In our business, we get a lot of calls for HVAC repairs when it’s either really hot or it’s really cold. Because we live in Orange County, an area where the temperature is temperate most of the year, most people don’t use their AC as much as someone who lives in Arizona, or heater as much as someone in Alaska. We might have it set to heat our homes, or...
View Article Continue ReadingHere at Alps, we are passionate about helping homeowners save money on their energy bills. Fortunately, there are more ways to save energy than just installing a new HVAC system. Because of this, we thought we would share a few tips outside of the HVAC world to help you save money. Home Electronics Be sure to plug your home electronics into a power strip. When you aren’t using them, simply...
View Article Continue ReadingSaving money on your home’s energy bills is a hot topic. From solar panels to smart thermostats, there are a lot of options for saving money. We scoured the web and found a few interesting ideas that you can take and apply to your home. Some of these ideas take old principles, but apply them in new ways, while others are new technologies that could change the way homes are...
View Article Continue ReadingAttic insulation is a very important part of owning a home. Proper insulation means better heating in the winter and better cooling in the summer. According to the Department of Energy, stabilizing temperatures can reduce a home energy bill by as much as fifty percent. Important factors to consider include: Choosing the Right Material. Before starting a project, research what material works best for you. Loose fill blows insulation fiber...
View Article Continue ReadingIf you haven’t heard yet, there has been a discussion going on about the temperature in office buildings. To summarize, many women feel that office buildings are too cold, often having to go outside to frequently just to thaw out. Additionally, this has been linked to a history of men (who wear full suits in the summer) setting the temperature in the building. The most comfortable temperature that each building...
View Article Continue ReadingWith increasing temperatures often comes increasing A/C costs – but that does not always have to be the case. The sun may be out, but there are alternatives to turning on your costly A/C system. Below are a few tips that will be easy on your pocketbook while keeping your home cool during the hotter days: 1. Turn on your fans A few well-placed fans can do wonders to create...
View Article Continue ReadingOn January 1st, 2015, new standards of efficiency from the U.S. Department of Energy went into effect. Among these are higher SEER standards than in previous years. Now, you may be asking: what does SEER even stand for, and what do these changes mean for me? SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, is the standard given to air conditioning systems in order to measure their efficiency. In more familiar terms,...
View Article Continue ReadingProblem Every once and a while, we get a call from a concerned customer who asks: “Why does it smell like a dirty locker room when I run my A/C?” If that sounds familiar, then believe it or not, your A/C system may have Dirty Sock Syndrome. How would you know if you have Dirty Sock Syndrome and not some other issue causing a foul odor? Well, with Dirty Sock...
View Article Continue ReadingReminder for all you homeowners out there: The best time to schedule an inspection for your HVAC system is before the high temperatures of summer come around. So, while you’re doing some spring cleaning this month, think about getting a check-up for your hardworking HVAC system as well! Here are a few tips you can follow to get the most out of your HVAC system this summer. 1. Check your filters...
View Article Continue ReadingHere at Alps, we are a family company, and pets are a big part of any family. So, we’ve declared the month of April as pet month! For each picture of your pet that you post to our Facebook page, we’ll donate $5 to the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation. This non-profit foundation supports and trains service dogs and places them with children and adults who have physical ailments, emotional disabilities,...
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