Honesty. Dependability. Fair pricing. These are important qualities that you probably want in all the people you deal with in your daily life, but especially in something as important as home AC repair. Air conditioning service is something that can be quite expensive, especially if you're overpaying or paying for services you don't need. How, then, do you find a company you can trust to service your AC? Here are a few tips.

The Value of Recommendations

The hardest part sometimes is getting started. If you don't know where to start looking, it's time to start talking. Ask friends and family who they've used and what their experiences were like. Look for more than just a vague recommendation. Some specific questions to ask include:

• Was the quote high, low, or about the same as others you contacted for quotes?
• Was the final price more, less, or the same as what you were quoted?
• Was the work what you were initially told to expect, or did it turn out to need something else?
• Did the technician show up at the appointed time? Or did they change the time at the last minute or show up late?
• When the technician left, was the problem fixed?

Reliability: Why It's Important

Most people, when they are looking for home AC repair, look first at price. But there are other factors that are just as important, if not more so, and one of these is the company's reliability.

Why is reliability so important? First of all, your time is important too, and you want a company that understands that. When you plan time out of your busy day to be home for a repair, you need to be sure that the serviceman is going to be there at the scheduled time.

Even more importantly, you need a company that you can count on to make promised repairs. Air conditioning may not be as important as, say, heating or plumbing, but without air conditioning, your home can still become very uncomfortable very quickly. There's nothing more frustrating than to think you only have to hold out another day or two, only to find out that the technician can't finish the work as promised.

What's a Good Price?

The concept of affordability can vary greatly from person to person, but what it really comes down to is the best possible price in the industry for the best quality work. Home AC repair isn't affordable if it isn't done right and has to be redone, or if a company lures you in with a low quote and then upcharges you with more work that didn't need to be done.

So how do you find affordable home AC repair? If you don't already have a personal recommendation of a company with proven affordability, the next best approach is to get quotes from several different companies. Although it might be tempting to choose the cheapest quote, watch out for lowball quotes as they might represent shoddy quality or a bait-and-switch tactic. Instead, consider the quotes in the middle of the range. Most likely one of those will represent your best chance at high quality for an affordable price.

Trust Your Gut

Finding honesty, reliability, and affordability all at the same time can be challenging, so possibly the best advice you will ever get is to trust your gut. Do your homework first, of course: Ask for recommendations, research credentials, and get quotes from multiple companies. Talk to the technicians at each company before deciding, but when it comes down to it, trust what your gut tells you. Sometimes your best indicators of who you want to go with will come from having a conversation with the technician and deciding for yourself whether they seem like someone you can trust.

Looking for honest, reliable, affordable and experienced HVAC service? Maeser has been a household name in plumbing and HVAC for over 40 years. Contact us today to get a quote or schedule service with one of our technicians.

We use water every day -- from cooking to showering to simply washing your hands, we all need access to clean water. In fact, the average family of four will use up to 400 gallons of water every single day. Of course, many of those gallons need to be properly heated first. So what do you do when your water heater isn't working properly? Fortunately, water heater repair services can fix any issues that arise. But let's take a look at a few key warning signs that mean you should invest in repair services.

Lack of hot water: The most obvious sign that something isn't right with your water heater is that you have no hot water. And it may not be that you simply don't have hot water -- you could have varying temperatures or the water may take much longer to heat up (a significant source of water waste). If you're experiencing any of these problems, you should contact a local plumber unless you want to be taking cold showers.

The tank is leaking: Any sort of plumbing leak should be addressed by a professional sooner rather than later. Plumbing leaks not only waste water, but they could also be a sign of serious damage. If your water heater's tank is leaking, this could mean there is internal damage or that the storage tank itself is damaged. Either way, a leak usually means you need repair services; you may even need to replace the whole unit. If you're looking to avoid an increased water bill and damage to your home, make sure to get leaks taken care of as soon as possible.

Rust-colored water: Water heater repairs are also necessary if you notice your water is starting to turn a rusty color. When water starts to turn reddish-brown, it usually means one of two things. This could be a sign that your water heater is starting to corrode and needs to be replaced or it could mean that your pipes are beginning to rust. Both of these problems require a professional plumber. They can locate the source of the rust so you can ensure your water is safe to use.

A functioning water heater is important for both comfort and functionality. So if you begin to notice any of these warning signs, make sure to contact a plumber right away.

It may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but geothermal heating and cooling is scientific fact, and what's more, it's been around for years. This method of both heating and cooling your home can save energy, save money over time, and possibly even help in our quest to save the planet. Here is everything you need to know about geothermal heating and cooling.

How It Works

Like your air conditioner, geothermal heating and cooling uses the principles of heat transfer to both heat and cool your home, only it does it by using the fairly stable temperature underground. No matter what the weather is doing on the surface of the Earth, the temperature underground stays pretty constant around a moderate 50 degrees, which works perfectly for both heating in cold weather and cooling in hot weather.

The key to geothermal heating and cooling is the pipes of refrigerant reaching underground. Heat is attracted to colder air, so much like with a traditional air conditioner, the pipes use a fluid known as a refrigerant to carry heat to or from your home. In the winter, the refrigerant collects the heat underground and transfers it into your home, but in the summer, it gathers the heat from your house and carries it below. You can even install an upgrade to your system that will allow you to use the principles of geothermal heating to run your household's hot water tanks.

Advantages of Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Those pipes of refrigerant in a geothermal system carry a lot more than just heat—they also carry a lot of potential. Here are a few of the unexpected advantages of geothermal heating and cooling.

• Heat and cool your home—and heat your water, too. A significant advantage is having just one system to both heat and cool your home. With a specific upgrade your geothermal system can give you hot water, too.
• Use significantly less energy. Geothermal systems cut your current energy demands by at least 30 percent and as much as 70 percent. That's a substantial reduction in the amount of energy used to heat and cool your home, which is one of your biggest uses of energy.
• Save money. Don't let the high initial cost scare you away. Geothermal systems may cost a lot to buy and install, but the substantial energy savings usually repay the investment within the first few years. Heating and cooling are normally a large chunk of your utility bill, so minimizing them by this much can make a huge difference in what you pay each month.
• Save the planet. If you're serious about reducing your carbon footprint, there's no better way to do it than by dramatically reducing the energy you spend on keeping your home comfortable.
• Set it and forget it. Finally, it's worth remembering that geothermal systems tend to be long-lasting. This is a long-term investment in your home, as once installed, you shouldn't have to worry about repairs or replacements for many years.

Invest in Your Home and Your Future

Whether you're interested in the investment in your home or benefiting from the money and energy savings down the road, geothermal heating and cooling represents the heat wave of the future. Although it uses a fairly simple principle to maintain your home's temperature, there are a lot of specific details to work out about what kind of system your home will need. Whether you still have more questions about geothermal heat pump systems, or you're ready to discuss installing one in your home, Maeser is here to help. Join us the forefront of heating and cooling technology—contact us today!

Autumn is here and with it comes the smell of fireplaces, pumpkins and haystacks on front porches and unpacking our fur-lined gloves and sweaters. But the onset of winter should also have us beginning the task of winterizing our home. By fixing minor issues, we can save on our utility bill and make our family more comfortable through the winter months. Start your winterizing process by following these simple recommendations:

1. As the temperature begins to drop, the small crevices in windows and doors can bring in a wintery breeze. Avoid this by caulking your windows, doors and vents with a caulk gun. Use weather-resistant caulk for the outside leaks.
   Experts recommend using masonry sealer for bricks which expand and contract when freezing or thawing. Weather strip your
   doors with an adhesive strip between the door and frame in order to get a firm seal.
2. Apply foam sealers under outlet and switch plates on exterior and interior walls to eliminate the flow of air.
3. Look in your cabinets or under sinks on exterior walls to make sure there isn’t a big gaping hole around pipes going through walls. If there is, use spray foam insulation to seal the space.
4. Don’t forget to disconnect your garden hose. As temperatures dip to 32º, your unprotected pipes become susceptible to freezing. Disconnect the hose from the spigot, drain the water from the hose, then drain any remaining water from the faucet.
5. Basement cracks along floors or walls are another place where air can seep in. Experts at networx.com recommend using acrylic latex caulk in sealing cracks that are less than ¼” wide and using spray foam insulation for larger cracks.
6. By installing a programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat, you’ll be able to avoid wasting energy on heating your home when you don’t need it.  You can save approximately 10% a year on heating and cooling bills just by changing the thermostat by 10º or 15ºF while you are away or sleeping.
7. The second largest energy expense in your home is water heating, accounting for about 18% of your utility bill. Determine if it is time to invest in an energy-efficient water heater by asking yourself these questions: is your water heater over 10 years old, do you see sediment in your water, is the water heater leaking or are you running out of hot water sooner than normal? If you answered yes to any of these, it may be time to purchase a new water heater.
8. Now is also the perfect time to have your furnace tuned up before the cold weather really hits. A neglected furnace can cost you money in lost efficiency, breakdowns and a shorter lifespan of your heating system.

Taking care of these 8 steps will offer you peace of mind in knowing your house will stay comfortable throughout the winter. Maeser can help you with the programmable thermostat or smart thermostat, your water heater,  outdoor water spigot and maintaining your furnace. Call us today or schedule online.

Maeser Master Services

Your house air conditioner consumes the most energy of all the systems in your home, so it makes sense to focus on AC efficiency first when you're trying to cut energy costs. Here are a few tips for maximizing the efficiency of your house air conditioner and minimizing the amount of power it requires to keep your home comfortable.

Replace the Filter Regularly
The filter for your house air conditioner is generally the same one that your furnace uses, since all air for the home gets pushed through this same system. Since it's located in the furnace, it's easy to forget that it needs to be changed in the summer as well as the winter, but even during the warmer months the air for the home circulates through that filter. Making sure this filter is kept clean and replaced before it gets clogged will ensure the air moves through it easily, preventing your system from having to work so hard. Be sure to change this filter at least every other month throughout the summer, possibly even every month if you have pets, live in a dusty area, or suffer from seasonal allergies.

Keep All Vents Clean and Clear
Another small but important detail that often gets overlooked is keeping all vents inside the home clean and clear. This means not only checking the vents that blow cold air, but the intake vents as well. If they are dirty or blocked, the blower will have to work harder to circulate air and could cost you a pretty penny. Make sure you don't block these intake vents with furniture and vacuum them out periodically to prevent them from getting blocked with dirt, pet hair and debris.

Clean Up Around Your Air Compressor
Your house air conditioner has an outdoor unit, called the air compressor, which is responsible for transferring the heat inside your home to the outdoors where it can be released. If your compressor isn't kept clear and can't "breathe" pro
perly, however, that heat won't transfer and the refrigerant will carry it back into the home, hindering effectiveness and causing your air conditioner to have to work harder to catch up. You could even damage your air conditioner over time if the situation isn't remedied.
To ensure your air compressor is able to do its job, make sure it has two feet in every direction to breath, and keep landscaping from encroaching on that space. It also pays to check the compressor regularly and make sure no debris has accumulated around it. Regular, once-a-year maintenance from your HVAC service provider will keep it cleaned out and functioning properly inside the casing, too.

Seal and Insulate Ductwork
If it seems like the air coming out of your vents isn't very cold, the problem may not be with the efficiency of your home air conditioner, but with the ductwork that distributes cold air throughout the house. Any leaks in this ductwork will bring warmer air into circulation, raising the temperature of the air that eventually gets blown out.
If you suspect this might be a problem, you may be able to locate and seal some leaks yourself, but your best bet is to have your HVAC service provider out for a thorough testing of your ductwork. Leaks will be identified and sealed, and you can even have your ductwork insulated to better maintain the cold temperature of the air moving through it.

If you suspect your house air conditioner isn't as efficient or as effective as it could be, you can do several things yourself, such as changing the filter or clearing the space around the outdoor air compressor. If you do all of those things and it still seems like your AC could be better, call Maeser. Our skilled technicians will identify and resolve the problem, helping you stay cool and comfortable all summer long.

Do you find yourself turning on the hot water in the shower or in the kitchen sink to do the dishes, and then having to wait a while for it to warm up? Do you worry about wasting water and money by doing this? If so, you might benefit from a water circulation pump. Here is everything you need to know about the advantages of such a system, how it works, and the types of water circulation pumps available.

Advantages of a Water Circulation Pump

There are several advantages to installing a water circulation pump in your home. Even if you don't care about every advantage, chances are at least one of these will provide a compelling reason to consider such a system.

• Convenience. Who wants to stand around and wait for hot water when they're ready to get in the shower?
  Or have to keep adjusting the water temperature as the hot warms up while you're washing dishes? With a water circulation pump, when you turn on your hot tap, you get hot water, even at the sink that's farthest from the water heater. No more waiting around!
• Eco-friendly. Does it trouble you to waste water while waiting for the hot to heat up? If being more Earth-friendly is appealing to you, you'll love having a circulation pump. No more wasted water!
• Save money. Especially during times of drought, wasting water can be an expensive habit. A water circulation pump also saves money by keeping the water heated, so that not as much energy has to go into reheating. And while it might sound like an increase in spending to run the pump, there are several different kinds, enabling you to choose the type that works best for your needs.

How It Works

Normally, when you turn on the hot water tap you have to run the water for a bit before it gets hot. That's because the water in the pipe has cooled down since it was last used, and how long ago that was will determine how long you have to wait. A water circulation pump solves this problem by sending the water back to the hot water heater to be reheated so that it's hot when you need it to be. Homes that were plumbed for a circulating system will have a dedicated return line, but retrofitted homes can still use a circulation pump by using the cold line as a return line.

Types of Circulation Pumps

There are several types of circulation pumps available to homeowners. Which type you choose will depend on what advantages you're looking for.

• Standard: Originally, a circulation pump was designed to run continuously to keep the water hot at all times. This is the type of system you'd see in commercial buildings such as restaurants and hotels, but it's not as appealing to the savvy homeowner, unless convenience is really your thing. Yes, your water will be hot the instant you turn on the tap, but the cost of running the pump won't save you any money.
• On-Demand: A demand or on-demand water circulation system only starts circulating the hot water when you want it. It means you'll still need to wait a moment for hot water, but if you plan ahead a few minutes it'll still be ready when it's needed. This system will also save you both water and money.
• Time and Temperature: If you know generally what times of day you need your hot water, a time and temperature system might work well for you. These systems allow you to preset times and even specific temperatures at which you would like your hot water. Used appropriately, these systems can save both money and water, but if you run the pump more than needed you'll lose the financial savings.

Installing a Water Circulation Pump

Installing a water circulation pump isn't difficult, but it'll require professional expertise to determine whether your home needs to be retrofitted, and how to best go about it. For more information about hot water circulation systems or to get a quote, schedule with Maeser today.

When you call an HVAC service company to work on your heating and air conditioning—one of the more expensive systems in your home—it's important that they be someone you can trust. Especially if major work is needed, you'll want to choose someone you feel comfortable working with who can give you trustworthy advice and help you make important decisions. Ideally, it will be a company you'll use over the long term; someone you can build a relationship who can be there in an emergency.

But how do you know when a company fits the bill? Here are five things to look for in a reputable HVAC service.

• Qualifications: No matter what HVAC service company you use, they should only be sending out the most qualified service people. When you call a company for the first time, ask what qualifications their employees or contractors have. At minimum, they should be licensed to work in Kentucky, but reputable companies will also choose technicians with training, certifications and experience in the industry.
• Competitive Pricing: Asking for a quote is an important tool for choosing an HVAC service. If the quote is too expensive, most homeowners will think twice, but you should also question pricing that is too cheap. Competitive pricing means that while a company may offer a slightly lower price, sale, or promotion to beat out their competitors, their pricing will still fall within industry expectations. If it doesn't, you should be asking yourself how they can afford to cut their prices so much. The answer is likely to be a sacrifice in quality or qualifications.
• Customer Service: HVAC service isn't only about fixing your furnace or doing maintenance on your AC. How a company relates to their customers says a lot about them. You, the homeowner, are an important part of the equation, which is why Maeser believes in the importance of customer service. Any good HVAC company will listen to you, answer your questions, and above all, ensure that you are happy with the quality of the work.
• Emergency Service: Maintaining your heating and air conditioning systems regularly can keep them in better shape, but emergencies are always a possibility, and if the worst happens you'll want an HVAC service that is available when you need them. Being able to turn to your regular HVAC company in case of an emergency is invaluable, not only for your convenience but also for the sake of records, warranties, a pricing scale that you're familiar with, and of course, the comfort of knowing you're in good hands.
• Reputation: Working with a local company is important not only because you'll have someone to turn to in case of an emergency, but also because it's easier to get a sense for whether the company is trustworthy. Look for a service provider that is a well-respected member of the community. Do you see a lot of their trucks and ads? Have friends, family and acquaintances used them and recommended them? These are all indications that an HVAC service is an active, respected member of the local community.

Choosing a qualified HVAC service company is an important decision, but it doesn't need to be a stressful or difficult one. Whether you start out by asking friends and family for recommendations or jump right in with a quick Google search, keep these qualities in mind as you look for a service provider. With a checklist of what to look for, a little bit of research and a few phone calls, you should be able to narrow down your choices pretty quickly.

Ready to end your search? At Maeser, you're not just a customer, you're family. Call us today for a personal quote and find out firsthand why we're different.

Like most things related to your HVAC system, there's an ideal time to install a home humidifier. You wouldn't service your furnace in the middle of the summer or have someone out to work on the air conditioner when it's cold outside. Likewise, you wouldn't want to install a home humidifier when it's not necessary or even detrimental to run it. So, when is the right time to install one?

The answer is now, as we're heading into the time of year where you'll need it the most.

Install in Fall or Winter

You may have noticed before that it's in winter that you have the most problems with dry skin and chapped lips. That's because the air is drier in the winter for a variety of reasons. Cold air holds less moisture in it, for one thing, but forced-air furnaces also tend to dry out the air, making the problem even worse.

By contrast, summer tends to be a pretty humid time of year, at least in our area. There are parts of the country where a humidifier might be beneficial even in the summer, but with Kentucky's humid heat, homeowners are more likely to run dehumidifiers in the summer than humidifiers. Running a humidifier during the summer would actually undermine your air conditioner's job of cooling the house, so homeowners are advised to turn off their humidifiers during the warmer months of the year.

If you want to be able to enjoy your home humidifier during the time of year when you will actually use it, fall or winter are the perfect times to install one. The sooner you get your humidifier up and running, the sooner you'll be able to reap the benefits.

Advantages to Running a Home Humidifier in Winter

Have you wondered what the purpose of a home humidifier is? Sure, it puts moisture back into the air, but why does this matter? You'd be surprised how much a humidifier really does make a difference. Here are a few areas where you'll benefit.

• Better for your furnace: The more moisture in the air, the better the air holds its temperature and the more comfortable it'll feel to you—even at lower temperatures. In other words, a humidifier will make your furnace not have to work as hard no matter how you look at it. Your home will maintain its temperature better, plus you'll be able to set the thermostat lower and still feel comfortable.
• Better for your health and comfort: More humidity in the air will help keep you more comfortable by staving off dry skin and other complaints associated with the dry air in winter, but that's not all. Dry air also dries out your nose and sinuses and makes you more susceptible not only to nosebleeds, but also to germs that would normally get trapped by your nose and sinuses. Maintaining a proper humidity level inside the home, on the other hand, can actually help to keep your entire family healthier.
• Better for your house: The wild swings in humidity from summer to winter can be very hard on your home and everything in it. Wood expands and shrinks and paint dries out, cracks and peels. Even your furniture and musical instruments are affected by changes in humidity. Running a humidifier helps you to maintain consistent humidity levels in your home year-round for the sake of your home and everything in it.

Install a Home Humidifier Today

The days are slipping away, and before you know it, winter will be almost over and you'll have lost your opportunity to reap the benefits of having a home humidifier. Save yourself and your family the discomforts and the energy expenses usually associated with winter and benefit your home at the same time. Call Maeser today to have a whole house humidifier installed in your home.

What would you do if your basement flooded today? Basements can flood for a lot of reasons, from extreme weather to indoor plumbing problems. For most people, if you don't have a sump pump backup system already in place, you'd have to call the professionals to bail you out—quite literally. And since water damage can be expensive and sometimes devastating to deal with, it's better to take preventative measures now rather than to deal with the fallout later.

Here's everything you need to know about sump pump backup systems.

What Is a Sump Pump?

If you originally came from a dry climate or are new to living in a single family home, you may be unfamiliar with the concept of a sump pump. Essentially, a sump pump is designed to pump water out from the lowest point of your basement. If you opt for a submersible sump pump, it'll be installed inside a pit that is dug in your basement, so that it can start to pump water out if the pit begins to fill. A pedestal sump pump, on the other hand, is designed to be elevated and pump out the water from beneath it.

Whichever style sump pump you get, the goal is the same: to remove water from your home in case the basement starts to flood. Whether you live in a wet area, have a leaky foundation, or encounter lots of severe weather that could cause flooding in your basement, a sump pump is an ideal way to protect your home from flooding and water damage.

When Do You Need a Sump Pump?

If you came from a dry area, you've probably never needed a sump pump before. But in wetter regions, such as the Louisville, Kentucky, area, homeowners often need some way to remove water from the basement in order to prevent flooding. Even if you only need to use it once, it'll pay off to have a system already in place.

Here are a few signs you might need a sump pump in your basement:

• You live on a flood plain or in an area that is prone to flooding
• You live in an area that gets a lot of rain or snow
• You've seen evidence of moisture in your basement
• Your basement has flooded in the past
• Your home already has a sump pump, but it needs to be replaced

Do You Need a Sump Pump Backup?

What will you do if heavy rainfall, flooding, or water damage causes the power to your sump pump to go out? This is when it's useful to have a backup plan. When having a foolproof sump pump backup system in place is important, opt for a water-powered backup sump pump. Rather than relying on electricity or battery power, a water-powered backup pump utilizes the pressure in your home's water lines to drive the pump. This keeps the water out of your home no matter what, and ensures your investment won't go to waste.

When Should You Call a Professional?

It should go without saying that the initial installation of your sump pump should always be done by professionals. You're counting on this system to bail you out (literally) should your basement become flooded, so you'll want to make sure everything is done right. Professionals have the experience necessary for a foolproof install, plus we can suggest a system, compare the pros and cons of different systems, and recommend features such as sump pump backup batteries that you might not have thought of on your own.

It is also recommended to call a professional should you have any trouble with your existing sump pump, as well as for periodic maintenance, particularly if you haven't used your pump in a while. It doesn't do you any good to have a system in place only to find it doesn't work when needed!

Expert Help from Maeser

The best bet for protecting your home from flooding and water damage is to work with a professional you can trust to help you make good decisions. With decades of experience, Maeser can help you select and get set up with the sump pump backup system that is best for your needs.