HAND-WASHING VS. DISHWASHER ARE YOU WASTING WATER, TIME, AND MONEY?
In May, it’s still pretty chilly throughout the Hudson Valley, so it’s unlikely that many of us are thinking about our A/C units. But when it comes to your comfort, it’s important to be proactive. When average temperatures hit 83 degrees come July, you’re going to want to make sure your air conditioner is running at peak performance, without needing to make an urgent call to your HVAC professional. If you’re tired of just getting by with an outdated system during the hot months, you may consider upgrading to one of today’s powerful central air-conditioning units in advance of the sweltering temperatures. But you might wonder, “How much will this cost?” The answer depends on several factors, the largest of which is the size of your home. Central air-conditioning systems are measured in tons, which is a measurement of how much heat they can remove from your home in an hour. The rule of thumb is 1 ton of cooling per 500–600 square feet. But when figuring out tonnage, you also need to consider the efficiency of your chosen unit and the insulation and ventilation of your home. You can generally expect a new central air unit to cost $2,000–$4,000 plus installation costs, which vary widely depending on the condition of your home’s ducts. W e’ve all walked into our kitchens, looked at the dishes stacked high in the sink, and asked, “Is it better to throw those in the dishwasher or wash them by hand?” The dishwasher would certainly save you some time, but many people believe that washing dishes by hand uses less water and electricity. In reality, however, washing your dishes by hand is one of the worst things you can do for both the planet and your wallet. Dishwashers use less water than washing by hand. A study conducted in Europe found that individuals who wash dishes by hand tend to use 27 gallons of water to clean just 12 place settings. Meanwhile, modern dishwashers only use 6 gallons of water, and Energy Star appliances use as little as 4 gallons during their wash cycle. The Environmental Protection Agency determined that using a dishwasher instead of washing by hand can save 5,000 gallons of water and $40 in utility costs a year. It’s not just about water! Unless you have incredibly thick dishwashing gloves, you can’t properly clean your dishes by hand. Dishwashers heat water to around 145 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure your dishes are disinfected. Even if the water from your sink could get that hot, you wouldn’t want to stick your hand in it.
Which brings us to the science experiment that is your kitchen sponge. Dr. Philip Tierno, a clinical professor in the microbiology and pathology departments at NYU Langone,
determined that your kitchen sponge is the single dirtiest item in your house. Soap and water aren’t enough to sanitize your sponge, which is left damp next to your sink after each use. Have you ever noticed that stagnant sponge smell? That’s bacteria growing. And when you wash your dishes by hand, you rub that bacteria all over your plates and silverware. Yum. If you have just a single plate or cup, you obviously don’t want to run them through the dishwasher alone; that would be incredibly wasteful. But the drawbacks of washing by hand are too great to ignore. The best option is to wait until your dishwasher is full, then start up the washing cycle. All your dishes will be clean and disinfected, and you’ll use less water in the process.
THE REAL COST OF AN HVAC UPGRADE
IT’S CHEAPER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
Most people don’t realize that your ducts can influence your system’s performance almost as much as upgrading your air conditioning unit. The average home experiences duct leakage and cooling loss of as much as 10–30 percent before the cooled air even reaches the living area. Before you decide to overhaul your entire system, ask your contractor about the condition of your current equipment. They can run a duct- leakage test and identify any other issues. Proper repairs may enable you to continue using your current system. All in all, working on your HVAC system can seem like an expensive proposition, until you consider the potential savings of an efficient unit. Replacing a system just 10 years old with newer equipment can cut cooling expenses by 30 percent, or as much as 60 percent with some higher-end systems — not to mention the added comfort of having a perfectly cooled home. If you’re looking to improve the performance of your air-conditioning unit before you’re caught sweating in the summer heat, give the experts at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley a call at 845-419-1124. We’ll give you an accurate estimate and help you determine the best path forward.
aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley 2
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online