Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Jul 12, 2010
Heat Wave In Lorain County
Whew! Temperatures have been flirting with triple digits in Lorain County this week as Ohio swelters under a record-setting heat wave that has blanketed the entire eastern third of the U.S. Daytime temperatures in Lorain County are expected to languish in the mid to high 90s all week. With nighttime temperatures dropping barely into the 70s, there’s no relief from the oppressive heat and Lorain County residents are suffering. Temperatures haven’t been this high since 2001 when a similar heat wave killed more than a dozen people in metropolitan areas.
Heat Versus Humidity
The moist Gulf Coast air that’s expected to send humidity levels soaring toward the end of the week will make it feel even hotter. Sweat is the human body’s cooling mechanism. High humidity robs sweat of its effectiveness. When air is too moisture-laden to evaporate our sweat, our bodies can’t cool themselves and feel even hotter than the actual air temperature. Weathercasters refer to this as the Heat Index, or the apparent temperature. The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature. The heat index equation is complex, but basically 90 degrees feels like 100 degrees at 50% humidity; becomes a sauna-like 109 at 75% humidity and soars to a very crispy 132 degrees at 100% humidity! It’s the reason that you feel cooler even when your air conditioner thermostat is set to a relatively high temperature. Just removing the humidity from the air has a cooling effect on our bodies.
Consider Air Conditioner Installation Now
Electrical companies that serve Lorain County have braced for record energy demands as air conditioners are cranked up on high to combat the heat. Lorain County consumers may be dreading next month’s utility bill, but it’s just too hot to click off the A/C, even at night. If there was ever a time to consider installation of an energy-efficient air conditioner, this is it.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jun 17, 2010
Use These Top 5 Energy-saving Summer Tips
Summer in Lorain County has already reached “sizzle” and it’s only June! Record hot and humid weather is predicted this summer which has energy-conscious Lorain County home and business owners thinking SMART.
SMART is the energy industry’s helpful way to remember its top five energy-saving summer tips. Using these tips to save energy in your Lorain County home is guaranteed to take the sizzle out of summer and cool off your wallet too!
- S – Set your A/C thermostat to the highest comfortable setting.
- M – Move air in occupied rooms with ceiling fans.
- A – Adjust your water heater to a lower temperature.
- R – Repair “hot spots.”
- T – Turn on the outdoor grill and take the heat out of the kitchen.
Air conditioners typically use more energy than any other appliance in Lorain County homes. Setting your A/C thermostat to 78 degrees maximizes energy savings. For every degree above 78 you set your thermostat, you’ll reduce air conditioning costs by 3% to 5%. Switching from a manual to a programmable thermostat saves you money too, as much as $180 a year.
The gentle breeze created by a ceiling fan can make your body feel several degrees cooler for a fraction of the cost it takes to power your air conditioner. If you don’t have ceiling fans, use floor fans to help circulate the air. To save energy, turn fans off when you leave the room.
Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. Decreasing hot water temperature from 140 to 120 degrees saves up to $85 in energy costs annually.
Do what you can to reduce any “hot spots” in your home by installing high-performance, energy-efficient windows and repairing window and door caulk.
Give the kitchen a break this summer. Outdoor cooking is a welcome change in the summer, and grilling outdoors doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, May 20, 2010
Beat Ready for the Summer Heat with an Air Conditioner Performance Check
Many Lorain County residents have already turned on their air conditioning for a day or two this season. Freaky weather patterns have given northern Ohio residents a few early samples of the humid, summer heat that doesn’t usually descend on Lorain County until early August. With tornado-driven storms marching across the Midwest, weather forecasters say more unseasonably hot and humid days are on the way. Lorain County residents are urged to schedule their annual air conditioner performance check now so they’ll be ready.
Having Your A/C Performance Check Will Protect Your System and Save You Money
Having your air conditioner checked by a Lorain County plumbing, heating and air conditioning professional before you switch it on will protect your system from possible damage and ensure that your air conditioner runs at peak efficiency all summer long. Air conditioners that have developed a leak in their coolant system over the winter can be permanently damaged if operated without sufficient coolant. If that happens, Lorain County homeowners are looking at an expensive air conditioner replacement instead of affordable scheduled maintenance. Raymond Plumbing Facebook Fans can even win a FREE A/C Performance Check just by becoming a Raymond Plumbing Facebook fan.
While you’re having your air conditioner checked, consider having your Lorain County A/C professional install a programmable thermostat. Programmable digital thermostats can be programmed to automatically adjust the temperature inside your Lorain County home so your air conditioning unit runs less frequently. With a programmable thermostat you can match temperature settings to your daily activities. For example, you can set a programmable thermostat to a cooler temperature in the early morning and evening when you’re home and a higher temperature during the day when you’re at work. Don’t waste money cooling an empty house. Programmable thermostats save energy and reduce utility bills.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, May 12, 2010
Tired of thermostat wars? Install a zoned cooling & heating system in your home
Thermostat wars seem to be as old as the invention of whole house furnaces and air conditioners. There doesn’t seem to be a setting on the thermostat that will keep everyone in the family comfortable. If your teen turns down the A/C because it’s hot in his bedroom, his sibling is certain to flick it back up when the family room turns into a deep freeze. It’s difficult to maintain an even temperature through every room in a large house, particularly two or three story homes. The problem is you’re working against the laws of physics. Hot air rises and cold air sinks. Then you have to factor in sun exposure. The natural heating ability of the sun means that rooms that face the sun will always feel several degrees hotter than rooms without sun exposure. Running the furnace fan and ceiling fans, if you have them, can help even out the temperature in your Lorain County home, but you’ll still experience hot and cold spots.
If you’re tired of the thermostat wars, consider having your Lorain County cooling and heating professional install a zoned system in your home. Zoned heating and cooling systems are particularly effective in multi-level homes. Independently operating thermostats allow different temperature settings to be programmed for each level. Sophisticated zoning systems employ automatic dampers inside the ducts that are governed by programmable electronic thermostats. This allows you to program a different series of temperatures at different times of the day for each room or group of rooms, called zones, in your Lorain County house.
A zoned heating and cooling system can result in huge energy savings. Rooms can be programmed to be heated or cooled only when they are in use. If you’re ready to end the thermostat wars and especially if you’re having a new energy efficient air conditioner or gas furnace installed this year, consider adding zoned thermostats to your system.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Nov 23, 2009
Keep Your Furnace Operating at Peak Efficiency
With meteorologists predicting a brutally cold and snowy winter for the Midwest, it’s important to make sure your furnace is working properly. As we noted in our previous post, an annual inspection by a heating/cooling professional at the start of the heating system is the best way to prevent problems from occurring when winter turns bitter cold and you’re counting on your furnace to keep your family safe and toasty. While he’s making sure your furnace is operating at peak efficiency and maximum safety, ask your heating professional to install a programmable thermostat.
Preset Indoor Temperature with a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to preset indoor temperature settings to coincide with your family’s heating use. Most programmable thermostats allow four or more daily settings, automatically turning your furnace on and off to make your home warmer or cooler at different times during the day. Adjust indoor temperatures to be warm while you’re home and cooler when you’re at work and the kids are at school. Why waste energy and money heating an empty house? Set the programmable thermostat to a lower temperature when you leave home in the morning and program it to increase the indoor temperature about 30 minutes before you return home. By the time you walk in the door, your home will be nice and warm.
Save Up To 40% on Your Heating Bill
Once you perform the initial programming (a simple matter of button pushing), the programmable thermostat takes over, automatically turning the furnace on and off to increase and decrease indoor temperature at the times you’ve preset. Remember to program the thermostat to a lower nighttime temperature. You’ll sleep better and there’s no need to heat the house while you’re snuggled under the covers. Program your thermostat to increase the temperature 30 minutes before your alarm goes off so it’s comfortable when you toss off the covers. Using a programmable thermostat can save up to 40% on your heating bill.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jun 26, 2009
Get with the program! Maintain a comfortable home and save money at the same time with a programmable thermostat. Set the times for your air conditioning or heating to turn on and off based on a pre-set schedule.
In the summer, you can keep your house warmer than normal when you are away and lower the thermostat setting only when you are at home and need cooling. You can follow the same strategy in the winter by setting the thermostat back 10 – 15 degrees when you are not home or sleeping. This will save you a significant amount of money on your utility bills.
When you program your thermostat consider your schedule. A programmable thermostat can be set to begin its cool down well before you leave or go to bed and return to its regular temperature two or three hours before you wake up or return home. Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal as you wake or return home. Also consider the location of your thermostat. You want to make sure your thermostat is away from direct sunlight, windows, skylights, doorways, and drafts for efficient performance.
At Raymond, we offer a variety of different thermostats that fit your needs. A qualified Raymond technician can evaluate your home to determine what type of thermostat best fits for your needs. Stay comfortable when you’re home and save money when you’re not. Remember, you can save more money by registering with Raymond here.
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Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, May 28, 2009
This is the year of “going green.” If you’re starting to change the way you live, and incorporating more green living tips into your life, think green when it comes to air conditioning.
Install a programmable thermostat so that you can automatically adjust your air-conditioning systems to match your schedule. Program the thermostat to turn down when you leave in the morning and to turn up about 30 minutes before you get home.
Check your AC Filters often. A dirty or clogged filter means the air conditioner must work harder. Filters should be cleaned monthly during the cooling season to keep your air conditioner running as efficiently as possible.
Bring the outside in – another way to improve your indoor air quality is by placing plants in your home. Consider adding a plant to each room of your house to increase oxygen levels and add a fresh scent.
Also think about the chemicals you’re using to clear clogged drains. As experts, we suggest avoiding dangerous chemicals; there are simple greener mixtures you can use for all purpose cleaning. Try a mixture of baking soda, vinegar and a little warm water for unclogging drains, or for use on any counter surface. Add a little lemon juice for that refreshing clean smell!
Remember to go green at home this summer, by turning down your AC and using non-toxic cleaning products.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, May 15, 2009
Check out these top ten tips and save yourself some headaches with your air conditioning this summer!
- Check the Air Conditioner/Furnace filter every month.
- Check the drain hose to make sure water drains freely.
- Close windows and storm windows, storm doors. Keeping the home closed up saves energy.
- Hose off the outdoor condensing unit in the spring to remove dirt and leaves.
- Set the thermostat at 78 degrees. Every degree lower increases your cost.
- Give the unit time to cool the home. It takes 48 to 72 hours to remove the moisture and cool your home.
- Turn up the temperature or turn off the air conditioner when leaving. Install a setback thermostat to cool the house before getting home.
- In mild weather run whole-house fan instead of the air conditioner in the evening. It pulls cool outside air into the house.
- Have the cooling system serviced every year.
- If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old change to a higher seer system and cut cooling cost up to 40%.