The Dirty Secret…

Everybody likes to feel “in the know,” whether it is about sports, politics or neighborhood gossip, but do you know the No. 1 reason your home comfort system fails? It is not age, or brand, or even storm damage… it is Dirt. That’s right; your unit’s biggest problem is dirt. This little secret is not widely known, because let’s face it. Why encourage you to spend a little each year on regular maintenance to keep your unit running longer when you will spend thousands of dollars replacing it? When your system is not in use, there is nothing to prevent dirt from building up. Then when you turn your unit on for the first time, all of that dirt is stirred up and some is blown through your vents. How to get rid of it… The best thing to do is to have a trained, licensed professional service your home comfort system before you turn it on. Not only will a tune-up remove dirt from your system, but it will also help reduce other airborne allergens that circulate through your vents and into your home. A trained professional will ensure your unit will run safely and efficiently all winter long saving you money on energy costs. Now that you know our industry’s dirty little secret and how to correct it, click to schedule your tune-up. You can extend your system’s life – and cut your energy costs. It’s a win-win.

Are We Too Busy to Care?

Ever see trash on the road, in the lake, floating down streams and feel sad? What are we so busy doing that we cannot make sure our trash gets into a trash can and then on to the appropriate places? I am not suggesting we all suddenly transform into “Save the Planet” activists. But, really, there is probably more we could be doing to help preserve what we have even from the comforts of our very own homes. Wouldn’t it be great if there was something we could do to help save us money while also helping to protect the planet? Well, there is one very important thing we can do and that is to have our home cooling systems serviced each and every year so they are running efficiently and not using unnecessary energy which, in turn, means we are paying more money to use them than we should. Read “Just Living or Really Helping” to help you discover more ways to save money on your energy bills (while still using your air conditioner) + get the added bonus of how you can help out Earth.

Go Green or Go Home

Well, no, not exactly. It may be more like “go green or we may not have a home.” But sometimes it can seem as if doing all the things that could help make the Earth cleaner, healthier and all around better would just be too time-consuming and bothersome to actually do. It is great when we can find something that benefits both us and the planet! Since feeling cool and comfortable in the summer months is important, the best place to start combining helping yourself with helping the planet would be with your home cooling system. Keeping your system maintained year after year helps both you and Mother Earth. It cuts down on your energy cost because your system will not have to work so hard to keep you cool and upgrading to a new “High Efficiency” system can save you even more money in the long run. For more information on how you can save money and energy and do your part to help the planet, read “A World of Hurt…”. It is never too late to start helping yourself while benefiting the planet we live on.

Boy, Does It Feel Good Outside!

You can’t beat this weather! It feels too good outside to not be anything but happy and thankful for such a pleasant Summer. It did get me thinking, though. How can we take advantage of these cool temps? What can we do to save money on our energy bills? A good place to start is to get rid of any “energy vampires” you may have in your home. These are TVs, lamps, appliances and whatever else you leave plugged in all the time, but rarely use. They are using energy and costing you money even though you are not actively using them. So, put your TVs on a power strip and turn them off when you are not at home and while you are sleeping. Also, unplug lamps and kitchen appliances that you don’t use on a regular basis. While this is valuable information that everyone should take advantage of, you should also find out how to save energy and money on your home’s biggest energy burner – your air conditioner. There are “high-efficiency” air conditioners that can save you between 24-40% on your usual utilities. That is definitely worth investigating! For more information on lowering your energy consumption and putting more money in your wallet, take a look at this info, The Definition of Insanity.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

We have become somewhat accustomed to the notion that “Bigger is Better.” Whether we are at a drive-thru where you can “super size” for a better “value” than a regular meal or driving the bigger truck or SUV so you can see over the other cars, we like things BIG. A big fish is better than a small fish. A big boat is better than a small boat. And so on… you get the idea. Surprisingly though, bigger isn’t always better when talking about a new “high efficiency” cooling system. If you bought a new air conditioner today, it will probably be smaller than the one you bought 10 to 15 years ago. Just replacing your old A/C with a new one the same size could cause you trouble down the road because it will be too big to meet your needs. This is, of course, assuming you have the appropriately sized air conditioner for your home now. A cooling system too big for your home will cause frequent on-and-off cycling which will affect the humidity control in your home. Poor humidity control can lead to moisture in the air which, in turn, will lead to mold and mildew, not to mention, humid air that is just plain uncomfortable. It is hard to imagine there is a service industry these days that is saying, “Not so fast… a bigger cooling system may NOT be what your home needs. You may need just a smaller, more efficient system to have your home feeling cool and save you money on energy costs.” To learn more about “high efficiency” cooling systems and ways to take advantage of this wonderful weather we’ve been enjoying, read How a Really Cool Summer Can Put $3120 of Savings in Your Pocket.

Clearing Out & Cleaning Up

It hits everyone around this time of year that things have accumulated, piled up, been neglected and generally overlooked. The warm weather inspires us to wipe away the cobwebs that formed in the previous months and get our homes ready to fully enjoy during the long summer days. Clearing out winter and spring growth and grime and de-cluttering your rooms and outdoors so you can enjoy your living spaces just makes you feel good. A lot of homeowners even have their pressure washers out and are cleaning off their concrete and siding. This is also the perfect time to have your home’s cooling system cleaned and serviced. Think about it. You have not turned your air conditioner on since last year and it has just been sitting there, outside, in all the winter weather and muck. Just sitting there accumulating dirt and dust and parts rusting and getting loose. It seems a little absurd to wash away dirt from your driveway and walkways, but not clean the unit that is blowing air into your home. No one expects a car that has been sitting for months, unused, to crank right up and run efficiently, but that is exactly what we think should happen every year with our home cooling system. In order to really get our homes running efficiently during these long, hot days of summer, we need to have a professional service our air conditioning system. To learn more about what routine maintenance your system needs, read A Little TLC Goes a Long Way.

It’s Not Rocket Science, It’s Common Sense

There are many things we do each and every day to keep our body and minds working efficiently. We eat, drink, brush our teeth, comb our hair, exercise, take our vitamins (if we remember)… and so on. We do these things because if we don’t, we know we cannot function properly. If we do not take care of our teeth, they will fall out. Without teeth, we are extremely limited in what we can eat. If we cannot eat, we certainly cannot function the way we were made to. We know this about our bodies, and we also know to apply this same concept about other things we use on a daily basis. If we don’t take care of things properly, they will not work properly, but when it comes to our homes’ cooling systems, we act as if this logic doesn’t apply. If they’re simply ignored year after year (unless there is a problem), they are not working efficiently and it is costing you money on your energy bills. It could also be affecting the air you are breathing inside your home. To take care of your air conditioning system so it performs effectively and efficiently (and, of course, safely), you should have it serviced before each season of high use. If you missed your Spring Maintenance, it’s important to get this taken care of. The heat of Summer is here and your system will be working overtime to keep you comfortable. It is just common sense to take care of the things you depend on, including your valuable home cooling system. Reading “Don’t Be Fuelish” can help you see more energy savings and lower utility bills this Summer.