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Although much of the focus of going Green is on solar panels, electric cars, and bicycling, there’s actually a lot you can do at home to reduce your carbon footprint while saving hundreds on energy bills.

A green choice can almost be made during the purchasing stage of a central heater and a/c. Newer central air conditioners and heating system are naturally more efficient, as more companies realize that people are becoming more conscious of their energy consumption. In particular, if you are in the market for a new HVAC, look for the energy star mark. These really are indicative of a more energy efficient unit. A slightly higher cost will certainly be offset by the hundreds of dollars you will save on home energy bills, in the long run.

Last but not least, here are some out-of-the-box ideas on how to reduce energy consumption, save money on energy bills, and help the planet all at once:

1. Make sure your air conditioning condenser is located in a shady spot and has room to dispose of the heated air it removes from your house. Don’t crowd it with shrubs or anything else.
2. Plant shade trees and shrubs around your house to help reduce the heat of the sun, especially on the west and south sides. This can reduce your cooling costs by up to 30%.
3. Close drapes on the sunny side of your house.
4. Install energy efficient ceiling fans and run them on hot days. If it’s just a little too warm for comfort, use the ceiling fan without air conditioning. If it’s hot enough to require air conditioning, using the ceiling fans at the same time allows you to raise the temperature setting by five degrees, which will reduce your costs. Use the ceiling fan only when you’re in the room, because running the fan doesn’t actually lower the temperature. The moving air increases the amount of evaporation from your skin and helps cool you off.
5. Make sure the cooled air coming from your air conditioning vents is not obstructed by furniture or draperies.

For more info, feel free to call the number on this page. In addition, you can visit http://www.energystar.gov/

The refrigerator is often the appliance we take for granted most often. It could be because they don’t break down as often as other things at home, which is a good thing. However, when they do, it’s a real inconvenience, to say the least. A lot of the food in our refrigerators cannot survive more than a day or 2 in room temperature. With food prices constantly going up, this could result in some heavy losses, if a refrigeration problem is left untreated. If your refrigerator is leaking, not cooling properly (freezer and/or fresh food section), or even making strange noises, try looking up the symptoms online to see what they might mean with your particular refrigerator brand. D.I.Y is becoming more popular, as people are more hard-pressed for solutions on a budget. If you believe the problem requires a minor tweak, and you can do it yourself, that’s great! But definitely at least call an expert, just to be on the safe side. A bit of research on your side, and some professional advice could mean the difference between a few more years for your refrigerator, or replacement. It’s important to address the first sign of trouble. Whether it’s a GE, Amana, Electrolux Refrigeration, Jenn-Air Refrigeration, Kenmore, Kitchen-Aid Refrigerators, LG , Maytag , Samsung , Sub-Zero , Thermador , Viking , or a Whirlpool– it’s always best to turn to a refrigerator repair company that has experience repairing refrigerators of all brands, makes, and models. Sometimes you aren’t sure of the brand, or even exactly what the problem is; something may just seem off. That’s ok too. A good, professional appliance repair company should be glad to help over the phone. For one that does, try the number above.

When it comes to air conditioning repair, one is inclined to turn to local air conditioning repair men and/or companies. This certainly has many advantages. Local companies that have been a part of a community from more than a decade have the trust of your friends and neighbors. They also tend to care more about building and maintaining customer relationships than national chains or franchised establishments. The temperature in Glendale for the next 10 days is expected to be mostly sunny, in the high 60s. It is certainly a good sign that spring is here. The time is right to maintain, service, and/or repair your air conditioner– you don’t want to wait until it’s too hot, and repair companies are booked solid for weeks, to fix a small mechanical problem now. Waiting can certainly only make a small problem bigger. If you’re looking for a certified, qualified, licensed and insured HVAC  repair company, look no further. Whether your home is a house, apartment, or condo, it will always be more comfortable with a properly working A/C. West Coast Chief Repair is a company that has local technicians in Glendale, ready to respond to a service request at a moment’s notice.

After 451 reviews, it still maintains a 4-star rating!

http://maps.google.com/west coast chief repair

With the scorching heat today,  I’m sure everyone is tempted to stick their head inside their refrigerator. During hot months, knowing your refrigerator is working properly is crucial for peace of mind, and the preservation of the food inside. Refrigerators have been known to stop working out of the blue, and those failures could be mechanical.  If your refrigerator is not cooling as well as it used to, leaking, or making strange noises, try looking up the symptoms online and what they might mean with your particular brand of refrigerator. If you want to stay on the safe side, call a technician to properly diagnose the problem, before it becomes a bigger one. Unfortunately, it’s almost never simply because of a freon leak. If a leak is suspected, it’s also important to address its source, and not simply recharge the unit with freon. That would be like refilling a bucket with a hole at the bottom. I hope this advice helps you make the right decision. Feel free to contact a professional with any additional questions. The info can be found on this site.

Sometimes, places you would not expect sell appliances– such as HVAC and/or appliance repair companies. Purchasing an appliance from such a company has its pros and cons. The price could sometimes be a little higher than a conventional big retailer, like Sears or Best Buy. An HVAC and/or appliance repair company is also more likely to have good, used units in stock. Places like Sears and Best Buy often sell appliances with extra and expensive warranties. Often, if an appliance breaks down, it takes weeks to send a repairman come, since they’re so backlogged. Weighing these pros and cons will ensure you make a decision that works for you on every level.

Whether to repair or replace an appliance can be a nagging question. On the one hand, you’re worried your appliance is nearing the end of its shelf-life. Sinking money into it now, with the fear that it would have to be replaced anyway, a month down the line. At the same time, the average repair cost could be only a fraction of entirely replacing the appliance, especially if it’s a stainless steel, and/or high brand appliance. With such concerns in mind, it helps to remember that the risk of making a bad decision can be averted if the repair company you turn to for help, provides an adequate warranty. Best case scenario: your appliance is fixed and you save a lot of money by not having to replace it. Worst case scenario: you learn a bit about the appliance from a technician, learn that replacement is the only option, and save time, money and trouble by not having to repair it multiple times.

This unexpectedly cold weather in the past week is a good reminder that we never know when exactly we’ll need our heater(s) working properly. Checking your heater once every few months is a good way to detect a small problem before it becomes a big one. If it’s a gas heater, be sure to turn off the pilot light before you check for any potential symptoms. If the pilot light is constantly on, this is a problem by itself. Be keenly aware of any irregular smells or sounds, but don’t tweak anything mechanical, as this could actually create a problem that wasn’t there before. (source: www.energysavers.gov)