One thing we can all agree on is that an Arizona summer gets pretty hot. Opinions are far more varied when it comes to the best temperature to set your thermostat at in the summer. Though everyone has certain preferences, we’ll attempt to address some of the considerations when discussing recommended thermostat settings for summer. Outside Temperature According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the recommended thermostat setting for summer days while you are at home is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason for this is that the closer you stay to the outside temperature, the less it costs to cool …

What is a Good Temperature to Set Your Thermostat at in the Summer? Read More »

Your home should be a safe place for you and your family, and this includes having clean air to breathe in your living environment. But no matter how hard you work to keep your home clean, your air can still be affected by unhealthy contaminants like fumes, mold, mildew, and microscopic particles if not properly ventilated.  Then there are also more serious threats, like radon gases and carbon monoxide, which can be present without you even knowing it until it’s too late. So, how do you tell if your home has poor air quality? The most important step is getting a …

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Manufacturers include a metering device called the thermostatic expansion valve as a standard component in air conditioning systems. HVAC technicians at AHWA are well versed in the way this valve is designed and how it functions, but you may not be as familiar. We’re here to explain a bit more about it to you. What is a thermostatic expansion valve? The thermostatic expansion valve is a prime element in your HVAC system, but before we get further into what it is, let’s talk about how the system works as a whole. Refrigeration works as a four-prong cycle that involves a …

Thermostatic Expansion Valve: What is it and How Does it Work? Read More »