Offered up in 1987 for nations to sign and adopt, the Montreal Protocol was an international treaty that focused on a concern for how chemicals and other things in the atmosphere were depleting the ozone layer that was protecting life as we know it on earth. The treaty was amended in 1992 to set a timetable for phasing out chemicals known as HCFCs – which includes in this list a refrigerant that has been used in air conditioning systems since the early ‘70s.

Now, fast forward to today and what this means in practical terms for you: Air conditioners manufactured after 2010 can no longer use the refrigerant R-22 (also known by the brand name Freon) as the coolant of choice. While this refrigerant can still be produced and used to service existing equipment for the time being, in 2020, the production and import of R-22 will end, and it will only be available through recycled and reclaimed processes.

That means simply this: any air conditioning that uses R-22 is looking at a time limit. As you face repairs with any pre-2010 system, Action Air will be glad to talk with you about the best ways to extend the life of the equipment (hint: regular A/C maintenance!), and when the time is right for replacement, we’ll give you our best guidance there too.

If you want to talk about your options for air conditioner replacement or air conditioner repair, contact Indianapolis A/C expert Action Air at 317-585-8981.

Where to Get Air Conditioner Maintenance in Indianapolis

The warm weather we have been waiting on has finally arrived, and with it comes the EXPLOSION of our phones. It happens every year with the first muggy day…we suddenly become the most popular kids on the block! We are not complaining mind you, but it can be quite a balancing act getting so many folks taken care of all at once.
We often have clients that call with a problem on the first hot day, and want us to just go ahead and take care of the maintenance while we’re there. While we always like to do our best to accommodate our clients requests, having the maintenance done at this time is not usually possible when we are experiencing such a heavy volume of no cooling calls. In order for our technicians to do proper maintenance, we need to allow them 60-90 minutes of time, and when we have so many calls backed up due to the heat, that just isn’t always feasible.
Getting air conditioner maintenance scheduled early is the key to starting the season off trouble free, but if you are experiencing a problem, please know that we will always do our best to get you back up and running as quickly as possible.

Well, if Ben Franklin were writing weather predictions for Indianapolis, he’d say, “It’s going to be hot this summer.” Seems to me, it happens every year around that time, and this year, we’ll be true to the calendar again.

Yet, if only Franklin had had central air conditioning, I think he could have added some updated helpful advice like this:

“If you want something to last, you take care of it. If you want something to do its job, you make sure it’s running well. If you want something to protect you in the night, you make sure it doesn’t have any hidden dangers.”

Why do I think that? Because here’s what Franklin actually did say: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

You’ve heard it, I’ve heard it, and we all know it’s true.

So what ounce of prevention can you bring to your home comfort this spring? One simple step of a preseason checkup on your air conditioning system can make a world of difference in your comfort all summer long. Read what a few of our spring A/C maintenance customers had to say and then call us at 317-585-8981 to schedule your air conditioner checkup today!

“We are repeat customers of action air because of their professionalism, speed of service, and knowledge. Justin H. came out today and did a great job servicing our a/c. Thanks!”

Michelle R.

“My family has been with action air for many years and have always been very satisfied. Recently they sent Rob H. out for a regular service. I have never seen anyone so thorough ,professional and courteous as he was.We are now experiencing hot water problems and have requested rob for job. lol Thanks Action Air. We will be sticking w/ you.”

Bill V.

“Action Air has been servicing our HVAC system 8 years now. We have had about 4 different technicians over that time, and each one of them have always been courteous, professional and friendly.”

Chuck

Even as I look around our office, I know that many of our employees are going through life situations that may make getting through the day a bit more difficult. At this very moment I can think of several of our employees that are dealing with family illnesses, relationship difficulties and financial strain.  Life happens to us all, the good and the bad.

I coach my employees to approach those we meet with kindness and gracious words. Just as we face challenges in our own lives, so do those we serve.

A properly working cooling system will not just need a shot of Freon, as the Freon in the unit is never supposed to leak out.  If you have a system that needs a shot of Freon each year, then you have a leak in your system. This leak could be in the indoor coils, the outdoor unit, or anywhere in the lineset that runs in between the two.

Each year we get calls from our Indianapolis clients telling us that their unit is an ice ball, even on the hottest days. This is generally a result of a Freon leak, and the unit must be completely thawed out before we can attempt to find and repair the leak.  Our technicians will then be able to do a leak search on the unit to locate the leak, and depending on where the leak is make the proper repair.

Keep in mind making the repair, especially on an older unit can be very costly and may not make sense depending on the age of the system.  The EPA is in the process of phasing out the older R-22 Freon, replacing it with the more environmental friendly R-410A.  This has caused the price of R-22 to skyrocket, and HVAC contractors are paying over 400% more for refrigerant this year than even just a couple of years ago.   This means that adding even a shot of Freon will result in a repair bill that is more costly than ever before.

If you have and air conditioning system that has a Freon leak, or if you would just like more information on replacing your older system, feel free to give us a call for a free no obligation evaluation and estimate.

Action Air Owner, Kandie Dinger, alongside office dog, Bentley.

My “office dog” Bentley I had the honor of participating in the annual Mutt Strut on Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to help raise funds for the Indianapolis Humane Society.

Bentley and I were joined by my daughter Kacie and  her dogs Annie and Melody, along with a friend of Action Air, our marketing guru, Angie Commorato from A & G Marketing with her dogs Hugo and Bronx, and Angie’s Mom Linda and her little buddy Clyde.

The trip to the Speedway was an adventure in itself, as we had 6 dogs and 4 people I one car.  Angie said upon arrival that we looked like a clown car!  After getting checked in we proceeded to strut our mutts around the famous 2.5 mile oval.  I have been a dog lover my entire life, but I don’t believe that I have ever seen so many dogs all in one place at one time.  All around the track as far as you could see were dogs and people in all shapes and sizes, several 3 legged dogs, some in wagons, many in costume, and even a dog with a special wheelchair.  What a great turnout it was. The event was well organized with watering and first aid stations along the way, and rides back via golf cart for pooches that were too pooped to finish. I am proud to say that our entire team finished, however the ride back home was much quieter with a car full of tired pups.

What a fun way to get some exercise, spend time with our dogs and raise money for a great cause. Can’t wait til next year!

If you would like to see some pictures from the 2013 Indianapolis Mutt Strut, click here to visit the Indianapolis Humane Society website.

What happens if the technician finds a problem or points out a potential problem when he is doing the maintenance?  Sometimes we have clients that aren’t too happy to know that we found a problem with the system…especially if they haven’t noticed a problem with the way the unit is cooling the home. After all, we are just there for a tune up.   But think about this.  What if we did the maintenance on the air conditioner, no problems are mentioned but a month later it stops cooling and you are facing a repair bill that you were not expecting? It might cross your mind that we missed something or did not do a good job.

Our goal is this.  Do a thorough and complete maintenance on the system, check all components, take measurements and readings, clean and lubricate the components restoring the system to the best condition possible.  If we find a component that reads below the manufacturers specs, or find something that is weak or deteriorating we will document it and make the client aware of our findings.  Often the client will choose to go ahead and make the repair to avoid a potential break down on the hottest days, but sometimes they will take the wait and see approach.  Since we have no way to tell just how long a weak component will last,  often the wait and see approach gives the client time to prepare financially for the repair ahead.

Either way, we feel it is in the client’s best interest to give them all of the information so that they can make the best decision possible for the comfort of their family.

When dust builds up on the registers and vent covers in your home, for example, it becomes “insulation” that blocks the air’s path into the room. The harder a system has to work to keep your home comfortable, the more you pay in utility costs.

So as you look ahead, a thorough dusting with special attention to registers and vent covers is a good idea. Other ideas?

• Close drapes to keep out the hot daytime sun, especially on south- and west-facing windows.  Sunny windows make air conditioners work 2 to 3 times harder.
• Close fireplace dampers or glass doors. Going up the chimney with a bound may serve as a dramatic exit for Santa, but don’t allow your cooled air to use that same escape hatch.
• Position your refrigerator away from sunny windows, hot water heaters, warm air from heating ducts, radiators, stoves and other heat sources. The heat makes cooling harder for your refrigerator.

These are just a few natural, free ways to help reduce your energy costs and increase your comfort. Other small steps can also make a big difference. For example:

It’s no news that energy costs are a big expense for homeowners. And not surprisingly, heating and cooling account for more than half of this amount. If you’d like to learn more about conserving energy in your home, contact Fishers HVAC company, Action Air, at 317-585-8981.

When we deal with elderly clients faced with repairs or replacement of their heating and air conditioning equipment, we try to be especially sensitive to the issues they face.  We often do not know the history or the family dynamics when we arrive at the home, and must assume that the elderly clients are capable of making their own decisions and taking care of their own business. We sometimes get phone calls from the children of the client, wanting to know exactly what is going on at the parent’s home.  We are always happy to accommodate these requests, and will often go back to the home to show the family what we have found if they would like us to do so.  We appreciate that the children are looking after their parent’s best interest, and we want the entire family to be comfortable when doing business with us.

See what a recent client had to say about this very subject:
Customer’s Name: Elizabeth K.
Service Specialist: Josh H.

“We called Action Air for a new furnace and they were able to install the same day. Time was important to us since it was a furnace for my 90 year old parents. Later that day we noticed a rattle and Josh came out the next morning. He found a problem totally unrelated to the new furnace and fixed it free of charge. Thank you and we will surely call you for all our heating and cooling needs.”

Below is a note from a client we recently did some work for,  an example of how our long held values  shine through today, and how we still rely on good old fashioned word of mouth marketing.
“We moved into our home last summer and have called Action Air twice. They have gone above & beyond to work with us on our 3 year old unit that the previous owners purchased & did not maintain. Nick (1st visit) and Tim (2nd visit) came out to our home immediately after calling for help. Everyone we have dealt with has been so friendly, helpful & courteous. Since I work in the customer service industry; I always look for a company that will exceed clients’ expectations. Action Air has definitely exceeded our expectations! My husband & I recommend them to everyone! Thanks so much!”