Multi-Zone AC Summer Tips: How to Keep Cool & Cut Costs

In many areas around the world, air conditioning units are an absolute necessity throughout summer. While some appliances are more efficient and cost-effective than others, air conditioning units are notoriously expensive, particularly when used frequently. In a report published by the U.S. Energy Energy Information Administration (EIA), air conditioners account for 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures, with that figure rising to 27% in hot and humid regions. 

Homeowners are constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce their utility bills while maintaining comfortable temperatures within their homes. One of the most effective ways of efficiently regulating the temperature and airflow is investing in a multi-zone mini split air conditioner. However, even these efficient appliances can be expensive if they are not suited to the building they’re installed in. 

Perhaps the most common reason that someone would install a multi-zone AC system is for the cost savings. Unfortunately, many people fail to purchase the right system or use the device inefficiently, leading to high utility costs. With the right approach, multi-zone AC system costs can be reduced significantly while keeping your home cool.

1. Install a Programmable Thermostat

Without a programmable thermostat, running an AC unit efficiently requires you to be at home whenever the temperature needs adjusting. Although a thermostat requires an initial investment, it is relatively cheap and can save you money over the long term. In many cases, a thermostat pays for itself in a single summer. 

A leading contributor to high utility costs is when people leave their AC system running for extended periods. Whether they forget to switch off the device or the high temperature means it needs to be left on continuously, this practice makes for expensive running costs. 

Programmable thermostats allow you to set specific times for your unit to come on and off. Rather than leave the AC running while you’re at work, you can set it to turn on half an hour before you arrive home, ensuring your house is cool and comfortable when you arrive. Many modern thermostats are smart-technology-enabled, allowing you to monitor and control your home’s temperature remotely from your phone, laptop, or smart device. 

2. Keep on Top of Maintenance

Air conditioners need to be maintained in order to function properly. Also, a lack of servicing leads to increased utility costs due to inefficient operation. One of the most straightforward maintenance tips for your AC is to clean or change the filters regularly. 

No matter how clean you keep your home, dust particles, hairs, and other airborne objects can accumulate and clog the filter. As well as compromising the quality of the air being circulated, clogged filters force your system to work much harder to regulate the temperature. This causes a needless increase in your electricity bills. 

Some filters are cleanable, meaning they don’t need replacing very often. Read the guidelines on how often and how they should be cleaned but keep an eye on their condition. If you’re using replaceable filters, read the instructions on how often they need to be replaced. For most AC units, filter changes should occur roughly once every 90 days.

For multi-zone appliances, remember that each indoor air dispensing unit has its own set of filters. However, you may not use rooms in different zones as often, meaning filter changes might not be needed as often. 

All HVAC systems, even quality appliances like an LG ductless mini split, require regular servicing. Hire a professional technician to inspect and service your AC unit once per year. They can check for issues, clear unwanted debris, change the filters, and repair any other problems they find. An annual service can help keep your unit in good condition while improving its efficiency and extending its lifespan.  

3. Repair Any Window Defects

Some of the biggest contributors to energy inefficiency in a home are poorly sealed windows and doors. Badly sealed windows leak air, making it virtually impossible to effectively maintain the temperature. It also means your conditioning unit has to work hard and continuously to treat the air. 

If your home is old or you suspect that it has leaky windows, hire a professional organization to carry out an energy audit. This can help you identify areas of your home that are causing inefficiencies. If there are inefficiencies in your home, an audit can lead to long-term cost savings. 

Fixing air leaks or replacing old windows reduces your utility costs and makes the temperature much easier to regulate. For minor air leaks, DIY weather strips are affordable solutions. 

Upgrading home insulation also increases the building’s energy efficiency, reducing bills and making it easier to regulate the temperature. 

4. Use Ceiling and Portable Fans

A ceiling fan is a perfect accompaniment to an air conditioning system. It helps circulate cool air, creating a more balanced inner climate. Similarly, portable fans help keep your home cool while increasing energy efficiency and reducing utility costs. 

While fans don’t change the temperature, they circulate air, move warm air away from the skin, and facilitate evaporation, making you feel cooler. Ceiling and portable fans are also helpful for ventilation. Portable fans can be placed near household appliances, windows, and doors for better air circulation.

5. Ensure Your A/C System Is the Right Size

The size of an air conditioning unit is one of the most crucial factors in terms of temperature regulation and efficiency. Air conditioners should be chosen specifically to fit the exact size of an area. Depending on the square footage, a certain number of British Thermal Units (BTUs) are required. 

While most people understand that an undersized unit won’t have the necessary capabilities for circulating air in a large room, many don’t realize that an oversized conditioner also creates inefficiencies. AC systems that are too large for your home tend to short cycle, meaning they switch between on and off cycles too frequently, causing them to work harder. This increases your utility bills and makes the unit more likely to break down.

Upgrade Your Air Conditioning System

Although air conditioning systems are built to last, many older appliances lack efficiency. While effective, traditional ducted HVACs are expensive to run and waste a significant amount of energy. A multi-zone mini split system is a highly efficient air conditioning solution that allows for custom temperature regulation in different areas of a building. 

If you’re looking to reduce air conditioning costs without sacrificing comfortability, consider upgrading your existing system to a more modern and efficiency-based one.

Detecting Sneaky Leaks: How to Find a Plumbing Leak at Home

Homeowners rely on their sophisticated plumbing systems day in and day out. After all, routine activities like washing the clothes down to using the toilet can become challenging when the plumbing system no longer works as it should. 

During the scorching summer months, water consumption increases significantly as people often use their pools or showers. That said, leak detection inspection and preventative maintenance checks are beneficial during those times of the year.

Water leaks are prevalent. They can also occur anywhere—in the sinks, showers, drains, and bathtubs. Unfortunately, not all leaks are as apparent as a leaking tap or a burst sprinkler. However, the importance of detecting leaks early cannot be overstated.

Top Ways to Detect Covert Plumbing Leaks

Early leak detection will not only save you a massive amount of money, it can also help ensure you can avert any disaster that can cause damage to your property. Below are some ways you can detect sneaky leaks so you can nip any problems in the bud early:

Keep an eye on your water bill

Typically, monthly water bills are predictable. If you have not been doing anything out of the ordinary in terms of water usage, you can more or less expect to pay the same amount each month. However, when your water is abnormally high all of a sudden, you have reason to believe you might have a hidden leak.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a family of four will only use around 12,000 gallons of water monthly. A staggering 900 billion gallons of water are wasted because of leaks—definitely, a massive figure by any standard. Undoubtedly, keeping an eye on your water bill is a wise and practical move.

Check your water meter

If you think you have a water leak and would like to confirm your suspicion, monitoring your water meter would be an excellent place to start. The water meter is typically placed on the side or back of the house. Water lines can also be found where the supply line enters your property.

When monitoring your water meter, keep the following essentials in mind:

• Ensure all your water faucets at home are turned off. You also need to make sure the washing machine and the dishwasher are not running.

• Check your water meter and write down or take a mental note of the numbers. Come back again in an hour (or two) and recheck the numbers. If there's a change in the numbers, you likely have a leak somewhere.

• If you want to check the leak's location (indoors or outdoors), turn off the shut-off valve of your main water supply. You can often find the shut-off valve in the basement or utility room. 

• Recheck your water meter and remember the numbers. If there is no change when you check an hour after, the leak is inside your home. If there is a change in the numbers, the leak is most likely within the waterline.

Dye test your toilet

Toilets can also be possible sources of internal leaks. Eventually, your toilet's flapper can become brittle. This can cause the water from the tank to trickle into the bowl. To dye test your toilet, use food coloring.

Put a few drops of food coloring in all the tanks of your toilets at home. If your bathroom has a leak, the color will appear in your bowl in a few minutes. As soon as you can confirm the toilet link, it is recommended that you have a plumber replace your flapper.

Check for other signs of possible leaks

Even if you don't have any leaks when you last checked, leaks can occur when you least expect them. The following red flags can be indicative of a possible leak:

• Musty smell. If you have a persistent but undetected leak at home, it can provide the consummate environment where mold can grow. Often, mold thrives inside the walls, so it's not always easy to spot. However, the musty smell should tell you something is up that needs further investigation.

• Bubbling paint or bulging wallpaper. Bubbling paint and bulging wallpaper are two classic signs that indicate your wallboard is wet. Also, a bulge in your wallpaper can be a sign of extensive water damage. You might also need to replace your wallboard.

• Wall discoloration. Water discoloration can be a sign that there is a water leak from behind your drywall or the front side. Water stains on the walls and ceilings can also appear. The stains are typically yellowish or brownish.

Final Thought

For many homeowners, detecting sneaky leaks can be very challenging. Fortunately, the methods laid out above can surely help. However, if you suspect a leak but can't find it, hiring a seasoned plumber is your best recourse.

How to add a Personal Touch to your New Place

What does it mean to personalize something? How do we make something our own? The answers might be more complicated than you think because every human being is different. Who we are and what we do often reflect in our living spaces. Sometimes, we are not aware that we follow fashionable styles instead of finding what best works for us. Things like having a favorite color, type of outfit, historical period, interior design style, movie genre all define us and give us certain uniqueness. Thus, to add a personal touch to your new place, ask yourself what you want to achieve with this project? Is it to make it more visually appealing or to make it comfortable? And even though these two can come together, achieving balance can be a little more complicated than you think.

Follow your interior design style

If you want to stay within the limits of tastefulness, it's essential to pay attention to the home interior while expressing your personality through it. For example, if your apartment follows minimalistic interior design standards, the amount of accessorizing the space will be limited. This style has variations, but it often seems detached and depersonalized because nothing in this concept should stand out. Now, some designs allow playfulness and combination, but everything should be meaningfully assembled. Unlike minimalist, boho, and southern style interior designs are all about the personal touch. Their aesthetic allows playfulness and expression of your tastes. When it comes to living spaces, they should never blindly follow fashion. Just because it's in, it doesn't mean it's the right fit for everyone.

Memorabilia and hobby decor display

And while following standardized design traits might make it easier to furnish our apartments, we need to figure out how practical it is and how spending time in it makes us feel. To have everything you need in your new home, you shouldn't only focus on functionality but also overall aesthetics. Things around us can trigger many good and bad emotions that subconsciously affect our thoughts and memories. In the era of fast living and unhealthy lifestyles, our homes are sanctuaries for our minds and bodies. The basic furnishing will make the skeleton of the house, and by decorating it, you will add meat to the bones. Still, only after displaying some memories will your new home gain a heart. Add a personal touch to your new place by expressing your tastes, preferences, emotions, and memories. Nothing makes it feel more like home than that.

Decorating a place with natural elements

For those who like spending a lot of time in nature and those that wish they could do the same, decorating a home with natural textures and elements might be just the right thing. Wooden pieces are incorporated in many interior home designs, so combining them with rock, leather, or wicker details can be a good combo. Also, adding plants to your home is a great idea. But if you haven't had experience in growing plants before, start with the beginner houseplant kit. Focus on plants from Ficus, Cactus, and Succulent family. They are very decorative plus easy to maintain. However, if your home design doesn't allow that much experimenting, or you don't feel like taking care of plants, there are always temporary solutions. You can refresh the space by adding some vase flower decor.

Adding elements to achieve a "warm vibe"

Warmth is something every home needs. And the best way to achieve it is by dedicating some time to wall colors, textiles, and accessories. If you don't plan to change the colors of your walls to brighter, eye-soothing tones, other things can help you bring coziness into your apartment. Whether it comes to the palettes and textures of your furniture, bed covers, cushions, wall decor, or adding rugs and carpets to your home, textile elements are always game-changers.

Use originality and creativity to add a personal touch to your new place

With moving to a new place, you have the perfect excuse to "feather the nest" and make it feel like your own. Naturally, this will come much easier for you if you are an artistic and crafty person. There are plenty of DIY projects you can engage in, expressing your true self. From making collages to refurbishing the furniture, everything is easily and affordably done with a bit of will and creativity. And even if you're using someone else decor ideas to enhance the features of your place, add something new to make it original and yours.

Light brings the best features of any living space

Natural light is one of the most important features of every room. It provides brightness while emphasizing the details and colors, making the place more welcoming. But if your home cannot give enough of it, solve it with creative lighting ideas. Traditional fixtures can be dull. Thus, adding unique and trendy lighting solutions will transform the place. Ways to do it are plenty, but before making these changes, decide on their function and style. Installing recessed lights, decorative wall sconces, or chandeliers will provide ambient light, while lamps, swag lights, swing-arm lamps, up-lights, and spotlights can help with the task and accent lighting.  

Personalizing your home will help you adapt faster

There is nothing worse than feeling unfamiliar in your own home. After the move, we are overwhelmed with a mix of emotions because changing homes is never easy. The break of routine, nostalgia, stress, caution towards the new environment make it harder to adapt to your new place. And even though we might not be able to accept all new things at once, we can start embracing the changes by making our house feel like a home. The best way to do that is to discover your taste if you haven’t already and add a personal touch to your new place. 

Features to Consider When Investing in a New Roof

A new roof is necessary if you notice signs, such as water leaks, cracked or damaged shingles, roof sags, and an aged roof. New roofs are essential investments for homeowners, so you should be careful when deciding on the right roof for your home. You may consider a multitude of features like architectural style and preferences when looking for a new roof for your home. If you plan on installing a new roof, consider these factors.

Material

An important feature to consider when replacing your roof is the roofing material. You need a material that matches your preferences, style, and appearance. It would be wise to choose a different material from your previous one, and consider new roof types. Analyze each roof material carefully by thinking about their pros and cons. If you are unsure of the right material to match your home needs and style, you may consider consulting an expert. They will assist you to choose the best roof material to invest in your home.

Your Local Climate

Climate is an essential feature when looking for a new roof. It can help to determine how long the new roof lasts. Roof materials are engineered for different climates. If you live in an area that is susceptible to heavy rains and snow, choose a new roof that can best protect you from the harsh weather conditions. Also, investing in the right roof based on your area’s climate can extend the roof’s lifespan. Additionally, considering the roof’s color in relation to climatic conditions is necessary. For instance, dark roods retain heat, while lighter colored roofs repel it. Therefore, consider your climate when choosing the roof color to reduce your energy bills.

Architecture

Your home’s architectural style can influence the type of roof you select. It’s best to install a roof that matches with the style of your home. Some homes look well with asphalt shingles while others might require an extra mile to maintain the building’s integrity.

Budget

As with any home project, your budget plays a vital role. Some roofs are more expensive than others. Therefore, understand your budget so that you choose a roof to match it. You can talk to professional or roofing companies in your area to help you choose a roof that fits your budget without compromising its quality. Also, browsing inventories helps to compare your options.

You can easily get overwhelmed when replacing your roof. However, the features above, such as budget, climate, and architectural design make the decision easier to make. Also, you will choose a roof that compliments your home.