With Freon Prices Rising, How Long Can You Put Off Replacing That Air Conditioner?

With Freon Prices Rising, How Long Can You Put Off Replacing That Air Conditioner?With air conditioning required almost year-round in southern Arizona, you might be concerned about rising Freon prices. Freon is the refrigerant used in all air conditioners, from central and window A/Cs to the air conditioner in your car. Unlike gasoline, Freon isn’t used up as it cycles through the system, but every so often it needs to be recharged. Read More »

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Selecting A New Air Conditioner: Weigh These 6 Features, In Addition To The SEER Ratings

Purchasing a new air conditioner is a big investment, so you should spend time carefully researching the options that are available. SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) ratings are helpful when choosing a new system, but only to a point. In addition to the SEER rating, also consider these six factors: Read More »

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The Do-It-Yourself Energy Assessment: A Weekend Project With Long-Term Benefits

The Do-It-Yourself Energy Assessment: A Weekend Project With Long-Term BenefitsAn energy assessment allows you to identify energy-wasting areas in your home and correct them. The type of problems you look for are air leaks, faulty or inadequate insulation, lighting problems, issues with vapor barriers, outdated appliances and equipment. Read More »

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Your Heat Pump Does 2 Jobs — That’s Why Maintenance Is Doubly Important

With winter gone and summer not too far away, it is time to start getting your home ready for battling heat instead of cold. Your heat pump is a big part of this battle, since it serves the double duty of both heating and cooling your home. Before you transition to using it for full time cooling, it might be a good idea to have a professional inspect the unit and do vital maintenance. This can save your money, and can also prevent breakdowns when you need your system the most. There are several things a professional can do for you. Read More »

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Shh! Hear That Noise In The Ducts?

Shh! Hear That Noise In The Ducts?Noise in the ducts of your house is annoying at best, and can actually be damaging to your Arizona home in worst-case scenarios. Noisy ducts are usually caused by improperly operating HVAC equipment, or by bad placement of the ducts. If you notice any irritating sounds emanating from your ductwork, you can use this handy guide to determine the kind of problem and whether it is serious enough to contact a HVAC professional right away, or whether small adjustments on your part can eliminate the sound. Read More »

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You’ve Nursed Your Furnace Through Heating Season — Now It’s Time To Buy

With spring arriving in southern Arizona, many residents are breathing a sigh of relief that their worn-out furnaces made it to the end of the heating season. If you’re one of them, you’ll be happy to know that springtime is a great time to buy. Here are four great reasons why: Read More »

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Making The Switch To Tankless Water Heating: How Many Units Will You Need?

Making The Switch To Tankless Water Heating: How Many Units Will You Need?Water heating accounts for nearly 20 percent of the energy consumption in a typical home — and that number could be even higher for an older heater. An upgrade to tankless water heating can cut that number significantly but you need to choose the correct number of heaters. Read More »

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Designing And Retrofitting For Passive Solar

If you’re considering switching to solar power, there are a number of options open to you. Designing and retrofitting your own passive solar energy source is easy to accomplish by following a few simple steps.  Read More »

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Use Your Tax Return For A Heat Pump And Enjoy The Payoff

Use Your Tax Return For A Heat Pump And Enjoy The PayoffA heat pump is an optimal choice for your HVAC system, and applying a tax return or credit to the purchase of a heat pump is a great way to finance one. Heat pumps provide high-efficiency energy, are less obtrusive with fewer parts than other heating sources, and have a long lifespan, lasting an average of 14 years. Also, with no combustible fuel source, such as gas or oil, it is a much safer way to go. Read More »

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An Electronic Air Cleaner — Because You Need A Breath Of Fresh Air

Electronic air cleaners can be found in many homes these days, as more and more people discover the benefits of clean indoor air. Not all air purifiers are created equal. How do you know you’re getting the best air cleaner for your money? From small, single-unit models that can purify a small bedroom to those designed to work inside your home’s central HVAC system and purify your entire indoor air–there are a lot of options for homeowners. Read More »

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