We liked Elgin better than Chicago

Once a year my friends and I go to Chicago to shop.

There is a big shopping area that we spend all day in.

We go to the name brand stores to pick out our favorite stuff. We then stayed in a swanky hotel right in the city. The costs of the hotels are obscene. You also don’t really get that great of accommodations. I started looking around for something better. I didn’t like the noises of the city and being in the middle of it. I then found that Elgin is right near Chicago. Sure we had to rent a car, but it was a short drive to the city. We found parking and then when we were done, drove back to our rental in Elgin. The rental pricing was so much smaller than a crap hotel in Chicago. The girls and I were able to spring big for a nice accommodation. After one day in the city, none of us wanted to leave Elgin. We really liked the small town vibe and eating at the local places. We enjoyed that it was much quieter, safer, and our rental home was fully furnished. We bought a bunch of groceries, made a fire out back and drank wine for most of the evening. That was honestly the best part of the trip. We are going to do the same thing next year. I think eventually we will stop going into the city all together. Elgin has shopping too and that isn’t why we get together.

Elgin Illinois heater

Going to concerts in St. Petes

My friend and I still had to use the hotel cooling system the entire trip

My mother and I travel all the time for concerts… Typically my buddy and I check Tampa, Florida since they have a nice location; It sucks driving there since it is three hours! Also, that town doesn’t definitely have much to do. I then got a brain blast, but why not St; Petersburg? They are right near Tampa and must have large concerts there. In St. Petersburg it is more beach oriented too. I found a enjoyable concert coming up and I surprised my mother for her b day, then my friend and I ended up getting a hotel room that was both on the beach, but walking distance to the concert location. My friend and I saw the concert one day and ended up lingering in St. Petersburg since there was so much to do, then laying on the beach takes a full day in my opinion. Then there is shopping, golf, massages, walking through the city, trying out the local diner, the list goes on. I would say my preferred part was the time of year my buddy and I went. The two of us went while in the fall season. People started to say goodbye to the tourist season. The snowbirds were just starting to guess about coming to Florida. My mother and I timed it where basically my buddy and I were the only ones in the hotel room. Late in the fall season in St. Petersburg means that the hot and cold temperatures are still in the 76s. My friend and I still had to use the hotel cooling system the entire trip. It was that sizzling but totally comfortable where my buddy and I were staying. I will do that again for sure.

HVAC corporation in St. Petersburg Florida

Going to concerts in the south

Petersburg means that the temperatures are still in the 78s

My mother and I travel all the time for concerts, however typically my associate and I check Tampa, FL since they have a nice venue… It sucks driving there since it is three hours, however also, that city doesn’t really have much to do. I then got a brain blast… Why not St, petersburg? They are right near Tampa and must have big concerts there. In St. Petersburg it is more beach oriented too. I found a good concert coming up and I surprised my mother for her b afternoon, however my buddy and I ended up getting a hotel room that was both on the beach, however walking distance to the concert venue. My buddy and I saw the concert one afternoon and ended up lingering in St. Petersburg since there was so much to do, however laying on the beach takes a full afternoon in my opinion. Then there is shopping, golf, massages, walking through the city, trying out the local restaurant, the list goes on. I would say my preferred part was the time of year my associate and I went. The two of us went during the fall season. People started to say goodbye to the tourist season. The snowbirds were just starting to think about coming to FL. My mother and I timed it where basically my associate and I were the only ones in the hotel room. Late in the fall season in St. Petersburg means that the temperatures are still in the 78s. My buddy and I still had to use the hotel a/c the entire trip. It was that moderate however totally comfortable where my associate and I were staying. I will do that again for sure.

HVAC business in St. Petersburg Florida

Going to concerts in St. Petersburg

My mother as well as I travel all the time for concerts… Typically my friend and I check Tampa, FL since they have a nice venue! It sucks driving there since it is three hours! Also, that neighborhood doesn’t really have much to do.

  • I then got a brain blast… Why not St, petersburg? They are right near Tampa as well as must have crucial concerts there.

In St. Petersburg it is more beach oriented too. I found a superb concert coming up as well as I surprised my mother for his b day… My associate and I ended up getting a hotel room that was both on the beach, however walking distance to the concert venue. My associate and I saw the concert one day as well as ended up lingering in St. Petersburg since there was so much to do, laying on the beach takes a full day in my opinion. Then there is shopping, golf, massages, walking through the city, trying out the local steakhouse, the list goes on. I would say my number one part was the time of year my friend and I went. The two of us went during the fall season. People started to say goodbye to the tourist season. The snowbirds were just starting to suppose about coming to FL. My mother as well as I timed it where basically my friend and I were the only ones in the hotel room. Late in the fall season in St. Petersburg means that the temperatures are still in the 69s. My associate and I still had to use the hotel air conditioner the entire trip. It was that tepid however totally comfortable where my friend and I were staying. I will do that again for sure.

 

HVAC business in St. Petersburg Florida

Going to shows in Florida

My mother plus I travel all the time for concerts.

Typically my buddy and I check Tampa, Florida since they have a nice location, however it sucks driving there since it is three hours, however also, that city doesn’t entirely have much to do.

I then got a brain blast… Why not St, then petersburg? They are right near Tampa plus must have important concerts there. In St. Petersburg it is more beach oriented too. I found a wonderful concert coming up plus I surprised my mother for her b afternoon… My friend and I ended up getting a hotel room that was both on the beach, but walking distance to the concert location. My friend and I saw the concert one afternoon plus ended up lingering in St. Petersburg since there was so much to do! Laying on the beach takes a full afternoon in my opinion. Then there is shopping, hockey, massages, walking through the city, trying out the local restaurant, the list goes on. I would say my number one part was the time of year my buddy and I went. The two of us went during the fall season. People started to say goodbye to the tourist season. The snowbirds were just starting to feel about coming to Florida. My mother plus I timed it where basically my buddy and I were the only ones in the hotel room. Late in the fall season in St. Petersburg means that the temperatures are still in the 70s. My friend and I still had to use the hotel a/c the entire trip. It was that warm but totally comfortable where my buddy and I were staying. I will do that again for sure.

 

HVAC provider in St. Petersburg Florida

Going to concerts in Florida

Petersburg means that the temperatures are still in the 80s

My mother and I travel all the time for concerts. Typically we check Tampa, Florida since they have a nice venue. It sucks driving there since it is three hours. Also, that city doesn’t really have much to do. I then got a brain blast. Why not St. Petersburg? They are right near Tampa and must have big concerts there. In St. Petersburg it is more beach oriented too. I found a great concert coming up and I surprised my mother for her b day. We ended up getting a hotel room that was both on the beach, but walking distance to the concert venue. We saw the concert one day and ended up lingering in St. Petersburg since there was so much to do. Laying on the beach takes a full day in my opinion. Then there is shopping, golf, massages, walking through the city, trying out the local restaurant, the list goes on. I would say my favorite part was the time of year we went. The two of us went during the fall season. People started to say goodbye to the tourist season. The snowbirds were just starting to think about coming to Florida. My mother and I timed it where basically we were the only ones in the hotel room. Late in the fall season in St. Petersburg means that the temperatures are still in the 80s. We still had to use the hotel air conditioner the entire trip. It was that hot but totally comfortable where we were staying. I will do that again for sure.

HVAC supplier in St. Petersburg Florida

Oil to gas conversion

For years I lived with an oil furnace.

I wasn’t a fan of it.

I had to house an on site oil tank. It took up a bunch of room and was ugly. Another con of an oil furnace is that you are dependent on oil deliveries. If you don’t get a delivery, miss one, or the weather doesn’t permit it, you are screwed. The flame burns hotter for oil, so it is more effective, but I didn’t like it. I started researching trying to see what else I could do for heating. Luckily I called my local Springfield, MO heating business to ask about my oil furnace. The Springfield HVAC contractor told me that converting oil to gas is quite simple. I can make the change with minimal fuss and mess to my home. I signed up for it right away. The worst thing was setting up the gas hookups and flue system. After that was installed, it was all good. I got the oil tank removed and freed up some space. Now I run my household with a gas operated furnace. This is way better. Gas is cheaper and readily available. It is also a more common type of heating device. So anytime I need heating service, repairs, or just a check up, it is really nice that any Springfield HVAC dealership can handle the job. I way prefer the look of the gas powered furnace as well. I can’t believe I waited this long to do the oil to gas conversion. I haven’t even noticed the heater is not as warm either. It can handle our Missouri weather fine.
Springfield Missouri furnace/heater repair

I would need a dual fuel system rather than a heat pump

A friend of mine lives down south while I live in South Bend, IN. This means she deals with very different weather than mine. She complains about the severe heat and the humidity most of the year. For me I am dealing with snow, ice, and cold. I get temperatures below freezing for months on end. She is focused on AC, I am all about heating. It is very weird seeing how the other half lives. My buddy was recently talking to me about buying a heat pump system. Apparently this is perfect for down south. Don’t let the name fool you, a heat pump actually can provide cooling. How it does is pumping out the heat energy and blowing coolant through the leftover air. It is cleaner and really efficient. It can lower your energy bills significantly. The heating function is super efficient as well. That is why my friend wants it. I got so excited hearing about all the benefits. I then did some research online. So a heat pump can only provide heating in above freezing temperatures. When it gets too cold, there is simply no heat energy to pump. I found that I could combine a gas furnace and the heat pump. Most of the year the heat pump would be working to provide cooling and heating. On the colder winter days the furnace would tag in. The device alternates fuel on its own and is called a hybrid heater or a dual fuel system. I am considering this for my home in Indiana.

 

South Bend Indiana heater

High velocity AC for older Alabama home

I live in Tuscaloosa, AL and I bought a historic home.

  • It has all the original moldings and wood.

It is quite old and looks very pretty. The only snag is that updating and renovating has been a nightmare. Anytime I want to change something in the house, there are loads of setbacks. Everything was made of old material that is no longer being remade or can’t be fixed. Also there are a lot of new innovations that I am missing out on. I started looking for a better cooling solution than a bunch of window air conditioners. Living in Alabama means that I need quality cooling. Sadly the house can’t handle the strain of ductwork installation and it didn’t come with any in place. So I thought I was limited on my options. I didn’t want a mini split in each room taking up space. They are big, bulky, and don’t fit my decor. After talking to a Tuscaloosa cooling business I found that I could get central AC, just with a twist. High velocity AC takes ductwork but it is half the size and bendy. It can easily bend and twist into the slats of an older home. The installation is way less invasive and meant for older houses. The way the system works is by quickly whipping air room to room. You can lower the temperature in minutes with this powerful little system. It works so great for my Tuscaloosa, AL home. I am really glad that I did some research and didn’t give up on whole home temperature control.

HVAC corporation in Tuscaloosa Alabama

Looking into a smart thermostat

I have been looking into getting a smart thermostat.

I work all the time in Phoenix, Arizona.

My place of work has me driving back and forth. I don’t get home until quite late. I decided recently that I don’t want to pay to cool an empty house. Why should I have the AC blasting all day long when I won’t be there until late? Sometimes I won’t be there overnight. I have started researching smart thermostats and they look amazing. They have the ability to change the home thermostat from anywhere. So if I am going to be late, I just open up the app and make the changes. They also learn heating and cooling programs. For the most part I have a set schedule. The thermostat will then learn when I am not and when I am not. It will determine the heating and cooling setting based on scanning the home. How neat is that? Other features include it recommending energy smart settings, telling me about air filter changes, and issues with the humidity levels. I really like that idea. My favorite thing is that I don’t need to touch a button to adjust the home temperature control. I like that it will automatically work to save me money and I will no longer need to think about it. On nights I am not there, the heating function will fire up if it gets too cold. But I wouldn’t think I would ever need heating in Phoenix, Arizona. The smart thermostat is going to save me so much money.

HVAC contractor in Phoenix Arizona