Cool Tech Mechanical Blog

HVAC Maintenance Tips For Pet Owners

July 26th, 2017

Your pets bring you hours of comfort and their antics leave you in fits of laughter. That is until their mischief has caused an issue with your HVAC unit. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to protect your system and your beloved animals. Even something as minor as tucking wires away makes all the difference in the world. In the end, you, your pet and your checkbook will be happier.The Kink in Wires

Puppies and kittens are undeniably adorable even when their mischief lands them in a bind. Unfortunately, their innocent play can end in disaster if you don’t help protect them from unknown dangers. A prime example is exposed HVAC wires which may pose too much of a temptation for grown pets as well. As part of your home HVAC maintenance, make sure all wires are tucked away in conduits and out of your pet’s reach.

The Furry Filter

As a homeowner, you are aware it is important to clean or change the HVAC filter on a regular basis. As a pet owner, however, you may need to take a few more preventative maintenance steps or their fur will clog the filter and strain the system. The good news is all you need to do as part of your HVAC system maintenance by checking and replacing the system filter more often when pets are in the shedding season. Regularly bathing and grooming your pets to decrease the amount of fur going into the ventilation system can also help reduce the amount of pet hair your filter has to deal with. A restricted filter will make your system work harder and can cause system freeze up which could require hours to thaw. Which is hours of uncomfortable temperatures to contend with.

The Pet Door Draft

Perhaps one of your wisest investment was a pet door that provides your cat or dog access to the backyard whether you’re home or not. Unfortunately, your energy bill isn’t thanking you and neither is your HVAC unit. Of course, a part of HVAC system maintenance is finding and repairing drafts to prevent straining your system. This includes ensuring the pet door is properly caulked to prevent heat and cold from escaping your home.

Pet Guarding Your Condenser

At the top of the list of important AC maintenance tips for pet owners is to protect your system’s condenser. In most cases, the condenser is located at the back or side of your house and well within your pet’s reach. Unfortunately, they are just as likely to mark the unit which can cause some serious damage to your condenser. Rather than deal with the repair bills, fence the area off to ensure your pets simply can’t reach the unit.

Programmable Pet Temperatures

One of the best HVAC maintenance tips for pet owners is to invest in a programmable thermostat. This enables you to lower the temperature in the winter and raise the temperature in the summer while you are at work or away from the house. Don’t worry about your pets because nature has taken care of them. They are fortunate enough to come with natural fur coats and air conditioners.

Nix the Fan

A fan is a beautiful way to help circulate air on those hot summer days while aiding with your home HVAC maintenance. That said, don’t leave the fan on while you’re away. Turn it off, raise the temperature a bit and head off to work without any worries. After all, your pet doesn’t benefit from the fan but your energy company does.

As a pet owner, you want to do all you can to take care of your furry friend. You can do so by ensuring your HVAC unit isn’t a danger to your pet. Take the time to tuck wires away and fence off your condenser unit. Simple steps such as these will keep your pet and your HVAC system safe, happy and healthy for many years to come.

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AC Maintenance Tips for the Summer Heat

June 11th, 2017

The wait until the true heat of summer arrives continues to get shorter, which means that an air conditioner will become one of the more valued home appliances around. Keeping the cool air humming all summer long is the goal, yet circumstances can develop that require some Arlington TX AC repair.

Cool Tech Mechanical is a local air conditioner company that can handle these types of issues. Yet we know that by following the series of simple maintenance tips below when it comes to your AC unit, any Arlington TX AC repair we undertake won’t end up costing you a huge chunk of change.

These include:

Schedule Regular Inspections and seasonal tune up

Most homeowners don’t have the time nor do they know exactly what to look for when inspecting an AC unit. Choosing an air conditioner company that has the experience and know-how to handle this type of job is always the smart move, with Cool Tech Mechanical fitting the description.Becoming a member of Cool Tech’s “Cool Comfort Priority Service” program is no upfront cost to you and gives you not only priority service status and reduced cost tune ups ( currently $59.00 per system) but also 15% discount on repairs and a 2-year parts and labor warranty on all repairs. And there is no long term obligation as you can cancel at any time. This type of move can often detect problems at their earliest stages, while also making sure that everything is properly tuned for the long summer ahead.

The Value of Air Filters

You don’t even need to schedule an inspection when it comes to your air filter. By checking on it once a month, you can determine when enough dirt and debris has collected in that area. When that time comes, simply replace it and you’ll be able to save on energy costs as you stay cool. This process has been likened to checking your car’s oil since both aspects are necessary to keep things running for a long time.

Install a New AC

Some people keep their unit running through proper maintenance, yet even the most attentive homeowners know that a new air conditioning installation inevitably has to take place. A unit that was put in a decade ago doesn’t have the latest energy-efficient aspects connected to it, or uses R-22 refrigerant which is in it’s last years of a government mandated phase out making it obsolete and very expensive to add in the event of a leak, so should be considered for replacement. Scheduling an air conditioning installation will help take advantage of AC units with new technology and the new R-410a refrigerant that now routinely save 40 percent or more on energy costs. Those savings can effectively pay for the unit in the years ahead while improving your comfort level.

Obtain a Programmable Thermostat

One way to save on energy costs and also avoid changing the temperature on a thermostat is to get one that’s programmable or one of the smart learning thermostat like the Nest Pro or Ecobee that will learn and adjust to your lifestyle and give you Wi-Fi connectivity so you can control it with your smart phone. You don’t need cooler temperatures when no one’s around, so why pay extra energy costs? In addition, you may want it cooler or warmer at night while sleeping which can be programed to adjust automatically.

Insulation is Your Friend

Poor insulation in the attic or leaks around windows and the AC ducts can send a healthy supply of cool air outside, or allow heat to more easily transfer to the living space which doesn’t do you any good. By adding insulation and weatherizing the cracks and openings that exist through the use of things like weatherstripping and caulk, the cool air remains sealed inside and the warm air outside as much as possible and improve your energy usage and comfort.

Choosing Right

Cool Tech Mechanical is the air conditioner company you want to handle your AC-related concerns, primarily because of their commitment to customer service. Cool Tech Mechanical is A+ rated by the BBB, has over 300 reviews with an overall A rating and winner 4 years in a row of the “Super Service Provider” on Angie’s list, Is a “Top Pro” on Thumbtack and is a member of “The Good Contractors List” that backs our work with third party arbitration and a $10,000 do it right guarantee. So when you’re considering an air conditioning installation or need some Arlington TX AC Repair, make sure to call the professionals at Cool Tech.

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AC Replacement with Cool Tech Gives Back Program!

May 12th, 2017

Fort Worth AC Replacement Cool Tech Mechanical is happy to announce the latest recipient of our “Cool Tech Gives Back” campaign. Pat A. from Arlington has been a loyal long time service customer. She was first introduced to our company through a referral to our founder Joel in 2011. Joel, who lost his battle with cancer in 2014, took Pat on as his personal project and vowed to her in his words to “treat you like I would my own Mother”. And he did.

Pat is very
generous with her time in the service of helping those in need. She is a Volunteer Coordinator for the St. Barnabas UMC Food Ministries. Where her duties include planning, purchasing, cooking, serving and cleaning with a staff of 50 volunteers. Pat says, “Hard work? Sure, but with God’s helping hand we together achieve these great ministries. With a commitment, dedication, loyalty, love, faith and attitude to show our willingness and hospitality for the purpose of God’s love for one another. “

The Problem at Hand

Pats AC system was an old refrigerant 22 system that has been banned by government mandate. R-22 refrigerant is in the last stages of the mandated phase-out. This has caused a rapid and steep increase in the cost of the refrigerant. Pat’s coil, like so many others at that age, had a small leak and required recharging every year. This type of pinhole leak in the tubing is just not repairable. We nursed the unit along for a few years but the leak inevitably got larger and we started having to add refrigerant twice a year. Pat is on a fixed income and was trying to save up for a new system. And replacing the coil only would have locked her into an obsolete refrigerant. A complete system replacement was the only real solution.

Cool Tech’s Solution

We decided to honor Joel’s memory and show our appreciation to a loyal and deserving customer and member of the Cool Tech family by doing what we knew Joel would have wanted and gifted Pat a new Amana 14 SEER system with the new R-410a refrigerant.

Our “Cool Tech Gives Back” program is normally limited to minor repairs only but we felt this situation called for an exception.
Thank you, Pat, for your loyal patronaged and your selfless service to the community. We hope this gift and your volunteer work will be an inspiration to others to “Give Back” where they can for the greater good of our community.

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Energy Efficient Heating Systems & Tips for Texas Winters

January 3rd, 2017

While trying to stay cool and comfortable during the long Texas summer often accounts for the bulk of annual electric and utility usage, there are plenty of benefits to be had for home and property owners who also elect to address winter-related energy efficiency issues.

From installing a new furnace that can provide superior performance and efficiency to replacing insulation and ensuring that thermostats and climate control systems are able to function properly, there are plenty of ways to reduce home heating costs. Choosing an experienced heating contractor like Cool Tech Mechanical will help homeowners find and implement the most energy efficient solutions with greater ease and convenience.

Preventative Maintenance and Heater Repair

Older-model appliances and equipment that’s beginning to show its age may be responsible for higher utility costs than you realize. HVAC components and appliances that are not functioning properly can decrease the output and performance of the entire system. Ignoring minor mechanical issues can also cause larger and more expensive issues to develop within a system. Annual and seasonal heating system inspection, testing and assessment can ensure that operational and repair costs are able to be kept as low as possible.

High Efficiency Heating Systems

Investing in a new furnace is just one of the ways that home heating can be done in a more efficient and affordable manner. Newer-model systems utilize a wide range of energy-saving features, such as remote operation, smart-temperature control and more efficient gas conversion or electric consumption. While upgrading an older-model furnace can seem like a costly undertaking, the reduced operational costs can often offset a good portion of the installation and purchase costs needed to provide homes with a new energy-efficient heating system. While repairs and maintenance can greatly prolong the operational lifespan of an older furnace, installing new equipment may often provide the greatest long-term value.

Heat Pumps Provide Superior Energy Savings

Unlike a conventional furnace that produces heat by burning fuel or using electricity to power a heating element, heat pumps function by moving heat into or out of the home in order to control interior temperatures. Heat pumps can be used to provide both home heating as well as cooling, and may be used with either electric or gas (Dual Fuel) back up heat. A Heat Pump is basically an Air Conditioner that reverses in the winter time. So instead of removing heat from the inside air and transferring it through the refrigerant to be removed at the outside unit into the outside air. It reverses and extracts heat from the outside air and releases it into the indoor air stream. There is useable heat in the outside air even at very cold temperatures. On average a heat pump is more than 3 to 1 more energy efficient compared to electric heat alone. The addition of a heat pump can greatly reduce heating bills, meaning that households will no longer be forced to choose between their comfort and their bottom line.

Zone Control Heating

Zone control systems function by opening and closing dampers in the duct system in order to increase the comfort level separately in different areas of the house (zones) Heating or cooling the entire house can become a very expensive undertaking, especially for larger homes and multi-story properties. Zone-control provides a more focused and area-specific way to adjust and regulate interior temperatures. Being able to establish different temperatures throughout various rooms from thermostats located in those zone can help to improve both comfort and energy efficiency.

Professional Installation and Service Solutions

Dealing with an experienced heating contractor provides a much simpler way to install new equipment, upgrade an existing climate-control system or address any future mechanical issues that may develop. Problems caused due to improper installation may result in damaged appliances, voided warranties and systems that are unable to provide the level of performance and dependability homeowners may have been expecting. When it comes to finding the best ways to create and maintain an energy-efficient home this winter, it pays to do business with Cool Tech Mechanical!

Schedule a service appointment with us today!

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Cool Tech Mechanical Wins 2016 Angie’s List Super Service Award!

December 21st, 2016

For the 4th year in a row, Cool Tech Mechanical has been recognized by Angie’s List for our consistently high level of customer service.

We are thankful to be a part of the Arlington, TX community and hope to provide the same level of service to all of our customers throughout 2017 and years to come!

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How often should I have my furnace serviced?

December 12th, 2016

While there are several opinions about how often a furnace needs professional attention, just about everyone would agree that one complete system inspection per the calendar year is essential. And virtually all manufacturers require regular maintenance as a condition of their warranty. During that inspection, the heating contractor has the opportunity to examine and test each of the components, check for parts that show signs of excessive wear, and in general just make sure the furnace is capable of providing an efficient source of heat and is safe to operate.

What Time of Year is Best?

There is no doubt that choosing to schedule a complete furnace inspection should take place in the autumn. With cold weather just around the corner, it makes sense to have a professional confirm that your unit is up to the task of keeping your home comfortable. Even if you anticipate a light winter, knowing the furnace is in top condition and safe to operate provides peace of mind.

What are Some of the Other Benefits of an Autumn Furnace Inspection?

Making sure your family is warm on the coldest winter day is important, but it’s not the only reason to have your furnace serviced in the autumn. Another important factor to consider is how much that visit by the professional will save you in the months to come in energy savings and repair costs.

As the nights get colder and the days see little in the way of an increase in temperature, your furnace will run quite a bit. That translates into more energy consumption and higher utility costs each month. If your system is in peak condition, there will be little to no energy waste. In other words, every penny you pay for utilities will be providing real benefits instead of just emptying your wallet.

There’s also the matter of not having to go without heat due to a furnace breakdown. By choosing to have the unit checked thoroughly in the autumn and taking care of any furnace repairs at that time, you can possibly avoid breakdowns in more extreme weather or after hours, weekends and holidays when it will be harder to obtain service and is normally at a higher overtime rate.

Remember that you won’t be opening the doors and windows a lot during the winter months. That means whatever is floating around in the air will remain inside. That’s fine in most cases, but what if some malfunction of the furnace leads to a carbon monoxide leak? That can happen if the heat exchanger is cracked or venting is. A carbon monoxide leak check is one of the things that the professional will do during the service call, it’s possible to spot the problem and take care of it before the furnace is pressed into service for the winter.

Don’t forget that having an annual service call will extend the life of the furnace as well. Thanks to prompt replacement of worn components and making sure all the parts and functioning properly, you can help extend the life expectancy of the equipment.

Call us today and arrange for a complete furnace checkup. With the right care and attention to detail, you can greatly improve your chances that the furnace will get you all the way to spring without any problems!

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What Can Go Wrong When You Skip This Important AC Maintenance Step

April 18th, 2016

When one part of an air conditioner is not working correctly, the entire system can suffer. This is true for trouble with your electrical components, motors, coils, refrigerant levels, and all of the electro-mechanical parts that all work together to help you stay cool. But would you guess that the state of your air filter is just as important to the operation of your air conditioner as all of those other parts?

Tags: Air Filters, Irving
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Got Allergies? Upgrade Your HVAC System Today!

April 11th, 2016

When your allergies are acting up, you hope for relief when you go inside and get away from the allergens in the air outdoors. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. And, as it turns out, your allergies might even get worse indoors. The EPA estimates that a large number of homes and buildings have worse air quality than what you get outside in the fresh air.

Tags: Air Filtration, Arlington
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Do You Really Have to Change Your Air Filter?

April 4th, 2016

Spring is here, which means it’s time to focus once again on your air conditioning system and make sure that you have everything you need to keep cool in the summer. Some air conditioning maintenance tasks are harder than others, and we recommend having technicians come in once a year in order to maintain the system, keeping it clean and making any necessary adjustments to the unit.

Tags: Air Filters, Irving
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It’s Air Conditioning Maintenance Season: What You Can Do

March 28th, 2016

When you work for an air conditioning and heating company, you know that springtime is AC maintenance season. However, we also know that many of our customers aren’t aware of the importance of regular AC service before the start of the season. Spring maintenance can help to save you a lot of trouble in the summertime, so follow our steps to get your air conditioner into better condition to stay cooler and save money in the summer.

Tags: AC Maintenance, Grand Prairie
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