4 Winter Home Projects

January 26th, 2017

Tools forming a house with energy efficiency chimney

Home improvement isn’t just for warmer weather

It’s the middle of winter and all you want to do is hibernate, right? Maybe you were buzzing with home improvement energy in the fall, ready to get everything in order before the cold weather set in. Maybe you’re saving your excitement for coming spring and summer projects. We get it. While it may be tempting to give in to winter routine and put your home on the backburner, we have some winter projects to keep your house humming and your hands busy.

1) Check in on crawlspaces

We’re no strangers to damp and chilly winter weather here in the Pacific Northwest. Our houses endure months of it year after year. It wouldn’t hurt to make sure your crawl spaces aren’t falling victim to moisture damage, hibernating rodents, or improper insulation. If you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of crawlspace maintenance, we recommend having an expert come over to assess your house’s health. Bonus article: Avoid 8 DIY Crawl Space Mistakes

2) Start a landscaping project

We suggest using our rainy climate to your advantage to create a rain garden. This is simply a garden that uses tiered draining to filter runoff. Not only is a rain garden great for natural filtering, it also allows you to take advantage of diverse Pacific Northwest flora to create an attractive addition to your yard. Bonus article: How to Build a Rain Garden to Filter Runoff

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Should I Consider Furnace Replacement?

January 10th, 2017

Has your furnace been keeping up with you this winter? If not, it may be time to think about saying goodbye…or at least time to get in touch with an HVAC expert to assess the situation. You should think about the possibility of replacement, repairs, or tune-ups if:

Your furnace is 15 years or older

Although age may just be a number to some, we generally say a furnace approaching 15 years in age is heading into its golden days in terms of efficiency and safety. Most furnaces last between 15 and 25 years, but older furnaces tend to be less efficient and more costly to maintain. While your furnace may last up to 20 (or even 30) years with routine maintenance, proper care can extend your furnace’s life, but it’s generally a sound investment for your wallet and health to think about upgrading around the 15 year mark. If you’re unsure whether it’s the right time, take a look at when to replace your furnace to help make an informed decision.

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6 Tips to Keep Your Wallet Happy This Winter

December 14th, 2016

Don’t let your winter heating costs get you down


Sure, in the short walk from your heated car to your heated office the cold winter air may be refreshing, but I’m sure there are few among us who don’t appreciate the comfort of a well-heated house at the end of the day. I’ll also bet there are few among us whose energy bills don’t see some kind of spike in these winter months either. That part’s not so comforting.

But before you scramble to take up residence someplace more tropical, we’ve put together 6 tips to help keep your house warm and wallet happy this winter.

1. Go smart (with a smart/programmable thermostat)

Automatically control the temperature of your house when you’re working, sleeping, or otherwise occupied with a programmable thermostat, and you can save from 5 to 20% on your heating bill. No need to worry about remembering to turn your heat down when you leave the house–programmable thermostats take the hassle out of heating.

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Trends in HVAC: 3 Areas Driving Advancements in Technology

December 8th, 2016
via PrincipiaConsulting.com

Leading and emerging trends in the air conditioning market

The market for technology in the HVAC market is rapidly ever-changing. Developments for future technology focus on convenience and the user experience. Although the evolution of these products in HVAC may be in their infancy, most organizations are predicting that user experience will define the industry for years to come. The emphasis on convenience is creating increased demand for technology that may not even exist yet.

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Is Aeroseal Right for You?

November 21st, 2016

Do you have uncomfortable hot or cold rooms in your house, dusty or musty air that aggravates allergies, or high utility bills that leave something to be desired month after month? The bad news: You may have leaky ducts.

The good news: Aeroseal’s duct work sealing technology has helped improve home comfort, overall air quality, and energy savings in homes across the country. When 30 cents of every $1 spent on heating/cooling leaks before making it to your living space, properly sealed ducts make a big difference in savings.

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Welcome to the official blog of Barron Heating & Air Conditioning

November 16th, 2016

Welcome to the official blog of Barron Heating & Air Conditioning 

We’re here to help make your home comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient with our tips, tricks, relevant resources and more!

Don’t forget to connect with us:

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Improving Indoor Air Quality

June 25th, 2016

We all know about how stack effect works in homes, but during presentations, I’m always surprised by how many hands are raised in response to the question: “How many of you think you can make a house too tight and cause problems with indoor air quality?” Generally, at least three-quarters of the room raises their hands. Really? My colleague Joe Kuonen says that getting a house so tight that you need to ventilate is a feat worth celebrating. “Now, we can get fresh air from a place we can trust,” he says. Where do most of our homes get their fresh air? From places we cannot trust, like crawl spaces.

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Got Dust? The spots you might be missing…

May 24th, 2016

If you’re like most homeowners – dusting is not one of your favorite chores (are any chores fun?). We all like to give it the old “college try” and hit our tabletops, television, and maybe even our picture frames on a weekly basis. But, take a minute right now — look up at your return grilles then look down at your supply grilles. Yuck, right? Don’t feel bad – lots of people have the same dusty, grimy register covers in their homes. So why is this forgotten area of your housekeeping so important?

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Does Spring Cleaning Seem Overwhelming?

April 20th, 2016

Finally, we can pack away our coats, gloves and winter boots and pull out our baseball hats, shorts, and tee shirts – spring is here!! If you’re like most homeowners you have a laundry list of things you want to accomplish this season: spring clean your home, finish those pesky projects you’ve put off all winter, get your lawn ready for the neighborhood barbecue, and much more. But don’t forget, spring is also the perfect time to focus on the quality of your indoor air. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the air in the typical home is up to five times dirtier than the air outdoors. Keeping your air as clean as possible helps to reduce asthma and allergy symptoms and improve your overall health.

Here are a few simple tips to improve the air quality in your home this spring:

  1. Do your spring cleaning – pay particular attention to those areas we tend to skip during our normal cleaning. Dust the heat registers and return vents in each room, as well as ceiling fans. Vacuum upholstery and drapes. When dusting, use a damp or treated cloth to avoid kicking up dust particles and dust mites while you work. Lookout for staining, wet spots or visible water drips so that any issues are caught and dealt with immediately.
  2. Remove your shoes when you enter your home. The soles of your shoes pick up all sorts of dirt and toxins from outside and track them through your home.
  3. Check your HVAC air filter and replace it if dirty. A clean air filter protects your system from dust buildup.
  4. Wash your bedding in hot water every week, and vacuum your mattress to remove highly allergenic dust mite debris.
  5. Control clutter in your home to reduce the amount of dust and allergens in your air.
  6. Replace your kitchen sponges every week, or use washable cloths instead. Sponges may have as many as 100,000 bacteria per square inch.
  7. Bring Mother Nature inside. Plants add oxygen into your home while actively working to reduce Carbon Dioxide levels to improve your air quality.
  8. Call your trusted home performance trained contractor today to schedule a spring HVAC maintenance appointment.

You may also be interested in:
Asthma Triggers and Information
The Right Ventilation Keeps the Home (and you!) Healthy



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10 Ways to Ensure Good Home Air Quality

March 23rd, 2016
From the healthy home air experts at ASHRAE.org
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