How to Make Your Home More Comfortable TIP # 6

Toxic: • of or relating to poison.

            Now that we have your attention... You can see why reducing toxic chemicals in your home is a pretty important tip to cover.  Household products used to clean can also fill the air in your home with toxic chemicals.  Many times we use these products without any consideration of that fact.  Use these products only when it is totally necessary.  If soap and water will do the job... stick with that.  Healthy Climate PureAir from Lennox is one great tool in safely removing the odors and vapors from these products.  Common sense is going to be your best tool in the effort to keep toxic chemicals out of your Air Conditioner or Furnace thereby keeping these fumes out of your breathable air. Your HVAC system is the backbone of your homes air quality.  Keeping the chemicals out of the system keeps the system from distributing the same chemicals throughout your entire home.

How to Make Your Home More Comfortable TIP # 5

Take steps to control allergy triggers. Cleaning surfaces and getting those linens into the wash more often will go a long way to controlling allergy and asthma irritants.  Dust mites are one of the most common triggers to take charge of and staying on top of filters in your HVAC system is action item #1.  Changing the duct filter once a month is an essential way to assist in keeping the air in your home allergen free. Don't forget all the filter options out there as well.  For families with heavy allergy issues spend a little more for top end filters that are engineered with a focus on pollen, dust, and other airborne particulates. Lennox is focused on indoor air quality.  Their Healthy Climate air cleaners are simply amazing.  Capturing up to 95% of small particles that irritant standard disposable filters can't.

Please feel free to give us a call with any questions regarding allergy triggers and how to keep them at bay.  Nobody knows Air Conditioning and Heating air flow like we do.

How to Make Your Home More Comfortable TIP # 4

You got a leak... actually, you probably have more than one.  Air leaks in your home are no small matter.  Even the smallest draft created from insulation gaps will have effects throughout your home.  From the loss of heat in the winter to that same heat sneaking in during the summer, your HVAC will have to work harder to compensate for the loss.  Although older homes are more susceptible to the issue more modern homes are not exempt.  A gap in the insulation can happen during construction and unchecked will act as a small faucet of cash as the leaks continue unchecked.  Your attic as well as your basement are going to be the most prone to leaks.  The surface area of the insulation alone allows for greater leak opportunities.  Smaller opportunities for air leaks such as window seals exist as well.  Heavy traffic through doors in and out of your home can have an effect on the weather striping that creates a seal between the door and frame.  Replacing this weather stripping is fairly easy and can have immediate results.  Your local Lennox dealer will have advice on how to tackle any larger scale leaks as well as tips on keeping costs down in relation to your whole house heating and air conditioning system.  Keeping your home comfortable while keeping the expense down is one of a homeowners priorities.  Lennox knows this.  Lennox can help.

How to Make Your Home More Comfortable TIP # 3

When was the last time you considered moisture levels in your home?  For just about everyone of us the answer is most likely... never.  Unless one was talking about flood damage the consideration of moisture in the home would be limited to a hot shower or a child’s humidifier and not much more.  However there are reasons this tip comes in at number three.  Moisture is your friend!  When the weather outside is frightful, a humidifier attached to your furnace or air handler will provide relief from the dry air.  Take, for instance, a child with a cough.  The humidifier place in the room with the child fills the air with a mist allowing that child to breath more comfortable.  The dry cough is allowed some relief providing for a somewhat restful night.  This is not all that different from a whole home version.  The dry air from the winter months can be much more comfortable.  Summer brings a new spin to the same conversation.  Moisture is your enemy!  Managing the moisture levels in your home in July's heat requires a dehumidifier.  This will allow you to keep the air inside your home from becoming damp and sticky.  Cooling off inside is much more comfortable when your clothing is not sticking to your body!

            Consider contacting your local Lennox dealer and start the conversation about humidity options for your HVAC system.  Seasonal comfort is much more manageable with moisture control.  A humidifier and/or a dehumidifier will provide this comfort.

How to Make Your Home More Comfortable TIP # 2

Number two on the list of home comfort... Zoning. Think about how municipalities break up any given area into zones. Well, if you apply a similar strategy to you home you may just find it to be a more comfortable environment. The zones in your home have nothing to do with industrial, retail or similar terms but instead these zones are managed with a different focus. By separating areas of your home into comfort areas you will be able to focus on their independent climates more than on the house as a whole.

It stands to reason that your living room should harbor a much more comfortable temperature then the mud room. Perhaps the guest bedroom that is currently unoccupied need not be as warm/cool as the master bedroom. If that is the case, why not manage them with this reasoning in mind? Close the vents in the mud room and keep that door to the foyer shut. With little to no traffic in that room it makes no sense to maintain a comfy 71 degrees in there when that heat or air conditioning could be better used elsewhere in the home. The same is true with the guest room. Aunt Helga won't be here for several weeks. Close it off and save that energy. A day or two before her arrival open it back up and she will be as comfortable as a kitten in a sock drawer. Unless of course you would rather a quick visit... then you might keep the vents on the shy side of closed.

A proactive approach to your homes HVAC management, including zoning the house, will help you reduce costs, save unnecessary wear and tear on your system and provide you with the best long term living conditions.

How to Make Your Home More Comfortable TIP # 1

The number one way to make your home more comfortable may very well be the easiest. Maintenance! We are constantly moving at the speed of life and often times that keeps us from staying on top of it all. Your HVAC maintenance is just the sort of thing that can go unnoticed until it is too late.

Monthly filter replacements should be at the top of the list. The air filter catches dust and dander as well as other allergens and pollutants getting more and more obstructed. The harder to get air through this filter, the more toil and strain put on your HVAC system. Keeping this inexpensive filter changed monthly will go a long way in not only extending the life of your system but also keeping the air you breath inside the home … well... breathable!

Annual checkups are another essential maintenance interval that should not slip you by. Your heating and air conditioning system is no small investment. Keeping it running tip top should be elevated on your list concerns. Get ahold of your local Lennox dealer and ask about what they offer for a scheduled maintenance program. Many will offer a biannual program where a HVAC professional will come out to your home as the summer air conditioning season is approaching and again as the winter heating period sets in. They will give your system a through check up and advise you on anything they may find. Nobody knows these systems like they do and you can expect to catch any issue before it becomes a problem.

Set your calendar reminder for “Air Filter Change” on the 15^th of each month and call your local Lennox dealer today to set up a biannual program. Finally, you can cross HVAC maintenance off that list of concerns. Now if only this blog had advice on car batteries...

Are you ready for some football?

It’s that time of the year again: Across the country, millions of sports enthusiasts will gather ‘round the big screen in an important seasonal bonding ritual—Monday Night Football. Here are play-by-play tips on hosting the big event:


Set the tone


Ask guests to arrive in their favorite team colors. Decorate the viewing area with balloons, crèpe paper and matching server ware and napkins. Wear your favorite jersey, hoodie or hat. If you have competing teams, split the room in half with décor in opposing team colors.


Offer plenty of seating


Four people—okay, five max—can fit on a standard couch. Beyond that, you’ll have to provide additional seating. If you have a large area, consider setting up a “tailgate” section with outdoor folding chairs (bonus: cup holders included), and position coolers as side tables in between. This will also eliminate multiple trips to the kitchen for food and drink. Beanbags and floor pillows work well for alternative seating.


Set up more than one TV


Serious viewers will want to sit in front of the television with the biggest screen, a place where they can keep their focus on the game and watch without distractions. But sideline the shenanigans: Place chatty guests around a second screen to avoid interference and unexpected party fouls.


Serve finger foods


When it’s game time, it’s hard to tear fans away from the screen, even for just a second. Offering a variety of finger foods will keep munchies under control and kitchen prep time to a minimum. Serve food and drink with paper plates and plastic cups (in team colors, of course) and cleanup will be a cinch, too.


Bring on the beverages


Cheering works up a powerful thirst, so it’s important to provide plenty of beverages for your guests to enjoy. Set coolers outside filled with various types of bottled drinks, and invite guests to grab one on their way in. Or, ask guests to bring their own; you’ll provide the snacks. Keep water and juice on hand as healthy alternatives.


Find a suitable comfort zone


Research shows most people are comfortable in a room with the temperature set between 68-72 degrees. Have a few sweaters or sweatshirts on hand to offer guests, and scatter a few extra throws around the room, just in case they want to feel warmer. The bonus of a crowded room? Each guest offers the equivalent warmth of a 175-watt heater, which means you’ll save energy—and money, too—by keeping the thermostat low.


Keep distractions to a minimum


Four quarters (approximately three hours) is a long time for non-game-watching guests (especially kids) to keep themselves entertained. If your get-together involves children, find another room for them to play. Set up a game area, create an art area, let them play video games, or pop a DVD or two into a laptop and let them watch movies. Invite adults to hang out in a separate room—such as the kitchen—where socializing will not interrupt the action on the screen.


Bring plenty of team spirit


Kids on hand? Turn them into fans. Hand out pom poms and let them lead cheers during half time. Energetic adults? Inflatable footballs are fun to toss around—or to throw at the screen when the ref makes a bad call.


Courtesy: http://www.lennox.com/newsletters/2011/cm/fall/football.asp

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