One of the common problems many residences face is uneven heating in your home. In one room, the temperature rises well above the thermostat setting, making it uncomfortably warm, while in another room, it seems as cold as a meat locker. You might have members of your household battling over control of the thermostat, as everyone tried to attain some level of comfort in one area of the home, causing another area of the home to get too hot or remain too cold.

If you are experiencing this problem, here are some things you can check:

1. Air Vents:
   Air vents closed off in one room and wide open in another can lead to uneven heating. You may have to partially or completely close off vents for areas of the home that receive heating from adjacent rooms or in rooms that are not being used.
2. Insulation:
   Poor insulation is a huge problem, especially in older homes. Depending on wall space and other factors, some rooms can be losing a lot of the heat that enters the home. This leads to uneven heating and higher energy bills.
3. Windows:
   Single-pane windows and older windows with leaks on the frame are another major source of escaping heat. You can often feel a noticeable difference in temperature right around windows. You may be able to correct this by re-caulking the window frame. If your windows are still a source of heat loss, consider replacing them.
4. Doors:
   Doors with poor weather stripping can be a huge challenge for effective heating, allowing cold air and drafts to enter your home. They make your furnace work harder resulting in less comfort and higher energy bills.

If, after checking all of the above, you are still experiencing uneven heating, consider contacting a member of our Comfort Team. We can do an inspection to uncover the causes of uneven heating and leave you with a more efficient and more comfortable heating system.

We get this question a lot. Someone is replacing their filters, they’ve removed the old filter and are getting ready to replace it with a new one. Suddenly, they realize there is an arrow on the side of the furnace filter

Is it important which direction the arrow in my furnace filter faces? In short, yes!!!

note the direction of the arrow

The filter is meant to work as a one-way valve, stopping debris and dust from entering your air duct system. Air flow in the filter should follow the arrow. This is critical as it both protects your home’s air quality but also the motor and other equipment in your furnace and blower fan and motor.

Air is drawn by the fan into the system, heated or cooled, and pushed throughout your home. Therefore, point the arrow towards the furnace fan and motor unit. This will ensure your equipment and your home’s air is protected.

In the world of heating systems, there are a few efficiency ratios you should know about. Based on the type of unit you use to heat your home, these ratios tell you how much energy your system uses.

AFUE
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio measure how much of the energy used by a furnace is converted into actual heat for your home. A heating ration of 85% if considered Energy Star compliant while some super-high efficiency units rate as high as 95% AFUE. This means that 95% of the energy the unit uses is converted directly into heat for your home.

HSPF
Heating System Performance Factor is used to measure heat pump efficiency. It is the calculation of the total heat output versus the electricity consumed in watt-hours by the system. The higher the number, the better, with a HSPF of 7.7 being required.

Higher efficiency heat pumps can reach as high as 10 HSPF.

If your heating system is 10 years old or more, it is very likely that it is operating at far lower efficiency than possible. This results in higher energy cost and less comfort for your home.

If you are wondering where your system rates or whether there is a better system for your home, contact a member of our comfort team at AC By Jay.

Here at AC By Jay, we would like to take a moment and wish you a peaceful and joyous holiday season.

As we rush to take care of holiday shopping, prepare for out-of-town guest or our own travel plans, take part in get-togethers with friends and family, and the other events that often fill our schedules, we want to take a moment and reflect on what is important and those things in our lives we can be thankful for.

For us, at AC By Jay, that includes being thankful for our employees the members of our Comfort Team - and our customers; especially our customers.  Without you, we have no opportunity to provide, what we consider, a vital service to our community.

It is with sincere gratitude at that opportunity that we extend this holiday greeting and wish

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“Wishing you and yours peace, joy,
 
and hope for the holidays
 
and a happy and prosperous New Year!”
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As we progress into the winter months, you will be using your heating system more and more.

Here at AC By Jay, we want to ensure you get the most comfort for your dollar.  The following tips will help you decrease your heating bill and improve your home’s comfort level.

1. Add insulation
   If your to your crawl spaces and attic.  If your home is older, you may want to check the type of insulation installed - newer insulation can greatly reduce the energy needed to heat your home.
     
2. Replace or clean your filter’s furnace
   This is one of the simple ones that is often overlooked.  It is not uncommon for us to discover customers who have not changed or cleaned their furnace filter(s) in years.  This leads to reduced air flow, poor air quality, and dramatically decreases your systems efficiency.
    
3. Seal leaks
   Older doors, windows, and sliding glass doors can have noticeable spaces and cracks.  These allow heat to escape and cold air to enter your home.  Weather stripping is an inexpensive and very effective way to increase your heating system’s effectiveness.
    
4. Insulate your water heater
   This is particularly true if your water heater cabinet has direct exposure to outside air.  A simple insulation blanket can help reduce the amount of energy required to heat your water.
    
5. Lower your thermostat
   Wear a sweater or slippers and lower your thermostat.  It is a very simple and economical way to decrease your heating bill.  Even just a degree or two can make a difference.
    
6. Have your furnace checked and serviced
   The truth is, if your furnace is even 10 years old, it may be operating at less than optimal efficiency.

These tips will help you get the most comfort for your dollar.  Of course, you may even want to consider a new, high-efficiency unit.  As discussed in prior post, high-efficiency furnaces convert more of the energy you pay for directly into heat for your home.

If you are concerned that your heating bill is abnormally high, or just want to ensure that your heating system it is running as efficiently as possible, please contact a member of our Comfort Team.  We will be happy to discuss your options.

Your furnace filter plays a large part in the quality of the air in your home and therefore your level of comfort.  This is just a quick discussion on the most common filters available.

Depending on your furnace, you may be limited in the type of filter available to you.

Filter Types

Disposal Fiberglass Filters:
These are the least expensive and least effective filtration unit.  They capture only the largest particles and are less about cleaning your air than with protecting the fan unit for your furnace.

Washable Filters:
These filters are typically provided as part of the unit and must be cleaned regularly.  They are also more a protection for the unit than to clean your homes breathing air.  They do not remove allergens or any viruses.

Pleated Filters:
These filters are considerable more effective at removing allergens (pollen and mold) but are still mostly ineffective at airborne viruses.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Filters:
HEPA filters provide the highest level of filtration but are very expensive, restrict airflow, and are generally not a residential use item.

It is likely - particularly with newer furnace systems - that the manufacturer provides or recommends optimal filters for your system.  If not, and if you are looking for the best filtration possible at the best price, contact a Comfort Team member to discuss your options.

First, let me start by saying, if you have any concerns or questions about this procedure, contact us here at AC By Jay.  A member of our Comfort Team will be happy to speak with you.

Also, you should check the directions for your specific furnace.  These should be posted on the unit itself.

This tutorial applies to older style furnaces with an "always lit" or standing pilot light.  If you have a newer furnace, there may not be a pilot light at all - in which case, if your furnace is not lighting, the problem may be with the electrical ignition unit.

1. Turn your Thermostat to a temperature that will ensure the unit turns on (if it is 70 degrees, turning it to 80 should work);
    
2. Go to your furnace and locate the pilot valve.  There is typically a small door assembly near the base of the unit.  Remove it and you should find the pilot valve inside;
    
3. Turn the pilot/gas knob to the off position and wait 5 minutes to allow any sitting gas to disperse;
    
4. Locate the pilot valve - which will be at the end of a pilot gas tube.
    
5. Get a long match or long BBQ lighter ready - using the a long match or lighter makes reaching the pilot valve quite a bit easier and safer;
    
6. If your unit has a red reset button, press it.  Turn the gas know from off to "Pilot";
    
7. Light your match or long lighter and either keep the button pressed down, or hold the gas knob down, while holding the flame to the pilot valve.  Hold the flame in place for a few seconds, then remove the flame - while still holding the button or knob down.  After a few moments, release the button or knob - the pilot light should stay lit.
   If the pilot does not remain lit, you can go back to step 3. However, if this occurs more than a couple times, there may be another problem with the unit.  Please contact a member of our Comfort Team of a certified professional to ensure that your furnace is in safe working order.
    
8. Once the pilot has remained lit for a moment, turn the knob to the on position.  The gas burners should ignite.
    
9. Replace the pilot valve safety door on your furnace and set your thermostat to the desired temperature.

If the pilot light goes out again, you can repeat the steps above.  However, if this happens repeatedly, it is recommended that you contact a member of our Comfort Team or a certified professional to ensure the safe working order of your furnace and pilot assembly.

You can get a FREE furnace with the purchase of any high efficiency Amana air conditioner right now from Arizona Air Conditioning by Jay.

That’s right, Amana and Arizona Air Conditioning by Jay have combined to give you this FREE furnace offer which you won’t find anywhere else in Arizona. 

Purchase any high efficiency Amana air conditioner for your Arizona home or business before October 31^st and you’ll get a FREE furnace added at no extra charge (you will need to pay a small fee for furnace installation but you get the equipment itself FREE).

This is an outstanding offer and Arizona Air Conditioning by Jay throws in a lifetime compressor warranty.  You’ll also qualify for $500 in energy credits from APS!

Hurry, this offer ends October 31^st so contact your Arizona Air Conditioning by Jay representative by clicking here.

Did you know that there are over 200 businesses claiming to be Arizona home heating companies?

As within any industry, some are better than others.

To help you avoid the scam artists and rip offs, we gathered our experts here at the Comfort Team came up with this list of Top Considerations When Selecting an Arizona Heating Company:

1. Make sure the Arizona heating contractor will not compromise honesty and integrity to simply give you a low price.
2. Get the company’s price in writing.
3. Define before signing any paperwork under what conditions (if any) could cause the price of the heating system to increase the Valley is full of stories of Arizona heating companies beginning the installation of a new furnace only to come to the homeowner with a work stoppage and a request for a price increase.
4. Get solid references if a company can not immediately produce references providing testimonies of their services, you should select another company.  Always ask the relationship between the company and the reference .many companies provide references from relatives and friends, hardly credible sources regarding the company’s work.
5. Make sure the company is licensed as a heating contractor in the State of Arizona.  Get the license number and the name of the license holder.  Conduct a Google search of both and scrutinize the results.
6. Discover the company’s history, including ownership, length of time in business, insurance capabilities and licensing expiration dates.
7. Find out if there are complaints against the company with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors or the Better Business Bureau.
8. Ask the company about lawsuits that have been brought against them by past customers.  Learn the causes of the litigation and outcomes and make sure to understand any pending litigation.
9. Learn who will install the heating system in your home.  Find out what, if any portions of the project will be subcontracted to others.
10. Define who will service the warranty for your system.  Many Arizona heating companies sell their warranty and service work to others, so that you aren’t even dealing with them for repair of your home heating system.
11. Assess the quality standards of the company.  You can do that by looking at the appearance of the company’s representatives, it’s policies regarding company satisfaction, its record with the BBB and other agencies and its testimonials from other customers,
12. Discover how installation workers are supervised for the company.  Are there inspections and quality assurance checks to make sure the work is done correctly?
13. Research to learn if the company operates under other business names, or if the company owns or operates another Arizona heating companies.  Pay attention to what you learn as this is a common tactic of scam artists.
14. Get firm commitments regarding the installation dates of your system.  There are three important scheduling matters:  the date the installation will begin, the date the heating system will be functional for use and make sure will the company work continuously from start to finish.
15. Ask under what conditions the Arizona heating company would come to you for change orders causing a price increase.
16. Understand clearly the energy ratings of the heating system you are considering.
17. Incorporate penalties to the contractor if they do not complete the project on time.
18. Get in writing the contractor’s assurance that all work will be done in compliance with local codes.

The wizards at the Comfort Team invite you to compare our company with any other Arizona heating company.  We think you’ll agree that the Comfort Team is the best choice for your Arizona home heating system.

It’s being predicted that you’ll pay record prices for heating in Arizona this winter, according to a preliminary study released by the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association (NEADA).

The average Arizona heating bill this winter should be about 10.5% more than last year.

Keep in mind that any forecasts are subject to the weather, although forecasters are calling for a colder than normal winter season.

Air Conditioning by Jay’s Comfort Team can help you keep a lid on skyrocketing energy costs.  We’ve teamed with Amana to offer you a FREE FURNACE (equipment is free and you pay only our regular, standard installation costs) when you purchase a new Amana high efficiency air conditioner.  Get all the details here.

This offer expires October 31 (Halloween) so contact one of our comfort specialists today.  Keep your Arizona heating costs under control with energy savers from The Comfort Team.

There is an interesting article on the training website of Bacharach, a company that makes testing equipment for air conditioners, heaters, and other HVACR machines about a potentially overlooked element of comfort living: the person. Most of the article is devoted to explaining how the human body controls temperature. The article dismisses the myth that when the air is cold, the body has to gain heat by explaining that the body always generates too much heat but when the air is cold, the body is losing heat too quickly to keep up. The objective is to keep the air temperature relatively close to but slightly below body temperature, there-by allowing the body’s basic temperature-control systems to function efficiently. The article also discusses the effect of humidity. When the air is warmer than the body’s temperature, the body has to fall back on evaporative cooling, meaning sweat. So if the relative humidity is too high, we have trouble keeping cool. But don’t think living in Phoenix’s dry heat is necessarily better. If the relative humidity is too low, skin dries, peels and can even bleed as the dry air pulls moisture from the skin. Because of this, we learn from the article, it is important to take humidity into account as well as temperature when designing a solution for comfort living.

You can find the article at http://www.bacharach-training.com/norm/comfort.htm

To discuss options for improving the air quality and comfort of your home, contact the Comfort Team.

Global warming is a popular issue.  In the news and around water coolers, would-be climatologists speculate on its existence and on its effects.  But the weather is far more complex than people realize.  Phoenix weather is strongly affected by semi-regular fluctuations in weather worldwide.  These fluctuations, commonly referred to as El Nino and La Nina, affect a lot of the local variations in temperature.

During an El Nino episode, such as the one that began in September 2006 and continues to today, Phoenix and much of the western United States experience cold, wet winters.  Meanwhile, the Asian side of the Pacific Ocean experiences warm, dry seasons.  These shifts are linked to each other and have been shown to affect the Atlantic and Indian Ocean temperatures as well.

What does all of this have to do with global warming?  Nothing.  Snow in Phoenix may be touted by water cooler climatologists as evidence that global warming is a myth, but in reality it indicates nothing more than the child coming to visit us for the winter.