Don't Let Skipping On Maintenance Cost You Money

Skipping This Critical HVAC Maintenance Task Will Cost You Money

Just as your car or truck runs better with routine tune-ups, the heating and cooling systems that you rely on to keep your family comfortable benefit from regularly scheduled professional maintenance too. There's one easy task you can do on your own, however, to make your heater and air conditioner operate more efficiently: change your air filter. Read on to discover why skipping this simple chore can cost you money and can compromise your family's comfort and well-being.

Optimizing Energy Efficiency

Your household energy bills are closely linked to how efficiently your HVAC systems can heat or cool your home. From a drafty room to malfunctioning blower motor, any number of factors can increase the amount of energy that your heater or air conditioner uses and drive up your monthly utility bills. When the filter is clogged or dirty, the flow of air is restricted, and that forces the HVAC system to run longer to keep you warm or cool. Changing the filter is one of the easiest and most economical ways to increase your home's energy efficiency.

Saving Money with Regular Air Filter Replacements

You might be surprised to learn just how much money you can save by simply replacing your HVAC filter whenever it's dirty. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ensuring that the filter is clean can lower the system's energy consumption by as much as 15 percent. Since heating and cooling accounts for up to 50 percent of an average household's energy expenditures, changing the filter at regular intervals can add up to significant savings. The EPA recommends monthly replacements during the heating the cooling seasons and advises homeowners to check the filter every month in the off seasons too, replacing it at the first sign of dirt or debris.

Additional Benefits

Ensuring that your HVAC air filter is clean offers you additional advantages as well:

• Health Benefits. All of the air delivered to your home through a central heating or cooling system first passes through the filter. Air filters help blocks allergens and other particles from circulating through your home's living spaces. That's an important consideration for any family members who suffer from allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions. Clean filters help everyone breathe easier.
• Long-Term Savings. Although the filter that comes with most heating and air conditioning systems helps sift out contaminants from the air you breathe, it's primarily designed to protect the equipment. A clogged or dirty filter can allow dust, dirt and grime to damage critical parts and components. Keeping the filter clean helps prevent costly HVAC repairs and premature replacements, saving you money now as well as later.

Filter Efficiency Ratings

The number and size of the particles that a filter can trap largely depends on its Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter is at sifting out tiny particulates. Most HVAC systems, for example, come equipped with a flat panel filter with a MERV rating between 1 and 4. Pleated filters, also called extended surface filters, are available with MERV values as high as 16. A higher rating isn't always better, however. A too-dense filter may present too much air resistance for an HVAC system's fan or motor. Your trusted HVAC provider can help you determine which filter is best for your system.
When you don't change your filter regularly, you pay for it with higher monthly energy bills, more frequent repairs and a shorter HVAC system service life. Dirty filters make it harder to keep your home free of dust and allergens and can have a negative impact of your family's health as well. While it's a relatively easy DIY task, if you have trouble accessing or replacing your filter, a reputable HVAC technician can handle the job for you.

By: Kyson Crowell

6 Ways To Save Money By Going Green

With the cost of energy use increasing in each household, more people are choosing to increase their savings and reduce their carbon footprint. Not only can going green reduce your spending, but it can also improve the environment through a variety of practices that are available. You can now take control over the cost on energy and products by making a few simple changes that revolutionize your budget.

  1. Switch to CFL Bulbs Incandescent bulbs have been widely used in most households for several decades, but use more energy and produce light differently. They will only work up to 1,200 hours and use 60 watts for a total household energy cost of $328 annually. It also releases 85 btus an hour compared to 30 btus with CFL bulbs. In comparison, CFL bulbs only use 13-15 watts for less greenhouse gas emissions for a product that follow strict performance requirements. Overall, CFL bulbs are known to use 75 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

  2. Make Your Own Cleaning Products Although most people rely on store-bought products to clean their household, more are learning the benefits of homemade cleaning products that are less costly. Opt for mopping the floor or cleaning the toilet with a simple mixture that uses baking soda, vinegar, water, and unscented soap. It's a non-toxic solution that is safe on the environment and healthy for family members. Purchase the ingredients in bulk for savings that can amount to hundreds of dollars annually. For added scent, add a drop or two of essential oils into the formula for an incredible new and traditional way of keeping your home clean.

  3. Switch to E Cigarettes For smokers looking for an eco-friendly solution to their habit, e cigarettes are less harmful on the environment and a more affordable way of enjoying the effects of smoking. There is not any poison or tar in the electronic cigarettes, as it only contains nicotine. This allows the e cigarettes to be odorless and without any smoke that is expelled from the product, making it safe for the air and without as much waste produced. Besides the overall eco-friendly benefits, e cigarette refills used are about one-third of the cost of traditional cigarettes. By opting for e cigarettes, it can also work to reduce the cost of health insurance by becoming a non-smoker that uses e cigs.

  4. Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances Energy Star appliances are favored by those who go green due to the reduction in energy use and for the ample savings involved. Homes with Energy Star appliances use up to 50 percent less energy with an average of $110 in savings each year. The appliances work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while also using less water and fossil fuels. For the washers and dryers, more clothing can be washed in a single load for added convenience and less water used. Purchasing energy efficient bulbs is a great way to save money in the long run and help to go green. Replacing outdated appliances may cost more upfront, but the savings accounted for each year can add up to thousands of dollars in the next decade.

  5. Skip the Bottled Water Bottled water that is purified and safe to drink is popular for those on the go for a convenient product that is affordable. Although it may be easy to take when heading out the door, the habit could be costing you hundreds of dollars annually. This adds up to almost 500 bottles used per year for the average consumer, which is clogging up landfills and attributing to 87 percent of the amount dumped. Instead, opt for using a water filtration system for a convenient way of cleaning tap water and reducing the cost of water used in the household. This will ensure that the water consumed is just as clean and safe, while also reducing the waste produced each year.

6. Water Your Lawn Less A lot of people will water their lawn everyday, not only everyday but also during the hottest times of the day. By following that pattern you are telling yourself that you are mowing your lawn but is your lawn getting the best care? If you water your lawn in the early mornings before the sun comes up you are then allowing the water to seep in and not evaporate.  Also, if you choose to water your lawn every other day and do it in the mornings it will stay green and you will have a lower water bill.  The only problem is you are going to need to repair your lawn mower more because you will be using it more.

By: Kyson Crowell

Summer-Prepping Your Home

When preparing for the summer, a homeowner needs to take a few minutes to think of his or her wants and needs. It is easy to let time fly by and forget about your house, but this is unwise as you can save money, prevent problems, and avoid time-consuming maintenance jobs. Furthermore, by fixing up your house before the summer, you can avoid calling a professional who may take a long time to come to your house. Here are four tips to summer-prepping your home in an intelligent manner.


Appliances
You probably own multiple appliances such as a washer, dryer, dishwasher, and other smaller items. When these break or function poorly, you will pay higher electric bills and deal with downtime. When a breakdown occurs in the hot summer months, you will deal with rotting food or uncomfortable household members. To combat this and prevent an annoying issue from popping up in the middle of summer, call a home appliance repair specialist who can look at your appliances and repair or upgrade them. With a proactive approach, you will spend less money in the long run and you won’t worry about a breakdown on the hottest day of the year.



Air conditioner
If you live in a hot climate, you need an air conditioner. Without one, residents will experience plenty of discomfort when the temperature passes 90 degrees. At night, without a working unit, you and your family will experience sleepless nights as a fan won’t keep you comfortable. It is difficult for the average person to fix their unit and you need to call a professional to take a look at the air conditioner, before problems occur. With a quick checkup, you can find any minor issues and fix them immediately. If it is in perfect order, you won’t need to do anything and you now can use your unit without fear. Otherwise, if you ignore your air conditioner, you will suffer and spend more money if it malfunctions in the middle of July.



Pool
While a backyard pool is a fun for the family, it presents issues for a homeowner. You will need to remove the cover, add chlorine, and look for any items in the pool such as dead animals. If you don’t know what to do, you need to call a professional who can clean the pool and prep it for the summer. You don’t want to ignore this as people can end up sick if the pool does not have the right amount of chlorine. It will also look nicer when you pay someone to clean it up and remove any nasty surprises.



Your garden needs work
Over the winter and spring, homeowners often ignore their garden as it is often too cold and rainy to head outside and start digging weeds or watering plants. Once the hot and dry months hit, you will regret your laziness. In March or April, or possibly earlier depending on your location, you need to remove dead plants, pull weeds, plant seeds and organize your garden. If you deal with pests often, buy the appropriate products or hire an exterminator to kill the bugs or rodents. While a proactive approach is a wise one, it is easy to ignore the garden as it is not always fun to head outside when the weather is not perfect. If you invest an hour or two a week during the spring, you will enjoy a beautiful garden. Just as importantly, when summer hits, you won’t spend your days cleaning it up and getting rid of weeds.



If you own a home, you need to prepare it for the summer. While it is a time-consuming task at first, it will save you time and money in the long run as you will find the root of problems and fix them immediately.

By: Kyson Crowell

Mulching vrs Bagging

As a mobile small engine repair provider in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas, I get the opportunity to meet with a lot of different clients at places all around the valley. Over the years, I’ve heard many of the same questions over and over again. One of the most common things I am asked is whether or not bagging grass clippings is better than mulching. Like most things involving small engines, the answer is, “It depends.”

The question of mulching vs bagging has been around ever since the first mulching systems were introduced to the market. While the old-school opinion seems to be overwhelmingly in support of bagging, mulching systems have definite advantages when used in the right settings.

Mulching is a great way to recycle your grass clippings, and return some nutrients to the soil. They do this by chopping the grass into tiny pieces before spreading it out behind the mower. This is great for your lawn as it adds a little bit of natural fertilizer to the grass each time you mow it. Not only that, but you don’t have to worry about the hassle of filling bag after bag with your clippings, then hauling them off to be composted.

While the convenience of mulching is enough to convince many people to ditch the bag, not all situations are prime for mulching. For example, in early spring the grass retains a lot of moisture in its blades. When you try to mulch this wet, heavy grass it can clump up and bog down the mower. In addition to being unsightly, the clumps of wet grass prevent the mulch from being evenly distributed along the lawn. During the dog days of summer, however, your grass will be much drier and should mulch just fine. Go ahead and go without the bag on these days and save your energy for other yard projects.

Bagging has its own special application, even outside of the circumstances listed above. As any old-timer will tell you, bagging looks nicer. That’s because you’re cleaning up the clippings as you go. If you are concerned about aesthetics for some reason (Maybe you’ve got a backyard wedding, or garden party coming up? Or maybe this is a commercial application) bags are the way to go. It might take a little extra time, but you’ll reap the rewards of your labor while walking barefoot in that country club style yard carpet.

So there you have it. Whether you choose to bag or mulch should depend on a number of variables including, but not limited to: the time of year, the length of the lawn, and whether or not aesthetics are a major concern. Beyond that, it just boils down to your level of dealing with bags upon bags of grass clippings.

By: Kyson Crowell