Arctic Air Blog

This morning on Facebook, one of my friends wrote these words, “Good Morning and Happy Friday!!!” And I thought to myself, “Yes it is!”  Thanks Scott for the positive start to the morning.

So, I took care of our precious little pugs, took a shower and got ready to come to work.

On the schedule today… meet with a Business Networking International member to discuss how we could help each other pass referrals to each other. This was a very informative meeting. The member that I met with was Stephanie with Providence Landscaping (https://www.facebook.com/ProvidenceLandscapes). She and her husband own the company. They are affordable, have great customer service and great quality work. They are currently taking new customers in the Summerville and West Ashley areas. If you need some landscaping, landscape/lawn maintenance, or even some landscape lighting, look them up on the facebook page listed above.

I was able to share some information about Arctic Air, and how we are also focused on quality work, great customer service and fair pricing.  There is nothing better than word of mouth advertising and finding other professional that have the same school of thought.

To all of our customers, friends, family and acquaintances , I would like to say, “Thank You” for passing our name on to your friends, family and acquaintances. All of us at Arctic Air appreciate your willingness to tell others about us!

As I am writing this, I realized that the end of the month is here. One of the most important things that you can do to keep your heater and air conditioner running is to check your air filters. If the air filters are covered in dust, dirt, debris, pet hair, etc., it is time to change the filter.

Have a HAPPY WEEKEND!! May you spend it with the people you love and who love you!

Peace.

ALERT! Carbon Monoxide Warning! CO Poisoning can even happen here in Charleston, SC.

Because South Carolina is undergoing some of the coldest weather of the season, the information in this blog could save your life. Am I being dramatic? Absolutely not!

On February 14, 2015, a mother and her 5 year old son were killed by CO poisoning. This happened in Orangeburg County… yes, right here in South Carolina. If the mother would have only known the dangers of CO poisoning, I am sure she would have purchased a CO detector.  This is certainly a tragedy, especially since a CO detector costs between $20 and $60. Our prayers go out to the family who have suffered this loss of life.

Keep your family safe

So, what is carbon monoxide (CO)? CO is a gas that is odorless, tasteless and colorless. But how does it get in your home, you might ask? It is created when organic substances (ie, fuels) are not completely burned. If you have gas heaters, furnaces, fire places, or gas water heaters, you are susceptible to CO Poisoning.

The reason that CO is dangerous is because it interferes with our ability to take in oxygen. This creates a form of suffocation. This is true for humans and other living organisms that require oxygen to exist. We cannot smell, see or taste carbon monoxide. This makes CO poisoning a silent killer.

How can you prevent CO Poisoning? Here are a few tips…

• Proper maintenance of fuel burning equipment.

• Look for evidence of problems….

-Have your furnace checked by licensed heating contractor

-Look for streaking soot around any gas appliances

-Be sure there is an updraft in your chimney

-Look for excessive rust on flues, or chimneys

-Flames should be blue in your furnace or heater (orange or yellow flames indicate a potential problem)

– Brick on the top of the chimney that look damaged or discolored

– Rust on the outside of the flue pipe (looking from the outside of your home)

• Know the symptoms of CO poisoning

At low levels…

-mild headache

-breathlessness with moderate excercise

At higher levels…

-severe headaches

-dizziness

-tiredness

-nausea

-confusion

-irritability

-impaired judgement

-memory and coordination issues

If these signs are ignored, a loss of consciousness could occur which would leave the victim(s) unable to escape. In extreme situations, lethal amounts of CO can be produced within 10 minutes (ie, a car running in a closed garage).

These symptoms are very similar to the flu. So, how can you tell the difference?

-If you feel better when you leave your home.

-Everyone in the home gets sick at the same time

-Those who are in the home the most are the one’s most affected

-You notice these symptoms after lighting or using a gas furnace, gas stove or fireplace.

-You notice these symptoms after a car/truck/suv (or gas powered equipment) is started in an attached garage.

• Be sure you have proper ventilation fuel burning items in your home.

• Install, and test CO alarms in your home on a regular basis.

This blog is very brief. There is more information on the internet that can help you. The most important thing that you could do to protect you and your family is to purchase a CO detector for your home.

As always, we are here to help. If you haven’t had your furnace service in awhile, feel free to contact us to schedule your appointment.

Stay warm!

Hello fellow Charlestonians and Summervillians!

Winter Reminders

It looks like we have a week of cold weather ahead. We wanted to remind everyone to insulate any exposed water pipes, keep the water dripping at night, and bring your pets and plants/flowers inside.  The old saying goes… “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

We know that our friends up north have had a harsh winter, but by the Grace of God, we have been pretty lucky with our weather.

If you have a chance tonight when you get home, check to be sure that your heat is working properly. If you find that your heater is not keeping up, or is running longer than it should, give us a call. Likewise, if you have a furnace that doesn’t seem to be heating properly, call us.

We have a couple of specials that we are running to help save you some money. All repairs will be quoted for your approval before any repairs are made.

The second special that we are running is a winter start up special. This includes a multi-point inspection (it will take about 45 minutes – 1 hour to complete) and it includes the travel. Please mention these coupons when placing your service request.

Service requests may be place by calling 843-821-0937. We have live operators ready to take your calls. If you would like to use the internet, please visit our website at www.arcticairinc.com.

Charleston SC is going to have a great weekend!

Announcing a great weekend in Charleston SC.

WOW!! What a crazy weather week, but the weekend looks like it is going to be INCREDIBLE! But, before we can get to that beautiful Saturday, we have to go through a pretty cold Friday night. Tonight, it is going to get down to 29°F. Please don’t ruin your weekend by having plumbing issues. Remember to let those faucets drip tonight.

After that, we have some great weather ahead! So, what will you do with it? I know that I would like to get out of the house, and maybe do a little “stay-cation” in downtown Charleston SC.  We may even hit one of the restaurants that appeared on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”. You never know….

I would like to remind my fellow male friends that February 14th is just around the corner. Staci and I wanted to get reservations at Burwell’s Steak House in downtown Charleston. Unfortunately, they don’t have any seats available until after 10pm. I never would have though that 2 weeks before Valentine’s Day that they would be at full capacity.  I thought I was doing good by looking 2 weeks ahead… ugh.

Call Sandra at The Bird’s Nest – 843-797-7673 (ROSE)

In addition, if you would like to get your sweetheart some flowers, I cannot think of a better place than The Bird’s Nest Florist. If you like some upscale, beautiful arrangements that will certainly get you some brownie point, Sandra is the lady to call. I think I like the fact that her number is so easy to remember… 843-797-ROSE (7673). You can also place orders on her website … http://www.birdsnestflorist.com/

As always, if you have any heating issues over the weekend, we do have service technicians on call to help you. So, you can contact us by phone at 843-821-0937 or on website at www.arcticairinc.com.

It’s that time again! Please be sure to check your ac/heater filters.

As I have gotten older, it seems like time is going by faster and faster.  Here we are at the end of January… 2015. Things have definitely changed over the past 45 years. Unfortunately, one thing that hasn’t changed, yet, is that we still have to manually check and change the air filters in our air conditioning and heating systems. Right now, it seems like there will never be a way around that, but who knows what the future may hold.

“Please check your air filters” – Mingus

Since the weekend is here, please take a moment and check your air filters.  If they are dirty, they need to be changed.  “Why?”, you ask.  Your air conditioning and heating filters need to be changed when they are dirty so that your unit can breathe in relatively clean air. If not, when the air passes through the evaporator coil, it will begin to leave traces of dust, pollen, and debris. Over time, this will build up and clog the evaporator coil. That means minimal air will pass through. Your system is not going to cool or heat as well as it used to AND it could cause a motor to burn out.

This is Raisin. I couldn’t post one of our pugs without posting the other. Fair is fair.

Filters are not that expensive, and they can help prevent some MAJOR repairs from having to be made. I know that it seems like such a menial task, but it is extremely important to the life of your air conditioning and heating system. As Mingus, our 14 year old pug, would say, “Please check your air filters”.

After you check and possibly change your air filters, just kick back and relax. The weekend is here and you deserve a break!

Put dates on your filter to get an idea of how often you need to change them.

I hope everyone has a warm, relaxing weekend.

One of our customers from Isle of Palms, South Carolina gave us a call in hopes that a technician could repair her Mitsubishi Mini-Split unit. This unit is perfect for fitting in a small area and is more energy efficient than a traditional HVAC system. They are ideal for zoning a house to limit the amount of energy for heating and cooling to each room. Although these are great units, if they are not installed properly, they will cause many problems. These problems can also be very difficult to diagnose and repair, especially for the average technician. The best way to ensure your unit remains reliable is by having regular maintenance, by a professional, to catch the problems early on.

Luckily, our customer called us with her problem! Our technician, Steve, came out and was able to quickly diagnose the issue. He even taught her how to repair in record time! She thanked Steve for coming in and determining the problem so fast.  She said that most other technicians have spent hours understanding the mini-split, but Steve understood the problem and went to work right away. He got her unit up and running properly, leaving her with air conditioning once again!

Click here to learn more about the #1 air conditioning repair company in Isle of Palms, SC

Common AC and Heating Questions Answered – Part 1

The question and answer follows this brief “Thank you”…..

YES, YES, YES, it is FRIDAY! and we are looking forward to the weekend.

Do I have any plans for the weekend, you might ask? Nope, I do not have any plans for the weekend at this point, and that is a good thing! Before we check out for the weekend, we wanted to mention a few things to our loyal customers, Facebook and Twitter followers.

First, I would like to say, “Thank You” to all of our longtime customers and Facebook / Twitter Fans.  Facebook, Twitter, and social media in general, is the “word of mouth” advertising of this generation. There is no better form of advertising that “word of mouth”.  When you “share” or “like” our posts, it says to the world that you trust and believe in us. We appreciate your support. Please continue to “share” and “like our posts.

Secondly, we would like to say, “Welcome and Thank you” to the new Facebook Fans.  We are glad that you have decided to like our page. If you have not had a chance to do business with us, we look forward to serving you in the future. (Our phones are answered by real people 24/7). Please be sure to “share” or “like” any posts that you find helpful and informative.

Occasionally, we will put offers and discounts (that will save you money) online exclusively for Facebook.  Feel free to share those posts as well.

When I do these blogs, I try to make them useful and informative. If you have a question that you would like answered in a blog, feel free to contact me, Mike, at arcticairmike@gmail.com, or you can call me at the office at 843-821-0937.

Here is the first question that will be answered…

“How much is a new a/c and heating unit going to cost?

That is a great question! A new a/c and heating unit will cost …. Click here to find out the answer.

York air conditioning and heating system

Have a great weekend!

T.G.I.F! Happy Friday and Happy MLK Day!

This week has definitely been a dreary one. The good news is, it looks like the weekend is going to be BEAUTIFUL! I hope everyone gets an opportunity to get out and enjoy the mild weather and a little bit of sunshine.

In addition, this is a holiday weekend for some. With gas prices being as low as they are, it seems like a road trip may be in order. Who would have ever thought that we would see gas under $2.00 a gallon. I had to try and “stuff” $27.50 worth of gas in my gas tank… usually it is around $40.

As I was thinking about my last trip to Myrtle Beach, I remembered how nice it was to be able to control my thermostat at my house with my iphone. Basically, I turned off the ac when I left. When I started my journey back, I was able to turn it back on, and it was nice and cool when I arrived. This works in the winter for heat too!

So, if you would like to be able to have that kind of flexibility, you may want to look into the WI-FI thermostats that are available. These types of thermostats are great for regulating your air conditioning and heating system where ever you have a connection to the internet. This includes your smart phone, tablet, or computer. In addition, the thermostats that are on the market now, are extremely easy to program.

Of course, Lowe’s and Home Depot have consumer versions of these programmable, wi-fi thermostats. Usually, they don’t have as much functionality as the thermostats that are available through licensed air conditioning and heating contractors. They also get a shorter warranty period! If you buy a thermostat from Lowe’s or Home Depot, the Honeywell’s Limited Warranty is only 1 year. If you purchase your Honeywell thermostat from a licensed contractor, it comes with a 5 year Limited Warranty. We are also able to come to your home to wire it up, and help you set up your online connection.

I must also mention that these are great for rental properties and for businesses.

Call today to schedule your consultation – 843-821-0937.

 I would also like to wish everyone a Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 19, 2015) . Take time to reflect on the past to learn, and use that knowledge to make a better tomorrow!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. As my friend Kathy would say, “PEACE!”

How to get FREE preventive maintenance on your ac/heater?

Preventive maintenance is an integral part of keeping your air conditioning and heating system working at its peak performance. “Why?”, you might ask. That is a great question, and I will give you several answers to that question in the following paragraphs. But, let’s cut to the chase…. Preventive Maintenance helps save you money.  I think I should type it this way…

PREVENTIVE MAINTENACE  HELPS SAVE YOU MONEY!

Here is how preventive maintenance helps save you money. First off it will help keep your unit running at its peak performance. There is a list of 18 items that are checked on each preventive maintenance inspection. If your unit is pulling more amps than it is supposed to, it is costing you more money to run your air conditioner or heater. Catching some problems will help keep you from prematurely replacing your unit (major savings there).

Secondly, with our preventive maintenance plans, you will be eligible for several discounts on replacement parts. These discounts range between 5 – 15%, no coupon required.

Thirdly, you have priority service and no overtime (based on the Preventive Maintenance Plan you choose). That means that on the weekend or holiday, you don’t have to pay those expensive overtime rates.

Finally, you will be eligible for discounts on indoor air quality products. These products help with removing contaminants from the air, making your home a healthier, more comfortable place to live. (This is especially true for those of us with allergies.)

Get your Preventive Maintenance FREE!

So, the reason that you looked at this is partially because you wanted to see how to get FREE Preventive Maintenance. There is no gimmick. This is simply a referral program. Everyday, we come into contact with someone who needs all kinds of products and services. Usually, we give referrals to help someone. We would like to reward you for referring Arctic Air!

You can get FREE Preventive Maintenance by referring friends and family. If you refer a family member, friend, stranger, etc. to us, and they use us to make a repair or purchase a replacement unit, we will credit your account for 1 month of preventive maintenance. Refer 12 people that use our service, you will get your Preventive maintenance for free for the year.

To make your referrals easy, I am going to have a web page set up. You will have access 24/7. The only stipulation is that you send us the referral before he/she calls us, or ask them to give us your name when they place their service call. We want to give as many FREE Preventive Maintenance Agreements out as possible.

If you only refer 1 or 2 people, we will still credit your account for 1 month of service for each person that you send our way

On January 1, 2015, Arctic Air started offering 3 different Preventive Maintenance Agreements. Each plan is designed (mainly) based on the age of your equipment. There are other factors to consider, so please speak with your service technician about what he would recommend.

Instead of being forced to pay for services you don’t need, you have the ability to choose what plan is right for you. Please call to discuss your options (843-821-0937)