Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Blog

It's the most wonderful time of the year! But, it's also the time of year when bills can increase. From all the sentimental gifts to cooking, and more.

Check out these tips for how to save a little bit of money while still having a merry holiday season.

1. Consolidate your baking. The smell of treats baking sure makes it feel festive, but if you plan one big baking day you can save on energy costs. Plus, you can make it a fun family tradition!

2. Time your lighting. Nothing beats twinkling lights, but they sure can make your energy bill skyrocket. If you put your indoor and outdoor lights on a timer, it can help manage those costs.

3. Embrace the holiday sweaters. Set your thermostat a little lower and don your favorite holiday sweater. This will put you in the spirit and keep you cozy. 

4. Light that fire. Nothing heats a room quite like a roaring fire. Use that as a source of heat to bring down your heating costs.

5. Keep in the heat. Don't forget to keep windows and doors closed whenever possible. This is the best way to keep heat inside where it belongs!

We hope these tips help you save on energy costs this year! 

Moving into a new home is exciting, frustrating, and overwhelming. It's exciting because it's new. It's frustrating because inevitably something will go wrong. And it's overwhelming because there is so much to coordinate and organize. Let us help you with a few plumbing related items to pay attention to.

1. Check the floors for damage. Inspecting the floors for water damage can tell you a lot about your plumbing system. If the floors are warped, there was likely flooding. Be especially diligent about checking around faucets and appliances that use water, like your dishwasher.

2. Visually inspect pipes. Walk your house and look at your pipes. Do they appear in good condition or do they have rust or other flaws?

3. Check the water lines on all appliances. Think about your refrigerator, dishwasher, laundry, etc. Inspect anything that would potentially be loose and cause you problems in the future.

4. Check the water pressure. Turn on all showers and sinks to inspect the water flow. 

We hope these tips help you when it comes time to move! If you need a plumbing professional, we are here for you.

We got our first taste of fall weather in Virginia this week. You likely have been able to turn off your air conditioner and open some windows. (And for the chillier mornings, maybe you had the heat on in your car.) Before the weather gets too cold, we have some tips to prepare your HVAC unit for the cooler temperatures.

1. Check your filters. This is an easy one! If the filter looks dirty, get a new one and replace it. This will keep the air moving properly in your home. It will also help with fall allergens.

2. Seal any air leaks. Now is the time to check your home for where air can sneak in or out. Think places like windows, doors, or other cracks/crevices in the home. Sealing these up will help keep heat IN your home and lower that energy bill!

3. Clear debris from your unit. Much like the dirty filters, debris around your unit can cause problems. Be sure leaves, branches, and other potential problems are cleared out. You will want to stay vigilent about this throughout the season as leaves start to fall.

4. Turn on your heat before you need it. You may be thinking you aren't ready to heat your home, but running the heat one cooler day to make sure it works is smart. Listen for any unusual noises. If everything is running smoothly, great! If not, give us a call so we can get it fixed before the first cold snap when you will want that heat to be pumping.

Summer in Virginia is hot! This leads to increasing home energy costs due to various factors. Here are a few ways to control your energy bill:

1. Don't cool empty rooms. Use a programmable thermostat to manage your AC when you aren't in the house. You can set it on a schedule and forget about it.

2. When possible, make sure your unit is in a shady spot. Having your unit in direct sunlight all day can decrease its efficiency. 

3. Don't overcrowd your unit. Make sure all the shrubbery and other plants around or near your unit are trimmed. Overcrowding the unit causes poor ventilation.

4. Clear your indoor vents. Make sure furniture, curtains, etc. are not impeding the airflow from your vents.

5. Use fans to help circulate the air in your home. Ceiling fans should be set counterclockwise for best results, so they push the cold air downward.

With these few tips, you should see improvement in your energy bills over time. If your AC does not seem to be performing as well as it could, please schedule an appointment. We would be happy to come to take a look!

July 3rd through August 15th we celebrate "Air Conditioning Appreciation Days." Willis Carrier invented the air conditioner back in 1902 and we have been grateful ever since. Not only is it nice to cool down our homes, offices, and other places we visit, but it also has other benefits you may not realize.

Health Benefits of Air Conditioning:

• AC can help reduce the possibility of asthma attacks because it reduces the amount of pollen and other allergens in the air.
• Air conditioning also reduces the risk of heatstroke which can be fatal.
• Having a cool home can help you sleep better which is better for your long term health.
• It reduces the risk of dehydration because you aren't sweating. 
• AC provides you with a cool place to exercise which is, again, important for your long term health.

Additional Benefits of Air Conditioning:

• Air conditioning can reduce pests. This is especially important for your furry family members. 
• Your AC helps keep all of your electronics cooler, which will help prevent overheating.
• It can help with your productivity and to stay alert. This is more important now with more people working from home.

We may all take our air conditioners for granted sometimes, but these benefits can certainly help us appreciate our AC units a little bit more in the future!