Dollar Drain
Wasting water is a waste of money --
Here's how to start your conservation plan
Americans are the biggest users of household water in the world. The average American household uses nearly 125 galIons of water daily, more than twice as much water as the average household in Europe or Canada.
But times are changing. Many areas in the country facing years of drought and water supply shortages are asking homeowners to cut back the water they use. Just as many areas, faced with over burdened water and sewage treatment systems, are asking homeowners to use less water or face the expense of building new treatment facilities.
An average faucet leak can waste up to 5,000 gallons of water per month, at an estimated cost of $45 per year.
Also, many homeowners are discovering the benefits of saving water on their own. Besides being an environmentally smart thing to do, saving water saves money on water and sewer bills. You also save on energy bills, since you end up heating less water.
With water conserving products, American homeowners can ensure a healthier and safer home environment while improving the marketability and attractiveness of their homes.
Where do you start? There are many different choices your family can enlist when beginning a household water conservation plan. Just remember, water conservation is not an anti-use method, it's an anti-waste method.
Believe it or not, better water management can be as simple as having your leaky faucets and toilets fixed. An average faucet leak can waste up to 5,000 gallons of water per month, at an estimated cost of $45 per year. If the faucet's, leaking hot water, add an additional $35 to $45 for heating the water.
A leaky toilet can cost $30 to $40 a year and can waste 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of water per month.
The greatest water savings, though, came from outfitting your home with the latest in water conserving plumbing fixtures.
The home's biggest water user, the toilet, consumes nearly one-third of the water we Americans use in our homes every day. Today's traditional toilet uses 5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. Even the "water-conserving" models of just a few years ago use 3.5 gallons of water per flush. That translates into nearly 4.8 billion gallons of water flushed down American toilets each day.
Although the cost of a low consumption toilet is around $300, compared with $100 for a traditional toilet, the extra money can be regained with decreased water and sewer bills. The payback is less than four years.
You can also save water with low-flow showerheads and faucets. Replacing a conventional showerhead that typically uses 4.5 gallons per minute with a 2.5 gallon per minute showerhead can save the average family of four more than $50 per year in water heating and sewer costs and an estimated 10,000 gallons of water per year.
A leaky toilet can cost $30 to $40 a year and can waste between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of water per month.
Installing faucet aerators can save 6,500 gallons of water per year. The cost of these low-flow plumbing products is relatively inexpensive $10 to $50, and the payback period for these energy-saving devices is six months to a year.
As you can see, there are many options out there for saving water -- and money -- and there are just as many reasons to get started.
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Enjoy cleaner air in your home
With a Dynamic air cleaner in your home you'll notice the difference.
The difference in breathing cleaner air. The Dynamic polarized filter is 99% effective in trapping pollen, spores, molds, and pet dander. This means that practically all of the hay fever irritants are removed from the circulated airstream. So there's much less in the air to cause discomfort. The Dynamic filter produces no ozone and uses little electricity. Its high efficiency also means a dramatic reduction in household dust, dirt, smoke and other air pollutants.
The Dynamic filter turns your cooling or heating equipment into a clean air system by removing airborne dust and dirt that normally settle on your home furnishings. Simply running your furnace blower continually is a low cost way to keep your home air clean. No messy filters to wash or remembering monthly filter changes. The Dynamic filter media only needs to be replaced 4 times a year.
With all these advantages, you'll be surprised how economical a Dynamic filter is to own and operate.
Let us install a Dynamic air cleaner in your home's heating and cooling system so you can start enjoying cleaner air immediately.
Call Bailey Brothers today for a Dynamic polorized air filter -- the #1 central air cleaner. It's warranted for ten years because it's built to last.
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It's time to decide: do you repair or replace?
When should you repair older equipment and when do you replace that equipment. This can be one of the most difficult decisions that you have to make because it always seems that the repair or replacement comes at the worst possible time.
Here is what you have to consider when making a decision to repair or replace the largest appliances in your home.
Paying for repairs:
This sometimes simply prolongs the inevitable. Are you just putting a band-aid on the system? If the repair cost exceeds half of the original cost of the equipment then you should consider replacing it. An older system, that is breaking down probably will continue to breakdown, prompting additional emergency calls and fees.
Even after putting money into your system and getting nickel and dimed to death, it still won't be as energy efficient as a new system.
Energy savings:
Installing new systems can often pay for themselves. How? A furnace or air conditioner just 5-6 years old is vastly inefficient compared to today's energy efficiency standards. Advances in technology can save you from 50-60% off of your utility bill. That's how installing a new system can actually pay for itself over time. If you don't have the financial resources for a new system, ask about financing options.
Warranties:
When you buy most systems today they come with warranties that can keep from having to pay repair bills for the next 5-10 years!!
Health considerations:
If you were to have it analyzed, you might find that the indoor air consists of mostly invisible gases and particulates, including many which can be characterized as pollutants. These pullutants include many substances taken for granted, such as cooking smoke and grease, aerosol sprays, tobacco smoke, animal dander, ashes, human skin flakes, household cleansers, carbon dioxide, viruses, bacteria, pollen and fungi, dirt, dust, mold, mildew, and bacteria, among other things. People spend up to 93% of their time indoors where -- suprisingly -- air polution can be up to 10 times greater than outdoor levels. This poor indoor air quality results from reduce natural ventilation.
Replacing your old system with a new high efficiency model is a good idea. The decision to repair or replace can be difficult. We can assit you with all the facts and options available to you. Call Bailey Brothers at (405) 354-2035 to schedule a no cost system evaluation and estimate!
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Tips for Selecting the Right A/C Contractor for your Home
The real key to any air conditioning system is the quality of installation.
As companies have gotten better and better at manufacturing, many of the top brands are very similar in quality.
Therefore the one item that makes a difference is how it is installed.
If a system is correctly designed, sized, and installed in your home properly, it will work at peak efficiency for years, giving you the best overall comfort levels.
Tell your contractor every problem you're experiencing from hot and cold rooms to excessive dust. This way he will be able to properly evaluate what it is you need. And ask him about all the extra "comfort" items. Electronic air cleaners, humidifiers, and programmable thermostats.
Here is a checklist to use when looking for a contractor:
Check their credentials
Before making a choice make sure there are no negative claims with the BBB.
Check for an affiliation with a manufacturer.
While this isn't required, you may want to go with a brand they are factory trained with.
Ask for references.
Former happy customers is one of the best ways to determine a good contractor.
Expect them to do an on-site audit of your home.
A good contractor will have to take a look at the home to determine your overall comfort needs. It is impossible to do this over the phone.
Check for local licenses.
This may be different depending on where you live, but a contractor may have to complv with certain local or state regulations.
Ask Questions.
Your contractor would prefer this. This way he can get to know you and you him or her. You will also end up with the finished comfortable home you seek.
Get an estimate of costs.
If you are going to get more than one bid, make sure they are for the same things. The same size system, same efficiency, and the same quality and guarantee of workmanship. Be wary of the contractors who offer free furnaces and very low prices, they may be cutting corners.
Ask about labor and equipment warranties.
Get the terms explained to you so that you understand them. Ask about any extended warranties from the manufacturer.
As about preventive maintenance service policies.
Ask your contractor if he offers service agreements or maintenance contracts. If so, get one, they will keep your equipment running it's best
Get a written contract with a guarantee.
You want a commitment from your contractor as well as your commitment to him or her.
Following these guidelines should take the fear and frustration out of hiring a contractor to work on the biggest appliance in your home.
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Hot FAQ's
If I run my air conditioner too long will it run out of freon?
Freon (refrigerant) should never need to be replaced. It it must be added every year, there is an expensive leak that should be repaired.
How long should my air conditioner last?
Typical life expectancies are hard to define. How long something lasts depends on the way they are used and the maintenance they receive. The typical life of a central air conditioner is 10-15 years.
Does an electronic air cleaner really help with allergies?
Air cleaners clean the air by filtering out billions of unseen microscopic particles that float in the air, including dust, pollen, mold, and plant spores, dust mite debris, pet hair and dander. This is expecially important to the one in five people who suffer from allergies.
How often should I check the furnace filter in the cooling season?
It's a good idea to check filters every 30 days. If dirty, clean or replace them. Dust or lint on filters reduce your system's air-moving efficiency. Clean filters will also keep your home cleaner.
Is yearly maintenance important for air conditioners?
Yes, air conditioning systems can lose up to 30% of their efficiency without maintenance. If fact, just 1/100th of an incy of dirt of your indoor coils alone can increase your cooling bills by 5%.
What is the best way to come home to a cool house after work?
On hot summer days, closing drapes or drawing shades can reduce incoming heat. For the greatest air conditioner control, install a programmable thermostat to automatically raise the thermostat setting when you are away. For window air conditioners, install a timer that turns off the unit when you are away and turns it back on automatically. your house will be cool when you return.
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