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About kurthartmann

Air conditioner service, repair, maintenance, and installation contractor in Fort Myers, Florida.

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Air Conditioning Contractor Ft Myers

By on 09/03/2014 in Air Conditioner Repairs Ft Myers

Community Cooling & Heating Inc.

Ft Myers, Florida

239-267-2117

 

“Community Cooling … a trusted member of the SW Florida community since 1970!”

 

Fort Myers air conditioning contractor Kurt Hartmann of Community Cooling and Heating Inc. has been a lifelong member of the SW Florida community.  Our service technicians are allexperienced and field tested. Their training goes beyond simply knowinghow to do the work in an expert fashion. We fully train our staff to respect our clients as well as their homes.

Kurt Hartmann, owner of Community Cooling,  takes great pride in their long standing reputation for fast, reliable, expert service. That reputation is the result of the business model his father, Paul Hartmann, put in place when he founded the company in 1970.

As a relatively small, family owned business we have a distinct advantage over our competitors …

” … our focus is on providing our clients with an end deliverable that serves their needs as well as their budget …

Put the customers needs first, show them they can rely on you, and do the job right, and give them a level of service that they expect …

People want the job done right, the price to be fair, and the answers

they get to be honest answers!

In today’s world people want to make informed decisions about who they do business with, and feel good about the products and services they receive. Many air conditioning contractors in the SW Florida area have been in business less than 10 years!  Community Cooling has a 44 year reputation of doing it right the first time, and standing behind their work!

 

Call today for the very best service you can expect from any air conditioning contractor, any where in Lee County, Florida!

 

Community Cooling & Heating

Fort Myers, Florida

239-267-2117

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Air Conditioning And Humidity Control

By on 08/13/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

239-267-2117

Ft Myers, Florida

 

 

Don’t let high humidity impact your home, health,

and possessions!

Community Cooling, Ft Myers, Florida

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

Southwest Florida is known for it’s warm temperatures and high humidity during the summer months. Summer in Ft Myers means oppressive heat and extremely high levels of humidity. With few exceptions, everything in the home is vulnerable to being affected by high levels of humidity in the home. Unchecked, high humidity can lead to problems with …

rusting appliances
mold and mildew growth
corrosion to electronic equipment and computers
deterioration of wood, cotton, and leather
warping of woodwork.

Humidity and finished wood products don’t “play well” together!

 

As far as I know … any type of wood, when exposed to humid conditions, absorb moisture from the air and expand or swell as it does so. The repeated and expansion and contracting not only affects the joints where two pieces of wood meet, but, the actual fiber and grain of the wood itself.  Anything wood that is in a home where the air conditioner does not remove humidity efficiently is at risk including …

 

Wood Floors

Furniture 

Framed Art

Kitchen Cabinets

Doors and door frames

Humidity is a basic requirement for most types of mildew, mold,

and vegetative growth.

 

Mold, mildew, spores, and bacteria are made to thrive in hot humid conditions. A home that is sealed up over the summer, left dark, and with little fresh air circulating through it provides an exceptional environment for these types of growths to establish themselves in your home, and thrive!

 

Community Cooling’s Air Conditioner Check up and Service is the best way to ensure your equipment is working properly when you need it most!

 

Community Cooling and Heating is offering a 16 point cooling system check which includes:

Clean your condenser coils.
Check operating pressures
Check electrical connections
Check sub-cooling
Check fan blade
Lubricate moving parts
Clean air filters
check thermostat
Check blower operation
Check controls
Check superheat
Check temperature drop across evaporator
Clean indoor coil if visible
Check complete unit operation
Treat condensate line and pan
Make necessary recommendations

Call Today

HAVE A PROBLEM?

OR 

SIMPLY HAVE A QUESTION!

FEEL FREE TO GIVE US A CALL!

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

(239) 267-2117

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Do You Spend Too Much To Cool Your Home?

By on 08/06/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Community Cooling & Heating Inc.

Fort Myers, Florida

239-267-2117

 

Dirty air conditioner coils raise cooling costs in SW Florida

Air conditioning units that haven’t been properly serviced and maintained will cost you more to run, and provide less cooling! Over the course of time, even in the cleanest of homes, dirt, dust, mold, and other impurities build up on your condenser coils inside your a/c unit. The build up of these impurities make it extremely difficult for you air conditioner to circulate air throughout the coils and your home.

air conditioning coils dirty

 

Dirty clogged air conditioner coils force your a/c to work twice as hard

and twice as long to cool your home!

 

 

Cleaning your air conditioner coils can save you hundreds of dollars

in energy costs over the course of a year!

Air conditioning coils remove and evaporate humidity from the air that they cool. The process is quite similar to the way condensation is formed on the outside of a glass of water. The cold water inside the glass removes latent heat, from the air that comes in contact with the glass, in the form of water.After your air conditioner has been thoroughly cleaned by a licensed air conditioning contractor it will cool your home more effectively, filter your air more efficiently, while costing you less money. Your a/c unit won’t have to work so hard to push the air through it.

Annual servicing of your a/c equipment optimizes the performance, and extends the life of your air conditioner!

 

Air conditoning coils after service

 These same air conditioner coils, after cleaning, will allow air

to circulate efficiently through the system …

SAVING YOU MONEY!

 

Community Cooling is offering a 16 point cooling system check which includes:

  • Clean your condenser coils.
  • Check operating pressures
  • Check electrical connections
  • Check sub-cooling
  • Check fan blade
  • Lubricate moving parts
  • Clean air filters
  • check thermostat
  • Check blower operation
  • Check controls
  • Check superheat
  • Check temperature drop across evaporator
  • Clean indoor coil if visible
  • Check complete unit operation
  • Treat condesate line and pan
  • Make necessary recommendations
For More Information …
Call Today!!!
(239) 267-2117
Ft Myers air conditioner repairs, maintenance, services

Ft Myers Air Conditioner Repairs 239-267-2117


 Serving Fort Myers and the SW Florida community since 1970!

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How To Save On Air Conditioning Costs

By on 07/23/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

 

Air conditioning costs, in the southern United States, are often the single, most expensive, component of your electric bill !!!

 

 

Regular maintenance and service kept this air conditioner going for 20 years!

An important, added value to regular servicing and maintenance is the opportunity to get a look at normally unseen area’s in your home. One of the most common sources of unnecessary air conditioning costs is pinched, or bent flex duct within the attic or under the floor in your home. Sometimes a simple straightening or re-suspending of the ducts can dramatically increase air flow, improve the efficiency of your system, and lower your air conditioning costs.

 

The best way to ensure optimum performance of your air conditioning equipment is regular inspection and maintenance

 

In the southern United States air conditioning units are typically the greatest consumer of energy and normally account for anywhere from 30% to 50% of residential electric costs.

Cooling a house down at the end of the day will always take less energy than having the A/C run all day.

The act of leaving a door or window open, even to a small degree, will raise your air conditioning cost by up to up to 50%.

The inside of your air conditioner, unfortunately, provides an excellent environment for all types of vegetative growth, potentially a serious health issue.

 

  • Make sure your a/c vents, both incoming and return, are not blocked by furniture or draperies.
  • Turn off any electric light bulbs when not in use. Light bulbs generate heat that must be removed by your a/c unit.
  • Change your a/c filter monthly!
  • Cook on your outside grill when possible or use a microwave oven. Cooking on a stove or conventional oven adds heat to the inside of your home.
  • On cooler days open your windows or rely on ceiling fans to keep your home comfortable.
  • During the summer leave your a/c unit off until you get home from work, or use a programmable thermostat to turn the air conditioner on a half hour before you get home.
  • Turn off lamps and light fixtures when not in use. Light bulbs generate tremendous amounts of heat.
  • If possible provide shade for your outside condensing unit. Always clear any grass, leaves, or debris that might inhibit air flow from around it.
  • Turn off your computer or any home office equipment when not in use. These devices put out a considerable amount of heat.
  • Keep your drapes closed when possible. They insulate your windows and keep direct sunlight from heating the inside of your house.
  • Add weather stripping to your entry doors.
  • Make sure your attic is well ventilated. A ridge vent or attic fan can easily, over a period of time, pay for itself with savings on your electric bill
  • At least once a year have your a/c unit checked over and cleaned by a licensed Air Conditioning Contractor to ensure proper, safe, efficient operation!

Make sure your a/c vents are open in all rooms!

Some believe that closing vents can reduce energy consumption, and save on air conditioning costs, by preventing the need to cool or heat a particular room. That’s actually a myth: closing vents will actually raise your energy costs. Closed air conditioner vents, especially if there are more than one, can dramatically increase back pressure within your duct system, making your a/c work harder, continuously, to circulate air throughout your home.  Opening them all up, the air conditioner will struggle far less to keep the living area cool, and won’t have to compensate for “hot spots” within your home.

Regular maintenance prevents damage to expensive a/c equipment, and lowers air conditioning costs reflected in your monthly electric bill.

HIGHER THAN NORMAL ELECTRIC BILLS?

AIR CONDITIONER RUNS LONGER THAN IT SHOULD TO COOL YOUR HOME?

INSUFFICIENT COOLING IN YOUR HOME?

Not knowing why … IS COSTING YOU MONEY!

WE CAN HELP!

CALL TODAY!

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

239-267-2117

Community Cooling and Heating helps keep your air conditioning costs to a minimum!

Community Cooling and Heating helps you get the most out of your a/c equipment!

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Air Conditioner Liquid Line Drier

By on 07/13/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Air Conditioner Repairs In Ft Myers

239-267-2117

 

The liquid line drier is the first line of defense against damage to your air conditioner’s compressor!

 

An air conditioner’s liquid line drier is the first line of defense against moisture (water) getting into your air conditioners compressor and doing irreparable damage. Today most liquid line driers are what is known as solid-core zeolite desiccant filter-driers. In the past liquid line driers used compounds such as activated alumina, silica gel, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide as a dessicant, but these older versions of the driers had to be installed in a very specific way or they were subject to crumbling on the inside, allowing the dessicant to escape the line drier and add to the chemical cocktail technicians attempt to avoid in the first place.

 

Rusted liquid line dryer

Rusted Liquid Line Drier

 

 

An air conditioner is a  system of integrated parts, chemicals, materials, and components that work and interact with each other to manufacture a specified result. These interactions have enormous potential, when combined with the incessant changes between warm and cold environments, to change or modify the chemical nature of the elements as they move throughout the air conditioner.The HVAC system itself, is comprised of a …

 compressor

condenser,

metering device

evaporator

copper lines,

oil

refrigerant

as well as other electrical & mechanical components

 

Each of the components within the system contain of a number of metals such as the iron casting of the compressor, copper lines, steel condenser, aluminum evaporator, brass valves and fittings, and perhaps still other metals in smaller quantities.  Additionally, there are chemicals within these component parts capable of interacting independently to create new chemical compounds capable of damaging, and diminishing the equipment’s ability to perform it’s duties, and seriously impacting it’s life expectancy. Some of the elements found within a typical HVAC system would include … 

 

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Moisture (water or other liquid)

Flux

Powder from the insulation

Shavings from component parts

 

. The moisture and oxygen are very active components that act as catalysts themselves, and interact independently with various metals within the structure of the equipment.These chemicals when mixed have the capacity to turn acidic, which can eat the varnish coatings of the electrical winding’s deep inside the compressor. The mechanics of a compressor are such that, while the compressor is an enclosed unit, the compounds being compressed to perform the cooling action actually run over the outside of the electrical and mechanical parts inside the compressor. Should those compounds turn acidic or caustic, the compressor will eventually fail and may even create a fire on the inside. The combination of chemicals, heat, and flame in an interior compressor fire has been known to create poisonous phosgene gas, otherwise known as mustard gas, which was used extensively in World War I and accounted for a high percentage of the deaths in that war.

 

Air conditioner repair best practices dictate that the liquid line dryer should be replaced any time one replaces the compressor, or any time the integrity of the coolant line is breached!

liquid line drier.

Brand new liquid line drier, ensuring safe, efficient compressor performance, and minimizing the risk of fire.

 

The best way to be certain your liquid line drier is operating effectively is to have your air conditioning equipment inspected yearly. Simple things like a spot of rust, or a small dent, or a bend in the line itself can compromise the integrity of a liquid line drier. Other times the desiccant on the inside can become clogged, restricting flow, and creating insufficient levels of coolant in the compressor. An experienced contractor will notice this by feeling the line dryer with his hands, if one side is warm … and the other side is noticeably cooler, that is a pretty good indication of a blocked passage within the line dryer itself.  When replacing a liquid line dryer one should never use heat to “un-solder”, or “un-braze” the dryer. And any time the compressor is changed, or the integrity of the coolant line is compromised, best practices would include replacing the dryer.

 

The best way to be certain your liquid line dryer is up to par is to have your air conditioner inspected annually by a licensed air conditioning contractor!

 

 WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT!!!

 

 

Kurt Hartmann of Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

Ft Myers most trusted A/C Contractor

Community Cooling is offering a 16 point cooling system check which includes:

Clean your condenser coils.
Check operating pressures
Check electrical connections
Check sub-cooling
Check fan blade
Lubricate moving parts
Clean air filters
check thermostat
Check blower operation
Check controls
Check super heat
Check temperature drop across evaporator
Clean indoor coil if visible
Check complete unit operation
Treat condensate line and pan

We give your equipment a thorough going over and make all necessary recommendations!

 

Call Today!

239-267-2117

 

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Uncommon Air Conditioner Problems

By on 07/09/2014 in Air Conditioner Repairs Ft Myers

Community Cooling

239-267-2117

 

Air conditioning contractors in Fort Myers Florida oftentimes encounter many of the same different types of air conditioner problems in their day-to-day servicing of residential and commercial HVAC equipment. From time to time however we do encounter something on the unusual side, something we don’t see very often.  On those rare days when we see something out of the ordinary and when we happen to think about it: we try to get a good picture.

 

Community Cooling & Heating Ft Myers Most Trusted Air Conditioner Repair Service

In the 43 years community cooling and heating has been servicing and repairing air conditioners in the Southwest Florida area we have encountered many strange types of a/c problems. Many times those problems have been caused by animals.

 

Snakes Rats

Dogs

Cats

Opossums

Raccoons

Even bats!

The slideshow below is a collection of some of the pictures we have accumulated over the years of these weird, oddball situations.  There have been many opportunities to take pictures of unusual problems when we simply didn’t have a camera with us.  These days, now that everyone seems to carry a cell phone with them everywhere they go, we are better able to take advantage of these rare opportunities.Hope you enjoy them!

Whether faced with a common or uncommon air conditioner problems Community Cooling is at your service to make that problem go away and restore comfort to your home.  With over 43 years experience under our belts there isn’t much we haven’t seen or done in the HVAC industry. We are at your service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the whole year through. Just give us a call …

We guarantee all our repairs and offer a Free Second Opinion

Our Motto is…“We won’t send you a wolf in sheep’s clothing …

just an honest professional”

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New 2015 HVAC Regulations Make NOW The Time To Act

By on 07/02/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

2015 HVAC regulations are likely to make air conditioner replacement more costly to the consumer!

2015 HVAC regulations changes are going to re-define the contractors and manufacturers do business. Beginning January 1, 2015 air conditioning contractors and manufacturers will face strict penalties if they fail to adhere to new federal guidelines pertaining to energy efficiency standards of the equipment they install. For the first time in history there will be regional minimum-efficiency standards in place. A/C contractors will be required to stay up to date on any and all changes in regulations as are pertinent to their designated geographical region (North, Southeast, or Southwest), as well as how, when, and to what extent those new standards will be implemented.

When replacing old a/c equipment BOTH the indoor and outdoor units must have a combined SEER rating that falls within specified limits.

Fort Myers Air Conditioning service old ac

 Old air conditioner that is no longer cost effective to repair.

As an example … when installing a 14 SEER outdoor air conditioning unit the contractor must double check to ensure that the air handler, blower, and coil combinations on the inside do not diminish the overall efficiency of the system as a whole. All of the component parts in the entire system, inside and out, must have an aggregate SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) that is in line with federal standards. What this means to the consumer is …

… beginning January, 2015 HVAC  regulations will require that when one of the two main

air conditioner units (inside or outside) fails, beyond reasonable repair,

the home owner may well have to replace both the inside and the outside units …

… even if one is still functioning well!

The good news is the home owners electric bill should drop significantly … and it will contribute greatly toward making for a “greener” planet.

The bad news is … the cost of replacing your air conditioner is bound to go up!

High efficiency air conditioning equipment typically costs more.  better, more expensive materials and components, constructed under greater scrutiny and conforming to specific tolerances simply cost more! A homeowner with an outdoor unit that is relatively new, and inside unit that is older, or vice versa, might well consider the option of replacing the older piece of equipment before the 2015 HVAC regulations are in place. If the available equipment that is available next year is not compatible with the newer equipment he bought just a few years ago … he may be forced to replace that newer piece even if it still works perfectly!

“Higher efficiency, lower emissions, better technology,and new refrigerants are the future of the air conditioning industry, and that’s a good thing. That said … the time to act is now if you want to keep replacement costs to a minimum!”

Kurt Hartmann,

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

239-267-2117

 

Ft Myers AC service Kurt Hartmann

 Kurt Hartmann, Owner/President Community Cooling and Heating

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What Your A/C’s SEER Rating Means To You

By on 07/02/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Many A/C clients know the term “seer rating”, but, haven’t been told why it’s so important!

Air Conditioning Service & Repair Ft Myers

Servicing, repairing, and installing air conditioning units in Ft Myers often requires us to educate and inform our clients along the way. I use A/C terminology just about every day, and it is easy to forget that to those not familiar with the parts, components, and factors that affect the operation of their equipment I might as well be speaking in another language. As a result often times the need arises for us to explain, in an easily understood manner, just what we are talking about. One of the most common questions we are asked is…

“What is a “seer rating”, and why is it important to me?”

Fort Myers Air Conditioning service old ac

They squeezed every nickel out of this A/C … BUT …

Paid far higher electric bills every month …

FOR YEARS!

The term seer is an acronym for the words “seasonal energy efficiency ratio”, thus a seer rating is an approximate rating of how efficiently your air conditioner can be expected to work with regard to not only the cost to run it, but, it’s overall effect on the environment as well. Your air conditioning unit is one of the largest contributors to your (and everybody’s) electric bill, inefficient cooling systems create incredible demand for local power companies, the more demand placed on the power companies … the greater their impact is on the environment. For this reason many local power & utility companies offer rebates to those customers that upgrade their air conditioners from a low seer rating unit to one with a high rating.

“In Ft Myers, Florida upgrading from an 8 seer unit to a 16 seer unit could save the homeowner $2,000 to $6,000

over the life of their a/c equipment!”

With a decent rebate and the reduced cost of operating your unit over the life of the equipment it is entirely possible that installing an air conditioner a higher seer rating could pay for itself … and then some over the life of the equipment! In 2006 the Federal Government passed a law requiring that any new central air conditioning equipment installed must have a seer rating of 13 or higher. Today 16 and 18 seer units are becoming common while a short list of pioneers/manufacturers have developed equipment with seer ratings in the low 20’s, although it appears they are still working out a few of the fine details. In the future, with the development and refinement of new technologies such as airflow aerodynamics and design, integration of variable capacity controls, microchannel coils, rotary compressors and inverter driven technologies the future looks bright for increasingly efficient systems, lower cooling costs, and a better environment.


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Air Conditioner Maintenance, Repair Slideshow

By on 06/17/2014 in Air Conditioner Repairs Ft Myers

Air Conditioner Repairs, Ft Myers, Florida

239-267-2117

 

Proper air conditioner maintenance is the key factor in

keeping overall a/c costs down

Often, in the course of repairing and maintaining air conditioners in Fort Myers, we encounter situations and scenario’s that need to be brought to the home owners attention.  Many times the air conditioner equipment we are servicing is on a roof top, or in an attic, or the home owner is unable to get to the equipment easily.  In order to be able to fully explain the precise nature of the problem, and the options available to fix it, it has been our policy to photograph these components, or the problems affecting them with our digital cameras, and use those images to explain the situation.  As a result we are often able to share these photo’s here and give interested parties an inside view the day to day challenges we face, and a greater understanding of the myriad of potential problems a typical a/c system may face.

 

 

Far too often the only way one can determine if a problem actually exists is to open up the air handler and package unit.  Without a thorough inspection by a knowledgeable contractor there are a myriad of potential hazards to the well being and efficiency of your expensive air conditioning equipment.

 

The cost of maintaining your air conditioner is far cheaper

than the cost of replacing it!

 

Get the most out of your air conditioning equipment ... maintain it!

The only reason this air conditioner has lasted 30+ years is because the owner kept up the maintenance! Most home owners will replace their a/c equipment every 10 to 15 years … an expense that can often times be avoided!!!

For more information on how air conditioner maintenance helps you get the most use from your a/c equipment … Call Today!

Community Cooling and Heating

239-267-2117

 

 

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2014 Hurricane Season … Are You Prepared?

By on 06/03/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

Fort Myers, Fl.

239-267-2117

 

The 2014 Hurricane season is here. How prepared are you?

The 2014 hurricane season has arrived. In the years since SW Florida was last hit by a hurricane the Ft Myers/Lee County population has doubled, which means, potentially half of our population has no real experience in planning and preparing for a major storm. Additionally, most of us that were affected by hurricanes “Charlie” and “Wilma” were minimally impacted, and tend to assume that the Ft Myers area is somehow an “unlikely” region to take a direct hit.

 

Nothing could be farther from the truth!

 

Hurricane on course for impact in Florida.

Hurricane on course for impact in Florida.

 

 

Adequate Preparation For An Approaching Storm Is Essential To You And Your Family’s Comfort, Safety, And Survival!

 

In addition to any and all documents, medical supplies, food and water reserves, and personal hygiene items it is a good idea to put together a “tool and miscellaneous supplies” kit as well including such items as …

 

Battery operated radio and extra batteries

Flashlights

Hand operated can opener

Hand tools including a tree saw

Disposable cups, plates, and cups

Cleaning supplies

Plastic sheeting

Buckets

Matches and lighters

Coolers

Propane or charcoal grill or a camping stove

Needless to say, when making preparations for an approaching storm there is much to be done and many bases to cover. Prescription medicines, water, food, pets, and family members are all at the top of the list as they should be, but, some thought should be given to your family’s air conditioning equipment as well. By recognizing the dangers and following a few simple rules one can greatly reduce the risk of damage to costly equipment and avoid unnecessary repairs.

Air Conditioning Service And Repair In Ft Myers Florida
1. Make certain before the storm hits that your a/c unit is secured to the base it sits on. Your unit should

be strapped or bolted down to prevent it being blown around and damaged.

2. If already secured, make sure the bolts or straps are tight and rust free.

3. Make certain the area around your air conditioner is free of any and all objects that could

become airborne and damage your equipment.

4. Turn you A/C off at the thermostat AND at the breaker box. Should major damage occur to your

unit a live electrical circuit could cause injury or fire!

5. In the event of flooding be certain your air conditioner is COMPLETELY dry before reconnecting

power and starting your equipment! After flooding or even temporary immersion in water it is

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to have your unit thoroughly checked by a

licensed air conditioning contractor to ascertain the equipment is safe to operate!

6. After the storm thoroughly inspect your a/c unit for any signs of damage from flying debris.

7. If your unit has come in contact with salt water it needs to be thoroughly cleaned by an experienced

a/c technician to prevent corrosion from damaging or destroying your equipment.

 

 

After a storm has passed it’s a good idea to have your air conditioning equipment checked for damage, cleaned, and serviced to ensure safe operation!

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.
239-267-2117
Air Conditioner Sales, Service, and Repair
in Ft Myers, Florida
Since 1970

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