Proper garage ventilation is important not only for the garage environment itself, but also for the home it’s attached to. A garage is typically a source of unhealthy fumes and unpleasant odors. These include poisonous carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles that enter the garage, fuel fumes from lawn mowers and other powered equipment, and vapors including toxic volatile organic compounds released by various paint and solvents often stored there.
Summer is here and you know what that means - it's hot outside! Yes, these dog days of summer can be excruciating, but there are definitely ways for you to stay cool. Here are a few of our favorites:
Tips , Cooling Tips , summer , cooling , summer heat
Your HVAC system works hard to keep indoor temperatures bearable during the sweltering summer. However, it’s possible for your HVAC system to work itself into an early grave in the pursuit of cooler temperatures. An overworked HVAC system can wear down well before its time and cause your energy costs to skyrocket in the process.
In the summer, bugs get everywhere. They're on your clothes, they're raiding your food... They're even in your HVAC system! And once they're there, they can use the ducts to find their way pretty much anywhere else in your home. So it's important to quash that infestation before it starts. Here are some tips for preventing bugs in your HVAC system.
A portable A/C makes home cooling mobile. These units are mounted on wheels for transport and sized to fit through interior doors in residences so they may be easily re-positioned anywhere in the house. Most models can serve as both temporary spot coolers bringing quick comfort to any space in the house, or adapt to a more stationary role in a dedicated room, substituting for a conventional window air conditioner.
air conditioner , temperature control , BTU , cooling , portable air conditioner
It won't be long before the heat and humidity arrive, and you'll be turning on your air conditioner to keep your home comfortably cool. Before you reboot the A/C and start using it consistently, be sure to take these steps:
air conditioner , thermostat , a/c maintenance , air conditioner efficiency
As a homeowner, you expect to incur some expenses related to maintaining, repairing or replacing your heating and cooling equipment, but how do you judge whether you're getting good value for the amount of money you spend? Understanding some of the key factors that affect HVAC costs and what you might pay for different HVAC-related services and products can help.
HVAC , HVAC services , hvac costs , products
What do you know about refrigerant? You're probably aware that there is refrigerant in your air conditioner, but you may not know much more about it than that. Understanding what refrigerant does, why it's important to handle it properly and changes in rules regarding the use of different types of refrigerant can help you save money by avoiding problems.
Here are some things to know about refrigerant.
refrigerant , A/C , safety , to know
Are you planning a party this summer? Whether you're organizing a bash to commemorate the Fourth, a family birthday fete or just a fun event to celebrate the season, keeping your guests cool without sending your energy bills skyrocketing is an important consideration. Here are some ideas on how to keep your guests comfortable at summer parties without breaking the bank:
cool , guests , summer parties
Lots of things affect your energy bill, but obviously, weather is a major factors impacting how much you spend on maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home. In the summer and winter, when temperatures are colder or warmer, we use more power and our bills go up. But weather can affect our energy bills in other ways too. Here's how to understand some of them.
Think of the HVAC parts in your home as instruments in a symphony orchestra. They all have to play together well. A comfortable indoor environment in summer and winter depends on the interaction of numerous system components. HVAC parts can be affected by lack of proper preventive maintenance or simply normal wear and tear. If even one part is marginal, however, overall system performance, reliability and efficiency generally suffer.
Here are four critical HVAC parts that play a role in producing cool comfort or cozy warmth, depending on the time of year.
HVAC , homeowners , hvac parts
Experiencing an A/C freeze is a sign that your cooling system needs immediate attention. The causes are usually easy to fix and won’t take long, and the sooner you take action, the sooner the A/C can resume cooling.
refrigerant , A/C , summer , ac freeze , low airflow
Conserving energy in your home should be the responsibility of the whole family, including your children. Teaching kids about HVAC and energy efficiency helps them develop healthy, green habits that can last a lifetime. When they grow up, they'll know how to use their HVAC systems more responsibly and practice smart homeownership habits. Presently, the efforts of your little ones toward using equipment and appliances efficiently will help you save more energy and money on your utility bills.
HVAC system , energy efficiency , HVAC , home comfort , parents , teaching kids
If you have a forced-air HVAC system and a gas-fired water heater like many homes in the Fort Wayne area, you might not think they're related in any way. However, both are essential in your day-to-day life, and they're the two biggest energy consumers in your household. This makes HVAC and water heater maintenance equally important in terms of energy savings and comfort.
If you're looking forward to getting away from it all this summer, you want to be sure you've left your home in good shape and minimized the chances of anything going wrong while you're gone. The best way to cover all the bases is to create a vacation plan checklist and go through it systematically. No doubt you'll set the timers on the sprinkler system and indoor lights to make the home look lived in, clear out the refrigerator and find someone to bring in the mail and water the indoor plants.
For as much as pets contribute to family life, homes with pets do have special considerations when it comes to their HVAC systems and indoor air quality. The fur and dander that cats and dogs shed does impact parts of an HVAC system, but with a little extra care, a happy coexistence is entirely possible.
Are you looking for ways to save money on cooling your home this summer? If so, there are lots of energy-saving tactics to try, but one of the easiest is changing the blade direction on the ceiling fans throughout the house. Changing ceiling fan direction isn't difficult, and tackling this one simple chore before cooling season arrives can help you reduce your summertime energy bills and bring you other cost-saving benefits like longer equipment service life too.
energy savings , ceiling fans , save money , Fans , home comfort , fan direction
If the A/C in your home repeatedly cycles on for short periods, then cycles off again, you're dealing with a problem known as short cycling that can have costly and discomforting consequences.
The outdoor HVAC unit is an essential component of your home's cooling system, but it's built for functionality, not beauty. If you find that the sight of this ungainly metal box detracts from your home's curb appeal, there are lots of easy ways to hide it from view.
The air exchange rate in your house tells you important things about the effectiveness of your HVAC system as well as the health of your indoor air quality.
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