Russell & Abbott

Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Dehumidifiers

May 16th, 2022

Ugh, high humidity. Not one of Man or Dog’s best friends. Humidity can feel nice during cold weather, but when it strikes here in Tennessee during our spring and summer seasons, we can be in for plenty of sweating and panting. (I’ll pant, you sweat.)

Humidity in the home can cause plenty of problems. Not only does high humidity make your home feel hotter, but it can promote mold and mildew growth which can affect your indoor air quality and make life pretty miserable for people with asthma and allergies. (The odor for mold and mildew is pretty bad too. Believe me … I’ve got a sharp sense of smell!)
You’ve got a way to combat humidity: dehumidifiers.

You’ve got a way to combat humidity: dehumidifiers. And now that we’re on that topic, I want to share with you some of the important differences between the portable dehumidifiers you can purchase in stores and the professional dehumidifiers our Russell & Abbott can install in your home.

Olive on Choosing the Right Thermostat

April 25th, 2022

A question I often get from my readers is how to pick a great thermostat. Thermostats can make a huge difference in how well your HVAC system operates. The ideal thermostat will help the HVAC system run efficiently and make life easier.

I’m glad to help because there are many new options when it comes to thermostats—the technology has advanced fast! Below I’ll provide you with advice about picking a thermostat in Knoxville, TN.

Our Guide to Air Filters

April 18th, 2022

When I look over the topics I often write about for my blog, one that pops up often is “air filters.” When people hear about air filters, they usually think about the air filters that are already part of their HVAC system. These are important filters, but you need to know that they aren’t there to improve indoor air quality. These filters do the job of stopping dust, lint, and other debris from getting into the HVAC system and damaging the heating system, air conditioner, and blower.

You can also have special filters installed into your HVAC system that remove pollutants from the air that surrounds you in your house. These filters are highly effective at keeping dust, pet dander, pollen, mold, and mildew spores from circulating through the air and they are much more powerful than the standard furnace filter.

There’s no single kind of air filter. You have several options when it comes to types of filters, and in this post I’m going to look over several of the different kinds.

Defend Your HVAC System With a Surge Protector!

April 4th, 2022

If you’re a regular reader of my blog (and thank you!), then you know my expertise as a blogger dog is in the HVAC world. So you wonder why I’m writing about a surge protector. “Olive, are you also an electrician dog?” Well, not a licensed electrician, but I have some important knowledge about electricity because it applies to HVAC equipment. And that’s why I want to talk to you today about the importance of surge protection—it’s closely connected to your home’s heating and cooling!

Duct Sealing: Why You Need It, How to Know You Need It

February 21st, 2022

Hello folks! In my last post, I talked about an important new service we now offer at Russell & Abbott—duct cleaning! Check it out and see if duct cleaning is something you think you may need in the near future. We’re always here to answer any questions you have.

Today I have another important service to talk about, one we added along with duct cleaning. It’s duct-related, so I’m not straying too far from the topic here: Russell & Abbott now offers duct sealing in Maryville, TN and throughout our wide service area.

Duct Cleaning? Yes, It Can Totally Help Your Home!

February 7th, 2022

As a dog, there are things in a house I can sense better than people can. For example, I can detect the smell of dust much quicker, and that means I can tell when the ductwork in a house has too much dust, dirt, and other debris inside it. It’s hard for people to know this because they can’t see most of their ductwork.

Unfortunately, your pets don’t have an effective way to inform you that you should schedule duct cleaning. (If they could, believe me, they would. We want to help!) What I recommend is that you have duct cleaning done every 3 to 5 years. If you’ve never had it done, now is a great time to do it.

Why Does My Furnace Keep Stopping and Starting So Much?

January 24th, 2022

I recommend to my readers that they keep a steady setting on their thermostats during the day. This is true in winter as well as summer—it helps the HVAC system avoid continual stopping and starting, which drains extra power. For a comparison, I like to sleep on a couch in the sunlight, and if I had to keep getting up and moving every ten minutes because the sunlight kept switching position, I’d use up a lot more energy than if I just could stay in one place.

But what if you are keeping the thermostat steady, but notice that the furnace is turning on and off rapidly anyway? If your furnace isn’t running for at least 15 minutes at a time before it cycles down, something may be wrong. I’ll go over some possible problems to help you see if you need furnace repair in Knoxville, TN to solve the problem.

We’re Growing Again: We’ve Acquired Air Masters Heating and Cooling

January 13th, 2022

The new year has just gotten underway, and we already have a major announcement about growth: Russell & Abbott has acquired Air Masters Heating and Cooling, founded by Brian and Alisa Baker in 2003. Brian and Alisa are retiring, and they wanted to make sure their customers continue to receive great care. According to Brian, “The Russell & Abbott team members are experienced professionals, and they stand behind their service. My customers can trust and rely on them to do the right thing.”

“I want this to be a seamless transition. Air Masters customers can still use the same phone numbers they are used to”, said Melissa Meck, Russell & Abbott President. “Customers can expect that we are qualified to service any brand of equipment, and if a new system is needed, there are many options within our exclusive Onyx™ line of high efficiency equipment with financing terms for almost anyone.”

Russell & Abbott will also offer Air Masters Heating and Cooling customers the opportunity to join our “Comfort Club.” This membership program offers priority service, two seasonal system tune-ups, and a professional system cleaning along with many other benefits.

We aim to build relationships with our customers for the long-haul. If you need any additional information about Russell & Abbott and our acquisition of Air Masters, feel free to contact us.

Just whistle and we’ll come running!

A Mid-Season Heating Replacement? Let’s Find Out If You Need One

January 11th, 2022

I know you probably didn’t write down, “Get a new heating system in the middle of the winter”, as one of the things on your list to do for the new year. If you have thought about getting a new heating system, you’d normally plan to have the job done in fall or another time when you wouldn’t have to rely on heat to keep you warm.

But nobody can see perfectly into the future, and even me, your well-informed HVAC blogger dog, isn’t 100% accurate when it comes to predicting the future of a heating system. What I can help you with is what to do now that you think you need a mid-winter heating system replacement. You have a system that’s old and giving you trouble so you want to know if you should replace it right now.

A Furnace That Blows Out Cold Air: Why It May Happen to You!

December 30th, 2021

Your furnace has a straightforward job: send warm air into your house on cold days. Of course, the actual workings of a furnace aren’t simple, and that’s why sometimes they can malfunction and end up sending out air that doesn’t warm a house at all.

I write about furnaces often and know plenty about how they can run into trouble. The good news is that with the proper HVAC service in Seymour, TN from our team of pros, you can prevent these problems or have them solved fast. Fixing your home comfort problems is what we’re all about!

But now I need to switch over into “Olive the Furnace Professor” mode and talk about why you may have a furnace that’s made your home an icebox and not a cozy retreat.

Russell & Abbott Blog