August Articles

August 2004 Articles

These are condensed versions of the Radio Program

08/04/04

Questions directly from you.

Does air conditioning really control the humidity in my house? Absolutely. The air conditioner removes humidity from the house as it runs. Humidity has nearly as much to do with your comfort as temperature does. Your house can be 72 degrees, but if the humidity level is too high, you’ll feel uncomfortable and what I call “clammy”. It could be described as feeling like you were in a cave. If those conditions are present, you have to turn the thermostat even lower than normal to try and feel comfortable. If I buy new a/c and heat equipment, can I use my old thermostat with it? Often you can. It can depend on how long ago it was when your original equipment was installed. Sometimes the old thermostat just doesn’t match up with the new unit. It can be because of a difference in brand, or there just simply isn’t the right amount of connections. Usually. People want to keep the old thermostat to save money or because they don’t want to learn to use a new one. The one we use most often now is very simple to use and has a large digital display that’s easy to see. Those aren’t very expensive either. There are some thermostats available that can be controlled by remote from your laptop or a telephone if you’re not home. Those will be a little pricey. We also want to invite you enjoy a free publication that we always share with our customers called “Homesense”. It comes twice per year and is full of helpful tips about saving energy dollars and much more. It’s free and we’ll be glad to send you one. Call us at 635-3452 and give us your name and address!

08/11/04

We have a different “Ask Mike” for you today.

Over time and with a lot of research and experience we have developed a pamphlet for you called, “How to Choose The Right Contractor”. It’s full of very helpful information on ways to find the right company to do your job. This week and next we’ll look at some of these things to consider when making your choice. If you’d like a copy, it’s free! Just contact us with your name and address and we’ll send you one. A good contractor will help you select the right equipment for your needs. He’ll show you options and customize the job just for you. Here are some things to think about: Longevity and reputation of the company is an important consideration. How long has this company been in business? We’re not discussing how long the main guy has been doing this. He could have put 20 businesses under in his 20 years in the industry. You need to know about THIS Company as it is now. In our industry, the average company lasts 3 to 5 years. That’s because people work for a HVAC contractor for a while and decide they can run their own business. More often than not, they can’t. Reputation is important, too. Don’t be afraid to ask for references from people they’ve worked for. Also, ask your friends, neighbors and relatives. Some of them probably dealt or know someone who dealt with this company. We’ll have more tips next week in “Ask Mike”!

08/18/04

You could call this “Mike Asks” this week!

Last week we covered some of the information that can be found in our helpful pamphlet called “How to choose the right contractor”. We’ll start today with more things to consider when making your choice. Professionalism is a key factor. Are you being treated in a professional manner? Is someone there to answer your calls? Is there an office staff to assist you? You can usually tell whether you are dealing with a pro. Insurance is extremely important. If someone works in your home and is not covered properly, you could be held responsible for any injury or damages! Unfortunately, many contractors pay their helpers “under the table” and they buy no worker’s comp and usually take no income taxes. These “uninsured” workers can be a huge liability for an innocent homeowner. Also, does the contractor you’re considering have all the licenses he needs to do your work? Does he get the permits and inspections that are required? If not, once again, the homeowner can legally be held responsible for the lack of permits and inspections. All this information and more are available in our free pamphlet. If you’d like a free copy, just call us at 635-3452 or write us with your name and address, and we’ll be happy to send you one. It’s called “How to choose the right contractor” and it’s free as a public service from Quality Service, Inc. We’ll be back again next week for more “Ask Mike”, and as always, contact us with your questions and we’ll answer them right here. Be sure to catch our Saturday morning radio show on WTRB!

08/25/04

We had so much fun with “Mike Asks” last week; here is a little true/false quiz for this week. Ready? First one…Most central units are split systems. Answer: True.

Nationwide, most are split systems meaning part is outside and part is inside. Around here, though, most common are packaged central units where both the air conditioner and furnace are “packaged” together outside. It was kind of a trick question to start with.

Next: A ton of air conditioning refers to the weight of the outdoor unit. Answer: False. It refers to the capacity of the system. 1 ton of a/c removes 12,000 BTU’s of heat in an hour. Residential capacities are usually from 1 to 5 tons.

Next, Heat pumps can cool your home. Answer: True. Don’t let the name fool you. In the summertime, they’re just an air conditioner. Next: The higher the SEER rating, the cheaper it is to operate. Answer: True. SEER is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The higher this rating the more efficient the equipment and the less it costs to operate.

Next: Price is the most important consideration when choosing a new home comfort system. Answer: False. A recent study shows that reliability is the number one consideration. Purchase price actually finished 5^th behind reliability, dependability, efficiency, and overall quality.

Last one…the compressor is known as the “heart” of the home comfort system. Answer: True. It is so called because that’s what pumps the refrigerant from the indoor coil to the outdoor coil and back. Because of it’s importance look carefully into a compressor’s reputation and warranty before you purchase a new system. Catch us on WTRB every Saturday and our website at www.qualityserviceinc.com.