How to Compare Systems

There are a few key criteria to look at when you’re comparing different systems. There’s the reputation for reliability and the warranty offered. In most cases, manufacturers offer a 10-year warranty.

Then there’s the initial cost. However, it’s also important to factor in the model’s energy efficiency, as this will have a significant impact on the cost of operating the system over the span of its life.

Other features, such as how much noise the unit makes, as well as its ability to be accessed via remote devices can also be a factor in the decision-making process.

When it comes to selecting the exact model to suit your home best, it’s a good idea to consult an expert technician that can help identify the right size that will best meet the needs of your home.

Let’s have a look at 5 of this year’s highest rated AC models.

Dave Lennox Signature XC25

Another of the higher end systems, this unit delivers energy efficiency as high as a 26 SEER rating. It is very quiet, with a modulating compressor for improved performance and humidity control. iComfort technology from Lennox allows for remote Wi-Fi access to the system. The unit is covered by a 10-year warranty.

Armstrong Pro Series 4SCU20LX

Another great option that matches affordability and energy efficiency, this Armstrong unit has a SEER rating of 20 and is backed by a 10-year warranty. Remote connectivity is also possible, using ComfortSync technology.

No matter which make or model you choose for your home, the single most important factor in getting the best possible energy efficiency and dependability for your cooling system is to have it installed by a licensed HVAC expert.

To find out more about which system will best meet your needs, contact Cyprus Air Heating & Cooling in Alexandria, VA at 703-765-9400 for expert advice or to schedule your free estimate.

Most kids will not be ready and will simply not want to offer a helping hand with all of the tasks that need to be completed by the first day of school.

Savings/Budget

You should begin saving a bit of extra money ahead of time for the purchase of various school supplies.

Most schools don’t send home a list of what is needed, such as the books, notebooks, and pencils, until it is nearly time to return. This can be troublesome and downright headache-inducing for most parents. The best option is to put aside a bit of money each month during the summer so when the time comes you already have the funds required to take the kids shopping.

Buying Supplies

Most local big-name stores will offer the school supplies required for most children in the area. Large shopping chains set aside entire sections of their floor, including multiple aisles, for parents shopping for their children. You can find brand new notebooks, three-ring binders, packs of markers, pencils, pens, and loose-leaf paper so kids can draw or write notes on. The items can be costly, so saving some money beforehand, as mentioned above, will be vital to heading back to school.

Organizing Your Schedules

This is especially important for those parents who have more than one child in their home heading back to school. Some schools, especially middle and high schools, tend to have different starting times. You must balance your time between dropping off your child before the bell rings and making it to work on-time each day. This can be a bit of a hassle at first, but once you really get into the swing of things, it should be much easier.

When possible, speak with your kids and find out who would be willing to ride the bus in the morning. If you have a school bus stop near your home, you can drop your child off on the way to work. Alternatively, you can have a family friend, or perhaps a neighbor, who also has a child heading to school, drop your kids off when they are passing by the area.

Heading back to school does not need to give you the headache that most people associate it with. Take a step back, take a quick breath, and write down exactly what needs to be done. If you are also in need of HVAC tips, call Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling in Alexandria, VA at 703-765-9400.

With a programmable thermostat, you can set it to raise the temperature by a few degrees every night after everyone has gone to bed and bring it back down before anyone gets up. It can once again do the same when everyone leaves the house during the day.

Doing this could save you as much as 10% on your cooling bills. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you can achieve similar results by manually adjusting it, however, if you’re someone who tends to forget such tasks, getting a programmable thermostat will be a wise investment that will pay for itself in time.

Plant Some Trees Around Your House

By planting some trees or shrubs and creating some shade around your house, you’ll significantly reduce the amount of heat energy that gets transferred by the sun’s rays through your windows and roof. This will effectively make it much easier for your air conditioning system to keep your home cool.

If You Have a Basement, Use It

Basements are naturally the coolest areas in most homes. That’s because hot air rises and cool air falls. If you and your family spend time together in the basement, you can set your thermostat a few degrees higher as it will be easier for your AC to maintain a comfortable temperature there.

Use Ceiling Fans to Displace Air

In the same way that a light breeze in the outside heat can make you feel cooler without actually changing the temperature, a ceiling fan can also make you feel cooler indoors.

The displacement of air helps the beads of sweat on your skin to evaporate, thus cooling down your body. With the ceiling fan running, you can adjust your thermostat as much as 4°F warmer and feel equally comfortable. But remember, since it doesn’t actually make the temperature drop, you should turn your ceiling fan off when you leave the room to conserve energy.

There are countless ways to make your Alexandria, VA home more energy efficient, year-round, and your friendly experts at Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling know them all. To find out more about how we can help you save money on your energy bills, call us today at 703-765-9400.

Go Shopping

It’s important to wear sunscreen! Make sure it’s not expired. Clean out the medicine cabinet, and replace any expired sunscreen with a new bottle. Get a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face during outdoor activities as well as a pair of sunglasses. Be sure to choose sunglasses that block all UV rays as your pupils will dilate when behind dark glasses.

Sunglasses should be rated to block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays and provide the most protection. It can increase the amount of UV light your eyes are exposed to if the glasses don’t shield your peripheral vision.

Know When to Go

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the sun is at it’s strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you do go out during this part of the day use sunscreen, sunglasses, and try to wear a hat. Stick to the shade as much as you can, as well.

Check in With Your Doctor

Take a moment to call your physician or pharmacist and review any prescription medications you’re taking. Some medications make you more sensitive to UV light. If you’re taking any of these prescriptions, you’ll need to know so you can be even more diligent about your UV protection.

Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling in Alexandria, VA is happy to bring you these safety tips and reminders during this UV Safety Awareness Month. Remember to stay safe, take an active role in educating others about UV dangers and give us a call at 703-765-9400 the next time you find yourself in need of HVAC services.

The first thing you will want to do is a visual inspection, noting any areas that need repairs or possibly replacements.

After you take care of these items, you can give the fence and deck a good washing (pressure washers are typically cheap to rent from home stores).

Finally, applying a fresh stain and sealant can transform your aging deck and fence so that it looks new again – you may be surprised by how much you enjoy the results of this home improvement project!

Clean and Tidy Your Lawn and Garden Beds

Your garden beds and your lawn remain outdoors all summer long in the blistering heat. So they definitely need some TLC from you when it gets boiling out.

You can leave your grass an extra inch or so higher than you usually do to help the roots soak in a bit of extra hydration.

Cleaning out debris and re-mulching your garden beds will provide extra insulation around plant stems and roots to hold in moisture.

Conduct a Leak-Check on Your Outside Faucets

Much of summer’s water waste happens outside. Incorrectly timed and placed sprinklers and soaker hoses are to blame for some of it.
However, much of the waste comes from undetected leaks in hose spigots or old and worn, cracked hoses.

You can do a simple check for each of your outside faucets. Look for drips and drizzles that could indicate a worn-out washer or a cracked hose. Replace these low-cost parts now and enjoy the savings on your summer water bills.

Clean and Maintain Your Air Conditioner

If there is one memory no one enjoys recalling, it is that day you spent sweating and fanning yourself while waiting for the A/C repair technician to arrive.

Luckily, a little well-timed preventative maintenance can take care of this common summer worry.

You can do the initial cleaning and inspection yourself, just by sweeping away debris and clearing the area around your HVAC unit. You can also change the filter if it has been 30 days or more since you last did so.

The technician can then come in and ensure all parts are in good working order, the fluids and lubrication are full, and the unit is cycling on and off correctly.

Clean and Drain Your Water Heater

Summer is a fabulous time to give your water heater some preventative attention. Traditional water heaters, in particular, have a tendency to collect mineral deposits from the water. These deposits can begin to build up on the bottom and inside walls of the water heater tank.

Along with mineral deposits, sometimes sediment can get into your tank along with the water and begin to collect on the bottom of the tank.

Here are the steps to take (always consult the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular model as well):

On the other hand, cold weather may destruct parts of the yard, causing grass and flowers to grow irregularly. Spring is the best time to reseed the lawn and repair the damaged areas in the yard. Trees that are are growing in the yard also need to be pruned especially if their branches have grown closer to the house.

Overgrown branches can cause a lot of damage to the roof and gutters, making it necessary to trim them before the weather becomes warmer.

2) Inspect Home Insulation

Insulation systems form an essential part of the household. The air conditioning system of the house needs to be inspected. These appliances help insulate the occupants of the home from harsh weather conditions especially when it gets too hot outside.

Professionals who are well versed in the maintenance of these appliances should be hired because they can detect any deficiencies, which might not be noticed by the homeowner. Hiring them to work on the system before summer sets in is a good way of preparing for warm weather.

It is important to ensure that the filters are replaced on a monthly basis to enable the cooling system to work as efficiently as possible.

Leaking hose connections must also be repaired, just as it is the case with faulty drain pans. When inspecting the insulation unit, it is advisable to also vacuum dust that might have settled on the unit’s interior parts.

Accumulated dust can lower the cooling system’s effectiveness and reduce its lifespan.

3) Test and Lubricate the Garage Door

This is another important home maintenance practice, which should be given priority by homeowners. The garage door ought to be inspected to ensure that there are no broken parts. Strong winter winds might damage parts of the door, especially if they are made of wood.

Grease must be applied on movable parts to avoid wear and tear. In the long run, the lifespan of the door is also increased. Spoilt hinges should either be fixed or replaced.

Ensuring that the garage door is in good condition greatly helps improve the home’s general security.

4) Roof and Chimney Inspection

Frostiness, which is a characteristic of winter, can cause a lot of damage to the roof. During spring, the homeowner needs to carry out a visual checkup of the roof to ensure that it is not damaged.

During this inspection, one should check for any missing shingles or metal pipes. Any other parts that might cause the roof to allow water seepage need to be repaired. This inspection does not necessarily require a ladder.

Binoculars can help one inspect the roof without climbing it. It calls for carefulness to detect any damages. Once they are detected, roof maintenance companies ought to be called immediately to stem the damage.

The chimney has to be inspected alongside the roof to ensure that the linkage between bricks is intact. Most importantly, one should look out for efflorescence. In the event that there are chalk-like deposits on the masonry joints, it means that they are absorbing water. This could weaken the entire structure. Leaking joints ought to be resealed using impervious sealers.

5) Clean up Gutters

This is one of the most important things that must be done while spring cleaning the home. Typically, gutters get filled up with dead vegetation during winter. With time, the vegetation might start rotting and cause clogs. Excessive accumulation of vegetation not only hinders drainage but also causes odors more so if the leaves are decaying.

Decongesting the gutters is quite easy. A ladder and a rake is all that is needed. While carrying out the activity, sprouting vegetation should be pulled out because they can damage the gutters. Once the mess has been removed, the drains should be washed thoroughly using high-pressure water.

6) Paint the Exterior

Cold conditions take a toll on walls and in particular, the paint. Due to continued exposure to humidity, the exterior of homes might get a worn and craggy appearance when spring sets in.

Warm weather presents the best opportunity for repainting the home to restore its appearance. It is not rare to find a home looking old and ragged at the end of winter. Failure to scrape and repaint the walls usually causes cracks and flakes on the walls. This ultimately weakens them.

7) Repair and Clean Windows

With continued use and exposure to weather elements, windows can start leaking. Such situations often limit the efficiency of air conditioning units because most of the cool air will escape. Warm air from outside will also be let into the house.

Leaking parts should be resealed especially if strong winds and frost have compromised the weather seals in winter.

Broken window panes need immediate replacement. Repair kits can easily be found in most hardware outlets. After inspecting the windows and repairing any damages, they should be thoroughly cleaned because a lot of dust accumulates on them. There are different window cleaners that come in handy when carrying window cleaning.

Are you a resident of Alexandria, VA who is anxious about home maintenance for warm weather? Worry no more. Contact Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling through 703-765-9400 for immediate assistance.