Tips for using your Air Conditioner Efficiently

Summer is approaching and it is time to start thinking about how you’re going to stay cool over the summer months. These tips can help you save money and energy without sacrificing cool comfort.

• Turn the AC off or up to a higher temperature when you are away. It's a myth that it takes less energy to run the AC all day versus leaving it off and turning it on when you get home. With the AC running, it's constantly cooling your home, making it a heat magnet. More heat gets into your house and the AC has to remove that heat, over and over again. If you leave the AC off, then the house will heat up during the day and then stop heating up. When you get home and turn on the AC, it has less total heat to remove than if it had been running all day.

• Consider replacing an older air conditioner with an Energy Star rated air conditioner. They use up to 25% less energy!

• Use drapes or blinds to block out sunlight. Direct sunlight can raise the temperature of a room drastically.

• Use a smart thermostat to save energy by increasing the heat significantly during the day when the house is empty. A smart thermostat will learn your schedule and can save you significant money and energy. 

Essential Water Heater FAQs

Hot water is essential in keeping your family and home comfortable, but how often do we stop to consider the source of our hot water? Your water heater is tucked away, out of sight in the basement, and it works hard to keep the hot water flowing. Despite how often we use it, we don't spend much time thinking about our water heaters until something goes wrong. The following blog is written to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about water heaters, including what to do if something goes wrong. 

How do I know if there is a problem?

If you notice that you don't have hot water, or that it is running out very quickly, it is time to have the water heater serviced and maintained. When you rent from National Home Services, this services is included in your rental fees. Thats right, all parts and labour are included, so you get this repair service for no additional charge. If you own your water heater, you'll need to locate your own licensed and trained technician to service the tank and pay out of pocket. 

My water heater has been exposed to flooding. Is it OK to keep using it?

The AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute)  and other national and governmental agencies, recommend  that any water heater subject to flooding must be replaced. Today’s high efficiency water heaters, utilizing sophisticated solid state controllers and components can experience unseen damage to these components, exposed and concealed wiring connectors and insulations that may not manifest itself immediately. The exposure places the safety features along with operational and structural characteristics at risk, therefore requiring replacement. 

How often should I replace the water heater?

An older water heater can be less energy efficient than a new unit. Contact your rental company or a contractor to have a water heater evaluation completed. A hot water heater needs to be replaced about once every 10 years. To get the most out of your system, annual maintenance is important. 

During these annual service visits, basic cleaning and maintenance is done to replace worn out parts and check for any looming problems with your water heater that may require replacement in the near or immediate future.

If your question is not answered here, take a look at some more informative posts below, or contact us at nationalhomeservices.ca. 

Types of Water Heaters
Renting your Water Heater
How Clean is Your Water? 
Why Choose an ENERGY STAR qualified water heater? 

Spring Energy Saving Tips

Here are some tips to help you save energy during the spring when the weather warms up. Check out these simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the spring and summer.

Keep your cooling system running efficiently 

• Schedule regular maintenance for your cooling equipment.
• Vacuum registers regularly to remove any dust buildup. Ensure that furniture and other objects are not blocking the airflow through your registers.

Take advantage of your windows to cool air and keep out heat. 

• At night, turn off your cooling system and open your windows. When you wake in the morning, shut the windows and blinds to capture the cool air.
• Install window coverings to prevent heat gain through your windows and close them on sunny days.

Operate your thermostat efficiently 

• Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
• Keep your house warmer than normal when you are away, and only lower the thermostat setting when you are at home and need cooling. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.
• Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.

Use fans to distribute cool air

• If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting with no reduction in comfort.
• Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Remember that fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
• When you shower or take a bath, use the bathroom fan to remove the heat and humidity from your home. 

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is almost here! Sunday May 11 marks a time to celebrate all the special women in our lives who help us grow and prosper.

Here are some tips for a traditional Mother’s Day celebration that is still green and eco-friendly.

• Take Mom out to a restaurant that embraces local and organic ingredients. If you are having trouble finding one, look on Eat Well guide, an online directory of restaurants, markets and stores that support sustainable agriculture.

• A beautiful potted plant gives years of enjoyment versus cut flowers which are thrown away quickly. Bonus points if you pick up seedlings at a nursery and spend the day gardening with your mom. Time spent together can be the best gift of all

• Book a treatment at an ecofriendly spa. Mother’s Day is a great time to pamper mom at a sustainable spa that uses organic, chemical-free products.

• Homemade cards are always a hit. Make her a gift and show her you care! 

• Jewelry is a thoughtful gift for any mom. There are a plethora of eco-friendly jewelry options out there, with many new companies creating products whose proceeds go to charity as well. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of our readers!

Getting Around Green

Transportation accounts for almost 25% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

What can we do to reduce that amount? Here are some transportation tips to reduce your carbon footprint:

Walk or Bike to Work

Consider Carpooling

Take Public Transit

Try a more efficient car, such as an electric vehicle

If it is not possible to change your method of transportation, try to offset your carbon footprint by living green in other aspects of your life. National Home Services strives to help our customers reduce their carbon footprint by upgrading their home equipment to energy efficient models.

On average, the installation of a new energy efficient water heater results in a reduction of 5.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents over the life of the equipment.

That means every water heater has the same effect as taking 1.5 cars off the road for a year! Do what you can and show your commitment to a cleaner, greener planet!

Earth Day 2014

Today is Earth Day! 

Celebrated every year on April 22, Earth Day is the largest environmental event in the world. More than 6 million Canadians participate in an Earth Day activity in their communities. Learn more about activities in your community at earthday.ca

5 Green Actions to reduce your impact on the environment

1. Simple Household Savers – Replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs. Use aerators on faucets.
2. Washing and Drying – Only wash full loads of clothes and use cold water. Hang to air dry.
3. Clean Green – Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products with ingredients such as vinegar or baking soda.
4. Food Choices – Choose local organic foods that are in season. What is in season in Ontario in the spring? Look for fresh local apples, cherries, strawberries, asparagus, cabbage, cucumbers, fiddleheads, radishes and spinach.
5. Donate and Recycle – Think carefully before throwing items in the trash. Consider donating or recycling. Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries and electronics should be taken to a local hazardous waste depot.

Home Spring Cleaning Checklist

It is spring-cleaning season! Read through our checklist for tips on areas to clean and maintain inside your home. Scroll to the bottom of the post for a free printable spring-cleaning checklist.

General Home Interior

• Use a duster or a vacuum to wipe down walls, and clean your trims and mouldings.
• Clean, vacuum and dust your curtains, rugs and upholstered furniture. Consider swapping out your heavy winter fabrics for lighter summer materials.
•  In the kitchen, use warm water and a mild detergent to wash down cabinets, back-splashes and appliances.
• In the bathroom, scrub off soap residue, mold and mildew from all surfaces with an antibacterial cleaner.

Windows

•  Clean your window treatments. Most curtains are machine washable and blinds can be wiped down with a damp cloth. 
• Take your window screens out of storage and wash before installing.
• Remove winter grime from your windows inside and out with a hot water and vinegar cleaning mix. 
• Don’t forget to wipe down the window frames as well for a sparkling clean view outside.  

Appliance Maintenance

• Change the batteries in your smoke detector, and make sure units are free from dust.
• Clean your refrigerator coils. Turn off the power to your refrigerator first and use your vacuum or a fridge coil brush to get rid of accumulated dust.
•  If you have a fireplace, clean out the flue and the base after the heating season is over.
• Change the filter on your HVAC system to keep the air flowing.

Download the image to print your own checklist!