Prevention

Did you know that the air conditioning equipment on
your home needs to be maintained? It’s just like taking
care of your automobile. You change the oil and check
the tires. You grease the joints. You make sure the brakes
are checked. You wash it not only because it makes it look
good but also because you know it can prevent future
damage.

How much time do you spend in your car in a day?
1 hour? 2 hours? How much time do you spend in your
home every day? 12 hours? More? You need to maintain
your home’s heating and cooling equipment for the very
same reasons you maintain the family car. You want to
be able to budget repairs, and not be caught off-guard by
a large, unexpected expense. Like regular car maintenance,
you need to have your cooling/heating system thoroughly
checked. 

This includes: the furnace or electric air handler, the indoor
coil, the duct system, the thermostat and the outdoor unit.
Be wary of companies that offer "free" or "low-cost" checkups.
They will "discover" all kinds of problems to get your money.
Call your energy company to see what the price range is for
maintenance checks in your area. They will know the best
companies and what they charge.

A high number of "checkpoints" is another common misleading tactic. They get these high numbers by breaking down the checks to the ridiculous. Some points go as far as opening the furnace door. Do you think opening the furnace door should be a checkpoint? Checking equipment is a checkpoint. Be selective. Check with the BBB. Call your local energy company. Be careful.

-Kenneth Stanley, Owner