Author: Joan Dixon

Essential HVAC Tips to Consider

Whether a homeowner or a business owner, good air conditioning is essential to keeping your property comfortable during warm weather. While most people are familiar with the basics of their HVAC systems, many other steps can be taken to ensure your system runs efficiently and effectively all year. Here are some essential tips when taking care of your HVAC system.

Change the Filters Regularly 

One of the simplest things you can do to keep your system running smoothly is to change the filters regularly. Depending on how often you use your system, you should change out the filters at least every three months or more often if needed. Not only will this help keep your air clean and free from allergens, but it will also improve airflow and help reduce energy consumption and wear and tear on the unit. 

Schedule Annual Maintenance 

Having an annual maintenance checkup is also … read full article

Effective Ways to Cool a Home

how to cool your home

Summer is almost upon us, and that means your home is going to start getting hotter. Air conditioning units can be very expensive, and picking out one that will work well is not always easy. How much will it cost to run your new AC unit? Are you allowed window units in your home? We’re here to help you navigate the confusing world of air conditioning and cooling.

The first and most important point is to find a unit that will fit your space properly. Air conditioners that are not powerful enough could leave you with a greatly inflated energy bill and a home that isn’t cool enough. Units that are too powerful will cool your space too quickly, which is still a bad thing because they won’t remove the humidity, so your house will get cool yet clammy. You could end up with a condensation problem, and the rapid … read full article

Is Air Pollution Causing Mental Health Conditions?

poor air quality causes mental health problemsThe air pollution is plentiful in the world today. It is caused by a variety of issues and it can be dangerous for all of us. When figuring out if poor air quality is causing mental  health issues, it’s a good idea to read through this article for further information. You may find some of the information to be upsetting but it is helpful none-the-less.

Poor Air Quality Causing Mental Health Conditions

With a study that used 151 million people from the United States and 1.4 from Denmark, there are ample reasons to worry. Poor air quality is linked to depression, bipolar, Schizophrenia, and more. By looking into the information further, the study produced results that after ethnicity, air quality was the cause of mental health issues. In an area in the UK, air pollution was found to cause teenage psychotic experiences to add to the mix of worries … read full article

Tips On How to Buy a Furnace

furnace contractor You can offset energy prices by replacing your old heating system with a new and more efficient furnace.

Asides from saving money, newer furnaces are more environmental friendly and they can produce more heat than older models. Gas furnaces are still the most popular types used, and this is how to buy a furnace.

Get Furnace Estimates

Contacting various contractors is a smart move. This is who you get the best deal on a furnace. However, make sure you get estimates in writing.

Size Is Important

The size of the furnace matters, as one that is too small won’t provide you with enough heat during the cold winter months. You also want to avoid buying a furnace that is too big, as it will cycle on and off more often. This means you will waste energy and temperatures may vary, and let’s not forget to mentioned that a larger furnace … read full article

5 Appliance Repair Tips For Your Next Service Visit

Columbia Appliance Repair CentralAre you ready for your next appliance service visit? Do you have a service contract or need paperwork done? Be prepared when your appliance technician arrives with these five appliance service and repair tips.

Tips for dealing with contractors may be few and far between when it comes to appliance service and repairs. Not to worry! We have the inside scoop! With our list of repair tips, the next time you have an appliance contractor scheduled to fix your appliance or replace a part, these five tips will prepare you and make the visit go as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

1. Clear Your Schedule Even if you know exactly what time to expect the appliance contractor to arrive, no one can predict exactly how long the visit will take. When the appliance service company provides you with a window period in which the contractor may be expected, make sure … read full article

Dirty Air Ducts – Less Comfortable Home

There are numerous courses ending up being extremely useful in avoiding medical issues yet HVAC cleaning isn’t generally at the highest priority on the rundown. As per examined, an increment in molecule levels such residue and dust isn’t entirely ascribed to the state of air conditioning pipes. This is because of the way that the earth that is inside the air conduits does not by any means enter or go to the living space. It just adheres to the pipe surface consequently the air isn’t really influenced.

There are a ton of different ways that can be wellsprings of particles that lessening the indoor air nature of our homes beside filthy air pipes. Toxins and contaminants can originate from both outside and inside. Propensities and doings, for example, cleaning, warming, smoking, cooking, and numerous more can really be of more prominent presentation to toxins contrasted with filthy air channels. Furthermore, … read full article

How to Work with Drain Snakes

It’s inevitable to experience clogged drains in your home. And when you encounter one, you can attempt to fix the plumbing problem yourself. The common solutions are pouring hot water into the drain, using a plunger, pouring in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, or pouring chemicals. However, tough clogged drains may call for a professional to get it fixed especially when plungers and mixture of baking soda and vinegar do not work. But a do-it-yourselfer can go as far as using a drain snake. Why not? Having an HVAC expert or plumber fix the drain can cost you hundreds of dollars while a drain snake will only take about $25 off of your pocket and it’s an easy solution in a professional level.

Let’s learn what a drain snake is before we discuss how to use one.

A drain snake (aka drain auger or plumbing snake), is a … read full article

Changing a Furnace Filter

furnace filters hamiltonA key task that must be done before winter hits is change the furnace filter.  Even though it will only take roughly ten seconds to change it, most homeowners fail to do this. It can be out of neglect, or they simply forget.

Looking for an Eco-friendly and Green-Friendly HVAC Contractor? See our friends at Green HVAC Solutions.

Not changing your furnace filter can have devastating effects on the air quality inside your home. It is extremely important to either change the furnace filter yourself (which is quite easy), or have a professional do it for you.

Significance of a Furnace Filter

The initial filters of a furnace were intended to shield the components on the interior of the unit. It efficiently collects the dirt, dust and debris that has accumulated inside so that they don’t trigger mechanical problems. Nowadays, modern furnaces do both air purification and ensuring that the … read full article

Helpful Plumbing Tips for your Home’s Plumbing Needs

Plumbing TipsHomeowners deal with plumbing and HVAC problems every now and then. And although there are plumbing needs that require a call to the professionals, there are also those that can be handled by just about any homeowner without the need to spend extra for service repairs. Here is a compilation of helpful plumbing tips to help you bring down your water bills and at the same time save some money on plumbing repairs.

Dishwashers, Washing Machines, and Ice Makers The best time to run your dishwasher and washing machine is during off peak hours and night time. Using these appliances during certain parts of the day ensures that you conserve temperature and water pressure. Check on the supply hose for any sign of leaks, cracks, or any sign of weaknesses. Also make a regular inspection of the connections to ensure everything is tight and secured. To avoid clogs, make use… read full article

How to Avoid These Plumbing Scam Artists

If we lived in an ideal world, we would call a plumber or an HVAC professional.  Unfortunately, a few bad apples ruin the plumbing pie, so to speak. It should be clear to all of us by now that nothing is perfect in this world, which also applies to companies selling plumbing materials. To your misfortune, you might encounter plumbing scam artists who’ll provide substandard work and leave you more frustrated than ever. They’ll even charge you a preposterous amount for something they did not do, or even try to make you believe that you need other unnecessary repairs. You can avoid being lured into this trap by having the know-how in distinguishing the plumbing scam artists from the authentic plumbers and suppliers.

THEY MAKE THE CALL TO “THEIR GUY”

A plumber that tells you that he needs to phone “their guy” is the most notable warning that you are … read full article

6 Easy Options to Cleaning a Drain

DIY tricks on how to clean a drain

When faced with an obstructed sink, the adage “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” rings true. There are a lot of things that you must not let go down your drains, especially if your home has a septic system. For starters, you can avoid dealing with obstructed sinks by not letting grease, various food particles, and even hair go down your drain. A tiny piece of wire mesh comes in handy since it can effectively catch food particles and other items from going down. If you have a mesh, ensure that you clean it from time to time to avoid it getting smelly. Check out the following DIY tricks on how to clean a drain.

Now, just remember that nobody is perfect. We can get lazy at times, you ask your kids to wash the dishes, and … read full article

How to Hire the Best HVAC Contractors for your Home or Business

6 Things to Consider when Hiring HVAC Contractor

On average, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning makes up 40% of home and commercial electricity consumption. But a lot of home and business owners fail to grasp the efficiency of their HVAC system when attempting to minimize operational costs.

Searching for an environmentally friendly HVAC company? See our friends at HVAC – Eco-friendly company.

You can do a lot of checks to determine if your existing HVAC system requires an upgrade, a repair or perhaps a retrofit. For example, if you happen to have an obsolete system right now, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning may not meet your home’s needs. You will likely end up with very high utility bills than what you initially expected. Your entire system must be the right size for the size of your home. Other issues, like regulating temperature, carbon dioxide levels, and airflow, may likewise … read full article

Learn How to Fix an Air Conditioner

HVAC contractorsIt is very costly to repair an air conditioner when you need to hire an expert HVAC technician to intervene. Indeed, the time will come when you cannot avoid a pricey air conditioner repair, but it is handy to know that you can try fixing it yourself first before asking an expert to fix it. You’d be surprised to find out that some of your HVAC issues can be easily fixed on your own most of the time.

The thing is your unit malfunctions for the most obvious reasons of all. It is exasperating to shell out a few hundred dollars just to ask a technician to come to your home and turn a breaker back on. You can perform a few swift and easy checks and repairs before calling for help from an AC service company. Most of the time, you can save money by just performing these simple … read full article

How to Find an Air Conditioning Contractor that Suits Your Needs

How to Choose An Air Conditioning Company

Homeowners are faced with a multitude of alternatives when it comes to their cooling needs. Wherever you may live, you will likely see HVAC companies one after another. The same thing applies to heat pumps. Homeowners can choose from more than a handful of companies to help them out with HVAC installation, service or maintenance of their equipment. Now the question for an average homeowner is, how to choose an air conditioning company that can address your home’s cooling needs at a price you can afford? Heed the subsequent recommendations to better understand how to choose an air conditioning company in your area.

First and foremost, homeowners need to consider a particular company’s years of industry experience when faced with the question of how to choose an air conditioning company for their home. It also applies to entrepreneurs who require commercial services from … read full article

How to Troubleshoot a Natural Gas Furnace

Before you start, review your furnace’s owners manual to be familiar with the major parts of your furnace. Moreover, there might also be a need to secure a screwdriver and flashlight when implementing the following furnace troubleshooting suggestions.

Inspect all the Furnace Essentials

Make sure that your gas service is working. Inspect the gas valve meter of your local gas company. And then, inspect your face’s shutoff valve.

This one is pretty obvious. Ensure that the setting of your thermostat is on the heat mode. When the temperature of the room us much lower in contrast to the setting on your thermostat, you can make the temperature go higher by a number of degrees and wait for your home’s furnace to turn on.

Also, make sure that the power switch on your furnace is turned on.

Likewise, inspect the ignition source or the pilot light. By now, you’ll be grateful … read full article