What is a Smart Thermostat

Heating systems have not typically been associated with smart technology.

 

The past few years, however, have seen a real explosion in terms of smart heating or smart thermostat technology. Why is this? Well there are a number of reasons.

 

Firstly, the price of energy has skyrocketed by almost 170% in the past decade. Smart thermostats are an important step towards creating smart homes and helping consumers better manage their energy costs. About 60% of household energy is consumed through central heating.

 

Secondly, the popularity of smart devices, such as phones, tablets and desktops, has made home automation technology much more practical and affordable. Say you go on holiday and forget to turn the heating off. With a smart thermostat you can simply use your tablet to turn it off from wherever you are in the world.

 

We are here to answer any questions you may have about Smart Thermostats. Maybe your home needs a Smart Thermostat as a gift this holiday season! Give us a call.

Back to School and your Home

It's back to school time and that means its a great time to check up on a few things around your house. Here's a few things you should do.

1. Change your smoke detector batteries.

2. Check your exterior faucets for leaks.

3. Change your furnace/AC filter.

4. Change your water filter.

5. Schedule a fall HVAC system check-up.

6. Start your holiday shopping list. It's never to early!

When the kids go back to school remember to yield for the bus and watch for children walking and playing.

Doing these things will ensure your house is cared for and the kids are safe.

Tips to Help Your HVAC system during the summer Heat.

1. Invest in a programmable thermostat.
Programmable thermostats allow you to control your HVAC units even when you’re not there. Match your thermostat to your schedule, use a timer for when you leave for work and when you come home, set it for particular rooms, and even set specific temperatures.

2. Change your air filters.
Air filters should be replaced monthly to promote a more efficient system performance. Clogged or dirty air filters can cause a disrupt in the airflow and even lead to health concerns.

3. Protect your HVAC unit from sun and debris.
 An awning or tree can provide shade to your unit and cut energy consumption while helping your unit operate more smoothly. However, note that shrubbery or branches that can get into the system and can hinder the systems performance and may lead to permanent damage.

4. Clean your vents.
It may be obvious but it is truly remarkable what you may not notice about your own home. Vents can be accidentally shut for cleaning purposes and never reopened. If you notice an unusually warm room or area in your home, don’t forget to check the vent. A clean vent also keeps debris from flowing through your home. Dirt and dust can easily collect and can be overlooked; be sure to focus on the inside of your home as well as the outside and ensure your vent and air filters are in good condition.

5. Use a fan.
Heat rises. During those hot summer months, the heat in your home will rise to the ceiling or the second floor of your home. To help that hot air on its way out of your home, fans can be a great tool.

Change your Air Conditioner Filters

The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system's efficiency significantly. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil's heat-absorbing capacity. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%. For central air conditioners, filters are generally located somewhere along the return duct's length. Common filter locations are in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself. Room air conditioners have a filter mounted in the grill that faces into the room. Some types of filters are reusable; others must be replaced. They are available in a variety of types and efficiencies. Clean or replace your air conditioning system's filter or filters every month or two during the cooling season. Filters may need more frequent attention if the air conditioner is in constant use, is subjected to dusty conditions, or you have fur-bearing pets in the house. If you have questions please give us a call!

Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality is one concern that homeowners have when they decide to investigate air duct cleaning. In a typical six-room home, up to 40 pounds of dust is created annually through everyday living. Your heating and cooling system is the lungs of your home. The system takes air in and breathes air out. Through normal occupation in a home, we generate a great deal of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, school or workplace, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions, autoimmune disorders or some environmental allergies. Each year you should consider having your ducts cleaned.

5 Tips for Preparing your HVAC System for Spring

This time of year, most folks turn their attention to cleaning up their homes for summer with thoughts of backyard barbeques and parties foremost in their minds. While you’re getting ready for the long, lazy days of summer don’t forget to spare some care for your HVAC system too. Invest a little time getting your HVAC system ready for the coming season with these five simple steps: 1.) Replace your filters. Sometimes it’s the simple things, like routine maintenance that matter most. During the warm months of high AC use, clean or replace your HVAC filters at least once every four weeks. Dirty filters can cause your unit to seize up or even completely break down. Clean filters allow air to flow freely to the unit and help reduce the level of indoor air pollution by removing contaminants and particulates from the air. 2.) Evaluate your ductwork. Your ventilation system, or “ductwork,” is an important part of your home’s heating and air conditioning system. With holes and leaks in the ducts, you continually lose air that you are paying to cool. Holes and cracks can cost as much as 20 percent of your total energy bill. Seal holes and cracks in the duct system and make sure all connectors are airtight. Your ductwork collects dirt, dust, mold and a host of other contaminants just by running the air conditioner. So it’s a wise decision to have professional air duct cleaning performed every few years. A professional cleaning removes the pollutants from your ductwork, improving the quality of the air that you and your family breathe. Duct cleaning also optimizes airflow through ductwork, providing the free flow of air to your air conditioning system. This means your AC won’t have to work so hard to cool your home and saving money on your utility bills. 3.) Test your air conditioner. Before the hot summer days roll in test your air conditioning system by briefly turning it on. If your AC needs repairs, you’ll have some time to schedule a service call before the season hits in full force. 4.) Clear obstructions and clean around the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit of your HVAC system contains the compressor a vital component responsible for transforming refrigerant from a gas into a liquid state and back again. To ease the strain on your compressor, clear any obstructions away from the outdoor unit. Keep yard items like, plants, bushes, bikes, and any other objects at least two feet away from the unit. Clear away any debris that has collected around the unit and vacuum or blow leaves and dirt out of the cage. 5.) Schedule an annual HVAC tune-up. You can keep your HVAC system running better and using less energy with an annual tune-up. We offer annual HVAC tune-ups that’ll get your system in tip top shape for summer. To simplify things schedule your annual tune-up now so that your ready for summer.