Should I cover my air conditioner?

Every fall as the leaves drop and the cold temperatures roll in, homeowners start thinking about winterizing their homes, yards and… air conditioners???

We are often asked by our customers whether they should be covering their A/C’s during the winter to protect them from the winter elements.  Unfortunately, there is no perfect answer to this question.

While covering your A/C may keep it looking a little better in the long run, doing so can create the perfect habitat for critters; such as mice.  These freeloaders like to use your covered up air conditioner as living quarters to get out of the harsh Wisconsin winter conditions and will make swiss cheese out of the wiring and other components in the unit.

Every Spring we arrive at several service calls for A/C’s not working to find exactly that. This can lead to expensive repairs that probably wouldn’t have happened if the unit was left uncovered.

On the other hand, we also have had to replace the top portion of A/C’s due to ice falling on them from the roof which may have been protected if covered.  So you ask what we would recommend?  In our opinion, it is best to leave the unit uncovered but if you have ice that often forms above your A/C then just put a piece of plywood over the top of it to reduce the possibility of damage from above.

End of $500 Federal Tax Credit

If you’re in the market for a new furnace and air conditioner, now is the time! The 2013 Federal Tax Credit will be ending at the end of this year.  There is a $200 tax credit for a qualifying furnace and an additional $300 for a qualifying air conditioner if installed at the same time as a furnace.

In addition to the $500 tax credit, there is also a $400 rebate available from Wisconsin Focus On Energy, along with manufacturer rebates and company discounts to sweeten the pot!

Taking advantage of all these discounts will help save money on your energy bills and improve the comfort of your home, so call Pharo Heating & Cooling today to get your FREE in-home estimate.

High and Low Returns

We are often asked what the point of having both a high and low return air is.  Well, the simple answer is for comfort.  Having both a high and low return allows you to fine tune your home comfort system by pulling the warm air off the ceiling during the summer and cold air off the floor in winter.

In the winter, you should open the low return which will pull the cold air off the floor.  This will also help pull the heat down off the ceiling, giving a more even comfort level.

In the summer, you should close the low return and allow the air to be pulled from the high return.  This will pull the heat that is trapped at the ceiling out of the room.  Having the high return open will also pull the cold air off the floor and mix it around the room, giving a more even comfort level.

To learn more about controlling the comfort level of your home, give us a call at 608-233-1001 or email clint@pharoheating.com and receive a free Indoor Air Quality consultation.