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Keep your home’s air conditioner working

By David W. Shelton | July 2, 2007 |

This is the time of year where calls to HVAC service companies skyrocket. This summer’s mild (so far) temperatures haven’t strained our central air conditioners as much as could be, but that’s no reason to leave things alone.

If you haven’t had your system serviced in the last couple of years, it’s highly recommended that you call someone now to make sure that it’s working in top condition. What’s more important is that you choose the right company. There are plenty of highly-skilled companies in town, and it’s important that the one you select is both licensed and bonded.

HVAC systems are expensive to replace, so keeping your system in prime condition is paramount. One of the cheapest things you can do is to keep your filter changed regularly. If you use 30-day filters (those blue fiber ones), then be sure to change it every month. If you use the 3-month filters, then be sure to keep a close eye on it. If you have a lot of pets like we do, then it might not be a bad idea to change it a little more often.

This all boils down to a simple reality: the less your system has to strain, the longer it will last. A clogged filter reduces the air flow capacity and adds stress to the unit, which increases the likelihood of problems sooner, rather than later.

I’d like to give some props to a well-deserved company that did some work recently on my home’s HVAC system. A technician from Affordable Aire came out to repair the unit earlier this year, and charged a fair price. My power bill dropped to about a third of what it was the month before, and I couldn’t have been happier.

However, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the house wasn’t as cool as it should have been (I’m a wimp when it comes to air conditioning… believe me, I’d notice!). I was a little miffed, so I called the folks at Affordable Aire again. They came right out the next day and the technician said that the previous repair wasn’t done quite right, so he offered to fix it free of charge.

Of course, I would have preferred to have it done right the first time, I was delighted that they stood by their work to that extent. They even recharged the Freon without charging me for it. That’s what customer service is all about, and I am always one to give credit to where it’s due.

It takes people of high integrity to stand by their work, and I was proud to know that the fine folks at Affordable Aire had that level of integrity. In a world where “technicalities” reign, it’s nice to know that there are some companies that care more about their customers than their bottom line.

Affordable Aire is located at 1215 Beverly Hills Drive in Clarksville and can be reached by telephone at (931) 552-0623. Their website is www.affordableaire.com.

About David W. Shelton

Posts by David W. Shelton are copyright (c)2006, 2007, 2008 by the author. All rights reserved. David W. Shelton is a writer, speaker and activist in Clarksville, and serves on the Clarksville Human Relations Commission. His passions include film and complete equality for all people, and he has worked in various capacities to work toward this goal. He is currently an illustrator, graphic designer, trainer, and is the owner of Imagine Media Solutions. He is an Adobe® Certified Instructor in Photoshop®.

Web Site: http://www.skippingtothepiccolo.com/

Email: dwshelton@att.net