Arctic Air Blog

Daniel Island Attorneys Get Some Relief From The Heat!

This week, it looks like we are going to get some mild weather, however, last week, it was super hot!

I got a call from a local corporate attorney last Wednesday stating that his air conditioner was out. He, his wife and 3 children live in a 3 story home, and the ac that went out. This particular ac unit cools the top 2 floors. He wanted to meet as soon as possible. I was able to meet him at his home at 4 in the afternoon that Wednesday.

After surveying the job, we sat down and discussed all of his options. We discussed Arctic Air, what SEER rating means, what the SEER rating means to him, and what system would work best for his family. This is a lot of information to digest, and he wanted to get a quote from another company.

Arctic Air delivers a portable ac to help cool local Daniel Island family’s home.

I told him that I would come back to Summerville and pick up a portable ac unit to help cool his son’s room. After fighting the rush hour traffic, I headed back to install the temporary Daniel Island air conditioning unit. Of course when I arrived again, the big question was… “When can you do this job?” I told his wife (also an attorney), that we could install the unit on Friday. They were very happy with that answer.

On Thursday, I got the call.  Yes, we would like Arctic Air to install the unit that we discussed. “What time will you be here?”, he asked.  I told him 7am, and I proceeded to get everything together that we needed for a successful installation.

By the end of the day Friday, this family had a new ac pumping out cold air.

I followed up with them on Monday, and they were very happy and comfortable. Life as they once knew it has been restored.

Another quality installation by Arctic Air. In addition to the installation, we will be performing regular preventive maintenance on this and the other units at this home.

9/11 Heroes Run on Daniel Island … A Deeply Moving Experience

Of course, Friday of last week was 9/11. A day that will not be soon forgotten. Many were lost on that day in 2001. War was declared. Many have since served. Many sacrifices have been made. Many have lost their lives. Yet, in all of the tragedy, Americans have continued to serve, continued to sacrifice, continued to honor those lost, and continued to fight for what the USA stands for!

9/11 Heroes Run Director – Theresa Faircloth

It was an honor for Arctic Air, Inc.  to be a 2015 sponsor of this year’s Travis Manion – 9/11 Heroes Run on Daniel Island, SC. Theresa and Jesse Faircloth (the director and co-director) live right beside me. I heard of the event in the past, but didn’t totally grasp the impact that being a part of this would make. Both Theresa and Jesse have been working for almost a year trying to get ready for this event. What is so inspiring about this run, is that not only do funds go to support the Travis Manion Foundation which serves injured military men and women, but funds also go to local agencies.

This year, the Goose Creek Fire Department, C&B Volunteer Fire Department, and the SCFOP Distressed Officers’ Fund will be recipients. This money will help pay for needed safety equipment, and other services to help our First Responders.

When Staci and I arrived on Daniel Island, there was a such a positive “vibe” in the air. Everything was so professionally done and easy to navigate. We parked, then jumped on a shuttle that took us to an area right beside where all of the activity was happening. It was a cool day with a slight drizzle of rain, but this did not stop the excitement of honoring the military, and first responders. Actually, the weather was great!

It was such an honor to be a sponsor of such an event!

Booths were set up. People were everywhere. Everyone was polite and kind.  The run was well organized. This is how we should be honoring our military and first responders.  Yes, with out a doubt… this is how it should be done.

Cheyenne representing Arctic Air in the 2015 9/11 Heroes Run on Daniel Island

We were able to meet up with our friends Kurt and Cheyenne. Cheyenne, a 13 year old from Moncks Corner,  volunteered to run the 5K for Arctic Air.

I am not sure how I got such a great vantage point, but the Guest of Honor was Kyle Carpenter. Kyle was a Corporal in the US Marines. He is the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor. What did Kyle do to deserve that, you might ask? He through himself on a grenade to protect one of his fellow Marines. He has had over 40 surgeries since that time. The scars on his body reminded me that this is not some video game that we play. This is real life. (You need to check out the whole story here, as this brief few sentences does not nearly come close to what actually happened). Kyle Carpenter, a true American Hero.

Because of my great vantage point (I was 2′ behind Kyle), I was able to record most of the opening ceremony. I have posted the clips on YouTube.com. These short clips, but include the Charleston County Police Bag Pipes,  Welcome by Theresa Faircloth, Introduction of Kyle Carpenter, the National Anthem, and the start of the race.

9/11 Heroes Run PT 1  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 2  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 3  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 4  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 5  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 6 –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 7  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 8  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 9  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 10  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 11  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 12  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 13  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 14  –  9/11 Heroes Run PT 15

We were excited to find out that Cheyenne Benack came in 3rd in her age group!  Way to go CHEY!!

Finally, thank you to Theresa, Jesse, Terri and all of the other volunteers that helped to make this event great. An even bigger THANK YOU to the men and women who serve as Military, Police, Fire Fighters, EMS and other first responders. You are appreciated and your dedication and service has not gone unnoticed.

Single Mom gets New AC in Summerville

I wanted to share some photos of a job that we just completed in the Summerville Area (Sangaree). Who ever installed the ac that was in this house did a terrible job. Because the unit was not the right equipment for this house, the customer was experiencing issues with mold, humidity, higher electric bills and she was extremely uncomfortable in her home.

After meeting with several ac companies, this single mom decided to hire Arctic Air. I know that it is hard to get excited about air conditioning units, however, we were very excited to help this mom solve several issues that she was experiencing in her home.

I know that you don’t want to be bored with the details, but I did want to show some pictures of the work that we did. I have also included pictures of the house right beside our customer’s home. I have also pointed out some differences in our installation vs theirs.

Craig and Troy did a great job here! Despite the hard work, the heat, and all of the hurdles that came against them, they did a quality job that they can be very proud of. The entire crew at Arctic Air cares about our customers and their families.

Consumer reports says, “Finding a trustworthy contract to install and service an air conditioning system matters the most.” (Consumer Reports May 20o1). Arctic Air has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, has been in business for 22 years, and has the desire to work towards being a better company every day.

Sale on AC Repair, Service and Equipment!

9/11 Heroes Run – Daniel Island, SC

Arctic Air is a proud sponsor of the 9/11 Heroes Run scheduled for 9/12 on Daniel Island. The race begins at 9:00am. Please plan to arrive early as several of the road ways will be closed.

Please come out to run, to support your runner, and to support the first responders and military!

Kyle Carpenter is scheduled to attend, run and, briefly speak at the event. Who is Kyle Carpenter?  A TRUE AMERICAN HERO. Kyle threw himself in front of a grenade to protect another Marine.  Want to know more, just check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Carpenter.

Happy Labor Day

It is almost 5pm… actually, just after 5pm. I can hear the whistle blowing…. Yabadabadoo!! We would like to wish every one a very Happy Labor Day weekend. You have worked hard and you deserve it.

Unfortunately, our ac equipment doesn’t know that it is time for a long holiday weekend. So, if you find yourself needed some help concerning your ac, please give us a call. We have technicians on call for emergency situations. Just call our regular number (843-821-0937) and a live operator will answer.  Our techs will be forwarded the request, and will give you a call to set up a time to meet.

As we begin to feel the temperature rise into the 90’s, there are a couple of things that will help make your ac perform a little better.

The first thing that you can do is to check your air filters.  I am writing this on June 1, 2015. It is the perfect day to replace your ac filters if they are dirty.

The second thing that you can do is to schedule your preventive maintenance. I would say that my ac works as hard, if not harder, than my truck. I depend on both. One to get me to work, the other to keep me comfortable when I am at home. It is recommended that your oil is changed regularly. It is also recommended that you have preventive maintenance performed on your ac once every six months.

Severely clogged coils!

For more information on preventive maintenance, check out our web page.

The third thing that can be done is to use your ceiling fans. Ceiling fans help us feel cooler by speeding up the evaporation of moisture off of our skin. Check out this video that explains which direction is correct for the summertime.  Be sure to turn fans off if no one is in the room.

Finally, consider installing a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to save money by slightly raising the temperature in your home while you are away. Then, you can program it to cool down before you come home. (It saved me $50 in the first month that I used it. Disclaimer (because we live in a sue happy society…LOL) … not all result will be the same.)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 843-821-0937.

Hope everyone has a Happy June!

News Flash – Synchrony Bank offers 18 months “Same as Cash” option on ac systems and repairs.

(Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see some interesting photos.)
Is your air conditioner on its last leg? Has the last leg already fallen off? Are you overpaying the electric company because your unit is not energy efficient? Are you wondering where you are going to get the money to pay for a new system?

Trust me, I know how you feel. Staci and I have a 9 year old Lennox unit in our home. We have tried to take good care of it over the years, but I know that it won’t be long before we hear the news.  “Mike and Staci, you need a new unit. It doesn’t make sense to keep putting money into this one.” Ugh.

On a personal level no one likes to hear that. And, when I go to see our customers, I don’t like giving them that news either.

Thankfully, Synchrony Bank, formerly GE Capital, has just sent us great news! They have changed two of their plans. Most of us hate change, but this is for the better. Synchrony Bank is now allowing us to offer 18 months “same as cash”. Before, we could only offer 12 month.  This is great news,  if you hate paying interest! Please call for details or visit our website.

In addition, Synchrony Bank has also reduced the monthly payments on the 7.99% interest. This simply means a more affordable payment each month over the lifetime of the loan. Please call for details or visit our website.

Synchrony Bank will usually approve credit for those with a 650 or higher credit score (this does not guarantee a loan, but is simply one of the criteria in the decision making process).

Finally, if your credit is less than stellar, I have another option for you also. My secondary company (not Synchrony Bank) will often approve customers with a 550 or higher. Again, this is just one of the criteria in getting a loan for your air conditioning and heating system. Many of my customers have been able to take advantage of this loan WITHOUT being “taken to the cleaners”. This is a great way to start building your credit score back up. We know and understand that bad things happen to good people. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask about this option. You are not alone.

Do you have questions about financing your equipment? Please call and set up a time to find a plan that is right for you and your family.

Oh yes, one other thing… What are your thoughts….?

Has Chuck gotten into the habit of sleeping on the job, or has he “Fallen and Can’t Get Up?”

Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!

I am extremely proud to work with Arctic Air and the group of people that are on staff. It is nice to see that everyone is on the same page when it comes to quality, dependability, integrity, customer service … and the list goes on.

Please take a look at this review that was left on Google Reviews for us.

Kudos to Troy for just doing his job the way that he always does. Apparently, “the other guys” don’t operate in the same fashion.

I think you will get the idea of what I am talking about once you ready this review.  (Click here for review on Google)

(Names have been removed of the other company) This is what Melanie wrote….

         Thank you Melanie for this review.

Hello Facebook Friends and Family!

I hope that the title of this post caught your attention.

Time to check your ac filters. If they are dirty and clogged, please take time to change them.

I have often said that there really isn’t anything sexy about air conditioning. Usually, an ac is just a box painted in a basic color of paint. Many times it is hidden by a fence, bushes, or is exiled to the back yard where no one can see it. It is out of sight and out of mind, until that dreaded 98°F day in the middle of the summer. You have to make that call… you know the one where you are desperate to have someone please come and fix that “box”. I have even heard people say that they would pay anything to get someone out today (now). They even offer hold a flashlight or an umbrella for a tech, if needed.

This is one way that you can help prevent that call. It is time to get a little dirty.

Since Arctic Air is an ac company, you know that I have to mention that it is time to check your air conditioning filters. Yes, we are entering May. Today is the perfect day to take care of this seemingly menial task.

Some people don’t understand why this is so important. I think this will help most understand why it is critical to life of your unit. Take a straw and just suck air through it. No big deal, right?  Air freely flows through the straw.

Now, take your finger and cover half of the hole at the bottom, and try sucking air through it. With the whole partial covered, air flow is still there, but not quite as free flowing, nor as easy, as when the hole wasn’t covered. Now, cover the hole completely. If you do this long enough, you will feel like your head will explode. You are starving for air. This is the same thing that is happening to your ac. It is starving for air. That is when the life of your unit is in the danger zone.

Air filters keep dust and other particulates from getting trapped in the coil. The coil is the component that allows air to flow through, and moves heat out of the air that is passing through. This process leaves us with “cooler” air coming through the vents. If this coil is filled with dirt, it won’t do a good job of pulling the heat out of the air.

Regular preventive maintenance by a licensed contractor is also important. I will write about this in the next blog. 

Until then, have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Dates to be note:

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo

May 10 – Mother’s Day

A Service Tech Falls in Charleston SC, and He Can’t Get Up!

With all of the work that we have been doing, our service technicians have been working really long hours. On this particular morning, Chuck and Craig were working in Downtown Charleston SC at one of the restaurants that we take care of.  Craig took this picture of Chuck and reported to the office that Chuck was sleeping on the job. When we saw the picture, we all laughed.

Just for some background, I was brought up in the 80’s. You know when all of the Life Alert commercials started coming on tv. The famous line that shot through my mind was “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

I just wanted to show you the picture that we all got a good laugh at!  We love you Chuck… we are always here to give you a hand up! LOL

Ooops … I did it again!

I cannot believe how much time has past since my last post.  When I looked back, I found that I haven’t made a post in almost a month.  I do apologize for my lack of correspondence. I will say that it has been a little crazy around here.

It seems like when it started to get a little warm, our service calls increased greatly.  We cannot say, “Thank You” enough. Many of our calls have been through good ole word of mouth. I am so thankful for the trust that you have put in Arctic Air.

I would like to mention that when it starts warming up, it is a good idea to have preventive maintenance done on your air conditioner. Here is how that maintenance benefits you…

• Savings: Preventive Maintenance pays for itself through higher efficiency, lower electric bills, and, if you have an signed agreement, it adds contractor discounts.
• Peace of Mind: Preventive maintenance will mean fewer system failures and a longer life for your HVAC equipment.
• Priority Service: Should a system failure occur during the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, customers with Preventive Maintenance Agreements receive priority service. No overtime!
• Continuity: The service technician becomes more familiar with you and your equipment.

If you would like to know more about what our preventive maintenance plan looks like, click here.

As an early reminder, remember to check your air filters. If they are dirty, please change them ASAP.

Thanks again for your support, trust and referrals. We appreciate all that you do for us!