What Thermostat Temperature is Best for the Winter?

You love your home and want to be comfortable when you are in it; in turn, you take care of it to the best of your ability at all times. Winter can make that care a little more difficult. When winter comes back around, you often make a number of changes to your home care routine to ensure that everything continues to run smoothly as the degrees begin to dip lower. Knowing which thermostat temperature is the most suitable for the colder months is one such way that you can help to keep your house in order. Believe it or not, the temperature of your residence makes a huge difference. Why It Matters Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature when you’re out of the house during the winter months means that your furnace doesn’t have to work as diligently. In fact, once it reaches that temperature, which should be pretty easy to do in the latter half of the year, it doesn’t really work at all. Setting your thermostat lower when you leave can help to preserve the integrity of your HVAC system and even save you money in the long run. Your home and your wallet will be...

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HVAC Tips for the Holidays

This holiday season, your HVAC system will play a crucial role in helping to keep your family indoors, comfortable, and safe. By coincidence, the holiday season happens to coincide with the adversely low temperatures of winter. To prepare for the season, we strongly recommend you consider the following tips to keep your HVAC system functioning correctly. Replace Your Furnace Filters When celebrating indoors with your family this holiday season, the worst thing that can happen is having some foul air coming in to spoil the party. This will be the case if you haven’t replaced your furnace filters for a long time. The punishing and varied conditions of summer may have had your furnace filter clogged with tiny particles of dust. Replacing the filter before the holiday season kicks off ensures that you’ll get a fresh supply of air. Consider Sealing Your House Our experts greatly recommend checking your house once in a while to seal common cracks and outlets that may cause your HVAC system to be ineffective. Cracks, such as ventilation holes that are unaccounted for, can easily leak out the warm air that you desperately need to keep your family comfortable. Failure to do this may cause...

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The Biggest Reasons Your Heating Bill is Too High

A cold house isn’t something a homeowner wants to deal with when winter arrives. Unfortunately, there can be a price to pay for a warm home—literally. Running a furnace means higher energy bills. If the bills appear excessively high, though, try and find the culprit. A few adjustments could bring your fuel costs down. The Heating System Isn’t Working Right Sometimes, the furnace needs a tune-up and some possible fixes to run more efficiently. If the furnace isn’t working the way it should, then your heating bills could trend upward. Imagine if the fan wasn’t running the right way. Hot air might not be able to circulate. So, to reach the temperature chosen on the thermostat, the heater must work harder. Similar problems could arise when the filter is dirty. Maybe calling in a professional for a tune-up and inspection makes sense. If you live in the Mesa, AZ, area, the professionals at may be able to help out. We can repair systems, replace parts, and handle regular maintenance requests. No Support From Another Source When the furnace is tasked with heating an entire home with no assistance, then it has to run and run until reaching the designated temperature....

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How to Cut Heating Costs This Winter

If you’re concerned about your utility bills this winter, there are several steps that you can take to lower your energy usage. Regardless of the size, age or style of your home, saving money doesn’t have to be stressful. Lower Your Thermostat While it may be tempting to turn the heat up when temperatures drop outside, consider putting on a sweater instead. Keeping your home at a consistently lower temperature could end up saving you a lot of money. Add Insulation to Your Home Having proper insulation in your home is a great way to reduce your energy bills. More insulation can keep heat from escaping your home. Since heat rises, the attic area is the most important space to have well insulated. May types of insulation can be added without professional assistance. Use Solar Energy When it’s sunny out, keep your shades open and take advantage of the passive solar power available. This is especially important for south-facing windows that can get a lot of sunlight during a winter day. After you lose direct sun, close your shades. This can add an extra level of insulation on your windows and keep heat from escaping. Install a New Heater If...

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Tips for Maintaining Your Winter Indoor Air Quality

Air quality is essential for optimal health. This is especially true in your home. Poor indoor air quality contributes to dizziness, headaches and allergies. If you’re concerned about indoor air quality this winter, there are things you can do to improve it. Apply the following tips to maintain your winter indoor air quality. Replace Your HVAC Filters One of the easiest (and least expensive) ways to improve winter air quality is to replace your HVAC filters. Most people can replace the HVAC filters in their entire home. A dirty HVAC filter impacts your system’s performance and contributes to a dusty home. Repair or Replace Your HVAC System An HVAC system is similar to a vehicle. For it to work properly, it must be repaired and maintained. If your HVAC system is old or inefficient, it could be polluting your home. Cracks in the system allow dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide to escape and flow into the air. Buy a Humidifier Humidifiers can keep the air inside of your home as fresh as possible during the winter months. They are designed to control moisture, eliminate bacteria and detect the presence of carbon monoxide. At , we offer a variety of...

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The Pros and Cons of Space Heaters

Heat is considered a basic requirement for habitability in Arizona. As hot as it can get in the summer, it can still become quite cold during the winter, especially at night. Even if you have a working heater, you may still want to have a space heater on hand. The appliances do fill specific needs, but you also have to be sure you use them safely — and that you keep your home’s heating system in good repair, too. Heating Smaller Spaces One advantage of having a space heater is that it is perfect for providing economical heat in a specific part of the home. It also allows you to keep one room warm while letting you reduce the heat in unused rooms. Emergency Heat Another advantage — and this is a big one — is that the space heater allows you to have heat if your regular system breaks down. It can even keep you warm while a repair crew from travels to your home and finds a solution to your system’s malfunction. Fire and Burn Safety A disadvantage is that space heaters carry a distinct fire and burn risk. Many models can’t be used while you’re asleep or...

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5 Questions First-Time HVAC Buyers Should Ask

Just as with other areas of technology, advancements in heating, ventilation and air conditioning are making marked improvements in the comfort and economy of new HVAC systems. That’s why it’s best to examine all parameters when deciding on a new system for your home. Let’s look at five important questions you should be asking as a first-time HVAC buyer. 1. How Do I Determine What HVAC Equipment to Buy? Optimal efficiency and longevity in an HVAC system are achieved when the equipment is just the right size for your home. Buying a furnace, blower or AC that is an improper fit for your living space can burden the equipment while causing you to pay more in fuel and repair expenditures. Contact a competent HVAC technician to conduct a load calculation, which will lead you to the exact equipment sizes you should have installed. 2. How Much Do Ratings Matter? The higher the SEER rating of your air conditioner or the AFUE rating of your furnace, the more efficient the units are at doing their job. Higher-rated appliances may cost more upfront but provide energy savings that override the initial premium you pay. Take the time to compare equipment efficiencies and...

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Signs You’re Overworking Your AC System

Are you noticing higher energy bills for your home? You might have an overworked air conditioning system. When the AC unit has to work harder, it puts a strain on parts and increases your utility bills. Read on to learn more about some signs that you may have an overworked air conditioner. High Energy Bills High energy bills are one of the top indicators for an overworked air conditioning system. When the unit is straining to cool down your home, you’ll see a rise in energy consumption. If you want to decrease the cost of your energy bills in Mesa, reach out to . We can conduct an energy audit for your home. Frequent Repairs If you have to call a repair company on a regular basis, your system may be overworked. With constant usage, some parts can quickly wear out or break down. You’re adding stress to the entire unit and shortening the lifespan of your air conditioner. Short Cycles Air conditioners are designed to run on a regular schedule. If your system is operating on a short cycle, you may be damaging your unit. This means that your system is turning on and off at short intervals. Frequent...

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How to Prepare for Fall Allergens

Fall allergies can affect a lot of people. The cooler air does not help either, and your immune system might not be able to fight off those allergens. However, there are a few things you can do to stop fall allergies in their tracks. If you are suffering from a runny nose or itchy eyes, here are some tips to prepare for fall allergy season. Think About Your Indoor Air Quality If you suffer from fall allergies, you might want to invest in indoor air quality products. These devices can reduce the number of allergens in the air. Air purifiers are great for those who have asthma and severe allergies. They cycle the air through a system and catch those pollutants. At , we can recommend an indoor air quality system for your Mesa home. Perform Some HVAC Maintenance You might want to think about your furnace during this time of the year. You can boost the quality of your indoor air with a few maintenance chores. Your home should get a thorough cleaning, which can eliminate some of the dust and dander that can cause allergies. While you are doing that, make sure to clean up the areas around...

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What to do About a Rusty Air Conditioner

If you have rust on your air conditioner, there are ways to remove it. Below is a step-by-step procedure for the specific steps you can take. You will need the materials listed below before you get started. Materials List Screwdriver Condenser cleaner spray 1-quart mixture equal parts water and bleach The Step-By-Step Procedure 1. Turn the power off for the circuit breaker at the main electrical panel. Do not attempt to service the unit with the power on as you could easily be electrocuted. 2. Take off the side panel(s) of the AC using a screwdriver. You may need to remove more than one panel depending on the location of your AC’s condenser unit. It is a good idea to check your owner’s manual so you are 100% certain of the condenser’s location. 3. Remove the top lid from the AC in order to access the condenser. 4. Locate the actual condenser unit, which will be a square or rectangular panel that has many coils or fins on the outside. 5. Get the can of condenser cleaner and spray the entire surface of the condenser. You should watch for the foam to rise and cover the whole surface to ensure...

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