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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 39 Sponsored Material Join us for the live conversation on Do you have questions for Robert B. Payne, Inc? Be sure to watch our Facebook Live interview this month! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for information and updates. Facebook: @fredericksburgparent • Twitter: @FredParent • Instagram: @fredparentmagazine a sk t h e e x p e rt Q: Robert B. Payne, Inc. has been in business since 1930. Why is working with an experienced company important when we're talking about heating and cooling our homes? It is very important to me to make sure that the people who are coming into your home are trustworthy and are knowledgeable and respectful. We are a drug-free company and we random test and background check everybody from the president to the parts runners. We are here to serve. It's important to know that we are licensed, insured, our tech- nicians are highly trained, and we keep them up-to-date with the latest technology, as our industry is changing rapidly. We are going to respect your home and respect you. Our customers are like our family. Robert B. Payne, Inc. is the 1st Place Winner of the FredParents Family Favorites in 2017, 2018, and now 2019. They are also the 1st Place Winner of the Fredericksburg Readers' Choice Award with consecutive wins in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, every year since the competition started. Along with numerous other industry awards, they have an A+ rating with the BBB and hundreds of 5-star reviews. They are Fredericksburg, Stafford and King George Counties foremost heat- ing and cooling experts. Q: How big a difference can regular maintenance make in the efficiency and effectiveness of an air conditioning system? It's really similar to owning a car — you get your oil changed every 5,000 miles or so, and when you get that regular maintenance, you don't get as many emergency breakdowns. It's the same thing with your air conditioning system. Whether it's brand new or 20 years old, your heating, ventilation and air condi- tioning system is a complex piece of machinery that represents a big investment in your home. It needs to be maintained by an expert who can make sure the coils are cleaned, the safeties are working, the refrig- erant charge is correct. Everybody has breakdowns sometimes, but in general, our customers who are on regular maintenance programs are not the ones call- ing us in an emergency on the hottest day of summer with no air. Manufacturers are even starting to write maintenance requirements into their warranties, so this is not something to ignore. Regular maintenance also makes the system run more efficiently. We will have people call us and say, "My electric bill was $450 this month." Often the problems they are having are due to a lack of maintenance. Q: How can homeowners get into a good maintenance routine? When you sign up for an HVAC maintenance program with Robert B. Payne, Inc. an experienced, profes- sional technician will come to your home to tune up your heating and cooling system and perform any basic maintenance your system may need. If any heating or air conditioning repair needs to be performed beyond the routine maintenance, our technicians will be able to complete those repairs. You can learn more by calling us at (540) 373-5876, or by visiting robertbpayne.com. For our customers who are scheduled for regular tune- ups, we send out reminders so you'll know when to give us a call to make sure everything's working prop- erly before the heat or cold hits. Q: Are there things we should be doing at home to make sure our systems stay in good shape? Homeowners should change their filters at least every 90 days, or according to the specifications of the filter they are using. I look at my own filters every month. The amount of dust in your home varies based on the activities going on. If you've had a lot of people or activity in your home, you're probably going to need to change your filter sooner. It doesn't hurt to at least look at it once a month. Make a mental note to do this every time you pay your electric bill. This is a habit that will make your system last longer and run more efficiently. It's also important to keep your outside unit clear of debris, grass clippings and other impediments. Air conditioning units have to be able to draw in air to cool your home, so it's important to keep the space around and above them clear. ... your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is a complex piece of machinery that represents a big investment in your home. It needs to be maintained by an expert who can make sure the coils are cleaned, the safeties are working, the refrigerant charge is correct.