ActivePure is effective against RNA viruses like COVID19 Blog Contact Us ▼ Call CoolBlew Cool Blew Blog Home » Blog Keep your home or business running smoothly with our services and tips and tricks for all your HVAC and Plumbing needs. Subscribe to our blog and stay in the loop on HVAC maintenance and home comfort advice. Subscribe Today for the Latest Tips Holiday HVAC Gift Giving Ideas This entry was posted in HVAC Systems on December 3, 2021 by CoolBlew. The holiday shopping season is the time of year to make charitable donations, volunteer, and give thoughtful gifts to family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. As your go-to HVAC, plumbing, and electrical professionals, we specialize in gifts that keep on giving all year long. There may be trendier gifts stashed under your tree, but possibly none will be more appreciated than gifts for year-round temperature comfort and control. Seasonal HVAC System Check Having an HVAC experienced technician check all the components of a system pays off when cold weather arrives in the Valley of the Sun. When timely maintenance is complete, an HVAC system will be recharged and set to warm a home, even on the coldest of nights. And it will also help maintain home comfort hour after hour, day after day throughout the year. In other words, a seasonal HVAC system tune-up service is a gift that keeps on giving! Service Contract When you give the gift of a service contract, you’re giving peace of mind throughout the year. Your gift recipient will get the benefit of regular tune ups, along with priority service if ever repairs are needed—even on holidays. Smart Thermostat We all love getting new electronic gadgets to play with. Whether it’s a new tv, smartphone, or a video gaming system, these gifts provide something that makes our daily lives entertaining. A smart thermostat is another electronic option that will benefit the entire family, making life easier, by automating routine tasks that save time and money. These thermostats are very easy to set up and use, allowing you to adjust indoor temperatures and set heating and cooling schedules whether you’re at home or away. Smart thermostats encourage consistent indoor temperatures by operating less often and using less energy. A great home investment! Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump Any homeowner that has converted an interior space into a home office, would love this gift. Ductless mini-split heat pumps move heat from one place to another. When using this type of heat pump, a homeowner is only paying to capture existing heat resulting in lower energy bills and creating a comfortable, warm working space. Call Cool Blew For additional details on buying practical HVAC gifts, call Cool Blew, your locally owned experts in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. Call Cool Blue today Valley Wide at 623-872-2900. Happy holidays from our family to yours! This Thanksgiving Holiday, Cool Blew Thanks You This entry was posted in HVAC Systems on November 24, 2021 by CoolBlew. Thanksgiving, as the gateway to the holiday season, provides the perfect opportunity to thank you—our customers. Since our inception in 2002, Cool Blew has been committed to 100 percent customer satisfaction. In the spirit of giving for the holidays, Cool Blew, the Valley’s leading plumbing, heating, AC, solar, and electrical repair, service, and installation contractors, gives thanks to you, our loyal customers. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be of service to you and your family. Our commitment to high quality service and customer satisfaction year-round is ingrained in our DNA. We consider our customers to be like family. As such, we strive to always maintain the highest standards of service each and every day. We Appreciate Our Customers and Our Team of Service Technicians and Staff We believe that 100 percent customer satisfaction extends not only to our customers, but also to our employees. We’re proud of our 2021 award from Expertise.com as Best HVAC Professionals in Glendale. Each of our highly trained, industry-certified technicians and support staff are deeply committed to responding quickly to any plumbing, heating, air conditioning, solar, or electrical issues no matter what time of day or night, even on holidays. Our company would not be where it is today without our dedicated employees. Happy Thanksgiving We know you have many choices when selecting HVAC companies in the Valley of the Sun. We truly appreciate your continued business with us, and we’re very grateful to be your number one choice for experienced, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful HVAC service. If the need arises during the holidays for heating or air conditioning service, call us at 623-872-2900. Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful, joyful holiday season from our family at Cool Blew to yours. Don’t Let These Household Issues Spoil Your Thanksgiving This entry was posted in HVAC Maintenance on November 19, 2021 by CoolBlew. Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for enjoying a delicious, home cooked meal with family and friends. But one of the busiest cooking days of the year can become a stressful situation where you’re in immediate need of an electrician, plumber, or HVAC professional. One bad decision can lead to a backed-up kitchen sink, garbage disposal not grinding, clogged toilet, broken heater, or an electrical emergency. These are just some of the common issues that may happen on the day you least want problems! Let’s help prepare you to avoid these Thanksgiving disasters. No Heat Thanksgiving family and friends have arrived. Suddenly, the heat stops working on a chilly late afternoon. Make certain the air filter has been replaced if it’s dirty, that the thermostat is set to “heat.” Next, check the electrical breaker box to make sure the circuit breaker for the heater hasn’t been tripped. Still not working? Give Cool Blew a call. Electrical Outlets Overloaded Family and guests may be charging their phones, the stove and oven are both on, the dishwasher is running, and you turn on the Cuisinart mixer to mash potatoes. Suddenly, the mixer stops working. Most likely, the culprit is a tripped GFCI outlet in the kitchen shutting power off to the mixer. Simply press the red reset button and the mixer will be ready to go. A blown fuse is another possibility. Can’t figure it out? Call Cool Blew. Garbage Disposal Clogged or Kitchen Sink Backed Up Your Thanksgiving dinner usually requires at least the entire day to prepare dishes for the feast. Sometimes during food prep and doing the dishes, food scraps that should have been thrown in the garbage can end up in the sink and down the garbage disposal. Fatty liquids like turkey gravy, potato peels, and leftover food off plates can turn the sink and disposal into a trash can. Often, these items cannot be easily ground up by the garbage disposal blades, causing the disposal to stop working. Liquid and food may backup into the sink creating a real mess. To prevent this from happening, position a garbage bag or garbage can in an area near the sink where everyone can quickly scrape food off their plate. If something like a turkey bone has ended up stuck in the garbage disposal jamming the blades, the quickest fix is to insert a hex (Allen) wrench in the bottom of the disposal. Or, give Cool Blew a call. Toilet Overflowing Depending on the number of guests for your holiday meal, the toilet can be flushed four to six times the normal usage. All that flushing and toilet paper used can cause the toilet to clog and potentially overflow. Make certain that a trash can is placed nearby so guests don’t toss anything that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. About 90% of the time, the quickest DIY fix is to use the handy toilet plunger to unclog it. If that doesn’t work, you can count on Cool Blew. Call Cool Blew If you do find yourself dealing with a drain or toilet that won’t unclog, a heater not blowing out warm air or an electrical outage, call your Valley of the Sun professionals for the fast, reliable service you deserve, any day of the year, at any time, even on the Thanksgiving holiday. Call Cool Blew at 623-872-2900 for servicing and repairs. Save Money on Your Utilities This entry was posted in HVAC Systems on November 12, 2021 by CoolBlew. Energy prices are climbing this holiday season, resulting in more expensive utility bills. With inflation the highest it has been in 30 years, you’ll likely be racking up more than a few extra dollars in electricity charges during the holidays. One way to cut costs is to implement a few energy-saving strategies. Clear Vents Blocked vents can result in your HVAC working harder than it needs to. It’s vitally important to make certain that no objects are blocking both inside and outside vents. You need to have at least one foot of space around vents to allow for proper airflow. Prune tree branches, pull weeds, and trim bushes blocking vents outdoors. Move furniture, objects, throw rugs, and plants blocking airspace around indoor vents. Cook Efficiently Appliances like air fryers, microwaves, crock pots, and toaster ovens are more energy efficient than cooktops and ranges. Using these alternative cooking methods can help save you money on your electricity bills. Run a Full Dishwasher Did you know that dishwashers use less water than washing by hand? Energy Star rated dishwashers use less than five gallons of water per cycle. Washing dishes in the sink can use up to 20 gallons of water. It’s best to run your dishwasher only when it’s completely full. Change your dishwasher setting to air dry instead of heat dry. The air-dry setting, called energy-saver or no-heat setting on some Energy Star Certified models, uses at least 15% less energy. Wash on Cold Washing your clothes in hot or warm water takes considerably more energy. Use cold water for most clothing and household items. And use hot water only for bed sheets or sanitizing baby items. Wash large loads instead of running your washing machine more frequently with smaller loads. Dry Less You can save additional energy by purchasing dryer balls. Not only do they dry your clothes quicker, they’ll also be fluffier and less clingy from reduced static electricity. 100% wool dryer balls are environmentally friendly, reusable hundreds to thousands of times, compostable, and highly absorbent. Use them instead of fabric softener or dryer sheets. The savings add up quickly and dryer balls may also increase the lifespan of your dryer. Cool Blew At Cool Blew, our experienced team of licensed electricians are available throughout the Phoenix area for all your home’s electrical needs and energy saving questions. Call our experts today at 623-872-2900. Easy Ways to Save Money by Regulating Your Indoor Temperatures This entry was posted in Heating on November 5, 2021 by CoolBlew. In between running your dishwasher, washing machine, and the oven, it can be challenging keeping your home’s indoor temperature comfortable, without causing a large increase in monthly utility bills. Here are some simple adjustments that can help without having to change your thermostat setting. Area Rugs Flooring, such as Saltillo tile, linoleum, bamboo, natural and engineered, hardwood can be chilly to walk on during cooler months. If you want a warm, comfortable experience for your feet, place area rugs in strategic locations throughout your home to keep heat from escaping through the tile and floorboards. Thermostat Placement A thermostat placed on an interior wall will operate at higher efficiency levels when it is not in direct sunlight emanating from a skylight, nearby windows, or exposed to frequent air drafts from opening doors. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Thermostats should be located where natural room air currents — warm air rising, cool air sinking — occur,” Your local handyman or certified HVAC professional can help you with the optimal thermostat location. Seal Windows and Doors Windows and doors are the biggest offenders for heat loss. The best way to check for heat loss is to use a flashlight. When light shines through frame cracks or caulking, it means your home is losing heat. In other words, it’s a clear signal that it’s time to add caulk and sealant. Change Filters Dirty, clogged HVAC air filters can contribute to uneven indoor temperatures. Changing your home’s air filters regularly will save you money on utility bills and reduce mechanical strain on your HVAC system. Smart Home A smart, long-term investment would be to consider installing a home automation system to save even more on monthly expenditures. A home automation system may include smart thermostats, smart power strips, smart lighting, smart appliances, and any other home automation technology that will remotely monitor and control your house. You won’t have to remember whether you turned off the oven or dryer after leaving home. There are upfront costs of purchasing and installing home automation systems, but you’ll save money in the long run-on utility bills and make your life easier. Call Cool Blew These helpful tips will save on your energy costs. How to skillfully manage indoor temperatures, recommend, and install smart automation products is what your local professionals at Cool Blew do best. Call us today at 623-872-2900 to schedule your appointment with our expertly trained technicians. Halloween Safety Tips This entry was posted in Safety on October 29, 2021 by CoolBlew. Here are some spooky, Halloween-related statistics you may not be aware of. On average, there are 4,200 Halloween related injuries requiring urgent care or an emergency room visit in the U.S. every year. From Consumer Product Safety Commission data, 44% of the injuries were children under the age of 18. Almost 50% of the injuries were due to pumpkin carving accidents. Adults and kids falling or tripping while decorating or trick-or-treating resulted in 27% of injuries. And remaining percentage are related to a wide range of other, mostly preventable risks. As your local experts in home HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, we wanted to take this opportunity to share some safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this Halloween and as we enter the holiday season. Test Decorations Keep your home safe by testing holiday decorations before you plug them in. This will help spot broken sockets, loose connections, twisted and frayed wiring, and other potential fire hazards. Safe Passage Make certain sidewalks, the front door entryway, and the driveway are free of any clutter. Move planters, outdoor furniture, bicycles, tools, garden hoses, and children’s toys out of the way for trick-or-treaters. Lights On Turn on front door lights and activate any motion sensors to help light the way to your Halloween treats and tricks. If you’re using solar lights, check to see if they are properly lighting the walkway to your home. You want to make your outside lights shine brightly for all the spooky costumed trick-or-treaters! Sense Motion Arm your home with motion sensor lights. After the trick-or-treaters have filled up their bags with candy and left your house, mischief makers and cat burglars may show up. Lighting up your entire house will help scare off any would-be intruders. Halloween Help Do you need additional help with these spooky and preventable holiday-related electrical issues? Give Cool Blew a call at 623-872-2900. Our professionals are always available no matter the time of day or night. Let’s Talk About Home Insulation This entry was posted in Insulation on October 22, 2021 by CoolBlew. The type of insulation your home needs depends on several factors, such as your local climate, the types of materials used to construct your house, and your monthly utility bills. With Arizona’s extreme temperatures, proper insulation may save 40% to 60% on your monthly utility bills. In other words, it’s worth the effort to ensure your home has the proper level of insulation. R-Values The U.S. Department of Energy and the International Energy Conservation publish climate zone guidelines and codes for the most effective levels of insulation for each of the geographic areas of the United States. These recommendations are made in the form of R-values, which are measures of the effectiveness of any insulating material for its resistance to transferal of heat. Climate zones are calculated at the county level for each state and territory. As R-values go higher, so does the insulating material’s ability to resist heat transfer, which makes the higher R-values more desirable in terms of insulating effectiveness. For Arizona, Maricopa and Pima counties are both coded as 2B. Climate zone 2B is designated as “Hot Dry” with guidelines provided for appropriate levels of insulation for floors, attics, rooms with cathedral ceilings, and wood frame walls. Attic Insulation For the Valley of the Sun, if your home has blanket-type insulation rolls, they should be at least 12 inches (R38 to R39) thick in your attic, although 15 or 20 inches (R49 to R60) would be even better. Anything less than 12 inches means that you’re probably letting warm or cool air escape and wasting money on your monthly energy bills. Wall Insulation Wall insulation should completely insulate wall spaces as there’s really no way to overstuff the insulation between walls. Insulation should go literally from floor to ceiling, with no missing areas or gaps in the wall coverage. All wrap insulation should fit snugly around the ductwork, all plumbing fixtures and piping, the electrical boxes, and all wiring or cabling which runs through the walls. For uninsulated wood-frame walls, the minimum level should be R13. Call Cool Blew For answers to your questions or to schedule a service call, call your local experts at Cool Blew. Our heating and cooling professionals can help you determine if you have sufficient insulation. Call us today at 623-872-2900. Safety Tips for Your Home’s Heating Equipment This entry was posted in Heating on October 18, 2021 by CoolBlew. Fall is a fantastic time of year here in Arizona. The leaves are starting to change colors. And the weather is cooler—opening up the possibilities for a bounty of outdoor activities. Yet, evenings can be chilly, with temperatures dipping down into the 50s or below. This means you may want to consider turning on the heat—making it the perfect time to remind you of a few safety tips for your home heating equipment. Most homeowners are surprised to learn that heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires. With home fires happening every 87 seconds, heating products caused an estimated 34,000 residential fires in 2019 according to data from the U.S. Fire Administration. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to keep you, your loved ones, and your home safe. Schedule a Tune Up First and foremost, schedule a tune-up with your local HVAC professionals to check for problems like cracked heat exchangers, damaged wires, and other hazards that can potentially cause a home fire. A qualified technician can ensure your system is working efficiently and safely throughout the season. Make Room Keep the area around any heating equipment or vent clear. This means removing blankets, toys, furniture, clothing, and other items that can potentially catch fire. Be Especially Cautious with Space Heaters When buying a new or used home space heater, make certain it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories. Whether your space heater is portable or installed, read the manufacturer’s instructions closely before using it. All space heaters should be kept at least three feet away from any combustible material, including clothing, bedding, mattresses, draperies, upholstered furniture, and rugs. Test the shut-off function of any space heater you’re using to ensure it automatically turns off when tipped or knocked over. Plug the power cord only into electrical outlets with sufficient capacity and never plug into an extension cord. Do not use space heaters in any part of the house where children and pets are not properly supervised, nor any areas in your home near water sources like sinks or indoor water fountains. Heaters should never be used in bathrooms or kitchens. Turn off space heaters whenever the room they are in is not occupied. If you use a space heater in your bedroom, turn it off at night before going to bed to avoid knocking over the space heater in the dark. Call Cool Blew These home heating safety tips can help keep you and your family safe through the cooler fall days and evenings ahead. Whether you have a heating problem or just want a maintenance check, Cool Blew is your resource for all your home electrical and heating needs. Call us today to schedule an appointment at 623-872-2900. Autumn Home Maintenance Checklist This entry was posted in HVAC Systems on October 8, 2021 by CoolBlew. Feel that chill in the morning air? Fall has arrived in Arizona, and there are probably at least a few tasks on your to-do list to prepare for the changing season. Here’s a short checklist of autumn chores to help prepare your house: Gutter Clutter Clean debris from your home’s gutters. If you’re the DIY type, you can use common items, such as a broom or even an old spatula or wooden spoon to clean gutters. Renting a power spray washer is another way to easily clean gutters, and you won’t have to climb a ladder or go on your roof. There are even gutter cleaning robots you can rent or purchase! Chimney Sweep On cool mornings and evenings, you may want to light up your fireplace for extra warmth. Before your first-of-the-season fire, check to make certain that your chimney is clear of debris and then test it for proper ventilation. Probably best to hire your local chimney sweeper to make a clean sweep of your chimney and fireplace. Battery Check Check all the batteries in your home safety devices, including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, and radon detectors. Smoke detectors running on batteries typically last for up to 10 years, CO detectors last about six years before needing replacement, and radon detectors are accurate for approximately two years. Fire Extinguishers Home fire extinguishers should be checked regularly to make certain they are ready to be used in case of a fire. The National Fire Protection Association recommends the following steps in your fire extinguisher inspection: Ensure easy access to all your home’s fire extinguishers. Check the pressure gauge to ensure the device is in the proper operating range. Look for signs of physical damage. Clean the outside of the fire extinguisher. Replace fire extinguishers over 10 years old. Check your local fire department’s website for additional resources like a home safety and evacuation plan. Schedule a Fall Tune Up Fall is the time to test out your home’s heating system, and more importantly, schedule a fall tune up of your HVAC system. This allows time for any necessary repairs or maintenance. Don’t wait until temperatures dip to freezing levels. Need professional advice, maintenance, or repairs for your home? Call Cool Blew today at 623-872-2900 to schedule a visit. Our experts will gladly help you complete your fall home checklist. Indoor Air Pollutants This entry was posted in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) on September 24, 2021 by CoolBlew. According to the 2021 American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report, Phoenix-Mesa is ranked number seven for the most year-round particle pollution and ranked number five for the most pollution from ozone. High pollution advisories, issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, are an ongoing concern for homeowners because high levels of outdoor air pollution can contribute to indoor air pollution. What are other factors that may contribute to poor indoor air quality? Home Construction Materials Houses built after the mid-1990s are constructed to be airtight. Product enhancements in construction materials, such as weather-stripping, window panes, insulation, door seals, and caulking mean homes are sealed from outside elements. Your house has very few cracks or crevices that allow indoor air to exit or outside air to enter. In the continuing effort to increase air conditioning and heating energy efficiency, these newer construction materials have contributed to decreased indoor air quality. Indoor Air Pollutants Common indoor air pollutants include cooking fumes from your stove and oven, mold spores from indoor plant soil, and outdoor allergens like pollen which make their way inside your house when doors are opened. Two other common indoor air pollutants are: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Construction materials, furniture, kerosene, flooring, new carpeting, electronic products, and many household cleaning solutions emit odors and VOCs into the air that can be hazardous to your health. Formaldehyde is of particular concern. Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling, colorless VOC gas commonly used in manufacturing building materials, including particleboard, plywood, glues, adhesives, and insulation materials. Even some brands of home products include formaldehyde, such as towels, cleaning products, baby shampoo, diapers, makeup, nail polish, toothpaste, and air fresheners. Pet Dander – Cat and dog owners know that pet hair and dander can cause strong allergic reactions. Using a HEPA vacuum and changing your air filters more often can help reduce indoor air pollution from animals. Though the inside of your home will never be completely free from indoor air pollutants, Cool Blew professionals can provide you with additional information on how you can control indoor air pollution and create a preventive plan. We want to help keep your indoor air as clean as possible. Call us today at 623-872-2900. 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