Real Estate Information

I can’t believe how much has been built in the last week! The pictures I’m posting below are literally 9 days after last week’s photos were taken. We had no idea the house would be framed so fast.

For about a day I had a complete freakout and wanted the whole thing to slow down. However, once I got out to the site and started thinking about all that still needs to be done… plumbing, electrical, etc. I calmed down and knew that the house wasn’t going to be built overnight. For me, it’s very important to enjoy the whole process, no matter how fast it happens or how many difficult decisions need to be made. I’ve really had to make a conscious effort the last two days to slow down mentally and emotionally. It is working. (As are the indecently large amounts of chocolate.)

Which sleek white sink is the best sleek white sink?

The conundrum for this week: We want a small, modern sink in our ½ bath and are deciding between two. The first posted below is our favorite and the second is what we believe to be a more “re-sale-able” option. In other words, do we go for the one we really love or for the one that will be more generally more approved of by future buyers? Which one do you like best? Will it stand the test of time? And is it even important for something like this to last. Maybe we should just fill the house with everything we love and not worry about resale. Your opinion?

Thanks for checking in! Definitely stop by the blog again next week for more pictures.
Maybe we’ll be moving in! Ha!

Construction Photos

               Backyard                                                      Front

                                      View from street

          Interior from entrance                             Staircase to right of entrance

        Living Room/Dining Room                                       View into Master

-

Summer has come with a vengeance! Here’s hoping the crispy grass doesn’t keep you indoors this week. Or if it does, check out some of the events at the Rochester Civic Theatre or a comedy show at Goonie’s. They’re air conditioned!

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day and don’t forget to share your feedback with us, just fill out the form below!

Also, if you’re noticing some events in the Rochester area that are new and interesting and we’re missing them, please send us a quick note! Thanks!

Wednesday July 6^th

Wednesday Artists Happy Hour at RCT – Rochester Civic Theatre 5:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Late Night Happy Hour at Dooley’s Pub 8pm

Thursday July 7^th

Rochester Water Ski Team at Foster Arend Park 7pm

Little House Storytime at the Dee Log Cabin at the History Center of Olmsted County
            10am -- Toddlers to 2^nd Grade
            2pm & 5pm -- 2^nd Grade to Adult

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 10am-9pm

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester 11am-8:30pm

Goonie’s Open Mic at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Friday July 8^th

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Momentum by Wessel at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Lost Highway at the Wicked Moose Bar & Grill 9pm

USA Dance - Southern MN Chapter hosts Ballroom, Rhythm, Swing Dances
 – Fred Reed Hall at the Senior Center
            Beginner & Intermediate Lessons --  7:30-8:30pm
            General Dancing – 8:30-11pm

Friday Night Bistro Three Course Dinner with Chef Mango 6:30pm
Friday Night Bistro with Jazz Jam by D’Sievers at the Rochester Civic Theatre 8-11pm

Brian Cork & Shannon Paul at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Saturday July 9^th

Brian Cork & Shannon Paul at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Rick Lee & Audrey Rinkoski at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Pop Evil at the Wicked Moose Bar & Grill 9pm

Michael Johnson in Concert at Crossings at Carnegie 8pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Day at the Country School at the History Center of Olmsted County 1-4pm

Nature Walk at Chester Woods Park 3pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Sunday July 10^th

20th Anniversary Down by the Riverside Concert: Paul Revere & the Raiders
     Mayo Park 7pm

Sunday Garden Tours & Activities at Mayowood Mansion 12pm-3pm

Cave Sunday at Quarry Hill Nature Center 1:30-2:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Monday July 11^th

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Tuesday July 12^th

Hal Martin All Comers' Track Meet at the Soldiers Field Track 6-8pm

Univeristy of MN Rochester Presents Author Catherine Friend
     Peace Plaza Downtown 7-8:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Hello! I’m Kate, newly employed at RE/MAX with Beth and Lauren and also in the process of building a new home! We thought it would be fun and informative to write about the process of homebuilding, including my personal thoughts, ongoing photos of the process and all the different stages of decision-making. We would love to hear your advice, comments and feedback with regard to the design decisions, photos and anything else that pops up.

Many people have considered building but are often daunted by the process. I’ve noticed that those who are most intimidated are the ones who want to build from scratch, working with an architect to create a completely unique home. To make our (Jay’s and my) process a little easier, we decided to modify a pre-existing plan. This not only saved us time, but plenty of headaches with regard to architectural choices. And hopefully we will be relieved of some of those unwelcome surprises once the walls start going up.

One of the most significant things we’ve noticed is how many decisions there are that we’d never considered before. For instance, many people have thought about what color cabinetry they’d like or if they want hardwood or tile flooring, but have you thought about the shape of the balusters? And once you decide on the shape, how do you want them spaced? Another example is door knobs. Jay likes levers, I like knobs, what to do? What a weird thing to disagree on! Right now we have to really cement these choices as the constructions guys (from Penz Custom Homes) started digging on Monday. It’s time to get crackin’!

As far as the actual building we just have a big hole in the ground and a large pile of dirt. However, it’s the most exciting pile of dirt I’ve ever seen!

So, what’s your opinion on building? From scratch or a preexisting plan? Knobs or levers?

Also, if you’ve built a home or done any remodeling, we’d love to hear your stories and sage wisdom. And please feel free to stop by the blog again to keep track of the construction progress and find out what design choices we’ve made!

Say goodbye to the rain! We finally have a warm and sunny summer week! The Rochester Fourth of July Fireworks are at Silver Lake Park on Monday night. Come early by 8:30pm for the concert and the 21 gun salute to our veterans, then stay for the fireworks display beginning at 10pm.

Happy Fourth of July!

Don’t forget to share your feedback with us, just fill out the form below.

Wednesday June 29^th

Frogs and Toads at Whitewater State Park 1-2pm

Ugandan Orphans Choir at Church of St. John the Evangelist 6pm

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Comedy Roulette at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Late Night Happy Hour at Dooley’s Pub 8pm

Thursday June 30^th

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 10am-9pm

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester 11am-8:30pm

Bird Banding Demonstration at Whitewater State Park 6:30-8:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Friday July 1^st

Whitewater State Park:
         Mini Monsters at the Beach 1-2pm
         Camouflage Walk 3-4pm
         Music in the Park: Chris Kendall, Singer-Songwriter 8-9pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Greg Boerner at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Friday Night Bistro with Jazz Jam by D’Sievers at the Rochester Civic Theatre
      Dinner: 6:30pm, Jazz: 8-11pm

Mike Smith & Jon Wilson at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Saturday July 2^nd

Mike Smith & Jon Wilson at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Greg Boerner at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Whitewater State Park:          
         Archery in the Park – All morning
         Nature Scavenger Hunt 12:30-1:30
         Make Your Own Walking Stick 2:30-3:30pm
         A Pond full of Frogs 7-8pm

Dustin Rosemark, Victoria Hoyt Artists’ Reception at Crossings at Carnegie 7pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Sunday July 3^rd

Sunday Garden Tours & Activities at Mayowood Mansion 12pm-3pm

Whitewater State Park:          
         I Can (Trout) Fish! 10:30am-12:30pm
         Dragonflies 2-3pm
         Tracking and Plaster Cast Making – Early evening
         Bird Banding Demonstration 6:30-8:30pm
         Mystery Animal Slide Show 8-9pm

Bird Sunday at Quarry Hill Nature Center 1:30-2:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Monday July 4^th

2011 Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks
         Children’s Parade starting at Lourdes High School – Noon
         Concert at Silver Lake soccer field – 8:30pm
         Tribute to Veterans, Fireworks – 10pm

Whitewater State Park:          
         Fossil Field Trip 9-11am
         Snakes of the Blufflands 11am-Noon
         Beavers at the Beach 2-3pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Tuesday July 5^th

Hal Martin All Comers' Track Meet at the Soldiers Field Track 6-8pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Check out our new listing and stop by our open house this Saturday 6/25 12:30-2pm. We hope to see you all there!!

http://www.rochesterhomesource.com/property/3214-Darcy-Dr-NE-Rochester-Minnesota

It's been a rainy week in Rochester, but don't let it keep you from enjoying all the fun summer events! There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, including Rochesterfest which runs June 17-26th and includes concerts, Million $ Hole golf, the Friday evening Grand Parade, and much more. Click here to link to the webpage.

Don’t forget to share your feedback with us, just fill out the form below!

Wednesday June 22^nd

Rochesterfest at Mayo Civic Center 12pm

Over the Edge 2011 at Broadway Residence and Suites 9-5pm

Cheers Karaoke at American Legion Post 92 6pm

Magician Bob Miller at Dos Amigos I 5:30pm

Family Fun Night at Civic Center Drive Stage 5:30pm

Just Playin’ Fun at American Legion Post 92 6pm

Kiwanis Parent/Child Free Fair at 1 Street SE 100 Block 4:30-8pm

Open Mic Music Night at Viking Lounge 8pm

Karaoke at Viking Lounge 9pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Brainstorm Presents: Concerts at Uturn Coffee Shop 6:30pm

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Era at Heritage House

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club Rochester Athletic Club 12:30pm

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Late Night Happy Hour at Dooley’s Pub 8pm

Thursday June 23^rd

Rochesterfest at Mayo Civic Center 12pm

Much Ado About Nothing in Central Park 7-9pm

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester all day

Open Mic Night at Goonies Comedy Club 7:30pm

Magician Bob Miller at O’Neills Pizza Pub 5:30pm

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 10am-9pm

Karen Lewis, Jeff Chauvin Paintings at Crossings at Carnegie

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Era at Heritage House

Annie at Autumn Ridge Church 7:30pm

kidDISCO at the Rochester Art Center

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Thursday Evening Bridge at Rochester Athletic Club 6:30pm

Late Night Happy Hour at Dooley’s Pub 8pm

Karaoke at Viking Lounge 9pm

Friday June 24^th

Rochesterfest at Mayo Civic Center 12pm

Annie at Autumn Ridge Church 7:30pm

Bingo at the Elks Lodge 7 pm

Friday Night Magic at Games by James 5:30pm

Just Playin’ Fun at American Legion Post 92 6pm

Rochester 1908-2008: 100 Years of Similarities and Differences at the

     Rochester Senior Center at 10am

Brainstorm Presents: Concerts at Uturn Coffee Shop 6:30pm

Fabulous Friday Night Dance at Civic Center Drive Stage

     Beer Garden opens: 4pm, Music at 8:30pm

Grand Parade   Start at East Center Street at 6:15pm

Magician Bob Miller at Paradise Pete’s 6pm

Karaoke at Viking Lounge 9pm

Karen Lewis, Jeff Chauvin Paintings at Crossings at Carnegie

Friday Afternoon Bridge at Rochester Athletic Club 12:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Christine Stedman and Darrin Meyer at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Jailhouse Payback at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Era Heritage House

Saturday June 25^th

Much Ado About Nothing in Central Park 7-9pm

Annie at Autumn Ridge Church 7:30pm

Rochesterfest Street Dance at the Mayo Civic Center 7pm

The Summer High Ropes Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center 10am & 2pm

Zumbro River Community Festival at Camp Victory 4:30-10:30pm

Cascade Animal Medical Center Open House 11am-2pm

Fourth Annual Dachshund Dash at the Rochester Civic Theatre 2pm

Rochester Giants Football - University Center Rochester 5pm

Blue Lotus Dancers at the Rochester Civic Theatre 6-10pm

Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Walk - Behind the Civic Center 8am-12pm

John Paulson & Eric Heukeshoven Jazz Duo at the Salem Glen Vineyard and 

     Winery, 2-5pm

Peter Mulvey in Concert at Crossings at Carnegie 8pm

"Raptors" at the Chester Woods Park 7pm

Pony Up with RideAbility - Horse Rides at the Rochester Feed & Country

     Store, 11am-3pm

Rochester Has Talent - Talent Show at the Civic Center Drive Stage 11am

Rochester Water Ski Thrill Show at Foster Arend Park 4pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Christine Stedman and Darrin Meyer at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Longshot at Canadian Honker 8pm

Karaoke at Viking Lounge 9pm

Assisi Heights Tours 2pm

Sunday June 26^th

Much Ado About Nothing in Central Park 7-9pm

Annie at Autumn Ridge Church 7:30pm

Sunday Garden Tours & Activities at Mayowood Mansion 12pm-3pm

1860's Baseball - History Center of Olmsted County 4:30pm

Guided Walking Tour of Historic 4th Street SW - 2pm & 6pm, must register

     at Rochesterfest.com for location

Cave Sunday at the Quarry Hill Nature Center 1:30-2:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Monday June 27^th

Monday Bar Bingo at Elks Lodge 6:30pm

Magician Bob Miller at Dos Amigos II 5:30pm

Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club at Rochester Athletic Club 12pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Monday Men's Group at Rochester Senior Center 9am

Tuesday June 28^Th

Hal Martin All Comers' Track Meet at the Soldiers Field Track 6-8pm

Audubon Program at the Quarry Hill Nature Center 7-8:30pm

Olmsted County Exploration in 1820 at Peace Plaza Downtown 7-8:30pm

Mask Making Workshop at the Rochester Public Library Auditorium 2pm

Open Mic Music Night Viking Lounge 8pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

It is amazing that you can drive less than 30 minutes away and feel like you are in another part of the world.  Lanesboro is one of our favorite places to visit, camp, eat, bike, or canoe.  I personally love it because my cell phone does not get coverage there so I feel like I am truly getting away from the chaos of day to day life.

This time I experienced two new things.  The first thing is that we took the bike path out of Lanesboro to Whalen to the World Famous Aroma Pie shop.  What a treat!  I had the Strawberry Rhubarb which was fabulous, and Ava had the Apple Pie and when I asked her if it was better than my apply pie she replied, "yes!"  Definitely worth the bike ride there and somehow you always feel less guilty when you have to work for it.  The second was the Pedal Pusher Cafe which was a great lunch spot.  So good that we went both days.  The girls were hooked on the milk that they get from Kapper's Big Red Barn so of course we had to stop in Chatfield on our way back to get some milk fresh from the farm.  I did learn that they sell it locally at Hy-Vee and at Rochester Produce.  Heaven for the milk lovers like my daughter, Ava.  

We usually camp at the Eagle Cliff Campground which I highly recommend but this time we also tried something new and camped at the Old Barn Resort.  It was nice but in future trips we will be heading back to Eagle Cliff.  What a great getaway and heated blankets are perfect for cooler nights when camping!  Ready to go again but nothing planned until the end of July.  Even if you only have a day this summer and you are looking for something to do; head to Lanesboro and I promise you will not regret your decision.

Wow has it been hot!  Looks like in typical MN fashion the temps will now dip in the extreme other direction for the weekend.  None the less, it a great time to get out and enjoy all the activites in Rochester.

Don’t forget to share with us, just fill out the form below!

Wednesday June 8^th

Cheers Karaoke at American Legion Post 92 6pm

Magician Bob Miller at Dos Amigos I 5:30pm

Just Playin’ Fun at American Legion Post 92 6pm

Open Mic Music Night at Viking Lounge 8pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Brainstorm Presents: Concerts at Uturn Coffee Shop 6:30pm

Karen Lewis, Jeff Chauvin Paintings at Crossings at Carnegie

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Era at Heritage House

Mayowood Mansion Tour 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club Rochester Athletic Club 12:30pm

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Late Night Happy Hour at Dooley’s Pub 8pm

Thursday June 9^th

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester all day

Open Mic Night at Goonies Comedy Club 7:30pm

Magician Bob Miller at O’Neills Pizza Pub 5:30pm

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 9am

Karen Lewis, Jeff Chauvin Paintings at Crossings at Carnegie

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Era at Heritage House

Compleat Works of William shakespeare Rochester Civic Theatre 8 pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Thursday Evening Bridge at Rochester Athletic Club 6:30pm

Late Night Happy Hour at Dooley’s Pub 8pm

Karaoke at Viking Lounge 9pm

Friday June 10^th

Bingo at the Elks Lodge 7 pm

Friday Night Magic at Games by James 5:30pm

Just Playin’ Fun at American Legion Post 92 6pm

Magician Bob Miller at Paradise Pete’s 6pm

Karaoke at Viking Lounge 9pm

Wine Tasting at Post Town Winery 3pm-7pm

USA Dance - Southern MN Chapter hosts Ballrooms Dances Senior Center - Fred Hall

Karen Lewis, Jeff Chauvin Paintings at Crossings at Carnegie

Friday Afternoon Bridge at Rochester Athletic Club 12:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Street Shoes Concert at Uturn Coffee Shop 8pm

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Era Heritage House

Compleat Works of William Shakespeare at Rochester Civic Theatre 8pm

7 Sins with Inertia at Wicked Moose Bar and Grill 9pm

Stephano and David Harris at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Jaggedease at Canadian Honker 8pm

Jeremy Jewell at Whistle Binkies On the Lake 9 pm

Saturday June 11^th

The Summer High Ropes Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center 10am & 2pm

Karaoke at Viking Lounge 9pm

Montana Skies in Concert at Zumbrota Covered Bridge Park 8pm

National Get Outdoors Day/Family Outdoor Fair Whitewater State Park

Pentecost Celebration: Staying in the Fire at Lourdes Chapel - Assisi Heights 6:30pm

Rochester Royals Baseball Game at Mayo Field 4pm

Take a Kid Fishing and Family Outdoor Fair Whitewater State Park

Zumbrota's Covered Bridge Quick Draw 2011 Crossings at Carnegie

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Period at Heritage House

Compleat Works of William Shakespeare at Rochester Civic Theatre 8pm

Nature Walk Chester Woods Park 3pm

Rochester Giants Football University Center Rochester 4pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Nature Toddlers Quarry Hill Nature Center 9:30am-10:30am

Assisi Heights Tours 2pm

Stephano and David Harris at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Randy & Joselyn at Canadian Honker 8pm

MLC Band with Shalo Lee at Wicked Moose Bar and Grill 9pm

Sunday June 12^th

Wine Tasting at Post Town Winery 1pm-5pm

Sunday Garden Tours & Activities at Mayowood Mansion 12pm-3pm

John Gorka in Concert at Crossings at Carnegie 7pm

Rochester Royals Baseball Game Mayo Field 5pm

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Period at Heritage House 1pm-3:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Cave Sunday at Quarry Hill Nature Center 1:30pm-2:30pm

Monday June 13^th

Night Club 2-Step - Beginners Lessons at Blue Moon Ballroom 6:30pm

Monday Bar Bingo at Elks Lodge 6:30pm

Magician Bob Miller at Dos Amigos II 5:30pm

Heavy Metal Concert at Uturn Coffee Shop 6:30

Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club at Rochester Athletic Club 12pm

World War II Round Table at assembly of God Church 6:30 pm

Fashions, Fabrics and Photos from the Victorian Period at Heritage House 1pm-3:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Monday Men's Group at Rochester Senior Center 9am

Tuesday June 14^th

Hal Martin All Comers' Track Meet Soldiers Field Track 6pm-8pm

Elks Flag Day Ceremony at Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial 5:30pm

One Hundred Years of IBM: A View from IBM Rochester University Square 7pm-8:30

Open Mic Music Night Viking Lounge 8pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

http://www.rochesterhomesource.com Rochester MN Video Real Estate tour of 5170 Kingston Pl NW Rochester MN. Tour take you through this NW Rochester home and give potential buyers a good sense as to how the home is laid out. For more information give us a call at our RE/MAX office 507-287-7755.

We love our air conditioning in Minnesota. Good ol' A/C. Keeps us cool and comfortable when the weather is warm and humid. Until we get the electric bill. Then we get "hot" about the cost. Fact is most people do not use their air conditioning effectively or efficiently. Now you're not going to save tons of money by being more conscious of the way you use A/C, but it can make the pain a little more tolerable.

Whether you have a central A/C system or window units, you can save by following a few simple rules.

Maintenance: Like any mechanical system, your air conditioner needs regular maintenance to operate at peak performance. Replace your filters once a month! This is true for a window unit or central air system. Most people believe that High Efficiency filters have a longer life span. Untrue, they are finer and therefore filter smaller particles. This means they generally get dirty quicker. Often these filters can be detrimental to your systems efficiency by restricting air flow. You should check with your HVAC technician before using high efficiency filters such as HEPA types. In extreme cases they can cause the indoor cooling coils to freeze, which may result in damage.

The indoor cooling coils in the air handler should be cleaned once a year. Dirty coils are less efficient. The fan blades in the air handler should also be cleaned. Clean blades move more air.

Clean condensate lines and check and clean the pump if your system is equipped with one. Make sure that system shutdown switches are working. Look over the catch pan under the air handler if unit has one. Be sure there are no holes or cracks.

The outdoor compressor is the heart of a central A/C system. Keep the area around the unit clear and free of debris. Restricting the air flow from the unit will impede its' ability to dissipate heat causing it to work harder. Have the cooling fins cleaned once a year. The same is true for window units. Blow lawn clippings away from the unit! Make sure that your clothes drying vent is directed away from the A/C unit.

Your ducts need to be cleaned! This is a greatly overlooked area of forced air maintenance. Dirty ducts are first and foremost unhealthy. Have your ducts cleaned every 3-5 years.

Using your system efficiently: The best way to use a central air conditioning system is to not open your windows when the temperature cools down for one or two days. The job of the A/C system is to; one cool the air and two: dehumidify the air. By opening windows you re-humidify the air in the home and when you restart the system, it will have work to once again dehumidify the air.

Consider where you set your thermostat. The optimal temperature for central A/C systems is 78 degrees. If the air is dry 78 is quite comfortable. Contemplate this fact, for every degree you deviate from 78 it will cost you about three percent more per degree to run you A/C. Using ceiling fans will also allow you to more comfortably raise the temperature and use the unit less.

Programmable thermostats can save you money by adjusting the temperature setting to warmer while you are away from home and lowering it before you come back. Raising the temperature for a period of about eight hours is recommended in order to realize any savings. Shorter periods may not save you any money or may even cost you. Be aware and experiment with setting these devices around your schedule.

Make sure your duct work is insulated and sealed. Duct leaks can be responsible for up to a 30% loss in efficiency. The same is true for insulating ducts, especially in unconditioned spaces such as an attic.

Some other points to remember are close your shades and blinds during the day. Insulated shades are a good way to keep the heat out of your home. Avoid using your oven, cook on the stove top or better yet the microwave or barbecue outdoors. If you have a ventilating hood run it to spot remove the heat to the exterior, but don't over do it, this will draw some hot outdoor air into the home.

Size matters: Bigger is not better with air conditioning. If your system is too large, either central or window units, it will not effectively dehumidify the air. This will make the home very uncomfortable. It will be cool, but feel damp or "clammy".

Whirlpool has a cooling capacity calculator that you can use to choose the correct size room air conditioner for your application. With central air the system is sized by an HVAC technician using heat load calculations.

When choosing any air conditioner the higher the efficiency the lower the operating cost. Central units are rated in SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). The minimum federally mandated rating since January 23, 2006 is 13. SEER 13 is 30% more efficient than the previous minimum SEER of 10.

Room air conditioners are rated by the energy efficiency ratio (EER). The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner. National appliance standards require room air conditioners built after January 1, 1990, to have an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 8.0 or greater.

When buying a room air conditioner, look for units with an EER of 10.0 or above. Check the Energy Guide label for the unit, and also look for room units with the ENERGY STAR label.

A little consideration should be give to where you install your air conditioner. If possible, install the unit in a shaded spot on your home's north or east side. Direct sunshine on the unit's outdoor heat exchanger decreases efficiency by as much as 10%.

By following these tips you will save money and be more comfortable in Rochester MN. And you may find the painful cost of comfort might just be a little more bearable.