Posts Tagged ‘Cumberland’

How to Help Conquer Home Humidity

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

By SFLCAuthor

According to ENERGY STAR®, the ideal indoor humidity level is between 30 and 50 percent. In addition to just making you uncomfortable, high humidity levels can pose a threat to your home’s structure and surfaces. Help clear the air with these tips for reducing and controlling humidity at home.

Why Home Humidity Matters

Managing indoor humidity levels can:

• Improve personal comfort.
• Control moisture that can damage your home’s wood, paint and siding.
• Prevent mildew growth and odors in clothing and belongings.
• Improve indoor air quality by reducing dust mites, mold and other allergens.
• Reduce pest infestations.
• Improve the energy efficiency of your air conditioner.

How to Help Reduce and Control Humidity

Some Southern homeowners use their air conditioners year-round to combat humidity. Theo Etzel, CEO of Conditioned Air Corporation of Naples, Inc. in Naples, Florida, has these recommendations for more effective continuous use of your cooling system:

• Set the fan to automatic. (Keeping it in the “on” position actually re-humidifies the space by blowing air over a wet coil when the condenser cycles off.)
• Invest in a unit with a variable-speed air handler.
• Consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier.
• Don’t automatically lower the thermostat. Etzel says turning down the thermostat to reduce humidity can actually be a sign of an oversized air conditioning system.

Ways to Help Cut Excess Humidity

Etzel notes that air-conditioning systems can only keep up with the moisture they’re designed to remove, whether the systems condition fresh incoming air, recirculating interior air, or both.

Here are ways to help keep additional moisture and humidity from infiltrating the home:

• Vent clothes dryers to the outdoors.
• Install vent fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Run a dehumidifier.
• Cover dirt floors in crawl spaces with a plastic vapor barrier.
• Seal air and duct leaks.
• Select houseplants that absorb moisture from the air, such as Boston ferns.
• Keep air-conditioning drip pans and drain lines clean and unobstructed.
• Avoid activities that add moisture to the air on humid days, such as taking hot showers and boiling water on the stove.
• Take measures outside. ENERGY STAR suggests keeping gutters and downspouts clean, extending downspouts further from the house, watering plants only when needed and sloping soil away from foundations to keep water from pooling.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off

Quick Tips to Save Money

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

HVAC Quick Tips

Your heating and cooling system equipment runs best when properly maintained. Change your filters on a regular basis. Having your HVAC system serviced on an annual basis will ensure that your system is not costing you more than it should as well as increase the life of the system. Also, remember a dirty system means your system is working twice as hard or constantly. This then means that your energy bill will rise but your home will not be any cooler or warmer. Your air conditioner produces a lot of water while it runs. Don’t forget to have your drain lines cleared to protect your home from water damage.

Thermostat Quick Tip

The average home will spend over $1,000 a year on heating and cooling. Programmable thermostats adjust the temperature in winter and in summer as well as during unoccupied hours. At a cost of $50 – $150, the payback can be seen in well under a year.

Switch Tips

*Take a look at the lights you burn. A 100 watt lamp costs roughly a penny an hour to operate.
*When you finish cooking, turn off the kitchen lighting and the range exhaust fan.
*Don’t leave unnecessary lighting on during the day.

Unplug Tips

Check around the house to see of devices are unnecessarily plugged in. Cell phones, MP3 players, chargers and small appliances are still drawing power when not in use. Be aware the plasma TV’s and entertainment systems, DVR’s especially are drawing power even when off. Also switch computers off or use computers power management settings to allow standby mode when its not needed. A computer can use as much electricity as a refrigerator.

With just these few little tips, watch how much energy and money you can save.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off

Buying the Right Ceiling Fan

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Ceiling fans really help people reduce their heating and cooling cost. They have the ability to reduce warm temperatures up to 7 degrees, while dramatically reducing air conditioning costs. During the winter months, ceiling fans can operate in reverse mode. Doing so will circulate warm air throughout the room by pushing it up toward the ceiling. Careful consideration should be given when buying a ceiling fan, because of the wide variety available.

Fan Size

The fan should not be too large or too small for your room. A rule of thumb is to have at least 7 feet of clearance from the floor to the fan. The blades and the nearest wall should be a minimum of two feet apart.

Fan Motors

For ceiling fans to operate with efficiency, the size of the motor and the ground motor windings must coincide with blade length. This will allow the fan to run without using a lot of energy and continuously without any problems. However, when the blades or motor are not balanced correctly, the fan will begin to vibrate even at lower speeds. The motors that come with outdoor fans are built to endure temperature changes and moisture.

Fan Blades

Fan blades come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Appearance however is secondary to choosing ones that will provide the best performance and stability. You also need to decide what blade pitch you want. A higher pitch equals greater air circulation at lower speeds. Blade pitches are available between 8 and 15 degrees.

Another thing to consider is fan mounts. There are three types: flush mount, down rod mount, and tri-mount. Down rods are suited for higher ceilings, flush mount is designed for lower ceilings, and the tri-mount provides the best circulation regardless of height.

For more helpful hints check us out on www.southairinc.com

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off

Winterizing Your Home on a Budget

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Are you looking for inexpensive ways to save money on energy bills this  winter? Now is a great time to tackle these home projects and each of them is very affordable.

1. Add weather stripping to your doors and windows. Keeping warm air from escaping and drafts from blowing in can make a 5% to 10% difference in your energy use.

2. Seal exposed ductwork in attics and basements. Check for gaps in seams and joints, holes, or other places where warm air can escape. Use high quality mastic, rather then silver or duct tape that won’t hold as well or be efficient. Experts say that as much as 20% of warm air can escape through leaky ducts, so this is a great way to save money!

3. Put an insulation blanket on your water heater. The water tank warms up 30 or 40 gallons of water and then it starts to cool off, wasting money. An insulating blanket will slow down the heat loss substantially.

4. Program your thermostat so that the system runs less when you are nott there. Let the temperature fall 10 degrees or so when the house is empty, and you can program it to warm back up before you get home

5. Run full loads of laundry instead of several small loads. You’ll reduce your water use and your overall electrical use.

6. Add insulation to the attic. In winter, heated air escapes through the ceiling into the attic and out of the house. In summer, the attic gets hot and that air pushes down into the house, causing the air conditioner to work harder. A layer of insulation (minimum R19) in the attic will help year-round.

7. Have your furnace or heat pump cleaned and tuned up for winter. A dirty furnace or heat pump coil can waste 20% or more of the energy it uses. Having your entire HVAC system serviced before winter is a cost that might pay you back very quickly.

These are very good ways to reduce energy use on a limited budget. They are easy to accomplish and you will notice immediate results — lower energy bills every month going forward!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off

The Most Important Part of Your Home — Your Furnace:

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Winter is coming fast, and it certainly doesn’t let us forget it! Blustery winds that chill through to your bones, iced up car windows, and snow days, this often means that the temperature outside has reached as low as 30 degrees or colder when wind chill is considered!

A large reason that we are able to live comfortably in this weather is because of a special appliance that is often tucked away in your house and not really considered on a daily basis: your furnace.

Furnaces consist of three major components: the burners, a draft inducer, and a heat exchanger. When you bump up your thermostat or it detects that the temperature of your house/building has dropped below its designated temperature, it send a signal to the furnace to ignite its burners.

After the burners are ignited, the draft inducer kicks into action, and sucks the hot gases from the burners towards the heat exchanger. A draft inducer looks similar to a cars turbocharger, and works in a similar manner also. While the hot gas is moved through the heat exchanger, the furnace also brings air from your house through the heat exchanger in order to warm it. If the draft inducer is dirty in any way, this could cause the unit from igniting or staying lit.

And there you have it! Now you understand the basics of how a furnace works. Always use a professional to carry out maintenance and repairs to keep it running at peak efficiency and safe for the whole family.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Services, Uncategorized | Comments Off

How you buy a top of the line 80% Efficient Furnace for $699

Saturday, November 12th, 2011

This may sound like it is not possible, but it is!

2011 has been one slowest years in sales since the down turn in the economy.  Slow sales are a killer because whether we sell anything or not, we have expenses in our business we have to cover.  We call this the overhead monster, because everyone is always afraid of these expenses.  They are business killers!

Not having any sales during what is supposed to be the very BEST part of my year can spell doom for my business unless I can spread out my work.  Plus, we are now coming into what is my traditionally slowest sales period.

The Idea Hit Me!

That is where I came up with the idea to offer a limited number (20) of incredibly efficient systems (80% efficient), at ridiculously low prices.  There are always people in need of new furnaces, even when it is slow (although fewer than normal they still break occasionally), so I decided that I had to get some work to TAME the savage overhead monster.

Because I need the work during this awful period of weather to cover these expenses, it only made sense to offer a great deal to the first twenty people who wanted them, to get some sales and cover the costs.

I know what you’re thinking

The same thing I do when I see these kinds of deals out there!

Is it a real offer or are they trying to sell me something else?

It’s to good to be true – best quality at lowest price – can’t have both?

If I buy one of these, the quality can’t be good at these prices – they’ll skimp?

This is a real offer, and a real guarantee.  It is very simple.

I am only doing this for the first (20 people).  After that my prices go back to normal.  Because I will have covered my expenses and need to get back to selling at normal prices or I will go out of business if I keep these ridiculously low prices.

The first 20 systems I sell are it!  But if I do well for you, I get referrals.  So it’s worth it!

I am guaranteeing these factory premium, matched systems just the way I would any of my other installations, because I am a quality contractor doing quality work.

We want and need referrals to all your friends and neighbors and the only way that happens is if I give you the very best quality you can get!  You have to like me, and like the new installation or your not going to recommend me, so while I am offering this deal, I still have to make the installation perfect!

Plus, you get the ironclad guarantee that if you are not 100% satisfied with my people on the job, their appearance or how they treat you, or any part of our equipment we install, the way we treat you or your home, for 365 days from the date we install your new premium, high efficiency system we will remove the equipment and refund 100% of the money, no questions asked.

One More Guarantee – Is He out of his Mind?

I will also guarantee I can lower your energy bill by no less than 25%.  In most cases actually saving you enough money on your utility bills to more than pay for the new system.

Like Always there is Fine Print – Here is the fine print!

1. You have to be one of the 1st 20 to buy a system from me

2. The offer is only good until (February 27th, 2012)

3. When you buy a matched system, which includes the furnace, and air conditioner, you will get a high efficiency premium air conditioner, matched coil, plus the new 80% high efficiency furnace for $699.

You Get from Me:

1. A premium matched system that is brand new and guaranteed

2. The 100% money back satisfaction guarantee

3. The energy savings guarantee

4. A great product, great service, and a great installation

Plus:

I am willing to also offer you (only on the 1st 20 systems for those who act now and buy on this special offer).

A 10 year FULL PARTS and LABOR guarantee on this matched system – meaning you will not have to worry about any breakdowns or service charges of any kind for the next 10 years on your home heating and air conditioning equipment.

That’s it – That’s the Deal

All you have to do is call 678-721-6992!  You have to act quickly on this offer, because when the first 20 are sold, they are sold and I cannot extend the offer, or make any exceptions.  My crews will be full and busy enough that we can’t afford to do any more than these 20, but what a 20 it will be!

The absolute worst thing that can happen to you is we make friends, and you learn a whole lot more about your home, and the way to heating and cooling works inside of your home.  The air in your home is more important than ever, sow hat have you got to lose really?

I hope we get to serve you as one of our many happy, healthy, valued customers.

David Roussel

General Manager

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off

What Does the Energy Star Indicate?

Monday, July 11th, 2011

If you’re in the market for any type of appliance for your home, you’ve probably come across some that boast an Energy Star certification. But what does this really mean? After all, there are all types of special labels that manufacturers put on their products to make them look better, so how can you know which ones are really worth paying attention to?

Why Energy Star Matters

The truth is that no matter what type of appliance you’re looking for, from a coffee maker to a new furnace, buying one with the Energy Star label is definitely a good investment. This certification is conferred by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and it can only be used on products that pass the EPA’s stringent tests for energy efficiency and environmental impact.

Energy Star products create fewer pollutants like greenhouse gasses because they use less energy to get the job done than their inefficient counterparts. This is great for our planet, but it also translates to savings for you as a consumer. Because Energy Star appliances use less energy to heat or cool your home or do whatever else you need them to do, your monthly bills will be significantly reduced.

Quality and Performance Measured

And you don’t have to worry about inferior performance as a result of increased energy efficiency either. Energy Star products can only receive the label if they provide all of the features you’ve come to expect from comparable products across the board. They need to maintain high energy efficiency ratings while still maintaining a superior level of performance.

While it’s true that you may wind up paying a bit more for an Energy Star product, that is only a one-time cost. If you compare the monthly savings you’ll receive by using your Energy Star appliance on a regular basis to what you would pay out over time with a less efficient model, it’s easy to see how the Energy Star product costs you less.

For all of these reasons, the Energy Star rating is definitely worth looking out for when shopping for home appliances and equipment. These products are made to be reliably energy efficient and can save you a ton over the years as long as they’re properly cared for.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off

The Benefits of a Well-Insulated Home

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Insulation is a vitally important part of your home. While it is not something you look at or probably even think about much, the amount and quality of the insulation in your home can have a dramatic impact on many aspects of your quality of life while you are living there.

The most basic reason that insulation is important is that it keeps the cold air out in the winter and the heat out in the summer. Without proper insulation at these times of year, your house will be much less comfortable than it would if you had high quality insulation in the right places.

Going hand in hand with this, of course, is the fact that proper insulation will help you get more out of your home heating and cooling system. By preventing outdoor conditions from affecting the temperature indoors, insulation makes it easier for your HVAC system to keep your home comfortable all year round. That means that the HVAC system uses less energy and is subjected to less wear and tear.

And because proper insulation aids in temperature control, it also helps to keep moisture problems from developing. When there is too much or too little moisture in your indoor air, it can have serious consequences, both for you and for your wood furniture and fixtures. Too little moisture will quickly dry out your skin and can make cold and allergy symptoms worse.

Dry air also can make it harder for your heating system to keep your house warm enough to be comfortable and it can take away from the ability of your indoor air cleaner to remove contaminants from your indoor air. Air that is too moist, on the other hand, will make it more likely that mold will develop in various areas of your house.

Mold needs moisture to grow, and it also often prefers dark, warm areas. For that reason, you can have a significant mold problem and not even realize is if the mold is growing in the walls or in crawlspaces beneath the floor.

Proper insulation, however, can keep excessive humidity from becoming a problem and make it easier to create a comfortable indoor environment all around. Some types of insulation can even keep many potential indoor air contaminants and allergens from getting into your home in the first place.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off

Will Switching to Geothermal Save Me Money?

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

There are simply a ton of different types of heating systems and they are each more appropriate in different situations. However, some are certainly always going to be cheaper to operate than others, although that alone may not make one or the other right for you.

In the case of geothermal heating systems, the operating costs are definitely quite low. But those are not the only costs you will have to think about when you are considering what type of heating system to put in your home to keep your heating bills down.

Geothermal heating systems do not actually generate heat – they absorb it from the ground. Because of this, they actually use very little energy when they are running. All you are really paying to power is the fan that blows the heated air around your house. Also, because geothermal heating systems are more efficient at extracting heat in below freezing conditions than traditional heat pumps, they can continue to keep you warm on their own in more extreme conditions.

Traditional heat pumps, while they also cost very little to operate, do sometimes need to be supplemented by more conventional forms of indoor heating like a furnace when temperatures outdoors get too low. This is not the case with geothermal heat pumps, so if you live somewhere that has colder winters, a geothermal heat pump may be just what you are looking for. Of course, you can always opt for a furnace instead, but these will definitely cost more to run than either type of heat pump.

When you are trying to assess whether or not switching to a geothermal heating system will save you money, you first have to start with the heating bills you currently have. Then, factor in the cost of the geothermal heat pump installation as opposed to the installation of a more conventional system.

You are then in a position to see whether or not the amount the geothermal system will save you each month is enough to offset the higher cost of installation within a reasonable amount of time. Of course, the savings will always eventually add up over time, but if the length of time it will take you to break even is the same or longer than the expected life of the system, it is probably not worth it to invest in this type of heating.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Services | Comments Off