High Energy Bill Tips

By Jessica Joyce
Tuesday, January 25th, 2022

James River Air’s 5 LOW- or NO-COST Things You Can Do Now To Increase HVAC Efficiency And Save Money Later.

More Than Half of Household Energy Use Comes from Heating and Cooling. 

Around this time of year, many of us take a look at our energy bill and ask: Why is it SO high? What can I do to lower my bill and improve home energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort?

Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Winter Fuels Outlook 2021 report, U.S. households that primarily heat with electricity can expect to spend 6% more than they spent last winter, on average.

And according to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling accounts for nearly HALF of a typical home’s energy usage. With HVAC energy consumption tied to the weather and seasonal fluctuations, it’s no wonder that Central Virginians are seeing sky-high energy bills this time of year.

So what can you do to maximize the efficiency of your home’s HVAC system, especially when temps are dropping and ice and snow are in the forecast? With proper care and maintenance, you can winterize your HVAC and ensure it’s running optimally. James River Air Conditioning has five no- or low-cost tips for saving energy in the winter so you don’t have to pay big bucks later on repairs or replacements.

  1. Make sure your air filter is clean – check it monthly and replace it regularly.
  2. Sub-freezing outside? Don’t crank the thermostat up to compensate; leave it at the same temperature you normally have it set. (The ideal winter thermostat temperature is 68 degrees.)
  3. Prevent HVAC unit damage by keeping snow or ice build-up off of your unit. Keep the unit clear with a soft brush or broom. (Never try to pick ice off with a sharp tool of any kind!)
  4. Check your exterior heating vents – snow or ice buildup can not only block but damage vents.
  5. Schedule annual preventive maintenance to ensure your HVAC system is running smoothly!

If you need help with your home energy bill, relief programs and services are available. Details from Dominion Energy: Energy Assistance | Virginia | Dominion Energy

 

 

Categories : Heating, James River Air Tips
Tags : , ,

Preventing Frozen Pipes

By Jessica Joyce
Wednesday, January 5th, 2022

20 minutes can save you thousands of dollars and a major headache.

The pipes that are most at risk are those in unheated, interior spaces. Such as: basements, attics, and garages. But even pipes running through cabinets or exterior walls can freeze. The good news is there are a few easy steps you can take to keep your water running and your house dry.

Follow these simple steps to help prevent frozen pipes when the temperatures plummet:

  1. Keep your garage doors closed. Especially if there are water supply lines in the garage.
  2. Open your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing in your home.
    • If you have small children or pets, be sure to remove any harmful cleaners and household chemicals.
  3. Let the cold-water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle – this helps prevent your pipes from freezing.
    • If your pipes do freeze, the release pressure in the water system will reduce the likelihood of a rupture.
  4. If you normally turn the thermostat down at night, don’t do it during frigid temperatures. Keep your thermostat set to the temperature both during the day and at night.

Don’t forget your outdoor faucets:

In frosty temperatures, the outdoor water spigots installed on the wall of your home can easily freeze and burst. Unfortunately, the rupture in the pipe often occurs just inside the walls of your home, where it can lead to water damage if not quickly spotted. But it’s easy to prevent this problem with a couple of winterizing steps:

  1. Disconnect your garden hoses. A hose that remains attached to the faucet may prevent residual water from draining. This trapped water can then freeze and cause your faucet to burst.
  2. Install an outdoor faucet cover over each spigot on your house. These covers cost less than $10 and can be purchased at any local hardware store or home improvement stores. They are easy to install and cheap insurance against potentially costly damage.
  3. If you want to take extra precaution and your home has separate shut-off for external faucets, turn it off and drain the water from those faucets.
  4. Turn off and drain your sprinkler systems. You may want to call your professional service provider to find out the best steps for draining your system.

We hope these preventive steps will save you from have any problems. However, if you do end up with frozen or burst pipes that you cannot fix, our experienced plumbers are ready to come get your pipes running properly. Give us a call at 1-800-COMFORT to schedule a service call. Or follow the link: https://www.jamesriverair.com/schedule-service-call to set up a service call online.

Categories : James River Air Tips, Plumbing

Protecting Your HVAC System from Snow and Ice

By Jessica Joyce
Tuesday, January 4th, 2022

With totals of 4 to 6 inches of snow and some localities receiving more, it is important as homeowners to take care of your HVAC system. Without the proper care and maintenance, winter storms can damage your HVAC system. To help be prepared for the current winter storm, we have tips on HVAC protection to keep you and your home safe and comfortable. Because YOUR comfort matters!

6 Tips to Protect your HVAC System

  1. Check your air filter to make sure your heating unit is in good operating condition.
  2. If you have a furnace, make sure you know where your flue location is and that it is clear of snow. High-efficiency furnaces use PVC exhaust piping which must be kept clear of snow.
  3. Do not let snow or ice build-up on your unit. Keep your HVAC unit clear with a soft broom. Never use any type of steel pick or pick to chisel ice off unit.
  4. An efficient way to get ice off your fan blades is using hot water.
  5. Check your exterior vents – snow or ice buildup can block your exterior heating vents and can be damaging.
  6. Schedule annual preventive maintenance to ensure your HVAC system is ready to keep you and your home warm and comfortable!

With professional service and expert care from our team of licensed technicians here at James River Air, we stand ready to take care of your HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, and Appliance needs. Give us a call if you have any other questions or would like to set up a service call today. 1-800-COMFORT.

Categories : Heating, James River Air Tips

Is Your Dishwasher Ready for Thanksgiving?

By jracadmin
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018

Is Your Dishwasher Ready for Thanksgiving?

Your dishwasher will probably be doing double-duty on Thursday so let’s make sure it’s up to the task.

If you’re like most people, you probably think your dishwasher is always clean since it runs with really hot water and soap – but it has a dirty job, and sometimes parts of that job get left behind. Over time, grease, food particles and soap scum will build up, which can reduce its efficiency and be a breeding ground for germs. You can clean your hardworking dishwasher in 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Check the drain and spinning arm

Remove or pull out the lower dish rack as far as possible. Inspect the dishwasher drain, removing any gunk or food caught there which will improve drainage. (You’d be surprised at what our dishwasher repairmen find!)

Check the spinning arms to make sure all the holes are open so water can run through them freely. If needed, just use a toothpick to clear them out.

Don’t forget to clean the utensil holders with warm, soapy water.

Step 2: Run a Wash Cycle with Vinegar

The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab recommends placing a large glass cup or bowl filled with two cups of vinegar on the top rack, then running the machine as usual — no detergent, no heat dry.

The vinegar will mix with the circulating water and help to wash away the loose, greasy grime and sanitize your appliance.

Step 3: Baking Soda Rinse

After the vinegar cycle finishes, sprinkle baking soda around the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through a short cycle using the hottest water. The baking soda will help deodorize your dishwasher and removing any stains.

Once the cycle is done, let it sit closed for 20 minutes and continue to steam clean. Then wipe the whole inside with a soft sponge. Along with being shiny clean, your dishwasher will be more efficient in doing its essential job!

Don’t forget, if you ever have problems with any of your appliances, we have a team of trained appliance service technicians ready to get your hard-working machines running properly again. Just give us a call at (804) 358-9333 or visit jamesriverair.com

Categories : Appliance

Comfort & Safety Interview – NBC12

By jracadmin
Tuesday, February 5th, 2013
James River Air President and owner Hugh Joyce was interviewed by NBC 12 news reporter Jennifer Warnick concerning the recent campaign we ran offering to “help as many people as we can”.
James River asked people to tell the story of someone who could not afford to fix a heating, electrical or plumbing problem.
See link below for pictures with one of the people helped, Timothy Woodson.   James River Air installed a new heat pump at no charge for Woodson and his wife.  They had been without heat for 3 years.
Categories : Comfort & Safety

James River Air – BPI Gold Star Accredited!

By jracadmin
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

We at James River Air air proud to announce that we are now a BPI (Building Performance Institute) Gold Star Accredited Contractor – the first and currently the only one in the Central Virginia area!

Our Residential Operations Manager, Tom Pugh, is both a BPI Certified Building Analyst and Envelope Professional.

Click here to see BPI’s website and Click here to read a great article on what BPI Certification means.

Basically, the BPI’s focus is on reducing the energy use of existing homes. They realize, as do we, that all systems in a house are inter-related. When looking to replace your home comfort system, you also need to consider insulation and the building as a whole. As a Gold Star contract, James River Air can help you do that.

Call or e-mail us today to learn about our Energy Audits and about our BPI Certification!

Categories : Our Team
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