Heating & Cooling Articles

Remember your life before having a smartphone? Remember flip phones and Blackberries? Actual keypads? Can you imagine going back to that era of disconnectivity and buttons? Smart technology and Wi-Fi connectivity have certainly made our lives more convenient and accessible. It’s helped us save many headaches and time, while arguably causing us to become a bit too connected to our devices.

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Volatile organic chemicals, also called VOCs, evaporate or off-gas at room temperature from some materials, including air fresheners, perfumes, the glues in particle board, paints, varnishes, cleaners, carpets, and many other common household items. These chemicals lower your Corpus Christi, Texas, home’s indoor air quality, which can cause sinus problems, eye irritation, headaches, asthma, and even cancer. Some of the most common volatile organic chemicals are formaldehyde, acetone, xylene, toluene, and benzene. You can protect your family from VOCs by installing ventilation, adding houseplants, avoiding products with VOCs, and using natural cleaners and air fresheners.

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For residents of Corpus Christi, Texas, staying cool in summer while keeping utility bills low can be a real challenge. The U.S. Department of Energy offers a number of conservation tips designed to help homeowners manage costs and reduce energy waste throughout their properties. Here are five of the most effective ways to lower consumption of energy and improve the efficiency of your HVAC system in the Lone Star State.

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Gain energy savings and environmentally friendly benefits when you bring solar and wind power solutions to your George West, Texas, home. Today’s solar panels and wind turbines are reliable, efficient, and cost-effective renewable energy sources.

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Although winter and summer are the seasons when you spend the most money on heating and cooling, you should still watch your energy bills during the rest of the year. Without proper monitoring, bills can easily spiral out of control. If you’re looking to save some money on energy bills in your Portland, Texas, home this fall, follow these simple tips.

Change Your Air Filter

It seems counterintuitive to spend money when you’re looking to cut your energy bills, but purchasing a new air filter is an inexpensive way to improve HVAC efficiency. Air filters are responsible for keeping allergens and contaminants out of your home. However, when these filters become clogged, it causes your HVAC system to work harder to produce the same results. That’s why changing your filter is so important. Not only does it improve your indoor air quality, but it also reduces the workload on your HVAC system. This translates to lower energy bills and fewer maintenance calls throughout fall and the rest of the year.

Get a Furnace or Heat Pump Tuneup

Another small expenditure that translates to big savings is a tuneup for your furnace or heat pump. Your furnace has not been in use for several months. Problems may arise as a result of this period of dormancy, causing your furnace to suffer inefficiencies that can even be dangerous. That’s why it’s important to get a tuneup. Not only will your furnace function at its highest level of efficiency, but our technicians will also provide valuable tips for getting the most from your system.

If you have a heat pump, tuneups are vital because these devices have twice the workload of conventional HVAC systems. Not only do they heat, but they also cool the home. Without proper checkups, the heat pump can lose its efficient edge, giving you higher energy bills in the process.

Grab the Caulking Gun

As temperatures drop during fall, you may notice drafts coming from doors and windows. Because you notice these drafts, it’s easier to identify the source. Once you’ve pinpointed just where the draft is coming from, it’s time to grab a caulking gun and seal any leaks or cracks in the trim. Caulk comes in several colors, so it’s easy to match to the color of the wood, paint, or vinyl. If you can’t find a matching color, paint over the caulk for the desired effect.

When you seal these cracks, it’s an important step in preserving your home’s comfort level and saving money at the same time. It prevents warm air from leaving the home and cool air from entering.

Add Some Insulation to Your Attic

Although most air escapes through doors and windows, a substantial amount leaves the home through the attic. That’s why it’s important to have adequate insulation. Most homes come with at least some attic insulation. Your HVAC technician can check to determine if you have the right amount of insulation, the right type, and that it is in good condition. If you need more, consider adding rolls of fiberglass insulation or even loose-fill cellulose. Just remember that having some insulation is better than having none at all, so find something that works for your budget.

Set Your Thermostat

If you have an old thermostat, it probably only has a heating or cooling setting. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it’s extraordinarily inefficient. You can’t adjust settings on the fly, and you can’t set a program to run throughout the week. If this describes your current thermostat situation, it’s probably time to spring for a smart thermostat.

When you purchase a smart thermostat, you have a device that learns your particular habits and adjusts your home’s temperature accordingly. In addition, modern thermostats have WiFi capabilities that let you change the temperature from anywhere in the world. All this adds up to great savings and a home that’s always the perfect temperature.

This fall, don’t spend extra money on energy bills when you can avoid it. If you need someone to help you along the way or provide a tuneup, give Bodine-Scott a call at 888-481-8511. With our top-notch service team, you’ll never be left out in the cold.

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Losing the air conditioner in the middle of the night can be a hassle during a hot Kingsville, Texas, summer. When your AC breaks down after normal business service hours, it’s nice to know you have a few options to stay cool until the unit can be repaired.

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An air conditioner and a heat pump can both cool your Alice, Texas, home, but there are differences between these systems that might make one a better choice for you. Compare the initial costs, installation requirements, maintenance costs, and efficiency level of each system to help you decide which unit is better for your home.

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The cooling season in the Corpus Christi, Texas, area is well underway. From experience, we know that there will be many more days in which we will be relying on our air conditioners around the clock. For your air conditioner to stand up to the weather in our area and provide effective temperature and humidity control, maintenance is a must. If you’ve not yet scheduled an AC tuneup, now is the time.

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Your home’s humidity level is just as important as the indoor temperature and actually impacts it. Humidity affects comfort, overall health, and even the air quality. Whether there is too much or too little humidity, health and home can be affected, so balance is key. Consider how installing the right equipment in your Corpus Christi home will help you to balance that tricky humidity level.

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Among the various mechanical and plumbing systems that can fail in your in Portland, Texas home, the toilet is probably the easiest to troubleshoot. Many common toilet issues are easy to diagnose and fix, but if you can’t figure out the problem, a professional plumber is just a quick phone call away.

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