Is A Fall Furnace Tune-up Really Necessary?

Don't ever doubt that you need a fall furnace tune-up performed each year, because you do need one, and we’re here to tell you about the some of the benefits you may have been missing out on.

Fall furnace tune-ups are vital to having a durable furnace. Having pre-season preventive maintenance done also helps you throughout the winter; promising uninterrupted heating and avoiding system breakdown just when they need their heat the most.

No matter what winter brings to Dallas this year, you’ll know that your furnace will perform time and again and without fail if you have had a fall furnace tune-up.

Trane Gas Furnace

Why the timing of your tune-up is important

The timing of a tune-up matters for a variety of reasons:

    Air conditioning and heating companies are often at their busiest once winter arrives and homeowners run their furnaces around the clock. At this time, people who forgot to make appointments will be rushing to schedule preventive maintenance. Other homeowners’ furnaces will break down, and they’ll call their contractors to schedule repairs. For all of these reasons, if you call for maintenance once winter is in full swing, you may have to wait for an appointment.

    During the fall season, however, HVAC contractors are squarely focused on making room for tune-ups, which is generally the most common type of appointment. As a result, scheduling a tune-up now will ensure that your furnace receives attention, and that it is in good working condition -- before you have to fire it up.

What your heating technician should do during a fall furnace tune-up

Before you can understand the benefits that a tune-up affords, it’s helpful to know what a heating technician will do during preventive maintenance.

    Typically, a tune-up includes a full-scale inspection of the system to identify problem areas and replace machinery that is beginning to wear out.

    The technician will carry out a comprehensive cleaning of the complete furnace system, making sure that dirt buildup is removed so that friction and wear and tear are reduced, enhancing the efficiency of the furnace.

    The technician also will inspect the condition of components, such as the ductwork and any add-ons like humidifiers or air cleaners.

How you’ll benefit from regular annual service

It’s generally true that the more often you have annual service performed, the more you’re likely to benefit from the service. But even if you’ve neglected to service your furnace for a few years, you can still get in on its benefits by starting regular service now. These benefits include:

    Better furnace efficiency – Your system can only reach -- or come near to -- manufacturer expectations if it’s clean. In fact, dirt is generally the No. 1 enemy of efficiency, as dirt that rests on components like the motor, air handler or heat exchanger creates friction, causes the system to consume more energy and increases wear and tear.

    Improved comfort – When dirt buildup is left unchecked, it starts to wreak havoc within the system. As efficiency decreases, the furnace’s capacity to generate heat decreases, impacting other components like the air handler’s ability to push heated air into your home. As a result, you may notice that some of the rooms in your home aren’t as comfortable as they used to be, or you just aren’t as warm in your home as you’ve been in the past. But a clean system will operate at peak capacity, and provide optimal home comfort.

    Extended life – A furnace system should generally last around 15 years. However, manufacturers assign a furnace an expected life span under ideal conditions, meaning you must maintain the furnace to achieve those expectations. However, most HVAC experts believe homeowners can extend that life span even further with annual maintenance. In fact, you can generally achieve a longer life span by up to five years, just by investing in a fall furnace tune-up each year.

    Low lifetime costs – The amount that you paid for your furnace does not represent the overall costs related to operating it. Taking operating costs into account gives you a more accurate idea of lifetime costs. And with regular maintenance, you can ensure that you keep lifetime costs low, because a clean, lubricated system wards off wear and tear and component failure, keeping repair costs low -- or even non-existent -- and energy savings high.

Convinced that this is the year you should start scheduling a fall furnace tune-up? Beat the rush for service, and contact Chapman Air & Heat to make an appointment. Serving homeowners in Dallas TX and its surrounding areas, we are large enough to serve you, and small enough to care.

Article adapted from - http://nicorhomeservices.com Wednesday October 19, 2014

Williams Prep Field Day

Williams Prep Field Day

We had an awesome field day when we were invited to Williams Prep to do a Career Day talk. All the Engineers in the room were so excited and it was very encouraging to see their enthusiasm.  Marvin Chapman spoke to the kids and encouraged them to do Math and Science so they can shape the world we live in. View the images below.

Whats The Best SEER???

WHAT’S BEST??? High efficient air conditioning systems that cost more up front or the bare minimum efficient unit that cost less, perhaps considerably less but MORE????

Latest nationwide studies are showing that lower end efficiency units are still chosen over the higher end efficiency units. One can’t argue that the current state of our economy has affected consumer purchasing but dealers may very well be responsible for less efficient units being purchased. Why is this? Perhaps it is because we assume this is all the consumer can afford or because a cheap price sells a lot faster than a higher price. Perhaps it is because the manufacturer found the loop-hole to make units and ship dry of Freon so consumers can still just replace their outdoor unit that utilizes Freon R-22 and keep their old indoor equipment. Last but not least, perhaps lower end equipment is offered due to the fact the dealer is not educated themselves on offering higher efficient equipment and what it does and how it saves money for the customer. In other words, what is there to “sale” with low end equipment?

As dealers, are we doing right by our customers by offering a cheap easy solution? Does the customer have all the facts how this purchase will be impacted as R-22 keeps being phased out and the price keeps soaring? Do they understand that?

• Higher efficient units offer immediate relief on utility bills
• Higher efficient units offer a stellar level of comfort
• Higher efficient units are dependable, requires far less service
• Dry units are the very minimum 13 SEER which offer no measurable energy savings
• Dry R-22 units are just band aids and probably, sooner than later, will need to be replaced with the more efficient 410-A systems.                                                             

Still, are we (dealers) truly helping the customer? Let me answer that for you, NO.

Let’s hear from the customer…What do you want?

Positive Things to Say about Our Leader, Boss, Head Honcho…?

The Big Cheese

More times than not, you hear employees complain about their working conditions, under appreciated, over-worked and on and on. Finally, they identify who they perceive as causing their problems…surprise, surprise, their boss.

However, here at Chapman we see things differently and yes; the problem is our boss, Marvin Chapman…but in a good way! After asking around, here are a few things Chapman employees in the field and in the office had to say.

•  He’s the first one in and the last one out
• Allows you to express yourself, even when you may be upset
• More than fair
• Encourages us to act like we own the business
• Able to make the hard calls
• Good voice of reasoning
• Positive and supportive
• Places value on his employees
• Always makes time for you
• Listens tentatively and offers suggestions
• Excellent referee between co-workers
• Door is always open-doesn’t hide behind a desk
• Gets in the trenches with us
• Takes the high road
• Fix the problem, not the blame attitude
• Encourages working as a team, being a family
• Big heart, genuinely cares for the staff
• Promotes being the best you can be
• Communication is always welcomed, positive or negative and that is valued.

Marvin Chapman

Since a person spends so much of their time at work, it is extremely important to have a positive environment. Being in a service business, it may be even more important to have a positive work environment as your customers can pick up on the type of attitude an employee has on the phone or at their home.  Several of our customers have commented on how an employee spoke highly of his company and the leader.

All companies have their share of problems and we are no different. However, how you are lead speaks volumes and we happen to be a company who appreciates the type of leader we have.

What do you think about your work environment? We would like to hear about all those great bosses out there!

So….what’s the deal with the windmill?

So….what’s the deal with the windmill?  Ever noticed the tiny little windmill within the red circle on our Chapman Logo? Well, neither have I.  I mean, I see it every day, on our trucks, on our invoices, everywhere. But, I never really thought about the windmill and its significance to our business or to our industry. I guess I just always assumed it represented sort of a giant fan. That’s perfect for an air-conditioning business, right? Wrong!  When I went to the source (aka Mr. Chapman) and asked him how he came up with the idea for the logo I was a little surprised at his answer.

I was ready to hear all about the “history of windmills” from Mr. C. (um, you have to know him). So, I did a smidge of research first. Seems they were first used in Persia in 600 AD. They actually used sails as opposed to blades to catch the wind in order to grind grain. Europeans began using them by the 1100’s for grinding grain as well as for pumping water. The American windmill began to be used in the 1800’s by farmers. This version had blades made of wood or steel. They were used to pump water for farm animals and some were even used to provide water for household use. And that brings us to the modern windmill that is used today to produce electricity. They are called “wind turbines” and are used today all over the United States.  

Windmills in West Texas

Preliminary Logo Designs

So, what does all of this have to do with our little logo? Not much, actually. Mr. Chapman says that he came up with the idea for the logo from a photo he took on a family vacation driving through west Texas.  On one of the many (he emphasized many) pit stops for the little ones, he shot a picture of a windmill with the sun setting directly behind it. It turned out to be a great shot and became of sort of a family favorite.




So, when he began his business in 1981, and family members began to weigh in on what it should be called, logos, etc.; someone brought up that photo. So, he thought, “windmills = fans, energy, air-conditioning…that’ll work.”  So, he designed a little graphic that mimicked the photo.  And we have used the same logo (at times in a different color) ever since.

So, what did I learn? While the windmill may represent energy, and we are in the “energy saving” business, it was not the inspiration for the logo. It was more inspired by family, which is fitting, as we are a family business with over 30 years of history and still going.

DRY AIR CAUSING STUFFINESS AND DRYING OUT WOOD IN YOUR HOME?

If your answer is “yes”, read this….

The most convenient way to do away with dry winter air is to install a whole house steam humidifier. We recommend Honeywell’s TrueSTEAM because it is simply the best.

When winter rolls around, you not only have to deal with the cold temperatures but also with the dry air the season inevitably brings. Dry air in your home can cause or contribute to several uncomfortable physical conditions such as itchy skin, nose bleeds, irritated throats and breathing troubles. Apart from physical problems, excessive dry air can also damage your home, causing warping of paneling, floors and furniture. And, can damage fine paintings. A whole house steam humidifier can help prevent these unwanted winter conditions.

An often overlooked characteristic of dry interior air is that it makes you feel colder than the actual temperature of the room. This happens because dry air absorbs moisture from your skin. When moisture evaporates away from your body, you cool down, much like the effect you feel when cooling off after sweating. Too much dry air in your house will make you feel colder even if you have your furnace set at a relatively high level.

A whole house steam humidification system will effectively relieve conditions caused by dry air. With better humidity levels in the air, you are more comfortable in your home
Why Honeywell’s TrueSTEAM ?

• Moisture on Demand - TrueSTEAM works by producing its own steam independent of equipment operation, so your home gets moisture when you need it most.
• Eco-Friendly - TrueSTEAM is the most eco-friendly way to humidify your home, because for every 1 gallon of water used, 1 gallon of humidification is produced.
• "True Steam" - While other humidifiers rely on moisture-filled pads that can be susceptible to bacteria growth in the water and the airstream, TrueSTEAM delivers "true steam" - the cleanest form of humidification.
• Out of Sight, Out of Mind - TrueSTEAM is installed out-of-sight by your heating and cooling professional into your home's central heating and cooling system. You can forget about having to fill clunky, portable units, because TrueSTEAM automatically fills itself.
• Whole-House Solution - Installs directly or remotely to your furnace to deliver moisture throughout your entire home.
• Minimal Maintenance - Simply clean once a year with soap and water and the rest of the time it cleans itself automatically.
• 5-Year Warranty

Chapman Air & Heat’s goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues specific to your air conditioning and heating equipment. For 31 + years, we have been a reliable source of HVAC sales and service in the D/FW area. We provide high-quality service and repairs performed to exact industry standards. Is a whole house steam humidifier right for you? If so, call us for your complimentary in-home visit. 214.340.4999

WHY SHOULD A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER PARTNER WITH CHAPMAN AIR & HEAT

Since 1981, Marvin Chapman, the Founder of Chapman Air & Heat has provided the Dallas/Fort Worth custom homebuilder market with luxury home comfort systems and installations. We have engineered, designed and installed thousands of custom homes from 5,000 sq. ft. to well over 20,000 sq.ft.  And…with a mechanical engineer on staff, each individual home is given complete attention to details.

Sometimes the most important design elements of a new home are the ones that are unseen; unlike Italian marble countertops, solid oak wood floors or imported iron staircases that catch your eye as soon as the door opens. For the most part, the air conditioning and heating system along with the air ducts is hidden away, out of sight. Our systems may be unseen but the comfort we provide will definitely be noticed.

Chapman Air & Heat installs high efficiency, leading technology Trane equipment along with an airtight duct system to ensure maximum comfort and reduced operating costs with minimal environmental impact. Our reputation for quality work among our builder clients is stellar. Our field personnel are dedicated and experienced full-time Chapman employees and practice the “Chapman Way” on an on-going basis. Quality is not just another word…it stands for value and excellence.

Our goal is to earn your business by providing your homeowner with the most comfortable, evenly controlled indoor climate and energy efficient home possible. We have the expertise to do that.

Chapman Air & Heat welcomes the opportunity to be of service.