Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
So far, June has given Minnesotans multiple occasions to fire up the A/C. With the dog days of summer yet to come, plenty more hot and humid days await. But don’t sweat it – WestAIR is here to help! We put together these energy-saving HVAC tips to help minimize your utility bills this cooling season.
Having an HVAC technician inspect, service, and clean your system now helps ensure peak performance and prevent costly repairs down the road. If you haven’t already, contact your local HVAC professional about the following services.
You don’t have to shut down your HVAC system and suffer through the heat to cut costs. Instead, follow these simple tips and get the most out of your A/C this summer.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 18 percent of your home’s energy consumption comes from water heating. Try these water use strategies to help cut utility costs throughout the summer months.
With July and August still ahead, we know the cooling season is far from over here in Minnesota. Use these energy-saving HVAC tips to minimize utility costs while keeping your home cool and cozy this summer. And for all of your heating and cooling needs, rely on the residential HVAC experts at WestAIR for thorough, high-quality service.
Contact us today to schedule service and learn more.
This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Cooling,Duct Cleaning,Energy Savings,Tips and tagged air conditioning, Air filters, Cooling Mistakes, Cooling Tips, Duct cleaning, Energy efficiency, Energy efficient, Energy savings, Energy-Saving HVAC Tips, Energy-saving tips, Family Health, Home Cooling, Homeowner Education, Homeowner Tips, HVAC Education, HVAC Maintenance, HVAC Mistakes, HVAC Safety, HVAC tips, Indoor air quality, Preventative Maintenance, Summer Cooling, Summer HVAC Tips
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Having a working furnace and air conditioner is crucial during the winter and steamy summer days. Don’t run it and forget about it, as wear and tear is inevitable. You can save on costly replacements or repairs through proper maintenance. Extend the life of your HVAC equipment by following these steps.
1. Follow manufacturer instructions.
2. Have your systems checked every year by a qualified service technician. It’s best to schedule maintenance in the spring and fall. Technicians are busy in the hot and cold months, and you don’t want to wait until there’s something wrong.
3. Check your filters. Replace your filters every 30 to 60 days. If you have a permanent filter, clean it with mild detergent every 30 to 60 days. This is the most important step to increase the life of your equipment. Dirty filters make heating and cooling units work harder, which will shorten the life with use.
4. Keep your doors and windows closed. Your air conditioner and heater will work harder when there is more air to circulate. Make each space with ventilation smaller by closing your doors. This is the also the case for houses with boilers or window air conditioners. Rather than labor to regulate air temperature in the whole house, your a/c only needs to cool the individual room. With a boiler system, it’s efficient to close off rooms without a radiator.
5. Caulk and weather-strip air gaps on windows. This step is good for your wallet and your HVAC equipment. Old houses are especially drafty, so locate the air leaks by finding damaged glazing or old caulking. Another trick is to turn off all appliances and light an incense stick in each room. Turn on your exhaust vent if you have one. Then hold your incense stick close to windows, doors, and walls for a noticeable change in the smoke. If you have drafty doors, invest in some door draft blockers.
6. Use your thermostat. It’s a myth that you should keep your thermostat at a steady temperature. Most of the time, your furnace will be working harder to maintain the heat at a steady rate. Instead, program your thermostat for a comfortable temperature while you are home and ten degrees less while you are away. However, fidgeting with the thermostat will be less efficient, even if it seems harmless to put it up or down a degree or two. Keep it on a consistent schedule.
1. Open window shades when windows are facing the sun. Let the sun warm your house naturally, putting less work on your furnace. The vitamin D is good for you this time of year!
2. Take advantage of using your oven. Slow cook your chicken and oven roast your veggies. The extra warmth will give your furnace a break. Your oven will be working two jobs at once without the added cost.
1. Close window shades facing the sun. Opposite of wintertime, you want to block the sun from adding extra heat to your house. Make sure to put your plants outside so they don’t suffer from the lack of sun!
2. Be smart with your other appliances. When you are doing laundry, hang up your clothes on a line to save energy or strain on your a/c. Why work an appliance that uses heat when it’s already hot outdoors? Washing clothing shouldn’t be an issue, though, if you stick to cold water. If it’s humid out, dry your clothes during the coolest part of the day: around dawn. Same goes for dishwashers.
3. Use your exhaust fans when cooking. Whether you plan on using the oven or stovetop for dinner, turn on the exhaust fan to let out the excess moisture and heat. Or maybe fix a cold sandwich or salad. In return, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard! Same goes for your bathroom, but not everyone likes cold showers!
Spring is around the corner, so it’s time to schedule your maintenance visit with WestAir Heating & Cooling.
Our technician’s maintenance list will take care of most things you cannot do yourself to ensure your equipment is running smoothly for summer and winter:
• Clean furnace and check operation/filter
• Clean air conditioner and check operation
• Clean outdoor condenser and check refrigerant level
• Clean air exchanger filters and core
• Check radiant in-floor pressures and go over system
• Check humidifier filter and drain line
• Check unit heater operation
• Clean fireplace and check operation
Contact us for more information on heating, cooling, or our service maintenance!
This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Cooling,Furnace,Heating,Winter and tagged A/C, A/C, Air conditioner, Air filters, Air quality, Annual check-up, Caulk, Clogged filter, Cold air, Cooking, Cooling, Cost, Dirty, Dishwasher, Door draft stopper, Doors, Drafty windows, Dryer, Efficiency, Energy efficient, Exhaust fan, Fall, Filter, Filters, Furnace, Furnace filter, Heater, Heating, HVAC, Laundry, Maintenance, Quality, Save money, Shower, Spring, Summer, Sunshine, Sustainability, Thermostat, Windows, Winter
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Steadily rising heating costs. Strange noises and weak air flow. Frequent repairs. These are all signs that your older furnace may be nearing the end of its life cycle. When the time comes for furnace replacement, look to the experts at WestAIR and Rheem.
There are several factors to take into account when considering a furnace replacement:
Rheem manufactures top quality, innovative furnaces and heating products offering the latest technology and long-lasting performance, with up to a 98.7% energy efficiency rating.
Founded in 1925 by brothers Richard and David Rheem, Rheem Manufacturing Company offers nearly 100 years of heating and cooling manufacturing excellence. WestAIR is proud to be a Rheem Pro Partner, with highly trained, licensed, professional technicians.
Contact WestAir today to discuss your current heating system and your furnace replacement options. Together with Rheem, we’ll ensure the comfort of your family this year and for years to come.
This entry was posted in Energy Savings,Heating,Uncategorized and tagged Energy efficient, Furnace replacement, Furnace replacement from Rheem, Rheem, WestAIR furnace replacement
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Upgrading your home’s thermostat to a programmable set-back unit is one of the simplest things you can do for your home, and the most practical. Today, home owners expect these units to do more than just regulate temperature — they demand units that enhance energy efficiency, indoor air quality, maintain consistency and more.
WestAIR offers set-back thermostats with four settings (wake, day, evening, sleep) that allows you to set and monitor your home’s climate to your liking:
Wake: Program your thermostat to reach your favorite comfortable temperature about 10 minutes prior to your alarm going off in the morning. It’ll be the perfect start to your day.
Day: Daytime is the perfect opportunity for energy savings. Set your thermostat 10-15 degrees up or down from your preferred comfort temperature, then program it to resume 10 minutes before you arrive home.
Evening: Set your thermostat to your preferred “at home” temperature in the evenings. Energy Star recommends setting your thermostat to 68 during the winter months and 78 during the summer.
Sleep: Overnights are a great opportunity to save energy as well. Program your thermostat a few degrees higher/lower than your preferred comfort temperature.
Learn more about programmable thermostats by contacting WestAIR Heating & Cooling today at 763.498.8071 or browse our website for more info.
This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Energy Savings,Indoor Air Quality,Tips,Uncategorized,Website and tagged Efficiency ratings, Energy efficient, Energy savings, Energy Star rated, Setback thermostat, Thermostat, Tips & advice, WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Winter has arrived in Minnesota and with it, increasing costs to heat our homes. Here’s a few ways you can save money on your heating bill this winter:
Turn Down The Thermostat
You can save 5%-15% a year on your heating bill by simply turning down your thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake, or lower while you’re sleeping or away from the home. An easy way to do this is to purchase a programmable thermostat so you can set it and forget it.
Winterize Your Windows
Purchase plastic film to help seal leaky windows from cold air drafts.
Use The Fan
Toggle the fan on your thermostat to ‘on’ to force warm air into rooms throughout your house.
Keep Vents Open and Unblocked
Be sure vents are open and furniture isn’t blocking them so air can properly circulate the room.
Let The Sun Shine
Open drapes and shades over windows facing sun to naturally warm up your home.
Layer Up
Wear a sweatshirt, socks or cover up with a blanket before reaching for the thermostat dial.
Service Your Furnace
It’s important to have annual service performed on your furnace to ensure it’s running safely and efficiently. If your unit isn’t working properly, it can end up costing you more to heat your home.
The team at WestAIR Heating & Cooling would be happy to come to your home and personally assess your heating system. Give us a call today at 763-498-8071.
This entry was posted in Energy Savings,Furnace,Tips and tagged Energy efficient, Energy savings, Furnace, Heating, Service, Setback thermostat, Tips & advice, WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Remember that improper care of your furnace may be lessening its efficiency.
Follow these tips to extend the life of your HVAC equipment and help prevent breakdowns.
As your furnace continues to battle the Cold Days of Winter, remember to call your local professional at WestAIR Heating & Cooling if your furnace is giving you any trouble. We’d be happy to come out to your home and personally assess your heating system. We want you to be comfortable in your home, all year long. Contact us today at 763.498.8071
This entry was posted in Energy Savings,Furnace,Heating,Tips,Uncategorized and tagged Energy efficient, Energy savings, Filters, Furnace, Heating, Setback thermostat, Thermostat, Tips & advice, WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Hey Twin Cities! The first HOT day of the year is in the forecast! Time to get your home air conditioner fired up and running. Worried that maybe it had a hard winter and might be slow to get going? Call WestAIR to schedule your tune up.
Yearly maintenance on your home’s air conditioner can greatly reduce your energy costs, extend it’s lifetime AND improve system performance. The best way to get the most out of your AC is have a qualified air conditioning specialist come out to your home to perform an inspection. They can give you recommendations such as:
And if that isn’t enough, right now, WestAIR is running a coupon special on AC Tune Ups
Contact WestAIR for a Free Estimate to evaluate your home HVAC system.
This entry was posted in AC,Cooling,Energy Savings and tagged A/C tune-up coupon, Air conditioner, Cooling, Energy efficient, Energy savings, Service, Specials, Tips & advice
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
A late Spring this year means Summer is right around the corner and coming fast! Before you know it the heat will be scorching and your Air Conditioner will be working overtime. Is your AC ready to withstand the constant summer heat? Scheduling an AC check and clean is the best thing you can do to save future break down costs and reduce your energy bill for the summer. If you would like to learn more about why a check and clean is important please visit the government energy website.
Utility companies around the metro area offer to reimburse residents for their check and clean service expenses. Some of which include: Connexus, Crow Wing Power, Elk River Utilities, Hutchinson, Lake Country, New Ulm and North Saint Paul. For other rebates and savings in your area visit the Minnesota Power website.
Proudly delivering the “Quality Service you expect” for 25+ years. Contact WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate (763)498-8071. Location: 11184 River Road NE Hanover, MN 55341
This entry was posted in AC,Cooling,Uncategorized and tagged Air conditioner, Cooling, Energy efficient, Energy savings, Repair, Service, Tips & advice
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
Winter is here to stay and so will be your high energy bills if you don’t act soon! Here at WestAir Heating we would like to offer you some complimentary tips on how to save energy costs by doing few simple things. Here are some possible options…
For the greatest amount of savings:install a programmable thermostat. To learn more about setback thermostats visit our website at www.westairheating.com
Proudly delivering the “Quality Service you expect” for 25+ years. Contact WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate (763)498-8071. Location: 11184 River Road NE Hanover, MN 55341
This entry was posted in Furnace,Heating and tagged Energy efficient, Energy savings, Furnace, Heating, Setback thermostat, Thermostat, Tips & advice
Posted on by WestAIR Heating & Cooling
The time of year has arrived to change that dial on your thermostat. How nice would it be to have the temperature in you house automatically changed at different times of the day AND save money on energy bills at the same time? With an energy efficient setback thermostat there will be 4 primary settings: wake, day, evening and sleep. Each are adjustable to your own comfort level and will help you save money. To learn more about Setback Thermostats visit our website at http://www.westairheating.com For additional information and a virtual interaction sample visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=thermostats.progThermostat
Proudly delivering the “Quality Service you expect” for 25+ years. Contact WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate (763)498-8071. Location: 11184 River Road NE Hanover, MN 55341
This entry was posted in Cooling,Indoor Air Quality and tagged Energy efficient, Energy Star rated, Furnace, Honeywell, Indoor air quality, Service, Setback thermostat, Thermostat, Tips & advice
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