The Doc's Blog - AC Doctor

Leave These Air Leaks to the Experts

Melissa Doyle — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:24:41 +0000

I write blogs fairly often about things you can do yourself to maintain your home and make it more energy efficient. But, there are some things that should be left to a professional. Appliance repair, extensive remodels, and sealing some air leaks. If you experience any of the following issues, make sure to call an expert right away!

Wet Insulation - this means that your roof is leaking. Your roofing company will be able to find and repair the source of the leak.
Ice Dams - Recurring ice dams usually mean you have an air leak along your attic-roof line. Sealing this leak will help prevent water damage to your attic and home.
Water Damage - Moldy and rotten wood signify a moisture problem and this leak has probably been there for a while.
Ventilation Issues - If you don’t have sufficient attic ventilation, it won’t be able to get rid of excess moisture. If you bathroom or kitchen vents into the attic, this only makes the moisture problem worse and can cause water damage.

If you notice any of these problems, call your certified AC Doctor contractor to find and repair any air leaks.

Don’t Forget Your Boiler!

Melissa Doyle — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:45:43 +0000

I know winter is already here and it’s a little late for the seasonal maintenance reminder, but if you haven’t gotten your boiler serviced, you need to do it now! Before calling your Certified AC Doctor Contractor, you can do some of the maintenance on your own.

Visually inspect the boiler. Walk around it to look for any cracks or damages and check the floor to make sure no water is leaking.
Start the boiler and let it run. Check again for any cracks or leaks- if you find any, turn it off right away and call your Certified AC Doctor Contractor.
Check the boiler pressure. Your owner’s manual will tell you what pressure the boiler should be running at. You will want to check the pressure at least once a month throughout the cooling season. If the pressure is not where it should be, make sure you make a note of it so you can let your contractor know when you make your seasonal maintenance appointment.
Keep the area around your boiler clear. You definitely don’t want to keep anything flammable near the boiler, but you also want the area clear just in case of emergency.
Have your boiler serviced. You need to have all of your HVAC equipment serviced seasonally - this may prevent a costly breakdown that will hurt your wallet and leave you shivering (or sweating in the summer).

If you’ve misplaced your owner’s manual, you can find one here. While performing your maintenance, make sure to write down anything that seems out of the ordinary and have it handy for your contractor so he knows what to look for when servicing your unit.

Win An AirWash IAQ!

Melissa Doyle — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:51:02 +0000

If you’ve got a dirty, old, rusty duct system in place, grab your camera and enter the Dirty Duct Contest! Starting Thursday December 8th, simply post a picture of your dirty duct on our Facebook Fan Page! The 2 pictures with the most ‘Likes’ will win prizes!! Make sure you tell your friends to vote!

PRIZE 1: AirWashIAQ, the all-natural, 100% organic air treatment that goes right to the source of odors. Make your home a healthy home with AirWashIAQ and prevent odor problems from coming back!
PRIZE 2: GemTech Infrared Thermometer with 10:1 distance to spot ratio and wide temperature range.
PRIZE 3: GemTech Temperature Sensing Unit - great for identifying poor ventilated areas!

Time For An Energy Audit

Melissa Doyle — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:48:16 +0000

Last month I wrote about upgrading your insulation, but before you want to completely overhaul the insulation in your home, you’ll want to have to friendly neighborhood HVAC contractor perform a home energy audit. This will tell you just how insulated your home is against the elements and measure the resistance to heat flow of your walls, doors, ceilings, windows, and skylights. You want a high resistance to flow – this means your are properly insulated.

After your home is audited, you will receive a written report estimated your energy usage based on the local climate, your thermostat settings, roof overhang, and solar positioning. The report will show your energy usage at any given time of day and give you tips for decreasing energy usage. Accuracy is greater improved if you have your electric company billing statements handy. They have your actual usage, not just estimates. The suditor may also interview everyone in the house to find out your personal usage habits so you can better improve your energy efficiency.

I know this may seem like alarge upfront cost – the audit alone can be a few hundred dollars, and when you add the suggested changes the cost can add up. Just remember the money you will save in decreased energy bills. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Insulate Yourself Against Cold Temps This Winter!

Melissa Doyle — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:03:07 +0000

Winter will be here before we know it and with all this crazy weather we’ve had this year, it’s sure to be a cold one! But I have a few quick and easy fixes for those freezing temps. It’s all in your insulation!

Heat travels from areas of high heat to areas of low heat - in other words, the heat from your nice, warm living room rises to make a nice, warm attic instead. To fix this, fill any cracks and fissures with caulk or spray insulation and replace any old or damp insulation. Ten to twelve inches of insulation is all you need; this gives your insulation an R-38 rating, but R-50 (approximately 16 inches) is recommended. Your attic stairs are also a place where heat can leak into the attic. Foam tape around the door will help block airflow. Holes cut to allow cables to run in and out also let air in and out; filling these holes with spray foam insulation drastically reduces the air flow. If you have a basement, insulate that as well; just make sure the insulation is water proof. This will keep your home cooler in the summer. In some areas of the country it‘s already nice and cool out and the last thing you want to think about is keeping cool, but if you’re already taking on an insulation project, the basement is an easy addition. Lastly, put weather stripping around your doors and windows. This will seal any holes in the frames to keep warm air from escaping. Adding curtains to your windows also adds one more layer of insulation.

These are all fixes you can do yourself that will make your home more comfortable as well as decrease your heating bill. It’s not a drastic decrease, adding to your attic insulation will result in approximately a 20% decrease, but it is still a little more money in your pocket.

A Clean Garage = A Happy Mom!

Melissa Doyle — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:24:30 +0000

I recently moved from my apartment into my first house. I just love having space, room to move, a yard for my daughter to play in. I don’t miss apartment living at all. Well, except for one thing - for weeks now we’ve had 3 digit temperatures (the high today was 105), and I really missed being able to park my car in the garage. Getting in the car after it’s been sitting in the hot sun is definitely not my idea of fun! Cooler car temperatures aside, a clean garage is so much safer. All those tools lying around were an accident waiting to happen. So, after putting up with me cleaning and organizing and reorganizing the house, my family decided to placate me with one more organizational conquest.
Here are a few things I discovered while cleaning out the garage:

Get the whole family involved. Letting the kids go through their things and help decide what to throw away or donate will help them feel in control of something while giving everyone some good bonding time.
Add wall and ceiling storage for the things you decide to keep - but don’t go over the weight limits. The last thing you want to see when you get home from work is a huge mess because your shelves gave out.
Better lighting will help you find things in those dark corners
Clean everything before you put it away. You may even want to consider storing them in water proof storage bins to keep moisture and bugs at bay.

Now that my garage is clean, I don’t fear for my daughter’s life any time we need to go in there, and I no longer have to park my car in the sweltering heat - I think it’s a win-win situation!

Prepare For a Long Summer

Melissa Doyle — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:06:37 +0000

It’s that time of year again - the dog days of summer. Down here in Houston, it’s turning into an incredibly dry, incredibly hot summer, with no hope for cooler temperatures for months. Aside from spending thousands of dollars that you may not have to upgrade your air conditioner, how can you beat the heat?

You can start by caulking and weather stripping your home. This will fill leaks that allows hot air to flow inside. You will also want to look for holes and separated joints in your duct work and have those repaired - holes and separated joints allow the cooled air out of the vents. While you are having your ducts repaired, add insulation to your attic, crawl spaces, attached garage, and whole house fans where they open to the exterior of your home.

Don’t forget to change your filter - disposable filters should be changed monthly and reusable filters should be washed every other month. After you change your filter, don’t block the intake vent - this will obstruct the air flow making it harder for your air conditioner to keep the house cool.

These things will not only keep you cool, but can even save you some money on your electric bill. You can even take the money you save to put toward a new A/C unit!

Keep Your Lawn Green With Minimal Water Usage

Melissa Doyle — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:12:38 +0000

It’s the middle of summer, and man is it hot! As the temperatures soar and rainfall diminishes, how do we keep our lawns looking good? It’s a given that at some point during this summer (and summers to come) you will have restricted water usage due to a drought, so I’ve put together some tips for keeping your lawn from dying!

1. Don’t water your lawn with more than 1 inch of water per week – too much water can damage the grass roots.
2. Water early in the morning – you will lose less water to evaporation.
3. Keep your grass at least 2 inches long – longer grass requires less water and lets less water evaporate
4. Remember – if rain is forcasted for your area, then there is no need to water.
5. Turn some of your lawn into gardens – native plants have adapted to the different weather climates and will need less water during drought seasons.
6. Redirect your down spouts into your lawn or garden – when it does rain, much of the rain water will be directed into your lawn and back into the water table.

Implementing some or all of these tips will keep your lawn looking nice while still conserving valuable water.

Why Should You Upgrade Your HVAC System?

Melissa Doyle — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:00:57 +0000

The economy has caused us all to tighten our belts and cut down on the non-essentials. As we dive head first into summer, I can’t help but realize that the measures I’ve taken to reduce my energy usage are not going to impact my bill like a new HVAC system will. I’ve seen a difference with the new light bulbs and better air filter, and my bill did go even lower when I started changing my air filter more often, but my system is already running around the clock! I know a lot of you are in the same position, so here are my reasons for upgrading.
First off, there’s monetary savings. A high efficiency system will reduce your energy usage, causing your bill to lower. These systems usually pay for themselves in about 12 months.
You will also have a lower environmental impact. Less energy usage translates to fewer carbon emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.
New, energy efficient systems are designed to identify potentially malfunctioning equipment so you can have your unit serviced before it breaks! This helps reduce costly repairs and the discomfort of a malfunctioning system.
Lastly, some systems are designed to have round the clock monitoring. Companies can monitor your energy usage to help you make cutbacks where they are needed. This monitoring can control the unit’s energy usage 24/7 to minimize consumption and maximize savings, as well as make seasonal adjustments.

Energy Saving Tips For Renters

Melissa Doyle — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:08:28 +0000

Here at AC Doctor we are always trying to find ways to help homeowners save money and energy, but what about renters? Renters have to be very careful about any modifications they make. Many changes to the house could break the terms of the lease. Fear not, there are some things you can do! There are small changed that will impact your energy bill that you can make without permission from your landlord. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent or halogen light bulbs and unplugging appliances when not in use are two very easy, very basic ways to cut energy costs. Even if you land lord provides the big appliances such as refrigerator, stove, and oven, you can still look for Energy Star rated small appliances. Nowadays, TVs, DVD players, and even cable boxes come with Energy Star ratings. You can also buy an LCD TV instead of a plasma one to save energy. In winter months, putting heavy, dark curtains over your windows will add a layer of insulation to help cut heating costs. If you have a window AC unit, put a cover over it in winter months to help block the hole in the wall.
There are other changes you can make with your land lord’s permission. Talk to your him before filling holes with caulk or foam sealant. Even though this may seem non-invasive, it is still considered an improvement or alteration. You will also want to try and convince your land lord to upgrade your old fridge to an Energy Star fridge. Remember, if you already have an Energy Star fridge (or other provided appliance), it cannot be replaced with one of lower quality.
It may take a little convincing to get your land lord to agree to some of these changes, but remind him that most of these energy saving upgrades are eligible for rebates. Offering to share the costs and then let him take the rebate credit could go a long way toward getting you a more energy efficient home. Don’t forget that you do have a bargaining chip: these are tough times and the real estate market is even tougher; no land lord wants to have a house back on the market, and most will do what they can to keep you.