In Florida we rely heavily on our air conditioners during the spring and summer months. Without A/C your home can become very warm and humid, resulting in poor indoor air quality- not to mention a very uncomfortable home. As you begin your spring cleaning checklist, don’t fail to perform the proper service on your AC unit.

How You Can Prepare This Spring

With some preventative care you can avoid a summer emergency call. Some basic maintenance can go a long way to keep your air conditioning system running efficiently. As we mentioned in our Facebook post, changing your air filter every 1-2 months is crucial to maintaining efficient air flow through your system. Dirty air filters can also result in poor air flow. This reduces the amount of air going into your air conditioning unit and therefore increases your energy bills. Cleaning out any drainage holes or pipes can also increase the life of your unit. This also prevents any backups into your system.

You can also clean your fan blades which can reduce the amount of dust that could potentially end up in your air filter. Wiping down and cleaning your air vents will help air flow into your rooms without any obstructions. This will also prevent you and your family from breathing in dust accumulated on your vents.

The closer your indoor temperature is to the outdoors, the less you will be spending in energy bills. Keep this in mind when you are setting the temperature in your home. Having a fan on while in the room can allow you to raise the thermostat 4 degrees higher than you normally would. Fans do not cool your house as a whole, but do help in making the room feel cooler. However, make sure to turn off any fans after you leave a room for long periods of time.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats can help in reducing your energy costs at home. These programmable thermostats, allow you to set the temperature at home at the times when you are home. They also allow you to set the temperature for the times when you are not home. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, take a look at some of the great Lennox thermostats that we offer. For more information about smart thermostats, you can look at our previous post explaining some of the benefits of owning a programmable thermostat.

Zoning

Another way to decrease energy costs is by using a zoning system. The iHarmony zoning system allows to split your home’s air conditioning into sections that each have their own control. For families with members that differ on air temperature preference, this can be an ideal solution.

So as you prepare for spring, don’t neglect your AC system. If you would like us to service your air conditioning system, please feel free to call us and schedule a maintenance service. We are more than happy to help!

In an era of home efficiency and staying green, professional contractors and energy auditors are finding new ways to help home owners save money. A blower door test can help home owners determine if their home suffers from any drafts, leakers, or insufficient insulation.

What is a blower door test?

Blower door testing is test run on homes to determine areas of energy consumption that lead to air leakage, moisture condensation, drafts, and poor air quality. During a blower door test, a powerful fan is mounted onto an exterior door. This fan pulls air out of the home which results in lower air pressure within the house. Higher outside pressure will then find its way into your home through cracks and openings. Then gauges on the panel of the blower door measure and calculate the air flowing into the home.  After the test, auditors are able to quantify the air leakage in your home and determine the overall tightness of the building. The information gathered can then help the auditor determine the best solution for your home.

Benefits of blower door tests

While there are many benefits to blower door tests, we want to highlight some of the major benefits of running this test in your home. On newly constructed homes, blower door tests are required to make sure they meet “Green” conservation standards. Below is a list of benefits of doing a blower door test:

• Discovers drafts, air-leaks, or lack of insulation
• Makes your home more energy efficient thus reducing greenhouse gases
• Reduces your carbon footprint
• Improves your indoor air quality
• Increases the value of your home
• Saves you money on your utility bill
• and may increase the efficiency and life of your air conditioning and heating system.

How to prepare

Here are some steps to prepare your home for a blower door test. This can ensure a smooth, easy process when your auditor arrives.

• If you have a fireplace, please make sure all fires and coals are completely out.
• Plan a walk-through with your auditor or air conditioning contractor to point out areas within your home that you know are drafty.
• Expect to allow the contractor or auditor to have access to all rooms, attics, closets, and built-in cabinets.
• Plan on the test taking a few hours, including set up.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule your blower door test, do not hesitate to contact us. Akins Heating and Air is always ready to be of service.