Air Conditioning Articles

Spring AC Maintenance Tips

April 15, 2026

Spring is finally arriving in Montana! The days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming, and you’re probably already thinking about dusting off the patio furniture or tackling that messy garage.

Celebrate Summer With an Air Conditioning Tune-up

June 30, 2025

Is your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment ready for National Air Conditioning Day? Can it handle a long, hot summer or an occasional scorcher?

5 Ways to Save Money on Your AC and Summer Energy Bill

June 16, 2025

As the summer months approach, we are all looking to save some pennies where we can. So why not start with your costly utility bills?

Summer Cooling Tips for Your Missoula Home

August 30, 2024

On milder days, you can switch off your Missoula heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and open a few windows instead.

3 Signs It’s Time for a New AC

July 15, 2024

Should you repair or replace? That’s always the big question when it comes to major home systems like air conditioning (AC).

Air Conditioners: Things You May Not Have Known

June 14, 2024

Advances in the past 10 years have been significant. In fact, by switching out your decade-old AC, you could subtract 20 to 40 percent from your utility bill.

When Do I Replace My Air Conditioner?

May 29, 2024

Sometimes, life moves incredibly fast. You could have sworn you just bought your air conditioner. But lately, it doesn’t seem to be working so well.

When Do I Replace My AC Unit?

May 12, 2023

Our team of trusted professionals at Design Air can give your underperforming HVAC unit an honest diagnosis. We’ll be able to tell you whether replacement or repair is a better choice.

Get Your Spring Air Conditioning Maintenance

April 10, 2023

An air conditioner, just like a car, needs regular maintenance and service to run efficiently. At Design Air, we recommend getting your air conditioning unit serviced and cleaned once a year. The optimum time is in the spring to ensure your unit will run with the most efficiency during the hottest summer months. You need…

Heat Gain Prevention Tips

July 13, 2022

When you are in the middle of summer, it can be difficult to keep heat out of your Montana home even if you have your central air conditioning system going full blast. Our team at Design Air, Inc wants to help you prevent heat from building up inside your home as much as possible so…

How to Properly Size an AC System

June 15, 2022

In the heat of the summer, it’s easy to assume that bigger is better when it comes to air conditioning (AC) systems. Obviously, if you have an air conditioner that’s too small in your Missoula home, you will not be able to keep your temperatures consistently low even if the unit is running constantly. 

Video – What Are Common Mistakes Made When Purchasing a New AC?

April 27, 2022

It’s time to replace your old or broken AC unit in your home and you don’t want anything to go wrong with the new one. Avoid the common mistakes people make when purchasing a new air conditioner and learn how to prevent them.

Spring Money-Saving Tips

April 15, 2022

Everyone loves to save money, and it’s a good idea to review different aspects of your budget now and again to see if there are more opportunities you have missed in the past. In the springtime, considering how you can reduce your energy bills is always a great idea.

Be an Informed Consumer by Learning AC Lingo

March 15, 2022

The air conditioning system in your Missoula home is one of your biggest investments and home assets. In order to take care of it properly, as well as to communicate effectively with air conditioning (AC) professionals when needed, it’s good to understand some common air conditioning terminology. 

Know Your AC System

June 17, 2021

Whether it’s people, appliances, or air conditioning (AC) systems, the better you know them, the better you are able to care for them. Our team at Design Air knows air conditioners because it’s our business. We want to share just a little of our knowledge with you so you can extend the life of your…

Common AC Purchasing Mistakes To Avoid

May 17, 2021

When it’s time to invest in a major home appliance like an air conditioner (AC), you want to be well informed. The good news is technology has made it easy to gather a great deal of information in a short period of time. The bad news is there are so many makes and models of…

Do I Really Need an AC Tune-Up?

April 19, 2021

Home ownership comes with a great deal of responsibilities and an ever-growing to-do list. Add to that the responsibilities of a career and a family, and you see why modern life runs at a constant, fast pace here in Missoula. It’s easy to bump things like an air conditioner tune-up down the priority list, both…

Consider a Ductless AC System

July 17, 2020

When you think of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, you probably think of the furnace and air conditioner (AC) equipment inside, an air conditioner component outside, and a network of ducts running throughout your Missoula home.  Although many HVAC systems are designed that way, there are other alternatives. Our team at Design Air…

Does an Air Conditioner Help With Allergies?

June 23, 2020

Does an air conditioner help with allergies? In one word, yes. Actually two words, yes if. If you properly maintain the air conditioner. Air conditioners can help filter your home’s air and control its humidity, which are both helps in the allergy world. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), it’s estimated…

Chemical Flush for Your Air Conditioner

March 8, 2019

When Should You Schedule a Chemical Flush for Your Air Conditioner? A “chemical flush,” sometimes called a “chemical wash,” is a thorough cleansing technique for your air conditioner (AC). Our Design Air team recommends you schedule a chemical wash if the standard cleaning method for your air conditioning parts isn’t doing the trick. To keep…

Is it Normal For My Air Conditioner To Turn On and Off?

July 27, 2017

Is it Normal For My Air Conditioner To Turn On and Off? When an air conditioner (AC) turns on and off in rather quick successions, without running for longer periods, this is called short cycling. It’s fairly common, but when it happens it means there’s something wrong with the AC. Do not leave these occurrences…

Bryant Medal of Excellence Award Winner

June 24, 2017

For Immediate Release Missoula Contractor Wins Bryant® Medal of Excellence Award Design Air, Inc. honored as one of Bryant’s top 15 dealers in North America INDIANAPOLIS, June 1, 2017 — In recognition of unwavering customer service and a dedicated commitment to excellence, Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems is honored to present a Medal of Excellence…

What Does SEER Mean?

April 13, 2017

A common term used in the HVAC industry is an air conditioner or heat pump’s SEER rating. But what exactly is SEER and why is it important? SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s a measurement of an air conditioner’s cooling capacity to power input, or simply, the ratio of cooling produced (in BTUs)…

Summertime Air Conditioner Operation

July 29, 2016

It’s hotter than hades outside and the time has come to fire up the air conditioner again! The team at Design Air would like to offer a few reminders to help you keep your system operating efficiently; ultimately keep you and your family comfortable this summer. Proper Operation Thermostat Temperature During a/c season, make sure…

The EPA’s Phaseout of R-22 Freon

May 11, 2016

R-22 is a common refrigerant used most commonly in air conditioners installed prior to 2010. Unfortunately for many consumers, R-22 is being phased out per regulations put in place by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will no longer be available by the beginning of 2020. As many households in the Missoula and Bitterroot…

Preventative Maintenance on an Air Conditioner

July 8, 2015

How often should I have my Air Conditioner serviced? It is recommended to have an A/C or heat pump unit serviced and cleaned annually. Like a car, an air conditioner needs regular maintenance and service to run efficiently. Due to the availability of new testing equipment, maintenance can be performed at times when Montana’s weather…