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 Wed, May 20, 2009
Spring Cleaning. It's dreaded, feared even, by the masses. But spring cleaning doesn't just mean rifling through your worn out wardrobe. A 2007 study by AirAdvice™ found that 9 out of 10 people are breathing unhealthy air inside their homes.
Most homes are not properly equipped to filter and purify air. Which means, your whole house, not just your closet, needs a fresh start this season.
Start with the inside and get your cooling system checked to ensure your system is in tip-top shape. Then continue in small ways, like dusting and wiping down infrequently used surfaces at least once a week. Look for leaky faucets in the kitchen, bathroom and utility room and replace with water conserving fixtures.
Then move on to bigger things. Evaluate your water heater, dishwasher and all other water consuming devices - check these regularly for cracks, leaks and low-efficiency to conserve your water use all year-round. When replacing old appliances look for appliances with high-energy efficiency ratings.
Finally, move to the outside. Test sprinkler systems for cracks and breaks. Check around your house, especially your sewer system and gutters to be sure tree roots have not found a water supply in your sewer or water pipes.
Raymond Plumbing and heating can help you with all your spring cleaning needs. Let our experts help you check the little things before they become big.
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%.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, May 11, 2009
Save big on purchases this year! Here's answers on how you can save up to $1,500 in Tax Credits.
Can a homeowner claim $1500 in tax credits for improvements made in 2009 and
again for improvements made in 2010?
No. Taxpayers may be eligible for a total of $1500 in tax credits for qualifying HVAC
improvements made in the combined two year period of 2009 and 2010.
Can a homeowner claim the entire $1500 credit for the installation of one
appliance?
Yes. A homeowner may use the entire $1500 tax credit for installing a single qualified
appliance, such as a qualified furnace, air conditioner or heat pump, if the install cost is
at least $5000. If a homeowner replaced multiple appliances at the primary residence
(i.e. two air conditioning systems, etc), the maximum credit would still be $1500.
What happens if the consumer's purchase is not large enough to qualify for the
maximum credit of $1500? Is the remaining credit still available for future
purchases?
The homeowner can claim the remaining available tax credit if he/she purchases
additional qualified improvements for installation before December 31, 2010. Any single
qualifying installation that costs more than $5000 will reach the $1500 tax credit limit.
Does the tax credit apply to the cost of the equipment only or does the cost of
installation labor qualify for the credit too?
The tax credit applies to the installed costs of the qualified equipment, which includes
labor costs properly allocable to the installation of the qualifying equipment.
How will a taxpayer claim the credit and receive their money?
In the past, the IRS has directed taxpayers to use Form 5695 Version 2009 (expected to
be available towards the end of 2009), Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit.
Taxpayers are not required to file anything more than the form, but are instructed to
keep records of their installation.
What's the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?
A tax credit is a direct reduction of the taxpayers' tax liability. A tax deduction is a
reduction of a taxpayer's taxable income, on which the tax liability is calculated. Tax
credits provide a greater benefit to a taxpayer.
What if the homeowners already claimed $500 in tax credits in 2006 or 2007?
The "lifetime caps" that used to be in place have been removed. Any previous claims for
equipment installed before 2009 do not count against the current $1500 tax credit limit.
Can a homeowner claim the credit for improvements to a second home?
No. The tax credit is only available for improvement to the taxpayer's primary residence.
Can a small business that operates out of a townhouse and installs residential
equipment in a commercial setting claim the credit?
No. The tax credit may only be claimed by taxpayers on their personal income taxes for
improvements to their primary residence.
What other types of energy efficiency improvements qualify for the tax credits?
Homeowners may be able to qualify for the tax credits if they make qualified
improvements to: windows and doors including skylights, storm windows and storm
doors; roofing including metal and asphalt roofs; and insulation. All of these
improvements qualify, but the homeowner may only claim $1500 in total for all
improvements (except geothermal, for which there is no cap).
Do water heaters qualify?
Yes, if they have .82 energy factor or 90% thermal efficiency. Qualifying models are typically instanous models.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, May 06, 2009
If you’re aware of the recently signed U.S. Department of Energy’s Recovery Act and Stimulus Package, then you might be wondering, what does this mean for me?
Well, to put it simply, it means that you, as a taxpayer, can receive tax credits for your home and business expenses in 2009-2010. The tax section of the act provides greater tax credits for clean energy projects for homes and businesses.
For homeowners, you can receive tax credits up to $1,500 to help offset the costs of certain qualified energy property. Qualified spending includes various models of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Products meeting the requirements will be eligible for a tax credit equal to 30% of installed cost to a maximum $1,500 tax credit.
The act also provides Geothermal credits up to 30% of the installed cost on equipment, installation labor, loop material and loop labor in the year the system is placed into service. The geothermal credit has a longer term, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016.
Stay tuned for our Tax Credit Frequently Asked Questions blog! Please leave your questions below.