Tag: Tips

maintenanceAir Conditioning

The Importance of HVAC Maintenance Plans with Doug’s Heating & Air

As a homeowner, it’s essential to invest in the maintenance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Your HVAC system plays a vital role in keeping your home comfortable and healthy for you and your family. Neglecting regular maintenance can cause your system to become inefficient, unreliable, and even hazardous. At Doug’s Heating & Air Conditioning, we highly recommend homeowners consider an HVAC maintenance plan. An HVAC maintenance plan is a service agreement between you and an HVAC …
Air Conditioning

Programmable Thermostats (Opportunities and Limitations)

Programmable thermostats are known to help create a comfortable in-door environment while saving money. The trick is to come up with an efficient pre-set schedule during the day. Depending on your daily routines (and thermostat model), you may choose six or even more temperature settings per day. There are digital, electromechanical and mixed system available. We recommend the digital one for tech-savvy individuals who appreciate a variety of setting. The electromechanical thermostat offers fewer features, but it is easier to …
Energy Efficiency

Myth Busters: Heating Edition II

Heating your home efficiently can be tricky which is why we addressed four heating myths back in February. Now it is time to address myths #5 through #8!     Myth #5: Space Heaters Are an Effective Alternative to Your Furnace   Solely relying on space heaters can become costly during the wintertime, because they are less efficient than a gas furnace. They are even less affordable than a wood-heated fire in most cases. This does not mean there is …
History

Get to Know the Team: Ben Bocox

Today, we would like to introduce one of our most experienced team members, Ben Bocox. Ben is our Service Manager and has been with Doug’s Heating & Air Conditioning for 15 years. He graduated from Moline High School and attended Blackhawk College. Ben started his HVAC career working for Holmes Heating and joined the Doug’s team about 2 years later.   “I was looking through the paper on Easter and saw an ad for a service technician position at Doug’s …
Generators

Kilo-What?

Many of us have lived in the Midwest for all of our lives. However, even if you’re new to the area, you’ve probably already realized how quickly the weather and temperature can fluctuate. Shifting weather, especially in the colder months can mean snow storms, frozen powerlines and, inevitably, power outages. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the typical American household loses power once or twice a year for an average of three hours. However, as many of us saw …
Energy Efficiency

Energy Saving Tips

June has finally arrived and unfortunately, so have its hot temperatures. With the weather around 90 degrees, it’s hard to avoid inevitably high energy bills. Here are a couple tips on how to save energy while still enjoying a cool, refreshing house. Don’t over react to the heat After being in the sun all day, a cool, air-conditioned room is a relief.  But, don’t fall in to the common mistake of cranking your thermostat down to cool your house faster. …
Air Conditioning

4 Simple Steps to Get your AC Ready for the Summer

Summer has finally arrived, and temperatures are rising. It’s about time to make sure your AC is in tiptop condition! Before going through the following steps, please turn off the power to make sure safety is ensured at all times. Inspect the Outside Unit Winter can be rough, so make sure the fins of your outside unit are clean. Remove any debris first, and use a tooth brush next to gently brush across the metal fins until they sparkle again. …
Air Conditioning

The Inside Scoop on HVAC: Common Myths Debunked

Myth I: I Only Need to Replace My Filter Every 90 days Reality: Filter maintenance is one of the easiest and most cost effective things you can do to help your system run efficiently and last for years to come. Often, customers will purchase a 90 day filter and leave it in their system assuming they are good to go. One of our expert staff, Ben Bocox, recommends checking your filter every 30 days, regardless of how long it is …
Air Conditioning

Good Timing

Good timing when it comes to financial decisions is often counter-intuitive, like buying Christmas decorations after the holidays are over or buying stocks during a recession. The basic principle is the following: buy when demand is low to get a better price! The same applies to routine maintenance for air conditioners. You probably haven’t even turned on your AC this year, but now is a great time to get it checked out so that it’s ready when you need it …
Furnaces

MidAmerican Rebates – This is Your Last Chance!

MidAmerican rebates will decrease significantly in 2018, so don’t procrastinate and take advantage of an extra $400 rebate on York Furnaces until the end of the year. Upgrading to a quality built York unit in 2017 will not only provide a rebate, it will also save you money in the long term by increasing energy efficiency and lowering your utility bill. Its unique properties will additionally improve your home’s air quality by reducing the number of particles and allergens. Click …
Energy Efficiency

Energy-Savings Tips for the Fall and Winter Time

Winter is approaching and turning on the heat is slowly becoming a daily routine. We at Doug’s Heating & Air Conditioning have already talked about the importance of Furnace Maintenance in our October blog, so now let’s focus on how to keep your utilities bill low without having to abstain from the cozy warmth. Insulation Keep the heat inside by making sure you home’s insulation is up to date. Check your windows and doors for drafts and consider upgrading to …
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