You likely have heard this before and it is not merely a sales pitch. Now is the perfect time for preventive maintenance on your HVAC system – when the weather is not too warm in the spring, before the heat of the AZ summer kicks in and in the fall before the cooler weather starts. It is similar to your annual physical check-up with your doctor. In both cases, it is far better to be sure all is operating properly before big problems build up than to wait and have to fix a big problem after the fact. This is especially true of your Air Conditioning/Heating system.

The benefits of an annual “check-up” far outweigh the costs of the annual preventive maintenance service appointment. You will enjoy:

• Lower energy bills – When your system is maintained properly it is performing at its optimum level and highest efficiency. That translates into savings on your energy bill.
• Extended life of your system – When your system is performing at its optimum level on a regular basis because you have been properly maintaining it, you give your system its best chance to live a longer life. This is because it is working most efficiently and with less stress on multiple moving parts that are necessary to have a well operating system.
• Lower repair costs – When you regularly examine your system, you are likely to catch small fixes before they grow to a larger, far more costly problem. Even small issues cause stress to the other moving parts in your system and can eventually lead to a larger problem. Solving these smaller problems now contributes immediately to lower energy bills and extended life for your system.

Marlin Services does a 17-Point Tune Up in order to cover all the important items that should be checked to avoid a system break down. This includes:

• Check thermostat operation
• Clean or replace filter (customer supplied)
• Check system temperature split
• Check Freon level
• Inspect fused disconnect
• Inspect wiring and tighten electrical connections
• Inspect contactor, relays and pressure contacts
• Inspect electrical safety circuits
• Check voltage and amperage to all motors
• Inspect indoor blower and motor for dirt buildup
• Inspect bearings and lubricate all moving parts (as required)
• Inspect belt and adjust tension (as required)
• Inspect and clean condensate drain
• Inspect outdoor coil
• Inspect duct seal at unit and secure panel
• Explain and document all necessary repairs
• Run and test system

For a variety of reasons, it just makes good sense to practice preventive maintenance and to do it when you are not in desperate need for servicing or repair – particularly in the 100+ degree summer weather we have here.

And don’t forget to change your air filters regularly! This is such a simple thing to do and it will help greatly in properly maintaining your HVAC system.

Here are some good articles and an infographic to check out regarding the importance and benefits of a well maintained HVAC system:
http://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/maintaining-your-air-conditioner

http://home-repair.yoexpert.com/heating-and-cooling/how-can-i-benefit-from-air-conditioning-preventive-5279.html

http://visual.ly/benefits-well-maintained-ac-system

https://www.ashrae.org/resources–publications/free-resources/top-ten-things-about-air-conditioning#5

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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1.6The water usage of an average family of 4 every day is 400 gallons per day. Most of that water, or 70%, is used indoors. And the largest percentage of the water used indoors is in the bathroom. The toilet specifically, uses 27% of the household water.

When you have a leaking toilet, there is a tremendous amount of wasted water. You will see approximately 200 gallons of water wasted each day the toilet is leaking. And you will be shocked at how that affects your expenses when you receive your next water bill. With the urgency of water supplies throughout the world today, wasting 200 gallons of water per day is a significant number. Imagine now, adding up the total of all houses with leaking toilets at 200 gallons of wasted water per day and that number is daunting.

It is easy to check and see if your toilet is leaking.

• Remove the tank lid of the toilet.
• Flush your toilet as usual.
• Drop about 4 to 5 food coloring drops in the toilet tank.
• Wait 20 to 30 minutes.
• Check the toilet bowl for traces of the food coloring drops.

If the toilet is clear, there is no leak. However, if the food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, this is an indication there is a leak. Be sure to fix that leak to avoid a surprisingly high water bill.

Here is a video on detecting a toilet leak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZCGXGxRFHw

Fixing the toilet may be an easy task. You may be able to do it yourself or it may require that you call a professional. Either way, make sure you get it fixed.

If you end up needing to replace your toilet, be sure you purchase a WaterSense labeled product. Today, the current federal standard for toilets is 1.6 gallons per flush. There are many new models that are now 1.28 gallons per flush. This is a 20% savings over the federal standard and is significantly less than the older model you may be replacing. Older models range between 3.5-7 gallons per flush.

Check out these helpful articles on the subject:
http://plumbing.about.com/od/toilets/ss/Diagnose-A-Running-Toilet-In-3-Easy-Steps.htm

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/fixleak.html

http://www.isustainableearth.com/water-conservation/toilet-leaks-cost-you-840-per-year

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/products/toilets.html

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

Connect With Us at Marlin Services