Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Blog: Archive for 2022

Is a Whole-Home Generator Worth It?

Friday, April 29th, 2022

Whole-home standby generatorWhile we hope to avoid power outages at all costs, powerful storms are all too familiar to the Florida Panhandle.

Now more than ever, our routines are dependent on electricity, so when the power goes out, the safest and most reliable solution is a whole-home generator. They automatically switch on when your electricity is off so life can continue as normal with no disruption.

Standby Generators vs. Portable Generators

Standby generators are backup power units sized to power an entire house. Also called whole-home generators, they are largely worry-free, run for days or weeks without refueling, and tend to be quiet.

Whole-home generators differ from portable generators in that they run on propane or natural gas, allowing them to run much longer, cleaner, and safer. Portable generators run on gasoline and have a lower output than whole-home generators. They require a manual hookup instead of automatically kicking on.

Standby Generator infographic

While both types of generators can power essentials, a professionally installed standby generator is worth every penny for 100% peace of mind during a power outage. 

Benefits of Investing in a Whole-Home Generator

When you have a whole-home generator, you don’t have to worry about sitting in the dark, refrigerated perishables spoiling, going without TV or internet, or having no way to charge a cellphone. No matter the state of your neighborhood’s power supply, having reliable electricity for your entire home allows you to:

  • Prevent sump pump outages: Standby backup power means no disruption to your sump pump, which is particularly important during hurricane conditions with torrential downpours.
  • Protect your food: Extended power outages mean you have to throw away most if not all perishables in your refrigerator. All major appliances stay operational with a whole-home generator, including your refrigerator and freezer.
  • Safeguard other properties: Having standby backup power at a rental property or second home means you don’t have to rush over to it during a storm or worry about whether it’s safe and secure. 
  • Increase home value: As power grids continue aging and more unprecedented weather patterns occur (think the arctic blast in 2021), homebuyers will want to see houses with built-in fail-safes for emergencies and power outages.
  • Power daily essentials: If you work from home, you can stay connected. If you or a loved one uses electric-powered medical equipment, they remain operational. So many daily life essentials run on power, and they all continue running during a power outage when you have a whole-home generator.

Gain Peace of Mind With a Standby Generator

The true convenience and peace of mind of standby power make whole-home generators worth every penny. At Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, we install and repair standby generators to help keep Florida Panhandle homes safe during short and extended power outages.

An experienced professional should install your whole-home generator as the job requires electrical wiring and natural gas hookups.

When you call Peaden for a whole-home generator, we’ll provide:

  • Upfront pricing
  • Professional and friendly service
  • Quality workmanship

Contact Peaden online or call (855) 557-7878 to request generator installation today!

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How To Best Prepare Your AC for Summer in Florida

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022

Peaden technician servicing ACSummer is when the Florida sun really beats down, causing you to seek relief in the cool AC. Ensure your air conditioner can keep you comfortable without failure with a few simple maintenance steps that can also help you increase system efficiency!

1. Change Your Air Filter

Start summer off right with a clean air filter. When your air handler filter is clogged with dust, it restricts cool air from flowing throughout your home. Some cool air will make it through a dirty filter, but the air will circulate dust and other irritants.

Changing your filter every one to three months allows your AC to run more efficiently, saving you money on your energy bills and improving the indoor air quality for you and your family.

2. Clear Debris From the Outdoor Condenser Unit

Outdoor condenser units tend to get cluttered with twigs and leaves over time. They can also house critters during the winter season.

Ensure your AC is off, and clear away any debris you see near the base of the outdoor unit.

3. Check the Refrigerant Lines

While you’re outside clearing debris around the condenser, inspect the coolant lines. They should be thick insulated tubes or pipes that run from the condenser.

Check for holes, fraying, chew marks, leaks, or other damage that needs professional repair.

4. Schedule a Professional Maintenance Appointment

Now that your AC is thoroughly cleaned and a new filter is in place to ensure efficiency and indoor air quality, schedule air conditioner maintenance with an HVAC technician to complete the tasks that only a professional can do, such as:

  • Checking and topping off refrigerant
  • Inspecting breakers and fuses
  • Cleaning evaporator and condenser coils
  • Testing thermostat accuracy
  • And more!

Choose Peaden for Routine AC Maintenance in the Florida Panhandle

The best way to ensure your air conditioner is ready to keep you cool all summer long is by scheduling maintenance with Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical.

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Since 1969, our team has helped homeowners in the Florida Panhandle correct minor problems and avoid major repairs with SmartCare, our routine maintenance program.

Call [site_info_phone_number] or contact us online to schedule a maintenance appointment or sign up for Peaden SmartCare!

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Top 5 Signs You Need Sewer Repair

Monday, February 28th, 2022

Sewer line issues are particularly difficult to identify because the pipe is buried in your yard. Without an inspection from a professional plumber, you can’t easily see if and where your sewer line is leaking, clogged, or infiltrated by tree roots.

Even if you can’t see the damage yourself, you can often notice the side effects of sewer line damage if you know what to look for.

The plumbing team at Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical has compiled a list of common signs you need sewer line repair so you’ll know when to call us for service.

1. Persistent Drain Clogs and Slow Drainage

There might be a deeper reason why pesky drains keep clogging, especially if you’re experiencing issues across multiple drains.

Consult a plumber instead of buying bottle after bottle of drain cleaner to no avail. Professional sewer jetting is the ultimate solution for clearing a sewer line clog.

2. Increased Pests in Your Yard

If rodents and insects are suddenly hanging around your yard, you may have a sewer line leak.

Pests are attracted to the smell and dampness of a broken sewer line and may find their way into your home through cracks in the pipe.

3. Gurgling Toilets

Your toilets shouldn’t be making excessive noises when they’re not in use.

Bubbling or gurgling toilets often appear before sewage backup, so you may be able to save your home from significant sewer waste damage if you act quickly.

4. Noticeable Sewage Smells

Whether it’s an unmistakable sewage smell or a musty or mildewy odor, it won’t disappear anytime soon if you ignore it.

A professional plumber can identify the source of the odor and repair the cracked pipe or leaking joints.

5. Lush Patches on Your Lawn

Sewage can act as fertilizer for your grass if it’s seeping through the pipe and into the surrounding soil.

These patches are one of the clearest signs that you have a sewer line issue and can help your plumber identify the exact location of the break.

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Contact Peaden for Sewer Line Repair & Replacement in the Florida Panhandle

If any of the signs above seem too familiar, call Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical today! We have over 50 years of experience serving Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City, so we’ve seen and resolved every sewer line issue for every type of sewer pipe.

When you call us for sewer line service, we’ll conduct a comprehensive sewer line inspection to get to the root of the issue quickly and effectively. Based on the severity of the break and the age of your sewer line, we’ll work with you to determine if you need sewer line repair or replacement.

Contact us online or call [site_info_phone_number] to schedule sewer service today!

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