More Tips to Keep Cool This Summer!

Not really HVAC related, but definitely relating to keeping cool: we've got some more little tips and tricks to keeping cool in spite of the heat outside.

1. Dress lightly! Wear short-sleeved, loose clothing, even indoors. Absorbent, wick-able cotton is the go to clothing for hot weather.

2. Drink plenty of water. Hopefully you're doing this already, but drinking water lowers your bodies core temperature and cools you down quickly.

3. Shut stuff off when you aren't using them (TVs, computers, stoves... obviously, etc.), appliances and electronics will generate a lot of extra heat that your system will have to handle.

4. Use the microwave instead of the stove when you can. The stove heats up the area around it when it cooks, whereas the microwave cooks the food directly and exclusively.

5. Wash and dry clothes when the day is cooler, and avoid the dry cycle if you can! Use a clothes line or rack to dry your clothes.

6. If your bathroom has a (private) window open it while you shower to vent the heat and humidity. If the window is not in a good spot for privacy then open it after your dressed to vent the room.

7. Run your AC on the low setting if it has it. This is particularly beneficial in humid areas, as the low air volume will help  your AC dehumidify.

8. Keep heat producers away from the thermostat. If your TV is churning out heat right at the thermostat it's going to get an inaccurate read on the house and work hard to reach a temperature that isn't even correct.

9. Check your refrigerator settings. The fridge transfers heat out of your food and into your kitchen, so make sure you've got it running efficiently. The refrigerator works best between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the freezer at 5 degrees.

10. Close the fireplace damper. Don't let your cool air escape your home right out the chimney. If your fireplace has a glass door, close it!

Stay cool this summer, and if you've got any problems with your AC give us a call asap!

Keep Your Summer Electricity Bill Under Control.

June is only a few days a way; don't let the summer heat get the best of you and your electricity bill. Follow these 10-simple-tips and you'll be well on your way to saving money this summer.

1. Install a programmable thermostat and then program it to only condition the air when anyone is around to appreciate it.

2. Open the windows and take advantage of the cooler air in the evening. Set up a whole-home fan or a window fan to further circulate the air.

3. Cook on the grill. Cooking indoors on the stove can raise the temperature, making your Air Conditioner work harder. Utilize an outdoor grill as much as possible.

4. Change your light-bulbs: switch out your incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs which use less energy and produce less heat.

5. Turn on the ceiling fans and make sure they're spinning the correct direction. They should be spinning clockwise to push the heat upwards. This can make rooms feel about 5 degrees cooler.

6. Properly insulate the attic. If properly sealed and insulated, the attic will keep the heat from significantly increasing the temperature below in the rest of the house.

7. Fix any air leaks around doors, windows or wall sockets. Keep the conditioned air inside with weatherstripping and/or caulking.

8. Check the duct-work for visible breaks or holes and seal it up duct mastic, not duct tape.

9. Block out the sun with curtains and blinds during the daylight hours, especially in rooms that get direct sunlight or have west facing windows.

10. Turn up the thermostat if you can. For each degree over 78 degrees you can save between 5 and 8 percent on your energy bill.

If your looking for programmable thermostats or any summer preparation or weatherization, give us a call today!

AC Leaking?

Is your Air Conditioner leaking?

If your 'fix' involves a funnel, a vacuum tube, a bucket, and some electrical tape, you're either MacGyver, or in way over your head.... or both! Either way, call in the professionals and get that leak fixed! Actually fixed, that is.

Clean Air and Savings, win-win!

Want to save some money on improving your home? Here are some quick tips!

1. Get and Energy Efficient System.
If your old system breaks down or is just too expensive, replacing it with a newer more energy efficient system can save you a bunch over time!

2. Clean Your Air Ducts.
Over time your duct-work will accumulate dust, mold and other matter that will reduce the effectiveness of your system. Get a professional in there to assess and clean your ducts to maximize the efficiency and lifespan of your HVAC system.

3. Improve the Air Quality.
Air quality is a great way to improve your home, especially if you're someone who suffers from allergies. Have a professional test your air to see how clean it really is. This could even save you a trip to the doctor by clearing up any air quality problems early.

Give us a call today to improve the air in your home without breaking the bank.

Have you had your ducts cleaned recently?

Indoor Air Quality Tips by Lennox

Another quick video on some Indoor Air Quality tips, brought to you by Lennox.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality And Save Yourself From Allergies!

Allergies? Improve your indoor air quality with these 9 simple steps!:

1. Replace your air filter. One of the most simple and effective things you can do to improve your indoor air quality.

2. Dust. Microfiber cloths can be machine washed and reused. Avoiding the use of chemicals in the dusting process further improves indoor air quality. Start with high surfaces and work your way down to the floor, and finishing with a thorough vacuuming.

3. Close your windows at night and in the morning. Keep the pollen and pollutants outside!

4. Clean the bedding. Wash the bedding regularly in hot water to control dust mites. You can also use mattress and pillowcase covers to further allergy-proof the bedroom.

5. Replace the sponges in your home. Replace the kitchen sponges once a week, or, if you would prefer, soak them in bleach for 15 minutes. Due to moisture, sponges are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

6. Take off your shoes. Most of the dirt in your home is tracked in. Keeping house shoes for wearing inside and leaving the dirty sneakers at the door will improve indoor air quality, maybe consider a nice shoe rack!

7. Purify your air. An indoor air purification system not only helps with odors, they also remove dust, dirt, mold, viruses, chemicals and other small particles.

8. Dehumidify. Removing the excess moisture from your air keeps mold in check. You can accomplish this with a whole-home dehumidifier. Less mold and mildew means fewer allergies. Look into portable models for more isolated moisture issues.

9. Get Ultraviolet Germicidal Lights. These lights limit the growth of bacteria, viruses and mold using UV light. They are installed directly into your HVAC ducts so that airborne micro-organisms in your air are exposed to the lights, and eliminated as your system circulates the air throughout your home.

Air purifiers, dehumidifiers and UV lights; we have what you need to beat the allergy season! Call us today!

A Programmable Thermostat Can Save You Money Today!

Looking to maximize comfort and save a little money? A programmable thermostat can help! Check out this short video from Lennox about programmable thermostats.

How a Heat Pump Works in the Summer.

Despite the name, a heat pump is a dual-functionality heating and cooling system. They are a popular type of system but are somewhat less familiar to most people than a traditional air conditioner or furnace. Heat pumps work on relatively simple principles, and understanding them can help your make an educated decision when buying or maintaining a heat pump system.

The Cooling Cycle

Like standard split-level air conditioners, refrigerators and other similar systems, heat pumps use a refrigerant cycle to lower the temperature in your home. .At one end of the system the evaporator coil absorbs heat into the refrigerant chemical which becomes gas. The gaseous refrigerant vapor is then pumped into the condenser coil where it sheds its heat and becomes liquid again. While the refrigerant liquid returns to the evaporator coil to start the cycle over, the fan blows the heat out of the home. Basically, the unit takes the heat from inside the home and pushes it outside, lowering the indoor temperature.

Unlike similar cycles in most other HVAC systems this cycle can be done in reverse. On cool days the unit collects heat from outside and transfers it indoors. By using the same cycle a heat pump system can cover the functionality of both an air conditioner and a heating system.

Some cutting-edge systems, called Geothermal, opt to use the stable temperature of the Earth instead of the variable temperature of the outside air. Geothermal devices can be relatively expensive to set up, as they required a shaft drilled deep underground, but once installed they are extremely efficient and last for decades. And while the systems technology is more advanced, the refrigerant cycle is the same.

Benefits

Because they combine heating and cooling into one small, convenient package heat pumps are great choices for small homes where there is little space available. They also tend to be high efficiency, saving the home owner money over the course of a year by reducing utility costs. These machines are particularly efficient in areas where the year-round climate is somewhat mild. As long as the outdoor air is neither too hot or too cold the unit can easily pump heat in or out of the home as necessary.

Call us today for a new heat pump, installation, maintenance, or any other HVAC questions or problems.

Scheduled a Tune-Up? Prepare the area for the contractor!

Another great video tip from Lennox, this time touching on how to prepare for a contractor to look at your system.