Posts Tagged ‘Lake Arrowhead’
Tuesday, July 17th, 2012
Rising temperatures and glorious sunny days make summer an ideal season for getting work done around the house. Whether you’re cooling off indoors or working on your tan, take the time to perform some simple, routine home maintenance. You’ll have a safer home if you catch problems and wear-and-tear before they become hazards.
Keeping Cool Inside
Energy efficiency is a top priority when electricity bills climb as high as the temperatures outside. Hopefully you’ve had your air conditioning system checked in the spring, as repairmen are often busy in the summer and you may have to sweat it out until your appointment.
Ceiling fans provide an energy-efficient way of circulating cool air. Dust them if needed and balance any wobbly blades by tightening loose screws. For additional energy efficiency, check windows and doors for air leaks and seal with weather stripping or caulk as needed. You’re paying for the cool air, so take steps to be sure it’s not escaping outdoors.
Home Exterior Care and Landscaping
Take advantage of the warm weather and wash the outside of your windows and clean the siding. While it might be tempting to use a pressure washer, a garden hose is best to avoid potentially damaging the exterior of your home. Apply a coat of fresh paint if needed, and repair any damaged vinyl or aluminum siding.
Be aware of termites while you’re outside inspecting your home. Termites can easily go undetected until significant damage has been done. Look for telltale signs like flaking wood or mud buildup and tunneling systems in the exterior wood of your home. Professional pest control inspections are recommended if you have any suspicions of possible infestation.
Well-tended landscaping and a trim and tidy house are as welcoming to guests as the smells of a barbeque. Garden beds look their best when mulched and weeded. Summer annuals can be induced to produce more flowers and bloom longer when you deadhead them. Removing spent flowers also prevents the plant from going to seed. Check garden plants, trees, and shrubs for insect infestations. Unhealthy plants should be removed so that others may thrive.
Lush green grass is of course desirable; however, it is not always realistic or water-efficient. Encourage healthy grass growth with regular mowing, but remember: Keeping grass cut longer in the summer months will prevent roots from drying out as quickly.
Grass and plants should be watered in the morning to allow the water to soak through the soil throughout the day in order to completely nourish their root systems. Check to see if your municipality has water conservation restrictions before watering your lawn or garden.
Trees provide shady ambience and should be well cared for to avoid potential damage to your home. Keep their branches pruned and at a safe distance from your home to avoid storm-related damage. Inspect trees for signs of decay, such as cracks or hollowed limbs, and keep branches clear of your home and power lines. Tree care professionals can assist with the cutting and removal of large or high limbs.
Also, before planting additional trees and shrubs in your yard, take into consideration the plant’s size when mature and whether or not roots might intrude upon underground pipes or paved surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways.
Garage Upkeep
Hazardous materials such as paint and solvents should be disposed of properly. Don’t store heat-sensitive or combustible materials in the garage, as the temperature will be rising throughout the season. Inspect the floor for grease spots from leaking car fluids, and have your car serviced promptly if you find any.
If you have children, instruct them not to go in the garage unaccompanied. Store your hand tools and power tools behind a lock and key. Fertilizers, weed-killers, and pesticides should be stored out of a child’s reach or behind a locked cabinet. You might also consider organic gardening, which employs nontoxic alternatives to these poisonous chemicals.
Driveways And Walkways
Inspect the pavement for cracks and holes, and repair them. This goes a long way in preventing accidental slips, trips, and falls. It also works to avoid larger repairs or resurfacing in the future. If you see weeds popping up between cracks in the pavement, resist the urge to pull them up. You’ll remove the upper part of the weed, but the root system will remain and new growth will return within a few weeks. For a cost-effective solution, boil water in a kettle and pour the water on any weeds to kill them off for the season.
Tags: Acworth, Air Conditioning, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austell, Buckhead, Canton, Cherokee County, Cobb County, Dallas, East Cobb, Euharlee, Fulton County, Holly Springs, Indoor Air Quality, Kennesaw, Kingston, Lake Arrowhead, Lost Mountain, Mableton, Mars Hill, Paulding County, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Taylorsville, Waleska, White, Woodstock
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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: Acworth, Air Conditioning, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Canton, Cartersville, Cherokee County, Cobb County, Cumberland, Dallas, East Cobb, Euharlee, Fulton County, Geothermal, Holly Springs, HVAC, Kennesaw, Kingston, Lake Arrowhead, Lost Mountain, Mableton, Marietta, Mars Hill, Paulding County, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Taylorsville, Townlake, Vinings, Waleska, White, Woodstock
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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: Acworth, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austell, Bridgemill, Buckhead, Canton, Cartersville, Cherokee County, Clarkdale, Crabapple, Cumberland, Dallas, East Cobb, Euharlee, Holly Springs, Kennesaw, Kingston, Lake Arrowhead, Lost Mountain, Mableton, Marietta, Mars Hill, Milton, Mountain Park, Northpoint, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Taylorsville, Townlake, Vinings, Waleska, White, Woodstock
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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: Acworth, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austell, Big Creek, Bridgemill, Buckhead, Canton, Cartersville, Cherokee County, Clarkdale, Cobb County, Crabapple, Cumberland, Dallas, East Cobb, Euharlee, Holly Springs, Kennesaw, Kingston, Lake Arrowhead, Lost Mountain, Mableton, Marietta, Mars Hill, Milton, Mountain Park, Northpoint, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Taylorsville, Townlake, Vinings, White, Woodstock
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Friday, November 18th, 2011
Your home is a haven for you and your family. You do all you can to keep it comfortable and safe. If you live in a cold climate, you know how important it is to keep your home warm during the cold months. Being unsure whether your heating system will work properly through the winter can cause serious worry for a homeowner. Hiring a professional home heating service to do a yearly check-up is a great way to catch problems and make repairs before they turn into serious problems
Heating contractors have the expertise and training to handle any size of repair, and they deal with furnace issues and ductwork on a regular basis. They will evaluate your needs and give you an estimate for the repair before they begin it. You want to contract with professionals who have the skills and abilities to detect and repair problems to your heating and air conditioning system. Because they are experienced, they have worked on many different types of units, which give them important knowledge that the average homeowner simply doesn’t have.
Reliable heating contractors work hard to provide affordable bids quickly so that you can have them do the work that gets you back to status quo. It is a good idea to locate a contractor before you have a problem so that you will know who to call if an emergency were to occur. It is a good idea to have a company come out for a basic service call so you can see how easy they are to work with and how well they do their job. This way if problems arise later you know you have someone to call that you can trust and knows your system. If you try to fix a problem with your heating or air conditioning system on your own, you could actually make it worse and cause your home to be without heat for a longer period of time.
Choosing professional heating contractors will keep this from happening. Be sure when you call for your emergency that you accurately describe the problem with your system so that your heating contractors will have a better idea of where to start. This may reduce the total time they must spend and can save you money, since they get paid by the hour.
Tags: Acworth, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austell, Bridgemill, Buckhead, Canton, Cartersville, Cherokee County, Cobb County, Dallas, East Cobb, Euharlee, Holly Springs, HVAC, Kennesaw, Kingston, Lake Arrowhead, Lost Mountain, Mableton, Marietta, Mars Hill, Milton, Mountain Park, Paulding County, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Taylorsville, Waleska, White, Woodstock
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Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Millions of homeowners are living in polluted air and don’t even know it, even in Acworth. In fact, the quality of air inside homes is a significant factor influencing the health and wellbeing of millions annually. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.6 million people die every year as a result of poor indoor air quality. That makes it the 8th most common risk factor for death in the world and a huge contributor to cancers and other respiratory health problems.
So why is indoor air quality such an issue? Consider for a moment what a home does. At its core, a home is designed to keep you and your family protected from outside threats. It does that with solid walls, tightly sealed windows and a well-built roof over your heads. But the same technology that has made homes better sealed than ever also contributes to safety and health problems for residents of those homes by trapping air pollutants inside.
What’s at Stake?
The most common indoor air pollutants are mere irritants. Things like pollen, dust and dander are uncomfortable but don’t necessarily make anyone deathly ill. However, when a home is sealed up too tightly and the air isn’t filtered and cleaned regularly, the result can be downright dangerous to the occupants. Those seemingly innocuous pollutants suddenly make up a much larger percentage of the air inside.
In some cases, according to the WHO, the amount of smoke and other particles inside the home can be up to 100 times higher than what is considered safe outside. Now consider the other pollutants that can be inside the house. If pollen and dander cannot get out, what about exhaust from your stove, radon gas in your basement or mold spores in your ductwork.
You’re breathing all of it and the result is a significant increase in health risks for diseases like pneumonia, respiratory disease, and asthma – all of which are highly dangerous to anyone, but especially children and the elderly.
Solutions Abound
Luckily, this is not a problem you must deal with indefinitely. Modern HVAC systems integrate advanced ventilation technology, air filtration and air cleaning systems to remove the vast majority of these pollutants. But, first, you need to have them installed. Proper testing can help you determine what aspects of your home’s air supply need to be fixed first and foremost. From there it’s just a matter of finding the right contractor.
Tags: Acworth, Indoor Air Quality, Lake Arrowhead, Mars Hill
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
Air conditioners can definitely make it easier to get through a particularly hot and sticky summer. But they are also pretty expensive to run, especially if you live in an area with long, hot summers. Fortunately, there are quite a few things you can do to help your air conditioner keep your home cool without running up those astronomical energy bills.
- Think about Your Thermostat – Most people set their thermostat at one temperature and leave it there. But does it really make sense to pay to keep your home cool all day long when no one’s home? Instead, try turning up the temperature when you leave the house and then again at night before you go to bed. It’s likely you won’t notice the difference and even an adjustment of a couple of degrees can make a big difference.
- Multiple Climate Zones – When you are home, of course, you want to set your thermostat to a temperature you’ll be comfortable with. But that probably still means you’ll be cooling a lot of empty space. Installing a multi-zone system allows you to set different temperatures for different parts of your home. You can keep the spaces you use regularly cool and comfortable without wasting money paying to cool the unoccupied parts of your home.
- Ceiling Fans – It might seem silly at first glance to use a ceiling fan at the same time as an air conditioner. But the truth is that using a ceiling fan to compliment your air conditioning system can actually save you a lot of money. Ceiling fans use next to no electricity to operate and they can make the house feel a few degrees cooler. With that added help, you can turn your thermostat up a few degrees without sacrificing indoor comfort and save yourself quite a bit of money – more than enough to cover the cost of running the ceiling fan.
- Keep Things Sealed – Making sure your house is well sealed and insulated is another important way to keep your energy usage down during the summer. The more cool air that escapes, the harder your system has to work and the more energy it will use.
- Proper Maintenance – Keeping up with the recommended maintenance for your air conditioning system is the best way to make sure it maintains the highest possible level of energy efficiency. Over time, it will ensure your system stays efficient longer as well – well beyond the initial lifespan estimates.
Tags: Holly Springs, Kennesaw, Lake Arrowhead
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Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
It’s no secret that air conditioners use up a lot of electricity and can add substantially to your energy bills during those warm summer months. But did you know that they actually account for an estimated 11% of the total energy used in all buildings in the US each year? This is a staggering figure and makes it easy to see why it’s best to invest in the most energy efficient system possible.
Keeping Your Consumption Down
There are plenty of reasons to try and keep your energy consumption down. You want to save on your energy bills, and the less energy you use, the better it is for the environment. The best and most straightforward way to go about this is to purchase only highly energy efficient appliances and equipment, and that includes air conditioners.
Because air conditioner usage accounts for such a substantial part of the total energy used in this country, putting more energy efficiency models into use is the best way to cut that usage down.
Supplementary Cooling
However, there are other ways to reduce the workload of your air conditioner. For instance, you can use a ceiling fan to maintain good air circulation and keep your home cool. Using a ceiling fan with an air conditioner, even on the hottest days of the year, allows you to turn up your thermostat a bit to conserve energy while still enjoying a comfortable indoor environment. And because ceiling fans use so little energy to operate, you’ll come out ahead on your energy bill.
Passive Cooling
There are also several passive cooling methods you can employ to keep the temperature in your home down. Blocking out sunlight is the most important of these, so keep your blinds closed on any windows that receive direct sunlight, particularly in the early afternoon. Alternately, you can have awnings put up, which allow you to block the direct sun while still keeping the blinds open.
Shade is another effective passive cooling device. Planting trees around your home to block out the sun at the hottest times of day is a totally energy-free way of keeping your home cool and reducing the workload on your air conditioning system. The less your air conditioner has to work, the less energy it consumes and the lower your energy bills will be.
Tags: Energy Use, Kennesaw, Lake Arrowhead, Vinings
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Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
When buying an air conditioner, there are a lot of things you need to take into account. One of the most important is the size and power of the unit you choose. Air conditioners come in many different sizes, so if you really want to get the most out of your purchase, you need to do your research and pick one that fits your home like a glove.
Square Feet and BTUs
The best way to determine how large of an air conditioner you need is to match the number of BTUs the unit has to the square footage of the room you want to use it in. That means you need to know what room you’re buying it for before you make your purchase.
The number of BTUs needed goes up proportionately with the room size, so even if you don’t have exact measurements or if your room is oddly shaped, you can get a good idea of how large an air conditioner you need. For instance, a 400 to 550 square foot room is best served by an air conditioner with between 8,000 and 11,000 BTUs, while a room that’s only 250 square feet would probably be fine with a 6,000 BTU unit.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
One of the most common mistakes people make when buying an air conditioner is to assume that the bigger the unit the better it will work. The truth is that buying an air conditioner that’s too big for your room is just as much of a waste as buying one that’s too small.
A larger air conditioner will cost more, and it will probably make the room too cold. It will also cycle on and off more frequently than a properly sized unit and it won’t be able to properly control the humidity level, leaving you with a cold, damp environment. That’s not very comfortable.
Other Factors
The square footage is definitely the most important piece of data you’ll need before buying a new air conditioner for any room in your house. But don’t forget to take some other factors into account as well. For instance, if the room has particularly high ceilings or receives a lot of direct sunlight, you’ll probably need a slightly more powerful unit than the straight square footage would indicate.
If you’re not sure how certain features of your home will impact your buying decision, call a professional who can help you get a more exact idea of what it will take to stay cool.
Tags: Holly Springs, Kennesaw, Lake Arrowhead
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Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
If your air conditioner does not seem to be working as well as it should, your natural first reaction is to go out and take a look at the compressor to see if there is anything you can do quickly to correct the problem. Of course, you cannot assess the situation unless you know what you are looking for. For instance, if you see ice forming on the condenser coil or anywhere else on the air conditioning system, you will know you found the likely source of the problem.
Ice can form in your air conditioner for a number of reasons. The most common one is that your refrigerant levels are low. Since this refrigerant is contained in a closed system, a deficiency in refrigerant means that there must be a leak somewhere in that system. Only a certified professional can refill your refrigerant and determine where the leaks are in the system to make the necessary repairs.
Another reason that ice can develop in your air conditioner is because the air is not flowing fast enough through the system and across the coils. This can happen because of a problem with the fan or because there is an actual physical impediment to the air flow. Regardless of the reason, the ice will form because without adequate air flow the condenser coils will get too cold.
These coils are typically kept just above freezing by the constant flow of air across them. When the air passes by them at this temperature, the moisture from the air condenses on the surface of the coil. But because the coil is not quite freezing, the water then runs down into a collection pan. When the coil is too cold, however, the moisture from the air will freeze on the coil before it can run off.
This ice actually manages to insulate the coil and keeps it from properly cooling the air or removing any additional moisture. If left unattended, the ice in your central air conditioning system can cause real damage to the unit. Plus, it is not allowing the air conditioner to do its job and cool your house down. So if you notice any amount of ice at all beginning to form on any part of your air conditioner, be sure to call for professional service right away.
Tags: Ice, Kennesaw, Kingston, Lake Arrowhead
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