Tag: Utilities and Bills

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 …
Generators

2021 Home Improvements

Stimulus checks and tax returns will allow some of us to upgrade our homes, which is why the team at Doug’s Heating & Air Conditioning collected some ideas for small and big spenders.   Air Quality Investing into clean air for you and your loved ones is the most affordable solution. You may consider air scrubbers, air purifiers, air cleaners, germicidal UVC light and even humidifiers. We recommend conducting an air audit to assess your situation. Investing into better air …
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 …
Air Quality

How to Prevent Negative Impacts of Dry Winter Air on Your Family and Home

Your loved ones are most likely to suffer from the consequences of dry air in semi-arid climates and during the cold of winter when the furnace’s heat eradicates most of the humidity. The latter, especially impacts most Quad Cities Area households. Dry air may… Cause sore throats and dry skin which may be confused with COVID-19. Trigger itchy eyes, increasing the risk of catching infections by rubbing the eyes. Make you more susceptible to catching cold and flu viruses according …
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. …
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 …
Energy Efficiency

Is my Utility Bill too High?

This is actually a tricky question, because you can only answer it if you know what is normal or average. The first step is to look at past bills over the years and note any changes. Did the bill increase because you have an additional roommate? Did you install new equipment that needs plenty of electricity or are you now using a room you didn’t heat/cool previously? If the answer to these and similar questions is no, you should look …
Money Saving Tips

Brace Yourself

Air conditioners have been turned off for a while and the winter season is approaching. We are embracing shorter days by getting used to turning on our lights more. Brace yourself for the annual winter adjustment with the following tips; Heating • Annually check your heating system to make sure it is ready for the winter. • Replace your heater’s filter and remove any dust to save energy and maintain parts. • Consider installing a new heating system if your …
Energy Efficiency

Top Tips on Reducing your Energy Bill

Think about your latest energy bill. If your hair is starting to rise, you might consider a strategy to permanently reduce it. This isn’t even a challenging task anymore. For starters, focus on heating and cooling.  This item makes up the largest portion of an average energy bill (approx. 46%). Heating: Inspect your heating system on a regular basis Clean or replace furnace filters Don’t block heat registers and air return ducts Cooling: Adjust your air conditioning system to the …
Money Saving Tips

You can hear the air moving so you know it’s on, but it’s just not making a difference.

Have you had your ducts inspected lately? Having routine inspection and maintenance of ductwork ensures air can flow through all rooms of the home. Duct work can leak for years without being noticed, because it is usually out of sight. Leaky duct work can even cause up to a 10% increase in your heating bill. This can be easily prevented and monitored. Leaky ducts release heated or cooled air before it arrives at its destination so your air is moving, …
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