The Benefits of a Maintenance Program

April 25th, 2013

Most of us are pretty busy. We get tied up with the business of the day and we just simply don’t have time to mess with the maintenance of our homes. The long Tucson summer months require constant attention to air conditioning equipment because it simply requires a lot out of these units. AC units are remarkably reliable, just like most cars these days. However, problems typically start very small and can go undetected for a long period of time unless you know what you are looking for. A car can drive perfectly fine for thousands of miles with an ongoing problem that will eventually lead to more expensive repairs down the road. You should consider your home’s heating and cooling equipment the same way.

Have you ever had a major system go out or a plumbing pipe burst? Who did you call? Did you reach for the Yellow Pages and start making phone calls in hope that someone who you have never met or done business with will answer and come to your rescue? We call it playing yellow page roulette.

This happens more often than you might think. Don’t get stuck not knowing who can deliver the right service that you know and trust. Poorly repaired equipment is just a ticking time bomb that ends up being even more expensive down the road. Don’t let this happen to you by letting us help you build a maintenance program that is right for you!

Louisiana State University found that consumers could save about $30 per month just by making sure that their air conditioning system is cleaned and serviced regularly!

Membership Benefits Include

  • FREE 20 point check up on your heating and cooling system
  • FREE 1lb of Freon refrigerant. (R-22or R-410A)
  • FREE condenser coil cleaning. (One time per year)
  • No trip charge for service calls
  • Keeps factory warranties in effect.
  • 20% off all parts & labor rates when repair services are required.
  • 10% off all NEW equipment.
  • Never any overtime charges including weekends and holidays.
  • Priority Service in case of equipment break-downs.
  • Emergency Equipment Replacement available.
  • Extend the life of your system by up to 5-years.
  • Emergency Equipment Replacement available.
  • FREE in-home system energy analysis performed by one of our Professional Comfort Consultants to give you up to date information on how to save money and energy in your home. Call Today!!
  • FREE 30 day labor warranty on all parts
  • FREE program transfer
  • FREE lifetime replacement on parts. (Excludes Compressor , Heat Exchanger, Coils, Filters & Equipment cabinets.)

Call us today and learn about pricing options at 520-495-2227

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When will Tucson Hit 100?

April 1st, 2013

Yet again as we are approaching the hottest months, Tucson is guessing when the temperature will hit 100 degrees. While guessing the date and time is like gambling in the lottery, what is something that we know for sure is how to make sure your air conditioning equipment is working properly.

To save money, many families have yet to turn their units on for the summer months. Now is the perfect time before it gets really hot and you realize you have no way to keep cool when you need it. Now is a great time to get a quick inspection from Cool Breeze Home Solutions and allow us to just ensure your unit is running properly and won’t cause any problems during the summer months. We perform standard maintenance and inspection services on all major systems.

If you are in a position where you have been putting off the purchase of a new cooling system to replace an aging air conditioner (or even replacing a swamp cooling unit), then we would love the opportunity to show you why we are the right choice in Tucson for your air conditioning needs! New high efficiency air conditioners by Trane and other proven brands run better while using significantly less power. So each month you’ll see and feel the savings.

Our skilled and friendly technicians will assess what your home needs and recommend a cooling system that makes sense for your space and also provide a number of options to maintain any budget. We also offer financing options! Additionally, if you are looking for options that can make your home safer or more hypoallergenic, we have a number of incredible products that are sure to match your needs.

Call Today and Schedule an Appointment!
520-495-2227

Don’t get too far into the Tucson summer months before you make sure your system is running properly. Give us a call today and we’ll be right over to help!

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Tucson Water Quality

March 22nd, 2013

As a Tucson Resident, are you satisfied with your drinking water? Based on the U.S. EPA’s standards of clean drinking water, our normal city tap water meets basic criteria. Yet Tucson residents spend millions of dollars every year on filters, water services and bottled water. Why are we spending so much time refusing to use tap water?

Many people are becoming more alarmed that there isn’t more testing done. Impurities such as pharmaceuticals, care products, cleaning products and other byproducts are categorized as “emerging contaminants” and are not currently regulated by the EPA. Another reason would be TCE (trichloroethylene), a well-known chemical throughout Tucson in the 1980s when people in South Tucson took ill from drinking from contaminated wells. Also the Colorado River project, called CAP, is a large reason long-term Tucson residents do not trust regular drinking water. Early reports of brown and red water flowing from tap water was a long standing concern.

While we use chlorine to disinfect water from harmful bateria and organisms, chlorine has a lot of negatives. In addition to being just one more chemical that we are exposed to on a regular basis, chlorine as a disinfectant produces byproducts such as trihalomethanes, or THMs. These chemicals can cause cancer. However, they are regulated by the EPA and while our water table is tested to be meet the EPA’s standards, most people would choose not to consume them at all given the choice.

Just like you, we live in Tucson and we care about the things we put in our bodies affect those around us. Our employees, our families and our friends deserve to drink clean water that is completely contaminate free. That is why Cool Breeze continually seeks out solutions that we would recommend to everyone within our own families, from air conditioning accessories that kill harmful bateria to water solutions that remove harmful organisms and chemicals.

There IS a Solution

Let Cool Breeze Home Solutions recommend one of our whole home water filtration systems! They are easy to install, economical and they provide clean water to your entire home to the whole family. The other advantage is that it just doesn’t affect tap water. It’s long been known that contaminates can easily be absorbed through the skin during a shower or bath. Our complete home water filter systems handle ALL the water in your home.

Give us a call today to learn more and we’ll be happy to provide a quote and recommendation!

For a Whole Home Water Filtration Assessment and Quote Call Us Today at:
520-495-2227

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Get Your AC Ready for Summer

March 3rd, 2013

We’re starting to see those Tucson Summer temperatures rising again! This week we are hitting 90 degrees, so it’s time to go through the standard checklist to get your air conditioning system ready for the summer! Big events like Summer and Winter are a great opportunity to do preventative maintenance on a unit or get noticeable minor problems fixed before they become a large and costly problem.

Change Your Filters

It’s always a good idea to regularly change your filters. If you tend to forget, then major events such as summer seasons can be a good opportunity to make sure you change all the filters in your home, especially on air returns which can be easily forgotten. Make sure you know all the areas in your home that require filters and they are regularly changed to increase the longevity of any system.

For Exterior Condensers

If your home features an external condensor for your air conditioning system, then just make a quick visual inspection to ensure that there are not built up plant debris or other problems around the actual unit. Specifically you’ll want to ensure that the fan is free of any kind of debris as a critical part of the cooling system.

Checking Your Ductwork

You’ll also want to quickly visually check your ductwork. There are two areas that you’ll want to look into. The first is the registers in your house. Checking for obstructions like rugs and furniture can make sure you have good air flow.

The second place you’ll want to check is if you have a crawlspace or a storage area such as a basement. All connections and seams should be sealed completely with no holes or corrosion. Make sure if you plan to seal connections yourself, you use silver aluminum-foil tape, as opposed to the traditional duct tape.

Doing a checkup prior to the summer season is important also because you will want to make sure you don’t have mold building up in the ducts. If you find mold, simply call Cool Breeze Home Solutions and we will be able to thoroughly clean your ducts at a reasonable price.

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Maintain Clean Air Ducts

February 22nd, 2013

We always hear about instances where people feel so much better after we’ve had a chance to clean their air ducts so we thought it was a topic worth letting people read about. Air duct cleaning can be a very inexpensive way to maintain a superior quality of comfort in your home today. We recommend cleaning on an annual basis or every other year at worst. Additionally, clogged air ways can force your system to work harder than it has to, which will increase your energy bills for seemingly no reason at all.

Duct cleaning is really all about the internal air quality of your home. We stress this heavily because of how ducts are just a vehicle for all the collected irritants within the entire home and then they are dispersed into every room. Pollutants, air from your kitchen, carpets, pets, bathrooms and allergians all converge into your air conditioning system and then are pushed back out the ducting system.

Our comprehensive process includes:

  • Remove All Dust
  • Completely clean the interior of your ducts
  • Major vents are vacuumed
  • Utilize special industrial strength machines designed for duct cleaning
  • Check for excess debris
  • Mold build up inspection
  • Hypoallergenic treatments are available

During the duct cleaning process, Cool Breeze Air Solutions also takes special care to protect the interior of your home from damage using covering for furniture and flooring. We use specially designed tools that are utilized to clean fiberglass duct boards and a thorough inspection is performed to ensure there are no asbestos containing materials in the duct system that may need removal or special treatment.

Don’t forget also to make sure you replace your filters frequently! This is an extremely low cost and easy way to maintain a higher level of comfort in your home.

If you live in the Tucson, AZ area and your ducts are getting clogged, emitting strange particles or your energy bills are climbing for no reason, contact Cool Breeze today for an inspection and duct cleaning cost estimate!

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Air Conditioning versus Evaporative (Swamp)

February 10th, 2013

Some common questions we might get is what the major difference is when choosing a way to cool your home, especially when it comes to certain climates like Tucson, Arizona. We hope to shed some light on some major differences, drawbacks, advantages and some information you previously may not have known.

When it comes to home comfort, the name of the game in the Southwest is getting the air cold. Tucson winters are fairly mild and rarely do temperaturs drop below freezing, so heating typically isn’t the number one consideration when desert climates are concerned.

We’ll try not to bore you with the a bunch of facts and introduce some basic concepts instead.

Evaporative (Swamp) Coolers
On the surface, swamp coolers sound like they might work really well for desert climates. They work by using a blower – a fan at one end of the box – to bring in air from the outside and push it into the structure at the other end. Before the air goes inside, it passes through a series of damp pads, where evaporation takes place, and a small pump keeps the pads moist so the water doesn’t just evaporate away. This essentially creates a flow of air that is cooler than when it first entered the box.

Swamp coolers are considered an an open system and rely on the flow of air throughout the structure to direct cool air. Air from the swamp cooler needs a way out and opening and closing windows and doors controls the air flow from the swamp cooler to different parts of the structure while central air conditioners use ducts to direct the flow. Swamp coolers can also use ducts in some cases, but they need to be larger than traditional air conditioner ducts to account for a greater flow of air from the swamp cooler.

Too much humidity can prevent perspiration, which is how we cool ourselves naturally. Since swamp coolers work by putting water into the dry air, they act as humidifiers. This is great in dryer climates, because humidity can also be too low for comfort. Under the right conditions the water-laden breeze also can have a secondary effect of helping the skin’s perspiration, resulting in an even cooler feel than the swamp cooler would give on its own.

Air Conditioners
Standard air conditioners also dry the air, condensing water vapor from the cooled room as it passes over the cold coils. The water drains outside, which is what the distinctive drip you feel if you stand under a window air conditioning unit long enough comes from. The result is a dryer room, and in humid climates, that can be a good thing. Under the right conditions the water-laden breeze also can have a secondary effect of helping the skin’s perspiration, resulting in an even cooler feel than the swamp cooler would give on its own.

Standard air conditioners also dry the air, condensing water vapor from the cooled room as it passes over the cold coils. The water drains outside, which is what generates that distinctive drip you’ll feel if you stand under a window air conditioning unit long enough. The result is a room that is more dry. In humid climates, or in Tucson during the entire monsoon season, this is a huge advantage in comfort.

Air conditioning units have also become amazingly energy efficient over the years. When comparing systems, make sure you are using data from newer systems that have much higher energy ratings than older legacy systems that use much more energy. This has also caused AC systems to become more affordable and smaller as well.

Our Conclusion
At the end of the day, our recommendation for the comfort of your home for you and your family is an air conditioning unit. Despite the lure of purchasing a less expensive evaporative cooling system, it is true you get what you pay for. You will likely never meet a home owner that has gone from Air Conditioning to a Swamp Cooler and was satisfied with the change.

You also can’t really combine the best of both worlds – the way each system works would cancel each other out, similar to running a dehumidifier and a humidifier in the same room.

Don’t completely keep evaporative coolers completely off the table however. In cases where you have a small workshop, they can work pretty effectively. Because workshops typically have large openings like a garage door, these provide an effective source of airflow that basic cooling needs can be met. If the area does not need to be closed completely off like a detached office where a ductless air conditioning system, a swamp system might make sense.

If you currently have a swamp cooler and are looking to significantly improve the interior climate of your home, give us a call at 520-495-2227 today and we would love to talk to you about your options. AC systems are far more affordable than people give them credit for, so don’t believe it’s out of your budget!

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Tucson Indoor Air Quality Tips

January 28th, 2013

The condition of ductwork in Tucson homes can have a major effect on your heating and air conditioning system in addition to the actual air quality of your home. This is especially true if you have people living in the home that suffer form chronic allergies and pollutants such as pollen, dust, pet dander and hair. In fact, poorly maintained ducts can actually make these things worse for allergy sufferers.

Irritants get trapped in your ducting and build up over time that can just circulate higher concentrations throughout the entire home. We recommend frequent inspections because every home needs regular ductwork maintenance – there is no method of keeping them clean indefinitely.

If you have not had your air conditioning ductwork, give Cool Breeze Home Solutions a call today and we will take a professional look at the system in your home. We can make recommendations and find out what works best for your individual situation.

In addition to just making your Tucson more comfortable, cleaning your ducts can also improve the efficiency of your air conditioning system because it ensures proper air flow. A professional duct cleaning is a comprehensive approach to the whole home with the intent of cleaning every square inch of the ducting within your system and then treating it afterward to improve longevity. We can also look for damaged ductwork, which can lead to a loss of airflow as well.

Tucson air conditioning, air quality and clean duct management are some of our specialties! And remember, the best thing you can do on an ongoing basis as a home owner is replace your filters often! If you are concerned about the quality of any of these areas in your home, give us a call right away and we can schedule an appointment today!

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Ductless Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps

January 19th, 2013

If you are adding on to your home or are looking for a lower cost option to replacing a swamp cooling unit with a central air conditioning system, then a ductless air conditioning and heat pump unit might be the right fit for you.

Ductless air conditioning and heat pump units have become incredibly energy efficient.  These systems offer flexibility as well since you are not tying them into an existing ducting system.  They can be placed nearly anywhere and are very easy to install.  Ductless air conditioning and heat pump units are also extremely quiet; unlike some units seen in hotels, the systems we install and maintain are whisper quiet as well as energy efficient.

Ductless systems have a lot of benefits that make them a good choice of supplemental air conditioning and heating.  As most units are equipped with a heat coil, it makes it possible to warm a space on chilly mornings or evenings without needing to use the main heating system.  This could be a great savings in seasons that have temperature extremes in the late evenings and early mornings in homes with large heating systems.

Some very strong advantages to ductless units are:

  • The actual loss of the duct.  Duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic or on top of a roof.
  • They are lower cost than central air conditioning units
  • Easier to install
  • Units take up less space than traditional room units

Cool Breeze Home Solutions specializes in energy efficient ductless systems in the spaces that make a lot of sense.  We use premium name brands such as Hitachi that are guaranteed and warranted.  These units have a world wide reputation of efficiency and reliability.  Contact Cool Breeze Home Solutions today at 520-495-2227 and let us give you a free quote and work with you to create the perfect heating and cooling solution.  We service the Greater Tucson area and the surrounding communities.

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Several Energy Saving Tips for Winter Months

November 27th, 2012

We have compiled a list of quick tips that everyone can use during the winter months to save where they can. These tips can apply to different types of homes so please take your time to read down the list:

  • Reversing the direction your ceiling fan spins on low can help circulate warm air around the room.
  • Homes can easily dry out in the winter months. Moisture in the air helps bring back warmth and to accomplish this, a simple humidifier running during winter months can keep the interior air from being dryer than usual.
  • Also, from a comfort level, humidifiers can improve basic ailments like sinus problems. Since air with moisture in it holds heat better, a lower temperature can be just as comfortable and you can save in energy costs.
  • If you find that a humidifier serves your needs well, consider getting a whole house humidifier.
  • On sunny days (easy enough to find in Arizona), take advantage of the natural sunlight to bring in heat by adjusting blinds so they open and are tilted toward the ceiling. But make sure you remember to close the blinds at sundown.
  • Fireplaces can waste a lot of energy. By pulling warm air out of the house through the chimney when not in use, it is an easy measure to forget. Make sure you close the damper when not using the fireplace, or you can install glass doors to help keep heat in the home.
  • Exhaust fans, such as those found in kitchens, can pull warm air out of the home through the vent. Exhaust fans can also cause negative pressure inside your home that can lead to back drafts from your fireplace and can cause drafts through the walls, windows and un-insulated outlets in your home. Use them sparingly in colder months to save even more on energy costs.

The best defense against heating problems is regular maintenance. We recommend year-round care with our home care packages. Having heating equipment serviced by a reputable company at least once a year could reduce your heating bill and prevent costly repairs and replacements in the future.

A big part of our recommended plan is regular equipment inspections. Cool Breeze Home Solutions has been serving Tucson and Southern Arizona for years and our service is courteous and timely. Catching a potential problem early enough to either prevent a catastrophe or simply save a lot of money on a failing component, we are ready to serve you during the winter months!

Posted in Energy Savings, Heat Pump Systems, Heat Pumps, Heating, Holiday, Home Savings, Maintenance Plan/Comfort Club, Winterizing | Comments Off

2012 Winter Checklist

November 6th, 2012

It’s just about that time of year again to prepare for the mild Tucson winter. While for Tucson we’re seeing above average temperatures for this far into the season most Tucsonians know how quickly the weather can change once the heat finally relinquishes.

Here are a few tips and suggestions as we approach the middle of December:

Check Your Air Filters
This task is just the kind of thing that people forget about during the day. It’s easy to miss because it’s out of sight and out of mind. But here at Cool Breeze, we recommend constant vigilance on air filter maintenance. Not only is it a low cost and easy task to perform once you get a rhythm going, but it is vital to maintaining performance and ensuring your equipment lasts a long time. Make sure you inspect and replace filters often – as frequently as once a month if you notice they begin to collect a significant amount of debris.

Get Your Unit Checked Annually
While we understand that this may be an arbitrary step to most, the reason we recommend this is that in many cases major problems start out as minor problems. Having a compressor beginning to go out or a unit showing signs of stress can many times provide a number of options before they become full blown issues. In these cases it’s always a major cost savings rather than a cost incursion. Think of it as an investment in the long term care of your air conditioning and heating unit.

Cool Breeze Home Solutions have the professional knowledge and the experience to ensure your unit is running its very best. Give us a call today and see how we can provide peace of mind that your air conditioning or heating unit is ready for winter!

Insulate
Summer provides unique challenges in making sure cold air stays inside while creating barriers against hot air coming into the home. Winter is the same way – make sure you adapt as many low cost options as possible to keep warm air in your home. Escaping air can many times be an easy fix and can provide a big savings on your monthly energy bills.

Obviously the biggest change is to move from single pane inefficient windows to dual pane energy star rated windows. This may be too extreme for some homes and if upgrading isn’t an option, using adhesive weather stripping on windows and self installed door guards, weather strips and low cost window coverings to create insulated barriers can go a long way in lowering your heating bills.

Doing basic things can go a long way in ensuring a more efficient home. Having clean ducts with frequently changed filters, well insulated rooms and doors and windows are prepared by at least the very basic level of insulation will start you on the path to lower heating bills and keep your system running at top performance. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call us – we’re here to help you in any of your Tucson heating and cooling needs!

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