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Everything You Need to Know about HVAC Repair

September 10, 2015 by itadmin

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) keeps our homes warm during the winter days, cool in the summer and maintains the air quality throughout the year. Usually, HVAC maintenance is done either by the company that installed everything in your house or by another team of professionals twice a year. But you can contribute to the longevity of your HVAC appliances by following these useful tips and tricks. You don’t need special training to increase the efficiency level of your system. Here’s a few pointers on what you can start doing today:

  • invest in a superior and efficient air filter that will keep you protected from bacteria and allergies and will protect the motor of your installation from dust;
  • keep an eye out for leaves, grass, pollen and other small objects that could get stuck in your air conditioning;
  • don’t place anything too close to any outdoor heating units or air conditioning appliances;
  • replace or wash your air filters at least once every 90 days;
  • inspect the refrigerant lines once a month or once every other month;
  • make sure to replace the carbon monoxide detector battery once a year;
  • to avoid hot water heater problems, check the temperature pressure relief valve of your furnace and consider replacing the rod if it looks damaged;
  • try to only clean the air conditioning condensate drain by using bleach.

Heating and air conditioning repair

Heating is a must as soon the weather starts being chilly, just as air conditioning starts working when it gets too hot for shoes. But neither of these two can work forever. And there’s only so much you can do about taking care of them and making sure they run smoothly.

If your air conditioning is making funny noises or not cooling the room as it used to, that’s not something you want to ignore. Before you rush over to the phone to call on your handyman, there are some steps you can take that will save you time and money. First of all, make sure the drain line didn’t accidentally get disconnected or clogged. This is one of the most common problems. If the air conditioning won’t turn on, head over to your thermostat and check if it’s set to “cool”. You might also want to make sure the battery is still working. Check to see if there is a tripped fuse that’s playing tricks on you. If you feel your air conditioning is not working as well as last year, change the filter and make sure nothing is obstructing the cold air returns and registers.

Thermostat and HVAC Repair

Heating systems are no different. But how do you know when they’re worth replacing or fixing? Here are a few guidelines that will help you make an informed decision. If you’re not dealing with a clogged filter or a tripped fuse and you’re looking at repairs that will cost you an arm and a leg, think about the equipment’s life span. If it’s older than three quarters of its estimated life expectancy, you should feel no remorse for deciding to replace it. You should also think about your safety. If the heating system is a safety hazard you should have no second thoughts about buying new equipment. Start adding up the costs of the repair and the costs of replacing the appliances. How would the scales tip? If repairing your heating system will cost you over a third of the replacement sum, you should go ahead and change the fifteen year old equipment.

Furnace repair

Nothing is more irritating than the furnace breaking down on a cold winter morning. The silver lining here if that you can check for the issue yourself, before resorting to an HVAC professional. Some of the simplest steps you should make include checking the thermostat, making sure there’s enough oil in the tank by using a dipstick and feeling the cabinet to see if it’s warm. If you can’t hear the furnace running, it could mean the filter is so clogged that the flow of warm air has no way to pass.

Furnace and HVAC RepairReplacing the dirty filter with a brand new one should do the trick. If that wasn’t causing the issue, play around with the thermostat switching it from “automatic” to “run”. Make sure the circuit breaker isn’t tripped. If this keeps tripping, call an electrician to check everything’s running smoothly. You should also check to see if the furnace reset button is popped up – this might indicate an obstruction or lack of oil. If you hear knocking sounds from your furnace, most likely there’s air in the lines and you can purge it yourself. Squealing sounds point to issues with a belt which can be fixed with some oil.

Water heater repair

In order to avoid a water heater replacement, there are some steps you can take to make sure you get to enjoy it for as long as possible. Set your thermostat to 120 degrees. This way, you’ll be saving as much as 5% in energy costs and you won’t risk scalding. Make sure you don’t keep anything too close to your heater and follow the two feet clearance rule of thumb. You should also drain a quarter of the tank several times a year. This trick will remove any sediment and debris.

HVAC Repair and water heater

Another easy tip to remember is to switch your thermostat to “vacation” settings when you go on holiday. Hot water heater repair costs aren’t too steep, but you should stay on top of simple maintenance tasks so you can take water heaters off your mind for as long as possible. If you’re looking for new equipment or if you need to replace an outdated system, check out the Kenmore water heater which is known for its durability and reliability.

Image sources 1, 2, 3.

Filed Under: Cooling, Heating Tagged With: furnace repair, heating and air conditioning repair, hvac, hvac repair, Water heater repair

Home Advisor Service

July 17, 2013 by HVAC Expert

Home Advisors
By Betty Stephens of Quest Media

Home Advisor logo

Home Advisor was formerly known as Service Magic. Service Magic a 13-year-old company with $205 million in annual revenue officially relaunched as HomeAdvisor. Home Advisors connects service professionals with consumers seeking help with home improvement and repair projects. They help home owners find trusted home improvement contractors.
Home Advisor is the one of the most powerful lead generation tools around. Home Advisors offers customers with expertise and resources from the Home Advisor’s industry-leading service marketing department. Over 80,000 contractors count on Home Advisor. Since 1998, Home Advisor has been helping home improvement professionals generate new business by delivering highly targeted, real-time leads. Home Advisor maximizes marketing efforts by giving businesses total control of their customer experience.
They advertise that over 25 million home owners use their services. They offer homeowners the following features:
1. Free to use – never have to pay a membership fee.
2. Service pros pass a criminal and background check.
3. They can offer over 2 million ratings and reviews from home owners.
4. They have 24/7 emergency home owner support.
How Does It Work?
Steps: The customer tells about their project.
1. The customer selects a category for their repair or project.
2. The customer is then matched to the right pro for the job.
3. The customer receives four pre-screened pro reviews.
4. The customer selects a service pro.
5. Home Advisors sends the customer information to the service pro.
6. The service pro contacts the customer.

Link to their Web site: http://www.homeadvisor.com/how-it-works/
Their Web site is very informative and customer friendly. Its Suite of Tools allows you to review their Cost Guide, Resource Center, and Home 911 feature.
The Cost Guide feature allows you to review typical costs for project under these categories: Home Spaces, Home Features, Home Professional, and Home Solutions.
The Resource Center provides a list of articles and advice on projects.
The Home 911 section provides you with a Download Feature for your iPhone that allows you instant access to their service pros…
Cons: There have been complaints that customers have received calls from more than FOUR contractors. Some contractors just showed up at homeowner’s door without even calling, and some contractors were overly aggressive.
Note: Remember not all contractors give free estimate on things like repairs. Replacements and remodel projects, yes. But if you are expecting a technician to spend time diagnosing a problem, you will be expected to pay for his knowledge, expertise and time. Technicians don’t usually work on commission, salesman do. Keep that in mind.

Filed Under: Cooling, Heating, How to save money!, Product Reviews, Residential, Residential, Tools of the Trade Explained Tagged With: a/c contractor, ac repair, air conditioning repair, bryant, bryant furnace, central ac units, heating repair, heating systems, Home Advisor, home heating systems, hvac installation, hvac repair, Trane, trane ac, trane air conditioner, trane air conditioners

Angie’s List

July 12, 2013 by HVAC Expert

Angie’s List
By Betty Stephens of Quest Media

Angies List

Angie’s List is a US-based website that aggregates verified consumer reviews of service companies as a way to “capture word-of-mouth wisdom.” Angie’s List has about 1.5 million subscribers throughout the United States and Canada who post an average of about 40,000 reviews each month. The concept behind the website is to certify their data collection process by only allowing paid and registered subscribers to access the website to prevent anonymous or biased reviews.

History
Formerly headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Angie’s List was co-founded by William “Bill” Oesterle and Angie Hicks in 1995. It was inspired by Hicks’ search for a reliable contractor in suburban Columbus on behalf of Oesterle, a venture capitalist and her former supervisor. She relocated to Columbus to join him in creating Angie’s List, which started as a call-in service and publication for reviews about home and lawn care. Hicks went door-to-door, signing up members and collecting ratings on local contractors. For a year, it was called “Columbus Neighbors”, the name and idea being patterned after the Indianapolis, Indiana-based community publication, Unified Neighbors. After solely recruiting more than 1,000 members in Columbus within one year, Hicks turned to Oesterle to raise money from investors in order to develop the business at a steady pace.
In 1996, Angie’s List purchased Unified Neighbors, from creator Bill Corbin and relocated its headquarters to Indianapolis. By 1999, the database of local services and reviews was moved to the internet. During the ensuing years, their customer base and business relationships grew throughout North America, while also expanding to include additional service industries such as health care and auto care.
CNN Money featured Angie’s List as one of the 100 fastest-growing inner city businesses in the nation, with their 2009 revenues reaching $45.6 million in 2011. According to their 10k, Angie’s List’s revenue last fiscal year was $90M.

Methodology
Angie’s List grades companies using a report-card-style scale, which ranges from A to F; these ratings are based on the following criteria: price, quality, responsiveness, punctuality and professionalism. Each company has its own page, which is composed of a description of its business along with the customer reviews. The aggregate grade is drawn from the combined reviews and grades given to the businesses from the consumers. Angie’s List employees are trained to identify any reviews that seem biased or sabotaged, so the overall rating will only reflect legitimate customer reviews. This process was reviewed and approved by BPA Worldwide during a 2009 audit Revenue for Angie’s List comes from member subscription fees, as well as advertising from businesses that have an overall grade of B or higher on the website.
Angie’s List is reputed to have a unique company culture, in that it encourages a laid-back yet innovative atmosphere. Communication is extremely open between management and staff, and ideas are encouraged from all employees, regardless of their positions. Angie’s List was named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana in 2007 and 2008 by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The rankings for the list are based on the feedback of randomly selected employees at eligible Indiana businesses.
Angie’s List was also a finalist for the Nation’s Healthiest Employers of 2010. They have had a comprehensive employee wellness program for over 5 years, which includes about 30 different programs and events throughout the year. Employees are offered health, life and dental insurance, as well as access to the fitness programs and the on-site fitness center. They are encouraged to participate in various events created to foster a team environment and boost company spirit.
Financial information
Angie’s List estimated that its annual revenue in 2008 was $58 million, generated primarily through advertising in its newsletter and membership fees. Angie’s List has not published its annual expenses or net income.
Membership fees are based on volume of service providers at a given location. For example, Angie’s List reported the following annual membership fees as of 4 December 2009:
• Charlottesville, Virginia — $10
• Stamford, Connecticut — $32
• Beverly Hills, California — $36.25
• Pompano Beach, Florida — $47
In 2010, Angie’s List raised a total of $25 million in capital from investors. In September 2010, Wasatch Funds and Battery Ventures invested $22 million. In November 2010, Saints Capital led an additional funding of $2.5 million.

On November 17, 2011, Angie’s List began trading on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol ANGI. It priced 8.8M shares at $13 and opened for trading at $18, a 33% premium.
Membership Fees
Consumers pay a small membership fee to join Angie’s List. They offer different membership options though, so pricing varies depending on your needs and where you are located in the country. In certain grassroots chapters where we’re still building the List, consumers can join for free for at least one year. The price can vary depending on the part of the country you’re interested in and how long you plan to use the service. The Angie’s List membership fee ensures that you get certified, reliable data on the services you need, provides for live staff support and enables the delivery of our award-winning magazine straight to your door.
See the example of a monthly plan for the lowest upfront cost in the Houston area.

Angie’s List Bundle: Member favorite! The most services at the best price

Plan Dues Signup Fee Total Discount
Monthly $4.40 $10.00 $14.40 0%
1 year $39.00 $0.00 $39.00 26%
2 years $70.00 $0.00 $70.00 34%
3 years $99.00 $0.00 $99.00 38%
4 years $125.00 $0.00 $125.00 41%

Getting On the List as a Service Provider
Most providers on the List were added when a member submitted feedback on them. At that time, Angie’s List sets up a complete profile for the business to go along with the member’s review. If someone wants to add a new company that they used to the List, follow these steps:
First, click Write a Review in the banner. Search for the company by name to confirm that they’re not already on the List and then click the small link for “Can’t find the provider you need? Add them to the list.”

Next, select type of work the provider did for you. Businesses that take care of work around your home, auto and yard are on our Classic List. We have our medical categories broken in to sub-categories to cover doctors, health insurance companies, medical retail stores, and hospitals. Classic Car (vehicles 25 years or older) specialists are also separated from our regular Auto category.
Then, enter the provider’s contact information so we can set up a business profile.
On the following page select the specific service that describes the work the company performed for you. Enter the service category and click Apply Category. Add as many as you need and then select Continue to begin writing you review.
Add Your Business
A company or health care professional may set up a free profile so that their contact information will appear on the List. However, they will not be rated and will be listed after businesses with reviews. Providers use their profiles to check their reviews and maintain their reputation in the Angie’s List community. However, companies can also create a free account and appear without a rating on the List. Once your company is registered, you may log in at any time to review and update your company’s profile, check your ratings, and read and respond to new reviews. Registration is quick and easy. On the first step, just enter your company’s name and zip code. They will check to see if they already have any information on your business.
See example login on the next page.

If you don’t see your company in the potential matches, just select Add Company.

A company or health care professional may also set up a free profile to check their reviews, keep their contact information up-to-date, and maintain their reputation in the Angie’s List community. However, providers that don’t have reviews yet will be listed after businesses that have earned ratings from our members. If you are a provider and want to appear on the List, see how to get started!

Providers Can Advertise
Angie’s List does allow providers that earn an average of an “A”- or “B”-rating to advertise in the form of discounts available to our members. Only companies that maintain their positive ratings are offered this privilege. If a company’s rating falls below a “B” or if they fail to respond to a Complaint Resolution case, we remove their coupons from our magazine and website.
Companies and health professionals are not obligated to offer coupons, nor does their decision to advertise affect their rating on Angie’s List.
If they choose they can sort search results to see providers offering discount first, but they can also choose not to display these results. This search option doesn’t change the provider’s grades and companies can’t pay to show up at the top of the List for every search under any setting.

Sample Report
Plumbing

Report Date: 1/12/2008
Was Work Done?: YES
* More weight is given to a report where work has been completed.
Hire Again?: YES
App. Cost: $400
Home Build Year: 1957
*Build Year date helps you locate companies that work on homes that are similar in age to your own.
Overall A
Price A
Quality A
Responsiveness A
Punctuality A
Professionalism A

Description of Work: Replaced a burst outdoor faucet, which required digging a roughly 4 x 2 foot hole.

Member Comments: The faucet burst on Christmas Eve, so this was messy work in very cold weather. They were hampered a bit when my dog jumped in their hole to try to bury a chicken leg. They were prompt, cheerful & courteous (they even disposed of the chicken leg for me). They kept the dirt on a tarp and completely and tidily replaced it afterward. I’ve used this company repeatedly, which happens when you have a 50-year-old house, and they’ve always gone above and beyond. They warranty their work and nothing has ever gone wrong. On previous jobs, I’ve pulled the “while you’re here, could you look at this, too?” bit. They’ve done so if their schedule allows, but sometimes said they couldn’t, which shows me they respect the customers who are after me.

Visit Angie’s List Web Site link: Click Here.

Angie’s List
1030 E. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
1-888-944-5478

Filed Under: Cooling, Heating, Product Reviews, Residential, Residential, Tools of the Trade Explained Tagged With: ac service, air condition repair, air conditioner units, air conditioning repair, Angies's list, heating and air, heating repair, heating systems, home heating systems, hvac companies, hvac contractor, hvac installation, hvac repair, hvac system, hvac systems, trane hvac, trane parts

Cost of Repairs

December 16, 2011 by HVAC Expert

We get all caught up in how much companies charge for repairs without realizing there are hidden costs in doing business.

Filed Under: Category One, Cooling, Heating, Residential, Residential, Tools of the Trade Explained Tagged With: ac repair, ac repairs, ac service, air condition repair, air conditioner repair, air conditioner repairs, air conditioning repairs, heat repair, heating and air conditioning repair, heating repair, hvac industry, hvac repair, hvac service technician

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