My son Eli attended the latest BNI meeting with me to help give our 45 second commercial. He did so well he won the trophy for best commercial of the week!
Women are often the force in many community events and opportunities for growth, awareness and family success. Columbus has a vast array of women assisting others through education, charity, ministry and family struggles.
Hundreds of these women were celebrated right here in Columbus, Ohio recently. It was their turn to be praised, supported and thanked. This was an evening of music, community and joy for so many. We heard motivating talks discussing the demands on our lives and the increasing expectations we place on ourselves. Music from amazing National artists was played with the gratitude directed back to those that serve others in Columbus. This was an evening of thank you’s to those that consistently give to others and ask for little in return.
I was blessed to be part of this event. I was invited to attend because of the efforts I make to give back to others, especially thru Huntington’s Disease and Special Olympics. I believe that we can all make this world better thru caring for others and lifting each other up. That is what this evening exemplified.
Hannah Kerr, Ohio Christian University Christian Rock band and Plumb opened our hearts to love, God and kinship. These musicians cheered the women in attendance. The energy was unmatched. Thank you to the sponsors of this event. I am grateful that I was included and my heart and motivation were re-energized!
This event was sponsored by 104.9 The River radio station and Eleventh Candle Company.
Our family has always supported all aspects of the military. The majority of our family has served in the military and we proudly support all veterans and military families.
On March 21, I was invited to participate in a Bosslift ESGR Refueling mission on a KC-135 Stratotanker. We flew out of Rickenbacker Air Force base to meet two F16 fighter jets over Vermont and Connecticut. We were loaded with 60,000 pounds of jet fuel and educated fully on all aspects of the operation. We were given all access to the plane, the military team and the mission.
This was an awe-inspiring day that simply reminded me why I am so dedicated to the military. The men and women in charge of this flight work hard, dedicate much of their time to being prepared for anything and have committed to the safety of our country.
I was offered the opportunity to lay down next to the actual boom operator and watch as we refueled an F16. The F16 was within 20 feet of our plane. The men and women of the 121 st Air Refueling Wing are courageous and inspiring. We were also able to learn more about the opportunities for employers and leaders in the community to support those in the National Guard or Reserve. Thank you to all military members and to the ESGR (https://esgr.mil) I was reminded, once again, why TemperaturePro Columbus offers discounts to all members of the military.
As the only Columbus, Ohio dealer of Coleman products, we were recently flown the manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas. Sheri Nash, Owner/Operator, and Charlene Falke, Service Technician, toured the entire plant.
This allowed us to see the great detail and research put into every unit and system offer by Coleman products. We experienced and witnessed their proven processes and systems to ensure that our customers will be satisfied with every aspect of their purchase.
The commitment to manufacturing excellence was obvious. We felt even more confident in our decision to represent Coleman as one of our proven systems to offer our customers. Thanks to Johnstone, Coleman, and JCI manufacturing for partnering with us and being willing to demonstrate their commitment to us.
Taking care of your HVAC system makes good sense. With proper care, you can not only prolong the life of the system, but you can also improve the air quality of your home. Here are some tips for keeping your home’s HVAC system in top shape.
Your home’s HVAC system does more than heat and cool your home. This Old House points out that because air flows through it, it can act as a filtration system, removing contaminants (think: animal allergens, cleaning products, gas appliances) that can pollute your home’s air and trigger allergies. By keeping your home clean and well-ventilated, you can improve the air quality you and your family are breathing. While there is no substitute for having routine maintenance from a professional HVAC technician, you can perform simple duties to help keep your system running smoothly.
Your first line of defense against those tiny, yucky particles is in your home’s HVAC system. Every system has some sort of filtration, and some experts suggest installing a high-efficiency pleated air filter. Choosing a high-quality air filter can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, and changing it regularly can extend its life. A clogged filter makes your system work harder, and Bob Vila explains that when airflow is slowed, your furnace can overheat and be damaged, while also potentially raising your energy bills. The filter should be replaced at least every 90 days. It’s essential to select the right filter size when making your replacement and keep in mind that most filters go by nominal size, which is the actual size rounded up. You can mark the filter size on the exterior of your furnace or write it on your filters so it’s easy to see. You should have your replacement filter on hand before removing the old one.
Set a reminder on your phone or mark your calendar when it’s time to update filters. Remember that 90 days is a rule of thumb, and if you live with pets or people who have allergies you may need to replace filters more often. Another suggestion is to keep an eye on air vents in your home. If you see mold or other pollutants collecting, it’s time to get busy with your maintenance.
Another basic routine check on your HVAC system is to ensure your refrigerant lines are in good shape. You should check them monthly. There is also a condensation drainage hose that should be cleaned annually with a bleach-water solution to prevent the buildup of debris and mildew. If your furnace has a built-in humidifier, you can turn off its water supply during summer months. In the fall, you should replace the humidifier filter and turn the water supply back on.
Your home’s air conditioning and heating units can each benefit from simple, routine cleaning. DIY Network recommends turning off the units with the machine’s on/off switch as well as at your breaker box. Then, give them a good vacuuming to remove debris. You’ll probably notice your air conditioner collects leaves and other outdoor bits and pieces, and the furnace collects dust and lint. Clean each thoroughly while they are shut down, then start them back up again.
Another way to improve the efficiency of your home’s HVAC system is to run ceiling fans during warm weather. Ceiling fans keep the air circulating, working on the same principle as a cool breeze in the summer. According to some research, ceiling fans can make a room feel five degrees cooler, which means you can turn up your thermostat while you enjoy that light breeze. Using your ceiling fans can mean reducing energy bills as much as $30 per month, as well as reduce the wear and tear on the HVAC system. Remember to turn off your ceiling fans when you aren’t in the rooms to enjoy the biggest savings.
Your home should be a haven for your family, and with an efficiently running HVAC system you can all breathe easier. Keep your system well-maintained with these simple DIY tips. You’ll enjoy cleaner air while saving money and energy.
Is your A/C blowing hot air? Be prepared before the summer heat wave hits!
For immediate help, please call us at (614) 344-8518
But in the meantime, don’t hesitate to attempt an at-home diagnosis. Here’s a list of potential reasons why your home air conditioner isn’t working properly:
This is the simplest fix, and we know what you’re thinking- but seriously! It happens to the best of us.
Double-check that your thermostat is set to “cool” to keep your fan running cool air, or set to “auto” so that your fan automatically runs when your house needs cool air.
If your thermostat is set to “heat,” you have your answer! Even if it is set to “on,” this means that your fan will keep blowing air even when it’s not cooling.
Air filters should be changed every 60 – 90 days. When your filter has been collecting dirt, dust, allergens, etc. for 90+ days, it clogs up, restricting airflow and becoming useless & hazardous to you and your family’s health. It can even prevent your AC system from cooling properly.
Make sure to check your air filter every two to three months, more often if you have pets or serious allergies.
Refrigerant is a liquid responsible for absorbing heat from the air in your system. Low or leaking refrigerant means that your air system will blow much warmer than normal. If your AC unit is low on or leaking refrigerant, call an HVAC technician ASAP. The longer you wait, the worse it will get- and refrigerant leaks can be a serious health & environmental hazard.
Don’t hesitate to call us if you think this may be the issue (614) 344-8518!
Both your outside & inside units have their own breakers. If your outside breaker flips for any reason, the inside unit will blow air at the outside temperature- meaning that in the summer, it’s HOT.
Check the breaker box and if this seems to be the problem, simply reset the circuit breaker. If this happens again, do not reset the breaker once more & risk damaging your system. Just call an HVAC technician!
If your return duct is either disconnected or damaged, it will suck in unconditioned air from outside, from your garage, or from your attic space, and blow into your home. That means stale, musty, hot air is circulating throughout your house.
This problem will also require the help of a professional. Call (614) 344-8518.
These are just a few of the many reasons your AC unit is blowing hot air throughout your home.
If you’re in the Columbus area and need help diagnosing a problem with your home’s air conditioning system, call TemperaturePro Columbus at(614) 344-8518 and we’ll have an experienced HVAC technician sent to your home as soon as possible!
Few homeowners give their HVAC system much thought when it comes to landscaping their properties. That’s really too bad, because the right plants, carefully situated in relation to the outdoor component of the air conditioner, can contribute in a positive way to the operation of your system. Not only can planting well-chosen plants in a strategic location improve efficiency, but a carefully thought-out landscaping scheme can also protect your system. Let’s look at a few of the ways trees and your HVAC system can work together.
You know that shade trees keep your home cooler, just as you feel cooler when you stand under a sheltering tree out of the hot sun. But you may not understand exactly how this works in a home’s interior.
It’s a fact that planting trees so their shading canopies deflect the sun will keep your home from heating up as much as homes without tree canopies do. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that a strategically planned landscape can reduce air conditioning expenses by anywhere from 15 to 50 percent.
But that’s not all trees do. In addition to blocking the sunlight from heating the roof, trees also create a cool aura around the home. Trees pull moisture from the ground, which transpires through the leaves, slowly evaporating and cooling the air around them. This mist-laden air is sometimes six degrees or so cooler than the air further away from the trees. As you can see, you can create something of a cool zone around your home by planting trees.
Some homeowners also plant smaller shade trees to shade the condenser (that’s the outdoor component of your air conditioner). While you don’t want leaf debris and twigs falling into the unit and impairing its performance, some shade will contribute modestly to keeping the condenser cooler as it works hard on hot days.
And don’t forget shrubbery. While you’ll likely keep them trimmed below the roof line, shrubs can help keep sun from penetrating the home through windows.
It’s also important to think about how large the plants will grow. Most of us have made the mistake of underestimating the mature size of plants, in terms of how close we plant to the house or in proximity to each other.
It’s important that you choose the right kinds of trees and shrubs for your landscape. If you’re a novice in these matters, you can consult with horticultural professionals from the local extension office, a botanical garden or a good plant nursery about selections for your yard. Better yet, hire a landscaping professional to help you choose and situate your trees to best advantage.
Often, native plants are the best choice. They usually thrive better, with fewer disease and pest problems, than exotic species. Whenever possible, choose drought-tolerant species so that your water bill isn’t out of sight.
Speaking of water, you will have to water generously until your new plants are established, but generally, after a couple of years, you can cut back as the roots grow deeper and can find moisture in the water table.
Once you’ve determined which trees and shrubs you want to use in your landscape, you’ll need to decide where to plant them. Here are a few key rules to adhere to:
Garden structures. Aside from plants, you should also create a plan for garden structures, such as walls, tool sheds, entertainment areas, furniture and the like. It’s always best, whenever possible, to locate these structures away from the HVAC system so as not to affect air flow. If you want to erect a structure to provide some shade to the condenser or to conceal it, you might consider a trellis or arbor, where you can grow vines or climbing roses. These plants will allow air flow, while concealing the presence of the condenser in an attractive way.
If you’re into xeriscaping (the type of landscaping that uses minimal water or irrigation), you may have planned to eliminate grass and put down plastic weed barriers with gravel or pebbles on top of them. If you have these pebble- or stone-strewn landscape areas near the condenser, be sure to weed or cut any grass that grows there by hand. Using a weed whacker can propel pebbles into the condenser and may harm it.
If grass grows next to the condenser, it should be dispersed away from the condenser during mowing. Grass can clog the unit and affect air intake.
Adding trees and shrubs to your landscape in a pleasing, well-thought-out design is a great way to enhance your property values, while also boosting the efficiency of your home by making it cooler and more comfortable. Your air conditioner will also last longer, since the parts won’t need to work so hard to reach temperature set points in the hot, hot summertime.
Furthermore, trees help reduce your carbon footprint, as large, mature trees actually help remove a significant amount of greenhouse gases: as leaves breathe, they draw the gases into the tree and deposit them into the ground through the roots.
So get going and start planting, and those trees and shrubs will be enhancing your comfort and efficiency before you know it.
For all your HVAC needs, contact TemperaturePro Columbus today!
If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, you have a lot of options to choose from. There are many different sizes, brands, and options to decide on and for most people this process can be very frustrating. How can we make this process simpler and help you decide based on the factors that actually matter to you? Introducing: SEER ratings!
SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a metric used to determine how efficient a given AC unit is. It is a ratio that measures how much cool air is created for each unit of electricity used. Thus, the higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the unit is. Most importantly, the more efficient the unit is, the more money you can potentially save in long-term energy costs!
SEER ratings are a critical factor to understand when choosing a new unit and can help you save hundreds of dollars. If you are a proponent of going green and helping the environment, a high SEER unit reduces waste and emissions compared to a lower SEER unit. However, the higher SEER rated units are more expensive, so it’s important to consider your unique needs and goals.
A simple way to help you understand SEER ratings is to think about the Miles Per Gallon (MPG) your car gets. You can buy a car with high MPG, but depending on how you drive and terrain, it will vary in efficiency. The same is true with a high ranking SEER AC unit. It is important to understand that efficient habits will improve any system’s performance.
All said, SEER ratings are important when considering long term efficiency and environmental impact for your unit. Higher SEER units will be more efficient but more expensive. Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice and your values for your home and family. We recommend exploring many different options when it comes to finding a new unit. Make sure to call your local TemperaturePro Columbus with any questions!
Summer is here and the heat is showing no signs of stopping. Now is the time to make sure that your AC unit is performing properly. Has your AC broken recently or is it not being cooperative? Check out the following tips to get it back up and running!
Your air filter is like the gatekeeper between hot, dusty air and clean, cool bliss. It’s crucial to make sure you regularly replace your filter to keep it clean. A dirty or clogged filter will restrict air flow and cause your unit to malfunction. Studies have shown that dirty air filters can reduce your AC’s efficiency by up to 10%!
Sometimes it’s the simplest solutions that are often overlooked. Replacing your batteries might be the only thing you need to fix!
First locate you circuit breaker in the breaker box, then flip the switch on and off and see if your issue is fixed. Circuits can get messed up all the time so this can be a quick an easy fix if you know what to look for. If, however, you don’t notice any changes after flipping the switch, you might want to call an electrician to see if you have a more complex issue.
Although it can sometimes be hard to find, a clean condenser coil is what keeps your AC running efficiently. If you find that your condenser coil is covered in leaves, grass, or other debris you could break out the hose and gently spray it down. Sometimes all it takes is a little cleaning and maintenance to keep you AC performing at the top of it’s game.
Your local TemperaturePro Columbus will always be here for you! Our certified technicians work quickly, effectively, and do the most to keep your services affordable. We take pride in our work and hope to keep you comfortable and cool throughout the Summer!
