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Read our weekly articles on how to care for your home's HVAC system and keep your family in the comfortable lifestyle they're accustomed to

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Furnace Repairs: Keep the Cold Air Outside

10/1/2015

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PictureFoundation cracks can let cold air in causing your furnace work harder.
During the fall season the winds can blow in gusts as fast as the cars riding on the expressway.  For instance, today in Northern Kentucky and the entire Cincinnati Tri-State area we are experiencing wind gusts up to 65mph.  Wow!!  If your home is not protected in the right way, the winds will blow right through the cracks resulting  in a bone chilling reduction of temperature in your house.  The end result, is your furnace must work harder than it should.  To avoid costly furnace repairs, here are some tips you can use to help seal the house up and keep the cold air out!

First, take a walk around the house.  Do some rooms tend to be colder than others?  Why is that?  Sometimes it's as simple as the way your ventilation system is set up in your house.  Other times it could be that the window needs repair and is letting in cold air.  The first step of avoiding furnace repairs is to identify the spots cold air might be leaking in and causing your furnace to work harder than necessary.  

The next step is to grab the caulk.  That's right, on your search around the house you probably discovered some places that could use a better seal such as the bathtub or lighting fixtures.  Make sure you've checked the foundation for any cracks and also the gas and electric service areas.  Fill in any cracks with the caulk.  If it's in a noticeable place, smooth it out with a putty knife.  Don't be shy about it.  You might be surprised at how much warmer your house is naturally when these leaks are sealed.  Every bit helps increase the efficiency of your furnace!

The third step you can take to help avoid furnace repairs is grab the measuring tape and measure all windows and doors.  If any of them are letting in even the slightest cold air leak you can stop it immediately by simply using some weather stripping from your local hardware store.  Write down your measurements to make sure you get enough and then just follow the directions on the package you buy.  This is an easy step that is one of the most important during the fall and winter seasons.  

The last step to take in order to seal your home up properly and help increase the efficiency of your furnace is to check all doors in the house that lead to the outside, or lead to an unheated part of the home such as a garage.  Unlike other doors in the house, the ones leading to the exterior will most likely have heavier air flow and be used more often than other doors.  This requires a heavier weather stripping usually made of foam.  You might also consider installing what is known as a door "sweep" or "shoe."  These help block the flow of air from coming under the door and into your home.  

Be proactive this season and properly equip your home by following these easy steps to keep the cold air out and increase the efficiency of your furnace.  By making your furnace work less hard, you can increase the life and avoid costly furnace repairs that may creep up unexpectedly.  


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The #1 Way to Avoid Costly Air Conditioning Repair

6/19/2015

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When it comes to summer heat and humidity, the last thing you want to worry about is an emergency air conditioning repair.  Unfortunately, it happens to the best of us – and usually when it’s 90 degrees outside.  Oh – and by the way, you might want to make note that while heating repairs are considered emergencies in the winter, it’s not always the same for AC repairs in the summer.  Some companies still provide them, but you can bet your bottom dollar they’re going to be expensive. 

So how do you avoid last-minute air conditioning repairs altogether?  The solution is pretty easy although you might not have heard of it before.  It’s a little thing called the AC tune-up.  We’re not even halfway through summer folks so you really need to schedule it – soon.  An air conditioning tune-up is basically on the same level as getting your car tuned up.  It’s a set of checks and balances to make sure everything is working perfectly like the well-oiled machine it’s supposed to be. 

Just like your car engine occasionally needs new plugs, oil, etc., so does your air conditioning.  And most of the time a trustworthy air conditioning repair man will make you aware of problems that you might be facing in the future.  This can save you a lot of grief, not to mention money.  It gives you time to actually plan for the repair, save money and get it done before an emergency air conditioning repair doubles the cost.  Trust us when we say, a few dollars now for a tune-up is a lot less than you’re going to spend on fixing a problem that could have been prevented
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Does Humidity Affect Your Air Conditioner?

5/20/2015

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What is humidity?  Simply put, it is the amount of water vapor in the air.  The higher the humidity level, the “stuffier” it feels.  You know how the mirror fogs up when you take a hot shower?  That’s a great example of high humidity.  What most people don’t realize is that the level of humidity in your home can greatly affect the efficiency of your air conditioner. 
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Copyright: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/profile_sergpet'>sergpet / 123RF Stock Photo</a>
Aside from your monthly mortgage payment, your energy bill is probably your next biggest home expense.  If you’re trying to save money, reducing how much energy you use is a great idea.  However, turning off the air conditioner this summer may not be reasonable – especially if you live in a warm environment.  The good news is, there are many things you can do to how much your air conditioner has to work to cool your home.  One of them is to reduce the humidity in your house. 

Because humidity is water vapor – it is literally water in the air.  The amount of humidity determines how much heat the air will hold.  Therefore, the higher the humidity, the harder your air conditioner will have to work to cool the air down.  This is one of the first things you should check if you feel that your air conditioner is running too long or your energy bill drastically increases once you turn your air conditioner on for the summer.

What Can You Do?

During the summer months, to help your air conditioner run more efficiently, keep the humidity lower.  This recommended level is between 30-45%.  You can easily measure your home’s humidity by using a hygrometer or installing a small home weather station that monitors the temperature and humidity.  Some advanced home automation systems may also be able to tell you what the humidity level of your home is.  However, if this is too complicated, you can also take visual cues from your home for signs that your humidity level is high and your air conditioner may be working too hard.  Here are some visual cues for high humidity levels in our home:

1.       Mold growing in rooms that regularly use water like your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. 

2.       Increased allergy symptoms or family members or visitors due to increased mold levels. 

3.       Window condensation on the inside.

Likewise, if the humidity level is too low, you will see evidence of dry skin, chapped lips and static electricity. 

If the humidity is too high, use a dehumidifier to reduce the levels.  Also use fans and keep the air currents moving to help stabilize the levels and reduce the amount of work your air conditioner needs to do. 

Additionally, if your humidity levels are too low, you can use a humidifier to increase them.  However, this is not a problem that usually interferes with your air conditioner as it’s much more common in the winter months when you are using your furnace. 

An efficient air conditioner will result in lower energy bills.  Pay close attention to your home’s humidity levels to reduce the amount of work your air conditioner is required to do.  



Tri-Star Heating & Cooling has earned its reputation as a leading NKY HVAC Contractor by providing the best heating and air conditioning products and services to the entire Greater Cincinnati area for over 30 years.  We are dedicated to the principles of quality services at affordable pricing while delivering the latest in products and technology. 

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