Dowd Heating and Air Conditioning

• 2011-08-18

  Summer 2011

  Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System 

  Maintaining room temperature is essential for relaxation in the home or office.  It’s become an integral part of our daily lives and often taken for granted. However, most do not realize that upkeep on air conditioning units is as important between the seasons, before summer rolls around and its 109°!

  Regular maintenance of a typical household or office air conditioning unit twice a year can help ensure that your unit is running efficiently and safely. Keeping your air conditioner running smoothly throughout the year will allow your unit to maintain up to 95% of its original efficiency, and you’ll see the savings in your wallet after the first season!

  The average household uses air conditioning units for about 3,300 hours a year, that’s comparable to a car running over 150,000 miles – with that much use, proper maintenance is crucial. Without routine maintenance, air conditioning units naturally decrease efficiency by 10-15% each year. That means your high efficiency unit installed last year might be functioning at a lower rate— resulting in higher energy bills. Staying on top of a basic HVAC inspection check list just twice a year will help ensure you’re not paying more than necessary to maintain a comfortable room temperature (read more about HVAC maintenance).

  Unexpected air conditioning unit failures can cause major hassles, unnecessary trips back to the HVAC dealer and unbearable home or office temperatures. Yearly air conditioning maintenance is a much more cost-effective and reliable route to take. 

  Dowd’s Heating & Air Conditioning, servicing the greater Philadelphia / Bensalem region will give you peace of mind by providing your home or place of business with a economical scheduled HVAC maintenance plan ensuring you that those hot August afternoons will be nice and cool inside!

  Call Dowd at 215-752-3638 today and relax tonight.  

• 2011-01-03

  Winter 2010

  Dowd’s HVAC To Warm More Than Hearts This Winter

  

  

  There are a lot of Philadelphia area traditions, but taking care of our neighbors may be at the top of that list.  In that spirit, Dowd’s HVAC and Trane teamed up to award a needy local family with a new Trane heating system just in time for winter.

  “The project is all part of our ‘Warm The Heart, Warm The Home Project’, said Joe Dowd, President of Dowd’s HVAC.  “It’s a way for the Dowd’s family to adopt a family in need and make sure they are warm this winter..  We feel fortunate due to the support our company has received over the years from the Delaware Valley community and this is a way to pay some of that back.”

  Dowd’s worked with 97.5, The Fanatic/ESPN Radio in Philadelphia to find a family who could benefit from the new Trane System.  After sorting through countless inquiries, Sue Tait and her family in South Philadelphia were selected.  Their new Dowd’s Trane heating system was installed right before Thanksgiving. 

  “Dowd’s like to say they are ‘A Degree Above The Rest’,” said Matt Nahigian, Program Director of 97.5 The Fanatic/ ESPN radio in Philadelphia.  “Well Dowd’s proved those are not just words, it’s the way they run their company. We’re proud to be a part of the Warm The Heart, Warm The Home Project and to team up with Dowd’s.  They are truly great people.” 

  Dowd’s is a family owned and operated company with deep Delaware Valley roots.  While the majority of their customers are in Greater Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties, Dowd’s has both commercial and residential accounts across the region.  Dowd’s is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified dealer and is also certified in solar technology.  

  
  

  Here is the actual nomination written by her grandson:

  My name is John Tait and I am writing on behalf of my Mom-Mom, Sue. I was born in South Philly (Gray’s Ferry) and raised in her home on South 29th street. I am a huge fan of the show, and listen every day. When I heard the contest where you guys were giving away a new home heating system for someone in need, I knew I just had to write in for a chance. My Mom-Mom helped to raise myself and now she is raising my four younger cousins as well. My aunt, their mother, fell in with the wrong crowd and wasn’t there for her children. She recently died this past year, leaving my Mom-Mom to raise her four girls without much help. The three oldest girls do wonderful in school, overcoming difficult situations, and the youngest is still a baby. They are amazing kids, and don’t deserve to be without heat this winter. They are always struggling to make ends meet, but my Mom-Mom tries her hardest to make sure that her family has all that they need. This past month, she was told that she needs a new heater and that the gas company will not turn on her heat until she does. We have given them some space heaters for the meantime, but it is starting to get very cold, and I know that they will not due in the winter months. I am hoping very much that you guys at 97.5 are able to help my Mom-Mom and her family. They have all been through so much in these past few years and they really deserve to have something truly good happen to them. I thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for this opportunity.

• 2010-06-25

  Summer 2010

  Extreme weather conditions and the elderly

  When temperatures are dropping or rising to extreme levels, do you know of any elderly people who live nearby?  You can help. Stop in on them and make sure they’re doing alright.

  Here are a few things you can check:

  • Do they have heat (or AC) in the home?
  • Do they have hot water?
  • Are all their appliances working properly?
  • Are their pipes, sprinkler system and faucets protected against freezing?
  • Is their phone operational?
  • Do they have the phone number of someone they can call for minor emergencies (yours, maybe?)

  Don’t wait until something tragic happens. Take a few minutes to help a neighbor.

• →

  Summer 2010

  Professional contractors can save you money

  These days, everyone is looking to cut costs. But a penny saved can sometimes be a lots of dollar lost.
  
  Moonlighters and handymen may charge less, but, in the end, they wind up costing you more.  Sure, maybe they do an okay job.  But you take risks when you hire them.  And you may never be able to get them back when you need them for maintenance or, worse, to address a problem that doesn’t arise until long after you’ve paid your invoice.
  
  Moonlighters typically lack specialty trade licensing, do not carry workers compensation insurance for employees, and liability insurance. Usually, they cannot permit the work they perform because they are operating illegally.
  
  If the work performed is part of an insurance claim, check with the insurer before work begins to see if they require work to be performed by a licensed contractor and properly permitted. You do not want to discover a requirement for permits to ensure the work complies with building codes after the fact.
  
  When uninsured moonlighters or handymen injure themselves while working on your property, you are legally responsible. You might be liable for medical expenses, for compensation if the individual cannot work, and for pain and suffering.
  
  Should a handyman make a mistake and damage your property, he is unlikely to have insurance to cover the loss. You may be stuck with the deductible and if your property valuation is not up to date, you may not be able to fully replace your loss. Plus, if you file a claim against your homeowner insurance, you will probably face higher premiums going forward.
  
  A professional contractor, such as the good folks here as Dowd’s Heating and Air Conditioning, are fully licensed and insured.  We’ll work with you to  present options and suggest ways you might save money.  And we’ll always be available to fix a problem. We’re a family business, we’ve been around for years and we will continue to be for generations to come. We’ve built our business on providing customers service and equipment that meets their budget and saves them money over the long haul.