How a Humidifier Keeps You Healthy All Winter

Don't let your guard down — cold season is still in full effect. The combination of Winter's dry air, a turned-up thermostat, and closed windows can wreak havoc on your respiratory system. The best way to combat dry air and reduce your susceptibility to infection is to invest in a humidifier.

Relieve sinusitis: When the air is too dry, sinuses don't drain and function properly. According to many ENT experts, adding humidity to the air is generally good for sinus health — especially if you're regularly suffering from congestion and sinusitis.

Heal faster: Whether it be a cold, asthma, or allergies, a humidifier keeps your nasal passages lubricated, which helps speed up the healing process when you're under the weather. For people with bad allergies, there are humidifiers that are specially designed to purify the air as well.

Helps prevent nosebleeds: Another reason keeping your nasal passages moist and lubricated is essential is to prevent nosebleeds. If you're regularly experiencing nosebleeds due to your dry climate, it's worth a try. Many people have found that it makes a huge difference.

Alleviate snoring: The moisture from a humidifier keeps the throat from drying out and relieves the intensity of that annoying snoring sound. If you or your partner is a snorer, the added bonus is that (at least) one of you will be sleeping more soundly.

Support beautiful skin: Soothe dry skin by sleeping with a humidifier on through the night. In the morning, you'll not only notice that your face looks more supple, but your hands and lips won't feel dry and dehydrated either.

Call Self Heating & Cooling today to learn about our humidification solutions and how to choose the perfect humidifier to suit your families needs!

Energy Saving Tips!

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home -- typically making up about 48% of your utility bill.

No matter what kind of heating and cooling system you have in your house, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. But remember, an energy-efficient furnace alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using the whole-house approach. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions.

HEATING AND COOLING TIPS

Set your programmable thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer, and -- depending on the season -- raise or lower the setpoint when you're sleeping or away from home.
Clean or replace filters on furnaces and air conditioners once a month or as recommended.
Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to perform this task, contact a professional.
Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
During winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
During summer, keep the window coverings closed during the day to block the sun's heat.

LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIPS

Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.
For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR® models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE. For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models are 14.5 SEER or more.

Is Your Heat Not Working?

It may be your first reaction to call you HVAC specialist Self Heating & Cooling when your furnace is not producing heat. While there may be no heat coming out the vent there may be a very simple solution why. Here are some things to look at before you call:

Check the thermostat – Make sure your thermostat is set for heat and is at least at 68 F and above to make sure the temperature is set high enough for the furnace to be turned on.

Check your circuit breaker – If the furnace is not turning on you may have tripped the circuit breaker or blown a fuse. There should be one breaker dedicated to your heating system for you home or office. Check the breaker box to see if this is your problem. If the problem persists give us a call.

Check your pilot – If you have a older had furnace be sure to see if the pilot igniting the correct way. Also check the gas valve to make sure it is in good working order.

If you have gone through this checklist and your furnace is still isn’t producing heat don’t hesitate to call Self Heating & Cooling-678-909-6377

The Cold Weather is Here!

The cold weather is here! Self Heating & Cooling wants you to be ready by sharing a few tips on how to take care of your HVAC system. This will not only help to maximize your heat, but add a few extra years to the life of your system. These helpful tips will also make for a more energy efficient system and save you money on your energy bills.

1. A reminder to change your air filters every month is key especially during heavy use months like winter and summer. Changing them on a monthly basis will help save you money and prevent dust and dirt from building up in your system which could later lead to expensive repairs or early system failure. Just because you cannot see the dust doesn’t mean it’s not there. A dusty filter reduces air flow.

2. If you don’t have one now, consider having a programmable thermostat installed. This is most ideal for people who are away from their homes during the day for set periods of time during the week. Your HVAC will work less while you are away. Limit your set-backs to twice a day such as when you are at work or sleeping and only set back the thermostat about 5 degrees. This could save you around $180 every year in energy costs.

3. Keeping your air vents and return air vents clear of any obstructions such as draperies, furniture, bedding, toys, etc. will ensure air circulates properly. Obstructions will make the HVAC unit work harder.

4. Never switch a heat pump to the “emergency heat” setting on the thermostat, unless the unit is malfunctioning. This setting will turn on the electric heat and it will drastically increase your electric bill if it is used in a non-emergency situation for an extended period of time.

5. If you should hear unusual noises or excess heat or water coming from your HVAC, call a trained specialist at Self Heating & Cooling. This could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. Don’t wait for your unit to break down as this could cost you more money in the long run.

6. Have your HVAC system inspected annually by a qualified heating contractor at Self Heating & Cooling. This is critical in ensuring your system is operating properly and at peak efficiency.

Don’t be caught in the cold and paying high energy bills. Let Self Heating & Cooling visit your home today for a warm, safe winter.

Operating and Maintaining Your Heat Pump

Proper operation of your heat pump will save energy. Do not set back the heat pump's thermostat if it causes the backup heating to come on -- backup heating systems are usually more expensive to operate. Continuous indoor fan operation can degrade heat pump performance unless your system uses a high-efficiency, variable-speed fan motor. Operate the system on the "auto" fan setting on the thermostat.

Like all heating and cooling systems, proper maintenance is key to efficient operation. The difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10% to 25%.

Clean or change filters once a month or as needed, and maintain the system according to manufacturer's instructions. Dirty filters, coils, and fans reduce airflow through the system. Reduced airflow decreases system performance and can damage your system's compressor. Clean outdoor coils whenever they appear dirty; occasionally, turn off power to the fan and clean it; remove vegetation and clutter from around the outdoor unit. Clean the supply and return registers in your home, and straighten their fins if bent.

You should also have a professional technician service your heat pump at least every year. The technician can do the following:

Inspect ducts, filters, blower, and indoor coil for dirt and other obstructions
Diagnose and seal duct leakage
Verify adequate airflow by measurement
Verify correct refrigerant charge by measurement
Check for refrigerant leaks
Inspect electric terminals, and, if necessary, clean and tighten connections, and apply nonconductive coating
Lubricate motors, and inspect belts for tightness and wear
Verify correct electric control, making sure that heating is locked out when the thermostat calls for cooling and vice versa
Verify correct thermostat operation.