Educate Yourself

Have you ever been confused when listening to an air conditioner repairman? You’re not alone! Some people are even uneasy when it comes to having to deal with an air conditioning issue because they feel incompetent and fear they will be taken advantage of by their repairman. Admittedly, there is a lot of jargon used in the world of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), but that’s no reason a repairman should keep their customer in the dark.

Some HVAC companies may use specific terminology as a way to appear more experienced. Unfortunately, others may simply use it as a way to complicate their analysis and recommendation as a way to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. At Wolff Mechanical, we believe our skilled professionals should not only be dedicated to offering the best HVAC services valley-wide, but are also a resource to provide our customers with valuable understanding so they can make educated decisions.

As a service to our customers and for the general consumer, we have compiled a list of typical jargon on our website which we felt were important for all HVAC consumers to understand. Most of these are specific to air conditioning, but some overlap with heating lingo, so as to help the air conditioning consumer understand how some of these phrases cross over in the world of HVAC in general. Please use this page as a way to educate yourself and others in making more informed decisions when it comes to purchasing, repairing and maintaining the most efficient AC system for as long as possible.

Wolff Mechanical is a full-service HVAC provider for Phoenix and the outlying areas. We have been in business in the valley with an A+ rating at the BBB for over 22 years. We were named number one by ranking AZ business magazine in 2013, by votes from our loyal customers. Our strong commitment to customer service in the heating and cooling industry, as well as the value we place on educating our customers, are some of the many reasons we are the leader of the pack!

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Who's Afraid of AC Repairs?

As a homeowner or renter, you can usually tell when your air conditioning system has a problem just by listening to how it is working or feeling a difference in your home’s comfort level. You don’t want to ignore these tell-tale signs that your AC needs a repair. If they go unchecked, you risk further damage to your unit, increased energy bills and possibly even having to replace your unit all together.

One such sign of a problem is if your air conditioner starts and stops frequently without affecting the air as much as it used to. This may be an indication that you have a refrigerant leak. Repairs such as this are often the case when you notice these changes in the performance of your air conditioner. It is a piece of machinery after all and periodic repairs come up.

Here in the Arizona desert, we rely heavily on our air conditioning units in the summer. There are certain things you can do to ensure longer efficiency of your unit, such as monthly or quarterly filter changes and having an annual inspection performed by a professional when you haven’t used the AC in a while. However, many repairs on your HVAC unit actually need to be completed by a professional repair person. Things such as replacing the refrigerant are not something any do-it-yourselfer should tackle. It takes a professional with the correct equipment to find the leak, fix it, pump more refrigerant back in the system and test the levels.

With factors such as age of equipment, SEER, and health concerns, Wolff Mechanical technicians are trained to effectively asses all of your HVAC needs prior to a repair in order to ensure that your air conditioning unit gets the attention it deserves. Upon completion of an inspection, our AC specialists will keep you informed every step of the repair process by taking into account the estimated cost of repairs, warranty concerns and potential use of an air conditioning system.

With Wolff Mechanical’s expert technicians, you can enjoy the comforts of an efficient air conditioning unit worry free and without breaking the bank. Even if you need emergency air conditioning repair, we are ready to help. We have live dispatchers to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week at (602) 814-0004. To learn more about our services, please visit our website.

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Efficient Home, Happy Home

Every day in the United States alone, around one-sixth of the total electricity used goes to air condition buildings. So much energy being used to keep us comfortable every day needs to be used responsibly. One way everyone can easily help in using electricity responsibly is by maintaining a commitment to energy efficiency.

In air conditioning, SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the means used for rating an air conditioner based on the amount of energy it uses effectively. The rating represents the amount of cool air produced (measured in BTUs per hour), to the amount of electricity used to produce that air (measured in watt-hours) and averaged over the length of the cooling season. The higher the SEER number rating given, the higher the energy efficiency of the machine.

As concerns about the environment increase, the more important a high SEER rating on air conditioners has become. In 1992, the minimum SEER standard was 10. A law passed in January 2006 that made the minimum SEER rating 13. The increase in SEER ratings from 10 to 13 means the efficiency of air conditioners has improved a minimum of 30 percent since 2006. These days, the most efficient models can have SEER ratings of over 27!

Here are some incentives to consider for using a high-efficiency SEER system:

• Lower monthly utility bills
• Monetary rebate and incentive programs
• Environmental impact
• Greater control over indoor temperature and humidity

While we are advocates of higher efficiency systems that use less energy, save you money and provide better service, you don’t want to just buy the biggest, highest SEER-rated unit possible. It’s important to work with a reputable contractor who can properly size a system that’s the best fit for your home. http://www.ac-heatingconnect.com/seer-101/

Choosing equipment with a high SEER rating is the best way to increase your home’s energy efficiency for your AC unit. For more suggestions or to learn more about our Phoenix air conditioning repair and replacement services, visit our website.

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