How to Cool your House if your AC breaks down

Air conditioner on the fritz? While you’re waiting on emergency AC repair, keep calm and carry on with these 6 ways to quickly cool your home if your AC breaks down…

1. Flip on the Fan
   First things first, flip on the fan while Googling air conditioning companies in your area. The whirl of a fan is one of the most convenient and effective ways to keep cool when your AC is out of commission. The wind chill effect of the fan will make you feel up to 4-degrees cooler than the surrounding environment. Since fans cool the room – not people – be sure to turn off the fan when you leave the room to conserve energy. If your AC is still out when the sun goes down, place fans in the windows of your home to pull cool air in from outside. Have an attic fan? Engaging it in the evening can help keep your home cool. In the morning, turn off the attic fan and close windows to trap cool air inside.
2. Take a Splash
   Have a pool? Go for a dip. No pool? Place damp, cool towel on your neck, or grab a piece of water-friendly lawn furniture and give your clothes a rinse, donning damp clothes beneath your fan.
3. Grab a Glass
   Make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water, as you’ll sweat more as temperatures rise.
4. Add Ice
   Place a big block or bag of ice on a baking sheet or in a casserole dish or large bowl. The cooling effect of the ice may help keep the temperature in the room more comfortable until the air conditioning service contractors arrive to perform repairs.
5. Pull the Shades
   Draw shades and blinds to reduce heat and sunlight infiltrating your home from outside, especially in south and west-facing rooms, which suffer the worst sun and heat exposure. Thick curtains with a white reflective backing are best.
6. Put a Hold on Heat Generating Appliances
   Reduce interior heat gain by avoiding the use of your stove/oven, dishwasher, dryer, and other heat generating appliances. If your air conditioner is out, use an outdoor grill instead, or cook food in the microwave. Wait until after dark if you must use these appliances if at all possible.

Repairs Becoming A Regular Occurrence?

Limping heating and AC units 8-10-years old (or older) through summer after summer may end up costing you more in repair costs and high energy bills than it would to simply upgrade your system over the long-run. Talk to your area HVAC provider about scheduling a free AC installation quote and rebates and incentive available in your area toward upgrading to a more efficient system. Remember, heating and cooling comprises around 50% of your total energy bill, consuming the most energy in the home.

Sweating because of the need for air conditioning service & repair? H&H Heating & Cooling has you covered, with trustworthy, dependable service and some of the most affordable pricing in the business. Check out our money saving special offers and coupons, or ensure priority service and savings by signing up for a Comfort Club agreement today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/how-to-cool-your-house-if-your-ac-breaks-down/

Energy Efficiency & Air Conditioners

You’re passionate about reducing your carbon footprint and protecting the planet, but you love your AC, especially when the heat and humidity of summer are weighing you down. Is it possible to have your cake and eat it too? H&H has all the tips you need to live an energy-efficient lifestyle and remain comfortable year-round…

First Things First: Choosing An Efficient Cooling System

If your air conditioner is more than 10-years old, upgrading to a newer, more energy efficient systemcan reduce energy costs and your carbon footprint 20-40%. When shopping for a system, ensure efficiency by…

• Shopping by SEER
  SEER ratings make shopping for an AC system with superior efficiency simpler, as do Energy Star ratings for heating and cooling systems. The higher the SEER rating, the less energy the system consumes. Systems 10+ years old may be 10 SEER (or below). The minimum allowed today by law is 14 SEER. To ensure energy savings, a system with a rating above 16 SEER is preferable. SEER ratings over 20 are not uncommon in traditional split and packaged systems. In ductless systems, you can find SEER ratings over 25! Look for the Energy Star logo for systems offering high-efficiency features and superior performance.
• Opting for Energy Saving Features
  Opting for a system with a variable speed blower reduces energy consumption, as do ‘fan only’ switches, which can provide natural cooling.
• Purchasing the Right Size System
  Heating and air conditioning units must be properly sized to ensure optimal performance. A system that’s too small or large for your home reduce efficiency by 30%, inflating your utility bills, and putting stress on the system that shortens its lifespan. An experienced, professional HVAC contractor can perform load calculations, considering your home’s size, layout, thermal envelope, and more to help you determine the right size system to meet your needs.
• Ensuring an Energy Star Quality Installation
  A quality installation ensures performance, and should also include properly sealed ductwork, verified optimal system operation and thermostat function, and airflow optimized for consistent temperatures throughout your home.

Operational Tips For Eking Extra Efficiency From Your Air Conditioner

How you use and maintain your AC can also impact energy use. Maximize efficiency with:

• Smart Thermostats
  Pairing your system with one of today’s smart programmable thermostats can help you further control energy use, offering precise temperature control and altering temperatures when your home is not in use.
• Regular Filter Changes
  Dusty, clogged filters can seriously impact performance, forcing your system to work harder to move air. Keep air filters for your home air conditioner on hand, and change them regularly, at least every 2-3 months.
• Regular Professional Maintenance
  Air filter disgusting? Your coils may be dirty too. A properly charged, clean system is integral to ensuring top performance and ultimately energy savings, making regular professional maintenance before cooling season a must.

Knowledgeable, trustworthy air conditioning companies that are committed to protecting the environment should be a key part of your HVAC efficiency goals. Do you have one in your pocket? H&H Heating & Cooling is committed to the community, and the environment. Learn more about our stellar services today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/energy-efficiency-air-conditioners/

Is Indoor Air Quality a concern during Summer Months?

It’s summer… The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and there are no cold and flu alerts streaming in from the local media, so the air quality in your home should be pretty good, right? Not necessarily. Despite the gorgeous summer weather outside (and the lack of a major flu outbreak), the air inside your home may not be so sparkly and fresh. A silent, often odorless menace, the indoor air quality in your home can dangerously impact your health, unbeknownst to you, year-round.

What Factors Contribute To Low Indoor Air Quality In The Summer?

A tight building envelope and the following poor indoor environmental conditions can create the need for an indoor air quality service when these common summer issues take their toll…

• Moisture (& Mold)
  In the summer, high humidity levels not only create an uncomfortable home environment, but support the proliferation of mold and mildew, creating a telltale musty odor and in extreme cases, toxic mold growth.
• Microbes
  In addition to mold and mildew, high moisture levels also encourage the growth of bacteria and dust mites. For those with allergies and respiratory issues or compromised immune systems, this can lead to serious complications.
• Ozone
  Highly reactive, ozone is composed of three oxygen atoms (O3). Different from the oxygen we breathe (O2), it is formed by human actions, resulting from chemical reactions from the outgassing of cars, power plants, and factories. You probably know it as ‘smog.’ When it occurs in high levels close to the ground, at the tropospheric level, it can cause a wide variety of health problems, some of them quite serious. When it’s in high concentrations outside, it’s easy for it to find its way into your home.
• Pet Hair
  Your four-legged friends shed more in the summer months, creating more airborne allergens and dust in the form of hair and dander.

How to Tell if You Have Poor Indoor Air Quality:

• Worsened allergies.
• Frequent illnesses.
• Respiratory issues, such as stuffy nose, frequent coughing and sneezing.
• Watery, irritated eyes.
• Frequent headaches and nosebleeds.
• Excess/rapid dust buildup on surfaces in your home, and around vents.
• Sticky, uncomfortable feeling in the home.
• Visible signs and the telltale odor of mold and mildew.

The condition of indoor air quality in a home is often reflected in its occupants.

How To Improve Indoor Air Quality In The Summer Months

• Regularly Change & Consider Upgrading Your Air Filter
  Upgrading to HEPA-style home air filters can reduce a number of harmful particles in the air.
• Use a Dehumidifier
  To keep the humidity levels in your home in-check: Between 30-50% RH. This will not only help you feel more comfortable, but aid in the control of pollutants like dust mites, bacteria, and mold that love moisture.
• Fight Germs
  With a UV air purifier. Adding air purification to your HVAC system can help eliminate a range of contaminants.
• Improve Ventilation
  With exhaust fan systems in high-moisture areas and proper HVAC vent settings.
• Keep Pets Groomed
  To control dust and allergens.
• Weatherize Your Home 
  Sealing ozone and other harmful pollutants out.

Breathe easier. Create a healthier, happier home with the help of H & H Heating & Air Conditioning today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/is-indoor-air-quality-a-concern-during-summer-months/

Going Away on a Vacation? What to do with your AC?

Headed off on a weekend holiday or long-term sabbatical? It pays to prep your home for the time you’ll be away. Things like altering your water heater and air conditioner’s settings can save you a pretty penny. After all, why run these and other appliances if no one is there to use them?

Adjust HVAC Settings – Don’t Turn the System Off
Leaving the air conditioner operating while you’re away will ensure enough circulation to control humidity and condensation in the summer, as well as prevent expansion and contraction from excess heat buildup that can warp and degrade surfaces like wood floors, door frames, and other structural components. In addition, close the blinds and curtain to your home to prevent the transfer of solar heat and further reduce the cooling needs of your unoccupied home. Controlling temperatures inside your home (even when you’re not there) is especially important during heat waves and periods of high humidity, which can lead to mold/mildew growth in the home if temperature/humidity are left unchecked.

Programming for Savings & Safety
A programmable thermostat, such as a Nest or Honeywell smart thermostat installed by your local home air conditioning company, offers a convenient, reliable means of ensuring just the right settings. Where should you set your thermostat for summer vacation? The EPA recommends that while you’re away, you keep your home at 85-degrees, programming your thermostat to return your home to 72-degrees the day before you return. This will preserve the structure and contents of your home, while preventing wasted energy on unnecessarily cool temperatures when no one is around to enjoy them. Forgot to program your thermostat in your rush to make your flight? Wi-Fi programmable models allow you to adjust settings from any mobile device, and cost only a few dollars more.

What About My Water Heater?
In addition to heating and air service, H&H also maintains water heaters – and we’ve seen to quite a few post-vacation surprises. To avoid ending up in such a situation, we strongly advise you to turn off the water main to your home if you’re going on an extended stay. And turn your water heater to ‘vacation setting’ – or the lowest possible temperature, particularly on less efficient, tank-style heaters. If you have a gas heater, turn off the valve just to be safe. When you get home, before you turn the hot water back on, be sure to open a hot water tap or two prior to restoring power/fuel to your water heater. If you forget to do this and the tank is empty before you turn it back on, it could become severely damaged.

Anything Else?
Vampire loss by turning off unnecessary appliances and electronics before you leave. Unused mobile device chargers, TV/stereo equipment, coffee pots, and more all drain energy – and can even malfunction – even when they’re not in use. Turning them off will save energy, and potentially your home.

Problems with your air conditioner or water heater leave you with an unexpected souvenir? End your vacation on a positive note with the fast, affordable emergency HVAC service of H&H Heating & Cooling today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/going-away-on-a-vacation-what-to-do-with-your-ac/

How to Buy Air Conditioners

Shopping for heating and air conditioning units can be a stressful experience with today’s glut of options. One of your most expensive home investments, and one of the most significant in terms of comfort, doing your homework pre-purchase is a key to a lasting investment you’ll be satisfied with for years to come. What should you look for in a home air conditioner?

Superior Efficiency
Shopping for an Energy Star quality air conditioner with a SEER of 15 or higher will provide superior comfort and performance, lowering monthly energy bills. Though you can get away with a 13 SEER system (the minimum required by the DOE), investing a bit more in a high-efficiency system now will more than make up for the cost over the long run, especially for those upgrading from older, less efficient models. Replacing systems just 10-years old with Energy Star-rated models delivers marked differences in monthly utility costs. Government (local/state/federal) and utility rebates and incentives may also be available, so be sure to look into these opportunities before you buy.

A Quality Brand with a Solid Warranty
To avoid the hassle of repeated air conditioning service and maintenance, investing in a solid brand is highly recommended. As a general rule, the better the quality of the system, the stronger the warranty. Look for 10+ year coverage, with the best brands offering lifetime compressor coverage (the costliest system component).

• Amana AC units
  Made in the U.S.A. and with a 70+ year reputation for quality, premium Amana systems are known for their trusted durability and performance, holding some of the most comprehensive warranties in the biz.
• Bryant air conditioners
  With reputation for affordability, Bryant’s Whatever It Takes® philosophy empowers them to deliver quality products and service into the homes of customers and savings in efficiency that continue long after purchase and installation.
• Mitsubishi ductless air conditioners
  An alternative to the typical, split, ducted HVAC system and an ideal solution for older homes with no space for retrofitting ductwork, Mitsubishi ductless systems are some of the most efficient on the market, offering superior performance up to 33.1 SEER. With no ducts needed, cooling loss via leakage and thermal transfer in attics/crawlspaces is eliminated, delivering superior cooling performance.

Proper Sizing
Never trust a company that offers price estimates based solely on the square footage of your home. A knowledgeable, professional company will come out, taking into account your home’s design and ductwork, making calculations essential to a properly sized system.

A Trustworthy Quote & Professional Installation
Look for professional installers certified to install top air conditioning brands, who are very particular about whom they let represent their company in the field, and trust in their proper, professional installation of components to safeguard against the need for unnecessary warranty work. When it comes to bottom line pricing, there’s often not a great deal of difference between quotes, though there’s a huge gulf between highly-qualified and less-qualified installers.

Looking for an air conditioning company that offers 100% guarantee on your air conditioner investment? H&H Heating & Air Conditioning has you covered. Contact our NATE-certified professionals for a free, trustworthy estimate today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/how-to-buy-air-conditioners/

Mitsubishi Ductless Air Conditioners – Why you Should Consider them

Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioners

Old air conditioning system left you with your local air conditioning contractors on speed dial and electric bills that rival your worst nightmare? It might be time to trade up to a Mitsubishi ductless system…

Why Not Replace My Old Split System?
Unlike traditional split system cooling units, Mitsubishi ductless or ‘mini-split’ systems lose no energy to heat loss or leakage in ductwork, which can cost homeowner’s up to a hefty 25% loss in performance. This efficient design provides a marked improvement in performance over the mandated 15 SEER requirement for today’s split systems. In fact, select Mitsubishi systems offer some of the highest SEER ratings on the market today – up to 30 SEER – delivering superior performance and vastly reduced electrical bills.

What Makes Ductless Systems Superior?
Simply put: System design. In use in Japan, Europe, and Asia for over 50-years, the efficient and trusted technology of Mitsubishi ductless air conditioners works similarly to that of a heat pump, but requires no ducts to distribute air. Instead, a single outside unit is connected to up to 8 separate interior wall units by refrigerant lines piped into the home via small, 3-inch holes. Rather than ductwork, fans within the interior wall-mounted units take in and distribute conditioned air, avoiding the need for bulky ductwork and other components in unconditioned attic, basement or crawlspace. The result? A system that is…

• More Efficient
  HVAC is the biggest contributor to monthly energy bills. The high SEER rating and extremely efficient performance of Mitsubishi ductless heating and cooling systems adds up to impressive savings over the life of the system, quickly making up for investment costs.
• Improves Comfort
  The potential to add up to 8 separate interior wall units makes zoned cooling possible, allowing your family to personalize comfort settings in each area of your home and reduce energy use in unoccupied areas.
• Quiet
  Unlike the relics that are probably currently taking up real estate in your hall closet and backyard, Mitsubishi ductless systems are whisper quiet inside the home, and produce only the gentle hum of a refrigerator outdoors.
• Flexible
  Top-of-the-line systems offer both heating and cooling, and are compatible even in climates with temperatures as low as -13° F. Requiring no boxy bulkheads or the need for closet or basement space to house interior components, ductless systems are also a favorite of homeowners in older homes, as well as those with smaller footprints, which can be lacking in closet and storage space.
• High-Tech
  Featuring advanced technology other systems do not, Mitsubishi ductless systems are easily operable via remote control from within your home, or smart-driven app from anywhere, making it easy and convenient to closely manage your comfort and energy costs.

Want to lower your carbon footprint, gain control of your electrical bill, and increase comfort? Look on further than Mitsubishi ductless systems. At H&H, our professional air conditioning service and maintenance contractors are Mitsubishi Diamond Elite Contractors, with the training and expertise to back the impressive 12-year parts and compressor warranty only Mitsubishi Diamond Elite Contractors can provide. Learn more about the efficiency and affordability of these amazing systems. Contact H&H Heating & Cooling today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/mitsubishi-ductless-air-conditioners-why-you-should-consider-them/

Stellar Air Conditioning Services in Newtown Square

Headed into the dog days of summer with an ailing AC system? Your ceiling fan and a glass of iced tea aren’t going to cut it. You need the help of an affordable air conditioning service company you can trust.

The Best Air Conditioner Repair in Newtown Square, PA

H&H Heating & Cooling has been providing stellar air conditioning service and maintenanceto the Delaware Valley since 1985. Professionally trained and NATE certified, our HVAC team brings trustworthy and affordably-priced AC service and maintenance to your doorstep. Our highly trained team can service any brand in the business, and holds the technical expertise necessary to design and install an array of cooling and heating solutions, holding coveted certifications from some of the best brands in the biz, from Amana and Bryant heat pump systems to Mitsubishi ductless heating and cooling systems, as well as furnace, boiler, and radiant heating home comfort solutions.

Trustworthy Estimates, Money-Back Guarantee
You can rely on our trustworthy, no-obligation estimates, from service to newly installed cooling units. With H & H, you can rest assured our 100% money-back, no lemon guarantee and the knowledge there will never be any unexpected and unwelcome billing surprises at the end of service. Straightforward, affordable quotes with a clear explanation of services to be performed are the hallmark our business, and are reflected by our happy customers, A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and 5 star Google rating.

Here for You 24/7, Like a Trusted Family Member
Because we understand life’s difficulties don’t always happen during 9 to 5 business hours, we offer emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – without the overtime or after-hours charges many of our competitors are known for. No matter your issues or when they occur, you can count on the same fair price Monday through Sunday, sunup to sundown. Right when you need us, our mobile ‘warehouses on wheels’ will arrive at your doorstep stocked with the necessary supplies for same-day repairs.

Mi Casa Es Su Casa
We treat your home as if it is our own, protecting your property with drop cloths, shoe covers, and trustworthy, knowledgeable, certified technicians who respect your home and family. We guarantee property protection, repairing and replacing damaged items, and leaving your home carefully cleaned.

Offering a Range of Home Comfort Services & Solutions

• Air Conditioning Repair & Installation
  We service, repair, and install a wide range of comfort solutions including heat pumps, geothermal, ductless mini split, radiant heat systems, furnaces, and boilers.
• Duct Cleaning
  For improved air quality.
• Gas & Electric Fireplace Installation
• For warmth and ambiance year-round.
• Water Heater Repair
  To ensure the performance and lifespan of your system.
• High Efficiency Water Heater Installation
  To better control energy costs.
• Wine Cellar Installation & Repair
  Preserve the quality of your wine collection with efficient temperature and humidity control.
• Comfort Club Priority Service & Savings
  Ensure priority service, added savings, and up-to-date system care with one of our affordable Comfort Club service and repair plans.

Looking for local air conditioning contractors you can count on? We’ve got you covered.

Contact H & H Heating & Air Conditioning today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/stellar-air-conditioning-services-in-newtown-square/