3 Ways To Upgrade Your Home This Fall
As the seasons change here in Southwest Virginia, fall is the perfect time to assess and improve your home comfort. With the summer in the rear-view mirror, we wanted to bring you a few ideas for products that could improve your home. These improvements are aimed at saving energy, making your space more comfortable, and making sure your home is safe.
At Complete Comfort, we’ve been helping families in Chilhowie, Marion, Abingdon, and the surrounding areas for years with heating, cooling, and generator solutions that make a real difference. Whether you’re looking to save money on energy bills, improve your home comfort, or gain peace of mind during storms and power outages, we have the technicians and solutions that can help you out.
In this article, I’m going to tell you more about 3 ways to upgrade your home, from heating and cooling to backup power. Now, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your home and increase comfort and efficiency. Some of them are DIY tasks, and others you have to hire a professional for. In this article, we’ll go over 3 things that are a little more involved and require hiring a professional like the team here at Complete Comfort.
If you want to speak to someone now about your heating, indoor air quality, or electrical work, give us a call at (276) 690-9222, or contact us online. We’ll be happy to help you out, and answer any questions you may have!
Zone Your Heating And Cooling
One newer and more unique ways of improving your home comfort and saving energy is by zoning your heating and cooling. Most homes have a single thermostat that controls the entire house. Traditionally, that has worked, but it’s not always efficient or possible. Because of the way the temperature is measured, it may leave some rooms feeling too hot or too cold.
With zoning, your home is divided into separate areas or “zones”, each with its own thermostat and independent control. This allows you to personalize your comfort, and also save energy in the process, depending on how each room around the home is used. For example, you may have a guest room that’s never used, and doesn’t need the same comfort as the rest of the home. With a traditional system, this room is treated the same as the rest of the house, and you inevitably waste energy.
Benefits of Zoning
Personalized Comfort: Everyone in the family can have the temperature set to their liking in the areas they use most. No more fights over the thermostat!
Energy Savings: No need to heat or cool unused rooms. This reduces energy waste and lowers monthly utility bills.
Better System Performance: These different zones allow you to measure each space separately, treat each space independently, which makes for more precise comfort and better performance.
Ductless MiniSplit Zoning Options
In many homes, a ductless mini split system is the perfect way to add zoning capabilities to your comfort. Mini splits are energy-efficient systems that allow you to control the temperature in individual rooms or zones. These systems require no ductwork, and can be spread throughout the home to create zones with ease.
If you live in a home that still needs a window AC unit, or a space heater to compensate for your HVAC system, you may want to consider a ductless mini split. These systems are whisper-quiet, energy-efficient, and offer both heating and cooling. This is another reason these units have become more popular in offices, restaurants, and all sorts of businesses in the area.
At Complete Comfort, we install and service both traditional HVAC systems, zoned HVAC systems, and ductless mini splits. Give us a call at (276) 690-9222, and we’ll be happy to give you a free estimate for a ductless mini split system. We can also talk you through zoning options other than ductless as well!
Install A Whole Home Generator
If you’ve lived in Southwest Virginia for any amount of time, you know how unpredictable the weather can be. From summer thunderstorms to winter snowstorms, power outages are something that have impacted almost all of us. This is one of the reasons that whole-home generators have grown in popularity in our area. Instead of worrying about losing power for days at a time, homeowners want the peace of mind knowing that they are protected from power outages with a whole-home generator.
Why a Standby Generator?
Unlike portable generators, a standby generator is permanently installed outside your home, similar to a central AC unit. It connects directly to your electrical panel and runs on natural gas or propane. As soon as your power goes out, the generator kicks on and restores power to your home within seconds!
Benefits of a Whole Home Generator
- Peace of Mind: No more worrying about food spoiling, losing AC in the summer, heat in the winter, or being left with no lights or TV.
- Safety for Your Family: If you have medical equipment in your home, this is crucial. It’s also beneficial for seeing easily, and avoiding falling, bumping into things, or making a mistake that could get you injured. It’s also much safer than using candles to keep the space illuminated!
- Convenience: No searching through cabinets for candles and flashlights. No worrying about extension cords or having to run outside and turn the system on. This system turns on by itself and keeps the space powered.
- Increased Home Value: Adding an appliance like this is an investment in your home, and one that will increase its value. Even though it costs you money to install, it can end up helping with resale value, and save you from buying additional batteries, flashlights, or losing out on expiring food.
At Complete Comfort, we’ve installed hundreds of Generac generators since 2011. We know how reassuring it can be, and have heard from customers for years about how happy they were with their decision to install a generator. Instead of losing power during every storm, they got to enjoy the rain without it being a source of anxiety.
Install A Smart Thermostat
Another simple improvement that can make a big difference is a smart thermostat. Unlike traditional thermostats, smart thermostats provide you with advanced control and learning features that make your HVAC system more efficient. These systems do more than simply set your temperature. They aim to improve comfort, energy efficiency, and add convenience to your life.
Key Benefits of Smart Thermostats
- Remote Control: Adjust your home’s temperature right from your smartphone, whether you’re at work, on vacation, or just relaxing on the couch.
- Learning Technology: Many smart thermostats use data and analyze your household’s schedule and automatically adjust temperatures to save energy when you’re not home.
- Energy Reports: Smart thermostats provide key data and information that can help you reduce energy use and improve your energy bills.
- Integration with Other Devices: Many models work with smart home assistants like Alexa or Google Home, giving you one more layer of convenience.
Why Upgrade In The Fall?
Right before the winter is a perfect time to install a smart thermostat. You’ll be able to fine-tune your heating schedule, reduce wasted energy, and ensure your home is warm when you need it most. This is a simple installation, and can be done in an afternoon.
Our technicians at Complete Comfort can recommend and install the perfect thermostat that fits your system. We’ll make sure it’s set up properly and show you how to take advantage of all its features.
Other Tips For A Fall Home Upgrade
There are countless numbers of renovations or adjustments you can make to your home. Here are a few more tips and ideas that may help improve your home comfort, energy efficiency, and safety:
- Schedule routine HVAC maintenance
- Seal cracks and leaks around windows and doors
- Install energy efficient windows and doors
- Inspect and clear your gutters
- Secure your outdoor furniture
- Fix cracks in the sidewalks and pathways around your home
- Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
If you want to speak to us about HVAC maintenance, or really any aspect of your home comfort, give us a call at (276) 690-9222, or contact us online!
Get Your Home Ready For Fall With Complete Comfort
We hope some of these tips can help you conserve some energy and make your home more comfortable. Some of these are more expensive than others, but they all aim to improve your home. Simple, strategic changes like zoning your HVAC system, adding a standby generator, or installing a smart thermostat can transform your comfort, save you money, and keep your family happy no matter what the weather is like outside.
At Complete Comfort in Chilhowie, VA, we’ve built our reputation on delivering reliable HVAC and generator services that homeowners can count on. Our family-owned and operated company has been serving Southwest Virginia since 2011, and we treat every home like it’s our own. As we like to say, at Complete Comfort, we care.
If you’re ready to make one of these upgrades—or if you just want advice on the best way to prepare your home for the coming winter—give us a call today at (276) 690-9222 or contact us online. Our team will be happy to answer your questions, schedule a consultation, and help you find the perfect solution for your family’s comfort.