Can Humidity Cause Electrical Problems Inside Homes?

February 4, 2021

A home is a unit made up of interconnected systems. Therefore, if one system in your home is malfunctioning, it could affect one or more of the other systems. One problem that could affect multiple areas of your home is an issue in your home’s ventilation infrastructure. If your Meridian home isn’t circulating air properly, you could end up with excess humidity. This excess humidity, unfortunately, could cause problems with other systems. That’s why the pros at encourage you to keep an eye on your home’s humidity so that you can prevent these problems from happening. How Does Humidity Collect in a Home? Anything you do that involves water can increase the relative humidity in your home. Washing clothes, taking showers, and even cooking can all release water vapor into the air. One of the biggest contributors to indoor humidity, though, is the water vapor that’s in every breath you exhale. Combined with the water vapor from other sources, it’s easy to see why many homes have high humidity levels. If your home is sealed tightly, very little of this water vapor can escape, meaning that it will remain in your home for extended periods. Problems With Electrical Wiring In...

View Article

Read More

How Often Should You Replace A Furnace Filter?

January 21, 2021

Winters in Idaho can be brutal, so you want to make sure your furnace is working throughout the season. One of the most important maintenance tasks is keeping your furnace filters clean and working properly. With so much conflicting information available online, how do you know how often you should replace them? There is no magic number, but rather some ways for you to tell if it is time. Ultimately, one of the best things you can do is to pull them out and visually inspect them. Why Your Filter Needs to Be Changed Your entire HVAC system works by drawing air into your system, heating it, and then circulating it throughout your home. Without that air movement, the system cannot work properly and will cause repairs and higher heating bills. While there are many causes of airflow restrictions throughout your house, the most common is your furnace filters. When your system draws in air, the first step is for the air to pass through the filter. This helps keep contaminants out of the furnace to minimize airflow restrictions and reduce fire hazards. As your system runs, the filters will continue to collect contaminants. This means your system’s efficiency will...

View Article

Read More

What Causes Flickering Lights and Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Them

December 15, 2020

You rely on electricity to keep your home safe and comfortable. When an electrical issue arises, it could put your family, home, and well-being in jeopardy. While flickering lights might seem like a minor problem, it could, in fact, be a sign of a much larger issue. Flickering lights can be incredibly annoying, but electrical problems that cause this issue can actually be quite serious. An occasional light flicker may be normal, especially if you live in an older home. However, if you begin to notice flickering that hasn’t happened before, you need to investigate. Flickering lights can be caused by a number of minor problems that you may be able to quickly address on your own without calling in a pro. If a bigger electrical issue is the culprit, though, it could be incredibly dangerous to try to fix the problem without professional help. The following are six common causes of flickering or blinking lights that you should watch for so you can get back to full brightness in no time. 1. Issues With the Light Bulb Itself If the flickering only happens in one light, the cause might be as simple as a loose bulb or the use...

View Article

Read More

6 Simple Ideas for Winterizing a Home and Cutting Heating Costs

November 19, 2020

Once winter arrives, the temperature not only drops outside, but it will dip in your home, too. Firing up the furnace could restore your interior to a comfortable level. Of course, it costs money to heat a house. Does that mean each winter comes with an excessively high heating bill? Homeowners who take steps to winterize their residences might cut costs significantly. Here’s a look at some steps for winterizing a humble abode during the cold season months. 1. Change the Furnace’s Filter A filter serves several different purposes. Yes, the filter captures dirt and other impurities and keeps them out of the ducts. However, a filter also keeps dirt and dust from building up inside the furnace. Such buildups could lead to the system running inefficiently. Inefficiency could translate to the unit drawing more power to heat your interior spaces. More energy means higher bills. Changing the filter could address this problem. Ultimately, filters require timely changes regardless of winterizing and money-saving concerns. An old and clogged filter doesn’t help the furnace. 2. Sealing Up Drafts Drafts cause hot air to escape, and they let cold air inside. Not every homeowner takes steps to determine if windows and doors...

View Article

Read More

Determining Which Thermostat to Use With Your Heating System

October 20, 2020

Keeping your Meridian home comfortable can be a bit of a balancing act. On one hand, you want to ensure that you always come home to a warm and enjoyable temperature. On the other hand, you don’t want your heating bills to be so high that you can’t afford to enjoy any wintertime activities. Fortunately, finding the right thermostat for your heating system can help you achieve this balance. The good news is that we at have a few suggestions to help you find the best thermostat for your needs. Understand Your Daily Routine When choosing a thermostat, it’s important to understand your daily routine. By understanding your routine, you can understand if you need a sophisticated smart thermostat or a simple mechanical thermostat. If you spend most of your time at home, for example, you may not have to program your thermostat since your temperature needs remain largely the same throughout the day. However, if you lead a busy life and spend quite a bit of time away from home, then a programmable thermostat will help you strike a better balance between comfort and energy usage. Understand Your Heating System At , we’ve seen a lot of different heating...

View Article

Read More

Avoiding AC Repair Scams

September 19, 2020

Most families depend on their air conditioners to keep them cool through the spring and summer months. And when there is a problem with an HVAC system, you will more than likely turn to an AC service technician to repair it. The unfortunate truth is that not all AC repair companies operate with the level of ethics needed by their customers. This fact is bad news for a family who needs the problem with their air conditioning system addressed in a hurry. It may help a bit to familiarize yourself with common AC repair scams. The following covers some tips about how to avoid these scams before seeking to have your system serviced. 1. Replacing Parts That Still Work A shady repair technician may tell you that parts contained within your air conditioning system need to be repaired or replaced when there is nothing wrong with the AC part identified as the problem. Often this scam includes a quoted price for the new AC part that is so high it causes the customer to conclude a new HVAC system is a better option. One evidence of this scam is the claim by a technician that multiple parts are not working...

View Article

Read More

Benefits of AC Surge Protectors

August 9, 2020

An aging or compromised power grid in your community is a safety issue that can affect an AC system. Installing an AC surge protector can put a stop to the potential damage caused by power surges and brownouts. The impact of a surge during hot weather can bring down your AC unit quickly. Here’s more information on the value of surge protection for your air conditioner. What Is Surge Protection? Our nation’s power grid has weaknesses. Electrical surges are spikes in voltage that can flow from the grid into your home’s electrical system. Every year, property owners are faced with electrical surges that can damage their home’s power system and appliances. These surges happen in microseconds and can occur without you even knowing what’s happening. With surge protection in place, the swell of power is stopped or diverted. This protects equipment connected to the electrical system from damage. What Causes Electrical Surges? Stormy weather can cause a surge in the power grid and result in problems for whole communities. Whole neighborhoods can suffer the effects of lightning hitting power lines or blowing a transformer. High winds and rain can also affect already degraded power lines and cause surges. Spikes in...

View Article

Read More

Tips to Extend the Life Expectancy of your Air Conditioner

July 14, 2020

Your air conditioner works hard to create a comfortable environment for your home during warmer spring and summer weather. It prevents overheating due to extreme temperatures, helps to ensure healthy airflow, and filters out dust particles and allergens. Doing your part to keep your AC unit working at its prime is highly important. That’s where an experienced AC company in Meridian can help. Although your cooling system may eventually experience normal wear and tear associated with long-term use, follow these simple tips to extend the lifespan of your unit as much as possible. 1. Regularly Clean Your Ducts and Replace Your Air Filters A filthy air filter can put unnecessary strain on your air conditioner, forcing it to work extra hard to output clean, fresh air. At least every three months, replace your air filters. Changing your air filters regularly will prevent them from getting clogged and improve your unit’s overall efficiency. Dedicate a specific day of the month to clean your air filters. Help to keep the air clean by vacuuming your air vents and ducts, too. If necessary, wipe off the areas with a damp cloth. Make sure the area around your AC condenser is clear of leaves,...

View Article

Read More

How To Stay Cool If Your AC Breaks

June 7, 2020

We generally rely on our AC units to keep us cool in the summer. Unfortunately, things do eventually malfunction, and they sometimes break at the worst possible time. If it’s hot and you’re stuck waiting on AC repairs, you should consider some other ways to beat the heat. Here are several methods of staying cool this summer if your AC fails you and the repairs haven’t been completed yet. Cool Drinks and Cool Foods The things you put into your body help control your body’s temperature. If you are already hot, you don’t want to consume soup or hot tea. This will only make you feel warmer. Instead, focus on cool foods and drinks. You also want to ingest items that contain plenty of water to help you stay hydrated. Some great options include popsicles, iced tea, fruit and vegetables. These will keep you cool and replenish the water you lose from sweating. Play in the Water One of the best ways to cool off is to get into the water. If you have a pool or a public pool nearby, that’s a great place to go and relax. You can also just run through the sprinkler. However, as you...

View Article

Read More

What are the Types of Smart Thermostats?

May 11, 2020

Programmable thermostats are a step up from the old analog or dial styles of thermostats. They allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day and days of the week. A smart thermostat is another step up from a programmable thermostat. A smart thermostat connects to your Meridian, ID, home’s Wi-Fi and offers more features and functionality. Knowing about the types of smart thermostats and their features allows you to make an informed decision about which one is the best for your Meridian-area home. Basic Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat Nest, EcoBee, Honeywell and other manufacturers all make basic smart thermostats. These thermostats connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network. They work with compatible central heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. They also work with ductless and mini-split HVAC systems. All smart thermostats make use of algorithms. They get new algorithms and updates to existing algorithms on a regular basis through your Wi-Fi. These software updates are important because they allow the smart thermostat to optimize your home’s energy usage. Smart thermostats also include an app for use on your smartphone. There are iOS and Android versions of each manufacturer’s app. This allows you to update your temperature settings from...

View Article

Read More