The Importance of Having Your Furnace Serviced Before Winter

You rely on your furnace to keep your family warm during the coldest months of the year. As fall gets in full swing and winter starts to approach, you want to make sure your furnace is ready to handle the job of keeping your home comfortable when the temperatures outside start to dip.

Homeowners need to stay up to date on furnace maintenance to ensure this important appliance is ready to fire up as soon as they need it. When is the best time to get a furnace checked? The answer is, before the winter hits—here’s why.

Safety concerns

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I get my heater checked before winter?” the answer depends on whether or not you want to do what you can to ensure your family’s safety. Pre-winter heater checks keep your family safe all winter long. If your furnace runs on oil, natural gas or propane, it’s crucial to get your unit checked once a year, preferably before winter, to make sure it’s functioning as it should.

All it takes is one tiny crack in a line or joint, and harmful gas can leak into your home. Make sure all components are in excellent shape before the winter season by having your system checked out by a professional.

Enhance performance

Even if you don’t live in the coldest climate in the country, you’re likely going to be using your furnace throughout the winter to take the chill off the house when temperatures outside dip a little too low for comfort. The best time to get a furnace checked is always before winter because you can ensure that your appliance is running at peak performance all season long. A pre-winter checkup gets all components clean, and the filter is also replaced to promote efficiency.

Electricity concerns

During your annual pre-winter checkup, your HVAC technician will perform an electrical test to confirm your furnace is operating as it should. Your technician will use special equipment to test voltage and currents being sent to your unit. They’ll also tighten all electrical connections. This is a vital step in the checkup process, since loose or dirty electrical connections don’t conduct as well and become hotter, posing a safety risk for you and your family.

Warranty concerns

In many cases, manufacturers require annual furnace checkups in order to keep the warranty on the unit valid. To conform with most warranties, you’ll want to be sure that your HVAC service professional is certified to work on your brand of furnace, since having work done by uncertified technicians can void the warranty. Always keep service records on hand for future reference and to validate your warranty, if necessary.

Should you get your heater checked before winter? Absolutely—and you shouldn’t delay making an appointment with your preferred HVAC professionals, since demand for service is high at this time of year. Reach out to PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air to schedule your service and to learn more about proper HVAC maintenance for winter and beyond.

PlumbSmart Is Now a Trane Comfort Specialist!

At PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air, we only use the highest-quality parts from the best brands on the market for any installations and repairs we do. As an HVAC contractor in Mesa, AZ, we strive to deliver the best to each and every one of our customers. That’s why we work with companies like Trane, one of the leading manufacturers of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems on the global market.

We’ve been a Trane dealer for quite some time, providing HVAC systems from Trane’s many diverse product lines to commercial and residential clients. However, we are proud to announce that PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air is now a Trane Comfort Specialist!

What is a Comfort Specialist?

A Trane Comfort Specialist is an independent Trane dealer that has undergone extensive training and certification to become the best of the best. When it comes to Trane product installation and repair, Comfort Specialists will be able to serve your every need to the highest standard of quality.

Trane has stringent standards for which dealers are designated Comfort Specialists, so this designation is of the utmost importance to our business.

Benefits of choosing a Trane Comfort Specialist

We know that there are a lot of HVAC contractors in Mesa, AZ to choose from, but selecting one that is recognized as a Trane Comfort Specialist is a good idea for a few reasons:

For all of these reasons and more, PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air is proud to share the news of its Trane Comfort Specialist designation. This label not only means a lot to us, but it makes a big difference to our customers, who can now be sure that they’re receiving the highest level of service every time.

If you require AC service in Mesa, AZ, don’t hesitate to call us! We’ll handle all of your HVAC and plumbing needs, from air conditioner maintenance to plumbing installation and repair. We even offer 24/7 emergency services. Call today for a free estimate!

How to Increase the Efficiency of Your HVAC System

After spending big on the holidays, everyone is looking for ways to save a few dollars in January. How would you like to save some money on your energy bill next month? It can happen if you increase the efficiency of your HVAC system.

At PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air, your local HVAC contractors in Mesa, AZ, our customers often ask us what they can do to get the most out of their HVAC system. While some improvements cost money, there are a few simple, low-cost (or no-cost) steps you can take to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Keep your vents clean

It sounds so simple, but you would be surprised at how many people forego this small task. If you vacuum dust and debris away from your indoor vents, you can ensure that there is a steady airflow going through your system, which means your unit doesn’t have to work as hard to pull the air through. You should also make sure that curtains, furniture and other household items aren’t blocking your vents.

Turn your thermostat down (or up)

It may be hard to give up that optimal 75-degree indoor temperature that keeps you so snug at night, but opting for an extra layer and turning your thermostat down just 5 to 8 degrees can significantly reduce your energy bill. The same applies for the summer months, but in this case you’d turn your thermostat up a few degrees.

Make the most of your oven and other appliances

You’ve probably already noticed that baking, hot showers and even running your clothes dryer can warm the house up a bit. Make the most of these times by turning your thermostat down a little. Taking this extra step during your normal daily routines can add up to big savings in the long run.

Insulate your ductwork

If you have any ductwork that runs through exposed areas of your home (like the attic and basement), you should consider insulating them. While this does have some cost involved, the cost is minimal compared to the long-term savings you’ll see on your energy bill.

Keep up with your maintenance

An HVAC system should receive regular maintenance at least twice a year for best performance. If you have pets or live in certain climates, you may need to have your system checked more often. Regular maintenance checks from professional HVAC contractors in Mesa, AZ can help ensure that your system is clean and operating properly, as well as help identify small problems before they become expensive repairs.

By following these few simple tips, you will not only ensure that you save money on your energy bill, but you will also increase the lifespan of your HVAC system. For more advice on your HVAC system or regular system maintenance, let the team at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air help. Since we’re top rated by the BBB, Angie’s List and Home Advisor, you can be sure that you are getting the premier HVAC contractors in Mesa, AZ. Just call us today!

Five Questions to Ask When Hiring HVAC Contractors in Mesa, AZ

No matter what kind of service or repairs you need in your home or business, you want to feel confident that you are choosing the best provider possible. When you’re looking for local HVAC contractors in Mesa, AZ, you’ll probably find quite a few options, but how do you know which company is right for you? It can be challenging to find the right HVAC contractor, but there are several things that you can do to make your search easier. Consider the following questions that you should ask a service provider before you make a hiring decision:

When you’re looking for a reputable HVAC company that you can trust for all of your repair and maintenance needs, reach out to PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air. For over a decade, we’ve been proud to provide commercial and residential HVAC and plumbing services. We are dedicated to the quality of our work and the satisfaction of our customers and want to ensure you have the best experience possible with our team. Reach out to us today to get a quote or request service.

Call for a Free In-Home Analysis of Your Insulation and Ductwork!

A number of out-of-sight features and components work together to create a comfortable home environment. This list includes your home’s insulation and its entire ductwork system. However, many people rarely if ever check these features for efficiency. Along similar lines, most homebuilders are deficient in both the amount of insulation they use and the location of ductwork that’s installed. All too often this leads to inefficient distribution of air throughout the home and cooling the attic area unnecessarily.

But there’s good news: here at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air, we offer a free in-home analysis to homeowners! Our goal is to help you achieve significant cost savings on your heating and air conditioning all year round. Let’s take a closer look at what our HVAC contractors in Mesa, AZ want you to know about insulation and ductwork.

Residential insulation and ductwork

If you want a more energy efficient home without having to move, then you should take the time to evaluate your insulation and ductwork situations. Keep in mind that your home’s heating and cooling system works together with the ductwork to distribute airflow in your living spaces. It does this by pulling air from inside your house into the air conditioner or heater to be cooled or heated before getting pushed back through the ductwork.

Unfortunately, because insulation and ductwork are generally hidden behind walls and in the attic or crawlspaces, it’s all too easy to forget about them. It’s for this reason that you’ll have a hard time telling whether there’s a duct leak or that you have an insufficient amount of insulation. The good news is that homeowners can benefit from professional inspections of these features. A pro can find inefficiencies within your forced air system and determine whether they’re impacting your indoor comfort and energy bills.

Common ductwork and insulation problems

Leaky and poorly connected ductwork can cause a serious loss of cooled or heated air. What can you do to catch this problem? The following are two common indicators of home ductwork and insulation inefficiency:

PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air offers a free in-home analysis of insulation and ductwork. Call today to take advantage of this offer by scheduling an appointment with our experienced HVAC contractors in Mesa, AZ!