How Using a Thermostat Saves You Money Throughout the Year

Over the weekend, I got my thermostat fixed - and I learned some valuable tips in the process. It turns out, I've been saving tons of money per year with my thermostat, during both summer and winter!

Thermostats are great for controlling heating and cooling while you're not home, which cuts down costs by approximately $100-180 per year! Additionally, you can adjust the temperature down to the degree, so turning it down 10-15% can end up saving you even more - 10% of your energy bill! And because many thermostats are Energy Star approved, you know that you're helping the environment while you yourself save some green.

Another great thing about thermostats is that there are different kinds for people of different lifestyles! You can use the thermostat model that best adjusts to your schedule. The 7-day model is perfect for people whose schedules change every day; the 5+2-day model for people who have different schedules for weekdays and weekends; and the 5-1-1-day model for people who have one schedule for weekdays, another for Saturdays, and an entirely different one for Sundays.

Customer Feedback

Have you recently purchased an appliance from Air & Water? Or maybe you've purchased a product that Air & Water carries. Either way, a great way to inform others of how well (or horribly) the products have turned out for you is to write a review for the product! Whenever you visit any specific product page, take a look at the right side - you'll see a link that says "Write a review" or "Read all _ reviews." Click on "Write a review" to tell us and everyone else how great the product worked out for you! Alternatively, you can read others' reviews to find out which product best suits you by clicking "Read all _ reviews." You can even rate others' reviews depending on how helpful you find them!

Lookin' Good

Usually, when I get an appliance, I don't just make sure it's functional. I need it to look good, too! I mean, if I have to place these appliances somewhere, they need to add to my room's decor, right?

Anyway, I was looking through our fans today and came across these decorative electric fans from DecoBreeze. They're really great because they add complex or simple designs to your home - you know, whichever you prefer. My favorite is the DBF0368 tropical fish figuring fan - who knew you could have a fan shaped like a fish?! Not only are these fans inexpensive, but they're just what, I would imagine, every home wants. Some designs look rather antique - a look I'd want in my own home.

Water Dispensers

We recently got some new water dispensers here at Air & Water. After taking a look at them, I realized that I've never seen water dispensers like these before. These water coolers that we got in were from Clover. The designs are pretty sleek and compact, but what stood out to me was the fact that they have water dispensers that don't need to use plastic water bottles! Units like the one pictured above (the D7A) are called point of use water dispensers. Because they don't use plastic water bottles, these water dispensers cost a lot less to maintain, they take up much less space, and they're healthier! I don't know about you, but sometimes I get a strange plastic taste when I drink from my water dispenser at home. But that could just be from overuse of the same plastic bottles... Maybe it's time I switch to one of these point of use water coolers!

Air & Water's Here to Help!

As a kid, I always found visual details much more understandable and more appealing than regular details that are written or spoken. When doing arts and crafts, I found it much easier to learn how to make lanyards by watching someone else make it rather than by reading instructions on how to make this string go through that loop.

Even now, as an adult, I find it rather helpful to use visuals rather than text. And I know I can't be alone with this opinion - otherwise "How-to" videos on YouTube wouldn't be so popular! I tried learning how to curl my hair by reading a How-to article on WikiHow, but it just didn't help. As soon as I watched the video, however, I was able to pick it up fairly quickly (and not to mention a bunch of burn marks with it!).

So, to help you learn all you need to know about the benefits of a space heater, the results from using an air purifier, and even the different methods of venting portable air conditioners, Air & Water has been updating a page of How To Videos that you will probably find very useful when looking for that perfect appliance.

Great Home Construction Resource

As a DIY-er myself, I love reading about home improvement projects. I’m also an avid HGTV viewer but I find their projects nearly impossible to complete without any written directions or guidance.

In any case, I recently looked into getting my kitchen cabinets replaced and found the Abacus Construction Index – a great online resource for home construction topics. I’m no contractor, but once in a while I get a good idea and like to do some research before I delve into any home improvement project.

This web directory is a no-frills site with tons information on almost construction topic you can think of. It even referred me to a few kitchen cabinet manufacturers. They’re definitely worth checking out if you’re a home improvement enthusiast!

Fireplace Heaters

This morning, I woke up at my friend's house and the guest room was FREEZING. Naturally, I wore as many layers as I possibly could, but that didn't really help. Her house has no central heater, which is really inconvenient (well, at least for me). When I went into the living room, I found her dog on the floor next to an electric fireplace. I thought, what a great idea! So I turned it on and made myself a cup of hot cocoa as I watched the flames while reading Dracula.

I never realized how realistic the flames are - sometimes I even think that the "embers" on the logs are real! I felt like I was part of those family movies - you know, the ones where the family gathers around the fireplace and someone tells a story? I don't have a real fireplace at home, but it seems like this electric fireplace heater would be a great replacement!