CPS Energy extends deadline for Board of Trustees applicationsCPS Energy seeks applications for Board of TrusteesFirst time ever Black Friday special for CPS Energy customers Air conditioning tips keep you from sweating repairs People have been beating the heat since 1926, thanks to Willis Haviland Carrier, an American engineer, who invented modern air conditioning for homes. Fast forward 89 years later and more than two-thirds of all U.S. homes have air conditioning, spending more than $11 billion annually in cooling costs.* There’s a reason why we’re spending so much. Here in hot South Texas, the HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) system makes up almost 60 percent of your energy bill during the summer. If you’re keeping your thermostat set to an ideal temperature like 78 to 80, your system will run on average 12 hours out of a 24-hour period. But if the temperature outside is more than 20 degrees higher than your thermostat setting, i.e. thermostat is at 78 and heat index is 102, then your air conditioning system will run even more.

To help your HVAC system run as efficiently as possible, make sure you do regular maintenance. After all, it’s been working hard for you. If you neglect your system, you may have to call a professional. But before you do, here is a list of common air conditioner problems and some troubleshooting tips. Got an old thermostat? Enroll in our Smart Thermostat program and receive a free WiFi programmable thermostat. Take control of your homes comfort right from your mobile device. house ac unit wont turn onOur Smart Thermostat can save you up to 10% on your heating and cooling costs.how much do central ac units cost Minimizing summer heat impact to your billac units for a house Humidity: bad for hair and energy bills CPS Energy, customers partner to reduce energy demand

Whether you need air conditioning repair or are looking for a complete HVAC system installation, the expert technicians at ARS®/Rescue Rooter® will provide you with fast, professional service to ensure the highest quality air conditioning and comfort for your home. Whatever type of cooling unit you have, it's a complex system. After years of performance, it can break down and you may need air conditioning system repair. Your local ARS/Rescue Rooter AC specialist will provide up-front, accurate estimates prior to any work beginning and expert installation. Call 866-399-2885 today to set up an in-home consultation. Your air conditioner works best with regular, proper care and maintenance. In addition to being more dependable, a well-maintained cooling system is more energy-efficient and performs more effectively. When it comes to air conditioning systems, there are many options available from which to choose. Understanding the internal workings of your cooling system allows you to have a more meaningful conversation with the HVAC technician working in your home.

Have a question or concern about air conditioning—or just looking for ways to save energy? Either way, we can help. by Travis Howard, published October 2010 The condenser coil and sometimes referred to as the outdoor coil releases heat to the outdoor air that it has removed from the home.  For heat pumps in the heating season, the coil picks up heat from the outdoor air and transfers it to the home.  This is performed by pulling air through the coil. Coil fins that are struck by hail or other objects are bent and damaged reducing and changing the airflow.  This airflow reduction and change inhibits the ability to transfer heat from the house to the outdoor air.  This not only raises your energy consumption and reduces efficiency it shortens the life of the unit. Insurances companies have been telling homeowners to have the coil fins combed out to straighten them.  I have been reading some testing agencies reports regarding hail damage effects on air conditioner performance. 

While the opinions and findings vary not one agency would commit to stating that an air conditioner can be returned to 100% performance, capacity and efficiency.  The equipment will never have the same cooling, efficiency and life expectancy it had before the damage occurred. For some equipment, manufacture warranty can still be in effect.  Manufacturers will not warranty a failed component, such as a compressor, if any possibility exist that it failed due to a damaged coil that was not returned to original manufactures specifications. Combing out damaged condenser coil fins on equipment under manufacture warranty is not recommended.  The minimum acceptable restoration is complete coil replacement.  Combing out damaged condenser coil fins on equipment, not under manufacture warranty, could be performed with the understanding that the equipment capacity, performance, efficiency  and remaining life expectancy have been compromised. During my research, I came across an article by Dan Jape of Reliable Heating and Air, in which he said, “This would be similar to your insurance company telling you to beat out the damaged fender in your car with a hammer after a wreck and insisting you be happy with the results”.

Hail damaged air conditioners and heat pumps need to be looked at, not as a cosmetic problem, but rather as a long-term performance and capacity problem.  Insist that your insurance company replace your equipment or fix it with a manufactures coil.What Resources Exist to Help Boards Cut Costs? Can't See the Forest: Tree and Plant Issues at a Building How to Form a Committee to Get Stuff Done Don't Cut Cost Corners Do you know what your problem is? importantly, do you know if it’s actually your problem? In the world of condos and co-ops, understanding who is responsible for what in an apartment or in a building’s common areas isn’t always clear to apartmentDuring the process of purchasing a condo unit or shares in a co-op, buyers are often so engrossed in the buying process itself that they don’t invest the effort needed to understand the ins- and-outs ofThis can lead to confusion, even anger, when the need for repairs So it’s important for boards and management to

help owners understand just what it is they are responsible for in terms of the maintenance and repair to their apartments. important for the board of directors of a co-op or a condo to know exactly what their duties are to shareholders and unit owners. Ultimately, what a unit owner is responsible for and what the building management is responsible for, will be determined by the proprietary lease or governing documents. The usual standard is that the owner owns, and is responsible for repair and maintenance of everything from the walls in. In general, that means that when it comes to painting, repairing damage to walls, the unit’s plumbing and all appliances, the owner has to foot the bill. There can, of course, be exceptions. According to Marc H. Schneider, an attorney based in Garden City, if there’s a pipe or line in an apartment that services parts of the building aside from the individual unit, the condominium may be responsible