Summer has arrived, and Tallahassee-area residents can expect average daily high temperatures that exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit until sometime in September. As readers of our blog, you already know how to set your thermostat for the most comfortable indoor temperatures, but have thought about how how to best prepare your HVAC system to handle the summer heat?

With the full brunt of summer’s heat and humidity upon us, you undoubtedly love your air conditioner. However, you probably don’t enjoy the hike in your utility bills that comes with heavy air conditioning use. This begs the question: What is the best thermostat setting for the summer months to keep the household cool without breaking the bank?

The heat and humidity of summer are already upon us here in Tallahassee, which means that most area homeowners are grateful for the delivery of cool air by their air conditioning systems. However, some area homeowners are undoubtedly struggling to keep cool because of broken AC systems or aging ones that are losing their ability to maintain the cool.

Home renovation projects can significantly impair indoor air quality far beyond the construction dust that gets stirred up during renovations. In fact, you might be surprised by how many different contaminants can get released into your air by renovations. The Boston College Office of Environmental Health and Safety names dozens of such pollutants in its “Maintaining Indoor Air Quality During Construction” briefing document.

Given the state’s heat and humidity, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the U.S. Department of Energy credits a Florida man with developing technology that “laid the foundation for modern air conditioning.” In 1851, Apalachicola physician John Gorrie was granted a patent for making ice but failed to bring his technology to market. It would take another 50 years before Gorrie’s principles would be partially adapted by the father of modern air conditioning, Willis Carrier. In the interim, Gorrie and his ideas had slipped into obscurity. However, some people believe that in 1881 engineers...

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 56% of Florida households have at least one pet, with almost 40% owning a dog and just over 24% having a cat. If this includes your north-central Florida home, you probably get a lot of joy from your pet(s). Assuming that you own a dog and/or cat, your home also receives an abundance of unwanted pet hair.