Too dry in the winter?

Dry air can cause dry skin, dry hair, chapped lips and itchy eyes. Not very comfortable. The right level of humidity can make your home more comfortable, and that’s the kind of ideal home environment we strive to have. Just the thing to keep your home in the middle, comfortable range is Trane Heating & Air Conditioning’s line of humidifiers. They are designed to work hand in hand with your central heating and air conditioning system to control humidity levels in your home and banish dry air. During the colder months, American Standard variable-speed furnaces deliver heat to your home without drying it out. Until the day someone invents a device that can control the weather, you’re at the mercy of your local climate with all of its storms, winds, and hot and cold flashes. But just because you can’t turn down the sun on a hot summer day doesn’t mean you’re not in control of your home. No matter what’s going on outside, it’ll be exactly how you want it inside.

Allergies

These days clean air is a significant concern for a lot of people, particularly in the home and place of work where it’s possible to distribute viruses and for contaminants to gather. Indoor air quality options tend to be diverse and plentiful, therefore before you go out and spend big money on an extravagant rotating cylindrical fan; see precisely what must be implemented to obtain the best quality of air to inhale. Using a heating or air conditioning provider, you’ll be able to obtain a professional evaluation of the quality of air in your house and business, and you’ll be capable of seeing what is actually wrong. Perhaps you will choose to install the Trane CleanEffects air filtration system the world’s most effective whole-house air filtration system. Trane CleanEffects delivers eight times the amount of clean air as the typical room HEPA appliance, and one hundred times the amount delivered by an ionic-type room appliance or a standard 1” filter.

Air Filter

Check the air filter on your HVAC unit every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure. Contact your Trane Service Representative today with any questions.

Trane is a brand of Ingersoll Rand. It basically assists in improving lives around us through ground breaking heating and air conditioners, services and solutions. Trane is one of the leading companies in sustaining and creating efficient, comfortable and safe home environments. They provide a wide variety of air conditioning, ventilation and energy efficient heating systems, financing solutions and advanced building controls, service and parts support, and air cleaning products and dehumidifying. Trane has signified technology and items which have unmitigated the world’s idea of what is possible for more than a 100 years. The designer of Trane air conditioners was James Trane. From important industrial equipment to traditional designs pertaining to households, the company continues to satisfy the requirements of several clients. In many ways, this company is a vintage American victory narrative that developed into a worldwide one. Pops and son integrated the company and started producing home heating systems in 1913. In 1923, the convector radiator was produced by this son, which commenced their status as pioneers.

Energy Efficient

Energy Efficient As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Making your home more energy efficient with a Trane HVAC System can help to reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and help to protect the environment. Improving energy efficiency is also an important first step for homeowners interested in green remodeling. Your Trane Service Representative can guide you in making your home more efficient..

Importance of Air Quality

A comfortable home means a healthy home. Indoor air quality is a major factor in the comfort level of your home.

Whether relaxing, working from home or enjoying a meal with your family, people spend a large amount of time in their home. Homes today are designed and built for maximum comfort using quality materials and appliances. Trane  heating and cooling systems are the highest in quality and design.

Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental risks to public health. 50 million Americans suffer from allergies and 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, including one in thirteen school-age children. Pollution levels indoors can be many times higher than outdoors. Controlling the levels of airborne allergens is extremely important.

Whole-house air cleaners work in conjunction with heating and cooling systems to remove airborne allergens from the filtered air in every room.

Contact us today to find what solutions we have to improve the air quality in your home.

Spring is Allergy Season

Spring is allergy season. While many people seek medical assistance in dealing with allergy symptoms, simply maintaining good indoor air quality in your home is a key to reducing the impact of airborne pollutants that produce respiratory discomfort. We have many ways you can improve your health. Here are some tips for improving the indoor air quality of your home:

Install a whole-home air purification / filtration system in tandem with your heating and cooling systems.

Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces in the home, including floors, carpeting and upholstered furniture which can retain allergens even after vacuuming.
Purchase a high-quality vacuum cleaner. This can make a world of difference in keeping dust, pollen and mites at bay.

The U.S. Department of Environmental Protection recommends keeping indoor humidity levels below 50 percent to reduce the effects of airborne allergens.  Homes with evaporative cooling during the Monsoon season see indoor humidity in excess of 70%, which causes airborne and surface allergens to flourish.  Consider using Air Conditioning especially during these times.

Change or clean air conditioning and heating filters frequently, and perform recommended maintenance on your system.

Call us today for more tips!

Here's a Spring Quick Tip

Spring is here so we do not want to take up your valuable time. So, this week we have a quick tip.

Check your filter every month, especially during months of heavy usage (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep your home warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

So hop to it and check that filter. Then give us a call to schedule a spring check-up,  and have your unit serviced before the heat of summer arrives!

March is a Time for Madness

Everyone knows about March Madness, what we want to talk about is March sanity.

 

One of the sanest things you can do is to give your HVAC system a regular checkup. Before you drive your car there are certain things you check; tires, windows, oil etc. Well each month there are some things you should check on your HVAC system.

 

Check Your Air Filters. Clogged filters lead to a 5 to 15 percent drop of efficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, which recommends changing or cleaning filters every one to two months during peak use. Reusable filters should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and placed back in the system. Disposable filters should be thrown away. New filters to replace the ones you tossed are available at most hardware stores.

 

Check your drains. This HVAC repair is primarily applicable to cooling systems, which feature drains used to remove condensation that builds up over time. The condensation usually isn’t clean: it carries dirt and other particles that clog these drains. Removing the dirt is simple. With the system off, push a wire through the drain to knock it out, being careful to avoid injury.

 

Check your thermostat. Verify that your thermostat is working correctly. A thermostat that leaves your home too cool or too warm can waste energy. Check to make sure your home is at the same temperature set on the thermostat and that timed cooling or heating is working properly. Generally, thermostat repairs require professional maintenance.

 

If you take these few basic steps you can prevent some madness in your house!

March is the Time to Think Green

When you think green as it relates to your home, the green you think of is money. Your home can be a money pit but, if you Go Green you can change that!

We all look around our homes and can identify endless home improvement opportunities. But today with energy costs at an all-time high and continuing to increase, investing in home energy efficiency can really pay off.

For example, replacing a 10-15 year old furnace & air conditioner and making sure that the ductwork is sealed properly, can reduce your heating and cooling cost by over 50% and depending upon home construction and climate zone, installing energy efficient high-performance windows can save $300-400 a year.

The average U.S. household spends approximately $2,200 per year on energy -- nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling, according to Energy Star and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Of the rest, about 14 percent goes to heating water, 12 percent to lighting and 13 percent for appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers.

By replacing your appliances and light bulbs you can save even more in your home. And in 2013 there maybe more tax incentives.

So this month isn’t it time to think green?

Pollution More of a Problem

Pollution More of a Problem

 

For a couple of reasons, indoor air pollution in offices and homes is becoming more and more of a recognized problem.  One, we seal our buildings up tighter than we used to in order to increase energy efficiency, and two, we are filling them up with more and more toxic products that get in our air. 

In some homes, indoor air pollution is 100 times higher than outdoors!

 

Ways to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

 

You can reduce indoor air pollution by removing as much as possible of the following types of products from your home:

• Artificially scented beauty and personal care products and candles
• Cleaning products made from synthetic chemicals
• Air fresheners (which only add more chemicals to cover up smells)
• Plastics
• Pesticides
• Synthetic fibers, fabrics and materials, as well as added toxins like flame retardants and stain resistant chemicals in carpets, clothes and furnishings
• Building materials and furnishings made from formaldehyde and other toxins

You can also reduce indoor air pollution by increasing ventilation.  In good weather, keep your windows open as much as possible and use fans to increase air flow.  In the winter, you may want to consider an air-to-air heat exchanger (for more info, contact us here.)  Houseplants such as aloe vera, elephant ear philodendron and English ivy can also help to clean the air.

For more information about how we can help you improve your air quality, please call us today!

Heat Pumps

Using a heat pump may save on energy costs. Here are a few things to help you decide if a heat pump (or HVAC System) is the right choice for your home.

 

Comfort is what makes a house a home. Comfort is the largest consideration in keeping your family happy. Therefore, keeping your home at the desired temperature will improve the comfort level. Heat pump systems are a great way to save energy, money and guarantee a greater comfort level.

 

Heat pumps are air conditioning systems that heat and cool. A heat pump takes the heat from the cold weather and pumps it into your home. In the heat of the summer a heat pump acts as a conventional air conditioner by taking the heat from your home and pushing it outside and blowing cold air in. Heat pumps are also considered smart purchases because dehumidify your home and are 2-3 times as efficient as electrical heat.

 

The installation of a heating system may come across as costly, but once installed, your new HVAC System will save you energy and money. Heat pumps produce twice the amount of heat using the same amount of energy as a less expensive and ordinary HVAC System.

Mid-Winter Energy Saving

As we head into the middle of winter, now is a great time to take a look at a few things you can do to save some energy this winter!

 

First you can start with your thermostat. Have you replaced it with a programmable one? A programmable thermostat allows you to control the temperature throughout the day and night, adjusting it for when people are actually in your home. If you already have programmable thermostats, now is the time to relook at your programming. Has something changed in your family over the last year that changes when your home is being used? Did you change work shifts? Did a child leave for college? Did you get new windows? There are all kinds of reasons the demand on your home may have changed. Take a few moments to adjust your programming for these changes.

 

Second go around and check each window and door seal for air leaks. Repair any seals and caulk any gaps to prevent air from passing through.

 

Finally, remember to not leave your bathroom fan on continuously. Add a timer switch to it so that it turns off after a certain amount of time. This will keep it from exhausting all the heat from your home as well.

 

Implementing just a few of these tips will help you save more in 2013!

Start the New Year off Right

During the December holiday season we tend to get lost in hustle and bustle of the season.  But with December’s celebrations the New Year looms. The New Year is the perfect time to check a few things around your house.

 

The first thing you should check is your furnace filters. A clogged or dirty air filter is a detriment to your heating and air conditioning system and your health; therefore it’s well worth what little time it takes to make sure the filter is clean all year round. With a little planning and forethought, you can keep your HVAC system working as efficiently as possible while decreasing your electric bill, reducing allergy and asthma symptoms, and keeping you cool and comfortable during those hot summer days and warm and cozy all winter long.

 

The second thing is your smoke detector batteries. In standard type battery powered smoke alarms, the batteries need to be replaced at least once per year and the whole unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

 

The last thing you should replace is your water filters on your tap water and in your refrigerator.  There are quite a few benefits to changing your water filter. Changing your water filter more frequently will help avoid cloudy ice, a funny-taste, unpleasant odor, discoloration and floating particles. It can also save you from expensive repairs to water fixtures, because ineffective filters allow sediment build-up causing fittings to break, fixtures to leak and reduced water pressure. Not changing your filter frequently enough can also result in “filtered” water containing more bacteria than the original water source. Water contaminants can be trapped in the filter, resulting in bacteria growth.

 

Have a safe and Joyous holiday season and remember, if you need emergency service during the season, our staff is here and waiting to help you. A Blessed Holiday and a Happy New Year  from our family to yours.

What is Energy Star?

Over the holidays many of you will receive new appliances for your home. One of the things you will see when you are shopping is the Energy Star Rating. We have many people ask us what this is, so we thought we would explain it to you.

 

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

 

ENERGY STAR products are the same or better than standard products, only they use less energy. To earn the ENERGY STAR, the appliance must meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the US Environmental Protection Agency or the US Department of Energy. Since they use less energy, these products save you money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment by causing fewer harmful emissions from power plants. And you get the features and quality you expect.

Thankful and Here to Serve

What a year it has been in our country. A hard fought election, natural disasters and many facing personal hardships. However, we still have so much to be thankful for this holiday season. We know that each person and business has different things to be thankful for.  Family, friends, jobs and babies are all things we each have to rejoice in.

One of the things we are thankful for is You, our customer. Without you we would not have the business we have today. So, this holiday season we want to take a moment and say “Thank You”, and we trust that in the year to come we will have a chance to serve you.

Choosing a New Furnace

Choosing a new furnace is not like choosing a President.  In light of this week’s election, we would like to share with you how to “elect” a new furnace for your home. When replacing or installing a new furnace, it is important to consider the energy efficiency. The efficiency of a gas or oil furnace is determined by its AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) – the oil or gas furnace's efficiency in converting fuel to energy. The higher the AFUE, the more energy efficient the furnace is and the more money you can save on your heating bills.

For example, a gas furnace with an 80% AFUE rating means for every dollar spent on heat energy, 80 cents goes toward heating your home. Meanwhile, a gas or oil furnace with a 95% AFUE rating means that 95 cents of every $1.00 goes toward heating your home. Therefore, installing a furnace with a 95% AFUE is more energy efficient and wastes less energy than a new furnace with an 80% AFUE. Contact us today for your new energy efficient furnace!

Furnace Installation

If you need a new furnace installed, look no further than our furnace services! We will install your furnace correctly the first time causing minimal disruption to your home’s heating. If you’re not sure what you need, we can help you choose the best kind of furnace for your home.  We will have your new furnace up and running in no time! Call us today to set up your furnace installation appointment.

Furnace Service

If you’ve had your furnace for several years and it isn’t running well anymore, call us for a furnace service! We’ll come inspect your current furnace to see if a furnace replacement is the best option for your home. If it is, our furnace service experts will install it in no time so you can make your home comfortable again! If your furnace can be repaired, we will provide you with an estimate and complete the job to your satisfaction!