opportunities in years to have a new high efficiency system installed in your home and take advantage of the following incentives:

1.    Factory / Manufacturer Rebates up to $1,300.00
2.    Federal Tax Credits up to $1,500.00 for qualifying equipment
3.    Your choice of Special Financing Plans with either 6 months No Payments Same as Cash or 12 Months Same as Cash (Payments Required)
4.    Utility Company Rebates, on qualifying equipment, which further reduce your overall investment.
5.    Overall energy usage savings on the part of your utility bill relative to heating and cooling your home ranging from 20-50%.
6.    Fewer repair costs for next 8-10 years with newer equipment that typically has longer warranties than older equipment.
7.    Higher Quality Installations when the AC companies aren’t slammed with business like July
8.    Indoor air quality options available today that weren’t available just a few years ago to improve the quality of the air your family breathes
9.    With variable speed air handlers and furnaces, you can run your fan 24/7 — 365 days a year for less than $25.00….for the whole year.  Improved circulation and filter your air 24/7.
10.    Now is the time to ACT!! Buy before the factory rebates go away.

Call Air Flow Designs Today in Central Florida at 321-397-2110 or 1-800-AIR-FLO1 to arrange a free estimate on replacing your existing older system and to discuss all these money saving opportunities above.  We also have special pricing in effect for our Duct Cleaning Service and many Indoor Air Quality options for your systems as well.  In Tampa for your air conditioning replacement and service needs, call 813-961-7887 for the mid Gulf Coast area and in Jacksonville, call 904-398-0831 for Northeast Florida for AC and heat pump sales and service.   CALL TODAY and START SAVING…and stop paying the utilities companies so much more than you need to!

You wouldn’t think about driving your car 50,000 miles without changing the oil, checking the tires and possibly having it tuned-up, would you…..but that’s exactly what many people do with their air conditioning systems.  As we come out of our peak summer demand months, now is the perfect time to make sure your central AC or Heat Pump system is in top operating order whether you live in Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville or parts in between.  Your system has “Logged a lot of Miles” this summer and with those miles come vibration,  which can loosen connections, dust build-up on blower wheels slowing its operation and yard debris from lawn mowers piling up in and around your outdoor units….which can all affect efficiency.  With the Air Flow Designs Energy Savings Tune-Up, we check all these and do another 15 processes to assure that your system is working at its peak efficiency.

Call Air Flow Designs today in Central Florida at 321-397-2110 or 1-800-AIR-FLO1 to schedule your Tune-up and also to find out about the new energy efficient systems we are now offering.  With $1,500 in Tax Credits and Manufacturer Rebates up to $1,300, there has never been a better time to look at replacing your system.  We also have special pricing in effect for our Duct Cleaning Service and many other Indoor Air Quality options for your systems as well.  In Tampa for your air conditioning replacement and tune-up needs, call and in 813-961-7887 for the mid Gulf Coast area Jacksonville, call 904-398-0831 for Northeast Florida for AC and heat pump sales and service. CALL TODAY and START SAVING!

Also, for the first time ever in Florida, Carrier Corporation has extended their Spring Cool Cash Promotion, which has always previously ended in June, into the end of August.  So now, even in the peak of the HOT Summer, you can get INSTANT Rebates from Carrier Factory Authorized Dealers of up to $1,3000.00.    These new AC and Heat pump systems can save you from 30-50% in your energy usage relative to cooling your home.  Just remember though, that if the total utility rate goes up 15% and you are going to save about 30% on your energy usage relative to cooling, the good news is that your power bill won’t be going up….but the bad news too is that it won’t be going down much either.  You are going to about break even but end up saving approximately  15% over what you would have spent with the old AC unit in Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando.

Also, on the higher efficiency units, as part of the economic stimulus package, you can claim a TAX CREDIT of 30% on the purchase of specific high efficiency units, up to a maximum of $1,500.00.  With a Tax Credit, if you owe a total of say $4,500 in taxes, now you only owe $3,000.  This is another key reason why now is the best time in years to buy a new efficient AC or heat pump system for your home.  There are strict guidelines that must be met.  Make sure you ask your representative from Air Flow Designs to discuss them with you.

Also, Air Flow Designs is currently offering, through their partnership with Carrier Corporation as their largest Factory Authorized Dealer in the state of Florida, a special financing offer of 6 Months Same as Cash.  This simply means making minimum monthly payments for 5 months and then paying the unit off before 180 days has gone by and incurring no interest on the transaction whatsoever.

So, let’s recap quickly how to save Energy & Money in Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando:

1. Utility Companies  Rebates
2. Energy usage savings of 15-50% relative to your cooling usage.
3. Carrier INSTANT Cool Cash Rebates of up to !,300.00 extended into summer fro first time ever
4. Tax Credits of 30% up to a maximum of $1,500.00 on specified equipment
5. Special Financing from Air Flow Designs and Carrier with no interest if paid off in 180 days. 

Call Air Flow Designs today in Central Florida at 321-397-2110 or 1-800-AIR-FLO1 to arrange a free estimate on replacing your existing older system and to discuss all these money saving opportunities above.  We also have special pricing in effect for our Duct Cleaning Service and many Indoor Air Quality options for your systems as well.  In Tampa for your air conditioning replacement and service needs,  call 813-961-7887 for the mid Gulf Coast area and in Jacksonville, call 904-398-0831 for Northeast Florida for AC and heat pump sales and service.         CALL TODAY and START SAVING!

Sounds interesting….but what does it mean?  Did you know that if you can reduce the humidity levels in your home to 50% or below during our humid summers in Florida you can be comfortable at a temperature setting of anywhere from 1-3 degrees higher than you currently maintain. So, you are using less air conditioning and experiencing more comfort….and saving money, too!

To get to this new lower humidity level, you must have a variable speed air handler and a thermostat that allows you to select the humidity you wish to maintain.  Once you have these features in your cooling equipment, you can dial down to a humidity level of 50% or possibly lower and be comfortable….at higher temperatures….and save money.

Combined with the new higher efficiency condensing units, the variable speed air handlers and humidity control thermostats can significantly lower your energy usage and save you money on your air conditioning bills long term.  Many of these systems even qualify for a $1,500 Tax Credit that was part of this year’s Economic Stimulus Package.    

Call Air Flow Designs today in Central Florida at 321-397-2110 or 1-800-AIR-FLO1 to arrange a free estimate on replacing your existing older system.   We also have special pricing in effect for our Duct Cleaning Service and many Indoor Air Quality options for your systems as well.   Call Today.  In Tampa call 813-961-7887 for the mid Gulf Coast area and in Jacksonville, call 904-398-0831 for Northeast Florida.

People often ask themselves when is the best time to make a major investment and they often get conflicting information and have difficulty making an informed decision.

We’re going to simplify it for people considering whether or not they should buy a new energy efficient heating and cooling system, especially for those that have heat pumps.  That covers in excess of 85% of the people in Central and North Florida.  NOW is the BEST TIME to buy a new Energy Efficient AC / Heat Pump System for a number of very good reasons. Let us detail them for you:

As part of the Economic Stimulus Package just passed by Congress and signed into being by President Obama, homeowners that buy new heat pump systems may qualify for a TAX CREDIT of $1,500.00 on their 2009 taxes.  The new system must meet the following criteria:

15 SEER
12.5 EER
8.5 HSPF

These are all Energy Efficiency measurements for both heating and cooling and are at the higher end of the spectrum.  However if you buy a system meeting these requirements, you may qualify for up to a $1,500 TAX CREDIT.  Not a Tax Deduction…. but a TAX CREDIT! If you were going to receive a Refund of $500.00 on your 2009 taxes, now you will receive a Refund of $2,000!  If you owed $500, now you will receive a $1000 Refund!

Most Air Conditioning Manufacturers are also offering rebates to spur their business during this pleasant time of the year, weather wise.  As Carrier’s Largest Factory Authorized Dealer in Florida, we are offering, with Carrier, Instant Rebates of up to $1,300.00 on their best system, the Infinity System.  This is different from most other manufacturers’ rebates in that it is “Instant” and is taken off the amount of the sale at time of purchase.  Most others make you wait for a check form the manufacturer.

Also, we are currently offering 12 Months Same as Cash Financing through Citi-financial with approved credit.  This means  you make minimum payments for 11 months and, if you pay the system off before 360 days expire, you pay absolutely no interest whatsoever on your purchase.  This allows you to leave the bulk of your money in the bank earning interest and still pay no interest on this major purchase.

Also most electrical utility companies are also offering rebates on higher efficiency equipment which may either be a deduction at time of purchase or be handled as a credit to your utility account.

So why buy NOW?
TAX CREDITS UP TO $1,500!
INSTANT Carrier/Air Flow Designs Rebates of up to $1,300!!
12 MONTHS SAME AS CASH FINANCING!!!
UTILITY REBATES!!!!

All of these reasons don’t even address the skyrocketing cost of electrical utilities currently.  Many Florida utility companies have raised their rates 10-15% this year alone.  This higher efficiency equipment will help you combat these increases and help keep your overall electrical expense in check.

Call Air Flow Designs today in Central Florida at 321-397-2110 or   1-800-AIR-FLO1 to arrange a free estimate on replacing your existing older system.   We also have special pricing in effect for our Duct Cleaning Service and many Indoor Air Quality options for your systems as well.   Call Today.  In Tampa call 813-961-7887 for the mid Gulf Coast area and in Jacksonville, call 904-398-0831 for Northeast Florida.

After all, NOW is the BEST TIME to Purchase that new system you’ve been thinking about!