Maintenance is a never-ending project. No matter the season, there is something that must be cleaned, repaired, changed out or replaced altogether. The simple truth is that nothing lasts forever and for something to last any length of time at all, it must be taken care of.
This particular time of year, it is your furnace that needs to be taken care of. While you can use it without having it serviced, it does not work out in your favor. Regular maintenance of your furnace is essential to it working properly.
By using your furnace without having it serviced, you not only are spending more on energy costs, but you are also blowing allergens that have gathered all summer long in your vents and filters into the air you are breathing.
At Robin Aire Heating and Cooling, we understand that while you know it is necessary to maintain your home comfort system, you may not necessarily want to do it, so we make the process as painless and easy as possible. Click here to schedule your tune-up or call us today at (800) 361-0888.
A lot of us in the technical trades would really enjoy being able to explain the ins and outs of air conditioning systems to anyone who will listen. Oh, we could fill your afternoon with tales of the forced-air distribution system and explain for your listening pleasure the difference between the evaporator component on the inside and the condenser component on the outside.
If you’re like most of our customers, however, you’re not into the full-length description of how your system works. But I can promise you, you’ll like knowing how your system can perform better.
So I’ll save my technical jargon for my coffee break with the techs. And for you, let me offer up the most important factor for increased energy efficiency, improved performance and lengthened operational life for your air conditioning system. Regular maintenance.
Experts will tell you, your air conditioning system loses about 5% of its efficiency for every year that it goes without regular maintenance. And that’s just one way that skipping the maintenance routine can turn into a costly habit.
We have become somewhat accustomed to the notion that “Bigger is Better.” Whether we are at a drive-thru where you can “super size” for a better “value” than a regular meal or driving the bigger truck or SUV so you can see over the other cars, we like things BIG.
A big fish is better than a small fish. A big boat is better than a small boat. And so on… you get the idea. Surprisingly though, bigger isn’t always better when talking about a new “high efficiency” cooling system. If you bought a new air conditioner today, it will probably be smaller than the one you bought 10 to 15 years ago.
Just replacing your old A/C with a new one the same size could cause you trouble down the road because it will be too big to meet your needs. This is, of course, assuming you have the appropriately sized air conditioner for your home now.
A cooling system too big for your home will cause frequent on-and-off cycling which will affect the humidity control in your home. Poor humidity control can lead to moisture in the air which, in turn, will lead to mold and mildew, not to mention, humid air that is just plain uncomfortable.
It is hard to imagine there is a service industry these days that is saying, “Not so fast… a bigger cooling system may NOT be what your home needs. You may need just a smaller, more efficient system to have your home feeling cool and save you money on energy costs.”
We’ve all heard these stories and seen the images. When a natural disaster hits a community, friends, neighbors and charities rush in to help. It always warms the heart to see the outreach in services and donations. And yet … there’s that other side of the response. There are selfish people who try to take advantage of a bad situation and use the natural disaster as an opportunity to scam.
Often during these times, law enforcement agencies make announcements about what you should and should not look for when hiring someone to work on your home. People become aware, alert. And yet … scam artists come into communities and neighborhoods even when our fellow citizens are warned to be hyper-vigilant, even when the skies are blue, and the wind is calm, and the weather is perfect.
In other words, contractor scams get more attention during natural disasters, but they can occur at anytime, anyplace. And that means right here in Southeast Michigan. Oh, I don’t mean to scare you about any particular situation. I’m not reporting news, just tendencies. I’m talking about possibilities that call for wise practices. For example, here are some of the tips the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends for hiring someone to work on your home:
- Get recommendations from friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, insurance agents or claims adjusters.
- Deal only with licensed and insured contractors. Check with the local Better Business Bureau and Home Builders Association to see if complaints have been lodged against any contractor you’re considering.
- Get a written estimate that includes any oral promises the contractor made. Remember to ask if there’s a charge for an estimate before allowing anyone into your home.
- Take your time about signing a contract. Ask for explanations for price variations, and don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder.
Please know, we’ll be glad to help you with whatever home comfort problem you may be experiencing. At Robin Aire Heating and Cooling, Inc., we’re proud to have grown a business through referrals and recommendations from satisfied customers, and we hope our list of satisfied customers includes you too. So, if you need us, just email or call.
Logic. Intelligence. Prudence. Practicality. Fear. These are among the guiding qualities that people rely on when they decide to maintain their furnace. It’s a smart decision because it preserves an investment and assures continued comfort in cold weather. And it also protects against very real dangers, such as carbon monoxide leaks.
But what makes this idea even better is when you can bundle all of the above (energy savings, less repairs, safety checks, longer equipment life), plus additional discounts, priority service and twice-a-year tune-ups on your heating and cooling system. That’s what’s called a maintenance agreement program, and it one-ups the good idea of a tune-up into a great idea.
To learn more about the value of making routine maintenance a part of your seasonal routine, contact us today. Just call or email, and we’ll take care of you.
