Author Archives: scottsholtes

Air Conditioning: Save money this summer with helpful energy saving tips

Posted on by under Heating and Air

AC Company JacksonvilleIf you have ever spent a summer in Florida, you know it gets hot and staying cool can be expensive. Keeping your home or office air conditioned in the summer can be quite expensive, but there are some things you can do to help. Here are 6 tips from a leading Jacksonville AC Company, McgowansAC.com.

  1. Keep your air filters clean. Clean air filters help your cooling system run more efficiently. You should check them every 1 – 3 months depending on your home. Homes that have animals should check and replace them more often.
  2. Don’t turn your AC on and off. It does not save you money to turn the AC off and on every time you come and go from your home. It is ok to turn the AC a few degrees every time you leave, but shutting it off and on is inefficient and will leave you uncomfortable. When an AC is left off for hours and heat is allowed to build up in the house, it will take the AC much longer and much more energy to cool the house back down.
  3. Keep your blinds and curtains shut. Keeping your blinds and curtains shut will block the sun from coming into your house and heating it up. This is also true of exterior doors and windows. Having air tight doors and windows will keep cool air from escaping, and will help to keep interior temperatures low.
  4. Keep objects clear of your outside unit. Never cover your outside unit with any kind of bag or plastic. This may cause rusting, and will prevent the unit from breathing properly. It is also important to keep the space directly above the unit clear. Failing to do so could cause warm air to circulate back into the unit creating inefficiency.
  5. Size correctly. Getting an AC unit that is recommended for a larger space than you have is not a good a idea. An oversized unit will not keep you any cooler than a properly sized unit, and it will operate less efficiently and effectively than the properly sized one. Let a professional help you select the optimal unit for your space, and maximize on efficiency.
  6. Don’t place appliances near thermostat. Keep TVs, toasters, refrigerators, and any other heat producing appliances away from your thermostat. The thermostat may sense the heat from these appliances and cause it run longer and harder than necessary.

These are just a few of the tips that could help to save you money during the cooling season. If you have any tips that have worked in your home or office, please let us know in the comment section. Visit www.McGowansAC.com for more tips and facts on how to save energy next summer.

Dangers of water damage in Jacksonville, FL

Posted on by under Water Damage

Water damage

Jacksonville is one of the most beautiful places in all of Florida, and maybe even the United States. With its abundance of natural resources and close proximity to the water, it is an ideal place to live year round. This close proximity to the water does create an increased exposure to the risk of water damage from flooding. Flooding can cause extensive damage to a home or business, and can cause problems for years if it is not handled properly.  Choosing the right water damage professional can make all the difference.

Anderson Restoration and Emergency Services has been handling water and flood damage in the Jacksonville community for decades. Their expert technicians can help to get your property back to ideal condition quickly and efficiently. Not properly addressing water damage can cost a property owner thousands of dollars down the road. Water damage not properly remediated can lead to mold and mildew growth. Many times this growth is invisible or goes unnoticed until it is too late. Mold and mildew growth can be dangerous to anyone’s health who comes in contact with it, especially if someone is living in a home with it. The EPA even stated that some forms of mold and mildew can become toxic.

While flooding may seem like your biggest threat, leaking pipes and appliances pose an even larger threat. A leaking pipe can drip water and grow mold for months or even years undetected. This leak could cause mold to grow and could damage the structure of your property. If you suspect that you may have a leak or mold growing, you should have a professional come out and do mold testing. Anderson Restoration specializes in mold testing, and uses state-of-the-art equipment to find and detect water and mold growth. This equipment can even detect potential problem areas before mold or mildew begins growing. Anywhere there is excessive moisture, mold or mildew can grow.

During a flooding situation, removing water from a property is the first priority. Once water has been removed from the property, Anderson restoration will use its industrial strength fans and dehumidifiers to dry out a property as fast as possible. The longer a property sits wet or moist, the more damage will be done. Failure to completely dry out a property could lead to tremendous costs down the road.

Another negative factor of water damage is the foul odor that can follow water damage. Professional water removal companies, like Anderson restoration, will use disinfectant and deodorizer to help minimize the effects of water damage.

Water damage can cause great harm to the structure property, but handled professionally, can be overcome. Let Anderson Restoration and Emergency Services use their years of expertise to handle your next emergency.