Home Comfort Solutions

Spring cleaning tips for your Air Conditioning Unit

Sat, 08 Apr 2017 00:30:00 GMT

Springtime in Georgia. There’s nothing like the return of colorful spring blooms and longer sunshine-filled days. And what else? Spring cleaning – the yearly ritual which sets us up for a pleasant and stress-free summer. It’s also the perfect time to make sure your home is running at peak efficiency.

Now that temperatures are getting warmer and we are thinking about turning on our air conditioning, it’s important to have your air conditioning and ventilation system(s) serviced by a professional technician.

Why is this important?

Your air conditioning system has been idle for months and just like an idle body is hard to get going, an air conditioner can need some help. Also, a professional technician will methodically check the electrical and refrigeration components of the system to be sure it is running at peak efficiency. Many repairs can be avoided or minimized by catching issues early and by following a regular maintenance program. And did you know that routine maintenance is required to maintain manufacturer’s warranties on your air conditioning equipment? It’s one of those things written in the small print!

Here are things you can do to care for your air conditioning unit

Here are some more things you can do to optimize energy efficiency in your home:

An easy way to be sure your routine air conditioning maintenance gets done is to sign up for our worry-free service agreement on the next visit. That way, WE CALL YOU to schedule routine maintenance and you don’t have remember it. It’s an easy way to mark one thing off your list!

It’s always best to call to schedule maintenance before the heat of the summer, so send us a request through the website or just give us a call at 678-546-0433. And enjoy the Spring weather!

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A How to Guide to Keeping Your Air Conditioning Clean and Efficient

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:00:00 GMT

Spring seems to have come earlier than expected in Georgia. With that being said, who’s up for some spring cleaning? It’s not something we get all that excited about either but it’s important to keep your house and all its parts clean. That includes your air conditioner’s filters, coils, and fins, which require regular maintenance in order for the unit to function efficiently for years to come. The U.S. Department of Energy provides tips on how to maintain your air conditioning clean so its performance isn’t affected. Here are a few ways to help improve the efficiency of your air conditioner.

AIR CONDITIONER FILTERS

To ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner, it’s important to maintain it and to replace or clean the filters every so often because dirty filters block normal airflow and can significantly reduce your system’s efficiency. With the obstruction of normal airflow, air that passes through the filter may carry dirt into the evaporator coil and limits the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity. Plus, you can lower your energy use by up to 15% just by replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one.

For central air conditioning units, common filter locations are in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself while room air conditioners have a filter in the grill that faces into the room.

Although some types of filters are reusable, others must be replaced but there are different types. How often should you clean or replace your air conditioning system’s filter or filters? Once a month or two during cooling season. Just keep in mind that filters may need more attention if the air conditioner is being used often, or if you have fur-bearing pets in the house.

AIR CONDITIONER COILS

The air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil pick up dirt over a period of months and years. Therefore, a clean filter can prevent the evaporator coil from soiling quickly. However, this does not mean that the evaporator coil will not collect dirt but there is a way to avoid the issue of reducing its ability to absorb heat. All you must do is check your evaporator coil yearly and clean it if necessary.

Something else to look out for is your outdoor condenser coils, which can become dirty if there is foliage close by. The good thing is that you can easily notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.

You should minimize dirt and debris such as dryer vents and falling leaves, for instance, by cleaning the area around the coil, removing the debris, and trimming foliage back at least 2 feet to offer adequate airflow around the condenser.

COIL FINS

The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils are easily bent and, as a result, can block airflow through the coil. There’s a tool called a “fin comb” that will comb these fins back into working condition.

CONDENSATE DRAINS

You should sporadically pass a stiff wire through the unit’s drain channels. Why? Well, clogged drain channels prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and the excess moisture can possibly discolor your walls or carpet.

WINDOW SEALS FOR ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS

HIRING A PROFESSIONAL

When your air conditioner needs regular maintenance, we recommend that you hire a professional service technician such as one of our guys at Home Comfort Solutions.

The technician will:

So remember, be proactive and maintain your air conditioning system as clean as a whistle so you can avoid hefty repair costs later. And if it’s something you rather leave to the professionals to do, just call us at Home Comfort Solutions in Northeast Georgia. We can help you save money and time.

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How to keep temperatures in your home comfortable during winter

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:00:00 GMT

We think it’s safe to assume that during the winter months here in North Georgia, most homeowners want nothing more than to turn their thermostats up to the highest possible setting to keep cold drafts out. Unfortunately, that is not a good idea. Constantly setting the thermostat to a high temperature during wintertime will cause a significant spike in energy bills. The U.S. Department of Energy’s website offers several tips on how you can program your thermostat to save energy and money when temperatures are low outside, which we’d like to share with you.

Daytime Temperature

To achieve optimal comfort indoors, it is recommended for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 to 72 degrees while there are people inside the home. This temperature range is not too warm or cool, and can warm up the home just enough so that everyone is comfortable regardless of the type of clothing they are wearing, although we wouldn’t suggest you keep your wool coats on.

Night Time and Away Temperature

When nobody is home for an extended amount of time and at night, it is ideal to lower the temperature to 58 to 62 degrees. When everyone is asleep and less active, there is no need for the heating and cooling system to waste energy when it is not needed as much. That temperature setting will also help keep the pipes in the home from freezing when the temperatures outside drop and no one is home.

Now, since older furnaces and heat pumps take longer to heat up the inside of a home, it can cause the home to feel colder than it really is since the appliance is taking more time to heat things up. To improve how fast the furnace works and to maintain the warm temperature indoors, it is best to replace all older appliances including the furnace with energy saving appliances. Here at Home Comfort Solutions, we can help make recommendations that work with your needs.

Digital Thermostats

Invest in a digital thermostat to make setting and maintaining temperatures simple. Digital thermostats make it possible for homeowners to set their thermostats in advance and not have to worry about setting them again until the season changes. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and install the digital thermostat in an area that is convenient for you to reach and away from all drafts, sunlight, furniture, doorways, and windows.

When setting a digital thermostat, keep in mind the times everyone is awake and sleep. Consider programming the device so that it lowers and raises the temperatures shortly before everyone gets up, goes to sleep, or leaves the house. If the home is going to be empty for three hours or more, do not forget to set thermostat to a lower temperature to save energy and money while you are away.

Ways to Save Money on Energy Costs in the Winter

While setting the thermostat to the right temperatures can improve the comfort of one’s home, there are other ways to achieve this:

-Wear warmer clothing and consider setting the temperature to lower than 72 degrees to see more savings on energy bills.

-Inspect and regularly replace filters.

-Get an inspection and furnace tune up before the arrival of winter to get the furnace ready for the season.

-Inspect the home for drafts and leaks. Seal up any cracks, holes or gaps in the home’s entryways, walls, and foundation to prevent thermal energy from escaping.

-Use weather stripping on doors and windows that are used frequently.

-Caulk or seal the windows and any unused exterior doors.

-Set the water tank temperature to 120 degrees to reduce thermal energy costs.

-Open the curtains or blinds to let the sunlight in to help heat the home.

-Check all pipes and faucets for leaks. Insulate the pipes by covering them with a blanket.

Just remember that taking these extra steps can not only help keep your home comfortable but can also help you save money and energy, which is what we here at Home Comfort Solutions want for your family.

For more information about ideal temperature settings or a programmable thermostat, call Home Comfort Solution at 678-546-0433.

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Home Equipment Maintenance Checklist for 2017

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:32:00 GMT

Can you believe 2017 is right around the corner? Like most, you may be planning for the coming year. New diets, new adventures, paying off debt and budgeting for house repairs. Okay, so we’d like to believe the last goal is in your plans as it should be. Being proactive by maintaining your equipment can help avoid future problems and unexpected costs. How? Have a professional perform a pre-season checkup on your cooling and heating systems so they are always at peak performance. AC units should be checked in the spring to be ready for the summer heat while heating systems are best checked in the fall before the bitter cold hits.

To make sure you’re ready for next year, we’ve included a checklist compiled by Energy Star.

Cooling Specific

Heating Specific

Actions To Do Yourself

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Is Your Furnace Leaking Carbon Monoxide into Your Home?

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 07:00:00 GMT

The dangers of carbon monoxide gas in your home must be addressed given how common gas furnaces are in Georgia homes. More often than not, furnaces are damaged by water from air conditioning units – a scary fact many homeowners are unaware of. That’s exactly why it is imperative to have you furnaces checked annually.

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America , carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion, present whenever fuel is burned. It is produced by common home appliances, such as gas furnaces as well as other gas-operated refrigerators, clothes dryers, ranges, water heaters or space heaters, fireplaces, and wood burning stoves.

Consumer confidence in the safety of today’s home heating systems is usually quite high but, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200 people across the country have died each year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by problems in the venting of toxic gases produced by their home heating systems. Other agencies estimate actual numbers between 2,000 and 4,000 and over 10,000 carbon monoxide related injuries.

Fortunately, regular (annual) heating system inspections and maintenance can prevent poisoning incidents like these. Regardless of how new your system is, it remains subject to weathering, animal invasions, deterioration and rust-out and the accumulation of nest materials and debris.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can also avoid carbon monoxide poisoning in your home by installing a battery-operated CO detector in your home. Place your detector where it will wake you up if it alarms, such as outside your bedroom, and consider buying a detector with a digital readout. This detector can tell you the highest level of CO concentration in your home in addition to alarming.

Let us at Home Comforts Solutions in Northeast Georgia check your gas-operated appliances including your furnace. It could mean the difference between life and death.

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What you should do with your AC while on winter vacation

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 18:22:00 GMT

Do you turn your AC unit off or keep it on while you’re on vacation? Most people may say that they turn it off to save energy. Common sense, right? Well, not exactly.

Winter vacation. I can picture it now. The family all huddled together near the fireplace drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows after a long day of sightseeing, skiing and tubing. Just thinking about that makes you all warm inside, doesn’t’ it? The actual vacation part, anyway. The prepping before going on a long vacation? Not so much. You always manage to forget something even as minor as your toothbrush, which – let’s face it – should be the first thing you pack (underwear comes a close second).

But there’s something many of us tend to forget when it comes to preparing for a vacation – preparing your home to make sure electricity usage goes down while away.

You shouldn’t turn off the air conditioner or furnace during your vacation. If anything, you should turn down the thermostat while you’re at your family’s house or a cabin for the holidays.

Just set your thermostat at around 50 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the summer keeps electronics and other temperature sensitive things from potential damage. The worst way to end a vacation is to come home to a flooded basement or frozen dishwasher. Not all of us in Georgia have a basement but we’re sure most of us own a dishwasher and this appliance is priceless.

You should also leave the water heater on at the lowest possible (or “vacation” setting) to keep the water from freezing in the lines and tank.

By putting these simple tips to use, you can save money on your electric bill and avoid possible repairs while you’re out of the house. When recovering from the cost of a vacation, every little bit helps.

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Nine steps to staying energy efficient during the change of seasons

Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:19:00 GMT

Fall season is upon us here in metro Atlanta, and with that comes cooler weather, depending on what part of the country you’re in. Even if you’re not experiencing lower temperatures just yet, the shift in temperature will arrive sooner than the Christmas decorations and merchandise at your local stores (and you know those make their debut quite early). So when it comes to energy efficiency, being one step ahead of the season will save everyone time and money in the long run. With space heating accounting for nearly half of your home’s energy use, maintaining and possibly upgrading your air duct sealing, thermostat settings and insulation could save you approximately 30% on your energy bill, according to the Department of Energy. That’s quite a chunk of change so we’ve compiled a list of 9 ways you can be A/C savvy during winter.

One of the best times to have your local A/C maintenance provider come for a check-up is during fall season (scheduling it around Game Day and football Sunday would be best). Why? It’s better to take care of your heating needs, as minimal as they may be, before extreme temperatures strike.

If at all possible, consider looking into installing a zoned system, which is controlled by multiple thermostats in multiple zones. This will prevent you from having to pay to heat or cool areas in your home that are barely used. Closing air vents aren’t an efficient alternative to a zoned system as doing so may cause leaks in the air ducts from the pressure and it will also make your A/C less efficient in the long run.

You’ll usually find these programmable thermostats in newer homes but can certainly upgrade to these in an older home without a problem. Setting a thermostat on a particular schedule depending on your work schedule or vacation will ensure you’re not running your heater all day when it’s not necessary to do so. The best part? It will reduce heating costs by about 35 percent.

You may not have realized this but windows, doors and holes in walls that are not sealed properly can invite Old Man Winter into your home. Avoid this by adding weather-stripping and caulking any holes you see. Also make sure doors and window sills are sealed properly. Doing this simple step can save you 10 percent or more on your energy bill.

If you have a mechanical air filter or HEPA filter inside your heating system, make sure to have an air conditioning and heating technician replace it annually. Checking your filter is quick and easy but you may just need to put it on your calendar so you don’t forget when you need to check it, preferably before you notice your A/C is being less efficient.

If you are in a newer home, the attic may already be insulated but it would be a good idea to make sure it’s insulated properly. If you live in an older home, you may need to consider doing so as this can be the most cost-efficient way to cut home heating costs.

During the winter months, we suggest you leave blinds and curtains open during the day to let the sunlight enter your home. Just remember to close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

While you’re out of town, you’ll want to set the temperature to at least 50 degrees. This will also help to keep the pipes from freezing and potentially bursting while you’re away.

This of course only applies to homes with fireplaces. If you don’t have a fireplace, you’re already being energy efficient (I hope this outweighs your desire to decorate a mantle for the holidays. Yes? No?).

Well, that pretty much sums up how you can be proactive and efficient with your heating system in your home. Hopefully these tips will leave enough money in your pocket for the holiday season up ahead.

For more information about the zoned system and programmable thermostat, call Home Comfort Solution at 678-546-0433.

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