Most homeowners have never heard about the benefits of working with a NATE Certified technician, and many have never heard of NATE at all. Until a problem with their current system arises, they think very little of their HVAC system. NATE is North American Technician Excellence, and it is the leading non-profit certification program for technicians in the HVAC industry. It is the only test supported by the entire industry.

When you hire a company who employs NATE Certified technicians, you can save time and money involved in having an inexperienced technician install or service your HVAC equipment.

Some of the problems that come from poor installation or maintenance are:

•  Poor indoor air quality

• Inefficient operation (this can increase your monthly energy costs by 30%)

• Noise

• Humidity (making your home feel uncomfortable and leading to inefficiencies)

• Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide

• Risk of fire or injury 

NATE Certified technicians have proven their knowledge of the HVAC industry by passing specialized and stringent certifications. The potential issues that arise from improper installation by inexperienced technicians make it easy to see the benefits of hiring a NATE Certified technician. Among these benefits are:

•  Lower utility bills (from lower monthly energy bills and fewer needs for maintenance)

•  Trusted advice and knowledge (you feel good about the recommendations you get, knowing your technician is qualified)

•  Peace of mind (you know your HVAC equipment was safely installed or serviced by a qualified and experienced technician) 

When you are looking for an HVAC company to install or repair your equipment in Anderson or Muncie, we hope you will give our NATE Certified technicians a try.

There are many names for HVAC maintenance agreements. Some companies call them comfort plans, service agreements, clean and checks, or maintenance contracts. They are all basically the same thing: a contract between you and your HVAC contractor to ensure that preventative maintenance is performed on your HVAC equipment. Some agreements go far beyond maintenance into actual service agreements, working almost like insurance policies for your HVAC system.

Chances are good that you or someone you know have been taken advantage of by a disreputable dealer in the past, getting offered a low-cost appointment only to be ripped off by outrageous fees and unnecessary replacement of equipment.  You think there might be benefits to having regular maintenance performed, but you don’t want to get roped into an expensive contract that doesn’t pay off. 

Look for these benefits in a maintenance agreement:

•  Increased system efficiency
•  Lower energy costs
•  Extended equipment life
•  Discounts on repairs
•  Reduce the number and cost of repairs
•  Priority service
•  Convenience (the company should call you to arrange your maintenance)
•  Prevent small problems from becoming big ones
•  All your records in one place- the technician will have a better understanding
    of your HVAC history
•  Troubleshooting- the most important benefit is the expertise of a skilled technician

If these benefits are worth the price of the maintenance agreement (industry averages are $149-$250), you should consider purchasing one.

If you follow these tips, you should get the most out of your HVAC maintenance agreement:

•  Observe the technician. If the technician is unwilling to allow you to observe his
    work, take caution. A reputable technician will always welcome you to observe
    the maintenance.
•  Consider your climate- mild climates may only need one check per year.
    We recommend two checks for harsh climates like we have here in Anderson,
    Muncie, and New Castle.
•  Make sure your contractor is certified by NATE- the leading non-profit certification
    program for technicians in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration
    (HVAC/R) industry and the only test supported by the entire industry.
•  Look for a full service contractor- they tend to be up to date on the latest advances
    in the field

If you have more questions about how to get the most out of your maintenance agreement, contact us today 1-888-TRY AERCO (1-888-879-2372).

Indiana winters are brutal. While there is no way around the need to heat our homes in
the winter, there are several ways to save on unnecessary heat and energy loss. Some of
these tips are simple things you can do on your own, while others require a contractor.

1.    Set your water heater to about 120 degrees- Most homes have their water
       heaters set near to 140 degrees. By reducing the temperature of your water heater,
       you can save up to 15% on your water heating expenses.

2.    Don’t let heat escape unnecessarily- Keep doors & windows shut, close your
       fireplace flue & doors, insulate your home, and caulk and seal your windows and
       doorframes. If you think you might have a leaky window or doorframe, test out
       the area with a candle. Simply light a candle and hold it in front of the window
       and door areas. If the candle flickers and moves, you have identified an area
       where heat is escaping and cold air is coming in.

       Another take on this is to keep heat in that you are already generating. When you
       are done baking, leave your oven door open a little bit. Open the bathroom door
       when you get out of the shower or bath. You will be surprised how much heat
       will spread.

3.    Be strategic about your windows: Curtains and blinds should be open on cold
       but sunny days to take advantage of the warming of the Sun’s rays. On gray days
       and at sunset, close the curtains and blinds. This will prevent some of the heat
       loss through windows. Deciduous trees planted on the east and west sides of your
       home are also a great way to reduce heat loss and increase the Sun’s warming
       rays into your home. The leaves provide a barrier from the hot rays during the
       summer months, and they fall away in time to allow the rays in during the
       winter months.

4.    Maintain the humidity level in your home: When your home’s air is too dry,
       your furnace has to work a lot harder to maintain what feels to us like comfortable
       heat. When the air is at the optimal level of moisture, your furnace doesn’t have to
       work as hard to leave your home feeling warm and cozy.

5.    Change your air filter regularly: Check your filter every month, especially
       during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a
       month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter
       will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or
       cool, wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building
       up in the system, leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

6.    Seal your heating and cooling ducts: Ducts are often big energy wasters.
       Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and
       cooling system by up to 20%.

7.    Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly: This works a lot like tuning up your
       car. When your car is well maintained, you get better gas mileage and a longer
       running vehicle. A yearly clean and check of your heating and cooling system
       will save you money on your monthly bills, and it will help keep your system run
       better and last longer.

8.    Install a programmable thermostat: These are ideal for people who are away
       from home during set periods of time. Proper use of a pre-programmed thermostat
       can save you over $150 a year in energy costs. Whenever you can lower your
       thermostat drastically for a few days or more, you will save on the operation of
       your refrigerator and freezer as well. They don’t have to work as hard to maintain
       their cooler temperature.

       Try reducing the heat in your home one degree at a time. For each one degree
       drop for 8 hours, you reduce your heating bill by up to 1%. You may even want to
       turn down your thermostat 5-10 degrees at night. If you can bundle up and handle
       a cooler night, you can save up to 5-10% of your heating bill. Those savings will
       more than pay for a few extra blankets.

       * It is a common myth that when you reduce the thermostat for a few hours
       your furnace will have to work harder to bring your heat back up to the right
       temperature. You will use less energy overall even when you warm up your house
       from a cooler temperature.

9.    Match your system for optimal efficiency: An additional factor that affects
       the efficiency of your heating and cooling system is the indoor coil. This is also
       called the evaporator coil. In order to maximize the SEER and HSPF ratings and
       get maximal performance, your heat pump and air conditioner should be matched
       with the correct indoor coil.

10.  Consider investing in a high-efficiency HVAC system: If your furnace is
       approaching or past 15 years old, consider investing in new equipment. The loss
       of efficiency of older, inefficient systems is showing up monthly in your bill. You
       would be surprised how quickly a new, high-efficiency HVAC system will pay
       for itself in reduced monthly heating and air conditioning bills. You may even
       look into hybrid heating methods that use heat pumps to save even more on your
       monthly bills.

When it comes to getting your air ducts cleaned, homeowners feel like they are at a
disadvantage to the service provider. It’s not like you can really and truly see what is
inside your HVAC system. And how does the average homeowner know if what’s in
their ducts is actually harmful? While most service companies out there are honest,
there are unfortunately some unsavory ones who will take advantage of you.

Aerco would like to offer you some tips to help you figure out how to find an
honest, reputable company to clean your air ducts. A little homework ahead of
time will save you a big mess later, because if you end up hiring someone who is
not knowledgeable and experienced in air duct cleaning, they can damage your
ducts and put toxic debris into circulation in your home. We recommend asking
the following questions to your provider. Any reputable business will be ready and
willing to answer these questions. Truly excellent businesses will be honored that
you asked the questions in the first place.

1. How long have you been in business?
2. Are you covered by liability insurance?
3. What qualifications do your technicians have?
    (Check the company website to verify the information here.)
4. Do you offer to inspect my ducts beforehand to see if they really need to be
    cleaned? (A good contractor will offer to do an inspection beforehand for a
    nominal charge.)
5. What does your cleaning include? (To be effective, air duct cleaning does
    not just sweep the ducts. It involves cleaning every component of the HVAC
    system that air passes over. )
6. How long will the cleaning take? (Air duct cleaning should involve at least 2
    workers and takes several hours to complete.)

Vet the contractor by looking at their website, asking for references, and checking
the Better Business Bureau website.