Just when you thought you were through dealing with allergies, here comes fall to rain on your parade. Although triggered by some slightly different things, fall allergies are just as common , and just as annoying , as spring allergies.
However, like spring allergies, the causes can be easily identified and dealt with. So, to save you from excessive coughing and sneezing this fall, here are some of the most common fall allergies and how to deal with them. For indoor air quality solutions to help fight indoor allergens, contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today.
Ragweed
Although pollen is definitely more of an allergy concern in the spring, there is one plant in particular that wreaks havoc during the fall: ragweed.
High pollen counts for ragweed peak in late August through September and can cause headaches, sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes and more. These fall allergy symptoms are commonly referred to as hay fever.
How to Avoid It
The best way to avoid pollen allergies in fall is to keep your windows closed as often as possible. Sure, the cool weather may make it tempting to open up your car and home windows, but the more they are open, the better chance they have of making their way into your home.
Pollen can also cling to your clothes and shoes if you spend a good deal of your day outdoors. An outdoor mat to wipe your feet off with is a good way to keep them out as well as regularly washing your clothes.
Ultimately, the less that you are exposed to ragweed and the pollen that comes with it, the less fall allergy symptoms you will experience.
Pet Dander
Pet dander is one of the hardest allergy causers to deal with. Some pets constantly shed and make dealing with hair and dander a real nightmare. Pet dander can also get everywhere: underneath the furniture, behind cabinets, on your clothes, on your furniture, etc.
Unchecked pet hair and dander, even for those who aren’t particularly allergic, can cause coughing and sneezing throughout the house.
How to Avoid it
The best way to keep pet dander at bay is to frequently vacuum, making sure to get behind cabinets and under furniture. Make sure no stone is left unturned! In order to lower levels of pet dander, it’s crucial to get the pet dander out from all the potential hiding spots. You can also help limit the spread by keeping pets off of furniture and beds as much as possible.
Also, be sure to frequently brush cats and dogs , outside if possible , to remove any shedding or loose hair. Regular bathing can also help in the removal of loose hair and dander.
Dust Mites
These microscopic critters are one of the most common triggers for seasonal allergies. They feed on the tiny flakes of dead skin that humans produce every day and are almost impossible to completely get rid of because they can work their way deep into the fibers of your furniture.
While they are almost ever present, the waste they produce is a common allergen for many people and can cause sneezing, coughing and other fall allergy symptoms. Dust mites are also known to trigger symptoms for those with asthma.
How to Avoid it
While they are tremendously difficult to remove, there are some easy ways to keep them at bay. Despite what their name may imply, dusting and vacuuming alone is not enough to remove them. Regular washing of bed sheets with hot water will remove excess skin build-up and keep them away. In cases of severe allergies and asthma, it may also be wise to invest in a mattress cover to prevent them from finding their way into the fibers.
Dust mites thrive in 70 to 80 percent humidity levels, so one of the best ways to reduce their numbers is to reduce humidity levels in your home. When using your air conditioner or dehumidifier, keep humidity levels around or below 50 percent.
Mold & Mildew
Mold and mildew build-up, like dust mites, is another allergy trigger in the fall. Mold and mildew can grow in areas of your home that are prone to moisture and humidity such as basements, attics, laundry rooms and bathrooms.
Those with mold and mildew allergies have symptoms very similar to hay fever and can also trigger asthma. Fortunately, mold and mildew are a lot easier to prevent and address.
How to Avoid it
If you stay attentive and alert, you can eliminate all causes of mold and mildew throughout your house. Keeping humidity levels low are key, especially in basements and attics, so make sure your dehumidifier is turned on.
Bathrooms can be the most troublesome areas, but making sure you have fans running during showers and baths will help remove moisture in the air. Fixing any leaks in your plumbing will also help keep excess moisture at bay. The less moisture in the air, the less likely that you’ll develop cases of mold and mildew.
Contact Chapman’s for Indoor Air Quality Solutions
If you need help eliminating allergens this fall, contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today! We have a full line of indoor air quality solutions to keep your home’s air supply clean and healthy.
It’s hard to believe but fall is just around the corner.
The biggest change is always dealing with the changes in nature. Temperatures drop, leaves fall, the air gets dryer and the wind gets stiffer.
Other than changing your wardrobe, there are plenty of things you can do around the house to make the transition from summer to fall a little smoother.
Here’s a little checklist for you.
Have your furnace checked
This is step number one for preparing for fall. As the temperature drops you’ll be turning off your air conditioning and cranking up the heat. The first day to drop into the 40’s or 50’s is not the ideal time to find out that something is wrong with your furnace.
Take the proactive approach and try turning it on early to make sure it’s running in good condition. Even if it is, it never hurts to call out a pro to give it some attention. Of course, it never hurts to have regularly scheduled maintenance on your HVAC system.
This will help you not only avoid any issues with heat but can also help you elongate the life of your system by staying on top of maintenance and any repairs it needs.
Seal up drafts
Energy bills often begin to spike in the fall as we head towards winter as your furnace attempts to keep your home warm and cozy for you against the cold.
This is compounded even more if you live in a drafty home. Windows, attics, fireplaces and crawlspaces present places extra places for cold air to enter into your home or for warm air to escape. Either way, this is going to make your furnace work overtime and make your bill skyrocket even more. On top of that, the extra work may cause your furnace to blow out.
Check your home for these kinds of problem areas, seal up windows with caulk, use foam spray to fill in cracks in your basement or crawl space and make sure your fireplace flue is securely closed.
Check your gutters
The biggest sign of the changing of the season is obviously the falling of the leaves. This signals the beginning of one of the least-liked chores in the world: cleaning the gutters. However unlikable of an activity it may be, it’s an important one because gutters and downspouts help collect and remove water away from your house to prevent flooding.
Before the leaves even begin to fall, it’s important to make sure they are in tip-top shape so they can do their job. You could even consider using chicken wire or gutter guards from your local hardware store to take preventative measures in keeping leaves and sticks out of your gutters.
Install a humidifier
Do you rely on plug-in, room humidifiers scattered throughout your home year after year? Why not have one installed to service your entire home?
Humidifiers help add moisture to the air in your home and help keep static, sore throats, and dry skin at bay. Humidified air also feels warmer, you can enjoy comfort at cooler temperature settings to help save energy and money over the fall and winter.
Whole-home humidifiers are a relatively inexpensive investment and mounts straight on to your furnace to easily spread humidified air throughout your home with ease.
If you are looking for furnace or humidifier repair, installation or repair look no further than Chapman Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing.
Be sure to call Chapman | Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing to schedule a your fall check up today.
So, you wake up this weekend feeling like you just jumped into a swimming pool. You’re covered in sweat because something is wrong with your air conditioner. Great
What’s the first thing you do? Call Chapman Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing , your first call for Indiana air conditioner repair, of course! Once you speak to someone here at Chapman, we will schedule to have one of our service technicians at your door as soon as possible.
But then what? What should you expect when one of our techs makes a visit? Thankfully, you should be happy to know that we don’t just wing it. Chapman has a system in place that we stick to for every air conditioning repair call, or any HVAC repair call, for that matter.
This ensures every time you get a visit from us the experience is always the same.
When we arrive
Your Chapman service tech and the Chapman truck they’re driving will arrive promptly at the agreed upon time. Your service tech will also give you a quick courtesy call to let you know we are coming and to make sure you are there. We’ll knock on the door and introduce ourselves. We also always make sure to put on shoe covers to make sure we don’t trek anything into your home.
We believe in a strong first impression.
After the pleasantries, it’s time to get to work. Our tech will take a few minutes to discuss the problem with you to get an idea of what the solution may be. They will also answer any questions they can before taking a look at your thermostat and equipment.
Fixing your HVAC system
Once we diagnose the issue we will report back to you to tell you what we found and any repairs that need to be made. We like to keep you involved in every step.
We will head back to the van to get you a price for repairs.
Once we have your approval, we’ll make the appropriate repairs and make sure it’s running as good as new.
Wrapping up
With your air conditioner repair or furnace repair complete, it’s time for a little paperwork. We will take a couple minutes to fill out your invoice, complete with any recommendations based on the condition of your system, and a service agreement if you don’t have one.
Before we go, we will give you a recap of the work we completed, go over your invoice, our recommendations and the service agreement. We’ll answer any final questions you have and be on our merry way to the next call.
No hassle, no stress, we’ll be in and out as soon as we know the job has been done right. If you run into issues with your HVAC unit, give your friends at Chapman at 317-291-4909 to schedule an appointment with one of our excellent service technicians!
Chapman Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing is your source for qualified HVAC repair and installation contractors.
We’ve done it again!
Chapman Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing has been named one of Indiana’s top workplaces for 2017 by the Indianapolis Star. This is the second year in a row that we have been honored with this achievement.
This year, we were ranked 22 out of 50 for top small companies. We are so honored by this designation and want to thank all our amazing employees who helped us earn this distinction.
This just goes to show all of the great things we are trying to do here at Chapman Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing.
We pride ourselves on making the communities in which we work and live better and stronger. We are committed to creating jobs within the community, educating the young men and women who live there and offering them a chance to find a new, rewarding career in the HVAC trade.
Our in-house mentoring and training program was designed with this in mind. We offer the opportunity to not only enhance the knowledge and certification of those already educated in the HVAC trade like Cecilia Smith, but introduce interested young professionals to the trade.
In fact, we recently broke ground on a new expansion to our warehouse that will dedicate additional room to our training facility! There has never been a better time to be a part of the Chapman team!
Are you a hard-working, dedicated HVAC professional looking to expand your knowledge?
Do you want to turn your HVAC job into something more than a job , a career? Are you interested in discovering the rewards that a career in the service industry can offer?
Chapman Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing is always looking to expand our team. If any of these questions describe you, we would love to have the chance to talk with you about your future with Chapman.
Call 317-291-4909 or submit your resume online today!
Is it summertime yet?!
It sure does feel like summer in Indianapolis! The weather is nice (apart from the occasional downpour), the trees and grass are green and the birds are chirping.
As much as it may feel like it, it isn’t quite summer yet. But, never fear Hoosiers, summer will be here before you know it!
Aside from the beautiful weather, there are always a few telltale signs that let us know every year that summer is almost here. Here are our top 4 things that get us in the summer mindset.
The Indy 500
Did you make it out to the track?
The month of May is all about the track and preparing for the greatest spectacle in racing.
We are so close to the track we could hear the cars from our office!
We certainly had a nail-biter this year and had loads of fun going out to the track for the Grand Prix, qualifications and the main event. Hope you did too!
Concert season
Does anything say summer more than music outdoors?
Whether it’s at Klipsch Music Center, Connor Prairie or The Lawn at White River State Park, music is filling the air. There is something going on every weekend, it feels like, so be sure to get some tickets for your favorite act.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers may have been the big outdoor show of the year, but there is plenty of great music to hear the rest of the year.
The Colts are back at it
Our Indianapolis Colts have put on the pads and started their OTAs, which means summer training camp will be here before you know it!
Although they had a disappointing season in 2016, we still love our Colts and are excited to watch them compete this season.
After several seasons holding training camp in Anderson, the Colts are staying in town this season with several practices open to the public.
Cranking up the Air Conditioner
It isn’t quite summer in our book until you start cranking the AC. Although the weather has been pretty favorable, we have definitely have had to run ours at home a lot more often!
Before you know it, you are going to want that thing running 24/7 to beat the often-brutal Indiana heat. Why wait until it starts getting really hot?
Now is the perfect time to make sure your air conditioner is in tip-top shape and ready to battle the summer heat. Or, maybe it is time for an upgrade?
Whether your current unit needs a tune-up or you need a new top-of-the-line air conditioner, make sure your summer isn’t spoiled by the heat. Chapman | Heating | Air Conditioning | Plumbing is the one to call!
We are proud to serve all of central Indiana’s heating, air conditioning and plumbing needs. Give us a call today for an estimate on air conditioning repairs or your very own brand new air conditioning unit.
With a “3-season room,” you have the perfect place to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors with your loved ones.
In the spring and summer, you can sit out with a book or open up a few of the windows to enjoy the breeze. You can watch the beauty of a thunderstorm while staying safe and dry. Then, in the fall, you can sit with a sweater and a cup of coffee and watch the leaves change colors.
However, one of the most challenging parts of maintaining your three-season room is controlling the temperature.
Without insulation, your room is just about useless in the winter. The cold may be too intense for you to stand without bundling up too much. In the summer, you may not want to open the windows because of allergies or the extreme heat. Even in the spring and fall, the fluctuating temperatures can make it difficult to maintain comfort.
Enter a ductless mini-split system. Sometimes called a ductless heating and cooling system, mini splits are the perfect answer for maintaining the temperature and comfort of your three-season room. You can almost turn your three-season room into a four-season room.
What Is a Ductless Mini Split System?
These versatile systems offer flexible heating and cooling options for individual rooms in your home, including your three-season room.
A ductless mini-split is made up of two main pieces:
- The outdoor compressor, which includes a condensing coil.
- An indoor air-handling unit, which is typically mounted on a wall.
Other than a three-season room, you’ll also find mini splits are common in garages, master bedrooms, and room additions. Like regular AC and heating systems, ductless systems need regular maintenance and service.
What Are the Benefits of a Ductless Mini Split?
There are a few benefits to having mini-splits installed in your home. A few of these are outlined below.
They Always Keep the Perfect Temperature
As the name implies, mini splits are completely independent heating and cooling systems from the rest of your home. This unique setup allows for total control and finding the perfect temperature.
A little hot in the summer? Crank up the cooling. Chilly fall evening, but still want to enjoy the outdoors? Turn on the heater. This control even gives you the ability to spend some comfortable winter afternoons in your three-season room.
They Are Cost-Effective and Energy-Efficient
Since the mini-split is controlled separately and only when you want it, you don’t have to worry about the mini-split driving up your energy bill.
Instead of cranking the central AC in hopes of cooling off the room and draining the cool air in the house, just fire up the mini-split as you need it.
They Are Quiet While in Use
A mini-split is not like a normal fan that is constantly whirring. After all, you want to enjoy your three-season room in peace and quiet without the constant, loud buzzing of a fan.
A ductless mini-split is relatively quiet and will provide that sense of tranquility you want. It is also small, compact, and on the wall. That means no maneuvering around a bulky box fan or tripping over cords.
They Are Easy to Install
Another benefit of using a mini-split in your three-season room is how easy the installation process is. With traditional heating and cooling systems, extensive ductwork and space-consuming central units are required.
Ductless mini-split systems, on the other hand, only have a few components (outdoor unit, indoor unit, and conduit that connects them). Overall, this saves homeowners time, money, and hassle during installation.
They Improve Air Quality
Not only do these systems provide cost-effective temperature control, but they also help improve the air quality in your Indianapolis home. Since there is no ductwork that can become clogged and dirty over time, there is a smaller chance of dust, allergens, or other debris accumulating inside the ducts and causing respiratory issues.
Plus, many ductless mini-split systems have air filtration systems that can trap and remove harmful particles from the air, such as dust, mold, and bacteria.
Ready to upgrade your three-season room or thinking about putting one in in time for summer? Take advantage of the temperature comfort and control that only a ductless mini split can provide.
Call your friends at Chapman to help get the installation process started. We carry top-of-the-line heating and cooling products built to battle the extreme and spastic Indiana heat and cold.
Are you moving this season?
April marks the beginning of peak moving season where an average of 40 million people in the United States move each year.
Moving into a new home can be an exciting and stressful time for families. Unfortunate surprises in this stage aren’t necessarily welcome and anything wrong or out of place can feel 10 times worse.
For those reasons, it is important that you take the time before your official move to make sure everything is in order. Anything out of place can be covered or addressed by your landlord, renter or superintendent and help the move go smoother.
Don’t know where to start or what to look for? Use this handy move in checklist to get yourself started.
Air Ducts
Nothing is worse than breathing in dirty air. When air ducts get dirty or backed up it can result in your allergies acting up, sinus problems and/or respiratory problems. You can help by making sure your air filters are clean and replaced.
Specialists recommend that air ducts be cleaned every three years or so, so be sure to check the last time they were serviced. Clean air ducts not only make the air cleaner, but also help save you on energy bills and increase their lifespan.
Dryer Lint Trap and Vent
A clogged dryer lint trap and vent can be extremely dangerous. The build-up of highly flammable lint exposed to the extreme heat generated can cause devastating fires. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates almost 3,000 fires occur each year because of dryers.
The lint trap for your dryer are easy to access and should be cleaned before and after every time you use the dryer. The vent, although a little harder to get to, is easily cleaned and can be done on your own. Depending on your frequency of use, this should be done several times a year and certainly before the move in. Here is an easy guide to help you clean it.
Pests
Nothing is worse than moving into your new home and realizing you already have guests but not the good kind. Pests don’t care if you are just moving in, they’ll make themselves right at home anyway. Common household pests like insects and mice are sometimes unavoidable, but you can usually spot them easily.
Take a look around for dead insect carcasses, droppings and/nesting materials around the house but especially in the attic and basement. If you think you may have a problem or want someone to do a thorough check you can always call in an exterminator.
Water Softener
Hard water can be a real bummer for new homeowners. It creeps into almost every aspect of life. It leaves you feeling grimy after showers, makes your clothes rigid after a wash and gives you that gross, metallic taste in the water you drink.
Not only that, but hard water can wreak havoc on your pipes. It is crucial that your water softener is in tip-top shape. If your new water softener is a littler worse for wear, you can always call your friends at Chapman to get you a new one!
We are proud to serve Central Indiana for all your plumbing, heating and cooling needs.
Looking for air conditioning services contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, today
Technology creating smarter homes is nothing new. Sure, more recent advances may be more impressive to us. However, the concept has been around for a very long time.
This concept, called home automation, often makes people think about being able to perform tasks around the house from miles away of a phone or tablet. This, while true, is just one aspect in the overall history of home automation.
In fact, you may be surprised at the over 100-year running history of smart homes. Let’s take a stroll through time and take a look at the history and great advances in technology that helped lead home automation to where it is today.
Early 1900’s
Believe it or not, home automation goes all the way back to the turn of the century. The amenities we take for granted today were the first stepping stones in smart home technology.
Think about this. Before 1908, if you wanted to wash your clothes you had to do it by hand. After the electric washing machine’s invention in 1908, home owners were able to wash their clothes with ease just by putting them in the machine.
Similar revolutionary home appliances such as the vacuum cleaner (1907), dishwasher (1917) and blender (1922) followed. These inventions eliminated the hassle and physical labor it took to take care of the home.
Although they may not seem as impressive or groundbreaking to us today, these simple inventions changed everything.
The Kitchen Computer
In the winter of 1969, a new ground-breaking step towards smarter homes was invented: The Honeywell Kitchen Computer.
Weighing over 100 lbs. and costing $10,000 at the time, this early computer was designed to be able to do variety of kitchen and home related tasks. Not only would the machine store recipes, but with simple inputs, the computer would help you plan out a meal.
However, being able to operate it fluently required a two-week training course and as you can imagine the Honeywell Kitchen Computer quickly died. Regardless, this device was well ahead of its time.
Late 90’s through Modern day
Home automation as it stands today revolves around two themes: security and convenience.
Advanced home security systems allow remote controlled locks, security alarms and video cameras around your home can be monitored and controlled on tablets and smartphones.
Homeowners can also remotely start their cars, an invention that we are certainly thankful for on those cold mornings.
Old innovations in home automation have also been perfected. Refrigerators like the Family Hub can connect to your mobile devices to tell you what you are out of, what you are running low on, help you make lists, build calendars and even play music for you while you are cooking.
Other profound advances in home automation come in heating and cooling. New technologies like the Housewise thermostat from Cor Home Automation have changed the way homeowners control their comfort levels.
This thermostat has the ability to connect with mobile devices to allow for alterations to heat levels from outside the home. Inside the home, it can also synchronize with voice command devices and apps like Amazon Alexa, allowing for voice-controlled thermostats.
Throughout the last couple decades, as home automation has become better and better it has also become more affordable. Whereas years ago inventions like a washing machine were a luxury, they are now commonplace.
Even the more advanced innovations like home security and smart thermostats are easier than ever to introduce into your home.
Want to learn more about the latest in home automation in heating and cooling? Give Chapman a call.
Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, carries a full line of high efficiency furnaces. Contact us to recommend the best services to your home
In today’s world, there is a lot of pressure to pursue a 4-year education. Many say it is the only way to find a successful and rewarding career. But, did you know 53% of college grads are under or unemployed?
A 4-year education is not the only path to a strong career.
Pursuing an education at a vocational or trade school is a gateway to a promising future. A career as a service industry professional lets you work in an area you are passionate about, but also allows you to earn a comfortable living.
With typical pay raises, a service industry professional like an electrician or a plumber will earn more after 5 years on the job than other professions like a teacher or someone in law enforcement.
In addition, trade schools only cost a fraction of a 4-year college. Someone pursuing a trade school will invest around $29,000 as opposed to the $120,000 it costs for 4 years of in-state tuition. Not only do you leave with less debt (if any at all) but you leave with a flexible skill set that you can apply in a multitude of different ways.
Think you have what it takes to explore a career in the service industry professional?
At Chapman, we are always looking to add new talent to our already outstanding team. We look for individuals committed to building a life-long career in the HVAC industry. Whether you have been in the industry for a more than a decade or looking for your first job, if you can display a dedication to hard work and helping others you’ve got a place at Chapman.
So, what do you get out of a career with Chapman?
You get to join a team that has been serving families in central Indiana for over four decades with high-quality and reliable service. You also get an opportunity to grow as a professional. We take the time to properly educate our employees on all matters around the job whether it is customer service training or learning new technical skills.
We believe promoting continued education through our in-house training program is very important. As technology in our industry changes, we must adapt and refine our skills to help give our customers the best service possible.
So what do you say? Think you have what it takes? We are always accepting applications, so introduce yourself today and start on the path to a rewarding and successful career in the HVAC industry.
Looking for home ac repair contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, today
