Monthly Archives: June 2017

Cost-Effective Ways to Build Your Dream Home

When building your dream home, you don’t want any aspect ignored. From raw materials to fixtures to even the most minor detail, everything contributes to making your home what you’ve always wanted. However, you don’t have to blow your savings to get the perfect Mobile, Alabama home. Instead, follow these money-saving, cost-effective tips to build your dream home at a fraction of the cost.

Consider Energy-Efficient Products

There’s no better investment than one that pays for itself over time. That’s why you should consider purchasing energy-efficient products. This includes just about any aspect of your home including windows, appliances, light fixtures, and many HVAC components such as ductless mini-splits or a heat pump. These items may have a higher initial cost, but in the long haul you’ll reap enough of the benefits of monthly savings to justify the purchase.

Use the Basement Effectively

Plenty of homes have unfinished basements, but a finished basement will add value to your home and provide additional space for recreation or utility. Constructing a basement may be far cheaper than adding another story to your home. Given the square or rectangular dimensions, organizing a plan or design that works for your wants and needs can be easy. Basements also provide ample space to add utilities such as a furnace, water heater, or other HVAC component, as the basement naturally soundproofs these items from the rest of the home.

Build for Practicality

If cost were no obstacle, everyone would build a 5,000-square foot dream house. However, that’s just not realistic. Rather than build a large home for the sake of building a large home, considering building one that’s more practical. If your kids are already out of the house, you probably don’t need a four-bedroom home for two people. On the other hand, if you plan to start a family, a one or two-bedroom home may not have the space to adequately support a growing family. Think about your needs and build around that.

Find the Right Contractor

One of the best things you can do prior to finding a contractor is research the costs of each item in your dream home. Once you have an idea of what things cost, then you can get estimates from contractors. Having done the preliminary research, you’ll be prepared to make informed decisions when reviewing estimates from contractors.

In addition to researching costs, look at reviews about the companies that you intend to hire. If you need an HVAC contractor, make sure they have references, good reviews, and testimonials from reliable sources. When in doubt, ask friends or family who they use for new construction or repairs.

Pick the Perfect Materials

Building materials come in a number of grades that determine their durability and cost. Buildings-grade materials are the cheapest alternative for home builders. Though they may not last as long as quality-grade or custom-grade materials, they’re decent materials for the money. Unless you require more expensive raw materials, stick with the lowest grade for the most savings.

Salvaged materials are also an option for adding a unique appearance to your home without breaking the bank. Old bricks, reclaimed wood from dilapidated buildings, and other discarded items are superb accent pieces to increase curb appeal or improve the style of a kitchen, bedroom, or living room. You can find most salvaged materials at estate sales, auctions, or even the free section of online or printed classifieds.

Watch Out for Change Orders

During construction, you may find that you don’t like the way things look. The only way to fix this problem is through a change order. However, change orders during construction may add exorbitant cost to the construction of your dream home. Before shelling out extra money, make sure that you absolutely want the change. Anything you can change later on your own may cost less.

Building your dream home comes with a price, but it doesn’t need to be as expensive as you thought. If you’re searching for a reputable HVAC contractor to get the job done right with minimal cost, call our professionals at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. today at 251-476-3610

4 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Costs This Summer

When the temperatures start to increase during the summer months in Fairhope, Alabama, you may notice that your energy bills begin creeping up as well. You can save money on utilities without suffering in an uncomfortably warm house by following a few simple tips.

Get Your Ducts Cleaned

The ducts within your heating and cooling system transport air between the vents and the furnace, so it’s critical to keep them clean. Regular duct cleaning can play a major role in the overall efficiency of your unit, which can help to save you money. When the ducts get clogged with pet hair, dander, dust, dirt, pollen, and other contaminants, the system has to work harder to move the air to the various rooms of your home. Bringing in an expert to keep the ducts clean can help reduce your costs and improve indoor air quality.

Replace the Filter

The filter within your central air conditioning system also helps with efficiency. When the filter is overloaded with dirt, it can’t keep the debris from moving into the system. Change your air filter at least once every month or two. If anyone in your home suffers from allergies, consider using filters with higher MERV ratings, which offer finer filtration to remove more allergens from the air.

Avoid Heat Buildup

When the temperature could rise above 90 degrees outside, try to keep the heat-producing activities indoors to a minimum. Using hot appliances, such as the dryer, stove, and dishwasher, can add heat to the rooms of your home, requiring your air conditioner to kick on and cool the air back down. Try to hold off on these activities until the sun goes down for the evening.

Keep Windows Covered

When sunlight comes through your windows, the UV rays can add a lot of heat. Keeping the windows covered during the hottest parts of the day can help lower the indoor temperature without having to turn on the air conditioner.

If you’ve tried these ideas and still have high energy bills, call us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610 for a cooling system tuneup.

Corrosion and Your Air Conditioner

The air conditioning system at your Loxley, Alabama, home, relies on an outdoor unit that houses the compressor and other important components. Since it remains outside at all times, it can suffer the effects of changing weather conditions. The rainfall, humidity, and other moisture in this area can lead to corrosion of your outdoor unit, but you can take some steps to prevent it.

Causes of Corrosion

The most common causes of corrosion on the outdoor air conditioning unit are damp conditions in the atmosphere, including humidity, rain, and snow. A housing typically protects the unit, but moisture can seep through the openings where air flows through, leading to corrosion of the metal components. Moisture can also cause damage and corrosion to the coils, which help provide cool air to the rooms within your home. Your outdoor unit also contains the compressor, which is one of the most expensive components, so it’s important to keep it protected to prevent expensive repairs.

Corrosion can also happen as a result of exposure to chemicals and acids. Some of these come from household cleaning products, so using natural products can help reduce the risk.

Corrosion Prevention

During the wettest months of the year in Loxley, you can take some steps to keep moisture out of your outdoor unit. Use a blanket designed for protecting the air conditioning unit or cover the top of it with a board to prevent water from seeping inside. Bring in an expert at least twice a year to clean the coils. During this maintenance service, a technician will remove deposits that can cause corrosion, which can also help improve efficiency.

You can apply a protective coating to the coils, something that is highly recommended in areas with high humidity. Options for coating of the coils include epoxy, silane, fluoropolymer, and polyurethane. An experienced HVAC technician should always handle the application of the protective coating.

Prevent corrosion by scheduling your air conditioning maintenance service with Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610.