Articles tagged with: heating

Carbon Monoxide Kills

Date: February 20, 2014 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning.  We haven’t seen tons in the Houston area, but even one is too much. According to the CDC, there are several things you can do to stay safe.

carbon monoxide

  • Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and can lead to death by suffocation.
  • Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Locate unit outside; away from doors, window and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
  • The primary hazards to avoid when using alternate sources for electricity, heating or cooking are carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock and fire.
  • Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.
  • If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.
  • Call for help from the fresh air location and remain there until emergency personnel arrive to assist you.

The trend with building tighter and tighter homes in the interest of energy efficiency is also a part of the problem.  As the homes are built tighter, air flow is restricted.  Without adequate air flow, all the gasses stay in the house.  A good HVAC plan will ensure adequate airflow and reduce the chance of accidental carbon monoxide poisonings.

Follow the fun on Facebook

Date: August 28, 2013 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

We are having an absolute blast on Facebook and it seems that our friends there are too! We mainly post about the things that move us – rescue dogs, local sports, causes we support and of course – anything funny we come across.

Join us and join the fun!

5 Cool Dude Tips to Save You Money on Energy Costs

Date: July 21, 2011 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

When it is 99 degrees outside, many of you have your AC running almost constantly.  How can you stay cool, and save money at the same time?

1.  Change Your Filters – Often

Your AC unit needs to “breathe.”  If your filters are dirty, the AC works harder (and uses more energy, costing you more $$) to work.  Especially during the summer, check your filters every 2 weeks, and replace them if they are covered with dust (will happen, no matter how much you clean 🙂 ).

2.  Set Your AC to the highest possible comfortable temperature and use fans

For every degree that your house has to be cooled, it increases your energy usage by an average of about 6%.  So, if you are at 74degrees instead of 78, a $250 AC bill could easily become $310.

3.  Use a Programmable Thermostat

If you MUST have a cooler house, then get a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature.  Not only are digital thermostats more accurate, but you can set the AC to a higher level for the times you may not be home.   Why spend extra money cooling an empty house?

4.  Get Higher Efficiency Equipment

You know that greater efficiency equals greater savings.  And the right equipment will work hard to save you money on your heating  and cooling bills by using less fuel in the first place. Are your current  heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)  components saving you the money they could be? Here are a few things to think  about:

If your unit is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with a more  energy-efficient model.   The higher the rating, the more efficient the product  and lower your energy usage can be. Make sure your components meet the following  minimums:

– Furnaces: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)  ratings of 80 or higher
– Heat pumps: Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)  ratings of 7 or higher
– Air conditioners: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)  ratings of 13 or higher

 5. Make sure that your equipment is the Right Size

Sorry, but buying a “Bigger” AC will not necessarily make your house more comfortable at a lower cost because it is more “powerful.”  Homes that are heated and cooled by units that are too big, too small or just  plain mismatched, miss out on quality performance and efficiency.

Ask your AC Installation Company to come out to your house and perform a load calculation for  your home. This will help define products with the right capacity  for your home, and help you find the best system to meet your comfort needs.  The best answer is to use a matched system: which refers to components that are  designed to work together to provide greater efficiency, reliability and  comfort. Matched systems can be “split” (separate units placed inside and  outside the home) or “packaged” (one single unit, which houses all components in  a single cabinet, placed outside the home).*

Using these tips will not only increase the comfort of your home; they will really help your bank account!

 

At the Cool Dude AC, we not only provide top-tier service for all of your Air Conditioning and Heating needs in Houston, Sugar Land, Stafford, and Missouri City; we also offer the best guarantee you will find anywhere for parts AND labor. We are a family-owned, local company that treats our customers like family; while being big enough to service our customers in a timely manner. Clay Sheffield started The Cool Dude to provide people with the type of service and care HE would appreciate.

For The Cool Dude, the ONLY acceptable customer satisfaction score is a 100! Call The Cool Dude Air Conditioning repair at (713) 773-2910.

How Do You Choose a Great Contractor for your Air Conditioning/Heating Needs?

Date: June 8, 2011 Author: cdoelle Comments: Leave a reply

Houston Summers are HOT. I probably did not need to tell you that. So one thing you MUST have is an Air Conditioner that runs efficiently and is properly maintained. If your AC ever breaks down, it is essential that you choose the right Houston AC Repair Company.

And, with so many contractors to choose from today, how do you find the perfect AC Company for you?!

In our over 10 years in business at The Cool Dude Air Conditioning Repair company in Houston, Missouri City, Sugar Land, and surrounding areas, we love to educate people. So these tips will help you find someone you can trust:

  • Ask the company for references. A reputable contractor will be able to easily provide several strong references for the type of work you’d like to engage his/her services.
  • If you are looking to replace your Air Conditioning System, check out their warranty policy. Do they guarantee BOTH parts AND labor for the warranty period?
  • Can the company accommodate your busy schedule? If you call their office, do you get a real person, or just some answering service?
  • Look for Licenses and Certifications. Do they have awards of excellence for reputable service?
  • Do they have special policies to prioritize elderly, pregnant, and handicapped customers? Especially in Houston, this shows that the company TRULY CARES about you as a person.
  • Have they developed a reputation for HONESTY and Integrity, only recommending products and/or services that are in your best interest?

Establish a relationship with your Air Conditioning Repair Company and entrust your equipment to his care. There’s definitely something to be said about being on a first name basis with the owner of a company that is small enough to know you, and large enough to handle your needs.

At the Cool Dude AC, we not only provide top-tier service for all of your AC and Heating needs, but we also offer the best guarantee you will find anywhere for parts AND labor. We are a family-owned, local company that treats our customers like family; while being big enough to service our customers in a timely manner. Clay Sheffield started The Cool Dude to provide people with the type of service and care HE would appreciate. For The Cool Dude, the ONLY acceptable customer satisfaction score is a 100! Call The Cool Dude Air Conditioning repair at (713) 773-2910.