We’ve been lucky this fall – the weather’s been pretty mild for the past couple weeks. But whether we’re ready for it or not, winter is coming and thousands of families throughout the Maryland and Washington, DC area will be firing up their furnaces or heating systems. And while furnaces are crucial this time of year, they are also the number one cause of home fires during the winter. So if you’re planning on turning on your furnace over the next couple of weeks, make sure you read these furnace safety tips first!
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If you’ve been paying attention to our blog over the past couple months, you know the EPA estimates indoor air quality (IAQ) in most homes is five to ten times worse than outdoor air quality – and in some cases is over 100 times worse! The problem is as homes get tighter together and more efficient, they also lose considerable amounts of breathability and ventilation, meaning viruses, bacteria and other airborne contaminants multiply within your home and can’t escape. Recent advancements in home efficiency have inadvertently made the problem worse. As a result? Incidents of asthma have increased by 61% since 1982!
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If you’re thinking of upgrading any part of your home’s HVAC system to be more efficient, you’d better do so fast! There’s still time to cash in on the 2011 energy tax credits, so get them while you can!
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This is a really exciting time for us at Michael Bonsby Heating & Air Conditioning – we’re working with Southern Exposure Homes on the first passive house in Arlington! A Passive House is a house designed to be almost 100% energy efficient. They are very well insulated, almost completely airtight and primarily heated via passive solar gain and internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. This minimizes energy losses and helps cut heating costs by an astonishing 90% while maintaining extremely high indoor air quality (remember that most tight homes tend to have poor IAQ – the Passive House doesn’t!).
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Ready to ditch your old air conditioner and furnace and install a revolutionary new heating and cooling system in your home? The Mitsubishi Mr. Slim heat pump is what you need! This highly efficient, ductless Mitsubishi heat pump can deliver conditioned air all throughout your home – using less energy than a 40 watt light bulb!
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Another Labor Day has come and gone, meaning fall is not far behind it. Before you bust out the footballs, leaf blowers and sweatshirts, make sure you take an afternoon to shut down your air conditioner for the winter! Shutting down your central air conditioner for the winter isn’t too complicated, but it’s extremely important if you want your air conditioner to last through the cold weather!
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Surprise – it’s summer! Not that anyone needs to remind you – it’s already August, we’re in the middle of a heat wave, and if you’re like many people in the Maryland and Washington, DC area, your cooling bills are probably soaring. It’s so hot out now that most people are willing to put up with increased costs if it means a break from the heat.
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You’re probably familiar with central air conditioners. You’ve definitely seen those boxy portable air conditioners. But can you describe what a ductless air conditioner looks like? And have you ever even heard of a swamp cooler? There are a number of different types of air conditioners that you can install in your home.
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It’s officially the middle of summer, and by now it feels like the 90 degree temperatures have been here forever and will never leave. Your home should be your last refuge against the stifling heat outside – unless you’re not getting any of the cooled air from your air conditioner! There are many factors that can affect your air conditioner’s airflow, some of which are simple to fix, while some of which are more complicated. One thing is sure, however: if you improve your AC airflow, you will significantly improve your home’s comfort!
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If someone asked you to locate the air handler on your air conditioner, what would you say? How about if they asked you what the BTU output is? There are a lot of industry specific terms in the HVAC world, and things like air conditioner service can be a little intimidating if you don’t know what those words mean. At Michael Bonsby Heating & Air Conditioning, we want you to have the best service possible, so we’ve made a list of all the most common HVAC terms you might hear when the serviceman comes to your home!
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