Building a new house?

A house is an investment that we can be proud of, which can last for generations as long as regular maintenance is conducted.

Building a new house entails a lot of preparations and planning. You need to have a blueprint, decide on the style you prefer, the theme, and all other intricate details. Without a good planning, your house will not be as what you expect it to be.

Comfort is one of the things that homeowners consider when planning to build a new house. Of course, you want to have your own place so you can rest and sleep comfortably.

One of the important accessories that you have to install in your house that can give you a comfortable living is the heating and air conditioning systems.

Heating systems are very much needed to keep you warm during winter. And the air conditioning systems are equally needed too to keep you cool during summer or warmer months. Together, these two play important roles in making your life a little easier.

If you are building a new home, you need to install a brand new heating and air conditioning systems. And if you are still looking for the best company to do this, consider A&H Heating and Air Conditioning.

A&H Heating and Air Conditioning aims to bring comfort to you and your family. It is an expert when it comes to installation of heating and air conditioning systems.

The company’s technicians are the best in setting up heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. You are assured that they give you quality results.

If you are not building a new home but you’re planning to replace your old heating and air conditioning systems, A&H Heating and Air Conditioning can also help you.

It is really important to have a working air conditioner at home to make you feel comfortable. In the same way, it is tough when your heating systems are not working as they should. But don’t worry, A&H can fix them all for you. You can never go wrong if you hire the services of A&H for all your HVAC needs.

A&H Heating and Air Conditioning serves clients in Conyers, Covington, Fayetteville, Forest Park, Griffin, Jonesboro, Lithonia, McDonough, Morrow, Stockbridge and Union City. Call now to get started by requesting for a free estimate.

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Best Thermostat For Your Home

A thermostat is an important component of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that makes sure the system’s temperature is maintained at the desired point.

A thermostat is actually the main control unit of a heating or cooling system.

If you want to set the temperature of your air conditioning unit at home, your thermostat must be in good condition. However, if the thermostat is not working properly, you would either have a too cold or too warm environment.

The thermostat is a simple yet amazing tool that grants you full control of your air conditioning unit. With it, you’ll have full control over the temperature of your home. This way, you can determine how much work your air conditioning unit puts out. It also allows you to manage the output of your air conditioning unit.

In simple terms, your thermostat will allow you to decide the temperature of your home and how much energy will be used to make your house comfortable.

To make sure that your thermostat is always in good running condition, you need to have it checked regularly by a licensed HVAC company.

In Georgia, A&H Heating and Air Conditioning is a licensed company that specializes in installation, repair, and maintenance of any thermostat system in your house.

Having a thermostat means you’ll be able to fully regulate the temperature of your home and how much energy your air conditioner will be using.

If you don’t have a thermostat in your home yet, contact A&H Heating and Air Conditioning for a free quote on the installation process. The company installs the best thermostat that will suit your needs.

Aside from installation and repair of thermostats, A&H Heating and Air Conditioning also repairs broken air conditioner. Its technicians are quick, efficient and able to patch up all of your A/C problems.

For problems on furnaces, A&H is an expert in fixing or installing heating systems in your house because the company knows that winter can be harsh and unforgiving if you don’t have any heat in your house. A new or good heating system can help you beat the chill of winter and keep you warm.

If you experience problems on your heat pumps, A&H is always available to solve your woes. Its expert technicians will repair and install these heat pumps to suit your needs.

Even problems on zoning systems, A&H has the answer. It will make sure each room in your house is set to your desired temperature so you can rest comfortably.

A&H Heating and Air Conditioning serves clients in Conyers, Covington, Fayetteville, Forest Park, Griffin, Jonesboro, Lithonia, McDonough, Morrow, Stockbridge and Union City. Call (770) 335-7832 now for a free quote.

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Keeping Up With Trends In Home Efficiency

Keeping up with seasonal trends in home comfort is often a time- and money-consuming challenge. There are a few trends that are here to stay, however, and some of those options can also help reduce your energy bills year after year.

The company that brings you Tempstar brand heating and cooling products has the following suggestions to help you save money now and for years to come.

* Heating and cooling: Today’s air conditioners and heat pumps can be up to 40 percent more energy efficient than older, less efficient units. The money homeowners can save in reduced energy bills by purchasing a new, high-efficiency system is often worth the investment. The Tempstar SmartComfort 2400 high-efficiency air conditioner operates at 14 SEER efficiency to help you save money while you keep your home comfortable.

* Electronic air cleaners: A good air cleaner can help trap many of the pollutants that may be traveling through the home. As part of the heating and cooling system, the new line of Tempstar electronic air cleaners filters indoor air to help improve indoor air quality. To ensure years of service, Tempstar indoor air quality products are backed by a five-year parts limited warranty.

* Humidifiers: Moisture levels in the home can affect your family’s comfort and the quality of your wood furniture and flooring. Humidifiers add moisture to the dry air in your home, which helps your body stay hydrated and comfortable. They can also help protect wood furniture and floors by maintaining the right levels of indoor humidity to prevent damage caused by dry indoor air. For information about Tempstar humidifiers, contact your local Tempstar installer.

* Programmable thermostats: A programmable thermostat can help you reduce your energy bill by cooling your home only when you need it. With a programmable thermostat, your cooling system can work at a more cost-efficient temperature while you’re away from home and lower the temperature to cool your home just before you return. To find a heating and cooling contractor near you, go to www.tempstar.com and click on the Dealer Locator button.

For more information contact us or visit our website!

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Improving Indoor Air Quality

Stepping out for some air could be a better idea than you might think. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, scientific evidence indicates that air in homes can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air. Considering that most Americans spend up to 90 percent of each day indoors-more than half of that time at home-you may be experiencing indoor air pollution without even knowing it.

Fortunately, many heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) manufacturers recognize the health risks posed by mold, pollen, bacteria and other pollut-ants and offer a variety of products designed to minimize these risks and improve indoor air quality (IAQ.) Here’s a closer look:

New Innovations

Rx technology introduced by York®, a Johnson Controls Company, represents one of the most innovative advances in IAQ products. Rx technology equips all York Affinity™ air handlers with a unique MicroBlue™ coating that helps the coils inside the units resist standing water and microbes. This coating also helps to prevent the gym locker smell or “Dirty Sock Syndrome” that seems to afflict some heat pumps that operate in hot, humid conditions.

Bring Fresh Air In

Consumers can find a full line of IAQ products through the York Total Comfort Systems. The line’s ventilation systems, for example, include a choice of air-to-air exchangers. Both the heat recovery ventilator and the energy recovery ventilator allow homeowners to manually or automatically adjust fresh airflow, as they replace a portion of stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. The units also retain energy used to heat or cool the home, saving homeowners money on utility bills.

Let There Be Light

Ultraviolet (UV) air treatment systems cast UV energy on cooling system components to prevent the growth of mold spores and reduce allergic reactions. Additionally, electronic and media air cleaners remove up to 94 percent of the dust, pollen, pet dander, plant spores, fungi, bacteria, tobacco smoke and other small particles that also cause allergic reactions and affect IAQ.

Control Humidity

Finally, whole-house humidifiers let homeowners control indoor humidity levels. Restoring humidity in the home returns moisture to furniture and woodwork, makes it easier to breathe the air and helps ensure maximum comfort to occupants.

For more information contact us or visit our website!

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How to Keep Your Energy Bill Low

Periodic maintenance and good care of the air conditioner can save you hundreds of dollars. If you take good care and undertake periodic maintenance, your machine will work in the most excellent condition for a long time. No one wishes to buy an air conditioner every year. So, you should have the knowledge of maintenance methods to keep your air conditioner in a healthy state.

The maintenance features are usually neglected by the owners. The air conditioners are heavy machines that sometimes deceive the owners. When the machine is giving out cool air, you may think that everything is fine. However, the air conditioner may be losing its energy efficiency year after year. So, you need to evaluate the energy efficiency of the unit every year in order to reduce your electricity costs.

If you are not maintaining the air conditioner properly, you will lose nearly 5% of its efficiency each year. It is unimportant that the unit is throwing cool air or not, the energy efficiency will be decreased. Every air conditioner has its rated capacity and an efficient unit works for 15 years or more successfully. If you accomplish routine maintenance of the unit, there are chances that the unit will persist to work at its capacity all through its life. You should look for unusual sounds or leaks and also should check for accurate drainage of the condenser tube. If the filter is dirty, the air conditioning unit will be troublesome and also uneconomical. So, you should clean or replace the filters frequently and should also clean the registers and air vents. The compressor can be cleaned from the outside with the help of a hose to prevent the dust from affecting the operation of the unit.

For more information contact us or visit our website!

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Air-Purifiers – Clean The Atmosphere With Top-Quality Purifiers

With the increase in pollution levels in the country, the customer’s demands for air-purifiers have been increasing at an alarming rate. The air-purifiers assist in purifying the contaminated air in your home and office thereby freeing the air from unnecessary pollutants. A close research on environmental sciences suggests that the air outside home is far more pure than the air inside the home. So the air-purifiers are known for converting the contaminated air to clean air and provide protection against pollutants.

The modern air purifiers have gained such popularity in the consumer market that they have well mutated the use of air-cleaners. While the air-cleaners clean the air, the air-purifiers absorb dust, pollen, viruses, molds, tobacco smokes, dust mites and other industrial/household chemicals, thereby purifying the air completely. The people who get mostly benefited from air-purifiers are those that suffers from constant allergies, asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Today the air purifiers come in a package containing top-class elements that have increased the usage of air-purifiers to a great extent. The air-purifiers contain HEPA [High Efficiency Particulate Air] filters, ion generators, ozone generators, electrostatic filters, ultraviolet light and other methods that help the air-purifiers to get rid off both large and miniscule particles.

Air purifiers come in various shapes, sizes, and types. Out of these various types of air-purifiers, while some of the air-purifiers draw in air via a fan, cleaning the air and re-releasing it, most of the other air-purifiers work by actually spreading the purified air in the entire room.

Following are the various types of air-purifiers available in the market:

1) Room air-purifiers – room air purifiers have replaced the tabletop units in the 1990s as the leading brand of air-purifiers. These are portable, lightweight and flexible in use. So you can install them almost anywhere in your room.

2) Ion generators – these air-purifiers work by generating charged ions into the atmosphere. The ions get attached to the dirt and chemical-contents in the atmosphere causing them to get attracted to the floors of the houses and get deposited in the grounds. You can then wipe them, mop them or vacuum them away from floors.

3) Whole-house air-purifiers – these air-purifiers serve the purpose of cleaning and purifying the atmosphere of the entire home. These should be basically installed in a central heating, air-conditioning or HVAC systems. The purifier works with the help of a filter that is located in a return air-grille or plenum of the purifier. It’s the fan inside the air-purifier that basically takes in the air, moves it through the filter and releases the clean air out into the atmosphere.

4) HEPA Filtered air-purifiers – HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and are made of charcoal. The filter in this air-purifier is placed upwind of a high-velocity fan on the unit, which actually drives the contaminants into the filter attracting tobacco smoke, dust mites and other pollutants. After the air is cleaned inside the purifier, the air is made to circulate in the entire home.

For more information contact us or visit our website!

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Air Conditioner Buying Tips

Most new homes today have air conditioning units. It is more unusual to see homes without central air then to see ones with it nowadays. Air conditioning can be a necessity in warmer climates for the comfort of the family. Most air conditioner units will range from three to six thousand dollars, including installation. This is not a minor investment but one necessary for comfort. If you need a new air conditioner, there are several things to consider prior to purchasing.

Air conditioning units should be installed by a contractor who is experienced with this type of work. Depending on existing ducts and the type of unit purchased, the price may vary greatly. Get several estimates from qualified contractors before deciding on the unit and installer. Ensure the contractor has experience and works well with you. Get references and check them thoroughly.

Air conditioner units use electricity to run. If the unit is used often this can increase energy costs significantly. This is especially true in warmer climates where it is a necessity to cool the home. To help combat these costs, it is advisable to look at the efficiency of the unit. This may mean a larger initial investment, but should save money in the long run.

The efficiency rating is required to be on all air conditioners. Compare units carefully to determine the cost for each type of efficiency. The more efficient a unit is, the more money you will save on energy bills. A more efficient air conditioner will take less energy to run and cool the entire house.

You will need to determine the appropriate size of the unit needed for your house. This is an important step because units that are too small will have to work harder to cool the home. Units that are too large are simply wasteful and unnecessary. A qualified air conditioner contractor will be able to analyze the size of your home and make recommendations on the size needed.

Always get a contract before starting work with any contractor. Make sure all the costs are clearly spelled out. This should include both the cost of the unit and installation. It should also detail payment policies and warranties. Warranties generally cover the compressor and additional parts. Do not choose a unit that has anything less than a five year warranty on the compressor, but a ten year warranty is better. Additional parts may be warranted anywhere from one to five years and are usually separate.
For more information contact us or visit our website!

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A Better Refrigerant For Air Conditioners And The Environment

Most air-conditioners and heat pumps sold around the world use a refrigerant called R-22. Emissions of R-22 are considered by some experts to be a significant factor in depleting the ozone layer that protects animals and people from harmful rays from the sun.

Families now have the choice to ask for an air-conditioner or heat pump that uses a more efficient and environmentally friendlier refrigerant called 410A or R-410 when buying a new system for their home.

It’s Environmentally Friendlier. If your system ever leaks, the escaping refrigerant won’t contribute to ozone depletion! Why can’t R-410A affect the ozone layer? R-410A is not a CFC or an HCFC. It is called an HFC, or hydrofluorocarbon, and is made of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. Because it has no chlorine, it won’t interact with the ozone layer once it breaks down.

You avoid the risk that R-22 could become expensive or difficult to get when your system needs to be repaired in a few years. The old refrigerant R-22 will be phased out along with other ozone depleting chemicals, and both supply and demand of this chemical will be significantly affected by current and upcoming regulations. By selecting an air conditioner or heat pump that uses R-410A, you will avoid the risk associated with purchasing a product that is destined to become obsolete.

R-410A systems can be more reliable than R-22 systems. R-410A air conditioning and heat pump are today’s “state of the art” systems, and utilize the most current technology available for efficient and reliable operation. The heart of every air conditioner or heat pump is the compressor, and newer systems are specifically designed to use R-410A refrigerant. R-410A can absorb and release heat more efficiently than R-22 ever could, compressors with R-410A run cooler than R-22 systems, reducing the risk of burnout due to overheating.

We all know that the first thing “to go” on an air conditioning unit is the compressor. All air-conditioning systems use an oil that circulates through the inside of the system to keep all of the parts well lubricated, just like the engine of your car. R-22 air conditioners use an oil known as “mineral oil” that has been used for decades. R-410A air conditioners use newer synthetic lubricants that are usually more soluble with the R-410A than the old mineral oils are with the older R-22 refrigerants. This means the synthetic lubricants and R-410A can mix and circulate more efficiently to keep the compressor and other moving parts lubricated, reducing wear and extending their life. Also, just as many new cars use synthetic oils because they are less likely to break down under high stress and heat, the new synthetic oils used in R-410A air conditioners are less likely to break down under extreme conditions.

R-410A offers some wonderful advantages, but it required the manufacturers of air conditioners to redesign their products to take advantage of the properties of the refrigerant. The reason why a refrigerant works is because it captures the heat from one place, and then releases the heat somewhere else. R-410A captures heat and then releases it better than R-22 did, so manufacturers have found that they need less refrigerant in an R-410A air conditioner than they needed in an R-22 air conditioner. Because there’s less refrigerant, they need less copper tubing, and often can use a smaller compressor. The bad news was that R-410A couldn’t be used in air conditioners that were made to use R-22, but the advantages for new air conditioners were too great to pass up.

It’s obvious that air conditioners manufactured for using R-410A are more efficient, more reliable, and may even be less costly then the older units that still use R-22. Compare the SEER or EER ratings and the ENERGY STAR rating to be sure.

 

For more information contact us or visit our website!

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Clean Air

Air conditioners are a key factor in battling the scorching heat of the summer. But staying healthy is more important. A good air conditioning unit will not only bring down the temperature, but filter the air from the outside. It would make sure that only clean air comes into the room.

What you should look for is an air conditioner that has an air cleaner built in. A normal air conditioner can’t filter the air well enough for your whole family. It would be a good idea to invest and get an air conditioning unit that comes with an air cleaner if you are someone who cares about the air in your home.

A good air conditioner is even more important if you have allergies or breathing problems. Apart from having a good air conditioner, you should also open the doors and windows once in a while to let contaminated air out of the place. On top of that, pay special attention to your housekeeping habits.

To maximize the lifespan of the air conditioner and make sure that the air filtration system is in top form, you’ll need to regularly maintain and upkeep the air conditioner. Don’t wait for the air conditioner to break down or when you sense that there’s a change in air quality inside the house to clean and maintain the air conditioner. Experts say that you should change the filter to your air conditioner every month – some people even change their air conditioner filters only once every few years.

Changing and cleaning the filter of your air conditioner helps make sure that the air conditioner can continue to filter out the bad air from outside and deliver only the cleanest air possible into your home. Basically if you want clean air in your home, you’ve got to change and clean the air conditioner filter regularly. A badly maintained filter not only cleans air ineffectively, it also consumed more energy, cools the air down poorly and shortens the life of the air conditioner.

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Save Money Cutting Your Home Energy Bill

Heating bills are rising up in every part of the country and the trend will continue because of World energy demands. The average US household expense on energy bills is estimated at 6% of the income in 2005, compared to 4% in 2003. Owners of efficient new houses spend considerably less than the people living in old houses. Financial burden due to increased energy expenses can be reduced by weatherizing and conserving.

Your house can be energy deficient in plumbing, insulation or heating. In many old houses, the biggest problem is not the cold air coming from windows but the air filtration from the basement due to floor joists and the structures supporting the floor. In an average American home, 50%-70% of the energy used goes to heating and cooling. If your house is built before 1980, it may no have adequate insulation. While most owners focus on attic insulation, they should not ignore the basement ceiling. Fiber glass is not a good insulation material as air flows right through it. Use spray foam or cellulose as an insulation materials for proper insulation.

Caulk and weather-strip all doors and windows that leak air. Look for all plumbing, ducting and electrical wiring the penetrates through exterior walls and seal those to prevent hot air leaking out. Keep the flue damper tightly closed when the fire place is not in use. If you are planning to change windows in your house, shop for insulating windows and install them as tight fitting as possible. You can use heavy duty clear plastic sheet to the inside of your window and seal them properly to prevent any leak.

Another areas where home owners can focus to reduce their energy bill is conservation. If you have an old thermostat, replace it with a new electronics control thermostat with digital readouts.. An electronics control thermostat is more precise than an dial type thermostat. Better, yet, is a programmable thermostat that you can program for the different hours of the day and night. Replace air filters regularly. If your house has a hot water radiator, bleed it once or twice during the winter season. If you don’t know how to do this, search in the Internet or get the help of a professional.

When you buy new appliances, look for the “Energy Star label. Energy Star labeled appliances are certified to be energy efficient. Most appliances now display a bright yellow and black Energy Guide label. These labels will tell you the average energy consumption cost of the appliance. While shopping for any appliance, do not forget to take into account this cost as another factor to evaluate before you make your final decision.

Contact us now to get a quote!

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Heaters – The Various Kinds And Usage

A heater is an essential commodity for people living in cold regions. Installing a heater inside the house becomes necessary where the outside temperature falls below -10ºC. Just thinking about such low temperatures gives us the shiver. There are a variety of ways to maintain a comfortable warm atmosphere in the house.

The traditional furnace sucks in all the air in the room, heats it up, and redistributes it throughout the room. To maintain the heat in the room and prevent the fire from dying out, various fuels are used. Some of the common ones are gas, oil, electricity, wood and coal. These traditional furnaces raise the room temperature, thus making it a comfortable place to stay in winters, and also remove dust particles.

The radiant baseboard heater heats people ad objects without heating the surrounding air. It is ideal for room where it is difficult to have the traditional furnaces. More expensive than the traditional heaters, they create an ideal place to stay in winters. The electric heat pumps distribute the heated air from one place to another. The hydronic heating is an example of radiant ceiling heater or a radiant floor heater. In this type of heater, hot water flows through the tubes under the floor making it warm. These heaters are usually installed in doorways to prevent accumulation of ice and snow.

Economical to operate, the patio heaters allow you to enjoy some comfortable time outdoors during winter. Electricity or gas is used to fuel these heaters that have the capacity to warm large spaces. Central heating is an effective way of centrally heating houses and buildings. The central heater works with the help of a boiler, furnace or heat pump to heat water, air or steam. The heaters then either use a piping to distribute the heated fluid or a radiator to transfer the heat in the surrounding air.

In the water heating system, the water is flown through a heat exchange in a hot water tank or cylinder. The water is heated there with the help of the heaters and is then distributed to different outlets in the house. Another method of heating is the sealed system. The heater is one of the essential components of a sauna bath comprising of a stainless steel material, thus giving the heater more life.

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How to Maximize Comfort and Lower Your Utility Bills

If you think summers have been getting hotter in recent years, you may be right. In fact, according to the National Climatic Data Center, 2005 was the warmest year since national records began in 1895. Combine those rising temperatures with increasing energy costs to cool your home, and the situation can be downright unbearable.

To help beat the heat, Lennox Industries, a leading provider of customized home comfort systems, provides answers to some common questions about how to increase home comfort and save money during the hottest months of the year, based on the pioneering and knowledge of company founder Dave Lennox.

How can I lower my utility bills?

With the average homeowner spending more than $2,100 on energy-about half of it for heating and cooling-the cost of keeping cool can be expensive. To improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower utility bills, conduct a simple home energy audit. Start by examining exterior walls, doors, and windows to identify any cracks where cool air could be seeping out, and seal leaks with caulk or weather stripping. Keep window blinds closed during the day to block sunlight from entering the home and plant trees around the house for added shade.

In addition, check your attic’s insulation. If it’s insufficient, the home’s cooling system may have to work harder to regulate the indoor temperature. Add more if there currently is less than five inches.

Finally, be sure to set up an appointment with a home cooling professional to inspect and clean your air conditioner to ensure it’s working as efficiently as possible. You may also want to install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust the indoor temperature while you’re away, which also can help lower your energy bill.

My house feels sticky and sometimes smells musty. What can I do about it?

Even when the temperature is right, your house may still feel sticky due to excessive humidity, and that can affect your overall comfort and well-being. In fact, too much moisture can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which can potentially cause health issues.

To determine whether you have a humidity problem, have the air in your home tested. Lennox Industries offers a service known as the Healthy Advantage Program, in which an air-quality monitor is placed inside the home to measure humidity levels, as well as temperature, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, odors, chemical vapors and airborne particles–all of which can affect your health and comfort.

If there is a moisture problem, it’s important to inspect the house for any water leaks, and take appropriate measures to correct the problem. You also may want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier, which can significantly reduce the moisture in your home. Lennox recently introduced the Humiditrol whole-home dehumidification system, which is installed in your home’s existing duct system and can remove up to three times more moisture from the air than a conventional dehumidifier.

My air conditioner is about 20 years old and I’m afraid it’s on its last leg. What should I look for when shopping for a new system?

The average lifespan of a quality central air conditioner is about 15 to 20 years, so it’s smart to be thinking about replacement. Planning ahead gives you time to conduct research and select the right system based on your specific needs. Consult the Good Housekeeping Institute, as well as manufacturer Web sites and local air conditioning professionals, who can help guide you in making an informed decision.

One of the most important things to consider when shopping for a new system is the seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER). While the national minimum SEER rating is 13, many newer models have a SEER of 15 and higher, which will help make your home more energy efficient. Some systems, such as the Dave Lennox Signature Collection XC21 air conditioner, are nearly twice as efficient as a standard air conditioner.

Finally, don’t put a price tag on comfort. Purchase a system that is priced within your budget, but don’t compromise your comfort, household energy efficiency or long-term savings by purchasing a unit that will not satisfy your needs well into the future.

Contact us now to get a quote!

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Keeping Up With Trends In Home Efficiency

Keeping up with seasonal trends in home comfort is often a time- and money-consuming challenge. There are a few trends that are here to stay, however, and some of those options can also help reduce your energy bills year after year.

The company that brings you Tempstar brand heating and cooling products has the following suggestions to help you save money now and for years to come.

* Heating and cooling: Today’s air conditioners and heat pumps can be up to 40 percent more energy efficient than older, less efficient units. The money homeowners can save in reduced energy bills by purchasing a new, high-efficiency system is often worth the investment. The Tempstar SmartComfort 2400 high-efficiency air conditioner operates at 14 SEER efficiency to help you save money while you keep your home comfortable.

* Electronic air cleaners: A good air cleaner can help trap many of the pollutants that may be traveling through the home. As part of the heating and cooling system, the new line of Tempstar electronic air cleaners filters indoor air to help improve indoor air quality. To ensure years of service, Tempstar indoor air quality products are backed by a five-year parts limited warranty.

* Humidifiers: Moisture levels in the home can affect your family’s comfort and the quality of your wood furniture and flooring. Humidifiers add moisture to the dry air in your home, which helps your body stay hydrated and comfortable. They can also help protect wood furniture and floors by maintaining the right levels of indoor humidity to prevent damage caused by dry indoor air. For information about Tempstar humidifiers, contact your local Tempstar installer.

* Programmable thermostats: A programmable thermostat can help you reduce your energy bill by cooling your home only when you need it. With a programmable thermostat, your cooling system can work at a more cost-efficient temperature while you’re away from home and lower the temperature to cool your home just before you return. To find a heating and cooling contractor near you, go to www.tempstar.com and click on the Dealer Locator button.

Evaluate your home today to find out if you can make some money-saving improvements that could be worth their cost in energy savings and improved comfort. Chances are, you can. – NU

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Physical Exams Apply To Your Heating And AC, Too

Just as doctors encourage yearly physical exams, many heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) manufacturers suggest periodic HVAC checkups to ensure your system is running properly. Preventive maintenance will extend the life of your unit and save you money.

With a Preventive Maintenance Agreement (PMA), offered for a yearly fee from your local HVAC contractor, a technician will come to your home to test and inspect your HVAC system before any minor issues turn into major problems. Among other things, the technician will check system functions and safety controls; inspect electrical components and connections; ensure proper airflow and change dirty air filters; and inspect pumps, lubricate and check flow rates, where appropriate.

Twice-A-Year Visits

Although different PMAs are available, technicians usually visit a home twice a year (once before the cooling season and once before the heating season) to ensure everything is working properly. Another all-inclusive option is a lifetime PMA that includes the cost of all maintenance, repairs, components, emergency service and equipment replacement.

It is important to remember that warranties are different than PMAs. A warranty will only last for a certain amount of time and, sometimes, only apply to specific parts of the unit. If a part is not working and it’s still under warranty, the manufacturer will provide a free replacement part. However, since warranties do not cover labor, you will still be responsible for the installation costs.

Maintenance Tips

Manufacturers such as York®, a brand of the Unitary Products Group of York-a Johnson Controls Company, point out that while it is important to have a service technician carefully inspect your unit to uncover any leaks, soot, rust, rotting parts, corroded electrical contacts and frayed wires, there are also a few simple maintenance tasks you can perform to improve your unit’s performance:

• Clear debris away from intake and exhaust vents to ensure unobstructed airflow.

• Check the thermostat wire entry point and, if necessary, apply caulk, so a draft won’t influence the thermostat reading.

• Remove several supply and return registers to see if your ducts need to be cleaned.
For more information contact us or visit our website!

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Save Money While You Survive the Heat

Staying cool this summer could become a challenge when the waves of summer heat come lapping at your door. If you haven’t prepared your home to keep the cool air indoors and the heat out, you may lose in the battle to survive the summer with reasonable cooling bills and optimal comfort.

The company that brings you Heil brand heating and cooling products suggests the following steps to keep your energy bills affordable and your home comfortably cool:

* Lock your windows and shut your garage door. It’s important to minimize the loss of cool air from your home. Sunshine can heat up your garage and cause your air conditioner to work much harder than necessary. Windows not shut tightly will allow cool air to escape. Lock your windows to give them a better seal, and shut your garage door to help keep your cool air indoors.

* Clear the area around your thermostat. Keep the area around your thermostat clear of electronics and lighting. The thermostat will sense heat from these appliances and run the air conditioner longer than necessary.

* Program your thermostat. A programmable thermostat can save money and energy by

operating at a more cost-efficient temperature while you’re asleep or away from home, and automatically lower the temperature to cool your home just before you wake up or return. New Heil brand programmable thermostats can help save money and are backed by a five-year warranty.

* Evaluate your landscaping. Plant trees and shrubs to shade your air conditioner but not block its air flow. A shaded air-conditioning unit will run more efficiently than one that operates in the sun. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an air conditioner uses as much as 10 percent less electricity when working in the shade.

* Re-examine your air-conditioning system. Your heating and cooling system may be sending hundreds of dollars in wasted energy bills through the roof. Purchasing a new, more energy-efficient system can cost less than keeping an older, less energy-efficient system.

For example, the Heil QuietComfort line of 14 Plus air conditioners saves energy, uses an environmentally friendly, chlorine-free refrigerant, and can save you up to 57 percent on your summer cooling costs.

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Central Air Conditioners Review

Heat and humidity can certainly bring down productivity in the workplace. You can make conditions more comfortable for work by installing central air conditioners if the work area is large, in which case one small air conditioner would not be enough. So, if you wish to cool the entire house or the office you need to install central air conditioners.

Normally central air conditioners works on the principle of transferring heat from one station to the other with the help of a transporting media which is a refrigerant commonly known as Freon. There are two parts in central air conditioners as it is a split system. One part is the air handler which is placed inside the home and the other part is the condensing unit which is located outdoors.

In order to cool the inside of your home, the central air conditioners remove the heat from the air inside and transfer it to the air outside. The indoor part of the system contains a refrigerant coil across which the indoor air is passed and then it is released outside. This process brings down the temperature inside to the desired level as per the thermostat setting.

Useful hints for buying central air conditioners
You should choose the system that would suit your local climate and the total cooling load. You can either go in for evaporative coolers that are useful in hot and arid regions such as the southwest or you can choose the compressor-driven central air conditioners.

You will also have to work out the size of the system needed.

You should look for a SEER rating higher than 12.0 when you are looking for a central air conditioner.

If you have ducts for an existing forced-air heating system, the central air conditioner system could be linked to these ducts, depending upon their size and the relative heating and cooling loads of your home. You can take the advice of a good HVAC contractor in this regard.

For efficient operation of a central air conditioner, proper sizing and installation are essential. It will be difficult to regulate humidity with too large a unit and if the unit is too small, you might not get adequate cooling on very hot days. Efficiency can come down with improper unit location, lack of duct insulation, improper duct sealing, and incorrect refrigerant charge.

Important aspects which should be considered while buying a central air conditioner are: provision of a fan-only switch, a filter check-light and an automatic-delay fan switch. You should also choose a central air conditioner that does not make too much noise.

If the outdoor (compressor) unit of the central air conditioners needs to be replaced, you should find one, which will be compatible with the existing indoor (blower coil) unit. An old blower coil would not be suitable for a highly efficient outdoor unit.

It is necessary to get an electrician to assess your home’s electrical supply such as the voltage and amperage capacity before installing central air conditioners, as it needs a constant 230-volt circuit and 20 to 50 amps of power.

from A&H Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog http://ift.tt/2l2kSWh