Information on Advantages and Disadvantages for Residential and Commercial ApplicationsWe get a lot of questions here at Air-Tro, and one of the most frequent is about ductless mini split air conditioners. What are they? Should we install them in our home or office? Who’s going to the Superbowl?For this blog, let’s stick to the first two questions. Ductless mini ... Continue Reading
Air-Tro is Once Again Voted Best Air Conditioning and Heating by Monrovia Weekly and other San Gabriel Publications
This is the Fourth Year in a Row that Air-Tro, Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating has Won the Readers Choice Award from the publishers of Monrovia Weekly, Pasadena Independent, Arcadia Weekly and Sierra Madre WeeklyRobert Helbing, President of Air-Tro, Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating, is pleased to announce that his company was once again named the best air ... Continue Reading
Hurricane Harvey Underscores Importance of Air Conditioning for Basic Human Health and Comfort
Comfort Systems Aren’t Just About Convenience. They Save Lives.In the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we’ve all been glued to our television screens watching the brave responders and courageous survivors struggle against the elements. The overwhelming national outpouring of support and volunteer efforts has been so heartening to see in these times, reminding us ... Continue Reading
Air Conditioning: Funny, Happy, and Just Plain Weird Reactions to HVAC Technology
You Wouldn’t Think Air Conditioning Could Be Controversial, But at the Beginning, It WasIn today’s dog days of early fall, it’s hard to imagine living in the San Gabriel Valley without air conditioning. And yet, up until about a hundred years ago, people did exactly that here and everywhere else in the United States.Still, that didn’t stop creative thinkers, ... Continue Reading
Because Movies and Air Conditioning Go Together Like Peanut Butter and Jelly: Facts about HVAC and Tom Hanks
Did you know that air conditioning has gone hand in hand with the movies since the early days of our industry? We’ll get to why in a minute, but in the meantime, it’s a beautiful summer day! School is starting for many of the younger set in the San Gabriel Valley and it’s time to sit back, and enjoy the relative quiet that only an afternoon in an appropriately air ... Continue Reading
Are You An HVAC Boy Scout (or Girl Scout)?
It’s a hot summer day and suddenly, your air conditioner conks out. What do you do? Indoor Comfort Can Be a Lifesaver First, if you have any senior citizens, infants or invalids in your household, consider taking them immediately to a cooler location while the air conditioner gets fixed. Heat exhaustion or worse is prevalent when the temperatures climb, and someone who ... Continue Reading
Take it From Eisenhower: The Cheaper HVAC Deal Is Not Always the Least Expensive
Why Cheap HVAC Repairs Can Cost You Money Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “There is no victory at bargain basement prices.” Of course, he was referring to the enormous transition from global war to rebuilding the world’s economy and infrastructure, but hey, we’re going to reference it with respect to heating and air conditioning, too.Many people ask us why HVAC repair ... Continue Reading
Just Bought a Home? Avoid HVAC Surprises with Your First Energy Bill
Don’t Get Left “Home Alone” with the Energy Meter RunningThe moving vans have left, and you’ve finally managed to make some headway on all those boxes piled up in every room. Life seems to be settling into a new normal in your beautiful new home. The weather outside is sweltering, so what’s the harm in cranking up the HVAC system to keep everyone cool? Remember, ... Continue Reading
Living with Pets And HVAC too: What You Need to Know
Happy Pets, Happy Owners, Happy HVAC TechniciansWe’re big pet people here at Air-Tro. Dogs, cats, and even the occasional iguana are some of the animals who enjoy living in total indoor comfort with the Air-Tro professional they call “Mom,” “Dad,” or “Hey, you with the cat food can.” Nevertheless, there are some special precautions and important steps to take as a ... Continue Reading
There’s a Hot Number! Your Air Conditioner’s SEER Score, Explained
Reduce Your Energy Bills Without Sacrificing Indoor ComfortWhen it comes to buying a new air conditioner, you probably want something that lets you save money on energy costs, while also effective at keeping your home or office cool and comfortable throughout the hot months. It’s also nice to know your new HVAC system is environmentally responsible too. What should ... Continue Reading
George Washington, HVAC Specialist?
America’s Founding Fathers Were Also The Nation’s First Official Climate Observers.Whether you’re walking in a parade, going to a family barbecue or just chilling indoors today and relaxing, we here at Air-Tro hope you’re enjoying this special day. In honor of this momentous occasion in our nation’s history, we want to tip our hats to the country’s first ... Continue Reading
HVAC From Hell: Photos That Both Scare Us and Fill Us With Gratitude
Don’t try this at home. At least not with the HVAC folks who did this. We were looking through issues of one of our favorite magazines, the ASHI Reporter, and saw these HVAC pictures, along with a few of the stories that go with them. We hope these never happen to you, and are so grateful that they haven’t happened to us. All photos and captions courtesy of The ASHI ... Continue Reading
Air Conditioning: What You Don’t Know Might Hurt You
Cool HVAC News From Fort Worth!It’s a heartwarming story and one we hope “catches on” across the country, as we head into another long, hot summer. As reported by CBS News, World War II veteran Julius Hatley, 95, called 911 in Fort Worth, Texas a couple of weeks ago to report that both his central air conditioning system and his inexpensive wall unit were no longer ... Continue Reading
Life Before Air Conditioning, Or “When It Was Sweaty”
What Did People Do Before Air-Tro?Summer is almost here, and the hot afternoons are only getting warmer as the summer days go by. Anyone who has come from the oven-like outdoor conditions into the cool refreshment of an indoor room can tell you that air conditioning is a lifesaver when July and August hit, especially in Southern California.Indeed, studies of ... Continue Reading
Air-Tro Wins San Gabriel Valley’s Best Air Conditioning & Heating Award for the Sixth Year in a Row
The Pasadena HVAC Services Company Was Selected as a Winner in the Readers Choice Awards The votes have been collected and tallied and the results are in: for the sixth year in a row, Air-Tro has won the San Gabriel Valley’s Best Air Conditioning & Heating Award.To learn more about the Pasadena HVAC services company and Air Tro’s commitment to outstanding customer ... Continue Reading
Employee Productivity and Air Conditioning: The Link That Will Save Your Bottom Line
When office space is at a premium and saving money is a top priority, updating or installing air conditioning for your business may seem like an unnecessarily frivolous expense. While fans and wall units may provide some relief from the paralyzing Southern California heat, your staff will be the first to tell you they are not completely effective.And here’s the really ... Continue Reading
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month: Here’s What You Need to Know about Air Quality
Here at Air-Tro, we strive to keep California comfortable. But what we don’t mention too often is perhaps HVAC’s most important job for anyone living in Southern California’s frequently unhealthy climate: protecting your health.With the air teeming with bacteria, pollutants, and organic irritants, your air conditioning filtration system can serve as an important ... Continue Reading
Air Filters: the Kanye West Part to Your Kim Kardashian Air Conditioner
Forgive the silly headline, but sometimes we find folks seem to tune out when we start talking air conditioning jargon, especially if they think they already know what we’re going to say. But judging from the number of problems we see as a result of this issue, well, heck, maybe we need an HVAC reality show too! Air Filters Are Mission Critical Here’s the deal. Your air ... Continue Reading
Are You in the Cool Crowd? Air Conditioning Facts You Should Know
It’s almost here: the hot season that requires all of us in the San Gabriel Valley who aren’t fond of sweating at our desks to crank up the air conditioner and think about ways to stay cool. And yet, most people aren’t that familiar with the equipment they use both at home and the office. Are you environmentally savvy when it comes to what your air conditioner can and ... Continue Reading
Springtime Heat Wave? Save on Energy Costs, Without Turning Off The AC
These Suggestions Can Help You Stay Cool Without Spending a Lot of Money!With energy costs on the rise, unseasonably hot weather in May or June may strike a note of concern in any homeowner’s heart, along with the sweaty brow. You might ask, “how much is this going to cost?” as you or someone you love cranks up the air conditioner to return indoor conditions to ... Continue Reading
Sometimes HVAC Is Worse Than Dating. Don’t Fall For These Pick Up Lines!
Our single friends tell us how grim it can be out there to look for a new romantic partner. Between sketchy computer dating profiles to awful pick up lines, it’s never easy to find a soulmate! But just as it’s important to keep the faith that you’ll find your one and only, be aware of the bad pickup lines that some less scrupulous HVAC companies use. It will go a long way ... Continue Reading
HVAC Humor: Just a Bunch of Hot Air?
Because HVAC consultants have a sense of humor too!The HVAC community is not without a sense of humor. Well, at least we think so. From the new technician who says “everything’s fine” until you notice his singed eyebrows to the customer who asks for an HVAC system that helps with hot flashes, there’s plenty of opportunity for the lighter side in the course of doing ... Continue Reading
Not Cool: How to Avoid Shady Air Conditioning Companies
Springtime is almost here, and it’s time to think about maintenance, repairs and for some, even a new HVAC system for your home or office before the weather becomes too extreme. We know you have lots of choices out there when it comes to hiring an HVAC contractor. What really matters when it comes to choosing the right company? And why does it matter, anyway? HVAC ... Continue Reading
Rooftop Solar Systems: Could They Save You Money?
Affordable Solar Means Clean Energy Options Are HereThe demand for clean, renewable and inexpensive energy sources is at an all time high. With today’s changing technology and recent federal and state incentives, energy options are changing for the home consumer. Rooftop solar panels, once cost prohibitive, are now a realistic alternative for many homeowners. Could ... Continue Reading
Who Knew? Ancient Kuwaitis Had Air Conditioning
Archeologists Make Major HVAC DiscoveryFrom the unusual news of the month file, we read recently that Slovakian archeologists working in the Persian Gulf have carefully unearthed a man-made interior air conditioning system on Failaka Island.We bet you didn’t know there was a cadre of Slovakian archeologists out there excavating, did you? And second, we’re ... Continue Reading
