Patios often serve as a place to gather with friends or relax on your own. Here are five easy ways to improve the ambiance of your patio. Tip #1—Get rid of patio pests: Patios are fun, but pests are never good. Pinecones serve as a great way to deter creatures like chipmunks that like to dig and make a mess. Chances are your plants will enjoy having pinecones in their growing containers because they acidify the soil. Bold, beautiful showstopper plants like azaleas and rhododendrons will burst with color amid pine cones, too. Tip #2– Rejuvenate your dilapidated patio with color. Try painting flower containers in colors that are bold, bright, and modern. You might also consider mimicking the appearance of upscale stone patios with just a bit of paint and some concrete stamps. A coat of concrete stain will give your old concrete a fresh new look. Tip #3—Refurbish your patio furniture: Make old, worn out furniture pieces look new with a coat of spray paint. Spray paint comes in a variety of colors and finishes. It can also be purchased in formulas suitable for metal, wood, and even plastic. If you need to replace some of your furniture, choose sturdy materials that can resist dampness and intense sunlight. Tip #4—Add some lighting: Outdoor lighting works wonders for night time ambiance. Lanterns and lamps can be used to brighten up tables and dark corners. Stringing lights across the patio also adds a nice touch. Bold lights, such as ones shaped like trees and topiaries are also popular. To conserve energy, use solar powered products or energy-efficient bulbs. Tip #5—Add a fire pit: A fire pit or fire table makes a warm, welcoming place for you and your guests to gather on cool evenings well into the fall. You can purchase one at your favorite retailer or make one yourself with flagstone slabs and rocks. Always be sure to research your municipalities fire code and ordinances as they pertain to the use of fire pits beforehand. Efficient Heating & Cooling are experts in high quality home comfort solutions to meet your needs. Contact us today to request an estimate or schedule...
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Staying cool in the summer heat can be a difficult task. Intense summer heat can make your home less comfortable to be in while raising household energy costs. Here are some simple ways to stay cool and comfortable during the summer. 1. Turn on your fans when air conditioning is in use. Using a fan while the air conditioner is running greatly enhances the cooling effect. While the air conditioner lowers the temperature of the air, fans circulate the cool air throughout the room and house. The boost in air circulation creates a wind chill that allows you to stay cool without having to set the AC unit very low. 2. Try using ice and a fan to stay cool. Set a bowl full of ice in front of a table fan. As the ice melts, the fan will blow cooler air toward you. This hack is great for while you’re working at your desk. You could also do the same thing with a fan on your kitchen counter to stay cool while you’re cooking. 3. Cut back on the use of appliances and lights. Appliances, gaming consoles, computers, and even standard light bulbs heat up your house while they are running, so turn them on as little as possible. Run the washing machine only when you have a full load. Eliminate the heat generated when using the dryer by hanging your clothes outside or around the house to air dry. Avoid using the dishwasher if it is not full. Instead, hand wash dishes in the sink and let them air dry or use a towel. Avoid using the oven and stove to prepare meals. Use the microwave or grill instead. You could also consider eating meals that don’t have to be cooked. Chef salad with julienned turkey and/or ham and deli sandwiches are great options. 4. Thirsty but don’t have any ice? Wrap your beverage of choice with a damp paper towel, then place it in the freezer for about fifteen minutes. Your drink will be chilled to perfection! 5. Eat and work out on your deck or patio in the evening. Once the sun is down, outdoor spaces serve as ideal places to have dinner, do homework,...
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If you’re looking for advice on saving money this summer, Efficient Heating and Cooling is here to help. Keeping your home cool, while saving money on your energy bill, is the easy part. Allowing your air conditioning unit to work as efficiently as possible, is the key. Helpful tips for saving money while air conditioning your home this summer. Check out our 8 tips to help you keep your house cool, and your wallet full. Annual Maintenance. Before turning your unit on for the summer, it is recommended to have a professional service company, such as Efficient Heating and Cooling come out to inspect it, clean it, and make sure it’s ready to create a cool environment in your home. Replace Filter. Remembering to replace the filter at the beginning of each season, helps maintain good air flow. If the air does not flow freely, your air conditioning unit will be over worked and possibly give up on your most needed days. Programmable Thermostat. Programming your thermostat allows you to stay cool, save energy, and not have to think about it. It’s a win-win situation. Ceiling Fans. Ceiling fans are a great way to move the cool air around in your home. There’s an adjustment at the base of the fan, which help the blades pull up cool air from the floor and umbrella it down around the room. (The opposite way in winter, pushes down the warm air hovering at the ceiling to keep your rooms warmer.) Drawing moisture out of the air, a dehumidifier will help keep your home comfortable. Stable Inside Temperature. Your HVAC is already working hard for you, so be kind to it. Adjust the thermostat while you’re away or sleeping by only a 5-degrees, so it doesn’t take so long to cool things down when you get up or back home. Grilling outdoors vs baking indoors, is a pleasant way to keep the heat out of the kitchen as well as the rest of your home. Window Blinds and Drapes. Keeping the blinds and drapes drawn during the hottest part of the day, or in order to block direct sunlight, helps keep inside temperatures from rising. Shade trees and bushes can...
Read MoreExtreme outside temperatures in both summer and winter can make it difficult to keep your home comfortable inside. Turning up the heat or using central air can help. But without taking the precautions to make sure your warm or cool air stays inside, you could just be heating and cooling the neighborhood – and draining your pockets. On average, a typical household spends about a third of its annual heating and cooling budget on air that leaks into or out of the house through gaps and cracks. These gaps can be in your windows, doors, ceilings, and even in your attic. Here are some quick, simple tips to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Tip #1—Insulate around recessed light fixtures: Most recessed light fixtures have vents that open into the attic; which is a hidden way for warm or cool air to escape. Many homes have several of these types of fixtures, and they are a leading cause of household air leaks that go unnoticed. To fix the problem, examine your light fixtures and bulbs. Lights that are labeled ICAT- “insulation contact and air tight,” are already sealed. Next, examine the label next to the bulb. If you don’t see it, it’s safe to assume yours is leaking air. At $8 to $30, an airtight baffle is a quick, affordable fix. Simply remove the bulb, push the baffle up into the housing, then replace the bulb when finished. Tip #2—Weather strip your doors including the attic door: Your doors aren’t just letting hot and cool air escape while people enter and exit. Many doors have gaps between the door itself and the door frame. To fix the access doors to your home, install new weather stripping around the door and new door sweeps at the bottom. To prevent the escape of air from the attic access door, seal it by caulking between the stair frame and the rough opening. You could also install foam weather stripping around the perimeter of the hatch. Some stores carry pre-insulated hatch cover kits for attic access doors. Tip #3—Adjust your thermostat accordingly: Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature when you are away from home helps keep the heating or cooling system...
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Extreme outside temperatures in both summer and winter can make it difficult to keep your home comfortable inside. Turning up the heat or using central air can help. But without taking the precautions to make sure your warm or cool air stays inside, you could just be heating and cooling the neighborhood – and draining your pockets. On average, a typical household spends about a third of its annual heating and cooling budget on air that leaks into or out of the house through gaps and cracks. These gaps can be in your windows, doors, ceilings, and even in your attic. Here are some quick, simple tips to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Tip #1—Insulate around recessed light fixtures. Most recessed light fixtures have vents that open into the attic; which is a hidden way for warm or cool air to escape. Many homes have several of these types of fixtures, and they are a leading cause of household air leaks that go unnoticed. To fix the problem, examine your light fixtures and bulbs. Lights that are labeled ICAT- “insulation contact and air tight,” are already sealed. Next, examine the label next to the bulb. If you don’t see it, it’s safe to assume yours is leaking air. At $8 to $30, an airtight baffle is a quick, affordable fix. Simply remove the bulb, push the baffle up into the housing, then replace the bulb when finished. Tip #2—Weather strip your doors including the attic door. Your doors aren’t just letting hot and cool air escape while people enter and exit. Many doors have gaps between the door itself and the door frame. To fix the access doors to your home, install new weather stripping around the door and new door sweeps at the bottom. To prevent the escape of air from the attic access door, seal it by caulking between the stair frame and the rough opening. You could also install foam weather stripping around the perimeter of the hatch. Some stores carry pre-insulated hatch cover kits for attic access doors. Tip #3—Adjust your thermostat accordingly. Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature when you are away from home helps keep the heating or cooling system from running excessively when no one...
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