HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical Questions Answered
Answered by the Local Experts at Pro Solutions Air Conditioning and Heating Inc.Â
đź“Ť Serving Surprise, AZ and the West Valley since 2011
HVAC QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Do you waive the Service Call fee?
Our standard service call fee is designed to cover the cost of bringing a certified, fully equipped technician directly to your home with all the necessary tools and diagnostic equipment to evaluate your system. Because every home, system, and issue is completely unique, this fee ensures that a professional can thoroughly inspect and diagnose the exact root cause of the problem.
The best part is that we offer a way to get that fee waived. If our technician identifies the issue and you choose to move forward with the recommended repair during that same visit, we will waive the service call fee. This means you only pay for the actual repair itself, ensuring you don’t have to worry about paying just to find out what's wrong with your system.
What is included in an AC Tune-up?
Our AC tune-up is a multi-point inspection and diagnostic check designed to keep your system running safely, optimize efficiency, and catch issues before they turn into costly breakdowns. Here is what our certified technician will do:
Electrical & Component Check: We inspect and tighten all wiring connections, test the starting components (capacitors and contactors), and measure the amp draw on your compressor and motors to ensure they aren't straining or overheating.
Performance Diagnostics: We check your system’s refrigerant levels, test the airflow, and inspect the indoor evaporator coil.
Safety & Integrity Inspection: We look over the entire physical condition of the unit, check duct connections for major leaks, and evaluate overall system wear to ensure everything is operating safely.
After, you'll get a full health report on your system emailed by the office. If we find any components that need attention, we’ll show you exactly what they are and give you upfront pricing before any changes are made.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes, we absolutely do! We are proud to offer a discount on repairs for active-duty military and veterans as a thank you for your service.
If you are looking for even greater savings, our Pro Comfort maintenance members receive exclusive discounts of up to 20% on repairs, along with year-round perks like priority scheduling and included seasonal tune-ups.
Explore Our Memberships:
To see how you can get up to 20% off your repairs and keep your home systems running efficiently all year long, check out our Pro Comfort Maintenance Memberships.
PLUMBING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Why does my tap water smell like sulfur/ chlorine?
If your tap water has a distinct chemical or "rotten egg" smell, don't panic. This is an incredibly common issue in Surprise and across the West Valley, and it is usually tied to two distinct factors: municipal treatment processes and your home's water heater.
Here is exactly what causes those smells and how to fix them:
1. The Chlorine Smell (Municipal Water Treatment)
The municipal water supply in Surprise relies on a blend of local groundwater and surface water. To ensure this water travels safely through miles of city main lines to your tap without carrying harmful bacteria, the city treats it with chlorine or chloramines (a mix of chlorine and ammonia).
Why it smells: When the weather gets hot or water sits in the city infrastructure, you might notice a stronger, pool-like chemical smell.
The Fix: While the water is completely safe to drink according to EPA standards, the smell can be annoying. The most efficient fix is an under-sink or whole-home Reverse Osmosis (RO) system, or a heavy-duty activated carbon filter, which strips out the chlorine tastes and odors right before you drink or wash with it.
2. The Sulfur / "Rotten Egg" Smell (Bacteria or Your Water Heater)
A sulfur smell usually points to one of two culprits, and you can easily test which one it is:
Test the drain first: Sometimes, organic matter like hair, soap scum, and food waste traps bacteria inside your sink drain. When you turn on the faucet, the rushing water pushes sewer gas up into your face, making you think the water smells.
The check: Fill a clean glass with water and walk into another room. If the water in the glass doesn't smell, your drain is the issue and needs a professional cleaning.
Test the water heater: If the glass of water does smell like sulfur—but only when you run hot water—the issue is inside your water heater tank.
Why it happens: Our West Valley water is highly mineralized. Inside your water heater tank sits a sacrificial magnesium anode rod designed to rust so your tank doesn't have to. When magnesium interacts with heavy sulfates and naturally occurring, harmless sulfate-reducing bacteria in the tank, it creates hydrogen sulfide gas (sulfur).
The Fix: Your water heater needs a professional flush to clear out mineral sediment. If the smell persists, we can swap out your standard magnesium anode rod for an aluminum-zinc alloy anode rod, which completely neutralizes the sulfur reaction.
How hard is the water in the West Valley compared to the rest of Arizona?
Arizona has some of the hardest water in the country, and the West Valley sits right at the top. The U.S. Geological Survey classifies anything over 10.5 grains per gallon (GPG) as "very hard." In Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, and Buckeye, our municipal water measures a massive 14 to 24+ GPG—nearly triple the national average.
While northern Arizona towns like Flagstaff enjoy soft water (2 to 7 GPG) from snowmelt, desert valleys rely on groundwater and canals that absorb heavy amounts of calcium and magnesium from our rocky soil.
Because municipal plants do not soften water on a city-wide scale, this "extremely hard" water leaves white crust on fixtures, ruins appliances up to 50% faster, and dries out your skin. A whole-home water softener is considered an essential tool for protecting West Valley homes.
What is the white crust/buildup on my kitchen and bathroom faucets?
That white, chalky crust is calcium carbonate, commonly known as limescale. It forms because the West Valley has extremely hard water (packed with dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals). Every time water droplets evaporate on your fixtures, they leave these rock minerals behind. Over time, they layer up into a hard, unsightly crust.
How to Clean It Safely
Don’t scrape it with metal tools, which will scratch your finishes. Instead, use regular household white vinegar:
Soak a paper towel or rag in vinegar.
Wrap it tightly around the crusted area of the faucet.
Let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes to dissolve the calcium.
Wipe it away and rinse with clean water.
(Pro-tip: For showerheads or aerators, tie a small plastic bag filled with vinegar around the fixture using a rubber band and let it soak.)
How to Stop It Permanently
While vinegar cleans the surface, the buildup will keep coming back as long as hard water flows through your pipes. The only permanent solution to eliminate limescale completely and protect your plumbing appliances is a whole-home water softener.
ELECTRICAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Why do my lights flicker when the central air conditioning kicks on?
When your central air conditioning kicks on, it requires a massive, sudden surge of power—called inrush current—to start up the compressor. This instantaneous draw briefly pulls electricity away from the rest of your home, causing a split-second drop in voltage that makes your lights flicker.
Is it normal?
Normal: Your lights dim briefly (by 5% to 10%) for a fraction of a second and immediately return to full brightness.
Not Normal: The lights stay dim while the AC runs, drop drastically in brightness, or your circuit breaker trips.
Common Solutions
Install a Soft Starter: This device is wired into your AC to smooth out the initial power surge. It reduces the start-up electrical draw by up to 70%, eliminating the flicker and protecting your AC compressor.
Replace a Failing Capacitor: The start capacitor gives your AC its initial kick. Arizona’s extreme summer heat degrades these over time, forcing the system to pull more raw power to start.
Fix Loose Connections: Heat causes wires to expand and contract. Loose connections in your electrical panel create resistance and worsen voltage drops.
Can extreme Arizona summer heat cause circuit breakers to trip?
Yes, extreme Arizona heat can absolutely cause circuit breakers to trip.
Circuit breakers are thermal devices—they trip when they get too hot. In our climate, they often face a "double whammy" of internal heat from high power usage and external heat from the environment.
Why It Happens
Sun-Baked Panels: If your electrical panel is on an exterior wall in direct sunlight, the internal temperature can easily exceed 140°F. This leaves the breaker with very little "headroom" before it reaches its trip point.
AC Overload: On 115°F+ days, your air conditioner works continuously. The high electrical load creates significant heat inside the breaker itself, which can trigger a trip even if the system is functioning correctly.
Loose Connections: Constant temperature swings cause wires to expand and contract. This loosens terminal screws over time, creating electrical resistance and heat right at the connection point.
How to Fix It
Install a Soft Starter: This significantly reduces the power draw when your AC kicks on, keeping the breaker much cooler.
Schedule a Panel Inspection: Have an electrician tighten all terminal connections to eliminate heat-causing resistance.
Provide Shade: If your electrical panel faces direct afternoon sun, a simple, code-compliant shade cover can significantly lower the temperature inside the box.
How do high desert temperatures affect home wiring over time?
In the Arizona desert, extreme summer heat and intense temperature swings accelerate the aging of your home’s electrical system.
Here is how our local climate impacts home wiring over time:
1. Brittle and Cracked Insulation
In July, West Valley attic temperatures can easily exceed 130°F. Over the years, this intense baking dries out the protective plastic coating on your wires, causing it to become brittle, crack, and crumble away. Exposed bare wires create an immediate short circuit and fire hazard.
2. Loose Connections from "Thermal Cycling"
Every day, your wiring expands during blistering afternoon heat and contracts as it cools down at night. This constant microscopic movement eventually loosens the terminal screws holding your wires inside outlets, switches, and your breaker panel. Loose wires create high resistance and dangerous localized heat.
3. Reduced Efficiency (Ampacity)
As metal gets hotter, its natural resistance to electricity increases. On a 115°F day, your home's wiring is actually less efficient at carrying power. It runs hotter and has to work harder just to deliver standard electricity to your appliances.
4. Severe UV Damage
Any exterior wiring—such as lines running to your outdoor AC unit, pool equipment, or landscape lighting—will quickly crack and fail under intense Arizona sun exposure if it isn't properly rated or protected inside a weatherproof conduit.