Air Conditioning & Heating
Myths vs. Facts
Due to the few
unscrupulous industry representatives and service people who would like
nothing better than to take your money in return for little or no
quality service or parts, we have included the top myths and facts about
your air conditioning and heating products, as well as the filtration
systems involved in your home or business.
After reading some of the
common misconceptions and realities about your system, don't forget to
visit our page on "10 Questions You Should Ask Your Service Repair
Technician". At A-1 Tops Air Conditioning and Heating, we
believe that the more information you have about your current products
makes it easier for you to resolve the problems that may arise.
Problems that ordinarily would cause more grief than most situations
warrant.
Myth: Units and parts
are really not built to accommodate Houston's ever changing conditions
and that's why they wear out sooner than they should.
Fact: 9 out of 10 system failures are caused by dirt and
dust. Put simply this is an effect of a lack of attention to the
necessary annual servicing that your air conditioning and heating units
require to maintain peak performance. Clean systems restore
capacity and lessen running time, thereby saving you money not only on
service and replacement of your unit, but can considerably lower your
cooling and heating costs.
Myth: Our units are
not in a high commercial or dusty area. There aren't even any
trees around so there's really no need to service our units every year.
Fact: A buildup of .042 inches of dirt on a heating or cooling
coil can result in a decrease in efficiency of 21% according to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Myth: It's the air
quality indoors that really matters and we have a clean-air or HEPA
filter to handle the quality.
Fact: This is a common misconception. Consider the
following:
-
Most commercially
purchased fiberglass filters are only 7% effective in stooping dirt,
dust, pollen, etc., from passing through it.
-
50% of all illnesses are
either caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.
-
One out of six people
who suffer from allergies do so because of the direct relationship
to the fungi and bacteria in air duct systems.
-
Legionnaire's Disease
was spawned in air conditioning ducts. It killed 29 people in
1976.
-
In the summer of 1988 at
least 7 people died in the Los Angeles area from Legionnaire's
Disease.
-
Children are more likely
than adults to be affected by polluted indoor air. They
breathe faster; inhale more air per unit of body weight; and are
closer to the ground where polluted concentrations are higher.
-
The elderly, asthmatics,
and people with breathing problems, allergies, and lung diseases are
also likely to be more sensitive to pollutants.
-
Most people spend 60-90%
of their time indoors.
-
Indoor is found to be up
to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.
With all of this in mind,
can you really afford to neglect your air conditioning or heating
systems? Call A-1 Tops Air Conditioning & Heating's qualified
technicians for a complete annual checkup and inspection of your air
conditioning and heating units.
References:
Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (LECS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
ASHRAE
American College of Allergists
Total Health & Better Health Magazines
American Lung Association
Modesto Bee 9/22/88
Department of Consumer Affairs
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