www.mcclintockhvac.com

Week of May 14, 2012

Outdoor Units and Your Dog - your outdoor unit should not be accessible to your dog. Not only could they chew wires and drains causing expensive repairs, but dog urine has a very acidic content that eats away at aluminum, which is what your coil and fins are made of. Should a dog urinate on the unit, the fins and coil will start to deteriorate within a short length of time. If the unit is running at the time the dog urinates the urine will be sucked into the inside and swirled around causing faster deterioration. The eventual outcome is the replacement of the coil and fins or the entire unit.

• week of May 5, 2012 - Why have outdoor units gotten so big, my new one is twice as tall as the one it replaced? Units are larger to be more efficient and cost less to run. A bigger unit houses a bigger coil which cools more efficiently and uses less wattage. Less wattage used equals cost savings!
• week of April 30, 2012 - Ants and other bugs can cause your outdoor unit to stop working: Bugs love your outdoor unit, especially during the summer. They can cause it to break down by getting in the contactor, which is a switch that brings your unit on, and causing it to short. Remove plants, leaves, even pine needles from around the unit and use bug spray frequently or use a barrier insecticide.
• week of April 23, 2012 - Check your air filter regularly! Check your air filter every month, especially during heavy use in the summer. If the filter looks dirty, change it! A clean filter will prevent dust and dirt from building up on your system, which will not only help your system run better; it can prevent expensive repairs and early system failure.
• week of April 16, 2012 - Save on energy costs by using a Programmable Thermostat. You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10 to 15% for 8 hours. You can do this automatically by having a qualified technician install a programmable thermostat in your home and program it to turn the temperature in your home up or down according to a preset schedule.
• week of April 9, 2012 - Is R-22 Freon (refrigerant) still available? Yes it is and it will be available for many years to come. While it is being phased out, chemical manufacturers may still produce R-22 to service existing equipment until January 1, 2020. After that date, the use of existing refrigerant, including refrigerant that has been recovered and recycled, will be allowed to service existing systems. For more information, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency web site.
• week of April 2, 2012 - What problems can be caused by a too large or small system? An oversized system will cost more to install and because it will have a shorter run time, your home will experience improper humidity control and large temperature swings. However an undersized system will be constantly running so you will have higher energy costs, reduced comfort in your home and the system will have a shorter life.
• week of March 26, 2012 - Can an air cleaning system reduce colds and flu in my home? Studies show that the Trane CleanEffects, a whole house air cleaner, can remove more than 99% of common viruses and germs from the filtered air in your home. This means the Trane CleanEffects can be a powerful tool for helping battle the flu virus and cold germs at home, where you and your family may be exposed to viruses that circulate in the air you breathe indoors.
• week of March 19, 2012 - Before you call for emergency service, we recommend trying these 3 tips, they can save you money and time.
  • Check the thermostat to verify that it is working. If the thermostat screen is blank, check to see if it has batteries (some models do) and replace if necessary. If the screen it flashing a "code", write the code down and turn they system off then back on again to see if it "resets"
  • Check your breaker box to verify the breaker is on.
  • Check outdoor fuses or disconnect
  • week of February 13, 2012 - Change your filters, not only will you system heat your home better, it will save you money on your utility bill because your system will operate more efficiently.

• week of March 12, 2012 - Seal and insulate your home to save money on your energy bills!
  • Apply silicone caulk to small cracks and polyurethane expandable spray foam to larger cracks.
  • Install weather stripping to windows and doors
  • Check or have the insulation levels in your attic, calls and crawlspace checked. If necessary add more insulation.
  • Many home improvement stores offer how-to clinics on this subject.

• week of March 5, 2012 - Proper thermostat usage can save you money (part 2). Set your thermostat as low as comfortably possible in the winter. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall heating bill will be.

• week of February 27, 2012 - Proper thermostat usage can save you money (part 1). Avoid setting your thermostat at a warmer setting than normal when you turn on your heat. It will not warm your house any faster and it could result in the system running longer, an unnecessary expense.

• week of February 20, 2012 - Are you ducts insulated? You can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the register if your ducts aren't insulated and are in unheated spaces such as the attic or crawlspace.