[New Post] Typical Late-Summer Issues with HVAC Systems in Phoenix, AZ published on scottsdaleair

When properly maintained, HVAC systems in Phoenix tend to hold up quite nice considering the intense heat they have to combat. But, a truth that often is never discussed is just like any other mechanical device extensive use tends to accelerate the system’s life. And since we depend on having a strong HVAC unit keeping our commercial and residential buildings cool in the summer heat of Phoenix, it’s important to combat those late-summer issues that tend to pop up for HVAC units in Phoenix.

Three Common HVAC Problems Experienced In Late Summer In Phoenix

Coolant Issues For HVAC Systems In Phoenix

One of the most common problems that HVAC systems experience relates to coolant. In a perfect world, a commercial or residential HVAC unit would not need to have coolant charged as many of these systems are called ‘closed loop’ units where the coolant doesn’t leak. However, the reality of the matter is that extreme temperatures can cause damage to supporting parts on any HVAC system. For example, the coolant passes through hoses within any HVAC system and if exposed to hot conditions, those hoses can and often will leak.

The result here is that your HVAC system will need to have coolant added and the hose repaired or replaced to reduce the chance of this problem happening again. There are a few warning signs that will indicate this type of problem including:

• Inconsistent temperature spikes. If the HVAC system in Phoenix is leaking coolant you’ll notice that the temperature will not be as cool as it should.


• Consistent running of the HVAC system. If you’re unit is leaking coolant, it’ll also keep running until it reaches the desired temperature setting on the thermostat. If you notice that the system is running longer each day, contact a HVAC repair specialist in Phoenix.

Thermostat Issues With HVAC Systems In Phoenix

Another commonly repaired component of any commercial or residential HVAC system in Phoenix is the thermostat. From time to time, a thermostat will fall out of calibration. And when this occurs, it’s important for you to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Some of the things that cause a thermostat to become ‘broken’ include:

• Frequent adjustments. It’s not uncommon for different people to have different comfort levels. And the quickest way for somebody to feel comfortable is to adjust the thermostat. However, when multiple people make adjustments, it can cause damage to the thermostat.


• Bumping into the thermostat. This is very typical in households in Phoenix with kids (especially teens) running around the house. When a thermostat gets bumped, it can fall out of calibration very easily. Believe it or not, a thermostat is a precision tuned unit. If you notice that your HVAC system in Phoenix is not running as well as it should, consider having your thermostat calibrated.

Regardless of the type of HVAC system in Phoenix you have, the best way to keep it running strong all year is to have a post-summer or mid-summer inspection completed by a licensed HVAC service professional. Simply taking time to examine the HVAC unit for wear and tear and potential issues that could arise could save you a ton of money and time on repairs.

Don’t wait until the issues are out-of-hand, call Scottsdale Air Heating & Cooling today at 480.359.7141

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/typical-late-summer-issues-with-hvac-systems-in-phoenix-az/

[New Post] My Air Conditioner Is Making Noise: What Can I Do? published on scottsdaleair

It’s never fun to hear a strange noise coming from any major appliance. Traditionally this means a call to the repair guy and an expenditure of money you simply didn’t plan on spending. However, when it comes to the AC system, there are a few things you can do at home before making the call to the HVAC repair company when you hear air conditioner noise. This will help the HVAC contractor quickly fix and repair your AC system before more damage occurs.

Three Easy Tips To Diagnose The Cause Of Air Conditioner Noise

Tip #1 – Document When You Heard The Noise

The best tool for any contractor to use when attempting to fix something is having information about the actual problem. In the case of hearing air conditioner noise in Scottsdale, the best thing that you can do at home is to document when you heard the noise – and anytime you hear similar noises coming from the AC system.

Here are a few things to consider and write down:

• What time of day did you hear the noise?


• What was the temperature outside?


• What temperature was set on the thermostat when the noise occurred?


• Were there any other major appliances running at the same time you heard the noise?


• How often does the noise occur?


• Describe the sound that the air conditioning system is making.

These six basic questions will significantly help any HVAC contractor diagnose and repair your system.

Tip #2 – Don’t Try And Fix It Yourself

No matter how handy you might be around the house, trying to fix a noisy air conditioner yourself could lead to some significant safety concerns.

• First, remember that an AC unit is an electrically charged major appliance. And unless you’re a certified electrician or a licensed HVAC contractor, you should always treat the actual air conditioning unit as a potentially hazardous piece of equipment.


• Second, AC systems are very complex. Sometimes simply taking off a cover can damage the entire unit.


• Third, if the AC system is leaking refrigerant and you inhale these fumes, it could cause lung damage.

As tempting as it might be to try a DIY repair with an air conditioner that is making noise in Scottsdale, always leave it to the pros.

Tip #3 – Record The Noise With A Mobile Device

They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, however, when it comes to diagnosing that troubling air conditioner noise, it’s always best to get it recorded. Many of today’s smart phones come equipped with a recording device for people to record notes and other stuff. Why not use this to record the noise from the AC unit for the contractor to listen to himself? Not only will this give the contractor a good example of the sound and allow them to complete the repairs, but it could save you time and money as well.

Anytime you notice that annoying air conditioner noise, do your best to follow these three simple steps and you’ll be able to provide the HVAC contractor with valuable information to help them diagnose and fix your system in no time.

Don’t take anymore of that noisy air conditioner, call Scottsdale Air Heating & Cooling at 480-359-7141 today!

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/my-air-conditioner-is-making-noise-what-can-i-do/

[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] Interesting Facts About The 1932 Invention of Air Conditioning published on scottsdaleair

It seems hard to believe that prior to The Great Depression our world never knew what air conditioning was. And as the summer temps continue to rise in Arizona, many of us simply can’t possibly fathom what it would be like to live in the desert without some sort of air conditioning system keeping us cool. Well, there are several things you might be surprised to know about air conditioning being invented in 1932 that might give you a newfound respect for the technology we all take advantage of daily.

The 1932 Invention Of Air Conditioning

First – Some Facts About The Invention Of Air Conditioning

Many historians argue that air conditioning was invented in 1932 based on the fact that American physicist Stewart W. Cramer started using this term during the 1932 calendar year. However, the facts show that Willis Carrier (of the Carrier Air Conditioning Company) actually invented the concept of air conditioning as far back as 1902. This eventually led to production of the first commercial line of AC units in 1914.

But, here is something perhaps you didn’t know.

The ‘concept’ of air-cooling goes back as far as the ancient Egyptians, where reeds were hung in windows and were moistened with trickling water. The evaporation of water-cooled the air blowing through the window made the air more humid, which was very cooling and beneficial in a dry, desert community.

Modern day AC units didn’t actually hit store shelves for residential use until after WWII due to economic constraints during the depression and the World War.

Second – What Else Happened In 1932?

It’s amazing what you find on the Internet these days – isn’t it? Here are a few ‘cool’ facts about other things that happened in 1932.

• Did you know that the average cost of a new home in 1932 was less than $7,000.00? And the average household income was less than $1,650.00 per year? Gasoline would cost you a whopping $0.10 per gallon at the time, a loaf of bread was 7 pennies and a pound of hamburger meat cost the same as a gallon of gasoline.


• Congress enacted The Emergency Relief and Construction Act on July 21^st, 1932. This was our country’s first relief legislation and was very important in ending The Great Depression. This major legislation was a big part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ program; however history will always document that it was in fact President Herbert Hoover that enabled this program during his last term in office.


• If you like music, you’ll go nuts to realize who was born in 1932. Some of the 32 babies included music icons, Little Richard, Country stars Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn, world famous DJ Casey Kasem and classical music icon John Williams who wrote the soundtracks and themes to iconic films including Star Wars, ET and Jaws, to name a few.

As you can see, the world has come a long way since air conditioning was invented in 1932. Today’s systems are Wi-Fi capable, can be remotely activated from virtually anywhere in the world and use space age materials to focus on energy efficiency. Regardless of what type of cooling system you have, you can thank a guy named Stewart Cramer for giving this life-saving device such a cool name.

Add your email to the form at the top of the right column and you will receive our newsletter, full of useful news, savings and much more!

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/interesting-facts-about-the-1932-invention-of-air-conditioning/

[New Post] When Your AC Unit Keeps Tripping The Breaker What Can Be Done published on scottsdaleair

Electrical systems inside any home can be very complex and problems tricky to diagnose. However, when your AC unit keeps tripping the breaker, this could be a sign of a major problem with either your AC system or your electrical system. One of the first things to remember is an electrical issue is nothing to put off.

Important Actions When Your AC System Keeps Tripping Your Circuit Breaker

First – Contact An HVAC Professional

Anytime your AC unit trips the circuit breaker you should immediately contact an HVAC contractor. The reason for this is simple:  your breaker shouldn’t trip when the AC unit is in use. A certified electrician can professionally wire a properly installed air conditioner. They would know that the AC unit should always be wired to an individual circuit that operates ONLY the AC system for your home. If you have two AC units, they will be wired individually. So, when you notice that the circuit breaker for your AC unit has tripped, don’t delay – contact the professionals immediately at least for a consultation on what they suggest.

Second – Start Documenting The Problems

If you’ve called the HVAC Company and they simply tell you to reset the system and everything seems fine for a while; that’s a great and easy solution. However, the odds are that this will occur again. If it does, it’s important for you to keep a detailed log of things that might have been occurring at the time the circuit tripped. Consider the following:

• How many appliances in the home were running at the same time? Sometimes when a lot of large power-draining units are running at the same time it can overload the circuits.


• Was somebody in the bathroom using an outlet at the time? The GFI circuits inside a bathroom will sometimes trip when they are used (especially when a blow dryer and hair curler are plugged in at the same time). If they are in use at the same time the air conditioner trips the circuit – write it down.


• What time of day did this occur? And, if this has happened before, is it the same time of day?

Writing these items down will make it easier for an electrician or HVAC professional to diagnose the problem and fix it with as little expense and time consumed as possible.

Third – Don’t Attempt To Fix It Yourself

Under NO circumstances should you attempt to open up the circuit breaker board (the inside unit) or inside of the AC system if it’s causing the circuit breaker to trip frequently. The odds are that there is a short circuit wire that might be exposed. And if you come in contact with that wire you could be hurt. Remember – always leave electrical repairs to the experts.

Having your AC unit trip the circuit breaker frequently can really cause a lot of stress, along with raising the temperature inside your home. However, when your AC unit keeps tripping the breaker, don’t keep resetting and hope that everything will be fine – contact a licensed electrician or HVAC professional to visit your home as soon as possible.

Take charge of that annoying circuit breaker – call Scottsdale Air Heating & Cooling today at 480-359-7141.

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/when-your-ac-unit-keeps-tripping-the-breaker-what-can-be-done/

[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/

[New Post] Scottsdale Arizona AC Contractor | Hiring Someone Honest published on scottsdaleair

How To Know You’re Hiring An Honest Scottsdale AC Contractor

Contacting the air conditioning repair guy to get your AC unit back in tip-top shape is rather simple. But, how can you make sure that the Scottsdale AC contractor you’ve retained will provide you with honest, trustworthy and factual service? The sad truth is that there are many AC contractors out there that try and take advantage of home owners by nickel and diming them with hidden costs and unexpected bills that show up after a typical AC service.

Have Peace Of Mind When Hiring A Scottsdale AC Contractor With These 3 Tips

Tip #1 – Check out their Website & Social Media Pages

One of the best qualities any company can have is open and transparent communication. And without a doubt the best place to easily verify this important consumer attribute is online; such as their website and social media channels. There are several ways to examine their record and ways they communicate with their customers such as:

• Does their website have a blog? When a company takes time to update their customers on new services, offer tips, advice and other helpful items, you can feel confident that they take pride in open communication and taking care of their customers.


• Do they post direct links to user reviews? If a company is proud of their customer service record, they’ll actively show their potential customers. Usually when an AC contractor in Scottsdale is not too confident in their customer service, they’ll do exactly the opposite.


• Do they have an active social media platform, like Facebook and Twitter pages? And if so, do they post spam or do they interact with their customers and potential customers online?

Tip #2 – Verify their Service Record with BBB

The Better Business Bureau has been a leading provider of factual reviews on a company’s business dealings within the communities they service. When a consumer has filed a complaint with the BBB about a Scottsdale AC contractor, the BBB spends plenty of time actively researching their claims to ensure they only post factual information about the company. If a company has a solid reputation with the BBB, you can be certain that they operate their business under positive ethics and will generally treat you very honestly. When a company has a bad reputation with the BBB, contact another AC contractor.

Tip #3 – Interview The AC Contractor Before You Hire

Finally, the best way to find peace of mind when working with any contractor is to interview them first. Nothing is better than meeting somebody personally to interact with them – especially when you are planning to pay them for a service. When you take the time to sit down and ask them questions that are relevant and important to you it becomes much easier to work with them.

Consider asking them a few questions including:

1. Do you have a few references of previous recent customers I can contact?


2. How long have you been licensed to complete AC repairs in Scottsdale?


3. What insurance protection does your company carry?

By taking time to simply do a little bit of research about any Scottsdale AC contractor you intend on hiring, you can protect your home and family from unscrupulous vendors that provide poor quality work.

Ready to put your trust in us for your AC installation and repair needs; add your email address to the form on the right and subscribe to our newsletter today!

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/scottsdale-arizona-ac-contractor-hiring-someone-honest/