That’s where ENERGY STAR comes in. You’ve probably noticed the ENERGY STAR logo on everything from appliances to light bulbs, and heard of ENERGY STAR approvals, operational ratings, and possibly even the big money savings in switching to apparatus they‘ve approved. But exactly who or what is ENERGY STAR, and how did they get so smart?

A cooperative program between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR’s goal is two-fold. They test products and announce their findings to help Americans save money while protecting their environment by defining the best energy efficient products and methods of use. The EPA created ENERGY STAR in 1992 to identify and encourage the use of the products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and they soon expanded into office equipment products and home heating and cooling equipment.

By 1996, they partnered with the Department of Energy and today you can find that familiar ENERGY STAR mark on all sorts of compliant items including major appliances, lighting, electronics, and office equipment. Ever expanding, ENERGY STAR now also rates equipment for new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.

ENERGY STAR reports success in their efforts — in 2010 Americans saved enough energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to the amount from 33 million cars. That’s the environmentally friendly part. They also saved $18 billion on their utility bills. That’s the money-savings part.

So who benefits from ENERGY STAR? We all do — you can save money on your bills, and the world moves closer towards being more environmentally friendly. It’s a no-lose situation!

For more information on ENERGY STAR, log on to their website at www.energystar.gov

But what happens when you suddenly discover your furnace is not working? Chances are good it won’t happen at a convenient time, either — it’ll be most likely in the middle of a frosty night, rather than
during a sunny day during a warm stretch, so you probably won’t be able to check on the problem at a leisurely, relaxed pace. You’ll need to get that heat back on pronto.

If it’s not an electrical outage and you have supplemental electric heating, crank that up to keep as much as possible of the home warm. Light the fireplace if you have one, making sure the flue is open for
adequate ventilation. Close your curtains and cover any openings under the doors with towels or blankets to conserve the heat and keep it inside the home. Keep everybody together in the warm part of the home until the heat is back on.

Pay special attention to the pipes carrying water around the house — you will have a bigger crisis if they freeze, so open the cabinet doors under your sinks to allow the warm air to get to the pipes and
hang a towel on the wall behind the sink to insulate the pipes from the cold. Turn on all of your faucets so they drip continually — that keeps the water flowing inside and prevents an ice buildup. Wrap bare pipes with insulation, or even old newspapers, and cover them with plastic to keep out moisture. If there are rooms that don’t have any pipes, close them off to keep the heat elsewhere where you really need it.

Now that the precautionary considerations are out of the way, inspect the reason why the heat is off. Is there a regional power outage, or is the problem isolated to your home? Hopefully, you’ve taken the
chance to review your heating system before the emergency to know how to check it when the power goes out, but if not here are some general pointers. Check first that the thermostat hasn’t somehow been turned down too low. That will be the easiest thing to fix, although, unfortunately, not all that likely to be the culprit.

If it is a steam heating system, turn off the unit. Check the water level in the boiler and add water slowly if it is low. In a forced air heating system reset the circuit breaker if it is tripped. In hot
water systems, check that all temperature and pressure gauges are set to normal and clear system of excess air. In a gas furnace, check that the pilot light is on and relight if necessary.

Don’t wait for a heat emergency to strike — review your own unit and prepare for the situation before it happens, because you know it’ll be in the dead of night during a nasty cold snap. For expert information on avoiding a winter heating crisis, call A & J Installation at 845-357-0275 or email info@ajinstallation.com.

Frozen pipes during the cold season will cause an incredible amount of flooding if not found right away. That flooding in turn can cause substantial damage while also creating a perfect moist environment to encourage the growth of mold.

Prior preparation before the cold hits is a necessity … take a survey of your own situation and prepare for the worst, even if you have never had frozen pipes in the past. Insulate pipes in attics, in crawl spaces, running along outside walls, and leading to outdoor faucets. In extreme cases electric heat tapes might also be needed to ensure enough warmth to keep the water flowing, and A & J Installation can advise you on the perfect accessories that will keep your water flowing all year long.

Seal any leaks where cold air can blow in and encounter your water pipes. On cold days and nights, open your cabinet doors so the air from your furnace can more easily get to the pipes and keep them warm.
On those especially cold days, it’s also a good idea to let the hot water drip slightly, preferably at a faucet on an outer wall. That constant flow of warm water will help keep the pipes from freezing from the inside.

But if all of your prep fails and the water in the pipes freezes, the newly formed ice will expand and can cause cracks in both plastic and copper lines. If you turn on a faucet during the winter and nothing comes out, it’s likely the water has frozen somewhere in the line — this is your first sign that there is a situation that requires the immediate attention of your A & J Installation professional. You might not be able to find the problem yourself until the water thaws again and by then it will be too late. And for safety sake, never use a torch or an open flame to try to thaw a pipe.

Any time you have a plumbing concern, be sure to consult the experts at A & J Installation by calling 845-357-0275 or emailing info@ajinstallation.com.

You know you have a definite need for air, but you don’t know the difference between an air conditioner, air diffuser and an air purifier? Don’t fret — A & J Installation has the knowledge of all things air related that will keep you breathing comfortably all winter long.

Air cleaners are designed to take the multitude of airborne materials like dust and dander as well as gases out of the air. Most commonly using the processes of particulate filtration, electrostatic precipitation, and gas sorption, the cleaners filter out all of those little no-see-ums that might otherwise end up in your lungs. They are especially useful, and sometimes even a necessity, for people who have allergies to those airborne particles.

Anyone who lives in an area where it gets hot in the summer knows what an air conditioner is — that handy device likely mounted in a window or just outside the home that lowers the temperature of the air. They offer relief from those dog days, and in the heat of the season can revitalize and invigorate you. Of course, air conditioners don’t get quite as much use during the winter …

Air diffusers are the devices that blend the conditioned air with the room air, creating a more uniform mixture. The most convenient place for the installation of an air diffuser is the ceiling, as the apparatus gathers the various air types and homogenizes them to send back out into the room.

Even if you are battening down for a long winter, it doesn’t mean the air inside your home has to suffer from the lack of constant circulation to the outside. And don’t forget you can always get professional air quality advice from A & J Installation by calling 845-357-0275 or emailing info@ajinstallation.com.

But what exactly constitutes an efficiently run energy apparatus? While the average homeowner may not readily know the exact designations of energy efficiency, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program is always there with specific information and up-to-date tips on maximizing efficiency.

Homeowners and businesses alike can benefit from Energy Star’s wisdom in the purchase of Energy Star-compliant HVAC systems, major appliances like washers and dryers, and even the simple installation of energy-saving light bulbs. These can all mean big differences in both the energy bill and the footprint the energy use of today leaves on the generations of tomorrow.

If you are looking for information on energy efficiency when looking at any HVAC equipment or major appliance, Energy Star says to look for the highest possible Energy Efficiency Ratio or EER rating for the best energy savings. All models now have a yellow Energy Guide label, explaining how much energy the unit takes to operate, comparing it to similar models, and showing the estimated annual operating costs.

Some might question the initial expense of installing brand-new Energy Star-rated devices, but some fast figures will prove it actually costs more not to replace those outmoded energy consuming apparatus. And that’s only in money figures — think of the beneficial effects the concentration on becoming more “green” will have on the environment for future generations.

That seems like a wise investment.

For more information on anything Energy Star-related, or to download their informative brochures on saving energy around the home or business, log on to their website at www.energystar.gov

Don’t forget to get professional local information from A & J Installation by calling 845-357-0275 or emailing info@ajinstallation.com

While many people think of the spring when they consider the most allergy-prone times of year, the fall also is a season where allergy sufferers are likely to experience higher discomfort. Autumn brings back common allergy sources like leaves, ragweed and mold. There’s not much you can do on the outside of the house, but indoors you can become an allergy source exterminator.

If you like to open your windows when it’s too hot inside, you are letting all of those nasty allergens into your inner sanctum with you. And once it gets cold and you batten down with plastic and weather stripping, all of the particles are now trapped inside. Consider the installation of a central air conditioning system so you can keep those allergy symptom inducers at bay and outdoors where they belong.

Filters on all air processing machinery from air conditioners to furnaces to air cleaners and purifiers should be changed if they use throwaway types, or cleaned if they are permanent. And if the clean filter still doesn’t give you comfort from your allergy symptoms, consider a filter with a higher MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating — that’s the standard in the industry rating media type air filters, with the higher the MERV rating the more efficient the filter in removing smaller particles.

The best filters for removing the smallest particles and helping ease allergy suffering are the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filters. To qualify for the HEPA designation, the filter has to collect at least 99.97 percent of particles that are .3 microns in diameter — that’s around 300 times smaller than a single strand of human hair.

Central vacuum systems are also great allergy relievers. If you use an old upright or canister vacuum and want a real eye-opener as to just how inefficient it is, vacuum near the window as bright sunlight comes in. See all of that dust coming out in the exhaust from the vacuum? Those are all particles you just vacuumed on their way back into your air. A central vacuum system removes those particles more efficiently and effectively, taking them out of your carpets and upholstery and keeping them out.

For professional tips to relieve any of your allergy concerns, call A & J Installation at 845-357-0275 or email info@ajinstallation.com

In applications where there is no practical way to install ductwork, a duct-free system offers an economical and energy efficient, as well as a much more attractive and creative, alternative.

Operating through a combination of an outdoor condensing unit and one of three styles of compact indoor fan coil units connected by a refrigerant tubing and wire system, a duct-free configuration can meet any installation requirement. Whether those fan coils are installed on a wall, under the ceiling or inside a suspended ceiling, duct-free installations are perfect for instances where air conditioning is added to areas without existing ductwork, in additions to existing rooms, in areas with little available space, and any place with a historical significance where the appearance needs to be maintained.

Designed primarily to go where no duct can, duct-free systems are quieter thanks to the lack of the noise caused by air being forced through the ductwork, and also more efficient and economical, because no energy is lost through a forced air system. The duct-free units are designed for years of problem-free use. Individual controls maintain rooms at maximum comfort, and eliminate hot and cold spots.

The units are also easy on the eye, with a compact size and neutral colors that give them the ability to be installed anywhere and fit in with any décor.

For professional information on any of our ductless offerings, call A & J Installation at 845-357-0275 or email info@ajinstallation.com

But now we know better. Today, many people want to know what they can do to lessen the impact that the chemicals and aerosols we use down here are having on the protective layer keeping out the full effect of the sun’s deadly rays.

In an effort to help prevent the continued depletion of the ozone layer, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ordered as of Jan. 1, 2010 the phase-out of the use of R-22 and other hydro fluorocarbons in the construction of new air conditioning units. All new air conditioning systems in the U.S. now use ozone-friendly R-410A as their refrigerant.

R-410A, a mixture of difluoromethane and pentafluoroethane more commonly known as Puron, was created in 1991 by Allied Signal – now Honeywell — and has been shown not to deplete the ozone layer like its predecessor refrigerants. R-410A has been brought to the commercial air conditioning market thanks to a team effort of Carrier Corporation, Emerson Climate technologies, Copeland Scroll Compressors, and Allied Signal. Carrier debuted the R-410A residential AC unit in 1996 and has the trademark to the name Puron.

Because R-410A is unique in that it uses higher pressures to operate, any R-410A-based systems need equipment and safety considerations specific to that difference. Only R-410A-qualified personnel should work on these systems.

A & J Installation has the trained professionals to install and service all R-410A units. For professional information, call at 845-357-0275 or email info@ajinstallation.com.

Zoning can maximize your comfort while saving money and energy by avoiding the waste of both in the heating and cooling, depending on the season, of areas of the home when you are elsewhere. Planning on catching a cartoon marathon with the kids? Then you won’t need the master bedroom brought to a sleep-friendly temperature any time soon. Retiring after that long night of cartoons? Then why heat or cool your living room overnight?

Most homes have individual and separate sleeping and living areas, along with some rooms that are used a lot while some are used seldom, if ever. It doesn’t make sense to maintain a comfortable environment in the corner storage room or that guest room you only use when Grandma visits once a year, so it could be time to look into automatic zoning — the installation of ductwork dampers that control individual room temperatures.

Automatic zoning causes those ducts to be opened and closed based on a particular area’s thermostat settings. Based both on temperature and on occupancy expectancy, zoning is similar to using a programmable thermostat to bring the house to a comfortable temperature shortly before you expect to be home, but on a more specific, room-by-room scale.

Here, individual rooms can be maintained at separate temperatures for separate times of day, making the entire household more comfortable for all. Automatic zoning conveniently adjusts the temperature for each room without the need for constant fiddling with the thermostat, walking the length of the house to a central thermostat, or the installation of separate HVAC systems. Plus it makes sure an individual room isn’t overheated or overcooled once it is at the pre-programmed temperature.

That way, you are comfortable all the time in all the areas of your home, and you save on that energy bill as well.

You wouldn’t run your air conditioner or furnace outside of your home, so why heat or cool sections inside of your home when you aren’t there?

For professional information, call A & J Installation at 845-357-0275 or email info@ajinstallation.com.

It might be time to search out a replacement.

Making that kind of investment is, of course, not too be rushed into, so here are some pointers to help with that decision.

First, take an assessment of the current situation. Are you too hot in the summer and/or too cold in the winter? Are there certain rooms in the home that are noticeably colder/hotter than others? Is there an annoying disturbance every time the hot water or steam boiler system kicks on and starts to circulate?

That means it’s time to take a good look at updating your equipment, but the question of whether to repair or replace is still open to consideration. Like buying a new car, there is a lot to take into account to decide if it’s time for a trade up. How old is your current equipment, and how energy efficient is it to run? Old machinery certainly is not up to today’s standards in energy efficiency, so a new boiler is likely to be an immediate money saver.

The repair history, just like a car, is also considered. Are you having the system fixed constantly? What are the costs of those repairs running you? If it’s on its last legs, a new system is a way better investment than the bandage you keep applying to your clunker.

If you expect to stay in your home for a while, chances are pretty good that if you’ve already started to question whether to buy new, then it is time to buy new. And like buying a new car, you should kick the tires of the new boiler before your purchase. The innovative Carrier gas- and oil-fired boilers offer the comfort of all around warmth without the noise and draft of forced air systems. The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating tells just how energy conscious the equipment is – the higher the rating, the more efficiently it operates.

For professional information, call A & J Installation at 845-357-0275 or email info@ajinstallation.com.