As the season starts to turn, it’s the perfect time to give your HVAC system a little extra care to be sure it’s running efficiently before the cold weather strikes. Here are some tips from the G-Man:
Change your Air Filters
Your air filter collects dust, dirt and allergens. If the filter is dirty, it will reduce the system's airflow. This can cause the unit to cool inefficiently. When dirt gets on the coils, it allows frost to build up, making it more difficult for the unit to cool your house and could even cause water damage in your home. Pet hair, smoke and home renovations can mean you may need to change your filter more frequently.
Update your Thermostat Settings
Did you know that cooling your home accounts for 15% of all home energy usage? While that may seem like a lot, think about the work it has to do cooling your home top to bottom! No other appliance has to work that hard (well, besides your heating system, but that's for another season).
So what is the most effective use of that 15%? A couple of window units throughout the home, or a central air system?
There are pluses and minuses to both:
It gets hot in Richmond during the summer. Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure your air conditioning is running at full capacity:
We've all been there, hair clogs the tub drain, too much TP in the toilet, etc. These are all normal plumbing issues that most homeowners can manage on their own. From a simple leaky faucet, to a clogged drain, you, as a homeowner, are certainly equipped to handle those plumbing issues. However, sometimes those problems escalate:
By now, many of us have given in and turned on our air conditioning (if only to turn it off the past few days because of this cold front). Did you think to check or clean your filter? If not, your air conditioning may not be running as efficiently as possible. Here are a few tips on how to clean your filter:
Happy Earth Day RVA! Earth day started in 1970 as a way to get a few more trees in the world, now it represents so much more, recycling, renewable energy and more! At Gilman, we are all about energy conservation and awareness. Did you know we have technology that can heat and cool your home using energy from the earth's core? It's called Geothermal Technology! The geothermal heat pump unit is connected to the earth through a series of durable polyethylene pipes. The most common configurations are either open-loop or closed-loop design.
While most of our services benefit the interior of your home, we still think the exterior landscape is very important! In honor of Lawn and Garden Month, we have pulled together five tips on how to have an easy, but nice looking yard this spring:
"What did one toilet say to the other?" "You look flushed!" Happy April Fool's Day! All joking aside, a clogged toilet, leaky faucet and other plumbing issues are no joke. This week we want to help you with a few simple plumbing tips:
Spring is finally here in Richmond! Make sure you are ready with a few simple spring cleaning tips:
Wondering how to make your air conditioner run colder? Let’s make one important distinction first. An air conditioner cools your home by taking the heat out, not by adding coldness. Once the heat energy has been extracted from interior air and conveyed outdoors, cool comfort is simply the state that’s left behind. The effectiveness of an air conditioner is assessed by its capacity to handle your home’s cooling load: the amount of BTUs of heat energy the unit must transfer outdoors every hour to keep temperatures at a comfortable level. While it’s not possible to make an A/C perform beyond its manufactured specifications, making sure it doesn’t fall below its rated capacity is very possible. The answer to how to make your air conditioner run colder comes down to a few simple DIY steps.
Frozen pipes can cause all sorts of problems. Be sure to pay attention to when the temperature drops into the teens or lower. Frozen water lines often result in broken pipes and water leaks that damage walls, flooring, and personal property. Plumbing repairs and cleanup work can cost thousands of dollars. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent frozen pipes from causing you headaches this winter.
Storage tank hot water heaters are generally not problematic until the day the tank springs a leak or the heating element fails. Deciding to repair or replace the unit comes down to a few factors: age, type of damage, and cost. You'll want to make a quick decision since no one wants to be stuck showering without hot water, even in temperate eastern Virginia.
For ideal comfort, the humidity inside your house should range between 30 and 50 percent. If it gets any higher, not only will homeowners feel hot and sweaty, dangerous mold and mildew also has a chance to grow. Thankfully, there are some easy steps Ashland, VA homeowners can take to lower humidity in their homes.
If you're working with a competent professional who follows HVAC industry best practices for system sizing and selection, you're off to a great start! Installing the ductless mini-split A/C in the best location is the crucial next step. Use these tips to make sure the job is well done so you can maximize home cooling and energy efficiency.
Thermostats come under a number of different categories, but whether you've got a switch-controlled or digital unit, chances are you'll have to replace thermostat batteries at some point. It's actually recommended you do this once a year. If you're unsure how to replace thermostat batteries, keep reading.