Are You Trying To Go Green?

Everyone wants to save money and help the environment, but don’t let your enthusiasm make you take tips from just anyone.  Some of the “helpful” recommendations that you find online or in popular opinion can actually lead to damage and  air conditioner repair bills.  Here are some of our tips to lower your monthly bills without harming your HVAC system.

1. Use A Programmable Thermostat

Most people don’t use their homes in exactly the same way, 24/7, but many people heat and cool their houses as if they did.  Utilizing a programmable thermostat is an easy way to make sure that you’re not paying for more cooling than you need.  For example, you can program the thermostat to allow the house to be warmer during the day when you’re at work, and to cool it down again starting an hour or so before you arrive home.  Then, while you’re home, you can enjoy a comfortable temperature without spending the extra money and energy it requires to cool your house during the hours you’re away.

2. Clean The Filters

Cleanliness is very important for your system’s efficiency, and can make the difference between a smoothly functioning air conditioner and one that uses too much energy, cools unreliably, and that ultimately ages more quickly than it needs to.  Be sure to regularly check, clean, and replace (if necessary) all filters.  Remember, if you have dusty hobbies, pets, or other lifestyle factors (like smoking) that can cause filters to clog more rapidly, you’ll need to replace them more frequently.

Read more here: http://www.phoenixsouthhvac.com/trying-go-green/

Tired Of Air Conditioner Repair Bills? Maybe It’s Time To Upgrade

You want your HVAC systems to run smoothly in the background–ideally, you won’t have to think about them much.  But if you’re dealing with multiple air conditioner repair calls, odds are your system is on your mind much more than you’d like.  While many air conditioner problems can be satisfactorily repaired by qualified technicians, sometimes it makes more sense to consider replacing the unit.  How can you tell whether you need a new unit?  Here’s a few things to keep in mind.

1. Is Your System More Than 10 Years Old?

Aging systems can not only be unreliable, but environmentally unfriendly.  Newer systems are not only more efficient, but they have been designed to not require freon, which is generally regarded as harmful to the environment.  Finally, an older system can be difficult to acquire parts for.  If your system is more than a decade old and working erratically, it’s time to replace it.

2. Are Repairs Getting Costly?

While we always try to give you the best price on service or air conditioning repair calls, sometimes older units are simply worn out and near the end of their life.  At that point, repair calls will continue to become more frequent, often racking up months of charges.  Rather than continuing to repair a failing unit, it can actually be less expensive to install a new, efficient air conditioner.

Read more here: http://www.phoenixsouthhvac.com/tired-of-air-conditioner-repair-bills-maybe-its-time-to-upgrade/

Finding A Qualified Air Conditioning Repair Professional

A quick glance through the online search results can lead you to think that  air conditioning repair professionals are a dime a dozen, but how do you really know that the person you’re calling is a professional?  Your HVAC system is the heart of your home, controlling not just the comfort of your family but also, in a very real sense, their health and safety.  Since improperly installed or poorly functioning HVAC systems can lead to problems with everything from carbon monoxide to mold, it’s imperative that you know how to evaluate your service technician.  Here are some things to look for:

HVAC Experience

How long has your HVAC professional been in the business?  What kind of jobs have they done before?  Here at Phoenix HVAC we are proud to say that we’ve been in business since 1997, and our technicians are highly trained and certified.  We are happy to discuss with you what’s involved in certification at any time, and we don’t advise you to trust your system to anyone without proper training.

Checking Qualifications

If your HVAC company says that it’s licensed or certified, you should ask: licensed or certified in what?  Any company that isn’t willing to tell you should set off a red flag.  Many states maintain websites where members of the public can look up licenses for professionals (such as certain HVAC professionals that might be also licensed as plumbers or to work with gas lines), and your HVAC company should be able to explain any certification that it holds, enabling you to look it up online later.  That way, you know you’re getting excellent service, not just paying for fancy words in an advertising campaign.

 Read more here: http://www.phoenixsouthhvac.com/finding-qualified-air-conditioning-repair-professional/