Tip of the Month
Many homeowners prefer to hide their outdoor air conditioning units behind bushes or fences. If this is not done correctly or maintained properly, however, it can have a negative effect on your cooling system. Bushes or fences too close to your outdoor unit can restrict air-flow and make it harder to clean, service and repair. They can also obstruct your view and make it difficult to notice potential problems.
Try to keep bushes trimmed with an 18” to 36” air space on all sides of unit. Also make sure to keep a 3 to 4 foot air space above the unit. If you’re building a fence, make sure it can be easily removed. (There may be times where you’ll need access on all four sides of the outdoor unit.) Lastly, keep your outdoor unit clear of leaves and debris, this ensures proper airflow and system efficiency.
Schedule maintenance online today!
For more details, visit the A.J. Perri website…ajperri.com.
Q&A’s – HVAC & Plumbing
Q: Before I call a service technician for repair of your Air Conditioning System is there anything I can check first?
A: There are a number of things you can check before calling a service technician regarding your cooling/heating system. Check disconnected switches (indoors and outdoors if you have a split system). Make sure that circuit breakers are on or that fuses have not blown. Check for sufficient airflow. Make sure air filters are clean and that supply-air and return-air grilles are open and unobstructed. Check the settings on your thermostat. If you want cooling, make sure the temperature control selector is set below room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is on the COOL or AUTO position. The FAN switch should be set at ON for continuous blower operation or AUTO if you want the blower to function only while the home central air conditioning unit is operating. If none of these steps have fixed the problem, call your service technician.
Q: When do I know I need a new water heater?
A: There are several signs that may indicate your water heater might be failing:
- A complete or partial loss of hot water supply.
- The unit no longer provides the same temperature or duration of hot water as it had in the past.
- Water buildup in or around the area of your water heater may suggest a leak.
- Water-quality issues, such as rust or sediment visible in your water supply, could indicate the unit may be failing.
- Excessive corrosion in the body of the heater or at its plumbing connections.
- Leakage around plumbing fittings.
- A leak in the body of the water heater. This requires immediate replacement.
- The water heater makes “percolating” noises – indicating there is a lot of sediment or build-up in the bottom of the tank.
Don’t wait until your water heater leaks all over your floor, damaging everything in its path. If you recognize any of the aforementioned signs, contact your plumber.
Energy Saving Tips
Making your home more energy efficient can save you money while helping conserve natural resources. Most of us are willing to perform energy efficient practices, we just don’t always know which ones can actually make the biggest difference. Below is a list of problem areas around your home and solutions that can have a huge affect on the energy efficiency of your home.
Cooling and heating costs are wasted by drafts at door and windows. Apply weather stripping or replace weather stripping that is worn out. If you cannot weather strip for whatever reason, at least try to block off the drafts as best you can. Heavy drapes at all windows and the patio door can help. Also add blockers such as the bean bag snakes at the bottom of exterior doors.
Lack of maintenance on your heating and cooling system. If you are not having your heating and cooling system maintained and cleaned by a professional at least once a year you are wasting energy. Your system can work up to 40% less efficiently when it is not serviced. This not only wastes energy, but costs you more in higher utility bills.
Replace standard bulbs with fluorescent ones. Although these are more expensive than regular ones, they use less energy and last longer, so over time they will more than pay for themselves.
Water heaters in most homes are set too high. This is not only unnecessary, but can pose a hazard in homes where there are young children. Having tap water delivered that is scalding hot wastes energy – twice. First, the energy needed to bring the water to temperature is wasted, because it is too hot. Then, before it can be used for baths or showers, cold water has to be added to cool it down. Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140ºF, most households only require them set at 120ºF.
Check your attic insulation, especially if you have an older home. Insulation products of today have greatly improved over what they were 20 to 30 years ago. You should check to see not only what type of insulation is present but also how much there is. If it is not adequate, replace or supplement it.
Programmable thermostatsare a good investment. These can be programmed to adjust the temperature setting in your home to conserve energy when you are asleep or away from home. Then, before you return home, they adjust the setting again to make sure that when you arrive back home you arrive to comfortable temperatures.
How you use your energy is also important. Turn lights off when you are leaving a room, whether you are going out of the room or leaving for the evening. Don’t run partial loads of dishes or clothing. Skip the preheat cycle on the oven, except where food requires it. In the winter, put on socks or a sweater instead of raising the thermostat, and in the summer, use fans for additional cooling.
We have been serving the New Jersey area for 40+ years, one satisfied customer at a time. We look forward to hearing from you if you need additional information on our products and services, or a suggestion about how we may better serve you.
To Visit or Contact our Office:
A.J. Perri
1138 Pine Brook Rd.
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Telephone
1-800-554-1827
Fax
(732) 982-8717
Office Hours:
- Monday-Friday 7AM-11PM
- Saturday/Sunday 7AM-7PM
- 24 Hour Emergency Service – 365 days a year
To reach a specific department, please click one of the links below:
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