Do you need air conditioner repair or HVAC replacement? It usually happens on the hottest day of summer. We know, because it happens to our families too. One minute you’re reading the morning newspaper online, drinking your coffee, and then you notice the terrible truth: your air conditioning appears to be completely nonfunctional. Uh oh! The truth is that ... Continue Reading
Extreme Weather Events Underscore Importance of Air Conditioning for Basic Human Health and Comfort
Comfort Systems Aren’t Just About Convenience. They Save Lives. During extreme weather events, we're often glued to our television screens watching the brave responders and courageous survivors struggle against the wind, rain, and other elements. We are heartened to see the overwhelming national outpouring of support and volunteer efforts that remind us of the ... Continue Reading
Does Drought Affect Your Air Conditioning System? What You Need to Know
Small problems can become big ones when temperatures rise. The heat waves of summer are getting more frequent. For those sensitive to temperature, this translates into daytime being a little unbearable, too. However, there are certain things you can do to keep your indoor temps cool. You'll also avoid putting too much strain on your air conditioning system ...or your ... Continue Reading
Economizers: The Hidden HVAC Equipment that May Be Costing You Money
Inspection and Maintenance Are Critical More than 25 years ago, California lawmakers decided to mandate greener energy systems by requiring all commercial buildings to have what came to be called “economizers” included as part of their HVAC systems. In theory, this was a great idea! These outdoor intakes on commercial air conditioners would close on hotter days, ... Continue Reading
What to Do for Strange HVAC Smells
Know When You Should Call a Professional We get asked a lot about unusual smells coming from HVAC systems. Sometimes the answer has to do with something completely unrelated to your equipment, like the tuna sandwich a toddler put into a vent (true story) or even a gassy pet! Nevertheless, sometimes these odors are problematic, beyond removing just a yucky part of an ... Continue Reading
Repair or Replace? What to do when your air conditioner is not blowing cold air
Is your system 8 to 10 years old? Or is it about 15 to 20? What do you do when you do when your air conditioning unit no longer blows cold air? Check our expert’s advice on air conditioning maintenance in this video: “Repair or replace by AIR-TRO, a game that asks all of the tough HVAC questions so that you don't have to! “Okay, we have a question from the ... Continue Reading
Get Your Air Conditioning Ready for Summer!
Easy HVAC Maintenance Now Saves You Headaches Later With warm days ahead, it’s time to get your air conditioning ready for reliable indoor comfort all summer long. Here’s a brief checklist to run through before you head to the pool! Change your furnace or air handler filters. Pet dander, smog, and pollen can all clog up the system, forcing your HVAC to work harder ... Continue Reading
Get the Scoop on These Common Warm Weather Commercial HVAC Issues
Know When It’s Time to Call for Repairs We’re heading into warm weather here in the Southland, and it’s a time when all commercial building owners need to be cognizant of potential issues that go along with summertime HVAC. Read about common problems below: Suspicious Puddles: Seeing any mysterious fluid around your commercial HVAC equipment? It could be ... Continue Reading
Allergies and Your Air Conditioner: What They Have In Common
Solutions for Your Sneezes Are a Phone Call Away Everyone has an allergy to something these days, it seems. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans have experienced some type of allergic response in the past year. Worse still, these reactions are estimated to cost our nation upwards of $18 billion dollars a ... Continue Reading
Spring Has Sprung: Seasonal HVAC Maintenance Tips for Homeowners
An Ounce of Prevention Keeps Your Air Conditioning From a Pound of Repairs Okay, so the aphorism is a little wonky, but what’s so great anyway about the original term “a pound of cure?" In any case, the phrase still rings true. Take care of your air conditioning with a few maintenance tasks this spring, and you’ll enjoy indoor comfort all summer long. First off, change ... Continue Reading
The Top 5 Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality and Create a Healthy Work Environment [INFOGRAPHIC]
Are you worried about increased absenteeism and possible legal responsibility if a staff member falls ill? We understand that many business owners and commercial property managers are scrambling to ensure their buildings and indoor environments are safe, clean and comfortable for everyone. As a small business and community members ourselves, as well as HVAC professionals, ... Continue Reading
Two Common AC Problems You Can Do Something About
Save money by fixing the little issues... before they turn into big ones. Here in Southern California, indoor comfort means having your air conditioning functioning at peak performance all of the time. Who wants to waste money on high energy bills and reduced cooling levels when it’s hot out? Recognizing these common air conditioning problems will help you ... Continue Reading
Knowing Definitions of Important HVAC Parts Can Help
Check Out This Glossary of Air Conditioning Terms to Impress Friends, Family and Random Strangers When it comes to heating and cooling, our technicians spend a lot of time studying: the parts, their potential problems, and what these elements of any HVAC system are supposed to do. We also prep our team on the latest technologies and up-to-date regulations on how this ... Continue Reading
Stuck at Home? Be Nice to Your Air Conditioner to Save Money for Summer
These Easy Maintenance Tips Will Keep Your System Running Smoothly It’s easy to go stir crazy during this unprecedented national crisis, so why not be productive? Instead of lying on the sofa or bugging your teenager to get out of bed and finally take a shower, you can put money in your pocket by caring for your air conditioner! We know, this doesn’t necessarily ... Continue Reading
Willis Carrier: Air Conditioning Hero and Cool Cat
An Inventor and Engineer Who Saved Lives and Changed America With the warm days that are part and parcel of living and working in the San Gabriel Valley, air conditioning goes with the territory. Offices, stores, homes and businesses all depend upon this technology not only for commerce, but also for the routines of daily living. The summer sunshine can be dangerous, and ... Continue Reading
Your Old House: Two Issues to Ponder When Enhancing Heating and Cooling in Historic Residences
Energy Saving Indoor Comfort Is Possible in a Unique Home One of the San Gabriel Valley’s hallmarks is the number of beautiful older homes that dot the landscape, even as new construction goes up all around us. Whether it’s a canyon cabin in Sierra Madre, an older Craftsman home in Pasadena, or a mid-century modern masterpiece in Eagle Rock, the past is present in the ... Continue Reading
HVAC at Home: The Connection Between Room Temperature and Sleep Quality
Air Conditioning Means More Than Indoor Comfort It isn’t just the seasonal San Gabriel Valley heat. Everybody, it seems, is having trouble sleeping. According to national statistics compiled from the National Institute of Health and the CDC, roughly 35% of Americans aren’t getting enough rest on a daily basis, defined as at least seven hours of shuteye. In fact, more ... Continue Reading
50 Years of Premier Comfort
That’s right. Fifty years ago, John and Helen Helbing moved their family out to California and John set up Air-Tro Heating and Air Conditioning to provide premier comfort to the residents of the San Gabriel Valley. Midwest Exiles John Helbing was raised in Wisconsin, while Helen was an Illinois native. They had started their family in San Diego, while John was ... Continue Reading
Get Ready: Southern California Edison Announces Tier 3 Electricity Rates Targeted Directly at Air Conditioning This Summer
Reduce Your Utility Bills by Keeping Your AC Running Efficiently In an effort to promote energy conservation and as a reflection of rising electricity costs nationwide, Southern California Edison summer rates are coming in June for everyone here in the San Gabriel Valley. In this plan, you pay not only for the amount of electricity you consume, but also for the times at ... Continue Reading
Like the Moon Landing and Sesame Street, Air-Tro Is Turning Fifty Years Old!
We’ve Been Keeping California Comfortable Since 1969. Hard to Believe, Isn’t It? Where has the time gone? That’s what we’re asking ourselves this year as we look back to realize Air-Tro is turning 50 years old in 2019. Founded by the Helbing family back in 1969, Air-Tro began as a way to help homeowners, commercial business owners, and even local universities and ... Continue Reading
Troubleshooting: When Your Air Conditioner Doesn’t Turn On
Starting Up Your Air Conditioner After a Long Winter’s Nap, and What to Do If It Won't Turn On Winter has passed and the temperatures are rising. You might come home soon from a long day at work to turn on your air conditioner for the first time since the fall, hoping to generate some cool indoor comfort …. and your system won't turn on. What should you do? The ... Continue Reading
Impress Your Friends and Influence Others with Your Understanding of HVAC System Components!
What is an Air Handler, Anyway? Okay, so maybe not everyone is interested in what makes up the typical HVAC system. But heck, we are! And if indoor comfort matters to you as a commercial building or home owner, well, you should be too. Today’s equipment can be complicated, so understanding some of the more common components of your system can be helpful. First, ... Continue Reading
It’s a Fact: HVAC Isn’t Just for People.
Pets Need Indoor Comfort Too: Hot Weather Tips For Animal Care When it comes to weather, it’s easy to forget that Fluffy and Fido also need extra special care during the summer and fall here in Southern California. Many animals are extremely sensitive to temperature, rendering a hot spell very dangerous for pets if you’re not paying attention. Along with keeping ... Continue Reading
Air-Tro Takes Your Safety Seriously, with an HVAC Team You Can Trust
When It Comes to Home Security or Air Conditioning Repair, Peace of Mind Is What Counts In a day and age when every newspaper has a story about property crime or worse plaguing our suburbs, your well-being and that of your family has never been more important. At Air-Tro, all of us are parents and children, husbands, and wives. We read those articles too, and worry about ... Continue Reading
FYI: Your HVAC Economizer Is Probably Broken [INFOGRAPHIC]
What You Should Know About the HVAC Equipment You May Not Know You Had If you’re a commercial property owner here in Southern California, chances are you have an economizer along with your HVAC system. They are required by Title 24 of the California energy code. Envisioned as an easy way to conserve energy and lower utility expenditures, these air-side economizers are ... Continue Reading
