Taking the stress out of buying a new air conditioner or heat pump.

Happy Easter everybody!  It's starting to get hot again and that's good for fun and business. Good for business if you're in the air conditioning industry.  Most certainly a number of my customers will be forced to make a decision between a repair or a replacement of a new a/c system this summer.  I have already had a few customers forced to make this decision.

So, what's all the anxiety about?  First, this can be alot of money and maybe more than some people have in today's economy.  Secondly, the a/c industry is in the middle of some major equipment changes due to the phase-out of R-22 refrigerant (Freon).  What can the average homeowner do to navigate through these issues?

1 - Don't rush into anything with a pushy a/c contractor.

2 - R-22 (Freon) is being phased-out, but not overnight.  

3 - You can still purchase R-22 equipment (it will become more scarce in the near future).

4 - Repairs may be costly, but they can be less than a new system.

5 - You're not killing the environment if you don't go green this year (R410a / Puron).

6 - If you do decide to buy a new system, think about a brand like Goodman. 

      (Carrier/Trane/Lennox are great units, but you're paying for the name!)

7 - Stay away from the "Big Box Contractors".

     (They have the big company sure, but they have the high overhead & high prices too!)

8 - Consider the SEER rating of your equipment.  Higher SEER means a lower utility bill.

9 - Ask your contractor about any Federal or Local rebates.

10 - Use Service Plus!

I hope these tips help a little if you're faced with making the tough decision between a new unit and a major repair this summer.  Service Plus, Air & Appliance is here for you either way.  Thanks for supporting us and we look forward to serving you this summer season.