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Air Conditioning Repair

Sunday, June 26th, 2016

In Katy, Texas during the summer it’s almost certain that you will want your AC system back on line and running again as soon as possible. I see it quite often running service on the weekends and even on summer holidays not to mention during the week. It becomes clear to me that fast, friendly AC service is often not thought of until the need arises and the cooling stops.

A fair number of my customers come to me this way. I am given a big responsibility to these customers that I will not let them down. Certainly I can perform AC repairs for most of them with in 3 hours of getting the call depending on the current demand for AC repairs. I think many people that stumble across my AC services are surprised at the speed and efficiency of which I operate.

You see just as there can be heavy AC repair demand, there are also a good number of lulls in demand as well. I use these lulls to do various tasks and functions like writing blogs and so on. I know for you looking from the outside in and comparing me to other AC companies that I probably look much larger of a company than what I am.

This is merely to show you, the customer there is someone “At The Wheel” that cares. I can’t be all things to all people, I try to be the best at service and quality of that service and let the chips fall where they may. I offer timely solutions to your HVAC problems and I know a good many of people see the value in that.

Air Conditioning Replacement

There are times in running service calls that your air conditioning system may not be able to be repaired or may not be worth trying to repair it. The last thing you want to do is waste money on a AC system that has seen better days.

In situations like these I give good reason for my opinion of repair versus replacement. In some cases I may give you both repair and replacement options and let you decide on your own. This decision isn’t always about me and what I want, it’s about giving you choices for you to decide on your own in some cases.

However, the cost to repair an older system that is most likely a Freon based system is fraught with heavy risk for you. In cases such as these depending on what is wrong with your system I almost always recommend replacement because you need to be aware of what is coming very soon.

R22 Freon Is Going Away

You must realize that R22 Freon is going away (January 1, 2020 R22 Production Ceases). The cost of this refrigerant is going up. Amounts of how much anyone can buy at any given time is being restricted. As time moves forward this situation will continue to get worse. Therefore, it is in your best interest to make plans now to switch over to the new refrigerant for the High Temp application of Air Conditioning. This new refrigerant isn’t really new. It’s been in use for over 20 years now and is called R410a or Puron.

AC Freon Recharging

This is an old practice of temporarily fixing an AC system that has Freon leaks. Due to higher refrigerant costs this practice is no longer feasible. Each situation is different and while I can recharge a system temporarily the risk is that this money for recharging is wasted. Many times I may find AC systems in which AC service work was performed poorly and for those reasons feel a refrigerant recharge may work because I have no service history on the system. Even still this is merely a judgment call in which I am not always right. I explain the risks to you and let you decide your own path in certain situations such as this.

Guessing What Is Wrong With Your AC System

You shouldn’t try to guess what is wrong with your AC system. Nor should you try to get me to guess over the phone. I realize it matters not one bit what I put here people will continue to do what they have always done. But for the sake of this text I will give you some reasons why you should not guess as to what is wrong with your air conditioner.

Guessing doesn’t fix anything. There are a multitude of parts that make your AC function and do it’s job. You want a professional job don’t you? What part of professional is consistent with guessing?

I think my system is low on Freon? Certainly your system could be low on Freon but did you know that over 90% of the time the problem is more likely to be an electrical or mechanical problem. In some cases it could be electrical as well as a refrigerant problem.

Hire A Licensed AC Professional

It’s tough out there to find an HVAC pro that knows what they are doing. This business is a hard business, it takes many, many years to gain the experience in all things HVAC. Technicians mostly dominate the field because HVAC License holders are mostly older and rarely work out in the field any more. These reasons put me in a class all of my own because I do all of my own work. From repairs to new installations. This hands on approach gives you a better quality product not to mention a HVAC service provider second to none.

This isn’t to mean all Technicians are bad. I was once one of them too many years ago. This is merely a rough example how difficult it can be to find a GOOD one. Once you realize these things I’ve spelled out in this blog post you are much further on your way to making a better decision regarding your home comfort and repairing or replacing your HVAC system.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope your day is comfortable!

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

 

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, R22 Freon Problems, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Repair

Does Freon Leak Stop or Freon Leak Sealer Work?

Wednesday, June 1st, 2016

Air Conditioning Refrigerant Leak Sealer

The HVAC industry continues to change and develop new technology. As refrigerants become more and more costly this trend will only continue.

With that said, caution should be heeded. The risk is that whatever you place in your HVAC system will remain there in some form up to and including the line set. (Line sets are typically not replaced when equipment is replaced as many times it is not feasible to do so… in some cases you may have no choice.)

This is why it is important for the professional to visit you in person to go over options you are considering to possibly repair this problem you are having with your HVAC system.

The problem with refrigerant leaks is the volume of refrigerant that the system is leaking. The more the refrigerant leaks, the less likely a leak sealer will work. Due to the nature of this, it’s in your best interest to consider all your options and choose with caution any option that includes the use of leak sealers.

Air Conditioning Refrigerant Leak Experience Required

Not all refrigerant leaks are created equal. Refrigerant leaks in certain areas of the equipment will have to be repaired the regular way. This takes experience to know what will work as opposed to just throwing money away… because if it doesn’t work, all the Freon that was put in is all going to leak out again and you just spent all that money on Freon and a proposed leak sealer for nothing. To make matters worse you never, ever want to add two different leak sealers this will likely contaminate the entire system. It’s not uncommon for people to jump from one HVAC contractor to another… this is dangerous for what should be obvious reasons.

You see my job isn’t just to give you a cheap solution. Many cases leak sealers are just nothing more than a temporary repair. In this realm temporary means 1 year, best case scenario. It could last more than 1 year… but could, should and will are entirely different terms.

I am here to work with you… it may not be in your interest to add a leak sealer to your system. I can only give those options in person for me to be able to see in person what I am dealing with.

R22 Freon Production Ban Coming Soon

Due to the phase out and banning of R22 Freon effective January 1, 2020 these things will only continue and likely get worse. R22 Freon will become so expensive that these schemes and scams will likely proliferate.

There is no drop in for R22 Freon, in the realm of being exactly as good as Freon R22. They can come close, but efficiency is lost as well as rated capacity of the machine the drop in refrigerant is being put into.

If it sounds “TOO GOOD” to be true… it probably is. Avoid hype or promises that are unrealistic, nothing on this planet is perfect. An air conditioning system is a 15 year appliance (national average). Nothing will stop that clock.

Realize I repair and fix air conditioners more than any job in the summer time. But just because you want a repair to avoid cost doesn’t always make it feasible. Any good HVAC contractor would help you make wise financial decisions because that contractor is depending on you for repeat business— in most cases “years” down the road. If your finances are blown due to improper repair the HVAC contractor is in jeopardy as well. A “GOOD” HVAC contracting business is built on doing it right. Fifteen years is a long time to live with a mistake.

My tag line “Done Right” isn’t there on accident.

Make air conditioning repairs carefully. If you’re not sure ask questions. The answers to those questions should help you make the wiser choice. Avoid decisions that are based on cost alone. If the HVAC repair doesn’t fix it, what difference does it make how little or how much you spent?

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope you’ve learned something from your visit and as always I hope your day is comfortable.

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a professional HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

A Ray Austin HVAC Service Company

For more information you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com 

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, R22 Freon Problems, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Does Freon Leak Stop or Freon Leak Sealer Work?

2 Speed Air Conditioners

Sunday, April 24th, 2016

You likely found this air conditioning blog because you have questions or you may be facing a decision regarding replacing your home HVAC system. It’s not uncommon to get technical terms thrown at you during a HVAC maintenance visit with little to no clear understanding. I am a licensed HVAC contractor serving Katy Texas | Cypress Texas | Richmond Texas and some surrounding areas. I have over 20 years experience in HVAC systems for your home. This information was written by the finger tips of a licensed air conditioning contractor from a AC pro’s perspective.

You see I’m what is called a “working HVAC contractor”. Working means I do the work. From writing my own blogs, to you guessed it – repairing and replacing home HVAC systems. I’m describing this to you, because there are professional writers on the internet that only write. Many act as professionals, but are not. If you need visual representation of who I am you can visit my You Tube Channel and subscribe. I also include a playlist of clips embedded below for your convenience.

Two Speed AC Versus 2 Stage Air Conditioners

A 2 stage AC is often called a 2 speed AC, these aren’t one in the same. You see a 2 speed AC is an AC that has a 2 speed compressor and a two “stage” AC is really an air conditioner that has 2 physical compressors. Even I make the slip up from time to time, it’s easy to do.

Typically a 2 stage AC, the one with 2 compressors will run at 50% capacity during stage 1 as the 1 stage compressor is half the size (capacity) of the stage 2 compressor. The benefit is better humidity control from that of a single speed on or off regular air conditioner. These varieties typically cost more initially and can cost more to repair because there are more moving parts as well as controls. They are also normally louder during operation than a two speed air conditioner and in some cases even a single speed air conditioner (single speed meaning either on or off).

The best of both worlds collide when it comes to “some” 2 speed air conditioners. You get a more efficient system for less cost than a 2 stage option, less moving parts and much quieter as well. You see a 2 speed air conditioner with a 2 speed compressor will run at a slower speed when in speed 1. Typically the cooling provided is around 40-60% of the cooling capacity of the AC system. What this does for you is the HVAC system runs in this 1st speed upwards of 90% of the time. Because of this, the system runs longer and reduces humidity levels in your home making you and your family more comfortable for less cost than a traditional “on or off” single speed air conditioning system. Because it’s running in first stage more often the cost to operate it is much less than a system that is either on or off only.

So with that said you’re probably thinking “Ok, then what is the catch?”
The catch as it were is that you have to replace your entire HVAC system. These types of systems were designed as complete systems, not cookie cutter or piece meal and in many cases what is considered “retro fit” repairs.

So you fully understand this, piece meal means just replacing one part of your AC system, in most cases the part of your system that is not working right. The equipment of an HVAC system typically consists of a gas furnace, an evaporator coil and the out door air conditioning condenser as well as a thermostat to control it.

In order for a 2 speed or 2 stage AC to operate properly you must have the proper controller for it. Otherwise it will not operate properly and in some cases could damage the system. The 2 speed HVAC systems I sell and install are what is called a Communicating HVAC System.

Communicating HVAC System

This isn’t your dad’s air conditioner. The HVAC industry is evolving into more energy efficient, more comfort, quieter and smarter HVAC systems. Communicating means that the pieces of your HVAC system talk with one another. The thermostat “talks” with the furnace and the out door AC condenser and by doing this gives you a HVAC comfort system for your home that you could only dream about just a few years ago. Yes, it’s no joke thermostats actually do talk. Are you listening? If only you knew what they were telling me about you. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

A communicating HVAC system that can pay for itself over time and potentially last your lifetime and more importantly provide you the best comfort you are likely looking for right now.

Introducing the 5 Speed Air Conditioner

Maybe you are eyeing potentially what may be the next generation of extreme comfort, the 5 speed air conditioning system. Like the communicating system mentioned above this is a communicating based HVAC system. The air conditioner of this system can deliver a range of capacity from 25% of capacity up to 100% rated capacity of the system.

This is the beginner model for an inverter based ducted HVAC system. The next step up from this is a completely variable speed compressor. The 5 speed air conditioners on the market today typically use algorithmic programming to decide which speed to run in, there are varying ways of how these systems operate. The benefits of this system is even quieter operation when in these lower speed settings. Based on manufacturer printed decibel ratings of this equipment you probably would not even hear it running up to about speed 3 or 4.

Solutions For A Noisy Air Conditioner

Tired of getting woke up at night with that noisy single speed air conditioning system?

One of these communicating HVAC systems mentioned above might be exactly what you’ve been looking for to get a more comfortable and restful nights sleep. Then get that monthly electric bill and have a hard time to stop smiling. You know smiling is contagious don’t you?

SEER Rating Of AC Equipment Doesn’t Decide

Don’t get confused over a high SEER rating of equipment. Single speed air conditioning systems could be quoted as high as 17 SEER or higher in some cases, this doesn’t mean this type of system is 2 speed. If it doesn’t say 2 speed compressor, then it’s not a 2 speed air conditioner. In fact some AC models will claim 2 speed fan motor operation only. Realize a fan motor is not the compressor. I often say the devil is in the details of any HVAC system configuration for good reason.

Some unscrupulous salesmen and even some technicians sometimes say a 2 speed air conditioner will never keep up because it always runs in 1st stage. Sure, it will run in 1st stage a lot. This is a benefit because it will reduce humidity in the home much better than a single speed system. Realize a communicating system has the benefit of “knowing” what the out door temperature is, it knows which speed to run in to give you the best comfort, the right amount of comfort you and your family needs.

Reducing Humidity In Your Home

Did you know that your air conditioner is actually a dehumidifier? During normal operation when your AC starts up air is blown across your indoor evaporator coil. The humidity in the air condenses on the coil runs down into a condensate pan and down the drain. The problem is that a single speed air conditioner is either on or off and the only reason it turns on or off is due to temperature and not humidity.

Imagine it is 75 degrees in your home and the humidity is 70%. If you are a frog or a lizard this would probably be pretty comfortable. Now imagine if the temperature was 75 degrees in your home and the humidity is 50% or less. This is the difference that is very hard to explain in text alone, fortunately the out door weather does this for me annually. You wake up on a fall day, 75 degrees and the air is light and crisp. You know this feeling, now imagine it every day inside your home.

Remember a great HVAC system starts with proper installation. Choose a licensed HVAC pro, it’s the only way to go!

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope your day is comfortable.

About the author of this blog:
My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

For service before and after the sale, count on:
Austin Air Companie
832.475.6895
“Your home comfort from A to Z”
Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Staging | Zoning
For more information:
videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating
for your home you can always visit me on my main website @
www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in 2 speed air conditioner, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Air Conditioning Specialist, Better home comfort, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, noisy air conditioner, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, reducing home humidity, Smart HVAC system, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on 2 Speed Air Conditioners

Air Conditioning Maintenance

Monday, April 18th, 2016

 

Air Conditioning Maintenance Myths Exposed

You turn on your home air conditioner for the first time this year and maybe it dawns on you that you have never had your AC checked or maybe you are one of the very few that actually take the time to get your air conditioner maintenance done annually.

You live in

Katy, Texas

(my AC service area) the last thing you want is to experience the brutal summer heat without air conditioning. Maybe your HVAC system is making odd noises, maybe it broke down last year or maybe you just want a little peace of mind to see if it might need some cleaning and have that AC condensate drain checked.

Maybe you saw some attractive AC maintenance offers, and naturally because you’re human you like the premise on saving money and like a bug to a bug zapper you find a price of less than $49 maybe as low as $29. Wow! you’re going to save so much money.

Not so fast. I’m here to expose this myth for what it is. I’ll do it one better. I’ll demonstrate it in the video embedded below this text toward the end of the video that shows it is impossible financially for an “honest” company to make a profit at such low AC maintenance price points. Not to mention possibly dispel a few other myths as well in this lengthy process. By the end of the video you’ll see why and how this is so important. ( I can only put so much information within a text based format – and as you know anyone can say anything without any facts at all.)

Subscribe to my You Tube Channel Here

Why do HVAC companies offer these low AC check up rates if they can’t make a profit?

Quite simply they do it to make the phone ring. Like a bug to a bug zapper. The bug doesn’t realize that he faces death until it’s too late. Maybe that description is a little too dramatic, but when your comfort is at stake and possibly your home finances I think it’s worth a little drama to capture your attention at least for the time it takes you to read this blog post and watch the embedded video above. Ultimately if you decide to ignore me, that’s fine. You may be part of the 40% out there that are extremely lucky when it comes to HVAC problems as well as choosing your HVAC company.

I think you are here for a reason. You see, operating and running a business is expensive but offering house calls is even worse, these kinds of HVAC companies that dwell on gimmicks to attract customers often think of the short term objective of making the phone ring. They don’t look at the long term… when the bills come due and the fall season comes, the call volume drops and they fade from existence.

Heaven forbid, you fall for this scheme and buy new HVAC equipment from one of them. I can tell you it matters not one bit what I put here. I could talk about this problem within the HVAC industry until the cows come home and it would change nothing. If you bought one of these supposed “great deals” you have roughly a 60% chance there will be some serious problem with it within the first 3 years you operate it. I see it all the time, every year like clock work.

( if you made a

HVAC installation mistake

, I may be able to provide a way out for you. I am that good. I didn’t get to where I am by not being good.)

You see I’m a unique victim of the financial crisis that hit in 2008. Many HVAC companies didn’t want HVAC technicians that could “repair”, they want those who sell to “replace”. So after much work I became a Licensed HVAC contractor serving the Katy, Texas area.

Now for further explanation from above, in some cases

replacing your HVAC system

is the better option so if you’re reading this please be realistic if your HVAC system is over 15 years old the odds are that it has seen better days. I perform miracles annually, but you still have to be realistic. I can only discuss these options in person when you’re willing to pay for fair service.

I have the experience and ability of

repairing and fixing air conditioning systems

as well as replacing them. Isn’t this what it’s all about?

If you are willing to pay for service I am as close to the very best you could hope for, this is what I do for a living for over 20 years now. If you buy a new HVAC system from another HVAC company, will they have the aptitude and knowledge to fix or repair the AC system when it breaks? Service after the sale is rarely thought of beforehand.

Many good HVAC technicians left the HVAC field after the financial crisis and have not returned. The AC Maintenance video embedded above shows what I deal with all too often. If you like air conditioning horror stories you’ll love it, otherwise it’s merely an eye opener made for you to help you understand things more clearly.

The pricing I charge is fair for what I offer, the experience I have obtained and the service quality I deliver 362 days a year. If you settle for anything less you may find yourself at the short end of the proverbial “stick”. They give better odds in Las Vegas, if you’re a gambler that is.

Even with my great quality standards and methods, service problems can and do develop. Currently these problems are less than 3% on equipment I have installed myself. It is not uncommon for me to run over a dozen calls a year to find a new customer who has a HVAC unit that is 3 years or less old with a serious problem or AC system failure on an HVAC system that was installed by a different company. Why do you suppose they are calling me?

If I were to make a major motion picture on this subject the title might be something like “No Way Out”. This is how important your installing HVAC contractor is, but yet many choose to make price the main factor. The title of that film would likely be named “3:10 To Disappointment”. The reason that people give me for choosing one HVAC contractor over another is that it was such a great deal. Oh, if only I had a crystal ball that worked, I could revolutionize the HVAC industry.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope I may have saved you from making what could be a big mistake.

Also please remember air conditioning maintenance is only recommended if it is done right. If pricing isn’t fair a HVAC company has to make up this shortfall some where. ( I explain this quite well in the AC maintenance video embedded above, if you haven’t already watched it.)

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a professional HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

A Ray Austin HVAC Service Company

For more information you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, Professional AC Repair, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Maintenance

R22 Freon Production Ban Timeline 2016

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

R22 Freon, the chemical coolant used in home air conditioners since the 1960’s is marking it’s final seasons until it will no longer be produced. The chart graphic above shows the year and the amount of R22 Freon allowed to be produced for that given year until January 1, 2020 when no more R22 Freon will be produced beyond that point. The production limits are set and controlled by the EPA and can be further changed at any time. The chart reflects the last Rule Change for production limits set by the EPA in October 2014.

There will likely be small amounts available after 2020 as older reclaimed R22 refrigerant is turned in and sent off to reclaim centers that clean it of contaminants and resell it as virgin quality once it has been cleaned of impurities. However, prices will likely be very high and very likely strict limits will be placed on how much can be bought at one time.


Once these strict limits are placed on how much can be bought it is very likely in my opinion that system recharges will no longer exist. Home owners and businesses will be forced to fix the leak(s) or replace and upgrade the air conditioning equipment to R410a Puron refrigerant. It is in your best interest to make plans now to either fix your AC system refrigerant leaks or come up with a plan to replace your AC system to the newer R410a refrigerant.

R410a is the replacement refrigerant to R22 Freon. While it is the newer standard, it isn’t all that new. It has just taken a long time for it to gain acceptance because the pressures are higher and better service practices are required when working with it.

Because of these requirements certain HVAC companies held off making the change, I think partly due to ignorance, partly due to laziness and even more likely the cost forced onto you the consumer because it’s in your best interest to replace the whole AC system when changing over instead of just one piece of the system. Taking short cuts with an R410a system is less forgiving than with an R22 Freon system.

Like I said above R410a Puron isn’t new. It became available in the mid 90’s. It’s pressures are higher and the equipment that uses it had to go thru special processes to ensure the higher pressures could be handled appropriately. Additionally it requires the use of synthetic oil, where as most older R22 systems today use mineral oil. Your R22 Freon system will not work with R410a Puron. I’m sure you might have been thinking that. There’s more differences between the two systems than oil types and pressures. There’s also refrigerant flow which relates to capacity of the system. Your current AC simply will not work to recharge an R22 Freon system with R410a Puron. It will not work.

Remember, the makings of a scam is something that is “too good to be true.” Be smart about it, you will be glad you did.

If you would like to know more about this subject you can watch several videos I’ve made on the subject as well as a lot of text on the subject since 2009. You can click the link below to open that page from my main website.

R22 Freon VS R410a Puron The Facts

I hope you have found this information before you made a costly mistake. I have installed as well as retrofitted countless systems over to the newer R410a refrigerant for years now. I’m sure I could do the same for you and your family.

Thank you for visiting with me today! I hope your day is a comfortable one.

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

 

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, No AC Salesmen, No Technicians, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on R22 Freon Production Ban Timeline 2016

Air Conditioning Specialist

Sunday, March 20th, 2016

When your home has an air conditioning breakdown in Katy, Texas you pick up the phone and call an Air Conditioning Company to get it fixed. Because I am the owner of an Air Conditioning company serving the Katy area, I know that it’s not always this simple. If it was there likely wouldn’t be any need for the AC services that I offer.

Many times the need of an Air Conditioning Specialist in Katy, Texas and some surrounding areas is sometimes caused by the people who you have called in the past or maybe a previous owner of the home you purchased. To help you understand this a little better you have to realize that air conditioning and heating for your home is a system that on a national average lasts about 15 years if it’s installed properly the problems should be few. Because your HVAC system lasts so long (typically) the problems tend to develop slowly, unless the AC problems are made worse by those servicing your HVAC equipment.

Many AC companies get into the AC business by becoming “cleaning” companies or “maintenance” companies. You see the ads don’t you? Get your AC tuned up, get your AC checked. This doesn’t mean this isn’t a legitimate service. It is, but only if the service is done right.

Most companies use Technicians and due to the financial crisis in 2008 many good HVAC Technicians left the HVAC service industry. So in many cases this leads to you getting “hoodwinked”. Spin the AC technician roulette wheel, let me see what you win ok?

Did you know that 55% of Air Conditioning companies fail due to incompetence? I did a video on that a year ago and I’m in the process of making a new video to show how these things can effect you. Subscribe to my You Tube Channel so you don’t miss this special AC presentation. It should open your eyes just a little.

The HVAC business is highly technical and requires a certain amount of aptitude to perform it, not to mention continual learning. I didn’t become an Air Conditioning Specialist over night and I don’t really consider myself all that special other than the fact that I know that I have solved very complicated air conditioning problems in the past. Problems so bad in fact that the home owner was being led to believe they needed to replace a HVAC system that was only 2 1/2 years old. How is that for technical aptitude?

Replacing AC systems can solve your problems and in some cases that is the better option, but does this mean every time you have an AC problem you will just replace the HVAC system? I bet you have more money than you know what to do with.

Remember, when replacing an AC system “the devil is in the details”. Every major HVAC manufacturer makes multiple models, most of them are junk. A salesman is paid to sell you this junk most of the time. A free estimate is code word for “please send me a salesman”. The other part is service after the sale and the ability to repair the AC system when it breaks. Sure, you could say that talk is cheap right? Well I can help you prove it to yourself. You probably found me via a Google search, so do another search about complaints of any major HVAC brand, list the brand name in the search. You will see that I’m right. This is what I do for a living after all, why should I apologize for the truth?

If you are reading this after the fact and got taken advantage of by getting what you thought was a good deal and now have nothing but air conditioning problems I can come up with a solution for you. I hear air conditioning nightmares all the time, if you are living one don’t make it worse. Find a licensed HVAC contractor that knows what they are doing. It’s not uncommon for me to see a dozen or so of these kinds of calls a year. I’d say it’s pretty important to have an HVAC contractor install your new AC system that knows how to fix them when they break. Wouldn’t you?

There is no manufacture warranty for: improper installation or AC equipment purchased over the internet. Please choose your licensed HVAC contractor wisely. Look at the whole picture, look at the details of the job before you make any hasty decision and do not choose based on price alone. Otherwise you may have to resort to spending time and more money trying to find a solution. I could be that solution.

Realize that my definition of “solution” is to solve the problem without causing additional problems, otherwise you’re not problem solving and the solution is not a true solution.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope your day is a comfortable one!

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, No AC Salesmen, No Technicians, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Specialist

New Air Conditioning System

Saturday, March 12th, 2016

It’s that time of the year again in Katy, Texas when you start contemplating the hot summer and realize it might be time to replace that old air conditioning system and maybe the heating system as well.

Some times this may be done at the spur of the moment when it’s already 90 degrees or more in your house and you’re under stress to just get it done. If you happen to be reading this earlier in the season before the summer arrives you have a bit more time to make a more informed decision.

Many people tend to approach this as just finding the lowest price possible to replace the AC unit. In some cases this may be all that’s needed if you plan to sell the home a short while later. However, with the current real estate market near the top more people are deciding to stay in their homes longer. This is a fine balancing act to decide exactly what you want. To complicate this further air conditioning manufacturer’s make so many different models, different SEER ratings, different configurations, more features, differences in warranty coverage that it’s enough to make your head swim.

To top all of that off, you call a few HVAC companies for a AC replacement quote and you may determine that these are merely salesmen looking for a quick score. For those of you that don’t know, a salesman only gets paid to sell. The problem with that is more times than not they don’t have your best interest at heart. Sorry, but the only way to sell “crap” is to embellish what it can do and how cheap they can install it for. The salesman however won’t come back once the sale is complete.

HVAC manufacturer’s make HVAC systems. That is how they are designed is as a complete systems. So if you only replace “part” of your HVAC system you are getting what is often called a “piece meal” AC system or “mismatched AC system” meaning that the parts of the system are of a different model design and in some cases a different manufacturer. On top of that, if you are buying a complete system it may be an inferior model, an outdated model, a system that has been sitting in a warehouse for an extended period. Do you want an older model because it’s cheaper? Do you want a new model that is better, fresh off factory floor with better features? How will you know this difference if you are talking to a salesman?

The piece meal option doesn’t always mean anything bad, other than the less of your system you replace typically the more likely it is that it will break down again. Additionally what it also means is that it likely won’t be quite as efficient as the rating of the new equipment suggests. This depends greatly on what your current HVAC system configuration is. No two homes are alike in this regard.

Everyone likes a “good deal” when it comes to just about anything. Are you going to measure a good deal in price alone or are you going to measure a good deal in quality, features and performance?

A good deal in price alone is often fleeting because the electric bill is coming to your house every month whether you like it or not. Your air conditioning system efficiency and performance makes up the majority of that bill, so if you skimp on one side you pay for it on the other. To top that off if the price one company is offering is very low compared to other quotes, they are cutting corners somewhere. There is no way around that, and you will wind up paying for it at some point.

A Good Deal For A New HVAC System

When it comes to these things I often say “the devil is in the details”. You are buying an HVAC system for comfort. If it doesn’t truly fulfill that purpose then why buy it?

Your installing HVAC contractor is who you should be calling if and when the system breaks. All AC brands can and do break down, don’t be fooled into thinking otherwise. If you can’t depend on the HVAC contracting company that installed your AC system then what are you left to consider?

It’s not uncommon for me to repair a dozen or so HVAC systems a year that were installed by other companies. These aren’t free calls, the manufacturer doesn’t warranty improper installation, systems that were purchased over the internet or any other illogical method that some people consider.

If the HVAC system pays you back thru reduced utility cost, provides you the comfort you desire and you have a professional licensed HVAC contractor that can repair your air conditioning and heating system when that need arises why would you want anything else?

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope I might have saved you from making what could be a costly mistake. National average life of an AC system is 15 years. That is a long time to live with a mistake.

Make your new HVAC system a GREAT one!

Choose Austin Air Companie

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

 

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

 

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Energy Efficiency, Heat Pumps, Heating, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on New Air Conditioning System

R22 FREON & R410a PURON LEAK CAUSES AND SOMEONE TO BLAME

Sunday, September 6th, 2015

LOL this blog topic is going to be a good one. Simply because everyone these days enjoys playing “The Blame Game” in regards to air conditioning system failures and R-22 Freon or R410a Puron leaks. Step right up… you can play too….

First you have to realize what causes the majority of Freon leaks in your home HVAC system Evaporator coil. Building material manufacturer’s that use formaldehyde’s in their products, such as carpeting, wood flooring, cabinets and just about any home furnishing you can think of.

What’s the problem with formaldehyde? It seeps out into the air of the home and this air is drawn into the air return of your HVAC system and then some of it condenses with the air when it hits the evaporator coil and forms condensate waste water. This condensate waste water then drains into a pan and the evaporator coil sits in this pan. The formaldehyde becomes formicary acid and attacks the copper tubing of the coil this leads to small pin hole Freon leaks that are invisible to the naked eye. Formicary corrosion only effects copper tube evaporator coils. The only way to fix this type of leak is to replace the evaporator coil.

Many Air Conditioning manufacturer’s have switched to using all aluminum coils. However this isn’t a perfect solution as if the Evaporator coil is allowed to freeze due to improper maintenance (changing filters among other things) the aluminum can crack or tear causing Freon leaks.

Other problems that cause Freon leaks are… vibration, dissimilar metals contact, improper installation and or maintenance of the equipment, and other forms of corrosion such as:

Uniform Corrosion
General corrosion, or uniform corrosion, occurs in the solutions where pH is either very high or very low, or at high potentials in electrolytes with high chloride concentrations. In acidic (low pH) or alkaline (high pH) solutions, the aluminum oxide is unstable and thus non-protective.

Galvanic Corrosion
Economically, galvanic corrosion creates the largest number of corrosion problems for aluminum alloys. Galvanic corrosion, also known as dissimilar metal corrosion, occurs when aluminum is electrically connected to a more noble metal, and both are in contact with the same electrolyte.

Crevice Corrosion
Crevice corrosion requires the presence of a crevice, a salt water environment, oxygen (Fig. 1). The crevice can result from the overlap of two parts, or gap between a bolt and a structure. When aluminum is wetted with the saltwater and water enters the crevice, little happens initially. Over time, inside the crevice oxygen is consumed due to the dissolution and precipitation of aluminum.

The nature of the HVAC installation business is to get 3 quotes and then go with the cheapest bid of those three quotes. Many of these problems of HVAC equipment failures can be minimized by choosing a licensed HVAC contractor professional such as myself that does “ALL THE WORK”… but no, the HVAC industry would like you to believe in heavily advertised gimmicks that one AC brand is some how superior over another because of the name on the side of the unit regardless “who” puts the system in or works on it. I like to call this syndrome: “The invisible cost of being foolish.”

There is no perfect air conditioner, they all break at some point. But you magnify these kinds of problems even more in whom you choose to be your home comfort provider or AC repair man. The easy way out is to blame the HVAC manufacturer and while they could be blamed to a degree the amount of that blame in my opinion is in the realm of 5%.

How can I say this? As of 2015 I have installed over 7 different brands of air conditioning equipment with equipment failure rates less than 3%. If you put your trust in a name brand and a low, low price don’t expect a miracle. The flip side is a higher price with multiple hands or multiple techs that install the AC system. There’s an old saying that goes like this: “too many cooks in the kitchen, spoil the broth.” How do you suppose this ‘special broth’ relates to air conditioning installation problems?

There’s a reason you found this blog article. Please heed the warning and choose wisely.

The other part of the blame game not mentioned here is equipment bashing because of the brand name of a specific piece of air conditioning equipment. To this day this AC brand name bashing typically refers to the skill level of the HVAC company you are using. If an HVAC service company can’t fix “xyz” AC brand of course they will bash it, because there is no other way.

When considering the above comments of repairing ANY Air Conditioning Brand it is understood I am talking about AC systems that are less than 15 years old and / or worth repairing or fixing.

About the author of this post:
My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie
832~475~6895
“Your home comfort from A to Z”
Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information you can always visit me on my main website @
www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Air Conditioning NEW BREED: Communicating HVAC System

Monday, August 24th, 2015

Air Conditioning NEW BREED: Communication between parts makes for one smart air conditioner and a really comfortable customer.

It also delivers better performance, better comfort, better reliability, and better warranty coverage. So what is the catch?

It’s designed as a complete HVAC system. There are no piece meal options to get this kind of Air Conditioning system for your home.

You might be thinking at this point what exactly is piece meal and what exactly is a complete HVAC system? Most HVAC systems are Natural gas furnace with electric or grid tied air conditioning that consists of an out door condensing unit and an evaporator coil with two copper tubes known as what is called a line set that runs between the condensing unit and the indoor evaporator coil.

With the above type system there are 4 parts to the HVAC system that make up a communicating HVAC system. Now just because you replace the whole HVAC system at once doesn’t make it a communicating system. This is a special system with special parts and special controls. The outdoor equipment communicates digitally with the indoor equipment for the best performance available today in mid tier HVAC systems. Currently it is my opinion these systems are the most reliable with the best in warranty guarantees and because of this makes them a best buy when buying a complete system. Everything you would want in an HVAC system right?

Because of the energy efficiency achieved by them in most cases the cost of the system will be recouped within the life span of the equipment and in some cases even faster depending on usage habits and the age of your current HVAC system.

So now that you understand the number of pieces that make up a complete HVAC system you are probably wondering what a piece meal system is. To describe it accurately it is otherwise known as a mismatched system. Mismatched more or less means the brands of the system are different, there is no ARI number available to determine efficiency and so on. In other words if your out door unit (condenser) failed and you only replace the out door unit condenser without replacing the furnace and the evaporator coil in side the home either attic or closet at the same time that you replace the other pieces.

This method doesn’t necessarily mean the piece meal system won’t work, it just means that it won’t work as well and won’t have many features (it’s either on or off) and won’t have as good of guarantees or warranty coverage of the communicating system and it won’t be as energy efficient as the communicating system either.

Air Conditioning Energy efficiency is very important for us Texas residents with the last heat wave with temperatures in the triple digits for 30 days or more. I’m sure people all over this area are going to be complaining of ‘crazy’ high light bills for the next couple of months. This is why an energy efficient HVAC system is a wise investment and will probably do you a big favor to sell your home if and when the time comes. Other people are no different than you when they look for a new home. For some it’s the first thing a prospective home buyer will look at (the AC system).

For those that want to take this to comfort levels out of this world you could add a zone system to this equipment. Stop those thermostat fights dead in their tracks… stop that constant fight of upstairs versus downstairs temperature wars. A zone system added to this type of system is comfort at it’s best. Best reliability, best comfort and efficiency that blows the roof off. How do I know you might ask?

I have had one of these zone systems in my own home since 2007. Realize only a properly designed zone system will perform this way. I have installed several zone systems as of this writing, they are complicated beasts in most scenarios. If the design is not right it will not work. Remember the system has to perform in 80 degree weather just as well as it has to perform in 100+ degree weather as well as 20 degree weather. I design them to work and perform reliably as well as simplicity if the need arises to fix the system. Certainly you don’t want to sit in Texas heat for any longer than necessary. Which brings me to the last very important part.

SERVICE AFTER THE SALE!

I don’t leave my customers in the heat after installing new HVAC equipment or a new HVAC zone system. I stand behind the systems and units I sell and install and I can fix them if that need arises. This is why I say brand doesn’t matter. It’s more important that I can fix it when it breaks. I have been in the HVAC industry for over 20 years there is not a single HVAC brand out there that out lives another brand… just clever marketing and advertising.

If I can fix and repair any Air Conditioning brand… then please tell me what difference does a brand name make?

About the author of this blog:
My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie
832~475~6895
“Your home comfort from A to Z”
Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information you can always visit me on my main website @
www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Air Conditioning repair, installations and the importance of HVAC Contractor selection

Sunday, August 23rd, 2015

The job of Air Conditioning isn’t glamorous and in many cases can be quite challenging due to work that wasn’t done quite right to begin with. I have seen a rise in the number of calls I run on annual basis in which the home owner believed earlier they got new AC equipment “installed by someone other than me” at a great deal or bargain.

This “great deal” nomenclature typically means reduced cost. It doesn’t mean a system that runs for 15 years with minimal fuss. The truly unbelievable part is that if this “great deal” system runs for at least a year some of the people still think they got a “great deal”. A system that is designed to run for 15 years that breaks down with catastrophic problems in under 3 years is not a good deal by any definition.

Now does this mean that you won’t suffer a break down at all with properly installed equipment? No. It’s mechanical equipment. It will break down, no matter the brand at some point they all break. The difference is typically the severity of the breakdown… was it due to lack of maintenance or was it due to improper installation or a combination of the two? The other difference is that you don’t spend countless hours trying to find someone who will work on it to fix it. If I installed it you can count on me to fix it. Isn’t that the way it should be? What else are you using an HVAC contractor for?

The common theme that I see from these kinds of ‘great deals’ is somehow the home owner is calling a different contractor than who it was who installed the Air Conditioning and Heating system. There is no reimbursement from the manufacturer other than getting a part. Labor, refrigerant and other non-equipment parts are not covered by manufacturer.

I charge money for these kinds of calls. I will not sugar coat it. I feel if you are old enough to own a home and the responsibility of maintaining one I feel you are old enough to hear the truth. It is not my job, nor my responsibility to go around fixing or repairing serious installation issues of new equipment (less than 3 years old in most cases) installed by other companies or side work done by a “maintenance man” that should know better.

The fact of the matter is there is nothing requiring me to even do these kinds of jobs or correct these kinds of problems. I have run across a few where the home owner was told by another company that they don’t work on this type of equipment. So when you attempt to ‘cheat the system’ you shouldn’t expect another company to come and stick their neck out trying to fix or repair a system that they didn’t put in. In all fairness I do deal with home builder gems that are even worse in some cases and that is an entirely different subject for what I am trying to portray in this blog post. ( A warning to choose carefully.)

It’s very tempting to skim the internet to see how cheap you can buy a system but you fail to realize the manufacturer warranty in Texas is tied to the HVAC contractors license that purchases the system. If there is no license at time of purchase there is no warranty thru the manufacturer. If you don’t believe this read the warranty limitations document from any AC equipment manufacturer… it clearly states any HVAC unit bought over the internet the warranty is void. The websites that sell units that claim otherwise are lying! Read their own fine print for even worse problems doing things this way.

I’ve also stumbled across a system in which a “leak seal additive” had been used to try to fix a Freon leak as opposed to the proper way of finding and fixing the leak the proper way. The argument for adding the leak seal is that the equipment is old and out of warranty. The problem is that the leak seal will gunk up the system, the copper line set and potential lead to a costlier problem to fix than rather just doing it the right way first. This particular system had the leak seal additive added only two months prior to me running the call. This customer is looking at a new AC system plus 2 story line set, other wise the situation will most likely get much worse. So you tell me how much money this guy is saving?

Any refrigerant system should be kept as “clean” as possible. Adding things to a refrigerant circuit will typically only make more problems or further destroy the equipment. If any residual leak seal is left in the line set when the new unit is installed and the leak seal causes failure to the new unit that leak seal could void the manufacturer’s warranty. Therefore, if you have added leak seal to a system it is in your best interest to replace the copper line set at additional cost to ensure the new system is not contaminated. So the thought that you will save money by adding leak seal to an older system that is out of warranty is misguided at best. If an AC company is recommending leak seal additive as an alternative stay away… far, far away.

Now maybe you have stumbled across this page before making any such mistakes noted above. Take heed to the warning. I see these kinds of problems and worse much more often than I should. In writing this blog post I hope to “spread the word” to hopefully put an end to some of these kinds of things. It would not only make my job easier, it would make you happier and less frustrated.

This is Texas after all… You will always need a good reliable HVAC company to depend on. My trade mark line isn’t by mistake IT’S ON PURPOSE!
BETTER STUFF. DONE RIGHT. ON TIME. GUARANTEED.

A good amount of what I say here is pretty harsh. It is intended this way so that you get the point at the severity of what you are ‘playing’ with. I am not in the HVAC business to ‘play around’. If you call me — you call for one reason….

YOU ARE READY TO FIX IT.
The catch is: You must reside within my service area. I do not fix systems over the phone. The fix may require replacement… only Jesus performs more miracles.

About the author of this blog:
My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie
832~475~6895
“Your home comfort from A to Z”
Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information you can always visit me on my main website @
www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Heating, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning repair, installations and the importance of HVAC Contractor selection

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