Time to Dust Off a Few Energy Saving Ideas

Have you ever considered how much the dust that's gathering in your home is costing you in energy bills?

When dust builds up on the registers and vent covers in your home, for example, it becomes "insulation" that blocks the air's path into the room. The harder a system has to work to keep your home comfortable, the more you pay in utility costs.

So as you look ahead, a thorough dusting with special attention to registers and vent covers is a good idea. Other ideas?

• Close drapes to keep out the hot daytime sun, especially on south- and west-facing windows. Sunny windows make air conditioners work 2 to 3 times harder.
• Close fireplace dampers or glass doors. Going up the chimney with a bound may serve as a dramatic exit for Santa, but don't allow your cooled air to use that same escape hatch.
• Position your refrigerator away from sunny windows, hot water heaters, warm air from heating ducts, radiators, stoves and other heat sources. The heat makes cooling harder for your refrigerator.

These are just a few natural, free ways to help reduce your energy costs and increase your comfort. Other small steps can also make a big difference. For example:

It's no news that energy costs are a big expense for homeowners. And not surprisingly, heating and cooling account for more than half of this amount. If you'd like to learn more about conserving energy in your home, this info will get you started – Is Your Home at the Center of an Energy-Loss Vortex?

Who Else Wants to Save Money?

We've been working with several customers this week on a pretty smart deal. Yep, it's so smart, it's like this deal just graduated with highest honors from the School of Cool.

What could it be? Drum roll, please… it's our maintenance agreement program.

This is something we created a few years ago that's worked out great for our customers. That's because it gives you a tuned-up system for the cooling season (and later for the heating season), plus repair discounts, priority service and improved energy efficiency from a system that's properly maintained.

Helping you figure out the smart way to take care of your home comfort and energy usage is just one of the ways we like to look out for the people who are very important to us. So, the next time we're in your home, I hope you'll give us a chance to show you how joining a year-round program that puts your comfort on our priority list would be a big advantage.

In the meantime, to learn more about making routine maintenance a regular part of your household plan, take a look at this info, Here Is a Method that Is Helping Homeowners Save More Energy with Better Comfort.

Invisible, Breathable Dangers

One type of indoor air pollution that you can actually see with your own eyes is smoke. I’m sure you’ve been witness to (or participated in) some type of cooking mishap that filled the kitchen with smoke. It doesn’t take a lot of scientific research to know that the smoke lingering in your home is getting breathed in by your family. That’s obvious, so you open a window or turn on an exhaust fan or do something to help clear the air.

But that’s for dangers that you see. Some indoor air pollution is not as easy to spot. For example, you may not notice the pollutants being produced by mold, dust, pet dander, household cleaners and more. Worse, carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, but very dangerous.

Well, we have a way to help you see what you’ve been breathing. Interested in learning more about our Indoor Air Analysis? Hope so. Just call or email, and let us hear from you.

Is a Clean House Bad for Your Health?

Keeping air pollution out of your home is not just a matter of cleanliness. Just think about it. You could scrub your floors and countertops, light a perfumed candle – even add a new coat of paint and new carpeting – and while the look will improve, your indoor air could actually be even more compromised.

Household cleaners, perfumes, paint, new carpeting, some types of furniture … any of these can contain chemicals known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that enter your air and, as a result, could soon enter your family’s respiratory system.

There are a number of other very ordinary, common sources of indoor air pollution. You’ll see more about them if you’ll take a moment to read this report, Sources of Air Pollution in Your Home.

Just Another Part of Your Routine

There are certain routines that are as common as having a cup of coffee in the morning. (Or, if you prefer, a big glass of orange juice or soft drink of choice.) When that’s your routine, you don’t keep deciding every day whether that’s how you’ll start your morning. You just keep doing it.

That’s how we’d like for everyone to think about routine service on your heating system. As winter sets in strong, it’s in your best interest (by far) to have your system serviced so that you can be assured of repair-free, safe operation throughout the season – and with the best energy efficiency your system can provide.

But what’s the best way to integrate this great idea in your routine? Start by reading this quick report, Making Routine Maintenance a Part of Your Seasonal Routine.

An All-Around Great Idea

Logic. Intelligence. Prudence. Practicality. Fear. These are among the guiding qualities that people rely on when they decide to maintain their furnace. It’s a smart decision because it preserves an investment and assures continued comfort in cold weather. And it also protects against very real dangers, such as carbon monoxide leaks.

But what makes this idea even better is when you can bundle all of the above (energy savings, less repairs, safety checks, longer equipment life), plus additional discounts, priority service and twice-a-year tune-ups on your heating and cooling system. That’s what’s called a maintenance agreement program, and it one-ups the good idea of a tune-up into a great idea.

To learn more about the value of making routine maintenance a part of your seasonal routine, contact us today. Just call or email, and we’ll take care of you.

How's the Weather Treating You?

I used to hear this from time to time: “How’s the world treating you?” It’s just one of those friendly greetings which most folks answer with anything from the succinct “Fine” to “Better than I deserve.”

In this work world I live in, what I really want to know is, “How’s the weather treating you?” This is the kind of business where temperatures and weather conditions make a difference in how our customers feel, so I like to know how things are going. Are you comfortable in your home? Is your home heating working like it should? Is it consistent? Reliable? Are your energy bills where you’d expect? Any strange noises or smells causing you concern?

Whatever it is, if you have any trouble, just let us know. We want to make sure you feel just fine when you’re in your home – because that’s what you deserve! Just call or email and let us hear from you.