Committed To Your Comfort And Convenience
Dear Friends,
Let’s start by congratulating Cindi Thomet, winner of a Weber Grill in our last newsletter contest. Don’t forget to visit our website to enter our newest drawing: a $1,500 gift card!
We hope you also visit our website to check out our new e-service feature, designed to make doing business with us even more convenient. You’ll find the e-service link at the top of our home page. Just click to schedule your maintenance service online. E-service also tracks the status of the work being done at your home or business.
All of our technicians carry handheld devices that let them access your account information and service history right away. To save on paper, after completion of the work, you can access all of your service history details through our e-service platform.
For further convenience, we also started making automated phone calls to remind you when your annual maintenance service is due. (No more of those pink tune-up reminder postcards!) We’ll either leave you a message or, if you’re home, allow you to connect with a customer service representative to schedule your appointment. Some of our clients even schedule both of their heating and cooling visits at the same time.
These are just a few examples of how we are always evolving and using the latest technology to make your life a little easier.
Thank you for trusting us with your comfort. As the weather keeps getting colder, remember that we are here for you, with the resources and experience to care for you no matter what winter brings.
Warmly,
J. Scott Needham
Go On A $1,500 Shopping Spree!
What would you do with a $1,500 gift card that could be used however makes you happy? There’s only one way to find out. Enter our latest contest for your chance to win!
Read this newsletter then go to this page at PrincetonAir.com/Contest and answer the questions. All entries received by 1/15/15 with the correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a $1,500 gift card.
Be Storm-Ready With A Backup Generator
Even brief power outages can cost hundreds of dollars in food spoilage, not to mention loss of heat. (Remember, thermostats, sump pumps and blower fans all require electricity to run.)
This only underscores the importance of having a standby generator. Princeton Air can help you choose the right size and type of generator for your needs, whether you want to keep your whole house running or just maintain the essentials, such as heating systems to avoid frozen pipes and sump pumps to prevent flooded basements.
As a special incentive, when you purchase and install a new generator before Dec. 31, we’ll include the first year’s service agreement for free (a $420 value)—plus a free service check after the first eight hours of use! (Generators should be inspected and adjusted at least twice a year; a service agreement lets us take care of this for you).
Call us to learn more about your options in generators.
What’s Important To You–Comfort, Efficiency Or Indoor Air Quality?
What’s Your IAQ?
Nearly half of the homeowners surveyed believed that indoor air quality (IAQ) is as important as home energy efficiency; most wanted to know more about this important topic. Answer these questions to see if you can identify sources for indoor air quality problems in your home. (Read answers below.)
Do you let people smoke in your home?
Do you have pets?
Is your home carpeted?
- Tobacco Smoke. Because it contains more than 4,000 chemicals, tobacco smoke is a major cause of polluted indoor air.
- Pets. Nearly 84 million U.S. households have a dog or a cat. Although these furry friends make great companions, their dander is a leading cause of allergic reactions. Dander is a combination of dried saliva and skin flakes that pets shed. If you have a pet, an air cleaning system is a must-have.
- Carpeting. If any of your carpeting has been damaged by water, remove it to stop mold and bacteria from breeding. If you install new carpeting, ventilate your home thoroughly. New carpets can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). High VOC levels have also been found in products like aerosol sprays, scented candles and air fresheners.
The Most Popular Addition: Thermostats
Surveys show that the most popular add-on option for homeowners is the programmable thermostat. Homeowners who installed programmable thermostats reported a reduction in their utility bills by an average of $49 per month.*
One of newest developments in thermostat technology is the ability to access it remotely through the Internet. While only 9% of homeowners report having a wireless thermostat, this number is expected to keep growing rapidly.
Why a wireless thermostat?
If you’re away from home, you can use a smartphone to adjust the temperature setting. The thermostat can also send you an email or text alert about a drastic temperature change—and possible equipment failure. Some models even let you know when it’s time to change filters or schedule maintenance for your comfort system.
*Savings can be attributed in part to the new thermostat being bundled with a new system installation.
A recent national survey revealed that most homeowners rated comfort as their number one priority, followed by energy efficiency and indoor air quality.* However, 7 out of 10 homeowners mistakenly believed that the more comfortable they made their home, the more energy they would use — and the less energy efficient they would be.
The fact is, you don’t need to use more energy to be more comfortable. If your home isn’t as comfortable as you would like and you’re spending too much on heating and cooling, call us! We can help you in many different ways — from comfort to efficiency to indoor air quality.
*2013 American Home Comfort Study, © Decision Analyst
Why Your System May Be Flawed
In many cases, you don’t have to replace your entire system to feel more comfortable and save money on energy. You just need an expert (like us) to correct flaws in the system. Here’s what we mean.
Energy-efficiency ratings for heating and cooling systems are calculated in a laboratory setting. But when those systems get installed in a home, efficiency ratings can drop drastically if the system is not installed according to manufacturers’ specifications. Failure to maintain the system properly can reduce energy efficiency further.
A study of over 1,000 homes across the country showed that consumers were short-changed on energy efficiency because of a poor equipment installation and lax maintenance.**
After all of the adjustments were made to correct problems, efficiency improved, on average, by a whopping 36%! This was accomplished by:
- improving the ductwork
- cleaning and adjusting the system
- correcting installation flaws
If you feel your system isn’t working properly, give us a call and we’ll be glad to evaluate it.
**National Comfort Institute
TIPS to Help You Use Less Energy
- Run ceiling fans. Air movement evaporates moisture on the skin and makes you feel cooler in the summer. In the winter, fans can push heat downward, making you feel warmer. This lets you set your thermostat at energy-saving temperatures.
- Get your system regularly cleaned and serviced. The longer dirt builds up in your system, the higher your energy bills will be, the less comfortable you will feel and the greater the chance you'll have a breakdown. Keeping your system properly maintained can save you a lot of money on energy and repair costs. Call us if you think your system is overdue for maintenance.
Efficiency is The Key
You can be more comfortable and use less energy! Because of great advances in technology—including variable-speed systems—today’s high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment uses substantially less energy than older models. That’s why a new system can reduce your annual energy bills by about 30%—and make your home more comfortable at the same time!
With a new comfort system, you’ll get:
- More heat/cooling from less energy
- Lower energy bills
- Fewer breakdowns
- Environmentally friendly warmth and cooling
Safety Tip: Let It Flow
High-efficiency furnaces, boilers and water heaters, along with whole-house generators, all need unrestricted airflow to operate safely and properly. Unlike older heating equipment, which is vented through the chimney, newer systems are vertically vented at ground level, where they can easily get covered by snow, leaves or other debris.
Please be sure you know where your vents are located. Walk around your home and check these vents regularly. If they are blocked, take a broom and gently clear away any obstacles. An obstructed vent can prevent flue gases from leaving the building and could also lead to carbon monoxide production. It can also cause your heating system or generator to shut down.
Other Tips:
- Make sure you have enough oil in your generator.
- Drain your garden hoses and shut off the exterior water supply; a freeze-proof spigot can be installed that makes this task easier
Please call us if you have any questions or need further advice.
Ask Our Expert
Q: I keep hearing about smart thermostats. How do they work?
A: Smart thermostats are the next generation of programmable thermostats, and work with your smartphone so you can adjust or monitor temperatures remotely. You can access them from anywhere via a phone, tablet or computer, and they will send you texts or emails if there is a sudden or drastic change in temperature—alerting you to possible equipment failures or power outages.
Smart thermostats are a popular choice for our “snowbird” customers and anyone who travels often. Some models can also let you know when it’s time to replace filters or schedule system maintenance. And like all programmable thermostats, they can help you reduce your heating and cooling costs significantly.
Call or email us today for more information.
Stay Warm With No Worries
There are many reasons to choose Princeton Air when you need a new heating or cooling system, starting with our experience, technical skill and integrity. Here’s another: We are the only company in this area to offer 10-year parts and labor warranties on our high-efficiency equipment.
Please keep this in mind if you’re shopping for new equipment. Consider the long-term savings and peace of mind you get with our extended warranty: 10 years of never having to worry about a big repair bill should you ever have a problem with the system we installed at your home or business.
Call us today to find out how you can get this valuable coverage when we install a new system for you.
