We’ve been in the business almost 20 years now and have installed and serviced a variety of HVAC units. We do not promote brands but rather recommend brands we have experience with and best fit the client’s need. In the event the client has a preference for a certain brand we will do our best to provide it.  Here are the facts with regard to the different HVAC (central air-conditioner, heat-pump, or furnace) brands.

One of the common problems we encounter is a heat pump that has iced up.  A heat pump in good condition should be able to operate in below freezing temperatures without icing over, so why does this happen?

You’ve probably heard us talk about the benefits of using a programmable thermostat, or have read our  head to head comparisons of the Nest and Honeywell smart thermostats. We’ve touted that swapping out your thermostat can be a do-it-yourself project, but, any time you replace a thermostat, you’re left with what to do with the old one. 

It always seems your heat will go out on the coldest day of the year!  Why spend money when you may be able to fix it yourself? This post describes some trouble-shooting and fixes you may be able to do before calling a technician.

The efficiency of your furnace can make a big difference in your energy bills. A new furnace will save money on your heating bills, be safer, and greener (better for the environment).  Our best advice is to plan ahead!  Do not wait until the dead of winter and your heat has gone out to start thinking about replacements. In fact, you’re likely to get the best pricing on a furnace in the spring or fall.

We all try to make our dollars go farther and last longer.  Big expenditures – like a new HVAC system or a major HVAC repair – can break the budget… and who has time for that anyway?  Here are some true stories from real-life customer experiences we can all learn from.

Harnessing solar energy does not mean you need photovoltaic panels on your roof and technological solutions.  There are myriad ways to design passive solar concepts into a home that will allow you to lower your heating and cooling costs year-round, and make your home more environmentally friendly.

Regardless whether it’s your HVAC unit, your car, or some other device, it’s easy to feel caught in the middle by “finger-pointing” from different service companies. See if any of these sound familiar:

• Company B tells you they need to install a new part that Company A just recently replaced.
• Company B says that Company A did something wrong and they are having to un-do it or re-do it.

What should you do?  You’re probably not a technical wiz about the issue – that’s why you called a service technician to begin with! 

Fall has come to mean football and tailgating.  But it also means it’s time to get ready for heating season.  Having a fall maintenance check  will help ensure you stay warm as temperatures drop in the months ahead.  We tag along on a typical fall maintenance check done by Interstate AC Service's technician, Lance Waterbarger.  In this podcast, Lance checks on a 19-year-old Ruud system installed in a customer's attic. The air handler uses both a heat pump and a bank of two electric heaters.

Mold in your home can be an unsightly and smelly problem, as well as a major health issue.  Despite what others may tell you, adding UV lights to your HVAC system will not completely solve an air quality or mold problem in your home.  In this podcast, we’ll help explain why and point out some of the downsides of UV lights.