FAQ & Knowledge Base for Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
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Click one of the links below to navigate through our FAQ, Published HVAC Resources & Knowledge Base:
- 10 Ways To Make Your Home Energy Efficient, Save Money & Do Your Part To Become More Environmentally Friendly
- 10 Great Reasons Why YOU Should Choose Affordable Service Inc
- FAQ About HVAC, AC, Plumbing & Affordable Service Inc. Standards
10 Ways To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient, Save Money & Do Your Part To Become More Environmentally Efficient All At The Same Time
- Seal any air leaks around windows and doors, "remember," "where cold air gets in, heat can be lost."
- Install programmable thermostats to control your indoor environment, even when you're not there (there may also be rebates available from local gas supplier or city government).
- Add or improve the insulation in your attic, (and walls if possible) this helps in the winter and summer to keep the indoor environment of your home more comfortable and energy efficient.
- Install high efficiency light bulbs. There are many available that use up to 70% less electricity than conventional bulbs, (always remember to turn off lights when not needed).
- Install low volume toilets in your home that use as little as one gallon of water per flush (there may also be rebates available from your local water company or city government).
- Install a tankless type water heater. These types of water heaters will make hot water instantaneously and only as needed. (Click here for a Rinnai Tankless Hot Water Heater Coupon )
- Install a hot water circulating system that will allow hot water to reach the point of demand instantly. This will save hundreds of gallons of water annually.
- Replace a heating system that is not at least 80% efficient. Most furnaces that are not high efficiency models are running at far less than the federal standard of 78% Efficiency.
- Don't use recessed fireplaces to try and heat your home. While they may seem to be heating the area right next to the fireplace, the truth is they are drawing up the heat from inside the home and exhausting it up your chimney.
- On sunny days in winter, let the curtains and blinds stay open for added light and solar heat.
Why Should You Choose Affordable Service?
HERE ARE 10 GREAT REASONS!- We Take Pride in what we do. We don't just want to sell you a system today. We want each system we install to last you the next twenty years and run trouble free.
- Locally owned and operated for over twenty years five years with over 80 years combined experience. Affordable Service has installed over 8,000 air conditioning systems
- There are no salesmen calling on you. We send senior experienced field technicians to your home for each estimate.
- We employee only experienced, licensed, journeymen that excel in industry standards.
- All our employees have passed background checks and drug screens prior to employment.
- Air filtration is a concern that we take seriously, ensuring better indoor air quality in the home, and keeping a system running at peak performance for many years.
- Top Quality standards in installation will make the system look as though it belongs in the home.
- We install start assist kits on condensers when they are new. This will help extend the life of your compressor. No other company does that!
- We perform a triple evacuation on your system when it is installed. This not only gets al the air out of the system. It ensures that all contaminates have been removed, preventing damage to the system years down the road.
- We use a computer technology to charge your system to ensure peak performance, helping maintain years of comfort and promoting the highest efficiency in operation
FAQ about Air Conditioning, Affordable Service Standards,
and Consumer Knowledge Base
Q: How Difficult is it to Maintain a refrigerated air conditioner system?
A: Keeping the filters clean is very important. They should be cleaned or replaced every couple of months. Keep the thermostat programmed for a comfortable temperature inside the home, it's very simple. Have the system checked out by a trained professional every couple of years of use.
Q: How does a Maintenance Agreement benefit me and my equipment?
A: By purchasing a Maintenance Agreement through Affordable Service you get Spring & Fall Changeovers at discounted rates from cold to hot weather - including safety & functionality inspection of your equipment during a changeover. You also get 10% off parts when parts are needed for a service/repair call. We mail our Maintenance Agreement Customers Spring & Fall reminder postcards with giveaways & incentives! Two winners per year, every year! Maintenance Agreements are "The Smart Choice" to maintaining your equipment ensuring the longest possible, highest quality functionality of your system.
Q: Is Affordable Service Inc. Mechanically & Electrically certified?
A: Yes. Not only are we called "Affordable Service" because we offer excellent pricing, we do every job to industry standards. Since we are a customer driven business, we keep up with all the Industry standards to provide you the best service & installations possible. Since our #1 goal is customer satisfaction, our trained, licensed and bonded technicians will explain any and all of your questions along the way. Click to see our MM98 & MM & EE98.
Q: What is a SEER (i.e., 14 SEER, 16 SEER, 18 SEER) ?
A: There are special names for the efficiency ratings of various types of equipment. Air conditioning equipment is rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit.
Q: Can I expect my bill to go up?
A: Usually in June, July and August there will be a noticeable rise in your electric bill, not a lot with the highly efficient models available today. If you compare that to the cost of a swamp cooler: pads, floats, pumps, motors, belts, bearings, water supply tubing, water and electricity not to mention the servicing twice a year you would be surprised. You are probably paying more to cool your home with an evaporative cooler. As you may know you can not control the temperature of an evaporative cooler either. They run as log as they are on, so if it's hot outside, It may run all day causing your water and electric bill to rise.
Q: How long will a new refrigerated air conditioning system last?
A: Generally a new system will last 20 to 30 years. How long a system lasts depends largely on how well a system is installed and maintained. The most important part of the job you do not see. A highly technical procedure called a "triple evacuation and nitrogen sweep" of any contaminants is critical. Many inexperienced installers will skip this very important step. That could be detrimental to your health and the air you breathe.
Q: Are city permits and inspections necessary?
A: YES! City permits and inspections are required by local code enforcement. Permits are required by law. We ensure all of our installations have permits prior to the installation. BEWARE! - If any contractor says they are not going to permit your air conditioning installation it may mean that they are not licensed and may not be installing the system properly - failure to provide a permit on home renovations or upgrades may be subject to fines of the homeowner and/or contractor, by law.
Q: Why should I choose Affordable Service for my Air conditioning installation?
A: Affordable Service has been installing A/C systems for over 25 years. We have installed over 10,000 A/C systems and have over 80 years combined experience in the A/C industry. Our talented installation crews are licensed, experienced, insured, bonded and NATE certified. We take pride in the work we do and we stand by our parts and labor warranties 100%. We have held an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau for 25 years. Our company philosophy is to go beyond the standard of the customer satisfaction to the point of customer delight.
Q: What does AFUE stand for?
A: There are special names for the efficiency ratings of various types of equipment. Gas furnaces are rated according to their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the unit.
Q: Should outdoor units be covered in winter?
A:No. Heat pumps operate year-round and should never be covered. Similarly, air conditioners that operate seasonally are built to withstand an outdoor environment and should not be covered.
Q: Should a thermostat be set to "auto" or "on"?
A: Preferably auto. That way, the fan operates only when the temperature requires it. This is the most used and the most efficient setting. However, there are advantages to using the "on" setting. Air is constantly filtered through the unit's air filter, and the constantly circulating air results in an even temperature throughout the house.
Q: Can shrubs or flowers be planted around an outdoor unit?
A: Yes. However, we recommend that plants be no closer than 18 inches to the unit. This allows for plenty of room for air circulation in and out of the unit. Without this room for air circulation, the unit could overheat, resulting in a premature need for service.
Q: If an outdoor unit needs replacing, should the indoor unit be replaced too?
A: Yes. Heil and most of our other partners' air conditioning and heating units are designed to operate as a complete, matched system. The efficiency rating is based on the entire system. Replacing the entire system ensures the system will be reliable and efficient.
Q: How do I know what size unit our house needs?
A: Contact Affordable Service at (505) 891-8907. We will consider many factors before making a recommendation. Factors like … size of the house, climate, the number and type of windows installed, insulation, and even the number of people living in the house.
Q: What is the difference between a split system and a package unit?
A: A split system uses indoor and outdoor components to provide a complete home comfort system. A package unit or self-contained unit requires no external coils, air handlers, or heating units.
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