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Month: February 2021

Benefits of Upgrading Your Thermostat

Many people often look for ways that they can reduce their costly utilities bills. Energy consumption makes up a huge part of those utility bills, which is where the issue of upgrading one’s thermostat comes in. One excellent way of reducing costs without sacrificing comfort is by investing in a thermostat upgrade. 

Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling is a plumbing and HVAC company based in Tucson, Arizona. Their specialty lies in the repair and installation of both residential and commercial heating, plumbing, and cooling systems. They provide the top four benefits of upgrading your thermostat, from cost savings to the ease and convenience that comes with their installation.

Cost Savings

According to Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling, one of the main benefits of a thermostat upgrade is that doing so can save you money. Many people fail to realize that making the switch from a manual thermostat to one that is programmable is a surefire way to reduce your energy bills. In fact, several studies have found that a thermostat upgrade can reduce your overall energy bill by between 5% and 15%. This is because programmable or smart thermostats can be scheduled or programmed to decrease usage when your home is empty or overnight when you’re sleeping, ensuring your HVAC system is never on unnecessarily. 

Ease and Convenience

Like with a lot of different types of technologies, new thermostats are only getting easier to operate. They are more intuitive than they’ve ever been, shares Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling. This means that even if you’re not the most tech-savvy person, you will likely find it far easier learning how to use a modern, programmable thermostat compared to a manual one. A few features that make modern thermostats easier to use include touch screen controls, digital read outs and lit LED screens that make it possible to read the thermostat even when the lights are off. Some smart thermostats can even be controlled from your mobile phone, an extremely convenient feature for many people. In addition, certain modern thermostats will offer information beyond the temperature, providing the homeowner with alerts if anything is wrong with the system, as well as maintenance reminders, such as when the homeowner should change the filter. Overall, Cummings Plumbing firmly believes that thermostat upgrades make the homeowners life much easier.

Zoning 

A zoning system is the most effective way to heat or cool your home. As the name suggests, it divides your home into zones, allowing you to set different temperatures for each. This way, if there’s a part of the house you never use, you don’t have to waste energy (and money) heating or cooling it. Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling of Tucson, Arizona, asserts that if you choose to install a zoning system, you will have no option but to purchase a compatible zoning thermostat. However, even if you have an older thermostat in your home, it might be worth upgrading to a zoning thermostat so you can have more control over which areas of your home are being served by your HVAC system.

Environmentally-Friendly

Yet another benefit to a thermostat upgrade is that modern thermostats are more environmentally friendly than their traditional counterparts, shares Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling. Modern thermostats are mercury free and best of all, actively reduce the amount of energy consumption in your home. This is because they only turn on when there is a need and many are able to detect or be programmed to know when residents will be out of the home and thus it doesn’t need to be turned on.

The Benefits of Upgrading to High Efficiency Air Conditioning Units in Arizona

Are you considering an upgrade to your air conditioning unit? If you live in a place with year-round heat, such as Arizona, then having an efficient air conditioning system is a must. There are so many benefits of high efficiency air conditioning units, compared to their older, less efficient counterparts. Such benefits include cost savings, increased comfort, better air flow, and reducing one’s environmental impact. 

Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling are HVAC specialists based in Tucson, Arizona. They specialize in the repair and installation of both commercial and residential HVAC systems. They outline the top five benefits of upgrading to a high efficiency A/C unit in Arizona.

Cost

According to Cummings Plumbing Heat and Cooling of Tucson, Arizona, one of the greatest benefits to be derived from upgrading to a high efficiency air conditioning unit is the cost savings. Replacing an older, less efficient air conditioning unit is a surefire way to save money in the long run. For those that don’t know, the efficiency of air conditioning systems is measured by SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Units with a higher SEER number are going to save you more money, as they will run more efficiently. To put it into perspective, older A/C units tend to run between 8 and 10 SEER, while brand new units operate at 25 SEER. Each SEER point increase will save the customer roughly 8% to 10%, which proves that high efficiency units are ultimately more affordable.

Comfort

The second benefit of upgrading to a high efficiency air conditioning unit in a hot place like Tucson, Arizona, is that such units will create a more comfortable atmosphere within your home. For example, high efficiency units are much quieter than older units that shake and rattle endlessly. Newer systems even have sound absorbing materials built in to prevent the sound from carrying throughout the house. In addition, Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling shares that new air conditioning technology produces more even cooling throughout every room of the home. This means that you’re less likely to experience frigid temperatures in the basement, while the top floor is still warm. All of this makes for a more comfortable living experience in your home. 


Air Flow

Air flow is another important factor to consider when debating whether to upgrade to a high efficiency air conditioning unit for your Arizona home. The air flow is undeniably better with a newer unit. This is because high efficiency systems feature variable speed motors that ensure optimal air flow levels throughout your entire home. Such motors also increase the static pressures in your ducts, which will result in more air flowing through each register, shares Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling.

Carbon Footprint

If reducing your environmental impact is a priority for you, then there is no better option than a high efficiency air conditioning system. Research shows that high efficiency air conditioning units use up to one third less fuel than older models to do the same job. This translates to less waste and more conservation of our planet’s precious natural resources. In addition, upgrading and regularly maintaining your air conditioning unit will ensure you can use it for a long time to come, preventing you from having to buy a new one down the line. Overall, Cummings Plumbing recommends switching to a high efficiency A/C unit if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint. 

Resale Value

Finally, Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling of Tucson, Arizona, claims that upgrading to a high efficiency air conditioning unit can increase the resale value of your Arizona home. Prospective buyers are always looking for the benefits that come with a home and having a newly installed, high efficiency HVAC system is one such benefit. As A/C systems don’t always come cheap, knowing that a new, high efficiency unit was recently installed will provide peace of mind to buyers that they likely wouldn’t need to replace it soon and that their monthly utilities bill will likely be less than with an older system. 

The Benefits of Installing a Water Softening System

Many people have hard water flowing into their home and don’t even realize it. Hard water is water that contains higher levels of calcium and magnesium, which might not sound like a big deal, but having hard water flowing through your pipes and out your faucet can actually have some serious consequences. For example, hard water makes it more difficult for things like soap or dish detergent to dissolve, which results in a film or build-up in your pipes, sometimes even leading to a clog. In addition, hard water is simply harsher on everything that comes into contact with it, from your skin and hair to your plumbing. Luckily, there is a way to turn your hard water into soft water — a water softening system.

Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling are plumbing experts based in Tucson, Arizona, who specialize in the installation of HVAC systems, including water softening systems. They provide their insight into a list of the top benefits to be derived from installing a water softening system in your home.

Healthier Skin

On the personal care side, one of the most noticeable benefits of soft water has to do with your skin. If your home currently relies on hard water, then you may think that dried out skin the moment you step out of the shower is the norm. The reality is that the harsh minerals that hard water contains act as an exfoliant on the skin, which can dry it out. Stripping hard water of these minerals by way of a water softening system will make the water far more gentle on your skin, shares Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling. The result? Healthier, softer skin that doesn’t require insane amounts of moisturizer the moment your shower ends.

Shiny Hair

Another benefit to be derived from the installation of a water softening system in your home is that soft water will leave your hair strong and shiny. Similar to the effects of hard water on your skin, the high content of minerals in the water can also leave your hair dry, dull, and brittle — no matter what shampoo you use. The minerals and ions in hard water can make even the healthiest locks look dried out. That is where a water softening system can help. According to Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling of Tucson, Arizona, such a system will remove the destructive minerals from the water, allowing your hair to retain more moisture and look its best.

Better Tasting Drinking Water

Third, the plumbing experts at Cummings Plumbing assert that hard water tends to taste “earthier,” which is not something many people enjoy. This earthier flavor is derived from the high contents of minerals and metallics such as iron that the water contains. In contrast, soft water has a much milder, more neutral taste. When drinking soft water, you won’t pick up on any sort of strange aftertaste, unlike hard water, which some claim they can taste traces of fluoride, chloramine, and other minerals in. Cummings Plumbing shares that the installation of a water softening system will result in fresh, filtered drinking water every single time, which ultimately results in a more pleasant tasting glass of water.

Cummings Plumbing on Cleaner Clothing

As established previously, hard water simply isn’t gentle. This means that it is likely to have a harsh reaction to whatever it comes into contact with. If it’s your hair or face, it can dry it out, if it’s your clothing in the laundry, it can result in wear of the clothing. That’s right, another benefit of a water softening system is that it will make your clothes cleaner and softer, preserving them for longer than if you continued using hard water to wash them. In addition to drying out the fabrics the same way hard water dries out your skin, the high concentration of minerals may be more difficult for the laundry detergent to cut through, leaving your clothes dirty. Soft water on the other hand won’t leave any sort of build up or residue and will leave your clothes just as soft as when they were first put in the washing machine.