Routine Air Conditioner Maintenance Saves Money

February 24, 2019 By Dawn

Routine maintenance on your air conditioning unit can save you a ton of money. It might seem like a hassle to have a maintenance person come out and spend between $100-$150 a year for the service, but it’s important. If you’re going to be moving into a home on Marco Island for the first time, be sure to get this done at least once a year. It’ll save you money on emergency repairs, replacement costs, and even on energy costs.

All HVAC equipment should be inspected professionally at least once a year. This includes heaters, heat pumps, mini-splits, and standard air conditioning units. Twice a year is even better, but minimally, shoot for once a year.

What Happens During A Yearly Maintenance Visit

Preventative maintenance will cost around $100-$150 a year. Some of these contracts even offer discounts on emergency repairs too. Annual maintenance will reduce the chances that you will ever need an emergency visit though

Yearly maintenance visits will include:

Cleaning the indoor unit’s coil
Cleaning the outside air conditioner unit’s coil
Cleaning air filter
Sometimes, replacing the air filter
Cleaning the condensate pump
Repairing parts as needed
Replacing parts as needed

Benefits of Annual Maintenance For The Homeowner

The benefits of having an annual maintenance are significant. They include the following:

Increased dependability
Greater efficiency
Cost savings on the energy bill
Catching problems early
Less expensive repairs
Longer unit life
Reduction in failure probability

[Photo via Flickr | CC 2.0 | Samms Heating and Air, Plano Air Conditioning Repair Company ]

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

First, check out available Marco Island area properties using this helpful search tool. If it’s easier, you can just call us at 239-821-7926 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. We’re happy to contact you however you prefer. Then, we’ll start searching our databases right away using criteria you specify!

In the meantime, you can also easily explore Marco Island real estate by price:

Also, to stay current on the latest listing and community events, connect with your Marco Island area expert on Facebook or Twitter!

Florida First & Florida Advantage Help Qualify You For Down Payment Assistance Programs

January 30, 2019 By Dawn

If you’re in the process of buying a home and need down payment assistance, you should know that the State of Florida might have a program that can help you finally become a homeowner! Thanks to Florida Housing, there are a handful of programs to help homebuyers. Two of the most utilized and appreciated programs that people in Florida use are the Florida First program and the Florida Advantage program. Both of these can help buyers automatically qualify for down payment assistance programs.

Florida First

The Florida First program offered by Florida Housing is a means to get a low 30-year fixed-rate on your first mortgage, if you’re a qualified borrower. It isn’t a down payment assistance program, but it does automatically qualify you for one of the state’s down payment assistance programs. So, Florida First is a wonderful place to start, if you need down payment assistance. Plus, it may qualify you for an outstanding affordable mortgage.

Florida Advantage

The Florida Advantage program offered by Florida Housing can help you if you intend to buy a home in an area designated as rural. Keep in mind, the definition of rural is quite broad. So, it is worth looking into, even if you don’t think the home you’re interested in qualifies as rural. This program helps self-help buyers or buyers with at least one disabled family member. To qualify, you also need to be at or below 80% of AMI adjusted for household size. If you do, you also would qualify for the Florida Assist down payment assistance.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

In the meantime, you can also easily explore Marco Island real estate by price:

Also, to stay current on the latest listing and community events, connect with your Marco Island area expert on Facebook or Twitter!

What’s That Red-Orange Slime In The Toilet?!

October 11, 2018 By Dawn

Sometimes homes for sale sit vacant for awhile. When this happens, occasionally, you’ll notice that the toilet has a red-orange slimy deposit. The deposits can be orange, red, brown and sometimes yellow. Often, you’ll see an oil-like sheen over the water. It looks disgusting. If you’ve ever noticed this phenomenon, you won’t forget it!

So, what is it? Well, when water has been sitting for awhile in a toilet, these deposits can occur if there is iron bacteria in the well water supply. These bacteria are known to grow in water containing iron concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/L. You’ll also need at least 0.3 ppm of dissolved oxygen to carry out oxidation.

This filamentous growth is not known to cause any disease, so it shouldn’t be an automatic worry by any means. It can cause build up on fixtures and pipes, so having these things inspected is a good idea. It’s also a good idea to test water for other bacteria and all around quality before drinking from any well, of course. The bacteria can cause the water to have what some people consider a foul taste, but it’s not generally believed to be unsafe. This is a relief at a time when all across the nation people are paying special attention to water quality.

Thankfully, it’s also not difficult to treat or test for. A test should cost under $35 and your well can be treated by a professional.