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DIY versus Professional Air Conditioning Tune-up

By on Apr 2, 2019 in Air Conditioning, Cooling, energy efficiency, Residential |

How would you feel if you came home after a long, hot summer day, only to find the air conditioner has stopped working? And, then, to be on a waiting list, as the repairman made his rounds to all the other people who also are waiting? Guessing it would make you a bit hot under the collar, wouldn’t it? (pun intended) Preventive maintenance in the springtime is a much better option… Plan ahead and Enjoy your summer!     Benefits of Having an Annual Air Conditioning Tune-up  Spring is the perfect time to have your air conditioning unit checked out… That way you can be sure your system is ready when you are! While there are many things you can do yourself, there are still other things it’s best to call in the professionals for. To see what they are, feel free to reference one of our previous articles: https://efficientheatcool.com/time-spring-hvac-tune/   Besides coming home to a cool house when it’s super humid outside, here’s some other benefits to maintaining your air conditioning unit:  Prevention truly is the best medicine for keeping you cool. Scheduling your annual maintenance check is your first step!  You want your air conditioning unit to be in peak condition for the summer season. Plus, ongoing and preventative maintenance help contribute to the longevity of your unit.    Increase efficiency of your system. You not only want your air conditioning unit to work, but you want it to be as efficient as possible. Regular maintenance will ensure your air conditioner is running at peak efficiency as you keep your home cool and comfortable. Plus, it saves you money by helping you avoid some of those mid-summer repairs and it lowers your electric bill.   Improve the performance. Remember last summer when you noticed that the air coming out of the vents wasn’t quite as cool or blowing as strong as you would’ve liked it to? An annual maintenance check in the spring helps your air conditioning system provide a better cooling output throughout the humid summer months.  You can schedule your tune-up here!   So, what can you expect from your technician during an annual air conditioning maintenance check?  Following are three things your technician will do and why:  Clean the coils. Your technician will clean the evaporator and condenser air coils, because dirty coils can decrease the ability of your HVAC system to cool your home. Dirty coils can...

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5 Reasons to Change that Dirty Air Filter

By on Mar 5, 2018 in Cooling, Heating, Indoor Air Quality |

The air filter is an extremely important component of your heating and cooling system. It works hard to clean the air circulating through the system, and consequently, into your home, trapping contaminants like dirt, dust, pollen, animal dander, mold spores and more, all which could be detrimental to you and your family’s health. What Happens if You Don’t Replace Your Air Filter Despite its importance, neglecting to replace the air filter regularly is one of the top causes of problems with HVAC systems. The sad thing is that the reason most homeowners don’t change their air filters? Simple forgetfulness! Save yourself costly repairs and stay healthier by setting a reminder, whether in your phone, on your computer, placing a sticky note on the fridge, or whatever method is effective for you, to change it on a monthly basis. Here are the top five reasons to set this reminder to change your dirty air filter: Reduce energy consumption. Simply put, when the air filter is dirty and clogged, your HVAC system has to work harder to heat or cool your home. A unit with a dirty air filter has to run more often to keep the air at the ideal temperature, and this means it will consume more energy to do so. You’ll end up paying more in your monthly utility bills simply because you haven’t changed the air filter when you should. Improve indoor air quality. It’s important to keep the air in your home as clean as possible. This is especially true if anyone in your family suffers from allergies or asthma. A dirty air filter will cause allergens to quickly build up in the ductwork, where they can linger for months. This can in turn even cause mold to grow, getting released into the air when the system runs. Keep your HVAC system running effectively, longer. A new heating and air conditioning system is a major investment, and you can not only protect that investment but also allow the system to work so much better by keeping it properly maintained. Regularly swapping out the dirty air filter is a critical element in keeping the HVAC system working effectively for as long as possible. Increase airflow throughout the...

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Are You Making These Heating and Cooling Mistakes?

By on Sep 18, 2017 in Cooling, Heating |

As homeowners, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind, and the thought of our HVAC system working properly never really crosses our minds – until there’s a problem, that is. Sometimes, we simply put things off or try to cut corners to save some money every month, but in the long run you’ll only end up paying more. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of the common HVAC mistakes people make that affect how well your system works, your family’s comfort and your home’s energy efficiency, too. 5 Common Heating and Cooling Mistakes These HVAC mistakes include: Not scheduling annual HVAC maintenance. Annual maintenance on your HVAC system is crucial to ensuring its efficiency and longevity. A professional will check all the components and controls, lubricate the motors and bearings, tighten all electrical connections and inspect the thermostat. Properly maintaining your system helps you avoid unexpected breakdowns and extra costs. Hiding the outdoor unit because it’s an eyesore. We get it; that bulky outdoor unit looks awkward in your nicely landscaped yard. This is why some people choose to try to cover it up or conceal it behind thick shrubbery or other objects. However, blocking the system can cause issues with the ventilation and clog it, so it’s best to leave some open space around it. Installing your thermostat in the wrong place. Your programmable thermostat is a key component in improving your home’s energy efficiency, but if it’s installed in the wrong spot it may actually cost you more. The thermostat should be placed on an interior wall, out of sunlight, and away from appliances, hot lamps and furniture. Ignoring those weird thumps, bumps or smells from your system. If your HVAC system consistently makes sounds it shouldn’t, or there’s a weird odor emanating from the vents, don’t ignore them! This is especially true if the noises or smells get worse as time goes on. Strange sounds and smells are a good indicator that something isn’t working properly, like a loose blower wheel, bad motor bearings, or maybe even an animal got stuck in your unit! Forgetting to swap out your filter regularly. With every change of season, or every three months, it’s recommended...

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5 Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat

By on Jul 13, 2016 in Cooling, Heating, Thermostats |

It’s no secret that heating and cooling costs account for the majority of our energy bills. Everyone wants their homes to be comfortable; cozy and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Coming home after a long day of work to a house that’s either too cold or too hot can be a real problem, but some people feel that it’s more important to save money on their next energy bill rather than have their HVAC systems running constantly while they’re away. Luckily, there’s a solution to help improve your family’s comfort and keep your energy costs lower – installing a programmable thermostat. Programmable Thermostat Benefits A programmable thermostat will work in a variety of environments, no matter how big or small your home may be, how many levels there are, or the time of the year it is. Wondering if you should consider installing a programmable thermostat? Here are five benefits they provide: Saving money. The number one benefit of a programmable thermostat is the cost savings they provide. Because they allow you to set your system to run only at certain times, you don’t have to leave the air conditioning or the heat on when no one is home. Create the schedule that is right for your family’s daily routine to help decrease the time the system is running. Increasing energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is a hot topic for many families today, and we are always looking for ways to use our resources more effectively. A programmable thermostat allows for less energy wasted throughout the day, which is great for your home and the environment. Improving comfort levels. Programmable thermostats not only allow for a consistent temperature throughout the home, but also provide a way to change the heat or air conditioning settings to work with your schedule. Perhaps you enjoy it cooler overnight for sleeping, for example. Simply set the thermostat to decrease the temperature at bedtime. Easy to install and control. Most programmable thermostats can be installed in about an hour- even by a non-professional! New models also allow for a higher level of control, with systems that can be accessed remotely from a mobile device. Optimizing your HVAC system. Perhaps you have...

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The History of Heating and Cooling

By on Jul 20, 2015 in Cooling, Heating |

It seems hard to imagine today that at one point in our history, places like department stores, factories, and even hospitals did not have central heat and air conditioning. It was just about one hundred years ago that air conditioning was invented as we know it today, although it was not used in many homes at the time. It was considered a luxury item only the wealthy could afford until after World War II. A Brief History of Heating and Cooling Of course, there are still some older homes in the Northeast Ohio area and around the country that do not have central air conditioning. But in new homes, it’s pretty much a standard feature these days. There’s nothing quite like entering that cool air after a long day of working outside, and it also greatly helps relieve most symptoms of allergy sufferers. But how did the heating and cooling industry emerge? Here are just a few home heating and cooling facts we thought were interesting: Air Conditioning Facts The first air conditioner was built in 1902 by Willis Carrier. Carrier designed a spray-driven temperature and humidity controlled system and a system that was later used in offices, apartment buildings, hospitals, etc. The first a/c units were large, expensive, and highly dangerous because they used toxic ammonia as the coolant. In 1917, air conditioning was installed for the first time in a movie theater, the New Empire Theater in Montgomery, Alabama. Between 1928 and 1930 a/c was installed in many government buildings, such as the White House, the Executive Office Building, the Senate, etc. The Great Depression, followed by World War II halted production of air conditioning units for residential purposes. But by 1953, room air conditioning sales were over a million units, with demand for more soaring. Air conditioning changed the architecture of modern buildings and homes. Ceilings were lowered, window size decreased, and large front porches began to be eliminated. Refrigeration technology allowed for advances in space exploration and other modern technology like computers and pharmaceuticals due to their reliance on cooled air during production and storage. Heating System Facts Early central heating was devised of fireplaces and hearths, stoves, and underfloor systems, dating as far back as...

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6 Myths about HVAC Systems and Energy Efficiency

By on Dec 8, 2014 in Air Conditioning, Cooling, Furnaces, Thermostats |

Everyone is looking for ways to make their homes more energy efficient these days. When it comes to your heating and cooling system, there are definitely ways to ensure that you’re saving energy and cutting down on your monthly utility bills. That said, there are also a lot of myths about the ways you can actually conserve energy in your home, and you might think that by implementing these “tricks” you’re improving your home’s energy efficiency.  We are here to debunk some of those energy efficiency myths and share the correct way to get the most out of your heating and cooling system. Myth #1: Keep your thermostat at the same temperature throughout the day and night.  Why this is false:  It actually will require less energy to warm up or cool down your home in the morning than it does to keep it at a constant temperature. Plus, setting the temperature back by around 10 degrees at night or when on one is home (for at least an eight hour stretch) can help reduce your energy bill by 10-15%. Myth #2: There’s no need to perform annual maintenance checks on your HVAC system.  Why this is false:  To keep your system working properly, it’s important to maintain it through routine checks annually. Problems tend to occur at the worst times, like that first chilly fall day or hot, muggy summer night due to the fact that you haven’t been maintaining your system through an annual check-up. Preventative maintenance will help lower your bills in the long run, because you’ll potentially save on the high costs of parts and labor or even an entire system replacement. Myth #3: A fan is all you need to keep a room cool all day long.  Why this is false:  Fans are great to cool you off on a warm day, but they actually only cool the surface of your skin.  They don’t lower the temperature of the room.  To save on your energy bills, make sure you’re turning off ceiling fans or stand or floor fans when no one is using them in a particular room. Myth #4: Sealing off or closing vents and registers will help reduce your energy bill.  Why...

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