It’s Doggone Hot!

Summer officially starts on June 21st and you know what that means? You’ll have your air conditioner running non-stop to combat those sweltering temperatures we all know and love.  You may be able to stay cool inside, but what about your furry family members?  

 

Dogs can’t sweat like humans can, which is why you see dogs panting so much when it’s hot out or they’ve been exercising.  Panting helps water droplets evaporate off of their tongue and their lungs, which helps cool them significantly.  They do have sweat glands on the bottoms of their feet, which is a relatively small area compared to that of people and does not provide much cooling support.

 

Life Saving Tips

1. Give them plenty of fresh water.  This seems like a no-brainer, but the amount of water a dog normally drinks and what s(he) drinks when it’s hot out are vastly different.  It’s better to give a dog more water than they’ll drink than have them go thirsty.

2.  Provide them with a shelter from the sun.  Dogs need shade, whether it’s a big tree, under a deck, or their own personal doghouse.  It’s nearly always cooler in the shade and a very simple way to keep your best friend a little more comfortable.  

3.  Wear sunscreen.  I know it sounds silly, but dogs benefit from sunscreen just as much as we do.  Lighter colored and/or short furred animals can burn very easily, so it’s best to talk with your vet about recommending a sunscreen for the

ir nose and ears. 

4.  Limit outside time. If it is possible, try to keep dogs inside as much as possible during the hottest times of the day.  If the dogs must stay outside, please follow my tips above.

For more tips and tricks you can check out our Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and website.

Why won’t my air conditioner quit running?

It’s not quite summer but we are already dealing with summer temperatures.  This means you likely have your air conditioner running to beat the heat…but what if it isn’t shutting off?  If your unit isn’t taking breaks there is likely a problem deeper than “it’s hot outside.”  It could be something small that’s a quick and easy fix or require a service call.  Below are a couple of possible options on why it is running nonstop.

It is possible that you have your thermostat set incorrectly.  How low do you have it currently set?  You may have it set too low that realistically the temperature cannot cool down that much so it’ll constantly run to try to catch up.  Are you trying to run it on 50 degrees because it’s 85 in the room?  Don’t feel bad, I’ve done it too.  Try turning your thermostat up just a few degrees to see if things start functioning properly.

It that doesn’t help…

The compressor may have issues that need to be addressed.  It could be an issue with refrigerant leaking, needing a good cleaning or requires replacement parts.  Your absolute best bet would be to have a technician come out and take a look to make sure the problem is resolved the first time around.  Routine maintenance on your unit is recommended, anyway, so why wait for a problem to arise when you can nip it in the bud?  If you’re confident in your abilities you can try to clean it yourself first to see if that helps.

If none of these solutions help, it may be time for a new unit.  We can help with that and the routine maintenance you should be doing anyway. For more information you can check out our website.  You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Pests Everywhere!

Summer is a time for family fun with outdoor activities such as picnics and grilling.  However, it’s also the time of year where pests are out in full force and can become a nuisance, from ants crawling in through a crack in your foundation to raccoons scavenging through your trash.  As cute as some of the pests are (here’s looking at you, squirrels), the moment they become an annoyance they have to be gotten rid of.

Our Furry Friends 

Squirrels are playful creatures who love you if you have snacks for them, but will then give you a headache when they move into your attic.  Usually they get into your home by a gnawing on a soft spot in the roof or side of the house.  They enjoy the warm, dry air that your attic provides but obviously you do not enjoy their company.  Squirrels are most active during the day, so in order to evict these critters, you’ll have to take action during daylight hours.  You will have to cover/patch the hole that is their entryway and hope they don’t try to move back in.  If they are persistent you may have to get an exterminator out to tell them it’s time to go.

Raccoons, on the other hand, enjoy getting into any sort of goodies left on or near the ground.  There isn’t a real way to completely banish them from your yard, but you have to figure out what is tempting them and take away or reduce that stimulus.  Garbage cans are a buffet for these masked bandits and probably the cause of the most aggravation.  In order to keep raccoons out of your garbage, you will either have to keep your cans in the garage until trash day or find a way to keep them closed and secure (heavy items on top, bungee cords, etc.) 

Creepy Crawlers

Ants are everywhere, unfortunately, and are definitely some of the most annoying insects out there.  They are so small and in such great abundance that the line of them seems never ending.  There isn’t a lot you can do when ants are crawling in your potato salad on a picnic, but there are a few ways to prevent and defend them in your home.  Ensure there aren’t any cracks in your foundation and if there are, seal them with caulk.  Ants also tend to like vegetation and are less likely to invade your home if you have gravel or stones around your foundation.  If they do get in, there are always sprays you can buy or you can try a homemade remedy.  Spraying a mixture of water and dish soap kills and prevents ants, as does sprinkling cayenne pepper (who knows why, but these things do work!)

Termites aren’t quite as easy to get rid of once you have them.  One sure fire way to know if there are termites around is to locate their dirt tunnels outside.  You can stomp the tunnels down to help slow them down, but termites are determined creatures and if they want in, they will get in.  Termites look for soft wood and easy ways to get in and unfortunately a lot of times you won’t know you have been infested until too late.  Unfortunately it is difficult for homeowners to treat termites, so experts do have to be brought in most of the time.  

If you have any questions you can Email Us.  You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Fan ON, Fan OFF. The tale behind the elusive switch.

How often do you use the fan on your thermostat? Most people, myself included before I started working in the HVAC industry, don’t really know why this feature is separate on your unit. We’re going to cover some basics on its purpose and how it affects your families comfort.

The purpose of the fan is to continually keep air in your home circulating. It is automatically kicked on if the temperature in your house exceeds or drops below the current temperature that you have set. The fan will only turn on in these situations if you have it set to ‘AUTO.’ When you leave it set at the ‘ON’ position it will no longer cut off after your home temperature falls into your set range.

Is there a reason you would want to run your fan all day? Yes, many homes suffer from areas that never reach the desired temperature range. We all have the one cold bedroom right? Leaving the fan ‘ON’ will help to circulate the air and bring these areas into a more comfortable zone. Be aware that running the fan continuously will increase your utility bill. If you have a variable speed blower, it will increase it, but not by as much.

On the downside, in addition to higher bills, is that humidity control is not as easily attained. Because of the way the air conditioners cycle, your home can see a significant increase in the humidity levels. With increased humidity comes a less than desirable family environment as well as the potential for mold and bacteria growth.

Maintaining a comfortable home environment is key to a happy family. If you have questions or feel that your current home HVAC system is not up to par, let the Beloman do the work. You can find us on Facebook & Twitter.

Ice on your A/C unit?

Are you enjoying the transition into summer heat from the semi warm and wet spring? Well that depends on if your air conditioner is running or not. This week Bel-O has had an overflow of A/C calls that we are working all day to get through.  One of the more common problems that we hear is that a customers A/C is frozen and there is no cold air coming out. Well, here is why that happens. 

This is what a frozen A/C unit looks like.

My air conditioning unit has ice on it but there is no cold air coming from there registers. What should I Do?

First, make sure you call your contractor to have them come inspect the unit. Most companies offer a annual maintenance package that will offer this service.

When an air conditioner freezes up it can generally be traced back to the filter (this is where routine annual maintenance practices will save you). Your filter collects dust and debris all year long and since the cold air has no where to go it freezes up. Turn the fan on to help the ice melt. A technician is unable to work on a unit that is still a block of ice. 

If you filter is clean, the freon levels need to be checked to see if your unit is running low. A small leak can cause a noticeable drop here. This will require having the Beloman come out to diagnose the problem and get you back into a comfortable home in no time. 

Those are the most basic of reasons for your A/C unit to freeze up. Granted problems with condensers, fans, etc may also contribute to why your unit is not working. If the problem isn’t obvious, ask a professional. We are in this professional to make sure you maintain a comfortable lifestyle. 

As we encounter more A/C questions, we will continue to post the most popular. If you have a question you want answered, Email us! You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest. 

 

 

Beat the heat!

Summer heat is on it’s way. 

In cooperation with mother nature we were able to continue completing air conditioner service calls. The heat is not unbearable just yet, but the humidity levels are surely uncomfortable. Heat poses more risks than many people may think. On average, heat related deaths account for 684 people annually according to usa.gov. To help keep our customers safe, here are some tips to stay safe this summer. 

Stay cool, stay alive. 
1. Take it easy during the hottest times of the day. Check the weather report and find out what time the sun peaks and plan your errands around it. You don’t want to be drenched in sweat while in the waiting room of your doctor either. 

2. Check your medication for side affects including dehydration. These side effects in combination with the heat of the day can prove to be a deadly mix. 

3. Make sure to wear sunscreen. We are just coming out of the bleak winter months. Unless you have been to a tanner, you probably don’t have your base tan yet. UV rays are present even when clouds are widespread, take precautions. 

While these are very very basic tips, it’s amazing how many people forego the warnings and succumb to heat related illnesses. We want our customer to be safe, healthy, and most of all comfortable in their own home. If you A/C needs to be checked, call today! The Beloman will get you back in shape. 

If you would like to be added to our monthly eNewsletter please email us and we can add you. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, & Pintrest. 

AFUE? SEER? What to know when beginning to look for a new HVAC unit.

HVAC systems have come a long way from putting ice in front of a fan to cool and using the fireplace for your heat source. If you are in need for a new system or feel that yours is running a bit on the inefficient side, this article is designed to help give you some basic knowledge to start looking for a new unit. The SEER rating, size, and AFUE are all things that you should have an idea about when you start talking with salesmen.

The first mentioned SEER rating stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The higher the SEER number the more efficient your system will perform. The highest rated SEER 23 system is available, but the government mandate sets the minimum requirement for a SEER 13. If you live in a climate that requires the Air Conditioning unit to run more often, a higher SEER unit maybe recommended.

Why does the size of the unit matter, or did you even know different sizes were available. The size of the unit matters because houses are different sizes. You can’t expect a 3200 sq foot house to be cooled as efficiently with a system designed for a 1200 sq foot house. Your salesman will most likely recommend coming to visit to see what size unit will operate most efficiently. Don’t worry, they are just trying to make sure that you aren’t sold something that won’t work.

The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is a term describing how efficient your furnace will run. The higher the percent AFUE, the less gas that will be wasted. Wasted gas = wasted money. While the higher percentage units do cost more and may require some additional installation costs, their lifetime savings will show you why people are buying them.

With these different terms in mind you can talk with your salesman and feel more educated and able to make a decision that will benefit you best. Knowledge is power, even when purchasing a new HVAC system.

If you have questions or would like to know more information before purchasing your new system, please let us know! Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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