Archive for the ‘Saving Energy’ Category
06.11.2020
7 Tips to Help Your Home Beat the Summer Heat
While Coronavirus has had quite an impact on our community, one of the silver linings has been spending more time with your family at home. With summer temperatures heating up, these 7 top home cooling tips will help boost your comfort and energy savings. 1. Keep Cool Air Flowing Be sure your air vents and returns aren’t blocked by couches, tables, curtains or other obstructions. Your home’s HVAC system was designed to allow for maximum air flow, and covering the vents prevents proper cooling of your rooms. 2. Consider Different Ways to Cook Keep your home more comfortable by firing up the grill instead of heating up your oven or cooking on the stove. The longer days and beautiful evening weather makes outdoor cooking a breeze. Cooking in an Instant Pot also cuts down on residual heat in your home. Check our Smart Living posts for many tasty family recipes, including some flavorful Instant Pot dishes. 3. Manage Your Windows Keeping your blinds, drapes, shutters or shades closed during the peak heat of the day (mid to late-afternoon) will help keep your home cool, especially for south-facing windows. 4. Regularly Change Your Filter The easiest thing you can do to […]
02.03.2017
Grade Your Home’s Efficiency with a Free Home Energy Audit
Do you know your home’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to energy efficiency? Have there been nagging comfort issues like hot or cold rooms, dry skin and nose bleeds, or astronomical energy bills? Now you can grade your home’s performance with a Home Energy Efficiency Audit performed by one of our friendly BPI certified analysts. This audit will empower you with peace of mind for areas of strength and identify any areas you may potentially need to address. The best part? A Home Energy Audit is typically $178. However, throughout the month of February, 2017, we’re offering these audits *free* of charge to the first 20 homeowners that contact us! Since this is the month for Valentine’s Day, we definitely wanted to show our love for all of you in the community. Imagine an experienced Holtkamp Heating & Air expert carefully: Testing the “tightness” of your home by performing a “blower door test” Testing all ductwork for tightness Identifying any sources of dust Locating all sources of major air leakage Checking humidity levels throughout home Additionally, you’ll be able to pose any HVAC questions you may have from HVAC filter recommendations to Carbon Monoxide monitors, insulation questions, hot/cold rooms (like sunrooms or additions), thermostat advice and more. How […]
08.12.2016
Choosing Modern Light Bulbs 101: CFL or LED
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since we built our “new old house”. When we embarked upon the task of building a home which looked old but was the model of energy efficiency, we knew we would have several challenges blending the home’s greek revival architecture with the comforts of the 21st century. One area Matthew and I spent countless hours “discussing” was the lighting. I wanted fixtures which looked at home in the space; he wanted the newest technology which meant ‘compact fluorescent’ light bulbs. The lighting gods must have smiled on me because after hours of research, I located manufacturers of “gasolier lighting” that would accommodate a normal size light bulb. Now Matthew needed to show me that CFLs weren’t going to turn my antebellum home into a painful shopping mall fluorescent fiasco. After several trial runs choosing bulbs, we were able to outfit the entire home with CFLs and in our estimation, it has saved us many hundreds of dollars in electricity, not to mention the fact that most of the original bulbs are still alive and kicking. The choices back in 2006 are laughable compared to what is available ten years later. Take a walk with me down […]
06.21.2016
Why You Should Avoid HVAC Duct Cleaning Scams
If you think you’re experiencing poor indoor air quality, you might be suffering from leaky ducts. What are the key symptoms? • Your system isn’t performing effectively. Did you know that the average home’s ductwork leaks a whopping 30% of it’s conditioned air into attics, basements and crawlspaces? You could be spending 1/3 of your energy bills cooling air that never makes it into your living spaces! • Irritants or smells are present. If smelly irritants like insulation, wood dust, mold spores and pest droppings from attics and basements are present, your leaky ducts are continually recirculating them throughout your home. Not only are these unpleasant, but they are also unhealthy. • Your family’s allergies are worsening. If members of your family are experiencing worsening symptoms including coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes and more, your HVAC system and its leaky ducts could be contributing to their discomfort. Duct Cleaning vs. Duct Sealing You might see lots of coupons and mailers from companies claiming to “clean” or “vacuum” your ductwork at low prices. However, if dust, allergens and contaminants made it into your ductwork in the first place, won’t they come back if your ducts aren’t properly sealed? If you invest in this temporary fix, the […]
05.17.2016
HVAC Filters 101: All Your Questions Answered
If there’s one thing we get questions about all the time, it’s air filters for air conditioning systems. These questions typically include: How often should I change my filter? Where is my filter located? Which type of filter should I buy? Will an expensive filter improve my indoor air quality? Our answers will save you time and money! How Often Should I Change My HVAC Filter? We recommend you change your HVAC filter every 30-60 days for optimal performance. If you have a pet, especially one that sheds a lot, keep it closer to every 30 days especially during the heavy use months in summer and winter. A visual inspection of your filter after 30 days will help you determine if it’s time for a switch. A filter with thick, clogged dust and debris is a clear indicator that your A/C system needs a fresh replacement! Where is My Filter Located? Your A/C and furnace filters could be in a variety of places, including on walls, ceilings or floors of hallways or rooms, or even within the HVAC system itself. Contact us and we can help determine all of your filter locations on a service visit to make sure you’re changing them in all the right places. […]
04.19.2016
Enjoy HVAC Rebates from Georgia Power, Jackson EMC & the Federal Government
As you reflect on Tax Day are you wishing you had taken advantage of more ways to save? Enjoy these specific savings on qualifying HVAC systems now and you can cash in on some fantastic credits and rebates that will soon put more power in your wallet! Federal Tax Credits A number of tax credits for residential energy efficiency have been renewed. These tax credits are available for purchases made in 2016, as well as retroactive to purchases made in 2015. ENERGY STAR products eligible for tax credits are independently certified to save energy, save money and protect the environment. Use up to 30% less energy in your home by outfitting it with ENERGY STAR products available across more than 70 categories. Get up to a $500 tax credit if your purchase or purchased certain types of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems or make other energy-related improvements to your home between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016. Expires: December 31, 2016 Georgia Power Rebates Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program can help their customers with benefits including: Get up to a $550 rebate when switching to an energy efficient heat pump Get up to a $400 rebate when you have a Duct and Envelope […]
09.01.2015
5 Benefits of Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners
Do you have an odd room in your house that’s always a different temperature than the rest of your home? From sunrooms to basements, perhaps your existing air conditioner or furnace isn’t providing a consistent level of comfort. Fortunately, we have a simple solution for your frustration: ductless, wall-mounted air conditioning units, also known as “mini splits.” These slim profile indoor units attach to an outdoor unit through a small 3″ hole for power and refrigerant lines. Just one outdoor unit can power up to 8 individual indoor units throughout your home or office. While they might be small in size, they pack a very powerful punch when it comes to additional comfort and energy savings. Watch this video to learn more: Here are 5 benefits of adding a ductless mini split to your home: 1) Instant Comfort in Odd Rooms You can finally enjoy spending time in your home office, sunroom, addition or any room that has typically been difficult to heat or cool. These systems can also be used to offset heat generated from computers, printers and other electronics. Perfect for a home office! 2) Incredibly Quiet Performance You won’t believe how whisper quiet these mini splits are […]
04.08.2015
3 Ways to Win the War against Pollen!
It’s officially pollen season. The azaleas are in full bloom, the dogwoods are simply beautiful… and that dreaded yellow pollen cloud is everywhere. Your car is covered, your home is covered, and with these great tips and tricks to deal with all that pollen, your friends at Holtkamp Heating & Air have you covered! 1) Follow these Simple Tips for Dealing with Pollen Check the pollen count in your area daily, using online tools like this one from The Weather Channel. Keep your doors and windows closed, especially when pollen counts are high. The comfortable temperatures might be tempting, but closing those doors and windows allows you to use your filtered air conditioning system instead. Set the A/C in your car to recirculate, rather than bringing in fresh air full of pollen. Most plants pollinate between 5AM-9PM. If you like going for a walk with your family or pet, be sure to do it in the evening. Your pets become pollen vehicles this time of year, transporting it into your home. When they’ve been outside, use a damp towel or dish cloth to wipe them down. Dry, windy days stir up more pollen. The best time to enjoy outdoor activities […]
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, […]
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 […]
