It’s fall and that means the leaves are changing and the temperatures are dropping - for our friends up north.

Here in Sarasota, it’s still HOT (and the leaves are still green) and that means we still want the AC blowing COLD. On the Suncoast, we depend on our AC year-round and, if you’re like us, you have a trusted AC Company you can call at the first sign of trouble, but not every problem requires a pro.

This checklist can help you avoid an unnecessary (and possibly expensive) service call:

Check the Thermostat

Make sure the thermostat is set to the "COOL" position and that it is set to the desired temperature.

If your thermostat is battery operated (or if it has a battery backup in case of a power outage) a fresh battery could clear up some issues and/or restore connectivity between the AC unit and the thermostat. If you haven’t changed the battery in over a year – it might be time for a fresh battery.

Check the Breakers

Make sure all the circuit breakers in the box are set to the "ON" position. If there is a “tripped breaker” (at the neutral position) turning it off and then on will reset it.

Resetting the breaker that controls your thermostat and/or the air conditioning system can sometimes be enough to restart an unresponsive system
If your air conditioning system keeps tripping the breaker – DON’T TURN IT BACK ON.

Check the Filter

A clogged filter will make it hard for cold air to reach your living space. A clogged filter also makes your system work harder, which will result in higher electric bills and, if your filter is really clogged, it could be the reason the breaker keeps tripping. It’s a good idea to check your filter once/month (more or less depending on the type of filter and the conditions in your home) by taking it out and holding it up to the light – if you can’t see through it, it’s probably time for a new filter.

If after all that, your air conditioning system still isn’t working right, call Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating at 941-921-7208. We're always ready to help!

Warranties provide great peace of mind, especially when it comes to something as expensive as a new HVAC system.

But it’s a lot easier than you might think to void those warranties… Avoid costly repairs that might otherwise be covered by following these simple rules:

Send in the Warranty Card

Most product registrations these days can be completed online so you don’t even need to go looking for a stamp. Whether it’s online or sending in that postcard, registering your HVAC system is the first step in avoiding warranty issues down the road.

Never Use an Unlicensed Contractor

Hiring an unlicensed contractor could save you a few bucks in the short run, but an installation performed by an unlicensed contractor voids the manufacturer's warranty so you could be spending thousands of dollars on a unit that is not covered if it fails. Hiring an unlicensed contractor can also result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000 plus court costs for the homeowner – it’s just not worth the risk!

Don’t Use Off-Brand Replacement Parts

Many off-brand parts are perfectly fine to use but using unauthorized replacement parts will void your warranty so save the off-brand parts for when you’re out of warranty.

Get the Unit Serviced Regularly Without regular Preventive Maintenance, an HVAC system will lose about 5% of its original efficiency with each passing year. Simply having your Air Conditioning unit serviced regularly can cut your cooling costs by as much as 15% and it will extend the life of your system. A properly serviced air conditioner will also do a better job of dehumidifying your home.

If that’s not enough to convince you, you should know that regular maintenance, performed by an authorized service provider and documentation of same, is a warranty requirement.

A preventive maintenance agreement with Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, will not only keep your system running at peak efficiency, but it will ensure that all warranty requirements are met and that you have the necessary documentation when you need warranty service.

If you have any questions about your HVAC system, it’s warranty or our Preventive Maintenance Agreements, call 941-921-7208 and speak to one of our comfort specialists.

Living in Florida, you probably already have a well-worn routine you break into whenever inclement weather is on the horizon, but is preparing your Air Conditioning System a part of that routine?

According to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, is expected to be an “above normal” season with 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 of which will likely become hurricanes, including 3 to 6 “major” hurricanes.

These tips will keep you comfortable and your AC protected in the event of a hurricane:

Secure the Unit

Make sure your outdoor unit is properly secured to the concrete. Check the metal bolts and straps that hold your system in place for signs of rust or deterioration which could make the unit vulnerable to high winds.

Clear and Cover

Prior to the storm, bring in any outdoor tables, chairs or other items that could become airborne and cause damage to the AC System. You can even cover the outside unit with a tarp in order to keep it free from flying leaves, dirt and other debris, but make sure to remove the covering before you turn the unit back on!

Cool Down Your House

Before the threat of the storm is imminent, try cooling your house as much as possible so you are comfortable for a while after you turn off your AC System.

Turn Off the Power

Nearly 90% of all electrical system damage occurs when the AC is left on during a thunderstorm or hurricane. You may have to tolerate a bit of heat and humidity when you turn off your AC but leaving it on could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.

Wait 20 Minutes

Keep the AC off until the storm passes and don't be in a rush to turn it back on. In the event of flooding, don’t restore power to the equipment until it is completely dry and you are certain that it is safe to do so.

Even if the unit looks unharmed, wait a minimum of 20 minutes after the power is restored to turn the AC System back on. Unstable or “dirty” power is common in the minutes after the power returns.

Stay safe and don’t forget to include your AC System in your Hurricane Preparedness Plan. 

Maverick: Maverick with Sean McCutcheon from Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating.

Sean: It’s starting to warm up outside and we know that things are tight on everybody and we’re all in a little bit of a financial situation that we didn’t expect. We really want to remind everybody that we really do care about our community. We’re here for everybody. If you need any of our services, we’ll take care of you. We’ll continue to protect our community and make sure that everybody gets through this comfortably

Maverick: Maverick with my buddy Sean McCutcheon from Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating. We are buddies, we’ve known each other for years, we’ve vacationed together and I haven’t seen him in months and we’re not in a normal situation here, Sean.

Sean: No, definitely not in the normal, but I’m hoping that we’re coming out of it. There’s a lot of things to start to be excited about. It’s warming up and I’m ready to get back on a vacation someday.

Maverick: You know what’s interesting is we’re all in this together, Sean.

Sean: Well, we love this community, we live here, we raise our families here, we work here, you’re all our neighbors and our families, our friends. We want to remind everybody that there is trusted places to do business out here in our community. That you can get second opinions if you need services right now. People are going to be fair with you. We’re not taking advantage of anybody. It all comes down to this community is connected in so many ways. We’re all in it together. Let’s get through this together and we’ll celebrate on the other side.

Maverick: Maverick talking to my friend, on the phone, social distancing, Sean McCutcheon from Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating. Speaking of that, Sean, we’re all worried about germs. obviously, and I’m seeing a lot about ultra-violet lights and how that can help

Sean: There’s some really good technology that is available for your homes and commercial applications. We can’t say that it kills Covid-19 for 100% fact, but we do know that it does well against similar type organisms. Every house and person’s application are a little different. Is one of those things where you need to get a bit of an education on it.

We have no problem sending you information or if you want to go on our website and learn more about the different products that are available. We can tailor fit something more specific to your residence but, for the most part, if you’re a good candidate, if you’re interested in more high-end filtration or taking advantage of some of these indoor purification type systems, we’d be happy to discuss it with you, we’re just not going to push them on everybody out there.

Maverick: Sean McCutcheon with Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating. 

Will Air Purifcation systems kill viruses?

With talk of coronavirus blanketing the airwaves and so many companies claiming to have special filters and air purifiers that can kill the virus, it’s no wonder we’ve received so many calls and emails from customers looking to protect their families and employees from this new illness, so we wanted to pass along some information to help you separate the signal from the noise.

Let’s start with the basics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It’s possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Noting that airborne particles play a significant role in the spread of the disease, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released proactive guidance that addresses COVID-19 concerns with respect to the operation and maintenance of HVAC systems.

You should know that viruses, like COVID-19, are much smaller than bacteria (roughly 100 times smaller) and other pollutants like pollen and pet dander which are the primary culprits when it comes to poor indoor air quality. This means that a standard HEPA filter will not remove viruses from the air.

Unlike air filters, some air purifiers can capture viruses, but they won’t destroy them so the virus will remain alive inside the filter for as long as the virus survives which could be as long as 9 days. High quality air filters also tend to come with a hefty price tag, so you should take that into account when determining the best option for your home or business.

Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating offers a variety of indoor air quality products including the HALO-LED™ whole-home in-duct air purification system. We also offer Bryant Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights which destroy viruses and bacteria without chemicals. Both the HALO-LED and the Bryant Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights are installed in the HVAC unit and they disinfect the air as it circulates through the ventilation system.

We can’t guarantee that using an air purifier will kill Covid-19, we only know they do well against similar type organisms. Every house and person’s application are a little different, so it pays to do a little research. We can tailor fit a system to your residence if you’re interested in more high-end filtration or taking advantage of some of these indoor purification systems. We’d be happy to discuss it with you, or even send you information, we are just not actively promoting these systems for use against Covid-19.

Call (941) 921-7208 to discuss your air purification options with one of our NATE certified technicians.

In the meantime, the CDC recommends you clean your hands often, avoid close contract with people who are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, stay home or wear a facemask if you are sick, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. Click here for specifics on each of these recommendations (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html).

We are all in this together.

Our Gratitude - For the heroism of our front line health care workers and their vital work.

We Care -  about your home environments and keeping you comfortable as we all work to flatten this pandemic curve.  

Our Community – Thank you for helping to protect each other.  We’re helping emergency medical workers by offering additional discounts.

We are all in this together, and together we will overcome this challenge. 

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a “near-normal” hurricane season this year, but you don’t need a very active season for just one hurricane to make landfall and wreak havoc.

Secure the Unit

Make sure your outdoor unit is properly secured to the concrete. Check the metal bolts and straps that hold your system in place for signs of rust or deterioration which could make the unit vulnerable to high winds.
Clear and Cover

Prior to the storm, bring in any outdoor tables, chairs or other items that could become airborne and cause damage to the AC System. You can even cover the outside unit with a tarp in order to keep it free from flying leaves, dirt and other debris, but make sure to remove the covering before you turn the unit back on!

Cool Down Your House

Before the threat of the storm is imminent, try cooling your house as much as possible so you are comfortable for a while after you turn off your AC System.

Turn Off the Power

Nearly 90% of all electrical system damage occurs when the AC is left on during a thunderstorm or hurricane. You may have to tolerate a bit of heat and humidity when you turn off your AC but leaving it on could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.

Wait 20 Minutes

Keep the AC System turned off until the storm passes and don't be in a rush to turn it back on. In the event of flooding, do not restore the power to the equipment until the system is completely dry and you are certain that it is safe to do so.

Even if the unit looks unharmed and it is not flooded, wait a minimum of 20 minutes after the power is restored to turn the AC System back on. Unstable or “dirty” power is common in the minutes after the power returns.

Stay safe this hurricane season and make sure to include your Air Conditioning and Heating System in your Hurricane Preparedness Plan.

Click here to download a PDF of this guide

By now you’ve probably received several different official-looking letters offering you air conditioning and heating, electrical, plumbing, and other home services from what appears to be Florida Power & Light (FPL).

Don’t be fooled. These letters are actually coming from FPL “Energy Services”.

Recently, FPL, the largest utility in the state and the 3rd largest in the country, purchased Jupiter-Tequesta Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical and re-branded it as FPL Energy Services. Now, this unregulated subsidiary is leveraging the ratepayer-funded assets of its state-regulated parent and improperly accessing the data of millions of FPL customers to offer them a variety of services.

The Florida Public Service Commission has cautioned FPL against misrepresenting the communications of its unregulated subsidiaries and the MEP Coalition for Fair Competition (MEP), a statewide small business alliance established in opposition to FPL’s expansion into the for-profit home services market, claims that FPL is using predatory pricing and leveraging their corporate resources in order to “decimate the small business owners and contractors who offer these services locally.”

MEP believes that FPL aims to force small community-based contractors out of business and that, once they have succeeded, “FPL will be free to hold a monopoly position in these new industries, destroying competition and raising prices as they see fit.”

For more information visit: https://www.mepcoalition.org/the-case-against-fpl/.

A new AC System can significantly reduce your electric bill, but the initial expense can be intimidating.

Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating can help make that very worthwhile investment a little easier for you with a new clean-energy financing program.

Sarasota County Homeowners can now take advantage of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing Program which allows them to borrow up to 20% of their home’s value to finance energy-efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.

Homeowners can take up to 15 years to pay back the loan and, thanks to an agreement between the PACE Providers (the financing organizations) and the Sarasota County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector’s office, the amount to be repaid is included as a non-ad valorem assessment on your annual property tax bill instead of a monthly payment like most other home expenses.

The first of four PACE Providers, Renew Financial, is now able to provide PACE Financing to homeowners in unincorporated Sarasota County, the City of Sarasota, and the City of North Port.

Homeowners in the Town of Longboat Key should be able to access the program soon.

In order to take advantage of this financing program, your contractor must be an Approved PACE Contractor. PACE Contractors are trained on regulations related to the PACE program, they conform to a code of conduct, and their licenses and insurance are checked.

Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating is already approved and we’re ready to help homeowners like you make their homes more energy efficient.

If you’ve been thinking of a new AC System but weren’t sure how you were going to pay for it, give us a call at 941-921-7208, we’ll gladly answer any questions so you can decide if PACE Financing is right for you.

Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating is honored to have received the Angie's List Super Service Award for achieving and maintaining a superior service rating on Angie's List throughout 2016.

This achievement is particularly significant as Angie’s List experienced unprecedented member growth in 2016. More than 1.6 million consumers, many of whom were eager to quickly hire highly qualified service pros, joined Angie’s List after the company added a new, free membership tier.

“Companies that can meet higher demands without missing a beat in their exemplary performance standards truly do stand apart from their peers,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Only a fraction of the HVAC companies in Sarasota, FL were able to do it.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2016 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The SSA winners must also be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.