10 Ways to Conserve Energy this Spring

Along with spring HVAC preventative maintenance and service, there are a few other ways to cut your power bill and save some energy. As the days begin to warm up, you can remain cool, calm, and collected knowing that rising temperatures will not be affecting your budget. Listed below are ten ways to help you conserve energy.

Ten Energy Conservation Tips

1. Unplug unused power cords. Did you know that leaving your laptop cord or even your cell phone charger in the socket wastes a sufficient amount of energy? Even though your electronic device may not be receiving a charge, that doesn't necessarily mean that the cord is not exerting a charge. Let your charger rest, unplug it when it is not being used.
2. Adjust your Refrigerator and Freezer Settings. Does the food in the back of your fridge sometimes become too cold or too frozen over time? You may have your refrigerator set to a lower setting. Turning up the heat a notch or two will still preserve your food but will spare your wallet.
3. Unblock ventilation. Have you taken a look around at your vents recently? Are they blocked by the hamper? By the couch? This obstruction prevents air flow and circulation. Moving objects and items helps maintain a comfortable temperature level in your home.
4. Cool the water heater. If you’re not particularly a fan of your faucet’s hottest water setting, there is a solution. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save an average of $2 a month by reducing your hot water heater’s temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees.
5. Turn off the lights. Perhaps the most common way of saving energy calls for less lighting. The usual advice is to turn off all the lights when you leave the house. But are you really using your bathroom light while you are in the living room? Turning off the lights in rooms of the house you aren’t currently using also helps to conserve energy.
6. Choose products that save. When you buy new light bulbs or a new shower head, you have the option of purchasing an energy saving product. Although these products may be the least cost effective in the moment, they provide long term savings.
7. Check your insulation. If your ducts, windows, and doors are not properly insulated, you could be constantly losing heat. Be sure to check that everything is sealed off and reduce your air leakage.
8. Use your dishwasher. Surprisingly, your dishwasher uses less energy than hand washing. So give yourself and your house a break, run the dishwasher.
9. Do not over dry your clothes. Many dryers have an auto sensor function. Line dryer your clothes when possible or set your dryer to this function to prevent clothing over drying and potential shrinkage.
10. Eliminate costs during peak seasons. The myth is true; power companies will charge you more money during peak seasons and peak hours. Requesting an energy saving pamphlet from your power company will help you reduce your costs. These pamphlets are often provided free of charge. They list even more ways to save energy.

Activity listings in Boise, Idaho

Let’s face it, many Boise locals go into a state of hibernation during the winter months. The outside temperatures aren’t the most comfortable and Boise Weekly’s event calendar lists fewer ongoing functions at this time. But with the beginning of April comes the sun, maybe a smile or two, and activities! You no longer have to wait to hear where to go in Boise and how to spend your time. Searching for these activities is now a thing of the past. 

6 Resources for Boise Events

Compiled below are sites that list daily and weekly events around town.  

 http://www.boiseevents.net/

http://www.boise.org/EventSearch.aspx

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/eventsearch

http://events.idahostatesman.com/search?city=Boise&st=event&swhat=&swhen=

http://events.ktvb.com/default.aspx?ct=r&type=21309,144061490

http://www.downtownboise.org/index.cfm/calendar_of_events

some steals and deals

Below are some amazing steals and deals, that may not be around for long, so get them while they are available.

http://www.groupon.com/browse/boise?lat=43.6187102&lng=-116.21460680000001&address=Boise,+ID,+USA&locale=en_US

https://www.livingsocial.com/cities/102-boise

http://local.amazon.com/boise

Spring Coil Cleaning HVAC Maintenance

Spring has officially sprung! For your HVAC equipment, this means coil cleaning. During the spring maintenance, your HVAC Technician will pay extra special attention to both condenser and evaporator coils.
Condenser coils are typically located on the outside of the unit/structure, while the evaporator coils remain inside. However, both types of coils can be used in heating and cooling systems, helping transfer the flow of energy to the unit efficiently and effectively.

 Here, at Total System Services, we know where there are coils, there’s debris. Coils are exposed to the elements and collect everything from grass to dirt to cotton to dust.
Dirty coils block heat flow. They reduce cooling capacity and increase power expenses, spiking up that power bill. If left untreated, they also can become infested with mildew and present a threat to the functionality of the compressor.

Cleaning and washing coils prevent corrosion and aid in effectual air circulation. Your HVAC technician knows that your system is much like a jigsaw puzzle. Technicians are trained to remove each part, clean it with the proper sanitizing solution, and carefully put in back into its place. TSS Technicians come equipped with brushes, chemical coil cleaners, and hand held spray pumps. They utilize their tools and HVAC knowledge in each step of this process.

In addition to cleaning your coils until they are spotless, our Technicians will check all of the coil’s and unit’s electrical connections. They will ensure that the wiring and contactors are working correctly, aiming to identify potential problems.
We are prepped and ready for the upcoming cooling season, are you?

Spring Fitness Challenge

Total System Services, together with One Hour Heating and Air, is implementing a fitness challenge for April, May, and June. During these three months, the goal is to exercise at least ten hours a month. However, the principal objective here is to promote the benefits of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. In attempt to boost morale and highlight the advantages to this challenge, I have listed some diet and fitness facts below. So read on and happy exercising!

Twenty Fitness Tips for the Spring Fitness Challenge

1. Green Tea helps eliminate bad breath. It also curbs your appetite.
2. Ten minutes of skin to skin contact (think hugging and hand holding) can keep blood pressure from spiking under stress.
3. The more fresh foods you consume, the healthier you will be. Preservatives and chemicals deteriorate the human body.
4. Exercise boosts your immune system.
5. Snacking is important. It helps keep your metabolism up, burning the calories you consume.
6. Skipping breakfast is more likely to cause weight gain than weight loss.
7. The Mayo Clinic suggests adults get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Sleep improves mood and productivity, which both help in bettering your fitness routine.
8. Twenty minutes of aerobic exercise, at least three times a week, greatly reduces your risk of　 health related issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
9. Adding even a little movement to your daily routine can increase your level of fitness.
10. Walking at a brisk pace, burns almost as many calories as jogging.
11. If you sleep less, you crave junk food, if you sleep more, you crave more sleep.
12. Chocolate is high in fiber and helps in digestion.
13. Laughter helps destroy viruses and tumor cells.
14. Apples are more efficient at waking you up in the morning than caffeine.
15. Diet Soda destroys tooth enamel as much as meth and crack cocaine.
16. Staying up all night will cause your body to burn an extra 161 calories, however, the average person burns 720 calories by sleeping (during an 8 hour sleep cycle).
17. Remember to breathe! The only time you should be holding your breath during exercise is if you are swimming.
18. Doctors recommend adults drink 9-13 cups of water a day. Drinking water helps the body flush out harmful toxins and, of course, prevents dehydration.
19. Relax! No matter how much you diet and exercise. The number one factor in illness is stress. Stress causes or complicates 90% of all diseases.
20. Everyone knows exercise increases endorphins making people everywhere happy. But did you know, kissing does as well? Not only does it burn a few calories, but it also releases serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.

Be Prepared for Spring Commercial HVAC System Problems

This winter has been a difficult one in Boise, Idaho, placing a much higher demand on commercial HVAC systems than in a typical year. While commercial HVAC units are usually quite reliable, after a season like this one, problems may occur. The best strategy is to prevent any foreseeable problems with proper maintenance.

 While some of these problems can be quite small and considered DIY, for more complex issues, call a certified technician.

 A certified commercial HVAC technician can be called because a system is no longer providing heating or cooling, but also for routine maintenance. The following are the most common issues checked by an HVAC professional:

• A worn contactor – A unit contains three different contactors.  One for the blower motor, one for the condenser fan motor, and one for the compressor.  Their engagement is required for making an electrical connection; cooling or heating as it starts the motors and the compressor.  Pitting and arcing can form on these contactors, making it more difficult for the electrical current to flow through and start the necessary motor.
  
• A blown fuse – The purpose of a fuse is to provide protection against the risk of overheating for the compressor or motor within the unit.
  
• The gas valve – This provides the flow of gas from the line into the unit. It is required only when the system is being used for heating.
  
• Capacitors – There are two types of capacitors: the run capacitor and the start capacitor.  If either of these burn out, they must be replaced or the system will not operate properly.
  
• Filters – Clogged or dirty filters can reduce the air flow to the unit, causing it to freeze.  Filters need to be changed if light does not pass through them when they are held up to a light source.
  
• Thermostat – Often, the only problem is a thermostat. These can be accidentally turned off or left on the wrong setting.
  
• A leak of refrigerant – Leaks of refrigerant in the evaporator coils or condenser coils are repairable.  The technician is able to remove what is left of the refrigerant, make necessary welds, then recharge the unit to the correct refrigerant level.
  
• Drain lines – Algae and dirt commonly clog drain lines, causing the drain pan to fill and overflow, leading to water damage.
  
• Compressor – This is the very core of the air conditioning part of the unit.  Without enough refrigerant, the compressor could seize up from overheating. If there is too much refrigerant, the liquid could travel back into the compressor, leading to liquid slugging.
  
• Condenser coil – These require a cleaning at least once per year. Condenser coils are located outside the unit and are exposed to the elements, leaving them dirty. A very dirty condenser coil requires a thorough cleaning with a chemical cleaning agent by a certified technician.
  
• Evaporator coil – Depending on the system, the evaporator coil may be located outside with the rest of the unit or in the attic.  When it is located inside, a cleaning is required only once every three years. If the evaporator coil cracks, the breakage must be repaired by a professional.

Be prepared for preventable problems that may occur with a commercial HVAC unit. Regular maintenance ensures that the commercial system is running efficiently. Experts suggest scheduling maintenance anywhere from one to four times a year, depending on the type and age of the system. Know a good technician and keep his number where you can easily find it.

How to Prevent a Failed Blower Motor

Here comes those darn little $3-7.00 filters again!  What is one of the main causes of your furnace and/or a/c blower motor failing?  Dirty and clogged filters!  Failing to replace an inexpensive filter may cause your blower motor to overheat and/or fail, and it will cause the motor to work harder - we all want hard workers, but in this case the harder your motor has to work, the sooner it will croak!  And what happens when it croaks?  You send it to the motor graveyard, then call a good HVAC firm and pay up to $300.00 to have it replaced - all because of that #&*#@ $3-7.00 air filter.

Sooooo.....as discussed in our last air filter post, make sure you change those filters on a consistent basis, at least twice per year, and for those of you with allergies I always recommend once per month (cheaper than my allergy doctor!).

Here are some examples of dirty vs. clean filters (notice the truck in the background):

oops, waited a little too long on this one...

How Often do You Change Your Air Filters?

The air filter pictured below was recently removed from a business that was under going construction, and we just replaced this filter last month.  So if you are not undergoing construction, you probably don't need to change your air filter but once every quarter.

Factors that influence how often you should change your air filter

1. If you live out in the country, and it is not the middle of Spring when pollen counts are up, you probably can get away with checking it quarterly. 
2. If like the business whose HVAC system we were replacing, are undergoing construction which involves a lot of dust, you might want to check it more often. 
3. Pets with lots of dander, means you need to replace your air filter more often.
4. If you live near a road with lots of traffic, you might want to check it more often.
5. The type of filter you are installing. Each filter is different, read the packaging material.

How do you remember when to change your air filter?

You can always add it to your calendar on your phone. But the easiest way to remember to change it is to get us to do it for you. Contact us to find out about our HVAC maintenance plans.

Go check your air filter Now!

So go ahead, go check your system's air filter, and hey, why don't you connect with us on Facebook, and share a pic of your dirty air filter with us.