Are you shocked and dismayed every time you open your heating bill? If you’re like most Long Island residents, wintertime brings month after month of ever-increasing energy costs. It’s no surprise many homeowners are looking for alternative methods to heat their homes this year. One option worth considering is to install a heat pump.
The Tragar Difference
Lots of companies claim to put the customer first. At Tragar Home Services, it’s not just talk. Like our customers… we live, work, and play on Long Island. We are a part of the community, which is why making our customers happy and exceeding their expectations is our top priority. We can literally bump into our clients during everyday activities, which means we’re held accountable in a way national companies aren’t.
That commitment to superior customer service is one of many things that sets Tragar apart from the so-called competition. It all combines into something we call “The Tragar Difference.”
Does HVAC Improve Air Quality?
As we approach the tail-end of summer, we may still be using the air conditioning in our homes fairly regularly throughout the day. While it keeps us and our homes cool, many of us are likely keeping in mind how much this could affect our electric bill. That’s not the only side effect of using air conditioning, however.
This year had been a rough one for people suffering from allergies. Coughing, sneezing, and congestion can make being anywhere uncomfortable – including at home. It might not just be allergy season (or even allergies) that can be causing this though. It’s possible that it’s related to the air quality in your home.
So, how do we know if the air in our homes is affecting us negatively and what can we do to change that?
Do I Need To Turn Off My Air Conditioning In A Hurricane?
According to the National Hurricane Center, a hurricane only impacts the New York area every 19 years. Major ones – Category 3 or above – only happen every 74 years. Hurricane Sandy hit October 29, 2012 and resulted in many deaths and injuries… and billions of dollars in damages.
Hurricanes, though rare, are dangerous forces of nature. But knowing what to do to prepare for one can help save lives and reduce potentially costly repair bills.
5 HVAC Secrets to Help You Save Money
Skyrocketing energy prices combined with an abnormally hot summer can make homeowners cringe when they see the cost of running their air conditioners. But how you react – and what you do to save money – can make a dramatic difference.
Some homeowners throw up their hands and shrug… deciding there’s nothing to be done about the necessary cost of cooling. But they could be paying for something they aren’t really using.
Tips For Cooling Homes In Extreme Heat
Long Island summers can get really hot! It may not get quite as hot as a handful of parts of the country… but depending on the direction your house faces and the kind of doorknob you have, you likely have already had mornings or afternoons where you can’t have your hand on that knob for too long. Luckily, many of us have at least some air conditioning available to us in our homes.
That said, extreme heatwaves can strain any system. If you do have air conditioning available, you may only have units dedicated to some rooms and not others. Even if you have central air conditioning, energy costs are a major factor for everyone and increasingly so as costs are rising across the board. So, what is the smart way to keep our homes cool in extreme heat?
Can You Run an AC and Dehumidifier at the Same Time?
While you can’t do anything for the oppressive heat and humidity that exists outside during this time of year, you do have options when it comes to controlling the space inside your home.
If your indoors are plagued with an abundance of moisture, you might notice a general dampness on the windows, mildew growth, or even peeling paint. If this is a problem for you… it might be worth considering a dehumidifier.
Is 72 Degrees Too Hot To Sleep?
It’s that magical time of the year here on Long Island where after we experience a couple of weeks or so of spring weather that we’re hurtled into full-blown summer heat. We’re figuring out how much longer we can keep the windows or the back door open before we have to take out the fans, turn on the air conditioning, or lower your central air unit.
This all leads to an awkward time of year where we try to gauge if we need the fan or the AC on to get a good night’s sleep. And depending on your home HVAC system… it might be difficult to tell how much you’ve cooled down your bedroom to help you sleep. We may find ourselves in a position where it takes some time to adjust the temperature to optimize our sleep. In order to help you narrow that down, we’ll be going over what’s typically considered too hot or too cold for an optimal sleeping temperature.
How Much Does a New HVAC System Add to the Value of a House?
A difficult decision that homeowners are often faced with is whether it would be worth the money to add an AC system to their home or – if the home already has one – if it would be wiser to keep patching up an HVAC system… or replace it with a modern one. These questions are important to owners who plan to sell a house, as well as those who have no intention of moving.
COVID and HVAC
Between the tail end of flu season, Asthma Awareness Month, and rising Covid-19 numbers… the issue of air quality is at the forefront of many people’s minds. With so much of the workforce still working from home (and so many still hesitant to go out), you want your home HVAC and associated systems to protect you with the best and most current technology.
As a result, many homeowners are interested in air purifier systems – as well as how to improve air quality using their current HVAC systems. However, as we all know, the COVID situation is one that is constantly evolving. The solutions below represent the best practices and information currently available as of the time of this writing.
