Name: Bounds Heating & Air
Address: 25645 West, Newberry Road, Newberry, FL, 32669
Telephone: 352-472-2761

3 Reasons You Need a Smart Thermostat

If it’s been a while since you’ve upgraded your home’s thermostat, you’re missing out on all a smart thermostat has to offer. Whether it’s the perfect temperature at the touch of a button, lower energy bills, or reduced energy consumption, these state-of-the-art smart thermostats have it all. Here are a few reasons to consider one of these devices for your Gainesville, Florida, home.

Modernized Features

One of the most convenient features of today’s thermostats is that many works with WiFi, meaning that you can control temperature and humidity remotely simply by using an app. This allows you to adjust the temperature so that it’s perfect when you get home from work or vacation. In addition, many have room-to-room control, allowing you to set a comfortable temperature in one room while saving money in unoccupied areas.

Save On Energy Bills

The summer and winter months can wreak havoc on your energy bills, especially as you try to find the best way to keep comfortable despite fluctuating or extreme temperatures. Smart thermostats solve this problem by allowing you to program temperatures in advance and make adjustments when necessary. Using a simple interface, you can set the temperature at an economical temperature when you’re at work or on the go, as well as when you’re at home. This capability allows you to maximize comfort and still save energy. At the end of the month, you’ll get to see how much money you saved with this convenient and efficient technology.

Other Considerations

Not only will a smart thermostat offer more comfort and savings, but it also gives you plenty of handy features. Some of these include an air filter change reminder, stylish looks, energy usage tracking, customizable faceplates, and system diagnostics. With these assets, these modern thermostats easily surpass traditionally thermostats with regard to usefulness and functionality.

Bounds Heating & Air carries an impressive stock of user-friendly smart thermostats. Once you decide which thermostat is right for you, we also provide professional installation services. Call the expert technicians at Bounds Heating & Air today at 352-472-2761. We look forward to satisfying your air conditioning needs.

How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home

Mold’s microscopic spores can get into your Gainesville, Florida, home through your HVAC system, gaps in your insulation, doors, and windows. It’s impossible to keep all mold spores out, and mold can grow almost anywhere. Some molds cause flu-like symptoms and aggravate allergies and asthma. You can prevent mold growth and improve your indoor air quality by controlling the humidity in your home, adding ventilation, and using a UV lamp to kill mold spores.

Controlling Humidity

Mold can’t grow without moisture, so controlling humidity can prevent it from forming in your home. Signs of high humidity include condensation on walls, windows, or pipes. You can use a dehumidifier to get rid of condensation. Whole-home models connect directly to your ductwork and dehumidify your entire home. Portable dehumidifiers are less expensive, but they only work in smaller areas. Make sure your gutters direct water at least 10 feet away from your home to prevent water damage and mold near your foundation.

Ventilation

Ventilation removes stale air and mold spores and brings fresh air into your home. Energy recovery ventilators or ERVs use a filter to remove any contaminants so they can introduce fresh air. These ERVs also have a heat exchanger that works like a heat pump, using energy from the outgoing stale air to condition the incoming fresh air. This is more efficient than using your heater or air conditioner. You should also use a vent or exhaust fan when you cook, shower, or do laundry.

Adding a UV Lamp

A UV lamp also called a UV air purifier, kills mold, bacteria, viruses, and dust mites by damaging their genetic structure. Coil sterilization lights attach to the inside of your HVAC system’s air handler with a strong magnet to stop mold growth that results from condensation on the coil. You can also install an air sterilization UV lamp in your ductwork that only turns on when you use your HVAC system. That way, it will use less energy.

Bounds Heating & Air can help you prevent mold and improve your indoor air quality. We install, maintain, and repair equipment for all your HVAC needs. Call us anytime at 352-472-2761.

Prep Your System for a Maintenance Visit

To keep your Gainesville, Florida, HVAC system running smoothly, our experts at Bounds Heating & Air recommend scheduling preventive maintenance visits twice a year. Is your HVAC system’s maintenance visit coming up? Find out how to prepare yourself, your home, and your system for a maintenance check.

Reassess Your Backyard Landscaping

Most air conditioners include two important parts — the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Your outdoor unit is susceptible to the elements and overgrown grass and shrubs.

To prepare for HVAC system maintenance, cut tall grass, and trim back shrubs and flowers to leave two to three feet of clearance around the unit. Maintain five feet of clearance for trees and if trees grow above your air conditioner, be sure to check regularly for fallen branches and leaves on the unit itself. If you are planning new landscaping, consider smaller plants and shrubs or trees that don’t shed their leaves.

Clear a Path Toward the Indoor Unit

In addition to pruning and trimming landscaping around your outdoor unit, you’ll want to clear a path toward your indoor unit.

Additionally, don’t store anything within a three-foot radius of the indoor unit. Never stack items on top of the unit and don’t store chemicals, cleaning products, or paint supplies near your air conditioner. Not only can these materials block the air supply and compromise your system’s efficiency, but they can also cause volatile organic chemicals (VOCs} to circulate through your home.

Understand HVAC Lingo

Our HVAC technicians typically have much helpful information to share about your air conditioner. Take the time to learn a few key terms so you can speak our language. For instance, you’ll want to know that the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) reflects how much energy your air conditioner uses. A higher SEER rating means your system is a more energy-efficient unit and has lower operating costs.

Have you scheduled your spring preventive maintenance visit yet? Call Bounds Heating & Air today at 352-472-2761 to speak with one of our HVAC experts or to set up an appointment.

Smart Homes: How They Work and Why They’re the Future

Smart technology has become a mainstay in our daily lives. We have smartphones, smart appliances, smart cars, and even smart homes. Smart homes primarily feature appliances, electronics, or other home products enabled with technology that automate tasks. You will also be able to control and monitor these systems using WiFi-enabled devices such as a smartphone or a tablet. Many of these technologies can help to simplify life in your Gainesville, Florida, home.

Security and Safety

Smart home technology that revolves around security includes remote video surveillance using equipment that streams to your Internet-enabled device. These systems give you the instant ability to monitor your home even when you are away. There are also smart alarm systems and smart doors that lock and unlock in response to your commands.

Convenience and Comfort

Smart homes are all about convenience and comfort. Many smart TVs, for example, have voice control. You can give them verbal commands instead of having to make manual changes or use your remote. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust the temperature according to your schedule. Some smart thermostats even learn your preferences and adjust automatically to them. These innovations can provide valuable statistics and usage reports. Other smart innovations for home convenience and comfort include remote pet feeders or app-controlled lighting.

Energy-Efficiency and Sustainability

Many of these innovations feature resource conservation. Smarter appliances are more energy-efficient — they use less fuel or electricity to produce the same or more powerful results. Smarter washers or showerheads use less water. Modern thermostats are designed to be more energy-efficient.

As more products are created to lower home energy costs, conserve energy, and increase the quality of life, they will attract more homeowners, and, pretty soon, smart homes will become a common reality.

Give Bounds Heating & Air a call today at 352-472-2761 to ask about smart HVAC upgrades for your home or business. We can provide solutions for your current system, or help you to select the ideal upgrade. Contact your Bounds HVAC pro for more information.

Save Money by Getting an Energy Audit

Like most homeowners in High Springs, Florida, you want an HVAC system that heats and cools your home as efficiently as possible. Quite often, there are other factors throughout your home that impact how well your system can do its job. A professional energy audit provides you with the information you need to improve comfort and save energy in your home.

Find Air Leaks

A professional energy auditor will find areas where conditioned air escapes your home in winter. Heat loss contributes to high energy usage and energy bills. Identifying sources of air leaks is one way to reduce the demand on your HVAC system. You will, in turn, enjoy lower utility bills as well as improved home comfort.

Evaluate Your Insulation

An energy audit also addresses your home’s insulation. Insulation in areas, such as attics, bathrooms, and crawlspaces might not be enough or might have worn out over time. If your energy audit reveals a lack of sufficient insulation, you might now know the reason behind your high energy costs. You can hire a professional to improve your insulation for reduced electricity bills.

Analyze Your Energy Bills

Your HVAC technician will interview you about your home’s energy consumption. You can share past utility bills and describe your habits at home. The auditor will need information such as how you use the thermostat, the number of people in your home, or problems you have noticed with heating or cooling. Armed with this information, your auditor can check specific HVAC components and make recommendations that can help you to save.

Identify Ways to Improve

At the end of the assessment your auditor will provide a report that includes finding and recommendations. The report might reveal that you need more energy-efficient windows or that your doors need weatherstripping to seal gaps. Making necessary changes or upgrades, whether large or small, can significantly reduce your utility bills.

Schedule an energy audit with Bounds Heating & Air, Inc. today. You will quickly see the difference a professional audit can make. Call 352-472-2761 for more information.

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