POWER SURGES & LIGHTNING STRIKES

How Do Lightning Strikes Affect Your Home Air Conditioning System?

The weatherman on TV tells you to prepare for a storm that has a lot of lightning in it. You go to your Computer or High End electronics and unplug them for protection. Well, don’t forget your AC system whether it is use or not. The newer systems have solid state circuitry and circuit boards in them now days and they are just as sensitive as any other electronic device.

Most notably affected are control circuit boards that burn out and totally disable your ac system. Some of these circuit boards cost several hundred dollars to replace, and even if your system is in warranty, somemanufacturerss won’t cover part failures due to lightning strikes and power surges. Most contractors can get them covered under your warranty but stranger things have happened.

Dallas Air Conditioning Repair Specialist 

So, if your ac system is not covered by your warranty you’ll be out of pocket for hundreds of dollars. If your system is out of warranty you’ll be out even more. So it makes sense to protect your home comfort investment. If you get a powerful enough surge of electricity other parts like fuses, capacitors, burnt wiring or even compressors could be damaged.
That really starts to get expensive.

What Can You do to Protect Your AC System?

First, turn off the system at the thermostat. You might also cut the power at your home breaker box. Most breaker boxes are labeled so you will know which breaker to turn off. Your ac system is less susceptible to surges when it’s not operating, but a direct lightning strike will damage a system regardless, but they are rare.Sometimes a power outage in your neighborhood can also create damage.

When the power comes back on, and your ac system is on it might trip a breaker, blow a fuse or burn out a transformer. When the power goes off in your home, at the very least, turn off your thermostat and circuit breakers. When power has been restored, turn it all back on and enjoy. If your system doesn’t come back on or it’s not operating as well as it should, TURN IT OFF, and call us to check it out before you damage it further.

It may be only something as simple as a fuse, but it could be something more serious. Remember, even a weak power surge can damage ac components that might cause a part failure in the future. Make sure you tell our AC Tech about any suspected power surges or power outages, this will help him diagnose the problem with your ac system. Good Luck! For Air Conditioning Repair Dallas call Tom Durbin

972.203.1317

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HOME AC EMERGENCY BACK UP PLAN

How To Protect Yourself When Your AC Unit Fails

You arrive home after a hard day at work on one of the “Hottest Days” of the year. You open the door and it’s as warm inside as it is outside. Your ac system has gone out and the family is on its way home and will be there in a few minutes.

You call your AC service company but they can’t get to you for a few days, what do you do? Go to a hotel? Call a relative or a friend and ask for shelter from the heat? If your home has a single AC system you’re stuck, or are you?

The answer is as close as your local Home Improvement Center. (Lowe’s, Home Depot, or even Sears) Before this happens to you and your family form a “Back-Up Plan”. Buy a small capacity, 110-volt Window Air Conditioner that will cool at least a Bedroom or maybe a family room and store it in your garage or basement for just such emergencies.

What Size Back Up Ac Unit Is Best

A 6,000 to 8,000 btu should be the right size to avoid having to have your electric wiring upgraded. The new window ac systems are so inexpensive nowadays that buying one is less expensive than a night in a motel for the whole family. Everyone will treat you as a hero for looking out for their comfort. When you get it home install it in the room you think it will do the most good.

Make sure you’ve got everything needed to get it running as soon as possible.Take it out and store it away so you can make a quick transition to the room you plan use it. Remember; buy a small 110 volt system. Some larger systems are 220 volt and you will have to have 220v wiring and plugs installed in rooms that don’t normally get that type of power access.

Dallas Gets Hot, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Make an adventure out of a bad situation. Put your temporary AC in a family room or den. Set up pallets for the kids or games. Have an indoor family picnic. Enjoy each other’s company and the quality time you can spend together. I have several customers that have adopted this strategy and they all tell me it was the best investment they had ever made. Your family comfort is important, like the Boy Scouts, “Be Prepared”.

Tom Durbin

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REDUCE ENERGY BILLS WITH EXPERT DALLAS AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE

Although the Labor Day holiday marks the end of summertime fun and adventure, throughout Texas the summer heat can last all the way through much of October. While it does save a lot in energy bill costs to turn off your air conditioning in Dallas, it is too warm during September and much of October to be comfortable in your.

When you cook family meals in your kitchen, spend hours cleaning your home, and need to cool off after working tirelessly out in your yard, your home needs to be properly cooled this fall until the temperatures finally start to drop. After months of continuous use of your air conditioner, it might still need to be serviced before the heat comes to an end. Tom Durbin, your Dallas AC repair expert, still has a full staff of HVAC technicians ready for all of your AC service needs this fall.

Common Needs of AC Repair Dallas

During the last couple of months of Texas heat are often times that many homeowners in Dallas are in need of air conditioning service. Don’t try and tuff it out and wait to have your AC repair or service completed in the spring. If you ignore the issues today, you could cause more issues later that will do nothing but cost you more in repairs or even require you to have your air conditioner replaced, which will cost thousands more than a repair.

From AC Freon leaks and recharges to AC compressor repairs to regular AC maintenance, tending to common needs of AC repair Dallas residents and businesses can save a lot of time, frustration, and money while they get through the last bit of hot weather and can be ready for the warming months of the spring.

Reduce Your Energy Bills

As the seasons begin to change and the temperatures slowly drop, the fall is the best time to take action around your home to start saving on your energy bills for both heating and cooling. Take a look around your home, or have your Dallas AC Repair technician inspect your home’s walls, ceilings, and windows to see where there are any leaks that could be sealed with caulk or weather stripping. Sealing up leaks and cracks could potentially save you 20 to 30 percent in heating and cooling expenses.

Another way to reduce your energy bills is to simply turn your thermostat down a few degrees; during the heat when you are running your air conditioner in Dallas, turn the temperature up one or two degrees, and do the opposite in the winter by turning the temperature down at least one or two degrees.

For every degree that you adjust on your thermostat will reduce your energy bills by 1% to 3% every month. To help you with this temperature adjustment, Tom Durbin’s AC repair technician can come out to your home and install a digital programmable thermostat that can be set and optimize your heating and air conditioning use. No matter the need, whether it is AC repair, maintenance, installation, or help with your thermostat, Tom Durbin is here to help you with all of your Dallas heating and cooling needs.

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TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR AIR CONDITIONER

As your Dallas, TX air conditioning repair specialist, we understand the concern and importance of maintaining proper functionality and efficiency of your AC system, especially during the hot Texas summer days. As summer gets closer and closer, the temperatures continue to rise and many of us have already turned on our air conditioners.

If you have turned on your AC unit and notice it isn’t functioning properly and may not be cooling your home as well as it has in the past, there are a few air conditioning service troubleshooting procedures to go through before you rush to calling your Dallas AC repair company.

Voted Best Dallas AC Repair Company 

1) Set your thermostat to a temperature between 65 and 68 degrees, and then turn on your AC unit.

2) Let your system run for about 15-20 minutes then inspect the temperature of the rooms. If you do not notice the room feeling cooler, then continue the AC troubleshooting steps.

3) While keeping your air conditioning on, check the fan outside on the AC unit to see if it is spinning. If it is not spinning, then your AC system has a mechanical issue that would need to be serviced by your professional Dallas AC repair company. If the fan is spinning and functioning properly, then continue the AC troubleshooting steps.

4) Go back to your thermostat and check the display to see if there are any issues with it. If the temperature doesn’t seem to be reading accurately and it feels cooler in the room, then your problem is very likely with the thermostat, which would need maintenance or replacement. If the thermostat seems accurate, then continue troubleshooting.

5) While your air conditioning is still on, check the vents in your home to feel how cool and strong the air is coming out of the vents. If the air is warm, then your AC system is not cooling properly and would need service. If the air is not blowing very strong, then you would need to have your home’s ductwork inspected and possible your air conditioning system as well.

By troubleshooting your AC system prior to contacting your AC repair company, you have been able to determine if your system will need mechanical AC service or if it just related to some regular AC maintenance.

For all of your Dallas air conditioning repair, replacement, or installation service needs you can trust Tom Durbin AC & Mechanical. Contact Us

972.203.1317

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DANGERS OF CARBON MONOXIDE

Each year in America, more than 150 people die from accidental non-fire related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning associated with consumer products. These products include faulty, improperly-used or incorrectly-vented fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters and fireplaces. (Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission)

It is still all about maintenance. If you are not going to do maintenance at least go to home depot or  lowe’s and get a carbon monoxide detector. Or call us, we will get you one and install it for you. After seeing this I am happy with the trade i chose.  One family in Dallas is safer tonight.!!!

My tech’s can be proud today

Shell type . Two more family safer today.!!!! People 1500 parts per million will put you to sleep  permanently. Does not matter what ac company you use ,get you system check out. Please. Good job boys.

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HEAT PUMP TECH TALK

I am a true believer in heat pumps. I started installing heat pumps in the early 70s. Heat Pumps received a bad reputation for not working properly, and going out too quickly. All of this is false, what was the problem is improperly trained technicians. Probably only two out of ten technicians can properly wire a heat pump. Another problem that people don’t consider is the fact that a heat pump runs both winter and summer seasons. This means that a heat pump eight years old has run 16 seasons. So the heat pump does double duty. So if you have a system that’s 12 years old it has actually ran for 24 seasons. Most technicians or companies that are unexperienced with a heat pumps will downplay the sale of a heat pump system. Generally that’s because they don’t have good enough technicians to properly stage and wire a heat pump.

A heat pump is a straight air-conditioner with several controls that reverse the flow a refrigerant in the heating cycle. The BTUs generated by heat pump are at a cost savings of about 30% versus electric resistance heat. What I’m trying to tell you is that a heat pump will generate the same heat 30% less than a electric furnace. Without removing all the humidity. These systems are excellent and very comfortable if sized and installed properly. I have my own formula for staging heat pumps properly. I’ve used it for 40 years and it is very effective. Our offices are heated and cooled by a heat pump system, with absolutely no resistance back up heat. You can trust me we are comfortable, I can cook you in a winter and freeze you in the summer, in any of the offices.

If someone is trying to talk you out of a heat pump it is basically because they don’t know how to install it properly. There is no reason to install a heat pump if you have natural gas. Unless you’re just afraid of gas systems. You can go to the propane page of this website and look at the national chart on BTU comparison, and you will understand the difference in cost per BTU rate. I am not a believer in dual fuel systems. This was a gimmick by builders as a sales tool to sell more houses. If you have dual fuel system, and one of them is gas and the other is a heat pump the most efficient way to heat your home would still be the gas unit.

If you have any questions about heat pumps feel free to call me at the shop I’ll be happy to discuss them with you.

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GRAB THE HVAC SAVINGS WHILE THEY LAST

At Tom Durbin AC & Mechanical, we always offer you high-quality AC, furnace, and HVAC service and installation at fair and honest rates.We want you to save more on the best Air Conditioning and Commercial HVAC service in the Dallas and Fort Worth area with our current Coupons & Specials.

With our Online Spring Special, you will receive our Air Conditioner and Commercial HVAC tune-up for just $60.00. With this great HVAC service savings, you will also receive a free unit evaluation; while your HVAC technician is tuning up your system, they will check to see if your unit is in need of air conditioner maintenance service to ensure it is in proper working condition so you can get the most out of your system. Give us a call today for an air conditioner tune-up, and be sure to mention this coupon when scheduling your appointment.

We are also offering great savings on purchases! Purchase a new unit through Tom Durbin AC & Mechanical and you’ll receive $200.00 off New Unit Installation. We install and service the leading energy efficient AC and HVAC system brands that will help reduce your energy bills. Call for a free quote and have all of your questions answered from our informative and helpful HVAC technicians. Be sure to mention the coupon when scheduling your appointment to receive this great savings off our already low prices.

 

With our without a coupon, Tom Durbin AC & Mechanical always strives to be honest and offer the fairest rates and prices on quality Air Conditioning, Heating, and Commercial HVAC sales, service, repair, installation, and replacement. Our integrity demands that we stand behind everything we sell and do to serve your HVAC sales and service needs, without any nonsense! We’re always committed to making you a friendly customer for life!

Call Tom Durbin AC & Mechanical at 214-957-6936 or email us at info@tomdurbin.com.

Contact us today, so you can be sure your AC unit, furnace, or HVAC system is ready for the unknown Texas weather tomorrow!

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