Air conditioning is such an integral part of our lives, we just take it for granted.  It gets hot... we turn on the air and we're cool. Today, it's hard to imagine living without it.  But not that many years ago, air conditioning was a luxury and most people didn't have it.  The thought of going back to those hot, steamy, sticky days sounds unbearable.  Everyday, people around the world rely heavily on air conditioning, but they actually know very little about it.  They simply turn down the thermostat and wait for relief.  Below are some interesting facts.

1) In 1978, less than 1/4 of US households had central air conditioning.  By 2005, central air conditioning was in 60% of the homes in America.  If you include room or window units as well, 84% have some type of air conditioning.

2) The first home air conditioning system was installed in 1914 in Minneapolis.  It was in the mansion of Charles Gates, son of Gilded Age industrialist and gambler, John Gates.

3) Americans use air conditioning so heavily that we consume 22% more electricity at the peak of Summer than on the coldest days of Winter.

4) In China, air conditioning is far less prevalent.  In 1992, virtually no homes in China had air conditioning.  By 2004 only 30% of homes had some form of air conditioning.

5) The US is the largest consumer of air conditioning.  Even warm European countries like Italy, Spain and Greece use far less air conditioning than the US.  Americans vacationing in Europe are often surpised to find that very few hotels offer air conditioning.

6) Since 2005, Japan has tried to reduce office air conditioning use significantly, encouraging workers to dress light and informally.  After the 2011 earthquale and tsunami, the new minimum office temperature is 82 degrees or higher.

7) WANT TO SAVE MONEY on your power bill?  It is a myth that closing off unused rooms in your home saves energy and money on your air conditioning bill.  Air leakage from hot unused rooms and closed registers increases energy use.  To save money, keep all registers open and use a programmable thermostat to set back the A/C at night or when no one is at home.

Remember for all of your air conditioning needs, MTB Heating and Air is only a ohone call away.

When Summer's heat arrives, you can strike a balance between staying cool and not breaking the bank.  MTB Heating and Air offers a large selection of quaility air conditioner options to fit your budget.  We also provide fair priced service for all makes and models, so give us a call to help you stay cool now that the heat is on.  In the meantime, here are some tips to help you save some money while staying cool this summer.

Homeowner Maintenance- One of the easiest things a home owner can do to stay cool and save money is to change your air filters monthly during the cooling season.  Even small amounts of dust and debris can get in the way of cool air.  Dirty air filters cause lower efficiency and create higher energy bills.  Keep your filters clean to save money.

Preventative Maintenance- Enrolling in a preventaive maintenance program is the most cost effective way to get the very most out of your system.  MTB Heating and Air's ESA program provides (2) annual tune ups. One tuneup is on the heating cycle and one is on the cooling cycle. You also receive 24 hour emergency service and priority service appointments.  During this scheduled maintenance, your system is inspected cleaned and tuned up. Routine inspections detect small problems before they become large and costly.  Routine cleaning removes dirt and grime from your system that reduce efficiency and tuning up your system ensures that it performs more efficiently which means you will lower your utility costs.

Cost Effective Upgrades- If your air conditioner is over 10 years old, it is smarter to replace it than to repair it when it is not working properly.  Firstly, new equipment has technology that makes it more efficent to operate.  Secondly, the refrigerant used in old air conditioners is being phased out and the cost of it is soaring. Air conditioners that use the old R-22 refrigerant are becoming obsolete.   Therefore, if your old system is not cooling properly, consider purchasing a new system rather than patching up your old system; this will save you money in the long run.  If your current system is functioning properly, consider having a programmable thermostat installed.  This is an easy upgrade and will save you money each month on your power bill by allowing you to create your own cooling schedule based on your individual lifestyle.

      It's hot today and tomorrow is going to be even hotter. Are you ready for the heat wave?  MTB is. HVAC companies experience a lot of service calls this time of year as people turn on their air conditioners and find they aren't functioning properly.  To meet this higher demand,  MTB has hired more technicians.  It is our goal to always service our customers as quickly as possible. 

     If you turn on your air conditioner and notice any noises coming from the system call us today.  If your unit is not properly cooling, call us. We will send a technician out to help you asap.   If your a/c is working well, remember to change your filters.  Dirty air filters can cause a lot of problems that you can prevent with just a little maintenance.

     If you haven't had your air conditioner tuned up this season, this is a good time to do so.  Our tune up special is only $89.  Our The weather is only going to get hotter.  Tuning up your air conditioner will ensure that it iperforms at peak efficiency.  Not only will this keep you more comfortable during the cooling season, it will save you money on your power bill.  Air conditioners that work properly require less energy to operate.

    Making sure your air conditioner is in good shape now,  will mean you'll be ready for the HOT weather on its way and that you will stay more comfortable when it arrives.   Stay cool and remember we're standing by if you need us. 

   Water leaking from your air conditioner is more than an annoyance.  It can actually cause some serious problems lfrom water staining and mold growth to entire sections of ceiling falling onto the floor below.  At any rate, if you notice water leaking from your air conditioner, it is necessary to check out why and to have the problem corrected before a major incident occurs.

   Most leaks come from the condensate drain pan located under your evaporator coil.   Water that condenses on the coils falls into this pan and is drained from the pan by a disposal line to eliminate an overflow problem.  But you may be wondering why water accumilates on the coil in the first place.  To explain this further it is helpful to look at the refrigerant cycle.

  Refrigerant goes through several stages during the cooling process.  Your compressor, which is located in the outdoor unit, accepts refrigerant from the evaporator coil and then heats it up to a high pressure and high temperature gas.  This gas moves through the condenser coils and dissipates its heat into the outside air.  The now condensed and cool refrigerant travels to the evaporator where it cools the air.  This cool air is then circulated through your home.   It is during this satge that water in the air condenses on the coils and then drips into the pan. 

   As I mentioned earlier, there is a drain line to move water from this pan and dispose of it.  The exact purpose of this line is preventing the drain pan from getting full and overflowing.   Problems occur when the drain line becomes clogged preventing water from leaving the drain pan.  When this happens, water then overflows into the air handler and onto the surface below.  It is bad enough when this water flows onto a floor, but if that floor is located on the second story of your home, you then have to worry about staining on your ceiling or worse chunks of soaked sheetrock falling.

   Another common cause of a drain pan becoming full and overflowing happens when your air conditioner coil freezes over and then defrosts quickly sending large amounts of water into the drain pan at a rate that is too overwhelming for the drain line to accomodate.  Either of these scenarios can cause you a lot of headache. 

    Both situations can easily be avoided with an air conditioning inspection and tuneup.  During the inspection and tuneup the drain line and drip pan are checked and any debris is removed.  The coils are also cleaned and any and all necessary repairs are made to prevent such problems from occuring.  Right now, MTB Heating and Air is offering a A/C tune up special for only $89.  Schedule your tune up today and avoid the potentially costly repairs of a leaky air conditioning system.  In addition, tuning up your air conditioner will make your system operate at a better efficiency level.  This means you will stay more comfortable during hot weather and save money on your power bill while you do so.

   It hasn't quite settled in yet, but we all know HOT WEATHER is on its way.  During the sweltering hot Summer months, Charlotte area residents rely heavily on their air conditioners.  When you start up your air conditioner at the beginning of the season, you hope things will run smoothly and your home will begin to quickly cool off.  Of course, this is not always the case.  This is why we recommend regular maintenance to keep your system in good working condition.

   There are a number of common problems that send HVAC techs out on service calls.  One of those is the air conditioner making a banging noise.  If you hear a banging noise coming from your air conditioner, turn it off and call MTB Heating and Air to come inspect your system.  The problem may be a simple fix, however continuing to run your air conditioner when it is making a banging noise can result in further damage to your system.

   The typical explanations for a noisy air conditioner have to do with the Blower Fan or the Compressor.  The blower fan is located in the indoor air handler.  It's responsible for extracting warm air from inside your home and sending cooled air through your house via the air ducts. This is essential for AC operation.  If your blower fan has a loose blade, you may hear a banging noise coming from within the air handler.   If it sounds like a rattle, it could be a loose panel.

   If the banging noise you hear is coming from the outside unit, it could be something as simple as a loose part or a damaged fan blad.  It also could be a problem with the compressor itself. This is an issue that needs to be promptly addressed.  This could be a loose rod, piston or other internal part.  A HVAC tech can tell you if your compressor can be repaired or if it will need to be replaced. 

   We all like to save money.  This is why some people choose to put off maintenance on their HVAC.  The truth is, regular maintenance is a money saver.  Not only will it make your system more efficient resulting in lower power bills; regular maintence will also catch small mechanical problems before they manifest into something large and may cause the need for a total system replacement.  If you are hearing a noise from your AC sytem, turn it off and call MTB today.  This will keep your air conditioner from further damage and save you from a potential breakdown during the cooling season.

   Your home can experience power surges due to utility events, lightening strikes and electrical fluctuations.  These voltage spikes can really do a number on your household electronics.  You protect your home's computer and audio video systems with surge protectors, why not your heating and cooling equipment. 

  Today's HVAC systems are highly sensitive to power surges.  A voltage fluctuation can lead to circuit board damge or even result in total motor or compressor failure.  A  Surge Protector will protect your heating and cooling system from votage spikes and greatly reduce the risk of costly repairs or even total equipment replacement.

  As we to approach Summer, Electrical storms begin to become a issue that we deal with throughout the cooling season.  This is a perfect time to invest in a surge protector for your heating and air system.  Nothing is more miserable than suffering through a broken air conditioner during hot and humid weather.  A surge protector is a very affordable, preventative measure to keep your MTB Heating and Air is offerinsystem safe from damage and protect you from an expensive equipment repair or replacement.

Right now, MTB Heating and Air is offering our Electrical Surge Protector for only $179.  This is $20 off the regular price.  Call us to get your surge protector installed today.

   Your air conditioner is an expensive, complicated piece of equipment with many moveable parts.  Just like your car needs regular maintenance to keep it performing at its best and avoid costly breakdowns; your air conditioner needs a yearly tune up.  A tune up improves comfort, prevents breakdowns, extends equipment life and saves you money on your monthly power bill.

   Nothing is worse than an air conditioner break down during the hottest days of Summer.  Make sure you are prepared for the heat with a tune up.  Not all tune ups are the same.  You can trust you are getting a complete inspection and a thorough tune up when you call MTB Heating and Air.  A tune up from us includes:

Checking thermostat settings so you stay comfortable when you're home and save energy when you're away.

Tightening all electrical connections- faulty connections can reduce the life of major components.

Lubricating all moving parts- friction in the motor can increase electricity use.

Checking and Inspecting condensate drain- a clogged drain can cause water damage.

Checking controls of the system- assures the system starts, operates and shuts off properly.

Cleaning evaporator coils- a dirty coil reduces system's ability to cool, the system has to run longer increasing energy costs.

Checking refrigerant level and adjusting if needed- too much or little refrigerant reduces efficiency.

Cleaning and adjusting the blower components- airflow problems can reduce efficiency by 15%.

Right now MTB is has a special $89 tune up offer.  If we tune up your system this Summer and you experience a breakdown, we will refund your $89.