Archive for the ‘Arizona Weather’ Category

Why You Need a Surge Protector to Protect Your Arizona Air Conditioner

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

Why you need the right surge protector to prevent your Arizona air conditioner from frying.

Monsoon season is upon us in Arizona and that means it’s time for buckets of rain, huge lightning storms, and a whole bunch of people getting their cars stuck in washes.

One thing you might not be thinking about this monsoon season is power surges and what they can do to your air conditioner in Arizona. The Air Conditioning by Jay Comfort Team Technicians see it all the time, power surges causing whole Arizona air conditioning systems to get zapped because they weren’t protected properly.

In most homes you’ll find surge protectors on computers and home entertainment equipment to protect these appliances from the many power surges they see. When comparing these appliances to your homes Arizona air conditioning system it is amazing to see how few are actually protected.

Without the proper protection a power surge in your house can cause your air conditioner to break beyond repair leaving you to pay thousands for a new unit.

While lightning is the most obvious source of a power surge, it is not the only culprit. Utility events, cycling of air conditioners, generators, motors and appliances can also produce damaging surges. This means that even once the monsoons end you could be still at risk.
Fortunately, certain surge protectors have been created specifically to protect your Arizona air conditioner. Choosing the right surge protector allows you to relax knowing that you will not be weighed down with an expensive new installation bill because of a power surge at your home or business.

Air conditioning by Jay knows how important selecting the right surge protector is and will help you find the one that works best for your system. To learn more, visit our website or call us at 602-266-3678 today.



Maintaining Your Arizona Air Conditioner the Right Way

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Want to get the most out of your air conditioner in Arizona? Here are some steps you can take to keep your AC running smoothly and effectively.

  • Change the air filter regularly. Dirty air filters will keep air from flowing correctly and by keeping your filter clean; you can save between 5 and 15 percent on energy usage. Be sure to follow all manufacturer recommendations and turn the system off while changing the filter.
  • Do not block your inside air condition vents with furniture. Vents need to be unobstructed so that the air can circulate freely.
  • Keep the outdoor condensing unit clean. This large box in your yard should be kept clean from plants, grass, leaves or anything else which might block its airflow and reduce efficiency. You should also clean the unit off from time to time with a hose.
  • Close vents in unused rooms and keep doors to those rooms closed.
  • Keep the fan speed on high. Unless Arizona starts to get humid, a high fan speed is best to keep your house at the perfect temperature.
  • Hire a professional certified Arizona air conditioner repair specialist. Problems with your system are best fixed by trained professionals who know exactly what needs to be done to maximize efficiency.

Air Conditioning by Jay maintains thousands of air conditioners in Arizona. Learn more or contact us today by going to www.DialComfort.com or calling 602-266-3678



5 Steps for Saving Energy with Your Air Conditioning in Arizona

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

As we enter these hot summer months, air conditioning in Arizona is going into overtime and people who are not prepared are going to see their energy bills shoot through the roof. In fact the Department of Energy estimates that heating and cooling accounts for almost half of a homes energy use. In Arizona it’s typically even more!

Fortunately there is hope for those of us who are looking to save some money this year. Here are five steps that you can follow to save energy with your Arizona air conditioner.

  1. Regularly Maintain Your Equipment: Having annual maintenance on your air conditioner ensures that it operates in tip top shape. This will help keep energy efficiency high and your system lasting longer.
  2. Seal and insulate your house: Seal off air ducts leading to non air conditioned places like garages and attics. Be sure to use either mastic or foil-backed tape. Once you have sealed off leaky ducts, wrap them with insulation to keep the cold air going exactly where you want it to.
  3. Buy a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature of the house automatically. When you are gone at work you can save energy by having the air conditioning automatically switched off until right before coming home when it can automatically switch back on. The EPA estimates that if properly used, this type of thermostat can save over $150 a year.
  4. Replace your old air conditioner: If you have an old AC unit, you might be spending far more then you should on energy costs. New air conditioners are far more energy efficient then older models. You can compare models by looking at their SEER rating (the higher the better).
  5. Use a qualified Arizona air conditioning technician: Using a certified professional ensures that your air conditioning system will be the right one for your needs. He or she will properly match, size and install you system to the correct specifications. Proper installation ensures that you will get the maximum energy efficiency out of your new Arizona air conditioner.

Find out why Air Conditioning by Jay is the contractor of choice for over 30,000 Arizona homes and businesses. Go to www.DialComfort.com or call Valley wide at 602-266-3678 to schedule an appointment today.



Meeting Customers’ Air Conditioning Needs

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

Installing an air conditioner in a customer’s home requires three groups of people. First, it requires a customer needing an air conditioner. Second, it needs a company such as Trane to build an air conditioner. Finally, it needs a comfort specialist, such as the technicians at AC By Jay, to install and help maintain that air conditioner.

With that in mind, Trane recently announced its Trane Dealer Connection software. This software is provided to comfort specialists to help ensure that all three parts of the puzzled customer, manufacturer, and technician can be connected in the most effective way. The software includes contact management software to help technicians keep track of their customers and is backed by a call center to help connect customers and technicians.

The Trane Dealer Connection is just one of the many ways that air conditioner manufacturers and comfort specialists are helping you meet your air conditioning needs. To find out how you can have a quality air conditioner installed in your home, contact the Comfort Team.



On Weather, Visiblity and Air Quality

Saturday, May 19th, 2007

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality maintains a website, http://www.phoenixvis.net/, which allows you to view regularly taken images from one of five cameras positioned on Phoenix-area mountains. For each camera, there is an image showing what ideal weather conditions would look like so you can compare. The website also contains a discussion about how bad air quality and fires can affect visibility. There are summaries as well, tracking data since the project started in 2004. The photos are the most fun part of the website, however. Some of the most interesting comparisons are from dust storms and days when air quality is particularly bad due to high particle counts. The cameras are positioned on South Mountain, Estrella Mountain, the White Tank Mountains, Camelback Mountain, and the Superstition Mountains and new images are posted to the website every fifteen minutes.