Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for March, 2012

Increase Home Comfort With A Zoning System

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

Increase Home Comfort With A Zoning System  It almost goes without saying that maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout your home is crucial to your well-being and happiness. Being too hot or too cold can increase your stress level and leave you feeling drained and tired. Fortunately, a zoning system will increase your home comfort by creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere in every room in your home.

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Energy Costs Still Climbing? Consider A Professional Energy Audit

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

Various factors in your home can cause energy costs to rise. Sometimes, simply reducing the amount of electricity you use or setting back your thermostat is the easiest way to reduce these costs, but if you stop there you’ll miss out on many more ways to save energy in your home. A home energy audit can pinpoint exactly why and where your home is losing energy. Once you have this information, you can take the necessary steps to correct the problems and reduce your energy costs.

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Could Insulating Your Water Heater Save You Money Long Term?

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Could Insulating Your Water Heater Save You Money Long Term?When many homeowners think about saving energy, they often head straight to their furnace or air conditioner while ignoring another important home appliance, the water heater. Hot water accounts for between 10 and 15 percent of the energy costs in the average household, and you can significantly reduce that amount by making sure your water heater is well-insulated.

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HVAC Maintenance Plans — Costs Versus Benefits

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

All mechanical systems break down when they don’t receive regular maintenance. For the home heating and cooling system, an HVAC maintenance plan can keep equipment running at peak efficiency. This is especially the case when systems get a lot of use during the winter and summer months, such as in the San Joaquin Valley where winters can be chilly and summers brutal. Moving parts require lubrication, filters need cleaning or replacement, burners need checking, and gas or refrigerant connections need tightening. Ignoring this maintenance can be a costly mistake.

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Was Your Duct System Designed With Energy Efficiency In Mind?

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Was Your Duct System Designed With Energy Efficiency In Mind?These days, more attention is given to energy efficiency and comfort in newly-constructed homes and retrofits. If your home is older, it’s possible that the duct system design was cookie-cutter style (quick and easy), rather than designed specifically for long-term energy efficiency. If you’re planning construction or retrofit, it’s important to know the elements of good duct system design.

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Poor Furnace Performance Leaving You Cold? Consider An Upgrade

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

Don’t let poor furnace performance leave you cold. If your home comfort has been suffering from uneven heating, and if your utility bills are higher than normal, it may be time for a furnace upgrade.

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The Power Is Out — Are You Prepared?

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

The Power Is Out -- Are You Prepared?When the power is out, it’s never fun. And losing power in the winter can be downright dangerous. If you’ve lost heat, water pipes may freeze and burst if it gets cold enough, and you may have to go without heat and lights. So how can you protect your house and yourself in case of a winter blackout?

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Addressing Indoor Air Quality With An Attached Garage

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

Your home’s attached garage gives you a convenient place to store your vehicle along with various tools, fuels, solvents and other chemicals. Your attached garage may seem completely separate from your house, but dirty air can be drawn into your home and negatively impact indoor air quality. For this reason, you need to understand the different pollutants being generated in your garage, how they get into your home, and how to stop this from happening.

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Tired Of Breathing Dusty Air? Simple Solutions

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Tired Of Breathing Dusty Air? Simple SolutionsDust and the dust mites that feed on dust can cause a variety of health problems, including allergies, itchiness, respiratory issues and increased problems with asthma. Luckily, some simple solutions can help immensely if you’re tired of breathing dusty air at home. You can find ways to make your indoor air cleaner as well as ways to make your home less hospitable for dust mites. 

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