Ways To Reduce The Cost Of Cooling Your Home This Summer

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Ways To Reduce The Cost Of Cooling Your Home This Summer

After a long, cold and dreary winter, everyone looks forward to the sunshine and heat of summer. That is, until they get their energy bills. The cost of cooling your home can be frustratingly high.

Thankfully, you don’t have to suffer from the heat just to save money on your cooling costs. The experts at Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling have prepared this easy guide to lower your energy costs during the summer months.

Programmable Thermostats

adjust-for-webMassive amounts of energy are wasted each year cooling homes when it’s not necessary. The rooms in your house don’t have to be as cool when you’re not home or while you’re sleeping.

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 speceiling-fannd 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.

3 Ways to Prepare for UV Safety Awareness Month

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3 Ways to Prepare for UV Safety Awareness Month

July is UV Safety Awareness Month, which is a recognition many are unaware of. While we tend to think of fresh air and sunshine as healthy and therapeutic, the sun’s UV rays are quite harmful. They can cause eye damage, skin cancer, and premature aging. UV rays can also suppress the immune system, leaving your body vulnerable to infections and diseases.

applying-sunscreenUV Safety Awareness Month is meant to educate those who are unaware of the sun’s damaging effects and to serve as a reminder to everyone that the sun must be enjoyed safely. Here are three ways you can prepare this year.

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.

6 Key Things That Need an Upgrade Before the 4th of July

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6 Home Improvement Projects to do Before the 4th of July

It is easy to tell when summer has arrived in earnest. Temperatures soar and so do energy and water bills. By the time the 4th of July rolls around, everyone’s thoughts have turned to daydreams of refreshing pool swims, beach adventures, and relaxation.

These 6 home improvement projects can help you save money on utility bills and get your home ready for welcoming guests on this special holiday.

Clean and Refinish the Deck and Fence

cleaning a deck jpgSummer is a great time to do some home improvement work on your deck and fence. The heat helps to dry water, stains and sealants quickly. And there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the results on the 4th of July and throughout the rest of the summer.

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.

Summer-GardeningYou 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 ochekcing your outdoor faucetr 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):

  1. Turn off the power.
  2. Turn off the cold water supply valve.
  3. Turn on the hot water and leave it running.
  4. Put on heat-protective gloves.
  5. Hook up the hose to the water heater drain valve while the hot water is still running.
  6. Be sure the other end of the hose is located in a bathtub, bucket or outdoors!
  7. Open the drain valve and let the water drain out.
  8. When the water finishes draining, open up the cold water valve again to flush out sediment.
  9. Close the valve and remove the hose.
  10. Run the hot water spigots again while refilling the water heater tank with cold water.
  11. Restore power to your water heater.

If you don’t feel confident performing this task correctly, it is safer to call a professional!

Invest in Energy Saving Window Treatments

One of the best ways to achieve energy efficiency in months of extreme temperatures is to give your windows and window treatments some dedicated attention.

If you have the resources and time, you may want to consider replacing your existing windows with Low-e windows, which can repel heat from the outside sun and also block harmful UV rays from streaming into your home.

If you have already made this switch or now is not the time, you can achieve a similar effect by working to upgrade your window treatments. Today there are many energy efficient window treatment options for keeping your home cool in summer and warm in winter.

Here are some popular choices:

  • Installing awnings on South/West-facing windows to block the sun.
  • Using window film to repel heat and UV rays.
  • Installing light-colored drapes or blinds to reflect the heat back away from your windows.
  • Installing eco-friendly wood shades (hemp and bamboo are good choices) to block and repel the heat from the sun.

You can also just close your drapes or blinds during the hottest part of each day to keep the heat outside and a cool temperature inside.

These 6 home improvement projects can make you feel really confident about opening your home up to family and guests this summer on the 4th of July and for other festivities. It can also just feel great to improve your home space for your family’s enjoyment.

To save money on summer energy bills in Alexandria, VA, contact Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling at 703-765-9400.

3 Things You Should Know About Summer Solstice

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3 Things You Should Know About Summer Solstice

The summer solstice is going to be happening in just a few weeks, but many people do not realize the meaning or origin of this event. The summer solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years. It is commonly referred to as “the longest day of the year,” but this is not all that happens during the summer solstice.

What is the Summer Solstice?

According to astronomy, a solstice happens when the tilt of a planet is most inclined towards the star it rotates around. This means that the summer solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is pointed as far towards the sun as possible during its yearly rotation. In the summer solstice, the Northern hemisphere experiences the most hours of daylight during the year, and summer officially starts.

 

Why do we have longer days in summer?

During the time around the summer solstice, the days are very long. This happens because the northern half of the Earth has tilted towards the sun, so it spends more time in the sunshine each day. Meanwhile, the farther half of the Earth has tilted away from the sun. Meaning that in certain places, like Australia, they will experience darker days and cooler weather during the summer solstice. However, if you travel far enough north during the summer solstice, the sun will appear to travel around the horizon instead of setting each night because the days are so long.

Where does the name “Solstice” come from?

The name “solstice,” comes from the Latin language. It is a combination of “sol,” which means sun,” and “sisto,” which means “I stand still.” Therefore, the basic phrase used to refer to the longest day of the year means “the sun stands still.” A solstice was called this by the ancient Romans because the day was so long that it seemed like the sun was practically standing still in the sky for most of the day.

Enjoy the long summer days in Alexandria, VA without worrying about your HVAC system. Call Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling today at 703-765-9400 to learn more about how we can meet your summer needs.

How to Keep Your Home Cool During the Summer Season

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Home Maintenance Checklist for Warm Weather

Most people clean their homes in springtime. This season coincides with warm weather, which allows homeowners to tidy up their homes. This is often done in preparation for long upcoming winters when freezing temperatures, wind and snow do not allow much work within the household.

Homeowners usually take advantage of the relatively warm temperatures in spring to tidy up their houses and yards. Longer days and warm weather present ample opportunities to repair damages caused by harsh winters. It is unfortunate that most homeowners do not have an idea about where they need to start. This checklist can be of great help to such individuals.

1) Maintain Yard Growth

mow-your-lawnIt is quite challenging to maintain the backyard in winter. This is, however, easier during warm weather. Due to the inattention that most yards are given when it is too cold even to venture outside, they tend to overgrow. Such yards should be cut to size during springtime home maintenance. This goes a long way in controlling rodents and mosquitoes.

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.

your-home-insulationIt 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.

Garage-door-maintenanceEnsuring 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.

Keep Your Home Cool for the Hot Summer Months Ahead

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Keep Your Home Cool for the Hot Summer Months Ahead

While most look to the summer season as a time to relax and have fun, the weather isn’t always eager to let the good times roll. Depending on your location, whole weeks can have average temperatures in the upper nineties. In plenty of cases, days of hundred-degree heat are less of a possibility and more of an inevitability. Bracing for the summer heat beforehand is one of the best moves you could make. As such, these tips will help you stay cool even during the hottest of days.

Clean your Filters and AC unit

install-ceiling-fansThe key to keeping a house comfortable during the summer months is to have your HVAC equipment in working order. Short for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, HVAC should ideally be maintained several times a year instead of right before harsh weather arrives. Even if there aren’t any problems, well-kept equipment can perform the following:

  • Run at maximum efficiency
  • Prevent issues in the future
  • Save you from unwanted costs, including repairs

Before calling in a professional, you can take steps to preserve your HVAC system. Cleaning the outside portion of an AC unit, along with its surrounding area, can help in the long run. Since it can sit idly for months, it’s very possible for it to collect grass, leaves, trash, and other debris. As a result, you should clean the unit to help keep the efficiency up. It’s even easier, and more important, to clean the air filters whenever they look like they’re clogged with dust. Ideally, the air filters should be cleaned twice a year, if not replaced outright. If they aren’t cleaned or replaced, then they can reduce efficiency, as well as spread dust throughout your home.

Check the SEER Rating for Your Unit

While physically maintaining an AC unit every once in a while is a good practice, there are steps worth taking, and can mostly be done, without walking away from a computer. Modern AC units all come with a SEER rating, a measure of their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating is represented by a single number, and represents how effective a unit might be at keeping a house cool. By default, new units need a rating of at least 13 to make them available for purchase. Comparatively, units from 1990 and earlier, only needed to have a rating of 6. That rating alone can tell you if you should invest in a new unit.

You can find the SEER rating for an AC unit by dividing the output of cooling energy over a season, by the input of energy over the same season. From there, companies like Energy Star offer free calculators that show how your unit’s rating translates into costs. Based on those numbers, you can find out how much energy your unit is consuming over time, how well your unit is doing, or if it’s simply time to switch to a newer model. Considering that some modern units have SEER ratings that reach into the twenties, making the switch might be the most effective way to stay cool.

Call in HVAC Professionals for a Tune-Up

Keeping an AC unit in good shape is possible throughout the year, if not recommended. With that said, some tasks might be too complex for the common homeowner. If you don’t have the tools, knowledge, or physical ability to keep every last piece of your HVAC system in working order, then it may be best to call in an expert in the field. An HVAC technician can offer a tune-up for whatever you need, and provide an array of services such as:

–finding and sealing leaks in a duct system
-checking the air registers
-making repairs as needed
-installing new units

The summer months will test plenty of active AC units, and inevitably reveal how many of them need repairs or tune-ups. As a result, HVAC companies become extremely busy, which can lead to delays in service or spikes in their prices. Schedule an appointment before summer starts to get the fastest, and possibly cheapest, results.

cleaning-the-outdoor-ac-unit-Invest in a High Efficiency Air Conditioner

It’s a safe bet that most AC units are built to last, but they have their limits. If it becomes plainly obvious that maintenance is ineffective, impossible, or simply can’t save an inefficient machine, then you may want to consider getting a new unit. Notably, high-efficiency air conditioners are available for purchase.

True to their name, some models have a SEER rating of at least 20, and can help justify the higher prices customers may have to pay upfront. In addition, a high-efficiency air conditioner is more environmentally friendly than other models, particularly the old ones. If you have an interest in going green, then switching models might serve you well.

Although any given high-efficiency air conditioner has a high SEER rating, the actual number varies from one unit to another. It’s a good idea to compare and contrast units beforehand, especially since it can force customers to pay more or less at a time. No matter the rating or ultimate price tag, the result is still the same.

A good air conditioner, high efficiency or otherwise, can help keep a house cool in spite of the blistering summer heat. When managed properly, an HVAC system can provide a comfortable atmosphere with no effort wasted, and prices kept under control. Taking the proper steps beforehand is always a smart move for you and your family. Check your HVAC system as soon as possible to see if it’s working at full strength.

If you do need professional assistance in the Alexandria, VA area, don’t hesitate to call Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling; they will do an evaluation and give you and estimate of the work you need. Call (703) 765-9400 today.

How Weather Stripping Can Save You Money

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Weather Stripping Challenge to Lower Your AC Bills

Do you remember standing in front of the refrigerator holding the door open while contemplating what to eat? Drives you crazy now to see your children do that same thing, doesn’t it?

Well, air conditioning the house when you have leaks is very much like holding the fridge door open. It’s expensive; and worse than just being expensive, it’s an expense that you could control with appropriate investigation and management. We all have many expenses we can not control; it’s wise to take control to limit spending where we can.

Alexandria, VA weather-stripping-1The Sherlock Holmes of Air Conditioning Leaks

If you want to lower your AC bills, you have to become a detective in your home. Before purchasing materials, walk your home and find leaks. We suggest that you take notes, so you remember where you found leaks and what the solution to them is.

When you have completed your research, you will have a full list of all the holes and what is needed to do to correct them so you can make one trip to the hardware store.

One way of adding a little extra to your review is to carry a lit incense stick on the investigation. Trace the outline of each window and door with the hand holding the stick. When you see the smoke move, you have found a leak.

Don’t like the incense idea? Carry a moist towel with you. When you reach a window or door, rub your hand against the towel to transfer some moisture to your hand. Move your hand around the window or door. The moisture on your hand makes you more sensitive to moving air so you can detect leaks.

Examining Doors

Check each exterior door in the house. Stand in front of the doors and visually examine the perimeter where the door meets the frame. If you can see sunlight through any spaces, you are losing air conditioning.

Be particularly diligent when examining the foot of the door. Worn or damaged door jams may be letting your valuable cold air out.

Stripping Your Windows

Your home has many windows to review. To fully examine them, you will have to open each to see the condition of the weather stripping. You may think you just replaced it, but the time slips by pretty quickly in home-ownership. It may be time to weather strip again.

Beyond weather stripping, how do the windows look? If you see rotting or severely damaged frames, they could be costing you money. For an experienced carpenter to come in and repair or rebuild the frames may be out of budget for now, but you might be able to use caulk to close the cracks until you can work a carpenter into the budget.

Sliding Doors

In warm weather, particularly if you have children in the home, the sliding door may be more like a revolving door, constantly in motion letting people in and out. We don’t recommend limiting the number of times people may enter or exit the house each day, but a little re-training here may help the bottom line.

Yes, by all means, examine the door for weather stripping needs. However, you may profit even more substantially by teaching everyone, again, for we know you have already learned the entire household before, that they must fully close the door each time they enter or exit.

Standing with the door open talking to people outside is not an option, nor is the reverse. Step outside and entirely close the door to chat or step inside and fully lock the door. Anything less is money out the sliding door.

Enacting Solutions

You may profit from a review of new technology for inhibiting drafts. Sure, you can do what you have done in the past, but the technology of home repair is in constant flux. New materials, new approaches, and new solutions emerge almost daily. You may discover that none of the innovations are appropriate for you today, but you have learned something new that you may apply to another project; your research is not wasted.

One of the more substantial fixes is the doors. You can make some adjustments with the screws for a better fit. However, warming and cooling can alter both the shape of the frame and the shape of the door so that they are no longer a good match. The best solution may be a new door. A good enough solution may be using a draft dodger.

Alexandria, VA weather-stripping-2You often see draft dodgers for sale in the winter. Sometimes they are filled with sweet-scented cedar, other times they contain sand or cotton. They are advertised to keep out the cold, but they can work equally well at maintaining the cold. They may be an economical solution to your door leaks.

Even less expensive and less attractive, you can use old towels pushed up against the doors. They are effective, but you do spend time rearranging them every time anyone enters or leaves, however, they accomplish their task and save you money.

Gauging Results

Check your bills before and after you make your air conditioning saving changes. If you don’t see much improvement, you may need to have your HVAC professional review the house for more significant issues.

Odds are, your efforts will yield improvements either in a cooler room or lower bills…and your repairs are not just a single season trick…when the heat comes on, you will continue to save as all the leaks you patched will keep cold out as efficiently as they keep cold inside your home.

If you do need professional assistance in the Alexandria, VA area, don’t hesitate to call Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling; they will do an evaluation and give you and estimate of the work you need. Call (703) 765-9400 today.

5 Ways to Discover Whether Your Home’s Thermostat Is Malfunctioning

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5 Ways to Tell if Your Home’s Thermostat is Malfunctioning

Being able to identify the most common signs of a faulty or malfunctioning thermostat can be an essential concern when it comes to ensuring climate control equipment is being used as efficiently as possible. Inaccurate temperature detection or erroneous activation of the system can lead to greater discomfort and higher utility costs.

While professional testing and calibration efforts may be required to ensure that thermostats are functioning effectively, there may be numerous more obvious issues that may indicate a problem with the device or system.

Taking prompt and effective action to address any of the following problems is never a concern Alexandria homeowners should take lightly.

Alexandria, VA thermostat-repairOne: Sudden Increase in Utility Costs

While a higher utility bill may be the result of a rate hike, changing seasonal weather or different household habits, a sudden and inexplicable rise in either heating or cooling costs may indicate a malfunctioning thermostat. Devices that fail to sense interior temperatures accurately may be triggering the activation of the system more frequently and for longer periods of time. Operating furnaces, heaters and running the air conditioning when it may not be required may produce a noticeable increase in monthly utility costs.

Checking to make sure the household hasn’t changed its habits recently or consulting past weather forecasts can help to isolate any situations that may be causing larger electric and utility bills. Homeowners may benefit from investigating any issues like improper thermostat settings, clogged filters and other mechanical concerns that can be quickly discovered and corrected.

If everything else remains unchanged, it may be time to schedule a professional service appointment in order to have a trained technician perform a more comprehensive assessment of the system. Professional thermostat testing and assessment services are often required in order to uncover any issues that may have escaped notice until the arrival of the monthly utility bill.

Two: Issues Regulating and Maintaining Interior Temperatures

Faulty thermostats can make it almost impossible to achieve and maintain optimal interior temperatures. Basic thermostats function by detecting the interior temperature and activating the system as needed in order to maintain temperatures within a preset range.

While a more advanced programmable thermostat and devices that may offer features like remote-access to system operation at times when electrical consumption requires less overall cost, any malfunctioning device can make it much harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Environments that were once comfortably maintained but are frequently too hot or too cold may signal a problem with the thermostat or other climate control equipment.

Three: Unlit Display Light or Panel

A dark display light or unlit display panel may be the result of an electrical short or other malfunction. While a darkened display may be little more than a minor inconvenience, devices that have shorted out or that have suffered damage to their interior electrical components can cause a multitude of larger issues and problems. Scheduling a service call with the right thermostat repair service that can perform a variety of testing, assessment and calibration procedures can ensure that any underlying problems are able to be identified and remedied quickly and effectively.

A programmable thermostat may suffer from electrical issues due to any number of reasons. A sudden power-surge can cause damage to both the lighting system as well as the components used to detect and measure temperatures and activate major appliances.

While recent storms, black outs and other issues may result in damage to interior circuitry, components can also wear out and fail over time due to issues that occurred during the manufacturing process. Whatever the cause of an unlit display, arranging for professional thermostat repair and testing services in the Alexandria area home is often the best way to address the situation.

Alexandria, VA thermostat-repair-2Four: Lack of Hot or Cold Air When the System is Activated

While the heating appliances and air conditioning produce the heating and cooling needed to keep a home comfortable, most systems utilize a central fan in order to circulate air throughout the system.

Faulty or malfunctioning thermostats may still trigger the activation of the fan but fail to engage the furnace, heater or AC.

Issues with the thermostat are one of the most common reasons for systems that are only able to blow room temperature air through vents when activated. Calling the professionals is always a smart move when dealing with the loss of dependable heating or cooling.

Five: Inability to Maintain a Preset Schedule

Another malfunction commonly found with a programmable thermostat is a sudden inability to maintain a preset schedule. Programming a system to regulate different temperatures at different times during the day or week ensures that homeowners are able to maintain their level of comfort without the need to run the system during off hours or at times when the household is expected to be empty. Thermostats that are having issues maintaining a preset schedule can create no end of problems that may lead to decreased comfort and more expensive utility costs.

Professional Repair and Service Solutions

Even a slight miscalibration of the thermostat can interfere with the function and performance of an entire climate control system. The resources and experience that only a professional technician may provide can be crucial assets when it comes to identifying and correcting a malfunction or arranging for equipment replacement, upgrades and new installations.

Problems caused by a malfunctioning thermostat or other equipment issues can result in greater expenses when not addressed quickly and effectively. Calling the professionals at the first sign of a problem can ensure that thermostat issues are less likely to place a strain on your household finances or budget.

For timely services in your Alexandria, VA home, call Cyprus Air Heating and Cooling at 703-765-9400.

Spring is Here, Keep the Allergens Out of Your Alexandria Home

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Preparing Your Home For Spring Allergens

When spring arrives bringing with it warmer temperatures, budding trees and blooming flowers and plants, it also brings along with it a host of irritating allergens.

Spring allergies can cause itchy, watery eyes, running, drippy noses, coughs and all the other discomforts that accompany allergy season. While the air outside is filled with pollen, grass and other allergens, it is almost a sure bet that the air quality inside your Alexandria home is even worse.

Alexandria, VA Home-AllergiesIn fact, experts agree the air pollution level inside your home is often two to five times worse than that outside. To further compound the issue of poor air quality in your home, your HVAC unit may be a significant contributor to your home’s or air quality by circulating mold, pet dander, pollen, dust mites and other allergens throughout your home.

To cut down on your home’s indoor irritants and allergens, maintaining your HVAC system should be top on your spring cleaning list. Not only will regular maintenance prolong the life and improve the performance of your HVAC unit, it can dramatically reduce indoor air pollution and allergens creating a healthier home for you and your family.

To get the most out of your HVAC unit and to provide your home and family with clean, allergen free air, it is important that you schedule seasonal check ups from qualified and trained HVAC technicians. Here are just a few of the things our team of experts can do to help you breathe easy, even when spring leaves its trademark blanket of thick, yellow pollen and other allergy inducing particles everywhere you look.

Thorough Duct Cleanings

The ductwork in your home directs the air flow from the HVAC unit throughout your home, and it is not too far off to think of your ducts as the lungs of your house. Ducts are a perfect hiding place for nasty allergens like mold, dust and other allergens. In fact, the average six room home creates up to forty pounds of dust per year. If you have a larger home or pets, that weight can dramatically increase.

Not only do dirty ducts circulate allergy causing particles and pump and recirculate them throughout your home, they can also create an unpleasant moldy, musty smell in your home. Additionally, dirty air ducts force your HVAC unit to work much harder than necessary increasing the unit’s energy consumption and the cost of your utility bills.

Cleaning Your Entire HVAC System

On top of cleaning your air ducts, your entire system needs routine cleanings to not only to reduce pollutants and allergens, but also to increase your systems efficiency. The evaporating coils on your unit can grow mold and produce spores that can cause not only allergies, but also asthma and other autoimmune disorders.

These mold spores can also accumulate on your fan blades, the fan motor and the drain pans they then enter into the air ducts and spread mold and unhealthy air throughout your Alexandria home.

Our technicians can give your HVAC unit a thorough cleaning and help improve the quality of the air that is circulated throughout your home. If you have severe mold and allergen problems, it may be necessary to have an ultraviolet light installed by your unit’s evaporating coil to slow the growth of mold and prevent mold regrowth.

Our talented team of technicians will help you determine whether or not this step is necessary, but if you have small children, elderly adults or others with compromised immune systems, it may be a step you want to take as a precaution against respiratory problems that develop as a result of breathing in moldy, musty air.

Upgrade to a High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter

Alexandria, VA Home-Allergy-TipsA high efficiency particulate air filter, also known as a HEPA filter, can drastically reduce the pollutants that slip through most standard air filters. HEPA filters utilize an advanced filtration technology to trap airborne pollutants as minuscule as 0.3 microns.

These advanced HEPA filters can trap up to 99.7 percent of air pollutants to deliver clean, fresh and virtually pollutant and irritant free air to your home. Our technicians can help you upgrade your system and install a HEPA filter that will help you breathe easier.

After a long and brutal winter, almost everyone is happy when springs emerges. Help keep spring an enjoyable season and allergies at bay by making sure your HVAC system is functioning at top capacity and delivering clean, fresh air to your Alexandria home and family.

Don’t let spring allergies leave you sniffling, sneezy and watery eyed in your own home. Call us today and let our professionals get your HVAC system clean and ready to filter out all the allergens spring brings.

For top quality HVAC service in the Alexandria, VA area, call Cyprus Air Heating & Cooling at (844) 546-7219 and schedule your spring HVAC cleaning and check up appointment today.

3 Reasons Why Your Heater is Out for the Count!

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3 Reasons Why Your Heater Is Blowing Cold Air

Problems With The Heating System

No one likes to have problems with their heating system, but many things can occur that make the heating system malfunction or not behave the way it’s supposed to. When you’re getting cold or cool air from the heating system instead of warm air to heat the home, then there may be a problem that requires your attention as well as the attention of a professional that can fix the problem.

Alexandria, VA Heating ServicesIt’s not every time that cool air is coming from the heating system that there is a problem, but in certain cases, something has malfunctioned, or a part needs replacement, so the system cannot get back to heating the home without the problem being corrected. It’s wise to check out a few things in and around the furnace or HVAC system to see if you can determine the problem. In certain cases, it takes a professional to determine exactly what the problem is as well as to fix the problem.

Common Causes Of Cold Air Coming From The Heating System

Those that have a furnace in their home have to have gas supplied to the furnace to allow it to warm the home. Those with an HVAC unit may be able to heat and cool the home with the unit, but electricity is what makes the HVAC unit work.

Even though a furnace also needs electricity, it won’t run on electricity alone but needs gas. If any problems occur in either unit, it’s possible to get air coming through the central air system but no heat, so here are a few possible problems to consider:

  • The pilot isn’t lit
  • No gas supply
  • Inefficient gas supply
  • Thermostat problems
  • Damage to the air ducts
  • Only the fan is on, not the heat
  • Burners won’t turn on in furnace
  • Air filter is dirty enough to switch heating element off
  • Heater needs to run a bit longer
  • Flame sensor in furnace is dirty
  • The furnace’s limit switch isn’t working right

Problem #1- The Pilot Light-

This tends to be an extremely common issue why the furnace is not blowing hot air, and it’s simply because the pilot is not lit to burn the gas to bring heat to the vents in the home. The pilot may be out for one of a number of reasons, but it’s always because no gas is going to the pilot or because the pilots itself has a malfunction.

Pilots have to be functioning correctly in order to receive gas and to be lit to run the furnace, so if the pilot cannot be lit because it’s no longer functioning, then a new pilot will need to replace the old one before the furnace can work properly again. In certain cases, gas isn’t being supply efficiently to the pilot, which means the gas supply is low, sporadic, or turned off in some cases.

Without gas or the right amount of gas, the pilot will never light, but it’s still possible to blow cool air around the home if the central heat’s fan is on. Have the pilot checked out to make sure it doesn’t need replacement, and also make sure there is an adequate supply of gas to the home by checking other gas appliances in the home.

Problem #2- A Thermostat Problem-Alexandria, VA Heater Repair Service

Many love their thermostat and the fact that they can program it, and in some cases, the thermostat can be programmed when no one is at home. With technology advancing, it’s possible to program a thermostat through Wi-Fi or over the Internet, which means anyone can come home to a warm home that is heated by a thermostat that was programmed while they were away.

Even though thermostats can do a lot to heat a home, if the settings are incorrect, then the thermostat may be the very cause of why cool air is blowing into the home when warm air is needed. Check the fan first because many tend to turn the fan on, which is only a good idea if they simply want to circulate air through the home, even though the air will be cool.

Those that need heat in the home have to turn the heating system on as well as the fan, even though it would be best to leave the fan on “auto.” It’s also necessary to make sure the central heating system is turned on, and make sure that “heat” is chosen because two switches may be on the thermostat, so choose the heat option as well as turning on the central air.

The battery may also need replacement because a low battery may mean a malfunctioning thermostat that doesn’t allow it to register properly and bring warm air to the home.

Problem #3- Air Ducts-

The air ducts are extremely important for a central heating system, and they also can be somewhat delicate. Air ducts are put away from where people frequent, typically, in the attic, and this is because it helps to keep them from becoming damaged. It’s still possible for air ducts to become damaged while sitting around in an attic space because wear and tear is possible.

If there is ever a tear of any kind in the air duct, then it will easily suck in any cold air from outside the air duct and push it through the vents, which means you may experience cold air in the home. Repairs to the air ducts are the only way to fix this problem.

Always Get Maintenance On Your Heating System

Maintenance on a heating system as well as maintenance of the air ducts is necessary to keep them functioning. If there is any damage to the air ducts, have a professional check it out as soon as possible, and allow them to check on the entire heating system each time they come out to do maintenance.

Maintain and repair your heating system by calling Cyprus Air Heating & Cooling in Alexandria, VA at (844) 546-7219.