Blog
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Save On Energy Bills
If you feel that your energy bills have recently increased for no apparent reason, it might interest you to hire an energy auditor. An energy auditor can help you determine ways that your home may be wasting energy. Typically, an energy auditor will come to your home and gather basic information about your household. For example, they may ask questions like how many people live in the home, is anyone home during the workday, or do all rooms get used regularly. The auditor generally circulates the outside of the home to get an idea of the homes composition (how many windows, how large, etc.) Once the auditor has moved inside, they’ll conduct several tests inside your home to see how you might possibly be losing energy. One of the main tests they perform is a blower door test. This generally involves using a special fan to blow high-pressured air towards the doors in your home. The auditor can then determine if air is escaping through cracks and crannies in your door. Once complete, the energy auditor will be able to offer you specific suggestions on how to improve your energy efficiency. When hiring an energy auditor, you should always look for references and check their company Better Business Bureau rating. If you’re interested in hiring an energy auditor, the local energy or weatherization offices should be able to direct you to reputable companies.
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Cleaning Your Garage Can Improve Air Quality
Often time’s people make the effort to control common indoor pollutants, such as smoke, pet dander, and dust to improve the air quality in the home. One place that many people over look as a source of pollutants is the attached garage. Many homeowners keep various chemicals and toxic substances like paints, paint thinner, mowers, lighter fluid and gasoline in their garage at some point in time. If your home has an attached garage, dangerous fumes from these types of products can easily travel into your home. Fumes are even more of a threat if your garage remains unfinished, or with exposed insulation. A recent study from Health Canada showed that homes that have attached garages have higher levels of dangerous pollutants like benzene and carbon monoxide. A similar study conducted in Missouri in the late 90’s showed that most often, carbon monoxide detectors go off because of carbon monoxide that has seeped into the home from the garage. In order to protect your home, be sure to clean your garage regularly. If you keep paint and other chemicals in your garage, cover them with plastic, and hammer the metal lid tightly to the canister. The plastic will keep the fumes from leaking through the top of the can and into your home. Another option is to rid your garage completely of these chemicals. Be sure to contact the proper waste management facility to learn how to dispose of toxic products, like paint. When vacuuming your ...
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If It Ain’t Broke- Keep It That Way
The old adage “If it aint broke, don’t fix it” is applicable to many aspects of home maintenance. However preventative maintenance is essential to ensuring that your HVAC system is operating efficiently. According to some of our leading manufacturers preventative maintenance checks should be done twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Here are a few things professionals will check for when performing routine preventative maintenance checks on various types of systems. Outdoor Units -Inspect base pan for restricted drain openings & remove obstructions as necessary -Inspect coil and cabinet—clean as needed -Inspect fan motor and fan blades for wear and damage—on older models lubricate as needed -Inspect control box, associated controls/accessories, wiring and connections. Controls may include contactors, relays, circuit boards, capacitors, sump heat and other accessories. All control box and electrical parts should be checked for wear or damage. -Inspect compressor and associated tubing for damage Indoor Units -Inspect and clean blower assembly (includes blower housing, blower wheel and motor) -On older models, lubricate motor and inspect and replace fan belt if needed -Check combustion blower housing for lint and debris and clean as necessary - Inspect evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain lines. Clean as needed - Inspect for gas leaks in gas furnaces - Inspect burner assembly—clean and adjust as needed - Inspect ignition system and safety controls—clean and adjust as needed -Inspect heat exchanger or heating elements - Inspect flue system—check for proper attachment to the furnace, any dislocated sections, and for signs of corrosion. ...
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Dust Mites
Dust mites are one of the most common triggers of allergies and are often times a cause of asthma. Thriving in humid environments, they live in blankets, pillows, and different types of linens, feeding off of dead skin. People that suffer from dust mite allergies typically experience symptoms similar to those of asthma-. Tightness of the chest, shortness of breath and wheezing can all be signs of a dust allergy. Although dust mites can be a pest house, there are many ways to get rid of them. - Keep your mattress, comforters, and pillows in allergen-free covers. - Steam clean your carpets and furniture. The hot water kills the dust mites and allergens. - If you already have dust mites, you can purchase chemical sprays to get rid of them. - In our last post, we talked about different types of air filters available for your home. You can get a vacuum with a special HEPA filter that works great at picking up the small allergens and particles that settle in your carpets. If you’d like more information and helpful tips on how to allergy-proof your home, check out the latest video posted to our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/totalair1.
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Different Kinds of Air Filters
Different Types of Air Filters Many people are somewhat familiar with basic air filters and how they operate- we have them in our cars and our homes to catch the large particles that float through the air. But what a lot of people don’t know is that there many different types of filters available for your home and office. Mechanical Air Filters These are the types of air filters that you commonly find in your home. The filters themselves are typically inexpensive, and they work best at catching larger particles in their fibers. They play a critical role in protecting your HVAC unit from dirt and other things that can affect its efficiency. These filters don’t generally serve to improve air quality however there are other types of in-duct air filters that you can purchase for that. In fact some of the more expensive mechanical filters have multiple layers of fibers made of different materials to trap more particles in your air ways. One of the best types of mechanical air filters is a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which has a larger surface area and is made of a different material that allows it to collect more particulates than regular air filters. Electronic Air Filters Using mechanical air filters can be beneficial, but many mechanical filters are only able to capture the largest particles that float through your home; a lot of particles are small enough to float through the fibers of the air filters, ...
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Programmable Thermostats
If your family is like many average American families and spends a lot of time away from the home during the day, a programmable thermostat may help you save money on your energy bill. Programmable thermostats allow you to set temperatures for your home while you are away or asleep. For example, suppose your family wakes up at about 6 am to get ready for work or school. Your programmed thermostat could automatically turn the heater on if the temperature dropped below 70 degrees, or cool the home if it reached above 78 degrees. The programmable thermostat would keep you family comfortable during the morning while you prepare to get ready for the day. Then at about 8am, when everyone has left your home, the program automatically reduces heating and cooling. Programmable thermostats allow you to keep your family comfortable while you are in the home while also helping you to reduce energy costs. On average, families using programmable thermostats can save approximately $180 a year. In order to get the best savings from your programmable thermostat, make sure that it is properly installed and be sure to check your manual to ensure that you are correctly using the programmable settings.
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Fighting Allergens
Every spring, many families suffer from itchy eyes, runny noses, headaches, and a wide array of other symptoms due to allergies. Allergies can affect people of all ages, but can be particularly threatening to infants and small children who suffer from asthma. While there are many available medications to ease the pain of allergies, there are several things you can do in your home to alleviate your family’s symptoms. -The EPA recommends keeping an air filter in your home to pick up the larger particles that float through the air. Air Filters can help collect things like bits of dust, pollen and dust mites. Your air filter should be changed at least once every three months. It can be changed as often as once a month if you’re more sensitive to allergies. - Control the sources of pollution in your home. Things like pets and smoking in your home can pollute the air in your house. If you have pets or smoke inside, you should change your air filter regularly. When you change your air filter, you’ll be to see all of the allergens and dirt that have been trapped by the fibers of the air filters. -Clean everything. While air filters help collect allergens and dirt in the air, many particles are small enough to pass through air filters. One of the ways you can help eliminate the particle pollution in your home is to clean your furniture. Dust, pet dander, smoke and even pollen can gather ...
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Protect Yourself and Your Home
A month ago we posted a blog warning our customers about hiring unlicensed contractors to perform work on their homes. This is a follow-up post to inform our patrons that the problem of illegal contractors stealing money from El Paso home owners is still plaguing our area. On Monday, January 16, 2012, the El Paso times posted an article declaring that the most wanted-fugitive in El Paso is one such unlicensed contractor who allegedly took $5,500 from a family to install refrigerated air and then never completed the job. We’ve included the article at the end of this post. In this tough economy, everyone is looking to save in whatever way they can and often times unlicensed contractors will offer to perform work for less than professional contractors. It’s also more tempting here in El Paso because everyone “knows a guy” looking for work. But as we explained in our previous blog, sometimes hiring illegal contractors costs you more than you know. Not only do you run the risk of losing your money, but in most cases your home insurance will not cover any damages your home sustained as a result of the unlicensed- contractors unfinished work. Here are a few tips that can help protect you and your home. - Use a licensed contractor. Professionals are required by the state to have their licenses to hold them accountable for their actions. Not only ask for their license number, but verify it by going to the Texas Department ...
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AHR EXPO 2012
Here at Total Air, we strive to meet all of your comfort needs in regards to air conditioning and heating. In this day customer interests and demands for energy efficiency, greener products, and sustainable technology are bringing new and innovative developments to our growing industry. In order to help us keep up with the rapid implementation of new technologies in our field, next week we will be attending the annual Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration (AHR) expo in Chicago. The 2012 expo will be the largest yet, with over 2,000 companies from 30 countries from around the globe attending. Participating in this expo will give us the opportunities to learn more about new technologies, and to meet with new manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, there will be many educational seminars and workshops we will be able to explore. We are hoping that beginning this year, we will be able to attend and participate in this expo annually. Attending the AHR Expo will help us to further improve our company so that we may continue to provide the El Paso and Las Cruces area with excellent customer service to meet all of your HVAC needs.
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Help Your Heater
While January on average is the coldest month in the El Paso area, February is only a few degrees warmer. Do you remember the “Deep Freeze” Last Year in February? During the cold winter months, heater and other home-maintenance issues are common occurrences. Here are a few ways you can help your heater through the rest of the cold season. - Take advantage of El Paso’s many sunny days by opening your blinds to let heat into your home. - Reverse the fan blades and set your ceiling fan to a low setting. This will help circulate the warm air throughout the room. - Run a humidifier. In addition to helping you breathe easier, the moist air from humidifiers carries heat better. - You might be surprised to learn that fireplaces actually waste a lot of energy. Make sure that your damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use. It may also be beneficial to install glass doors in front of the fireplace to help keep the heat in your home. - Keep your furnace clean in order to keep your heater working efficiently. Make sure to change your filter regularly, at least every three months or more often if you own pets or smoke. Do not use your furnace and water heater storage areas as extra coat closets. The area should be free of flammable materials, and should be well-vented. If you’re uncomfortable performing the up-keep on your furnace, you are more than welcome to contact us here ...
