A great way to save money is to look at your utility bill for ways that you can cut costs. Simply paying more attention to your energy usage can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year. Have you ever thought, what temperature should I set my thermostat to for efficiency? This is a common question that we will examine below.

Thermostat Settings to Save Money

According to the US Department of Energy, the answer to the question, what temperature should I set my thermostat to is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the optimal home temperature during the Fall and Winter months in areas that experience colder temperatures. It is recommended that you keep your home at this temperature during the day, when you may be away and when you are sleeping. It may seem a bit colder than if you were to set it up into the 70’s, but when you are home you are more likely to be active which generates your own body heat and you have the ability to layer up a bit. 

The reason this is said to be the optimal temperature is that it doesn’t put stress on your heating system. Your system has to work harder, the farther it gets from the temperature outside. This is something to really keep in mind for all times of the year. The more strain you put on the system, the harder it has to work. By keeping it at a temperature that is comfortable for you to be in while not too far away from the outdoor temperature will be money back in your pocket in the end. By decreasing your temperature by about 10 degrees, you could actually save 15-20% on your utility bills each year.

Consider A Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are a great way to control the temperature settings in your home. The best thing about them is that they help you stay on track with the temperature settings that you aim to be at to remain comfortable, but also save on your utility bills. They are also great because they can be programmed to lower or increase the temperature at certain times of the day. For example, if you’re out of the home at work during the day, you can program your thermostat to increase the temperature at a time that will be close to your arrival at home so that you come home to your optimal temperature without waiting for the house to warm up if it was set at a lower temperature during the day.

Believe it or not, the location of your thermostat can have just as much of an effect as the thermostat settings to save money. The location of the thermostat affects how it performs, which ultimately affects its efficiency. It should be placed in an area where the natural air flow of the house occurs and is not near a window, exterior door or direct sunlight. It shouldn’t even really be next to or above furniture as this can affect the air flow.

As the #1 Nationwide Residential HVAC Contractor of the Year, you can rely on Clay’s Climate Control for the most reliable recommended thermostat settings for Fall to cut down your utility costs. In need of a thermostat installation? Our professional, nationally certified technicians are here to answer the call!  Contact us to schedule an appointment today!

Have you heard about our 3C Club Maintenance Plan? This plan was created to offer our superior services at a discount to our most loyal customers. We offer easy online booking and a convenient customer experience.

The quality of the air we breathe has been important for years, but because many of us are spending more time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, our home’s indoor air quality is more important than ever. Although both an air purifier and air scrubber can provide clean air, just like other HVAC equipment, knowing how they’re different and figuring out which is best for YOUR home is key. The clean air experts at Clay’s Climate Control are here to break down the difference between an air purifier and air scrubber, so you can make the best choice for you and your home!

What an Air Purifier Is

Air purifiers are devices that provide clean air by removing dust, pollen, allergens, and other contaminants from the air. Because an air purifier is equipped with ionization capabilities and a fiber filter that’s electrically charged, these devices capture polluted air, kill the contaminants in it and then release clean air into your home. Having a whole-house air purifier installed into the ductwork in your home is an easy way to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Stop breathing in contaminants — which can cause a variety of health issues, such as coughing, congestion, nose bleeds, headaches, and dry eyes — and start breathing in clean, healthy air!

What an Air Scrubber Is

Similar to air purifiers, air scrubbers also have an ion feature and they are also installed into a home’s ductwork. However, air scrubbers provide clean air differently. Air scrubbers constantly put out negative ions, and as air moves through ductwork, these negatives ions detect contaminants in the air — which are positive ions — and combine with them, forming a heavy particle that is unable to float. When the air turns on again, these heavy particles will blow through the ductwork and get captured in your air filters, leaving your home with better indoor air quality.

How to Know If Your Home Needs an Air Purifier or an Air Scrubber

If you’re looking to change your home’s indoor air quality standards, both an air purifier and air scrubber can help you do so. In fact, both of these devices will improve indoor air quality because they are able to remove up to 99% of air pollutants. Homeowners who like the idea of a device capturing contaminated air inside of itself and producing clean air should go with an air purifier. However, it’s important to note that air purifiers require maintenance, so expect to change its filters every few months. Homeowners who prefer minimal maintenance and would like both their air AND their surfaces clean should opt for an air scrubber. Just remember that air scrubbers do not clean the air within their device but instead clean the air in your space, so just make sure everyone in your home is comfortable with that.

Knowing the difference between an air purifier and air scrubber is the first step in improving your home’s indoor air quality! Once you’ve determined which one you’d prefer, the next step is to contact the service experts of south Jersey — Clay’s Climate Control! Contact us today to schedule an installation with our team today.

Clay’s Climate Control —  that has been serving southern New Jersey since 2001 — was named the 2020 Residential Contractor of the Year by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). This national award — which is given two only two contractors (one for residential, one for commercial) every year — is highly sought after by contractors throughout the country. 

Prior to choosing the Contractor of the Year, a panel of ACCA Past Chairmen determines a group of finalists. This year’s judges were Tony Shaker of Enfinity Partners, Larry Taylor of Taylor Consulting, Greg Leisgang of JonLe Heating & Cooling, Richard Dean of Environmental Systems Associates, Inc., and Stan Johnson from Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. Contractors who are considered for this award must meet the ACCA’s criteria, which includes:

• Delivering excellence 
• Administering superior heating and air conditioning services 
• Composing a team of credentialed and well-trained HVAC technicians 
• Offering friendly, reliable and helpful customer services 
• Making HVAC services easier for homeowners via a high-quality maintenance plan
• Being committed to making it easy for customers to do business via technology (IE online booking and a booking app)

Since its inception in 2001, Clay’s Climate Control has been going above and beyond for all of its customers. From the beginning, the owners of Clay’s Climate Control — Clay and Jen Pierce — set out to provide a professional, stress-free experience for HVAC repairs, maintenance or installation. In order to achieve this, their technicians are all NATE and EPA-certified, and they offer 24/7 emergency service, a maintenance plan to make services more affordable, a referral reward payback program and a mobile app that takes the stress out of HVAC services. Now, with the title of Contractor of the Year added to their repertoire, it is safe to say that all of their hard work has been recognized.  

“We are so humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Jen Pierce, adding, “it‘s crazy to think that it was just me and Clay when we started our business 19 years ago. Although we started from scratch with not much business knowledge, the ACCA provided us with resources and tools that taught us the business side, ultimately helping us recognize our untapped potential. Plus, we knew we had a ton of technical knowledge that would enable us to turn our vision into a reality.”

Jen went on to explain this vision, which centered around providing the highest quality of work and changing people’s expectations about the home services industry. “Over the years, we have been fortunate enough to grow and be surrounded by co-workers who have the same vision. If it weren’t for them, we would not have the company we have today, and we thank them for being by our side and sharing this achievement with us.” 

As a family-owned and operated company, Clay and Jen have also made it a priority to support their community, which is why they have been supporting the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association for years. In 2019 alone, Clay’s donated $10,000 to this organization. Additionally, Clay’s is also committed to making local high school students aware of all of the amazing opportunities that are available to them in the trades through a New Jersey Structured Learning Experience at Mainland High School.

In addition to supporting their community, Clay and Jen also recognize that they would not be where they are today without their amazing team. Not only has the Pierce family created a healthy and supportive work environment, but they have also pledged to create 50 new opportunities over the next five years — this pledge involves educating, training and reskilling American workers from high school age to near retirement. 

Being able to add the Residential Contractor of the Year award to their portfolio is a dream come true for Clay’s Climate Control, and they look forward to delivering excellence and living up to this title for years to come.

You may not be hosting as many get-togethers as you normally do during the summer, but chances are you’re still having small and responsible socially distanced gatherings. While most of your gatherings will probably be outside, your guests are going to want to escape the heat every now and then, and the only way to do that is to have an HVAC system that’s ready for duty. 

So whether you’re having small gatherings or you’re just staying in with family, the HVAC service experts at Clay’s Climate Control are here with 3 HVAC tips to make your guests comfortable this summer, so you can keep cool and party on!

Keep Calm and Maintenance On

When an air conditioning unit hasn’t been frequently used during the cooler months, it’s important to schedule an air conditioner maintenance appointment before using it full time during the hotter months. By doing this, you will ensure that it’s up for the job of keeping you and all of your guests feeling cool. To make your life easier, schedule your air conditioner maintenance appointment with an HVAC company that offers a maintenance plan. This way, you can easily and affordably keep your air conditioning unit properly maintained. 

Be Cool — Just Service Your Thermostat

Just like HVAC repair services are important, so are thermostat services! If your thermostat hasn’t been serviced in a while, it can result in misreadings, efficiency issues and overconsumption of energy (jacking up your monthly utility bills). Luckily, this can all be avoided by simply calling an HVAC expert and having them service your thermostat. Once your thermostat is good to go, you’ll be happy with how easy it is to keep your home cool. Plus, your air conditioning unit won’t have to work unnecessarily hard, meaning it won’t experience unnecessary wear and tear. 

Chill Out and Consider Upgrading Your AC Unit

Over time, air conditioning units become less efficient due to age and a lack of modern technology. If your unit is between 10 or 15 years old — and you’re finding that you’re scheduling more and more air conditioner repair appointments — you may be better off replacing it. Because today’s units are significantly more efficient, a new unit will be able to keep your home comfortable without having to waste energy — and this isn’t just better for your wallet and comfort levels, but it’s also better for the environment. So stop wasting money on air conditioner repairs and start being confident that your air conditioning system can keep you, your home and your guests comfortable all summer long!

Whether you’re looking to replace your air conditioning unit, maintain your current unit or install a new thermostat, the service experts at Clay’s Climate Control are just a call away! Contact us today to make sure your home’s temperature will make your guests comfortable this summer…and you!