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8 Tips For Hiring The Right HVAC Contractor For Your Air Conditioning Replacement

The average person replaces their HVAC system only 1.5 times in their lifetime. If you need your air conditioning system replaced, but you haven’t been through the process before, it may seem like a daunting task.

One of the most important aspects of an HVAC system replacement is choosing the right HVAC contractor for the job.

Having a checklist of this things to look for when evaluating the prospective HVAC contractor can make the process go much smoother.

We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback, you may leave us a comment below.

What Is The True Cost Of Hiring An Unlicensed Contractor?

You have finally made the decision to start that project you have been putting off. Whether its remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, getting a new roof for your home, or replacing your air conditioning system. You have even found several contractors that you trust to give you an estimate.

The estimates may have similar prices or they may be all over the map, but before making a final selection, you want to make sure that the contractor you will be using is licensed and fully insured.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor, may seem like a better deal, but there are hidden costs that are not reflected on the estimate that you received.

To check out if a contractor is licensed and in good standing, go to

www.myfloridalicense.com – click on “Verify A License” tab at the top

The most important thing a licensed contractor will provide for you, throughout the project, is peace of mind and that is hard to put a price on.

We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback, you may leave us a comment below.

R22 Phase Out…Why Should You Care As A Consumer?

You may have heard about R22 refrigerant being phased out. Well it is being phased out, and by the year 2020 all new production of this type of refrigerant will be stopped.

Watch the video below to find out why should you, as a consumer, care that R22 is being phased out.

If you have already updated your air conditioning system to one which utilizes the new refrigerant, you’re in good shape. Otherwise you may want to take advantage of the rebates and incentives which are being offered, by most utility companies such as FPL, to upgrade your system.

To read the full details of the R22 phase out and learn about the Montreal Protocol, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/22phaseout.html

We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback, you may leave us a comment below.

FPL Rebates To Save On Your New HVAC System

With summer vacations over and the kids back in school, everything will start to get back on the regular schedule. You can breathe a sigh of relief.

The temperatures, however, are still creeping up to mid to high 90s and not cooling down much during the night. This is the time of the year where you do not want your air conditioner to take a vacation.

You may have even noticed your electric bill rising during the months of June through September. According to FPL the average annual a/c cooling operating hours in South Florida is 2,800 hours.

To put that into perspective, you’re air conditioning system running for 2,800 hours is the equivalent of you driving your car at 45 mph for 2800 hours, which equals 126,000 miles. Talk about a road trip, right?!

If your HVAC system is over 6 or 8 years old, it may be time for an upgrade.

Some of the signs that your air conditioner is getting ready to give out are…

– Higher than normal electric bill

– The equipment is constantly breaking down

– The system is simply too old

FPL offers some very enticing rebates that can help to make the decision a little bit easier to upgrade to a new and higher efficiency system.

FPL Rebate

You will not only save up front, but the energy efficiency of the new air conditioning unit will help to cut down on your electric bill, potentially paying for itself in a few years.

FPL Annual Cooling Cost Comparison

Click here to contact us for a free estimate so you can truly see and understand how you can save.

TRAVERSAIR is an authorized FPL contractor

It Starts With Trust

Every solid and lasting relationship in life starts with trust. You have no doubt seen what happens to couples or friendships when the trust is broken. It can take a lifetime to build up that trust but only a moment to lose it.

The same principle holds true for those businesses that you frequent, for example your dry-cleaner, your favorite restaurant, or your hair stylist. You trust that these businesses will provide you with the same quality of service that you are used to receiving.

Certain relationships will require a higher degree of trust then others. A higher level of trust is required for your babysitter or financial advisor than the dry-cleaner or your favorite ice cream place. The amount of time it takes to build those relationship increases as the required degree of trust increase.

Every once in a while, you’re put in a situation where you have to open up your home for work to be done inside your house, such as having a plumbing issue or your air conditioner stopped working.

What level of trust do you think is required from these companies? It ranks fairly high. With that in mind, most people simple turn to a quick google search to determine who they’re going to let into their home, with no existing relationship or trust in place.

Often these services can cost few hundred dollars or more and there is virtually no way to verify exactly what was done except to see or feel the result, your air is back on or your water leak stopped.

So how can you find a trustworthy company, to let in your home, when you’re in an emergency situation? A referral from a family member or friend is ideal but if you have to cold call a company, there are a few things you should find out and look for before making your choice.

When you’re talking on the phone with the prospective company, ask…

– How long has the company been in business?

– Are they properly licensed and insured?

– Do they have an actual place of business?

– Do their technicians wear a uniform?

When they arrive at your home…

– Are they knowledgeable about the repair or do they come off as “salesy”?

– Are they conscious of your carpet and flooring by covering their shoes?

– Do you feel comfortable with them in your home?

Just like at the doctor’s office, you want to ask the question that you don’t understand because any professional company will take the time to help you understand.

Its no secret that, over the years, certain service industries have received a negative connotation. At the end of the day, you as the client, should feel a sense of trust in the person and company handling your in-home services.

Is there anything else that you look for when searching for a reputable company? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Make it a great day!

ps. Click Here to see the services we offer.

APCO UV Systems versus UV Disinfection Systems

If you’re like most people, chances are you haven’t paid much attention to the air quality inside your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the quality of the air inside a home is at least 5 times worse than outside. The source of the problem can be many different things, such tobacco smoke, household cleaning products, radon, as well as pathogens that built up over time in your HVAC system and duct.

Your air conditioning system is the central component in your home to circulate the air. You may be in the kitchen cleaning, and those chemical can travel throughout your home, including to all the bedrooms. While it is impossible to completely eliminate all the odors and pollutants from the air, there are measure that you can take to minimize the effects. One such measure is to install an ultra violet or UV light system in your home air conditioning and ducts.

There are many different types and brands of UV lights available on the market and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. There are two common types of UV systems used in residential and light commercial applications, UV Light Disinfection and Photo Catalytic Oxidation.

The UV light disinfection systems:

Installed by the coil of the air handler (inside piece)
Disinfects the organisms on the surface of the coil by breaking apart their molecular DNA, essentially stopping them from being able to reproduce.
Available in 1 or 2 year bulbs
For safety reason, it needs to be installed by a licensed contractor.

Advance Photo Catalytic Oxidation (APCO)

Installed by the coil of the air handler ¬and the supply air duct.
Utilizes carbon cells infused with titanium dioxide, which absorb the organisms in the air, and the UV light turns them into non-toxic inorganic matter.
Disinfects the organisms on the surface of the coil by breaking apart their molecular DNA
Available in 1 or 2 year bulbs
For safety reason, it needs to be installed by a licensed contractor.

The major difference between the two types of systems is one disinfects the contaminants on the surface of the coil while the APCO kills them all together.

Whichever type of system you choose, the quality of the air inside your will improve!

For more information about how a UV system can benefit your home or which type of system will work best for you…contact our office at info@traversair.com or 561-746-7211.

2013 Residential Energy Credits

If you upgraded your central air conditioning system for your primary residence in 2013, you may be eligible to receive a tax credit up $300.00. This credit is based on The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 which ended on December 31, 2013.

To get the full list of requirements, you can visit www.irs.gov/form5695 or consult your tax adviser. If you have a question whether or not you have purchased a qualifying air conditioning equipment, feel free to contact us at info@traversair.com.

Why Have Maintenance On Your Air Conditioner?

Have you ever come home from work or a vacation trip only to find that your air conditioner was not working? They tend to break down when it is the most inconvenient time. One way to cut down on unnecessary breakdowns is by having preventive maintenance on your air conditioner on a regular basis.

Avoid An Unexpected Service Call…Get A Maintenance Done Before This Happens!

According to FPL, the average air conditioner in South Florida runs for over 2800 hours in a year. It also accounts for more than half of the energy consumed in residential households every month. Keeping your air conditioning system properly maintained will ensure that it is running at optimum efficiency. Preventive maintenance on an air conditioning system is just as essential as preventive maintenance on a car.

Like a car, the air handler (inside unit) and the condenser (outside unit) have many functional parts that are in use every time the system is running. People know that a car should have its oil and filter changed every few thousand miles, frequently check the condition of the tires, and about once a year have a technician look over the engine, belts, and plugs.

It is no different for your home or office air conditioning system. The air filter should be replaced at least once per quarter, but to maximize efficiency it should be changed every month. The drain lines need to cleaned, and at least once a year the belts, capacitors, and wiring connections need to be looked over.

It is easy to forget about the maintenance of your air conditioner since the best air conditioners are those that you can’t see, hear, or feel. However, a regular and consistent preventive maintenance schedule can save you on service calls and even help to prolong the life of your air conditioning system.

Click here to schedule your a/c maintenance today!

The UV light disinfection systems:

Advance Photo Catalytic Oxidation (APCO)

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