WestAIR Heating & Cooling has been helping Minnesotans keep their homes cool, clean, and energy-efficient for over 35 years. With rising summer temperatures already impacting the Twin Cities, we want to provide some tips for staying comfortable while keeping your air conditioning bill low all season long. Keep reading to explore how to save money on air conditioning.  Be Smart with Your Thermostat Your thermostat has the most direct effect on your energy costs this summer, and it’s also the most controllable factor in the cooling equation. Be strategic when adjusting its settings! Find the warmest temperature that you are comfortable with during the day and avoid setting it any lower than that. The Department of Energy recommends 78°F, but this depends on your personal preference. You may want to invest in a programmable or smart thermostat to make temperature management even easier. These devices allow you to set schedules for automatic adjustments throughout the day. For instance, you can program higher temperatures for when you’re sleeping or away at work for the day. A smart thermostat lets you fine-tune the temperature for specific rooms and even provides remote access from your smartphone. Optimize Your Air Conditioner Taking good care of your A/C unit is also key to keeping your home energy- and cost-efficient. Follow the manufacturer’s routine maintenance directions and make sure your entire system is checked twice a year by a qualified technician . A representative from WestAIR can identify problems early and keep your A/C unit running at peak performance. Remember to check your air filters regularly, too. Clogged filters restrict airflow, forcing your system to work harder and use more energy. To avoid this, clean permanent filters with mild detergent every 30 to 60 days, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Replaceable 1″ filters should also be changed every 30 to 60 days, while air cleaner filters can be swapped out annually. Contact WestAIR if you require assistance checking or cleaning your filters. Keep the Heat Out The more you can prevent heat from entering your home, the less your A/C will have to work to keep it cool. You have several easy and practical ways to do this. First, close the shades and curtains on sunny windows during the day. You could also invest in blackout curtains in bedrooms, which block significant amounts of heat and light. But don’t be afraid to draw back those curtains and open a window or two when it cools off in the evening. Just remember to close them again when outdoor temperatures rise. You also want to make sure your home is sealed off and insulated, so that the cool air from your A/C won’t escape and hot air from outside won’t seep in. Check for gaps around windows and doors and repair them with weather stripping. Older windows may even have small cracks, meaning you might want to replace them entirely. Stay Cool with WestAIR Outdoor temperatures may be rising, but you don’t have to break the bank to stay comfortable. At WestAIR Heating & Cooling , we are dedicated to making sure you have access to clean air and comfortable temperatures all year long. Contact us to schedule a professional tune-up or discuss installing a new, high-efficiency air conditioner for your home.

Spring has begun, and it won’t be long before the summer heat has your air conditioning working overtime to keep you cool. You may be dreading those summer energy bills, but what if there was a way to lower your energy bills and keep you comfortable all year long? A smart thermostat can do that and more. Keep reading to learn five benefits of smart thermostats. Smart thermostats adjust automatically. Perhaps the greatest functionality of smart thermostats is their ability to adjust temperature and settings based on your routine and other factors. You’ll need to adjust the settings manually for the first week or so, but it will quickly learn what temperature you prefer your home to be at certain times of the day. Some models have motion sensors and can detect when you leave the house and when you return. These models can even adjust temperatures in certain rooms by detecting which rooms you spend time in and when. Smart thermostats will also account for outside temperature and the size of your home. But you can always program a heating and cooling schedule yourself and adjust the temperature at any time if you prefer. The result is a home that’s always optimized for comfort and energy use at any point in the day. Control your settings remotely. With a smart thermostat, you never have to worry about your settings while you’re away from home. Most smart thermostats can be controlled by an accompanying app on your smartphone, meaning you can check and change the temperature from anywhere. This can come in handy if your schedule unexpectedly changes or you forgot to adjust the settings before leaving on a trip. Perhaps you’ve come home from a trip to find that your house sitter turned the A/C or heat up dramatically, leaving you with an abnormally high energy bill. With a smart thermostat, you can always keep an eye on your settings and change them whenever you need to. Receive important notifications. Smart thermostats keep you informed by sending alerts and reminders directly to your smartphone or email inbox. Receive alerts when it’s time to change your air filters or batteries, so you’re never caught off guard by a maintenance issue. Many smart thermostats will also notify you of power outages and extreme temperatures inside your home. You can even track your home’s energy use and patterns, helping you find more ways to increase efficiency and comfort. Improve air quality. Maintenance reminders like air filter alerts help keep your HVAC system in perfect working condition, ensuring your air stays clean by reducing the risk of harmful pollutants. In addition to tracking temperature and energy use, smart thermostats can monitor indoor humidity and make necessary adjustments. Some models, like the VisionPRO® 8000 from Honeywell®, can even control a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep the air quality and moisture at just the right levels. Lower your energy bills. We’ve seen how the benefits of smart thermostats will increase energy efficiency, optimize comfort levels, and give you complete control over the temperature in your home. All these factors work together to help you save money on your energy bills, no matter the season. Smart thermostats won’t waste energy on heating or cooling your home while you’re away, they can automatically adjust based on which rooms are occupied, and you can always adjust the settings remotely if your schedule changes. Smart thermostats afford you more comfort and more savings. Take control of your home with a smart thermostat from WestAIR. The benefits of smart thermostats go far beyond what we’ve discussed here. If you’re ready to take your home’s energy efficiency and comfort to the next level, contact WestAIR . We offer a wide range of Honeywell® advanced T-Series and VisionPro® units to put you in control of your home’s temperature and energy costs. Contact us today to learn more.

Heading south for the winter isn’t just for the birds anymore. During the winter season, the Florida population increases by more than 5 percent due to snowbirds. When it is time to pack up and head south, you should think about the ways you can keep your house, yard, and belongings safe. Let WestAIR Heating & Cooling walk you through our 2023 snowbird checklist. Winterize Your Home It is safe to say that heading south for the winter is a dream, but you shouldn’t have nightmares about things that could go wrong with your Midwestern home. You should bask in the sun, enjoy the weather, and love life. If you plan to leave your house vacant for a few months, we want to give you a few tips on how to winterize your home . Turn off your water supply. Remove all food from your pantry so you won’t find new critters roaming around. Make sure to keep your house temperature at 55°F or warmer. You can install a smart thermostat to control the temperature of your house from your phone. Unplug all electronics and appliances. Have your heating system serviced by WestAIR Heating & Cooling . Indoor Cleaning Your house contains a lot of prized valuables and treasures. Tidying up indoors and performing routine maintenance will help deter criminals and keep your house safe. To prevent fires, make sure all fire alarms are working and have new batteries. Check to make sure all your windows and outside doors are locked and draw the shades. Arrange for someone to regularly come over and check on the house. We also recommend fully cleaning your house, removing all food, and emptying all garbage cans. You don’t need indoor trespassers, either (rats, spiders, etc.). Outdoor Maintenance Outdoor maintenance matters just as much as indoor maintenance. To keep your house safe, we suggest installing Wi-Fi-enabled smart cameras . These cameras will catch any suspicious activity and send an alert straight to your smartphone. You can also install a motion sensing floodlight to discourage potential criminals. Some other outdoor maintenance we suggest is to have a snow removal company plow and shovel for you. You should also clean and bring in any outdoor furniture. Make sure to drain all pipes, faucets, and outdoor hoses to prevent the water in them from freezing and expanding. Tell the Neighbors Communicating with family, neighbors, and friends is important when snowbirding. In order for your home to stay safe and intact, you should have a few people watching over it. Smart cameras work wonders, but not when you are thousands of miles away. Neighbors can watch for suspicious activity and pick up any mail or packages delivered while you are away. Family or friends can perform weekly checks to make sure the inside of your house is secure and tidy. There are many positives to being a snowbird. For example, sunlight and warm weather can help improve your lung and heart health . There is no need to worry about straining your body while shoveling or snowplowing during a snowstorm. The warm weather helps to get you outside and spend time doing activities you love, such as walking, biking, and running. You also get the chance to explore a new town, try new things, and immerse yourself in a different culture. If you follow our 2023 snowbird checklist, you won’t need to worry when you’re away because your house, yard, and belongings will be safe and sound. We can also help keep your home safe — by making sure your heating system is in great working condition. If you are looking to have your heating system serviced or for more snowbird tips, feel free to contact WestAIR Heating & Cooling .

As we watch the leaves fall off the trees and the snow come down, we can’t help but know that the seasons are changing, and fall is coming to an end. Homeowners must start thinking about how they are going to stay warm during this cold time of year. Along with winter comes the higher cost of heat and living. We here at WestAIR Heating & Cooling would like to give you a few tips for winter heating this season.  Purchase a Smart Thermostat The year is 2022, smart devices are slowly taking over the world as we know it. Why not add another smart device that helps control the temperature of your home? A Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostat can be controlled from anywhere at any time using your smartphone. They track your movement and location. They know when you are away and when you are home. The ideal temperature for your house to run at is between 68 and 72 degrees. They help you to track your energy usage and can tell you when you are saving energy which can lead to lower utility bills in the long run. Don’t Heat an Empty or Sleeping House When you leave the house in the morning, you concentrate on getting ready, packing the car, and getting to your destination on time. One more thing you can add to that list is turning down the heat. You shouldn’t heat an empty house. You can save money on energy and your heating bills by simply lowering the heat by 7 degrees. We often have too much going through our heads to remember to turn the heat down, so if you are rushing out the door, your smart thermostat will know you’re gone and turn the heat down for you. You can also adjust the heat settings on your smart phone through an app. It’s proven that cooler temperatures will help your health . The cooler the room, the deeper your sleep, the greater your REM sleep is, and the faster you will fall asleep. Put Your ceiling Fan in Reverse Ceiling fans are nice for cooling down the house in the summer, but they also help to warm up your house in the winter. Once you flip the switch on your fan, the blades will start rotating clockwise. This will help bring the cold air towards the ceiling and push the warm air from top to bottom. This will help to keep your living space warm and cozy without putting a big dent in your pocket. Contact your WestAIR HVAC Specialist Purchasing a smart thermostat, putting your ceiling fan in reverse, and not heating an empty home are just a few tips and tricks you can use for winter heating this season. The professionals at West AIR want you to have reliable, efficient heating solutions that will last for many years down the road. If you think your HVAC system isn’t running correctly, or you need an annual maintenance inspection, contact WestAIR Heating & Cooling today.