There is a short list of things you usually associate with summer. They are green grass, lemonade, kids playing outside, and the unbearable scorching heat of the summer sun. You turn to your air conditioner and consider it as your newfound BFF soon after the hot and humid Juneau, Alaska summer temperature rises to the unbearable triple digits. Most homeowners take their ACs for granted and only starts to realize its worth in the absence of the cool air it delivers in their home. You’ll soon appreciate the value of your AC unit after a few days of having to endure the sweltering heat and wear clothes that are completely soaked and sticking to your entire body. In the hot heat, your AC unit undergoes extreme stress from having to work non-stop and with … read more
Tankless Water Heaters Buyer’s Guide
If you are like the rest of Alaska homeowners, you rarely give time or attention to your water heater until you start experiencing some problems with it. It is not that you must keep flaunting your water heater to other people or keep a photo of it in your purse, but your unit also needs some care and attention. Make sure that you inspect it occasionally to assess it condition. Issues like gas leaks or having a bad wiring can have disastrous effects on you and your home. But the usual problem you’ll face when it comes to these issues is having a preposterous energy bill. Once you begin to notice that your current unit is consuming so much energy, it signifies that you need to look for a tankless water heater. But then, what sets them apart? Here are … read more
Ductless Air Conditioners – How to Find the Right One
For Juneau homeowners trying to beat the extreme Alaska summer heat, installing a window air conditioner is necessary to survive the hot summer heat. But then, it is understandable that there are some exceptions. You’ll mostly not be able to install a window AC if you obviously do not have a window that can accommodate it, like with apartments. Or perhaps, the absence of such a room with windows at all. Hence, your best option is to purchase and install a ductless air conditioner system to cool down your home. But before heading out to buy one, learn more about ductless air conditioner.
IT IS A COMBO OF A WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER AND A CENTRAL COOLING UNITA ductless air conditioner is unique since it operates by combining the central ACs efficiency and the convenience offered by a window AC. … read more
Emergency Plumbing – 6 Easy Methods to Save Money
The famous line said by Ben Franklin, renowned US Historian, “an ounce of prevention is better than an ounce of cure” is probably related to the checkup of your home plumbing system. The dignified way that Big Ben said that timeless quote indicated that it is possible for you to avoid an emergency plumbing call. You can do it by conducting routine checkups and maintenance work on your pipeline and the various electrical appliances in your house. You can see its resemblance to a doctor’s visit. A lot of people try to put off coming to the doctor out of fear of what they will find out. Plumbing inspections are also like that since you might have sleepless nights once you find out what the technician will discover. But then, it also has its bright side. Finding a potential issue … read more
FURNACE INSTALLATION – 6 WAYS TO MINIMIZE PAIN
It’s inevitable that you will have to replace your furnace at some point. It is not only your body that suffers from the freezing Alaska winters; your home, and more specifically, your heating system. Most Juneau homeowners cringe at the thought of paying thousands of dollars for a new furnace, or hundreds of dollars repairing their furnace. As you know, however, you have no choice if you want a warm and comfortable home in the winter time. It can be stressful when experiencing a major heating system overhaul, but if you observe the following recommendations, the transition to a new heating system will be smoother.
ENSURE THE NEED FOR A NEW FURNACEBuying your home’s new furnace should be a happy event when you say goodbye to the loud clanging and banging of your poorly performing furnace. … read more
Safety Tips for a Smelly Gas Furnace
Gas heaters are generally well calibrated machines that provide your home’s heating needs. These units don’t necessarily require much upkeep other than the regular changing of filters and dusting off some of its components. Unfortunately, there are instances when a gas furnace poses danger not only to itself but also to your home and your home’s occupants. Case in point, when your home starts reeking ‘rotten egg’ smell this is usually a sign of a gas leak and must be handled immediately.
The Rotten Egg SmellHomeowners need to understand that gas itself does not have any smell nor does it have any color. The reason why we smell that distinct putrid smell is because gas companies add a chemical mix called mercaptan for detection purposes only. The rotten egg smell serves as a warning for … read more
Geothermal Heating for Homes Today
The rise of environment-friendly appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, heating systems has made more and more homeowners realize and appreciate the importance of energy saving ratings. With newer “green” models, Juneau homeowners can now enjoy government kickbacks, lower utility bills, and a huge amount of savings from the use of these units. If you want to take it a step further, you can also take advantage of a kind of energy that is stored in the earth and is available to fuel and heat your home – geothermal heating.
Geothermal heating can be traced back from as early as the 3rd century B.C. in the form of hot spring bath houses. It was soon developed in the 1940’s with the introduction of the heat pump that made it possible for this natural resource to be turned into something usable. … read more
DIY Troubleshooting Methods for Furnace Emergencies
During the dead of winter, you often curl up in your home as tight as you can and wish that it’s already spring. Some brood that the changing of the season is like a lifetime away, but a lot of Juneau, Alaska residents are at ease with the low winter temperatures because it is their way of life. But there are exceptions though, especially when the temperature goes lower and lower as each day passes. For instance, when temperatures hit the teens, homeowner thoughts deviate from warm thoughts of July and August to that of doubts whether their furnace can survive the night. Although contractors are just a phone call away for furnace emergencies, it is important to be aware of what normally transpires during heating emergencies and the confidence and knowledge to perform basic DIY troubleshooting tasks. Here are … read more
The Powerful Combination of a Furnace and Air Conditioner
Gone are the days when a central HVAC system was reserved only for the most sophisticated society whose mansions are nestled up high overlooking the hills. Today, heating or cooling systems are common in Alaskan houses simply because it is a necessity. That being said, there are homes that still run the air conditioner and furnace as separate entities as opposed to having an all-in-one well-oiled machine. If you are one of the many homeowners who have not yet decided on making your central air conditioning unit and furnace one cohesive unit, here are the top 5 reasons why you need to make that change.
More EfficientIf there is one thing that HVAC professionals in Juneau will tell any homeowner when it comes to heating and cooling systems, it is about how a mismatched heating and air conditioning system … read more
Before Calling a Plumbing Professional for Your Hot Water Tank, Read These Tips First
There are a lot of home emergencies that require your urgent attention. When your heating system goes out or the pipeline in your house burst, they pose big risks and real threats to your home, furnishings, and your very lives. But then, there are those minor concerns that stay in a gray area, just like the repair needed by your hot water tank. It is not a home emergency, but an uncomfortable inconvenience that signals a probable bigger problem for you.
It is a common scenario in your home when you scream at your kids to turn off the faucet or ask them to refrain from flushing the toilet when you take a warm bath. Or else, cool water will splash all over your body. You have several alternatives on how to call for your hot water tank’s repair. Follow … read more