Category Archives: Heating & Cooling

What’s on Your Yearly Maintenance List?

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Your home is just like your car and requires a yearly maintenance routine. Although many people divide the annual list into two or three separate listings, the schedules end up looking very much alike. So, what’s on your yearly maintenance list?

1. HVAC Filters

Change the dirty HVAC filters for clean ones and give the system a yearly check-up to ensure it is working efficiently.

2. Detector Tests

Test all the smoke and carbon dioxide detectors in your home and replace the batteries on a specified date – many people choose a holiday, so they don’t forget.

3. Chimney Cleaning

Make an appointment for a chimney inspection Maryland either in the spring or early fall. Have the technician clean the unit and make sure the flue is in working order.

4. Fire Extinguishers

Check the date on the extinguisher and make sure it is not dented, and the pin has not been pulled. Also, ensure the extinguisher is easily reachable.

5. Refrigerator Coils

Clean the refrigerator coils whenever they appear dirty, but at least once a year. If you are unsure how to do it, call in a technician for help.

6. Gutter Clearing

Your home’s gutters can catch wind-blown debris and flying leaves, so they need to be cleaned twice a year. Wash the sediment out with a running hose and remove the debris with a scoop or attachment.

7. Tree Trimming

As trees break due to heavy ice or snow, wailing winds, or torrential storms, the dead growth needs to be trimmed back for the health of the tree and the safety of your home.

8. Shower Cleaning

No matter how clean your water is, the showerheads can accumulate sediment during the year. Remove the head, rinse or soak in vinegar, and replace.

These are only a few of the many things you may add to your yearly maintenance list. Don’t let it overwhelm you, just mark a few items off the list each month.

Have You Found the Right Part Supplier for Your Next Project?

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It’s rare to find a manufacturer who does everything in house. What’s far more common is in-house assembly, with the components coming from a variety of trusted suppliers who have demonstrated a high degree of skill at building the components you need to your design, and within the margins of error you specify. Often, businesses do their best to consolidate their contracts with a few companies that can each deliver great results, but that’s not the only way to do it. If you have multiple assembly plants around the country, you’ll need fabrication resources relatively close to each one, to streamline shipping costs, and that can mean finding high quality operators who can reproduce the work of your original supplier at your home location.

Consider Your Options

While it’s tempting to work with a very limited range of suppliers, you can wind up leaving a lot of money on the table if you don’t periodically review your costs and solicit competing bids. The best time to evaluate your costs is when you have a new project, because you might find that between the turnaround time, shipping, and quality, a dedicated metal fabrication Portland Oregon solution for the new project could give you the best overall ROI. Giving a new supplier a single project contract is a great way to assess their suitability for more work in the future, too.

Remember, as much as you might want to put all your contracts together, you’re competing against your own deadlines if you don’t find the best fit for each individual project, spreading your supply lines enough to get everything you need efficiently, without making things overly complicated. It takes time to get into a good rotation with all your suppliers, but it’s worth putting in the effort to get the results if it means your manufacturing process is improved overall.

How To Save Money On Your Summer Energy Bills

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All of the air in your home or business passes through a filter on average twice an hour. A quality hvac air filter housing captures the harmful bacteria that result from molds, dust, and more. However, with the hot temperatures of summer, you will need to put your HVAC system to work in order to stay cool. This can lead to higher energy bills.

Here are several tips to help you save money on your summer energy bills.

Update Your A/C Unit With More Efficient Model

If your A/C unit is older than ten years, it is time to consider investing in a newer, more energy efficient model. Although the upfront cost can seem high, in the long run, you will experience a return on your investment through reduced energy bills. Be sure to check for an Energy Star rating on your HVAC products. Some units are able to use up to 50% less energy than others, which can lead to huge savings.

Install a Smart Thermostat

Programmable thermostats allow you to optimize the temperature in your home or business at certain times of the day. For example, your home will be at a warmer temperature during the day while you’re away at work, and automatically start to cool down when you get home. You can even set it to cool or warm up certain rooms in your home or business, and set a timer so that it runs on a schedule that works for you.

Keep Vents Clean And Open

Dust, pet hair, and other debris can block the vents in your home, obstructing the airflow. Also, it’s possible that someone could accidentally shut an air vent during cleaning, and forget to reopen it. Check the vents in your home to make sure there is no pileup of debris, and double check that air is flowing and vents are open.

Change Air Filters

You should change your air filters monthly in order to keep your HVAC unit running at peak efficiency and to help keep energy bills lower. Clogged or dirty air filters will block or disrupt the airflow, and can even lead to unhealthy air conditions in your home or business.