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Expert Techs Service |
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Why Choose Expert Techs Air Conditioning?
Problems Corrected - We do not just replace parts until your furnace or air conditioner starts running again. Our technicians have advanced diagnostic training and appropriate skills to find the real problem quickly.
No Run Around Charge - Our trucks carry over 1,310 parts and supplies. We specialize in furnaces or air conditioners over 10 years old, so we probably have the exact part you need right on the truck.
Champion Technicians - Only one out of forty qualify. We weed out the other 39 through a seventeen step hiring and testing procedure. Our technicians are well-trained professionals, who are all uniformed, drug fee, clean and neat.
Customer Assured Service Pricing - It's crazy, but true. Companies who "charge by the hour" make more money with low skilled repairmen because they take more time and are paid less. With our Champion Technicians, you only pay a low, fat rate quoted in advance. There are no  hidden charges and you never pay for extra hours.
Fully Insured - For your protection against lawsuits and code requirements, we provide full coverage for your property and all our technicians are insured. We handle any paperwork when city permits are needed to complete the work, and pass the inspection afterward.
Emergency Technicians Always On Duty - You get the same prompt cheerful service whether you call at 2:00am or 5:00pm.
Energy Savings Agreement Club - We offer agreements to perform spring and fall maintenance checks to ensure your system is operating at its peak energy efficiency. |
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Why Tune-Up ?
 Sure, we'd love to replace your system for you. But if your equipment is too new or you just need to get it through one more season, then Tune It Up!
You'll be glad you did!
Heating and Air Systems are an integral part of our homes. Most of us tend to take them for granted because they're working, but they could be working better and saving us all money with just a little bit of effort.
It takes our technician an average of about an hour and a half to tune up most systems, and this procedure is recommended for any system over one year old.
- Check & Clean Condenser Coil - Foreign material on the condenser coil reduces the system's capacity to remove heat from the house. Extends the life of the system and saves money on energy bills.
- Check Voltage and Amperage on Motors - Improper voltage and amperage can reduce significantly the life of the compressor, evaporator, and condenser motor. Extends the life of the system.
- Check and Adjust Blower Components - Proper adjustment and cleanliness of blower and components are necessary for adequate airflow. Avoids costly service call, saves money on fuel costs.
- Check Condensate Drain, Clean if Necessary - A clogged condensate drain can cause severe water damage to the furnace as well as affect indoor humidity levels. May also create potential for mold spoors. Saves money on energy bill, extends life of the system.
- Check Operation Pressure For Proper Refrigerant Charge - Improper refrigerant charge, too much or too little, could damage the compressor and could cause high electric bills through a reduction in system efficiency. Saves money on energy bill, extends life of the system.
- Check All Safety Controls - Essential for proper protection of system. Assures safety of unit.
- Calibrate Thermostat - An improperly calibrated thermostat will call for more or less cooling than desired. The former will cost you money, the latter will cost you comfort. Saves money on energy bills, increases comfort
- Lubricate Blower - Lubrication of the blower in your furnace reduces friction, thus your blower will operate more quietly and inexpensively. It will also extend the blower's life by keeping it running cooler. Saves money on energy bill, extends life of system.
- Check The Condenser Is Level - A condenser was designed to operate on a level surface. The condenser will operate quietly, efficiently and for it's designed life if these conditions exist. Extends life of system, avoids costly service calls
- Check Starting Capabilities - Assures system will start and operate when needed. Extends life of system, saves money on energy bill.
- Lubricate Outside Fan - Lubrication of outside fan unit will extend the life of the system and make it less expensive to operate. Extends life of system, saves money on energy bill.
- Check All Electrical Connections - Loose connections cause improper voltage to various components, making then either inoperative or causing eventual failure. May also risk sparking or starting of fire in the unit. Extends life of system, assures safety.
- Check Temperature Drop - By checking the actual degrees of temperature drop throughout your system, our technician can pinpoint whether or not your system is actually cooling your home like you want it to. Assures total system efficiency.
- Check Fins On Outside Condensing Unit - By checking the fins on your unit, our technician can increase the air flow through your unit, saving you money and extending the life of your condenser coils. Extends life of system, saves money on energy bill.
- Clean Evaporator Coil - Dirt and dust on the evaporator coil reduce the system's capacity to remove heat from the house. Extends life of system, saves money on energy bill.
- Inspect The Suction Line And the Liquid Line - By checking the lines to be sure they are free and clear of all obstacles and that all fittings are tight, refrigerant leakage can be prevented. Saves money on refrigerant, helps the environment.
- Inspect The Filter - A dirty filter can reduce airflow and make your unit work harder. Saves money on energy bill.
- Rustproof Outdoor Unit - Prolongs the life of your unit.
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 Calibrate Thermostat - An improperly calibrated thermostat will call for more or less cooling than desired. The former will cost you money, the latter will cost you comfort. Saves money on energy bills, increases comfort- Remove And Clean Burners - for more efficient burning.
- Inspect The Filter - A dirty filter can reduce airflow and make your unit work harder. Saves money on energy bill.
- Check All Electrical Connections - Loose connections cause improper voltage to various components, making then either inoperative or causing eventual failure. May also risk sparking or starting of fire in the unit. Extends life of system, assures safety.
- Check and Adjust Blower Components - Proper adjustment and cleanliness of blower and components are necessary for adequate airflow. Avoids costly service call, saves money on fuel costs.
 Lubricate Blower & Motor - Lubrication of the blower and other moving parts in your furnace reduces friction, thus your blower will operate more quietly and inexpensively. It will also extend the blower's life by keeping it running cooler. Saves money on energy bill, extends life of system.- Check And Adjust Burner Operation - To ensure smooth ignition, pilot lights and burners are observed for proper burning and color of flame.
- Check And Clean Heat Exchanger - To assure proper fuel combustion and avoid the possibility of creating carbon monoxide in the house.
- Check High Limit Control - the principal control in the furnace to prevent overheating and possible damage to the unit and the structure it is located in. (i.e. your house)
- Check Fan Control And Temperature Rise - By checking that the fan starts / stops when it is supposed to, and that the actual degrees of temperature rise throughout your system, our technician can pin point whether or not your system is actually heating your home like you want it to. Assures total system efficiency.
- Check And Clean Flue - This is necessary to assure proper fuel draft and also to prevent flue obstructions.
- Check Manifold Gas Pressure - Proper pressure is required to control fuel input to the furnace burners.
- Check Heat Anticipator - Located in the thermostat, it ensures that the furnace will supply the heat when necessary.
- Check For Natural Gas Leaks - to prevent possible fire and other safety issues.
- Check And Adjust Fan Belt - to maximize efficiency
- Inspect Thermocouple And Igniter - for proper burn.
- Polish / Wash Furnace Exterior to remove accumulated dirt / dust and extend the life of the unit.
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- Calibrate Thermostat -
 An improperly calibrated thermostat will call for more or less cooling than desired. The former will cost you money, the latter will cost you comfort. Saves money on energy bills, increases comfort
- Inspect The Filter - A dirty filter can reduce airflow and make your unit work harder. Saves money on energy bill.
- Check Fan Control And Temperature Rise - By checking that the fan starts / stops when it is supposed to, and that the actual degrees of temperature rise throughout your system, our technician can pinpoint whether or not your system is actually heating your home like you want it to. Assures total system efficiency.
- Check and Adjust Blower Components - Proper adjustment and cleanliness of blower and components are necessary for adequate airflow. Avoids costly service call, saves money on fuel costs.
- Lubricate Blower & Motor - Lubrication of the blower and other moving parts in your furnace reduces friction, thus your blower will operate more quietly and inexpensively. It will also extend the blower's life by keeping it running cooler. Saves money on energy bill, extends life of system.
- Check Heat Anticipator - Located in the thermostat, it ensures that the furnace will supply the heat when necessary.
- Check Operation of Heating Elements - To ensure all elements sequence on and off properly.
- Check All Electrical Connections - Loose connections cause improper voltage to various components, making then either inoperative or causing eventual failure. May also risk sparking or starting of fire in the unit. Extends life of system, assures safety.
- Polish / Wash Furnace Exterior to remove accumulated dirt / dust and extend the life of the unit.
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Seasonal Checkup
If you are member of a Club Membership, Expert Techs will automatically contact you each Spring and Fall for an appointment to come check your unit for efficiency. Check our list of Club Membership Plans to see which is right for you. |
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Knowledge about the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would be beneficial.
If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, you see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty odor or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to get dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned.
On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. EPA has published Indoor Air Quality: An Introduction for Health Professionals that can be obtained free of charge by contacting IAQ INFO at the number listed in this guide. You may obtain another free EPA booklet from IAQ INFO entitled The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them.
You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly.
On the other hand, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt, and other contaminants than if you had left the ducts alone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, possibly increasing your heating and air conditioning costs or forcing you to undertake difficult and costly repairs or replacements.
You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
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There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.
- You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
- If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.
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Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects); or
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Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.
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Other Important Considerations...
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning. This is because much of the dirt that may accumulate inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to health.
EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. If a service provider or advertiser asserts that EPA recommends routine duct cleaning or makes claims about its health benefits, you should notify EPA by writing to the address listed at the end of this guidance. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, little evidence exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase your system's efficiency.
If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you are not sure, talk to a professional. Expert Techs AC is a good source of advice.
Indoor Air Quality Problems
Faced with the importance of indoor air quality, people are looking at air duct cleaning as a way to solve indoor air quality problems. Is air duct cleaning a solution?
Heating and cooling system components can become contaminated with pollen, dust, mold, and other debris if not properly installed and maintained. These contaminants may cause allergic reactions in some sensitive people.
The first step to consider before having the ducts cleaned is to determine if they are the source of health problems. Keep in mind, the source of the problem may be elsewhere and cleaning the ducts may not be the answer.
What Does Duct Cleaning Entail?
Duct cleaning entails cleaning the various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems. These components include the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing. If the decision is made to have the system cleaned, it is important the service provider cleans all the components so the system will not become contaminated again by unclean parts.
The service provider should take preventative steps to protect individuals from exposure to dislodged contaminants during the cleaning process. These steps may include using HEPA filtration on the cleaning equipment, providing respirators for workers, and vacating the occupants from the premises while the system is cleaned.
Signs Ducts Should Be Cleaned
There are several factors that help determine if the duct system should be cleaned. One major factor is mold growth that is visible inside hard surface ducts or on other components of your system. Be aware that although a substance may look like mold, it may not be. Only a laboratory analysis can tell you whether a sample is mold or simply a substance that resembles it. If the air duct insulation is moldy it should be removed and replaced and the cause of the growth corrected before the cleaning occurs.
Other factors include rodent or insect infestation and a clogged system that actually releases contaminants into the home through the registers.
Risk Factors
If proper duct cleaning procedures are not followed, duct cleaning can cause more dust, debris, and molds to be released into the air. An inadequate vacuum collection system can cause this problem. Also, there is the possibility the service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, which could result in increasing heating and air conditioning costs or costly repairs or replacements.
The EPA Recommendations
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Also studies do not conclusively demonstrate that contaminant levels increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning.
Except on an as-needed basis, the EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned.
Contact Expert Techs if you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home. The EPA does not establish duct cleaning standards, and does not certify, endorse, or approve duct cleaning companies.
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