Modern Air Conditioning Solutions for Old Homes

April 25th, 2022
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If you are the owner of an old home in the Pittsburgh area, there are probably many reasons to love it! However, it might not have come with one important component for modern Pittsburgh homes–centralized air conditioning.

While our summers aren’t as brutal as other parts of the country, like down in Florida, it goes without saying that it gets hot and you require much more than a few fans to get through it each summer. Perhaps you already have window units in place but are there other options if you can’t accommodate the bulky ductwork required for a central AC system?

Why, yes, there are! Read on to learn more.

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5 Products Every Allergy Sufferer Needs to Know About

April 11th, 2022
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When you hear the phrase “indoor allergies,” you probably think of dust. And sure, dust is a very common irritant for allergy sufferers, but it’s certainly not the only particle or contaminant in the air that can impact you as an allergy or asthma sufferer.

It’s also important to remember that “indoor air quality” doesn’t just refer to the temperature of your home. Today’s indoor air quality solutions are designed to make homes healthier, not just more comfortable. In fact, there are 5 products in particular that can help allergy sufferers, and just about anyone else in your household. Read on to learn more about them!

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Spring Home Maintenance, Don’t Overlook Your Air Conditioner

March 28th, 2022

Spring is officially here! As the weather warms and you get in the mood for gardening and home improvement projects, you may be wondering where to start. Our basic spring home maintenance tips include:

  • Cleaning your windows and screens
  • Replacing the air filters in your HVAC system
  • Sealing up your doors and windows
  • Touching up your exterior paint
  • Decluttering your home

These are just a few examples! But perhaps the most important thing you can do for your home during spring is taking steps to make the interior of your home more comfortable, and your energy more efficiently. How so? By remembering your air conditioner, as well as your other indoor air quality efforts! Read on to learn more.

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HVAC Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners

March 14th, 2022
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You may be wondering how your HVAC system can have anything to do with your furry, four-legged pal, or vice-versa. But actually, having a pet can have a huge impact on not only your HVAC system but your overall air quality. Keeping your pet clean, changing the air filters, and taking some important safety steps that we’ll cover below will all help you keep a safe and healthy home for your pet(s) as well as the human members of your household!

Read on as we share some of our top HVAC maintenance tips for pet owners.

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8 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an HVAC Company

February 28th, 2022
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When you hire an HVAC company, you don’t want to work with just any ol’ contractor you find online. You want to make sure they’re qualified for the job, experienced, and that they won’t lead you astray by making expensive mistakes.

It can be hard though, to discern a truly professional HVAC professional from an amateur, if you’ve never had to deal with a choice like deciding between HVAC contractors. Fortunately, we’ve provided you with 8 of the top questions you should ask to ensure you’re getting set up with the right team. Read on!

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Will Closing HVAC Vents in Unused Rooms Save Me Money?

February 14th, 2022
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One of the most common questions we get from our customers is in regards to the best ways to save money. How can they lower their energy usage, how can they use their systems more efficiently, and yes even will closing their HVAC vents in unused rooms save them money?

We’ll dive into all of this—but the short answer to “will closing HVAC vents save me money” is no. Actually, this can do more harm than good to your HVAC system, which we will explain in a moment.

The best way to save money starts with having a home energy audit done. This is when our professionals come in and assess where you may be losing energy, whether it’s through drafty windows and doors, damaged air ducts, etc. From there, we can look at the best ways for you to conserve that energy, including informing you of the best HVAC systems for your specific home. Read on to learn more!

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The Importance of Good Insulation in Your Home

January 17th, 2022
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Did you know that insulation isn’t just for the wintertime? When homeowners think about drafty homes, they typically imagine cold air sneaking in on already chilly days. But what if we told you that insulation can help on hot days, too? Finding ways to keep cool air inside during the summer and hot air inside during the winter is integral to your comfort all year long.

Your level of insulation is one of many of the things we check when we perform what’s called an energy audit, where we look at where your heat transfer opportunities are. When we talk about heat transfer, we mean the transfer of heat through the spaces of your home, whether outside or inside.

Read on as we go into further detail on how good insulation helps your home, and whether your home may need better insulation to keep things comfortable throughout the year.

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Common Heating Mistakes that are Costing You

January 3rd, 2022
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Did you know that the way you use your heating system could be costing you way more money than it should? Sure, your utility bills are going to rise in the fall and winter–this is expected in our area. But your bills shouldn’t be drastically higher.

Read on as we uncover some common heating mistakes you might unintentionally be making, and how to use your heater as efficiently as possible.

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What’s the Best Humidity Level for My Home?

December 20th, 2021
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During the summer, you don’t want too much humidity. As you’ve probably discovered, too much of it makes you feel really uncomfortable–hotter than the temperature reading on your thermostat it seems like, right? This is because moisture helps you retain heat. Moisture also encourages the growth of mold and mildew in the home, leading to potential property damage.

In the winter, however, it’s possible to have too little humidity. Dry air causes just as many problems as air with too much moisture in it, unfortunately. It leads to static shock, lowered immunity, and cracked wood in homes as everything dries out. There must be a happy medium though, right?

Of course there is! The ideal relative humidity level in any given home is between 30%- 50%… anything lower than that 30% is considered too dry. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it–have a whole-house humidifier professionally installed. Read on to learn more about the benefits of doing this!

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4 Dangers of DIY Furnace Repairs

December 6th, 2021
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So let’s say that your furnace isn’t acting the way it should. And then let’s say you were lucky enough to find a video tutorial online that will help you fix this exact problem. Hey, no worries that the furnace in the video isn’t the same model, or that the person leading the video isn’t an HVAC pro! All you need is that video, some gloves, maybe a welding torch…

This is where we have to stop you.

Look, it’s not that we don’t have faith in your ability to pull off a DIY job, it’s just that we don’t think HVAC systems should ever be involved in a DIY job. After all, there’s a reason HVAC technicians get an education and specialized training to be able to work on these systems. Read on as we uncover 4 dangers of DIY furnace repairs.

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