Posted on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Taking this opportunity to wish all of you Happy Holidays!
We would like to take this time to give you a quick update of our family. We now have the FOURTH generation deeply embedded in our family owned business. We have a very efficient residential installation crew that includes a fourth generation nephew and a Service Manager that is a fourth generation nephew. Working in a family business can be very difficult but we have been able to make it work. We have a wonderful staff, family and non family, who consider their first responsibility to our customers. We even have a family mascot ” Mickey” that will greet you at the door with a very loud annoucement.
We have added an new truck to our fleet . Look for it in your neighborhood!
Just a few notes about your heating system. Don’t forget that starting in January PECO is changing their rates. They are phasing out the residential heat rate and the off peak meter rates. This would be a great time to have your system checked or if it is an older system an estimate for replacement. The new systems that are available are 95-99% for gas furnaces and boilers. The heat pumps can reach 19-26 SEER. We can help you make the right choice for you needs. We have financing available and we are listed as a PA Contractor so Keystone Loans are available.
Once again we wish you Happy and Safe Holidays!
Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2011
Okay so what is this program? Several of our customers have called and asked us about the PECO Saver Device that is being solicited by PECO. The device is attached to your air conditioning or your heat pump system. The device is the new mechanism that is going to help replace the Off Peak Meter that is being discontinued.
Before you go further, if you have a Infinity Heat Pump you can not use this device.
The way the device works in very simple terms: PECO decides when it is necessary for them to declare a “conservation event” this will be when electrical demand is at a peak. These events will be only on weekdays (non-holidays) between noon and 8PM, June 1 to September 30. The average under normal conditions should be a total of 13 to 20 days throughout the summer.
What happens? The device records the running time ( the time the compressor, or outdoor unit) was running in the hour before the “conservation event”. During the conservation period the compressor will run 50% of the time it ran during that recorded hour. During the period your indoor fan will run the whole time.
How will this effect your comfort? We are told that it will have very little effect on your comfort. Common sense says that the indoor temperature may rise a little but not significantly. The trick is keeping your indoor fan on the whole time. This will not cause your fan motor to burn out, in fact even without this device you can run your fan all the time. It usually helps even out the temperature differential you may have in your home.
Is the savings worth it? We have not had any feed back from our customers to give your our opinion, but hopefully after this summer we will have some facts for you. Please let us know if you have any data to share!
One more tidbit about PECO: They have extended their rebate program until 2013. Check their site for details
Posted on Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
MAINTENANCE –
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How often should I charge my air conditioner with new
freon?
A: Air conditioners do not consume refrigerant (freon) like
a car consumes oil, so it should never need changing or filling. A low freon
level indicates a leak which should be repaired before adding more.
Freon leaks are a problem because:
- Low freon levels reduce efficiency of your air
conditioning unit.
- Low level can freeze the evaporator coil,
causing it to ice up.
- Freon is an EPA hazardous, controlled substance,
if released into the environment.
- The heart of the unit (the compressor), is
cooled by the refrigerant. Over time, low freon levels can cause overheating
and premature failure of the compressor, causing a need for replacement of the
compressor or the entire condensing unit-a very expensive proposition.
Q: What does an air conditioning check-up consist of?
A: It consists of the following steps:
- Check all electrical components and controls.
- Clean evaporator and condenser coils, as needed.
- Oil motors as needed.
- Calibrate thermostat.
- Check Condenser.
- Check filters.
Here are some basic tips that you can do yourself:
- Run your air conditioner now for a few minutes,
to make sure it is working before you need it. If you wait until the first hot
day and it isn’t working, you may find yourself on a waiting list, waiting for
days before an air conditioning specialist can come to fix it.
- Change your filters regularly. Disposable fiberglass filters should
replaced. Electrostatic or electronic filters need to be washed.
- Be sure all access panels screws are secure and
in place.
- Clean obvious obstructions from around the
exterior of the unit.
- Be sure the thermostat is set in the cooling
mode.
We, at Brewer Heating
and Air, recommend annual air conditioning check-ups in the spring and furnace
check-ups every fall. Although regular
checkups will not guarantee that your unit will continue to work perfectly
throughout the season, they will catch most small problems that can lead to
major expensive problems.
