Increase Your Comfort in Winter Months: Humidify your Home!

If it seems like your skin is dryer, you get zapped with static shocks more often, and you wake up frequently with a stuffy nose, you're not just imagining things—you're experiencing the effects of low humidity.

Even if you live in an area that has hot and humid summers, the drop in temperature that accompanies winter sucks the moisture right out of the air. Decreased moisture has a host of negative side effects ranging from increasing your chances of getting a cold or sinus infection—dry respiratory tissue is more susceptible to irritation and infection—to the paint and wood work in your home cracking from lack of moisture.

If you've ever looked at a vase of flowers in January and sworn you just filled it up with water and it needs a refill again, you're seeing just how thirsty the dry winter air in your home really is. More effective are stand alone and whole house humidifiers that mechanically inject moisturized air into individual rooms and the entire heating system of a home, respectively.

For more information on humidifying your home, call us at Self Heating & Cooling!

Resolve to Save Energy this New Year!

At the beginning of every new year, millions of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, which inevitably are forgotten by the end of January. This year, forget making a New Year’s resolution. Instead make a home energy efficiency resolution.

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If you are looking to save money and energy, call Self Heating & Cooling today! Ask about our Self-Assurance plan!

How a Humidifier Keeps You Healthy All Winter

Don't let your guard down — cold season is still in full effect. The combination of Winter's dry air, a turned-up thermostat, and closed windows can wreak havoc on your respiratory system. The best way to combat dry air and reduce your susceptibility to infection is to invest in a humidifier.

Relieve sinusitis: When the air is too dry, sinuses don't drain and function properly. According to many ENT experts, adding humidity to the air is generally good for sinus health — especially if you're regularly suffering from congestion and sinusitis.

Heal faster: Whether it be a cold, asthma, or allergies, a humidifier keeps your nasal passages lubricated, which helps speed up the healing process when you're under the weather. For people with bad allergies, there are humidifiers that are specially designed to purify the air as well.

Helps prevent nosebleeds: Another reason keeping your nasal passages moist and lubricated is essential is to prevent nosebleeds. If you're regularly experiencing nosebleeds due to your dry climate, it's worth a try. Many people have found that it makes a huge difference.

Alleviate snoring: The moisture from a humidifier keeps the throat from drying out and relieves the intensity of that annoying snoring sound. If you or your partner is a snorer, the added bonus is that (at least) one of you will be sleeping more soundly.

Support beautiful skin: Soothe dry skin by sleeping with a humidifier on through the night. In the morning, you'll not only notice that your face looks more supple, but your hands and lips won't feel dry and dehydrated either.

Call Self Heating & Cooling today to learn about our humidification solutions and how to choose the perfect humidifier to suit your families needs!

Energy Saving Tips!

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home -- typically making up about 48% of your utility bill.

No matter what kind of heating and cooling system you have in your house, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. But remember, an energy-efficient furnace alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using the whole-house approach. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions.

HEATING AND COOLING TIPS

Set your programmable thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer, and -- depending on the season -- raise or lower the setpoint when you're sleeping or away from home.
Clean or replace filters on furnaces and air conditioners once a month or as recommended.
Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to perform this task, contact a professional.
Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
During winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
During summer, keep the window coverings closed during the day to block the sun's heat.

LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIPS

Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.
For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR® models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE. For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models are 14.5 SEER or more.

Is Your Heat Not Working?

It may be your first reaction to call you HVAC specialist Self Heating & Cooling when your furnace is not producing heat. While there may be no heat coming out the vent there may be a very simple solution why. Here are some things to look at before you call:

Check the thermostat – Make sure your thermostat is set for heat and is at least at 68 F and above to make sure the temperature is set high enough for the furnace to be turned on.

Check your circuit breaker – If the furnace is not turning on you may have tripped the circuit breaker or blown a fuse. There should be one breaker dedicated to your heating system for you home or office. Check the breaker box to see if this is your problem. If the problem persists give us a call.

Check your pilot – If you have a older had furnace be sure to see if the pilot igniting the correct way. Also check the gas valve to make sure it is in good working order.

If you have gone through this checklist and your furnace is still isn’t producing heat don’t hesitate to call Self Heating & Cooling-678-909-6377