Proudly Celebrating Memorial Day

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We barbecue in the summer sun, and seek refuge in the air-conditioned house. They carry 100+ pounds of gear and keep fighting through all the elements. We do our shopping in malls and grocery stores that are heated and cooled for our convenience.

Our ancestors that fought the good fight did so barefoot and knee-deep in snow during the Revolutionary War. We get air conditioning and heaters that heat and cool our buildings to perfection at the press of a button because others fought. Imagine such a sacrifice.

That’s why here at Chad’s AC Direct we love Memorial Day. We prioritize honoring our fallen men and women that gave it all for our freedom in the blistering heat and frigid cold. In honor of this American holiday that we hold so dear, here are some interesting facts about Memorial Day and how we plan to celebrate.

From Decoration Day to Memorial Day

decorationdayEven though the holiday has been celebrated since the end of the Civil War, it didn’t become an official American holiday until 1971. Memorial Day started right after the Civil War because it was the bloodiest war to date in American history.

After so many gave their lives in the Civil War, Americans were holding vigils and remembrance ceremonies for their loved ones and community members all over the country in the spring of 1865.

It was originally called Decoration Day when a general that served called for a nationwide day of remembrance to be held on May 30, 1868. Why Decoration Day, of all names? Because he didn’t want it to be about any specific battle, but rather to honor every fallen soldier from the war. People would gather in cemeteries, and place flowers and flags on the graves of fallen soldiers.

Sound familiar? We carry on this tradition into the modern day, remembering friends, family, and other service members in our lives. Now, we celebrate it on the last Monday in May after Congress passed a law in 1968 so that federal employees could have a three-day weekend for the holiday. All across America, the last Monday in May means remembrance, cookouts, patriotic parades, and the beginning of summer.

We Honor Our Armed Forces

armedforcesIt may be easy to forget the true meaning of Memorial Day when we are constantly distracted by retail blowout sales, pool parties, and hot dog cookouts.

But we all know that this day truly exists to give respect to all men and women who died in battle from the Revolutionary War to the most recent missions our troops continue to fight.

Without them and their willingness to stand at the front lines, what would America be? Would we have faced invasion from outside countries? Would we be the democracy we are today? Fortunately for us, we don’t have to find out.

Thanking Our Clients

thankyouclientsThis Memorial Day, at Chad's AC Direct we celebrate our friends, family, and you. Our clients keep us moving forward, bringing innovation to our field and excellence to the industry. If you are a veteran and we’ve had the honor of having your business, we cannot thank you enough.

All our customers are our motivation and we are so grateful we get to serve you every day. Without the soldiers we honor on Memorial Day, we would not have the privilege to operate our business in a free country with a free market economy.

We appreciate your business, your loyalty, and our gratitude keeps us working for you in this great, free country. Memorial Day exists because of bravery, suffering, victory, and freedom. It exists because of Americans who followed the call to service, sacrificing everything for us.

So when you go shopping to take advantage of some of those Memorial Day sales, or swim in your neighbor’s pool, remember the fallen. Remember that they chose the difficult road that led them to fight for freedom, and gave their own life in the process. This year and every year, we will never forget.

Who Needs Luck When You Have HVAC Smarts?

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There are a variety of superstitions and lucky charms out there that some people swear by. Who doesn’t know someone who had a lucky penny or a rabbit’s foot to try and bring them a little extra luck? And, this time of year, everyone is often hunting for the elusive four-leaf clover to increase their fortunes.

While we aren’t disrespecting superstitions (after all, we all have them), there are times it is better to be smart than lucky. When it comes to your HVAC system, staying on top of regular maintenance is a lot better than clutching whatever lucky talisman you have, at least when it comes to avoiding a massive repair bill. These tips will help you stay on top of your HVAC maintenance and you can use your luck elsewhere.

The Brain of Your HVAC System: The Thermostat

thermostatWhile our HVAC systems are big systems that span our entire house, the most common thing we deal with is the thermostat. Since it displays temperature, most people think of the thermostat as the same as a thermometer but that is actually not true.

A thermostat is calibrated to try and maintain a set temperature. If this calibration is thrown off, studies have shown that your energy bills can increase by a relatively severe 7 percent.

Dirt is an incredibly common culprit in throwing this calibration off and causing problems. Having a simple calibration check performed annually before the peak season for your HVAC system can save you a ton of money in the long run.

Stopping the Sweat with a Dehumidifier

humidskinAs much as we may love our home, we can’t deny the amount of moisture in the air can certainly be uncomfortable at times. During the summer months, it can be hard to step outside without developing that light sheen of sweat from the humidity.

However, the sweat should stop at home and allow you to enjoy comfort and relaxation. Key to making this happen is using a dehumidifier in your home.

This pulls extra moisture out of the air and keeps you comfortable and dry. Keeping it emptied and clean will help it run at optimum efficiency and keep your air quality high.

The Engine of Your HVAC System: The Air Handler

airhandlerWe may think of the furnace or heat pump itself as the engine of the HVAC system but it can really be your air handler. In a split system, this device delivers the cooled or heated air all throughout your house via the air ducts.

This is why a malfunction to the air handler can actually impact the rest of your system as well. Air handlers use filters to keep the air clean but if these filters are not maintained, your system can take a nosedive in performance.

Managing your air handler is an essential part of routine HVAC maintenance. While a little superstition never hurts, at Chad’s AC Direct, we believe you may your own luck most of the time. There is no better way to make your own luck than calling us at (334) 264-6464.

Schedule a regular HVAC maintenance to keep away from discomfort and big repair bills. Share this article to make sure your friends and neighbors stay cool and comfortable as well as comment on anything else you do to keep your house comfortable all year long.

Top Tips For Committing to Your HVAC System

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Valentine's Day is fast approaching, which means that guys all over the country are beginning to sweat and look for a way to avoid giving her that ring she's been hinting at all year long once again. Jokes aside, many people have issues with commitment in and out of their relationships, and those issues aren't just the focus of jokes we tell our friends, they're the reason the furnace needs repairs, or why the central air system stops running.

Oftentimes good things come out of commitments, especially when it's to a business or repair specialist. Buying hosting a year at a time lowers your monthly bill, committing to the same car for five years lowers your monthly premium, and investing in an HVAC membership can help you take care of important maintenance work on your heating and cooling systems for less.

Avoid a Heating Emergency With an HVAC Membership

heatingemergencyThere's nothing worse than climbing out of bed on a winter morning only to notice the chill in the air and to see your thermostat temperature has dropped down much lower than usual.

Your heating system stopped functioning, and now you have to scramble to try and get help repairing the issue. This won't happen if you have an HVAC membership.

The plan will likely include annual maintenance that prevents the problem, and if you do end up with a problem you'll get quick and responsive help that gets the system up and running fast.

Energy Efficiency From Your Cooling System

In southern locations, central air is just as important as heat is. That's why it's up to you to maintain your system so that it can keep running for decades to come.

The trick to doing this is to hire professionals to handle all the maintenance work each year. With regular care you’ll enjoy:

  • coolingsystemStronger airflow.
  • Improved indoor air quality.
  • Energy savings.
  • Extended appliance life.
  • Peace of mind.

With that HAVC membership, you normally get maintenance included for free, as well as added repair services at a discount if you do run into an issue that needs resolving.

Find a Professional You Trust For Long Term Care

longtermcarePurchasing a membership with an HVAC company is only worth the cost if you trust the company to do its job well and to stay around long enough to help you if anything goes wrong.

That's why it's so important to look for an expert that you'll want to do business with for years after getting your membership. Focus on finding trustworthy experts that have the skills to meet all of your repair and maintenance work.

When you have expert care for your systems over the long term they last longer and suffer from fewer problems overall. By paying for a long term HVAC membership you'll actually save money on your systems overall.

Are you interested in keeping your home in good shape and saving money at the same time? If that sounds like you, contact Chad's AC Direct at (334) 264-6464 and protect your home today.

The Importance of Understanding Your Heating System

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Want to be even better prepared the next time your heating system is due for maintenance? Unfortunately, most people don’t worry about their HVAC unit until it’s time to have the system maintained.

However, staying on top of your unit’s inner workings and knowing even the most basic things about your heating system (yes, including where the vents are!) can help you when it’s time for repairs or inspections.

Which Heating Distribution System do You Have?

In today’s market, there are plenty of options for homeowners when it comes to heating systems. Whether you own a forced-air system or a radiator distribution system, it can be easy to get the right help for your unit when you know which one you have.

  • distributionBoiler: This radiator distribution system sends hot water or steam through pipes, thereby causing the radiating heat. Although they can be more expensive to install and run, these units bring benefits like zoned heating.
  • Furnace: The most common heating system throughout the U.S., this forced-air system (which is typically powered with gas) pushes air through a series of ducts that distributes the air throughout the home.
  • Ductless Mini-split A/Cs: A ductless mini-split unit is ideal if you want to have control over the temperature in separate rooms. This system can really help you optimize your energy spending.

Stay well informed and up to date on your heating system so you can identify problems, and solutions, sooner!

Want to Control The Air Flow in a Room? Don’t Close Vents!

ventIf you have a whole-home heater and a room you barely use receiving that heat, you might figure the best way to improve energy expenditure would be to close the vent in that room to allow the rest of the home to be more efficiently heated.

While closing the vent in a particular way may seem like the best option for decreasing the air flow in that room, doing this may actually cause more problems in the long run. The room in your home have supply and return vents.

Closing the supply vent (the return vent cannot be closed) in a room will create pressure because then the return vent will need to pull air from any source. This means that you’ll actually be spending more energy and more money because the return vent will need to work harder to pull it from sources like windows or doors. The ideal way to have better-controlled air flow in a room would be to invest in a system such as a mini-split that would let you control the air in individual rooms.

Save Money on Your Heating Costs!

moneySometimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impact on your energy spending. When you’re getting ready to blast that heater during the winter, make sure you have a pro technician conduct a tune-up to ensure the system is working properly.

Get an energy audit done on your home to find out how well the system is working! nd whether there are any changes that you need to make. Minor things you can do yourself include changing the filter as often as needed to ensure the system runs smoothly.

You can also turn down the thermostat by just a couple of degrees when you’re out of the house or sleeping. And finally, turn those ceiling fans on in reverse! Because hot air rises, putting them in reverse will push the hot air back down ensuring the temperature stays warmer for longer.

Stay Prepared During The Winter!

Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year in unparalleled comfort by keeping your heating unit working properly. Share these tips and tricks with your friends so they can do the same, and now whenever you decide to visit them, their home will be as comfortable as yours!

Reasons to Replace Your HVAC System Now!

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HVAC systems have come a long way in the past decade. With all of today’s technological advances, features like eco-friendly refrigerants, modulating technology, variable-speed air circulation, and smart thermostats are becoming more standard.

The Air conditioning systems and heaters of today are more sophisticated than ever before. For these reasons alone, a new HVAC system just makes sense. The more common reasons for purchasing a new HVAC installation are as follow:

  • Carbon monoxide leakage.
  • Current HVAC unit is old.
  • Compressor failure.

Never Ignore a Carbon Monoxide Leak

“carbonmonoxideleak”To ignore a carbon monoxide (CO) leak is never an option to consider. CO is a deadly poisonous gas that will kill anyone who inhales it for a prolonged period of time.

It has no odor, which makes it is nearly impossible to detect until you start having physical symptoms.

Dizziness, headaches, nausea and difficulty breathing can wreak havoc on your health and interrupt your daily routine. If you think there is a CO leak inside your home, call an HVAC specialist and your utility company as quickly as possible.

How Old is Your HVAC System?

“oldairconditioner”Unlike fine wine, HVAC systems do not get better with age. One of the most common reasons why an HVAC system breaks down is age.

You may have just moved in and don't know how old the HVAC unit is. If your current HVAC system is more than 12 years old and requires frequent repairs, you should get a new one.

If your energy bill is too high, if you have indoor humidity, and if the system makes clanking noises you should probably consider upgrading to a newer model. Make sure that only a licensed HVAC expert works on your system and that they have the required credentials to install your new HVAC system.

Yearly HVAC maintenance plays a pivotal role in keeping your system running smoothly throughout the year. This once-a-year service call can keep your HVAC unit running efficiently all year long. There will be no expensive gas bill Yearly maintenance will keep your system running at peak capacity way past its lifespan.

5 Signs Your HVAC Compressor is Failing

It is advisable that you repair any HVAC issues as soon as possible. Your HVAC system is made up of many moving components, such as the condenser, condenser coil, and the fan. Its job is to absorb warm air inside your home and release it outdoors. You should respond to these signs of failure quickly in order to prevent further damage to your heating and cooling system.

Five clues that point to compressor failure are:

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  • The compressor doesn’t turn on.
  • Compressor makes noise.
  • The compressor vibrates.
  • Your circuit breaker trips.
  • System blows warm air.

Practice damage control to resolve these issues quickly. Ignoring them for too long can cause the damage to worsen, and your repair bill will ultimately be higher. For immediate service, be sure to call a reputable HVAC installation specialist.

Call Chad's AC Direct in Montgomery, AL. Someone will be glad to help you determine if a new HVAC installation is needed in your home. If you do need a new HVAC, your contractor will advise you and recommend the right system for your home.