With regular maintenance and repair, you can keep your heating and cooling systems working efficiently and cut costs drastically. Learn how to reduce consumption and what jobs require a professional.
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Humidifier Repair
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Humidifiers, like any appliance, are subject to wear and tear and may stop functioning properly over time. Since hiring a repairperson can be expensive, you may want to try a few of these simple repairs on your own; you may be able to get your humidifier up and running again at...
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Central A/C Installation
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Installation of a central air conditioning system is a complex task that takes a
lot of time, hard work, and skill. Since the job will most likely require you to
tear up floors or take down ceilings to run ductwork, it's best to hire a
contractor to make sure the job is...
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How to Make an HVAC Repair and Maintenance Schedule
Posted by Myles Compton on October 28, 2020
Making an HVAC Repair and Maintenance Schedule In the heat of summer or the winter freeze , it's easy to take central heating and cooling for granted. As stable as most HVAC (heat, ventilation, air conditioning) systems appear, many critical problems can plague your...
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Central A/C Repair
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Since an air conditioner is a fairly complex piece of machinery, your first inclination when it breaks may be to call a repairperson. There are, however, some simple repairs you could probably handle on your own. A repairperson could, in fact, be necessary, but check out the...
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Cleaning Ducts and Vents
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
The ducts and vents in your home are generally out of view; they can easily go unnoticed for quite some time. However, just like any other surface in your home, it doesn't take long for them to build up dust and grime. If you were to let this go unchecked, the airflow through...
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Upgrading a Fireplace
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
A fireplace is not a very clean home feature. All the built-up soot, hearth stains, and chipped bricks or stone can make it pretty unsightly. With a few days work, though, you can tear out that old hearth and mantel and replace them to make your fireplace look brand new. You...
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Installing a Furnace
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Installing an oil furnace is not an easy job. In fact, it can be quiet
dangerous. If everything isn't set up properly, you could very easily find
yourself in a situation where oil leaks and ignites. So, unless you are one
yourself, it's best to leave this to the...
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Repairing a Furnace
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
You might be surprised to find out that there are a few furnace repairs you can probably handle on your own. Learning a few repairs and maintenance tips could help you keep your furnace running longer and could also save you a lot of money that you might have otherwise spent on a...
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Installing Electric Baseboards
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Electric heat can be a great way to augment your current heating system, helping
to heat a room that doesn't get quite warm enough. Or, it can be an easy way to
add heat to an addition or even a brand new home. This guide will tell you the
basics of installing electric...
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Installing a Swamp Cooler
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Looking for a more efficient way to cool your home? Evaporative air conditioners, or "swamp coolers," as they're sometimes called, might be the perfect solution. This guide will tell you a little bit about how they work and how to go about installing them in your home.
How They...
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Installing Ducts and Vents
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
There are several different reasons why you might be looking into installing heating ducts into your home. You might be replacing old ducts or installing new ones into a new home or addition. This job is a complicated one, requiring a lot of hard work. It's also a job you want...
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Installing a Radiant Floor Heating System
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Radiant floor heating is a concept unfamiliar to most, but it can actually be a
great alternative to other heating systems. This type of system is powered by
electricity and, as the name suggests, the heat radiates from the floor rather
than from a radiator or through...
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Cleaning and Repairing Electric Baseboards
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
You may rely on an electric heater to keep you warm during the cold winter months and on cool nights. Electric heaters happen to be among the most reliable heating options on the market' but still' keeping them cleaned and properly maintained will help ensure that they work when...
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Swamp Cooler Repair
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Evaporative air coolers (sometimes called swamp coolers) are efficient and effective alternatives to conventional air conditioning systems, but like anything else, they are not immune to the wear and tear that come with time and usage. This guide will give you a few tips on how...
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Installing a New Thermostat
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
If you happen to have one of those old dial- or switch-type thermostats, it might be a good idea to upgrade to a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat is by far superior because it gives you complete control of your heating and cooling systems. You can actually save...
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Thermostat Repair
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
You rely on your heating system on cold days to keep your home comfortable. Indeed, in the harsher winter months, you rely on it to keep you healthy. The thermostat, as the controller of your heating system, is just as important; if yours breaks, you're going to want to fix it as...
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Boiler Repair
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Repair of a boiler is one of those things you probably don’t want to put off. You could get pretty cold in the amount of time it takes a repairperson to show up. To be sure, there are some repairs you won’t be able to handle yourself, but following are a few simple things you...
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Installing a Boiler
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Installing a boiler isn't quite as simple as just unpacking and
plugging in a water tank. There are a lot of hookups (e.g., electrical, gas,
water) and accessories to deal with, and you want to make sure everything's set
up correctly. Otherwise, you could have water leaks,...
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Gas Powered Air Conditioning Systems
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
You may not have ever considered that there might be an alternative energy source when it comes to air conditioning. It's true that the vast majority of air conditioning systems, whether central or window-mounted, are powered by electricity. There is, however, an alternative...
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Central Air Cleaner
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
For people with allergies, there are certain times when going outside seems as smart as walking into a warzone unarmed. You might also want to consider that your home isn't the safest place, either. There is dust, pollen from outside, and, if you have pets, pet dander and hair....
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Central Heating Install
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Central heating systems can be a near-necessity in certain climates. Depending on how cold it gets in the wintertime where you live, having central heating may be an issue of comfort or an issue of survival. When installing or replacing a central heating system in your home,...
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Installing a Central Humidifier
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
With help from this guide, installing a central air humidifier is a pretty simple do-it-yourself project that can make your home a much more comfortable place.
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Forced-Air/Furnace Install
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Depending on where you live, heat may be a necessary utility. Perhaps you are building a new house, or maybe you want to replace your old heating system with a more energy-efficient one. Either way, a forced-air heating system might be your best bet. While you may want to try...
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Heat Pump Install
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Heat pumps are viable alternatives to air conditioners and furnaces in moderate climates. Heat pumps efficiently transfer heat from one place to another. In the wintertime, they bring warmth from outside into your home. In the summertime, they work in reverse, pulling the heat...
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Heat Pump Repair
Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013
Heat pumps can suffer problems, just like any other piece of equipment in your home. Troubleshooting the issue is pretty similar to making sure an AC unit is working. Start simple, and when things get really complex, call a professional. This guide will give you some...
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How to Reduce House Gas Consumption
Posted by Robert Moreschi on March 27, 2013
There are a lot of costs associated with owning a house. The monthly mortgage payments that you have to make are only a fraction of the total monthly costs you'll be faced with when you own a home, and one of those costs is your gas and electricity bill. Sometimes these two costs...
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How to Insulate Your Home in the Winter
Posted by Ana M. Ferrer on November 6, 2014
In winter, your goal is to minimize heat loss as much as possible. Read on for easy ways to insulate your home in the winter--you'll save money on your energy bill and stay warm and toasty all season long. Tin foil It's not just for your leftovers. An easy way to prevent...
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How to Cool Off Your Home in the Summer
Posted by Ana M. Ferrer on March 11, 2015
Staying cool in the summer can feel like a full-time job sometimes. Not to mention the high utility costs of pumping your air conditioning day-in and day-out. If you're in need of some respite from the summer heat, keep reading for tips on other ways you can cool your home off...