When Should You Tune Up Your AC?

Your air conditioning system works hard all summer keeping your home cool. To ensure it is ready to handle the task, you want to have it serviced every year. Tune-ups can help your AC unit work more efficiently, saving you on energy costs and routine maintenance can help your AC unit last longer. Plus, the inspection of your unit can identify issues that need to be repaired or components that need replacement. This can prevent breakdowns during the summer months when you need your AC the most. Spring is the best time to tune-up your AC and here’s why.

Be Ready for the Summer Heat

It makes sense to tune-up your AC in spring when summer is right around the corner. This way, you know your unit is ready to perform and has everything it needs to work efficiently.

It Has Been Several Months Since it Was Used

A lot can happen over the several months since you last used your AC unit. If rodents or pests found a way into your unit and caused damage during the fall or winter, you need that resolved before you begin using your AC again.

Less Busy for Your Service Provider

Once summer hits, AC service companies will be busy repairing issues with other people’s AC units. Spring is less busy for the industry, which means you can get a fast appointment and maybe even catch a spring deal on tune-up prices.

Make sure to have your air conditioning system serviced in the spring to be ready for the summer months ahead. It can help save you money off energy costs and emergency breakdowns by being prepared.

Posted on behalf of:
Western Aire Heating & Cooling
Marietta, GA 30066
(770) 505-7426

How to Save Money on HVAC Service and Repairs

Heating and cooling your home is expensive enough without needing to spend hundreds of extra dollars through the year on service and repairs. You want to avoid unexpected costs that can send your household budget into turmoil. If you want to reduce the amount of money you spend on HVAC services, consider these tips to lower costs.

DIY Maintenance

While you may not be able to do all the maintenance for your HVAC system yourself, there are things that anyone can do. Keeping the vents clean and debris from around your outdoor unit can help improve efficiency and reduce wear on your unit. Check the manufacturer recommendations for maintenance and do as much as you can yourself, reducing the amount of maintenance you will need from a professional.

Flat Fees

When you have a problem with your HVAC system and need a diagnostic performed, look for companies with flat fees. This way you know upfront what it will cost for the service call without any surprises. You can find out what is wrong and get a quote. If the repair cost seems high, you can always call around to see if you can find a better price. But often the company you call will be willing to give you a fair price to get the job.

Keep Up with Service

While annual HVAC service does cost money, it can save you more in the long run. Do what maintenance you can yourself, but still schedule annual maintenance in the spring or fall when rates are the best for service by a professional. This can help reduce the needs for repairs, extend the life of your unit and keep it running efficiently.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

HVAC for Second Homes and RVs

As a responsible homeowner you exercised due diligence when choosing an HVAC contractor for residential HVAC service for your residence. You checked references and BBB (Better Business Bureau) ratings. You compared prices and equipment and established solid professional relationships. 

The same approach applies to your vacation home or RV (Recreational Vehicle). Your second home may be much smaller than your primary residence or located in a different climate zone, which could mean different HVAC requirements. For instance, you might need more or less insulation or  better windows. Available fuels can vary, as can prices. Don’t impose the values of your first home on your vacation home, rather, treat it as though you were learning for the first time. If you’ve chosen a good company there shouldn’t be any great problems. 

What if your leisure palace isn’t a “regular” home? Your lakeside villa may be a park-model mobile unit. Your beach cottage could be a motor-home or travel-trailer. There are different construction methods, power systems and space prerequisites, for example, but there are still going to be basic HVAC essentials to deal with. 

If you own a travel-trailer or motor-home you may find that your primary residential HVAC company also works on RVs or you might have to reprise your initial search to find a company that specializes in recreational vehicles. 

If you are talking about standard construction, then the biggest differences will have to do with size and location. If you are dealing with RVs you will have to familiarize yourself with some new concepts, such as battery banks, inverters, converters and appliances that that run on varied power sources. It depends on whether you are stationary and hooked to A/C power or traveling and relying on generators and batteries to make things work. Whatever you have to work with it’s a good idea to engage good professional help.