4 Things that Separate Us From Cavemen - Seriously

Safety, Health, Comfort and Finances. Those are four things that are pretty important. If you think about it, those are the main reasons we live in houses and not in caves.

At Mt. Everest Air Heating & Cooling, your comfort is what we do. Our job is to make sure your home's mechanical system is in tip top shape so we can limit your concern about those four items. Our precision heating tune-up is designed to do just that. Without regular semi annual tune ups, bad things can happen. Let's look at a few...

Safety
Depending on the type of system in your home, there's a good chance it utilizes either a blazing fire or high voltage electricity to keep you warm in the winter. When everything is working properly, that's usually not a problem. When things go wrong, it can become a big problem! Most home fires are started by faulty appliances like these.

If your system is burning fuel, it's also creating carbon monoxide (CO). CO is poisonous stuff. It's also colorless and odorless. You can't smell it or see it. If it escapes into your living area it will make you sick or kill you. As part of our precision tune-up we'll check your system for CO leaks and potential problems that could cause leaks. These are just a few of the hazards that could compromise your safety. There are more, but I think you can see why safety is at the top of our list.

Health
An improperly maintained air system can cause other problems as well. in most homes, heat is distributed through ducts using a motorized blower. Without proper filtration, that duct system could be distributing all kinds of nasty particles that can irritate allergy or asthma sufferers, or anyone who lives in the house. While we do our precision tune-up, we clean or replace your air filters and look for other problems that could make the system less effective.

Humidity control is important too. If you do have a humidification system, it needs proper maintenance or it can become a breeding ground for bacteria or mold. That's unhealthy for everybody.

Comfort
The main reason we have indoor heating is to keep us comfortable. Strangely, many people get used to living uncomfortably. It just becomes normal for them to be too hot or too cold, or to put up with cold drafts or excessive heat. A lot of those problems can be solved with simple adjustments. The average person feels most comfortable when the humidity is between 35-50%. Anything outside that range feels unpleasant, even when the temperature is where you like it. We make sure you're as comfortable as possible.

Finances
There area 2 major ways a precision tune-up can impact your finances. The first is by reducing your utility bills. A system that's working properly will use less energy.

A precision tune-up also saves you money by extending the life of your system. Imagine if you never changed the oil in your car--the engine wouldn't last very long. The same idea applies to your heating system. If you don't maintain it, it's going to fail alot sooner than it should. When it does, it will cost a lot more to replace it than it would to have performed regular maintenance.

So there are the 4 big reasons why you should have us out for a semi-annual precision tune-up. It's easy to do, just give us a call. In fact, its so easy, even a caveman....ah, nevermind. You get the idea.

-Reprinted with permission from Service Roundtable, copyright 2010

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Great Reasons to Install a Geothermal System in Your Home

Maybe you've heard about the great tax incentives in place for those opting to replace traditional home heating and cooling systems with more eco friendly geothermal systems. Perhaps you just don't know enough about Geothermal or the benefits of such systems to consider the change. Here are some great reasons to change to Geothermal:

Energy Bill Savings - Geothermal units use technology that allows your home to actually transfer heat from one source to another. Usually, that source is the earth itself, pond or other large water source. Depending on a network created of loops, Geothermal energy transfers the heat from the ground to your home. For example, in cold months, when the ground is warmer than the air above, the system transfers that warm air out of the ground and into your home. In warmer months of the year when the ground is cooler than the air above it, the system is simply reversed to allow you to cool your home to a more comfortable temperature. Since the unit relies on the transfer of temperatures and doesnt rely on outside, "man-made", energy sources such as gas or electric, it is extremely economical to run. You will see a major reduction in the cost of your heating and cooling costs using geothermal.

"Green" Alternative - Geothermal uses the renewable energy of the earth's temperature to heat and cool. You can feel good about knowing your home is conditioned with greener, earth friendly resources and not harmful emission
causing materials such as electricity or gas. Furthermore, studies have shown that geothermal systems use 25% to 50% less energy than a regular system. Of course, the unit itself is still powered by electricity but you'll use far less electricity than a traditional unit uses.

Geothermal Pays for Itself - Over the course of a few years, the initial investment of installing a geothermal system will be paid back to you in the form of big energy bill savings. Depending on the cost of heating and cooling costs in your area, it is possible that you will see between $30 - $80 per month in savings each month! Geothermal systems also last much longer than traditional heating and cooling systems too; around 20 to 30 years without much maintenance required.

New or Existing Homes - Geothermal systems can be installed in new construction or in existing homes. Even if you have had your home for many years, you can still take advantage of the benefits of Geothermal. You have no reason to feel that because other areas of your home are not as energy efficient as you would like, that its a bad time to think about switching to more efficient Geothermal systems. It's a perfect time! Once you start seeing the savings and the tax credits, you'll realize how much more you can be saving and start looking for even more ways to reduce energy costs.

You can find more information on the Advantages and FAQs on Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems by visiting us at Mt. Everest Heating and Cooling. We'll be happy to schedule an appointment with one of our Geothermal experts to learn more about installing a high efficiency Geothermal system in your home.

Till Next time.

How to Choose an Air Duct Cleaning Service Professional

There are many reasons for deciding to have your home's air ducts cleaned. Some health issues are related to poor air quality and having air ducts professionally cleaned can improve symptoms of certain conditions. It's important to know though that choosing a duct work cleaning service that is not experienced with your type of heating and cooling system or one that does not use the proper equipment or processes can actually make the situation worse.

Here are some things you should consider when choosing an air duct cleaning
professional:

- Don't make the mistake of thinking all duct cleaning pros are the same.

- Have 2 or 3 companies provide you with an estimate for the work and what
steps will be taken to ensure the safety of your possessions and family while work is being done.

- Be sure that the pro has worked on systems like yours. Don't let them learn on your home.

- Ask what procedures are taken to ensure the safety of your possessions, pets, and family members during the process. Make sure you are protected from anything harmful they may find in the duct work such as mold or other
bacteria.

- Check references! Be sure that others have had good experiences with the company or professional you are considering. You can check with the Better Business Bureau, the Office of Consumer Affairs, or your local county
government to see if complaints have been filed. Also, check online reviews for the pro or company you are considering.

- Keep in mind that no one can make claims that air duct cleaning will make your air quality healthier. The health benefits are unsubstantiated and any service who tells you that cleaning your air ducts will definitely make you
feel better is giving you false promised. Some health conditions are worsened by poor air quality though so it is definitely possible that symptoms of illness can be elleviated or improved with cleaning of air ducts.

- Doing your homework, having reasonable expectations on how duct cleaning can
help, and checking to make sure you are hiring an experienced and reputable professional will ensure that you get the job done correctly and safely for your family and home.

Till next time,