Alpharetta, Atlanta Air Conditioning & Heating Blog

Do you know how to select the right thermostat for your needs? It may seem like a trivial thing to consider, but the type of thermostat you choose can have a major impact on the comfort of your home, and your wallet.

“Today, there are so many choices when it comes to thermostats,” says Phil Montgomery, owner of Atlanta Heating and Air Conditioning. “It can be overwhelming to determine which is right for your home. There are three main types of thermostats, but then a host of options in each of those categories.”

1. Mechanical thermostats – These can be used for heat only, or for heating and cooling, however, they cannot switch from heat to cool automatically. The thermostat operates by triggering a metal bar that heats up or cools down. These are the easiest and cheapest thermostats available, but are often the most unreliable. They tend to have a slow response that can cause significant temperature variations in your home.

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Atlanta, GA – It’s November, which means cooler weather will soon be upon us. And before the cold really sets in, you want to be sure your gas furnace will be able to function properly to keep your family comfortable. Follow these tips from the experts at Atlanta Heating and Air Conditioning to troubleshoot potential problems with your furnace.

1. Check your thermostat. One of the most common problems isn’t the furnace itself, but rather the thermostat. Be sure you regularly check the battery life on your digital thermostat to be sure there is still plenty of power for the thermostat to run properly. Most will have a battery display directly on the display panel, which will indicate when a new battery is needed. (more…)

Installing a new furnace is a big decision for any home owner, and if may be one you try to put off for as long as you can. But if you’ve spent the last few winters making continuous repairs to your heating unit, it’s probably time for an upgrade. A new furnace will operate more efficiently, lowering your energy costs and making your home more comfortable in the process.

The first step is researching the type of furnace to have installed. The life of a typical furnace is 15 to 20 years, and there are so many choices in just about every price range. According to Angie’s List, the average cost of a new furnace, powered by natural gas, is between $2,500 and $14,000. The average cost for installation is between $2,000 and $8,000.

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Atlanta, GA – The dog days of summer are upon us, and we know that when your air conditioning unit isn’t functioning properly, it can be miserable for your family. If you’re wondering if you need to schedule an AC repair visit, here is a checklist of common AC problems to check first.

The first place you should always look is the filter. An old, dirty or inefficient air filter can make your air conditioner stop working well. It’s important that homeowners know how often to change their filters, and during the summer, months, check them regularly for visible dirt and dust. Since your AC will be running more frequently, that means your filter is working overtime, too, so you may need to replace it more often than you normally would.

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Have you ever noticed that every time you leave your house for a few hours during the summer months and upon return there is a musty, mildew smell? Chances are that you have looked for the culprit or the source of this smell but were unable to determine exactly where it was coming from: It is most likely your air conditioner, and placing a call for AC repair is your best bet for ridding your home of the unpleasant odor.

Why would you call in a professional who specializes in heating and cooling services to rid your house of mildew? If you choose to ignore the mildew smell, and it goes unchecked, you may eventually become noseblind and not even notice it anymore, but rest assured, your visitors will.

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With winter only a few months away, now is a good time to start thinking about ways to keep energy costs at a minimum. The rising prices of natural gas and electricity can make it more and more difficult to be able to afford keeping your thermostat at a comfortable temperature. There is hope, however, and there are many different ways to keep your energy bill from getting out of hand when the mercury dips.

1. Insulation: Check areas such as your attic, basement, crawlspace, and behind the walls of your home for insulation; the thicker the insulation, the higher the R-Factor. If you presently have insulation but are not sure how old it is, you can have it checked by a professional heating contractor. Insulation degrades with age, and over time, it should be replaced for greater energy savings. There are several different types of insulation that work well in different areas of your home. If you find the recommended areas in your home are not insulated, your heating systems will work overtime to keep you warm and your energy is literally going through the roof.

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If you have been thinking about cleaning or servicing your AC unit yourself, there is probably a bit more to it than you thought. High-powered electrical equipment can be dangerous and can cause severe electrical shock if you are unsure or unfamiliar with its mechanics and how to properly inspect and clean the equipment. It’s always best to contact a professional air conditioning repair service to stay on the safe side.

Many things are easily maintained through routine maintenance and by scheduling air conditioning service calls that will keep your unit operating at peak performance. Things as simple as cleaning your AC condenser coils and evaporator coils can substantially cut down on air conditioning repair. This can also add longevity to your cooling system and will help to cut down on high energy costs due to the removal of built-up grime, dust and debris that collect in the coils over the years.

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Many people are often confused about when it’s time to either repair or replace their air conditioning unit. Some units will make noises when they first start up after sitting idle over the long winter months. Sometimes debris can collect inside the unit if it sat uncovered and was exposed to the elements for several months. Small twigs, acorns, tree bark, and other items can get caught in the fan blades. This can cause the unit to sound as if it needs replaced when you first turn it back on. Any number of things can cause your unit to make unusual sounds.

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Air conditioning (AC) plays a very important role in our daily comfort especially when the hot summer months arrive. Nothing is cooler than coming to a comfortably air conditioned home at the end of the day. Having an air conditioner may be luxury for some but, for others who live in warm climates, such as Atlanta, Georgia it is a necessity.
Now, if you’re thinking of buying another HVAC system for home, one very important thing you need to do is choose the type of AC you need.
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Atlanta, Georgia – As the temperatures are dropping, homeowners are going to be needing their furnaces more and more. But if homeowners called for furnace repair often last winter, they may now be wondering if they should install a new furnace. However, homeowners shouldn’t try furnace installation on their own, says Phil Montgomery. Montgomery owns Atlanta Heating and Air Conditioning, a company with more than 40 years of experience assisting Atlanta area homeowners.

“Furnace installation can be very dangerous, so we always recommend homeowners hire a professional,” says Montgomery, whose company also provides Alpharetta heating repair. (more…)