When it comes to air conditioners, bigger is not always better. That may seem counterintuitive at first. During a sweltering summer, you might feel like the best A/C unit for your home must be the largest one you can afford. (more…)

Air conditioning season is about here; while we all want to stay cool and comfortable, we also want to save money, especially considering the high cost of energy these days. Energy efficiency is important when choosing an A/C system for your home. By choosing a system that uses less energy, you can save a substantial amount of money on heating/cooling costs. (more…)

Summers in the Midwest can be brutal, and your air conditioner can only do so much to help you beat the heat. A dehumidifier used in conjunction with your A/C can make your home more comfortable.

Dehumidifier Benefits

Dehumidifiers help control the level of moisture in the air. Most people feel comfortable when the relative humidity in their home is between 35 percent and 50 percent. Humidity levels above 50 percent can breed dust mites, mildew, and mold, triggering allergies or other health problems.

You might notice you’re sweating more — and setting your thermostat lower than you normally would just to get comfortable. Typically, the damper your space, the more capacity you’ll need in a dehumidifier.

When there is too little moisture in the air, on the other hand, the air seems thin and dry. You might experience cracked lips, dry skin or a scratchy throat.

Why A Dehumidifier?

Cranking your A/C is a poor solution to humidity problems. As you force your A/C to work harder than is really needed, your energy bills will rise and the life span of your heating and cooling system will be shortened. And the humidity problem still remains.

Whole-house dehumidifiers, on the other hand, help control the humidity levels in each room of your house. Portable units may be able to help one room at a time, but often less effectively.

If you have any other questions about how dehumidifiers can help keep your family comfortable, please contact the Home Comfort Experts. We can offer our expert advice and, if you’re ready, schedule an inspection or installation.

The average adult inhales at least 17,000 times per day, with the vast majority of those breaths taken indoors. Most people in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan would never think of guzzling unfiltered lake water or gulping down dirty food, but we take in dirty indoor air every day. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside our homes and offices is often many times more polluted than the air outside.

You can do something about it. Air filtration can remove over 99 percent of the pollutants in your indoor air. There are a range of air filtration systems on the market. Some are more effective than others. (more…)

For most families, more than half the water used indoors is used in the bathroom, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That’s why it’s smart, when remodeling or installing a new bathroom, to choose high-efficiency fixtures. The financial savings add up quickly, as do the benefits to the environment.

New technology allows showerheads, for example, to work just as well as they used to — or better — while using much less water than standard models. (more…)

There comes a time in every home’s life when its “Old Faithful” air conditioner becomes just a little bit too old, or is no longer quite as faithful. When that happens, you face a decision of whether to repair or replace your old A/C system. The decision can have a big impact on both your family’s comfort and finances. A new air conditioning system is not always cheap, but neither are repeated repairs to an old A/C that should have already been put out to pasture. (more…)

Water expenses can add up — especially during Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan summers, when many of us use extra water to cool off and to keep our lawns green and our gardens healthy.

These water-saving tips can help keep your water bill low and help the environment. (more…)

UV light has long been used in the medical industry to kills airborne germs to prevent outbreaks of contagious disease. Corporations also install them to reduce illnesses among employees. Now the same powerful tool can be used in residential air systems to help improve the quality of the air you breathe.

An ultraviolet light — a sterilizing agent found in nature — can be installed directly in your heating and cooling system to eliminate viruses, fungi and bacteria. These are all invisible to the naked eye but can irritate allergies and create other health problems. (more…)