For Energy Savings This Summer, Think Outside the House?

While it’s true that there are plenty of things you can do within the walls of your home to
save energy, many homeowners aren’t aware that the great outdoors can be a huge drain on your monthly energy bills.

Ok, so maybe you’re thinking that if it’s an outdoor space then it’s not affecting your indoor comfort or energy bills. But that’s a myth that will cost you. To get your energy spending under control, consider these tips:

• Sunscreen isn’t just for your skin. Outdoor spaces such as porches and patios often allow the sun to overheat your home. In fact, planting trees and shrubs on the sunny side of your house – especially
  ones that provide a screen for your heating and cooling unit – can help cut your energy costs by as much as 10%.
• Seek shade – for your windows and doors that is. Installing outdoor awnings to block sunlight helps keep your home cooler during the summer months, and helps save your energy dollars – which is even more cool.
• Savings start at the top. If you’re thinking of replacing your roof, reflective materials may be the way to go. When the sun’s heatbounces off the roof, the amount of heat entering is reduced. Even better? Many of these types of roofs are eligible for the $1,500 tax credits that end this year.
• Install motion sensors on outdoor light fixtures. You won’t have to remember to turn them off and they will still discourage unwanted ‘guests’ during the night.

Bottom Line: Saving energy doesn’t stop inside the four walls of your home. It extends to include everything around your home as
well. Being aware of outdoor energy wasters – and savers – can keep your cold, hard cash in your wallet where it belongs. For more tips to save energy, or a Home Energy Analysis, give us a call. We’re happy to help. 770-942-1938

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Seasonal Shift - Don't Let Your Plumbing Go On Vacation This Summer

While you make plans for the summer, have you thought about what your plumbing has lined up? There could be a lot of “extras” running through your household that could cost you extra dollars. So how about a few good ideas for practical preparation?

• Extra showers – As you work up a sweat at work or play, you’ll need a shower before you head out to your next activity. Don’t forget about routine water heater maintenance. Flushing out your water heater can remove sediment build up, which shortens a water heater’s life span and reduces available hot water.
• Extra rain (or extra dryness) – Either weather extreme can cause problems for plumbing. When the ground around your pipes settle, it increases the risk for the main plumbing supply line to rupture and leak or pull apart at the foundation.
• Extra sewer line backup – Heavy summer rains can also lead to sewer line backups ifcracks allow the rainwater to enter sewer pipes. Problems could start with spring tree growth; tree roots will often seek out sewer lines for nutrients. A plumbing inspection can determine trouble.
• Extra lemonade – It’s important to stay hydrated in the heat of summertime and that calls for a few pitchers of cool drinks. But remember that the sediment that flows through your pipes and builds up in your water can affect taste. Whether you’re serving up a glass of homemade lemonade or simply filling a glass of water straight from the tap, you’d be wise to consider filtration options.

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HomeFront - How to Prevent Cooking Fires

Did you know that cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, as well as the leading cause of home fire injuries? Not only that, most of the fires occur when the cook is not paying attention, is not in the room, or perhaps is not even in the home.
To help keep your home and your family safe, follow these 9 tips from www.FireSafety.gov:

1. When cooking, stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on the stove.
2. Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves.
3. Keep towels, pot holders, curtains, and paper products away from the stove.
4. Keep the stove and oven clean to prevent grease build-up.
5. If a cooking fire starts, smother it with a pot lid. Never throw water on a grease fire.
6. Heat oil slowly to avoid splattering. Be extra careful when frying foods.
7. Do not use metal objects or aluminum foil in the microwave (they could start a fire).
8. If a fire starts in the microwave, keep the door closed.
9. Check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave your house to be sure all appliances are turned off.
   
   
   

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Homewise - Enjoy Your Vacation but Keep Burglars Guessing

One of the issues with being away on vacation is that, well, you’re not at home. That means you’re not at home to check the locks, turn the lights on and off, pick up your newspapers, gather your mail… or any of the other things you’d ordinarily do to say, “We’re home. Burglars beware.”

To secure your home’s safety and for your own peace of mind, there are a number of precautions you can take to protect your property while you’re away.

Secure the Locks
It sounds obvious to “lock the door” but people do overlook some very logical things when rushing off on vacation. Lock all doors, including garage, shed and basement doors. Also, don’t hide a key under a mat or other place a burglar knows to look. Instead,
leave a spare with a trusted neighbor or relative. Lock all windows too, including secondstory windows.

Time the Lights
Set lights to go on and off at a variety of times and in two or three locations inside your home. Also, put outdoor lights on timers or use motion-detecting lighting. Make sure you have lighting for all entry points – front and back door, basement, garage, etc.

Provide Background Sound
When people are home, there’s noise. You can generate the effect of noise by putting radios or televisions on timers. If you choose
a radio, a talk station is a better choice than a music station. The vibrations from speech will give more of an impression that people
are in the home.

Hold the Mail and Newspaper
To keep mail from piling up in your box and papers from piling up on your doorstep, have these services put on hold until your
return. Also, ask a neighbor to remove any promotional flyers that are left on front doors.

Secure Valuables
Remove valuables and important papers to a safe deposit box or place them in a safe. To protect against identity theft, don’t leave credit card statements out or in an obvious location. Also, secure any firearms in the house.

Set Your Security Alarm
If you have a security system, make sure it’s armed before you leave and if it’s connected to a central monitoring station, make sure they have your cell number or the number of a neighbor.

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Meet the Team!

Service Manager Shem Grisdale (left) is a graduate of Ayers
State Technical College. He has one son, Cameron, and
enjoys several hobbies including: watching American
Idol and SEC Football (War Eagle!).

 

Cory Hall (right) is an Energy & Comfort Consultant and Service Technician. As a single guy, he enjoys watching boxing, football, and is an ACC Football fan (Go Yellow Jackets!). Cory also enjoys traveling and has visited 20 different countries.

 

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Finally, Credit Where It’s Due …

When’s the last time the government gave anything away? Still thinking? I thought so. Uncle Sam is in the habit of collecting, not writing checks – at least not to homeowners!

But with the recent Stimulus Package, the government has set aside $300 million for tax credits to homeowners who want to save energy – up to $1,500. But you can also take advantage of local credits and rebates:

• $198 from the State of Georgia,
• $400 from either Atlanta Gas Light Resources, Greystone Power, or Georgia Power.

That’s a combined total of $2098 in energy saving incentives!

These credits and rebates expire soon (within 30-150 days), so give Assured Comfort a call at 770-942-1938 today and let us help you get the credit you deserve.

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Did you know?

• There is a city called Rome on every continent.
• More people are allergic to cow’s milk than any other food.
• Kilts are not native to Scotland. They originated in France.
• Warner Chappel Music owns the copyright to the song "Happy Birthday". They make over $1 million in royalties every year from its commercial use.
• The last time American Green cards were actually green was 1964.
• Over 15 billion prizes have been given away in Cracker Jacks boxes.