Expert Air and Refrigeration Services

Air Conditioner Repair Service in Hutto, Texas

512-255-6525
$25 Off First Residential AC Repair

Memorial Day Weekend: How To Use Air Conditioning To Battle Mosquitoes

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As the summer season is ushered in, what can you do to help prevent mosquitoes from invading your home through the use of upcoming HVAC technologies? Please read on to learn more.

 

Basic Precautions Against Mosquitoes Around Your Home

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so it is important to look for and eliminate areas of pooling in your yard, especially after heavy rains. Bird baths and feeders, flower pots, improperly draining gutters, and any other decorative item or debris in your yard can gather rainwater and become the ideal environment for mosquitoes to thrive. If you have a window air conditioning unit, it is essential that you assure it is draining properly and not retaining excessive condensation inside the unit. Mosquitoes can also fly in through the air vents.

Using Ultrasonic Technology In HVAC

A major manufacturer has produced a mini split air conditioning unit that uses ultrasonic wave technology to help repel mosquitoes, especially in areas that have large epidemics of mosquito-borne diseases. While overall, the technology may not do enough to eliminate mosquito populations in infested areas of the world, it could be a first line of defense when used with more traditional solutions, such as mosquito nets. In addition, the air conditioners provide voltage protection for the compressor. This is critical in areas where electrical service can be very unreliable. As mosquito-borne diseases continue to be of massive global concern, it is likely manufacturers will increase the production and availability of these units to more locations worldwide.

 

Don’t get caught without AC on a hot day! To schedule your summer HVAC maintenance check, please contact the professionals of Expert Air and Refrigeration at (512) 255-6525.

Using SMART Technology To Control Your Commercial HVAC System

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Would you like to use SMART technology to automate the HVAC system for your business? Would you like to run your current system more efficiently or invest in future upgrades? Please read on to learn more.

 

Investing In Your Future

The controls and monitoring of rooftop HVAC units used in commercial buildings can easily be automated in the same way many homes use SMART thermostats and other connected devices. SMART devices can control and monitor such things as fire suppression systems, lighting, and security alarms. This allows a business owner or manager to remotely monitor and control building conditions. It may make facility management easier if you have a large number of rooftop HVAC units or buildings to oversee. A variety of major HVAC manufacturers sell HVAC units that may be controlled and monitored by an app on a mobile device. With this technology, a network of sensors and touchscreen wi-fi thermostats can continuously monitor and control the ambient temperature throughout the facility and possibly improve the indoor air quality of the building.

A major advantage of using these types of technologies is that they can help you to remotely troubleshoot the heating or cooling system before calling a licensed professional. On many units, this can be accomplished on both the control panel for the unit and remotely via the mobile app. These devices can monitor the operation of such components as blowers, condensers, compressors, and fans, alerting you to issues before they become hazardous. This allows you to call a licensed heating and cooling professional as soon as possible. Another advantage is that on some models, a technician may be able to download information about the unit, such as error codes, through a USB port, possibly speeding repairs or during scheduled seasonal inspections. The mobile app, thermostats and control panels will also likely be able to provide everyday operating data to those monitoring the HVAC units for your business.

These devices may need a large initial investment from your business. However, building automation as a whole can make your entire business run more energy efficiently, saving you money throughout the life of the new HVAC unit or control system. Many manufacturers also provide financing and extended warranty plans. Thus, it may be a worthwhile investment when considering a new HVAC system or retrofitting an existing system to include these new technologies on the market.

Notes of Concern

It is important to note that software and firmware errors can occur in the communication between the HVAC unit and a mobile app being used to monitor it or make changes to the system. Another matter that businesses should educate themselves about is how the manufacturer uses the data obtained about your heating and cooling units and about the facilities where they are utilized. In today’s world, it is also possible for proprietary data to be stolen, or for the ventilation systems to be compromised and controlled by nefarious parties. As with any SMART device, security and privacy are top matters to consider when choosing to use these technologies.

 

To learn more about emerging HVAC technologies that might be a good choice for your business, please contact the professionals of Expert Air and Refrigeration at (512) 255-6525.

Air Conditioning and Indoor Allergies

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While many allergens exist outside the home, indoor allergies are just as prevalent and problematic for people. Synthetic fibers in carpets and furniture, cleaning products, dust mites, pets, cockroaches and more, can all cause irritation. If these contaminants live inside the house, they can become re-circulated through the air conditioning vents causing allergy symptoms. Not too mention open doors and windows can let allergens in from outside. For most people summer allergens cause the biggest problem.

To prevent irritation the first step is removing the source as much as possible, followed by maintaining the quality of your air conditioning unit.

To keep the air filtered and clean take these steps for maintaining the quality of your air conditioner.

  • Clean the air ducts at least once a year. Ducts should be professionally cleaned and inspected by a professional to check for leaks (which can cause mold), and remove any contaminants.
  • Clean the air filters frequently. Severe allergy sufferers it is recommended to use High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.
  • To help filter pollen and animal dander from the air, place cheesecloth over AC vents.
  • To prevent mold growth, the humidity level in the home should remain below 50%.
  • To reduce mold in high risk areas like the basement, install dehumidifiers. Clean the dehumidifier on a weekly basis.
  • Determine mold levels in your home by purchasing a mold testing kit from a hardware store.
  • Those suffering from summer allergies should keep doors and windows closed as much as possible

Maintaining clean air ducts, and a clean, cool home will help prevent mold and allergens from wrecking havoc on your sinuses.

Contact Expert Air and Refrigeration to schedule an appointment for maintenance, repair or quality air conditioner filters installation. Call (800) 803-9202 or (512) 463-6599.

Image source: gentryheating.com

Signs a New Air Conditioning Installation is Near

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Expert Air |

Expert Air | 512-255-6525

Your air conditioner wont’t yell “mercy” when it’s ready to give up, but it will display signs that the end is near.  What are some of the red flags you should be looking for? Here is a short list from Expert Air & Refrigeration to help you identify when your system is calling a surrender:

  • Frequent repairs – Frequent repairs are not only a big pain, they can also add up to be quite costly. In fact, over time they can even add up to the cost of a new system. If you’re in need of fix-ups on the regular, it may be time to purchase a new system.
  • Age – is your air conditioner more than 10 years old? If so, you may be losing out on energy efficiency. It’s estimated that today’s air conditioners are as much as 60% more efficient than models from just 10 years ago, a difference that could save you money in monthly utility bills.
  • Decreased cooling – aging air conditioners can lose the ability to keep up with your home’s cooling demand. Sometimes this becomes evident as hot-and-cold spots throughout your home, or your AC just doesn’t cool as well as it once did. Pushing an aging air conditioner only accelerates the chances of breakdown, so if your air conditioner isn’t cooling properly, it may be time to look at one that can.
  • Your system uses R-22 (Freon) – Freon has been the refrigerant of choice for residential heat pump and air-conditioning systems for more than four decades, but it is being phased out by the government and in 2020 will no longer be manufactured at all. Unfortunately for the environment, releases of Freon, such as those from leaks, contribute to ozone depletion. In addition, it is a greenhouse gas and its manufacturing results in a by-product that significantly contributes to global warming.

Do you suspect you might need help with a new air conditioning installation? Call Expert Air & Refrigeration at  512-255-6525 and take advantage of our  Summer Special! Click here for $25 off your first residential air conditioning service call.

Keeping Your Cool with Programmable Thermostats

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Expert Air 512-255-6525

Expert Air 512-255-6525

 

In Texas, summer is just around the corner.

This year, make a commitment to saving money and energy by installing a new programmable digital thermostat.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, programmable thermostats offer between 10% – 30% savings on your air conditioning and heating bills.

How do they work?

All programmable thermostats have at least two daily settings that you can modify. For the summertime, during the day when you’re not home, you program your thermostat to raise the temperature in your home by 7-10 degrees. This will keep your AC unit from working hard when there’s no one home to appreciate the colder temperatures.

Depending on the unit, many thermostats have six or more settings, so you can have different temperature settings for mornings, afternoons, evenings and overnight when everyone is in bed. You can also vary the settings on the weekends to account for sleeping in or more (or less!) time at home.

Handy tips for using programmable thermostats in the summer:

  • Set the morning temperature to increase after you have left for the day.
  • If you don’t have pets, you can set the system to shut down completely during the middle of the day.
  • Set the system to start running an hour before you’re scheduled to return home, to give the system enough time to cool your home down before you arrive.
  • Don’t overcompensate by lowering the temperature further when you’re home, or you will not see significant savings

Recommended temperature settings:

  • Summer:  78 degrees when you’re home and 85 degrees or higher when the house is unoccupied.
  • Winter:  55-60 degrees at night when you’re sleeping, as well as when you’re gone for the day, and 65-68 degrees when you’re home and awake.

Are you ready to make the switch? Contact Expert Air and Refrigeration for your new thermostat today!

For more information:

Tips on Programmable Thermostats from the US Department of Energy

How Programmable Thermostats can save you money (if used correctly!)

 

Allergens at Home? Time for an Air Conditioning Inspection

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HEPA Air Filters and HVAC Duct Cleaning | Expert Air (512) 255-6525

Expert Air | (512) 255-6525

Worst Allergy Season Ever!

For many people, springtime in Austin means bluebonnets, walks along the greenbelt, and great outdoor activities. For allergy sufferers, however, springtime means it’s allergy season and endless sneezing and coughing.

One of the worst causes of springtime allergies are oak trees. Oak trees produce enormous amounts of pollen, which appears as a fine yellow powder on car windshields and sidewalks. Other trees that also release pollen in the spring include pecan, ash, cottonwood and elm trees.

In addition to the pollen from trees, spring rains can dramatically increase our mold count, and mold spores are another significant allergen for many people.

As allergy sufferers know too well, pollen and mold don’t only cause problems when you’re outside. Pollen and other particulates in the air can infiltrate your air conditioning unit and filters, clogging mechanisms and making your allergies even worse.

Dealing with allergens at home

At Expert Air, we recommend an inspection of your air conditioning unit every spring. We can check your HVAC equipment inside and out to make sure nothing is clogging up the unit, and that your vents and condensers are clean and free of dust, debris and mold.

We also recommend you use and regularly replace the air filters in your HVAC system, as well as in your vacuum cleaner. For allergy sufferers, we recommend HEPA filters can remove much of the airborne allergens at home.

Finally, you can use an air purifier in your home to remove any remaining particles your air conditioning unit may have left behind.

To learn more about seasonal allergies, check out the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

To schedule a home air conditioning unit inspection and air duct cleaning, contact Expert Air today at (512) 255-6525. We are also happy to discuss options that can you help keep these air-borne allergens at bay.

Local Business Directory ShopHutto.com : Thumbs Up For Expert Air!

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shophutto hippo

Have you seen this purple hippo around lately?  ShopHutto is an online business directory that’s dedicated to supporting small local businesses. Part of what makes our community so special are businesses like these. Recently Expert Air and Refrigeration was featured on Shop Hutto’s website. We are proud to be recognized by a publication that demonstrates so much pride in its hometown. The directory’s goal is to support local shopping initiatives by promoting Hutto area owned and operated businesses.

Founder Scott Lawrence created ShopHutto in 2004 to promote local businesses. Growing up,  Lawrence watched Hutto grow from a town with only one blinking light intersection to the bustling economic hub it is today. He recalls with fondness memories of riding into town with his family’s farm harvest as a kid. Even as a young boy, Lawrence was always impressed by Hutto’s kind-hearted people. Wherever life took him, Hutto was home.  This lifelong love for the community is part of what drives his consistent support of local commerce, where he even served on the Board of the Hutto Chamber of Commerce.

We at Expert Air and Refrigeration are proud members of the community and thank ShopHutto for making us their recently featured listing. With easy to navigate categories, this directory is a helpful resource for anyone who’d like to patronize local businesses in Hutto and the surrounding areas.

With summer just around the corner, we are gearing up for the season of air conditioning crises! Schedule a spring cleaning of your HVAC unit now and prevent breakdowns from happening during the peak of the scorching summer heat. Call 512-255-6525 or contact us here today, so your next call to us doesn’t have to be an emergency!

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Testimonial

This company's tech showed up right on time and went right to work to correct the problem with our a/c. The tech was clean. and did not leave any mess behind. The price was for his service less than I would have thought. I will have this company back again when I need A/C repairs.”

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Expert Air and Refrigeration
101 Anthony Street
Hutto,TX 78634
Phone: 512-255-6525

License #TACLA018059C
Regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
P.O. Box 12157 Austin, TX 78711-2157
(800)803-9202 • (512)463-6599
www.license.state.tx.us