A heating and air conditioning maintenance agreement helps protect your home comfort equipment and extend its life. A well-maintained heating and cooling system will last longer, run more efficiently and keep your home more comfortable. Your heating and cooling system is a major investment and the best way to protect it is with regular maintenance.

In addition to protecting your valuable investment, maintenance agreements provide the following benefits:

• Peace of mind: If your air conditioner has ever broken during a hot Nevada summer, you know how important it is to keep your equipment running smoothly, especially if your family has seniors or young children.
• Lengthen equipment life: Just like your car, the better you take care of your heating and cooling equipment, the longer it will last. Buying a new air conditioner or furnace is a major expense that can be delayed if you invest in a maintenance agreement now.
• Avoid unnecessary repairs: Prevention is one of the keys to keeping home comfort equipment operating smoothly. If you replace worn parts before they break, you can save a lot of money on parts and labor, not to mention the inconvenience of an air conditioner or furnace breakdown.
• Maintain your warranty: Many equipment warranties require regular service to remain valid. Investing in a maintenance agreement will ensure that you meet this requirement. The best part is, you won’t even have to call for an appointment; your heating and air conditioning contractor will call you when it’s time to schedule the next service appointment.

AC Pro knows how challenging it can be to find a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor that you can trust. That is why we’ve done all the research for you. When you hire an AC Pro contractor, rest assured that the provider is certified, insured and committed to providing quality service. If you’re interested in learning more about a maintenance agreement for your system, contact us at AC Pro.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

You may have seen offers for heating and air conditioning maintenance agreements. These agreements are plans offered by heating and air conditioning contractors that arrange service visits twice a year and a variety of other benefits, such as priority emergency visits and discounts. How important is a heating and air conditioning maintenance agreement for a homeowner in Southern California and Nevada? Is it worth the expense?

In most cases, yes. Your heating and air conditioning equipment is a substantial investment, and most of us use our air conditioning systems almost daily. Even your car may not see as much use. But, like your car, your comfort system needs regular tuneups, cleaning and maintenance. Over time, your system accumulates dirt and grime and experiences normal wear and tear as well as changes in pressure and fluid levels. As a neglected system becomes less efficient, you’ll experience steadily rising utility costs and decreasing comfort.

In fact, putting off maintenance is the quickest path to premature equipment failure. Neglecting your furnace can be particularly problematic. If airflow is restricted (by dirt and dust buildup, for example), the equipment can overheat or combustion fumes may not be properly vented.

Your heating and air conditioning maintenance agreement should include, among other things:

• Seasonal cleaning and tuneups twice a year, every spring and fall.
• Priority emergency service, which moves you to the front of the appointment list in the event that your system is having trouble.
• Discounts on any surprise repairs or replacement parts required.
• No extra charge for overtime service.

If your equipment is under warranty, heating and air conditioning maintenance agreements can ensure the warranty remains valid. However, ask your contractor about maintenance plan and warranty options. If replacement parts are covered in the warranty, do you need a maintenance plan that covers them, too?

Contact AC Pro if you have more questions about heating and air conditioning maintenance agreements. We’ll be happy to provide answers, and we will connect you with a skilled and professional Southern California or Nevada contractor.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

Congratulations! You’ve bought, or are considering buying in the near future, a new air conditioning system for your California or Nevada home. But your job isn’t over quite yet. Be aware that your new, energy-efficient home comfort equipment is only as good as its installation allows it to be. Air conditioning installation must never be an afterthought, so choosing a contractor to help you select the best system for your home is just the beginning. You should always research a contractor’s air conditioning installation skills.

According to the Energy Star program, improper air conditioning installation can lower your heating and cooling system’s efficiency by up to 30 percent. That will cost you extra on your utility bills each and every month — as well as shorten the life of your new equipment. Check with your contractor to see that his work follows Energy Star’s guidelines based on the Air Conditioning Contractors of America specs. Here are the points he should be familiar with — and use — in your air conditioning installation project:

• Perform calculations to ensure that your equipment is properly sized for the cooling load required by your home.
• Inspect and seal your home’s duct system. Some retrofitting or additional ducts may be needed to accommodate the new A/C system.
• Verify that the refrigerant level in the new system is correct. Incorrect levels can lower efficiency by up to 20 percent and even cause a breakdown.
• Provide sufficient space around the unit for future maintenance.
• Test for correct burner function and venting.
• Install a compatible indoor coil when an outdoor unit is to be replaced in order to reach the highest level of efficiency for the system.
• Place the condenser in an area protected from weather or landscaping.
• Verify that the refrigerant pressure and the airflow across the indoor coil meets manufacturer specifications.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Show you how to replace the air filter.

If you have questions about purchasing a new system or proper air conditioning installation practices, contact AC Pro and get connected with a home comfort expert in your area who can help.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/C installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

It may feel warm out today, but chillier temperatures will be settled in before we know it. It’s an important time to make sure your heating systems are clean and tuned up for the coming season. Furnace service is the best way to guarantee your heating system will start up when you need it, run safely, and save you the most money possible.

Soot, rust and other contaminants develop during regular use, but dust accumulates in heating equipment even during its off-season. This means that when your furnace goes through the first cycle of the year, it could already be inefficient. It will only become less so as the heating season progresses, leaving you uncomfortable and paying too much.

What can preventative furnace service do for your system?

• Clean the entire system, including the combustion chamber. This is where soot, moisture and other particles can accumulate and lead to corrosion. A clean system operates safely and saves the most energy, while an inefficient furnace can create more carbon monoxide.
• Make sure the combustion process is safe and effective and that all dangerous fumes, such as carbon monoxide, are vented safely out of the home through flues that do not leak.
• Ensure there are no cracks in the combustion chamber.
• Ensure a properly functioning heat exchanger, which is where the energy obtained from burning fuel is attributed to the air. If it malfunctions and gets too hot, the heat exchanger may crack and become unsafe.
• Clean or replace the air filter, so airflow is not impeded and the system doesn’t overheat. This is also a key element in maintaining your indoor air quality.

Furnace service should ideally be performed twice a year, both before and after the heating season. Preventive service actually saves you money by ensuring an efficient operation all season long, and catching potential problems before they get out of hand and become major repairs.

If you’d like to schedule furnace service, call AC Pro today. We’ll help you find the most trustworthy, skilled heating and cooling contractor who can keep your home warm and safe all season long!

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

Heating and air conditioning service quotes can be confusing, even intimidating. How do you know if you’re being treated fairly when you don’t understand the terminology scribbled on your quote? Fortunately, it doesn’t take advanced training to comprehend service quotes, just a little information.

Here’s a rundown of possible repairs you might see on service quotes – and a summary of how expensive they tend to be — on an air-source heat pump. Air-source heat pumps are popular in Southern California and Las Vegas, because they efficiently provide both heating and air conditioning.

• Refrigerant. During maintenance, a technician will test your heat pump’s refrigerant using pressure gauges. If it’s low, he or she will add some. You’ll be charged for the amount added. If there’s a leak, your technician might have to empty all the refrigerant, repair the coil, and then replace it all again. You are charged by the pound for refrigerant.
• Fins. The fins, located on the coils, can become dirty or damaged. They are usually an easy fix.
• Contactors. You may need a new contactor if the fan, compressor or reversal valve is malfunctioning. Contactors are fairly inexpensive.
• Fans and compressors. Replacement fans and compressors themselves, however, can get expensive. In fact, the compressor represents the most expensive replacement part, possibly costing hundreds of dollars.
• Condenser/evaporator coils. Cleaning the coils is inexpensive. But if the coils need to be replaced, this can be more expensive. If you need replacement coils along with a new compressor, you might end up saving money by investing in an entirely new, high-efficiency heat pump.
• Air handlers. This is where the coils, fan and filter are located. If the plenum (the chamber leading to ducts) is under a concrete slab, and develops rust, the slab must be demolished then rebuilt, which can be expensive.
• Indoor fans. Replacements can be expensive, but not usually overwhelmingly so.
• Filters and humidifiers. These components usually only require filter maintenance, small motors, floats and other relatively inexpensive repairs. Check your filter often!

If air conditioning service quotes make you antsy, contact AC Pro. We’ll help you find a contractor who’ll take the time to explain your service quote in plain language.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC service quotes and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

Did you know that neglecting preventive maintenance is the most frequent cause of premature heating and cooling system failure? The average air conditioner has a life span of 15 to 20 years, and the average furnace can last about 20. But without regular maintenance they can give out much sooner. Preventive maintenance performed by trained professionals not only helps to keep equipment functioning at peak efficiency, but it can lengthen its life span as much as 30 percent.

For many homeowners in Southern California and Las Vegas, their biggest investments are often their houses, their vehicles, and their heating and cooling systems. You wouldn’t think of going without insurance for the first two, but what about for your HVAC system? The best way to protect that third investment is with preventive maintenance. Just as your car needs tuneups and oil changes every few thousand miles, your HVAC system needs servicing, too.

During preventive maintenance, your contractor should do the following:

• Check refrigerant levels, making adjustments if required. Ideally, refrigerant levels remain stable, so if they are imbalanced there could be a system leak or malfunction.
• Clean dirt, debris and leaves from the outdoor unit.
• Change or clean your air filters. Clogged air filters restrict airflow through the system, which reduces efficiency, comfort and indoor air quality.
• Clean the evaporator and condenser coils. Clean coils contribute to efficiency and a safe system.
• Ensure the voltage and electrical currents are safe, as well as check the wiring, circuit boards, connections, contactors and more. Proper electrical functions contribute to the efficiency and safety of your system.
• Add lubrication to motors and all moving components. Inadequately lubricated parts increase friction, which increases energy use, and degrades the equipment more quickly.
• Inspect and clean the blower.
• Replace fan belts, if necessary.
• Check the condensate drain and drain pan, cleaning debris and removing any potential clogs. Clogged drains can lead to indoor humidity problems, and even water damage to your property.

To schedule preventive maintenance with a contractor you can trust, contact a dealer in the AC Pro network. We’re proud to serve Southern California and Las Vegas.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

When you live in Las Vegas, your air conditioner plays a major part in your quality of life. And when your A/C conks out, you feel that, too. If you find yourself in need of reliable, professional air conditioner repair, you can count on the AC Pro network.

AC Pro contractors specialize in air conditioner repair, service and maintenance. They all, of course, hold current heating and air conditioning licenses (class C-21 in Nevada). But contractors in the A/C Pro network go above and beyond minimum licensing criteria to in order to meet stringent requirements imposed on the entire AC Pro network. By doing so, these licensed contractors become AC Pro Certified.

Utmost among those requirements: AC Pro technicians are NATE-certified in heating and air conditioner repair. North American Technician Excellence is a nonprofit organization that tests and certifies heating and cooling installers and technicians. NATE itself also imposes high standards. To stay NATE-certified after passing the initial exam, for example, a technician must attend a minimum of 60 hours of NATE-approved training every five years. Consumer Reports and the Environmental Protection Agency advise consumers to hire NATE-certified technicians.

AC Pro contractors also stay up to date with EPA certification, business management and industry training. Our contractors attend several training sessions each year. All AC Pro contractors are bonded and insured, to give you an added layer of financial protection.

So what does that all add up to? When you need air conditioner repair — or, for that matter, installation or maintenance — you can be sure a Las Vegas contractor in the AC Pro network will do the job right the first time, with expertise and professionalism. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to view our outstanding record, as well as the records of our individual contractors.

To find an air conditioner repair contractor in the Las Vegas area, please contact us. We’re always glad to help.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioner repair and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

It’s hard to imagine living without air conditioning during a hot summer. More so, when you’re in need of air conditioner repair in Las Vegas. In the hot, sweltering heat, it’s easy to see the importance of ongoing service and maintenance. Make sure to have your system serviced as early in the season as possible and find a contractor who will do the work right.

Thing is, selecting a qualified and reliable contractor isn’t always easy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, even during sizing your system, the first step of your air conditioning and heating experience, roughly 50 percent of contractors in the country are already cutting corners. How do you know whom to trust for air conditioning repair done right the first time?

One way is to investigate the certifications a contractor has earned and the organizations with which they are affiliated. This can tell you a great deal about a contractor’s skill and professional reputation. Here are a few affiliations to look for that can help you get the best quality service:

• RSES. The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society began in 1933, answering the need for a third-party, international organization that trained and educated air conditioning and heating technicians. Before RSES, the only education offered was through factory dealerships. Today, RSES continues to offer education and certification on state-of-the-art technology.
• ACCA. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America is a nonprofit organization that encompasses more than 4,000 independent air conditioning and heating businesses in the U.S., including over 60,000 professional technicians. ACCA promotes high degrees of professionalism among small businesses, advances education in energy efficiency, and is concerned with keeping indoor living healthy and comfortable for Americans.
• NATE. North American Technician Excellence is another third-party, nonprofit organization. NATE offers advanced testing for technicians in various fields of air conditioner repair and system maintenance. It’s a fact that technicians who earn their NATE certification, and maintain it, are statistically more successful than those who don’t. Working with a contractor who employs NATE-certified technicians ensures you’ll be working with professionals whose work meets high national standards.

If you’re searching for a skilled, reliable contractor for air conditioner repair in Las Vegas, contact AC Pro. Our mission is to help you find the best contractor for the job.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioner repair and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

Summer is on its way, and some argue it really never leaves us here in the Southwest. California and Nevada residents know that it’s time to get ready for vacations, swim parties, BBQs – and keeping our homes comfortable for our family and guests. Spring is the perfect time to get ready for the heat by getting a tune-up for your home comfort system. After all, air conditioning systems will be working overtime very soon!

Maintenance visits from your local air conditioner contractor are an economical and convenient way to catch any problems that may be brewing, before the season begins. Who wants the air conditioning to fail in mid-summer? A breakdown during the high season would be uncomfortable, as you wait for repairs during the busiest time of the year for your local air conditioning repair contractor. That’s not to mention the expense of calling someone out for an emergency visit.

You contractor will check your system from top to bottom to make sure everything is functioning properly. He will check for leaks or other issues and also oil the system, change filters, clean coils and handle all other needed maintenance. He may handle small repairs immediately, on the same visit, or provide an estimate if any other work is needed.

Many contractors will set up a heating & air conditioning maintenance agreement where they call you each spring to schedule the check-up – leaving nothing for you to do or remember. Now is a great time to begin, since contractors may have more time available than they will in the coming weeks and months.

Count on AC Pro for help finding an excellent local air conditioning contractor who can help with all your home comfort needs. Our network provides the opportunity for you to collect bids on needed work as well as obtain valuable information and advice about home comfort issues.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

Annual service checks on your home’s HVAC system are essential for proper operation and the prolonged life of its key components. If you don’t take proper care of your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, you may face frequent repairs, higher energy costs and diminished indoor air quality — all of which can compromise your pocketbook, not to mention your health.

A lot of air conditioner contractors offer annual service on home HVAC systems. As a consumer, what do you need to know to choose the right technician? As you shop around for local service providers, you should have an idea of what annual service entails and how to make sure you’re getting maximum value.

A standard HVAC annual service visit should include:

• Tightening of the various electrical connections that make your system run.
• Testing of your thermostat and its settings.
• Maintenance and lubrication of all the system’s moving parts.
• A checkup of your system’s control panel.
• A check and adjustment, if necessary, of your A/C’s refrigerant level.
• Cleaning and maintenance of blower equipment, condenser coils and evaporators.
• An inspection of all oil and/or gas connections in your furnace.
• A check of the gas pressure.
• A check of the exchanger and combustion components.

In addition to these measures, you should also regularly inspect and replace your system’s air filters. Inspect the filters at least once a month, and replace them promptly if they’re clogged or soiled.

The air conditioner contractors at AC Pro serve customers throughout Nevada and California. We provide annual preventive maintenance service for both commercial and residential HVAC systems, and we’re happy to help you prolong the life of your equipment and ensure everything is running as it should be. Please contact us anytime.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog