[New Post] How Do Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostats Work In Scottsdale? published on scottsdaleair

We’ve all heard about Wi-Fi programmable thermostats in Scottsdale, but has anyone actually wondered how they work? They seem to be the rage of custom homebuilders and HVAC companies, but quite often, simplicity and factual information, not marketing buzz is the best selling point.

Facts About Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostats Before Investing

Question #1 – What Are The Key Features Of A Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat?

When it comes to the key features, the truth is that Wi-Fi programmable thermostats have tons of bells and whistles. However, many of these options are very good for helping you streamline the way your home HVAC system works. Some of the best features of any Wi-Fi programmable thermostat include:

• You can control them from virtually anywhere. If you have access to a smart phone, tablet or even computer, you can access an online and secure control panel that will connect to your programmable thermostat. This allows you to monitor your home or office temperature and make changes quickly from remote locations to adjust the temperature in order to save money. This is a huge benefit for winter visitors and those that have homes in Arizona but travel frequently.


• They offer flexible programming. Another nice feature of Wi-Fi thermostats is their programming flexibility. You can control different settings by the hour, day, minute, week, month or any other time period you can consider. You can also control different settings for different rooms.


• Auto Alert Feature: When you have your Wi-Fi programmable thermostat connected to your smart phone, you can set it up to send you updates and other reminders. Some of the best updates include letting you know when routine maintenance needs to be scheduled. And again, for those that travel frequently or live elsewhere, this gives you the luxury of scheduling maintenance checks while you’re not even home.

Question #2 – What Type Of Cooling Or Heating Systems Are Compatible With Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostats?

One of the best features of new technology is the flexibility they offer to work with multiple HVAC systems. Most Wi-Fi thermostats work with:

• Central Air Conditioning


• Central Heating


• Heat Pumps


• Furnaces


• And more

There are also mobile units that many people living in Scottsdale install inside their RV’s and traveling trailers.  As you can see, there are several types of HVAC systems that can be controlled with Wi-Fi programmable thermostats in Scottsdale.

Question #3 – What Can A Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat Do That My Current System Can’t?

Besides the features we’ve posted above, there are a few other items that a programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat can accomplish that other basic units simply can’t, including the following:

• Wi-Fi Thermostats are extremely accurate: One of the best advantages of technology is that everything across the board tends to improve. This is the case with Wi-Fi thermostats, as they are known to monitor all phases of your home comfort system extremely accurately. This allows a homeowner to improve their overall home comfort levels to peak efficiency.


• Most Wi-Fi Thermostats display outdoor conditions: Many Wi-Fi thermostats can communicate with sensors outside to display an accurate reading of the outdoor heat and humidity. This is a nice additional perk if you’ve ever wondered if it was warm or cold outside and didn’t want to poke your head outside the door.

The bottom line is that Wi-Fi programmable thermostats offer homeowners and commercial building owners several benefits and upgrades simply not available with older systems. The best thing to consider is your specific application and whether or not this type of technology is beneficial for you.

Contact Scottsdale Air Heating & Cooling  at 480.359.7141 and we will answer your questions about the specific thermostats we sell, install and  service.

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/how-do-wi-fi-programmable-thermostats-work-in-scottsdale/

[New Post] 3 Questions To Ask About Your HVAC Unit After Vacation published on scottsdaleair

Did you know that many AC and heating system repair calls often come from Carefree home owners after they return from an extended vacation and ‘flip the switch’ to turn the system back on? The question that many homeowners often ask is; why does a Carefree HVAC system wait till we get back home from vacation to break down?

Ensure Your Carefree HVAC System Is Ready To Run

First – Why Does The HVAC System In Carefree Decide To Break Down After It’s Turned On After Vacation?

As we stated above, your HVAC system doesn’t know the difference between a vacation and anything else you do. But, it does know the difference between running consistently or sitting idle, collecting dust and debris then instantly expected to perform at peak efficiency. This is a major cause of most AC and heating system failures when people return from an extended vacation – especially for winter visitors that leave Arizona for extended periods of time.

An AC or heating system needs to be run in order to last. This might seem odd, but believe it or not, when you ensure your system stays operational around the clock, it’s less likely to break down than if you turn it off completely. This is why many Carefree HVAC experts recommend turning your temperature settings higher than normal in summer or lower than normal in winter if you leave for vacation. This will allow your HVAC system to circulate air from time to time and keep the moving parts lubricated.

Second – How Can We Save Money On Utilities If The HVAC System In Carefree Is Left On During Vacation?

One of the best tools that a homeowner can have, especially somebody that leaves Carefree frequently on business or extended travel, is a programmable thermostat. Most of these new systems include WIFI technology allowing a homeowner to adjust the temperature of their AC and heating systems through their mobile device. You can also have the thermostat send you a text message if the unit is left on so you can adjust the temperature settings accordingly. As we stated above, it’s never a good idea to turn your AC or heating unit completely off. Instead, upgrade to a programmable thermostat that will allow you to monitor your home temperature settings and adjust for maximum energy efficiency.

Third – What Should I Do When I Return to Carefree From Vacation?

The lesson learned by many homeowners in Carefree is often that if your HVAC system is left off for a long time, it can – and often does – have issues. A simple solution to this problem is as stated above – don’t turn it off. However, if you’re going to shut down your HVAC system, make sure you contact a dependable heating and air conditioning repair company to inspect the system before you turn it on. A simple ‘check-up’ can save you a ton of money on costly repairs.

The best advice we can offer when it comes to keeping your Carefree HVAC system running strong is to leave it on but adjust the temperature to a setting that will save energy while you’re enjoying vacation or an extended trip.

Ready to have answers to all of your post vacation HVAC questions, call us today at 480.359.7141!

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/3-questions-to-ask-about-your-hvac-unit-after-vacation/

[New Post] Air Conditioner Depreciation And Rental Unit Owners Concerns published on scottsdaleair

One of the biggest advantages of owning a rental property is the tax benefits and deductions available to the owner. Whenever you replace or fix a major appliance inside a rental property, a major consideration is the taxes potentially paid or deducted. And when you have to replace the AC system, you might want to consider air conditioner depreciation as a cost efficient method to spread your tax savings and investment over a long-term period – up to 27.5 years.

Air Conditioning Depreciation And Its Impact On Rental Unit Owners

Fact #1 – What is Air Conditioner Depreciation?

In general, when you replace or repair an item inside a rental unit, you have two options:

• First, if you repair an item like an AC unit, you can deduct the total cost of the repair on that individual year taxes. That’s known as a single deduction.


• Second, if you replace the unit, you have the option to depreciate that cost and spread it out over a period of a few years. Based on recent IRS regulations it is up to 27.5 years.

When you repair an item, you’re returning the value of the home to status quo. However, when you replace an item, you are making an improvement, increasing the value of the property. So how does that impact you financially? Here is an example:

Let’s say that you decide to make a repair to your home AC system that costs you a total of $1,000. The licensed HVAC contractor arrives and makes the repairs, you pay them and everybody is happy. At the end of the year, when you file taxes for that property, you’ll have to deduct that repair cost during that individual year. However, if you replace the unit, and the cost is $3,000, you’ll have to depreciate this cost over a period of 27.5 years. So instead of having $1,000 tax deduction, you’ll only have about $105 deduction each year.

That’s a huge difference. But you’ll get that same deduction every year you file taxes and own that rental property. So you’ll have to determine what is best for your individual needs.

Fact #2 – How Does The IRS Classify Repairs Vs. Improvement

Began January 1^st, 2014, the IRS classified a property improvement under three different sections:

• Betterment of a property


• Adaptation of the property


• Restoration of the property

The easiest way to remember this is under the acronym BAR. All three equate to an improvement of the property and qualify the large expense as depreciation – not a deduction.

What Is Betterment?

You can create air conditioner depreciation under the betterment classification if:

• The improvement ameliorates a material condition or defect in the property that existed before you acquired the rental property. This means if you add a new air conditioner that increases the size of the property in some way (this is not typical). However, one that is common is if the addition of the new AC unit creates a material increase, which increases the productivity, quality, capacity or strength of the property.

What Are Adaptations?

This is typically used for room additions or adapting the space to create greater value. Not typically used in AC depreciation.

What Is Restoration?

This one is pretty simple to consider. If the addition or replacement of the new air conditioner restores the property value, this is when you’d use this classification.

As you can see, there are some new restrictions that the IRS has made in 2014 that actually help allocate tax deductions over a larger period. For more information about air conditioner depreciation and how to best use this deduction for your individual rental property, always defer to legal or accountant advice.

Like what you’ve read? Be the first to understand how we can help when your AC unit depreciates by subscribe to our newsletter. Add your email address to the form at top of the right column.

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/air-conditioner-depreciation-and-rental-unit-owners-concerns/

[New Post] Air Duct Inspection In Scottsdale AZ: Important Items Needed published on scottsdaleair

One of the best ways to improve the air quality inside your home and its energy efficiency is to have an air duct inspection in Scottsdale performed. The air ducts are the respiratory system of a home. Everything you breathe inside will filter through these ducts, circulating hot air and cool air inside the house all year long. And although they are manufactured professionally, over an extended period of time the air ducts can become dirty, loose and even filled with holes that allow precious cool or warm air to escape. This is why scheduling an air duct inspection can be crucial.

An Air Duct Inspection In Scottsdale Should Always Include These 3 Items

Item #1 – Have Blockages In The System Inspected

The first item in any air duct inspection in Scottsdale needs to be a visual inspection of any blockages in the system. This is occasionally caused by excessive debris or buildup of dust, trash or other materials that will restrict the airflow of the HVAC system. This eventually leads to more stress being placed on your cooling and heating equipment, which eventually leads to an increase in energy consumption. This can also lead to poor air quality as the dirty material trapped within the air duct system is being distributed every time the air circulates throughout your home.

Item #2 – Check For Leaks In The Air Duct System

When you have leaking air ducts it can cause several issues to occur, including:

• Loss of cool air in summer or heated air during winter. This causes the HVAC system to operate very inefficiently. The direct result is that they system has to work harder to achieve the desired results. And when it works harder, it consumes more energy and can break down easier.


• Introduce more debris into the system. Which as we stated above will lead to higher monthly bills and also impact clean air.


• Leaky air ducts in Scottsdale will also introduce a new friend to your home – pests. Insects and rodents love to find their way into your home through small holes in the air duct system.

As you can see, even the smallest hole in the air duct system can lead to huge issues. So make sure anybody that inspects your air duct system in Scottsdale checks for leaks. If they find any leaks, make sure they can offer you an affordable solution to fix them.

Item #3 – Must check for Damaged Sections of the Duct Work

Unfortunately construction is never a perfect industry. From time to time, ductwork will be damaged during the construction phase – and never noticed until it’s too late. Broken sections of duct work will also impede the flow of air; especially when softer and often cheaper materials are used in the construction of your home. When an area is crushed it reduces the smooth flow of the air leading to increased monthly bills and inefficient HVAC control.

As you can clearly see, it’s very important to have these three areas inspected during any air duct inspection in Scottsdale. Always remember to contact a professional and licensed HVAC contractor that has vast experience in performing all types of work in Scottsdale.

Ready to take care of your duct system? Call us at 480-359-7141 and we can help today! You can also read more about our Aeroseal air duct sealing process and the energy savings that come from this service. 

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/air-duct-inspection-in-scottsdale-az-important-items-needed/