Spring Thoughts…

What should I do to get my A/C ready for this spring?

First things first… Clear away any leaves, brush and dirt from the air conditioner’s top grille, trim any shrubs that may be near giving a couple of feet clearance around the unit. The filter should also be replaced on the system monthly.  Dirty filters restrict the airflow and but undue strain your system.  That can also lead to wasted energy.

Now is better than later

It may not be all that warm yet where you live but set your thermostat to cooling mode now anyway.  I only to run the air conditioner for a spell to make sure it is working. Waiting until the heat sets in could lead to a couple of miserable days waiting for a technician to become available for the fix.  Something advice you will get often from us… annual maintenance programs.  If you can identify small problems early, you will avoid large problems later.

Save some green by going green

ENERGY STAR® qualified model are what you should be looking for when the time comes to replace your air conditioner.  Replacing an old, inefficient model with a high-efficiency system can reduce your homes cooling costs by up to 20 percent*. Maybe you use a room air conditioner.  If so consider installing them on north-facing walls when possible to keep it out of the sun. When room air conditioners stay cool, they run much more efficiently.

  *Source: www.energystar.gov

Warning signs of home-improvement scams

We found some great tips offer to us by Lennox © on what to watch out for…

•	Avoid contractors who say they “were working in the neighborhood” and noticed some problems with your home, like driveway cracks or missing roof shingles. Even if there are problems, don’t allow yourself to be pressured into making immediate repairs. Watch out for an offer of a “special” that’s good for one day only.
•	Ask friends and neighbors for their recommendations and ask any contractor for the names and contact information of satisfied customers in your neighborhood. If they won’t give you a referral, watch out. At Lennox.com, you’ll find a list of highly trained dealers and contractors in your area. In fact, you’ll find their names listed at the bottom of every issue of Comfort Matters.
•	Some scam artists may offer to inspect your HVAC system or clean your chimney at a price that sounds much too good to be true. Once they’ve started, they might claim, for example, that your chimney is in immediate need of structural repairs and show you bricks and mortar removed from it as “proof.” If this happens, contact your local energy utility or a contractor you trust to inspect your system.
•	Watch out for companies that go door-to-door to find customers. Here’s a flashing warning sign: their vehicle lists no company name or phone number, or it has out-of-state license plates. Make sure the contractor can provide a business card and a street address where the company does business. (It may be the contractor’s home address, and that’s ok, as some small-business owners work out of their homes.)
•	Ask for proof of qualifications, such as membership in a professional organization like NATE, North American Technician Excellence. This is the only national testing and certification program accepted by the entire HVAC industry.
•	Don’t settle for a hasty price quote to cover a complicated repair. Legitimate contractors won’t scribble on a scrap of paper: they’ll provide you with a detailed written quote – breaking out labor and parts costs – after thoroughly examining the problem. One exception is a small, basic repair which may have a standard fee.
•	While legitimate contractors may expect a down payment before beginning a job, scam artists will often insist that you pay in full before they start any project.

  Lennox has more than 6,000 dealers in North America, so there’s probably one near you. 

Click here to find a local HVAC contractor you can trust.

© 2008 Lennox Industries Inc.

Spring is here… Lower this month’s utility bill with these energy tips

We have seven of them for you:
1.	Air leaks, we need to reduce them immediately.  Caulking, sealing and weather stripping around your doors and windows Is a big one. This could save you 10% or more on your utility bill*.
2.	Exhaust fans in the bath or kitchen should be off when not in use. They are great for removing cooking odors and moisture, but they also remove air-conditioned air as well.
3.	Your refrigerator’s seals, are they airtight? Here is a quick test… close the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull that dollar out easily, the seals may need to be replaced.
4.	Are you upgrading an air conditioner system?  If so, choose a model that has two-stage cooling. These systems have a low setting that’s adequate to meet your cooling needs most of the time and another, higher setting, that will run longer as needed to produce more stable temperatures.
5.	Turn out the lights.  Any that are not needed can be turned off to save energy and reduce any added heat you’re A/C will have to remove. Incandescent bulbs generate a lot of heat, and also cost more energy. Consider replacing them with energy-efficient bulbs.
6.	Full loads only on the dishwasher will help as well. That also goes for the laundry room.
7.	Finally, enjoy a good BBQ as often as you like.  Keeping the heat of nightly cooking outdoors is a simple way to help cut the cooling costs this spring and on into the summer.

  *Source: www.energystar.gov

April showers bring May mildew...

Just a few tasks this spring will keep any mildew at bay that the spring rains would have otherwise helped flourish.  Punch out these chores in the next week or so to keep the integrity of your HVAC system and your home tip top.

~ Clear leaves, pine needles and other debris from gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage. Check that they’re stable to avoid flying debris during storms.

~ Be sure downspouts slope away from your house. They should carry water at least 5' from foundation walls.

~ Position lawn sprinklers so they don’t spray your home’s walls.

~ Examine window and door seals and weatherstripping. Reseal if needed.

~ Move furniture a few inches away from the inside of exterior walls to increase air circulation.

~ Check windows for condensation and walls for water stains, which are signs of too much humidity.

~ Keep your home’s relative humidity between 30 – 50%. A humidity control system such as Humiditrol can safely control humidity.

Air Conditioner Maintenance

Keep the cold air flowing this summer with just a few simple TO DOs this spring:

~ Clear leaves, brush and dirt from inside your air conditioner’s top grille.

~ Trim nearby shrubs and bushes to allow at least two feet of clearance around the unit.

~ Set the thermostat to cooling mode and run your air conditioner a few minutes to make sure it’s working.

~ Schedule an annual checkup of your air conditioning system.

~ Replace your air conditioner filter once a month. Dirty filters restrict air flow and can waste energy.

~ If you use a room air conditioner, install it on a north-facing wall to keep it out of the sun.

~ If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, look for an ENERGY STAR® qualified model to help reduce cooling costs up to 20 percent.