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Benefits of HVAC Maintenance

Is HVAC maintenance necessary? Yes, there are a whole host of advantages to caring for and maintaining your HVAC system. To answer the question, though, yes HVAC maintenance is necessary and important. Doing so will allow your system to operate efficiently as well as ensure it is always safe and in good condition. 

• Energy Saving: Keeping up with regular maintenance and repairs will help your whole system to operate more efficiently. This means it will be able to produce the same results, hot or cold air, without expending or using more energy than is necessary. In doing so, you’ll notice a significant decrease in your energy bills. 
• Avoid Unnecessary Repairs: Regular and even preventative maintenance will not eliminate the need for repairs, but it will help to reduce that need. When you stay on top of problems or just potential problems, you’ll find yourself spending less money and time trying to repair your system. 
• Safety: With consistent servicing, you’re whole home will be safer and healthier for you to live in. This is especially true if you have a gas-powered furnace. Problems with your gas lines can result in serious issues for both your home and your health. During the maintenance procedure, filters are also changed, helping to improve and maintain the air quality. 
• Extended Life: Believe it or not, but taking care of your system over the years will help it to last longer. Most HVAC systems have a lifespan between 15-20 years, but fail long before that because of a lack of maintenance. 

Taking care of your HVAC system can be equated to taking care of your roof. When you schedule routine inspections and residential roof repair, you are making a point to maintain the structure. The same is true with your heating and cooling system. Rather than trying to figure out how to do HVAC maintenance on your own, rely on the experts at Cajun Comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is HVAC maintenance?
  • This is an annual process of inspection and examination. A technician will come out to your property to take a look at every aspect of your heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system to ensure that everything is working efficiently.
• How often should HVAC be maintenance?
  • At minimum, your heating and air conditioning system should be serviced once a year. Generally, service and maintenance calls are scheduled in the spring or in the fall. If you can have maintenance done twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, you’ll be doing even better. 
• Are HVAC maintenance plans worth it? 
  • Yes, maintenance plans are a great investment for both residential and commercial HVAC systems. With a plan, you’ll be participating in something known as preventative HVAC maintenance which will help ensure your system is always in good condition. 
• Does HVAC need maintenance? 
  • The short answer: yes. Your heater and air conditioning systems are high-demand, high-maintenance appliances. Because of this, they require a significant amount of attention and maintenance to effectively operate throughout the year.
• How much does it cost for HVAC maintenance?
  • Generally speaking, the cost will vary depending on the state of your HVAC system, call-out fees, pricing, and more. That being said, the cost of HVAC maintenance can range from $50 to $140 or more. You can discuss this with your technician.

These are not only great for homes that don’t have ductwork, but they are also great for homes who want to have better control of their indoor cooling. You don’t have to have ductless air conditioners in every single room like traditional central air–you choose which rooms will receive cooling. If you are interested in a more versatile cooling system that is a lot more energy-efficient, then you might like ductless air conditioners.

Ductless Air Conditioning Vs Central

If you are adding onto a home or adding air conditioning to your home, you might wonder where you should choose ductless or central air conditioning. Many people ask, “Are mini splits better than central air?” and honestly it just depends on what you are looking for in terms of your cooling needs. Central air conditioning is great because it can cool every area of your home at once, improve indoor air quality, its easy to use, and you can install units that have an air conditioner and heater. What people don’t seem to like about central air is that they are noisy, have to deal with ductwork maintenance, and it costs more. A lot of people ask, “Is ductless cheaper than central air?” and the answer is yes. Central air conditioners can be expensive to install and can cost more to operate. A ductless air conditioner is quieter, costs less, energ-efficient, and are easy to install. However, it doesn’t improve indoor air quality, needs more than one unit to cool the home, and you will be able to see where the unit is. When choosing between ductless and central air conditioning, you need to weigh the pros and cons to see which one will work the best for you.

Ductless Air Conditioner Benefits

People who are interested in ductless air conditioners might want to know what type of advantages you can receive from this type of cooling. There are several benefits to getting a ductless air conditioner installed.

• Money Saver: If you are looking to reduce your cooling costs can do this easily by investing in a ductless air conditioner.
• Space Saver: These are very compact units that are installed easily onto the wall and out of the way.
• Energy-Efficient: Homeowners get to choose what rooms they cool, which is a great way to decrease their energy costs.
• Better Control: Many people ask, “Do mini splits run constantly?” Ductless air conditioners are only installed where you want them and turned on when you want them, so its a cooling system that is easier to control.
• Very Flexible: Want to cool down one room and not the other? You are able to do that with ductless air conditioners.
• Quiet Performance: Central air conditioners are typically noisy when they turn on, but ductless air conditioners are incredibly quiet and don’t make a bunch of noise.
• Easy Maintenance: Because there is no ductwork, maintenance for this cooling system is really easy.

What Is the Best Ductless Air Conditioner?

As a homeowner, its a good idea to know a few facts about HVAC maintenance in order to keep yourself informed. The first thing to know is that maintenance can save you money. By getting bi-annual maintenance for your HVAC systems, you can save money on repair or replacement service. Another fact that you should know is that it makes your HVAC system more energy-efficient. When the components in your system are dirty or worn out, they can cause your system to work harder than they should. This can result in using more energy and spending more on energy costs. HVAC maintenance, however, can help you save energy. Finally, maintenance will guarantee that you are comfortable in the fall, winter, spring, and summer months, as maintenance ensures your HVAC system is in great shape.

How Do You Maintain an HVAC System?

Typically, an HVAC technician will be the one who takes care of your HVAC maintenance, although homeowners can do their own maintenance. While homeowners can do the bi-annual maintenance for their heater and air conditioner, having a licensed and insured HVAC technician do your maintenance will ensure that it is done properly. so what is involved in HVAC maintenance? There is an HVAC maintenance checklist that you or your HVAC technician will follow in order to maintain every part of the air conditioner or heater.

• Cleaning: There are a couple of things that need to be done when cleaning an HVAC unit. The outdoor unit will need to be cleaned of leaves, debris, and dirt. Your filters will also need to be cleaned. Then various parts of the HVAC system will need to be cleaned like the condenser coils, drain lines, drain pans, and evaporator coils.
• Inspecting: In terms of inspections, the HVAC technician will inspect various parts like the capacitors, condenser coils, contactors, ductwork, electrical wiring connections, fan blade, heat exchanger, and service valves. Inspecting to see if any smells are coming from the HVAC unit is also important.
• Lubricating: There are a lot of moving parts inside of an HVAC system, which is why it is so important to lubricate different parts when maintenance is performed. When parts aren’t properly lubricated, it can cause friction and grinding of parts, which can severely harm the HVAC system.
• Replacing: When it comes to replacements, there are a couple of things that can be replaced during maintenance. Carbon monoxide batteries will need to be replaced annually, whereas the air filter will need to be replaced monthly. There are parts such as belts and pulleys that can wear out easily, so they might need to be replaced.

Are HVAC Tune Ups Worth it?

There are a ton of people who ask if is HVAC maintenance necessary and worth it, and the answer is yes, it is very necessary and worth it. There are many reasons why HVAC maintenance is important with one of the most important reasons being that it extends the life of your system. When you avoid getting maintenance for your HVAC unit, it can decrease the life of the system. Getting maintenance ensures that it runs as long as possible. HVAC maintenance can also lower your bills, save energy, provide you with better indoor air quality, makes your HVAC system run more smoothly, and reduces repairs. All of these things are important to an HVAC system, which is why maintenance is essential.

How Much Should I Pay for HVAC Maintenance?

Whether you have problems with your home’s wiring or severe weather strikes, it’s inevitable you will experience a power outage. These outages could last for hours or even days, especially after a severe weather event. Outages keep you from using your air conditioner or heater or prevent you from getting weather alerts on your TV.

Cajun Comfort has the perfect solution to power outages: a backup generator for your home. We are leaders in generator installation in New Orleans, LA  and surrounding areas and understand how generators help preserve comfort and safety in the home during a power outage. With a generator, you won’t have to fumble around for flashlights and candles or worry about food going bad in the refrigerator.

You might want to know what a generator is and how it works before you call our team to install one. In general, a generator is any mechanical device that converts energy into power.  During a power outage a whole house generator detects the outage and within a few seconds restores power to the house automatically. The generator doesn’t need to be turned on by an outside source to work. It automatically shuts off once the main power comes back on. It is quiet and energy efficient as well.

Generator vs. Alternator

Generators, however, are not alternators, should there be any confusion. An alternator, though, is a specialized generator, usually used for cars. Both produce power, but generators are designed to produce power continuously, while alternators produce voltage when required and only produce alternating current.

How Big of a Generator Do I Need For My Home?

For the most part, anywhere between 3,500 and 6,000 watts will power a house and all household appliances.

When selecting a generator you will need to determine approximately how much power your home uses. Several things will factor into that consideration.

If you use well water, for instance, you will also have to power your well pump to keep the water flowing. Most well pumps will need a 240-volt generator, which produces 3,800 watts or higher.

You will also have to figure in your heating system. If it is gas or oil forced can use as little as 2,500 watts while electric or heat pumps might require too much wattage for a generator. Similarly, hot water heaters will need to be factored in. Gas or oil-fired hot water heaters use the least amount of wattage, around 2,500 watts. Electric water heaters need about 4,500 watts. Of course, you can get help and always rely on the technicians at Cajun Comfort to determine the right size generator for your household.

How Much Does It Cost for a Whole House Generator?

Prices will vary for what you want your generator to do. Portable generators cost anywhere between $400 and $2000, depending on the brand. Portable generators require someone to be at home to switch it on and a transfer switch will have to be purchased. Transfer switches run between $500 and $900.

While portable generators will keep essential appliances running during an outage, a standby or whole-house generator will manage all household electricity and are designed for long-term use. They are fueled by either liquid propane or natural gas. If you decide to purchase whole house generator, which will turn on and off automatically, it will run about $5,000 for a 10,000-watt generator.

What Is the Best Whole House Generator?

Cajun Comfort’s qualified technicians can install any generators but their expertise is with Honeywell home standby generators. We know these generators are reliable, operate smoothly and generate a lot of power. Their generators come in a wide range of sizes and fuel types. You can also monitor their generators from your computer or tablet or smartphone. These generators are sturdy and reliable, powerful and low-maintenance. Other brands we recommend are Champion Power Equipment, Generac, Briggs & Stratton and Kohler. All of these brands are high quality.

Generator Installation

When you consult with Cajun Comfort’s technicians they will make generator installation a snap. It’s a simple process, really.

First you chose a stable location that drains well, about 18 inches from the house, about 5 feet from windows and doors, and can provide about 3 feet of space for maintenance and repairs.

The site needs to be prepared with a concrete slab or pea gravel so the generator can be place on it. The fuel line is then installed and the system is tested. This is how simple it is to hook your generator up to your house. No major home repair is needed.

Can You Leave a Generator Unattended?

When running a portable generator, it’s not wise to leave it unattended. The generator should be turned off at night or when you are away from home. Portable generators also need to be outside and not running in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces like garages. This risks the build up of carbon monoxide gas and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Is It OK to Let a Generator Run out of Gas?

Letting a generator run out of gas can damage the generator. As they come to a stop, they will continue to put out power. This causes the electrical load from your house to drain the magnetic field from the generator’s coils. The generator might run when it restarted but it won’t generate any power.

Generator Issues

As with any device, a generator can run into maintenance issues. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Out of fuel: It’s the first thing to check when the generator won’t start.
• Block heater worn out: If the block heater is worn, it will stop heating the coolant. This will slow oil circulation, especially in colder climates.
• Low on coolant: There could be a leak if the coolant levels are low.
• Dead battery: Generator batteries last about four years.
• Not on auto: This error message or a similar one may show up. The generator needs to be reset physically.
• Fuel leaks into tank: Underuse can cause fuel to leak back into the tank. Regular maintenance will help prevent this. In older model, fuel leakage might be caused by bad belts.
• Pest infestation or weather damage: Location is always important to protect generator from weather damage. But pests like ants or bigger animals can damage lines and other components.

While you can’t predict the next power outage, you might want to plan ahead and consider installing a backup generator for your home. Our expert technicians at Cajun Comfort in Norco and New Orleans, LA are ready to hear from you. Give them a call at 985-764-8191.

The importance of being comfortable in your home cannot be understated. Constantly sneezing, having headaches, or having shortness of breath is not at all relaxing. With this age of environmental awareness and healthy living with things like carbon water filtration units for the whole family and organic foods, why not apply that to your indoor air, as well? If you are wanting to improve your Norco and New Orleans, LA home’s indoor air quality, call Cajun Comfort at 985-764-8191 today.

What Are the Symptoms of Bad Air Quality in The Home?

If you suspect that the indoor air quality within your home is not where it should be, you can first identify whether or not you are experiencing any symptoms associated with poor air quality. Poor indoor air quality vs outdoor air quality often have similar symptoms. If you have ever been in a smoggy area in a city packed with construction or pollution, then you know just how irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat the air is. These symptoms will also happen to you when you have bad indoor air quality. If you are experiencing dry eyes, nose, throat, or skin, or are feeling fatigued, nauseous, dizzy, or having headaches, these are signs that you have poor indoor air quality. Sinus congestion, coughing and sneezing, allergies, and runny eyes and nose are all also symptoms.

How Do You Test The Air Quality In Your Home?

The easiest way to see if your indoor air quality is good is by purchasing an air quality monitor. This way, you can constantly reuse the monitoring device. If you prefer a professional to test your indoor air quality in Norco and New Orleans, LA, you can call the experts at Cajun Comfort at 985-764-8191 to perform this test as well.

If you are looking for specific types of air pollutants in your home, there are certain tests that you can utilize to target just those areas. To test for noxious gases like carbon dioxide or radon, you can install a carbon monoxide detector or get a radon detector. Visible signs you can look for are moldy areas or noting allergy-like symptoms which are indications that your indoor air quality is poor and being affected by contaminants. Ways you can utilize indoor air quality control are by getting a whole home air purifier or regularly changing your air filters to help reduce dust, pet dander, and other airborne irritants.

What Are the 4 Major Indoor Air Pollutants?

There are studies that show that indoor air quality and health are linked together, with bad breathing environments lowering your quality of life. In order to be able to improve the quality of air indoors, it is important to know what it is that makes it so bad. So what are the most common indoor air pollutants? Radon, carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke and nitrogen dioxide are the four major indoor air pollutants that lead to poor indoor air quality.

Radon

Radon cannot be prevented since it is naturally found in earth materials like water and the rock beneath your home, but is can be reduced to help lower the effects it has on your breathing quality. You can test your home for radon and adjust it to where the indoor radon level is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or lower.

Carbon Monoxide

If you have gas lines in your home, carbon monoxide gas can easily occur without you knowing as it naturally has no scent. This gas is also produced from the exhaust fumes in cars and can accumulate in garages, or can waft into the home from your leaking chimney or furnace. This odorless gas causes nausea, dizziness, confusion, headaches, and is deadly in high concentrations. Installing a carbon monoxide detector that can alert you when the gas is detected in the home can help to keep your air clean and safe.

Tobacco Smoke

Found from cigarette, pipe, or cigar smoke, it causes decreased lung function and asthma symptoms as it irritates the throat, ears, eyes, and nose and causes these areas of the body to become inflamed. The best way to remove tobacco smoke from the home is to quit smoking or smoke outside or to increase ventilation in the areas where the smoke occurs by using fans or opening windows. Secondhand smoke will linger and can still cause issues, so sometimes smoke damage removal will have to occur to completely rid the smell and improve the indoor air quality.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Similar to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide can occur with similar products and has similar symptoms. Often sourced from kerosene heaters, unvented gas stoves and heaters, or tobacco smoke, nitrogen dioxide causes eye and throat irritation and can lead to impaired lung functioning or respiratory infections. Make sure that all products that use nitrogen dioxide like stoves and fireplaces are properly vented to circulate out the dangerous gas and improve the indoor air quality.

How Can I Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Cajun Comfort can help you improve your indoor air quality in Norco and New Orleans, LA when you call us at 985-764-8191 today. For ways to improve the quality of your home’s air, here is a handy indoor air quality checklist for easy and cheap solutions:

• Avoid using chemical cleaners that have powerful and strong toxins in them that often irritate the senses. Instead, you can get your home clean using soap and water. People have been doing it for hundreds of years!
• Getting an indoor humidifier can help to maintain the right amount of moisture that is needed in your home. Too much moisture results in more bugs and mold, but too little results in dry nasal passages. Humidifiers are affordable and reusable, helping to control the amount of moisture being released into the air with timers.
• Keep plants indoors. Not only does this boost your aesthetics, but plants help to circulate the air by absorbing carbon dioxide that humans expel and releasing fresh oxygen back out, making the room feel fresh.
• Something as simple as opening up windows to help ventilate the home are great ways to let in fresh air and dispel any stuffiness in the room. If you have pollen allergies, you can opt for regularly changing your air filters to help get that same dust-free, fresh-air feeling.

How home electrical wiring works is that there are usually three wires that connect everything in your home: a neutral wire and then 2 hot wires. Each one does something different and is in charge of working things like the lights in your home. One also connects to your home electrical panel so that when something goes wrong, it can knock out the power to your entire home. Home electrical repair can get pretty expensive for several reasons. It is difficult to find an electrician that knows exactly what they are doing and will be able to explain to you what is wrong. We recommend that you ask questions and have your electricals explain what is going on in your home so that you will know what to do if this happens again or if you need to be able to switch something on and off to help make the problem go away. A home electrical service can be done by a licenced electrician to make sure that it is done correctly. When you have your home built or you move into a new home, you might start to see issues with your electricity. This could mean that your breaker blows all of the time or lights flicker when you turn something on. This is usually a sign that something was not done the right way. You should have the electrician come back out and make sure that everything is working the way it should. Electrical is something you have to be very careful about because electrical fires happen all of the time and are very dangerous.

How long does wiring in a house last?

This is a great question that gets asked all of the time. Many people think that electric work does not last for a long time, but when you have your home’s wiring installed correctly, it can actually last around 100 years. This means that if you have only been in a home for 5 years, there is no reason that your electric should be giving you trouble.

How often should you rewire house?

You can actually have an inspection to look for home inspection electrical issues. This will help you see if it is time to rewire some parts of your home. If there is an issue, it is usually seen around the 25-year mark. This is typically when rewiring should be normal and it is not always the whole house, but just some parts.

What do electricians fix?

Electricians are able to fix many different things. Just like a plumber, they are not stuck just to piping. Electricians have been trained extensively to be able to work on electric systems. Everyone that you see has had to go through rigorous training and earning to be able to do their craft. This is because electricians play an important part in the safety of your home, office building, and even the lights outside. They are able to wire things like electricity to your home, make your tv work properly, and basically, anytime you see a light turn on, an electrician did that. An electrician usually focuses on one area of expertise so with commercial or residential and then is able to learn that area expansively.

What type of electrical wiring is used in homes?

This will depend on many different factors. Some electricians will use different wiring for indoor and outdoor, also the cables will either be bigger or smaller as well. The most commonly used for things like home repair or new homes are Romex cables. These are used for lighting and outlet circuits throughout your home and work very well. If you have a preference, you can always ask your electricians for something different if what they have chosen is not what you are looking for.

Common Electrical Issues

• Lights flicker constantly
• Lights flicker when something is plugged in
• High electricity bill
• Circuit breaker trips all of the time
• Light switches don’t work
• Electric surges from time to time

If any of these problems are happening to you, it is important to call an electrician right away. Here at Cajun Comfort, we make sure that all of your electrical work is up to code and won’t give you any issues. We don’t just worry about the issues that you are having, but we also worry about your safety as well. Electrical fires are common and are the sources of many home fires. We do not want you to ever go through that so if you need a Norco and New Orleans, LA electrical service, we will be able to help you check if your home is working the way it should. You can also give us a call at 985-764-8191 and we can try our best to answer your questions or concerns over the phone but we can also come out and get the problem taken care of for you.

 

Maintenance plans are a great way to get discounts on services that you would normally get otherwise. If you normally have air conditioning services done throughout the year, it might be wise to consider getting on some kind of maintenance plan. This way you will be able to stop worrying about paying and paying service fees because they will just come out when it’s that time of year and check your system for anything that may need to be repaired or cleaned. There are services like this all over like plumbing services that will help you save money and keep your machines working the way they are supposed to.

What Kind Of Service That Includes

Inspection – Regular inspections that check all over the system, how it is running, if it needs to be cleaned, and everything in between. This is the check that you would want.

Priority – When you are part of this plan and call for regular maintenance, you will get priority over everyone else, which is a great perk!

Cleaning System – Systems get dirty all of the time, but if you have our plan, we clean them for you and you will be ready for the summer or winter months ahead of you.

Free Diagnostic – On the highest plan we offer free diagnostic once a year which can regularly cost you over a hundred dollars at times.

If you decide you want to get on a maintenance plan for air conditioning services in Norco and New Orleans, LA, call Cajun Comfort at 985-764-8191 and we can go over all of the details with you.

As a homeowner, you are always on the search for ways to save money around the house. Energy bill savings are the simplest to achieve and can be done through multiple outlets. Installing a cool roofing material such as a metal roof can boost your home’s energy efficiency and help you save substantially on your cooling and heating bills, as can installing energy efficient windows, doors, and HVAC unit. These changes can help your home conserve heat and coolness to allow your HVAC system to work less, leading to lower utility costs. Other ways to save money on your energy bills are:

• Replacing window and door seals for more effective weather blocking
• Performing regular appliance maintenance to ensure minimal energy consumption
• Using energy efficient light bulbs throughout your home
• Installation an energy efficient water heater in your home.

Cost Saving Benefits of Regular HVAC Maintenance

Proper maintenance is imperative for any system to work properly, and your HVAC system is no exception. In fact, regular maintenance on HVAC systems are able to save their owners up to 20 percent in energy efficiency. When these systems are clean and well-functioning, they are able to use less power and run for shorter times, leading to saved energy costs. Regular maintenance can also help to identify upcoming problems to save on improper operation and early breakdown which could also get expensive quickly.

Local HVAC Maintenance and Repair

When you’re looking for dependable HVAC maintenance or repair, call the Cajun Comfort professionals first. We provide the quick, reliable service you need to get your home functioning at its best again. Our team will perform a complete inspection of your unit and discuss your options to ensure you receive the exact service you’re looking for. If you’re in search of ways to improve on your energy costs, start with HVAC maintenance and repair for maximum energy efficiency in your Norco and New Orleans, LA home.

If you have lived in Norco and New Orleans for a long time, or any part of the country that is susceptible to bad weather, you know how important a home generator can be. With severe storms, you can lose access to electricity, which powers a wide range of appliances in your homes from your refrigerator to your air conditioner. Fortunately, there is a way to have power even when there is a natural disaster going on. With a home generator, you don’t have to worry about your electricity going out. The generator knows when the electricity goes out and can power on your appliances and systems. At Cajun Comfort when you are looking for a home backup generator in Norco and New Orleans, LA, please call us at 985-764-8191!

What Powers a Home Backup Generator?

Since the electricity in your home is out, how is the generator able to operate? Fortunately, the home generator can either run on diesel, liquid propane, or natural gas. The easiest way to choose the fuel is to use the one that is readily available in your home already. The biggest thing that homeowners need to be concerned with is what backup generator they want, a standby or a whole-house generator. Depending on the fuel that you use will probably be the basis for what kind of backup generator you purchase. A standby generator uses gasoline and is super affordable. A whole-house generator is a permanent system outside your home that works off of propane or natural gas. Both are great home backup generators, but it will depend on what is best for you, your family, and your home. If you need help finding the best home backup generator for your Norco and New Orleans, LA property, you can count on us for reliable and honest suggestions.

How Big of a Generator Do I Need to Run a House?

There are a couple of factors to take into consideration when deciding on what size generator you need for your home. We talked about that there are two types of backup generators that you can get, standby and whole-house. The standby will be smaller in comparison and you will also have to add fuel and turn it on manually when you need it. With a whole-house generator is professionally installed and will kick on automatically when the power goes off. Now, this is where you will need to know what size you need. Depending on all of the stuff that you want to be powered in your home during a blackout, your TV, HVAC systems, refrigerator, sump pump, and other appliances will need to be taken into consideration. The wattage of all of those systems and appliances will help you decide what size you need. There are generators that power between 3,000 to 4,000 watts and some that power 10,000 to 15,000 watts. Whatever you want the power to will be the determiner of the size of your generator. To get more information about a home backup generator in Norco and New Orleans, LA, call Cajun Comfort at 985-764-8191!