5 Reasons to Get Professional Furnace Maintenance

When was the last time that you gave your furnace some attention? During the busy autumn season it can be easy to let maintaining your home’s heating system fall by the wayside, but scheduling your annual furnace inspection is one of the most important things you can do to guarantee your comfort during the winter months.

Why schedule furnace maintenance this month? Take a look at these five great reasons:

1. Colder Days are Ahead

We know that winter brings the coldest months of the year, and with colder days and even colder nights we’ll be depending on our furnaces to keep us warm and cozy indoors.

However, if you’re cranking up the furnace to compensate for the cooler temperatures, it’s important to make sure that it is in perfect working condition.

2. Your Furnace Hasn’t Been Used in Months

Spring and summer are the warmer seasons, and most homeowners don’t turn their furnaces on for 4-6 months during these times. However, while it may feel great not to need to turn on the furnace to stay warm, these months of inactivity can negatively affect your furnace.

This is because months of inactivity can exacerbate smaller issues which may have been present last season. If there is a small mechanical failure, or a part in your furnace had begun wearing out, “resting” for several months and then starting back up in the fall can cause those problems to go from small and unnoticeable to causing a system shutdown.

3. Keep Your Family Safe

When was the last time your furnace was checked for cracks and compromises? If your furnace hasn’t been inspected by a professional heating expert in recent memory, then it may be leaking carbon monoxide into your home.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas because it is colorless, odorless, and can be toxic in large quantities. So instead of putting your family at risk this season, call for an inspection and ensure that your furnace is safe to use.

4. Save Money

Spending to have your furnace inspected may not feel like a great way to save money, but investing in maintenance before your furnace begins seeing heavy, daily use can help prevent and avoid larger, more costly repairs down the line.

5. Rest Easy

Enjoy the winter months armed with the knowledge that your home’s heating system and furnace are in perfect working order and will reliably keep you warm all season long. Not just that, but a furnace which is well-maintained will work more efficiently and uses less energy to operate, which means it can help keep your monthly energy costs down.

If you're interested in scheduling a professional furnace check this fall, call The Meridian Company at 517-339-6300 for service in the East Lansing, MI.

 

Cleaning Your Home for Fall: Do You Have These 5 Items?      

Now that the temperatures are cooling slightly, it’s time to turn your attention indoors to some tasks that you may have put off over the summer.

You are probably aware of some usual basic jobs for fall maintenance, like changing your air filters and cleaning up your yard. But as far as equipment and supplies go, make sure that you have these items on hand to take care of some necessary tasks.

1 - To Wash the Bedding

Make sure that you‘ve got access to a large basin washing machine to fully launder all of your bedding, including comforters and bedding. You may also want to wash pillows as well. Also take a few minutes to flip your mattress, so that you extend its life as well as keep it cleaner. If you don’t have a washing machine big enough, take the items in for dry cleaning.

2 - The Vacuum

Your vacuum is going to get a serious workout during fall cleaning, so make sure filters are clean and ready to go. If you’ve got central vac, empty the canister. Vacuum the upholstery on chairs and sofas.

Vacuum around windowsills to catch dust. While you are there, vacuum window treatments. Vacuum around smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, where accumulating dust can hamper operation.

3 – Vinegar

You’ve probably got vinegar in your kitchen for cooking, but it has many other uses in the kitchen, particularly as a natural degreaser.

Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water. Scrub counter tops and inside kitchen cabinetry. Clean out the pantry and clean down the shelves. Get rid of old food and put newer food at the front so that it gets used first. Take your hood fan apart in your kitchen and soak it in the vinegar solution. Grease will build up over the year.

4 - Carpet Cleaner

Now is the time to book a professional carpet cleaning. If you’d rather DIY, rent a steam cleaner to get out those deep down stains. Your carpets probably took a beating this summer with the extra dirt from outside, particularly if you’ve got pets or kids.

5 – Ladder

It’s time to get on top of that ladder to take care of all of those high-up jobs. Vacuum around light fixtures. Take them apart and clean out the insides. Dust in all the nooks and crannies of the corners of the rooms. Dust tops of bookshelves, crown moulding and ceiling fans.
The fall is also a great time to get your furnace tuned up. We can help with that. Give the professionals at The Meridian Company, in East Lansing, MI, a call today at (517)-339-6300.

Tired of Uneven Cooling In Your Home? Try These 3 Easy Tips!

If your home has issues with uneven cooling, then you may notice a drastic difference in temperature from room to room, and even floor to floor if you live in a multi-story residence.

This can be a source of frustration for many homeowners who expect their investment in their air conditioning system to result in even distribution of cool air to every nook and cranny of their home. Unfortunately, over time various factors can affect your home’s cooling system and reduce its ability to provide continuous cold air.

Can you help reduce uneven cooling in your home? Try these three easy steps and find out for yourself:

1. Add More Insulation to Your Attic

The insulation in your attic plays an important role in maintaining a consistent temperature within your home because it regulates how much cool air stays in, and how much hot air is kept out. This means that if your attic is filled with low-quality insulation, or if it lacks the appropriate amount, then it may be allowing cool air to escape while keeping warm air trapped inside.

If you notice that the floors of your multi-storey home have drastically different temperatures, then your faulty attic insulation may be to blame.

2. Have Your Air Ducts Checked for Air Leaks

Your ductwork carries air from room to room throughout your home and is responsible for maintaining a consistent temperature by carrying warm or cool air to wherever it is needed.

However, if your ducts have leaks, holes, or tears present, then cool air will bleed out before it arrives at its intended destination. Not only does this mean that your rooms will be less cool and comfortable, but it also puts an added strain on your HVAC system because it has to work harder to push extra air around your home to compensate for what was lost.

3. Install a Zoning System to Control Different Areas

A home zoning system may feel like a steep up-front investment, but it can save you a lot of stress and headache long-term when it comes to adequately cooling different areas of your home.

Zoning Systems allow you to control the temperature and air quality on different levels of your home, which allows for a greater degree of accuracy and customization than with a whole-house thermostat. Additionally, depending on the kind of zoning system you have installed, you can ask your HVAC specialist to set customized areas of your home, so there are areas which receive more hot or cool air depending on their size and the layout of your home.

For more information about how you can regulate the temperature in your East Lansing, MI home and fix uneven cooling issues, contact your local HVAC expert from The Meridian Company at 517-339-6300.

 

Clean The Pollen From Your Home In Three Easy Steps

Summertime in Michigan brings so many great things. Outdoor fun with your family, fishing or camping trips, not to mention so many other outdoor sports and activities. But for allergy sufferers, the warmer weather also brings itchy, irritated eyes, sneezing and a runny nose.

If you or anyone in your family suffers from hay fever or seasonal allergies, you can make your home a haven from those annoying symptoms by following three easy steps that will help to provide clean air that is free from pollen and other allergens in your house.

1 - Install a HEPA Filter

The furnace and air conditioning system in your home has an air filter that should be replaced at least every three months or whenever it becomes visibly dirty. Regular filters do a good job catching dirt and dust before they can enter your ducts.

But if you want a filter that's going to catch even smaller airborne particles like pollen and pet dander, choose a HEPA filter. The ultrafine mesh of a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter will trap more of these allergens to prevent them from getting dispersed throughout your home.

To achieve even cleaner air, you can consider having a UV air sanitizer installed. These units use ultraviolet light to vaporize and virtually eliminate all airborne particles, including microscopic microbes.

2 - Keep Windows and Doors Closed

Now that you have a HEPA filter in place to eliminate pollen that gets into your home, you can greatly limit how much enters in the first place by keeping your windows and doors closed as much as possible. This is particularly important during the early morning hours and mid-day between 10 AM and 3 PM when pollen counts are usually at their highest.

3 - Keep Your Indoor Humidity Under Control

Many allergens, like dust mites and mold spores, love humid air. If you maintain a relative humidity level below 50% in your home, these allergens won't be able to survive. Be careful, however, not to make the air inside too dry, as this can also aggravate allergy symptoms by irritating your sinuses.

If you add a whole home dehumidifier to your air-conditioning system, you'll be able to maintain an optimal humidity level between 40 and 50% that will not only promote clean air in your house but also enhances the overall indoor comfort.

There you have it. Three easy steps to achieving pollen-free clean air in your home. For more home comfort and clean air tips, call the pros at the Meridian Company, in East Lansing, MI at 517-731-0025.

Tackle These 6 Projects Before the 4th of July Weekend

Keeping Your Home Festive

In most parts of the country, summer is the hottest and most humid time of the year. But summer also brings some of the most fun! There are so many holidays to celebrate, not the least of which is the 4th of July, which is a time many people love to show off their home by hosting parties.

If this describes you, you will want to be sure to tackle these 6 home improvement projects before the 4th of July arrives.

Project #1: Freshen up your lawn and garden

Nothing says "festive" like fresh blooming summer flowers. If you've been neglecting your lawn and garden areas, now is a great time to find your motivation and get to work.

Pay special attention to these tasks:

- Give your lawn a good mow and edge (but not too short or your grass may dehydrate).
- Weed, clean debris and re-mulch the flower beds.
- Plant new flowers to fill in any gaps left from the winter's chill.
- Give the bushes/trees a good pruning.

Project #2: Update your lighting inside and out

If you have been putting off changing out your old incandescent light bulbs for new energy efficient lighting, now is a great time to tackle this project.

Pay special attention to the lighting in visitor areas such as your front walk and your driveway. Adding solar-power lighting can boost visibility without increasing costs.

Here are the most commonly selected types of energy efficient lighting for homes today:

- CFL (compact fluorescent lighting) - These bulbs make a great replacement for any traditional fluorescent bulbs you may be using.
- LED (light emitting diode) - These bulbs are the most popular choice to replace traditional incandescent bulbs because they can save up to 70 percent on energy use and they last much longer than other bulb types.
- Halogen incandescent - These bulbs can be used with dimmers for light fixtures that offer that option.

Project #3: Check your faucets inside and out

Leaky faucets and hoses can cost you more money in the summer than at any other time of year, especially when you factor in watering your grass and maintaining a pool or water feature.

One of the easiest ways to test and see if you have a leak is to read your water meter, shut off the main water valve, wait for an hour or two, turn the water valve back on and read the meter again. If the two numbers do not match, there is a good chance you have a leak somewhere.

Project #4: Convert to hardwoods - or brighten the ones you have

Hardwoods are definitely "in" for home decor today. Not only are hardwoods easier to clean and less prone to collecting dust mites and allergens, but hardwoods are so versatile and gorgeous to boot.

If you have never rolled back the carpeting in your home, you might be surprised to discover you actually have hardwoods underneath. In this case, some freshening up may be all they need. If you want to add hardwood, you have a wonderful array of options today.

Here are some of the best options for converting carpeting to hardwoods:

- Sustainable woods like hemp or bamboo - Easy to maintain, very durable and helps the environment.
- Solid natural hardwoods - Hands-down the longest lasting and (to many) the most beautiful choice.
- Engineered hardwoods - This alternative to solid hardwoods (hard wood over a layer of plywood) can be installed over just about any surface with a minimum of effort and expense.
- Laminate - Laminate flooring is a fabulous choice for areas that get high foot traffic.
- Cork - Cork is great as a hardwood alternative that offers great sound-proofing plus a comfortable walking surface.

Project #5: Clean your deck

In many parts of the country, an outside deck can take quite a beating in the coldest and hottest months of the year. This can cause the wood to crack or sag and can cause that once new-finish to look drab and dull.

Cleaning your deck is an easy 4-step process:

- First, make any necessary repairs to ensure your deck is safe and structurally sound.
- Next, give the deck a thorough cleaning and allow it to dry fully.
- Once your deck is dry, you can re-stain it with the color of your choice.
- Add or repair the railing.

Project #6: Update your windows or window dressings

For many families, summer is a time when cooling costs skyrocket. Often the cause can be traced back not to a thermostat-lowering family member but to energy inefficient windows or window dressings.

Consider replacing any windows that bear the brunt of mid-day direct sun with energy-efficient, noise-reducing windows. For all other windows, summer is a great time to change out old or faded window dressings in favor of heat-repelling, cool-retaining blinds, shades or draperies.

Here are some helpful tips to select the right window dressings:

- Choose lighter colors for draperies and shades that naturally repel the heat.
- Add window film (mirrored is best for UV and heat repelling properties) on any windows that face to the east and west to keep the heat out during early morning and late afternoon.
- If the heat gets very intense where you live, outdoor awnings on windows that face south and west can give you some extra relief as well.
- Install energy efficient double-pane Low-E windows that naturally repel the heat and keep the cool inside.

With these six projects, you can reinvigorate your home space and find new enthusiasm to host the most festive 4th of July party yet!

If you are in the East Lansing, MI area, contact The Meridian Company by phone at (517)-339-63000.