Thursday, May 20th, 2010
It may be “spring” on the calendar, but here in Richmond, the weather has been providing some early doses of summer recently. Already, home air conditioners have been humming throughout the region.
For many, the sound of that A/C unit outside can be justification, in and of itself, to break out into a cold sweat. After all, the more it runs, the bigger the power bill at the end of the month.
In an effort to calm the nerves and put less strain on your wallet, here are five ways to make your air conditioning unit work better and save money:
- The top way to make your A/C unit work better and save money is to replace your filter EVERY MONTH. Having a clogged filter in your air conditioning system slows down the flow of air, which makes the air unit work harder to cool your home. Clogged filters can even cause costly damage to the system. Replacing filters will ensure that you have cleaner air at a lower cost, with lower risk of your AC breaking.
- Use household fans to help keep the house cool. When people try to figure out how to make their AC work better to save money they often forget about this. A fan uses significantly less energy than your AC unit.
- Try to pay it forward to your AC unit and protect it from the sun. If your AC unit was placed in an area where it is in the sun most of the day, try planting shrubs or trees around it. The cooler the AC unit, the better it will cool your home. Just make sure not to plant too close to the unit – leave enough room for proper ventilation and comfortable servicing.
- If you make your home drier by getting rid of humidity you will see a change in comfort right away, because your body’s natural cooling systems work better in low- humidity air. Your AC unit removes some moisture from the air by itself ( thus, the delightful drip and drainage from the outside unit ). However, if you live in a tropical or subtropical climate with high humidity such as Richmond, a dehumidifier can ease the strain on your AC unit and keep everyone more comfortable at higher temperatures.
- By hanging curtains in front of the windows of your home, or thick blinds (not mini-blinds), your home will stay cooler on its own. For many a decorator, the mere thought of insulated drapes causes a recoil and cringe reaction. But don’t be so quick to judge. Insulated drapes have come a long way in the past few years. They come in different styles and colors now and should at least be considered if you have South facing windows. They really do help keep the heat out in summer and the cold out in winter. Draperies keeping the heat out in the hottest part of the day can keep your air conditioning unit from working so hard.
Your heating and cooling specialists at Marshall Mechanical know additional ways to save on cooling costs, and we would be happy to help you if you have any questions. Contact us at 804-323-0189 for more information today.
Tags: a/c, A/C Unit, Air Conditioning, air conditioning unit, Cooling, dehumidifier, efficient air conditioning, heating and A/C, heating and air conditioning, heating and cooling system, home air conditioning, home cooling, richmond a/c, Richmond air conditioning, richmond cooling, whole house dehumidifier
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Purification Systems, Cooling, Energy Efficiency, Humidity Control, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Purchasing a new home heating and air conditioning system is often more important than people recognize. Not only does your HVAC system need to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the hot Richmond summer months, it needs to run at high efficiency to save you money, have noise reduction features for quiet operations and both balance air flow and keep it at the right moisture level.
In this way, you’ll enjoy a comfortable home all year long and for many years to come. It is truly an investment in your home that you should not rush into purchasing, just like any other investment. Take your time, check the facts and ask questions of your HVAC contractor.
To help you make the best decisions in purchasing your new HVAC system, here are 7 things to consider:
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Reliability. Chances are, your heating and cooling system is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment you will purchase for your home. That’s why it’s important to choose proven products from a reputable manufacturer.
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Efficiency. A new ENERGY STAR®-labeled system, when properly sized and installed, can save you up to 20% on your annual heating and cooling costs. Plus, it may qualify you for utility rebates and tax credits.*
- Quiet operation. The sound of a standard furnace can be as loud as 100 decibels, comparable to the sound of a kitchen garbage disposal! Air conditioners can produce sounds as high as 80 decibels. Look for technologies and features that help keep operating sound at a comfortable level.
- Consistent temperatures. With a typical furnace or single-speed air conditioner, indoor temperature can vary as much as seven degrees from the thermostat setting. Variable speed and/or two-stage systems give you the assurance of precise temperature control.
- Balanced humidity. To maintain proper moisture levels in your home, choose a thermostat that controls both temperature and humidity. You might also consider a variable speed and/or two-stage comfort system and dehumidifier.
- Proper Airflow. A typical furnace motor runs at one speed and circulates a constant volume of air, so it responds to changing comfort demands by repeatedly cycling on and off. This frequent cycling increases air stratification and stagnation. For optimal air circulation, choose a variable speed model.
- Healthy air. One of the best ways to combat indoor pollution is to attach an air cleaner to your furnace or air handler. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing your system is working to capture small contaminants in every room of your home.
Here at Marshall Mechanical, we partner with Lennox because of their superior heating and air conditioning equipment and because they are the innovation leaders in high efficiency technology. Their products are superior in many ways. But we will always talk with our customers to find out exactly how they use their HVAC system and take into consideration their home specifications to make the best choice for each individual family and home.
For a free consultation on what heating and air conditioning system is the best choice for you and your Richmond-area home, please call the HVAC professionals at Marshall Mechanical at 804.323.0189 today.
Tags: a/c, Air Conditioning, air conditioning system, Cooling, Heating, heating and air conditioning, hvac, hvac system, HVAC system replacement
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cooling, Energy Efficiency, Heating System, Humidity Control, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Lennox, Residential, hvac | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
With the early bout of warm weather in the Richmond area this weekend, it’s not too early to start planning for your HVAC system’s Spring maintenance. As you may know, Marshall Mechanical is an authorized Lennox dealer and we specialize in helping you to maintain your heating and air conditioning equipment so that you can enjoy comfort and energy savings all year long, for many years to come. Below is an excellent Spring HVAC maintenance checklist* and reminders to help you best maintain your HVAC equipment this year.
Keep your cool with simple A/C maintenance
- Clear leaves, brush and dirt from inside your air conditioner’s top grille.
- Trim nearby shrubs and bushes to allow at least two feet of clearance around the unit.
- Set the thermostat to cooling mode and run your air conditioner a few minutes to make sure it’s working.
- Schedule an annual checkup of your air conditioning system.
- Replace your air conditioner filter once a month. Dirty filters restrict air flow and can waste energy.
- If you use a room air conditioner, install it on a north-facing wall to keep it out of the sun.
- If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, look for an ENERGY STAR® qualified model to help reduce cooling costs up to 20 percent.
Don’t let April showers bring May mildew
- Clear leaves, pine needles and other debris from gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage. Check that they’re stable to avoid flying debris during storms.
- Be sure downspouts slope away from your house. They should carry water at least 5′ from foundation walls.
- Position lawn sprinklers so they don’t spray your home’s walls.
- Examine window and door seals and weatherstripping. Reseal if needed.
- Move furniture a few inches away from the inside of exterior walls to increase air circulation.
- Check windows for condensation and walls for water stains, which are signs of too much humidity.
- Keep your home’s relative humidity between 30 – 50%. A humidity control system such as Humiditrol® can safely control humidity.
Take control of home energy costs
- Reduce air leaks in your home by caulking, sealing and weatherstripping around doors and windows.
- Use exhaust fans to reduce moisture in the kitchen or bath, but turn them off when they’re no longer needed.
- Make sure your refrigerator’s seals are airtight. Test by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the dollar out easily, the seal may need to be adjusted.
- Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washer.
- Turn off lights you don’t need to save energy and reduce extra heat in your home.
- If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, choose an energy-efficient model with two-stage cooling, such as the XC-21. Two levels of operation allow you to rely on the low setting most of the time and it runs at low speed 80% of the time, which means lower operating costs, more consistent comfort and better humidity control.
- Prepare dinner on your outdoor grill to help reduce your air conditioner’s load.
- Check ducts for air leaks, including holes or separated sections.
After having such a cold and snowy winter here in the Greater Richmond area, I think we’re all be glad that Spring is not too far around the corner. Remember, Marshall Mechanical is uniquely qualified to handle all your HVAC maintenance needs and we can help you protect your equipment and the investment you’ve made in your home. To schedule your Spring HVAC check-up, simply call our office at 804.323.0189 to schedule your appointment today.
*These tips are brought to you by Lennox International Inc. and Marshall Mechanical as an authorized dealer. © 2010 Lennox with all rights reserved.
Tags: A/C maintenance, Air Conditioning, air conditioning repair, air conditioning system, heating and air conditioning, Heating System, Home Humidity Control, Humidity Control, HVAC Maintenance, Lennox Consumer Tips, Lennox Spring, Preventive Maintenance, Reduce Humidity, Richmond HVAC, Spring HVAC checklist, Spring HVAC Maintenance
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cooling, Heating System, Humidity Control, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Lennox, Preventive Maintenance, Regular HVAC Maintenance, Residential, hvac | Comments Off
It may be “spring” on the calendar, but here in Richmond, the weather has been providing some early doses of summer recently. Already, home air conditioners have been humming throughout the region. 
