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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality in the Spring

April 15, 2020

Quality air in your home is essential to the well-being of you and your family members. Your HVAC system is your house’s first line of defense against dirt, dust mites, and pathogens that are found floating around your residence. This unit doesn’t just heat and cool your home; it also filters and circulates the air, which is a benefit to your respiratory health. As the seasons change from winter to spring, the makeup of the air in your home will shift. The warmer air becomes more humid, meaning particulate in the air can stay longer and travel farther. If the air quality in your home is important to you, then you need to prepare it for each new season. Here are some steps you can take to make your house’s air as healthy as possible during the spring. Use High-Quality Filters Having filters installed that are allergen-rated will go a long way toward cleaning the air in your home. This rating means the filters have been tested and proven to trap much smaller particles than standard HVAC filters. Filters clean the air as it cycles through the duct system. The more of these microscopic particles you can get out of...

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Which Electric Heating Systems are the Best?

March 18, 2020

Forced-air and water-based heating systems are common choices for many homeowners. In some locations of the U.S., however, installing electric heating equipment might make more sense. When electricity is a cheaper alternative than oil or gas, going electric is a welcome option. You may also want to choose electric over other fuel sources if you simply need to extend an existing forced-air system. Cutting into walls to add ductwork and registers in addition to paying for a larger heating unit can be costly. Adding on a smaller electric heater instead could have cost benefits. You’ll find that there are many choices when it comes to selecting the best electric heating system for a home. If you’re still investigating what’s available for your floor plan, we can help you narrow the candidates. Our quick home heating guide for electric heating systems is packed with good information and budget-friendly alternatives. Heat Pumps for Heating a Home For many homeowners, heat pumps are a surprising addition when discussing electric heating systems. Heat pumps are a highly energy-efficient option when considering a replacement system for your home. These systems are designed to transfer heat rather than create heat. They operate by moving hot air...

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How Does a Thermostat Work?

February 20, 2020

Being able to turn on your home’s heating system is a luxury that we often take for granted. At the same time, it’s key that our heat can turn off when we’ve already hit our goal temperature. We have our thermostats to thank for our ability to maintain a certain temperature inside our homes. “Thermostat” literally means “to keep the temperature the same.” How Do They Work? Thermostats can be digital or mechanical. Digital thermostats can turn on their heating systems instantly, once the temperature drops below whatever mark you’ve set. Many modern thermostats can be programmed to maintain different temperatures at different times of the day. This can save you money if you don’t need to heat your home while you’re at work, for example. Smart thermostats are gaining popularity, and at in Meridian, ID, we regularly help people modernize their homes by installing thermostats that can be controlled by mobile devices. Many older thermostats are controlled through physics. They have thin strips of a special metal inside of them, and that metal can physically move depending on the temperature. This is because metal expands when it warms up and contracts when it cools down. That motion of the...

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