An important part of maintaining your HVAC system includes changing air filters to keep your indoor air clean. Most Valley of the Sun heating and cooling professionals recommend a twice-yearly check-up of HVAC systems to keep them running efficiently, reducing energy costs, and extending the lifespan of these units. Changing out air filters can lower monthly utility costs by up to 15% in the Valley of the Sun. Let’s take a look at some of the best reasons to check and change out your air filters.

Importance of Air Filters

Your first line of defense against dust, debris, and allergens from entering your home is your HVAC system’s air filtration. An HVAC system works by bringing air into your house by way of the heating or cooling system. It’s important that this air getting heated or cooled is clean, and the air filter is what keeps the air clean indoors. A clean air filter reduces contaminants such as dust, debris, mold spores, pet dander, bacteria, and other household allergens.

Reasons to Change Air Filters

When air passes through the filter, microscopic particles of dust and debris get trapped by it. These particles eventually become so widespread that it’s difficult for air to pass through. When the air filter becomes clogged, many issues can occur impacting your HVAC system and energy costs. Also, when your HVAC system works harder, it releases even more carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases into your home’s environment. Changing out your air filter takes less than five minutes and is one of the easiest and most inexpensive things you can do to keep your system running smoothly all year long.

When to Change Air Filters

The EPA recommends changing out air filters at least every three months. Your family may benefit from changing out air filters more often for these reasons:

• Family members with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues
• Young children at home
• Smokers in the home
• Long-haired cats or dogs
• Elderly family members

In these situations, you may want to consider changing out your air filter monthly. Replacing your air filter at the same time each month, when you pay the utility bill, helps develop a regular habit to maintain clean indoor air.

Call Cool Blew

Cool Blew professionals are your local experts in understanding HVAC air filters. Call us today at 623-872-2900 to schedule your maintenance visit and check your air filters. Our technicians will be happy to answer any of your HVAC system concerns 24/7/365. Our customers are our number one priority.

Maintaining your heating and cooling system is key to keeping your house operating smoothly during the year. In the Valley of the Sun, it’s especially important to tune up your HVAC equipment twice- yearly. When you neglect components for too long, you may be let down by your system not functioning when you need it most.
Buying a maintenance agreement with your local HVAC professionals ensures that preventive service will be covered throughout the year. You’ll have a heating tune up and a cooling tune up covered to ensure the longevity of your HVAC system. It just makes sense to protect your HVAC system with regular care that manufacturers recommend.

Why Does My Unit Need Routine Maintenance?

It’s easy to forget to schedule maintenance and having an agreement allows you worry-free scheduling and appointments at your convenience. Routine maintenance includes:

• Lubricating moving parts
• Inspecting the thermostat
• Inspecting the outside unit
• Checking air filters
• Checking for leaks
• Tightening loose wire connections.

What Are the Benefits of An HVAC Service Plan?

When you purchase maintenance services, your twice-yearly tune ups deliver:

• Decreased risk of HVAC system breakdowns.
• An HVAC system that is ready to perform at peak levels of performance.
• Money savings in overall system maintenance and unexpected repair costs.
• Increased system lifespan helping you avoid early HVAC system replacement.
• Increased energy efficiency from an expertly maintained HVAC system can decrease energy consumption up to 15%.

Why Purchase an HVAC Service Agreement?

When you buy an HVAC maintenance agreement with locally-owned Cool Blew, your HVAC equipment will always receive the attention it needs to maintain its efficiency. An important consideration to be aware of is that most HVAC systems have regular maintenance as part of the warranty agreement.

Cool Blew

Call our technicians today at 623-872-2900 for more information on our HVAC maintenance agreement. Our professionals will help keep you comfortable throughout the year. You’ll have the benefits of worry-free maintenance and discounts on repairs. It’s always essential to select a qualified company to service your HVAC system. Locally owned Cool Blew is available 24/7 every day of the year for your servicing needs.

Here are five easy tips that can help you maintain a comfortable home while also saving money on your monthly utility bill.

1. Replace Air Filters

What’s the top cause of your system constantly turning on and off? Dusty, dirty, clogged HVAC air filters can contribute to uneven indoor temperatures. Changing your home’s air filters monthly will save you money on utility bills and increase the lifespan of your HVAC system. A clean air filter can reduce your system’s energy usage by up to 15%.

2. Seal Doors and Windows

Windows and doors are generally the second biggest offenders for heat or cooling loss. The best way to check for loss is to use a flashlight. When light shines through frame cracks or caulking, it means your home is losing conditioned air. It’s a clear sign that it’s time to use caulk and sealant. Doing this DIY step is a quick way to keep indoor temperatures comfortable.

3. Strategic Placement of Area Rugs

Flooring, like saltillo tile, linoleum, bamboo, natural and engineered hardwood can be chilly to walk on during cooler months. If you want a warm, comfortable experience for your feet, place area rugs in strategic locations throughout your home to keep heat from escaping through the tile and floorboards.

4. HVAC Thermostat Placement

A thermostat placed on an interior wall will operate at higher efficiency levels when it’s not placed near windows, exposed to direct sunlight from a skylight, or subject to frequent air drafts from opening doors. According to the Department of Energy, thermostats should be located where natural room air currents — warm air rising, cool air sinking — occur. A certified HVAC professional or trusty handyman can help you with the optimal thermostat location.

5. Invest in a Smart Home

A smart, long-term investment would be to consider installing a home automation system to save even more on monthly expenditures. A home automation system may include smart thermostats, smart power strips, smart lighting, smart appliances, and any other home automation technology such as Alexa that will remotely monitor and control your house. You’ll save money in the long run on your energy bills.

Use Cool Blew

Implementing these five tips will save you money on your monthly utility bills. How to expertly control indoor temperatures is what your local professionals at Cool Blew can do for you with HVAC installation and repair. Call our experienced technicians today at 623-872-2900 to schedule your appointment at a day and time convenient for you.

Fall has officially arrived in the Valley of the Sun. It’s time to transition from monsoon season to outdoor dining, outside festivals, and pleasant meals on your balcony, deck, portico, or patio. Running a household is challenging in the best of times. Between landscaping changes, preparing for upcoming holidays, and typical house repairs, you and your family can stay busy keeping up with everything.  You’re faced with so many demands on your precious time, it helps to have a simple system in place to lighten the workload.

HVAC ABCs

For many homeowners, programming the thermostat is the extent of their air conditioning involvement. That is, until the AC unit breaks down. Here are a few handy ABCs of HVAC service that will help you keep your system in top-notch form.

A is for Air Filters

Changing your air filters on a monthly basis, especially in Arizona, is a great habit to get into. Living in Phoenix means dealing with tons of ultra-fine desert dirt swirling through the air during monsoon season dust storms. The extremely hot, usually dry Sonoran Desert climate, excess of particulate matter from farms and minimally landscaped properties, and dust almost constantly floating in the air, necessitates paying attention to your air filters. Homeowners with cats and dogs know that pet dander can accumulate at a high rate. Clean AC air filters are your first line defense against a house full of pet generated dander.

B is for Breaker Switch

Anytime your air conditioning unit stops working, the first thing you should always do is check your breaker switch. Power outages, power surges, power poles knocked down due to car accidents or monsoon thunderstorms, and brownouts can trip your breaker. Many times, power will go out for a brief moment then back on without you realizing what has happened. Yet, 30 minutes later, you notice your house is getting very warm. Over the years, Cool Blew technicians have made numerous service calls for worn down, faulty, or easily tripped breaker switches.

C is for Capacitors

Actually, your AC unit has many Cs in it. Capacitor, compressor, condenser, coils, and contactor. But one of the most common air conditioning repairs is replacing burnt-out capacitors. In fact, more than 66% of all air conditioning repairs are related to this and other similar electrical issues.

Cool Blew is Here to Keep You Cool

Scheduling regular maintenance on your HVAC system twice a year, in spring and in fall, is the best advice we can offer to keep your HVAC system running smoothly. Call your local Cool Blew professionals today at 623-872-2900 to schedule an appointment. Your comfort is our business.

Summer is winding down in the Valley of the Sun. You’re probably more than ready for a break from the relentless heat and monsoon thunderstorms this summer. Are you sure that your HVAC system is ready for the seasonal change to fall? The following are some tips to prepare for the annual fall kickoff as the temperatures steadily dip below the century mark.

Late Summer AC Unit Outdoors Cleaning

Summer storms often result in branches, leaves, and debris accumulating around exterior air conditioning units. With the monsoon season officially ending in a few weeks, this is the perfect time to clear vegetation and dirt that can impact HVAC functionally. Trim back bushes and landscaping that surround your unit. Remove dead leaves, branches, and weeds.

Late Summer AC Unit Indoors Cleaning

Summer winds also can wreak havoc on the interior of your HVAC system, causing dust to quickly collect inside your unit, ductwork, and filters. With summer almost over, replace or clean your indoor air filters. It’s a simple task that can dramatically improve your indoor air quality and the efficiency of your system.

Quick Visual HVAC System Inspection

While much of your system isn’t visible, you can still conduct a preliminary inspection to determine if there are any obvious issues. Grab a flashlight. Inspect the outdoor unit, as well as your furnace, vents, and any visible areas of ductwork. Look for potential problems like leaks, loose seals, or cracks. Next, turn on your system. Check to make sure air is moving properly through every vent.

HVAC Technician Tune-Up

Not every issue can be discovered through a visual inspection. This is why it’s important to get regular tune-ups to ensure your system is working as it should be. A professionally trained HVAC technician knows exactly what to look for, as well as what to do to extend the life and efficiency of your system. This includes lubricating moving parts and tightening electrical connections.

Winter chill is just around the corner. Be prepared by scheduling a late summer or early fall tune-up with Cool Blew. It’s the best way to ensure the efficiency of your system and prevent a small issue from turning into a costly repair. Call us today at 623-872-2900 to schedule a time that’s convenient for you.

School is out, temperatures are climbing into the triple digits, and Memorial Day weekend is here. The unofficial kickoff to summer has arrived, and it’s important to ensure that your air conditioning system is running properly.

Going Away for Memorial Day?

Don’t consider setting your thermostat to an uncomfortably high temperature if you’re heading out of town. The worst thing you can do is come back from a holiday weekend away to a stifling hot house. When you arrive home and blast the air conditioner to lower indoor temperatures, your HVAC system will be working overtime, and your next month’s utility bill will increase proportionately.

The idea of turning off your HVAC system is even more detrimental. Indoor temperatures will climb rapidly, and indoor plants will wilt. Mold and mildew can potentially begin growing due to a lack of air circulation and high humidity levels. Running your AC at a slightly higher than normal temperature is the way to keep air circulating and avoid having to crank your system upon your return.

Cool Tips

Whether you’re staying home or going away, these suggestions will help your home’s air conditioning system work efficiently.

• Change out your air filter. A clogged air filter will result in your unit working harder and running more often to keep your home cool. According to the EPA, dirty air filters contribute to an indoor concentration of pollutants that is two to five times higher than outdoors, impacting your family’s health, especially for family members suffering from seasonal allergies or respiratory ailments.
• Invest in a smart thermostat. These thermostats can be set to help you maintain comfortable indoor temperatures and save on your monthly energy bills. They’re easy to install and use remotely with a smartphone app. Local utility companies even offer special incentives for homeowners to install programmable thermostats. APS offers rebates or credits for qualifying smart thermostats. SRP offers a bill credit per thermostat for eligible smart thermostats.
• Closing blinds, drapes, and curtains will help keep your home cool whether you’re away or at home. Sunshine can heat up indoor temps, causing your AC to work harder and less efficiently.

The professionals at Cool Blew understand the extreme summer heat and the demands placed on your HVAC system. If you haven’t already scheduled your spring air conditioning tune-up, now is a great time to do so. Call our expert technicians today at 623-872-2900 to schedule maintenance.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Homeowners deal with many costs to keep a house cool, the pool running, and the landscaping green. Now that the heat is on, you’ll be spending more on utilities. Here are some best practices to consider when it comes to keeping costs in check.

Keep Air Filters Clean

Replacing your AC system’s HVAC air filter every month will cool your home faster with better air flow.

Lower Your Water Heater Thermostat

Lowering the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees or less can save up to 15% per month on utility bills. And with hot weather in the foreseeable future, taking a cooler shower just feels better, too.

Raise Your AC Thermostat

A common misconception is that setting your thermostat at a cooler than normal setting when you turn on the AC cools down your house quicker. In fact, your AC will not cool the house down faster and could even result in excessive cooling. Higher utility bills will be the outcome. By raising the thermostat up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day, you can save almost 19% in energy costs. Even raising the thermostat by one degree can save up to 4% on monthly utility costs.

Implement These Other Seemingly Minor Tweaks

Even small adjustments can have a big impact on your utility bill when it comes to energy usage.

• Closing blinds, drapes, and curtains during daytime hours helps keep the heat outside. Your home will feel cooler and more comfortable.
• Check your fireplace damper to make sure it’s closed to prevent cool air from going up the chimney. Turn on ceiling fans to reduce the feels-like indoor temperature by a few degrees.
• Reduce your use of heat generating appliances like dryers, ovens, and stovetops.
• Check to make certain that any electrical, HVAC, or plumbing issues are fixed. Properly maintained appliances and systems run efficiently using less electricity.
• Change out incandescent, halogen, and compact fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. The many benefits include lower electricity bills, a longer bulb life, and an improved quality of light. Smarter LED lights have glowing reviews as they can last 10 years or longer.

Cool Off with Cool Blew

Our experts at Cool Blew will offer you the best solutions for energy savings. Let our certified technicians help today. Just give us a call at 623-872-2900.

One of the best times to be outdoors in the Valley of the Sun is April. Pleasant weather makes for the perfect time of year to take a hike, have a picnic, and open windows to let in springtime sunshine. With desert wildflowers blooming, ragweed, mulberry, ash, and juniper causing pollen levels to be in the very high range, fresh spring air invites unpleasant allergy symptoms. Luckily, there are some preventative measures you can implement to minimize symptoms during allergy season.

• The biggest deterrent to allergens and dust taking over your home is changing out your air filters. The primary function of an air filter is to clean air passing through your house’s cooling and heating system. Homeowners often forget to change out HVAC air filters, which causes a buildup of debris, dust, and allergens, leading to maintenance issues over time and allergy symptoms to rapidly increase.
• Dust vents and registers. These vents circulate all the air from your air conditioning system. If your vents are dusty, your inside air will be dusty. Use a damp cloth to prevent dust mites and other dust particles from being kicked up, potentially causing allergy and breathing issues.
• Use HEPA filters in your vacuum to pick up 99.97% of viruses, dust, allergens, pet dander, and mold.
• Take off your shoes to avoid bringing in allergens from outside.
• Keep home windows and doors closed to limit the amount of pollen and dust indoors.
• Stay indoors on windy days, especially mid-morning to mid-afternoon, when pollen counts are highest.
• Dust window coverings, blinds, and wipe down window sills every other week. Don’t forget to vacuum drapes and curtains to help keep them free of potential allergens.
• Vacuum floors and carpeting at least once a week to rid your home of dust and allergens.
• Wash sheets, pillowcases, comforters, and stuffed animals in hot water to eliminate allergy causing dust mites.

Call Cool Blew

Pollen is in the air and on our minds. Don’t let allergic symptoms stop you from enjoying springtime. Schedule a spring maintenance appointment today. We’ll be happy to service your entire HVAC system, replace your air filters, and ensure your system is healthy. Proper air conditioning maintenance, especially in the spring, removes allergens already in the air, and helps keep new allergens from entering your house. Call your qualified, licensed HVAC professionals at Cool Blew We’re available anytime of the day or night at 623-872-2900.

A primary component of your HVAC system, which helps keep your home comfy throughout the year, is the compressor. Think of it as the beating heart of both heat pumps and air conditioners. When the compressor goes bad in a heat pump or AC system, it can derail the entire system from operating properly. In other words, it’s a good idea to know the signs of a failing compressor.

Ticking or Chattering

Before the core of your HVAC system fails, it can make an unusual ticking or chattering noise during startup. This noise occurs because the compressor is running into difficulties starting. Don’t ignore this sound. The ticking can be from a defective relay switch. This is when you want to seek out professional guidance from your local trained technicians.

Rattling or Rumbling

Hearing an unmistakably loud rattling or rumbling noise when the compressor is running? There may be a loose distributor motor, or a component inside the compressor housing may be thrashing about. When you hear either of these sounds, turn off your HVAC system entirely and reach out to your HVAC service technicians to resolve the issue to prevent further damage.

Too Hot or Too Cold

Depending on the time of the year, if your home’s interior is freezing cold or stifling hot, it may mean your compressor has already failed. If you’ve tried turning up or turning down the thermostat, and the compressor doesn’t kick in, don’t try to fix it yourself. Call for service, instead.

Tripping Repeatedly

Definite warning signs of compressor trouble are when the HVAC system keeps tripping the electrical circuit breaker or the circuit breaker in the box has failed to turn on after being flipped. The reason this may be happening is from the compressor overheating and trying to use too much electricity. Don’t continually reset the circuit switch as it may cause a latent fire hazard. Hot electrical equipment is never a good sign. It’s also not a time for DIY.

Call Cool Blew

When a compressor fails, you’ll need professional repairs. Call your HVAC technicians at Cool Blew any time of the day or night for help. Call us today at 623-872-2900 for your plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical servicing issues.