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Before you get to far into this blog, I would love to have you comment on any positive, random acts of kindness that you may have witness before, during or after Hurricane Matthew.  Please post on our Facebook or Twitter pages.

(Scroll down to see the super special – good until 10/31/2016)

What a week! With so much devastation in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, we count ourselves as blessed.

As a survivor of Hurricane Hugo, I personally know the hardship that comes after the storm. My family went without power for 6 weeks. Talk about changing your world!

Also, I have seen the struggles with the “1000 Year Flood” from last year. Some, still have not recovered from that. I know that is tough. And, you are being prayed for by so many.

I will say that I am very proud to be living in the Greater Charleston Area. The majority of people are kind, caring and compassionate. It seems that whenever Charleston gets hit with something bad, the people of Charleston rise up and do great things. (When I say the Charleston area, I mean: Charleston, North Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Mt. Pleasant, Johns Island, James Island, Moncks Corner, Summerville, Ladson, Lincolnville, Ridgeville, Daniel Island, Jedburg, and others.)

The corner of Varnfield Dr and Sheep Island Rd in Summerville SC

Until this morning (October 11, 2016), Arctic Air still did not have power. Again, thankfully, we were able to still work, but it sure was nice to have power back.  It is amazing how something like electricity can change your life so dramatically. Not to mention, if you are without power at your home.

All of us would like to say THANK YOU to all of our First Responders. It is pretty easy to just say “Thank You” and move on, however, I live next to a Charleston County Fireman. I watched him rush to get his house ready for the storm, get his family all together and packed up, and then help move them to a location that they would feel safe. I watched him leave his family, so that he could help the community. So, when I say “Thank You”, it is a deep, heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for those who are leaving their families.

So to the Fireman, Police Officers, EMTs, Shelter workers, those at the Emergency Command Center, Nurses, Doctors and others who made sacrifices for others…  THANK YOU!

There are others that volunteered and just went out of their way to help another family or friend, we say “Thank You” to you also. In our own neighborhood (Weatherstone – behind Kohl’s in Summerville SC), there were so many acts of kindness. People watching other’s homes, people helping secure items down, people offering help with clean up, people offering up their refrigerators and freezers… It was a wonderful to experience the Weatherstone at its best.

Finally, we would like to offer a Super Special for Residential AC or Heating service calls in our normal service area. This special ends on 10/31/2016. You must mention this special when you call in.  This is a true special!

Recently we received a call from an Isle of Palms homeowner. The homeowner had just gotten major renovations done in their home and was wanting a central air conditioning unit installed before everything was finished. We scheduled a no-obligation consultation with the homeowner and our Isle of Palms HVAC experts arrived promptly as scheduled.

When we arrived at the home we first checked out the site for the new central air conditioning unit and let the homeowner know that some ducts might have to be installed. We explained to the homeowner that it was important to have these ducts installed, because it would dispense the cool air effectively. We then went over different AC units and the homeowner selected the one that she wanted. We got the estimate settled and the homeowner was quite happy that it was under her budget.

The HVAC and Air Conditioning was scheduled to be installed.

We arrived a few days later to air conditioning installation and associated HVAC work. We installed the new ducts, then the AC unit was installed. By the early afternoon, we had all of the heavy lifting done. The only task left was installing a new thermostat. The new thermostat would allow the homeowner to program her AC unit with ease.

We showed the homeowner all the new ducts and the newly installed unit when we were finished, then showed her how easy it was to use the thermostat that we installed. She was very pleased with all of the work that we had provided for her. She said she was very happy to finally have a central air conditioning unit installed, so her entire home would be cool and comfortable. She had always used window units and her electric bill was outrageous.

We let her know that her new unit was energy efficient and that she would see a big difference with her utility costs in the coming months. The homeowner thanked us for doing a quick and affordable job for her. She said that she trusted us as her personal HVAC and air conditioning experts. We saved her a lot of stress and money, because we took the time to go over different units and prices to ensure she got the unit that would suit her home and her budget, which is always important to us.

The 5th Annual 9/11 Heroes Run on Daniel Island, SC took place on 9/10/16.

The 5th Annual Heroes Run was a great event coordinated with the Travis Manion Foundation and local volunteers.  It is truly amazing to see what a great turn out this was. My neighbors, Theresa and Jesse Faircloth (Director and Co-director, respectively) volunteer hours upon hours of time all year long to make this event a success.  I would also like to mention that they have a great group of friends, family and others, who also volunteer hours without compensation.

This year, flags were made by hand with each 9/11 Victim’s names printed on them and put out for this event. Because I live beside Theresa and Jesse, I can attest to having many people over until 4am in the morning. These volunteers worked tirelessly to make this event GREAT!

With this being the 5th Annual Heroes Run and the 15th Anniversary of 9/11, there were several special people who came out to show their support. Three individuals in particular were Guests of Honor. These guests were 9/11 First Responder, Retired FDNY Batallion 35 EMT Michael Dell’Era, former FDNY Batallion 45 EMT Laura Siebuhr Mendola, and Corporal Kimber Gist with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.

Not only does the proceeds made from this event go to help Veteran through the Travis Manion Foundation (travismanion.org), but 3 local organizations will also benefit.  These 3 groups are the Berkeley County EMS, Charleston County Rescue Squad, and the James Island Fire Department (James Island Public Service District).

Arctic Air has been a sponsor for the last two years.  In partnership with McCall’s Supply and Ruud, we were able to give away cooling towels to 500 people at this event. After the race, they went like hotcakes!

We would like to thank everyone with the Charleston SC 9/11 Heroes Run, including the directors, and volunteers, the Travis Manion Foundation, McCall’s Supply (Rick Sanders, Jeff Stewart, Carla McCall, and Rick Smith), Ruud (manufacturer of quality AC units), and anyone else who helped in putting on a great event.

Finally, and most importantly, THANK YOU to all of our service men and women, first responders, police officers, EMTs, firemen and women, and others who give sacrificially to the people of the United States.

We will always stand in support of the United States and the Freedoms that have been given to us through the sacrifices of others! May God Bless You and the United States of America!

It is that time of year again in the Greater Charleston / Summerville SC area! You know that time when you need a jacket in the morning, and shorts & a T-shirt for the afternoon. With the weather changing so often, it is nice to know that we have the option of heat or cooling to keep us comfortable.

Dirty coils block airflow!

Needless to say, our heating and cooling systems have been getting a work out. Because of the mild temperatures that we are now experiencing, it is a great time to get your ac system tuned-up! Here is why…as our service technicians go through your ac system, they can head off small problems BEFORE they become MAJOR ones.

In addition, when a precision tune-up is performed by one of our technicians, you can rest assured that you are getting the most efficiency out of the unit that you possibly can. What does that mean to you? It helps you to STOP OVERPAYING the electric company! If a part of the system is causing the motors to work harder, more amps (more electricity) is needed to overcome the load. The more amps that your unit requires, the more electricity you have to buy from the electric company, which results is higher electric bills. <======= Read that again…. HIGHER ELECTRIC BILLS!  No one wants that!

Do you already have high electric bills? There are plenty of great options in new air conditioning / heating systems that can help you reduce your electric bill. Please feel free to call Mike @ 843-821-0937 to get a free estimate.

I would like to mention that SCE&G has rebates for its customers who choose energy-efficient units (15 SEER and higher). These rebates range from $200 – $400. In addition, the Federal Government is offer $300 in tax credits for energy-efficient split and packaged heat pumps and air conditioners units that meet their criteria.

Financing is available… payments as low as $75/mo with approved credit. We also have options for those with “not so great” credit.

This morning, I got a message from Ryan that works for the City of North Charleston. He reported on Twitter and via our website (www.ArcticAirIncSC.com) that one of our vans were stopped in “Do Not Block Fire Station Entrance/Exit”, and sent us a photo as proof. This message was retweeted by a couple of news agencies (ABC – @ABCNews4WebGrrl and  Live 5 News – @AnnLive5News), and other followers of these news sources.

Here is our response… “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will get with our technician to find out his version, explain how important it is to pay attention to these signs, and to be sure that he is not a “distracted” driver.

In addition, at our next Safety Meeting, our Safety Officer will go over the importance of paying attention while driving, including: traffic signs, pedestrians, other motorist, moving over for emergency vehicles, speeding,  distracted driving, texting while on SC roads, taking photos on SC roads, etc.”  I have called Ryan at the City of North Charleston to discuss our actions with him, and to see if there are any other concerns.

He responded that “The blocking of that fire station entrance is a common occurrence, which we are trying to correct and prevent. Your van was the most identifiable, which is why I contacted you.” I also asked him if our driver was texting while driving? He responded, “No, texting was not observed. Thank you for addressing this in your safety meeting”.

In an effort to help reduce this issue at intersections like this, we are posting this on our Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and our website (www.Arcticairincsc.com) .

Arctic Air is a heating and air conditioning repair, service and replacement company for over 23 years, and plan to be in business for many more. We believe in the safety of EVERYONE that we come in contact, whether on the road, or at a home or business.

We are all human and make mistakes, however, we are actively trying to reduce/prevent the number of mistakes that we make.

Please feel free to contact Mike at 843-821-0937 if you would like to discuss this further.

Arctic Air Inc. was contacted by an old handyman in Daniel Island. The handyman had moved into a small house to retire. He tried to fix the furnace himself when it seemed to be malfunctioning, but it was a new model that he had no experience with. He called us, because he knew we are the top company for heating and air in Daniel Island. We let him know that we would be able to come out that very same afternoon, which pleased the retired man.

The Arctic Air Inc. heating and air specialists arrived at the Daniel Island home and the homeowner showed us the furnace. Our HVAC professionals took a look at the furnace and we were able to fix the furnace quickly for the homeowner as it was just an issue with the thermostat, which is a common problem that can occur. We showed the homeowner how to use the furnace and he was very grateful for our services. The handyman said that he is pretty good at fixing things, but when he looked at the newer furnace he had no idea what to do. He said that is when he knew that he needed a professional heating and air company to come out and look it over. He said that Arctic Air Inc. is that professional heating and air company Daniel Island homeowners can depend on for all their heating needs, especially when it is as simple as just a new thermostat.

As I think about this time of year, I am reminded of my childhood. School was out, so staying up late and sleeping in was the norm. The excitement of Christmas was oozing from everyone… well, at least us kids! My Mom and Dad worked throughout the day, so when we got old enough, we would stay at home by ourselves, which opened a whole new can of worms.  My sister and I were … well, I guess NOSEY was the best way to describe it. We always wanted to find out what purchases had been made.

My Mom used true guilt to help prevent some of the looting that was taking place while she was not at home. She would put our items in black trash bags. These bags were sealed with tape and they had a message on them.  The message you might ask … Yes, on a piece of paper written with a Black Magic Marker … “GOD IS WATCHING YOU!”  Well, that did it for me! My sister… I am not so sure. She was a bit on the sneaky side.

As this week winds down, and we all scurry about, we would like to remind you to focus on the most important things … those things that cannot be bought. Spending time with those you love. Life. A compliment. Words of encouragement. Did I mention QUALITY TIME?

On a side note… Quality time is NOT being in the same room with everyone being on their phones or ipads. I am talking about just talking. Playing a game. Taking a walk together. Use this as a time to connect. Make great memories. I think I am going to take my own advice.

Thank you for taking time to read this. I know that you are busy! This is so weird to say at this time of year, but if you run into trouble with your air conditioner, don’t hesitate to call!

From all of us at Arctic Air, THANK YOU for your continued support! Whether you are a customer, friend, family member, etc., we appreciate you.

NOW, GO MAKE SOME GREAT CHRISTMAS MEMORIES!

Christmas Special – up to $1750 off a NEW RUUD AC/Heating System! For residents of Summerville SC, Goose Creek SC, North Charleston SC, Charleston SC, Mt. Pleasant SC, Ladson SC, Johns Island SC, James Island SC, Hanahan SC and Moncks Corner SC.

We were contacted by a golfer in our area. The golfer knew it was time to call our company for the best services for HVAC and Air Conditioning in James Island, because daylight savings had just happened and this was the sign that the avid golfer took a cue from, because he had less time to golf during the day and it was also getting cooler.

Our team came to the customer’s home and performed some light maintenance on the golfer’s furnace. The maintenance included an in depth cleaning along with oiling the furnace, then we put a new filter in, and made sure the duct work was sealed and performing properly. The team of techs made sure the furnace was operating properly and efficiently for the homeowner so that he would stay warm during the colder months while he practiced his short game indoors. The golfing enthusiast was thrilled that he called us to provide quality Air Conditioning services for him. He said all homeowners in James Island should do the same so their homes are ready for the cold winter months that was quickly approaching. The golfer said he knows that when daylight savings time occurs that is his reminder to have his furnace maintained. He says that is the only way he can remember to do it, but he knows to always call the Air Conditioning team with Arctic Air Inc. because we come out quickly and get the job done right.

Just a quick reminder to set your clocks back 1 hour.

and

Check your air filters.

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween to everyone!

As quitting time approaches for the week, I have a few weekend reminders.  The first is to check out these Halloween Safety Tips, if you have children or grandchildren that are planning to go Trick or Treating tomorrow. In addition, if you are planning to be celebrating yourself, please use caution as you travel to and fro. Children will be in the streets… be on guard. I could not imagine the heartache that would be felt if I injured or killed a child (or anyone else for that matter). Be safe and don’t drink and drive!

The second reminder is… it is time to check your ac filter. If your filter is dirty and clogged with dust, dirt and other contaminants, it is time to change it. The health of your ac/heating system depends on it! The strain and damage that is put on your ac/heating unit is not anything to take lightly.

Coastal Carolina Fair – photo from the Post and Courier, Charleston SC

The final reminder is… it is time for the Coastal Carolina Fair. Take time this beautiful weekend to enjoy the time with your family and friends. It looks like the weather is going to be great for getting out this weekend.  Normally, at this time it is cold and rainy… but not this year.