Welcome to our new e-newletter service to help you stay informed on how to meet the heating, cooling, and plumbing needs of your home.  

 

Our goal is simple - to offer you peace of mind and comfort in your home - day in and day out. That's been the Apollo way for over 100 years and it will be the Apollo way for as long as we do business.

 

You will find this newsletter packed with lots of helpful information.  For example learn about our new and approved Apollo Platinum Care Plan below.

 

Jamie Gerdsen

President 

 

 

  

 

One way you can minimize increased energy costs is by having annual maintenance done to your heating and cooling systems.  Studies show that homeowners having maintenance service to their systems spend an average of $30 less each month because of increased efficiency.  Lack of regular maintenance is also the #1 cause of system breakdowns and costly repairs.  Check out Apollo's Platinum Care Plan that provides free repairs and includes:

• Annual 15-point precision tune-ups on your heating and cooling systems
• 15% off diagnostic fees
• Same day priority service
• 5% discount on new equipment sold by Apollo

*Parts and labor.

Now is the time to change/clean filters. The disposable store filters need changing every month. Monthly cleaning of the permanent filter elements of electronic air cleaners should also be on your agenda. If the old filter is very dirty, you may wish to consider a spring duct cleaning. Lack of regular filter changes and maintenance is the Number 1 cause of system breakdowns and costly repair bills.

 

Keep the thermostat constant. Continuously adjusting the thermostat can be very inefficient.  For every degree you raise the setting, you can expect to cut energy consumption by up to 3-5%.

 

Flip the fan switch on your thermostat into the "fan on" mode when cooling the house. This process will ensure that air is always being stirred to prevent hot and cold pockets from forming.

 

Physically inspect the surroundings of the air conditioning unit. Cut down shrubs and weeds, along with other plants that have sprung up around the unit. Allow at least two feet of clearance around the unit. This essential step ensures that the unit will manage to suck in sufficient amounts of outside air to cool and blow inside the house. Clean any grass, leaves, branches or dirt away from the air conditioner's outdoor unit.

 

• Problem: A damp basement can add moisture to the whole house, making it uncomfortable during the hot and humid months of summer. Proper humidity levels also deter dust mites, control contaminates, and prevent moisture from devaluing your property.  
• Solution: Consider installing a whole-home dehumidification system that is effective, quiet, and virtually maintenance free.

• Problem: During winter months, the air inside a home can have too little moisture because the cold air outside is so dry and affects the relative humidity when it enters our homes. This can actually influence how warm your home feels.  
• Solution: Adding humidity to a home can increase its "heat index" so that a thermostat set of 68° has the home feeling like its 70°. Consider installing a whole house humidifier to keep proper humidity levels in your home during the winter. It's also beneficial to your family's health because if the heat in your house dries the air too much, this can cause nose, throat and skin irritations.

Over the years, we've heard countless, hard-luck stories from people who bought heating or cooling equipment "off the shelf" as if they were buying an appliance. Appliances, like TVs, microwaves and refrigerators, are "plug-ins" that you can pretty much take out to the box, plug them in, and they're ready to go. Shopping for them is easy and can be often guided by cost. Heating and cooling equipment are part of a home comfort "system" tied into ductwork, piping, air cleaners and other parts of the home. They require installation by trained and licensed professionals. "In the end, it's the contractor who will make the biggest difference in how well a furnace replacement goes," says Consumer Reports. Here at Apollo our installers are required to attend Apollo University, a comprehensive training program certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) Association. Most of our installers have been with the company for more than 10 years, so this is continuing HVAC training...something required to keep up with all the changing technology.

So when buying new home comfort equipment, remember: you're not buying the equipment, you're buying the company behind the equipment too.