From Wilson Air Conditioning Service Technician – Jimmy McWhorter.

Dirt. Five year olds love it, plants can’t live without it, and your’re breathing it in every day. Not just breathing it in – you’re paying to inhale the largest cause of home’s duct and allergy problems.

You’re probably thinking that’s an exaggeration.  But the simple truth is that you are paying to run your heating and cooling system, more and more as the weather gets colder or soon – warmer.  And since dirt is the number one cause of system failure – 90% of all failures, in fact- chances are good that dirt is keeping your system from running at peak efficiency.

Before you invest in a family set of gas masks or prepare for a nomadic existence in the Sahara (hey, at least then you’t be paying  for the dirt), you might want to give your heating and cooling professional a call!

“Your system works hard,” says Jimmy McWhorter, it gets dirty and has to be cleaned regularly.  Scheduling the maintenance for your home’s heating and cooling systems is as important as changing the oil in your car – if you don’t do it, eventually you’ll have a breakdown.”

There are a few questions to ask yourself before having your system cleaned:

• How long has it been since your HVAC system was cleaned? Systems should have regular tune-ups, which most companies can schedule with a Maintenance Agreement (or include cleaning with our Platinum Energy Saver’s Club membership)
• Are there pets in the home?
• Do any family members experience burning eyes, nose, or throat while in the house?
• Does your climate have high humidity?
• Do any family members show symptoms of mild to severe allergies?

Jimmy says “System failure caused by dirt, as well as expensive repairs, can be avoided with a little preventative maintenance. Most people don’t realize how much money they will save by making sure their system is clean and runs efficiently.”

Learning the precautions are part of Wilson’s effort to educate the public on how to save time, energy, and money.  Wilson Air Conditioning Service wants to show homeowners certain neglected maintenance items  can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs and/or complete system replacement.

You can get Jimmy out to inspect your system, plus receive other energy saving tips by call us at 770-943-1613 or visiting wilsonac.com.

Routine air conditioning/heat system tune-ups are among the best home improvement investments you can make.  That’s because tune-ups improve your system’s efficiency and increase it’s lifespan, saving you operating dollars, postponing replacement dollars, and keeping you comfortable at the same time. Not only that, you can avoid problems with mold build-up that can harm your breathing space.

It’s the same principle as routine dental cleaning and annual medical appointments. Nothing’s wrong, and you want to keep it that way.  But some folks let the “ounce of prevention” opportunity pass right on by, thanks to a misguided impression that it’s just too much trouble.

Yet tune-ups are simple and quick and very much worth a minor inconvenience that can save you a good bit of time and money in the long run. Basically, a licensed professional (that’s us!) will:

• Clean evaporator and condenser coils, as needed, and straighten bent fins.
• Check all electrical components and controls.
• Oil motor and shaft bearings.
• Check the condenser.
• Examine fan belts and replace if frayed or worn.
• Calibrate thermostat.
• Check to see it that the system is properly charged with refrigerant and that there are no leaks.
• Check filters. (Regular filters should be replaced at least every 3 months.)

Oh, and you can keep a watch on this on your own. While many homeowners choose to shade their condensers with trees and shrubs to improve efficiency, you’ll want to watch to make sure vegetation doesn’t grown around the condenser and restrict airflow.

Most tune-up tasks are too extensive for the average homeowner – because of the risk of electrical shock and the potential for shorting the electrical components.  But one of our technicians can tend to these things in a very short time.

Think of it as a way to save money while avoiding a whole lot more trouble later on. Equipment failure in the heat of August or the cold of January is never as fun as a preventative measure taken in the spring or fall.

Visit our website and click on the maintenance tab at the top to learn more. wilsonac.com

From your friends at Wilson Air Conditioning Service

This year most of us are getting a break on our utility bills. The air conditioning isn’t experiencing the same level of demand, and the heater hasn’t been pressed into the full service it usually sees in January.

However, while your air conditioning and heat are a large part of your utility bills (up to 56% in many homes), there are still other factors that absorb your energy dollars month after month.

For example, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, in the typical U.S.home, appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20% of your energy bills. These include:

• Clothes washers and dryers
• Computers
• Dishwashers
• Home audio equipment
• Refrigerator and freezers
• Room air conditioners
• Televisions, DVD players, and VCRs
• Water heaters

When shopping for appliances and electronics, you’ll want to compare energy-efficiency ratings. To do that, look for the ENERGY STAR^® and EnergyGuide labels.

ENERGY STAR^® labels appear on appliances and home electronics that meet strict energy efficiency criteria established by the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You’ll find this labeling program with most home electronics (except stove ranges and ovens).

Another good source of information, the EnergyGuide label is a requirement from the Federal Trade Commission for most home appliance and provides an estimate of the product’s energy consumption or energy efficiency. They also show the highest and lowest energy consumption or efficiency estimates of similar appliance models.

Should You Turn Off Personal Computer?

Most of us now have a computer in our homes. However, since computers first became a popular (and almost essential) item for the home, a debate has raged about whether you will save more energy by shutting off the computer when not in use – or whether that will cause the computer to degrade sooner than its time.

According to the DOE, switching the computer on and off does not necessarily use more energy. In other words, though there is a small surge of energy used at the start-up, it’s not likely to be more energy that would be used if the computer stayed on while idle. To save energy:

• Turn off the monitor if you aren’t going to use the computer for 20 minutes.
• Turn off both the computer and monitor if you’re not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.
• Make sure your monitors, printers, and other accessories are on a power strip/surge protector. When this equipment is not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent them from drawing power even when shut off. If you don’t use a power strip, unplug extra equipment when it’s not in use.

The concern about turning off a computer when not in use has been that the constant “on and off” would shorten the life of the PC. But in most cases, advances in technology are more likely to make a PC obsolete before the wear and tear of switching it on and off.

The Sleep Mode Option: Many PCs come with a power-down or sleep mode feature for the CPU and monitor, which means that they will consume less energy when not in use. Power-down features are good to have, but you’ll still use even less energy when you turn off the CPU and monitor at appropriate times.

Another good point: PCs produce heat, so turning them off reduces building cooling loads. And that’s where a lot of your energy dollars will soon be going. 

Maintaining Your Heating System

One thing about fall: winter follows closely behind. And that means your heating system is going to be called upon for heavy duty. To prepare your system and to prepare for your utility bills, call us for a fall tune-up.

Regular maintenance on your heating /air conditioning system is important to keep it operating like it should.  It’s similar to the regular maintenance needed on your car – you don’t want to go too long without a tune-up and oil change if you want to maximize efficiency, prevent breakdowns and have the car last a long time.   It’s the same concept with your heating /air conditioning system.

And we here at Wilson Air Conditioning train our technicians to fully clean, adjust and reset your system to factory specs which saves on your energy and gives you peace of mind.  To schedule your tune-up, just give us a call at 770-943-1613 and we’ll send someone out right away.

During months of disuse,  a heating system routinely gets its fill of rust, scale, and gunk. Your system efficiency takes a hit, and that uses more energy dollars and decreases your home comfort.

There are also other serious potential problems – namely, carbon monoxide leaks.  This odorless gas takes lives every year, but can be discovered with a simple test.

Here’s the solution… LET Wilson Air Conditioning Service, Inc. treat you to the most complete Tune-up available.  It includes:

• 21-point “Engery Squeezer” tune-up. ($84.95) The Best!
• Carbon Monoxide check  ($19.95) A season’s security.
• Free standard 1″ or 2″ filter ($20 value) Cleaner, healthier air!
• Water Heater check ($25)
• Plus much more (because we’ve got a lot to say about good service!).