How to Save Money While Staying Warm

Comfortable indoor climates don’t necessarily have to come at a high price. With wintertime coming, homeowners in Oak Harbor, WA, expect their utility costs to jump significantly as they run their heaters at max capacity for most of the day. But that’s simply not reality. You can easily keep heating costs relatively low without losing a thumb to the freezing cold temperatures. Here are a few tips on how to do just that. Lower Your Thermostat Setting Lower your thermostat settings to reduce your air conditioner’s runtime. According to experts, dropping your thermostat setting by 1 degree can save you 1% on your heating costs every eight hours. Set the thermostat to the lowest temperature possible during nighttime while you’re asleep to save as much as 13% on heating costs overnight. To make it easier to regulate indoor temperatures, use a programmable thermostat. If you are using an outdated thermostat, consider investing in a new one to get all the energy-saving features available. Dress for the Weather Just as you wear shorts and loose clothing during the sweltering summertime, you should wear warm clothing during the wintertime. If you don’t have a cozy sweater or long pants, you can stay...

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Tips for End-of-Summer HVAC Maintenance

While summer’s heat is still upon us, cooler days are just around the corner. As you’re getting ready for fall and winter in Oak Harbor, WA, season-ending HVAC maintenance is a step that shouldn’t be skipped. If you’re not sure where to start, read on for some easy tips from the experts. Replace Your Air Filter Often, homeowners forget about their air filters because they are getting their furnaces ready for winter. However, air filter changes are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to keep your home’s air conditioning system in top condition. Though most systems do well with a new filter every 90 days, yours may need more frequent changes. Refer to your system manual or ask in Oak Harbor for filter advice. Gradually Cut Back on Usage If your air conditioner has been running constantly from June through September, it might be time to give it a little break. As autumn approaches, the temperature will begin to drop, so it’s safe to gradually reduce your air conditioning usage. Think about raising the thermostat setting by a few degrees to give your overworked AC a breather. Close the blinds during the hottest part of the day to...

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Tips for Setting Your AC for Vacation

As you get ready to take that much-awaited summer vacation, it’s necessary to get your house prepared for the time that you’re going to be away. While you’re likely thinking about who’s going to take care of your pets and pick up your mail, you also need to consider your air conditioning system. It needs to be set at an appropriate temperature to ensure that your home stays safe while you’re on vacation. Leave It On It’s pretty common to think that your air conditioning system doesn’t need to be on while you’re away from home if no one’s going to be there. In fact, it may seem a bit counterintuitive to have it running and burning energy that you’re going to have to pay for. However, in the bigger scheme of things, it makes sense to leave it on. When the weather gets really hot outside, it tends to bring in high humidity levels. As this humid air enters your home, it will up the relative humidity level inside. A high indoor relative humidity level can make your home susceptible to mold growth, insect infestation, and even wood damage. Humidity Is a Big Issue Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t even...

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How To Clean Air Conditioning Unit

Nothing feels as good as coming in from the heat into a well-conditioned and refreshed house. Good air conditioning is part of what makes your home comfortable in the summer months. However, as time goes by, you might notice that the excellent air conditioning you experienced shortly after installing the air conditioning system is no more. This could be due to various causes, such as failed components in the unit or simply a lack of cleaning. Cleaning the AC unit is critical if you want to ensure that your unit is well maintained. Additionally, regular cleaning will help you save your system from expensive repairs. It’ll also minimize electricity costs and keep your home comfortable and pleasant. Cleaning an air conditioner is a process that involves multiple components. For most air conditioners, cleaning involves the following parts: Indoor AC component that contains the evaporator coils Outdoor AC Component that houses the condenser coil The AC filter Complete the following steps to successfully clean your air conditioner. 1. Switch Off the Power Supply An air conditioning unit consists of many electrical parts. For safety purposes, turn off any power supply to the air conditioner components. You can do this at the...

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Why Do Air Conditioners Freeze Up?

When your air conditioner is running properly, it should be nearly silent and should not have any frost or ice present. However, if you pay attention to your system, you have very likely seen part of it icing up at times. Learn what causes these ice-ups and whether it is something that should concern you with this simple guide provided by in Oak Harbor. How Air Conditioners Work Before digging into what causes air conditioners to freeze, you should understand how they work. Your air conditioner circulates refrigerant between the outdoor condensing unit and the indoor evaporator coil. It cools your home by absorbing the heat from the air moving through your HVAC system and venting it outside. To accomplish this, the system must regulate the pressure of the refrigerant. When the pressure goes down, the refrigerant gets cold. When the pressure increases, the refrigerant gets hot. The refrigerant at the evaporator coil should be low, making it cold and allowing it to absorb the most heat. Then, the compressor increases the pressure, allowing it to effectively transfer the heat to the air moving through the condensing coil. If the pressure cannot be regulated or if the air is not...

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Who Invented Air Conditioning?

There have been inventions in the history of mankind that have been game-changers of their era. The invention of the air conditioner in the early 20th century was one such invention. What started as a customized engineering solution for a local paper mill led to the invention of one of the most influential products of the century. The inventor of the air conditioner was Willis Carrier, who didn’t stop at just inventing the air conditioner but made it into one the most successful products of its time. The Genius of Carrier Willis Carrier was born in Angola, NY, in 1876. He attended Cornell University on scholarship, graduating with a mechanical engineering degree. Carrier was always passionate about mathematics and experimental engineering. After graduation, he was hired by Buffalo Forge, an engineering firm in the state of New York. In 1902, a local paper printing press approached Buffalo Forge for a solution to the inconsistency in the printing of their paper machines. The ink would not stick to the paper properly because of the high temperature and humidity at the printing press. The task of finding a solution to this problem was given to Carrier by his employers. Carrier developed a...

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Is It Normal to Smell Gas Near a Furnace?

There’s a reason utility companies put additives in natural gas to ensure you can’t miss its pungent odor: gas leaks can be quite dangerous. A gas furnace is a common source of gas leaks in an Oak Harbor home, meaning that you need to be vigilant when it comes to this piece of equipment. When you smell gas from your furnace, though, it’s not necessarily a cause for concern. To learn more about when you should take action, check out this troubleshooting guide from . How a Gas Furnace Works When your thermostat senses that your home has dropped below a certain temperature, it sends an electrical signal to a relay in your furnace. This starts the draft inducer in your furnace’s flue pipe to remove unburned gas and any carbon monoxide that the system releases. Once the draft inducer is operating, the system opens the flow of gas to the burner so that the pilot light can light the burner. Then, the blower motor turns the blower fan to pull air through the furnace, heating the air in the process. If this process occurs out of sequence, you could experience problems with your furnace. Common Furnace Problems A problem...

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How To Improve Indoor Air Quality Naturally

Some people don’t know that poor indoor air quality can be dangerous to your health. However, the reality is that indoor air can contain harmful contaminants that lead to health problems. Fragrances, pet dander, household cleaners, and dust are some examples of indoor pollutants that often appear when a home air quality test is performed. Since you spend most of your time indoors, it would be wise to keep your indoor air clean for a comfortable environment. Here are some tips to ensure that you protect and clean the air that you breathe indoors all year long. Check Your Furniture Some furniture is made of toxic materials and glues that can pollute your indoor air. The toxic glues contain harmful chemicals. Some finishing products like varnishes can affect the health of asthmatic people and those suffering from allergies. You can prevent indoor air pollution naturally by avoiding furniture treated with chemicals and furniture pieces assemble using toxic glues. Salt Lamps Salt crystal products are great at reducing airborne irritants, allergens, and pathogens by extracting water vapor from the air. A salt lamp is a natural way of cleaning your indoor air because it works by pulling toxins from your surroundings...

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How often should air ducts be cleaned?

If you’ve noticed more dust in your Oak Harbor, WA, home, you might be wondering if it’s time to schedule air duct cleaning. Dirty air ducts reduce heating and cooling system efficiency and make it more difficult to breathe. Use these tips to schedule duct cleaning so that you can enjoy clean indoor air. General Air Duct Cleaning Recommendations For most households, professional duct cleaning every three to five years is a wise plan. If your air ducts get filled with debris more frequently than this, there could be some other issue with your heating and cooling system, such as a gap, failed seal or dirty filter. A good way to keep track of the condition of the air ducts is to clean the vent covers once a month. Wipe down the vent covers with a damp microfiber cloth. If you see a lot of buildup in the wall opening, use the vacuum cleaner’s extension hose to remove it. If you can see a lot of buildup in the ducts within a few months, you should have the ducts professionally inspected and cleaned. Circumstances That Warrant More Frequent Air Duct Cleaning While three to five years between professional duct cleaning...

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Are There Ways to Make Holiday Heating More Efficient?

The holiday season comes with many concerns for homeowners. Whether guests visit during the winter season or the homeowner spends time by him/herself, there’s no escaping the cold weather. During harsh winter seasons, keeping a home heated at desired levels supports both comfort and safety. Cost considerations may arise, as running a furnace comes with unavoidable bills. In general, there are ways to heat a home “a little better.” Here are some ideas to think about. Avoid Clutter Near the Furnace When expecting guests, you may think about their safety and move objects out of the bathroom, living room, and other areas. Since few people may walk near or around the furnace, the area becomes a preferred spot for storage. That could turn out to be a drastic and dangerous mistake. Putting anything flammable near the furnace might turn into a tragedy, which is why cluttering the heater area seems like an awful plan. Better to be safe and keep the area clear of clutter. You’ll sleep easier for it. Put a New Filter Into the Furnace If the furnace’s filter is both old and dirty, putting a new one in its place seems advisable. An old furnace presents air...

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