SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — The itching, sneezing and general miserableness caused by allergies is not the ideal way to welcome spring, and the experts are saying the worst may be yet to come.

“We can’t change the pollen count outside, but there are ways to help allergy sufferers breathe easier inside the home,” says Gabriel Carini, who founded the San Diego heating and cooling company nearly a decade ago.

According to ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Andrew Ordon, there are four main allergy triggers: pollen, dust mites, mold and pet dander. (http://bcove.me/fm60mfih) A healthy HVAC system can help you combat them all — the seasonal and year-round triggers.

“The healthiest systems are maintained throughout the year and on a regular basis, not just when something breaks down,” says Carini. “That is why we recommend our customers set up a maintenance agreement with us.”

The air quality inside your home is heavily influenced by your heating and air conditioning system. Clogged filters, dirty coils or leaky ductwork aren’t going to provide the best indoor air quality. A maintenance agreement ensures that the unit is running properly and efficiently.

With your residential maintenance agreement, you get two tune ups per year from one of our air conditioning repair and service technicians. These 22-point checkups are performed in the spring and fall to prepare the system for extreme temperatures as well as diagnose and resolve minor issues before they create problems.

“If you find out you need an air condition repair in the middle of the summer, you’re going to have a harder time finding a company that is available,” says Carini. “This way you’ve established a relationship with a reputable company and taken care of any issues with the system before they become a major, expensive repair.”

Just a few of the components the technician checks during an air conditioner service call are cleaning debris from the condenser, checking and cleaning the evaporator coil, and changing the filter.

“The technician will make sure the homeowner knows how to find and change the air filter or filters too,” says Carini. “That is the single most important task that homeowners can do for their system’s and their family’s health, especially when people have allergies.”

All the repairs we make have a one-year warranty, so if the same part breaks within one year, we repair or replace at no charge to the customer. Our routine system service agreement also includes a discount on system replacement. Our work meets or exceeds all manufacturer and extended warranty requirements for system maintenance and exceeds the federal government’s Energy Star recommendations.

“No more forgetting to schedule that biannual tune up either because we’ll call to remind you that it’s time for your next maintenance appointment,” says Carini.

If you’re interested in setting up a maintenance agreement to improve the health of your indoor comfort system and combat allergens in your home, call our office to schedule an appointment at (619) 843-0997.

© 2013 Gabriel Carini. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Gabriel Carini is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — Earlier this year, San Diego Gas & Electric released a mobile app for all their customers to help save money and reduce energy usage.

The SDG&E PowerTools app, which can be downloaded from iTunes, lets people do everything from monitoring their recent energy use and getting tips for saving energy, to tracking weather patterns and setting up and managing energy saving goals.

“In the goal section, you can include tasks related to your HVAC system like scheduling biannual air conditioning service appointments and reminders to change air filters,” says Gabriel Carini, who founded a San Diego heating and air conditioning company nearly a decade ago. “Both are essential for a system that runs well, lasts as long as possible and keeps you comfortable.”

The app was officially announced on Jan. 28 and is available to all customers with access to SDG&E’s My Account web portal. An earlier, limited-availability version was released in October to a limited number of customers. In their January press release, the San Diego-based utility company reported that more than 15,000 customers had already downloaded their energy consumption data with the SDG&E Green Button download tool. The app is available for web, mobile web, Apple iOS and Android platform versions Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich.

“The PowerTools app was designed to help SDG&E customers securely identify ways to make smarter choices in their energy use habits and decisions, improving efficiency and lowering costs,” wrote SDG&E.

Users can also access other features like the SDG&E power outage map and online bill payment service. They can see the environmental impact of energy use, look at reports that analyze their individual energy use history and review actual use and savings relative to history.

How To Sign Up

Customers must authorize the app’s third party vendor before they can receive energy use information:

1. Log into My Account from your desktop or tablet computer.
2. Click on the My Energy tab.
3. Look for the Related Links on the right.
4. Click on Green Button Connect My Data.
5. Follow the instructions on the page to select apps.

“This app is another great way for people to save money on their overall energy costs, but it can also help them cut down on heating and cooling costs and use their units more efficiently,” says Carini. “More efficient use of your HVAC system not only means lower bills and a longer lifespan, it often means fewer air conditioning repairs for San Diego homeowners.”

© 2013 Gabriel Carini. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Gabriel Carini is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — We see and hear of people who have done all sorts of things thinking they were improving appearances or cutting down on the cost of heating and cooling their San Diego home. What they actually did was decrease their units’ efficiency and increase their utility bill and likelihood of needing an air conditioning repair.

While these four questions may not be frequently asked, they should be, so here are Carini Heating and Air Conditioning’s answers:

1.      Does closing bedroom doors save money on heating and cooling? 

Do not shut interior doors thinking you will save money on heating or cooling costs. Closing doors restricts the path air takes to efficiently return to the HVAC unit. This stress may cause a pressure imbalance in your home, which means you’ll be pulling unconditioned air into the home potentially causing cooling and air quality problems.

“Whether it is summer or winter, closing bedroom doors does not save you any money,” says Gabriel Carini. “It does, however, compromise the comfort of your home and often mean higher energy bills.

2.     Covering up my thermostat is ok if I’m concerned about aesthetics, right?

A quick search on Google or Pinterest will show that there are hundreds of suggestions for decorating and covering up an ugly thermostat, but covering up a thermostat — even an unattractive or oddly-placed one — is a bad idea.

“Thermostats covered with a decorative box or framed art like some of the ones I’ve seen are not able to accurately read the indoor temperature and tell the system when to turn on and off,” says Carini. “That makes the system run inefficiently and compromises indoor comfort levels.”

Instead of impairing the HVAC system, invest in one of the newer, more attractive thermostats or ask a licensed San Diego heating, air conditioning and ventilation technician if the current thermostat can be moved to a less prominent area.

3.      Can I just close off vents in little-used rooms?

With today’s high-efficiency furnaces and well-balanced systems, closing off vents to rooms that are not used often can have very bad results. Instead of saving money, it can end up costing homeowners more, causing a pressure imbalance that pushes conditioned air outside of the home and damaging the system by working too hard to distribute air throughout the home.

“It costs more because the blower works harder and needs more electricity to distribute the air,” says Carini. “Plus, the warmer air in the closed off rooms infiltrates the rest of the house and cause the air conditioner to run for longer periods of time.”

4.     Can I put a decorative wooden lattice over my unsightly outdoor unit or disguise it with landscaping?

There are a several important reasons that the condenser unit needs space around it, so if you’re planning to cover or disguise the unit make sure your plan allows for adequate space around the unit. A minimum of three feet clearance is needed for proper airflow and room for an air conditioning service technician to maneuver during repairs and routine maintenance appointment.

“Not enough air flow can overwork and burn out the compressor and condenser fan,” says Carini. “Anything used to improve the aesthetics of condenser units should be far enough away that efficiency isn’t hindered.”

© 2013 Gabriel Carini. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Gabriel Carini is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Ductwork cleaning for residential HVAC systems can be a waste of money, and there are other air conditioning services that are a better investment in improving indoor air quality, system efficiency and cutting down on energy costs.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — While there are many air conditioning services that will help you save energy and money, there is one that is a waste of money for the majority of people with residential HVAC systems.

“What some San Diego heating and air conditioning companies are doing is offering a cut-rate deal on ductwork cleaning, then convincing homeowners once inside the home that they need additional, pricey services for the sake of their health,” says Gabriel Carini.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html) Not only is duct cleaning typically ineffective, there is also a good chance that portions of the system and ductwork will be damaged in the process. Meanwhile, these services can cost anywhere from $450 to $1,000, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region and the level of contamination.

“I’ve had personal experience with duct cleaning and have seen how much damage it can cause. Most companies use a disinfectant spray that has a nice smell to it that fools the customer into thinking the ducts are clean,” Carini says.

NBC’s Dateline did a hidden-camera investigation about duct cleaning companies back in 2011 and found that many of them were using these bait and switch marketing tactics. Some businesses were prosecuted for fraud and shut down but just moved to open businesses in another state. (http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/01/30/5956602-dateline-looks-inside-national-network-of-air-duct-cleaning-scams)

The threat is still a problem. The Better Business Bureau published a press release in January about companies in Texas that are scamming people after receiving complaints from consumers in the greater Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth areas. (http://www.bbb.org/blog/2013/01/air-duct-company-cleans-out-consumers-wallets/)

“Instead of trying to clean dirty ductwork, I would recommend putting the money into replacing or sealing it, so you know that the ducts are clean and intact,” says Carini. “If ductwork is truly dirty, identifying the source of the problem and correcting it is the only way to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Some problems with ductwork are easy to spot if you know what you’re looking for, but an air conditioning technician can determine exactly what the problem is and recommend the best long-term solution. These are the two most common causes of dirty ductwork:

• Flexible ductwork may have tears in the protective coating, kinks, flattened areas, exposed insulation or poor sealing at joints – all of which can allow dirt and pollutants to be sucked into the ductwork to be circulated through your home.
• Sometimes the culprit of damaged ductwork is wildlife that has made its home inside your home. Roof rats, squirrels and raccoons can severely damage flexible ductwork and compromise your system.

“Whether or not you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, replaced or sealed, committing to a routine preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination and keep your system running properly,”

No matter what you decide, finding the right company to take care of your heating and air conditioning needs is extremely important like we’ve talked about on our blog before. (http://www.cariniair.com/tips-for-hiring-a-heating-and-cooling-service-repair-and-installation-expert/) Some heating and cooling services providers are more interested in making money than their customers’ best interest. They may use technicians with no education, training or certifications or rely on high-pressure sales tactics to get you to buy services you don’t need.

“While I wouldn’t advise people get their ductwork cleaned, if they’re convinced they need it I’d recommend getting a reputable business to give them an estimate and to check with the BBB and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association before hiring them,” says Carini.

© 2013 Gabriel Carini. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Gabriel Carini is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—Do you need an air conditioning repair but keep putting it off? Have you been considering an upgrade to your heater that keeps breaking down?

“Instead of pumping more money into an old system, it might be more cost effective to have a new energy efficient indoor comfort system installed,” says Gabriel Carini. (http://www.cariniair.com/about-us/)

On Jan. 1, 2013, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that modified and extended certain energy efficiency tax credits. (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr8eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr8eas.pdf) The legislation included an extension of the 25C tax credit that allows homeowners to claim up to $500 in tax credits when they make qualified energy efficient improvements to their homes. This tax credit only applies to specific installation measures purchased in 2012 and 2013.

“Because the amendments are retroactive, homeowners who upgraded their heating and cooling systems in 2012 may be eligible for a tax credit this year,” says Carini. “This extension goes through the end of this year, so if you need a new system you might want to take advantage of this credit.”

Why Choose Energy Efficient?
The tax credits and rebates are good incentives to choose an energy efficient system, but here are a few other good reasons to choose energy efficient heating and air conditioning products:

1. Cut down on heating and cooling costs. Incorrectly installed heating and cooling equipment and poorly sealed or insulated ducts are often the reasons for high utility bills in summer and winter. A new energy efficient system will cut down on the monthly heating and cooling costs and save you money.
2. Improve indoor air quality. Some homes are plagued by excessive dust, mold, mildew or musty smells, which can be caused by several common HVAC problems. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning service expert can determine whether the problem is caused by a clogged air filter, leaky ductwork or improperly sized or installed air conditioners. (http://www.cariniair.com/services/) After the new energy efficient system is installed properly, all the problems should be resolved.
3. Eliminate hot and cold spots. A couple of the factors that can cause significant differences in temperature from one room to another are poor duct performance and HVAC equipment installed incorrectly.

“We can help you determine the ideal system for your air conditioning and heating needs that also qualifies for the tax credit,” says Carini. “And, most importantly, we can make sure the unit has been installed properly, so you don’t end up with an efficient system installed in a way that negates the benefits.”

The Internal Revenue Service Form 5695 can be used to claim you tax credit. (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf) There may be other financial incentives in your area for heating and cooling equipment, which can be found by checking the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. (http://www.dsireusa.org/)

As a part of the recently passed American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, Congress modified and extended its energy efficiency tax credits for appliances, new homes and retrofits to existing homes, which includes the 25C heating and cooling equipment tax incentive for 2012 and 2013. The new legislation extends the cumulative cap of a $500* maximum tax credit.

© 2013 Gabriel Carini. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Gabriel Carini is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—Recently, a news station ran a short segment about heating and cooling costs. One of their tips was to replace the unit’s filters on a regular basis, which is great advice. However, they showed a man putting in a filter that had clearly been damaged on one side and attempted to be smoothed out again.

“A crushed filter isn’t going to fit in the opening properly and will diminish the effectiveness of the filter,” says Gabriel Carini, who owns a San Diego, CA air conditioning and heating company. “It got me thinking about other mistakes that can happen with air filters. You need to make sure you’re using it properly to get the maximum benefit and keep your indoor comfort system running well.”

Cleaner air is healthier air, and the simplest way to get better quality air inside your home or office is to make sure the HVAC system’s air filter is being used properly. Use this checklist to make sure your air filter is doing its job properly.

1. You have the filter facing the right direction. Air filters are designed for the air to flow in one direction. If you’ve put it in backwards, while it might be filtering some particles out it is definitely not doing a good job at it.
2. The edges of the filter are straight and uncrushed. The frame of replaceable air filters is made out of a type of cardboard, which means it could be accidentally crushed on the way home from the store or otherwise marred if it doesn’t go in properly the first time.
3. The filter is the correct size and completely covers the air return opening. Gaps will let unfiltered air get to the main unit, increasing the likelihood of needing air conditioning service or furnace repair and cutting down on its lifespan.
4. Instead of the cheapest fiberglass filter on the market, you’ve upgraded to better filters that are more efficient at removing particles from the air. The more efficient air filters do cost more, but they are worth it for the health benefits and how it extends the life of your main unit.
5. The air filter is the ideal rating for the HVAC system. Some air filters on the market are too efficient for the standard residential indoor comfort system, which decreases air flow and can burn out the fan motor on the unit. The minimum efficiency reporting value or MERV is a system used to rate filters. While the majority of units can handle a MERV 11, the only way to be sure is to consult the user’s manual or ask a heating and air conditioning service expert.
6. You check the air filter each month and change it on schedule. Some filters say they only need to be changed every three months, but it depends on many different factors in your home. The filter should be check every month to make sure it isn’t dirty or clogged.
7. The air conditioning or heating unit is turned off when you change the filter, and you never run the system without a filter in place.
8. If there are any secondary filters on the HVAC unit, you change those as well. Sometimes homeowners may not even realize there is a second filter, but it needs to be changed regularly to maintain good indoor air quality and an efficient system. Check the user manual, look it up online or contact us to find out.
9. Reusable filters are thoroughly washed and dried before being replaced. Not cleaning the filter thoroughly is asking for HVAC trouble, and putting it back while still damp is a recipe for disaster.

“If you’re doing all of these things, you’re doing a good job at keeping your HVAC system clean and improving your home’s indoor air quality,” says Carini. “We’re happy to help you if you have questions or concerns about your air filters or heating and cooling unit.”

© 2013 Gabriel Carini. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Gabriel Carini is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—We are proud to announce that Carini Heating And Air Conditioning was awarded the 2012 Angie’s List Super Service Award, a leading national honor given to only five percent of companies on the consumer review site.

“Angie’s List is often one of the go-to resources for homeowners who need to hire companies and contractors to work on their home, which means a recommendation from them can mean great things for small businesses,” says Gabriel Carini, who founded the San Diego air conditioning business seven years ago.

In Sept. 2009, Carini Heating got its first review on Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Within two years, we had built up enough rapport on the site to qualify for their customer service award. We were given the 2011 Super Service Award and followed that up with another year of consistent, positive reviews.

“Last month we were notified that we’d been awarded the Super Service Award for the second year in a row,” says Carini, a San Diego air conditioners expert. “I’m so proud of our team and grateful to our customers who helped us win this recognition as being an outstanding heating and air conditioning service provider.”

Angie’s List gives out awards at the end of each year to the top five percent of businesses that have met the requirements for eligibility. The award is based on businesses overall ratings from Angie’s List members’ reviews left from Nov. 1 through Oct. 31. Consumers grade companies on six qualities: the overall experience, price, quality, responsiveness, punctuality and professionalism. They are also asked if they would use the company again in the future.

The Angie’s List award honors excellence among service and health providers who maintain a superior service record, according to the Angie’s List website. The site explains that the award also gives clients and prospects the confidence they need to invest in services and members of the review site search for the award symbol when making hiring decisions.

“An Angie’s List award is just one of the ways we show our customers that we’re a reputable company focused on providing customer satisfaction,” says Carini. “We’re also licensed, bonded and insured, an A-rated business with the BBB and offer satisfaction guaranteed.”

If you’d like to leave a review of your experience with our company during a service call, AC repair or HVAC installation, you can go online to Angie’s List. You can also leave a review on our Google+ page. To leave a review on Google +, all you’ll need is a Gmail account. We appreciate our customers’ feedback!

Have you ever considered what you would do to keep your heating and air conditioning systems running, if there was an extended power outage in your area during the peak summer heat or freezing winter? The answer to this question could be especially important for people with respiratory problems or the elderly population that is less capable of handling extreme heat or cold in their homes.

“For anyone that has lived in the San Diego area for more than 30 years, it’s clear that our local climate has been experiencing more days with record highs during the summer, and longer periods of cold during the winter,” said San Diego air conditioning and heating expert Gabriel Carini. “We’re still blessed with a overall beautiful climate in San Diego, but in some areas of the county, the extreme heat can be a real problem if air conditioning is unavailable for extended periods of time.”

Carini noted that heating systems are also working overtime this winter. “People are actually more tolerant of the really hots days without air conditioning, than they are with very cold days without heating.”

The extreme temperatures that occur during cold spells and heat waves may raise the risk of heart-related deaths, according to an Australian study at the School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

The study, led by Cunrui Huang, for the first time looks at the link between daily average temperature and “years of life lost” due to cardiovascular diseases. Huang and colleagues write about their findings in the current issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.

“Various studies have shown that exposure to extreme temperatures stresses the cardiovascular system in different ways: it changes blood thickness, blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol levels, for example. When they compared the two groups of data, the researchers found risk of premature death due to cardiovascular disease went up more when extreme heat lasted for two or more days.

“This might be because people become exhausted due to the sustained strain on their cardiovascular systems without relief, or health systems become overstretched and ambulances take longer to reach emergency cases, says co-author and associate professor of biostatistics at QUT, Adrian G. Barnett.

So what kind of tactics should people consider to make sure their heating and air conditioning systems continue to run in emergencies or disasters?

“People have lots of questions about generators for their home or business, including where they can run a generator, what size they need to buy and how to connect it to the house’s power supply,” said Carini. “The size of the unit depends on the sum of the electrical loads that you need to power simultaneously. This is measured in watts. Add up all the loads you want to run simultaneously, and then figure out which electrical items in your home require the most electricity to start their motors. Large items like air conditioners tend to use a lot of power when they start up—two or three times the power they use while they’re running normally.

How do you decide which of your household loads to protect with a backup generator? “Pat Porzio is a mechanical engineer, plumber and an electrician, and installs generators for a living. He’s HVAC manager for Russo Brothers Plumbing in East Hanover, N.J. Here are the circuits he typically powers:

1. First-floor bathroom
2. A couple of lighting circuits
3. Refrigerator
4. Furnace
5. Air Conditioning
6. Garage door opener
7. Well pump

Other loads to consider are a sump pump, a sewage ejector pump or a circuit into which you can plug a window air conditioner.

Read more: Home Generator 101 – How to Power On When the Power Goes Out – Popular Mechanics
For more information, contact Carini Heating and Air Conditioning, info@cariniair.com; 619-843-0997

We are a family owned and operated company, and want all our customers and friends to know that we’re grateful for all your business and support throughout 2012. We’ve had our best year ever, and plan to be even better in 2013, to continue to earn your trust. Best wishes for everything you want to achieve and contribute to the world this year. In 2013, we plan to increase our involvement in the communities we serve, and to implement a variety of new and valuable benefits for our employees. We’re starting to work on preparation for the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards competition, and hope to become among the best companies to work in San Diego.

We also are happy to announce that we have several positions open for experienced heating and air conditioning installers and service technicians in San Diego. We’re a fast growing company with lots of room for career advancement and employee participation, and welcome great ideas, from wherever they come. For more information about these installer and service technician positions, please call 619-843-0997

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—In October, we did a post that talked about the hidden camera investigation NBC’s Today Show did this summer on New Jersey air conditioning and heating companies. They wanted to find out if the reputation the HVAC industry has of overcharging and misleading consumers had any truth to it, and the sad result was that all six of the companies they investigated lived up to the bad reputation.

Although the report was disheartening to honest HVAC professionals who do strive to offer customers high-quality services, it is a great opportunity to teach homeowners what they need to know to combat this epidemic.
“Education and research are the two tools you need to equip yourself with to protect against companies that want to rip you off,” says Gabriel Carini, who provides heating and air conditioning services in the San Diego area.

Find companies with good reputations for customer service and quality repairs. (http://www.cariniair.com/tips-for-hiring-a-heating-and-cooling-service-repair-and-installation-expert/) Research is the best way to do this, so don’t wait until you have an air conditioning or heating emergency to find one. Start by gathering recommendations from friends, family and acquaintances, then look several of those up online. Look at their website, read Google+ reviews, check Yelp and Angie’s List for reviews, and make sure they have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau.

“Some review sites like Angie’s List require a small membership fee, but when you think about how much you’re likely to invest in a new HVAC system or large air conditioner or heater repair the cost is well worth it,” says Carini, who started his San Diego, CA heating and air conditioning company in 2003.

The type of person a company puts on their front line lets you know a lot about how they do business, so call the companies that looked the best after your online research to get some general information from the office. You can ask about certifications and licenses and get references. Talking to previous customers is a great way to find out if a company if worth your money.

“If you’re having a big job done like a full HVAC installation, get estimates from two or three companies,” says Carini. “It’s always good to have some frame of reference for prices and the extent of the work included in the job. A lowball estimate could be a sign of a company that will cut corners on installation.”

This checklist from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, a non-profit association for the HVACR industry, is a great way to help identify good companies in your area. (https://www.acca.org/consumer/home-choosing)

Familiarize yourself with your unit and its main components. Sometimes people overlook the fact that a heating and cooling system is more than a thermostat and box outside that can be turned on or off to control your indoor temperature. No one expects you to be an HVAC expert, but knowing the basics about your system will give you the ability to maintain it and understand what the technician is talking about when they’re diagnosing the problem during a service call.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” says Carini. “Sometimes people are reluctant to ask because they don’t want to seem dumb, but we’re there to provide you with a service. Our technicians are always more than happy to answer questions or explain how to maintain a customer’s unit.”

A heating and cooling system impacts the comfort, health, durability and energy efficiency of your home and, of course, your wallet in the form of utility bills each month. It may not be glamorous or thrilling reading, but flip through the unit’s manual to find out what type of system your home has and its main components. For example, a forced air heating and cooling system has two parts: the equipment and the distribution system. The equipment might include an outdoor condenser unit and an indoor blower, while the distribution system would be referring to the ductwork that connects everything and carries it to different portions of the home.

“Learning about this big part of your home will help you protect yourself from dishonest HVAC companies and keep your home and family healthier and safer,” says Carini.