Archive for the ‘Cooling’ Category
03.28.2014
Holtkamp HVAC’s Smart Thermostats are a Smart Choice for Aurora Theatre
We love it when we get to help our customers become even more energy efficient! As the official HVAC company of the Aurora Theatre (and proud supporters), we recently installed 17 new programmable thermostats. In the past, the theater had a hodgepodge of programmable thermostats and none of them worked together. We noticed many areas throughout the building, which, despite only being occupied during a performance, were still being heated and cooled 24/7. We changed out every thermostat, replacing them with the Trane XL624 programmable control. Each thermostat can now be accessed online, allowing users to program the heating and air schedule, setting times and temperatures, and then download the schedule into each thermostat. The system offers the ability to register multiple cell phones, along with customized levels of authority and access. For instance, if someone wanted to control the thermostat in their office, the system administrator could grant them access to only that thermostat or allow them to control multiple thermostats. In fact, Anthony Rodriguez, producing artistic director, can access the entire system from his smart phone. We also love that the new thermostats prevent “thermostat tampering”. Every thermostat is locked: someone could touch it, try to re-set it, […]
08.15.2013
Holtkamp House Strawberry Limeades!
A Smart Living Snip-It From Suzanne Holtkamp So you think all the blustery hot days are behind us, do you? Okay I’ll admit this has been one rainy summer in Atlanta! (more about your indoor humidity during a later post!) But the slightly cooler temperatures always lull people into thinking our heat is behind us. After 20 years in the HVAC business, I would be remiss if I didn’t prepare you for the next few months of wacky weather. And here’s how I am going to do it… by arming you with the coolest drink ever consumed on a Georgia porch in summer. (Aside from a mint julip, of course!) This drink will make you the envy of every Martha Stewart wannabe. And it’s so fantastically simple, you can just smile as you collect the compliments! It’s been perfected over years and years of trial and error on the Holtkamp House front porch. It’s the Holtkamp House Strawberry Limeade! Here’s what you need: 1 qt. luscious strawberries (washed and cleaned) several fresh limes bottle of Sprite blender ice fancy glasses to wow your friends (Mine are from the dollar store!) Next, put the strawberries in the blender along with the juice of […]
06.22.2013
Avoid TheseTwo Mistakes When Replacing HVAC
A Smart Living Snip-It from Suzanne Holtkamp Recents studies show that an average of 50% of the energy we use is gobbled up by our buildings – in heating and cooling, and in keeping them comfortable so we can be comfortable. Understanding this, it makes sense to do your homework when it’s time to replace your HVAC system. The first inclination is to simply replace the system with what’s already there – same size, same brand etc. just a newer model. Before jumping to this conclusion, consider avoiding these two HUGE mistakes: 1) Putting in the wrong size system – This may seem like a bunch of techno mumbo-jumbo but it’s crucial to both comfort and energy savings. Don’t confuse the size of your system with its efficiency rating. We just had a customer yesterday who insisted bigger is better. Not so! A more thorough explanation can be found here. 2) Overlooking the importance of ductwork – Your furnace, heatpump or AC serves as the “heart” of your HVAC body. The ductwork system is the veins and arteries. So if your heart is working but then the veins and arteries are glogged or leaky, how effective is the heart? We can conduct a full ductwork […]
06.12.2013
Your Summer Maintenance Checklist
For most homeowners, the summer months are the best times of the year. Longer days provide more opportunities for families to spend time with one another outdoors. Although the summer time can be an exciting season for many, it can be a time of great anxiety for homeowners who fail to properly prepare their homes for the realities of the summer heat. When you neglect to address certain things in and around your home, you can be left with costly repairs. Avoid becoming a victim of preventable repairs. The checklist below should serve as a guide for you as we enter the harsh summer temperatures of Georgia. Change filters Change your air conditioner’s filter every month during the pollen-filled summer. Doing so will help you reduce indoor allergens and will save energy. When a filter is dirty and clogged, it forces your HVAC equipment to work overtime in order to meet desired indoor temperatures. This most certainly causes an increase in your monthly energy bill and increases your chance of experiencing an equipment failure. Inspect for leaks Did you know that 40% of your home’s energy usage is from your heating and cooling system? With so much energy […]
07.17.2012
Temperatures in the high 80's Welcome Respite
Just thought you would enjoy a small glimpse into Matthew’s napping habits. After several weeks of record Atlanta temperatures, we’ll cut him some slack!
06.29.2012
What You Need to Know During This Atlanta Heatwave
I don’t need to tell you it’s hot. While I can’t tell you the correct percentage of electrolytes you should have in your body to prevent dehydration, I can give you some tips on your cooling system. 1) Go ahead and set your thermostat a couple of degrees cooler than normal in the morning to get a headstart and be prepared for your cooling system to run constantly all day during this hot weather. 2) Use your blinds and curtains. Keep doors and windows completely closed. 3) Limit or eliminate use of heat and humidity producing appliances. This includes the oven, hairdryers, clothes dryers and excessive showering. Hey, what’s a little extra stinkiness anyway? It’s HOT outside! 4) Go to the pool or lake! Then you can get rid of your stinkiness at the same time. Just a thought… FYI – As a rule of thumb, a perfectly designed A/C should run constantly anytime it gets above 92 degrees if your tstat is set to 75 degrees. It would then be considered normal for the thermostat to raise 1 degree inside for every one degree outside above 92. Yes, you read that right. If it’s 104 outside, your A/C should be sized to […]
06.24.2012
Broken AC or Heatpump Making You Hot?
Just thought I would give you this “blast from our not too distant past” to remind you we did have a few cool days in Atlanta this year! We’re in for some hot, humid weather this week. Just a reminder that at Holtkamp Heating & Air, we can repair all makes and models of HVAC equipment such as Carrier, Lennox, Ruud, Rheem, Amana, Comfortmaker and Armstrong, just to name a few. When it comes to replacement, we always recommend Trane. Although we are headquartered in Gwinnett County (Suwanee), our service area encompasses parts of Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, Hall and Forsyth. Refer us to a friend or coworker and earn up to a $100 Visa gift card!
06.22.2012
Replacing an AC or Heatpump – What You Need to Know
Several times a day, we meet up with customers whose systems need a major repair and they are faced with the important decision of “repair or replace”. In today’s economic climate, it makes sense to carefully calculate the pluses and minuses of replacing an HVAC system. With that in mind, here are a few guidelines to enable you to get the cooling facts without the hype. 1) Consider the savings in energy costs. Having accurate records of past utility usage will help in determining if replacing your system before it breaks down permanently is a good choice. The savings you realize in energy costs may justify an earlier replacement and make you more comfortable at the same time. All our Comfort Consultants are trained to help you compute this savings; just ask! 2) Bigger is not better. A bigger AC or heatpump doesn’t mean you’ll be cooler. An oversized system kicks on and off frequently and doesn’t remove adequate moisture from the air, leaving your house cold and damp. An oversized system also has a greatly reduced lifespan, meaning you’ll be back replacing the system sooner. A properly sized system keeps a comfortable indoor environment with the proper humidity level, around 30-40%. Your […]
06.18.2012
Is Your Ceiling Fan Really Cooling You Down?
This should be an open and shut case, right? You’re feeling hot in the scorching Atlanta summer, you’re sensitive to your electricity usage and so you flip on the ceiling fan. Instant, cheap coolness, right? Not so fast. While it’s true that the moisture on you skin will evaporate and help you feel cooler with circulating air, there are a few points to consider when deciding if this is truly an efficient way to cool your home. 1) How high are your ceilings? If you have standard 8 or 9 foot ceilings, then yes, circulating the air will help you feel cooler and not significantly raise your energy usage. However, if you have vaulted ceilings, you will actually be increasing your energy usage. Why? Heat rises and cool air falls. This creates a natural band of cooler air at the bottom of your rooms. If you turn on a ceiling fan and disturb this layer, you will actually be cooling EVERY square inch of air in your room, not just the cool band where you live. The consequences? Higher, more uncomfortable temps and higher electricity bills. Best to leave the ceiling fan off in this instance. 2) On a porch, […]
05.19.2012
Hot Weather Tips for Keeping Comfort High, Bills Low
Was priviledged last week to speak with Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She was interested in sharing tips with her readers on how to beat the heat this summer. Click here to read the full story!
