BRRRRR...Is your HVAC Ready?

Our little town has it's own Facebook page which can be quite entertaining. During Snowvid (the big freeze of 2021, when most of Texas was snowed in and frozen) that page was big entertainment. 

One of the topics of conversation was all of the people who didn't know how to use the "EM HEAT" or Emergency Heat setting on their Heat Pump.  Luckily, one of the experts from a well-respected HVAC company lives in my town, and he saved the day.

As a realtor, I have become all too familiar with people who are not aware of the importance of maintaining their unit.  Whether you have a Heat Pump, or another type of unit, it is as important as changing the oil in your car. One client of mine, had to replace their unit in order to sell their home because they had not maintained it properly.  This cost them a big chunk of money they had anticipated having for their new home.  

Now is the perfect time to have someone come out and check it over.  Don't wait until you are freezing and realize it isn't working properly.  A service call is a fraction of the cost of a new unit, and if there are any problems developing, they can let you know now before it becomes an issue.

Our climate in North Texas can go from balmy and warm to sub-freezing in just a matter of hours.  That change alone can put a strain on your unit, especially if it is older.  Some older units have lasted well beyond their expected end date, just because the owner performed regular maintenance.  By changing the filters every few months, and having annual checkups, you can be assured your system will work to its full potential.

My husband and I learned the lesson of taking care of our HVAC unit many years ago, and realized that since a unit is such a large expense, it makes sense to purchase an annual maintenance plan.  It is relatively inexpensive and well worth the money.

Understanding how your unit works is also very important.  If you have a HEAT PUMP, have a technician go over how to use the thermostat with you.  Several years ago, we bought a house with a Heat Pump and no one ever explained how to use it properly.  We spent hundreds of dollars on electric bills because the service tech never told us about the EM HEAT setting and when to use it.  When my friend, who owns Ary Co AC told me how to operate it, I quickly switched to his company.  

I recently asked the owner how to instruct you on the Emergency Heat setting, and he explained that there are different types of Heat Pumps, so using the setting is different for the various types.  You will want to make sure you ask your tech the best way to use that setting to protect both the system and your pocketbook.  

A good company will also be honest with you about the condition and not try to 'upsell' you every time they come out.  While it seems that I am doing a bit of a commercial for a particular company, it is only because I know how they operate.  

I was helping someone buy a home with an older unit.  We requested the seller have service done on the unit to see what kind of condition it was in.  They contacted Ary Co A/C & Heat LLC and upon inspection, they were told the unit worked fine, and didn't need to be upgraded or changed.   I know other companies that would have taken the opportunity to make money off of the sellers.  That is why we use them exclusively.  

Whether you use Ary Co or not, please contact a reputable company to check on your unit if you do not have a maintenance plan.  It may save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

By the way, Ary doesn't compensate me for this.  I've just had too many bad stories to tell of problems with units and unethical companies.  There are a lot of good HVAC companies out there, so just investigate.

Stay warm everyone, who knows what this winter will bring!

To contact Ary AC, go to Air Conditioning & Heating Repair (aaryhvac.com).  

Oh, and one final meme, just because I thought it was funny.
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