A simple idea can help even out the temperature differential in your home. At your thermostat, you can turn your fan to the ‘ON’ position. This will continuously move air through the ductwork. Your heating and air conditioning unit will still cycle on and off for heating and cooling. You will benefit from constant air movement even when your heat pump, air conditioner, or furnace is not actively heating or cooling.

A newer heat pump, air conditioner, or furnace may be equipped with a variable speed blower. These types of motors have the capacity to run at a fraction of the speed with the fan in the ‘ON’ position. This will help you achieve optimal air circulation at a lower cost than with single speed blowers.

Many people dislike the temperature swings they feel with gas heating. The air feels great when the furnace is working. When the furnace turns off, the house can feel cold. If this sounds like your home, try the fan ‘ON’ setting to see if it helps even out your temperature swings.

If after trying this method, you’re still uncomfortable, give your HVAC professional a call. He or she may find other inefficiencies or issues causing the problem. Correcting them will help you to become more energy efficient and more comfortable at home.

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Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it’s best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.
Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.
Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.
Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific
Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system’s ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Check your central air conditioner’s refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific
Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself
Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

You can prevent this with routine filter changes. You should check your filters at least once a month (more often if you have indoor pets) for optimal performance of your HVAC system. Change your filter if you cannot see through it. An easy way to remember is to check it every time you receive your electric bill. Another way is to follow Temp Control LLC on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ as we post monthly filter check reminders.

You won’t have a problem changing your filters if you have several on hand. Stock up on filters the next time you go shopping. The big box stores usually have the common sizes. Your HVAC contractor can help you find odd sizes.

Believe it or not, thicker filters are not necessarily better. Thicker, pleated filters restrict airflow making your unit work harder. Your unit will operate ideally with 30-day mesh filters. Mesh filters are actually less expensive than pleated filters! It never hurts to save money!

Different color palettes evoke specific emotions. By selecting precise colors, homeowners can set a particular mood simply by painting their kitchen.

Red hues, similar to spices stimulate the appetite.

Selecting blue hues can assist stressed out party hostesses by creating a calming and soothing environment.

If your kitchen has a modern feel with clean lines, stainless steel or black appliances, a bold red will make your kitchen exciting and funky.

Many new construction homes have an old world, Tuscan design. Homeowners are pairing this look with faux finishes and Venetian plaster. Earth tones compliment distressed cabinets and stone countertops.

Another fun trend is the retro look. Several appliance companies have made reproductions of their mid-century designs. These bright pink and red iceboxes and stoves would make June Cleaver jealous. Designers are painting kitchens cotton candy pink and mint green to create an authentic 50’s style. Even 70’s avocado green is making a come-back

Because kitchens are the heart of the home, it’s important to set the style tone in your homes most popular room. The color consultants at Maverick Painting can help you select colors to match your home’s décor as well as your own personality.

Visit our website at www.maverickpaintingsandiego.com  to view our photo gallery for ideas and inspiration.

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• Heat with blow torch
• After it bubbles up, scrap with scraper

By Murphy’s law, HVAC problems usually hit when you least expect them, and when they cause the most problems. Many folks need a solution quickly. Most HVAC dealers have in-house, private-label financing programs available through Wells Fargo, GE Capitol or another financial institution. These programs are usually revolving credit like credit cards, but have the advantage that the dealer can quickly process your application and have a credit decision in a matter of minutes. Ask whether the dealer has any offering special financing promotions.

If revolving credit is not your ideal choice, you may want to contact your local bank for financing options. With equity in your home, you may be able to apply for a home equity line of credit (HELOC). The interest rate probably will be better than with a credit card; however there could be 1 to 2 weeks until loan closing due to property appraisal and other procedures. After your HELOC is ready, you will probably have checks linked to your HELOC account. Now you can purchase your heating and air conditioning unit by check. Ask your heat and air contractor for a discount.

Your utility company may have financing options for new heating and air conditioning systems. In Nashville, Piedmont Natural Gas will finance a new system using natural gas in a matter of a few days. The interest rate is about double that of a HELOC interest rate, but you have the benefit of on-bill payments. This means you pay 1 bill each month for your gas service and your loan payment. In the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region, some local power distributors are offering financing for heat pumps or dual fuel units. The interest rate is more competitive with an EnergyStar system. There is a lien filed against the property until the loan is paid in full. TVA financing repayment terms can be 5 or 10 years, and are also paid on-bill. With a longer repayment term, the energy savings of the new unit probably will offset the loan payment leaving the net bill about the same as before. While you have an older system with higher utility bills and repair costs, you are in essence already paying for a new unit. You just have to decide whether you want to have it.

Much of the dirt and dust that accumulates in the ducts adheres to the duct surfaces and to the furnace and air conditioning components. This does not mean that it necessarily becomes airborne and enters our breathing space. However, this accumulation is a perfect breeding ground for mold, bacteria, dust mites and other fungi that are definite sources of indoor air pollution. There are many other sources of indoor air pollution that can be controlled with the whole-house duct mounted air cleaning systems available through Nature’s Home.