Enjoying a Cool Summer

Tips for Reducing Your Cooling Costs

With summer rapidly nipping at spring’s heels, it’s already warm in many areas, and just beginning to heat up in others.  It’s a given that everyone wants to reduce their heating and cooling costs each year.  Here are some simple tips to help you with cost-savings this summer:

Don’t overlook annual maintenance on your HVAC system. If you have a contract with an AC company or have coverage through a home warranty plan, take advantage of the price of a service call to make sure it is in good, working condition. If you suffered storm damage, then you definitely need to have your system checked out.

Change your filters. There are a few options available when you purchase filters:

• Disposable Panel Air Filters. The cheapest and most commonly used, they consist of a fiberglass filter media that filters only larger particulates.
• Pleated Air Filters. Similar to the Disposable Panel, but the filter media is a fabric-type material with the capability of removing significantly smaller particulates from the air. The pleating provides double the surface area for filtration than unpleated filters.
• Electrostatic Pleated Filters. These are an upgrade from the pleated air filter, with a higher quality filter media material that is electrically charged to act like a magnet, drawing more particulate in for more efficient filtration. And the bonus–this filter does not permit the growth of bacteria, a possibility with other filters.
• Reusable Filters. While this sounds like a good idea, it may not be. These filters are very messy when removed from your HVAC system, and you can easily release many of the captured particulates back into your home. The cleaning products needed to clean them effectively are highly toxic. This chemical gets absorbed into the filter, and some degree of it can be released back into the circulating air, posing a potential health issue.

You’ll find filters that are to be changed monthly or every three months.  Whichever you purchase, be diligent about replacement. To help you remember when to do so, calendar it on your computer or cell phone, or write the date of installation on the outside of the cardboard frame.  When you check it, you’ll know when you last changed it.

• Check all of the seals around your doors and windows. If they are not secure, have them repaired or replaced to stop air leakage.  If you are handy, you can purchase and install foam caulking strips for your doors.
• Remove your AC vents in each room and check to make sure that all of the ductwork leading to the vent is caulked around the edges to prevent air loss into your attic.  This is one of the most overlooked “fixes” and is easily remedied.
• Clean your ducts. If you’ve not ever had this done, perhaps it’s time.  Build-up in your ducts can reduce air flow and make your HVAC system work harder.  Get recommendations from friends and family for a reputable company.
• If you have a lot of south and west facing windows, invest in sunscreens to cut the heat dramatically.  Many utility companies are offering rebates to their customers who install these screens.  Check with your local utility company to see if this is an option.  A less expensive solution is to invest in black-out curtains to significantly reduce the heat in those rooms.  Remove them during winter months when you DO want the sun’s warmth.
• Upgrade your thermostats. If you have an older home, a simple upgrade of your thermostats might also make a noticeable difference in your costs.  Older thermostats can wear out and lose their ability to properly regulate heating and cooling in your home.  There are many efficient thermostats, from automatic to programmable. That alone could be a lengthy discussion!  When you research which is best for your home and your needs, you’ll find that there are five types: digital, electromechanical, hybrid, occupancy, and light sensing.
• For homes that have evaporative coolers in addition to AC, regular maintenance on this system is equally important.  Now is the time to replace or clean those pads, and check the water pump.  Here is a tip to keep you from burning up your pump motor (speaking, sadly, from experience!).  Before turning on your pump, unplug it, and make sure you can spin the shaft freely without obstruction.  If it spins, you’re good to go.  If it does not, you may have calcium build-up, which will need to be cleaned off.

Keeping all systems in your house in good working order will ensure efficient operation and help reduce your energy usage.  Here’s to enjoying a cool summer without sweating the cost!

Not up to doing this energy saving checklist of things yourself? Check out our Special Offer for this month and have The Fix-It Professionals take care of all of these items for you in one visit! If you would like help cleaning up, organizing, building of sheds or benches, or other outdoor projects, just ask The Fix-It Professionals.

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Organizing the Outdoors

Storing Need Not Be Boring!

Have you worn yourself out yet with your spring cleaning activities? If you’ve been busy cleaning, planting, and tidying up your patio, you’ve probably realized how badly you need outdoor storage space! It’s so much easier to keep an area clean and manageable when you can hide certain items away…and know they’ll still be handy when you need them!

Depending upon your outdoor space and budget, you might consider building or purchasing a storage shed, a decorative garden bench with storage under the seat, or even a large storage container (such as those manufactured by Rubbermaid, for example), which can also be used as a bench.  These items have become much more appealing and decorative, and can be a lovely addition to your outdoor environment.

If you opt for a storage shed, you will have numerous options in style, material, design and price.  Choose your materials carefully for durability based on your specific climate. Once you’ve determined the appropriate location and installed your shed, you’ll have the ability to add multiple storage shelves and containers for your many needs.

An outdoor storage shed is perfect for:

• garden tools and machinery that need protection from the elements, particularly if you don’t have a garage or covered carport
• a planting/potting area, if you have a workbench or work table, where you can pot all of your plants without stooping
• working on craft projects and storing all of your supplies
• use as a small workshop for smaller projects and tools
• just plain old storage space for items that won’t fit in your home!

If a workspace/workshop is your intent, make sure you’ve planned for electricity to the unit.

For simpler and less expensive options, purchasing or building a garden bench with storage under the seat is a great choice.  There are many kits to be found on-line if you like DIY projects.  If you are a container gardener, you’ll find that a storage bench or storage container is the perfect solution for the few garden tools you’ve collected.  Additionally, these benches and containers are excellent for storing all of your pool cleaning tools and toys, dog toys, and patio cushions, to name a few.

After making so many nice improvements to your outdoor space, it would be a crime not to be able to organize and hide away some of those necessary items that don’t need to be seen.

Good luck with your organizing!

We’ve heard some pretty interesting uses of outdoor storage sheds!  Do you have a good one to share, that we can post?  Send it to us at info@thefixitprofessionals.com, and we’ll print the best ones in a future issue!

Not up to building it or organizing it yourself? Check out our Special Offer for the month of May HERE. If you would like help cleaning up, organizing, building of sheds or benches, or other outdoor projects, just ask The Fix-It Professionals.

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Sprucing Up Your Outdoor Space:

Tips for Making Your Patio More Enticing

It’s our nature–we eagerly head outdoors for any and every reason once the weather warms up. Given this fact, now is an excellent time to spruce up your patio to enhance its appearance as well as your enjoyment of it. S–go find your favorite lounging spot on your patio, and settle in. Now, look around with a discriminating eye: what items come into view instantly that could use some TLC?

Cushions: Have your patio chair cushions suffered a bit of weathering? While sometimes they just need a good brush with a broom or a pounding to remove dust, you might need to consider replacement. Visit an affordable discount retail or home improvement store to shop for new outdoor cushions to add a bright, clean look to your patio furniture…and maybe a daring splash of color, depending on your tastes.

Potted plants: If you have potted plants on your patio, view the pots as though seeing them for the first time. What condition are they in? Do they need a scrub or a pressure wash? Or do they need replacing? Over time, terra cotta pots absorb so much moisture, that they begin to deteriorate. They can crack and break open, spilling out your lovely plant and soil all over your patio. Trust me, it’s not pretty! Add new or replace your older pots with some that have unique shapes, designs and colors. New pots can be especially pricey, so if you have the time, peruse your local thrift shops for good deals. If you have sad, straggly plants that you are hoping to nurse back to health, let them go, and treat yourself to beautiful plants that you can enjoy right now. If you don’t like to plant them yourself, buy pre-planted pots containing a lovely mixture of plants and flowers. You’ll even find some that are pre-wired for hanging. Add a nail or two along the edge of your patio cover, and enjoy the beauty of hanging plants and flowers.

Rugs: You’ll find an enormous assortment of outdoor area rugs that will liven up your patio and even give it a touch of elegance! Some of these are synthetic; they come in many lovely designs, and can be hosed off, will dry quickly, won’t fade, and won’t stain or mildew. Even better, what a great way to cover up unsightly spots or cracks that have annoyed you for years!

Paint: Like love, paint covers a multitude of sins, and is very forgiving! You may be able to freshen up several items with a little bit of paint.

• Repaint some of those pots that are looking so forlorn.
• Use an outdoor paint that will handle the weather well.
• Did you know you can buy spray paint for plastic? If you have plastic patio chairs and tables that are in good shape but look dull, choose a new color at your home improvement store, and give that furniture new life and color! You can also find rust-proof paint for your metal patio furniture, which you’ll need to repaint since you purchased those new cushions you purchased.
• From your seated vantage point on your patio, you may see that your eaves and house trim are in need of freshening or touching up. If this is too big a job for you, call a contractor, like The Fix-It Professionals.
• Fencing, patio posts, privacy screens, garden benches – anything else that needs regular maintenance due to the elements can be enhanced by a fresh coat of paint. However, if your fencing or patio posts are in need of repair, call The Fix-It
  Professionals.

General clean-up: Keep your plants and trees neatly trimmed to minimize the amount of leaves and debris on your patio or in your pool. It takes some discipline and a handy broom, but each day that you walk outside, give the patio a quick sweep. If you do it every day, it won’t seem like a monumental task, and will always look fresh and inviting.

With a little thought and creativity, you can customize the freshening up of your patio to suit your own personal needs and tastes…and budget. A small amount of effort can yield a lovely and relaxing space that will constantly entice you out of your house!

Not up to fixing or repairing it yourself? Check out our “Fix Your Fences” Spring Special for the month of April by clicking HERE. If you would like help with your fences, decks, outdoor lighting, garden benches, or other outdoor projects, just ask The Fix-It Professionals.

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