HVAC Cooling Tips

                       Keeping Cool Has Never Been So Easy

Summer is in full swing and everyone is trying to figure out how to beat the heat. Here are a few tips on how to stay cool and save money during the hottest time of year. Your HVAC Air Conditioning system will thank you!

• ·        Thermostat: Keep it set at 78 degrees, go higher if the humidity is low enough. Setting it lower during hot spells only makes your unit work harder with very little to no breaks. 
• ·        Draw your drapes: Keeping your shades and blinds drawn, particularly on the west side of your house will help keep the heat out.
• ·        Turn off appliances and lights: Turn off any appliance that is not in use. Light bulbs are also huge heat generators.
• ·        Air Conditioning Fan: Turn your AC fan on low; this will help with the summer humidity. The low air volume will help your Air Conditioning System dehumidify.  
• ·        Furnace Pilot Light: Turn off your furnace pilot light. You can always re-light during the heating season.
• ·        Fire Place Damper: Make sure if you have a fire place that the damper is closed. When left open heat is coming into the home, as heat seeks cold.
• ·        Ceiling Fans: Install ceiling fans. They can help circulate more air through your home. They move heat away from you and provide evaporative cooling.
• ·        Furnace and Air Conditioning Filters: Change or clean your heating and air conditioning filters every month. If you have a specialty filter that is 4 inches in width those can be changed every 6 months because of the higher Merv rating.
• ·        Upgrade to a new Air Conditioning and Heating System: Cooling can account for up to half of your summer energy bill. You want a HVAC system that has a SEER rating of 13 or more. This is an investment that you will immediately see a return in savings as well as comfort.
• ·        Annual HVAC Maintenance: 1/20 of an inch of dirt can hurt efficiency by up to 20%!! Your HVAC Heating & Air Conditioning System is just like your car. It needs routine regular maintenance to keep the life expectancy at optimal level. A well maintained system is a happy system

These are just a few tips on how to save money and keep cool during the hot summer months. Implement these tips and you will be staying cooling and saving money all summer long. 

How Much Does It Cost To Fix An AC?

There are several factors that go into the cost of fixing an air conditioner, the most obvious being what is wrong with it. The first step to fixing your broken air conditioner is to schedule an appointment with a qualified air conditioning repair company.

 Be sure to ask for a NATE Certified technician. Be sure the company you’re choosing to do business with meets or exceeds local codes while maintaining, repairing, or replacing your air conditioner. Also check that the technician they are sending has had a background check, and been drug tested. We like to think of this as Comfort, Safety, and Security.

Ask the heating and air company what their warranties are: GREAT air conditioning repair companies offer a 2 year parts and labor warranty.

Ask the air conditioning repair company if they guarantee satisfaction.  If you’re not completely thrilled with the service you receive don’t pay them a dime. If the ac repair company says 100% customer satisfaction make them back this up by putting a guarantee on it.

Ask the HVAC company how much it will cost for an air conditioner technician to come to your home and trouble shoot your unit, and MOST IMPORTANT will the air conditioning technician let you know how much things will cost BEFORE he starts any work. You don’t want any surprises.

Does the HVAC company charge any overtime after hours, on the weekends, or holidays?

Ask about the HVAC companies BBB rating and/or Angie’s list rating. Great companies take a lot of pride in their public record.

You should be well on your way to finding out how much it will cost to repair an air conditioner. You can be assured that by having these questions answered  you should soon feel Comfort, Safety, and Security!