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Picture it: you receive an envelope from your electric company in the mail, open it, and immediately drop the letter on the counter. Warmer weather is upon us, and not only does it affect our comfort, it also affects our monthly bills. Instead of sweating out the heat (as a solution), here are some energy saving cooling methods that will save you dollars, and protect the environment.

Tip 1: Keep the Door(s) Shut

Using the air conditioner in your bedroom, but not in the rest of your home? If that’s the case, shut the door — it will keep the cold air in, and your air conditioner won’t be working overtime.

Tip 2: Close the Blinds

Want to use your AC less? Try keeping the blinds closed within your home. It may be tough to block the view of your lawn ornaments at first, but it will be worth it in the end.

Tip 3: Cool, Damp Cloth

The next time you’re overheating, take a hand towel (or small cloth) and run it under cold water for thirty seconds. Once that’s complete, place it on any pulse point of your body; like the back of your neck, for example. This will cool your body temperature, and you’ll feel refreshed within minutes!

Tip 4: Have a BBQ

No, it doesn’t have to be an actual BBQ — but have one, if you must. By grilling outdoors, you’re eliminating heat emissions from your stovetop and cutting electric/ gas costs in half. Also: who doesn’t love a good meal with grill marks?

Tip 5: Open the Windows

Before you head to bed, open the windows in your room. By doing this, you’re preserving the AC and letting natural air in. It’s a great way to balance the room’s air temperature, and cut energy usage in half.

Looking for the perfect AC unit to keep you cool, in between energy-saving breaks? The experts at Leslie Heating & Cooling offer comprehensive and trustworthy air conditioning services throughout Woodridge, Illinois, and are dedicated to making your home feel more comfortable this season. To learn more about these services, give us a call at 630.621.9419!

Monday, July 3rd, 2017 at 10:17 am | Categories: Uncategorized
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The heat is on — or least it feels that way. During the summertime, it can be a struggle keeping your home comfortable. Although you may have a central AC unit, or standard window unit, you might feel it’s still not enough to keep cool. Sometimes those cooling methods might not hit all the desired target spots in your home, such as a kitchen. Instead of adding more ducts, or using another a window, why not install a ductless mini-split air conditioner? If you’re not sure what this entails, or if it fits your cooling needs, here are the benefits:

Benefit #1: Space Saving

Unlike traditional AC units, this ductless “wonder” is compact and won’t take up much space. These units are installed close to the ceiling, and can easily blend in with your decor.

Benefit #2: Energy Saving

Similar to a standard AC unit, this device can save energy and money. Unlike central AC units, there won’t be duct loss — cold air will be delivered directly to the space!

Benefit #3: Easy Installation

Installing a ductless mini-split air conditioner can be done instantly, taking less than an hour. The unit mounts to a wall, and requires minimal hardware/drilling. It will be a blast of joy, and cold air when the installation is complete!

Benefit #4: Cools Desired Spot

This groundbreaking AC won’t disappoint when it comes to cooling! Once powered on, it will feel like an additional central air unit within your home — half the cost, and maintenance!

At Leslie Heating & Cooling, your comfort is our number one priority. We are a family-owned and operated business based in Woodridge, Illinois and are here for all of your AC installation, maintenance, and HVAC emergency needs. To learn more, give us a call at (630) 576-9235!

Not every day is a walk in the park — but some days will feel like you’re sitting in the park, engulfed in direct sunlight. Whether you have a standard AC unit, a ductless mini-split air conditioner, or a fan — summer is the ultimate moment of truth when testing your home’s cooling features. . But one feature that most forget to mention is insulation: the silent partner within the cooling family. It’s common to believe that insulation only offers heating benefits, but in reality it also cools your home in the summer. Here are some “cool” benefits of home insulation:

Benefit 1: Use Less Energy

Instead of your space becoming too warm or too cool, insulation will adjust your room to a comfortable temperature naturally. With insulation’s regulating powers, it will cut AC usage in half, along with your electric bills!

Benefit 2: Allergen Reduction

Despite it being the summer, allergies are still present. When installing insulation within your home, not only are you regulating the temperature inside, but you’re also blocking outdoor allergens from entering. That’s right: insulation will decrease indoor allergies in addition to saving you money!

Benefit 3: Sound Barrier

When warmer weather arises, so does the noise level within your neighborhood (and within your home). Insulation keeps sound levels to a minimum no matter where you are in your house. If you wanted to host a surprise birthday party, and the guest of honor is walking up to your front door, they won’t be able to hear you telling everyone to be quiet! It’s a win-win for every situation!

Of course, there are many other points and methods of insulating that can be utilized to make sure your home’s temperature as comfortable as possible. We are happy to cover all the options with you, at Leslie Heating & Cooling! To learn more, give us a call at (630) 576-9235!

Imagine this: you arrive home from work and put your air conditioner on. After sitting in your living room for about an hour, the temperature doesn’t feel significantly cooler. No, your air conditioner isn’t broken — it’s time to change the filter. When it comes to changing a filter, many overlook this simple step because they don’t know which filter to choose. No need to fear — we’ll break it down for you here!

MERV Ratings

This popular abbreviation stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, and is a key feature to look for when purchasing a new air filter. To use MERV ratings efficiently, look at the numbers and see how low/high they land — they’ll range from 1 to 20. If the number is quite low (1-10), that means the filter will pick up less debris and will have to be replaced more often. Now, if the number is on the high end of the spectrum (11-20), it will pick up more airborne particles and will have to be replaced less frequently.

Filters

When it comes to air conditioner filters (a.k.a. mechanical air filters), there are four types you should know: fiberglass, pleated, high-efficiency and true high-efficiency (True HEPA). Each of these filters has different characteristics, ultimately giving you a different air quality experience. For your convenience, we’ve made a “cheat sheet” below:

Fiberglass Air Filter

-Very thin panel.

-Removes approximately 10% of airborne debris.

-MERV rating: lowest (1-4)

Pleated Air Filter

-More pleated panels; removes more particles, with higher frequency of air pressure

-Removes approximately 45% of airborne debris

-MERV rating: low (10-13)

High-Efficiency Air Filter

-Complex filter panel

-Removes about 85% of airborne debris

-MERV rating: high (14-16)

True High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (True HEPA)

-High quality filter panel, BUT must have separate HEPA Filtration installed to function

-Removes about 98% of airborne debris

-MERV rating: highest (17-20)

At Leslie Heating & Cooling, we want you to trust your family with ours! We’re dedicated to keeping you comfortable and helping you save on cooling costs. We are a family-owned and operated business based in Woodridge, Illinois and are here for all of your HVAC installation and maintenance needs.

The future of heating and cooling is here, thanks to Wi-Fi thermostats! If you’re always on the go, or a new technology enthusiast, then this device will suit your needs perfectly. Although traditional thermostats are still a well-working staple in many homes, a Wi-Fi thermostat is a great upgrade and comes with a slew of benefits. Without further ado, here’s why you should consider installing a Wi-Fi thermostat in your home:

Benefit #1: Control Temperature from Miles Away

Just like downloading your favorite mobile game from the app store, Wi-Fi thermostats come with an application to control the device. Once your thermostat has been set up, the application on your mobile phone will pair with the device and you’ll be good to go! Next time you jet-set across the country to visit your grandmother, you can adjust the temperature in your home from your phone!

Benefit #2: Saves More Energy

Although many thermostats have pre-set features, a Wi-Fi thermostat provides more intricate options for energy-saving settings within your home. Think of this device as the concierge at a hotel — the device will accommodate your temperature needs 24/7. In addition: by saving more energy, a Wi-Fi thermostat will be saving you a ton of money, too!

Benefit #3: Makes HVAC Reports a Breeze

Does your home suffer from frequent HVAC problems? If so, a Wi-Fi thermostat will alert you ahead of time before anything happens. For example, if the filter needs to be changed in your unit, you’ll receive a notification on your mobile device. Having a Wi-Fi thermostat is like having an HVAC professional within your home, that will alert you of your heating and cooling system needs.

Looking to install a Wi-Fi thermostat in your home? Call the experts at Leslie Heating & Cooling at (630) 576-9235 to learn more about this device, and to schedule an installation appointment. Here at Leslie, we offer comprehensive and trustworthy air conditioning services throughout Woodridge, Illinois, and are dedicated to making your home feel more comfortable this season.

One of the most important staples in every home is your electrical cords. No matter what object you’re plugging into your wall, an electrical cord is there to help turn that electrical dream into a reality. Despite what you may think, there are some do’s and don’ts when using electrical cords. Need a refresher? Have no fear — we’re here to break it down for you:

Inspect the Cord

Before you plan on using your electrical cord, make sure you thoroughly inspect every aspect of the cord’s composition. If the cord shows little to no signs of wear, then it’s good to use. If the cord looks like it hasn’t held up well since its last use, then it’s time to toss it and purchase a new one.

Keep it Dry

Although this sounds self-explanatory: always keep your extension cords away from water sources. Just like you wouldn’t splash water near a wall outlet, the same rule should apply to your extension cords. Always keep your extensions cords as dry as possible!

Use It or Lose It

One of the most biggest debates in the world of electronics is whether or not you should unplug cords from the wall when not in use. In fact if you haven’t used a device in forty-eight hours, then it’s time to unplug it. Regardless, you should always unplug cords when not in use because it will save energy and will also reduce the risk of having an outlet fire, too.

Give Them a Home

You should always store electrical cords within your home, whether they’re standard electrical cords or an all purpose electrical cord. By keeping your cords in a temperature controlled environment, your cords will sustain a longer lifespan and will endure less of a damage risk due to fluctuations in temperature.

At Leslie Heating & Cooling, your comfort is our number one priority. We are a family-owned and operated business based in Woodridge, Illinois and are here for all of your AC installation, maintenance, and HVAC emergency needs. To learn more, give us a call at (630) 576-9235!