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Austin Solar AC and Heating: How Solar Works

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PUT THE SUN’S POWER TO WORK IN YOUR Austin Residence

Solar energy is an infinitely renewable resource that uses the sun’s rays to generate electricity for use in your home. By going solar, you can reduce your energy costs and also lower your dependence on fossil fuels, thereby making your own contribution to a cleaner environment. The technology for residential solar-energy systems, including air conditioning and heating, is currently available.  Using solar modules, made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, it harvests the sun’s energy and converts it into electricity that can be used to power your lights, appliances and other electrical devices in the home.

 

TYPES OF SOLAR SYSTEMS

Grid-tied PV systems

A grid-tied system is the most common and least expensive of all residential solar systems. It allows you to use your own solar-generated electricity to save energy and reduce costs. At times when the PV system isn’t producing electricity, such as at night, electricity is provided by the utility company’s grid, or network of power stations.

One of the benefits of a grid-tied system is that any excess electricity produced by your solar system can be fed back to the grid through a process known as net-metering. With net-metering, which is available in most areas, when you use electricity from the grid your meter spins forward. The less electricity you use from off the grid, the slower your meter spins. Even better, when you are feeding electricity back to the grid, your meter spins backwards!

 

Stand-alone PV systems

Stand-alone PV systems, also called off-the-grid or off-grid, operate independently from the utility grid, providing all of the electricity needed in the home. Stand-alone systems are much more expensive than grid-tied systems. However, for homes located in remote areas without utility service, or where installing power lines would be extremely costly, a stand-alone system is a good option.

 

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How to Search for an Austin Licensed Electrician

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Finding a qualified Austin Licensed Electrician for your residential or commercial needs can be a confusing task.  Most Austin residents find that using the internet for this task is frustrating.  The first page of the search results for Austin Electrical Contractors is filled with paid advertisements, a small list of local contractors that may or may not be close to your location and which you know nothing about, a listing for the Austin Electrical Contractors Association, a listing for the Austin Division of Consumer Affairs a few private companies and some sites that list row after row of paid listings.  You are left with the same problem you started with, “which one of these companies should I choose?”


ABC Home and Commercial Electrical Contractors

ABC Home and Commercial Services has what we think is a much better approach to finding an electrician to fit your individual needs.  We provide qualified licensed electricians for no worry solutions to all your remodeling and rewiring needs.  All our contractors have great references.  This means the time spent screening companies has already been done for you.  Let our experienced contractors review your plans.  We provide the best service at the best price.


Electrical Contractor’s License

You need a license to do electrical work in Austin. They are obtained from The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  This is information from their web site: http://www.license.state.tx.us/electricians/elec.htm


Electrical Contractor

  • You must be a licensed master electrician, or employ a licensed master electrician;
  • Maintain the required limits of business liability insurance:
  1. Minimum $300,000 per occurrence – combined for property damage and bodily injury
  2. Minimum $600,000 aggregate – total amount the policy will pay for property damage and bodily injury coverage
  3. Minimum $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.
  4. Meet the statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage.

 

Master Electrician

  • Must have at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician
  • have held a journeyman electrician license for at least two years
  • pass a master electrician examination

 

Journeyman Electrician

  • Must have at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician
  • Pass a journeyman electrician examination

 

Contractors Can Help with Budget and Planning

Our electricians can help you with planning home additions or kitchen and bath remodeling projects.  Contact one of our service providers for help in planning your budget for electrical work and providing quotes. This is free service.  Give our Austin licensed electrical contractors a try.  Our commercial and residential electricians can do any size job. Our mission is to provide our clients the best service at the best price for all your residential and commercial electrical needs.

 

 

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Make Your Home Cleaner, Healthier and Avoid San Antonio Central Heat Repair Bills

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Do you have . . . 

• Excessive dust?
• Allergy or asthma suffering?
• Concerns about the air quality in your home?

If you do, you are not alone. Over 90% of homes have hidden air control problems. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to achieve a cleaner and healthier indoor living environment and avoid costly San Antonio Central Heat Repair.

We will publish new tips periodically, so check back often!

 

TIP #1 Test For Contaminated Air Infiltration From An Attached Garage, Crawlspace, Attic or Underground:
Are you breathing good air or bad air? Window and door leaks are usually less than 20% of a home’s air leaks. Many others bring in contaminated air instead of fresh air.

Building scientists have recently discovered that in the typical home, up to 80% of the incoming air first passes through the attached garage, crawlspace, basement or attic. Air pollutants such as mold spores, carbon monoxide, automobile exhaust, radon gas, crawlspace moisture, insulation fibers and volatile organic chemicals can contaminate this incoming air, and negatively affect your family’s health and safety.

Ask your ABC HVAC Specialist to pinpoint where the bad air leaks are, and provide guidance on how to fix them.

 

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Tips for Aerating Your Austin Lawn

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Hardly anyone thinks about the dirt that grass grows in, but the health of the soil is a key component to a great lawn. Grass does best in soil that drains well and has a rich, loamy texture. Poor soil … Continued

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Cost Effective Austin Kitchen Remodeling

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How to Prepare for Remodeling Your Kitchen

 When Austin homeowners decide to remodel their kitchen, it can turn into a hectic process. From designing to executing, there are a number of potential disasters waiting to happen. Alleviate the stress and worry by making preparations beforehand to ensure your satisfaction with your remodeling project. To make your transition from old to new with the least amount of stress, consider these tips before transforming your kitchen:

 

  1. Budget wisely. The best way to prepare for remodeling your kitchen is to identify what you hope to gain from the remodel. What’s important to you? Is a double-door refrigerator most important? Should you splurge on appliances or tiles? Identifying what means most to you will allow you to budget adequately.

 

  1. Know your story. What kind of story do you want to tell? Creating a narrative, whether you want the urban city-life style or a rustic country feel to your kitchen, will help you when choosing color schemes, decorations, and other elements to your kitchen.

 

  1. Choose the right contractor. Inviting to remodel a key space in your home can be a stressful experience – do you research ahead of time to make sure you have chosen the right people to do the job the way you envision it.

 

  1. Keep the ball rolling by working on the details while your contractors work on the big picture. Continuing to buy materials periodically will allow your contractors to always have the materials ready for next steps in the remodeling process.

 

  1. Get creative. Little details such as the kinds of knobs on your cabinets or the trimming around your windows can provide a unique touch to your kitchen that will make it truly your own. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through!
For more information on ABC Remodeling Services visit our website at www.abchomeandcommercial.com

 

 

$25 Off

Half-Day Handyman Services

12/31/2011

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Easy Ways to Avoid San Antonio HVAC Maintenance

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As energy bills rise, it’s tempting to look for the single solution that will shave off a large part of your heating bill, but there are numerous ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home. With these simple and inexpensive San Antonio HVAC maintenance solutions, you can keep those heating bills from rising – even in the cold holiday season!

 

ADJUST THE THERMOSTAT

The most obvious way to reduce your fuel use is to turn down the thermostat. Think of it as a valve between your fuel supplier and your wallet. For every degree you turn it down, you will use up to 3 percent less heating energy. A 10-degree setback overnight or while you’re at work will cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent. Keep in mind that it doesn’t take long to heat your home to a comfortable level – only about 15 minutes. Never adjust the thermostat above the desired temperature; doing so will not heat your home any faster.

 

REPAIR DRAFTY WINDOWS

Older windows are often big energy wasters. When you’re ready to invest in new windows, many energy-efficient options are available before you buy, you should know there are several inexpensive repairs that can improve the performance of your current windows.

 

EFFICIENT HEATING SYSTEMS

A typical heating system will last about 20 years, although some have been around much longer. If yours is 15 years old or more, then it is a good candidate for replacement: Efficiency can range from about 60 percent in older equipment to 95 percent or higher in modern systems. The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is a standardized test of a heating appliance’s overall efficiency and is listed on the yellow EnergyGuide tags found on heating equipment. But before you buy a new heating appliance, consider low-cost maintenance and relatively inexpensive upgrades, which offer significant energy savings.

 

HOME HEATING CHECKLIST

  • Open the curtains and shades on sunny days.
  • Design landscaping to allow sunlight to enter south-facing windows in the winter, and to provide shade in the summer and year-round wind blocks.
  • Dress warmly and keep the temperature as low as is comfortable.
  • Use a programmable thermostat to turn down the heat at night, and while you’re at work or out of town.
  • Seal and insulate your furnace ductwork.
  • Use insulating window curtains at night to reduce heat loss.
  • Install a ceiling fan to circulate warm air trapped at the ceiling, allowing you to turn down the thermostat a few degrees.
  • Use plastic window film, storm windows or insulating window panels if your home has single-pane windows.
  • Seal drafty areas where outside air enters the home, such as at doors and windows and anywhere air from the attic can penetrate the rest of the house, such as the chimney, plumbing chases and attic hatches.

Let us know your money saving tips!

 

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Simple Maintenance Tips Prevent Austin Appliance Repair

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Routine Maintenance can save Austin Homeowners on Appliance Repair

Tips to prevent Austin appliance repair:

Remembering to clean out the lint buildup from the dryer or change the air filters for your central air conditioner is easy to forget, but if left untended, can be hazardous. Unlike a car that will remind you when it needs maintenance, such as the oil change light, your home appliances will not be able to make such requests. Keeping a schedule or calendar to remind yourself to take these periodic maintenance steps can reduce your need for appliance repair in the future.

 

Things to do Weekly

~  Clean out your lint filter. Clearing out the lint buildup in your dryer can prevent lint from becoming a fire hazard.

~  Clear disposal and trapped food in dishwasher. Sometimes food particles can be too big to drain. Remember to check that there is no food left in your sink disposal or left in the bottom of your dishwasher. This prevents buildup and potential pipe blockage.

 

Things to do Monthly

~  Check your air filters. Dirty filters can increase energy bills by causing your system to go into overdrive to make up for the filter, which can then damage the ability for your system to work properly.

~  Test smoke alarm and heat alarm systems. Remember to replace the batteries.

~  Refill the salt in your water softener. This prevents sediment from building up in your pipes. Plus, the water softener will improve your water quality and make your clothes softer.

 

Things to do Annually

~  Check your gas appliances. Improper upkeep of gas appliance could potentially cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning in your home.

~  Check your chimney. Before use each year, check your chimney to prevent buildup of dangerous chemicals. Once you begin to use your chimney more often, cleaning your chimney will also help to prevent issues with Carbon Monoxide as well as the buildup of hazardous chemicals.

Are there any that we missed? What do you check weekly, monthly, or annually?

 

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