First Choice Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for May, 2018

Business picking up for HVAC companies as heat sets in

Tuesday, May 29th, 2018

 HVAC companies getting busier as the weather warms up

By Elisse Ramey |
 

FLINT (WJRT) – (05/25/18) – Today is National Heat Awareness Day, a reminder for you to be aware of the sometimes deadly consequences associated with heat stroke and dehydration.

With loads of sunshine and high temperatures you can also expect HVAC companies are being inundated with service calls.

“Very busy. The heat is definitely getting people on the phone,” said Coby Ackerman, a service technician with First Choice Heating & Cooling.

“I think one of the biggest things is probably not changing the filter,” said Ackerman.

He’s seen homeowners make all kinds of mistakes, but here’s what you should do for sure:

“You need to change the filters. That’s very important. Check the batteries in the thermostat if you have them. It’s a good idea to look and see if the condenser outside is clean,” Ackerman said. “Definitely want to check the charge. It may or may not be undercharged. Even though you think it’s good a dirty coil can mask that.”

The decision to cut the air on and off throughout the day may not be a great idea.

“72, 73 is a good temperature and if you leave it there and get rid of the humidity you’ll actually feel a lot comfortable instead of turning it on and off like people like to do,” Ackerman said. “When it’s hot just let it run.”

Remember, it’s better to have your AC tuned up than to wait until there is a problem.

Now that we’ve gotten the air conditioner taken care of, Governor Snyder is reminding everyone how serious heat stroke is, especially for children.

Today is heat stroke prevention awareness day in Michigan.

Already this year – six children have died in the United States from heatstroke in a car.

1. Officials with the state advise the following:

2. Never leave your child alone in a vehicle, not even for a minute.

3. Keep the car locked so kids don’t get in on their own.

4. Create reminders by putting something in the back of your vehicle next to your child such as a wallet, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination.

5. If you see or hear a child alone in a car, call 911.

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Why You Might Want an Energy Recovery Ventilator in Your HVAC System

Monday, May 28th, 2018

red-arrow-heat-flow-diagramOne of the jobs we do for our customers is to help their homes enjoy better air quality. Indoor comfort is about more than controlling the temperature with an air conditioner and a heater. It’s also about keeping the air fresh and humidity under control with excellent ventilation.

But how can you properly ventilate your home during extremely hot and cold days? Opening windows and doors just isn’t a good solution because it ruins all the work your AC or heater is doing and makes you uncomfortable. Do you just have to accept stale indoor air on those days?

Not at all! This is why we recommend you look into getting an energy recovery ventilator installed in your home’s HVAC system.

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Ductless Cooling and Heating May Be a Great Home HVAC Choice

Monday, May 14th, 2018

ductless-mini-split-wall-unitThe ductless cooling and heating system isn’t necessarily “new.” This type of heat pump has been popular for years in Europe and Japan, where homes and buildings usually lack the space to put in ducts. It’s simple to outfit a few rooms with a ductless system, allowing for a distribution of heating and air conditioning that would otherwise be impossible.

Today in the U.S., ductless systems are making a bigger impact on home comfort. People are finding out more about the terrific benefits of going ductless. But you want to know if ductless makes sense for you? It might! Let’s take a look at when ductless heating and cooling makes a lot of sense for a new HVAC system installation.

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