Home Humidity

Upgrading Your HVAC System

With winter on the horizon, now is a good time to assess the health of your HVAC system. If your heating and air conditioning units are more than 10 years old, it’s a good idea to have them serviced and evaluated before cold and wet weather settles in. The service pros at Atlas Butler can come to your home and perform routine seasonal maintenance and give you a frank assessment of how many more years of service you can expect out of your HVAC system. In many cases, it makes more sense to just bite the bullet and replace everything, especially if you’ve been spending a lot of money on ongoing repairs. Here are three ways a new HVAC system can save you money:

1. Efficiency. If you’ve found that your AC or furnace just isn’t performing satisfactorily, a new system would fix that. Modern HVAC systems are engineered to run more efficiently and reduce your heating and cooling costs. In some instances, you may even be eligible for a tax credit.
2. Fewer repairs. Goes without saying. A new furnace or AC will need few to no repairs, and if it does, you’ll be covered under the warranty. Another consideration is that as an HVAC system ages, it can become increasingly difficult to find parts and you’ll pay for it.
3. Smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can save you money and keep your home at a consistent, comfortable temperature. You can program the thermostat to keep your home warmer or cooler when you’re away, then adjust the temperature to your preference by the time you arrive home. By not running your HVAC at full capacity during peak usage seasons when nobody is home saves money and energy.

So, if it’s time to replace your HVAC system, call Atlas Butler at 614-681-2167. We can get you scheduled, evaluate the system, and make recommendations. Keep your new HVAC system performing at its best. When you join the Atlas Butler Comfort Club, we’ll keep your new system maintained and running for years to come. Ask your service technician and select the service level that best fits your needs and budget.

Considering a Programmable Thermostat?

If you, like everybody else, are tired of soaring utility bills, fight back. Installing a programmable thermostat may be the solution to stay on top of your gas and electric costs. Programmable thermostats are a popular option for maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures and are relatively easy to obtain and install. The service pros at Atlas Butler can help you choose the right model and install it for you. We carry a complete line of programmable thermostats and will show you how to use one.

If this sounds good to you, here are some of the pros and cons of programmable thermostats.

Pros

Saves money on utility bills. This is the obvious reason for having a programmable thermostat in the first place — economy. You can turn the AC up (or heat down) during the day while you’re at work. Then, the thermostat will be programmed to raise or lower the temperature accordingly so it’s nice and warm (or cool) when you get home. That way, the AC or furnace isn’t running full blast all day in an empty house, thus reducing energy expenditures.

Can be adjusted from anywhere. Suppose a sudden winter storm is brewing that nobody anticipated when you’ve landed at the airport after a tropical vacation. Your thermostat isn’t programmed to start heating back up until later in the day. Don’t want to come home to a chilly house? Simple. Go into your app and adjust the temperature from your mobile device.

Maintenance reminders. Some programmable thermostats will alert you when it’s time to change furnace filters. It can also give you other maintenance reminders, so you can call Atlas Butler to schedule your seasonal HVAC tune-up.

Cons

Upfront costs. Some people find the initial outlay of $75-$200 (estimate) for a programmable thermostat to be steep. That’s understandable but realize that the unit will pay for itself over time through reduced utility bills, especially if you live in an older home.

Use by multiple residents. If you have family members who are home at all hours of the day, then a programmable thermostat may not work. People want to be comfortable while they’re at home, so there is no point in automatically adjusting the thermostat.

Hacking. Believe it or not, bad actors have found a way to infiltrate home thermostats. This is more of a possibility when the thermostat is tied into other programs, but occurs, nonetheless. Luckily, this isn’t a huge threat, but something to at least have on your radar.

If you are looking for a way to manage energy expenses during a time of rising inflation, a programmable thermostat is a good investment to keep ahead of the curve. Call Atlas Butler at 614-681-2167 to learn how a programmable thermostat would work for you. We will help you choose the right model for your family’s lifestyle to provide the best HVAC services in Central Ohio.

How Humidity Affects Cooling Your Home

During summer, humidity can soar, which can lead to dangerous heat indices. While your AC is working hard to control the temperature, during days with high humidity, it’s pulling double-duty to remove moisture from the air. Some indoor humidity is beneficial. Otherwise, you’d be suffering from dry skin, breathing difficulties, as well as drying out your furniture and other household items. Signs of excessive indoor humidity include condensation on glasses of cold beverages, fogged-up windows and mirrors, and a musty odor. More common is the experience of feeling “clammy” and generally uncomfortable. Causes of a humid home are numerous, but the first step a licensed plumber at Atlas Butler will take is to examine your AC unit.

When your AC is running to cool the air in your home, it’s also removing moisture from the air. That moisture has to go somewhere and it should drain into a condenser drip pan. In an underperforming air conditioner, when the fan shuts off, the moisture has nowhere to go but back into the air inside your home. So not only do you feel physically uncomfortable, but another pain point is high energy bills. Also, an AC system that is too small for your home or not pulling moisture out of the air can result in more frequent service calls, which can add up moneywise.

The service pros at Atlas Butler can figure out why your home feels humid. It could be as simple as needed to change filters more often or as costly as needing a new condenser or bigger AC unit. We can help you figure out what works best for your home and comfort levels. Give us a call at 614-681-2167; our phones are answered 24/7/365 by a live person. Ensure year-round comfort. Ask about Atlas Butler’s Comfort Club, featuring different levels of membership, which include annual maintenance and discounts on parts and repairs.