FALL ON THE ISLAND
Taking Care of What We Have
Celebrating the season, our community, and simple ways to take care of the place we call home.

Hello Kimberly, 

Fall is a season of transition on the Islands. As the days grow shorter and our heat pumps switch from keeping us cool to keeping us warm, it’s also a good time to think about taking care of the things we rely on — our homes, our equipment, our resources, and our community.

At Island Ductless, sustainability has been part of our mission from the beginning. This fall, we’re excited to share a new relationship that’s helping us put that commitment into practice in an even bigger way. We’ll also answer a question we often hear from homeowners whose comfort needs have changed over the years and share a few simple ways to get your heat pump ready for another heating season.

GIVING OUR WASTE A SECOND PURPOSE
Island Ductless + rePurpose Whidbey 

 ONE DUMPSTER DOWN! ♻️
By diverting our EPS and other reusable and hard-to-recycle materials through rePurpose Whidbey, we've eliminated an entire dumpster from our weekly waste service.  (The smaller container on the right is dedicated to cardboard recycling.) 

Helping save the planet one heat pump at a time has always meant more to us than installing energy-efficient equipment. It also means looking for ways to operate our own business more responsibly and reduce our environmental impact wherever we can.

That's why we're excited to have joined rePurpose Whidbey as a commercial member and become part of its effort to create a zero-waste culture here on Whidbey Island.

One of the biggest opportunities for us has been Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) — the white foam packaging commonly called Styrofoam that protects much of the equipment we install. Until now, we were filling an entire dumpster to overflowing with bulky EPS packaging every week.

Where it starts: Heat pump equipment arrives protected by substantial EPS packaging.

Now we're able to send that material to rePurpose, where its Styrofoam densifier can reduce the volume of EPS by an incredible 200 to 1. Compressing all that bulky foam into a fraction of its original volume means far more material can be transported in fewer trips — helping reduce fuel use and the CO₂ emissions associated with transporting it — while allowing the EPS to be upcycled into a commercially viable resource.

That's particularly meaningful here on Whidbey, where our garbage has a very long journey after it leaves the Island — traveling more than 400 miles to the Roosevelt Regional Landfill in south-central Washington.

And it doesn't stop with foam. We're also finding new destinations through rePurpose for other reusable and hard-to-recycle materials from our office and warehouse that might otherwise have ended up in the waste stream.

Where it goes now: Instead of the dumpster, our EPS is headed to rePurpose Whidbey.

The impact at Island Ductless has already been remarkable — significantly reducing both the amount of waste we're sending to the landfill and our disposal costs.

For us, that's what sustainability should look like: practical changes that are good for the environment, good for our community and good for business.

We're also excited to help spread the word about this growing local organization. The more Whidbey residents and businesses who discover what rePurpose can keep out of the landfill, the greater the impact we can make together.

Want to see what you can keep out of the landfill?
rePurpose accepts an impressive variety of reusable and hard-to-recycle materials.

Follow @rePurpose_whidbey on instagram

HEAT PUMPS 101

Can I Add More Mini-Splits to My Existing Ductless Heat Pump System?

Sometimes, yes!

Maybe you started with a heat pump in your main living area and now you're wishing you had one in the bedroom. Maybe you've remodeled, added living space, or simply discovered how much you enjoy the comfort and efficiency of your ductless system.

Whether another indoor unit can be added to your existing system depends on how your original system was designed.

Some multi-zone outdoor units may have the capacity and connections to accommodate another indoor unit. In other situations, adding another room or zone may require an additional outdoor unit.

That's why the best place to start is with your existing equipment. We can look at your system, your home's current comfort needs, and the available options to determine what makes the most sense.

Your comfort needs can change. Your heat pump system may be able to change with them.

Ready for the Heating Season?
Making the Switch from Cooling to Heating 

After a summer of keeping your home cool, your heat pump is about to change jobs.

Before you settle in for fall, there are a few simple things you can do to help your system make a smooth transition into heating season.

Start with your filters. If your heat pump has been working through summer heat, dust, pollen and wildfire smoke, now is an especially important time to remove and thoroughly clean the washable filters in your indoor units.

While you're at it:

• Check that nothing is blocking airflow around your indoor units.

• Clear leaves, vegetation and debris from around outdoor equipment.

• Switch your system to HEAT mode before the first really cold day and make sure everything is operating normally.

• Remember to continue checking and cleaning your filters regularly throughout heating season.

And when was your last professional maintenance?

Homeowner care and professional preventative maintenance work together. Cleaning your filters is important, but it doesn't replace the thorough inspection and cleaning your system receives during annual maintenance.

If you're an Island Ductless client and you're not sure when we last serviced your system, take a look at your records — and if it's approaching or has been more than 12 months, give our office a call so we can get your annual maintenance scheduled.

A little attention now can help keep your heat pump clean, efficient and ready to keep you comfortable through another Island winter.

FROM OUR ISLAND DUCTLESS FAMILY TO YOURS

As another beautiful Island summer gives way to fall, we're grateful for the customers, local organizations and community partners who make it possible for us to do what we do.

Thank you for trusting us with your comfort — and for joining us in our mission to create more comfortable, energy-efficient homes and a more sustainable community.

Experience the Island Ductless Difference
trusted local professionals delivering sustainable comfort.

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