How to Shine a Little Light on a Dark Night

Spring storms arent always predictable. You dont exactly know when youll lose power and not be able to cook, keep your refrigerator working, stay comfortable or find your way in the dark. Thats why a lot of homeowners create a backup plan. They make the fairly small investment in a home generator to save themselves a lot of trouble later on.

Have you wondered about getting a generator for your home? If so, how do you decide which one is right for you? And how do you safely operate a generator? These are big questions, and we can help you get started on the answers.

If youd like to learn more about selecting and operating home generators, take a look at our free report: More Power Outages to Come?

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Is Your Air Conditioner Trying to Hit the Snooze Button?

After a long hibernation, most of us would wake up slowly. Your air conditioning system could be feeling the same way. In fact, it could sputter in protest at the first sign of a warm day. But basically, all its probably trying to tell you is that it just needs a little care after all those months of neglect.

These wake up calls are the most important services we provide to customers - because thats how we get you ready and prepared for those warm summer days. If your air conditioner could say thank you for the service, it probably would, but youll just have to feel the gratitude in the smooth cooling it provides.

In the meantime, if youve been wondering whats on your air conditioners mind, this brief, helpful letter could make it pretty clear.

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Better Breathing

Theres something about spring... its sort of a best of times, worst of times season of the year. The crisp cool air can be quite nice after wintry mixes are done, and you feel that need to spend more time outdoors.

And yet, that nice, fresh air is also picking up a few particles from the lawn and garden that can make breathing a chore.

Inside, youre not exactly safe either if the quality of your indoor air is affected by contaminants. High humidity, for example, can create a breeding ground for mold and dust mites that produce an unhealthy breathing ground for you and your family.

If youd like to learn more about these issues, take a look at our free report, Is the Air in Your Home Making Spring Allergies Worse?

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Taking Care of Your Investments

No, this is not an article on financial planning, but this is certainly an issue that could affect your financial well-being.

Your home comfort system is a big investment, no question about it. If you take care of this investment, it will take care of you - over a longer equipment life that is spent operating efficiently, saving you energy dollars and keeping you comfortable. Not a bad result for routine maintenance.

Yes, maintenance matters. But what does it involve? If youd like to learn more, take a look at our free report, A Quick and Simple Home Investment.

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Environmental TLC

Its not hard to see the value in being sensitive to the environment. Take air pollution in particular. The smog-like substances that spread out into our communities can find their way into our lungs, affecting our health.

Some of this air pollution comes from the fossil fuels that are burned to generate the electricity that runs our homes. So whatever we do to reduce our use of these fossil fuels is better for the air around us.   

Environmentally-conscious habits among homeowners can begin with steps as simple as turning off the light when you leave the room. Going further, energy-efficient appliances will help because they require less energy to operate. 

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Cause and Effect

Youre probably familiar with the concept of cause and effect and how it can lead to a whole bunch of trouble. (Not that I speak from experience. And not that I dont!)  But this basically means that some things happen not just on their own but as part of a set of events.

As an example, lets say youre walking into your home when your phone starts ringing. To answer your call, you quickly drop your high-priced prescription sunglasses on the couch. You sense thats not a good idea, but you tell yourself youll pick them up when you finish the call. Then you forget. Can you imagine what effect is coming? Yes, someone, maybe even you, will probably be sitting on those glasses in the near future.

See the point (even if through crushed lenses)?

Now let me apply it to something more in my area. If the air inside your home is making respiratory issues like allergies and asthma worse, there could be several causes that are leading to these effects and several strategies that can help your family breathe a little easier. 

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Decisions, Decisions

Are you the sort of person who says, I may be indecisive, but Im not sure. If given the choice between Yes, No or Maybe, do you look for the checkbox that says, All of the above?  You have my sympathies

Making decisions is no laughing matter, and homeowners are faced with a slew of them. Some are smallish, like selecting new towels for the guest bathroom. Some are a little larger, like choosing a new bed for the guest bedroom. Some are even larger like figuring out how to avoid in-law houseguests once they find out about your new towels and bedroom set!

And believe it or not, some decisions get even more sizeable than that like whether or not to replace a home comfort system. Well, if youre in the fact-collecting mode for that last one, weve got some information that can help.

With the summer were having in Northwest Indiana, your air conditioning unit is experiencing a heavy load. But is it up for the job? 

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Lost in Translation

How about a quick language test? Ever hear of the terms SEER and EER? Well, if its near dinnertime, you might think that SEER sounds like something you do to a steak, and EER sounds like corn just off the stalk. So maybe Im just hungry, but Im not talking dinner Im talking comfort.

And therein lies the problem. If you dont share a common language, its hard to understand what someone is trying to tell you.

This concept is true in all sorts of ways whether its English vs. French, or text message acronyms vs. correct spelling in complete sentences, or industry terms vs. what words people actually understand.

All industries seem to have an insider language, where words and technical terms are thrown around as if they should make sense to everybody. Sometimes they do, sometimes they dont.

We see that often as our customers are trying to choose the most energy-efficient solutions for their home, but sometimes they feel like things are lost in translation. 

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Your Best Bet

How about taking a moment to reflect on one of my most favorite, most fun words in the whole world: maintenance.

Well, maybe it doesnt sound like a fun word to you, like it does to me.

So why all the excitement? Well, I get excited about lower energy bills and fewer repairs both of which are the results of maintaining your home comfort system. Not making sense yet? Think of it this way

Maintaining your car keeps it in its best condition. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle keeps you in your best condition. Maintaining a steady income provides for what you need. No matter how you look at it, maintenance is the best bet for good results.

And your home comfort system isnt any different if you want it to perform at its highest efficiency for your best comfort.

If youd like to know more about how maintenance helps and what it involves, take a look at this free report, The Perks of a Well-Maintained Air Conditioner.

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When Waiting Doesnt Make Sense

Heres one of my all-time favorite phrases: Ill deal with that later. Actually, I misplaced my sarcasm font or I would have used it just then. But a lot of people I know really do like that phrase.

Sort of like deferred maintenance. This is a concept known by businesses and institutions with property, buildings and equipment that basically means, We dont have the budget to repair whats declining as it is declining, so well deal with it later. Its easy to sympathize with the approach of waiting until something is broken until calling for a repair. But it can also be a costly approach.

Homeownership isnt really any different. We have to keep an eye on the systems and infrastructure that keep our home running. Your air conditioning system, obviously, is in this equation.

By investing each year in routine maintenance, you can save long term on the cost of repairs, extend the life of your equipment and avoid inconvenient breakdowns. Its simple logic, and only takes a little bit of planning, which means dare I say? dealing with it now. But that doesnt have to be scary. Read "Make Plans for Air Conditioning Maintenance" for quick tips for maintaining your system.

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Lost in Translation

How about a quick language test? Ever hear of the terms SEER and EER? Well, if its near dinnertime, you might think that SEER sounds like something you do to a steak, and EER sounds like corn just off the stalk. So maybe Im just hungry, but Im not talking dinner Im talking comfort.

And therein lies the problem. If you dont share a common language, its hard to understand what someone is trying to tell you.

This concept is true in all sorts of ways whether its English vs. French, or text message acronyms vs. correct spelling in complete sentences, or industry terms vs. what words people actually understand.

All industries seem to have an insider language, where words and technical terms are thrown around as if they should make sense to everybody. Sometimes they do, sometimes they dont.


We see that often as our customers are trying to choose the most energy-efficient solutions for their home, but sometimes they feel like things are lost in translation. If that could be you, you might appreciate this brief report on, The Language of Energy Efficiency.

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Uncovering the Mystery of Maintenance

Maybe youve invited a service technician to your home before (yes, we do think of this as invited because were glad to be chosen by you). But once he got there, you started hearing clicks and clanks and simple expressions like, Hmmm. So you start wondering, What in the world is he doing?
Well, I can sympathize. It isnt fun to have a stranger in your home sort of doing his own thing, as if you dont need to be involved. Thats why our techs explain what theyre going to do, and then when theyre done, explain what they did. It takes the mystery out of maintenance. It reassures you about whats taking place on a very important piece of equipment in your home.
Maintenance involves specific steps, particular to the equipment. In fact, we can tell you now what kinds of things are going to take place to save you energy, convenience and comfort. To learn more, take a look at this free report, Whats on Your Maintenance Checklist?

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Now or Later? And the Big Impact that Small Question Can Have

At some point any of us will say, Ill deal with that later. There is, after all, only so much our now can hold. Whether limited time, limited money, limited mental energy, limited physical energy or a mix of all of those at once, the now thats right in front of us for handling issues has to be well managed.

So you want to make good choices the kind that looks past the now to whats coming later. Maybe youll ask a set of questions like: In the future, will this action help prevent prospective problems that will cost me more time, more money, more inconvenience and be really uncomfortable at an unfortunate time?

Thats the sort of question you might ask yourself when youre considering routine maintenance on your home comfort system. When you look at it in the context of now or later, its pretty easy to figure out the answer that makes the most sense. To learn more, take a look at this free report, Simple Math: How Routine Maintenance Adds Up to Be Well Worth Your While.

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Youve Been Breathing WHAT?

Quick question: whats the worst thing youll breathe today? Yeah, I know. Its an odd thing to ask, but you might not be aware of the odd things that end up in your indoor air.

For example, have you ever heard of something called a Volatile Organic Compound? Well, whether youve heard of it or not, theres a chance you just breathed one in. Thats right. Just while you were sitting there, you may have just breathed in a Volatile Organic Compound.

Believe me, this is something thats very common. Thats because VOCs are gases that are emitted by a wide array of common products, including paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies, printers, glues, permanent markers and so forth. And the VOCs that fill our airtight homes are a part of whats led to the declining quality of indoor air in recent years.

If youd like to learn more (and I hope you do), take a look at this free report, Why Is Indoor Air So Much Worse than Outdoor Air?

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Im Glad You Asked

But why? you may ask. Why should I get my furnace tuned up when it seems to be working fine? Well, I was hoping Id get a chance to answer that question. Its just something you might call taking care of business. There are certain things we do that may be inconvenient at the moment but they keep us from having to take care of something much worse down the line.

Its like going to the doctor for a checkup each year. Maybe nothings wrong, but if something is starting to develop, we want to find it quickly before it gets worse. Our health matters to us, so this makes sense. The same is true for going to the dentist. No one enjoys the ritual of cleanings and dental checks, but they keep our teeth tuned up, you could say, so we can keep enjoying our favorite foods.

Now that were headed into Winter, our furnace or heater will matter to us even more. So we want to do a preventive checkup to make sure itll be in good shape on the days and nights when were counting on it for our comfort and safety. Would you like to learn more? Take a look at this free report, Whats the Big Deal About Tune-Ups?

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Weather Alert: Its Cold

Theres an app for this, theres an app for that. Theres hardly anything we do or enjoy that cant benefit from a little technological assistance, right? As a matter of fact, I recently heard of a winter wake up app, which combines the functions of an alarm clock with online weather forecasts. The result is that if your app determines that wintry conditions are going to create delays in getting to work, itll wake you up a little early so youll have more travel time.
Well, you dont need an app to know the conditions your heating system is facing. Cold temperatures are going to make it work extra hard. Plus, if you havent had it serviced before the season begins, you run the risk of having an undetected carbon monoxide leak that could cause serious risks for your familys health.
Thats why were so big on recommending routine maintenance on your system. Its just a good idea any way you look at it, and this helpful report illustrates some of the benefits.

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Is Your Home At the Center of An Energy Loss Vortex?

That's not quite as far-fetched as it seems. See, your home comfort system worked very hard to keep you cozy all Winter. Now with Summer around the corner, you sure don't want system wear and tear to create a black hole in your wallet. I think we all know how expensive space programs can be!
This might sound funny to say but right about now, we usually hear an increase in complaints. Oh, I probably wouldn't be telling you this if these complaints are about us (they're not!). What I mean is, right about now, we start hearing complaints about high energy bills.
Now, it's not like we're physicists. Yet, we actually can have an impact on the energy costs in your home. When operating properly, your home comfort system will work more efficiently and save energy which can mean lower monthly energy bills.
That's why each spring, we get calls for system tune-ups that effectively increase the efficiency of home systems and help prevent untimely breakdowns of your home comfort system.
Hope we'll be heading to your home soon. If you didn't have us out last year, you may not realize how much better your system could have been protecting your personal comfort, your energy bills and more. But don't make that mistake this year.
Learn more about how proper equipment operation affects energy costs. Take a look at this info, Attention: Seasonal Energy Alert.

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The Once-a-Year Step for Everyday Comfort

You've probably heard of Poor Richard's Almanac even if you have never read it. This was a work by Ben Franklin back when the country was young, and it had a calendar, weather predictions and some wise sayings.

Well, if Ben Franklin were writing weather predictions for Northwest Indiana, he'd say, "It's going to be hot this summer." Seems to me, it happens every year around that time, and this year, we'll be true to the calendar again.

Yet, if only Franklin had had central air conditioning, I think he could have added some updated helpful advice like this:

"If you want something to last, you take care of it. If you want something to do its job, you make sure it's running well. If you want something to protect you in the night, you make sure it doesn't have any hidden dangers."

Why do I think that? Because here's what Franklin actually did say: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

You've heard it, I've heard it, and we all know it's true.

So what ounce of prevention can you bring to your home comfort this spring? One simple step of a preseason checkup on your system can make a world of difference in your comfort all summer long. To learn more about the value of routine maintenance, take a look at this info, The Nutty Way to Solve a Problem Before It Happens.

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How a 1987 Treaty Changed AC in 2010

Ever heard of the Montreal Protocol? Like many things that happen among and between nations, even if you haven't heard of it, we're talking about an event that could affect your life or, in this case, your home comfort.
Offered up in 1987 for nations to sign and adopt, the Montreal Protocol was an international treaty that focused on a concern for how chemicals and other things in the atmosphere were depleting the ozone layer that was protecting life as we know it on earth. The treaty was amended in 1992 to set a timetable for phasing out chemicals known as HCFCs which includes in this list a refrigerant that has been used in air conditioning systems since the early '70s.
Now, fast forward to today and what this means in practical terms for you: Air conditioners manufactured after 2010 can no longer use the refrigerant R-22 (also known by the brand name Freon) as the coolant of choice. While this refrigerant can still be produced and used to service existing equipment for the time being, in 2020, the production and import of R-22 will end, and it will only be available through recycled and reclaimed processes.
That means simply this: any air conditioning that uses R-22 is looking at a time limit. As you face repairs with any pre-2010 system, we'll be glad to talk with you about the best ways to extend the life of the equipment (hint: regular maintenance!), and when the time is right for replacement, we'll give you our best guidance there too.
In the meantime, to learn more about what's going on, take a look at this info, What Every Homeowner Should Know: Government to Take A/C Refrigerant Off Market.

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How Do You Know If It's Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner

Sometimes it seems like our homes are a moving target. Just as soon as you get one part of the house just like you want it, something needs tending to in another area. So, for most of us, we're always on the lookout for the next big thing that's going to show up invited or not on our "home maintenance" to-do list.

Now, when "air conditioning system replacement" comes up on that list, that's quite a significant situation. Home comfort systems are a sizeable part of your home investment, so it's never something to take lightly. But when it's time, three things should be on your evaluation list:

System Age If your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, you could save up to 20 percent on cooling and heating costs if you replaced it with a unit that has earned the Energy Star label.

Repair/Energy Costs A home comfort system has what's called "operational" costs. If your system is racking up repair bills and guzzling up your energy dollars, you may be overdue for an efficiency upgrade.

Uncomfortable Environment A home comfort system is supposed to create a comfortable home environment, right? Well, if you're not comfortable, take note. Are some rooms too hot or too cold? Does your home have humidity problems? This could be a sign of poor or improper equipment operation.

To learn more about improving energy efficiency in your home, take a look at this info, What Does Heat Have to Do with Cold.

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Bigger Isnt Always Better

We have become somewhat accustomed to the notion that Bigger is Better. Whether we are at a drive-thru where you can super size for a better value than a regular meal or driving the bigger truck or SUV so you can see over the other cars, we like things BIG.

A big fish is better than a small fish. A big boat is better than a small boat. And so on you get the idea.

Surprisingly though, bigger isnt always better when talking about a new high efficiency cooling system. If you bought a new air conditioner today, it will probably be smaller than the one you bought 10 to 15 years ago.

Just replacing your old A/C with a new one the same size could cause you trouble down the road because it will be too big to meet your needs. This is, of course, assuming you have the appropriately sized air conditioner for your home now.

A cooling system too big for your home will cause frequent on-and-off cycling which will affect the humidity control in your home. Poor humidity control can lead to moisture in the air which, in turn, will lead to mold and mildew, not to mention, humid air that is just plain uncomfortable.

It is hard to imagine there is a service industry these days that is saying, Not so fast a bigger cooling system may NOT be what your home needs. You may need just a smaller, more efficient system to have your home feeling cool and save you money on energy costs.

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You cant beat this weather! It feels too good outside to not be anything but happy and thankful for such a pleasant Summer.

It did get me thinking, though. How can we take advantage of these cool temps? What can we do to save money on our energy bills?

A good place to start is to get rid of any energy vampires you may have in your home. These are TVs, lamps, appliances and whatever else you leave plugged in all the time, but rarely use. They are using energy and costing you money even though you are not actively using them.

So, put your TVs on a power strip and turn them off when you are not at home and while you are sleeping. Also, unplug lamps and kitchen appliances that you dont use on a regular basis.

While this is valuable information that everyone should take advantage of, you should also find out how to save energy and money on your homes biggest energy burner your air conditioner. There are high-efficiency air conditioners that can save you between 24-40% on your usual utilities.

That is definitely worth investigating!

For more information on lowering your energy consumption and putting more money in your wallet, take a look at this info, The Definition of Insanity.

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Your Best Strategy for Three Big Gains

A lot of us in the technical trades would really enjoy being able to explain the ins and outs of air conditioning systems to anyone who will listen. Oh, we could fill your afternoon with tales of the forced-air distribution system and explain for your listening pleasure the difference between the evaporator component on the inside and the condenser component on the outside.

If youre like most of our customers, however, youre not into the full-length description of how your system works. But I can promise you, youll like knowing how your system can perform better.

So Ill save my technical jargon for my coffee break with the techs. And for you, let me offer up the most important factor for increased energy efficiency, improved performance and lengthened operational life for your air conditioning system.

Regular maintenance.

Experts will tell you, your air conditioning system loses about 5% of its efficiency for every year that it goes without regular maintenance. And thats just one way that skipping the maintenance routine can turn into a costly habit.

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What Goes Up Doesn't Always Come Down

In grade school, we learned about the Law of Gravity what goes up must come down. Unfortunately, that does not seem to apply to the cost of living.

I have not noticed the price of many things decreasing in years. Well, with the exception of the real estate market, but that may be the only one. Most people immediately focus on the cost of gas and other types of energy that have skyrocketed, but even the basic everyday items we need, like bread, milk, eggs, soap and shampoo have all risen in price and most have not come down.

I miss the days of doing something as simple as walking into a grocery store and not experiencing sticker shock. I cannot even imagine what prices for basic necessities will be in another 5 to 10 years.

Heating and cooling our homes is also a basic necessity and energy prices for running these units are out of control. We simply have to find ways to save money any way we can. I fear the cost of energy may not come down anytime soon.

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The Cost of Efficiency

We are fortunate to live in a time where everything is becoming more efficient. While that is a wonderful thing, it does not come without a price tag. Even light bulbs are more efficient. Yes, high efficiency light bulbs will last 10 times longer than your regular light bulbs, but they are not inexpensive.
In regards to the high efficiency light bulb, it will cost you more money upfront to purchase it, but it does save you money both in energy costs and in the frequency with which it has to be replaced. So while more expensive, it does work out in your favor. This can be something that is hard to understand. We are much more prone to want a good deal upfront, or to pay the least amount of money for something out of pocket, than to focus on what it saves us on our utility bills.
The same is true for our home comfort systems. A new high-efficiency unit will save you a lot of money on energy costs, but the upfront cost can be intimidating. Read Id Like to Pay You $470 Cash Trade-In for Your Old Energy-Wasting Furnace to learn how you can save money upfront (the way we like to save money) by replacing your unit and getting the benefit of saving money on your energy costs as well.

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The One Call We Really Want to Receive

Were pretty lucky around here. Every day, we hear from people who we can help. And every day, we try to make a difference in the lives of our customers.

A lot of times our work in the air conditioning and heating business goes like this. Someone is uncomfortable and concerned when they call our company. But then theyre comfortable and relieved when we leave the home.

Its really a great feeling to make a difference. For us, that difference is seen on the thermostat, in the lowered energy bills and in the happy faces of satisfied customers.

So we wanted to take these few moments to remind you that were here for you and are always happy to hear from you. The customer who gives us the opportunity to serve is always the call we want to receive.

If we can ever be of service, please let us know. Were happy to help.

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The To Do List

At my house, the to-do list seems never-ending. No sooner do I complete one task than another one appears. I know this is just life and it will always be this way, but there are days when I sure wish there was someone else to handle all the things that need to be taken care of, maybe something like a House Manager. I am sure there are people in this world that have them, but I am not one of them.

Fortunately, we do live in a country where just one phone call will generally have someone on their way to fix whatever problems you are having. Thank goodness for that. I cannot imagine having to be an expert in all fields and manage my to-do list on a daily basis. It would just be too much.

If your home comfort system is giving you trouble, let us help you mark one thing off your to-do list. Just call or email and let us hear from you.

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Where Can You Buy a Portable Air Conditioner Without Exhaust Venting?

Have you ever noticed that some homeowners have neat portable air conditioners that don't appear to have an exhaust venting capability? Yet they seem to work perfectly well in keeping the home cool in those hot months throughout the summer. How can this be?

You are probably already familiar with the portable, ventless evaporative coolers that resemble true air conditioners, yet aren't. That would be a foregone conclusion if you've read other articles on this blog.

Swamp Coolers are Not True Air Conditioners!

Just to recap, these "swamp coolers" are not real aircon units as they don't refrigerate the air that is passed through them. Instead they chill it by evaporation as it is passed through a damp membrane. There is no refrigeration process and no need for a compressor motor to pump the air through any system.

Swamp coolers simply use a basic fan to force air through a membrane that is kept wet by being partially immersed in a water reservoir. These coolers work best in dry atmospheres, as they generate humidity through the evaporative process.

As a result, these coolers don't need to vent any hot exhaust, since they don't produce any! It makes them the perfect portable cooling solution as they can pump out a cold breeze that is capable of reducing the temperature in a room by as much as 30 degrees!

However, their downfall is their effectiveness is reduced in humid atmospheres. So what about the true aircon alternative, especially for those who live in hot, humid conditions?

Refrigerant Based Portable Air Conditioning Units

Working in a completely different way to evaporative coolers, true aircon units use a refrigeration process to chill the air that passes through them. The by-product of that process is a hot exhaust that needs to be vented out of the room being cooled.

So the reality is that these room cooling solutions have to have a means of removing their hot exhaust air from the room. That is the typical corrugated plastic tubing that you see on most of these units.

Do Unvented Portable Air Conditioning Units Exist?

True refrigerant aircons that are portable, standalone units that are not vented do not currently exist because of their very nature. Until a way can be found to refrigerate the air without the use of a heat exchange system, there will always be the resultant hot air produced by the internal chilling process.

One solution is a fixed aircon system whereby the cooling unit is affixed to a wall or ceiling and its vent is channeled through a wall or ceiling to am extracting unit placed outside the house (usually on the other side of the same wall).

So Where Can I By a Portable Evaporative Air Cooler?

True ventless air coolers can be purchased at all major hardware stores as well as many online retailers such as Amazon, WalMart, Lowes etc. The price you pay will differ from store to store, but generally the prices are lower online since online sellers don't have the same overheads as brick and mortar stores.

One of the best places to buy one of these units is actually Amazon, as they have free overland shipping on larger items such as these and that can represent a big saving on the total cost.

You can find more information on our personally recommended unit when you click the link in the right column on this page.

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What is the Best Ventless Air Conditioner on Sale?

People looking for the best ventless portable air conditioner that's on sale today can read this and discover a secret that will surprise and amaze you! I'm not talking about a revolutionary new kind of portable air cooler, because it hasn't been invented yet (at least not that I or anyone else knows about in this area).

What I am talking about is the best value, highest specification portable model that you can buy for the lowest price in its class and still provide unparalleled comfort on those hot days of summer without eating up a huge chunk of your power supply!

A Portable Air Conditioner that's Vent Free?

First of all, you have to remember that we're talking about a non-vented air conditioning unit here. That narrows it down a lot, because most portable aircon units have to be vented to the outside.

So we're actually talking about a "Swamp Cooler" or to give it the correct name, an evaporative air cooler. This kind of cooling device does not need to be vented to the outside because it doesn't produce any hot exhaust air (as you can read more about this kind of cooler in our article that covers "what is a swamp cooler")

For those of you who live in areas with high summer air humidity, look away now because these coolers are not for you!

Top Rated Portable Vent Free Air Conditioner Facts

Let's look at the evidence to suggest that one particular model is superior to others in its class. What exactly do you expect from a top rated, high spec swamp cooler? Let's take some examples:

1. Superior air cooling capability
2. Ability to cool a room quickly
3. Ability to provide on demand cold air
4. Lightweight, easy to move portability
5. Small footprint for easy placement
6. Low power consumption
7. Good value for money

I think that just about covers the main points that interest folks looking to get a good value unit for their money without spending too much. So which are the contenders and what do we rate as the best unit for the money?

Affordable Swamp Coolers

The following coolers can be bought for less than you might think when you shop online at Amazon. Prices can vary without notice so please check out the following reviews on this site by clicking the title of the model that you are interested in below:

• Sunpentown SF-609 Portable Evaporative Air Cooler
• Sunpentown SF-608R Portable Evaporative Air Cooler
• KuulAire PACKA43 Portable Evaporative Cooling Unit

These are our top three value for money items for the lowest price and best specs. If you want higher specs and greater cooling capability, you need to spend more to get higher grade units. Some of the best of these are below:

Swamp Coolers Under $300

The following units can be bought for between $200 and $300 when you shop online at Amazon. Again, prices can fluctuate, so click the title to read the review before heading over to the sales page to get the most up to the minute price.

• NewAir AF-330 Evaporative HEPA Swamp Cooler

Swamp Coolers Over $300

A Step up in price gets you even higher specs. We have included these units for their high power cooling capabilities and other desirable features.

• KuulAire PACKA53 500 CFM
• Port-A-Cool PAC2KCYC01 Cyclone 3000

The last unit is expensive, priced at over $700. I included it as a high end contender for fastest cooling ability and sheer power for its relatively small size and power consumption.

The choice is yours at the end of the day. If this type of air cooling solution fits with what you're looking for, then go ahead and read our reviews. They will give you a better idea of what is available so you can see for yourself whether the price and features fit your budget and needs.

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Ventless Portable Air Conditioner Reviews

Everyone enjoys the hot days of summer when you can spend your time around the pool or on a beach, but when you are at home or trying to work in a hot office it's not so enjoyable. That's why we have air conditioning to keep us cool indoors when the temperature is soaring outside.

The only problem with a huge AC system or even having several portable aircon units with one in each room is that it can be very expensive to run. These days when costs need to be watched more carefully than ever, it makes sense to look for cheaper running alternatives to keep cool.

This is where the vent free, portable air cooler, better known as the evaporative air cooler or swamp cooler comes into its own.

Wetting Dry Heat to Keep You Cool

As long as you live in a relatively dry heat area, these swamp coolers are amazingly effective at cooling a room at a fraction of the cost of comparable air conditioning systems or individual units. They are so cheap to run because they don't have the complex mechanics of an aircon unit, no refrigerant gas to keep cool and circulate internally and no heat exchanger to power.

In fact swamp coolers use little more energy than a regular fan, because their main internal working part is just a fan! In these pages, I'll explain how these amazingly effective cooling units work and how they can be used to keep you feeling cooler when the temperatures are high.

How They Work

Here is a brief overview to how these machines work (more will be said on this subject as I expand on this in later articles here on this blog). If you think about how your body keeps itself from getting too hot through perspiring, you have the basis of the way in which these devices work.

They simply draw hot, dry air from the room into the unit, force it through a damp membrane with a powerful fan and what comes out the other side is chilled air! As long as the air inside the room stays relatively dry, with a humidity level below around 40-50%, you will experience the chilling effect of this process.

As with many things these days, there advantages and disadvantages to them and these coolers are no different. Here is a quick break-down:

Advantages:

The costs of purchasing and more importantly running these units is very low when compared to portable AC units with similar outputs. They are eco-friendly in that they contain no mechanical parts aside from the internal fan and there are no ozone-unfriendly refrigerant gases in there.

The other major upside is the fact that there is no vent hose. Since these units do not work on a heat exchange system like true AC, there is no hot exhaust air. So there is absolutely no need to vent anything to the outside.

That means no ugly vent hose trailing out the unit and no need to site it right next to a window or other external opening in the house. This makes them truly portable because they can be put anywhere and they will make cold air for your comfort!

Disadvantages

The main problem with this type of cooling device is that it will not work when the air humidity level is high. That's because the chilling effect of the evaporation of moisture becomes nullified when there is already a lot of moisture in the air.

Putting more moisture into already saturated moist air results in less (or no) cooling effect. You can get around this to a certain extent by keeping a window open a crack to allow the humid air to pass outside, but if the outside air is also humid, there will not be much of a difference.

But this is just an introduction post on the best vent free air cooler around. So please take some time to read through the other topic focused and detailed articles published here that explain the several aspects of these devices more thoroughly.

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A Portable Air Conditioner for Economy and Coolness

The intense heat that we experience during the hot summer months may seem like a long way away right now but they will soon be upon us and then having a ventless portable air conditioner in the home will suddenly make a lot of sense. So maybe now is the time to start thinking about adding one of these useful and versatile units to your shopping list for the coming summer.

If you need some ideas, here is a look at them and their benefits. I've seen all the kinds of portable air conditioners I've been interested in for the last few years. It is usual enough to be unaware of how to prevent rooms getting too hot. I'll try to let you down easy, but I wanted to write a post germane to coping with really hot weather.

Cost Effective Cooling

The recipe for a cost effective way to keep cool successfully is elementary. It's worth seeking out the best highly portable and easy to move around units that come with great deals. Every little matter from cost, to power consumption must be covered.

Here's a list of many advantages over whole house air conditioning types. In this article, I'm going to give you a few tips to help you with cooling individual rooms. I am not bold enough to mention economical and portable climate control in that context. Cooling individual rooms insulates you from many advantages over whole house air conditioning.

Through this medium, people notice quality over economy with no need for permanent installation. Many still think that there is a reason to demonstrate those advantages, when really its all about how well they are at cooling individual rooms.

Getting over the concept of coping with really hot weather, at the very least its something you might want to jump into it as soon as you possibly can. So, what do I mean by a really hot and humid day?

Hot Outside, Cool Inside

It won't be too fancy, but it's a good place to start with wanting the simple pleasures of staying cool inside when its gotten really hot outside. Cooling individual rooms can work out a more economical solution to using a big HVAC system in your home.

Of course it all depends on your individual circumstances. It may be the other detail you shouldn't notice if it was anything like a serious problem. yet, in reality, it is simple and most folks already know this. When achieved, your use of portable units for cooling individual rooms is a definite benefit.

Prevent rooms getting too hot in the first place by taking a look outside at ways in which you can shade the house from the direct rays of teh sun.  Before you take another step in the direction of going to purchase a new room air conditioning unit, you need to know all the salient points in regard to their advantages and disadvantages

Okay, you might think that you've bitten off more than you can chew when buying a big expensive unit. But its worth it to know all there is to know about these things before you jump in and buy one!

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How to Keep Cool Cheaply When Its Hot

There is nothing quite like being able to sit indoors on a blisteringly hot day and enjoy a cool blast of air from a portable air cooling unit while relaxing with a book or in front of the TV. This small pleasure can become an absolute necessity if you work from home and spend several hours each day at a desk working on a computer or laptop.

Having a means to keep cool indoors when it's getting crazy hot outside is something that many people take for granted. But not everyone has the means or the budget to be able to afford the cost of buying and running a big portable air conditioning unit in their home office or in their sitting room or bedroom.

Let's face it, the power hungry aircon units will eat up your electricity supply in order to blast out that beautifully cold air and you will end up paying dearly for the privilege at the end of the month. However, there is a much cheaper air cooling solution that can be every bit as effective, as long as you live in the right kind of place.

Swamp Coolers

Instead of the power hogging portable air conditioner, why not look into buying a swamp cooler, or evaporative air cooler to give it the right name? As long as you live in a hot dry climate, then these units can cool the air as effectively as their electricity hogging cousins while using only a fraction of the power to do it.

The only caveat is that you have low humidity for these things to work at their best. If you have high humidity, then you're out of luck. That's because a swamp cooler cools by evaporation and it needs dry air to create a cooling effect.

Real Life

I have a friend who lives in Denver, Colorado and his home office is kept beautifully cool by a single swamp cooler that he paid less than a hundred bucks for, brand new. It uses only slightly more power than a regular fan, which is almost nothing and there is no need to vent it to the outside because swamp coolers don't produce any hot exhaust air.

That means you can take one of these units and move it from room to room in your as you need it without the hassle of feeding a flexible exhaust pipe out a nearby window, as you would have to with a regular portable air conditioner. How incredibly convenient is that!

So if you live in an area with low average humidity when it gets hot, you really should consider one of these amazing swamp coolers for your home. You'd be throwing a lot of money away otherwise!

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Sunpentown SF-609 Evaporative Air Cooler Review

If you're looking for a powerful portable air cooling solution that won't cost you the earth, this is it. Swamp coolers are perfect for people living in areas with low humidity as they provide you with a cool air solution that uses far less power than its equivalent air conditioning unit at a price that will pleasantly surprise you.

Important: Before you buy this unit, you need to be aware that if you live in a high humidity climate, the effectiveness of this cooler is greatly reduced. If you don't know what an evaporative air cooler is or how it works, then please read our article: What is a Swamp Cooler? which covers the basics and highlights where they work best and where they don't.

Benefits:

This great air cooler is extremely powerful for its size and for the cost when compared to portable air conditioners. It has three running speeds, remote control operation, an ionizer for helping to purify the air with a nylon and photocatalystic filter and comes with a large 2.5 gallon (10 liter) water reservoir.

It is highly portable and lightweight to make it easy to move from room to room and there is no need to vent to the outside. This unit does not produce hot exhaust air, unlike equivalent air conditioners.

That means you can put it wherever you need it, switch it on and enjoy a blast of cold air that is capable of reducing the air temperature by as much as 30 degrees!

 The Sunpentown SF-609 is quiet when running and has settings for direct cooling and a "swing" setting to move cold air out in multiple directions for a wider spray. The large water holder means you don't have to refill it more than once a day.

Cleaning and Maintenance

As long as you read the instructions before you get started, you will have no problems keeping things running smoothly and keeping the unit clean. It's important to remember that when cleaning the wick that you do not use water and that you do it in direct sunlight.

If you follow the maker's instructions you will have no problems with bad odors as some people complain about because they didn't follow the instructions!

Want to Buy the Sunpentown SF-609 Evaporative Air Cooler?

After checking around several online stores, it became pretty obvious that the best place to buy this unit from in terms of price, after sales service and free shipping is Amazon. To save you searching around for ages for the exact page, here's a handy link that you can click to find out how much you can save:

BUY NOW From AMAZON!

This unit does what it says it will do, which is to cool the air in dry, hot climates. It comes ready assembled so you don't have any hassle--just add water, plug it in and enjoy!

PS: I know that button above says "Buy Now", but you can click it just to take a look to find out more. Naturally, you do not have to buy it if you don't want to!

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Swamp Coolers: Sale Facts You Should Know

People who are considering buying a portable swamp cooler can read this and find out about several sales facts that they should know before they buy. This is important to ensure you make the right decision and go home with the right solution to your home's cooling needs.

Advertising is becoming ever more compelling which can lead to you being sold on something whether you want it or not without even realizing. Knowing what you are getting into before you get into it is the secret of common sense consumerism, so this article may be quite useful to you if you are looking to buy a swamp cooler for your home.

Location and Climate

The single most important fact about swamp coolers, as has already been discussed in this blog, is the location and climate that you live in and whether it is conducive to the best operation of this type of air cooling solution. We hear about so many people who have bought an evaporative air cooler, either a portable unit or a larger installation, when they lived in a hot, humid climate that seriously compromised the effectiveness of the cooler.

A salesman may well beat on about the fact that these cooling units will work best in a hot, dry climate and are capable of reducing the room temperature by as much as 30 degrees. But they will likely gloss over the opposing fact that they will not work so well in hot, humid conditions.

The bottom line is that if your climate is humid, do NOT expect a swamp cooler to be effective!

Cost Comparisons

Another compelling sales pitch much loved by advertisers is to highlight the cost comparison between the two main air cooling systems. It is quite true that evaporative coolers cost a lot less to buy as well as being much cheaper to run than air conditioners, but watch out for sales talk that highlights the gap in cost as being so huge.

It's enough to know that there is a considerable saving especially on power consumption when you choose a swamp cooling unit or system, but remember that any electrical appliance still uses power no matter how much or how little. You will still get an elevated power bill in at the end of the month when you use any kind of air cooling device, so don't be sold on empty promises of huge electricity bill savings.

You will pay far less than you would for a comparable air conditioning setup, for sure. But you will still have to pay for the power used by the swamp cooler!

Portable, Vent Free, Vented or Fixed System?

Don't get confused by the different kinds of system that are available. There is an easy way to remember which is which.

Air conditioners use a heat exchange system which does produce hot exhaust air that must be vented to the outdoors and that includes all kinds of portable unit.

Swamp (evaporative) coolers do not need to be vented as they do not produce hot exhaust air as do air conditioners.

Simple? It may sound so, but you would be surprised at how many people don't know the difference.

Worse still is that there are some people who believe they can run a regular portable air conditioning unit in a room with the vent not connected to the outdoors. These are the ones who sit there complaining their aircon units aren't working because the room is not getting any cooler.

In fact, if you don't vent a portable aircon unit to the outside, the room temperature will actually increase as the hot air creates a net heating effect over the cold air put out by the unit!

This is not a problem for swampies, so they are the only truly ventless portable air coolers. So now you know what you are getting into when you consider choosing your air cooling solution. Make your decisions a good one!

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Ductless Multi Zone Air Conditioners Explained

People who have an interest in vent free air cooling solutions can read this and learn all about ductless multi zone air conditioners and how they function. On the surface, they may appear to be similar in functionality to regular ventless units that have been explained at length in previous articles on this site but dig a little deeper and you will discover some fascinating differences.

Whole House Air Cooling Solution

The first thing that you will notice about these setups is that they incorporate several units placed at strategic points around the home, qualifying them with the "multi-zone" label. They are computer controlled to insure the correct level of cooling in each room according to occupation.

That means the system will not waste energy cooling unoccupied spaces in your home, thus reducing power consumption dramatically. This is an important consideration in this day and age when fuel costs continue to rise at an alarming rate.

Not Portable

The next thing that you'll notice is that these systems are not made up of portable units as with individual evaporative cooling units described in previous articles here. In fact, these systems are comprised of true, two part air conditioning units that expel hot air to the outside via fanned condenser units mounted outside.

They use non-ozone depleting refrigerant gas in their system, making them kinder to the environment while still being able to provide highly efficient cooling in all climates including high humidity (where swamp coolers fall down).

Not Evaporative (Swamp) Coolers

While swamp coolers are excellent for cooling spaces in areas of low humidity and extremely cheap to run in comparison with true air conditioning systems, these multi zone systems offer a viable alternative for those living in humid climates. Costs are higher than evaporative solutions, but lower than conventional ducted aircon systems (HVAC).

These ductless split air conditioners and heat pumps offer a heating solution in winter as well as a cooling one in summer, making them highly versatile. However, heating by electricity is still an expensive method and one that should be considered before deciding on one of these systems.

Installation Considerations

Installing a system like this can be far less invasive than conventional HVAC, although it still requires creating exit vents to the outside for the inner and outer units to be connected through exterior walls. There is no unsightly ducting (or extensive remodelling to disguise ducting inside ceiling space or boxed into walls) making these units far more aesthetically suitable in a home.

Vent holes are created behind the internal unit, making it invisible to an occupant. Similarly, the exterior unit is placed over the exit vent making it invisible from the outside. Units run much more quietly than older systems, which is another important consideration.

Dehumidification

Another important aspect of this kind of setup is its ability to dehumidify the indoors air in areas of high humidity. This can become an important consideration where long periods of very high humidity can create problems in the home.

These problems include damp forming in walls and ceilings, mold growing in closets and cupboards and an uncomfortable living atmosphere. By effectively extracting the humidity and expelling to the outside, this type of system becomes so much more than simply an effective cooling and heating solution.

Conclusion

While a ductless multi-zone air cooling (and heating) system will cost considerably more to install and run than a comparable evaporative system, it has several benefits especially for people who live in climates with high humidity where evaporative units are not so effective. This is a consideration that must be explored in this case as costs will still be lower than with a conventional heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation.

While truly ventless air coolers are effective, cheap to run and highly versatile in dry climates, not everyone can enjoy their benefits. That makes a true aircon system that can run at a much lower cost than conventional ducted systems a viable alternative where humidity is a problem. The choice, in the end, is up to the buyer as always.

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What is a Swamp Cooler?

People interested in staying cool in the hot weather can read this and learn about swamp coolers (evaporative coolers), the portable air conditioner alternative. This article looks at the differences between the two main types of air cooling devices and explains the benefits and downsides to the innovative yet simply designed swamp cooler.

There are several different types of air cooling device ranging from air conditioners to basic fans and swamp coolers come somewhere in between. Where a portable aircon unit uses a gas refrigerant and heat exchanger to produce cold air, a swamp cooler only uses plain water which it cools by evaporation. 

Economical

This makes the swamp cooler much more economical to buy and to run than its power hungry alternative, although using evaporation does have its limitations. But first, lets look at the benefits.

As long as you live in a climate that has predominantly dry heat, or a low humidity level, then a swamp cooler can effectively reduce the temperature in a room by as much as thirty degrees Fahrenheit. It does it by passing air through a damp membrane that is simply an absorbent, loose knit material that has been stretched over an open frame.

The material is kept damp thanks to the lower part being immersed in a small reservoir of plain water. This water can be chilled by adding ice cubes to help lower the air temperature further. A simple fan forces the air through the material and into the room.

There are no other moving parts to the swamp cooler (except for models that include a timer mechanism) which means that power consumption is kept very low. It also means there are fewer things that can go wrong with the device, making for better longevity and useful service.

Disadvantages

However, if you live in a damp climate, or one with high average humidity, the swamp cooler is far less effective at cooling the air. This is because for evaporative cooling to work, the air must not contain too much moisture already.

In dry climates, this is not a problem, because the swamp cooler performs two important functions. They are:

1. Cooling the air to make it more comfortable, and
2. Humidifying it, helping you to breathe easier

But when the ambient humidity is high, the air is already heavy with moisture and adding more to it will not lower its temperature by much. In fact the effectiveness of the swamp cooler in cooling the air goes down the high the humidity level is.

For people who live in hot climates with high humidity, using an air conditioning unit is really the only viable way to chill the air effectively. Please read our articles and reviews on portable air conditioners to find one that suits your needs.

Are You Lucky?

If you do happen to live in a hot, dry climate then you are one of the lucky ones who will benefit greatly from using a swamp cooler to keep you cool in preference to an air conditioner.

You will get a high level of cooling for far less cost in terms of power usage. Also, the purchase price of evaporative coolers is far lower than comparable portable aircon units, so you win in both departments!

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