Breathe A Sigh of Relief!

As the focus on greener living, reducing energy consumption and minimizing our carbon footprint has grown in popularity over the last few years, it has also brought to light a need for healthier indoor-air quality. The green living movement has shed light on the impurities lurking indoors and the need for whole-house air cleaners in today’s homes. Air cleaning devices are able to remove many pollutants from indoor air and improve the quality of the air we breathe. Air cleaning devices which are designed to be installed in the ductwork of a home’s central heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system clean the air in the whole house; thus the name, whole-house air cleaners!

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollutants are among the top five environmental health risks to people to date, due to the harmful materials they contain. The EPA breaks down pollutants that can affect air quality in a home into the following two categories:

• Particulate matter which includes dust, smoke, pollen, animal dander, tobacco smoke, particles generated from combustion appliances such as cooking stoves, and particles associated with tiny organisms such as dust mites, molds, bacteria, and viruses.

• Gaseous pollutants which come from combustion processes. Sources include gas cooking stoves, vehicle exhaust, and tobacco smoke. They also come from building materials, furnishings, and the use of products such as adhesives, paints, varnishes, cleaning products, and pesticides which are VOCs (volatile organic compounds).  

Whole-house air cleaners are the most efficient way to remove harmful particulate and gaseous pollutants from large indoor spaces, especially those with cathedral ceilings. Another advantage to whole-house air cleaners is they help protect your central heat and air equipment from damage caused by fine particle buildup, reduce future repair costs, help extend equipment life and even decrease the amount of settling dust in your home. Who doesn't want to breathe easier and dust less?

If anyone in your home suffers from frequent allergies or respiratory illnesses, a whole-home air cleaner can aid as a permanent solution. If you’re interested in learning more about whole-house room cleaners, please visit our website or call us at (602) 814-0004 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced technicians. We are proud to offer the best products, world-class customer service, financing and warranties available.

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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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Need a New Thermostat?

Have you upgraded to a programmable thermostat? If not, there are some things you definitely need to know! Programming the temperature in your home or business to fit your needs is not only energy efficient but it saves you time and money.

With the ability to set your thermostat for specific times of the day when it is cooler, hotter or when no one will be benefiting from a comfortable climate is where a programmable thermostat contributes the most. When used as directed, “they save families an average of $300 to $400 a year on energy costs. According to Energy Star, an average household spends close to $2,200 a year on energy bills, half of which goes toward heating and cooling empty and unused spaces. In other words, people are spending too much to heat and cool their homes and are wasting energy in the process."

“If your energy bills are getting out of control, a simple, programmable thermostat may save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your heating and cooling systems. And there is more to these devices than just saving money. They make it easy to preset the best temperature for you when you sleep, wake up, go to work and come home. Using less energy means you are helping the environment.” http://programmable-thermostats-review.toptenreviews.com/

According to ENERGY.GOV, when it comes to programmable thermostats, “consider the schedules of everyone in the household. If there is a time during the day when the house is unoccupied for four hours or more, it makes sense to adjust the temperature during those periods… In the summer…keeping your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 78°F (26°C) only when you are at home and need cooling. Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal before you wake or return home.”

Wolff Mechanical offers programmable thermostats, including the latest and greatest technology for Wi-Fi. Using technology such as a 7-Day Programmable thermostat with touch-screen, menu-driving programming, and more is just one of the ways we are dedicated to heating and cooling Phoenix efficiently and cost effectively. Visit our website to learn more. With free inspections, numerous specials, financing, and warrantees, we provide the best customer service guaranteed.

Stop Air Conditioning Your Attic!

A duct system that is well-designed and properly sealed can make your home much more comfortable, energy efficient and safer during our hot Arizona valley summers. Sealing and insulating ducts can help with common comfort problems, such as rooms that are too hot in the summer.

In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set. Sealing those leaks in the ducts is a must to get better performance from your heating and cooling system. In addition, insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces that get especially hot or cold (such as attics, garages, or crawlspaces) can save significant energy.

So how do you know if your home has poorly performing ducts? The Energy Star website has several things to look for which are good indicators:

• you have high summer and winter utility bills;
• you have rooms that are difficult to heat and cool;
• you have stuffy rooms that never seem to feel comfortable;
• your ducts are located in an attic, crawlspace, or the garage;
• you find tangled or kinked flexible ducts in your system.

If you recognize any of those indicators, have a professional air conditioning company use a product such as Aeroseal in your ducts. Aeroseal allows them to find and seal any problem cracks without causing damage to your home. It only takes one application to seal undetectable holes in your ductwork with 98% effectiveness.

Have annual maintenance done on your system before hot or cold weather begins. When air is leaking out of cracks in the ducts, extra air and energy must be used to heat or cool the space causing more stress on your HVAC unit. A professional technician can find small problems before they get bigger, such as determining if your fan motor is dying; a big warning sign for an air conditioner. A technician can also check electrical connections and check your voltage and will add refrigerant to your system.

Consider installing new HVAC equipment if yours is over 10 years old. A well-designed and sealed duct system may allow you to downsize to a smaller, less costly heating and cooling system that will provide better service.

While you can’t eliminate all air leakage, sealing ducts and other areas where air can escape will help significantly. Wolff Mechanical is dedicated to helping your home achieve maximum efficiency, reliability and comfort. Visit our website to view the services we provide and call us today for a free in-home estimate.

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Save Your AC, Use the Ceiling Fan

Using ceiling fans in your home may help cut down your energy costs; however there are a few things of which you should be aware to use your ceiling fan efficiently. Ceiling fans do not actually cool air in the room. The only reason a ceiling fan should be turned on is if there is someone in the room who will feel the benefits of the air movement.

“Ceiling fans are considered the most effective... fans, because they effectively circulate the air in a room to create a draft throughout the room. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort... Install a fan in each room that needs to be cooled during hot weather.” When you raise the thermostat’s setting, you can save about 1 percent on your energy bills for every one degree you lower your thermostat. Over the summer, that 4 percent savings will add up.

When buying ceiling fans, be sure to look for the Energy Star label. Fans that earn the label move air on average 20% more efficiently than standard models. Be sure to check the noise ratings, and, if possible, listen to your fan in operation before you buy it.

When installing a ceiling fan, remember “ceiling fans are only appropriate in rooms with ceilings at least eight feet high. Fans work best when the blades are 7 to 9 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling. Fans should be installed so their blades are no closer than 8 inches from the ceiling and 18 inches from the walls.

“Larger ceiling fans can move more air than smaller fans. A 36- or 44-inch diameter fan will cool rooms up to 225 square feet, while fans that are 52 inches or more should be used in larger rooms. Multiple fans work best in rooms longer than 18 feet. Small and medium-sized fans will provide efficient cooling in a 4- to 6-foot diameter area, while larger fans are effective up to 10 feet.”

This summer, save energy and stay comfortable by using your ceiling fans. It will alleviate the strain on your wallet and your air conditioning unit. For more information about ways you can save energy throughout your home, contact Wolff Mechanical today. We’re happy to put our expertise to good use for homeowners in the Phoenix valley area.

Image source: http://pixabay.com/en/house-panel-ceiling-fan-light-315331/

AC on the Fritz?

We’re all used to the summer’s scorching temperatures here in the valley of the sun. We rely on air conditioning to survive it year after year. You know the game; dashing from one air conditioned area to the next air conditioned area, using your shirt to grab handles that have been baking in the sun’s heat, sun shades in car windows and oven mitts on hand to drive until the AC cools down the inside of your vehicle. But if the temps in your home or business start climbing when you have your air conditioner running, we start to panic. Not to worry though, it could be due to some common problems putting a strain on your air conditioning system. 

The number one issue is usually a lack of adequate maintenance to your system. To keep your air conditioner running efficiently requires regular maintenance. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you use a qualified technician that can properly inspect and repair your air conditioning system. Using someone who is not qualified can exacerbate problems rather than fix them. Here are some common air conditioner problems that a reputable technician will look for when servicing your system: 

• Refrigerant leaks
• Inadequate maintenance
• Electric control failure
• Sensor problems
• Drainage problems 

In addition to having your AC unit serviced, be sure to change out your air filters every month. Air filters clog with dust and particles quickly which cause your system to work harder to keep an adequate airflow moving through your home. Make sure that when your air conditioner is on, you close your home's windows and outside doors.

If you need assistance with any air conditioning repair, installation, maintenance or services in Phoenix or across the valley, Wolff Mechanical has certified technicians ready to assist you.

Wolff Mechanical is dedicated to helping your home achieve maximum efficiency, reliability and comfort. Visit our website to learn more and call us today for a free in-home estimate.

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