How Do I Find Out How Old My AC Is?

September 3rd, 2018

old-air-conditionerWell, you could ask politely … not all air conditioners are sensitive about their age!

Seriously though, this is a question people often have about their cooling systems. There are usually two reasons for this interest, often overlapping:

  • The air conditioner was there when they moved in, and they have no idea when the previous owner installed it.
  • They suspect the air conditioner is old enough that it’s ready to be replaced with a new unit.

One of the big jobs we do handle air conditioning replacement in Fenton, MI homes and throughout the surrounding areas. We know plenty about how age affects an air conditioning system and to replace them. If you’re interested in finding out the age of your air conditioning system, we can help.

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Is Geothermal Really Good for Air Conditioning a Home?

August 20th, 2018

geothermal-heat-pump-diagramThe word geothermal contains the suffix ­­-thermal. If you remember your Ancient Greek root words, or you’ve encountered thermal underwear at some point or know about “thermal detonators” from Star Wars, then you know thermal means heat. Geothermal power has something to do with heat—heat from the earth. (Putting those Greek roots to work again!) So when we tell you about options for geothermal air conditioning for your house, you might wonder if we’ve gone a touch batty. How can a geothermal system work to cool down a home?

The answer: extremely well! Geothermal heat pumps are effective ways to provide comfort to a household all through the Michigan year. Like a standard heat pump, a geothermal heat pump brings heat into a building during cold weather and removes heat during warm weather. And it does these jobs at higher efficiency than a standard heat pump.

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How Wear and Tear Can Affect Your AC

August 6th, 2018

thermometer-going-redIt’s August, and some of the harshest hot days are going to strike during this month and the next. Air conditioning systems have already put in a great deal of work, and with more on the way, homeowners may start to ask the question: “Is my air conditioner going to wear down so much that it breaks?” Nobody wants the answer to be “yes.”

Fortunately, in most cases a broken AC can be repaired. It just takes the right licensed professionals to do it. There are situations, such as an air conditioning system that’s more than 15 years old, where it’s more cost-effective to replace the system because the massive amounts of use have finally caught up with it.

But how does wear and tear affect an air conditioner? If you’re wondering what exactly in your home’s AC is running down through a hot summer, this is the post for you.

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Why You Should Only Call Professionals to Repair Your Air Conditioner

July 23rd, 2018

wrenchesWhen the heat ramps up during the summer days, you may run into an air conditioner that can’t ramp up to meet it. It’s alarming when an AC isn’t sending out the cool air you need to feel comfortable, or if it isn’t sending out any air at all. In the rush to have your AC back to work as fast as possible, you may try to fix it yourself by opening up one of its cabinets and poking around inside with a DIY guide up on your smartphone. You might also call on a local guy with some tools in his van who says he can fix the air conditioning for you “real cheap.”

Please don’t take either of these options. Rather than going at the repair yourself or allowing an amateur to do it, call for professional air conditioning repair in Howell, MI.

There are many reasons to make HVAC professionals your one and only choice to repair a broken air conditioner. Here are a few of the biggest reasons:

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Why Does Humidity Make It Feel Hotter?

July 9th, 2018

fan-on-heat-waveA warm summer day is a pleasant experience in Michigan. A warm, humid, summer day is much less pleasant. And a hot, humid day—that’s when people stay indoors and crank up their ACs.

Why does humidity make it feel like it’s much hotter than it is? We all know the feeling of a damp and muggy day, but is the humidity actually making it hotter outside?

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Watch Out for an Overheating Air Conditioner This Summer!

June 25th, 2018

flushed-man-before-fanYour home’s air conditioning system is designed to run during warm days, hot days, hotter days, the hottest days. There’s not much point to an AC otherwise! You don’t run it during cool weather, after all. But even though your AC was built with the heat in mind, it can still overheat during the summer. Just as when a car engine overheats, this will leave you with a busted system that won’t work.

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Tips to Lower Your Cooling Costs

June 11th, 2018

checkmark-greenThere’s no way to avoid a rise in electrical costs during the summer if you have a central air conditioning system. The air conditioner consumes electrical power to run the fans and the compressor, and this comes at a cost. But the cost doesn’t have to be as high as it currently is! There are ways to reduce the price of a comfortably cool home over this summer, and the many summers to come.

Here are our top tips for conquering the high cost of cooling:

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Business picking up for HVAC companies as heat sets in

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

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

May 14th, 2018
Wall-mounted air conditioner blowing cool air after AC installation.

The 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 HVAC makes sense for a new HVAC system installation.

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