Here at Alps, we are always looking for ways to help our customers save money by saving energy. One of the newest ways to monitor your energy usage is through mobile apps that connect directly to your thermostat. There are also many apps that will monitor energy usage on appliances. These apps allow you to see how much energy is being used and adjust accordingly. You no longer have to...
View Article Continue ReadingCalifornia is in the middle of one of the worst droughts in the history of the state. Nearly 100% of the state remains in the third-harshest category for dryness, according to the latest measurements. Because of this, California has enacted strict laws and steep penalties for people who are wasting water. You might be breaking the law and not even know it. The new laws went into effect on August...
View Article Continue ReadingDo you know what a flex alert is? More importantly, do you know what to do if you receive a flex alert? Flex alerts were implemented this year are issued by the California Independent System Operators, which is an organization that monitors energy usage. According to their website, FlexAlert.org, “A Flex Alert is an urgent call to Californians to immediately conserve electricity and to shift demand to off-peak hours (after...
View Article Continue ReadingIt’s an exciting time of year for us. With the weather hot, we are busy helping people stay cool and comfortable in their homes, and helping them save money on their energy bills as a result. Additionally, with the OC Fair in full swing, we have been busy at our booth talking to people about their HVAC needs and helping them understand the benefits of upgrading to a more energy...
View Article Continue ReadingWith Summer in full swing and some warm days behind us, it’s likely that you’ve been running your AC system for at least a month now. You know what that means, right? It means you need to change your air filter. It’s important to change your air filter every 30 to 60 days for two reasons: It keeps your air clean and keeps your system running efficiently. Here’s why: Keeps...
View Article Continue ReadingWhen it’s warm out, it’s tempting to use your air conditioner in your home all the time. But even with the most efficient of AC units, that can leave you with some expensive utility bills. Here are some ways to keep your air conditioner off, but still keep as cool as possible. Keep Windows Closed During the Day This might seem counter-intuitive, but keeping your windows closed will keep your...
View Article Continue ReadingIf you have your AC in on your home, but the air coming out isn’t cold, or is less cold than it used to be, there are several problems that might be causing this. Although it’s difficult to tell exactly without seeing the unit itself, here are a few reasons why your AC might be on, but no cold air is coming out. Low Refrigerant A low refrigerant charge or...
View Article Continue ReadingWith temperature rising and summer just around the corner, keeping your AC unit in proper working order is important for being able to enjoy your summer days. There’s nothing worse than having to sweat through a couple hot days of summer because your AC unit stops working. No cool house to return to, no relief and no fun! Because we want you to be able to enjoy your summer and...
View Article Continue ReadingSummer has unofficially started, which means the weather is getting warmer and it’s time to turn your AC unit on. Unfortunately, for most Southern Californians, your AC unit ends up significantly increasing your energy bills during the months you run it. Because of that, we would like to share five ways to save money on cooling this summer. Tune up your HVAC equipment regularly Getting a yearly tune up for...
View Article Continue ReadingWith the first big heat wave of the year behind us, we thought we would share a few videos about common problems with air conditioning systems. If you are like some of our customers, you may have turned on your AC unit when it was warm, only to find it didn’t cool the way you wanted or didn’t work at all. Fortunately, there are ways to make sure your AC...
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