There are ways everyone can use less energy and save money with your existing HVAC system. 1) Your HVAC system should be properly cleaned twice a year. This will remove any debris from the indoor and outdoor coils. 2) Change your air filters every month. When your filters are clogged, it’s harder for air to be pulled into the system, making it work harder and use more energy, which costs you more money. Even “3 month” filters should be changed every 1-2 months. 3) When you have your system maintenance done, make sure your HVAC technician checks your refrigerant balance is at proper levels. 4) Set your thermostat to 72 degrees F and leave it alone. This will allow for more consistent temperature control.
Read more! →Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas that is found in thousands of homes every year. It happens as the result of the incomplete combustion of a gas appliance, such as a gas water heater or gas furnace. It is also the most commonly misdiagnosed illness for many doctors. In small amounts, it causes headaches, chronic tiredness and flu-like symptoms. In higher amounts, it often results in death. This happens because the Carbon Monoxide replaces the oxygen in your blood stream, eventually causing suffocation. Your best defense is to have Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home. Having at least one detector per gas appliance is recommended, and placing them in hallways, bedrooms, and family and living rooms. We recommend having your gas furnace properly maintained every Autumn. This maintenance should include an inspection of the heat exchange for defects and cracks that allow Carbon Monoxide to escape the unit. So
Read more! →Q. What is a UV Light? A. A UV light is a device that is placed within the A/C coil to prevent mold and fungal growth within your A/C system. Q. How do I know if I need one? A. A technician with proper Preventative Maintenance knowledge will use a digital camera to photograph the inside of your supply duct and indoor coil, looking for evidence of fungal growth within the system. Q. What will a UV light do for the air in my home? A. It depends on the type of UV light you choose for your home. Some products are designed for duct system air sanitation, while others are designed as a fungal preventative measure at the indoor coil. Q. How do I choose the right company to install my UV light? A. Product knowledge and the willingness to educate the customer about the options available are an
Read more! →Did you know that the air inside your home can hold up to 100 times the amount of contaminates as the outside air? These contaminates can cause common allergies and upper respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchial viruses. What is a home owner to do? There are three easy steps you can take to help reverse the poor air quality found in most homes. 1) Have proper preventative maintenance on your heating and cooling systems. This should always include a full inspection of all exposed duct work, a visual inspection of the supply duct where it attaches to the air conditioning coil, and proper cleaning of the A/C coil. 2) Proper filtration. Return filters should be changed every 30 days. And yes, this includes the so called “3 month” filters. They catch more dirt and that restricts the air flow which makes the system work harder and can cause
Read more! →Why bother with maintenance? Regardless of the horror stories passed down from a friend of a friend at the end of every summer and despite warnings from trained professionals, most homeowners today still operate in a reactive mode. Even though most homeowners know that it is far better to schedule planned maintenance, most continue to spend their income unnecessarily by operating reactively to their HVAC system. This approach to air-conditioning maintenance is troubling given the role that HVAC systems play in today’s modern home. HVAC systems in the typical home are responsible for more than a quarter of total energy use. Keeping HVAC systems running properly and at peak efficiency is the first step in managing economical energy use. The importance of good HVAC system maintenance goes beyond just controlling energy use. Homes rely on properly operating air-conditioning systems for more than just people comfort. For example, most home electronics
Read more! →Heat stress is well recognized by many employers. Its symptoms are easy to spot: profuse sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted research showing that work in hot environments is tied to lower mental awareness, reduced mental faculties, and physical performance… and subsequently, more injuries. What about the people that aren’t working in the sun? What about people that are retired? What about those folks that are taking a day off from work or are homemakers and simply have a poorly functioning or broken air-conditioning unit? Heat stress can happen inside too! Elderly and infants are most at risk but healthy adults can also be susceptible. It’s suggested that everyone limit their outdoor activity to early AM or late PM. Use fans, take frequent cool showers, go to the mall, theater, restaurant, or library during the hottest point of
Read more! →Tragedy can occur at any time and to anyone. But that doesn’t mean that we should let it happen. We can take responsible action to help prevent it. A recent fire that started in the attic of a Kenner, LA house ultimately claimed the lives of a mother and her 5-year-old daughter after they and others were hospitalized. Did you know that in most homes, the furnace and air-conditioning system is installed in the attic? No smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors appear to have been found in the home — Can you imagine this happening to your family? Could this tragedy have been prevented by a properly installed and working warning system consisting of smoke & carbon monoxide detectors? When was the last time you checked your warning system to make sure it worked correctly? Do you have a well-rehearsed evacuation plan for your family? When was the last
Read more! →A few years ago, a local non-profit resale store received a large donation of new, yet outdated HVAC equipment. The resale outlet was thrilled as were local neighborhood residents. You see, the donation came at the beginning of summer, a typical time when old or malfunctioning air conditioning units need repair or replacement. To be able to purchase brand new HVAC components for thirty percent below distributor pricing seemed like a dream come true for many. Everyone from rental property landlords to new owners of old homes were lining up to take advantage of the deals. The problem was, the deals were often taking advantage of the people. Please continue reading to understand how. Whenever a potential customer would ask a resale staff person or volunteer a question regarding the purchase of an HVAC system or part, the answer was always tentative at best. The store’s management made no secret
Read more! →In a world of philosophical and theological questions, there is one that should be asked. It is a question of comparisons by worth and value. It is a form of playing the old game of Lifeboat, where decisions are made as to who will live and who will die based on an individual’s value to society at large. The question is, “What profession is most important to our lifestyle?” Many readers will immediately say, “Why, doctors, of course. They are often our last hope for life, and can aid to make that life much more comfortable.” Then there are those who contend, “Ministers of Faith are most important, because they comfort us in this life, and keep us from damnation in the next.” And then there are others who by some set of reason or rationale conclude that it should be any one of a number of professions, ranging from
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