Fall Maintenance for your AC

Date: October 18, 2016 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

Getting your home ready for fall and winter takes a bit of preparation.You should get your AC ready to rest for a whole season. This maintenance can be simple or a bit more tedious depending on the type of AC you have. You should always call a professional if you have any concerns about your AC.

Portable AC

The simplest of these is the portable AC, all you need to do to get it ready is remove it, clean it, and store it until you need it again. Cleaning it is as simple as dusting it off and checking the filters!

Centralized System

For a centralized system you will need to change out the filters and inspect the entire system to make sure it is clean. Having a professional do this cleaning can really help keep your home healthy throughout the winter season. For best results you should clean out your system twice a year and also replace the filters twice a year.

Outdoor Units

If your unit is outdoors it may require a bit more maintenance. Start by turning it off, this will make sure it does not kick back on when the temperature rises. Next take a hose and rinse all the debris off the unit. Let it completely dry. You also need to take care of the pipes. Cover exposed pipes with foam to keep them from freezing. You can keep foam pipe covers in place with duct tape. Good, the pipes are covered and the unit is clean you should now cover the unit itself. You can purchase a plastic or vinyl cover for the unit. You want it to be waterproof and designed to cover an AC unit. Make sure the cover is secured to the unit, you can use bungee cords or rope to help with this.

You may think that you are finished with the maintenance now but actually you still need to check up on the unit throughout the season. Make sure there are not more debris on the unit and that the cover is still secure.

Air Conditioner Installation

Date: May 31, 2016 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

If you feel like your home is getting uncomfortable because of the high temperature during summer, then it’s the right time for you to consider an air conditioner installation. Or if you have an existing AC unit that has been going for more than 10 years and is now showing some signs of inevitable breakdown, then you should replace it with a new one.

When it comes to purchasing a new air conditioner, taking some time before buying one and doing some research can make a huge difference on how you’ll become satisfied with your unit. When you talk about air conditioner installation, the best time for it is during summers when the temperature is usually hot. When you feel like the temperature is already beyond the average, an AC unit will help you feel comfortable again. The safety of you and your family should be your priority and an AC unit will be able to provide you the necessary cool temperature during hot summers. However, it is during summers when most AC units are costly. AC manufacturers take advantage of the demand of the AC unit during summers that’s why they increase the prices of their units. You will have to pay more slightly during summers when you buy a new AC unit. But if you want to get an AC unit for a lower price, you may want to purchase one before summer begins. This way you’ll be able to avoid the summer rush and higher prices. In addition, you also need to choose a high efficiency air conditioner if you want to save on your energy bills. And if you already happen to have an existing unit, you have to let a technician see it so you can see if it’s still performing with high efficiency. You must never underestimate the importance of air conditioner installation. You may think that it’s not one of the most necessary appliances in your home, but you actually need it. Summers are hotter now than ever before due to global warming effects, and the only reliable option to provide a cool temperature for your home is from an air conditioner.

Take some time to research about the energy-efficient AC units so you can save on your energy bills later on. AC units are known to consume a lot of energy so it’s best if you can pick an efficient one for your home.

Saving Energy and Money: How To?

Date: April 5, 2016 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

Saving Energy and Money: How To? Saving energy and money can be done in your home. By having an energy-efficient home, you can guarantee the safety and comfort of your family all while saving a lot of money! Making your home energy-efficient means you’ll have lower energy bills. You see, most of the people nowadays neglect the importance of saving energy. You can’t really blame them either since they rely mostly on appliances to help them in their day-to-day activities. But how are you going to be able to save energy to lower your energy bills when you rely on most of the time in your home equipment, appliances, and components?

Making your home energy-efficient can be considered as an investment. You need to decide whether you are going to do the major transformation to your house or not to make it totally energy-efficient. But there are also simple steps that can do a lot of difference already when it comes to saving energy and money.

In the US alone, a typical family can spend up to more than $2,000 a year on just their home energy bills. That’s a certainly a big amount of money to spend on your energy bills in a year. The good news is, you can lower that amount by 25% if you implement some energy-saving procedures for your house.

Here are some good tips that will help you save energy and ultimately help you save your money in the long run:

Don’t use your dishwasher’s drying cycle frequently, learn to let them dry naturally.

Let your clothes dry naturally. You should also let your hair dry on its own instead of using hair dryers or blowers.

Use a programmable thermostat so you can manage your heating and cooling systems properly and to also lower your energy bills.

Don’t forget to always turn off the appliances that you are not using such as TVs, computers, speakers, DVDs, and monitors.

Don’t wash your clothes every day using a washing machine. Wash your clothes when you have a full load of them.

Don’t let any of your home electronics to be left in standby mode. They can still consume energy even if they are in standby mode.

Don’t forget to turn off the lights in your room especially if nobody is in there.

Don’t forget to close the windows and doors in your house if you are going to turn on your heating or cooling system.

These are the no-cost tips for saving energy in your house so that you can lower your bills. Make sure that you keep these in mind all the time and that you let your family know the importance of these tips. If you get the whole family to join in your aim to serve energy and money, you’ll be able to pull this off easily.

Tips on Reducing Heat Loss in your Home

Date: March 22, 2016 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

Tips on Reducing Heat Loss in your Home Summer ends and winter is coming but you’re getting higher electric bills. Check this out and find your perfect tips for you that not costly in your part just to reduce heat loss at home. Save energy, money and time.

Keep the door closed and sealed it up- It is the easiest way to prevent the warm air from getting out and doesn’t take too much effort on your part as all you have to remember is to shut the door.
You may used heavy, lined curtains which extend below the window frame and make sure to close windows to keep the warmth in.
Your walls comprise most of the outer surface area of your home. Many homes have cavity insulation in the walls, and upgrading to a material with a higher insulating value might reduce heating bills.
Try to find any holes in the siding. These include cracks, rotten wood and gaps in sealing. Focus your attention to outlets and pipes. Insulation around them tends to decrease and damage over time, creating rift in your winter protection.
Covering the windows and sliding balcony doors with clear plastic film can reduce that loss. The transparent film is inexpensive and you can find at home centers. The film is easy to place on and won’t damage your trim, and if you put it on correctly you’ll barely notice it.
Putting insulation on your attic is also one of the effective way on reducing loss because hot air rises and escapes on your roof.
Electric wall outlets and switches is notoriously drafty that can cause heat loss. To stop the leaks, remove the cover plates and fill small gaps around the boxes with acrylic latex caulk. And finally, don’t forget to close the damper in your fireplace when not in use. If you have glass doors in front of the fireplace, keep them closed as well. An open fireplace is a great escape route for hot air.

Your Energy Bill in Houston During the Summer Months

Date: March 5, 2016 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

Average Energy Bill Cost in the Summer in Houston TX During periods of cold weather, portable heaters and strip heaters are among the highest sources of electricity demand. But now summer is approaching in Houston and as we all know that it is categorized as humid subtropical from June to August. When the heat comes calling, people will eventually use air conditioners or cooling units to do battle in a Summer temperature war. One of the highest reasons why an electric bill increases is the use of these cooling units.
There are factors that can affect of increasing of your electricity monthly bill. To get the cheapest electricity bill, the 3 main considering factors that could affect your monthly bill which are the contract length, rate per kWh, and the actual monthly electricity usage of usage.
In the heat of August alone, Houstonians were paying an average of $394.39.Most of that went toward keeping their homes and businesses cold 24 hours a day. And here are ways to keep your electricity bill low through summer months:

Regular and proper maintenance of your air conditioning can ensure that your system will operate at its maximum efficiency level. The more efficiently it runs the less energy and money you waste. Constant and right maintenance can also prevent many small problems from becoming big, expensive ones later. In addition, you have to replace air filters monthly. Dirty air filter can cost you money because it blocks the air flow, causing your unit to work harder to push cool air through your home. A clean air filter will save you money on energy usage and lengthen the life of your air conditioner.
Ceiling fans also is a systematic way to make a room comfortable without having to lower the temperature. The air circulation they provide evaporates moisture on your skin, causing you to feel cooler. The aggregate fan use and cautious management of your ac settings will result in overall energy savings. If you don’t have ceiling fans, they can be easily installed in any room with an overhead light. You can avail them out at your local Home Depot for less than $100.
Use a clothesline instead of a clothes dryer to save energy bill. If you have the room to spare, you could dry clothing inside on hangers.
Using programmable thermostat can also be one of your solution to lessen your energy bill. The programming temperature changes throughout the day will allow you to maximize the usage of an air conditioner to coincide with the outside conditions. It will also help you by automatically adjusting the temperature up when you are away at work or school . If you’re forgetful sometimes, no need to worry because this tool is an easy way to automate your savings. Just never forget to change the programming for each season.
By not letting the heat in is one way of cooling your house. Shades provide a huge barrier to the outside heat, and not require any electricity usage. If you currently have shades in your home than during the day, remember to keep them closed, especially when the sun is beating down in the afternoon. If you don’t have shades at home cover your windows with heavy, lined curtains to keep cool in.
Air leaks in doors or windows and through bad insulation could loss electricity in your home. You can save higher percentage of energy usage through proper insulation and air sealing. This could be a favorable savings off your bill, especially during the hot summer months.
Unplug home electronics when it is not in use to save more energy usage and achieve low electricity bill.

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