Beat fall allergies one closed window at a time

- Keep the windows…closed! It’s a good idea to air out
your home every once in a while to prevent stuffiness. But, you don’t want to overdo it. Open windows and doors let allergens right into your home without being treated by your HVAC system. Instead of opening windows, consider turning your thermostat to the ON fan position for a while.
- Change your furnace filter. While we’re discussing your HVAC system, it’s important that you keep your furnace filter fresh. It’s your first line of defense against allergens.
- Get your ducts cleaned. Lots of gross things can be lurking in your ductwork. Have your contractor come out and clean your ductwork and get rid of all those creepy crawlies.
- Keep your home clean. Dust and allergens can accumulate on the surface of your home. If you regularly dust and keep things shiny, they are less likely to aggravate your health.
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The perks of upgrading to a new furnace

- Efficiency boost. Here’s the big benefit – a boost in efficiency. The more energy efficient your gas furnace, the less money you will spend on heating during the winter. In some cases, this can more than recoup the costs of purchasing a brand-new system.
- Comfort upgrade. Systems now contain features that help stabilize comfort throughout your entire home (like variable-speed operation and zoning systems). Have cold spots? It’s probably not a ghost, just uneven comfort. You can remedy this through a zoning system, variable-speed operation or different heating stages.
- Catch any kinks. This is also a good time to examine your whole-home heating and cooling system to make sure that everything is working properly. Make sure that when your contractor is giving you an estimate for a new system, they check out the duct work as well.
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What’s your favorite thing about fall?


- Replace an old, inefficient gas furnace with something more efficient and high tech.
- Get your ducts cleaned.
- Have your gas furnace cleaned for peak performance.
- Have your outdoor unit cleaned after a hard summer’s work cooling your home.
- Have your permanent filter replaced. Or…
- Replace your temporary filter.
- Schedule furnace maintenance to catch any issues before they become big problems.
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Welcome to fall!

- Clear leaves away from your air conditioner or heat pump.
- Turn off your equipment during thunderstorms.
- Change your furnace filter to avoid build up.
- Open vents to ensure maximum airflow.
- If you open windows, keep your indoor surfaces clean to avoid allergen buildups.
- Avoid the temptation to fiddle with your thermostat. Keep your schedule or temperature setting consistent.
- Schedule preventative maintenance before the winter heating season. It’s Murphy’s Law: your gas furnace is only going to fail when you need it most.
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What do you know about heat pumps?

- Versatility. While an air conditioner strictly specializes in cooling, a heat pump uses the same process to cool AND heat with electricity.
- Ideal savings. Electric heating capabilities can be a big benefit. For example, during the fall a heat pump can use its electric heating power to heat when temperatures are cool enough to need heat, but not cold enough to warrant kicking on the gas furnace.
- Cheaper in some areas. Check utility rates in your area. In some places, it can be cheaper to heat with electricity than gas.
- Year-round heating and cooling in some areas. Live in the South? Temperatures really never reach extreme lows, like in the North. This means you can pair a heat pump with an air handler and never have the need for a gas furnace.
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Tricks for saving money when you have people over

- Move the party outside. Hey! It’s Labor Day. Hopefully the temperatures in your area are on the decline. If not, find a shady spot and spend time with company outside. Or, move the party to a time of day where the sun is not quite so intense. Yes, in some areas, this is not realistic. But, if the temperatures are reasonable, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy the fresh air.
- Use the grill not the stove. Grilling is a good idea for any summer gathering. The oven can heat up your home and make your air conditioner work extra hard.
- Avoid opening and shutting exterior doors and windows. Don’t let your cool air escape outside. Constantly opening and closing the doors can make it harder for your home to reach
temperature. So, if you are having an outdoor gathering, make sure that people aren’t constantly going in and out. While you can’t necessarily post a bouncer at your door, it’s good to be aware.
- Lower the humidity level in your home. If you have a whole-home dehumidification system, lower the humidity setting. A home that is more humid actually feels hotter than a drier home. With a humidity adjustment, you can maintain comfort without fiddling with the temperature.
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Why is my house hot?

Have one room that is hotter than the others?
Potential problems:- Animals on vents. Pets want to keep cool just as much as you do! What better way than to camp out on the vent? This can block the airflow to your room and keep temperatures hot.
- Solution: Keep Fido away from the vent! Make sure you always shoo them from lying down there or add an obstacle that blocks access (without restricting airflow).
- Furniture on vents. Just like pets, furniture placed on a vent can restrict airflow and make a room hotter than it should be.
- Solution: Rearrange your room so that no vents are blocked. You’ll see a drastic change immediately.
- Closed vents. Maybe your pet, a curious toddler, a foot, or more, shut the vent and cut off access to the cool air.
- Solution: Just open those vents right back up! Closed vents can also restrict airflow and cause damage to your unit. Always keep those vents open.
- Solution: Just open those vents right back up! Closed vents can also restrict airflow and cause damage to your unit. Always keep those vents open.
- Is it a south-facing room? The sun can really warm up a room in the afternoon. If it’s a south-facing room, this could be the culprit.
- Solution: There are several solutions to this problem. You can close curtains and blinds, plant a tree outside or you can invest in a zoning system that can keep this room set a a cooler temperature than the rest of the house.
- Ductwork. You could have a dirty or collapsed vent. You could also have a closed damper in your ductwork. This can block off access to cool air from the rest of the house.
- Solution. This problem will require the expertise of your contractor. Make sure to call them out and see if there are any problems with your ducts. It’s a good idea to have your ductwork periodically examined and cleaned to maintain proper airflow and keep your air fresh.
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How does a programmable thermostat work?


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Saving energy while enjoying your air conditioning system


- Read. Flip open a book instead of flipping on the television.
- Experiment with the crock pot. Let those yummy smells perfume your home all day. Crock pots use less energy than a stove AND don’t heat up your home.
- Break out Risk or Monopoly. Instead of overworking that PlayStation or X-Box, play with a deck of cards or break out a board game.
- Coloring books. Sometimes something simple, like a coloring book, can be a great change from apps and TV programs. It’s a great activity for the kids.
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What is your favorite thing to do indoors

Summer is still in full swing! In some areas of the country, temperatures are still well above 90°F consistently. Now’s the best time to take advantage of that air conditioning system. Spending so much time indoors can seem monotonous, even boring. That’s why it’s important to keep a cache of fun indoor activities.
Yeah, spending time around the television seems to be the go-to. But, there are other things you can do (like create an awesome indoor book nook) that don’t involve staring at a screen. Like, check out these cool indoor reading nooks by Houzz. So, give us some inspiration! What’s your favorite thing to do indoors while beating the summer heat?