Five Ways to Love the “Heart” of your HVAC System

While Orlando winters usually mean less stress on our heating and air conditioning systems, that doesn’t mean you should neglect the “heart of your home,” especially during the month of love.

It’s time to call the heating and cooling professionals at Rainaldi Home Services so we can provide some TLC to your home’s heating and air conditioning system.

Here are five ways you can provide care for your HVAC system:

Every relationship needs to be maintained, and your HVAC system requires maintenance to feel loved. The worst time for your system to “break up with you” is during the hottest Florida days, but routine maintenance by a Rainaldi technician through a precision tune-up, all in about an hour, allows for a cleaner system.
Sometimes you need a little space from each other and zoning your home can allow for that. Rainaldi offers zoning, which means your home is split into areas that have similar heating and cooling needs—giving you the ability to control the temperature of multiple areas, save money on utility bills, and provide indoor comfort for all your family members.
Keeping the lines of communication open is important for any relationship, and that’s the same with your HVAC system. Resist the urge to close vents in your home, even if a room is uninhabited. Vents that are closed can mess with the balance of your HVAC system as it blows air throughout the ducts and vents, which forces the system to work harder. More work can aggravate even the happiest couple.
A programmable thermostat installed by Rainaldi professionals helps you to control the comfort level in your home in a smart way. They give you precise temperature control and a schedule that allows for utility bill savings that can make everyone happy.
Offering a refreshed perspective gives everyone the ability to breathe a little easier. Changing the air filter of your HVAC system will allow air to flow more freely, easing the burden on your system. Less work means more time for comfort and love.

Think of the professionals at Rainaldi Home Services as your HVAC relationship experts when it comes to the everlasting love between you and your Orlando-area home comfort system.

Contact us to schedule your routine maintenance or to discuss when it might be time to “break up” with your current system and find a better fit.

New Year, Low Rates, New Home Comfort System?

January brings many ambitious hopes for a “New Year, New You,” but how about a new year, renewed comfort? There are numerous factors that tell you it’s time to replace your heating and air conditioning system, and the experts at Rainaldi Home Services are here to help you make it a painless decision.

When homeowners are looking to make big improvements to their homes, most will look at personal loans because of the flexibility they provide. Thanks to the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts in 2020, annual percentage rates on personal loans are getting lower, allowing more and more homeowners to utilize them. Personal loan rates are ranging from as low as 4.99 percent to as high as 36 percent, but that’s still an improvement that is inviting for homeowners.Therefore, now is the time to make one of the biggest improvements to your Orlando area home by purchasing a new air conditioning system from Rainaldi Home Services.

What else should you think about when it comes to repairing versus replacing your HVAC system?

How old is your air conditioner? If your system is more than 10 years old, it’s time to consider replacing it with a Goodman air conditioner that’s ENERGY STAR certified. Our options such as the Infinity 18, Performance 14 and Performance 13 air conditioners can help keep your home cool while providing up to a 20 percent savings in energy.

Are you best friends with your air conditioning repairperson? If your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills just keep going up and up, call the professionals at Rainaldi to choose a more energy-efficient system that won’t keep breaking down on you.

Is it hard to tell if it’s more humid outside or inside? The summer humidity in Florida can be suffocating, and that’s not something you want in your home. If your equipment is poorly handling the humidity in your home, it’s time for a revamp in your home comfort system.

Is your system lacking a programmable thermostat? Newer air conditioning systems feature programmable thermostats, which allows for more energy-efficient use in your home throughout the day. Programmable thermostats allow for the home comfort system to “relax” its usage during the day when most homes are empty as well as cooler points at night while you’re sleeping.

Are you adding refrigerant too often? When your air conditioning unit constantly requires additional refrigerant, or Freon, that means there is most likely a coolant leak and your refrigerant replacement costs will only continue to add up. Not to mention, the use of R-22 refrigerant will become more difficult, thanks to the end of production of R-22 in 2020. With a little extra cash, thanks to low interest rates, you can make your home more comfortable and more desirable to potential home buyers, should you be looking to sell your home. Rainaldi Home Services are your local Orlando HVAC experts, so give us a call (206) 156-2849 to learn more about your replacements options.

Keep Your Home Warm with these Holiday HVAC Hacks

Most of us are ready to be done with 2020 and with the holidays quickly approaching the end of the year can’t get here fast enough! But don’t be left out in the cold. Make sure you’re able to enjoy the holidays in comfort by ensuring your HVAC system is prepared. We’ve provided a list of Holiday HVAC Hacks to ensure your continued comfort and peace of mind.

Holiday HVAC Hack #1: One of the easiest ways to help your HVAC system is by simply dusting. Dust particles travel into your home’s ductwork to your HVAC system and can decrease the efficiency of your system. While dusting make sure to vacuum the vents (if you have a heat pump) throughout your home. This will help improve the efficiency of your system with the added benefit of improving the indoor air quality in your home.

Holiday HVAC Hack #2: If your home has a heat pump or a ductless mini-split system make sure to replace dirty filters. Clean filters help your system run more efficiently, reduce costs, and help improve your indoor air quality. Filters typically need to be replaced monthly, but if you have pets check them more frequently and replace them as needed. Replacing dirty filters can help you breathe easier in more ways than one!

Holiday HVAC Hack #3: This is one of my favorite tips as it helps lower your heating costs. If you’re cooking a lot during the holiday and running the oven for long periods, turn down your heat. Your oven will provide enough extra heat and turning down your system will not only save on heating costs but will also provide your heating system with a much-needed break.

Holiday HVAC Hack #4: Do you have a programmable thermostat? If so, by scheduling it to turn down when you will be away from home as well as at night when you’re in bed, you’ll only be fully heating when you need it. This allows you to significantly lower your energy bill and again, give your heating system a break.

Holiday HVAC Hack #5: If you have not done so yet, schedule your semi-annual HVAC inspection and tune-up. An HVAC system is a complex machine, with many moving parts that can wear out. It’s important to get it inspected regularly to ensure it’s working properly. During an inspection, a professional technician will troubleshoot any small problems and repair them before they can become big expensive issues. Your technician will also clean your system to increase its efficiency.

Keep your home warm and comfortable and be worry-free this holiday season as we say goodbye to 2020. Schedule your HVAC tune-up with Rainaldi Home Services today to ensure a warm and stress-free holiday season. Give us a call at (407) 413-9795 or contact us online to schedule your service.

How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

We’re fortunate to be living in an era dominated by technology and innovation. Smart technology, transportation efficiencies, and useful apps are everywhere, making it easier for all of us to live more efficiently. This efficiency extends to most parts of your home. Here’s a list of some of the fantastic, energy-saving ideas you can implement in your home.

Lower the Temperature on Your Thermostat

In the winter, adopting the habit of dropping the temp by just three to five degrees will reduce your monthly utility bill and use less energy. And now as we head into summer, adjusting your thermostat a bit higher (keeping your house warmer) while you’re away will also save money.

Seal All Windows

Go the extra mile by sealing the air leaks in and around the windows in your home. If your windows are drafty, consider adding weather stripping around the frames. Add a bead of silicone caulk over any cracks in your drywall or apply a sheet of shrink film to your windows. Sealing gaps and cracks is an easy and inexpensive way to lower energy costs.

Use Less Water

People in America use a vast amount of water every year, but if you cut back, you can save up to $170 annually according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). A few easy ways to cut back include only running full loads of laundry vs. half loads, and be aware of how much water you use when brushing your teeth, shaving or showering!

High-Efficiency A/C Unit

Older A/C units aren’t nearly as efficient as the units being made today. Upgrading your existing unit can be costly, but a high-efficiency unit can save you money in the long run.

You’re probably wondering how much it can save you. Well, we have an answer for you! Thanks to recent advancements, today’s air conditioners are 20-40 percent more efficient than those that are just 10 years old; that adds up every month!

If you live in the Orlando area, Rainaldi Home Services can help with all your HVAC system and air quality needs. Our professional HVAC technicians keep your system running properly through regular maintenance and can provide you with indoor air quality tips for your home. Give us a call [csa_client_dni] or schedule an appointment online.

Alleviating Allergies

Allergens are inside and outside of your home. But while you’re inside, your best defense against them is through your HVAC system. As your system circulates air throughout your home, it’s an important player in helping to alleviate your allergies. Below are some of the ways you can improve your indoor air quality through your HVAC system.

Use a high-quality filter.

Your HVAC system’s filter is a great way to improve your indoor air quality. A basic flat filter will generally have a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating of one to four and are designed to protect the furnace, not improve indoor air quality. Filters are available with ratings from one to 20 MERV. For allergy season, consider using a high-efficiency filter that can remove smaller particulate from the air. Don’t forget to change your air filter every three months or more frequently if you have pets.

Add dusting to your spring-cleaning list.

While you are dusting your blinds, shelves, and cabinets, add vents and registers to the list. Vents and registers are often-overlooked areas that can negatively affect your home’s air quality when ignored. Make sure to dust and/or vacuum these areas.

Clean around your outside HVAC unit.

Keeping the area around your outside unit clean and removing any debris helps ensure the air being pulled into your home is as clean as possible. A clean unit also allows your system to run efficiently.

Maintain proper humidity in your home.

If the humidity in your home is too high, it can heighten allergies. High humidity causes mold growth. By adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system, you can control the humidity throughout your whole home, ensuring it’s just right!

Schedule HVAC maintenance.

Maintenance is the best and easiest way to reduce the number of allergens that enter your system, and spring is the perfect to time give your system a once over. Additionally, the number one reason air conditioners breakdown is due to the accumulation of dust and other particles in your home’s air. During a tune-up, your technician performs a cleaning of your system reducing the particulate. Regular maintenance is also key to fixing issues within your system before they become expensive, major problems.

Hybrid Vs. Tankless Water Heaters

If you are in the market for a new water heater you have a couple of options to consider – a hybrid water heater or a tankless water heater? When making this decision it helps to know the difference between a tankless and a hybrid water heater. Knowing the differences between the two, along with the pros and cons of each will help you select the best fit for your lifestyle, usage, and budget.

Hybrid Water Heater

Hybrid water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse. They draw the air from the room they occupy in, heat it up and then dump it in the tank to heat the water.

Pros:

10-year warranty – If you begin to experience any issues with your hybrid water heater, we’ve got you covered for a DECADE! No strings attached.

Up to 3.48 Energy Factor (EF) – These Energy Star certified hybrid water heaters are capable of saving you up to $330 a year or $3,500 over its lifespan.

Standard electrical connections – There are no extra hoops to jump through. Just install your hybrid water heater properly, and you’re good to go.

Keep existing electrical panel – There’s no need to call the electrician for an upgrade; hybrid water heaters will run on the same electrical system as a standard water heater.

No water treatment required – In Orlando water comes from the Floridan Aquifer. While the water is high quality, some types of water heaters require a water softener to be installed in order to maintain the warranty. With a hybrid water heater, no such device is required.

A smart investment – While a hybrid water heater is more expensive than your standard water heater, it’ll pay itself off in as little as two years!

Cons:

Cost more than a traditional water heater, however they can pay themselves off in as little as 2 years!
Occupies more space and can’t be placed directly outside.
Needs to have its air filter replaced regularly to keep it functioning properly.
Requires a condensate drain – As your water is heated, the hybrid heater collects moisture that will need to be drained out of your home.

Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater uses electricity or gas to warm up cool water on-demand whenever you need it, rather than storing the hot water in a tank.

Pros:

Tankless water heaters have a lifespan of 20+ years, almost double a traditional water heater’s life.
Installation does not require much space and a tankless water heater can even be installed on an outside wall.
Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand, providing two to three gallons of hot water per minute. On demand means no worries of running out of heated water or having to wait for a new batch of water to heat.

Cons:

The initial costs can be twice as much as a traditional water heater.
Replacing a traditional water heater with a tankless system can be complicated and can increase the installation costs even more.
To run your whole home off tankless water heaters you may need to purchase 2, 3 or even 4 units depending on the size of your family to ensure you have enough hot water when needed making these systems quite costly.

At Rainaldi Home Services we make it our job to help assist you in making the best decision for your personal needs and budget when purchasing a water heater in Orlando and Central Florida. Give us a call [csa_client_dni] or contact us online and we can help you select the best water heater for your home and lifestyle.

Rainaldi Home Services provides fast, dependable plumbing and HVAC services to Orlando, Apopka, Kissimmee, Longwood, Oviedo, Winter Park and the Greater Orlando Area.