Ecobee Thermostat Heat Pump Setting

Updated 1/2024, originally posted 1/2023: My team recently resolved an issue several clients were reporting where their heat pump was “stuck” in the defrost cycle. We received calls for service from clients with Lennox, Trane, Bosch, and Goodman heat pumps installed in their home. As a result, we knew the problem wasn’t related to one […]

Heat Pump Not Heating

Temperatures got into the low 30’s in the Phoenix area early this morning and it’s still very chilly right now! Our phones are currently ringing off the hook with people reporting their heat pump unit is not heating. It’s going to be a busy day for Magic Touch’s service technicians getting clients furnaces & heat […]

Do I Need a New AC?

I’ve been an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning) Technician for over 36 years. I founded Magic Touch Mechanical, an AC & Heating company in Mesa, Arizona 27 years ago this January. One question I’ve heard thousands of times is, do I need a new AC unit? Believe it or not, it’s a question I […]

AC Unit Won’t Turn On

  That dreaded moment: It’s hot, you switch the thermostat on, and nothing happens – the AC unit won’t turn on. Eventually it happens to every homeowner and I’m no exception. The only difference between myself and most homeowners is, I’m the guy who must fix it when it’s mine! This article covers a few […]

HVAC Service Technician Job or Career?

When I landed my 1st HVAC Service Technician Job 35-years ago, I didn’t yet know it would become my career. I was a teenager with no real-world skills to speak of, so my options were limited. What I knew for sure was HVAC Service Technician sounded cooler than flipping burgers at McDonalds!   HVAC Service […]

AC Cleaning & Maintenance – What’s Included

What’s included in an AC Cleaning & Maintenance visit? Is there any difference between AC maintenance & an AC tune up, and which do I need? How much does an air conditioner maintenance visit cost? I answer all these questions in this article, but before you skip ahead, I recommend you read the whole article. […]

What is a White Label Air Conditioner?

If someone asked you what brand air conditioner you had in your home, would you know the answer? What if they asked, “do you own a white label air conditioner?” Even trickier, would you know the answer if someone asked if your air conditioner was “private label”? If you have no idea what a private […]

Freon Refrigerant Cost & Availability

How much does freon cost per pound? In my 35+ years as an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning) Technician, this is a question I’ve answered often. Freon refrigerant cost & availability is changing rapidly in recent years now that production has been banned in the U.S. Now, in 2023, more changes to the refrigerant […]

AC Repair & Second Opinions

    Getting an AC repair second opinion may be the smart thing to do, right? Well, it should be anyway. However, it may create more confusion for the homeowner, in some cases even prompting the need for a 3rdopinion! Recently, I’ve seen two cases where it made matters worse for the most important person […]