According to ENERGY STAR®, one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency is to improve the building “envelope,” which consists of outer walls, windows, floors, ceiling, and other openings. A residential envelope that is properly sealed and has proper insulation can have a significant effect on your monthly utility costs and energy efficiency. Approximately 20% of air moving through a typical residential AC duct system is wasted due to leaky ducts, and improperly sealed connections.

It’s a good practice to have your air ducts checked and have leaks sealed when your air conditioner is professionally tuned up each year. Insulation can be checked and replenished as needed. It’s also a good practice to have air leaks around windows and doors caulked, and weather-stripped. Check and add insulation as needed to help improve your home comfort

Sealing air leaks and weather stripping can benefit other areas of your home:

• Decreases pollen, dust, and insects from entering the home
• Helps control humidity indoors
• Increases indoor air quality
• Reduces noise from the outdoors
• Helps optimize indoor comfort

In general, most homes in this country have a significant number of air leaks and don’t have enough insulation. The sum of air leaks, holes, and gaps in the typical home envelope is equivalent to leaving your windows open every day.

It’s to your benefit to have your ducts checked and sealed, and to properly insulate your home for keeping it warm in winter and cool in the summer. Stay comfortable!

Image source: US EPA

Marlin Services can help!

Residential & Commercial Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing Services in Metro Phoenix
Marlin Services is here to serve you 24/7, call: 602 470-104 or Schedule Appointments online.

Water is an important resource today, and it is essential to understand the amount of water we use and how much we waste down the drain every day. Here’s an opportunity to learn how to easily save water and save $$ in our own homes every day.

In the United States, an average family spends approximately $1,100 per year on their water bill. The good thing is we can save $350 of this by retrofitting older, less efficient fixtures with WaterSense products and ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances.

Check the graphic below, “The Facts On Leaks” and see the statistics on water use and water leaks. It’s an eye-opener for sure. Now, let’s go out and find ways we can save water and save $$ in our own homes. Earth Day is every day and it’s time we do our share in conserving, recycling, and protecting our environment far into the future.

See this infographic to learn more…

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We all know water is a precious resource and especially in the desert, where we live. Water is essential to our everyday lives. That said, it is important that we do our part in conserving and protecting our water supply. Look at our neighbors in California who are experiencing many hardships due to scarcity of water.

We can make simple changes to our water consumption that can have a great impact on our lives and the environment. Here are ways we all can help our water conservation:

• In Greater Phoenix, outdoor water use accounts for approximately 70% of our household water use.
• Swimming pools can lose up to 15,000 gallons of water every year due to evaporation.
• Cover your pool when it is not in use to save on evaporation.
• Check your pool for leaks and repair them quickly.
• Conserve water with a variable-speed pool pump.

Inside the home, there are numerous ways to save on water usage:

• Careful not to let excess water run from faucets and showers.
• Reuse water from cooking and rinsing.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water, rather than running excess water from the tap.
• Water houseplants or outdoor plants with re-purposed water from the kitchen and bath.

In the bathroom: showers, toilets and faucets can waste up to 30% of indoor water. Conserve on the amount of water you run while showering and washing in morning and evenings. It all adds up.

• Install water-efficient faucets, shower heads and toilets.
• Take shorter showers and use less bathwater in the tub.
• You can collect cold bath water or shower water for watering plants.

In the laundry room, older washers can use up to 50 gallons of water, and newer Energy Star washers only use 18-20 gallons per load.

• Adjust water level to the size load for greater efficiency.
• Wash clothes in cold water for energy savings.
• Check washing machine hoses for leaks and replace them immediately.

Now, these water-saving tips are easy enough for us to each go out and make a difference.

Marlin Services
Count on us for your Plumbing Repairs – Call the professionals.
Call: 602-470-1040

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 43% of our monthly utility bills goes to heating and air conditioning. We are quickly approaching the warm summer months of Arizona. Which means, we are also approaching the months of our highest utility bills with the usual dread we feel at this time of the year.

What can you do to keep your bill low while staying cool at the same time? Here are some tips for simple steps you can take to help control your utility bill during the summer months:

• Set your programmable thermostat at 78 degrees when you are at home but raise the temperature a few degrees when you are not at home and during the hours you sleep. You can see a 5-15% savings per year.
• During the warm months, skip stove-top or oven cooking to remove an indoor heat source. Use your outdoor BBQ grill or the microwave whenever you can.
• As always, keep your air filters clean by replacing them regularly (once a month is ideal).
• If it’s time to replace your older A/C unit, look for a high-energy-efficiency ratio, or EER, or an Energy Star-qualified unit. Higher EER ratings mean a more efficient air conditioner.
• Run your appliances in the evening. Appliances produce heat, which causes your air conditioner to work harder.
• Only use your ceiling fans when you are home. They circulate the air and are more efficient than your air conditioning, but leaving them running all day while you are not at home does not help cool your home. It only adds to your electric bill.
• Close your drapes and shades during the day when the sun is shining.
• Seal the leaks in your home where cool air may be escaping.
• Clean leaves and debris from the area around your outside unit so that it may run as efficiently as possible.
• Install your air conditioning unit in the shade because it uses more energy when it is in direct sunlight.
• If you are purchasing a new air conditioning system, make sure it is the right size for the space you will be cooling (and heating). A system that is larger than you need will translate into higher utility bills.

As you can see, many of these steps are easy to incorporate into your daily life. These simple steps do not infringe on how comfortable you will be and do not take a tremendous amount of effort.

Stay cool and keep your utility bills low this summer!

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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How Do You Calculate SEER?

Do you even know what that means, even if you do know how to calculate it?

Cooling BTUs and the amount of electricity a cooling unit uses per hour are crucial when determining a unit’s SEER ratings. An inefficient unit will have less cooling capacity/power (indicated by the cooling BTUs) and use up more watts of electricity per hour during the summer.

And buying the proper size unit for the size of your home is vital. If you purchase a unit that is more than you really need (in other words, too big), you are merely spending more money than necessary and it will not cool your house better or more efficiently. Read more on the subject of the correct size unit for your home here: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=roomac.pr_properly_sized.

Back to the question – How do you calculate SEER?

BTUs/hr x 1,000 hr  /  Watts/hr x 1,000 hr  =  SEER

Simply stated, SEER stands for the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is a measure of any cooling system’s cooling efficiency over the course of a season of use – be it an air conditioner or heat pump. That is, how efficiently the system cools your home.

Frigidaire’s air conditioners and heat pumps offer a range of efficiency options – all the way up to 25.5 SEER! This means that there is a cooling system that suits any budget or need. An air conditioner may cost more if it is a higher SEER, but you will have a greater potential to save money on utilities if you install a cooling system with high SEER ratings, in the long run.

Investing in Efficiency Can Save Money –

Although the techy details aren’t as important, it is always good to know why a high-efficiency unit will have a higher SEER ratings. A more efficient system will have more power behind it while using less electricity. This is why investing in a high-SEER system can pay off in utility savings over the life of your HVAC system. Your cooling unit will use less energy and give you more power. Old, inefficient units from the past may only be rated at 10 SEER. This means that simply upgrading to a budget-friendly 14-SEER air conditioner or heat pump, which is the minimum SEER rating required by the government for the Southwest United States, can have money-saving performance benefits when installed correctly.

We are always ready and available to answer any questions you may have on this subject. The hot summer weather is just around the corner. Be prepared with the best knowledge and don’t overspend if you don’t have to.

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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This is a question we get quite often. The answer is not a quick yes or no, however. There are several good reasons you should opt to repair you’re A/C system. There are also several good reasons why replacing your system makes good sense, as well. We have discussed this in the past, in both our blog and in our social media posts. It is well worth repeating. Of course, if you have any questions at all about this topic, call us. We are happy to answer all questions!

Let’s look at the answers, side-by-side. This should be helpful to you.

A couple of other things to consider:

If your unit is less than five years old there’s a good chance that the parts will be covered under warranty.

Although you may have a unit that has needed no repair or minimal repair for the past 10 years, if you are starting to see higher energy bills, it just may make sense to replace the unit. The A/C systems available today are much more energy efficient and these systems did not exist 10 years ago.

Check out this list from ENERGYSTAR.GOV, which provides good information on reasons to replace:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers

Check out the Home Energy Yardstick to assess your annual home energy usage:
https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=HOME_ENERGY_YARDSTICK.showGetStarted

Replacing an A/C is never fun or on top of anyone’s list of things you enjoy purchasing. Arizona’s hot summers make it necessary to think ahead and be prepared with a well operating system. If you are unsure what to do, ask us! We are happy to help.

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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A programmable thermostat is such a great tool to have in your home to help you control the temperature in your house, at all times of the day. Especially now, as we approach the 100+ degree weather for the next several months, you want (and need) a “smart” thermostat to help you control your temperature and budget your costs. None of us look forward to the high summer energy bills we receive and a programmable thermostat can help you lower your bills.

Check out this fun, interactive site from ENERGY STAR which gives you a step-by-step tutorial on how to program your thermostat. If you are unsure how to operate a programmable thermostat, this is a great start to learn about it.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=thermostats.progThermostat

Here are some important things to remember with a programmable thermostat:

• Setting the temperature very high (like 90 or 95) and setting it very low (like 40 or 50) will not help cool or warm your home any quicker than using a more moderate temperature.
• Remember to change the batteries. You may need to check if your thermostat has a battery indicator. If not, change the battery at the same time you change your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (at the Daylight Savings time in the spring and in the fall).
• Set your energy-saving settings for long periods of time (for example – 8 hours) during the day and during bed/sleep time. Consistent temperatures for longer periods of time, is best.
• During vacation, set the temperature at a constant temperature throughout the entire period of time you are away from your home.
• If you have a home with zoned heating and cooling, install a programmable thermostat in each zone. This is the best way to take advantage of maximum comfort and energy savings.
• Try to resist overriding your temperature settings. You set them for a reason and to help you save money. When you override them, it likely will contribute to a higher energy bill.

There are many great choices for programmable thermostats. Get started on the best comfort in your home and the lowest energy bills you have ever received. Marlin Services can help you determine what is best for your home and answer any questions you may have.

Stay cool and comfortable!

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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Your water heater works hardest in the winter and cooler months. Think about how long you stand outside your shower waiting for the hot water to flow through to you.

During these months, you want to take care to be aware of things you can do to be more efficient. There are simple steps you can take to help with reducing your water bills and saving energy.

Realistically, there are 4 ways to work towards energy efficiency of your water heater:

#1: Reduce your hot water usage and demand.

• Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
• Repair leaky faucets.
• Take shorter showers and eliminate baths.
• Replace older dishwashers and clothes washers with newer, modern energy-efficient models.

#2: Turn down the thermostat on your water heater.

• Setting the thermostat at 120 can save 6-10% annually on energy costs, while having enough hot water for showers and running the dishwasher.

#3: Insulate your water heater.

• By covering your water heater with a blanket or jacket, you can save 4-9% on energy cost.
• With this extra insulation of your water heater, you can reduce standby heat loss by 25-50%.

#4: Replace your current water heater with a new, more energy-efficient model.

• If you are purchasing a new water heater, look for one that is ENERGY STAR Qualified.

For further information on this subject, check out these websites:

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/water-heaters/water-heater-energy-saving-tips/
http://www.srpnet.com/energy/powerwise/energysavingstips.aspx#waterheating
http://energy.gov/articles/new-infographic-and-projects-keep-your-energy-bills-out-hot-water
http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/hwh_tips_2save.htm
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20351985,00.html

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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