At Comfort and AC Installations and Repairs we provide expert air conditioning repair service in Pinecrest, Doral and Coral Gables, FL as well as install new, high efficiency air conditioning systems
If you live in South Florida, one of the greatest determinants of your air conditioning needs is the architectural design of your home. And among the greatest cities in South Florida to call home are Pinecrest, Doral, and Coral Gables. Below we take a look at the unique air conditioning challenges to cool homes in Pinecrest, in Doral, and in Coral Gables, and also the AC systems found most often in each area as well as some of the typical AC repairs in each of these great cities we serve.
Table of Contents
1. Pinecrest: Expansive Estates and Multi-Zone Cooling
Pinecrest By The Sea: The coastal Pinecrest neighborhood is an up scale area of single family homes that have oversized lots with tree coverage that is unrivaled anywhere in Pinecrest. It has an extremely suburban feel with some of the biggest lots in the entire country covered in tree canopy.
- Pinecrest By The Sea
- Devonwood
- French Village
Home Architecture & System Selection
The majority of the homes in Pinecrest are large single-story homes with very high ceilings and huge square footage. Because of this, the most efficient system to cool these homes are large capacity, variable speed central air systems that can be set up on many different zones to provide the most comfort. Also, because of the large amount of detached structures such as guest houses, garages, and sunrooms, ductless mini-split systems are very common in Pinecrest. These systems are very efficient and provide a lot of comfort in homes with many different areas that need to be cooled.
Common AC Repairs
There are several issues that need to be repaired on air conditioning systems found in the homes throughout Pinecrest. These homes require unique sized cooling systems. They also require the systems to be operating for long hours of the year in order to keep cool. These factors cause a variety of repairs to be needed to the systems over time.
- Refrigerant Leaks: As Pinecrest’s biggest air conditioning systems are used 365 days a year the evaporator coils tend to wear out much faster
- Blower Motor Failures: The extreme amount of airflow at high CFM through the indoor air handler places an enormous amount of stress on the blower motor leading to premature failure.
- Ductwork Sealing Issues: Because of long duct runs through attic spaces of large homes in warm climates, seals can deteriorate causing uneven cooling.
2. Doral: Modern Subdivisions, Townhomes, and High-Density Living
Doral is a rapidly growing area with many new subdivisions for the modern families. Many of the neighborhoods in Doral are gated communities. There are many great areas to live in Doral and some of the more popular subdivisions are the Doral Isles, The Landmark at Doral and The Islands at Doral.
- Doral Isles
- Landmark at Doral
- Islands at Doral
Home Architecture & System Selection
Two story single family homes and many multi level homes and condominiums including many high end units make up the residential homes of Doral. With the high efficiency of the homes they use heat pumps and other high efficiency central air systems. Some of the homes even have the advanced Variable Refrigerant Flow systems, which work well in homes with limited mechanical spaces. These high efficiency cooling systems have SEER2 efficiency ratings of high.
Common AC Repairs Doral
Many of the homes in the Doral repairs area are in dense areas with attached homes. These smart homes often have thermostats that are integrated into the smart home system. These repairs include:
- Clogged Condensate Lines: Clogged condensate lines cause water damage in houses when the condensate water do not drain out of the house. This causes the float switch to turn off the air handler. Typical causes are clogged drain lines, algae growth in long drain pipes in very humid houses.
- Capacitor & Contactor Failures: In Doral, the grid is frequently switched on and off during the seasonal electrical storms. As a result, the starting capacitors of many air conditioning systems are subjected to stress and burn out. Also, the contractors of many air conditioning systems are subjected
- Touch Screen/ Smart Home Thermostat communication errors: Even the best smart home technology needs to be occasionally calibrated or updated with a firmware release to address problems.
3. Coral Gables: Historic Charm and Coastal Exposure
Coral Gables – 100 year old city known as “The City Beautiful” that is comprised of a wide array of historic architecture – many of the homes are old Mediterranean Revival style homes that have thick barrel-tile roofs and some are even historic homes that have been restored to their original beauty. In addition to all of the historic homes Coral Gables also has many tree-lined avenues and roads that are beautiful to drive down. In addition to the historic homes in Coral Gables, the city is also home to many waterfront homes and properties along Biscayne Bay as well as on the border of Coral Gables and Miami. Many of the waterfront homes were built in the 1950’s and 1960’s and have a more retro and older feel to them as well. There
- Cocoplum
- Gables Estates
- Journey’s End
Home Architecture & System Selection
HVAC systems in Homes in Coral Gables, from historic to modern homes with large Biscayne Bay views, need to be ducted or ductless depending on the home. With crawl spaces some homes may need low profile indoor air handlers. And others may require inverter driven units that are quiet enough for local ordinances, and also can provide sufficient dehumidification for the home.
Common AC Repairs Coral Gables
As previously stated, many repairs that are required for homes in the Coral Gables area are the result of the historic architecture of homes combined with the home’s coastal location.
- Condenser Coil Corrosion: Many water front homes, especially those in Cocoplum are damaged by the high salt air. The use of protective coatings on newly installed equipment and the repair of corroded condenser coils on existing equipment will extend the life of the condenser.
- Dehumidification Failures: This problem typically affects older structures with exterior plaster finish or masonry construction and requires the ability to precisely control the relative humidity inside the home.
- Electrical Board Failures: Voltage fluctuations in established utility corridors can cause damage to the sensitive inverter control boards of the HVAC system.
Maintaining Peak HVAC Performance
If you live in Pinecrest, Doral or Coral Gables it is very important to pick the correct HVAC equipment for your home. The structure of your home as well as the local environment will determine your indoor air comfort level as well as your energy efficiency throughout the year.
