Honor Veterans on Veterans Day

Written by Semper Fi on November 11, 2021. Posted in Blog, Featured, Uncategorized. No Comments on Honor Veterans on Veterans Day

Semper Fi Heating & Cooling is a veteran-owned company that extends 20% discounts to veterans and their families. As a company, Semper Fi Heating & Cooling considers Veterans Day to be a sacred time to proudly honor those who have served.

World War I did not officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, but seven months earlier on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, an armistice was signed to end the fighting between the Allied Nations and Germany in what was then called “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day when he said, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

In 1954 a law was passed to amend the law that created Armistice Date by changing the name to Veterans Day so that November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. Veterans Day is an official government holiday; government offices along with many schools are closed. In many places in the U.S., the day is marked by parades and church services, the flag is hung at half mast, and a period of silence lasting two minutes may be held at 11:00 AM.

Veterans Day is focused on honoring and showing pride in veterans who still live among us. Memorial Day is a day to honor those who gave their lives while serving in the military. Arlington National Cemetery holds memorial services on both Veterans Day and Memorial Day. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as of 2020 there are 325,574 living American veterans who served in World War II. There are about 500,000 Korean War vets, 610,000 Vietnam War vets, and 2.5 million post-9/11 vets who served in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Eighty-three percent of vets are male, and 17% are female.

Life is not easy for many veterans. Eighty percent of them spent time in overseas combat zones. Sixty percent are under the age of 34. Twenty-two veterans commit suicide daily. Thirty percent have disabilities as a result of their service. As many as 20% of veterans have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Twenty-two percent are diagnosed with depressive disorder. Only one-third of vets that need mental health care have sought treatment. The vast majority of veterans joined the military to serve our country and nearly all of them are proud of their service.

Our veterans need your support and understanding. Many of them feel that the rest of America does not understand or doesn’t even think about the trauma they have experienced. Be thoughtful and be kind to vets; they will appreciate our support.

Air Purification with UV-C Light

Written by Semper Fi on November 2, 2021. Posted in Air Duct Cleaning, Blog, Featured, Uncategorized. No Comments on Air Purification with UV-C Light

Air Purification with UV-C Light

Airborne pollutants like viruses, bacteria and mold are found in most homes. Modern construction standards and insulation do a great job sealing entire homes to improve heating and cooling efficiency. The downside of a well-sealed home is that moisture is prevented from escaping, which allows for the growth of harmful germs that cause a variety of illnesses.

Portable air purification devices help, but if you’re serious about removing harmful pollutants from your home, you need a whole home system that delivers purified air through your central heating and air conditioning system. You need to destroy bacteria and viruses on surfaces and in the air, making your whole home a safe haven for the health of you and your family.

HEPA air filters are great and it is highly recommended that you use them. They play an important role in removing larger dust and mold particles. However, air filters alone will not remove the smaller and more dangerous pollutants. There are other whole home technologies, but UV-C light, properly located in your central air distribution system, has clearly emerged as the best option for whole home air purification systems. Among UV-C systems, REME HALO is the leader for whole home air purification.

What Does REME HALO Do?

REME HALO uses patented REME Cell technology with UV-C light to create low-level, airborne hydrogen peroxide throughout an air-conditioned space. Not only does it kill bacteria and viruses, it reduces allergens, mold, microbials, smoke, odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). REME HALO utilizes patented and third-party tested and validated technology to eliminate 99.9% of COVID-19 in a simulated home environment.

The benefits of the REME HALO whole home air purification system go beyond the important work of killing bacteria and viruses. The tight construction prevents outside air from circulating in your home. Inside air can be up to five times more polluted than outside air. Whole home air purification from Semper Fi is a breath of fresh air in your entire home.

How Does REME HALO Work?

REME HALO is installed in the supply plenum of your home HVAC system. It uses reflective electromagnetic energy to produce hydrogen peroxide plasma that passes through your air handler and circulates through your whole house. Hydrogen peroxide is naturally occurring in the atmosphere. It is part of the natural process of purifying the clean outdoor air that we breathe. The hydrogen peroxide produced by REME HALO continues to eliminate pollutants in your home even when the blower on your HVAC system is not blowing.

REME HALO is not a filtration system that works to capture the pollutants that are circulating in your home air. It kills and eliminates the pollutants before they circulate. Also, it works with your filtration system by causing particle pollutants to solidify and stick together, making them larger and easier for your filter to catch. Don’t forget to change your filter often.

REME HALO can be installed quickly by the professionals at Semper Fi. It comes with a five-year warranty. It is recommended that the cell be replaced every two years. Call the professional HVAC technicians at Semper Fi today to learn more about how whole home air purification can reduce the pollutants in the air circulating in your home. It’s the new normal; air purification will help keep your family healthy and safe.

Emergency Heating & Air Conditioning Repair Service

Written by Semper Fi on October 26, 2021. Posted in Air Conditioning Repair, Blog, Featured, Uncategorized. No Comments on Emergency Heating & Air Conditioning Repair Service

Emergency Heating & Air Conditioning Repair in the Phoenix East Valley

When the weather is at extremes, heating and cooling systems are working their hardest. When they are working their hardest, that’s when they tend to break down. They’ve also been known to break down on the day guests are due to arrive, the day you are leaving for vacation, and any other day you have too much going on. The correlation between an HVAC breakdown and you not having time to deal with one more crisis has not been independently verified. That’s why it’s called an emergency.

If you have a heating or air conditioning emergency, the technicians at Semper Fi are available seven days per week. If it is an emergency to you, it is an emergency to us.

Clearly, some situations call for emergency service. If your safety is at risk, that is an emergency. If your air conditioner quits on a scorching hot day, that is an emergency. Other situations are not that clear-cut. When the temperature is mild, a broken air conditioner or nonfunctional furnace is more of an inconvenience than an emergency. But that same inconvenience can be an emergency if you have young children, older residents, or health-compromising conditions.

Why Do Heating & Air Conditioning Systems Break Down?

No one actually wants to call for emergency service. It is always better for systems to work as they should and be there when needed. There are steps that can be taken to prevent breakdowns.

Preventive maintenance is number one on the list of steps to take to prevent system breakdowns requiring emergency services. For the most part, we don’t think of HVAC systems as needing regular maintenance. Alternately, it is understood that vehicles need proper service to keep them running. We don’t drive our vehicles until they break down on the side of the road. But some homeowners who are careful to follow maintenance schedules for their cars and trucks will go for years without getting their HVAC system serviced. Proper HVAC service involves more than just changing the filter every few months. Contact Semper Fi to arrange for your HVAC system to get a tune-up. Better yet, sign up for a preventive maintenance plan to get regular service. On each tune-up or maintenance visit, your Semper Fi technician will evaluate your entire system and identify components your technician recommends be replaced preventively or that cold fail in the next 12 months. Semper Fi offers an additional 10% discount for preventive repairs performed on a maintenance visit.

Your HVAC service technician at Semper Fi is a trained and certified professional. Do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance is generally not a good idea. Specialized tools and skills are required. It is always better to call a pro for HVAC. Improper or incomplete service can actually harm your systems and cause breakdowns requiring emergency service at the most inopportune times.

If your heating and cooling system is more than 10 years old, it is more likely to break down than a newer and more efficient system. You may be paying for preventive maintenance and regular tune-ups but still need frequent repairs and emergency service. You may be at the point where you need to consider replacing your system with a new high-efficiency system and say goodbye to expensive repairs and hello to trouble-free operations. But don’t ignore preventive maintenance on a new system. Talk to the pros at Semper Fi for help in selecting the right HVAC system for you.

Ductless Air Conditioning is the Right Solution for Arizona

Written by Semper Fi on September 13, 2021. Posted in Blog, Ductless Solution, Featured, Uncategorized. No Comments on Ductless Air Conditioning is the Right Solution for Arizona

If your heating and air conditioning system is not up to the task of cooling or heating your entire home, going ductless may be a good option for you. Ductless systems have a lot in common with central air conditioning systems. There is a condenser outside and an air handling unit inside. What they do not have in common is air ducts. Ductless systems have both cooling AND heating capability so can be used in both the Summer and Winter and are conveniently operated with a wireless handheld remote. Many units also can be operated with your phone via a special app that you can download on iPhone or Android devices.

A ductless system consists of a wall- or ceiling-mounted indoor unit combined with an outside compressor. Often ductless systems are used where a window unit and baseboard heater might otherwise be used. Unlike window units, ductless systems do not block out a window; they are less visible and not as loud. Ductless systems require only a small hole to be drilled into a wall.

Ductless systems are a great choice for new additions, for rooms that do not get enough cooling or heat, for adding heat and air to a garage, for older homes that do not have a duct system, and for new construction. Ductless systems are also 30-40% more efficient than central air conditioning systems

Single Split vs. Multi-Split Ductless

With multiple independent air handlers and thermostats in your home, squabbles over temperature settings will be a thing of the past. Beyond the obvious benefit of independent controls, you will have the versatility to spend less for utilities on rooms seldom used. When you are cooking and the kitchen heats up, you can cool down without cooling the entire house.

Improved Efficiency and Life Expectancy

In most homes, about 30% of air is lost through leaky ducts. There is no air loss with ductless. Energy-efficient ductless systems typically reduce utility costs up to 60% compared to central air systems. They pay for themselves over time. Most central air systems have a 12-to-15-year life expectancy. You should expect that a ductless system will provide you with 20 or more years of dependable service. Additionally, all ductless systems have “inverter” compressors which simply means that they adjust their power output from about 40% to 100% based on the cooling or heating need. For example, in a garage application in the Summer if the unit is initially turned on it will operate at 100% capacity to cool the room to the desired temperature then reduce output to 40% to “hold” the that room temperature. Because the unit ramps power output down it uses less electricity. This makes ductless units more efficient than most central air conditioning systems because most central air conditioning systems only have single-stage compressors that are either on at 100% output or off.

Ductless Air Conditioning Prices

Ductless systems are more expensive than window air conditioners. If cost is your only consideration, ductless is not for you. If you factor in that the increased efficiency will pay off with lower utility costs and that a ductless system will last many years longer than a window unit, then the ductless system starts to look better. If you have up to four different rooms that need extra heating and cooling, you can get all four with one outside ductless compressor and four different indoor units. More area coverage in addition to the already-mentioned benefits make ductless even more attractive. For new homes, ductless is usually more expensive than central air systems but less expensive than geothermal. The space savings of eliminating ducts and the efficiency of eliminating leaky ductwork make ductless a serious candidate for a new home.

Whether you need supplemental heating and cooling or a complete new system, ductless may be your best choice. Installation is quicker and simpler than conventional central air with installation taking one day or less. For professional installation and AC repair in Phoenix, Arizona, Semper Fi Heating and Cooling has the solution for you.

AC Repair or Replace, How to Know Which

Written by Semper Fi on September 13, 2021. Posted in Air Conditioning Repair, Blog, Featured, Uncategorized. No Comments on AC Repair or Replace, How to Know Which

If you are looking for repairs to your air conditioning system, you may also be considering an AC replacement. How do you know which is right for you? There are some issues you will want to consider.

Repair Costs

How much is it going to cost to repair your system? If the cost of repairs is approaching 20% of the cost of a new system, you should give serious consideration to replacement.
It isn’t just the cost of the currently needed repair that you should consider. How many previous repairs have been needed and what did they cost? If a system needs multiple repairs to different components over a short time period it could indicate that the system is approaching the end of its useful life and replacement could be appropriate.

Age of Your System

A well-maintained system should last 10 to 20 years. As your system approaches 10 to 15 years, you should be considering a replacement.
Newer systems are generally more energy-efficient. If you have seen a significant increase in the cost of utilities, that may be an indicator that a new system is in order.
Just because your system is 10 years old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in need of replacement. If it has been well maintained, and AC tune-ups have been made when needed, it may well provide you with a few more good years of service.
Often the outdoor unit (heat pump or condenser) will fail prior to the indoor unit (air handler or furnace) because it gets exposed to the outdoor elements.

Keeping Your Home Comfortable

Have you made additions or changes to the interior walls of your home? Your AC system may no longer be sized properly for your home.
Is your home heating and cooling uneven? Your system is not doing the job it should.
Is your AC system just not getting the job of cooling your home done properly? Is it noisy? Does it seem to run all the time? If your family is not comfortable, it is time for a change.

Current Repairs Needed

Your system has been dependable and trouble-free for many years, but now it needs major repairs. This could be the first costly repair needed but may not be the last. Do you really want to replace major parts on a system that may need more repairs soon?
There are some repairs like excessive rust and corrosion that cannot be repaired. If your system is showing signs of physical deterioration, it may be time for a replacement.
R22 refrigerant is an obsolete refrigerant that is difficult and costly to buy currently. If you have an R22 system and there is a significant leak in the system, there may not be any other option other than replacement depending on the availability and cost of replacement R22 refrigerant.

Future Plans

If you plan to stay in your home for the foreseeable future, you will need to replace your unit at some point. Replace it now and get the benefits of greater operational efficiency and the comfort of reliability.
If you plan to stay in your home for the foreseeable future, you will need to replace your unit at some point. Replace it now and get the benefits of greater operational efficiency and the comfort of reliability.
If you are planning to sell your home soon, you might make the currently needed repairs and hope for the best. Or you might choose to replace your unit and make your home more marketable. You may recover the replacement cost with a higher home selling price.

Warranty

Always check to see if your system is under warranty for any repairs that may be needed. If you do choose to replace your system, make sure you get a long-term warranty that will cover future repairs.
Warranties can be voided if the unit has not received proper maintenance. No matter how new or old your existing system or replacement is, make sure it is properly maintained by professional service technicians for a longer and more efficient life.

Contact the service professionals at Semper Fi Heating and Cooling if you are not sure your system should be repaired or replaced. Price quotes are free and we can help you understand the cause of the problems you are having. If repair is the right decision for you, we can help. If replacement is a better choice, we can help with that as well.

Click here to call Semper Fi Heating and Cooling for air conditioning repair or replacement in the Phoenix East Valley