Home Energy Costs... TAKE CHARGE

If you haven't thought about it before, now is a great time to take a good long look at your homes heating and air conditioning costs.  Energy prices go up... period.  Savings may just be a few steps away.  Listed below are a few tips that once completed will have an immediate effect on your check book.

~ Reduce air leaks in your home by caulking, sealing and weatherstripping around doors and windows.

~ Use exhaust fans to reduce moisture in the kitchen or bath, but turn them off when they’re no longer needed.

~ Make sure your refrigerator’s seals are airtight. Test by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the dollar out easily, the seal may need to be adjusted.

~ Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washer.

~ Turn off lights you don’t need to save energy and reduce extra heat in your home.

~ If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, choose an energy-efficient model with two-stage cooling, such as the XC-14 from Lennox. Two levels of operation allow you to rely on the low setting most of the time.

~ Prepare dinner on your outdoor grill to help reduce your air conditioner’s load.

~ Check ducts for air leaks, including holes or separated sections.

If you have any questions or are interested in setting up a maintenance program to further help in keeping these costs down, please don't hesitate to give us a call.

Air Quality Improvement Tips

We have gathered up a few ideas for you to take a look at to improve the air quality in your home and possibly help reduce potential health risks.

~ When you are considering a ventilation system, keep an eye on volume.  Increased air flow can add a healthy dose of fresh air.

~ You should consider replacing any water-damaged materials or carpets or at the very least a thorough cleaning.

~ Spring Forward, Fall Back, And Change Batteries.  Radon, carbon monoxide, and smoke alarms should have the batteries replaced seasonally.

~ Keep it clean... Reduce the potential for the buildup of allergy causing pollutants by staying on top of your dusting.

~ Household chemicals need to be stored in a safe manner and disposed of properly.

~ Fuel burning appliances should be handled with special precautions to avoid leakage.

Simple, common sense ideas... Yup.

Help in keeping your family safe... You bet.

Spring Checklist

Spring is upon us and Summer will be here soon... It's time to have a go at our Spring Checklist before that heat gets here.  The following are some general guidelines for keeping your home cool and efficient.

~ Call us!  We will send a HVAC professional out to inspect your cooling equipment as well as your homes duct.

~ Replace or clean your Air Conditioner's filter – You should be doing this every single month.

~ Rain gutters and storm drains... Better get them cleaned out.

~ Ducts & vacuum vents – Clean & clean

~ Take a look around for air leaks in the basement, crawlspace, windows, doors, and the attic too.

~ Attic insulation – The US Dept. of Energy advises a value between R-22 and R-49.

~ Curtains or shades should be drawn mid-day to keep the sun's heat at bay.

Extra Energy Savings

Since every little bit helps... Here are a couple of items you might want to consider. 

~ A programmable thermostat will allow you to preset the temerature in your home for different times of the day.

~ Reflect more sun and trim energy losses by losing your old single-pane windows and installing double pane energy efficient models.

~ Roof shingles... The day will come when your roof needs to be replaced.  Find a light colored shingle you like to help reflect some of that same heat.

~ Shade is good.  Planting trees and installing awnings outside your home will help create a shadier and therefore cooler home.

Keep checking back here or visit our website for more ideas and energy saving opportunities.

Just in Case

In many areas of the country, spring brings the threat of severe weather and the high winds that can lead to power outages. Here's how to prepare your home to keep you comfortable in case storms rage and the lights go out.

In the kitchen

• Fill plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of air at the top, and store the containers in your refrigerator and freezer. If your power goes out, the cold water will help keep food colder, thanks to displacing air that can warm up quickly.
• If you have medication that's stored in the refrigerator, ask your pharmacist how long it can be safely stored if the electricity goes out.
• If the electricity goes out, turn off or disconnect any appliances you were using to avoid damage from surges or spikes when the power comes back on.

In the study or home office

• Turn off all computers, monitors, printers and scanners when they're not being used so they're more likely to have been safely shut down if the power goes out.
• Buy a surge protector for your computer equipment and keep your computer backed up regularly. You might consider buying an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) if you use your computer often.
• Remember that cordless phones and answering machines need electricity, so have a backup plan in case the power goes out, such as a cell phone or a standard telephone.

In the garage

• If you have an electric garage door opener, identify the location of the manual release lever and learn how to use it. If this is how you usually enter your home, keep a key to your house with you, in case you return home and the garage door won't open.
• Keep your car's gas tank at least half full, because gas stations use electricity to power their pumps. Automated teller machines and traffic lights also may not work during an outage.

Coping with extreme temperatures

If the electricity goes out and it's hot outside, move to your home's lowest level. Drink plenty of water and be sure to provide plenty of fresh, cool water for your pets.
If it is cold out, layer on warm clothing. Never use charcoal for indoor heating or cooking. If the power is expected to be off for a long time, you might consider going to a mall, the movies or any emergency shelters that have been set up in your neighborhood.

* Source: Lennox Industries Inc.

A Dirty Secret Revealed

Filtration systems and other indoor air quality products are supposed to make your home's air cleaner and healthier. Fact is, many such products on the market today end up making the air worse. That's because they emit ozone, a toxic gas.

The Problem with Ozone

Ozone is a form of oxygen. But there's good ozone, and there's bad ozone. In the earth's stratosphere, it helps to block potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the ground. However, at lower levels in the atmosphere – the air we breathe – it's a product of pollution and can be dangerous.

• The Harmful Effects of Ozone – Long-term repeated exposure to high levels of ozone can reduce lung function or aggravate existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma or bronchitis.* Even relatively low amounts of ozone may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing and throat irritation.**
• Who's at Risk – Ozone can be harmful to everyone. Healthy people, as well as those with existing respiratory difficulties, can all experience breathing problems when exposed to ozone.**

Ozone is Bad News

Although ozone in the stratosphere occurs naturally, ground-level ozone is man-made – and your sure don't want that in your home.
Many electronic particle air cleaners and ionizers produce ozone. Concentrations of ozone can build up, depending on how powerful the air cleaner is, whether it's placed in a small space and how many interior doors are closed.

The Ozone-Free Solution

Healthy Climate^® products from Lennox, essential components of your home's comfort system, are designed to dramatically improve indoor air quality. And, unlike many competitors' systems, they won't release harmful ozone into your home in the process. That's good to know, because it means your family really can breathe a little easier.

*American Lung Association, 2006
**U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners: An Assessment of Effectiveness and Health Consequences," August 2006

~ Source Lennox Industries Inc ~

Things to consider... HVAC Dealer - Policy

Now for the fun stuff... The small print.  When you are looking for a HVAC dealer be sure to go over policy before you start the ball rolling.  The warranty and other  policies like service, equipment, materials, and labor should be clearly stated.  Most specifically, who is responsible for honoring the warranty?  Will the dealer handle any potential warranty issues that may arise?  Or will you need to deal with the manufacturer directly.  It should not take much time at all but it will be well worth it should something unforeseeable arise.  A reputable HVAC dealer will be able to answer these questions and put to rest any concerns you may have regarding future needs and just “what is covered” under your new units warranty.