HVAC & Generator Blog | First Choice Heating & Cooling

How to Shut Down an Air Conditioner for the Season

October 2nd, 2017

You may still need to have your air conditioning system running for a stretch longer, since the fall can sometimes pull out surprise heat waves. But eventually, you’ll look at the upcoming weather forecast, see the low temperatures, and know that the cold weather is here to stay… at least until spring.

It’s important to have your heating system tuned-up and inspected before the cold weather, and you can arrange for this with our experts in HVAC in Brighton, MI. We offer maintenance for a range of heating systems, including furnaces and boilers.

But there’s something else you need to do once the air conditioner turns off for the season. No, the AC doesn’t need maintenance, not yet. (That will come in the spring.) But if you simply turn off the AC and leave it, it can suffer damage over the winter that may jeopardize its operation when you need it again. Here are steps to take to “winterize” your air conditioner. And remember, if you know your AC has a repair need, don’t let the repair go just because it’s the end of the cooling season.

What Is Air Sealing and How Does It Benefit Me?

September 18th, 2017

How efficient is your house? You might wonder what we mean by that. Are we talking about the electricity, the furnace, the insulation, the air conditioning system … what?

The answer is, Yes! We’re talking about all of that and more. Home energy efficiency is about thinking of the house as a whole system, one that conserves as much energy as possible. A key part of keeping a home energy efficient around the year is to maintain the heat envelope surrounding it. This means that during winter heat doesn’t escape, forcing the furnace or other heating system to work harder to replace it, and during summer heat doesn’t enter, putting extra pressure on the air conditioner.

You may not know if your house has a good envelope or not. But if you have trouble with winter drafts and stifling summer heat, it may be a good idea to contact us for air sealing in Fenton, MI to see that your house has a proper seal against temperature extremes. We especially recommend this for older homes, which were often constructed with inferior insulation and which may have developed air leaks over the years.

Common Air Conditioner Repairs at Summer’s End

September 4th, 2017

The last days of summer are a great time to pack in a few more fun activities you didn’t get to during the rest of the season. And one of those fun activities is arranging for repairs on your air conditioning system!

Uhm, wait, I’ve been handed a correction… Okay, this actually isn’t a fun activity, but it’s one that’s often necessary. If you have put off any repairs for your AC earlier in the summer, don’t wait to schedule them. Just because there are cooler days ahead doesn’t mean you might be able to scrape past with an AC that isn’t at 100%. It can mean bigger repairs down the road, elevated utility bills, a sudden system breakdown on a hot day, and even an air conditioner that has to be replaced years too early.

Time to Replace Your HVAC System? Here’s What to Look For

August 21st, 2017

The best time of the year to make a major change to the HVAC systems responsible for your year-round comfort in your house is during the spring and the fall—i.e. the times of the year when you need to rely on the AC or heater the least.

It’s already the second half of August, and even though the weather is still hot, the fall cooling is not far off. If this is the year to have your HVAC system updated with a new system installation in Fenton, MI, right now is a good time to start thinking about it. The earlier you plan for the job, the easier it will be to schedule it—and you’ll have your new system ready to go in time for any changes in the weather.

Why Is There Ice on the AC Coil? Is Something Wrong?

August 7th, 2017

We’ll cut to the quick: Yes, something is wrong with your central air conditioning system if you notice ice forming on its coil. If this was your first instinct, then you’re thinking along the right lines. People often dismiss the appearance of ice on an air conditioner as a sign that the system is perhaps working a bit too well. The air coming out of the AC is cool, so why wouldn’t ice be part of the process?

But as you may already know, an air conditioner doesn’t use ice to cool down the air it sends into a home. What it actually does is remove heat from inside the house and release it outside, a process called heat exchange. If the air conditioner is working correctly, no ice should develop during this absorption and release of heat.

Disabled Hartland couple gets new furnace when they call Channel 7 desperate for help

August 3rd, 2017

HARTLAND, Mich. (WXYZ-TV) – A Hartland couple called 7 Action News when they couldn’t get help from anyone else. We answered their call, and got them a brand new furnace.

Debby and Dan Taylor rely on their wheelchairs to get around. Both are diabetics and have each had a leg amputated. The cold weather has been hard on them, especially Dan, who recently suffered a stroke.

One week into Dan’s recovery, they found their home particularly cold. Their furnace had stopped working.

“We called all over,” Debby told Action News. “We called everybody, and nobody would help.”

The couple used their gas stove and space heaters to heat their home temporarily. A new furnace would’ve cost the family thousands of dollars they didn’t have.

Debby had her doubts, but she followed her husband’s advice and called 7 Action News. “I’ve seen many a times when the stations help people out,” said Dan. “I thought, ‘Well, why can’t they help us out?”

We reached out to the Southeast Michigan chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Before long, we found the Taylors a furnace.

First Choice Heating & Cooling, a Fenton-based company, volunteered to install a furnace that was donated by a distributor to the Taylor family.

“I felt helpless until Channel 7 stepped in and helped us,” Debby said as she watched the new furnace get installed.

Are Leaky Air Ducts Stealing Money from You This Summer?

July 24th, 2017

You’ve had your air conditioner running steadily for a few months at this point, so you’ve already had a chance to see what your summer utility bills look like. Have they been noticeably higher this month? As we’ve pointed out before, this often indicates a repair need in the air conditioning system. We strongly recommend calling us for repairs as soon as possible: we’ll find out what’s wrong and fix it so that not only will your bills drop, but you’ll be in less danger of the air conditioner failing on you during a hot late summer day.

However, we may discover something outside of the AC unit itself is the source of those high bills. Another part of the HVAC system that frequently “steals” money from you without you realizing it is the ductwork.

Repair Your Old AC? Or Replace It?

July 10th, 2017

The biggest debate in the HVAC world is whether a piece of equipment should be repaired or replaced when it breaks down. Sometimes repairs are the easier and less expensive method; but there are times when repairs are throwing good money after bad, and the better long-term solution is to have a new installation done.

Since we’re now in the middle of the summer in Michigan, you’re probably going to ask “Repair or Replace?” when it comes to your air conditioning system. When your AC breaks down on you, the first step to take is to call for air conditioning service in Fenton, MI from our professionals. You might already have an idea about whether or not you should have a replacement or continue with repairs. We’ll help you make the best choice with our honest assessment and advice. No matter what the best option is, we’ll see that you get the best possible service.

How Does a Heat Pump Both Cool and Heat?

June 26th, 2017

When it’s time to replace a central air conditioning system in a house, a homeowner will face a number of different options. One of them is to remove both the air conditioner and the heater and put in a heat pump instead. Since heaters and air conditioners are usually installed at the same time in a new home, they’ll probably be ready for a replacement around the same time. A heat pump allows a home to have its heating and cooling needs for all around the year taken care of with a single installation.

It’s Not Too Late for Air Conditioning Maintenance

June 12th, 2017

Summer is almost here! Although this is one of the most popular seasons of the year, the perfect time to go on vacation, have cook-outs, or watch big-budget movies, it’s also a time when you must make sure you have a home air conditioning system ready to handle temperatures that can rise into the 90s.

Making sure to call professionals to handle any air conditioning repairs the moment you sense something is wrong is only part of caring for an AC during the summer. Perhaps the most important part is arranging for regular maintenance for the air conditioner: a full inspection and tune-up from a trained HVAC technician. It’s usually best to have this service done in spring—and there’s still time to schedule it. Call our team to arrange for your air conditioning maintenance in Fenton, MI before any more hot weather comes your way.