Complimentary 2014 I Premiere Issue
UNDERSTANDING
WARRANTIES susie’s white chocolate
BREAD PUDDING why
AC
your needs a CHECKUP
MOLD
just a 4 letter word
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“WE GUARANTEE IT”
The First Step To COMFORT FOR LIFE
Lower Utility Bills Install a high-efficiency Daikin brand indoor comfort system in your home. You can feel comfortable while saving money on energy bills. Find out more from your Daikin Comfort Pro Dealer. And be certain to ask about our Comfort Promise.
Honesty, Integrity & Reliability is what we stand for!
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Hillsborough: 813-935-6644 Pinellas: 727-545-9998 CAC042730
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WHATS INSIDE 5
GREETINGS by David Russell
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OUR HISTORY HONESTY, INTEGRITY & RELIABILITY SINCE 1988
IS A DUCT-FREE AIR CONDITIONER RIGHT FOR YOU? by Jacqueline Cross
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FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME by Clair Cameron
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PROFILE: CHRIS RUSSELL by Garrett Chilson
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MOLD: JUST A FOUR LETTER WORD by Maxine Reneé
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THE DAIKIN DIFFERENCE by Clair Cameron
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MEET THE TEAM
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CLEANING VS SANITIZING WHATS BEST FOR YOUR DUCTS by Nate Freyburger
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SUSIE’S WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING
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UNDERSTANDING WARRANTIES
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HOW THE YOUTH BENEFIT FROM ’GRACE’ by Nate Freyburger
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WHY YOUR AC NEEDS A CHECK-UP by Jacqueline Cross
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If you are looking for the ultimate in home comfort, reliability and worry free operation, Action Air Conditioning will deliver.
GREETINGS
David Russell President, Action Air Conditioning
I
n 1988, my wife Susan and I founded Action Air Conditioning in the Tampa Bay area. Presently we service Hillsborough, Pinellas, & Pasco Counties, but our beginnings were small and humble. Twenty Six Years ago we started a small business with a simple operating philosophy: Honesty, integrity, and reliability is what we’ll stand for. This is still true today. We are a family-owned company, and our aim has always been to provide the best products and services available, all at a fair price. Honesty has guided us every step of the way, and we believe our good reputation is responsible for our growth and success. We are privileged to have such loyal customers, the support of whom has allowed us to grow to become one of the largest HVAC dealers in town. Action Air Conditioning has one of the few award-winning showrooms in the Tampa Bay Area. There you can see and test real operating units for yourself, giving you the comfort of knowing the system you’re getting before you buy it. You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it, why buy an air conditioning system without seeing it run? I would like to personally invite you to visit our showroom, where you can find all of the latest high-tech thermostats, dehumidifiers, air cleaners, and HVAC systems that are on the market today. You’ll learn a lot and probably have fun, too.
We have one of the largest parts departments and inventory in town, so when you need a part or a system, it’s here. As one of the largest dealers in town, we have won many awards for customer service. We are proud to say that over 75% of our employees have been part of our company for over 15+ Years. We treat our workers like family, and we believe that translates into customer satisfaction. Susan and I were very pleased when our son, Chris, joined our company after college. Chris currently holds a Class A Mechanical State Contractor License. With it, he’ll be able to take over the family business, assuring that Action Air Conditioning will be here to take care of all of our customer’s needs for years to come. On behalf of everyone here at Action Air, thank you for your business and your trust. We are here to serve you today, tomorrow, and far into the future. Call us anytime at 813-9356644 or visit www.Actionairconditioning.com to learn more about our services, team members and company values. I hope the articles within this issue of Comfort Zone will be informative and entertaining. We welcome your feedback about our magazine. Thank you for taking the time to read it. Sincerely,
David Russell President, Action Air Conditioning
Honesty, Integrity & Reliability is what we stand for!
actionairconditioning.com
Hillsborough: 813-935-6644 Pinellas: 727-545-9998
© 2014 DeWayne Thomas A Media Company, Inc.™. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Comfort Zone is a free publication owned by DeWayne Thomas A Media Company, Inc.™ and distributed locally by Action Air Conditioning, Inc. If you would like copies placed at your business please call our offices at 813-935-6644. Produced in whole or in part by CustomDesignMags.com™ & DeWayne Thomas A Media Company, Inc.™, 4305 62nd st. East Bradenton Florida. 34208 We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and or advertisements, nor are we responsible in any way for the products and services advertised or promoted within these pages. For information on this or other printed publications produced by CustomDesignMags.com™ & DeWayne Thomas A Media Company, Inc.™ please call our offices at 941-538-7770 or visit us on the web at customdesignmags.com™.
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FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE
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Action Air
Honesty, Integrity & Reliability Since 1988 by Garrett Chilson
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hen Action Air began in 1988, its founder, David Russell, already had over a decade of experience in the HVAC industry. Desiring to start his own business, he opened up shop in a large shed behind his house, with his wife answering phones and one other employee to handle installations. With only one truck available, David did practically everything on his own.
air conditioning system without trying it?” David says. “Basically, we look at the automotive industry and bring it to our industry. They’re the smarter ones.”
“We started off as a small house business, just me and my wife and one employee. I wore multiple hats, as they would say in business planning school. But I didn’t go to business planning school, so I just had shirts,” David says with a laugh. “I was the salesman; I was the serviceman, and the installer. I had three different shirts; I was whatever shirt I was wearing … It sounds funny but it was the truth; it just depended on the moment of the day. ”
“We’ve always been customer focused, giving the customer great service and taking care of them,” David says.
A year later, the company was already growing. In 1989, Action Air moved out of the garage and into its own location in Tampa. At that time, they began looking for ways to separate themselves from their competition. Taking a tip from the automotive industry, the company decided to add a showroom where customers could test A/C units for themselves.
“Management just puts on another hat. And that’s what customers love about us—we can do everything,” he says. “We all have the ability to take care of all of our customers needs.”
“99 percent of the companies out there don’t have a showroom. It’s definitely one of these things that I tell all my customers about when I go to their house— come by our showroom; we have working models; you wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it, so why buy a new
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With their new showroom in place, and a simple guiding principle to provide quality service at a fair price, Action Air grew exponentially over the coming years, moving to a larger location on Armenia Ave in Tampa.
With 21 employees and 16 trucks on the road, Action Air has certainly grown at a fast pace. However, during the busy season of summer, owners and the management team still find themselves out making service calls in order to meet the demand. David doesn’t mind; he says it’s something his company has become known for. license ourselves and be accountable for it. We’re not just going to hire someone who has a license.”
David hopes moving to a full-service model will allow Action Air to take care of Following the industry trend, Action Air all the needs of their residential and complans to expand into other service areas. mercial clients, instead of just handling Next year, the company hopes to add a their air conditioning and heating needs. plumbing division. But before doing so, “So, if we have a loyal customer who David wants to make sure everyone in we do air conditioning services for, the the company is ready. idea is they’ll let us do their plumbing as “You need to have a license. And we’re well,” he says. “So, instead of Action Air old school; we’re a family business,” we’d be Action Services. We want to get he says. “If we’re going to have this a customer and be able to take care of all under our names, we need to hold the their needs.”
actionairconditioning.com
CHRIS RUSSELL
STILL A FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY by Garrett Chilson
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t was 10 years ago when Chris Russell, son of Action Air Conditioning founder, David Russell, started working for his family’s company. His first job was to clean up around the office, sweep the warehouse and make the place look clean. From the age of 15, he knew exactly what he would do with his future. Working for his family’s company has allowed him to gain valuable experience with the daily ins-and-outs of the business operations. Chris has held numerous jobs with Action Air Conditioning, working in the service department and installing air conditioning systems. When the time came for Chris to head off to college, he continued to work at Action Air Conditioning during the summer and while home on breaks. Presently, he serves as the VP of Marketing and Sales, heading up the online marketing strategies for the business. In the near future, he plans on taking over the company. Chris majored in Business Management from USF and received his Class A State Air Conditioning Contractors License. He knows the Action Air Conditioning business inside and out, and is working hard to find new ways to expand the company and improve their service. From all of us at Action Air Conditioning, we want to thank you for your continued trust and support. We look forward to serving you for years to come. Take comfort in knowing that our company is, and will continue to be, a family-run operation.
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COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
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Accounting & Assurance Services FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE
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THE T DAIKIN DIFFERENCE by Clair Cameron
hroughout its 90 year history, Daikin has sold millions of air conditioning and heating systems in over 90 countries. They manufactures products for residential, commercial and industrial markets, and are one of the world’s premiere innovators in terms of advancing HVAC technology. Daikin systems are energy efficient and of high quality,
and Daikin backs them with one of the most comprehensive warranties in the business, as well as the Daikin Comfort Promise Daikin North America, LLC makes their HVAC equipment right here in the United States, hiring American workers and opening up domestic factories. Daikin is not only creating jobs right here at
Honesty, Integrity & Reliability is what we stand for! actionairconditioning.com
10 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
actionairconditioning.com
TYPES OF DAIKIN
SYSTEMS SINGLE ZONE Ideal for heating and cooling small spaces, like a bedroom or a small apartment.
MULTI ZONE Suited for all-size homes. Cooling and heating is split into zones, and each is able to be controlled independently.
INVERTER SYSTEMS High-efficiency air conditioning with variable speed to provide an ideal level of comfort.
WHOLE HOUSE One system for all the heating and cooling needs of your home. These provide a consistent level of comfort for every room in your house.
home, but they’re manufacturing parts and practices all meet the high standards set for appliances that are made and sold in the United States. In other words, you can be confident that what Daikin makes is of great quality.
efficient systems available. They design their systems with the consumer in mind, and are fully aware of the economic and environmental challenges of the future. As such, Daikin aims to be a driving force for solutions and change.
Daikin is pushing heating and air conditioning technology forward by creating some of the most energy-
Talk to Action Air, a Daikin Comfort Pro Dealer, for more details.
Hillsborough: 813-935-6644 Pinellas: 727-545-9998
actionairconditioning.com
FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE 11
CLEANING VS. SANITIZING: what’s best for your ducts? by Nate Freyburger 12 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
actionairconditioning.com
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here’s a debate raging on the merits of duct cleaning versus duct sanitizing. Some companies will advertise the two services as if they’re the same thing, but there’s an important separation that consumers should be aware of, lest they risk causing permanent damage to their ductwork that is serious enough to warrant a full replacement. “Duct cleaning in a residential home is definitely a no-no. It’s a controversial subject because, in the industry, a lot of people want to do it because there’s money to be made,” says David Russell, the President of Action Air Conditioning. “You can’t run a cleaning machine through a duct unless it’s a metal duct.
Before you call in a professional to handle your duct cleaning, make sure you know what type of ductwork is in your home, otherwise the process could end up costing you big. Now, if it’s a metal duct, like commercial –absolutely you can. Because it’s metal, and you can’t hurt metal.” In Florida, most residential homes use a fiberglass duct system. Scrubbing or scraping these ducts can destroy them, leading to tiny pieces of glass being blown all over the home. People who have fiberglass ducts cleaned with machines that sweep away dirt and grime risk breaking the “vapor barrier”, which will result the homeowner breathing in glassy bits once the job is done. “What duct board is made of is compressed glass, and then a clear coatshield is sprayed on it—like a clear paint,” David says. “And if you rub it and scrub it, you break that off, and then all of a sudden you start to get little pieces of this dusty stuff all over your house. Well, what’s happening is you broke the vapor barrier, and now you’re getting little pieces of glass blown out through your duct system, and there’s nothing we can do other than to replace
them at that point. The damage has already been done.” David says he is approached by new customers all too frequently who recently had a duct cleaning and are now noticing their furniture is covered in shiny dust. As for what should be done to remove dust and dirt from ductwork, he actually recommends that people forget about it and focus on sanitization. “It’s like a pool; you throw chlorine in there, and it kills the bacteria. We spray the ducts, which kills the germs,” says David. “Dirt in the duct won’t hurt you – what hurts you is the microorganisms that live inside the ductwork. What I recommend people do is kill that bacteria; then keep your filters clean and the dust isn’t a problem. The dirt would have never gotten in there in the first place if people remembered to use a high-quality filter.” actionairconditioning.com
If homeowners want to properly clean out their fiberglass ducts, it can be done for a premium price. The process involves using a machine to clean and vacuum the ducts, which will likely damage the clear coating that seals the fiberglass. After this, the duct must then be cut open, re-sealed and taped back together. This process is so labor intensive that it’s actually cheaper for homeowners to replace all of their ductwork, meaning that a full cleaning is something most may want to avoid. Remember that dirt trapped in your system isn’t likely to cause health concerns. If your filters are changed regularly and your ducts are sanitized, then the air quality in your home shouldn’t be negatively affected by your HVAC system – and you won’t be inhaling fiberglass remnants either, since sanitizing won’t destroy anything except germs. FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE 13
WHY YOUR AC needs a
check-up
by Jacqueline Cross
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ith a small amount of foresight, knowledge and time, home and business owners can enjoy clean and efficient air conditioning and heating throughout the year. One of the easiest and least expensive maintenance tasks is to simply clean or replace air filters between visits from a professional. Not only does this improve the quality of the air within the 14 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
home, it also extends the efficiency and lifespan of your air conditioning system. Action Air Conditioning’s Service Technician, Mike explains, “When we do a maintenance inspection, we’ll clean the drain lines, check the Freon levels, and change the filter. Keeping the filters clean between visits can make a big difference in air quality and efficiency.” Preventing problems before they arise actionairconditioning.com
is ideal, and smart home and business owners rely on preventative maintenance plans to keep their systems working at peak efficiency and to ensure that should any problems arise, they are dealt with swiftly. “If you are part of a yearly maintenance program, not only do you get us out once annually to maintain your system during the year, but should we have to
come out at any other time during the year for service, you get a 20% discount on parts and labor every time we come out, and you get priority service,” Mike says. “We offer service from 7 am to 7 pm everyday. What priority service means for customers signed up with maintenance agreements is that they go to the top of the list. If you call us and your unit is
down and you are already on a plan, you are our priority.”
Whether basking in the warm summer sun or enjoying the crisp cool winter air, Florida residents can maximize their cooling and heating system with a simple routine of regular maintenance.
Of course, maintaining your system is in your best interest, but it also might be a requirement of your equipment’s warranty. Most manufacturers require annual maintenance and records to provide warranty coverage, and some require proof of regular preventative maintenance plans and services.
“Not following the maintenance schedule might be enough to void some warranties.“ says Mike. “We recommend at least once a year to maintain the system and protect your warranty, both at one low price.”
actionairconditioning.com
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IS A DUCT-FREE
by Jacqueline Cross
AIR CONDITIONER RIGHT FOR YOU?
D
uctless mini-split or duct-free HVAC units can be a useful alternative to cool and heat homes and businesses. Through a variety of sizes, and capabilities of controlling the air temperature in individual zones or rooms in the building, they offer both economic and environmental advantages. HVAC companies like Action Air Conditioning are installing them in multi-family housing, renovations of 16 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
older single-family homes, as well as businesses’ server rooms, waiting rooms and office spaces. They also have a money and energy savings advantage, when some areas of an office space are used infrequently or not at all (such as a build-out waiting for occupancy), by only cooling the space that is occupied. Duct-free systems, as the name implies, have no duct work and consist of an outdoor condenser and an indoor airactionairconditioning.com
handling unit. These are linked together with tubing that houses the power cable, refrigerant, and a drain for condensation. In many ways, they operate in a manner quite similar to a standard air conditioning system. CJ Machin, an installation technician at Action Air Conditioning, noted that the main advantages of duct-free systems are ease of installation, cost
savings, energy savings, and flexibility in locating the system for cosmetic concerns and sound control, as well as logistical applications. “The benefits are often overlooked by customers, but we like to point out that duct-free systems can be installed in places where conventional ducted systems simply can’t go. Options for interior design include ceiling and wall mounted units, drop ceiling applications and even a picture gallery unit that allows the owner to customize the look of the space,” he said. “Floor-standing models are also available. Most indoor units have profiles of about eight to eleven inches deep, and have a range of aesthetically-refined designs suitable for any home or office. All models offer a remote control to easily make adjustments to the system’s air flow pattern or temperature, and on and off when it’s positioned high on a wall or suspended from a ceiling.”” Duct-free systems can also help to keep your home safer because there is only a small hole for the tubing to pass through the wall. Window-mounted and through-the-wall room air-conditioners,
unfortunately, can provide an easy entrance for intruders. “For many of our customers, the unique advantages of this type of system are important. Our installers are highly trained, they attend hands-on training, as well as up-to-date online training and testing,” CJ continued. “I would caution against using a company whose technicians are not proficient in this type of installation, as each unit must be correctly sized and placed. An error here could result in wasted energy, improper temperature or humidity control, and greater long-term operational expenses.” David Russell, President of Action Air Conditioning, encourages home and business owners replacing existing systems, building new or remodeling to consider duct-free systems. “The cost savings can be significant in terms of installation and energy use without compromising the comfort level of the rooms or occupants, Our professional technicians are continuously trained to help customers determine the best options for cooling and heating your home or business.”
actionairconditioning.com
The cost savings can be significant in terms of installation and energy use.
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OUR SHOWROOM
We’re one of the only companies in the Tampa Bay area that has a public showroom. It’s a place where potential customers can test for themselves our wide selection of thermostats, dehumidifiers, HVAC system, air cleaners – and more. We want our customers to feel comfortable with their purchase before they buy. Having a chance to see a product in action will help you make an informed decision – and it’s fun! The Action Air showroom is open to the public. We invite you to visit today.
actionairconditioning.com
I would like to personally invite you to visit our showroom, where you can find all of the latest hightech thermostats, dehumidifiers, air cleaners, and HVAC systems that are on the market today. — David Russell, President, Action Air 18 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
actionairconditioning.com
ACTION AIR
actionairconditioning.com
Honesty, Integrity & Reliability is what we stand for!
Hillsborough: 813-935-6644 Pinellas: 727-545-9998
FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE 19
D
avid Russell, the founder of Action Air Conditioning is a baseball fanatic. Since founding his company in 1988, he has sponsored various youth baseball organizations, including Wellswood Youth Baseball, a league that’s located in Tampa, Fla. It’s more than just a personal love for the game that motivates David to support baseball programs; he believes that the sport can teach kids life lessons that will help guide them in school and in their future careers. “Baseball teaches teamwork,” he says. “In many instances, you have 12 players on a team, but only nine can play at a time. This teaches us how to share, because the kids have to rotate in order to get playtime. Also, it gives all the players time to cheer on their teammates and root for the success of the group.” The very mechanics of baseball support what David is saying. In baseball, failure is a normal part of the game. More than that, a low success rate is expected in baseball; a player can still feel accomplished, despite failing to get on base 75 percent of the time he/she is at the
by Clair Cameron
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actionairconditioning.com
“Action Air Conditioning has always helped in many ways by sponsoring our team,” he says. “David comes by to cheer on our team from time to time.” Wellswood Youth Baseball offers leagues for children ages 2 – 18. Each league is split into a series of teams, offering competitive play in a fun and educational atmosphere. Wellswood also offers all-day baseball camps for players ages 5 - 13, where coaching is handled by the University of Florida baseball team staff. This provides the kids with an opportunity to get a level of professional hands-on training that may not be available during the regular season. During both their camps and organized league play, values such as teamwork and hard work are constantly instilled. The young players are rewarded based on their level of improvement. If someone isn’t as skilled with a bat and
“I tell them ‘failure is not final; keep on swinging,’” David says. “Goodness isn’t free; greatness is going to cost us, and it takes hard work to become great.” plate. A successful player gets a hit three out of 10 at bats, giving them a respectable average of .300. This teaches kids the importance of weighing their value on what they achieve, not on the failures that come before it.
a glove as the other players, they are encouraged to try their best and continue to constantly improve, even if they may not be as naturally athletic as other members of their team.
David has volunteered his time to coach over 30 youth baseball teams. He teaches his players that they constantly have to get up to bat again, regardless of how many times they strike out. His pep talks before games encourage all the kids to keep on playing, even if they can’t seem to get on base.
Action Air Conditioning has closely aligned itself with baseball, believing firmly that the life lessons it can teach are invaluable to a new generation of ambitious entrepreneurs. They have amassed an impressive collection of baseball-related awards and recognitions, which they proudly display in their office for the public to see.
This year, David isn’t coaching. But Action Air Conditioning continues to sponsor Wellswood Youth Baseball. Steve Vitale, a long-time coach at Wellswood, says that the support of Action Air has helped his team make it through two undefeated seasons.
If your son/daughter is showing an interest in baseball, encourage them to play. The values the sport can teach them will last a lifetime and follow them in everything they do. Consider signing your child up to play in a youth baseball league. actionairconditioning.com
If you’re in the Tampa Bay area and you would like more information about Wellswood Youth Baseball, please visit their website at: wellswoodyouthbaseball.com. FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE 21
: MOLD IT’S JUST A FOUR LETTER
WORD… by Maxine Reneé
Planning a trip this summer? Maybe a nice long trip up north, or even Europe? The last thing you need upon your return is to find your house full of MOLD!
Y
es, mold ... or the kinder, gentler word for it: mildew. Whichever word you choose, they both increase stress levels and can make your return home less than ideal. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are things you can do to prevent that nasty four-letter word from spoiling an otherwise wonderful vacation. The Florida Department of Health’s website says “There are four kinds of health problems that come from exposure to mold: allergic illness, irritant effects, infection, and toxic effects. For people that are sensitive to molds, symptoms such as nasal and sinus irritation or congestion, dry hacking cough, wheezing, skin rashes or burning, watery or reddened eyes may occur. People with severe allergies to molds may have more serious reactions, such as hay-fever-like symptoms or shortness of breath.” Mold is not an easily ignored house guest, and its impacts can have serious repercussions. If during an inspection of your home you find mold, especially in your air conditioning system, the time to act is now. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests the following: “Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold—it could spread mold throughout the building. Unfortunately, it is thought that most, if not all, heating and air conditioning systems in Florida will support mold growth at some point. Stopping the
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use of an air conditioning system due to suspected mold growth would make most Florida buildings very uncomfortable during hot and humid weather.” Mold is resilient and easily adaptable, it is part of our environment and it is here to stay. Preventing a buildup of mold in your home is part of the maintenance requirements of any healthy household, and if regularly addressed, is not too bothersome or timeconsuming. Some of the steps you can take are obvious, others are not so obvious. Below is a list of tips that will help to minimize the chances of creating an environment conducive to the generation of microbial spores (that’s the technical term for mold):
Before you leave, close your windows (especially in bathrooms and bedrooms) and seal sliding glass doors. Clean your blinds and curtains, and then close them. Clean or replace your air conditioner filter. Turn up bedspreads. Pull up area rugs, and dust ruffles on couches and chairs. Stand your couch cushions on end. Open cabinet drawers and closets (especially in bathrooms and bedrooms). Keep in mind that you want air to circulate rather than remain stagnant. Turn the hot and cold water off. This should be done even if you are gone for a short time.
Few realize or are aware that, under the right circumstances, mold can form in just 48 hours! You also might have heard, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” When it comes to mold, that’s exactly correct. You do not get mold because the temperature rises, you get mold when the relative humidity rises. It could be 90 degrees in your home, but unless the relative humidity is over 55 or 60 percent, the chances of mold forming are minimal. If you have a de-humidistat, set it and the thermostat properly. The de-humidistat turns the air conditioner on by humidity increase rather than temperature increase. The suggested and safest setting is 50% humidity and 80 degrees temperature – wired in series. This means the temperature must get over 80 degrees and the
humidity over 50% before the air conditioner turns on. Your thermostat control should be set to automatic and cool. Never set the fan in the “on” position. A continuous fan operation will increase the relative humidity in your home. Ask a neighbor to check your home once a week. One other pitfall to avoid is this: Most of us think we only need to prepare against mold if we’re going away for the entire summer. And once it starts, it reproduces every six minutes. So do the math: If you’re leaving for more than a week, there’s an outside chance you could return to a funny smell that means there’s something wrong. Now we’re not saying that you’ll get mold every time you leave the
house for more than two days. What we are saying is that it doesn’t take long if the conditions are idyllic. Generally speaking, if you’re only leaving for a week or two, all you need to do is set your thermostat to 80 or 82 degrees, and you should not have a problem. If you plan to be away for a month or longer, that’s when it would be wise to take more serious precautionary measures.
mold from forming. If mold is growing in your air conditioning system, it’s best to call an expert to have your system treated. When it comes to your health, you shouldn’t take any unnecessary risks.
If at any point you notice mold growth, don’t waste time in dealing with it. Treat it as soon as it starts to slow spreading, and make sure to take all necessary precautions to prevent new
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3200 4th Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33704 www.farkasclinic.com
FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE 23
Team
MEET THE
Steven Kuehnau: 21 years with Action Air Conditioning. Started as service tech, then service manager, then installation manager, and now quality control manager. Steve is one of our M.V.P.’s.
Ken Williams: 19 years with Action Air Conditioning. He is one of our service techs and always goes the extra mile for the customers. Mike Killian: 19 years with Action Air Conditioning. He is one of our service techs. He is the one that can repair it when no one else can. Customers love him!
Joyce Walter: 15 years with Action Air Conditioning. She is our general manager and handles all the day-to-day operations. She is the glue that holds everything together.
Jan Darrigo: 12 years with Action Air Conditioning. She handles all the installations and is one of our M.V.P.’s. She is always helping co-workers and customers.
Angel DeJesus: 18 years with Action Air Conditioning. He is one of our senior installers. All the customers love him. He is one of our M.V.P.’s.
24 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
C.J. Machin: 15 years with Action Air Conditioning. He is our installation manager and makes sure all of our installs go smooth. He helps train all the installers.
actionairconditioning.com
THE
POWER
OF A TRANE
Every Trane product is designed and rigorously tested for reliability and durability. While other manufacturers build their products from the same “pool” of parts available to anyone, we make it a point to be uniquely b e t t e r, a n d a l w a y s looking to the future.
®
CALL TODAY AND LEARN HOW TO GET A TRANE IN YOUR HOME HONESTY, INTEGRITY & RELIABILITY IS WHAT WE STAND FOR!
Hillsborough: 813-935-6644 Pinellas: 727-545-9998 actionairconditioning.com CAC042730
SUSIE’S WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING with Roxy’s Whiskey Caramel Sauce 26 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
actionairconditioning.com
SUSIE’S WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING INGREDIENTS 32 ounces French bread,cut into 1 inch pieces 8 cups whipping cream 3 cups milk (do not use low fat or non fat) 1 cup sugar 3 teaspoons vanilla 16 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped (Lindt or Bakers) 14 large egg yolks 4 large eggs
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Arrange bread cubes on baking sheet. Bake until light golden and dry, about 10 minutes. Cool completely. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees. Combine whipping cream, milk, vanilla and sugar in heavy large saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. On low heat, add white chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Whisk yolks and eggs in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in warm chocolate mixture. Place bread cubes in large baking dish. Pour half of chocolate mixture onto bread cubes. Press bread cubes into chocolate mixture. Let stand 5 minutes. Slowly pour remaining chocolate mixture over bread cubes. Cover dish with foil.
Bake the pudding 45 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let pudding sit for about 15 minutes, drizzle with whiskey caramel sauce and serve. Pudding tastes better when warm.
ROXY’S WHISKEY CARAMEL SAUCE INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups sugar 2/3 cup water 1/2 cup butter melted 1/4 cup softened cream cheese 1/2 cup whiskey 1/2 cup milk
Combine sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan over medium high heat, cook until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Cook an additional 10-15 minutes or until golden (do not stir). Remove from heat. While sugar and water is cooking, combine butter, cream cheese, milk, and whiskey together, stirring until blended. Carefully stir this mixture with a whisk into sugar and water as soon as you remove it from the heat. Mixture will be hot and bubble vigorously. Pour over bread pudding and serve.
actionairconditioning.com
FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE 27
UNDERSTANDING
Warranties
Y
ou may have an existing warranty on your air conditioning system. When you purchased your new air conditioning system it came with a manufacturer’s warranty and you should have received a copy. The warranty paperwork contains the manufacturer’s terms and conditions for your warranty. If you cannot find your paperwork, please do not hesitate to call our customer service department and they will be happy to assist you. Manufacturers are beginning to enforce, with greater regularity, the terms and conditions within your paperwork. These changes may affect you. Most manufacturers allow you to transfer warranties to the new owner upon the sale of your property for a small fee, and within 30 days of the closing. Manufacturers are now requiring the use of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts. At the moment, there are thousands of possible OEM parts for any of the multiple manufacturers, which makes using and obtaining OEM parts a difficult situation. The effect is that we will no longer be able to use generic truck stock parts. Although these changes are difficult, we make it our priority to bring you comfort as quickly as possible. Manufacturers only cover work performed during normal business hours. Action Air never charges for overtime or holiday hours. Manufacturers now require yearly maintenance by an authorized dealer/servicer in order to keep a warranty in good standing. As a valued customer, we ask that, if you are not currently having maintenance done on your equipment at least once a year, you contact us for maintenance as soon as possible. Action Air now has four maintenance contracts that can be purchased to fulfill the requirement to keep a warranty in effect (see page 29 for all the details on each maintenance contract). Again, thank you for choosing Action Air Conditioning. We are honored to serve you. Please call our Customer Service Department at 813-935-6644 if you have any questions or if you need to schedule maintenance. Our customer service representatives would be happy to explain the plans to you and help you choose which plan best fits your needs.
28 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST UNEXPECTED
REPAIR BILLS WITH ENERGY SAVINGS AGREEMENTS FOR YOUR AC Regular maintenance keeps your system running efficiently, saving you money on utility bills. Potential problems can be prevented or corrected early. Proper servicing extends the life of your heating and air conditioning system. Plus, regular maintenance keeps your manufacturer’s warranty in force. Other benefits include fewer repairs and improved capacity from your system. Service agreements are transferable.
BRONZE
SILVER
GOLD
PLATINUM
• Tune Up
• Tune Up
• Tune Up
• 15% Discount on Repairs
• Tune up
• 20% Discount on Repairs
• 20% Discount on Repairs
• Priority Service
• Priority Service
• Priority Service
• 20% discount on repairs
• Never an Overtime Charge
• Never an Overtime Charge
• Drain Service Warranty
• Drain Service Warranty • 2 FREE Co-Pays on Warranty & Insurance Claims • No Parts Handling Fee From Manufactures
$117
RENEW $132
• Priority service • Never an overtime charge • Drain service warranty • 2 free co-pays on warranty & insurance claims • No parts handling fee from manufacturers • No fee’s to install parts under manufacturers warranty
$165
RENEW $191
$274
* Can only purchase on units up to 2nd year of install and must maintain platinum maintenance
actionairconditioning.com
$375
Honesty, Integrity & Reliability is what we stand for! 8926 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL, 33604
Hillsborough: 813-935-6644 Pinellas: 727-545-9998 CAC042730
How the Youth Benefit From
Grace
by Nate Freyburger
G
race Family Church is a large congregation located in Tampa, Fla. whose mission is to give back to the community and help those in need. The church relies 100% on donations to accomplish its goals, since it receives no government funding or grants of any kind. Grace puts on summer camps every year, designed to give children and teenagers a chance to have fun in a safe environment, while still providing them an escape from their daily lives. Since the church’s congregation has many families with little or no income, the cost of summer camp for some can be pretty hard to scrape up. In order to help alleviate the costs, the church hosts an annual golf tournament called the Golf Scramble. All proceeds from the event go to cover the costs of Grace’s youth programs, including its summer camps.
DREAMCENTER O F
30 COMFORT ZONE FALL 2014
T A M P A
actionairconditioning.com
“The Golf Scramble is something we do annually to raise funds for youth camp,” says Toni Ynes, the Executive
If it wasn’t for the generous donations of its congregation, the church would have to shut all of its programs down.
youth center, Grace has a special campus in Ybor City, Fla. called the “Dream Center” that focuses on counseling and education. It also offers sports programs to help keep kids off the streets.
Ministry Assistant for Grace. “We have a big summer youth camp where we send between 400 – 500 teenagers away to camp, and we have a lot of singleparent family households at Grace, and a number of single moms with multiple kids. So, we never want money to be a reason that children can’t go to camp.” But summer camp isn’t the only way Grace helps local youths. The church has also set up a youth center, complete with an array of games and fun activities for families to enjoy. The Senior Director of Communication for the church, Greg Froelich, says the youth center is something the community really benefits from.
“It’s kind of like a Chuck E. Cheese,” he says. “It’s a two-story building with half-court basketball, dodgeball; there’s a café; we have video games, ping pong tables, pool tables, air hockey, and it’s just a place where families can come and gather and hang out. Kids love to go there, and it’s a safe place for them to come and get off the streets and actually do something productive.” Over the years, the youth center has evolved, and the church now uses it to house a variety of classes and other activities. Still, its primary mission is to serve the children and teens who attend the church. In addition to its actionairconditioning.com
“The Dream Center is our inner-city campus,” Toni says. “We renovated a former boys and girls club that does inner-city outreach to children and youths in that area with after school programs, mentoring and some different sport leagues. They do a basketball league that targets families in that area.” If it wasn’t for the generous donations of its congregation, the church would have to shut all of its programs down. The family at Action Air Conditioning regularly donates time and money to the church, especially to those programs which benefit the youth of the Tampa Bay community. For more information on Grace Family Church and its variety of youth programs, check out their website at gfconline.com. FALL 2014 COMFORT ZONE 31
WHY DAIKIN? As the largest HVAC manufacturer in the world, Daikin continues its nearly centuryold traditions of quality, service, and innovation, and remains the leading brand among consumers.
COMFORT FOR LIFE
The Daikin Promise is to provide you with comfort for DAIKINS’ FORMULA FOR SUCCESS: life, with a guarantee that our products and services will meet those • Made in the USA (includes manufacturing expectations– it’s a commitment we and assembly too!) • Unit replacement warranties of 12 years make with enthusiasm and passion, and • Quality standards for manufacturing we are the only manufacturer to put it in equivalent to Toyota and Lexus writing! • Prioritization of clean air quality and standards • The Daikin Promise: To provide you with comfort for life
www.daikincomfort.com