ac repair - Home-Tech AC and Appliances

10 Things You Don’t Want to Hear on Christmas Day – Emergency Services

December 13, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

Yeah, the holidays can be…well, they can be downright stressful at times. While we hope that each of you have a relaxing, Norman Rockwell-like holiday, we understand that things do go wrong, even on Christmas. Let’s hope it will be an uneventful Christmas, not one that is filled with a dishwasher flooding the kitchen or an air conditioner that won’t cool. Here is a collection of “Best Ofs,” our favorite comments you would not want to hear from your family and friends on Christmas:

10. Oh my goodness! You have to turn your stove on and off with pliers and oven mitts?

9. I didn’t know refrigerators came in that shade of brown.

8. There’s no more hot water and three of us haven’t showered!

7. No! The garbage disposal is not your personal nut cracker.

6. How did you get your tree to spark like that?

5. Well, now that the dishwasher is broken, I need some volunteers to help with the dishes.

4. The turkey has been in the oven for more than six hours and the button still hasn’t popped!

3. Its 85° in this house, you have no air conditioning and all I packed are sweaters!

2. Did anyone else have chunks in their eggnog?

1. Where’s your plunger?

We Can Handle your Holiday Emergency Services

It happens! An appliance will fail, an air conditioner will breakdown and toilets will back up when you least expect it. So, be prepared, and keep Home-Tech’s information handy. You can reach us, day or night, during the Holiday Season. We can take care of your emergency services like air conditioning and appliance repairs fast, which will keep your Great Uncle or Father-in-Law from complaining. Let the professionals do the repairs, instead of your crazy cousin with the toolbox in his truck. Make the holidays the best for everyone, and call Home-Tech, if you need us at 800-800-8356.

Fall Forward into Autumn. Top 5 Energy-Saving Air Conditioning Tips.

October 30, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

The smell of cinnamon, decorated pumpkins, the first cool night when we can open up the windows and the changing of the clocks are all signs that fall is finally here. As our fellow Floridians would agree, the hot summers and hurricane season are worth it, just for our beautifully cool and dry autumn and winters. But before you get too cozy in the crisp air, you have to do your chores. Below are five tips from the air conditioning professionals at Home-Tech who want you to get the most energy savings and performance out of your AC and heating systems.

Change your thermostat settings.

Get ready to change the clocks! Time will fall back to standard time again on Sunday, November 4, 2012, when daylight saving time ends. Changing of the clocks is a great time to change the temperature settings on your air conditioning thermostat. With cooler temperatures, you may want to lower or increase the temperature based on your comfort.

Run your heat, and yes, that burnt smell is okay.

Let’s be honest. We all freak out a little the first time we run the heat every year because its smells like something is burning. The burnt smell is dust that has settled on the heating components. Its normal and the smell will quickly go away. If your heat doesn’t come on at all, then you may need to put in an air conditioning and heating repair call to Home-Tech.

Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans.

Want to cut heating costs? Try changing the direction of your ceiling fans to reverse. This can help circulate the warm air, ultimately cutting down on your heating costs. If it is still warm in your home and you would like to keep the air conditioning cool, then maintain the current fan direction.

Clean or replace your air conditioning filter.

You should be regularly cleaning and/or replacing your air conditioning system filters. We recommend changing filters once a month. Just by doing this on a routine basis your energy bills could be reduced by 5 %- 15%. Also, it cuts down on the dust and allergens that can aggravate your sinuses.

Schedule an Autumn Clean and Check with Home-Tech

If you haven’t done so already, schedule your annual clean and check air conditioning service with Home-Tech. As the cooler temperatures approach, our technicians will be available to service your air conditioning system quickly. We want to make sure all of the elements of your heating and cooling systems are in top notch condition so it can provide you the level of comfort you deserve. Call today to schedule your clean and check by calling 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Air conditioning Repair, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning, air conditioning service

Sweating Air Conditioning Vents? Try Closing the Windows.

October 25, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

Cooler weather is upon us and we all feel the desire to open up the windows. Whether you live closer to the water on the beach or inland, one rule holds true: Turn OFF your air conditioning if you are going to open up the windows. People say “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” but a sweating air conditioner can cause warping and/or other unwanted water damage to the air conditioning unit, its installation and the overall performance of the unit.

Technical Talk

Air conditioning is designed to operate as a closed loop. If you have the windows open, you are drawing in humid, warm outside air. This forces your AC unit to “condition” that air as well. If you close the windows, the AC unit recirculates the air in the house, removing moisture and cooling much more efficiently. Negative pressure can also be the culprit here. Hot or warm, humid air can seep in from open windows or cracked sliding doors. This extra air coming in will make it difficult for your air conditioner to keep up, it will bog down your system, and increase your energy bills.

The Repeat Offenders

1. The Vacationer: You and your family are on vacation by the beach. The sounds of crashing waves are what you desire, but you also want the cool, dry feeling of air conditioning. You CAN have both, but it requires a Bose sound machine, put on the crashing waves setting. Here is the reality of the situation, it is BAD to keep the AC running with the windows open. The owner of the vacation home, or rental company will thank you for being respectful of their air conditioning.

2. The Prop-the-Door-Open Guy: Think propping the door open for a long period of time won’t effect your AC? Think again. You are effecting the balance of pressure in your home, which will effect the efficiency of your air conditioning system and the indoor air quality. Do you and your AC a favor. Ditch the prop, and just close the door. Your wallet will thank you for increasing the efficiency of your AC.

3.The Forgotten About Filter: Open windows aren’t the only causes of sweaty vent syndrome. Dirty coils or a clogged air filter can also do damage. Be proactive and check your air filter every month. If your air filter is clean and not clogged, and you suspect you have dirty coils, its time for Home-Tech to take over.

4. The Mis-Informed: Have you had an air conditioning technician come out and tell you that sweating air conditioning vents are normal? If so, this homeowner received bad information. Sweating AC vents are not desirable. Perhaps your air conditioning unit is located in a highly humid area or your air conditioning was not properly installed. Call a licensed air conditioning company, like Home-Tech, and have the professionals take a look at it.

Still Sweating Your Air Conditioning

If sweaty grills and vents are prevalent in your home, your energy bills are spiking and the efficiency of your air conditioning is lapsing. It’s time to call Home-Tech and schedule a service call. Our NATE certified technicians will get your humidity and other air conditioning problems taken care of quickly. Your comfort is our priority. We will get your AC performance back to its optimal levels quickly. Save on the cost of this air conditioning repair by using our No Fuss, No Muss Special. Call today to schedule service and to learn more about our services at 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Air conditioning Repair, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning, air conditioning installation, air conditioning service, bradenton, fort myers, Home-Tech, lakewood ranch, naples, sarasota

A Prompt and Pleasant Emergency Air Conditioning Repair Service Call

October 17, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

Subject: House Call

To Whom It May Concern:

Last evening, about 8:00pm, I felt the temperature in the house rising, although the air conditioning was running steadily. I called the Home-Tech number and left a message on your voicemail system. Within ten minutes, I received a phone call from a very pleasant lady who listened to my problem and suggested that I set the air conditioner to the fan setting. I expected that she would tell me that I would have to wait until Sunday to receive service. But, to my surprise, she said a technician would call and make a visit that night!

I received a phone call alerting me that the technician was on his way. At approximately 10:30pm, Charlie arrived and immediately assessed the problem in a very professional and polite manner. By 11:00pm, the house was starting to cool down, thanks to Home-Tech’s prompt air conditioning service. It is service, such as this, that has made me a Home-Tech customer for all these years. I assure you that I will continue to use Home-Tech for years to come.

Thanks again for your excellent response to my air conditioning problem.

Sincerely,

James Russo, Naples, FL

Filed Under: About Us, Air conditioning Repair, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips, Testimonial Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning service, emergency air conditioning repair, Home-Tech, naples

Air Conditioning Maintenance – Pre-Season Tips from Trane

October 2, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

The seasons are changing. Home-Tech wants your home to be comfortable, regardless of what the calendar reads. We suggest you schedule your Clean and Check early. You wouldn’t drive your car 100,000 miles without changing the oil. The same logic holds true for your home comfort system. Regular preventative maintenance on your air conditioning and heating is the best way to ensure trouble-free operation and peak performance. Pre-season maintenance is also important. It can help to avoid a system failure in severe hot or cold weather when you need it most, and it can also keep your energy bill from getting out of control. Here is some very useful advice from our friends at Trane.

When Should You Do Air Conditioning Maintenance?

The old adage is true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Below you’ll find our Preventative Maintenance Checklist, which is our proven method to keep your air conditioning and heating systems operating smoothly and your home in constant comfort.

For a system that heats and cools: perform maintenance in the spring and fall.
For cooling only: perform maintenance at least once a year, before the cooling season.
For heating only: perform maintenance at least once a year, before the heating season.

Preventative Maintenance Checklist

Home-Tech suggests customers do an annual or bi-annual preventative maintenance on their air conditioning to ensure that your system runs as efficiently as possible. You can count on Home-Tech to perform the following tasks, depending on the unit:

Outdoor Air Conditioning Units

Inspect unit for proper refrigerant level and adjust if necessary
Clean dirt, leaves and debris from inside cabinet
Inspect base pan for restricted drain openings—remove obstructions as necessary
Inspect coil and cabinet—clean as needed
Inspect fan motor and fan blades for wear and damage—on older models lubricate as needed
Inspect control box, associated controls/accessories, wiring and connections. Controls may include contactors, relays, circuit boards, capacitors, sump heat and other accessories. All control box and electrical parts should be checked for wear or damage.
Inspect compressor and associated tubing for damage

Indoor Air Conditioning Units

Inspect and clean blower assembly (includes blower housing, blower wheel and motor)
On older models, lubricate motor and inspect and replace fan belt if needed
Check combustion blower housing for lint and debris and clean as necessary
Inspect evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain lines. Clean as needed
Inspect for gas leaks in gas furnaces
Inspect burner assembly—clean and adjust as needed
Inspect ignition system and safety controls—clean and adjust as needed
Inspect heat exchanger or heating elements
Inspect flue system—check for proper attachment to the furnace, any dislocated sections, and for signs of corrosion. Replace if necessary.
Inspect control box, associated controls, wiring and connections
Clean or replace air filters
Inspect conditioned airflow system (ductwork)—check for leaks

While Your Air Conditioning System is Operating

Monitor system starting characteristics and capabilities
Listen for abnormal noise
Search for source of unusual odors
Monitor air conditioning and heat pump systems for correct refrigerant charge
Measure outdoor dry bulb temperature
Measure indoor dry and wet bulb temperature
Measure high and low side system pressures
Monitor gas furnace for correct line and manifold gas pressure—make adjustments as needed
Measure temperature rise and adjust airflow as needed
Check vent system for proper operation
Monitor system for correct line and load volts/amps
Monitor system operation per manufacturer’s specifications
Provide system operation report and recommend repairs or replacement as necessary

Time to Schedule a Clean and Check

Don’t wait for an air conditioning problem, prevent it! Call Home-Tech to schedule a Clean and Check on your heating and cooling systems. Our professional, reliable and clean cut air conditioning technicians will provide a thorough and complete maintenance check. You can count on Home-Tech to be your comfort specialists. Call us today to get on the schedule: 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Air conditioning Repair, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning, air conditioning service, bradenton, fort myers, lakewood ranch, naples, sarasota, Trane

Air Conditioning Trivia – 10 Very Cool Questions

September 27, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

Home-Tech has a healthy obsession with providing superior air conditioning service. While, we are more than pleased to provide quick and reliable AC service, we also sell the latest in air conditioning systems. We study air conditioning from its roots to preparing for the future technological advances in heating and cooling. But, in order to know where air conditioning is heading, lets engage in some friendly trivia about air conditioning’s past and present. Good luck!

Air Conditioning Trivia Questions

1. Who invented the air conditioner, and for what purpose?

It was Willis Carrier who invented air conditioning. He originally created the air conditioner for the publishing company he worked for in Brooklyn, to keep the temperature and humidity low enough for paper to refrain from expanding or contracting.

2. True or False: Before Air Conditioning, industrial workers had month long vacations in August?

TRUE. Industrial workers were sluggish in the hot buildings during the summer, slowing or even stopping production during the sweltering summer months. Even the government shut down during parts of the summer for the very same reason!

3. How has architecture changed since the advancement of air conditioning?

Gone are the cool brick structures with high ceilings, transoms, breezeways, strategically placed shrubbery, and sleeping porches, all of which were designed to keep inhabitants cool. Today’s glass skyscrapers and low-slung tract housing don’t have the same ventilating and heat-defeating features, so going without air conditioning today feels more unbearable than it used to.

4. True or Fales: The development of effective temperature control, refrigeration has revolutionized almost every aspect of industry?

TRUE. Without air conditioning, the following things would be virtually impossible: the manufacture of computers and chipsets; data storage centers; the production, delivery, and storage of food; pharmaceutical manufacturing; and chemical manufacturing.

5. How has air conditioning allowed for exponential advances in medicine and human life expectancy.

Air conditioned hospitals helped defeat malaria, decrease infant mortality, inhibit bacteria, and advance developments in surgery.

6. True or False: Air conditioning has effected education nationwide?

FALSE. Summer vacation exists because at the near the turn of the century, hot, stuffy schools were intolerable, and some advocates worried about the spread of disease in such poor conditions. Although air conditioning has made it possible for students to be comfortable year-round, the vacation schedule never changed.

7. What assisted in a 60 percent of all economic growth in the United States since 1960?

Air conditioning, of course. Since 1960, 60 percent of all the economic growth in the country has taken place in the South, where air conditioning made year-round factory work and apartment-living possible. Demographers agree that the population explosions in places like Arizona, Las Vegas, Florida, and Texas can be directly attributed to air conditioning.

8. True or False: Air-conditioning conditions us to want more air-conditioning.

TRUE. There is scientific evidence showing that spending too much time in cool environments erodes humans’ natural tolerance for heat.

9. In 2009, what percentage of homes in the United States have a central air conditioning system?

The United States Census Bureau, and the American Housing Survey revealed that 72 million homes, or 65% had central air conditioning and the other 22% have room or window units.

10. If you need an air conditioning repair, who do you call?

Home-Tech, of course. With more than 90 service trucks on the road every day, ready and able to provide fast and emergency service to air conditioning customers. Our expert technicians will get your air conditioning repaired and running quickly. For questions or to schedule service, please call: 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Air Conditioners, Air conditioning Repair, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning, air conditioning service, fort myers, lakewood ranch, naples, sarasota, trivia

Gold Coin Game on Company Website Provides Fun & Facts

September 20, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

Feel like hunting for treasure? Home-Tech Throws Out It’s First Gold Coin.

Home-Tech’s Gold Coin Hunt

Early this week, Home-Tech launched its highly anticipated and newly redesigned website. As a way to increase website interaction, Home-Tech has hidden a golden coin somewhere inside the website. Website visitors must go through the pages of the site to find the gold coin. Once it has been located, click on the coin to enter your information. The winner will be announced on Facebook on Monday, September 24th at 5pm.

We encourage all contest participants to “Share” this contest on their Facebook pages. Home-Tech’s new website provides easier navigation to the services our customers are looking for like air conditioning repair and appliance repair. Even the air conditioning installation page stands out on the new Home-Tech site. Not to be missed the Appliance Store page, detailing our Online Appliance Store and our two beautiful appliance showrooms.

This is not an easy challenge. The Home-Tech website is full of useful information about air conditioning and appliance repair service, air conditioning and appliance sales, as well as their service agreements. Speaking of service agreements, stay tuned and check out tomorrow’s blog post, when we proudly announce a new product offering.

Making the Most of Home-Tech’s Social Media

Did you know that Home-Tech is all over social media? Oh yeah, we are out there!

You can find Home-Tech and Home-Tech Sarasota/Manatee on Facebook.
Tweet us back on Twitter.
Like photos? Check out our Tumblr page.
Feel like Pinning? Our Pinterest Boards are some of the best around.
We get the word out about our service in social circles, so add us into your circles on Google +.
Watch Home-Tech’s commercials and informative video clips on our YouTube Channel.

Connect with Home-Tech

As you can see, there are many ways to get in touch with Home-Tech. Whether it is liking a page, or retweeting a post, or even following one of our Pinterest boards, know that we appreciate it. Let us know what we can do to provide you a better online or social media experience. Have an idea? Let us know. Should you like to contact us by phone, call the customer service line at 800-800-8356 or visit the website for more information.

Filed Under: About Us, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning installation, air conditioning service, appliance repair, appliance sales, appliances, home warranty, Home-Tech, Service Agreements

About Us – Service Agreements and Renewals Now Available on the Web

September 17, 2012 By dishwasherrepair

New Website Press Release Announcement – Home-Tech

Home-Tech, Southwest Florida’s residential air conditioning and appliance service and sales leader, announces the launch of their newly redesigned website, https://www.home-tech.com. The improved website is designed to provide a user-friendly experience and impactful presentation of their products and services.

“Home-Tech is constantly evaluating and improving every aspect of our business, including our website,” explains Steve Marino, CEO and President of Home-Tech. He continues, “It was our desire to create a service-focused website that would encourage a new visitor to the site to realize that Home-Tech is unique, reputable and will be their local company of choice for air conditioning and appliance service or sales. We want customers to engage with us. Whether it is through social media, watching our YouTube videos or calling the hotline to schedule a service call, we aim to connect with our customers and remind them that Home-Tech will be there when they need us.”

New Products and Features

Now customers can purchase or renew an existing Service Agreement through the website.
An easy to find, Schedule Service button is accessible on every page. Many of Home-Tech’s clients are seasonable residents from other parts of the country,Canada, and Europe and can now schedule a service from any time zone, day or night.
Direct linking to Home-Tech’s online Appliance Store which features their entire appliance inventory.
Top of the page visibility for employment has been added to the new design. Home-Tech proudly launched its employment website earlier in the year which is seamlessly integrated into this new website.
Daily blog posts are now visible on each website page. The blog posts cover the following topics: air conditioning repair, appliance repair, air conditioning installation, new appliances, service agreements, community activities and Home-Tech employee interviews.
Social media plug-ins accessible on the homepage of the site for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. Facebook integration is live on the site and the “Like” button is available on every website page.

About Home-Tech

Home-Tech has been an industry leader and trendsetter in the fields of home-service agreements, air conditioning, and major appliance sales and service for three decades. Founded in 1981 by Steve Marino, who continues as President and Chairman of the Board, Home-Tech is privately held and employee-owned. Home-Tech employs 135 people in Southwest Florida and provides services in Sarasota, Manatee, Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Home-Tech has two offices and two state-of-the-art appliance stores. The North Office is conveniently positioned close to Lakewood Ranch at 5205 Lena Road in Bradenton and the South Office is located at 6400 Techster Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, visit www.Home-Tech.com or call 941-751-9992.

Filed Under: About Us, Home-Tech News, Service Agreement, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning installation, air conditioning service, appliance repair, appliance sales, bradenton, fort myers, Home-Tech, lakewood ranch, naples, press release, Service Agreements

Party Foul – No Air Conditioning

September 4, 2012 By nsurratt

Football Parties. How to Cool Down a Hot Party, Fast.

Here in southwest Florida, football game watching parties are taken very seriously. College football on Saturday is a religious experience among our Seminoles, Gators, ‘Canes and Bulls alumni and fans. We also acknowledge the widespread understanding that NFL games on Sundays are the pinnacle of every late summer and fall weekend. At Home-Tech, we too look forward to getting in as much football viewing as we can, but oddly enough, we find ourselves out on the road repairing other football fans’ air conditioning systems on game days.

While you may be fine with sweating during your fantasy football draft, your friends are not. So before you focus on which tight end you needed this season, be sure to schedule your annual AC clean and check. Trust us, your teammates won’t come over if you don’t have some nice, cool air conditioning. So, be a good friend and call us to take care of your AC.

Football Party Guidelines If your AC is Broken

DO ask your friends to bring extra ice. You are all going to need it to keep cool.

DON’T apply body paint to a sweaty person. It will drip all over your team jersey. Gross.

DO offer up extra beers and cocktails to your friends. After all, you did invite them to your house that still doesn’t have properly working air conditioning.

DON’T serve anything hot or spicy. All great football foods will have to be eliminated from the game party menu because they are just too hot and will cause more sweat. This is just cruel and unusual punishment and your friends may leave at this point.

DO apologize to your friends several times throughout the game for putting them through this sticky and uncomfortable party. Offer them a sweat towel, at the very least. Then they can twirl the towel when their team scores.

DON’T be offended when your friends dump the ice bucket on their own heads, instead of yours, because you don’t have air conditioning and they are hot and sweaty after three hours.

And most importantly,

DO call Home-Tech for AC repair, even on College Football Saturday or NFL Sunday, or even during Monday Night Football. We have weekend, weeknight and emergency air conditioning service. You deserve to enjoy watching football in your nice cool home with your friends. You can even schedule service online, in between checking on your fantasy team players, and fix that air conditioning before the next big game. We are ready when you are: 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Air Conditioners, Air conditioning Repair, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: ac repair, air conditioning, air conditioning installation, air conditioning service, bradenton, fort myers, lakewood ranch, naples, sarasota

Nest-ing, not Wrestling with your Air Conditioning

August 22, 2012 By nsurratt

Nest is the first thermostat that learns from you. Teach it well to stay comfortable in air conditioning and heating at home and save energy when you’re away.

Meet the Nest, Learning Thermostat

Home-Tech is always looking for the latest and greatest in air conditioning. Recently, we came across, Nest and were impressed with its functionality. While there are many thermostats on the market, this little guy really got our attention.

Most people set the air conditioning temperature to 72 and forget about it. The result is high energy bills. Your home’s temperature should change with your schedule. Nest can make the temperature changes for you , but first it needs to learn about you. Teach Nest well, and within a week it will activate the air conditioning and heating energy-saving features. Have a multiple zone air conditioning system, multiple nests can communicate with each other.

Air Conditioning and Exploring the Nest

Auto Schedule

Use Nest like a regular air conditioning thermostat. Turn it up when you’re cold and down when you’re hot. Every time you change the temperature, Nest remembers what you like.

Auto Away

Nest senses when you’ve been out for a couple hours and sets itself to an air conditioning temperature that’ll save energy. You’ll choose the Away Temperatures Nest uses during set up.

The Nest Leaf

The Nest Leaf appears when you choose a temperature that saves energy. Every degree counts. Changing the temperature a single degree can cut your energy use by up to 5%.

Energy History

Keep track of your energy use in the Energy History. You’ll see how much you used and what made the biggest impact on your air conditioning bills: your temperature changes, Auto-Away or the weather.

Air Conditioning Monitoring Gone Mobile

The Nest is so cool, it even has its own Mobile app. You can change your air conditioning temperature anywhere at anytime. Download the app for your smartphone or tablet at nest.com. You can also connect Nest to Wi-Fi to get automatic software updates. Use your Nest account to change your home’s temperature, see and adjust Nest’s schedule and check local weather from anywhere.

Is Nest Compatible with Your Air Conditioning?

Nest works with most of the popular air conditioning systems, including:

Forced air, radiant, heat pump, oil, gas and electric
One or two stage conventional heat
One stage cool
One stage heat pump with auxiliary heat

Nest Available at Home-Tech

Your Comfort Specialists at Home-Tech can show you the dynamic features of Nest. If you are noticing higher than usual air conditioning bills, call us to schedule an appointment. Our highly trained and NATE certified technicians, can best advise you on how to best maintain your air conditioning and heating equipment. Need a repair? Home-Tech is ready to serve our customers, day or night. Call us at 800-800-8356.