10 Tips for a safer home this summer

1. Keep your garage door opener inside your home, instead of in your car, when it’s parked outside. Put it with your car keys so you don’t forget it when you leave.

2. Make a plan for summer storms. Assemble a disaster kit with first-aid supplies, water, canned food and a NOAA weather radio at a minimum. A backup generator will keep the lights on during unexpected utility outages.

3. Organize a neighborhood watch. It’s an effective way to prevent crime, and a good way to get to know your neighbors better.

4. Protect your home’s air from chemical vapors and other contaminants. Choose an air purification system with a MERV 16 filter to remove vapors, odors, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, pollen and allergens.

5. If you buy a new TV or computer, don’t leave the empty box out for trash pickup. Break down the package and turn the flat sheets blank side up, or take it to a recycling center.

6. Control ozone pollution inside your home. Some ionizers and air cleaners actually create ozone; choose one that doesn’t. 

7. Trim bushes and trees away from windows and doors to reduce hiding places for vandals. Tree limbs and branches should be trimmed no lower than seven feet from the ground. 

8. Close your garage door. Keep doors and windows locked and remember to activate your burglar alarm when you leave for vacation.

9. Control mold by reducing humidity. Mold can cause headaches, trigger allergies and turn your home into a serious health hazard. Humidity levels should be kept between 30 percent and 50 percent.

10. Keeping a large dog bowl at your back door may help fool intruders. It suggests the presence of a big dog in your home!

Bigger is not always better.

So the addition to the home is complete and now it is time to address the cooling and heating system.  Put in a system that is too small and it will not have enough power to keep your homes climate comfortable.  Go too big and the system will cycle on and off frequently, wasting a lot of electricity as well as shortening the life span of the unit.

Getting the size right will help keep the electricity bills low and the home feeling just right.  If a remodel is in your future, an HVAC professional can give you the guidance as to what size unit would be the way for you to proceed with.  The dealer will also be able to test the air flow of the installed unit and adjust it accordingly.  Tuning in the air flow will help make a difference in the performance of the unit as well as saving you money by doing so.

There are plenty of other ways to save money and we would love to answer any questions you may have.  Please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Air filter change… How often really?

For your health as well as the life of your HVAC system changing your filter every month is a good plan.  Not only are you reducing pollen, dust and other allergens, you are also keeping dirt and other particulates from building up in your system.  This build up can lead to your system failing earlier than it should.  Your air conditioner or heat pump will have to work harder to push air through a dirty filter.  Keeping you cool this summer shouldn’t mean a higher than necessary electrical bill either.

Check on the filters every month.  If it is dirty, replace it.  Otherwise, replace that filter, at the very least, every 90 days.

Considering Solar?

Some thoughts from our friends at Lennox:

It can't get much cheaper than free. 
Solar-energy systems allow you to capture free sunlight and convert it into usable power in your home.
It’s clean. 
Solar energy can be used to heat and cool your home, but it has almost no impact on the global climate. By comparison, electricity generated by power plants produces carbon dioxide emissions that scientists say pose serious threats to the environment. 
It’s infinitely renewable. 
While nonrenewable energy sources like oil, gas and coal are becoming increasingly scarce, the sun’s energy is limitless. Wherever sunlight shines, electricity can be generated. 
It can reduce your utility costs. 
Having a system that creates solar energy means you use less electricity from your utility company, and that can contribute to lower heating and cooling costs. This is significant, especially when you consider 56% of energy use in a typical U.S. home comes from heating and cooling*. (*U.S. Department of Energy statistics)
It increases your energy self-reliance. 
The more sunlight harnessed by the system, the less electricity you need from your utility supplier. 
It can also increase your home’s value. 
An investment in a solar-energy system may improve the value of your home, thanks to its ability to lower the cost of heating and cooling. Surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have shown that home values rise an average of $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills.
It’s extremely reliable. 
The sun has been around for billions of years and is likely to burn on for billions more to come. And when you consider how a trusted name like Lennox is putting it to economical use in the home, it’s easy to see solar energy’s future is bright.

10 Tips for Hiring a Heating and Cooling Contractor

Great tips from the Energy Star folks.  Thought we should share what we read.

1. Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs. 

2. Ask for referrals — Ask friends, neighbors, and co-workers for contractor referrals. You can also contact local trade organizations for names of members in your area. 

3. Call references — Ask contractors for customer references and call them. Ask about the contractor's installation or service performance, and if the job was completed on time and within budget. 

4. Find special offers — A heating and cooling system is one of the largest purchases you'll make as a homeowner. Keep your costs down by checking around for available rebates on energy-efficient ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment. Begin your search at www.energystar.gov. 

5. Look for ENERGY STAR — ENERGY STAR qualified products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and offer significant long-term energy savings. Contractors should be able to show you calculations of savings for ENERGY STAR heating and cooling equipment. 

6. Expect a home evaluation — The contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system and home to assess your needs. A bigger system isn't always better; a contractor should size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A good contractor will inspect your duct system (if applicable) for air leaks and insulation and measure airflow to make sure it meets manufacturers specifications. 

7. Get written, itemized estimates — When comparing contractors' proposals (bids), be sure to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. A lowest price may not be the best deal if it's not the most efficient because your energy costs will be higher. 

8. Get it in ink — Sign a written proposal with a contractor before work gets started. It'll protect you by specifying project costs, model numbers, job schedule and warranty information. 

9. Pass it on — Tell friends and family about ENERGY STAR. Almost one-quarter of households knowingly purchased at least one qualified product last year, and 71% of those consumers say they would recommend ENERGY STAR to a friend. Spread the word, and we can all make a big difference. 

10. Get the ENERGY STAR Guide — For complete information on keeping your home comfortable year-round, get the ENERGY STAR Guide to Energy Efficient Cooling and Heating(2.6 MB)

Programmable thermostats…

According to EnergyStar.gov a programmable thermostat can save about $100 a year in energy costs.  These thermostats are designed to offer you daily temperature setting as well as weekly scheduling.  Set the temperature for when you wake up at a comfortable setting and when you hit the hay later that evening it can drop down again while you sleep.  Saturday it may even get set to offer you a little extra time for sleeping in.  They are just that customizable.  Use them to fit your life schedule and let them save you cash.

Make sure it is in the right location.  It needs to be able to get an accurate representation of your homes temperature.  Keep it away from hot spots as well as colder areas is key.  Even a lamp placed too close will influence things so do your best about looking for the prime location and let it go to work.

Give us a call and we will answer any questions you may have.  We would be glad to help.

You can save some green by trending green…

Our friends at Lennox have gathered up some great information and tips on going green and saving.  Saving money while being environmentally sensitive, fantastic!

·       As much as half of the energy your home uses is spent on heating and cooling¹. So choosing high-efficiency air conditioning and furnace systems can make a big difference on your home's emissions and your utility bills. Installing an ENERGY STAR® qualified HVAC system can dramatically reduce your energy usage, saving up to 60% on your cooling bills², and up to 40% on heating costs².

·       Reducing the number of catalogs that clog both your mailbox and the landfill is better for the environment – and for your pocketbook, if they tempt you to buy. Each American gets about 63 catalogs every year; production of those uses an estimated 53 million trees and enough water to fill 81,000 swimming pools every year³. There's an online service that can help you get off mailing lists free at www.catalogchoice.org, or you can find each catalog company's 800 number and ask to be removed from their mailing list.

·       You hear a lot about "ozone"…but is it good or bad? Well, that depends on where it is. The ozone layer refers to the ozone within the earth's stratosphere, where more than 90% of the earth's ozone exists⁴. This ozone layer helps protect the earth by absorbing 97 to 99% of the sun's high-frequency ultraviolet light. However, ozone is an irritating, corrosive, colorless gas that you don't want in your home, because exposure to ground-level ozone can lead to shortness of breath and chest pain⁵. Many indoor air quality (IAQ) products such as electronic air cleaners and portable ionic air purifiers produce ozone. Choose an IAQ product that does not produce ozone, such as the Healthy Climate® IAQ products from Lennox. This is the industry's first comprehensive line.

·       Many energy utilities around the country are now offering "green energy" programs. Because green or renewable energy can be more expensive to develop than coal-based energy, these programs ask for voluntary contributions to offset the extra cost. You can generally buy "blocks" of green energy for a few dollars that your energy company will use to purchase the more expensive, renewable energy. These contributions allow you to offset part of your home's "carbon footprint," the measure of how much carbon dioxide is created each day by your use of fossil fuels.

·       Insulating your attic helps keep your home's upper floors more comfortable in summer and winter, and keeps more of the comfort you paid for from escaping your home. Use insulation with at least a minimum R-30 value, or visit the U.S. Department of Energy's website to learn more about choosing the right level of insulation for your area of the country.

·       Planting a garden instead of grass around your home will allow you to save water, reduce the energy spent mowing and help avoid spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Choose native wildflowers, a ground cover that requires little care or an organic herb garden and you'll save time and money all summer long. 

Don't forget to visit www.savemyhvac.com to discover more energy-saving tips.

Sources:

1 EnergyStar.gov
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005
3 IdealBite.com
4 National Aeronautics and Space Administration
5 American Lung Association