WOODLAND PARK, NJ - Nobody looks forward to opening their electric bill in August. And if residents live in North Jersey, they’ve probably noticed it getting worse. Rates have crept up three years running now, and there's no sign that's going to change before this summer hits.

But here's the thing most people don't realize: the electric company isn't the only reason an electric bill is so high.

That's according to the crew at M&S Technician, a family-run HVAC shop out of Woodland Park that's been fixing and installing cooling systems across Passaic County since 2014. They say the real culprit, more often than not, is the air conditioner itself.

"People blame the utility company, and yeah, rates are up - that part's real," the M&S team said. "But when we show up and look at the system, we usually find an AC that's been running on fumes for years. Dirty coils, low refrigerant, parts that are barely hanging on. The unit's pulling way more electricity than it should just to keep the house at 74 degrees."

Old Equipment, New Prices - A Bad Combination

Here's where it gets interesting. A lot of homes in towns like Woodland Park, Totowa, Little Falls, and Wayne are still running AC units from 2010 or earlier. Those systems typically have SEER ratings around 10 - which was fine back then, but today's models hit 16, 18, sometimes 20.

What does that actually mean for a homeowner’s wallet? Roughly speaking, a homeowner running an old 10-SEER unit could be spending close to double what their neighbor pays with a newer system, even if the houses are about the same size. Over one summer? That adds up fast.

And New Jersey's humidity makes it worse. New Jersey summers aren't just hot - they're sticky. That means an AC isn't just cooling the air, it's pulling moisture out of it too. If the system's struggling, it runs longer cycles, burns more electricity, and still leaves the house feeling muggy.

A Few Things Homeowners Can Actually Do About It

The M&S team isn't just pointing out problems - they've got some straightforward advice for homeowners who'd rather not dread their July electric bill.

Get a tune-up before it’s needed. Spring's the sweet spot. A tech comes out, cleans the coils, checks refrigerant, tests the thermostat, looks over the wiring. Takes about an hour. The point is to catch stuff before it turns into a $400 repair call at 6 pm on a Saturday in July. It also keeps the system running efficiently, which means lower bills.

Be honest about a system's age. If it's 12-15 years old and a homeowner has had a repair tech out more than once in the last couple summers, it might be time. Nobody wants to drop money on a new AC, but at some point the math just makes sense. Homeowners stop paying for repairs, the electric bill drops, and nobody is sweating it out on the hottest day of the year because the compressor finally gave up.

Think about ductless for those problem rooms. Got a bonus room over the garage that's always 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house? Or an addition that the central air can't quite reach? Ductless mini-splits are great for that. They cool individual zones, they're quiet, and they don't force the main system to work harder trying to fix a problem it was never designed to handle.

Swap the filter. Seriously. This one's almost embarrassingly simple, but a clogged filter makes an AC work harder for less output. Homeowners should check it once a month when running the system. It costs a few bucks and takes thirty seconds.

About M&S Technician

M&S Technician is a licensed and insured HVAC company based out of Woodland Park, NJ (License #368100867400). They've been in business since 2014, handling AC repair, AC installation, furnace work, boilers, water heaters, and ductless systems for homeowners and businesses across North Jersey. They carry a 4.9-star rating with over 147 reviews, offer same-day service when they can swing it, and run a 24/7 emergency line for those middle-of-the-night breakdowns nobody plans for.

For those interested in getting a cooling system looked at before summer hits - or curious whether it's time for something new - more information is available at mstechnicians.com/cooling-services or by calling (908) 528-0535. Complimentary estimates on new installs. No pressure.

Media Contact

Name
M&S Technician
Contact name
Saadeh Saadeh
Contact phone
(908) 528-0535
Contact address
4 Winslow Pl
City
Woodland Park
State
NJ
Zip
07424
Country
United States
Url
https://mstechnicians.com/