Do you not have a central air conditioning system in your house, or are you just trying to cut down on expensive A/C summer bills? We all look for savings in the scorching heat, so read on to learn how you can save on cooling costs.

To start off, you can try to putting some box fans into some of your windows upstairs to exhaust the hot air out of the house (make sure the fan is pointing outward). If you don’t have box fans, then just open the window. Similar to this could be an attic fan, which will suck the warm air from your house and blow it into the already-warm attic. If you have a basement, you can learn how to cool your house with basement air by trying to circulate the cooler air from your lowest floor up throughout the rest of the house. If you don’t have a basement, then be sure to at least crack your main floor windows and leave your doorways open to keep the air circulating. The idea is to let warm air flow out of windows on the top floor, while cool air enters your home through the lower floors. Using fans will just speed this process up. You can use a ceiling fan near the entrance to your basement to make sure the cool air is able to flow onto the main floor.

Another option would be to install attic/wall insulation to keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You might want to consider contacting a HVAC professional to help with this installation.

Try TalkLocal, a free service that will help connect you with top-quality HVAC specialists in your neighborhood. Just enter in your location, availability and problem, and TalkLocal will contact HVAC professionals, who will then call YOU directly, within minutes, ready to help.

Summer is a great time to go outdoors and bask in the sun’s warmth. However, when we go indoors, we expect that warmth to stay outside. Instead of blasting your air conditioner–and driving a hole in your wallet–try the following cheap or free ways in keeping your house cool in the summer.

Doors and Windows

– Cover your windows with white shades or blinds. Close them over windows that face south and west during the day.

– Close the doors inside your house, or else you will waste energy cooling rooms you are not using.

– Hang bamboo shades or woven screens outside of windows. This can block up to 80% of the sun’s heat.

– Ventilate your house by opening all the doors and windows in your house. The temperature should be less than 77 degrees, so evenings and cool days work best. Keep your house tightly sealed during the day.

Maintenance

– Make sure your air conditioner ducts are insulated.

– Ensure that your fireplace damper is closed and sealed.

– Clean your air-conditioning filter monthly during the summer. An accumulation of dust can limit air flow.

Less Technology

– Turn off dehumidifiers; they create a bigger cooling load, so the air conditioner must work harder.

– Turn the thermostat down to 115 degrees on your water heater. This temperature should still provide comfortable water usage.

– Turn off your air conditioner if you leave the house for more than an hour.

– Move lamps or other heat-producing objects away from your thermostat.

– Use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent ones because compact fluorescent ones use 1/5 of the energy while providing the same amount of light.

– Use a microwave instead of a conventional oven, when possible.

– Use your dishwasher in the evenings when the weather is cooler since it is a heat-generating machine. Opt to air dry dishes instead of using the machine.

If these tips aren’t enough to beat the heat, use TalkLocal to contact local heating and cooling companies.

Whatever may be the cause of your air conditioning problems, the issue comes down to one question:  Should you just replace the A/C compressor or get a completely new unit?  You should probably consider the cost of each. A new compressor will obviously cost less than a new air conditioning unit, but is it really worth it? The compressor will probably cost around 3/5 of a new A/C, which is a lot considering how much more you get with a completely new unit.  Furthermore, when you get a new compressor you will only receive a warranty of about one year. On the other hand, when you buy and install a new air conditioning unit, you will receive a warranty valid for around 10 years.  The benefits of buying a new A/C greatly outweigh those of buying just the new compressor.

Another thing you should consider is that replacing the compressor and installing a new A/C unit are actually about the same amount of work. To replace A/C unit, the installer has to take out all the refrigerant, cut the high/low side lines, disconnect the wiring, and perform a pressure test. When you replace just the compressor, the installer still has to do all these steps. The labor price will be close to the same, so the only real difference in cost will be the size of the unit or compressor.

Keep in mind that if you do choose only to replace the A/C compressor with the short term warranty, then you may be more likely to encounter issues in the future. Replacing your air conditioning unit completely will ensure long term service and fewer problems.

Further Action

If you cannot seem to figure out whether you should buy a completely new unit, you should seek professional help. Use TalkLocal to be put in contact with reliable local businesses almost immediately. Simply input your problem and availability and TalkLocal will do the rest. Within minutes your should be connected with a high quality business that can help.

When maintaining your home, it’s such a hassle to deal with is a less-than-optimal air conditioning system or—worse yet—a broken one. There are certain preventative steps you can take to make sure your A/C will be running smoothly when summer comes. The following is an air conditioner maintenance checklist:

– Check your indoor evaporator coils and outdoors dispenser coils to make sure they are clean.

– Check the refrigerant level and make sure that you have enough (not too much or too little) to maximize performance.

– Check your specific thermostat settings; this can save energy if you adjust it according to the particular weather or if you turn it down when you are not home.

– Check for dirty filters monthly and replace if necessary.

– Check and clean the drain pans and condensate drains to make sure there are no obstructions.

– Be sure that your outdoor unit is not blocked by tall grass or weeds.

– Run a general test: turn your A/C on and off to ensure that it functions and that there are no unusual noises or smells. Make sure that the thermostat is set to the correct temperature.

In addition, check out this article for excellent tips on maintenance on your cooling system, depending on whether you have an outdoor or indoor unit.

If you have tried going through this checklist, but are still having problems or concerns, it may be helpful to contact a local HVAC specialist. Try using TalkLocal, a free service that will connect you with top quality, reputable HVAC companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location, and availability into the online service request and up to three companies who already know your situation will call YOU directly—saving you tons of time and effort in finding a service yourself.

A common question asked is “what is the purpose of an attic fan?”  Attic fans are used to increase airflow and save you money on your electrical bill.  The following should provide you with more information on attic fans and why they are useful in homes.

What function does an attic fan serve?

An attic fan works as a ventilation unit.  Attic fans reduce costs and keep your home fresh and filled with clean air.

How does an attic fan work?

An attic fan circulates the air in the attic.  Not only does it circulate air, it also replenishes fresh air into the home system.

Why is this important?

An attic fan reduces the amount of stagnant air in the attic.  Doing so keeps hot air from building up and creating unnecessary heat in your home.

What are more of the benefits?

Additional benefits of an attic fan include fresh air being dispersed throughout the home.  This not only keeps the oxygen levels ideal, but it also brings in fresh outdoor smells.  Attic fans also get rid of smelly or stale air from within the home.  For a complete breakdown on attic fans, check out attic fan purposes.

In addition to having an attic fan, seeking other options such as roof ridge vents and installing more attic insulation can reduce costs as well.  To reap these benefits, install an attic fan today.  Use TalkLocal to be directly connected to a heating and cooling professional in your area today.

You may want to upgrade your thermostat for reasons of usability, appearance, or even costs on your heating and cooling bills. If you want to change from a traditional thermostat to a digital one, it’s a fairly simply process to complete yourself (if you have the right tools and confidence to operate a couple low-voltage wires). Read more to learn how to replace a dial thermostat with a digital one.

Most digital thermostat displays purchased from a local store will have simple instructions on how to remove and replace the thermostat yourself. You will most likely only need a Phillips or flat-blade screwdriver of the right size to remove and tighten all the screws.

Before beginning though, it is important to turn off the power before you attempt to perform such a task. Though the wires are low-voltage, this is for safety reasons. Generally, there will be two wires that attach to your current dial thermostat. While following directions, you should be able to connect these wires in the correct places and fully install your new thermostat in less than 15 minutes.

If you’d rather not risk doing damage to your wiring or thermostat system, you can contact a heating and cooling specialist to install it for you. Try using TalkLocal, a free service that will connect you with specialists in your area within minutes. All you need to do is describe your service need, list your location and availability, and TalkLocal will contact top-quality, reputable companies who will then call YOU directly, ready to help.

Residential air ducts work as a part of the HVAC system to circulate air throughout all of the rooms in the house. With all of the air flow, dust and particulate buildup is common inside most air ducts. Many people wonder if you need to clean air ducts regularly and about the best way to go about cleaning them. There is a bit of debate on the subject, with the EPA suggesting that air ducts only be cleaned as needed in response to mold, vermin, or excessive dust being visibly ejected into the air.  The EPA bases their recommendation based on scientific studies that found no evidence linking air duct cleaning to the prevention of health problems. In fact, their study showed that dirty air ducts do not even lead to increased particle levels in the air of most homes.  You can find their complete set of guidelines for air ducts cleaning here.

On the other side of the issue is the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), who recommend that homeowners have their ducts cleaned regularly at least once every 3-5 years.  The NADCA claims that maintaining clean ducts can improve air quality, as well as increase the energy efficiency of your HVAC system.  You can find their recommendations as well as some FAQs about duct cleaning on their site.  Be sure to take everything available on their page with a grain of salt, as they will inevitably have a biased viewpoint.  For instance, although they claim that duct cleaning can decrease your home’s energy consumption, studies on the subject indicate that it is specifically the cleaning of the cooling coils, fans, and heat exchangers in your HVAC system that leads to increases in energy efficiency.  There is little evidence to suggest that cleaning the actual ducts will have any impact on energy use.

However, many people have found that duct cleaning helps with interior air quality, citing significant improvements in allergy symptoms.  If you have noticed recent health symptoms that you think may be related to poor air quality then you may want to consider having your air ducts cleaned.  Once you have made the decision you will want to be very careful finding the right professional for the job as many air duct cleaning services are notoriously sketchy and unreliable.  To make finding a quality local service company easy you should try using TalkLocal.  All you need to do is enter your name, contact info, and a description of your problem and you will be automatically connected to someone who can help in minutes.

As the winter season approaches, people start to turn on their heaters to fight the cold, which can cause the air in your home to get dried out from the constant cycles of heating and cooling. It is very common to experience some unpleasant symptoms this time of year that stem from the arid conditions created when the air is too dry. Problems that can be caused by this issue range from health symptoms like coughs, allergy/asthma, itchy/dry skin, and nose bleeds due to interior damage such as cracked drywall or loose wallpaper. Dry air can be extremely irritating, especially when you have no choice but to keep the heat running to stave off the cold. So what do you when air in the bedroom is dry? Luckily, there are some steps that you can take to keep your home well humidified.

The most effective way to solve a dry air problem in your home is to buy an electric air humidifier. These are available for purchase at any appliance store and work by continually releasing puffs of moisture into the air. Most types of humidifiers perform more or less the same functions; you can check out this article for a guide on picking the right one for your needs. Once you have made the purchase you will just need to fill it with water, turn it on, and stand back to watch as it moisturizes your air. Humidifiers provide a great solution to dryness, but can also be expensive to run because they use a lot of electricity.

If you want to cut down on costs, there are some natural solutions that you can try. Anything that introduces water into your air supply will help to keep the humidity levels in your home from dropping too low. Leaving buckets of water next to/on top of your radiators or in any particularly dry areas will add moisture as the water slowly evaporates into the air.  A similar effect happens when you air dry your laundry inside, or if you have an indoor fountain. Even placing some potted plants around can be a great way to get added moisture. Try reading this list to find even more moisturizing tricks that can be done at home. Most of these are quick and easy so you should experiment to find out which work best for you.

Sometimes, dryness problems are caused by a faulty heating or air conditioning unit. In this case, you probably want to get the unit in question examined by a professional service. You can use the free search engine TalkLocal to get in contact with a reliable local HVAC professional within minutes, without all of the hassle of performing a manual search yourself.  Just enter a description of your problem, availability, and location and TalkLocal will automatically connect you directly to someone who can help.

You’ve seen your neighbors getting home insulation and you decide it’s time to consider this for your home too. Home insulation can offer many benefits; not only does it have the potential to significantly reduce your energy bills, but your home will be a more comfortable place to live, it will add value to your property and you are helping the environment by reducing your carbon emissions. Having decided that you wish to proceed with home insulation, you are faced with the task of deciding which type of insulation to opt for. There is a range to choose from, but blown-in insulation is a popular choice. Alternatively known as loose fill insulation, this type of insulation comprises loose particles, which are blown into your attic or cavity wall space – the gap between the interior and exterior wall of your home. Installation of this type of insulation requires someone professionally trained, as the insulation needs to be evenly distributed and this necessitates the use of specialist equipment. Here we consider the three types of blown-in insulation used in properties.

Fiberglass insulation

This type of insulation is made from tiny particles of spun glass fibers – also called glass wool. There are two types available – that produced as a by-product of manufacturing rolls of fiberglass or that specifically produced for the purpose of blown insulation. There should be no difference in their energy saving potential, as long as they are fitted correctly in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines. However, if you are looking for the most environmentally responsible option, then choose the blown fiberglass produced as a by-product; this will help to conserve resources and reduce the use of landfill. Fiberglass is non-combustible, so does not require the addition of any chemical fire retardants. Although fiberglass is generally an effective insulator, one disadvantage is that it can lose its ability to insulate as temperatures fall; at extremely low temperatures its insulation can reduce to as low as 50%. Despite the concerns about the safety of blown fiberglass – after all it is made up of tiny glass fibers that could be inhaled into the lungs – it is more of a danger to those installing the insulation, as once in your attic or cavity wall it should pose no threat.

Rock wool insulation

This mineral wool is made using the by-products of blast furnaces in industry, with up to 90% of this type of insulation sourced from recycled material. It is resistant to settling, so they maintain their insulation performance over the whole course of their lifespan. Rock wool’s high R-value – the measure of the resistance to heat flow – due to its density, also means that it is a more efficient insulator. Another benefit is its resistance to the entry of moisture, which can otherwise reduce insulating ability. As with fiberglass, it is naturally non-combustible. Rock wool also offers very good sound insulation, which can influence some people’s decision to use it in their cavity walls and even in their ceilings.

Cellulose insulation

Made from recycled newspapers or cardboard, cellulose is another good environmentally friendly choice for your insulation. It retains its insulating ability at all temperatures, but a big downside is that by its very nature it will burn. To sidestep this problem cellulose insulation is treated with chemicals during its manufacture to make it fire resistant; these chemicals also repel rodents and insects, which can otherwise be attracted to insulation.

Choosing a contractor to install insulation

Having made your choice, it’s time to choose a professional to install your blown-in insulation. If your neighbors, friends or family have recently had attic or cavity wall insulation installed, it often pays to ask about their experiences, as nothing counts more than a good recommendation. However, whoever you choose, make sure that it is someone experienced in installing blown-in insulation. Check that they are certified with the Insulation Contractors Association of America or another similar organization. A creditable insulation contractor won’t mind if you ask for references from other home owners who they have provided insulation for. Also check that the insulation contractor has professional cover, so you can have peace of mind that you do not need to worry about any potential damage that might occur during the work; they should be happy to show you their insurance certificate. Finally ask to see a sample label from the insulation that they use and ask for an explanation; this way you can check the R-number and be sure that they are using insulation from labelled bags – if not you can’t guarantee its quality.

A furnace is a device that heats your home. Having a heating device is very important to have in your house especially during the winter. Oil furnaces are a common residential heating option. They are filled with oil but do not actually burn any of it.  The devices are electrically powered and the oil is used as a buffer not fuel. Many older houses use traditional oil furnaces which work well but are outdated when compared to this ages’ technology. If you are looking for oil furnace replacement options, new systems have different ways to transfer heat and they are more efficient and require less repairs. Keep reading to learn more about your options.

Options:

1)   Waste Oil—If you want to be more environmentally friendly, then you should look into switching to a recycled oil furnace. These furnaces are called waste oil furnaces. They take the discarded machine oil from cars and factories and use them to heat your home. The oil does have some impurities but you can filter them out. If you don’t have access to any other types of fuel and want to help the environment, you should consider this option.

2)   Gas—Gas furnaces use natural gas to create heat for your house. It is an extremely efficient heater and one of the cheapest options you have. If there are already natural gas pipelines in your area, then getting a gas furnace is very easy and installation is a snap. If you live far from any natural gas grids you should choose to use a propane version instead.

3)   Electric Element—Electric furnaces produce heat by transforming electricity into warming elements. They do this by channeling currents through metal coils insulated by ceramic. The metal begins to resist the flow and builds heat. These types of systems can be used as primary heaters, but are very costly so you may want to keep them as a backup system.

4)   Heating Pump—Heat pumps don’t actually create their own heat. Heat from the air/underground is absorbed and channeled into the house. These heaters actually use a refrigerant to be highly efficient and cheap.

Replacing your Oil Furnace

If you are looking for someone to replace your oil furnace or want more opinions you should contact a professional. Use TalkLocal to be put in contact with reliable local businesses.  Simply input your problem and availability and within minutes you will be connected to a qualified HVAC company.