We are not used to being cold living here in Florida. It takes us off guard and sends us towards the thermostat to jack up the inside temperature. The problem is that along with the raised thermometer, a higher electric bill is also soon to follow. Keeping your home heating costs to a minimum doesn’t have to be difficult or uncomfortable. Try some of these habits and see your bill get back in check. Install a Smart Thermostat Smart thermostats…
It is difficult to get a standard temperature to spread throughout a home, especially one with a large amount of square footage. Here is a list of a few things that can make a difference and cause that variance. Tip # 1 Close all window coverings (shades, curtains, blinds) in rooms that receive a lot of sunlight if that room tends to become too hot in the summer. South facing rooms will receive more sunlight, so adjusting the window coverings…
If you are noticing that when switched on, your HVAC unit is giving off a slightly chemical smell it can be disconcerting. First, check to be sure it is indeed your air conditioner that is emitting the odor. Turn it off, see if it stops, then back on again. If it is your AC, it can be one of a few things. The first and most likely culprit is that someone has been using chemicals near the unit outside. Go…
It was 36 degrees outside in Fort Myers, Florida this morning. There was ice on my windshield! This unusual cold spell is causing residents to not only turn on but crank up their rarely used heaters. If you are like most of us, your heater has been gathering dust all spring, summer, and fall. You may get a lovely burnt smell added to your air as it begins to warm your home. But what if you flip that switch and…
No one likes opening utility bills to find a surprise rate jump and a higher bill than last month. Here in Florida, it happens quite easily and often. Hot tropical weather can easily spike your bill. We have a few creative tips you and your family can use to get that bill to go in the other direction. Top Tips for Energy Savings! The Refrigerator – 100 to 150 KWh of power a year is wasted opening and closing the…
This may seem like an odd question at first, after all, so long as the thermostat is in the house and on an interior wall it’s fine, right? Wrong actually. Though it may seem random, the placement of your thermostat as decided by your professional HVAC technician is actually strategically chosen and located. Some common mistakes homeowners make when installing on their own. Placing the thermostat in the kitchen – kitchen temperatures vary more than any other area of the…
You hear a lot of talk about how you can save money and what you should or shouldn’t be doing with your HVAC system. It is difficult to decipher the truth from fiction sometimes. We thought we would lay out some common myths that seem to keep circulating year after year so they can once and for all be brought to light and rectified. Myth #1 This seems to be a commonplace train of thought here in Florida. “Turning off…
Can you imagine living here in Florida without air conditioning? Up until the late 1920’s, that was the everyday reality. Air condition revolutionized the way we live. Comfortable is the new norm. Interestingly air conditionings’ start had absolutely nothing to do with comfort. In 1902 a Lithography company, Sackett & Wilhelms, in trying to do printing, became frustrated with humidity levels because ink would not dry properly. This was the start of 4 color printing (CMYK – Cyan Magenta…
Set it and forget it Regular inspections are important if you hope to keep your unit for a good long time. Maintenance plans include inspections so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to call and schedule. Your warranty could be invalidated if the system hasn’t been inspected regularly. Inspections help spot minor issues before they become big money devouring problems. Efficiency Matters If your system needs repair it will work harder to regulate the temperature for you. The system…
Ever wonder what it is that your AC tech actually does when doing the maintenance on your unit? Here you have it – the complete air conditioner and HVAC checklist. What we check when we inspect the indoor unit 1. Air Filters Change your air filter monthly or bi-monthly. Things like smoking and pet dander and fur can add to the potential clogging of the filter so it becomes even more vital if you are a smoker or a pet…