Tag: filter changes

Priority Appointments a Bonus for Preventive Maintenance

Posted on by T.F. O'Brien Cooling & Heating

Be First in Line if You Need a Furnace Repair

The dead of winter, miserable as this one has been, is the time when preventive maintenance to your heating system pays off. We hope you’re remembering furnace filter changes monthly or as often as your particular system needs them. Otherwise, a well-maintained system should be purring along, allowing you to dream of the day when we’ll finally need A/C again.

Should your system have a problem, however, T.F. O’Brien wants offers an extra perk to those who sign up for our preventive maintenance plans. We’ll give your emergency call priority service, meaning you’ll know that one of our technicians will get to you that day. And by “that day,”we also mean your call will get priority 365 days a year.

We offer a discount on repairs, too, for members of our plans and our plans are transferable if you happen to move during the contract term.  We like to think that the money you’ll save anyway, by keeping your system maintained through twice-yearly service, is a pretty big deal, too.

Winter is not the only time HVAC equipment breaks down though.   Summer can be miserable when the A/C or cooling system stops working. You will want to spot and fix issues before they become problems. Preventive maintenance is the best way to ensure you and your loved ones will be safe and comfortable throughout the entire year.

For preventive maintenance questions, or any issue regarding home comfort, feel free to call the professionals at  T.F. O’Brien. We’re happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).   For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics,  click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Choosing a Programmable Thermostat

Posted on by T.F. O'Brien Cooling & Heating

Save Energy and Maintain Comfort With Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats may be  the most intelligent household devices you can purchase for your home.  They pay dividends the first day you use them and features on newer devices go far beyond just temperature settings. Prices vary, but the choice to switch to programmable is not difficult once you know about the features and energy savings possible with these units.

So, what does a programmable thermostat do?

A programmable thermostat raises and lowers the temperature in your home all based on your energy requirements. For example, in the winter, we recommend you set your programmable thermostat on the low side after midnight because you’re in bed anyway.

Thermostats use different rules on different days so that the temperatures fit your daily activities. Here are three common programs:

7-day: You program each separate day of the week.
5+2 day: This has a Monday through Friday program , plus a weekend program.
5+1+1-day: Monday through Friday, plus separate Saturday and Sunday programs.

Lots of features are available in newer models, such as controls for humidifiers, dehumidifiers, ventilation systems, and the ability to set the thermostat remotely. You can get reminders for filter changes, your UV filters and just about any issue connected to your heating, cooling and humidification systems.

Carrier®’s Infinity Control programmable thermostat, which we consider our best thermostat, can adjust temperatures in up to eight different zones.  That makes it easy to save money by cutting back on heating and air conditioning in sections of your home that aren’t used as much or seem to naturally be warmer or cooler on their own. Bonus rooms built above a garage to serve as an office, but are hard to heat and cool, are perfect for this precise programming.

Of course, you want to choose a programmable thermostat that fits your system. The professionals at  T.F. O’Brien are happy to discuss the options and offer expert advice. Call us if we can help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, please download our free  Home Comfort Resource guide.