Family Air HVAC Blog

It’s been a hot summer here in Tucson and chances are next summer is going to be the same.  The fall is actually a good time to purchase a new unit since costs are usually lower.  Yes, a new unit is a big investment, but so is the cost of continuing to repair an old and inefficient unit.Here are 5 ways to help...

Here are some signs that will help tell you that it may be time to consider replacing your furnace. Your heat pump is over 10 years old. Consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20% on heating costs. Not a bad deal. Your furnace is...

Improve the safety, comfort and energy efficiency of your house by taking advantage of the TEP Efficient Home Program incentives.  It’s easy!  Just call Family Air ~ a participating contractor and request a heat pump/air conditioner efficiency screening. Family Air will perform an efficiency screening on your existing...

Well, we are finally starting to see fall-like weather here in Tucson which means winter is just around the corner (maybe!).   It is still a good practice to make sure your home will be ready when the cold temperature hits.  Here are some tips for you to prepare: Schedule a routine maintenance and inspection of your heating...

As fall approaches in Tucson, the weather change also brings on those dreaded allergies.  Here are some things you can do to help protect yourself at least while you are inside your home! Your air conditioner can protect you from the outside elements and is definitely a better solution than the old swamp cooler for your...

SEER is probably the least understood concept.  It stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, but that probably doesn’t help you much. The SEER rating is the resulting number that is applied to an air conditioner. Therefore, the higher the SEER rating then the more energy efficient a given air conditioner unit should be. But...

General Thermostat Operation You can save as much as 10% a year on cooling by simply keeping your house warmer than normal by 7°-10°F when you are away and setting the thermostat to 78°F (26°C) when you are at home and need cooling. Set your thermostat at as high a temperature as comfortably possible and ensure humidity...

June is going to be a hot one for us in Tucson.  Here are some ideas on how to not go broke with high AC bills: Plant a leafy tree around your home’s exterior. This will provide shade for your home and planting them around or over your air conditioner could increase your AC's efficiency by up to 10%, according to the U.S....

Homeowners have a variety of choices in energy efficient air filters.  Here is a list of filters to choose from: Economy panel filters– You will usually find these in a four or five pack. They are relatively inexpensive; however you get what you pay for. These filters simply do not filter much at all and you will probably be...

Did you know that changing your HVAC filter can help improve the efficiency of your HVAC equipment up to 15%?  You heating and cooling unit makes up approximately 50% of your energy bill so by changing your filter on a regular basis, your $200 month bill could be lowered by $15 to $30 a month.  Not bad! How do you determine...

Now you can receive instant rebates on air conditioners, heat pumps and duct system sealing from TEP when you hire Family Air for your cooling and heating needs. The following rebates are available to TEP customers: ENERGY STAR® AC/heat pump quality installation $500 ENERGY STAR® AC/heat pump quality installation with early...