About Me

HVAC Hacks: Tips for Novices and New Homeowners

Hello, and welcome to my blog! My name is Keisha, and when my husband was deployed a few years ago, I was not sure how I was going to handle taking care of our home on my own. At first, I panicked every time something small went wrong, but then, I calmed down and learned how to troubleshoot and deal with small issues. The biggest challenge was HVAC issues. I decided to create this blog to help others in the same boat. Whether you are a military spouse on your own for the first time, a new homeowner or just someone looking for tips, you have come to the right place. I am going to fill this blog with HVAC tips and hacks. I hope that it helps, informs and entertains you. Thanks for stopping by!

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Using Shade To Boost The Function Of Your AC System
Air conditioning is a wonderful invention, but just because you have an AC unit in your home does not mean you are free to ignore age-old methods for decreasing the temperature in a home. For example, using shade strategically can help to keep your home cool, which will decrease the load on your AC unit, and to improve the function of your system. In particular, you should think about how your home can best benefit from evapotranspiration and how shade can optimize the function of your condenser coils.

Tips For Improving Your Air Conditioning System's Efficiency
Your air conditioning unit may be the best way to keep your home comfortable on a blistery summer's afternoon, but these systems have high energy demands. As a result, providing power to your air conditioning system can be an extremely expensive affair, but you may not realize that there are a couple of simple tips that you can follow to help improve the performance of your unit.  Use Shade To Reduce Your Air Conditioner's Workload

The Benefits Of Baseboard Heaters
Baseboard heaters are an alternative heating source that can replace central heating units. Baseboard heaters work by heating up the air around them, which then circulates throughout the room. Because baseboard heaters work on a room by room basis, and are not forced air systems like most central heating systems, they carry with them a unique set of advantages. Understanding what baseboard heaters have to offer can help you decide whether or not they are the right fit for your home's heating needs.

Boiler Repair: 4 Things That May Causing Inadequate Heating
When your home's boiler is in pristine condition, it can be one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat your home-- as opposed to a boiler that has not been maintained properly since its installation. Boilers are quiet and require very little maintenance. All of these are reasons why a homeowner may choose to heat their home with the use of a boiler. However, it is important to note, like other things, boilers can malfunction.

First Winter Living On Your Own? 4 Furnace Problems You Should Be Aware Of
You're finally out on your own! If this is your first winter living in your own place, you might not be familiar with furnace maintenance. Unfortunately, that unfamiliarity can lead to some costly – and even dangerous – situations. A faulty furnace can cause a lot of problems for you. To help you understand your furnace, here's a quick list of issues you should be on the look-out for. Things That Go Bump in the Night

Summer's Coming: Will You Get The Most Out Of Your Air Conditioner?
With the scorching hot months of summer quickly approaching, now is a good time to start thinking about your home's central air conditioning system. If you want to keep your energy bills in check this summer, you'll want to make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can follow to keep your central AC in the best possible working order this summer.

How To Change A Furnace Air Filter
Your furnace's air filter works to keep out dust and other debris from your heating system. If the air filter becomes clogged, it can place greater strain on your furnace, which can lead to malfunctions or damage that can result in costly repairs. Properly maintaining your furnace's air filter is an important part of general home maintenance, and thankfully is a fairly quick and painless process that only needs to be done every three months or so.

Three Things You May Not Know About Cooling Your Home With Radiant Systems
You may have radiant heating in your home for the cold months. Radiant heating can be an efficient way to heat your home, but cooling can also require an additional system.  Many people do not realize that they can also have cooling with radiant systems. This is an efficient way to cool your home and use the same system for heating and cooling your home. Here are three things that you may have not known about radiant cooling systems:

Making Sure Your Plumbing Vent Is Clear Of Debris
Your home's plumbing vent in the roof plays an important role in keeping your water flowing smoothly and preventing sewer gases from building up in the water lines. A vacuum is created behind water as it flows through the drain pipes. A clog in the vent creates a situation where the water doesn't flow properly and neither does the sewer gas, so backups can happen. You'll know you have a clog when you run water and hear gurgling in other drains.

Warming Up To Heater Maintenance: Keep Your Heater In Good Shape All Year
If you're a homeowner who's been looking forward to the return of warmer weather, you're not alone. Being able to reduce heating needs and return to more moderate energy usage is always nice, not to mention it's a lot easier on the household budget. However, that doesn't mean you can totally forget about your heater. You do need to ensure it stays in good shape, even as the need to use it diminishes.