Long Island Home Cooling & Heating
Tragar Home Services
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.
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.
Lowering the temperature in your home at night isn’t something we just do to save money during the winter; it’s in line with human nature. Our bodies naturally decrease in temperature by a degree or two as our bodies get ready to fall asleep. As a result, our bodies would like it if the rooms we are in stayed a bit cooler too.
Sleeping in higher temperatures can do more than make it difficult to fall asleep; it can interrupt your sleep over the course of the night! Studies have shown that sleeping in temperatures of 87 degrees Fahrenheit or higher can reduce both slow-wave sleep and the R.E.M. stage of sleep – which is important for your sleep cycle and overall health. So, the best sleeping temperature is one on the cooler side.
While there are problems with sleeping in too hot of a room, sleeping in too cold of a room has its downsides as well. Some of the most concerning developments that can come about from sleeping in too cold a room include blood vessels getting constricted as well as increased pressure on your cardiovascular system (as your body works to bring your core temperature up to compensate). For most people, this is something that can happen once the temperature dips below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Finding the best sleeping temperature for comfort is important, but what about when you have to compromise with a partner?
While you should avoid sleeping in too hot or too cold of a room, it’s usually better to be a little too cold than too hot. Some recommend in the mid-60’s for the room temperature. That said, 72 degrees isn’t too hot either.
A trusted name on Long Island, we provide 5-star service for our customers during and after business hours. We have the fastest emergency response time in the area at just two hours. We handle installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of HVAC systems for all your heating, cooling, and plumbing needs.
Our highly trained professionals can evaluate your HVAC systems and perform maintenance and repair to make sure you can properly control your home’s temperature and get the sleep and comfort you deserve. Plus, it’s good for your health! Contact us today to see how we can help you live more comfortably and better host guests in your home.
Many of us have made purchases where they add optional insurance and expanded coverage plans. Everything from jewelry, rental cars, cell phones, computers, and more have some form of insurance available.
Not all coverage plans are created equal though. Depending on the product in question, it just might not be worth it. There’s a very good chance you’ve passed up on supplemental coverage for your own purchases in the past.
What is worth having expanded coverage on? Is having expanded coverage or insurance for your home HVAC system worth it?
Summer doesn’t just bring heat. It also brings a lot of misinformation about air conditioning and keeping cool. The problem is some of those myths can end up costing you a lot of money, so let’s address some common AC myths. [Read more…]
Living on Long Island means that summer doesn’t just bring heat, but also humidity. The old statement, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” is very true because it makes the actual temperature feel warmer. And yes, high humidity can affect central air conditioning. [Read more…]
Summer sun brings summer heat, which means you want to stay cool. Whether you have central air, AC window units, or ductless air conditioning, keeping your house cool in general will lower your energy costs without sacrificing comfort. [Read more…]
Even when you have a perfectly maintained AC, extreme weather can make keeping your house cool a problem. Brutal heatwaves like the three-digit temperatures the Pacific northwest recently experienced can tax even the best system. Even if your AC can handle it perfectly, power company actions and brown-outs will require extra measures. [Read more…]
The placement of your HVAC condenser unit matters – a lot. HVAC clearance makes a difference in how efficiently it operates and its risk of being damaged. [Read more…]
With summer fading, you might be thinking about your central air conditioner (CAC), especially if your central air was less than perfect this season. If your central AC was making noise, didn’t feel as cool as usual, took longer than usual to make your house comfortable, or it’s just getting older, it might be time to start thinking about replacing your central air conditioner.
On average, a central air conditioning unit lasts 12-17 years. The longevity of your central air system depends upon a few things like:
Obviously, regular maintenance is useful because it keeps your central air conditioning system running well. It also allows you to spot potential problems before they cause a unit breakdown.
The more often you run your central air system, the more wear and tear it undergoes. Fortunately, here on Long Island, our climate means that a central air conditioning system won’t have to run all year round, so it won’t run as hard as it might in other parts of the country with hotter climates. For more professional air conditioning maintenance tips, read through our article on 9 Ways to Avoid AC Breakdown.
Replacing the air filter is a part of yearly maintenance, but for an efficient, effective system, it’s useful to clean or replace your filter even more frequently. A dirty filter forces you to run your central air longer and more often.
EnergyStar has a few guidelines for how to tell when it’s time to replace your central air conditioner.
Except for the first item, any of these factors, on an individual basis, might not force a replacement. In combination, however, they’re definitely warning signs that it’s time to replace your central air conditioning unit – especially if combined with an uptick in repairs.
If it does look like you should replace your central air conditioning system, doing it before complete system failure is your smartest option. Not only do you save the discomfort of a summer breakdown but replacing your AC unit during the offseason means you can plan an installation at time that’s most convenient for you.
Trying to install your own central air unit is a very bad idea. Central air conditioning systems are very complex. Even if you’re a competent DIYer, with the many electrical components involved, this increases the risk of an installation error. Even figuring out the right size unit takes experience and nuance. It’s also very likely that you’ll invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty by installing it yourself.
Yes, permits are required to ensure your AC is installed properly. This is yet another reason why it’s a bad idea to try to install central air conditioning yourself. The permits usually require a licensed installer. Specifics vary according to the jurisdiction. The Town of North Hempstead is just one example, so you’ll need to check your local town requirements.
Now is a great time to start planning for the installation of a new central air conditioning system or upgrading your current system. Tragar can work with you today to make sure it’s a seamless process. Reach out to us for more information and a free estimate.
August is National Water Quality Month and that covers a broad spectrum of water concerns from rivers to national parks. The part that the most concerns our customers is the water that comes out of their faucet so let’s examine what you need to know about water quality on Long Island. [Read more…]
