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OCTOBER 2014 HOMES PLUS 11 Call Today for an Appointment We Offer Free Estimates on: • Bathroom Design • Complete Bathroom Remodeling 117 MacArthur Drive Mukwonago, WI 53149 Telephone: 262-363-7146 www.martensplumbing.com Is it time to update your bathroom? Our designers will create the bathroom of your dreams. 50+ Years IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD 2 3 9 9 9 6 0 0 1 MP# 134384 at MERRILL HILLS MANOR Living Life The trusted partner in your neighborhood. A safe community for your loved one. MERRILL HILLS MANOR a Senior Lifestyle community 888-871-2237 3217 FIDDLERS CREEK DRIVE • WAUKESHA, WI 53188 An Assisted Living and Memory Care Community WWW.SENIORLIFESTYLE.COM 236555010 StatePoint — Before you turn off your AC system for the season, consider having it checked out by a certified contractor. If it's older or has been giving you problems, you might want to replace it. "It may not be top of mind, but fall is actually the ideal time to think about your home's cooling system," said Frank Landwehr, vice president of Marketing at Emerson Climate Technologies. There are five reasons why consumers who consider this important home upgrade during the offseason often have much better outcomes, say the experts at AC & Heating Connect. ■ Contractor considerations: Give yourself plenty of time to identify the best AC contractor for your installation. Con- tractors in between cooling and heating sea- sons will be more available to help solve your specific problems. ■ New features: Learn about the latest technology and features available for HVAC systems, as a lot has changed in the past 20 years. Consider systems with features rang- ing from superior humidity reduction to noise reduction to remote control systems and energy-efficient programmable ther- mostats. "Dual fuel" heat pumps that can use either electricity or natural gas for heat- ing are another recent innovation to consid- er. ■ Zombie heat pump: So-called "zom- bie" heat pumps appear to be alive and run- ning, but in reality are not performing opti- mally, or at all. If your air conditioner dou- bles as a heat pump, fall is the time to have your system checked out for the heating season. Fall is also a good time to have a conventional furnace checked out by a con- tractor. If it's older like the AC unit, you might be better off having them both replaced at once. ■ Recalculations: Have your contractor run new calculations on your home. Changes since that old AC system was installed can affect your needs. For exam- ple, if you added insulation, upgraded to more efficient windows, knocked out walls or added a room, you might need a different system size than before — and the wrong system can be problematic. A system that's too small won't keep up on the hottest days. A system that's too large will cycle too much, causing wide swings in temperature — and won't necessarily remove all the humidity from your home. Further, if you plan to close the AC vents in seldom-used rooms, look for a system with at least two steps of capacity modula- tion. Closing room vents and doors effec- tively makes your house appear smaller to your HVAC system, which could signifi- cantly damage the system or cause it to fail prematurely. ■ Regulations: Know the latest govern- ment regulations and rebates before you buy. New regulations going into effect Jan, 1, 2015, might affect the minimum efficiency standard in your region. Give yourself time to consider whether you want to replace your system ahead of the change. Replacing HVAC systems in fall can be a smart maneuver. By planning ahead, you can make smarter choices for your home and your comfort. Check out www.ac-heatingconnect.com for free resources and to learn more about what type of system might be best for your home. Five good reasons to replace your old AC in the fall Submitted photo A service technician examines an air conditioning unit.