S P E C I A L
H O M E
C O M F O R T
I S S U E
HOME LIVING www.aaronmechanical.com
SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Shape Up
Quick ways to get in shape for the summer
SAVE $1200
Up to $1,200 off new RUUD A/C systems
Fast Fixes
Great family dinners in less than an hour: Chicken Parmesan, Chorizo Bolognese, Vegetable lasagna
281-540-HVAC
www.aaronmechanical.com
Welcome to Right At Home Welcome to the spring 2014 issue of Right At Home, the magazine that provides homeowners across the country with recipes, lifestyle articles, home health tips and, most importantly, how to take care of your heating and cooling system. The topics in this issue will help you and your family get the most out of the busy spring and summer months. We’ll explain what to look for if your cooling system has maintenance issues this summer. We’ll also tell you the best way to keep it running at peak performance. You’ll also find important information that can cut your energy bills by simply looking for leaky duct work. Warmer weather usually heats up a family’s activities and everyone seems to be on the go! We’ve found some great pasta recipes that you can have on the table in no time. We also have tips on reducing clutter, getting in shape for summer and how to help reduce the causes of allergies in your home. We hope you consider the local Rheem contractor who sent you this magazine as a trusted source for any future heating or cooling needs.
COntents 6 7
SPRING/SUMMER 2014
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HOME
Tired of everyone just dropping books, gear and clothes everywhere? Try these de-clutter tips
MONEY Typical duct systems lose 25% to 40 % of the energy put out by the central furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner.
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COMFORT HVAC repair experts tell you the most common HVAC issues to look for if your system stops working.
HEALTH
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It’s time to get in shape for that summer getaway. We have some easy ways to get healthy.
Food
Quality ingredients and easy recipes can help you get a great dish on the table in no time.
Right at Home PUBLISHER William Sabo Designer KZ Creative
STAFF WRITERS Hollie Deese David V. King Beth Burcham
All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the express permission of the publisher. Published by: Private Label Media Partners, 709 State Street New Orleans, LA 70118. Phone 877-618-6626.
Treat your HVAC system like your car
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ou’d probably never think of driving your car everyday for two, three or even four years without changing the oil, rotating the tires or changing the wiper blades or performing other routine maintenance. But that is exactly what most homeowners do with their HVAC system. Based on the amount of hours it runs each year, your HVAC system works a lot harder than your car. Think about it, you drive to and from work, run a few errands, pick up the ids. In total, your car runs a few hours each day. It takes about 540 hours of regular driving to rack up 15,000 miles on your car. In relation, your heat pump runs 10-12 hours a day which would equal about 170,000 miles per year. A/C systems would run the equivalent of over 46,000 miles each year, and oil and gas furnaces would run about 126,500 miles per year. Yet it’s easy to forget about an HVAC system. It’s generally outside or tucked away in an attic or basement, so as long as it keeps you comfortable, it’s pretty much taken for granted. That is, until the long, hot Fourth of July weekend when it suddenly conks out and you’re left to sweat it out until a service person arrives. Both cars and HVAC systems are complex mechanical machines that need routine maintenance a couple of times a year to ensure small problems don’t grow into big ones. Simple measures such as changing the filters on your system are big factors to efficiency and extending the system’s life — at only $5 to $15 a filter. Annual maintenance on your HVAC system from a qualified can prevent costly, premature breakdowns, saving you money in the long run. HVAC contractors are highly trained, tested and offer a wide variety of maintenance plans to ensure your system is safe and efficient.
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A typical maintenance check-up should include the following: • • • • •
Check thermostat settings Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Lubricate all moving parts. Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
Cooling Specific • • • •
Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger.
Actions To Do Yourself •
Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. (Your HVAC contractor can show you where the filters are located, what the best choice would be and how to install them.)
Getting the most in
COMFORT The HVAC Consumer CashBack offers up to $1,200 in instant savings
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Replacing an old, inefficient comfort system has never been easier
f your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC contractor.
Most Ruud contractors offer easy ways to finance a new heating a cooling system without breaking your budget. Ruud contractors representatives are a phone call away seven days a week. Kwik Comfort is If it is not performing efficiently or needs a quick and efficient credit processing. and upgrading, consider replacing it with a will have an answer for you within minutes unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Depending on where you live, replacing Included in the financing should be your old heating and cooling equipment everything associated with your HVAC with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual heating and cooling bill equipment—your original equipment purchase, all subsequent service, extended by 40%. service protection, and even the comfort Ruud offers several models that have earned options that you choose to add later. the ENERGY STAR rating. In today’s tough economic times, homeowners might think about just patching their system to get through another season, but being penny wise will mean being dollar foolish down the road.
With low monthly payments for equipment and service cost, a homeowner can finance an entire new heating and cooling system for as low as $100 a month.
T
he new Ruud Consumer CashBack instant money back program could save up to $1,200 off a hew heating and cooling system. Ruud is offering a hassle-free instant rebate on qualifying systems. Filing is simple and there is no paperwork for the homeowner to fill out. Everything is submitted on-line by your Ruud contractor. At the time of the sale, the homeowner’s rebate will be subtracted from the purchase price. The extra savings provided by the HVAC Consumer CashBack upgrade to high-efficiency HVAC systems for far less than they expect. The offer is good now until June 30, 2014 so don’t wait!
281-540-HVAC www.aaronmechanical.com
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Control the Clutter with Drop Zones To eliminate the clutter that busy lifestyles create, try establishing designated drop zones throughout your house to regain a sense of order. Don’t worry, you can still drop everything and relax when you come home – just drop everything in the right spot.
Entryway Coats, scarves, hats and bags are dropped everywhere, while dirty shoes are kicked off and left behind. Basically, the entrance to your home can become a minefield. The addition of a coat rack or hooks make it easy to hang up outerwear, while a storage bench is a convenient place to take off shoes and neatly stow them away.
Kitchen
Establish a corner of the kitchen counter to drop lunch boxes, bottles and coffee mugs used throughout the day. To prevent a pile-up of papers and misplaced items, set up a command center with enough space to file mail and bills and store your keys and other small essentials.
Living Room
Bedroom
To clear clothing clutter, use a valet rod to hang up tomorrow’s outfit or clothes that need to be taken to the tailor or dry cleaner. Additionally, try designating a dresser drawer as a drop zone for jewelry, watches, your wallet or other valuables.
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A coffee table tray or basket is ideal for storing remotes and chargers. Add storage cubes with bins as a convenient place to store and hide laptop cords, tablets, gaming equipment and children’s toys. Consider labeling a bin for each family member to “drop” or stow their stuff.
Right At Home
Leaky ducts can waste 40% of energy, money
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on’t be embarrassed, but your ducts are probably leaking! A recent Department of Energy study states, “Typical duct systems lose 25 to 40 percent of the energy put out by the central furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner.” This almost certainly means that your air conditioning equipment is working overtime to compensate for this loss. As far as comfort, improper duct work is also a major cause of hot and cold spots and can propagate indoor air problems such as dust and mold. Insist that your contractor inspect your ductwork to ensure there are no design errors or kinks in flexible duct work, the ductwork has proper insulation (R-8 insulation is top-of-the-line for ducts), and that all the ducts and duct connectors are properly sealed with mastic and/or tape. The Department of Energy says duct repairs could be the most important energy improvement measure you can do.
Home pollutants, what are they and where do they come from?
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ou may be surprised to learn that some common household items pollute the air you breathe, including: pollen and spores, human skin flakes, candle soot, infiltrating dust, viruses, bacteria, and fungi, pet dander, tobacco or wood smoke, cooking smoke and airborne grease, radon gas, chemical fumes and volatile organic compounds. Every cubic foot of air you breathe carries a mixture of millions of such airborne particles. Although larger particles are more visible and catch attention more easily, the smallest of these particles are of greatest concern for indoor air quality. Viruses, bacteria, smoke and grease are amongst the smallest and can be most damaging to the home and the individuals who live there. Consumer demand for air cleaners has been on the rise in recent years according to the EPA. Air conditioning filtration efficiency depends on the type of air cleaner used, and the type, number and size of the particles in the air stream. It varies from as little as 3% for ordinary throw-away fiberglass filters, to up to 99.9% for HEPA filters.
Right At Home.™
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This spring,
SPRING
take advantage of the RUUD Instant Rebate!
IS IN THE AIR AND SO ARE
INSTANT SAVINGS 2014 SPRING PROMOTION The Ruud Instant Rebate offers savings of $25 to $1,200 on eligible Ruud heating and cooling systems and individual unit components purchased between April 1, 2014, and June 30, 2014, from a participating independent Ruud HVAC contractor. The actual savings amount depends on the eligible Ruud products that you purchase. Your instant rebate is applied by the contractor as a discount to your bill for the eligible equipment at the time of purchase. You get instant savings and all the comforts of Ruud! Contact your independent Ruud HVAC contractor today to find the solution that’s best for your home and take advantage of these great savings.
RUUD.COM Contractor Name and PHONE HERE
281-540-HVAC
www.aaronmechanical.com
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For more than a century, Ruud has been a name synonymous with reliability. You can be sure you’re getting long-lasting value and comfort with any Ruud product you purchase. We engineer our products with durability in mind, testing and retesting to guarantee superior quality. In addition, we work hard to bring you high-efficiency heating and cooling products that reduce your monthly energy costs while being easier on the environment. We promise to deliver quality products that we can be proud of and you can rely on.
BIG SAVINGS ON THE SPOT.
From April 1st to June 30 th, the Ruud Instant Rebate** offers savings up to $1,200. You get big, instant savings and all the comforts of Ruud. Make your home comfortable year-round with a top-rated Ruud heating or cooling product. And with new comfort comes big savings! This spring, you can take advantage of immediate cash back with a Ruud Instant Rebate. When you purchase a Ruud system or any individual unit component, you save on the spot!
HASSLE-FREE There’s no paperwork for you to fill out and nothing to put in the mail. And with this rebate, there’s no waiting and wondering about when you will receive a check. Your savings are immediate – and your contractor takes care of everything. Easy! **Limited Time Offer. Offer applies only on eligible Ruud products purchased from participating independent Ruud HVAC contractors between 4/1/14 and 6/30/14. To view applicable instant rebate amounts, list of eligible Ruud products and other information, view the eligible products matrix inside. Offer valid to legal residents of the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii only. Must be at least 18 years of age or older at the time of purchase to be eligible. The applicable Instant Rebate is applied by the participating Ruud contractor at the time of purchase for the Eligible Product. Rebate request must be made to participating Ruud contractor at time of purchase to qualify. Rebate requests submitted to Ruud will not be honored. This offer is limited to residential HVAC applications. Subject to applicable laws. Void where prohibited. This instant rebate offer may not be combined with any other rebate, discount, or other promotions and is not transferable or applicable toward future purchases. Ruud reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer, products and/or services at any time for any reason. Contact your local Ruud Contractor or visit Ruud.com/SpringPromo for more information.
Contractor Name:
Date:
Contractor Phone Number:
281-540-HVAC “In keeping with its policy of continuous progress and product improvement, Ruud reserves the right to make changes without notice.” Ruud USA • P.O. Box 17010 • Fort Smith, Arkansas 72917
Ruud.com
Fast-Fix Dinners Easy Family Meals in Under an Hour Family schedules can get hectic, but it doesn’t have to be hard to make time for a great family dinner. Whether it’s a hearty dish of Bolognese or lighter vegetarian fare, quality ingredients and easy recipes can help you get a great dish on the table in no time.
Serves
6
Easy Chicken Parmesan Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 45 minutes Ingredients:
Chorizo Bolognese
Serves
6
Prep time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes
• 1 (15-ounce) can Tomato Sauce • 1 (14.5-ounce) can Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic and Oregano, undrained
Ingredients:
• 6 tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
• 8 ounces dry fettuccine pasta, uncooked
• 6 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/2 pounds)
• 1/2 pound ground chuck beef (80% lean)
• 3/4 pound spaghetti, uncooked
• 1/4 teaspoon adobo seasoning blend
• 1 1/2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation:
• 6 ounces fresh pork chorizo (Mexican-style)
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion • 1/4 cup sliced stuffed green olives
Heat oven to 375°F. Pour tomato sauce and undrained • 1 (15-ounce) can Tomato Sauce tomatoes into 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Stir in 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) Parmesan. Add chicken; turn to coat Preparation: evenly both sides of each breast with sauce. Cover. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is done (165°F). salt. Meanwhile, heat large skillet over medium-high Meanwhile, cook spaghetti as directed on package, heat. Add beef, chorizo, adobo seasoning and pepper. omitting salt. Top chicken with remaining cheeses; bake, uncovered, 5 minutes or until mozzarella is melted. Drain spaghetti. Serve topped with chicken and sauce.
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Vegetarian Lasagna Skillet
Serves
Prep time: 30 minutes Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: • • • • • • • •
8 ounces dry bowtie (farfalle) pasta, uncooked 2 tablespoons Pure Wesson Canola Oil 2 cups quartered, sliced zucchini 1 (15-ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained, rinsed 1 (16-ounce) jar light Alfredo pasta sauce 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt 2 (14.5-ounce) cans Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, drained well 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Preparation: Cook pasta according directions, omitting salt.
to
package
Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add beans, Alfredo sauce and garlic salt to skillet; heat until hot and bubbly. Add cooked pasta to skillet; stir to combine. Add drained tomatoes; toss to combine. Top with cheese. Reduce heat; cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan
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ways to lower your cooling bills 1 Arrange an HVAC inspection Anyone can hire a certified technician for an annual check that their home’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is operating at peak efficiency. Leaking ducts, for example, could reduce energy efficiency by up to 20%. Inspections usually cost less than $100, but that could be offset by the energy savings over time. A quick and inexpensive inspection also might find a small problem before it turns into a BIG one!
2 Keep it clean Clean air filters monthly for central air and individual window or wall units. Dirt and dust hinder air flow, reducing efficiency.
3 Program the thermostat Give the air conditioner a break during the work day. Shifting the settings to allow higher daytime temperatures could cut the average household’s electric bill by $180 a year, according to ENERGY STAR.
4 Seek out incentives on appliances Investing in a new energy-efficient unit can cut long-term bills – and be cheaper up front, too. Make sure you ask the contractor on this magazine for any available rebates, either through the manufacturer or your local utility company.
5 Close the blinds Rooms get hotter without shades or curtains to block the sunlight, especially with south- and west-facing windows. Put this idea to work more effectively with insulated window treatments.
6 Use fans A breeze makes the room feel a few degrees cooler. Just be sure to turn it off when leaving. Remember, fans cool people, not rooms.
Ruud has just introduced the EcoNet thermostat that allows you to program it with just one touch or even from your smart phone. SET IT & GO After setting your desired heat and cool range, the system automatically switches between heating and cooling modes to keep the house at the desired temperature range. CLEAN, COMFORTABLE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT Maintain an ideal indoor environment during temperate weather by selecting continuous fan speeds that ensure even temperatures inside the house and provide continuous air filtering. HUMIDITY CONTROL Do it yourself with manual mode, or maintain the right humidity conditions inside your home by selecting the ‘Auto’ setting. This setting actively monitors internal and external conditions and automatically adjusts the relative humidity to maintain ideal comfort levels. EASIER MONITORING & MAINTENANCE EcoNet can also monitor and manage the operation of various accessories connected to your HVAC system, including humidifiers, air filters, UV lights and ventilators. When an accessory requires attention, an alert appears on the control advising that it be replaced.
Call Aaron Mechanical at 281-540-HVAC
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If you’re heating or cooling system stops working,
check these things first Heating and cooling systems are usually incredibly reliable, however, with any mechanical device problems can arise. Some of these problems can be do-it-yourself fixes. However, for the more complex problems, it is best to call a trained HVAC technician. HVAC repair experts say these are the most common issues when an AC, heat pump or furnace stops working.
Blown Fuse - Fuses protect the unit’s motor or compressor against overheating, and is found in the evaporator coil. Worn Contactor -
There are three contactors in a unit: one for the compressor, one for the condenser fan motor, and one for the blower motor. The contactors engage when there is a need for cooling or heating, making an electrical connection. This starts the compressor and motors.
Capacitors - There are two capacitors in your system, if either capacitor burns out, it will need to be replaced for your HVAC to work properly. Filters-
Filters get dirty and clogged from air particles. Once this happens, the filter needs to be changed. One way to tell if the filter needs to be changed is to hold it up to the light and see if you can see light pass through it. If you cannot, the filter needs to be changed. A dirty filter will reduce the air flow to the unit causing the unit to freeze.
Thermostat - This is the device that tells the system what to do and when to do it. Before calling an HVAC company, make sure the thermostat is on. Many times the thermostat is accidentally turned off or is on the wrong setting. Drain Lines. - The drain line commonly becomes clogged with dirt or algae. If it is clogged, the drain pan will fill up and cause water to leak over and create water damage.
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Refrigerant Leak - Refrigerant leaks can happen with vibration of the unit while it is operating. Refrigerant leaks in the condenser or evaporator coils cannot be repaired. If the leak is found in another place the technician can remove what is left and charge the unit levels back to their correct amount.
Shape Up for Summer Here are some easy and fast ideas for getting healthy
• Make water your favorite drink. A person must have a minimum of 8 glasses of water in a day. Avoid taking soft drinks or carbonated beverages; moreover replace them with water. • Don’t stuff yourself with food in a single sitting; instead have 5 to 6 small meals or snacks in a day. Eating several small meals helps the body to release less insulin, which keeps blood sugar steady and helps to control hunger. • Make a habit of walking. Walking is more important for people in sedentary jobs. Walk for at least 45 minutes every day; it helps in burning extra calories. • Keep small plates for serving food because a study shows that the less food put in front of us, the less food we’ll eat. So downsize your food plates and coffee mugs, and say goodbye to those extra calories. • Eat more vegetables by using vegetables to make hefty meals. Like pasta salad loaded with vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes can be eaten twice. Same applies for stir-fries; add vegeta-
bles to make a fluffier omelet. • Eat cereal for breakfast. You will consume more fiber and calcium, and less fat than in a typical breakfast. • Use flavorings like hot sauce, salsa, and Cajun seasonings rather than butter and creamy or sugary sauces. These flavorings not only provide flavor with no fat and few calories, but the spicy ones also turn up digestive fires, causing your body to burn more calories. • Eat fruit rather than drinking fruit juice. Eating whole foods will keep you satisfied for longer period of time than juice. More over, fruit juices are very high in calories. • Take a walk before dinner and it’ll not only burn calories, but also cut down your appetite. • Take most of the calories before noon because studies tell that the more you eat in the morning, the less you’ll eat in the evening. Moreover, you will get more chances to burn off those early-day calories than late-night calories.
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$500 off 16 SEER System or Higher Installed
$20 off
Energy Savings Maintenance Contract
$40 off
Any Flat Rate Repair