About Me

Preparing for My Dream Home

My husband and I have spent a lot of time consulting with an architect. After living in our cramped, starter home for the past 11 years, we were finally ready to make some needed changes to it. We have added an extra 600 square feet of space onto our house. Before the construction began, we finalized the plans for our new heating and air conditioning unit with our HVAC contractor. Because our home was going to be substantially bigger than it is now, we purchased a larger HVAC system. We also installed a new, digital thermostat inside my home. On this blog, I hope you will discover the best types of HVAC units to buy for mid-size homes. Enjoy!

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Preparing for My Dream Home

Protect Your HVAC Units During Summer Vacation

by Rita Richardson

There aren't many people who do not look forward to going on their summer vacation, but a lot has to be considered before you lock up your home and head out. One of the biggest considerations is your HVAC systems. The last thing you want to do is come home to a problem with one of your HVAC units. Not only do you want to preserve your systems while you are on vacation, but you could end up saving yourself some money if you plan ahead. In order to achieve all this and avoid having your local HVAC contractor out to the home as soon as you return, here are some tips for handling your HVAC needs while on vacation. 

Turn Your Thermostat Up

While away from home for an extended time, you do not have to worry about keeping your house cool. This means you can turn the thermostat up while you away on vacation. Experts recommend that you turn your thermostat to 85 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure you are not cooling an empty house. If you turn the thermostat off completely, your refrigerator may struggle to keep items cold. If your thermostat has a timer, you can even adjust it to where it will go back down before you get home. This way your home will be cooled off and ready for you. 

Secure Your Unit

If you have an air conditioning unit sitting outside your home, you may want to consider securing it before you leave. If intruders see that you are not going to be home for a while, they may decide to take the AC unit. Air conditioning units can cost anywhere between $500 and $4000 so you want to be sure you are not coming home to a stolen unit. To better secure it, you can install a small fence around the unit. Additionally, there are locks and alarms that are designed specifically for central air units. Placing motion sensor lights around the unit will also help deter any thieves. 

Change Your Air Filter

One of the easiest things you can do before you leave to go on vacation is replace your air filter. A dirty air filter will make your units work much harder than they should. To make sure your units run efficiently while you are gone and reduce the chances of any breakdowns, you want to ensure you leave the home with a clean air filter in place. This can be done by removing the old filter and replacing it with a new one. Some permanent air filters can be cleaned instead of replacing them. 

For more tips on what to do to prepare your plumbing and HVAC system before going on vacation, contact Always On Call Mountain Mechanical.

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