Earth Day 2023 is the time to help restore damaged ecosystems, live a more sustainable life, and demonstrate support for environmental protection worldwide. Considering this year’s theme “Invest in our Planet,” Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating would like to share some ideas on how you can decrease your carbon footprint and greenhouse emissions through small improvements to your HVAC system.

Clean Up Debris, Grass, and Leaves

You’ll want to check around your HVAC equipment outdoors and remove dirt, branches, large rocks, grass, and leaves to make sure they’re not restricting air flow.

Check Air Filters

Do you remember the last time you checked and changed your air filters? If it has been a month or more, Bruce’s recommends replacing them—particularly if they’re clogged with dust and dirt. With a clean filter, air flow is improved throughout your system, enabling it to work more efficiently.

Inspect Attic Insulation

If you haven’t checked your attic lately, Earth Day is a great time to determine if you have sufficient insulation. If you’re not comfortable doing this DIY insulation check, call an HVAC pro who can determine if you’re losing conditioned air through your roof.

Check Ductwork

The average house’s ductwork can leak up to 30% of its airflow. That’s a considerable amount of wasted energy and money that could have been prevented by sealing ductwork properly. By sealing ducts to prevent air loss, you’ll improve HVAC system efficiency that can quickly add up to real savings.

Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

One way to significantly improve the efficiency of your HVAC system is by upgrading to a programmable thermostat. In fact, this may be your best move for Earth Day environmental savings. Traditional HVAC thermostats aren’t as efficient at regulating the temperature inside your house. A programmable thermostat allows you to set timers to plan energy usage in your home effectively. This leads to fewer HVAC issues and easier maintenance.

Celebrate Earth Day with Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating

These tips are a perfect way for your family to participate in Earth Day 2023. These small changes are not only better for the environment, but they can also help decrease your energy bills. While some of these DIY tasks are easy, your HVAC system may require a more professional touch. Please call your certified technicians today at Bruce’s at 480-968-5652 to schedule an appointment.

The deadline for this year to file your federal tax returns is Tuesday, April 18. As of August 12, 2022, when the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, some federal tax incentives became retroactively available for 2022. Let’s take a look at incentives available for 2022 and the wide range of incentives that went into effect beginning January 1, 2023.

Federal Tax Incentives Retroactively Available for 2022

The Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit, formerly called the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit, is a federal tax credit available to consumers for the 2022 tax year.

•  There’s a lifetime limit of $500 for the credit. Meaning credits taken in prior years count towards the limit.
• Individual credit limits are $50 for air circulating fans, $150 for some furnaces and boilers, and $300 for certain water heaters, heat pumps, and air conditioning systems that meet energy efficiency requirements.

Federal Tax Incentives for 2023

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes a range of federal tax incentives.

The federal tax credit allows homeowners to deduct up to 30% of home improvement upgrades from their taxes.

• Homeowners can claim up to $150 of a home energy audit at their primary residence. A home energy audit is defined by ENERGYSTAR.gov as an inspection and written report that identifies the most significant and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements to your residence. Bruce’s can do this energy audit for your home.
• $250 for an exterior door; up to $500 total for all exterior doors.
• $600 for central air conditioners, natural gas, propane, or oil hot water heaters, air source heat pumps, natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces and fans, non-solar water heaters, and advanced main air circulating fans.
• 10% tax credit of the cost up to $500 not including installation for metal and asphalt roofs.
• 10% tax credit of the cost up to $500 not including installation for ENERGYSTAR windows, doors, and skylights.
• 10% tax credit of the cost up to $500 not including installation for adding adequate insulation. This tax credit also applies to weather stripping, spray foam in a can for air sealing, caulk for air sealing, and a house wrap. These are some of the most cost-effective home improvements that you can make.

Call Bruce’s

When you need advice on how to best utilize these tax incentives, repairing, or replacing your HVAC equipment, our skilled HVAC professionals can diagnose, repair, and recommend new air conditioning, heating, and furnace equipment. Call us today at 480-968-5652 to schedule your appointment. We’re here to help 24/7/365.

Even though we’re still in early spring, balmy daytime and evening temperatures will be here soon enough. In other words, it’s time to switch over from heating to air conditioning. And yes, it can be incredibly frustrating when you want to turn on your air conditioner, and it doesn’t work. There are some common reasons for HVAC failure and why this could happen. Here’s what to look for.

Test Your HVAC

Air conditioning failures frequently occur when your system is turned on for the first time after a long break. It could be anything from a broken thermostat or leaking refrigerant to a tripped circuit breaker. Why wait to find out if your system has a problem? With any complex system, your HVAC consists of a wide variety of components that all must function smoothly for it to perform efficiently.

Replace Your Air Filters

HVAC filters can get dirty very quickly in Arizona’s climate. One study showed 29% of homeowners never change their air filters. High pollution arising from fireplaces and winter air inversions can kick up enough particulates to clog your system. This will result in your system running longer, increasing your energy consumption. It will also increase family allergies, and even lead to a full-on system failure. Filters are inexpensive and easy to install.

In fact, keeping your filter clean can reduce electricity usage up to 15 percent. In the Valley of the Sun, it’s recommended that you replace your filter at least every three months, even more frequently if you have pets that shed or have family members with allergies or asthma in your home.

Check Your HVAC Drainage

HVAC systems tend to get clogged over time. This is particularly true for those with outside condensers. Clogs happen when dirt, leaves, and other debris build up in the drain pan and around the unit. When an air conditioner doesn’t drain properly, it can impede water flow, causing mold and mildew to grow inside the condenser hose impacting your home’s indoor air quality.

Time for a Tune Up

A seasonal maintenance tune up isn’t just a good idea. It’s a necessity for keeping your HVAC system optimally performing. It’s usually also a requirement for maintaining your HVAC system’s warranty. At Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we encourage our customers to take advantage of our tune up services. Call us today at 480-968-5652 to schedule your tune up.

With spring’s arrival, the beautiful Sonoran Desert flowers and trees are in full bloom. Though not all Arizonans appreciate the season. During this time of the year, millions of people suffer from seasonal allergies. But this doesn’t have to necessarily be a miserable time with family members sneezing, coughing, and itching eyes. Your HVAC system is your secret weapon in trapping allergens and creating a contaminant-free zone inside your house.

How a Spring HVAC Tune Up Helps Decrease Allergies

A professional HVAC tune up restores heating and air conditioning to a like-new condition. When your unit functions at its peak level, it means that it will be removing allergens inside your house. And with your system functioning optimally, you will be less likely to open windows or doors which function as major entry points for pollen and other allergens.

A tune up also helps prepare your unit for the challenging, hot monsoon season ahead. Our trained HVAC specialists will inspect your system for any irregularities and fix them before they turn into a system breakdown. This includes cleaning any dirt that has accumulated in the sensitive parts of your system and performing various tests to ensure moving parts are lubricated, refrigerant levels are topped up, and all controls such as the indoor thermostat are on the proper setting.

On average, 20% of cooled air moving through ductwork inside your home is lost due to issues such as leaks, holes, and poor duct connections. Ductwork performance can be improved by insulating ductwork, sealing any leaks, and checking for disconnected ductwork where the ducts attach to registers and vents. Your HVAC expert has the training and experience to help keep your system running efficiently.

Schedule HVAC Maintenance Today with Bruce’s

If you need to get rid of allergens and keep your indoor air fresh, talk to Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating. Our licensed and experienced technicians offer unparalleled HVAC services in the Valley of the Sun. Call us today at 480-968-5652 to schedule a check-up.