Posts Tagged ‘a/c’

100+ Degrees Again? Take Care of Yourself in the Heat

Monday, June 28th, 2010

From Henrico Public Health Department

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – With severe heat expected again today in the metro Richmond region, the Henrico County Public Health Department advises residents to be aware of the signs of heat-related illness and take steps to protect themselves.

Individuals especially at risk for heat-related illness include small children, seniors and people with chronic medical conditions who are not in an air-conditioned environment; however, anyone can be affected by severe heat.

Early signs of heat-related illness can include cramping, fatigue, dizziness and fainting. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are medical emergencies requiring immediate attention – call 911.

Drink two-to-four glasses of cool fluids each hour; if working outside or exercising, drink fruit juice or sports beverages.

If possible, conduct outdoor activities before noon or at night. Limit physical activity and rest frequently. Avoid sunburn. Wear a hat and light, loose-fitting clothing. Use the buddy system if working outside.

Never leave children or pets in vehicles with closed windows, even momentarily. Temperatures quickly can reach 150 degrees, resulting in heat stroke and death.

Keep cool indoors. Spending at least two hours per day in air conditioning significantly reduces the number of heat-related illnesses; be aware that a fan may not prevent illness when temperatures reach the upper 90s. Seek shelter from the heat by going to air-conditioned facilities such as indoor malls and public libraries.

For more information, read the complete story from the Henrico County Health Department. 

Copyright 2010 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.

P.S. And if you need help with repairing or replacing your air conditioner unit, please contact Marshall Mechanical at 804.323.0189 today.  Don’t wait if your a/c unit is broken, as you may be putting your health in danger with these hot temperatures.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Cooling, Repair Service, Residential, Summer Hot Temperatures | Comments Off

A/C Efficiency: 5 Tips to Keep Your Richmond Home Cool in Summer

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Flowers Spring Richmond VAIt 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Purification Systems, Cooling, Energy Efficiency, Humidity Control, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | 1 Comment »

Save up to $2,500 when you buy a heating and air conditioning system during the 2010 Lennox Spring HVAC Rebate promotion. Act now!

Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Lennox Spring HVAC Rebate

Call us at 804.323.0189 today.

The Lennox Spring HVAC rebate promotion launched at Marshall Mechanical today. With the Lennox manufacturer rebate of up to $1,000, the Federal tax credits of up to $1,500, and zero percent, 12-months financing offered by Marshall Mechanical, you can save up to $2,500 on a new heating and air conditioning system.

But you must act now to take advantage of these savings as the Lennox rebate ends with equipment being installed by June 30, 2010.

This Lennox rebate promotion allows Marshall Mechanical to customize a heating and air conditioning system — a Lennox Home Comfort System — based on your personal home comfort requirements and your home’s specific needs.

Lennox Spring Rebate — save up to $1,000

We can create a Lennox heating and air conditioning system from a full range of qualifying products from Lennox’s outdoor, indoor, healthy climate and temperature control lines and the homeowner will be then eligible for a manufacturer’s rebate of up to $1,000 for buying one qualifying product in each category of select systems purchased and installed by June 30, 2010. And we’ll help you with the paperwork in order to get your rebate processed. 

Best of all, Marshall Mechanical also offers you 12-month, 0% financing through GE Money — available for qualified applicants.* 

If you purchase and install your heating and air conditioning system with a qualifying Lennox Home Comfort System before June 30th, you can receive:

    1. Up to $1,000 in Lennox product rebates on qualifying home comfort systems
    2. Up to $1,500 in Federal tax credits
    3. 12-months 0% financing from Marshall Mechanical

Therefore, your total savings can run up to $2,500!

And, of course, those savings are in addition to the money you’ll save each and every month by having a new and more energy-efficient heating and air conditioning system installed in your home, further saving you hundreds of dollars each year as you and your family enjoy your new Lennox home comfort system. And that’s a lot of extra cash for you to spend on other things you need each month.

So don’t wait to take advantage of this offer

Please call your Richmond heating and air conditioning professionals at Marshall Mechanical today at 804.323.0189. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and set up an appointment to review your heating and air conditioning needs prior to the arrival of the hot summer temperatures and humidity conditions that the Richmond area is known for.

With Marshall Mechanical and Lennox, now there are even more ways to both protect and maximize the investment you’ve made in your home!

P.S. Call 323.0189 today as the 2010 Lennox Spring Rebate Promotion lasts only until June 30, 2010, with equipment being installed by that date. Lennox rebate requests must be postmarked by 10 days from installation or by July 14th, whichever occurs first. Don’t miss out on these great savings! Call us today at 804.323.0189.

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Posted in 2010 Lennox Rebate Offers, Air Conditioning, Cooling, Energy Efficiency, Heat Pump, Heating System, Lennox, Residential, hvac | Comments Off

7 Things to Look for in a Home Heating and Air Conditioning System

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.*
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Cooling, Energy Efficiency, Heating System, Humidity Control, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Lennox, Residential, hvac | 1 Comment »