Secrets are tricky things, aren't they? Depending on the
subject (surprise party vs. hazardous waste) and who it is about (relative vs.
major corporation), a secret can be a fun event bonding people together or it
can go to the other extreme where a bit of information left untold has the
potential to be dangerous to your health.
Everyone has secrets both big and small and we are no
exception. Don’t be too alarmed. Our secret is not as scary as hazardous waste;
and one thing is for sure… Whether we are referring to people or companies, the
truth will come out eventually.
Why, then, do so many companies leave out information their
customers need to know in order to make informed decisions? Money, of course,
and maybe power and definitely a concern for their reputation.
We are just not interested in being a company with secrets.
To learn more about a big secret the heating and air conditioning industry has
been keeping, read “Have You Heard the Dark and Dirty Secret…about Your Home Comfort System?”
Showing posts with label air conditioning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label air conditioning. Show all posts
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Me, Me, Pay Attention to Me
With all the things that scream out for our attention, it is
no wonder we neglect certain things until we absolutely have to fix them. We have to mow the lawn and trim the shrubs or
our yards will look more like fields.
We have to pay our bills or we won’t have any water, electricity or gas.
We have to go grocery shopping, do our laundry and put gas in the car because if we don’t… we won’t be able to drive anywhere, eat anything or have anything to wear.
It makes sense that we do these things automatically because there are immediate (undesirable) consequences if we don’t.
There is something else that has an undesirable consequence for neglecting it… our home cooling system. When we use it year after year without giving it even a little bit of attention, it starts to break down, parts get loose dirt and grime start to build up and it takes more and more energy to keep us cool (which means our energy bills go up).
It also means our repairs bills are likely to increase. Instead of a minor repair, we will end up with a large, costly repair.
Read Taking Care of Business to learn more about how a yearly tune-up can save you money on energy bills, costly repairs and help your unit run more smoothly.
We have to pay our bills or we won’t have any water, electricity or gas.
We have to go grocery shopping, do our laundry and put gas in the car because if we don’t… we won’t be able to drive anywhere, eat anything or have anything to wear.
It makes sense that we do these things automatically because there are immediate (undesirable) consequences if we don’t.
There is something else that has an undesirable consequence for neglecting it… our home cooling system. When we use it year after year without giving it even a little bit of attention, it starts to break down, parts get loose dirt and grime start to build up and it takes more and more energy to keep us cool (which means our energy bills go up).
It also means our repairs bills are likely to increase. Instead of a minor repair, we will end up with a large, costly repair.
Read Taking Care of Business to learn more about how a yearly tune-up can save you money on energy bills, costly repairs and help your unit run more smoothly.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
How Do You Know If It's Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner?
Sometimes it seems like our homes are a moving target. Just as soon as you get one part of the house just like you want it, something needs tending to in another area. So, for most of us, we're always on the lookout for the next big thing that's going to show up – invited or not – on our "home maintenance" to-do list.
Now, when "air conditioning system replacement" comes up on that list, that's quite a significant situation. Home comfort systems are a sizeable part of your home investment, so it's never something to take lightly. But when it's time, three things should be on your evaluation list:
System Age – If your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, you could save up to 20 percent on cooling and heating costs if you replaced it with a unit that has earned the Energy Star label.
Repair/Energy Costs – A home comfort system has what's called "operational" costs. If your system is racking up repair bills and guzzling up your energy dollars, you may be overdue for an efficiency upgrade.
Uncomfortable Environment – A home comfort system is supposed to create a comfortable home environment, right? Well, if you're not comfortable, take note. Are some rooms too hot or too cold? Does your home have humidity problems? This could be a sign of poor or improper equipment operation.
To learn more about improving energy efficiency in your home, take a look at this info, What Does Heat Have to Do with Cold.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
How a 1987 Treaty Changed Air Conditioning in 2010
Ever heard of the Montreal Protocol? Like many things that happen among and between nations, even if you haven't heard of it, we're talking about an event that could affect your life – or, in this case, your home comfort.
Offered up in 1987 for nations to sign and adopt, the Montreal Protocol was an international treaty that focused on a concern for how chemicals and other things in the atmosphere were depleting the ozone layer that was protecting life as we know it on earth. The treaty was amended in 1992 to set a timetable for phasing out chemicals known as HCFCs – which includes in this list a refrigerant that has been used in air conditioning systems since the early '70s.
Now, fast forward to today and what this means in practical terms for you: Air conditioners manufactured after 2010 can no longer use the refrigerant R-22 (also known by the brand name Freon) as the coolant of choice. While this refrigerant can still be produced and used to service existing equipment for the time being, in 2020, the production and import of R-22 will end, and it will only be available through recycled and reclaimed processes.
That means simply this: any air conditioning that uses R-22 is looking at a time limit. As you face repairs with any pre-2010 system, we'll be glad to talk with you about the best ways to extend the life of the equipment (hint: regular maintenance!), and when the time is right for replacement, we'll give you our best guidance there too.
In the meantime, to learn more about what's going on, take a look at this info, What Every Homeowner Should Know: Government to Take A/C Refrigerant Off Market.
Offered up in 1987 for nations to sign and adopt, the Montreal Protocol was an international treaty that focused on a concern for how chemicals and other things in the atmosphere were depleting the ozone layer that was protecting life as we know it on earth. The treaty was amended in 1992 to set a timetable for phasing out chemicals known as HCFCs – which includes in this list a refrigerant that has been used in air conditioning systems since the early '70s.
Now, fast forward to today and what this means in practical terms for you: Air conditioners manufactured after 2010 can no longer use the refrigerant R-22 (also known by the brand name Freon) as the coolant of choice. While this refrigerant can still be produced and used to service existing equipment for the time being, in 2020, the production and import of R-22 will end, and it will only be available through recycled and reclaimed processes.
That means simply this: any air conditioning that uses R-22 is looking at a time limit. As you face repairs with any pre-2010 system, we'll be glad to talk with you about the best ways to extend the life of the equipment (hint: regular maintenance!), and when the time is right for replacement, we'll give you our best guidance there too.
In the meantime, to learn more about what's going on, take a look at this info, What Every Homeowner Should Know: Government to Take A/C Refrigerant Off Market.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Once a Year Step for Everyday Comfort
You've probably heard of Poor Richard's Almanac even if you have never read it. This was a work by Ben Franklin back when the country was young, and it had a calendar, weather predictions and some wise sayings.
Well, if Ben Franklin were writing weather predictions for Texas, he'd say, "It's going to be hot this summer." Seems to me, it happens every year around that time, and this year, we'll be true to the calendar again.
Yet, if only Franklin had had central air conditioning, I think he could have added some updated helpful advice like this:
"If you want something to last, you take care of it. If you want something to do its job, you make sure it's running well. If you want something to protect you in the night, you make sure it doesn't have any hidden dangers."
Why do I think that? Because here's what Franklin actually did say: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
You've heard it, I've heard it, and we all know it's true.
So what ounce of prevention can you bring to your home comfort this spring? One simple step of a preseason checkup on your system can make a world of difference in your comfort all summer long. To learn more about the value of routine maintenance, take a look at this info, The Nutty Way to Solve a Problem Before It Happens.
Well, if Ben Franklin were writing weather predictions for Texas, he'd say, "It's going to be hot this summer." Seems to me, it happens every year around that time, and this year, we'll be true to the calendar again.
Yet, if only Franklin had had central air conditioning, I think he could have added some updated helpful advice like this:
"If you want something to last, you take care of it. If you want something to do its job, you make sure it's running well. If you want something to protect you in the night, you make sure it doesn't have any hidden dangers."
Why do I think that? Because here's what Franklin actually did say: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
You've heard it, I've heard it, and we all know it's true.
So what ounce of prevention can you bring to your home comfort this spring? One simple step of a preseason checkup on your system can make a world of difference in your comfort all summer long. To learn more about the value of routine maintenance, take a look at this info, The Nutty Way to Solve a Problem Before It Happens.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Your Best Bet
How about taking a moment to reflect on one of my most favorite, most fun words in the whole world: maintenance.
Well, maybe it doesn’t sound like a “fun” word to you, like it does to me.
So why all the excitement? Well, I get excited about lower energy bills and fewer repairs – both of which are the results of maintaining your home comfort system. Not making sense yet? Think of it this way…
Maintaining your car keeps it in its best condition. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle keeps you in your best condition. Maintaining a steady income provides for what you need. No matter how you look at it, maintenance is the best bet for good results.
And your home comfort system isn’t any different if you want it to perform at its highest efficiency for your best comfort.
If you’d like to know more about how maintenance helps and what it involves, take a look at this free report, “The Perks of a Well-Maintained Air Conditioner.”
Well, maybe it doesn’t sound like a “fun” word to you, like it does to me.
So why all the excitement? Well, I get excited about lower energy bills and fewer repairs – both of which are the results of maintaining your home comfort system. Not making sense yet? Think of it this way…
Maintaining your car keeps it in its best condition. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle keeps you in your best condition. Maintaining a steady income provides for what you need. No matter how you look at it, maintenance is the best bet for good results.
And your home comfort system isn’t any different if you want it to perform at its highest efficiency for your best comfort.
If you’d like to know more about how maintenance helps and what it involves, take a look at this free report, “The Perks of a Well-Maintained Air Conditioner.”
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
When Waiting Doesn’t Make Sense
Here's one of my all-time favorite phrases: "I'll deal with that later." Actually, I misplaced my sarcasm font or I would have used it just then. But a lot of people I know really do like that phrase.
Sort of like "deferred maintenance." This is a concept known by businesses and institutions with property, buildings and equipment that basically means, "We don't have the budget to repair what's declining as it is declining, so we'll deal with it later." It's easy to sympathize with the approach of waiting until something is broken until calling for a repair. But it can also be a costly approach.
Homeownership isn't really any different. We have to keep an eye on the systems and infrastructure that keep our home running. Your air conditioning system, obviously, is in this equation.
By investing each year in routine maintenance, you can save long term on the cost of repairs, extend the life of your equipment and avoid inconvenient breakdowns. It's simple logic, and only takes a little bit of planning, which means - dare I say? - dealing with it now. But that doesn't have to be scary. Read "Make Plans for Air Conditioning Maintenance" for quick tips to maintaining your system.
Sort of like "deferred maintenance." This is a concept known by businesses and institutions with property, buildings and equipment that basically means, "We don't have the budget to repair what's declining as it is declining, so we'll deal with it later." It's easy to sympathize with the approach of waiting until something is broken until calling for a repair. But it can also be a costly approach.
Homeownership isn't really any different. We have to keep an eye on the systems and infrastructure that keep our home running. Your air conditioning system, obviously, is in this equation.
By investing each year in routine maintenance, you can save long term on the cost of repairs, extend the life of your equipment and avoid inconvenient breakdowns. It's simple logic, and only takes a little bit of planning, which means - dare I say? - dealing with it now. But that doesn't have to be scary. Read "Make Plans for Air Conditioning Maintenance" for quick tips to maintaining your system.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Taking Care of Your Investments
No, this is not an article on financial planning, but this is certainly an issue that could affect your financial well-being.
Your home comfort system is a big investment, no question about it. If you take care of this investment, it will take care of you – over a longer equipment life that is spent operating efficiently, saving you energy dollars and keeping you comfortable. Not a bad result for routine maintenance.
Yes, maintenance matters. But what does it involve? If you’d like to learn more, take a look at our free report, “A Quick and Simple Home Investment,” available on our Facebook Page for a limited time!
Your home comfort system is a big investment, no question about it. If you take care of this investment, it will take care of you – over a longer equipment life that is spent operating efficiently, saving you energy dollars and keeping you comfortable. Not a bad result for routine maintenance.
Yes, maintenance matters. But what does it involve? If you’d like to learn more, take a look at our free report, “A Quick and Simple Home Investment,” available on our Facebook Page for a limited time!
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