Over time, the air ducts in your home can get full of dust, mold, dander, and other contaminants. If you or someone in your family has allergies or a respiratory condition, this can cause serious health issues. By regularly cleaning air ducts, as well as coils and fans, your HVAC system will work more efficiently and use less energy — and help you save money with lower utility bills. You can also avoid expensive repair bills and help your system last longer. In some cases, you may need to have your air ducts cleaned more frequently. Here … [Read more...]

Whether you are planning new construction, enclosing a small area of the home such as a patio, or preparing for a major remodel, an important step in your planning and design involves assessing your HVAC system. Considerations for New Construction As you imagine your dream home, think of the air conditioning system as the 'lungs' that circulate and refresh air throughout the dwelling. Although less glamorous than a quartz-countertop kitchen island or spacious master suite, a well-planned HVAC system is essential to curb moisture accumulation, … [Read more...]

Screening your outdoor air conditioning condenser with plants is not only a great way to hide the unit from public view, but the right landscaping can actually make the AC work more efficiently -- if you do it right! Hide & Shade Tall landscaping plants do double-duty by hiding your outdoor air-conditioning unit from view, while also shading it from a sometimes-overbearing sun. With the hot summer sun beating down directly onto it, an outdoor condenser has to work harder to cool off, thus driving up your electric bill.  So even if you … [Read more...]

Keeping your home’s thermostat set to a cool 65 degrees once the outside temperature hits three digits may feel nice at the time, but you’ll likely overheat at the sight of that month’s electricity bill. By that same token, cranking up the heat to 80 when it gets chilly outside may quickly warm up your home, but is also likely to cause your energy bills to skyrocket. What are the most efficient thermostat settings for all four seasons? By making some adjustments to your thermostat, along with a couple of other modifications, you can improve … [Read more...]

If just spending a little time, and maybe getting your hands a little dirty, were the key to saving money, would it be worth it to you?  You can make your air conditioner last longer and work better by taking a few regular steps of maintenance.  You may have to spend a little money on filters for your appliance, but your home should be more comfortable with these maintenance steps, and it will save you larger sums of money down the road. Easy things to maintain on an air conditioner include the filters, coils, and fins.  Evaluating and … [Read more...]

While Texas residents are no shrinking violets when it comes to handling high summer temperatures and humidity, even the most rugged homeowners are likely to eventually retreat into the climate-controlled indoors to beat the heat. But running an air conditioner for months at a time can be an expensive prospect; where can budget-conscious (and ecologically-conscious) Texas homeowners turn for assistance? Fortunately, the establishment of a law requiring utility providers to meet certain efficiency goals has led to a dramatic increase in the … [Read more...]

Americans are increasingly aware of the effects that their actions have on the environment and are looking to make upgrades to their home that will boost its eco-friendliness. Since air conditioners account for almost half of all home energy use during the hot summer months, choosing the right AC unit can significant lessen your home's impact on the environment--and, as a pleasant side effect, can dramatically lower your monthly energy bill at the same time. Moreover, an eco-friendly AC unit will cool your home just as well as any other unit, … [Read more...]

With summer and hot weather right around the corner, having an air conditioning system that is functioning efficiently and providing your home with all of the cool air that it needs is critical. Taking the time to check and see if your air conditioning system is displaying signs that it may be in need of service, before the hottest months hit, is the best way to ensure that you don't get stuck with an underperforming or completely broken air conditioner come July. With that in mind, here are six key symptoms that may indicate that your air … [Read more...]

If you live in a hot and humid climate like the great state of Texas, you may not always look forward to the summer weather, and those often sky high summer electric bills.  Summertime electric bills can get obnoxiously high as the temperature rises outside because your AC units has to work longer and harder to keep you cool inside. Fortunately, there are some effective ways to cut down on your air conditioning costs while still keeping your house cool this summer. Make these tips part of your daily routine and reduce the chances of having to … [Read more...]

Many homeowners dread cold weather and the high heating bills that can accompany the winter months as their furnaces are forced to work overtime. Luckily, lowering your heating bill can be as simple as taking a look around your home and performing some easy do-it-yourself repairs to help relieve the work your furnace needs to do. Here are five quick, inexpensive fixes can add up to big savings on your home heating bill. Replace old weatherstripping If the weatherstripping around your windows and doors is worn out, you may find that your house … [Read more...]