The HI-VAC Times FREON: WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW

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1 August 2012 Volume 1, Issue 6 The HI-VAC Times Peter Blanco, President Inside this issue: Peace of Mind 2 ASK THE EXPERT 3 Cool Zone (brain teasers and comics) About Us 5 4 FREON: WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW THE NEW TREND- Every few months a news story breaks about the newest/ legal way for teens to get high. Last summer, strong warnings and emergency bans were issued for over the counter bath salts. ABC News reported that huffing Freon, the gas found in air conditioning systems, has become the newest way to get a buzz amongst teens who are looking for a quick high. THE DANGER- Huffing Freon freezes the lungs and causes a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. Doctors say that this is so dangerous because even a single use can result in sudden death. The American Association of Poison Control Center s report says Freon huffing killed at least two teens in 2009 and sent more than 2,000 others to the hospital. HOW THEY GET IT- According to officials, teens are stealing Freon out of existing air conditioning units and then huffing it. This is a common occurrence. People think they have a leak but what really is going on may be a theft. WHAT CAN YOU DO?- Parents can have a locking cap installed to prevent Freon from being taken. Only an air conditioning service person can install one on the compressor. This will prevent Freon from being let out without a key. If you are interested in learning more about how you can have these safety caps installed on you re A/C, you can call our Safety Locking Caps require a special key to remove and protect you from having your Freon taken.

2 The HI-VAC Times Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 2 EXTENDED WARRANTIES + REGULAR MAINTENANCE = PEACE OF MIND It s no surprise that an improved central air conditioner warranty accompanies the increased energy efficiency and enhanced comfort level of today s units. The relationship between advanced technology and longer service life is clear. Manufacturers recognize that homeowners make buying decisions for the long haul and expect a warranty to stand behind them. Manufacturers offer extended coverage over much of the unit's life span, as well as many add-on warranty options. Upgrading to a new central air conditioner is one of the biggest purchases you ll make during home ownership. Protect your rights and make sure you re getting all the benefits you deserve by taking a minute to understand these warranty terms and conditions: 1. Base warranty: This is the standard manufacturer s air conditioner warranty accompanying all new units. Most manufacturers require registration of the unit within 60 days of purchase in order to qualify for the full warranty term. Coverage is limited and differs by make and model. Typically, the manufacturer will offer five- or 10-year limited parts coverage, and up to a 10-year compressor warranty. Standard manufacturer base warranties do not include labor costs, but the installing dealer may offer labor coverage for up to a year. 2. Most warranties require annual preventive maintenance to remain in force. Just like your car, if you never changed the oil and then expected the warranty to cover the resulting problems, you can be in for disappointment. So if you want full coverage under the warranty make sure to have regular annual maintenance as prescribed in the manufacturer's installation and operation instructions. Keep these records for future reference if demanded by the manufacturer. Regular maintenance also reduces repairs, lightens utility costs and extends the life of the equipment, so it's always a good idea regardless. 3. Extended warranty: Most established industry brands offer an extended warranty with a variety of options at additional cost. Evaluate your options consistent with your needs and future in the home. 4. Another frequent benefit of extended warranties is transferability to a new owner if the house is sold.

3 The HI-VAC Times Volume 1, Issue 6 ASK THE EXPERT We want to hear from you. Reply to this e-newsletter with your questions and you will receive an answer within 1 business day. Questions can be specific to your account with us, for example when is the next regularly planned maintenance due on my AC system? Or you may be interested in knowing how an ac system works. All questions will be answered by our expert, Peter Blanco. Peter has built this company from the ground up and has over 35 years experience in the HVAC business. We will be selecting the top five reader submitted questions along with their answers in every issue of The HI-VAC Times. We respect your privacy and will not be posting any personal information in this newsletter. Your name will not appear if your question is selected for the top five. Page 3 CLICK ON SMILEY TO SUBMIT QUESTION FAQ s Q: My outside air unit will not turn off on its own. I have to manually turn the breaker off to turn it off. Does anyone know why or how I can fix it? A: If your A/C won't turn off it could be that the thermostat is set to a temperature that the system cannot reach - due to lost cooling or due to a setting below the capability of the system. If your A/C won't turn off even if you set the thermostat to a temperature that is above the current room temp, then the thermostat or an A/C control board or switch is bad and needs replacement - in that case you need a service call from a trained HVAC Technician. Q: Shouldn t I install the highest SEER air conditioner available? A: In our climate, 13 SEER is considered standard efficiency (this is the minimum efficiency the federal government allows to be sold) and 16 SEER is high efficiency. The initial investment is higher for a 16 SEER than a 13 SEER, but the electricity savings will usually pay for the difference in 5-7 years. The higher SEER equipment doesn t remove humidity as well as older, lower SEER equipment, so it is important that the new air conditioner be sized properly so it runs long enough to remove humidity (so you don t have a cool, but sticky home). Q: How often should I have maintenance done on my air conditioner? A: You should have maintenance done on your air conditioning system twice a year. This not only ensures maximum efficiency, it enables us to foresee any possible problems that may occur in the near future. Q: What is a Service Call fee? A: A Service Call fee is a flat fee for the cost associated with the time and travel to diagnose, inspect and provide expert recommendations for a home's heating or air conditioning system. Q: Air conditioning unit circuit breaker tripped and trips immediately when reset why? A: The most probable cause of this is that the compressor is shot or locked. Depending on how old the unit is, you might want to look into replacing your system (over 7 yrs old).

4 Riddles & Brain Teasers An Arab sheikh tells his two sons to race their camels to a distant city to see who will inherit his fortune. The one whose camel is slower wins. After wandering aimlessly for days, the brothers ask a wise man for guidance. Upon receiving the advice, they jump on the camels and race to the city as fast as they can. What did the wise man say to them? Think about these 1.Let's say there is a bullet which can shoot through any barrier. Let's also say there is an absolutely bullet-proof armor which no object can penetrate. What will happen if such a bullet hits such an armor? 2.Can a man drown in the fountain of eternal life? 3.Your mission is not to accept the mission. Do you accept? 4.A girl goes into the past and kills her Grandmother. Since her Grandmother is dead, the girl was never born. If she were never born, she never killed her grandmother. 5.If the temperature this morning is 0 degrees and the Weather Channel says, "it will be twice as cold tomorrow", what will the temperature be? 6.Answer truthfully (yes or no) to the following question: Will the next word you say be 'no'? 7.What happens if you are in a car going the speed of light and you turn the headlights on?

5 HI- V A C A I R C O N D I T I O N I N G S E R V I C E 1669 NW 144 Terrace Suite #207 Sunrise, Fl Phone: Fax: info@hivacair.com Making South Florida a Cooler Place About Us Welcome to HI-VAC Air Conditioning Service, the ONLY company that you ll ever need to satisfy your cooling and heating needs HI-VAC Air Conditioning Service is the area s most trusted and reputable company with more than sixty years of experience and expertise in the HVAC industry. We are a state licensed and insured contractor that performs heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installation, maintenance and service in the South Florida area, including Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miami, Miramar, Cooper City, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Coral Springs, Parkland and all of Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties. We re on the web! Follow us: Member of The Better Business Bureau We are registered with the Better Business Bureau and are members of Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), which is the largest association of heating, air conditioning and ventilation contractors in the country and worldwide. We have also been presented with several Distinguished Dealer Awards from the Trane Company and are Trane Comfort Specialists, which means that we meet the highest Trane standards for customer satisfaction and continuing technical education. Our team of factory trained and radio dispatched service and installation technicians is available to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can always be assured of the timely completion of your service calls and installations. In fact, our service call response time is unbeatable in the STAFF President: Peter Blanco Office Manager: Maribeth Waetjen Sales Dept. Coordinator: Sandra Tirado Service Dispatcher: Rico Cruzado Maint. Dept. Coordinator: Bobby Suarez Comfort Consultant: Jay Gonzalez Sales Associate: Silvia Suarez Sales Associate: Timothy Johnson Lead Service Tech: Rolando Fernandez Lead Install Tech: Yudisley Simo Lead Maint. Tech: Jean Meme Field Tech: Alberto Nelson Field Tech: Damon Ball Field Tech: Bryan Molina industry! During our regular business hours, Monday through Friday from8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., you can always call and speak to Peter Blanco, our owner and company President, who can sometimes solve your problem over the phone for FREE! We are grateful for this opportunity to introduce you to our company and look forward to your future business. Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns that you may have. We are always eager to serve our customers in any way that we can!