June 22, 2017

Are Expensive Filters Worth It?

As you’re getting your HVAC system ready to keep your home cool for another summer here in Illinois, you want to make sure you’re being as smart and efficient as possible. One of the questions we get a lot at McFarland Indoor Comfort Services is whether it’s worth the extra money (up to seven times as much) to buy expensive filters for your unit. It’s important to remember that a filter’s main job is keep unwanted items – dust particles, pet hair and the like – from getting into the coil and clogging things up. Filters are made to protect equipment, not people. The makers of expensive, high-end filters claim their products can “capture at least 90% of large airborne particles like dust, pollen and pet dander from the air passing through the filter.” Even if that’s true, that means they’re preventing those foreign objects from passing through the filter; not even the filter manufacturers claim they can improve indoor air quality for people in the house. While there is anecdotal evidence from people who say expensive filters lead to cleaner air, here at McFarland Indoor Comfort Services we haven’t seen reputable studies to back up the claims that pricy...

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April 15, 2017

5 Tips to Extend the Life of Your AC Unit

No one likes to think about the end of their AC unit’s life. So don’t! There’s no reason you’re your machine can’t stay with you for many, many years to come. Keeping your AC unit around is easier than you think. At McFarland Indoor Comfort Services, we sell you products that are guaranteed to last. Still, there are a few easy ways to make sure everything stays running well. Here are 5 simple tips on how to extend the life of your AC unit: Got a lot of stuff hanging around your condenser? Clear all of that away! Keeping too much stuff around your condenser can cause its functions to become restricted which is never good. Make sure to keep your bushes trimmed and debris cleared out around your condenser as a way to add a few more years to your air conditioning unit’s life. Try to keep your AC unit out of direct sunlight. Doing so can make sure that it stays cool and doesn’t overheat. Think about planting some trees near your air conditioning unit in order to keep it in the shade— maybe even a palm tree, for a tropical feel. Clean your AC unit regularly. Leaving...

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