Category: Tips and tricks

Ask some people, and they’ll tell you that preparing for winter is some sort of mental process one goes through to land safely in a world of accepting things we can’t control.

While that may very well be the case, there’s a lot more to winter preparation, and it starts at great homes like yours throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

So come on, join the party, and see what you can do to make the most of a winter season spent mostly indoors.

Insulation: Adding insulation to pipes and to your water heater saves you money, and could prevent pipes from freezing in the cold weather. Add insulation around pipes that run on an exterior wall. And, by covering your water heater with a blanket manufactured for that purpose, you’ll spend less money keeping your water heated.

Programmable thermostat: Simply replacing one older style thermostat with a digital, programmable model can help you shave up to 3% and more off your home heating costs. And the best part is, you’ll experience no loss of comfort. For the ultimate in energy savings, ask about a programmable thermostat with remote Wi-Fi access, the kind that enables you to remotely change your temperature settings should your schedule change first.

Declutter and donate: It’s so easy when the weather is warm to postpone cleaning out closets and drawers. But with the advent of shorter days, longer nights, and colder temperatures, you’ve more or less run out of excuses. Plus, we’re approaching the holiday season, so much of the stuff you might consider not worthy of keeping would prove to be very welcome donations to those in need.

Big and small painting projects: Winter is also a great time to catch up on your painting. First, you’re less apt to feel like you could be doing something else, something a little more fun. More practically, the paint dries quickly and more evenly when you have heat flowing through your house. Just make sure the room or area you’re painting is well-ventilated.

Do you know what each of these projects assumes? That your heating system is working just fine. And yet you could be making the mistake to take that for granted. So, to increase the odds of that being so, contact DiBiase Heating & Cooling to request our heating system preventative maintenance service. Once completed, you’ll benefit from your system’s improved performance, lower utility costs, cleaner indoor air, and more.

Looking for some fun ways to spend more time with the family and really enjoy the spring weather coming up? With the weather starting to warm up for spring, Dibiase Heating and Cooling Company have some ideas that will freshen your home and get everyone in the mood for fun. We’re your source for air conditioning in Phoenixville, PA and we care about our friends and neighbors. Here are some of our favorite ideas.

Spring is the season for many of the kid’s sports to start again. From softball, baseball, to soccer, you and your child are likely to spend a lot of time outdoors. Kids can easily overheat and get dehydrated when they exert themselves over long periods. Plan a fun family cool-off for at home. Make a pitcher of lemonade before leaving for the game and keep it in the fridge. Slice up some strawberries, peaches, and wash some berries. Place each in a small bowl with a spoon. After a game or practice, set these dishes and the lemonade on the counter with glasses of ice. Everyone can customize their own fruity lemonade by adding a few spoonfuls of the fruits. It’s a fun activity and a great way to get your child’s thirst quenched quickly.Gear up for the heat indoors. Make sure your AC is ready to perform by doing a test run while the weather is still in the 50s and 60s. Go to the hardware store to get new filters. Start changing them more frequently to adapt to the season’s increased pollen. Schedule a seasonal maintenance appointment for air conditioning in Phoenixville, PA.

Make rooms shine with spring freshness. Foldaway heavy woolen blankets and wash all bedroom linens. Dust curtains and blinds and wash windows with a vinegar-water solution. Make beds with brightly colored, lightweight kinds of cotton to set a fresh springtime mood.
Plan some family gardening. Taking on a few small gardening projects with the kids is a good way to get them involved in family tasks and give them some decision-making power. Take them to the flower and gardening shop and let them pick out some spring annuals to plant around the front door. Not only will your home get a colorful burst with the new plants, but you and your child will spend some quality time together. Look for a pair of children-sized gardening gloves to help them feel like a gardening pro. If your child enjoys this small project, consider making a backyard vegetable garden by building a box plot and lining it with vegetable starts.

Set a welcoming tone with your front door and entry. It’s time to toss out your weathered welcome mat and get something sturdy for out front. Also, if your entry is missing a rug or needs a replacement one, get something both bright and washable. You’ll send guests a welcoming message on entry and you’ll get the advantage of catching more dirt from their shoes with both a front door mat and an entry rug. Bonus: being able to throw it in the wash every week or two will keep it clean.
We’re ready to help you be ready for a warm, healthy spring with all your air conditioning needs at Dibiase Heating and Cooling Company. Give us a call today to make your appointment at (610) 285-1813.

Winter is around the corner again and it brings with it dry, itchy skin and chapped lips. During the cold months, there is not much humidity within our homes and it is this lack of moisture that really worsens the effects of these once small niggles. If you are looking for a furnace repair service in Exton, PA we are here to help!

Most homes during the cold, icy months, make use of heating systems to keep the temperature at a level that is comfortable for you and your family. What we often don’t realize is that using these kinds of systems on such a regular basis, causes the heated air to expand and take up more space than usual.

What’s the problem with low humidity?

Warm, dry air is not the greatest thing for the health of your family and neither is icy cold air coming from outside. The lack of humidity makes your loved ones and yourself more prone to sore throats, itchy skin, and even often poses a difficulty in breathing.

It is not only your family who is affected by the constant heating and cooling of the air within your home, but the building structure itself also is subject to expansion and contraction and this could result in major loss or damage to your property and could end up costing you a small fortune to remedy.

The trick to successfully using your heating system to maintain your home at a temperature that is both comfortable and healthy is to replace moisture back into the air. Maintaining a steady humidity level in the air within your home will help you to reduce costs of utilities, which can become exorbitant if your system is straining to keep the air warm. Your family will feel more comfortable even if the temperature is slightly lower if the humidity content in your home is correct.

What Can You Do To Prevent This?

Save your family and yourself from illness, discomfort, and extremely costly utility bills by installing a whole-home humidification system today. Yes, the outlay may cost a few dimes but in the long term, you will make that money back through fewer medical bills, lower utilities, and prevention of possible costly damages to the structure of your home.

DiBiase is the supplier you want on your side when humidity levels are dropping. We are able to successfully install an Aprilaire Bypass Type Humidifier Model 600M, for the low, promotional price of $699. This price includes installation and it’s definitely a deal that you don’t want to miss. If you really had to put a price tag on comfort, health, and security, this price would beat the odds hands down.

DiBiase, the trusted name in heating, cooling, and humidification. We are the furnace repair service Exton, PA you can trust. We know the value of family comfort and we understand that your home is your palace! Allow us to assist you in protecting your assets in the best possible way today at (610) 708-5212

Emergencies can come in many forms, from hurricanes and blizzards to power outages and car failures. Once everyone is safe, the thing that makes it an emergency is not having what you need, when you need it. Here are a few ways to help you and your family be prepared for just about anything:

Figure out what you need: Factoring in things like someone’s health condition, or the number of people and pets in your home will help you know what you need and how much. Do you need to have prescriptions refilled or stock up on medical supplies? Do you have enough diapers to tide you over?

Determine how long you’ll need it for: Your home should always have enough food to last you a few days in case of a power failure or road closures. But if and when a larger storm is headed your way, plan on having a week’s worth of non-perishable food items at the ready, just in case.

Make a menu: Many people make the mistake of buying canned goods they can’t do anything with. A cupboard of canned beans is great, but what are you going to do with them? Plan meals using non-perishable foods so you know what you’ll need to prepare breakfast lunch and dinner. Simple tip: buy individually portioned milk that doesn’t need refrigeration for morning cereals or mac and cheese. This decreases the chance of wasting a whole carton because it spoiled. Also, buy smaller jars of sauces or salsa so that nothing is wasted.

Learn to can: Being able to can your own foods means saving money and having no chemical preservatives in your food. It’s also a great way to store leftovers for an emergency. You can learn to use a pressure canner to store chili, stews, soups, meat sauce, roast beef, fish, or even spare ribs. With all that to select from, you might not be so anxious for the state of emergency to end!

DiBiase Heating & Air also urges you to use extreme caution when using any fuel-burning appliance during a power outage. For example, never operate a gas grill in an unvented space. The same goes for a portable generator. Also, don’t use your gas oven for heat; it’s simply too dangerous. By the same token, make sure you have plenty of oil for your furnace or boiler or wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.

Speaking of your home heating system, when was the last time you had it professionally cleaned and inspected? If it’s been a year or longer, the time to request service is now. In fact, call (610) 285-1813 DiBiase so we can ensure that your heating system is up to speed and operating at its energy-efficient best.

Day by day, dusk comes just a little earlier, nights feel just a little bit cooler and, if you listen closely, the rustling of the leaves will tell you that no matter how hot it still is outside, fall is just around the corner.

What does all of that mean? You got it: back to school time is here. And while your kids might not be too enthused with the idea of schedules, homework, and early morning wake-ups, you can make the transition a little easier for you and them by following these 6 back-to-school tips.

1. Declutter and Organize – Still hanging onto every paper your child brought home from school last year? Are you sure those skirts and jeans you bought in the spring will still fit on the first day of school? Toss or donate things that are no longer useful and have a clutter-free place for everything else. Add shelving units, bookcases, or cubbies if you need a little extra storage space.
2. Designate a Study Area – If this year will be your child’s first encounter with “real” homework, make sure they have a place to get it done. A desk in the bedroom or a work station in the kitchen will help them complete their assignments comfortably, while a reading nook will allow them to space and luxury of getting lost in the pages of a good book.
3. Plan for Activities – If your child is involved in after-school activities, you’ll need a place for all the gear that often comes along with them. Install coat hooks, cubbies, and benches to keep instruments, sporting gear, and outer wear off the floor and organized.
4. Designate a Command Center – Use a combo bulletin board and chalkboard to keep track of everyone’s schedules and to-do lists. Add a calendar to jot down important dates so that no one misses a recital, game, or party.
5. Set the Alarm Clocks – If your kids don’t have mobile devices with alarm features, invest in a couple of alarm clocks to prod everyone out of bed and out of the house on time. Consider doing a dry run of getting up and ready before the first day of school to see if you need to make any adjustments.
6. Streamline Meal Prep – Start making double batches of meals and freezing half so that you have a healthy, home-cooked meal ready to pop in the oven on those hectic nights. And keep plenty of ready-to-eat fruits and veggies on hand to make after school snacking a breeze.

Here’s another great back to school preparation idea: a water heater performance and safety inspection. With everyone soon to be getting up and ready at the same time, your water heater is about to endure the extra demands placed upon it. Is it up to the challenge?