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A home's thermostat is something that most don't think of when it comes to vital equipment. And it shouldn't be because it can allow you to save a lot of money when it is working right. Like most things, thermostats have evolved in the last few years. You might still have those old rounded dial models that continue to work without issues. With a simple and inexpensive upgrade, the benefits can be huge. This is especially true if you're changing from a manual thermostat to a programmable one. Your Energy Bills Will Be Lower This is not a salesman’s pitch. By changing from a manual thermostat to a programmable one, your system can save between 5-15% a year. This savings is only on your energy bill! There are even more savings in store for you. This not sounding like much. But, it is the amount you'll need to pay for the installation of a new thermostat. In the long run, your system will begin to save you money. The Temperature Adjusts When You Need It To One of the main benefits of having a programmable thermostat is the fact that you only need to program it once. After that, it will do the adjustments by itself. It's great to have the home at the same temperature when you wake up and when you go to bed. You won't even having to worry about it. More Information On Your HVAC System The old thermostats can only show you the temperature in your home. With new programmable models, you can see a lot more useful information. You can see when you have to change the filters, for example. Plus you can receive alerts when there is a problem with the system itself.

Winter is right around the corner, so it's time think about preparing your home for the cold nights ahead. You need to make sure that everything is working well for those cold days. Here are 5 ways to prepare your home for winter: Check The Gutters Looking at the leaves falling from the trees is one of the most beautiful things about autumn. Despite your love for the scenery, the leaves tend to accumulate on your home and in your gutters. And with winter coming, this can mean you'll have a problem. So a simple task you need to tackle is to clean the gutters before the temperatures start to fall. If you don't clean the gutters, dirt and moisture can build up. The freezing temperatures will turn this small mess into ice dams on your building. And the water can seep right into your home. Seal Your Doors And Windows Make sure that all the doors and windows are working well as you check both the exterior and interior seals. One of the things that you can do to prevent the heat from getting out and the cold to come in is to install a door sweep. They are usually seen at the bottom of the doors and they're quite inexpensive and work very well. In what concerns to the windows, you need to inspect them as well. Check all the windows to make sure that there are no gaps, cracks, or broken glass. Also see the window frames, especially if they're made out of wood. If you notice a nickel-wide crack between your windows and siding, use silicone caulk. This works very well for the exterior. Check The Heat Before you use your burners and heating system, make sure they are ready for continuous use. You should change the filters, check the pilot light, and test the systembefore you need it. Make sure there is not a dust or soot build up and that carbon monoxide detectors are working.

  Thinking of your home’s energy consumption is a smart move. Being smart with your energy use can lower energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Being energy efficient can begin with simple steps. Turn off lights and electronics when not needed. You can also install a smart thermostat for more efficient controls.   Ardmore Fresh Air can help you be more energy efficient with heating and cooling. If you want to make a difference in your home, here are three things you can do today. You do not need to make a huge effort. Even simple changes can lead to better results over time.  Turn Off Unused Energy Drainers Turning off a light or tv when you are leaving the room and no longer using them should be common sense to most people. You know that leaving a light, fan, or electronic device on means that it will still use energy even if it is not in use. You can use this information when considering the energy use around your home. Something that has increased in the last couple of decades is the drain of phantom energy. Phantom energy refers to energy used when electronic devices may be off but are still plugged in. Computers, newer TVs, gaming devices, and household appliances now offer “sleep” modes. They may turn off in some fashion but also remain powered to return to full usage when you are ready. While convenient at times, this can lead to you using more energy. Instead, try turning off or unplugging these devices. If you know that you will not use these devices again, power them down when you can. Another energy drainer besides high-powered devices will be your light bulbs. Switching to new energy efficient bulbs may cost a few more dollars when you buy them. But, over the life of the bulb, they will use far less energy than traditional standard bulbs. 

  Has your home been feeling muggy lately or even hotter than you think it should? Many regions of the country deal with humidity during certain seasons. Others have to handle shifts in humidity throughout the year. To sustain a comfortable and ideal home, we all need healthy air. This is combination of when the air is fresh, clean, and under 50% relative humidity. Fresh air cycles into the home from outside full of oxygen. Air conditioning and heating systems cycle out the stale air inside and push fresh air into the home. But even air that is fresh and filtered is not enough if the humidity inside is too high. Most HVAC professionals recommend keeping the humidity in the home in the 30-50% range. High humidity can make the air feel muggy or warm even at moderate temperatures. Many problems can cause issues both for those living inside the home and the building.   What are symptoms of high humidity? The air will feel muggy and warmer than it should Increased sweating Possible problems sleeping Mold spores and dust mites growth Even visible mold growth in the home Wood warps and doors begin to stick Mildew can grow on fabrics and carpets Water stains and excess condensation Serious problems with severe allergies   Living with high humidity may seem like a slight nuisance. But, the potential long-term effects can become dangerous and expensive. If the above symptoms have begun to manifest around your home, look into why the humidity is high. Learn what you can do about it. Let us look at a few ways for you to lower the humidity in your house.  

Regular maintenance is the key to success in so many areas of life. People should go to their doctor once a year for a checkup. Responsible car owners know to take their vehicle in for regular maintenance as well.  When it comes to the system that heats and cools the air in your home, people sometimes take it for granted. If your air conditioning and heating start and stop when you want it to, it can be easy to grow complacent. You may think that all is well with the HVAC system. You know that it’s important to factor in the costs of maintenance when investing in an HVAC system. If you don’t pay for maintenance now, you will have to pay more  when minor issues turn into more serious problems. You should also know that the system's efficiency will impact how much time, energy or money it needs. This means that an HVAC system that is never cleaned or maintained will do more work to get the same job done. Save Energy and Money One of the signs homeowners should look out for is a stack of utility bills that are rising. If you have not increased the amount of power you use, high power bills can be a sign the system is not running at its best. With regular maintenance, a technician will clean and give the system a tune-up. This helps it work better in summer and winter. If the system has a refrigerant leak, the technician fix it so the HVAC system will work again. Extend Life of System Mechanical devices with moving parts will begin to fail if the HVAC system is not maintained. When you have regular service, you extend the life of your HVAC setup. This includes using maintenance contracts for your HVAC system. Maintaining the HVAC equipment helps you avoid costly repairs in the future.  Better Indoor Air Quality If your indoor air quality is important, you should schedule regular HVAC maintenance.  If you have allergies, keeping the system clean should be a high priority.  

When the weather gets hotter, you rely on your air conditioner to keep you cool and comfortable. Extreme heat not only makes you feel low on energy and uncomfortable, it can also pose a health risk. If the air conditioner isn't blowing cold air, you should get to the bottom of the problem as soon as possible. Extreme heat doesn’t only make you feel unpleasant. It can lead to dehydration and other heat-related illnesses. This is particularly true for children up to age 4 amd people 65 or older. Excessive heat can also affect overweight individuals and patients with health conditions. This comes from a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a worst-case scenario, a vulnerable person could succumb to heat stroke. This is where he or she cannot control body temperature (no longer able to perspire and cool down). Left untreated, the result can be disability or death. Maintaining cool temperatures in the summer keeps you comfortable and healthy. Here are some common reasons why an air conditioner is not blowing cold air. In some cases, you may be able to remedy the situation yourself. Otherwise, the trained technicians at Ardmore are ready to help you and get the AC back up and running. Thermostat Settings The first thing you should check is the thermostat. Under normal circumstances, you would set the thermostat to be a certain temperature. But, if you have set the thermostat to “On” instead of “Auto,” the fan will run even when the system is not cooling the air. Switch the thermostat to “Auto” and it should only blow cool air. If this doesn’t take care of the situation, more investigation is in order.