The A & E Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Blog

It’s important to regularly evaluate the efficiency of your HVAC to avoid high energy costs. You may also want to establish if it will continue to deliver the level of comfort you need in your home. Here’s why a new HVAC unit for your home may be necessary to stay cool during the mid-year heat in Hillsborough, NC. 1. Update an Aging System Even though your HVAC can last between 10 to 15 years, poor maintenance can shorten its lifespan. As a result, components break down faster because it struggles to cool the house at the same rate. Additionally, an aging HVAC may have faulty wiring that could be a hazard to your family. When the system gets to that point, it’s wise to get a professional to determine if it requires a tune-up or replacement. 2. Review Your Current System’s Efficiency You may need a replacement if your current system isn’t efficiently cooling your home in Hillsborough. One cause of the inefficiency may be that the capacity of the AC doesn’t match the requirements of the building. If your system is too big, it’ll keep starting and stopping to maintain the right temperature. If it’s too small, it will overwork to sufficiently cool your home during the searing summer heat. An audit can establish if the capacity of your system is ideal for your home. A professional will determine whether the design needs an update to meet energy efficiency standards. Remember that an ineffective HVAC will always cost you much more in the long run. 3. Improve Indoor Air Quality Some buildings require high levels of indoor air quality . Houses with many occupants and multiple pets ought to have an efficient system that can capture allergens. Updating your HVAC can reduce the risk of respiratory diseases for your family. 4. Take Advantage of the Latest Technologies A new system can allow you to access the latest technologies so that you can optimize cooling. For example, with Nexia Home Automation, you can control your HVAC directly from your smartphone. You can create schedules for your smart thermostat to ensure your HVAC runs only when necessary. We can help you optimize your system to improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC. We’ll be glad to explain and help you find the ideal option for your home. Call AE Heating and Air Conditioning for quality installation services in Hillsborough, NC.

Your home’s indoor air quality can suffer due to dust particles, germs, allergens, and particulate matter in the air. Some homes in Chapel Hill, NC, grapple with this problem, and the solution lies with an air cleaner. Here are three benefits of using one. Removes Unpleasant Odors According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency , people spend 90% of their time indoors, and that’s why you need to give your home the best care. Some of the irritants are the bad smell from the smoke, cooked food, and spices. Air purifiers can remove unpleasant odors by trapping airborne particles. Other odors can come from chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and gasoline. The chemicals come from things like paints, upholstered furniture, n cleaning chemicals. The air purifiers can trap the chemicals and gases, which keeps your home free from unpleasant odors. Reduces Airborne Diseases Air contains tiny pathogens, which cause the flu and the common cold. It’s easy for a sick person to spread the bacteria or a virus to other people around them. You can reduce airborne particles in your home with the Nexia Smart home system. The air purifier works by capturing viruses and bacteria, thus removing airborne diseases. If you have children, older people, or people with low immune systems in your home, an air purifier goes a long way towards preventing them from getting airborne diseases. Improves Sleep Your indoor environment can be the cause of your sleep problems. Indoor allergens like fungi, bacteria and dust mites can cause allergic reactions, which can significantly inhibit your sleep. The allergies can trigger frequent sneezing, nose congestions, watery eyes, a runny nose, and coughing. All these can severely disrupt your sleep. Nexia home automation can help you ward off allergens and other forms of air pollution, improving your sleep in the process. Are you looking to improve the indoor air quality in your home? Contact our team at A&E Heating & Air Conditioning today for all your air conditioning and indoor air quality needs.

As an Chapel Hill, NC, homeowner, you might have had your share of hot, stuffy days during the fall season. You might have tried everything possible, but the air circulation doesn’t improve even when the weather conditions change. Learn how you can improve airflow and enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system by following these five tips. 1. Don’t Block Registers or Vents Check all the vents and registers for any obstacles that might be inhibiting airflow. Ensure that no furniture, decorations, bookshelves or ceiling appliances block the registers or vents so that clean air can fill your home and bring it to the right temperature. Consequently, you’ll eliminate inefficiencies. 2. Keep Your Vents Clean As your HVAC system operates, debris, dirt and other particles start to settle in the vents. This accumulation reduces the air circulation, making your entire air conditioning system work harder than it should. You can handle this problem by wiping your vents frequently to ensure nothing impedes air circulation. 3. Clean and Change the Air Filter Regularly Dirty or worn-out air filters obstruct airflow and prevent your HVAC system from working efficiently. So, inspect your filters frequently to make sure they’re clean. With time, air filters become clogged with dust, pollen, dirt and other particles they trap. Ensure you change the air filter every month. 4. Seal Leaky Ductwork If your ducts have seams, holes or cracks, fix them immediately because they can lead to uneven air distribution. As a result, the pressure inside the vents reduces, impeding air circulation. 5. Schedule HVAC Maintenance Poor air circulation indicates that your HVAC system has a problem. With proper HVAC maintenance , our skilled technician will detect problems before they worsen. Your HVAC system will work efficiently and keep indoor air clean and circulating throughout your home. If you want to solve all your airflow problems, we can help. Contact A&E Heating and Air Conditioning today so you can receive timely AC repairs to ensure quality air keeps moving throughout your home without interruption.

Scheduling an air conditioning repair is vital as soon as you notice any issues. Let's take a look at just how important it is.

Household cleaning products not only help to eliminate bacteria and contaminants. They also keep your home smelling fresh. While your hardwood might smell like fresh pine and your laundry like a tropical island, those aromas could be harming your health. For people suffering from allergies or asthma, conventional cleaners can present dangerous side effects. Therefore, it’s so important to determine if your cleaning products are polluting your Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home’s air. How Do Household Cleaners and Other Items Pollute Indoor Air? Some cleaning products and household items such as candles can increase indoor concentrations of gaseous and particle air pollutants. This is especially true if you use those products in the presence of ozone. It’s not so much the chemicals emitted from the products but the resulting indoor chemical reactions that lead to polluted indoor air. Some of these chemical reactions produce formaldehyde, which is dangerous to your health. Cleaning Products That Pollute Your Indoor Air Quality Candles used for decorative or aromatic purposes can make your home smell incredibly good. On the downside, candles can cause respiratory issues because they produce airborne soot carbon particles. If your cleaning products have any of the following ingredients, they are polluting your indoor air quality: Alcohol Petroleum-based solvents Ammonia Chlorine Coming in contact with these ingredients can irritate your eyes and throat and cause headaches. They are particularly dangerous to those suffering from allergies or asthma. What Candles and Cleaning Products Are Safe? Always use candles made of vegetable oil or beeswax, and make sure any dyes or perfumes in the candles are natural. As far as household cleaning products, find options that are organic or non-toxic. You can use tea tree oil to remove biological growth as well as a disinfectant. Hydrogen peroxide works well as a sanitizer. Contact A&E Heating and Air Conditioning today at (919) 361-5909 to schedule an indoor air quality assessment for your home. One of our certified technicians will perform an assessment and recommend ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Your pet is a part of your family, and even though you sneeze and itch every time your cat or dog is around, you wouldn’t dare get rid of him or her. Fortunately, homeowners in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, can finally leave pet-related allergies behind. Learn how you can start building a sneeze-free sanctuary in your home and freely enjoy the company of your four-legged pals. Where Do Pet Allergies Come From? You’ll need to understand where your allergies are coming from before you can fight them. Many pet owners have heard of dander and worry those dead skin flakes may be causing their allergies. However, it’s not just the skin you need to worry about. The real problem is your pet’s saliva, which spreads over the skin when your pet grooms itself. That saliva is laced with a protein that causes allergic reactions in many humans. When dead skin flakes make their way through your home, it’s the saliva on them that’s the real problem. You can experience an allergic reaction when your pet licks you. Also, as pets spend a lot of time outdoors during the spring and summer, they may bring allergens indoors, especially if they like to roll around in pollen-rich grass. How to Fight Pet-Related Allergies So how can you enjoy the company of your pets while remaining comfortable and healthy? Start by establishing a no-pet zone in your home. We know it’s fun to cuddle with your dog or cat as you fall asleep. However, maintaining an area of your home where your pet is prohibited will ensure there is at least one place where you can avoid allergens. Cleaning your pet on a weekly basis will also help. Thoroughly wash its fur to get saliva off the skin and to remove pollen and other allergens. Be sure to dust and vacuum regularly, too. Easy IAQ Solutions It’s possible to keep your pets and still find relief from your allergies. Call A&E Heating and Air Conditioning at (919) 361-5909 to help you get control of pet dander and other allergens. We are the right source for effective indoor air quality products and services .

So, you need a thermostat but how do you pick one? Here are a few things you should consider before choosing a thermostat for your Hillsborough, North Carolina home: Evaluate Your Current System and Compatibility Make sure that the thermostat you choose is compatible with your HVAC system. Here are the three main types of thermostats you can choose from: Mechanical thermostats have a dial or slider to adjust the temperature. With a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the settings to your preferred temperature for the day and night. Connected thermostats give you more "zone" controls, as well as internet connectivity for remote access. Which Kind of Thermostat Do You Need? Traditional Thermostats A unit such as the Trane XL802 programmable thermostat allows for seven-day programming and up to three stages of heating and two stages of cooling. You can also choose something slightly simpler, such as the Trane XL600, which enables you to set the temperature differently for the week versus the weekend. Connected Thermostats For more complex needs and remote access, you want a connected thermostat. For the top of the line, you can consider a home control system such as the Comfort Link II XL1050. It lets you manage hundreds of devices, such as your garage door, lights, locks, and others. This model even lets you optimize humidity and fan speeds. It features a large color touch screen and the ability to program four schedules a day, seven days a week. Still connected yet slightly simpler is the Comfort Link II XL850, which has wireless connectivity and seven-day programming. It includes monitoring of indoor and outdoor temperatures and energy-efficiency controls. It also alerts you when it’s time to change the filters or when maintenance should be scheduled. While these suggestions are a good way to get started, our experts can help you target your specific needs. For a free consultation , call A&E Heating & Air Conditioning today at (919) 361-5909.

You vowed to find ways to cut utility costs in your Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home. But now, months (or maybe years) later, you’re disappointed by how little your costs have dropped despite your best efforts. Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. Establish simple habits using these energy-efficient strategies, and you’ll see that cutting utility costs isn’t so difficult. Invest in Regular HVAC Maintenance One of the most effective ways to cut your utility costs is to start scheduling regular AC maintenance . Your HVAC system is one of the main contributors to your energy costs. Without HVAC maintenance, your system won’t operate as efficiently as it should. If your air conditioning unit must work harder to provide the comfort you need, it will use more energy, which increases your utility bills. The amount of money you’ll save by investing in an HVAC maintenance plan outweighs the costs of the more expensive repairs that result from a lack of maintenance. During a maintenance appointment, our service technician will ensure every component of your system is operating as it should and will conduct necessary repairs to ensure optimum performance. Eliminate Vampire Energy Hopefully, you’ve made a good habit of turning off lights and electronics when you leave your home. When it comes to electronics and small appliances, however, simply hitting the “off” switch isn’t always enough. If they’re plugged in, your electronics will continue to draw power. Some electronics, while they seem to be off, may only be in a standby mode. They draw less energy than if you had left them on, but that constant power drain can add up. Cut this energy loss, also known as vampire energy, by plugging electronics into a power strip and turning off the strip when you’re through with the devices. If you do not have a power strip, unplug the devices if possible. We Make HVAC Easy You can put an end to the burden of high utility costs by implementing these strategies can save you money throughout the year. To learn about more ways you can save or to sign up for an HVAC maintenance plan , call A&E Heating and Air Conditioning today at (919) 361-5909.

Have you been experiencing problems with the HVAC system in your Hillsborough, North Carolina, home? If you’ve been dealing with frequent repairs, you may find yourself wondering whether it would be more cost-effective to replace the whole system rather than keep shelling out money on repairs. Here are some of the factors you should consider when deciding whether to repair your HVAC system or replace it. Age of System The age of your system will play a significant role in your decision about whether to repair or replace. Most systems have a life expectancy of around 15 years. Once your system reaches about 12 years old, repairs become more frequent, and energy use rises as efficiency declines. At this point, it usually makes more sense to replace your system than to repair it. If your system is less than 10 years old, repairing is probably the better option. Cost of Repair You must also consider the total cost of the HVAC repair . Some repairs can be minor and cost only a couple of hundred dollars, while others can run into thousands of dollars. A minor repair is a no-brainer, but if the fix is going to be expensive, you should weigh the cost of repair with the cost of replacement. For example, a new AC unit can run anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000, so if your repair costs are $3,000 or more, your money may be better spent on a new and more efficient system. Frequency of Breakdowns Frequent repairs, even if they’re only minor, can add up over time, resulting in significant costs in the long run. Not only can frequent breakdowns get expensive, but they can also be a sign that the components of your system are becoming worn, and that the system is nearing the end of its life span. If you think it’s time to repair or replace your HVAC system , A&E Heating and Air Conditioning can help. Contact our experienced professionals at (919) 361-5909 today.