Blog | Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical

Is a Whole-Home Generator Worth It?

April 29th, 2022

While 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.

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!

How To Best Prepare Your AC for Summer in Florida

March 23rd, 2022

Summer 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!

Top 5 Signs You Need Sewer Repair

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!

Do I Need a Furnace in Florida?

December 21st, 2021

Wondering whether it makes sense to invest in a furnace for your Florida home? Even in the furthest southern reaches of the state, where semi-tropics give way to true tropical climates, a furnace is often a wise addition to a home.

In Pensacola, temperatures drop significantly lower more often, and a furnace — while not a heavily used item most years — will certainly be something you’re glad to have.

Today, we’ll look at why you need heating even in Florida, why to invest in a furnace instead of using portable heaters, and what other options you might have for efficiently heating your home.

Why You Need Heating in Florida

The weather in Florida is comfortable or hot so much of the year that it can be easy to forget the occasional dip — especially looking ahead at the winter after a full year of warmth, at the time when you might consider adding a furnace or replacing an old one.

In Pensacola, it’s not unusual for winter temperatures to dip down into the upper 40s and hover around the low 50s. We don’t see the below-zero temperatures that can ravage northern neighbors, but it gets cold enough to be dangerous without heat for prolonged periods.

After all, it’s one thing to be moving around in the 50s or 60s, where it might feel chilly but tolerable to a Florida resident. It’s quite another to be sitting in a frigid room unmoving in your pajamas, perhaps huddled around an old space heater or hiding under a mountain of blankets.

It’s especially important to realize that allowing your home to plummet to low temperatures unchecked and then fly up high again the next day can be seriously taxing on the structure, accelerating wear and tear on your home and property, encouraging moisture to work in unexpected ways on your home, etc.

Why Use a Furnace Instead of Space Heaters?

If you only need your heat for a small part of the year, space heaters might be an attractive alternative to a central furnace or other permanent heating. You can heat the living room in the evening and your bedroom or bedrooms at night, and let the rest be cold — right?

First, you know that leaving your home to the elements can have unexpected drawbacks. But perhaps more important are the dangers associated with space heaters. A space heater, even an electric one, can be a serious safety hazard, potentially causing a fire if left unattended (or left on while you sleep).

Space heaters with combustion, i.e., gas-using space heaters, can be even more dangerous in the event of an accident, causing buildups of toxic gases without adequate ventilation, coating your home in soot, and lowering your indoor air quality.

A properly used furnace is far less likely to have any of these issues, will keep your home comfortable and safe without needing to be monitored, and doesn’t require you to drag around a bunch of space heaters. Furnaces are also more efficient, even taking into account heating less space.

Other Ways To Heat Your Florida Home

If you’re not interested in a full furnace, a heat pump is an excellent way to heat your Florida home when it gets chilly. Duct-based heat pumps and ductless mini-splits can serve double duty as air conditioners and high-efficiency heating in the Florida climate.

As long as temperatures stay above freezing, you can get efficiency as high as three or four times what a furnace gets for a similar amount of electricity. If you already use window units instead of a central AC, changing to ductless mini-splits to do both without needing ductwork is a great option.

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Call Peaden for Home Heating Help

Call the Peaden HVAC technicians at (855) 557-7878 or contact us online to learn more about heating your Florida home efficiently and safely. We’ll gladly help you consider your options!

5 Tips To Help You Avoid Costly AC Repairs This Summer

February 10th, 2021

When you have an air conditioning unit you rely on to keep your family or employees comfortable and productive, you want to stay on top of repairs. While AC repairs are a necessary part of owning a unit, many repairs can be prevented.

Here are a few tips to ensure you have a comfortable summer with as few AC repairs as possible (if any at all).

#1: Schedule Service Before the Hottest Months

You don’t have to wait until you have an issue to call and have your air conditioner serviced. Call before the hottest months and have your AC unit cleaned and inspected by a professional so you stay on top of any issues the heat can bring about.

If you notice you need an AC repair, don’t hesitate to call because it’s summer and you think the company will be too busy. Call when you need to, but if you can be proactive, you may save yourself some time and discomfort.

#2: Get a Programmable Thermostat

If you want to avoid needing AC repairs, invest in a programmable thermostat so you have control over your temperatures when you’re away from home.

The more you learn about the best practices for programmable thermostats and temperature settings, the more money you’ll save on your energy bill and the longer your unit will last.

#3: Start Paying Closer Attention to Filters

When the weather is perfect and you don’t have to use your AC as much, you often won’t have to change your filters as frequently. However, be sure you don’t use this as the standard for how often to clean filters.

In the hottest months of the year, you’ll need to change your filters more often because the unit works harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

#4: Insulate Your Home Better

You can give your air conditioner a major break when you have a well-insulated home, from the windows to the attic. Take the time to ask the AC repair company what you can do to make sure your home is properly keeping the cool air in.

You’ll be surprised how many things you can do that are affordable, plus a few updates you can make to add value to your home and prevent AC repairs.

#5: Don’t Forget the Outside Unit

While people tend to focus on the thermostat and filters, make sure you spend a little time outside cleaning up any debris that has fallen and removing any vines that may have grown into the fan.

When you keep this area of your cooling system clean and stay aware of how it should sound and act when it’s working properly, you’ll find you’re much quicker to spot signs of trouble.

Questions to Ask Plumbers or Electricians

June 16th, 2020

Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical wants to make sure you are always happy with our work and service, as well as recommend us to your friends and family who live in or around the Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City areas. One of the ways we ensure customer satisfaction, is to educate our customers so they can learn as much about us — or any electrician or plumber, for that matter — so that you know you get the best work possible.

10 Questions You Should Ask Your Plumber or Electrician:

Are you licensed?

Electricians are required to be licensed in most states and municipalities, plumbers are certified tradesmen. Don’t consider one who isn’t properly licensed. We are happy to share our company and technical staff licensing information for you.
Are you insured?

This is an important question for the electrician given the potentially high liability for this work. The industry often recommends that electrician contractor carry at least $500,000 in liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Plumbers should also carry liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Again, we are pleased to share our insurance with you.
What kind of work do you do most?

Like many contractors, electricians and plumbers often specialize in one area or another. Maybe your technician doesn’t fit your project, so it’s helpful to find out.
What special training or experience do you have for this kind of work?

This expands on the question right above. It’s helpful if your electrician or plumber has experience working with exactly what you need.
Will you provide references?

References are particularly important, aren’t they? It’s hard to judge the quality of the technician’s work when you can’t see it. We enjoy letting you know our great customer references for any and all work we do.
What does your estimate include?

In addition to complete pricing, be sure to discuss incidentals, like repairing drywall and other things affected by the work. Chances are, you’ll be responsible for them and you may not need an extra expense!
Do I need a permit? Who will obtain it?

A permit ensures electrical and plumbing work will be checked by a city inspector – this is really a protection for all homeowners. It’s standard procedure for electrical contractors to pull permits, and a certified plumber should know and understand the codes he, too, works under.
Who will perform the work?

Please don’t assume the person you talk to will be the one doing your work. Ask about our rates and for all of our different technician qualifications.
What will you guarantee/warranty?

Learn how well our professionals stand behind their work. Also, it’s typical that electricians typically assume responsibility for fixtures, devices and other equipment they buy for your project.
May I see a work in progress?

Depending on the nature of your project, it might be helpful to visit an electrician’s current job, for a behind-the-scenes look at the work.

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Remember, a trusted electrician and plumber is a valuable partner and member of your household. We work hard to promise that the electrician or plumber you hire with us today will be your go-to technician in emergencies and additional projects.

Do You Have Smells Coming from Your Air Conditioning Unit?

May 25th, 2020

Odd HVAC Smells & What You Should Do About Them

While living in or around Pensacola, Walton Beach or Panama City, you know what it’s like to live with hot days and nights, and humidity. Humidity and excessive moisture can be as tough on your body as they are on your air conditioner.

Once that moisture gets trapped in your air conditioner and flows through your home’s ductwork, you could be in for a rough, smelly time in your home, not to mention putting your health at risk. Ask yourself what smells you notice in your home every time you use your air conditioner. Do you notice any of these odors?

Dirty, Old Socks

Does your air conditioning unit smell like dirty, old socks? Dirty sock Syndrome is the foul, moldy-smelling odor that comes from your air conditioner when you first turn it on. This can be really bothersome. If you have this smell coming from your ac unit, the condenser might be the problem.

At times, bacteria will grow on the ac unit condenser coils. This is what causes it to smell like dirty, old socks. With this smell, the good news is that all you probably need to do is have a Peaden ac repair expert come and clean the condenser coils. They may need to sanitize the condenser, as well.

Gun Powder

Are you smelling gun powder wafting throughout your home? If so, this is not a good thing. It means that there is something burning. If this smell occurs, you should instantly go to your breaker box and turn the HVAC system off. Then, contact your local fire department, and don’t go back into your home until you are told it is okay.

Once you do go back into your home, you can call a Peaden AC repair expert. The gun powder smell can indicate a short from the air conditioner’s circuit board, or fan motor. The smell could also be from an overheating motor, a wiring issue, or some other mechanical problem.

Dirty Trash Smell

Do you notice the smell of trash coming from your vents after turning on your air conditioning unit? If so, different things could cause this. However, one of the main causes is that an animal died in the HVAC system and needs to be taken out. This happens a lot in the winter. If you suspect this has happened, you should turn your air conditioning unit off, open your windows, and contact an ac repair expert.

These are some of the most common smells that come from air conditioning units. If you notice that any of these smells have been coming from your vents, you should reach out to Peaden ac repair experts. The expert that comes to your property will asses the issue and they can make any repairs that are required. Sometimes it is just a matter of cleaning something out and other times something has been damaged and needs to be repaired.

Rotten Egg or Sulphur Smell

Never, ever ignore the Rotten Egg Smell! It could be the smell of leaking gas!

While natural gas is naturally odorless, manufacturers are required to add a chemical called mercaptan to give it that rotten egg smell. If that is what you are smelling, it’s an emergency, so follow these steps:

Don’t operate anything electrical.
Don’t operate matches or lighters.
If there are any open flames, such as candles, put them out.
Open as many doors and windows as you can.
Turn off your gas supply at the meter.
Contact the gas company.
Have the gas company turn the gas back on for you when it is safe.

Fumes from Exhaust

Do you smell fumes from an exhaust through your vents? If this is the smell you have in your home, one of the main reasons is that your ac unit or condenser is leaking fluid. It is more than likely leaking on the motor or a different portion of the ac system that is warmed up. If this is happening, contact an ac repair expert right away.

If You Notice These Things You Need AC Repair Services Right Away

May 16th, 2020

Are you wondering if you need AC repair services in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, or Panama City? Maybe there is something going on with your air conditioning unit that seems out of the ordinary or odd. If this is the case, you can always contact Peaden ac repair experts today. You can let the expert know what is going on and they can determine what services you might need. Still not sure if you need to make that call? Below are some of the reasons why you might need AC repair services right away.

Loud or Odd Noises

Is there a noise coming from your air conditioning unit that is loud or odd? If so, it may be time to contact Peaden ac repair experts. Some of the noises that you might hear a clunking, rattling, buzzing, clanking, thumping, or banging. Air conditioning units should be quiet. Yes, from time to time, you may hear slight noises. However, there shouldn’t be anything too loud or odd coming from your air conditioning unit.

Weird Odors

Do you notice a weird odor coming from your vents? Maybe it smells like dirty socks, rotten eggs, burning, exhaust fumes, mold, or chemicals. If you are noticing any of these odd-smelling odors, then you shouldn’t wait any longer to contact Peaden ac repair experts. These odors could mean there is an electrical issue, fried circuits, a natural gas leak, fluids leaking, or another issue.

High Cooling Costs

Have you recently noticed that your utility bill has skyrocketed after using your air conditioning unit? If so, this could signify a wide range of issues with your ac unit. If you want to get to the bottom of these high utility bills, you should have an ac repair expert come take a look at your unit. They can assess what the issue is and make any necessary repairs.

Can’t Keep a Regular Temperature

When you run your air conditioning unit, do you find that you can’t keep a regular temperature in your home? Does the temperature go up and down and back again? This could mean that your air conditioning unit isn’t working properly. It could be something minor or there could be a major repair that needs to be made.

If you notice any of these things happening with your air conditioning unit, you shouldn’t wait it out. If there is an issue with your ac unit and you just leave it, the problems could get much worse. Your entire air conditioning unit could become damaged. If there is just a minor issue at this point, it is better and more affordable to have that fixed, than to have bigger issues in the future.

You can contact Peaden ac repair experts today. Let them know what your ac unit issue is and they can come to make any repairs that may be needed.

Best Tips for Efficiency of Your HVAC System

April 20th, 2020

As a homeowner in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, or Panama City, you have got to take care of every aspect of your home and that includes your HVAC system. However, many homeowners find they have issues with their HVAC system. If you are constantly having issues with your HVAC system, it is important to learn more about how to properly maintain your system and how to keep it running efficiently.

Keeping the System Clean

If you don’t keep your HVAC system cleaned out, dust, dirt, and other pollutants are going to build-up inside of it and on top of it. With time, this build-up is going to restrict the airflow and make it much harder for your HVAC system to work properly. You will probably find that it is more and more difficult to keep the temperature in your home comfortable. If your HVAC system gets dirty, you are going to use excess energy which will raise your energy bill. If you need regular maintenance and cleaning on your HVAC system, be sure to call the AC repair experts today.

Use Your Ceiling Fans

Many people don’t think their ceiling fans are beneficial during the warmer months of the year. However, your ceiling fans work like wind, they cool you down enough, so you don’t have to constantly crank up your air conditioning unit. If you want lower energy bills throughout the warmer months of the year, take advantage of your ceiling fans.

Consistent Thermostat

Every degree that your home’s HVAC system uses to cool your home takes 8 – 10% more energy. For instance, if you have your home’s thermostat at 68 during the summer months, you will be using 40% more energy than if you set it at 72. Don’t keep increasing and lowering your thermostat. Find a temperature that works for you. The more consistent your thermostat is, the less fluctuating your energy bill will be.

Maintenance Appointments

Finally, if you want your HVAC system to be the most efficient, you need to make sure it is regularly maintained. As you read above, you need to make sure your HVAC system is properly cleaned on a regular basis. However, you will also want to make sure AC repair experts come into your home and provide the proper maintenance on your HVAC system. These experts can make sure there are no issues with your system and make any repairs that may be necessary at the time of the maintenance appointment.

Your HVAC system does a lot for your household. It is important that you take great care of it. By following through with these tips, you can properly clean and maintain your home’s HVAC system. You can also make sure that it is running as efficiently as possible throughout the year, as well.

What Makes an AC Repair Company the Right Choice for You?

April 10th, 2020

If you live in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, or Panama City and you are looking for the best AC repair company for your household, there are many things that might want to look for. Picking out an AC repair company is more than just affordability. While that is one factor that you may want to consider, there are some others that are important, as well.

Great Values

One of the things that you will want to look into when you are trying to find the right AC repair company for your household is one that has great values. Does the company care about their customers? Do they try to offer affordable prices while providing excellent customer service? Does the company answer any questions that their customers have? Do the AC repair experts strive to always do the best work they can. If you are looking for an AC repair company that has great values, Peaden is the right company for you.

Arrive on Time

Have you called an AC repair company in the past and they didn’t show up when they said they would be at your home? Maybe this caused you to be late to work. When you are looking for a great AC repair company, you need to know that the repair expert will be at your home on time. With Peaden, you get professionals who are always on time.

Trained and Certified

Another thing that you should consider when picking out the best AC repair company is whether the professionals who work there are trained and certified. When you work with AC repair professionals from Peaden, you are assured that they are trained and certified technicians by N.A.T.E. This means you won’t have to worry about their professionalism or expertise. They are qualified to work on every issue that may be going on with your air conditioning unit.

Staying Safe

You also want to make sure that the professionals who work in your home are going to be safe on the job. At Peaden, all of the technicians are licensed and always comply with all building codes. They have gone through safety training and had a thorough screening before being hired.

Providing Maintenance Services

In addition to repair services, you will want an AC repair company that will also provide maintenance services. You don’t only want professionals who are going to be there if something goes wrong. You want AC repair experts who will help to prevent your air conditioning unit from having issues in the first place.

These are some of the things that you should consider when you are looking for the right AC repair company for your household. If you contact Peaden, you can get all of this and much more.