Thermostat Facts for Living In Arizona During The Summer Season.

Thermostat Facts for Living In Arizona During The Summer Season.

 

 

Fact #1 -  Avoid cranking down the thermostat when you first turn on your air conditioner.

  We can’t seem to help ourselves. We push the elevator button even though it’s already lit. It’s the same thing with the thermostat. We crank the thermostat down to arctic temperatures in the hopes that it will cool faster. Except this isn’t how heat and AC systems work. Our homes don’t become cooler any faster, I can’t speak for the elevator, but I can tell you that playing the Air Conditioning Limbo game (How low can you go!) can actually damage your AC unit. So QUIT IT!

 

Fact #2 – Don’t turning off your thermostat during the Day.

 

 Many homeowners make the mistake of shutting off their thermostat and AC while They are away from home, believing it will conserve energy. In fact, turning off your AC unit is the worst thing you can do to save energy. An AC unit works best when it only slightly needs to cool a home. If the internal temperature is above 85 degrees, and you set the thermostat to the lower 70s, your AC unit will have to work extremely hard to get your home to that desired temperature.

 

 Another solution to this problem would be to buy a programmable thermostat. You can buy a programmable thermostat for about $30 and save hundreds on your AC bill each summer. Just set the thermostat to turn off the system before you leave for work , and set it to turn back on a half-hour before you're due home. If you'd rather keep your home at minimum cool- set it for 78 while you're gone, to drop back to 68 just before you arrive home.

 

 

Fact #3 Thermostat Calibration is Important

 

 A thermostat is a calibrated electrical and mechanical system that monitors temperature and then sends a signal to the AC system to cool. However, if the censoring systems within the thermostat are not properly calibrated, it can extremely affect your comfort quality. All it takes is slight bump from a passing shoulder or kids getting a little too rough inside the house can cause a thermostat to fall out of calibration. It’s also possible for a thermostat to become out of calibration over time.

 A solution to this problem is to have your thermostat calibrated once a year, call Excel Mechanical, Inc. to schedule a routine service call.

Key HVAC Maintenance Tips for Fall and Winter in Arizona

Key HVAC Maintenance Tips for Fall and Winter in Arizona

Believe or not, it DOES get cold in Tucson! Below are a few tips from Excel Mechanical, Inc. that will help you Get Your Heating System Ready For Fall/Winter in Arizona.


Tip #1 – Replace your HVAC Ductwork Filters

Replacing your home’s air filter is one of the easiest and most important steps you can take to protect your heating and cooling system. Without an air filter, dust can adhere to the working unit. Dirty units can result in anything from inefficiency to fire, so don’t overlook this simple maintenance!

A home heating unit works by drawing air from inside your home, into a heater, introducing warm air into the Ductwork and then circulating the warm air inside your home.

As you can see, this process begins and ends with the vents inside your home. And if these vents and the ductwork filters are clogged up with dust and debris, the home heating units simply won’t operate with peak efficiency. This can lead to several issues including:

• Breathing unhealthy air when dust and debris is circulated and blown into your home
• Causes the HVAC system to draw more power to circulate the air inside your home
• Increases monthly energy bills due to having to work harder to heat your home
• Fire

This is why the first step for preparing your home for winter is to replace all of the HVAC ductwork filters.

Tip #2 – Dust the House – Completely
The second easy step you can take to prepare your home for winter and ensure your heating system runs as smooth as possible is to dust your house – completely from top to bottom. Dust that finds itself trapped on vents, countertops, appliances, lampshades, and other areas will circulate through the home when the hot air is blown into your home. And after you’ve just replaced your filters, you’ll want to ensure to eliminate as much dust inside your home as possible – so these filters don’t become trapped with debris and cause the above conditions to occur. This is why we suggest spending a few hours dusting your home as much as possible to remove the debris from the house. Doing this will significantly:

• Improve the air quality inside your home
• Potentially reduce sickness and common colds, flu virus from spreading
• Help improve the heating efficiency of the HVAC system
• Save money on your monthly electrical bills

Imagine all these benefits, simply by dusting the house. But it’s true – so take a few hours on a weekend after you’re replaced your filters to dust around the house; especially those hard to reach places.

Tip #3 – Have the Home Heating System Professionally Inspected
It is recommended that the home heating system, whether it’s an all-in-one HVAC system, a furnace or even a heat-pump system to be inspected and tuned-up by a professional HVAC repair specialist before winter hits. During this inspection, they will check the following:

• Make sure all belts are tight and replaced if needed
• Inspect all fluid levels and top them off
• Make sure all lubricants are topped off and all mechanical devices are properly clean and free of debris
• Change out filters inside the heating system
• And much more…..

As winter approaches, your home heating system will begin to get quite a workout. So be proactive by simply following these three easy steps for making sure your home heating unit will operate under peak efficiency and keep your energy bills low this winter.

Get Your Heating System Ready For Winter in Arizona

If you are ready to be proactive about keeping your home, your pets, and your family healthy and warm this winter, our technicians are trained and ready to help! Call us anytime at (520)791-7049 to discuss your home’s HVAC maintenance options. At Excel Mechanical, Inc. it is our privilege to serve you and we are dedicated to providing consistently honest, prompt, and high quality service to meet your every need.

Call Excel Mechanical, Inc. 520-791-7049

Monsoon Tips for your Air Conditioning System and Home

Photo taken by Jeff Beamish

In late June, the heat rises to uncomfortable levels. Dry grasses bake in relentless sun and shade is favored over distance while parking. Then the wind picks up. Clouds start rolling in. Cumulus thunderclouds blacken the sky, and most Arizonans wait anxiously to listen to the first drops of the rhythm of the rain.

Rain is much needed here in Arizona. However, monsoon storms can be destructive. That's why it's important to be one step ahead of the storm and take proper measures so your family is prepared for chances of a potential monsoon fallout.

1. Trim back vegetation.

Prune your trees so there aren’t branches touching your roof or house. If branches are too close, there is a chance they will smash into your home. Remove any branches that look dead; they’ll be the first to fall during a storm and will prevent excessive cleanup after the storm hits. Also, thin out the leaves. If you have young, fragile trees, stake them to the ground because they will be especially susceptible to damage during a monsoon storm.

    2. Replace your air filters.

System air filters can get clogged quickly during dust storms. Start off the season by replacing them, and then make sure to check them frequently – particularly after a storm. By doing so, you’ll enable your air conditioner to run more efficiently while also improving your indoor air quality.

     3. Consider Moving your AC unit to higher ground.

Besides being struck by debris or potential lighting power surges, the other leading cause of AC damage during monsoon season is flooding. The only practical way to reducing this potential threat is to consider moving your cooling unit to a higher platform.

     4. Get a tune up.

This is the time of year when you definitely don’t want to experience a system failure. Temperatures can climb into the 90s inside your home if it’s not air conditioned. Don’t take the chance!! Get a tune up to ensure everything is running smoothly. Call Excel Mechanical, Inc. today to schedule a maintenance tune up.

Indoor Air Quality Tips to Reduce Allergens

 

Spring can be a beautiful time of the year... But if you are one of the 50 million Americans that suffer from seasonal allergies, spring can be a drag. Fortunately, these simple HVAC Maintenance tips will help reduce the amount of indoor allergens, and will keep symptoms in check.



1. Invest in high-quality furnace air filters.

Search for Air Filters with a MERV 8 rating or more to catch more miniscule particles. High quality furnace filters should be your first course of action when fighting against poor air quality in your home. Check filters monthly and replace them at least every three months

2. Keep indoor pets well groomed.

Pets can carry allergens, pollen and mold can be trapped on their coats from being outside but regular washing and grooming can keep allergen levels down. If you have pets that are primarily outdoors, it may be best to keep them out of the bedroom to lessen allergens.

3. Check pollen count forecast and plan the day accordingly.

Pollen.com offers you a national allergy forecast, so you can stay updated on pollen counts and allergens.

4. Invest in air quality products.

There are countless products available that will make the air in your home feel fresh and clean. Air Purifiers extinguish pollutants and particles directly in the air, cleansing it first hand.
Make sure that the unit you choose fits your room's dimensions. A smaller unit in a large room will not be effective. Also, avoid models that generate ozone as part of the cleaning operation. As you shop, look for a higher clean-air delivery rate (CADR) number. The higher the number, the stronger the air-cleaning power of your unit.

5. Schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment.

Spring is a great time to schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment. Not only does regular preventative maintenance keep your system healthy, service by an HVAC professional will help reduce indoor allergens and ensure your system is dust free.