Keeping our houses cool with air conditioners costs Americans about $11 billion a year. This high-use is not only hard on the wallet, but hard on the environment as well. The good news is that by following some green tips at home this summer, you can cool off, save money, and make a sizable dent in your carbon footprint. Here are some ways to save money and energy while staying cool! Use windows...
View Article Continue ReadingR-value is a term that you commonly hear out of the mouths of HVAC contractors. So what is it, exactly? Well, R-value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Technically, it is calculated by taking the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator over the heat flux through it. But all you really need to remember is the higher the R-value, the better the...
View Article Continue ReadingIf you have a two-story house, you might be concerned about whether your heating is being dispersed evenly and efficiently around the home. Comfortable heating is a major challenge because energy prices have risen dramatically in recent years. You don’t want to be paying more than you must on your energy bill. While a two-story house has a few disadvantages, it also has many advantages that make it more efficient...
View Article Continue ReadingSummertime usually calls for a lot of fun and a lot of sunshine. This usually brings with it lots of heat and, therefore, lots of air conditioning use. The air conditioning system is usually the highest draw of electricity and energy from your home. However, there are ways to cool your home without breaking the energy – or the money- bank! For more tips and tricks, connect with us on...
View Article Continue ReadingYou’ve probably seen HVAC ducts at some point in your life. Those silver space-age looking tubes that deliver hot and cold air to a home or building. But did you know that ductwork insulation is a major key in getting them to properly do their job? Ductwork insulation is important because it ensures that the air traveling through the ductwork will stay at the desired temperature and that the air...
View Article Continue ReadingReplacing the ducts in your home can sometimes be more cost efficient than duct cleaning. Here are some signs that your ducts need replacing!
Continue ReadingEven though your kids might spend part of her day in a summer program, you can still seize the learning opportunities that arise naturally during the more leisurely summer months. Children continue to learn during the summer — just in a different way. Studies have shown that free, unstructured time gives the brain a chance to integrate and expand on what was absorbed through more structured activities. Summer is an excellent time...
View Article Continue ReadingFor both efficiency and long-term cost, it is important to match your indoor and your outdoor HVAC unit!
Continue ReadingAt Alps Air Conditioning & Heating, we get a lot of calls from people with questions about their HVAC system. Kathy talks about some easy fixes for the most common problems that people call in for. These fixes can save you from having to pay for a service call and can keep your system running smoothly!
Continue ReadingThere are several options available when it comes to upgrading your heating and air-conditioning systems. Because Alps is taking part in different energy upgrade programs throughout California, they are able help navigate customers through the process of getting rebates on upgrading to energy-efficient systems. Alps even takes care of the paperwork! Allen explains a couple of the options available and sheds a little light on some of the rebate programs.
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