Your Berks County home is likely filled with dozens of machines, devices, and appliances. Paying for the energy to power all of these devices can get expensive. If you are looking for ways to help you and your family cut back on your energy usage, B&L Ott near Reading, Pennsylvania is here to help. Below you will find a variety of ways to make your home more efficient and conserve energy.

HVAC Tips

Your HVAC system is one of the biggest users of energy in your Berks County home. This is a good place to focus when trying to lower your energy bills. B&L Ott offers a variety of solutions that can help you conserve energy.

Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats or Smart Thermostats make setting the temperature and air conditions in your home easier than ever. After B&L Ott installs your system, all you have to do is program a routine once. Then your system will continue to follow the routine that you set on a daily or weekly basis. You will barely have to touch your thermostat again. If you program your thermostat to turn back your air conditioner or heater during the day while you are not home, you can also save a significant amount on your energy bills.

Home Zoning

Home zoning is yet another system that makes controlling the conditions in your home easier than ever. Your family likely has their favorite spots in your home. You also likely have areas that you don’t use often. Yet, you still allow your HVAC system to warm or cool these areas. This wastes energy. A home zoning system splits your Berks County home into different sections that can be warmed or cooled individually. Contact B&L Ott to learn more or to have a home zoning system installed.

Air Flow

Like unused rooms, poor air flow can also waste energy. When airflow is poor, your HVAC system has to work harder to warm or cool your Berks County home. There are a variety of factors that contribute to the quality of air flow in your home. This includes cleanliness of your system, furniture layout, and how much care you have given your system.

When it comes to the cleanliness of your HVAC system, there are many parts to take care of. Be sure to clean your filter regularly, dust off the vents, and have B&L Ott clean your air ducts about every ten years. For furniture layout, make sure your couches, shelves, and other furniture are not blocking your vents and return air ducts. Finally, contact B&L Ott for preventative maintenance so you can make sure your system is running at maximum efficiency.

Insulate Your Home

Much of your homes warm or cool air is lost through your doors, windows, attic, and basement. One of the best ways to keep conditioned air from escaping is to insulate your home. If your home is due for new doors or windows, invest in thick ones that can help keep warm or cool air in. Thick curtains or mini blinds also help.

There are various forms of insulation you can buy for your attic or basement. The best way to choose which one is right for your home is to do plenty of research or talk to a professional. If you don’t have the time or money to spend on insulation you can also buy air blockers for doors leading to your attic and basement. They may not work as well as insulation, but they can still help keep conditioned air from escaping your home.

Home Automation

Similar to installing a programmable thermostat to control your HVAC system, there are many other automated devices that can help your home run more smoothly. For instance, there are lighting fixtures with sensors that turn off automatically when you leave the room and turn on when you enter the room. There are also automated security systems, entertainment systems, surveillance cameras and more. Not only are these systems convenient, but they can help you reduce your energy usage as well.

Buy Energy Efficient Appliances

There are many energy-efficient appliances on the market to help you save energy and lower your utility bills. If you would like to know more about energy efficient HVAC system options, talk to the professionals at B&L Ott. Some other appliances that offer energy efficient models include washers, dryers, water heaters, dishwashers, lights, and more. These models are typically more expensive than regular models, but they save you more in the long run.

Reduce the Amount Of Energy You Use

There are many systems, machines, and appliances you can buy to help you save energy. However, one of the best and cheapest ways to save energy is to change your habits. By making a few changes you may be surprised at how much you save. Some changes you can make include:

• Turning the lights off when you leave the room.
• Taking shorter and colder showers.
• Using blankets or a sweater instead of turning up the heat.
• Air drying your clothes and dishes.
• Unplug devices and appliances when you’re not using them.
• Turn off the water when you are not using it.

There are many benefits of becoming more energy efficient. By using some of the tips and ideas on this list, you are sure to save all while helping your Berks County home run more efficiently.

B&L Ott is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania and we believe that it is a great place to live for a variety of reasons. If you are looking for a place to settle down in the southeastern Pennsylvania area, Berks County is definitely a place to consider. Here are just a few of the best features B&L Ott believes our area has to offer.

Changing Seasons

Many places in the United States or even the world are either hot year-round or cold year-round. In the New England states, we have the luxury of changing seasons. In the summer, we get to enjoy heading to the beach, swimming in the pool and sunbathing. In the fall, we have festivals, build bonfires, and enjoy the leaves changing color. In winter, we get to experience sledding, snowboarding, and the peacefulness of gently falling snow. Finally, in spring, we enjoy beautiful flowers and greenery as well as wildlife wandering the area.

If you come from an area that is hot year-round or cold year-round. You may be unsure about adapting to the varying temperatures and weather conditions. Fear not, because B&L Ott is here to help. By signing up for our biannual HVAC maintenance program, you can help ensure that your new Berks County home will be comfortable all year long.

Location

Berks County is also in a great location. If you enjoy the quiet life, there are plenty of farmland areas for you to settle down in. On the other hand, if you prefer the city, Reading has plenty of activities going on on a daily basis. Berks County is also not too far from Philadelphia. It is a little over an hour’s away.

Wildlife

If you are an animal-lover, Berks County has plenty of interesting animals and critters to offer. There are plenty of birds to watch, deer, foxes, and more. If you choose to live in the countryside you may even get to see some of these critters wander through your yard. Even if you live in the city, you can take a short drive to the country try or a wooded area to scope out the wildlife. Don’t forget to bring your camera. You are sure to get some beautiful pictures.

While the Pennsylvania wildlife is wonderful to be around and to observe, you also have to pay attention to them when it comes to your HVAC system. Small animals such as mice and chipmunks may try to nest in your outdoor unit. This can cause a variety of issues. Therefore, it is important to inspect and clear the area around your system regularly when you live in Berks County.

History

There are also a variety of sites with historical significance in Berks County and the surrounding area. If you are a history buff, there are plenty of places to visit and history to learn.  There are museums, landmarks, statues, historical homes and more. You can visit them all. Then when your friends and family come to visit your new Berks County home, you will have plenty of interesting stories to tell them about the area.

Plenty of Things to Do

Finally, there are plenty of other activities to take part in. There are multiple amusement parks in the area. Reading has multiple sports venues where our home teams play and hosts many concerts and shows as well. We also have a variety of family activities such as shopping at the Berkshire mall, mini- golfing, bowling, going to a movie, etc. There are also a variety of good restaurants in Berks County. With a little research or asking the locals, you are sure to find a fun activity for you and your family to try.

B&L Ott near Reading, Pennsylvania use the term “HVAC” a lot. It’s on our website, social media, blogs, and more, but not everyone commonly knows what “HVAC” means. It is an acronym that encompasses a wide range of products and services.

The acronym HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Altogether, the products and services included in these categories affect how comfortable your Berks County home feels. B&L Ott’s goal is to help you keep your family comfortable by helping you maintain your HVAC systems. Below you will find a brief list of some of our products and services.

Heating

Furnaces

Whether you have a furnace that needs maintenance or need a replacement, B&L Ott can help. If your furnace breaks down in the dead of winter, you and use our 24/7 emergency repair service. If you need help choosing which furnace is best for your Berks County home, one of our knowledgeable technicians can help.

Gas Conversions 

If you want to convert from oil to gas, B&L Ott can help with that too. There are many benefits of converting to gas energy. This includes burning more cleanly, cost-effective, reliability, convenience and safety.

Heat Pumps 

Heat pumps can be used to both warm and cool your home. It works by transferring the heat either into your home or out of your home. If you would like to learn more, you can talk to one of our technicians or browse our website for more information.

Geothermal 

A geothermal system uses heat within the earth to heat your home. Geothermal heating systems are safe, environmentally friendly, last longer than other HVAC systems, can help you lower your utility bills, and can be used in both the summer and winter seasons.  

Boilers 

Boilers are a heating system that uses hyronics. Fuel is burned to heat water that is circulated through pipes in your home. If you need a replacement boiler, B&L Ott can help you install a new one.

Water Heater 

You need hot water for cooking, showers, laundry and more. If you notice that there is something wrong with your water heater, B&L Ott can repair it for you. If your system is 10-15 years old and you need a replacement, we can help you with that as well.

Ventilation, Air Quality, and Other Home Comfort Solutions

Humidity Control 

Temperature is not the only factor that affects your comfort. Humidity plays a large part as well. B&L Ott offers a variety of humidifiers or dehumidifiers for your home.

Air Duct Cleaning

If you have a forced-air system, dirt and other debris piles up in your air ducts over time. They should be cleaned about every ten years by a professional like B&L Ott.

Air Purifiers and Whole-House Filtration Systems 

Air purifiers and whole-house filtration systems help remove pollutants such as dust and pollen from your home. If anyone in your family has asthma, allergies, or respiratory issues, one of these systems can help reduce contaminants that are aggravating their symptoms.

Programmable Thermostats 

Programmable thermostats make controlling the temperature in your home easier and more convenient than ever. You can create a daily or weekly schedules for your HVAC system to follow so you don’t have to set the thermostat yourself. Programmable thermostats can also help you lower your utility bills.

Home Zoning Systems 

Home zoning systems divide your home into different areas using dampers in your air ducts. This allows you to direct warm or cool air to the areas you want so you can be more comfortable and save energy.

Air Conditioning

Air Conditioners 

During brutal Berks County summers, your air conditioner keeps you cool and relaxed. B&L Ott can help you keep your system running with biannual maintenance visits. We can also help you repair your current air conditioner or install a new one for you.

Mini-Split Systems 

If your home doesn’t have air ducts or if you need a solution for a separate room, a mini-split system may be the solutions for you. These systems can cool a room or small area without the use of air ducts. To learn more, you can contact B&L Ott through our website or by calling 610-816-6026.

Everyone wants to be comfortable. When you are comfortable, you can relax and recharge after a hard day at work. You can feel safe and at peace. There are a variety of benefits to being comfortable. To help you keep your home and family comfortable, B&L Ott has compiled this list of ways to stay comfortable. Many of these tips can also help you keep your HVAC system running efficiently so you can reduce your utility bills as well.

Find Low-Energy Ways to Keep Yourself Warm

Firstly, you should focus on making yourself warm. If you are warm, you will not need to turn up the heat in your home as much. When your thermostat is set lower, your heating system will not have to work as hard and will use less energy. Here are a variety of ways you can make yourself warmer without an HVAC system.

Build a Fire

If you have a fireplace, building a fire and sitting by it is a great way to stay warm. You can read a book or listen to music while you listen to the relaxing snapping and crackling of the wood.

Wear Warm Clothing

Many people in Berks County know its always good to wear layers during the fall and winter months. Plenty of layers help you stay warm, and you can always take a layer off if you’re too hot. If you are nice and warm from layers of clothing, you won’t need to turn your heater up as high.

Cuddle With Blankets

Sometimes if you wear too many layers, it can be difficult to move. If you don’t want that, you can simply use a blanket or two instead. You can even cuddle with a friend, family member, or pet and share the warmth.

Eat or Drink Something Warm

Hot chocolate is a favorite when it comes to cold weather traditions. It tastes sweet and helps keep you warm. However, there are plenty of other warm foods and drinks you can consume if you prefer something else. For instance, coffee, apple cider, soup, oatmeal, or fresh baked goods right out of the oven. Baking is yet another way to add heat to your home so you can turn your thermostat back a bit.

Take a Hot Bath

If your muscles are tense, few things are better than a hot bath (or a hot tub if you have one) to relax your muscles. You can light some candles and play some of your favorite music while you soak and forget your troubles.

Let the Sun Shine In During the Day

Take advantage of the natural heat the sun produces. Open up your curtains and let the sunshine into your home during the day. It will help warm your home a few degrees and give your heater a break. Just don’t forget to close them once the sun goes down.

Make Sure Your Home is Insulated

It’s also important to make sure your home is properly insulated. Doing so will help keep the heat in and the cold out. Some main spaces to focus on are your attic, basement, doors, and windows.

It can be difficult to insulate your attic or basement but can be a worthwhile project to help you lower your utility bills. For your windows, you can buy thick curtains that help block the warm air from escaping and the cold air from entering. For doors, you can purchase a draft stopper to put at the bottom of your door.

Turn On or Buy a Humidifier

When the air is dry, sweat evaporates off of your skin quickly and makes you feel cooler. When there is moisture in the air, it takes longer for the sweat to evaporate off of your skin. This keeps you feeling a bit warmer. Therefore, adding humidity to the air can keep you and your family warm. Turn on your humidifier, or buy one if you don’t have one. Talk to a B&L Ott professional to learn more or to get help choosing the right humidifier for your Berks County home.

Have B&L Ott Install a Home Zoning System

One of the best ways to save while increasing comfort is to have B&L Ott install a home zoning system for you. A home zoning system divides your home into separate sections using dampers in your air ducts. This allows you to direct the warm air directly where you want it to go. This helps save energy and lower utility bills by just focusing on certain areas rather than warming your entire house equally.

If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment to have B&L Ott install a home zoning system, you can do so here: https://otthvac.com/contact-us/. You can also call B&L Ott at 610-816-6026.

Fall is an exciting time of year in Berks County. The weather gets cooler and plenty of exciting seasonal activities begin. While there are some tedious tasks to take care of, such as winterizing your home and making sure your HVAC system is working properly, there are also plenty of fun activities to take part in as well. So, after you contact B&L Ott for biannual HVAC maintenance, enjoy time with your friends and family while taking part in one of these fall activities.

Enjoy the Leaves

One of the best reasons to be in the Berks County area during the fall season is the leaves. Sometimes we may take it for granted, but it’s not something everyone gets to see. Just being out in nature can be relaxing. So take a hike, or drive if you prefer, and take in the beautiful fall colors. If you need something for your hand to do, bring a camera and take some pictures.

Build a Fire and Make Smores

There are few things in life better than gathering around a fire with good friends and family and just talking. If you haven’t seen your friends or family members in a while, why not invite them over to sit by the fire and make s’mores?

Festivals and Parades

There are always plenty of fall festivals and parades going on in Berks County at this time of year. You could probably find one to go to every single weekend if you wanted to. Look online, in the newspaper, or for roadside advertisements to find one you’re interested in.

Corn Mazes

If you enjoy mental-stimulation, why not test yourself with a corn maze? There are plenty of farms in the Berks County area and quite a few of them have corn mazes.

Haunted Houses

If thrills and being scared are more your thing, you can look for some haunted house tours instead. Be sure to bring your friends for comfort, or to laugh at their silly faces when they get scared.

Carriage Rides or Hayrides

Not everyone is into being scared. Another relaxing and more romantic fall activity is hayrides or carriage rides. You can simply sit back and enjoy the fall scenery Berks County has to offer.

Apple or Pumpkin Picking

Apple picking or pumpkin picking are also relaxing and simple fall activities. You can bring your entire family and just pick some healthy snacks to bring home. You can also carve or decorate the pumpkins to make a spooky decoration for your home.

Baking

You can also bake your apples or pumpkin and make a delicious fall treat for your family. There are a variety of dishes you can make with apples and pumpkins. The oven will also help warm your home a little, so you can turn your heat back for a little while and save some money.

Arts and Crafts

If you are an artsy person or have kids to entertain, you can make some fall-themed crafts. There are countless options. Just head online to find some great ideas.

Decorating Your Berks County Home

You can then use your crafts to decorate your Berks County home. You can also just buy some permafrost decorations at the store and use them to decorate. Orange, purple, or green lights can also help add to the ambiance of your home.

Stay In and Sit By the Fire (Or Air Vent)

Life can get pretty busy during the fall season. If you need some rest, you can just stay in and sit by your fireplace or stove. You can watch Halloween movies, read a scary book, knit a scarf, build a fort, snack, or just snuggle with your pet.

If you don’t have a fireplace or stove, you can improvise and set up some blankets and pillows near an air vent. Just make sure your vent is clean and not blowing dust on you. If your air ducts are due for a cleaning, B&L Ott can help. You can contact us through our website here: https://otthvac.com/contact-us/. You can also call B&L Ott at 610-816-6026. Have a great fall!

The weather is getting cooler in Berks County and the fall weather is finally starting to kick in. It’s time for fall activities such as hayrides, corn mazes, apple picking, pumpkin carving, Halloween decorating and more. Amidst all of the fall festivities, however, it is also time to get your home ready for colder weather. This includes making sure your HVAC system receives proper maintenance.

Schedule Sooner Rather Than Later

It is better to schedule a maintenance appointment sooner than later. B&L Ott’s schedule can fill up quickly. Scheduling sooner also allows time to schedule another B&L Ott appointment if you need any repairs or replacements. Overall, when you ensure that your system is ready to work early on, you avoid scrambling at the last minute to make sure you have heat when you need it.

Maximize Efficiency, Reduce Repairs, Save Money

Every year, your HVAC system will lose at least a little bit of efficiency from wear-and-tear. How much efficiency you lose depends on how well you take care of your system. If you consistently schedule biannual maintenance with B&L Ott every spring and fall, you can help minimize the efficiency you lose and extend the life of your HVAC system.

When you schedule maintenance with B&L Ott one of our professional technicians will thoroughly inspect your system, clean your system, and make any necessary adjustments. If we notice any issues we will inform you and repair it with your permission. Biannual maintenance allows B&L Ott to catch small issues before they develop into expensive repairs. This and ensuring your system is running as efficiently as possible helps you save more money over time.

Make Sure Your Family Is Safe

One of B&L Ott’s primary concerns is keeping your family safe. When a B&L Ott technician inspects your system they will look for any damage or issues with your HVAC system that may pose a threat to your family. This includes rusting parts or cracks that may start leaking. Once your HVAC system has received biannual maintenance and any necessary repairs you can have some peace of mind that your family will be safe around your HVAC system.

Clean Air and an Efficient HVAC System

Cleanliness is one of the main factors that affect your system’s efficiency. Over time dirt and dust build up. When debris gets into the main part of your system, it can cause damage to the parts. As dust builds up in your air ducts, it can also blog the air flow. This is why it is so important to make sure your system gets cleaned regularly. B&L Ott will help you clean the main parts of your system during biannual maintenance. You should also schedule air duct cleaning about every 10 years.

During the fall season, it is also important to keep an eye on your outdoor unit. When the leaves and branches start to fall, they can get into your unit and cause damage. They can also block ventilation. Be sure to clear the area around your outdoor unit regularly.

Keep Up the Warranty

Most HVAC system’s come with a warranty. It is important to know the terms of this warranty to make sure it isn’t voided. Some terms include making sure your HVAC system receives biannual maintenance. Contacting B&L Ott now can help make sure you uphold your warranty so you are covered if you run into any issues.

Call B&L Ott Now!

If you would like to schedule maintenance from B&L Ott now, you can do so through our website here: https://otthvac.com/contact-us/. Alternatively, you can call, 610-816-6026. We hope you have a great fall season!

Summer is almost over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for a beautiful outdoor living space for next summer. There are also plenty of fall outdoor activities you can create the perfect space for.

There are many different aspects to think about when building the perfect outdoor living space for your family, especially when you live in Berks County where the seasons change. If you are thinking about improving your outdoor living space, B&L Ott is here with some tips.

Build a Gathering Place

One of the main reasons why most people want to build an outdoor living space if for entertaining purposes. You might want to have your friends or family over to hear about their latest news and life experiences. 

With this in mind, it is important to have a good gathering place. It could be something simple like a nice patio table or it could be something a bit more unique like a fire pit. If you have kids or are a child at heart, you can also set up some outdoor games for some extra entertainment. Volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, and cornhole are all popular options.

Choose the Right Furniture

It is also important to choose the right furniture. Chairs with thick cushions are very comfortable. However, with Pennsylvania’s unpredictable weather and wildlife, this type of furniture can be tricky to maintain. However, if you do prefer furniture with cushions, you can buy a canopy to provide more protection for your furniture. You can also get chairs with removable cushions so you can take the cushions inside when the weather gets bad.

Set Up a Shaded Area

Summer’s in Berks County can get hot. If you are planning to build an outdoor living area, it is a good idea to put the gathering place in the shade. This way you can stay a bit cooler while still enjoying being outside. You can buy a patio umbrella or an awning. You can also make use of trees for natural shade.

HVAC Tip: It is also a good idea to make sure your outdoor air conditioning unit is in a shaded place. This can help it run more efficiently and make sure this doesn’t overheat.

Lighting

Lighting can make a big difference in any outdoor space. It adds to the ambiance and makes everything feel a bit cozier. You can string some lights above your gathering place so people can still see when it gets dark or you can tie some around the tree trunks in your yard. Uplighting is a good way to make your yard seem more high-end and classy. Lining your pathways with lights can also add a special touch while making sure people don’t trip and fall once it gets dark.

Add a Grilling Area

If you plan on having guests over, you should make sure they are fed. Having a grilling area outside can help ensure that your guests get fed without sacrificing the company when you have to go inside and cook.

Choose the Right Plants

Plants bring more life into your yard as well as some color. There are plenty of choices out there. You just have to do a little research to make sure they will work in your yard.

When choosing which plants to buy, think about your families wishes and needs. If your family gets sunburnt easily, aloe plants may be helpful. If you want to attract some more wildlife, plant a butterfly bush. You will also want to pay attention to how much sun your backyard gets and which plants thrive in that amount of sunlight.

Keep Plants Away From Outdoor A/C Unit

Once you are finished relaxing in your outdoor living space, you will likely want to return back into your comfortable home. To keep it comfortable, you need to make sure your HVAC system is properly taken care of as well. Be sure to contact B&L Ott in Reading for biannual maintenance.

Other than this, you will also want to pay attention to your outdoor air conditioning unit. Plants can help provide shade to keep your system cool, but falling debris can also cause damage. Be sure to clear the debris from around your unit regularly. It is also a good idea to avoid planting plants that create lots of debris near your outdoor unit.

Keep Yardwork in Mind

Maintaining your outdoor living space will also take some work. In the summer, you have to cut the lawn. In the fall, you will have leaves to rake. In winter, you will have snow to shovel. Keep this in mind when designing your space.

• Will any of the features make maintenance more difficult?
• How much maintenance are you willing to do?
• Do you need to buy a shed for extra storage?

It is a good idea to think about all of these aspects before jumping into your project.

Patio Rooms

If you don’t want a living space that is completely outdoors, you may decide to build a patio room instead. Patio rooms are a great way to get the best of both indoor and outdoor living. However, patio rooms can be a bit tricky to keep comfortable. Call on the professionals at B&L Ott to help you find the best solution for your patio room.

Life can get chaotic, especially if you have kids, pets, or messy family members. Things are always happening and it can get difficult to keep up with so many different responsibilities. A hectic life can be very stressful. It is difficult to keep track of so many important aspects of life.  You may be embarrassed that your home is always a mess, you may have trouble keeping track of what’s going on in your family’s lives, you may keep losing track of important items, or you may be neglecting maintenance on your home. Whatever the case, B&L Ott near Reading, PA is here to help with some tips and tricks to help get your home running a bit more smoothly.

Clutter

Another issue you and your family may have when it comes to cleaning is not knowing where to store certain items. When this happens, you or your family members may end up just shoving everything under the bed, in a closet, or in a drawer. It only helps the messiness continue.

The first step is to declutter. Get rid of everything you don’t need or haven’t used in a while. If it’s still in good shape, try donating it before just throwing it away. Once you declutter you will have less to work with and organizing the rest will be easier. The next step is to give everything a place. Go out and buy some organizational bins or shelving if you need to. Assign a place for every single type of item in your home. Then the next time you need to clean, you will know exactly where to put it.

Papers

Between bills, permission slips, receipts, and other mail, there may be many papers scattered throughout your home. If you don’t take care of them fairly quickly, they begin to pile up and take away your desk, table, or counter space. Some important papers may even get shuffled around. Then you can’t find them when you need them, and you end up spending your time stressing and trying to find those papers.

Try to designate a place in your home where you and your family can store all of your important papers. You can put a folder, file cabinet, or bin for papers so your family always knows where to place and look for these papers when they need them. This will help you avoid those stressful nights when you have the entire family tearing apart your home looking for these important papers. It can also help

Chores

Cleaning can get monotonous after a while. You spend an entire day cleaning your Berks County home and before you know it, it’s messy again. Life isn’t just about continually cleaning your home so you can impress your guests. You want to go out and have inspiring experiences, but you can neglect your home either. Setting up a chore system can help keep things organized so you can have some more time to go out and have fun.

If your entire house is messy, you may not where to start. Then you waste time figuring out how to tackle such a massive project. Creating a routine you can follow can help. If you create a system once to make sure everything gets done, the next time your home is messy, you can just follow your routine instead of figuring out what order to clean everything. If your kids are old enough, get them involved too. You can even create a reward system to help motivate them to help you get the house clean.

Maintenance

There are many items in your home that need maintenance from time to time. This includes your car, appliances, HVAC system, and even your home itself. Some of these items may not have received maintenance in a while. Every time you walk past them, you may feel guilty that you haven’t given them the attention they deserve. Now is the time to create a system to make sure your home and items receive the maintenance they deserve.

Try to set aside a certain day every month where you can take care of home maintenance. You can change the filter in your HVAC system (and schedule maintenance with B&L OTT), you can take care of the garden, patch up the holes in the walls, repair the door, and all of those other fixes you haven’t gotten to. Another small way you can help your home run more smoothly is by setting up some home automation. B&L Ott can help you install a programmable thermostat so you can create a routine for your HVAC to follow. It’s easy, convenient and gives you one less thing to worry about.

Scheduling and Communicating

If you have many family members in your home, you likely have a lot of events. It is difficult if not impossible to keep track of your entire family’s schedule. Therefore, creating a scheduling system can help make sure you don’t overbook yourself or miss out on important events. This issue has a fairly simple solution. All you have to do is buy a wipe off board calendar and have your family fill it out with their important events. Put it in a place where everyone can see it every day. This can help you plan out your month ahead of time and make things easier. You can even get a few magnets and hang your tickets and invitations on so you can always find them when you need them.

Summers in Berks County are hot and humid. When it gets too hot outside, you likely hide inside where your air conditioner keeps you comfortable and cool. Unfortunately, staying inside can get boring after a while. Yet, there are plenty of useful or even fun ways to spend your time indoors.

Firstly, you can check up on your HVAC system, to make sure it will continue to work for you while it’s blistering hot outside. Be sure to change the filter and contact B&L Ott to make sure it has received proper maintenance. Once that is done, you can try one of the other 15 ideas below.

Clean and Organize

When your life gets busy, your home can get pretty busy and disorganized. Use your time inside to do something productive. You can get rid of the clutter, dust, wash the items you usually pass over, do your laundry and more. If you don’t want to do anything too physical you can get your life organized instead. Make a to-do list or fill out a daily planner with upcoming events.

Home Improvement and Decorating

Over time, the items and certain parts of your home experience wear-and-tear or become outdated. Take this time to do some indoor home improvement or decorating. You can rearrange your furniture, touch up paint, change the decor, make repairs, take care of your HVAC using tips from B&L Ott’s blog, and more.

Games and Puzzles

If you’re in the mood for something more fun, find some family members or invite some friends over and play some board games or a card game. Puzzles can also be fun. If you’re more into technology play a video game or a computer game instead.

Read

Whether you are a bookworm who reads every day or you don’t remember the last time you read a book, reading a book is a great way to pass your time inside. Reading offers a variety of benefits. It can help you escape your daily stresses and relax or it can teach something new and useful. There is a book out there for everyone.

Get Artsy

If you feel more like expressing yourself in some way get artsy. You can paint, draw, craft, write, make music and much more. Like many other items on this list, getting artsy can help you relax. It also gives you something interesting to look at or listen to later.

Binge Watching

Sometimes you need to just lay around, relax, and be immersed in a different story. Ask your friends what their favorite series is, rewatch one of your favorites, or just pick something random. Then grab some snacks and enjoy.

Self-Care

You deserve a little pampering. Take some time out of your day to work on self-care. You can give yourself a facial, take a nice bath, do your nails, or try out some new hairstyles. Afterward, you will likely feel better and more confident.

Exercise

Alternatively, you can also work on yourself through exercise. You can walk up and down the stairs, do some yoga, lift some weights, or do a full workout if you have a home gym. Just don’t forget to stretch and stay hydrated!

Play With Your Pet

You love your pets and they love you. If you have been busy and haven’t interacted with them as much as you would like lately, give them some attention now. Play with them, talk to them, or give them some care. Take every chance you can to bond with your pet.

Plan a Vacation or Party

Whether you can afford a big vacation or not, it never hurts to dream. Turn on your computer, pick your favorite destination, and plan your trip. Whether you actually go or not, just pretending you are can be fun. Alternatively, you can plan a big party instead.

Sing, Dance, or Play Music

Few activities can lift your spirits like a karaoke or dance party. Put on your favorite playlist and simply dance and sing around your house. If that’s not your thing, you can just get online and discover new music, make a new playlist, or buy some new music instead.

Record Videos

If you love taking videos or being in front of a camera, take this opportunity to make some interesting videos. You can make some home movies for your family to look back on later, create a video that showcases or talent, or just make something funny and ridiculous.

Catch Up With Your Friends

Life gets busy and sometimes we lose touch with some of our friends and family. If you have some free time, give your friends a call, write them a letter, or even invite them over for dinner. They will be glad to hear from you and you can learn about each other’s latest adventures.

Research Your Family Tree

Have you ever wondered where you come from or why you have the interests, habits, or characteristics, that you do? If so, the answers may be in your family tree. Record what you know and carry on from there. You may learn you are related to someone famous or find a photo of the ancestors you never knew you had.

Learn Something New

It’s always good to learn something new. The more you know and the more skills you have, the more interesting you become. You can develop a new skill or research a topic that interests you. The possibilities are endless. If you want to learn more about your HVAC system and keeping your Berks County home comfortable, check out B&L Ott’s blog here: https://otthvac.com/blog/. 

Your air ducts are hidden in your walls, out of sight and therefore out of mind most of the time. You likely only think about your air ducts once a month at most. Even if you don’t think about your air ducts often, they can still affect your daily life. Over time dust and other debris build up within your air ducts. Some of these pollutants will eventually blow into your home and affect you and your family. This is why it is important to get your air ducts cleaned.

You should have your air ducts cleaned about every ten years. However, if you have pets or your family tracks in a lot of dirt you will want to schedule duct cleaning more often. On the other hand, if you have a high-efficiency filter your ducts likely won’t get dirty quite as quickly. Either way, you will eventually need your air ducts cleaned and when you do, you should contact a professional HVAC contractor like B&L Ott near Reading, PA. Here are some reasons why you should choose B&L Ott.

Professional Standards When In Your Berks County Home

If you let anyone into your home, you want to know that they will respect your property, your family, and your rules. Not every HVAC contractor takes the time to be thoughtful about the homes and properties they visit. B&L Ott trains our technicians to do so.

B&L Ott provides shoe covers for our technicians to wear when they enter your home. We also train our technicians to clean up after themselves and leave your home as clean and orderly as they found it, if not better.

Knowledge, Experience, and Good Reviews

When you hire anyone to do work on your home, your car, or even your body, you want someone who knows what they are doing. This includes getting your air ducts cleaned. You want the job done right the first time, so you can get on with the rest of your to-do list and not experience any issues. B&L Ott technicians are carefully trained and held to professional standards.

B&L Ott has been in the HVAC business for nearly three decades and has plenty of experience cleaning air ducts. The more experience you have, the more you know, and the less likely you are to make mistakes. We also have a number of satisfied customers. Check out the reviews on our website, social media, or by talking to someone you know who has scheduled B&L Ott’s duct cleaning service.

B&L Ott Uses the Latest Technology

One of the greatest reasons to choose B&L Ott to clean your air ducts is because we use some of the latest technology. B&L Ott uses a tool called the Air Scrubber Plus®. The Air Scrubber Plus® cleans up to 99.9% of the harmful contaminants in your home and had been awarded the Space Foundation’s Certified Space Technology seal of approval.

The Air Scrubber Plus® is more powerful and cleans more thoroughly than other duct cleaning technology. It can help reduce odors from pets, cigarette smoke, VOCs, mold, and burnt food. It can also help reduce the symptoms of those with allergies or compromised respiratory systems.

Benefits

There are a number of benefits you may notice after B&L Ott cleans out your air ducts with the Air Scrubber Plus®. It will improve the efficiency of your HVAC system and increase its life expectancy. It can help your family feel happier and healthier because the air smells more fresh and clean. Finally, you may also notice that it helps you sleep better so you have more energy. If you would like to schedule duct cleaning from B&L Ott, you can do so through our website or by calling 610-816-6062.