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Save Money on Air Conditioning Repairs; Call Your Plumber in September

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Conditioning System Manwill UTWe are in the first week of September. Late summer temperatures in Salt Lake City are in the mid-90s. Autumn is two weeks away. That means air conditioning systems will be running overtime for the next few days to keep the atmosphere inside your home and office cozy. A lot can go wrong during this period.

This May Happen to Your Air Conditioner

Your system’s refrigerant can leak, its compressor may blow up, or its condenser can lose its capacity to function at high efficiency; leading to uncomfortable levels of heat in your home and increased energy use. Should you find yourself in such an unpleasant situation, calling Manwill’s Plumbing Service will be your best bet to get rid of heated air.

But this scenario is more likely. In case your air conditioning unit doesn’t break down under pressure—which is a more likely scenario—calling a plumber to inspect and clean your A.C. is still worth your time because it can save you a good amount of money.

How exactly do AC jobs in September save you money?

Let’s try to understand a few concepts before we present our argument.

Prices Are Dictated by Supply and Demand

Try visiting a restaurant in Salt Lake City during the rush of lunch or dinner hour. Revisit, but this time during evenings or mornings when there are comparatively few people eating out. You will notice a marked difference in price and service. It is due to a basic principle of markets: supply and demand dictate pricing. Plumbing is not an exception.

Preventive maintenance Manwill HVAC

Plumbers Are Busiest Between May and July

I always knew from my gut and personal experience how busy the months between May and July are for air conditioning repair jobs. After all, I am a fourth generation plumber and my great grandfather started Manwill in 1920. But you don’t have to take my word for it.

You can go to Google Trends and check the data for the search term “plumber.” It’s an excellent free research tool from Google that tells you how people are using its search engine. I decided to make a use of it while researching for this blog and looked for the last five years’ data for Utah.

Here is what I got:

 Month
 January  61.04545
 February  55.61111
 March  51.65217
 April  55
 May  58.54545
 June  58.95455
 July  56.72727
 August  51.27273
 September  42.45455
 October  52.61905
 November  47.77273
 December  54.27273

You will see that three peaks that coincide with May, June, and July. It’s obvious. It is during summer that Utah’s seek plumbers, at least those who use Google.

Unsurprisingly, it is exactly during these months that plumbers become rare species. Either you don’t find them easily or you have to invite them at a high hourly rate.

So if your air conditioning unit needs to be cleaned or inspected, summer is certainly not the season for budget conscious homeowners.

But That Doesn’t Mean Winter Gives You Great Deals

Having read my argument, you may be tempted to put off all repairs until winter. Not a smart idea.

As you will see in the chart, January is another busy month for the plumber, but for an entirely different reason. Plumbers are often busy fixing furnaces so have little time to clean or maintain your air conditioner.

Thankfully there is a silver lining in the chart. It’s the ninth month. Our good old September when the least number of people look for plumbers.

Winter Heating Manwill UT

To Save Money, Get Your AC Cleaned in September

Want a deal? Consider September for air conditioning repair and maintenance jobs.

That’s when plumbers are least busy (at least according to Google Trends), the weather is pleasant, and you may get a deal on plumbing services.

Takeaway

Air conditioning units can malfunction any time of the year. If it’s an emergency, you will need to get a professional on a job as quickly as possible. But if it isn’t an emergency—such as yearly maintenance jobs or cleaning—you can save quite a bit of money by scheduling such tasks in September.

Don’t put off your air conditioning unit repair jobs until next year. Get it fixed right now and avoid 2018’s pre-summer AC repair rush. If you are in Salt Lake City, call us at (801) 262-4671. We will come to you and clean and maintain your air conditioning.

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AIR CONDITIONER REPAIR SALT LAKE CITY

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Just step inside any home and instantly you can feel the difference… Central Air! The clean smell, comfortable temperature, low noise, and now low operating costs.

Air conditioning repair

Unlike air conditioning systems of 20 years ago, today’s air conditioners use much less power to operate.

While browsing through our website you’ll learn new terms like TONS (a measurement of cooling), SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating), and Db (noise rating). Knowing what these terms mean will help you decide which air conditioner is best for you. Just click on the “Learn more” tab.

You’ll also learn that most air conditioners now use the R410a refrigerant. This new refrigerant has been works very well plus it does not contain the chlorine that is claimed to be damaging to our ozone layer.

Many manufactures have increased the quality of the outer protective covers. The new stronger casings are meant protect your investment against the outside elements. It also assists in keeping noise levels at a minimum. You’ll also read about two stage air conditioners. When combined with a variable speed furnace blower a two stage air conditioner will provide a constant air flow with a minimum amount of cool air and automatically increase to full capacity on high temperature. This reduces operating costs will maximizing personal comfort.

For a free “no cost estimate” call us today. Let our trained consultants evaluate your cooling needs. Our goal is to keep you and your family cool and comfortable.

UTAH SUMMERS

utah_summersIn Utah our weather changes at a moment’s notice. Where else can you catch a great powder day on the slopes and tomorrow enjoy a nice round of golf? Sudden changes are common and our equipment and our service staff is up for the task. Whether it be a maintenance tune up or an equipment failure on a hot summer day, you can count on us.

At Manwill Plumbing and Heating we have been doing business in Utah since 1920. So this kind of weather is what we count on. That’s why we provide 24/7 service. To keep you and your family comfortable. With the multitude of brands and equipment choices available, our sales and service staff can make recommendations to suit your needs and lifestyle. Plus we’re very up to date on factory incentive and tax credits. Just another way we help you get the most out of your money.

WE’RE THE AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS

manwill_deliversWhether it be for air conditioning repairs, a new air conditioner or plumbing service the personnel at Manwill Plumbing and Heating are highly trained professionals. Our technicians are NATE certified, EPA certified, RMGA certified, and Propane certified. Why all the certifications? Because there’s never enough training! Our training program is not all about certifications; it’s about providing you the best experience. We know your time is valuable and equipment failures are a major inconvenience. A highly trained technician can get your system back and running in the shorted amount of time. At Manwill Plumbing and Heating we’re proud of our employees and the pride they take in their expertise, workmanship and customer service skills.

You’ll feel comfortable with our employees in your home. Our dress code requires each one to be clean cut and wear company uniforms with name tags so you can easily identify them. Our trucks and vans display our company name and even our hats and coats proudly display our company name. The majorities of our employees are married and have families themselves so they know the importance of a good impression. Our staff at Manwill Plumbing and Heating knows the importance of your complete satisfaction. After all, our business was built on referrals and repeat business and we want to make sure you pass our name on to your friends and neighbors. After each service visit our employee will leave an evaluation sheet. We ask that you fill it out and mail it back. Postage is pre-paid of course! This is your chance to give us feedback. We listen to our customer’s needs and wants. We’re always striving to provide you the best customer service you’ll ever receive.

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Summer is Here 2015

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air conditioning nj

Summer is here, and it’s looking like it may be a hot one.

 

Here are a few tips to stay cool this summer.

  1. As always, keep your furnace filter clean! Some filters now can last up to a year. If you are not sure about your filter give us a call. With a few simple questions, we can get an idea of what type you have and suggest an average life expectancy.
  2. Keep all your supply and return registers free of being covered or blocked. Furniture, clothes, and other items may be blocking or restricting air flow. (This will stop or reduce the air flow needed to cool that area or room.)
  3. If possible keep the blinds or draperies closed or tiled to reflect the heat out of the home and not into the home, especially during the hottest part of the day. (Insulation keeps heat inside during winter, but it also keeps the heat out in the summer.)
  4. Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature. (Find a comfortable temperature in your home and leave it set. If programing a schedule 1-2 degree change is reasonable.)
  5. Check the outdoor air conditioner. Make sure that it has clear space around and above it. Make sure it is not covered by over grown by vegetation. (We like to see about 12” of free space around an air conditioner and about 5 feet above it.)

Although it may seem logical, air conditioning is not cooling your home. The reality of an air conditioning system is heat transfer. Refrigerant in the air conditioning system absorbs the heat from inside the home (in the evaporator) and transfers it to the outdoors (though the condenser). The process simply repeats itself as the refrigerant flows through the system.

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Should You Cover Your Air Conditioner for Winter?

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To cover or not to cover

Your air conditioner of course!

Web-2BpicturesWinter is slowly but surely on its way.  Here in Utah we see an average of about 56.2 inches of snow in Salt Lake City (per snow season), which makes it seem like an obvious answer.  Of course you cover the air conditioner . . . .  but wait a minute . .  maybe you don’t need to.

Air conditioners are made to be outside. They get rained on in the summer and snowed on in the winter. Many units get wet when the sprinklers come on or when a service technician washes the exterior coil. Your outdoor unit has drain holes to drain out any water that may accumulate inside.    So air conditioners are perfectly okay sitting outside through the winter months.

Preparing for the winter

But since we go through such extreme seasons in Utah, many of us winterize everything from our car to patio furniture to sprinkler systems.  Preparing for winter is a lot of work, but the time we put into winterizing is to prevent wear and tear and to keep things looking nice for as long as possible, and you can do the same for your air conditioner.

Covering your outdoor unit during the winter season is perfectly fine.   The primary purpose of covering an air conditioner is to keep it looking nice.  If you do cover it, we recommend a canvas cover.  If moisture does get under the cover, canvas breathes which allows the moisture to dry vs. a plastic cover that would trap the moisture in and potentially cause unpainted surfaces to rust.

Protect your A/C

Since running an air conditioning unit with the cover on can cause damage we recommend to turn the electrical breaker off so the A/C is not turned on accidentally. If you have a heat pump, NEVER cover the outdoor unit since a Heat Pump runs both summer and winter.

Most of all, next spring be sure to remove the cover and turn the breaker back on and enjoy another summer of cool air.
If you are looking for an air conditioning cover this fall, give us a call this fall 801-262-4671.

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What’s Up with A/C Tune Up Prices?

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TuneUpPrices

It‘s air conditioning Tune Up time and advertised prices are all over the board. $29 A/C tune up, $39 A/C tune up,  $49 A/C tune up. Then there’s the so called “Special $79 tune up, normally $169”. Then you’ll also see $69 to $89 tune ups. So what’s the best deal?
First let’s see what’s included in a tune up. A reputable company normally has a checklist of items the technician performs. Ask the technician for a copy of the checklist when the tune up is complete.
Here’s a list of what our company checks and necessary information needed to perform an accurate tune up:

·         Type of refrigerant, there are two common types, R22 and R410.
·         Outdoor temperature at the time the A/C is being serviced.
·         Clean and lube the furnace motor. The furnace motor circulates the cool air and needs to be serviced.
·         Clean or replace the furnace filter. A clean filter is vital for the air conditioner to operate properly and efficiently.
·         Oil the condenser motor. This is the fan motor on the outdoor unit.
·         Check condenser motor and compressor amps. High amperage draw indicates a problem.
·         Wash the condenser coil. This coil is part of the outdoor unit.
·         Check for spiders in the electrical contacts. Sounds strange, but those little buggers cause problems.
·         Check refrigerant levels. A tune up does not include adding refrigerant.  If your system is low, expect additional charges. Heads up, refrigerant prices have skyrocketed in recent years.
·         Check temperature differential. This is the temperature drop from the room temperature air to the air temperature coming out of your registers. Normally it’s an 18 to 21 degree difference. More or less may indicate problems.
·         Check Superheat. This indicates how much heat is being removed from the home.
·         Check thermostat settings and calibration.
·         Confirm the supply air and return air vents are not covered or blocked by furniture.

 Now for the price . . .  All I can say is “Buyer Beware”. Prices too good to be true normally are. Many companies use the low price to get in your door then SEARCH for a reason to sell new equipment. Some even use high pressure techniques to sell goods and services you didn’t ask for.
At Manwill Plbg & Htg, when you pay for a Tune Up, you get a Tune Up. Early Bird Specials run $69 now through April 30, 2014. In-season price is $79. Our tune ups include all items on the checklist above.  We do occasionally find problems that cost additional to repair, such as low refrigerant, but only under rare circumstances do we find a problem severe enough to recommend new equipment. We’re not out to sell more than you ask. We’re at your home to perform a tune up, just as you asked.

So this season, before you fall victim to “low price tune ups” call Manwill Plbg &Htg. Our goal is to provide a complete and thorough service to your full satisfaction, and hopefully next time you need a new furnace, air conditioner, water heater, or any other HVAC or Plumbing repairs, we’ll be the one you contact first.  Call us now for our $69 air conditioner tune up through the end of April, 801-262-4671.


p>By <a href=”https://plus.google.com/103536786624768442152” rel=”author” target=”_blank”>Jim Manwill</a></p>

 

“To cover or not to cover”

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“To cover or not to cover”
Your air conditioner of course!
 Winter is slowly but surely on its way.  Here in Utah we see an average of about 56.2 inches of snow in Salt Lake City (per snow season), which makes it seem like an obvious answer.  Not so…  Air conditioners are made to be outside.  It rains in the summer and a lot of them get sprayed by sprinkler systems too.  So air conditioners are perfectly okay sitting outside through the winter months.
We go through such extreme seasons in Utah that a lot a people winterize everything from patio furniture to sprinkler systems.  Preparing for winter is a lot of work.  The time we put into winterizing is to help keep our outdoor items looking nice for as long as possible.
Covering your air conditioner during the winter season is perfectly fine.   The primary purpose of covering an air conditioner is to keep it looking nice.  The main thing to consider is what type of cover to use.  We recommend a canvas cover.  If moisture does get under the cover, canvas breathes allowing the moisture to dry vs. a plastic cover that would trap the moisture in and potentially cause unpainted surfaces to rust. 
Also, its a good idea to turn the air conditioner breaker or service disconnect off.  This will prevent the A/C from being turned on while it is covered, preventing any mechanical damage to the unit.
Most of all, be sure to remove the cover and turn on the breaker on come spring time…
If you are looking for an air conditioning cover this fall
Give us a call!
801-262-4671      

Hottest Temperature on Earth Recorded at 159.3 Degrees

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Today's Forecast photo
Hot   Hot   Hot

 

Do you know where the HOTTEST places on Earth are?

So far this year we’ve seen 16 days of temperatures at or above 100 degrees. The air conditioner has been running almost non stop and I’m afraid to open the power bill. But as hot as it’s been it doesn’t come close to the hottest places on earth.

According to the “Minute Earth” podcast NASA constantly measures the Earth’s temperature with a Spectroradiometer from space. The highest recorded temperature has been in the Lut Desert in Iran at 159.3 degrees!  Check out this youtube video to learn more click here.     
The five highest recorded temperatures by Weather Stations on Earth are;                               

#5   Araouane, Mali – 130 degrees      Araouane is a small Saharan village on the way to Timbuktu (a real place!). Just 300 families call this desert place home

#4   Timbuktu, Mali – 130.1 degrees  The city best known for being the middle of nowhere Timbuktu is also a hot-hot-hot place. Timbuktu sits on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, about 10 miles north of the Niger River. The town is surrounded by sand dunes and the streets are often covered in sand. With a recorded high of 130.1 F (54.5 C), Timbuktu is one of the hottest places in the world.
#3   Kebili, Tunisia – 131 degrees  While it’s egg-fryingly hot, Kebili is actually a desert oasis. The 18,000 people who call this town home face heat waves with temperatures of 131 F (55 C).
#2   Ghadames, Libya – 131 degrees  Tying in temperature-record with Kebili is Ghadames, Libya, another oasis in the middle of a desert. The native Berber population of about 7,000 live in houses made with thick walls of mud, lime and tree trunks that help protect them from the blazing heat.
#1   Death Valley, United States – 134 degrees  Death Valley is the driest and lowest valley in the United States those conditions add up to some extreme temperatures. On July 10, 1913, at the Furnace Creek weather station, thermometers recorded 134 degrees, the highest temperature ever measured.
Credit: dreamstime &live science
 
 

 

One Hot Summer

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One Hot Summer
 
Web+Pictures+467

 

Wow it’s hot!!! Here we are, July 4th 2013, and we have already had six straight days of 100 plus degrees. Five days were records for Salt Lake City. Possibly a little early for the season, but we usually average about a week in 100 degree range. It looks like it is shaping up for a hot summer!

Everyone’s air conditioners are working overtime and so are our service technicians. I appreciate the extra hours our technicians, installers and staff have put in the past few weeks. Everyone has come in early and stayed late to make sure all the work gets done.
I hope everyone gets a chance to get out and enjoy their day off on this Fourth of July. Whether you hit the swimming pool or your local city park for the festivities and fireworks. Find a way to beat the heat and enjoy the day. Remember the sun screen and some extra water. After all, how often do you get to hang out with your family in the middle of the week?

 

Happy 4th of July 

Air Conditioner Checks for Home Owners

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There is nothing worse than turning on your air conditioner and BAM!!!  NOTHING… Absolutely nothing happens.  No fan…No humming from the outdoor unit, and of course no cold air coming out of the vents. Your family is complaining about how warm it’s getting and suddenly you begin to sweat a little yourself.

 

This has happened to all of us at one time or another. So I thought I would make a little list of things a home owner can check before calling a professional.

 

 

  1. CHECK THE FURNACE FILTER:  Yes… the same filter you changed last fall for the furnace.  During the air conditioning season the same filter is used.  Believe it or not this simple check equals about 50% of our preseason service calls.  In my opinion, your filter should be changed every three months.
  2. CHECK YOUR THERMOSTAT:  Make sure the system switch is in the cool mode. Double check the temperature setting.  Turn down the temperature at least 5 degrees below the room temperature.  Now days most thermostats have built in time delays that equal about 5 to 7 minutes.  So be sure to wait for about 10 minutes to allow for any time delays.
  3. CHECK BREAKERS:  Everyone has tripped a breaker by using the microwave and hair dryer at the same time. Right ???  Your air conditioner has sat outside for the 5-6 months.  Sometimes the first time a compressor tries to come on all the moving parts take a little to get moving and can draw a little more amps to get going.
  4. CHECK SUPPLY AND RETURN VENTS:  Make sure all the supply air vents are open and free of clothes and furniture.  During the winter many people close 1 or 2 vents because they may not be using a room or two.  Return air vents are typically against inside walls and are very easy to block with furniture.  It’s a good idea to leave a couple inches in front of the grill to allow for proper airflow.  With air conditioning air flow is one of the most important functions of the system.
  5. CHECK THE OUTDOOR UNIT:  Oops!!! Did you leave a cover on the air conditioner?  Air conditioners do not need to be covered in the winter but it’s our nature to want to cover them.  Basically covering an air conditioner just helps to keep the unit looking nice. However, leaving a cover on can cause a safety switch to trip preventing the air conditioner from coming on. 

 

These are just a few simple checks that you can check yourself.  In the event your air conditioner does not come on, don’t hesitate to contact us.  Manwill Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning. Our trained certified technicians are here to help.  Our service department is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can reach us at 801-262-4671.

 

 

Brian Jackson

 

 

Manwill Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning
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