[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_custom_font font_family="Archivo" font_size="60px" line_height="70px" font_weight="700" text_align="left" content_custom_font="Spring Maintenance Tips To Protect Your Homes Value" color="#000000"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text] If the thought of spring cleaning makes you long for winter, it’s time to think about these annual chores in a new way. By dedicating just a few days to complete these simple tasks, you will keep your home running smoothly and protect your investment at the same time.   Inside your home • As the weather gets warmer, it’s important to ensure your windows are in good working condition. Inspect all windows for proper operation and a tight fit. Clean the window tracks and check that the weatherstripping hasn’t cracked or torn. Preventing unwanted outside air from leaking into your home also will reduce your energy bills. • Remember, open windows can be hazardous, especially to young children. Screens are designed to keep insects from getting into a home, not to prevent a child from falling. Parents need to take action to reduce the potential risks of accidental falls from windows. • Have your air conditioning system inspected and cleaned. If your system has a filter, replace it every three months to keep your unit working efficiently. • Warmer weather also means that pests — including ants, roaches, rats, and termites — will be looking to join your household. Keep them out by sealing cracks and openings along baseboards, behind sinks and around pipes and windows. And, repair holes in door and window screens.   Outside your home • Check the condition of glazing compound, caulking and exterior paint. Replace or paint as needed. • Exchange glass and screens in storm doors and/or windows. Ensure the screens are clean by washing gently with soapy water. • Inspect your roof for snow damage. • To prevent outside pests from entering your home, look for cracks and holes on the outside of your home and seal them up. Be sure to include points where utility lines enter the house. Also address damage to the basement foundation and windows. • Check for evidence of termites such as sagging floors and ceilings or dry, brown tunnels in the ground near the home’s foundation. • Seed and feed the lawn and plant annuals, cut back perennials that need pre-growth pruning. • Clean your gutters of debris. Yes, you have to do this in the fall and the spring. Long winters bring a mix of storms and heavy winds that can carry a lot of debris to your gutters.   Remember, focusing on these small jobs now will save you time and money in the future. For more information about home maintenance, contact the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee (HBAMT) online at www.hbamt.org, or visit the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at www.nahb.org/forconsumers.   Trey Lewis is president of the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_custom_font font_family="Archivo" font_size="60px" line_height="70px" font_weight="700" text_align="left" content_custom_font="Titan Heating And Cooling Tips" color="#000000"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text] Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home — typically making up about 48% of your utility bill.   No matter what kind of heating and cooling system you have in your house, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. But remember, an energy-efficient furnace alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using the whole-house approach. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions.   HEATING AND COOLING TIPS Set your programmable thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer, and — depending on the season — raise or lower the setpoint when you’re sleeping or away from home.   Clean or replace filters on furnaces and air conditioners once a month or as recommended.   Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.   Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to perform this task, contact a professional.   Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.   Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.   During winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. During summer, keep the window coverings closed during the day to block the sun’s heat.   LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIPS Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.   For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR® models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE. For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models are 14.5 SEER or more. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_custom_font font_family="Archivo" font_size="60px" line_height="70px" font_weight="700" text_align="left" content_custom_font="Tips: Air Conditioners" color="#000000"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text] Buying a bigger room air conditioner won’t necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, a room air conditioner that’s too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit. The reason: an oversized unit will cool the room(s) to the thermostat set-point before proper dehumidification occurs, making the area feel “clammy” and uncomfortable. Central air-conditioning systems need to be sized by professionals. Explore our Energy Saver 101 infographic on home cooling to learn how an air conditioner works.   If you have a central air system in your home, set the fan to shut off at the same time as the compressor, which is usually done by setting the “auto” mode on the fan setting. In other words, don’t use the system’s central fan to provide air circulation — use circulating fans in individual rooms.   Instead of air-conditioning, consider installing a whole-house fan. Whole-house fans work in many climates and help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. Use the fan most effectively to cool down your house during cooler times of the day: your home will stay cooler through the hotter times of the day without using the fan.   COOLING TIPS • Set your thermostat at as high a temperature as comfortably possible in the summer, and ensure humidity control if needed. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. • Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense. • Consider using an interior fan along with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air through your home without greatly increasing your power use. • Avoid placing appliances that give off heat such as lamps or TVs near a thermostat.   LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIPS • If your air conditioner is old, consider buying an energy-efficient model. Look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels — qualified room air conditioners are 10% more efficient, and qualified central units are about 15% more efficient than standard models. • Consider installing a whole-house fan or evaporative cooler if appropriate for your climate. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_custom_font font_family="Archivo" font_size="60px" line_height="70px" font_weight="700" text_align="left" content_custom_font="Duct Cleaning & Dryer Vent Cleaning" color="#000000"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text] Duct Cleaning and Dryer Vent Cleaning – Titan Heating and Cooling is your most competitive source for Duct Cleaning and Dryer Vent Cleaning! This service pays for itself with immediately improved energy efficiency! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...