Archive for the ‘Heating & Air’ Category
Protect Your HVAC System From Hurricane Weather no comments
As summer ends and the weather cools, those living in coastal areas may look forward to the beginning of the school year, and perhaps reclaiming their city from the influx of tourists that crowded the beaches and malls. Yet, once these visitors are back in their minivans and campers, locals have truly unwelcome guests to face: hurricanes and tropical storms. The damage rough weather can inflict on your home and HVAC system can cause headaches in the aftermath, so it’s important to make sure everything is protected.
Seasoned coastal residents already know the drill when a hurricane warning is in effect: bring in the plants and patio chairs, and turn over outdoor tables if you’re unable to fit them in the garage. You know, too, to tape and/or board up your windows where possible, but you’ve probably wondered how to handle your heating and air conditioning in bad weather. You can’t move your outside system, but if you have a cover it’s best to make sure it’s tightly secured to protect your equipment from harsh rains.
Also, it’s best to simply shut everything down if you anticipate a power outage. This way, you reduce the risk of blowing out circuits and burning out the compressor when the electricity returns.
Once the storm is passed, check your outside equipment for any damage like dents or dings from fallen debris. If you feel there is something obstructing your system and preventing it from working properly, get a call into your HVAC repairman before you work your AC.
As you prepare your emergency hurricane kits, take care to watch your heating and cooling systems. If you’re close to the storm, don’t take chances and run any equipment that might burn out – you want your HVAC running long after the rains have stopped.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Newport News HVAC repair and Williamsburg HVAC repair.
The Air Purifier no comments
Since we are living in a world that is already full of pollution and harmful things around us, we cannot deny the fact that we are also affected by it and is unknowingly harmed by the things unseen. The solution has already come and that all you need to do is to know more about it and be observant about the safety that you should have whenever you are exposed to unwanted particles that causes harm to our body.
Now that you have known that we are truly exposed to these things, you have to find a way that would make the air you breathe, safe and fresh. There are appliances that become the ways to purify the air. They filter and clean the air so you can be assured that you are living in a safe and healthy home. Although there are also ways for you to naturally prevent those things like putting plants inside your home, this makes the job easier by having your own living air purifiers. They are not only safe but also healthy for us to be having this organic solution to inorganic problems.
Living air purifiers make the level of pollutants lower than the usual while plants can wipe it out because they need all the carbon dioxide because this is something healthy and important for them so expect that plants can really be a big help to your own shelter. You will be assured of the safety, fresh and clean air that you are breathing.
For more information about living air purifier, just log on to this site: http://www.homeairpurifiershop.com/living-air-purifier.html.
Extra Ways to Keep Your Family Warm and Toasty no comments
With most of the country in the throes of winter, heating our homes has become a very sore subject. As our heating bills go up, our wallets start to drain. We’re left wondering if there are ways to keep our homes and families nice and toasty through the winter that don’t completely drain our finances. It’s possible that you’re considering things like having furnace repair done in order to make it more efficient.
Or perhaps you might hire a heating or HVAC contractor to help you address any potential issues you have heating our home. These are both good ideas. However, in addition to those steps, there are a few little things you can do to help save a little bit in the meantime. Some of these steps include insulating your windows with heavy drapes, using passive solar heat to keep your home warm while the sun is out, and keeping drafts to a minimum by caulking your outside doors and windows.
If you are trying to choose between an electric or gas furnace, you might be surprised to know that, for the most part, gas furnaces are far more affordable than electric ones. Electric heating costs about 70% more than if you were to heat the same area with gas heating, provided your particular furnace is at an 80% rate of efficiency. That’s quite a difference! However, even though gas heating is cheaper, you can find ways to cut down on even those costs.
For example, small electric space heaters or electric fireplaces are a great way to top up the heat in specific rooms that you’re only in for a short period of time. Keep the common and well-populated areas of the house moderately heated with economical central furnace heat during the day. Then, in the evening, switch on the romantic electric fireplace to intermittently heat up the living room or den where you are relaxing in the evening. It’s a win-win situation that will keep your home warm and your budget reasonable.
In the event you’re contemplating using this particular method of supplementing your current central furnace system with ceramic heaters and the like, but are concerned about safety, don’t worry. Rest assured that, provided you follow the instructions in the manual, and keep your space heater at least three feet away from any other objects, you won’t have any problems. Besides, if you want to use the space heaters to save money, they’ll probably be in the rooms where you are, so you can keep a close eye on them. Due to their portability, they’re also quite convenient.
There are many ways that you can find to reduce your heating bill. Using space heaters and these attractive new electric fireplaces to heat rooms as you use them are two good solutions. However, if you really want to maximize long-term savings to your heating bill, hire a quality HVAC contractor who will conduct a furnace audit and repair. These helpful folks can help you pick just the right kind of heating that will keep your family warm and snug.
In Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville and the greater Atlanta area when you call Hixon Heating and Air Conditioning our number one goal is to fix your heating or air conditioning system right the first time. We guarantee the lowest prices on all Lawrenceville heating and Dacula heating and air conditioning.
Air Conditioner Review – What They Are and How to Find Them no comments
Before purchasing an air conditioner, it is always a good idea to check out what other people are saying about the current products on the market, these consumer reports, or customer opinions, are what you would commonly refer to as an air conditioner review.
Reading other peoples experiences about the cooling appliances that they have purchased will give you a better insight as to how a particular product performs in the real world, rather than just relying on the information the product manufacturer says about it’s own product. Because after all, a product manufacturer doesn’t want you to know they are selling a piece of junk right, so they will only ever tell you what they want you to hear.
The purpose for checking out what other people are saying about the experiences they have had is ultimately to save you, time, money and most importantly, the headache of buying a lemon.
How To Find Unbiased Customer Reviews
A good place I like to use in order to find unbiased customer reviews about any appliance, is one of my favorite sites, Amazon. This site has thousands of people safely buying products each and every day online. With thousands of happy and not so happy consumer reviews to read, you are sure to find some great feedback about the product your looking to purchase.
Another site that I sometimes take advantage of is Twitter. Twitter has a nifty little search function, similar to the search bar in the Google home page, where you can type in your specific brand of air conditioner that you may be interested in and see if there is anyone tweeting about it, you will be very surprised as to what results you get back. Try it.
Jason writes on a number of different topics, Why not come and visit his latest website over at Air Conditioner Review.net which provides plenty of information about Ductless Air Conditioners, including reviews and other related information that you need when looking for Air Conditioners and accessories.
Corner Fireplaces a Delightful, Inexpensive Way to Warm and Cheer Your Home no comments
Winter doesn’t have to be dreary, frigid and depressing, if you avail yourself of the magic and warmth of a corner fireplace. People often cast about for ways to get through the winter in better spirits and with greater heat efficiency in the home, and waste a lot of time and money pursuing dead-end remedies that don’t deliver the desired result.
An increasingly popular and effective answer to the winter chill and doldrums is the corner fireplace. Every home has a dark, gloomy corner that can stand decorative improvement. What’s more, in terms of space utility, corners are wasted, dead areas of a room unless clever, imaginative solutions are discovered and applied.
These days the smart homeowner, intent on bolstering the family against winter’s inclement weather and depressing effects, is sure to clue in to the many benefits of a corner fireplace. The retail market is loaded with fabulous, attractive corner fireplaces that are inexpensive, energy-smart, easy to install, and creatively decorative. A tiny investment of time and money on a fireplace for that corner will immediately eliminate that grim, cave-like part of your home and turn it into the most popular gathering spot for the family all winter long. The lively, dancing flames and gentle warmth will spark and improve everyone’s attitude and outlook in a matter of minutes.
All one has to do to work this magic on the home is to select from one of the hundreds of charming, appealing fireplace models on the market, tote the box home, and follow the easy-to- understand instructions for installation. In less than an hour, the home becomes more welcoming and comfortable, and the North Wind can blow till it’s blue in the face, with no ill effects on the occupants of a home blessed with a fireplace for the corner.
It’s little wonder that corner fireplaces are among the most popular home improvement products on the market today!
Corner fireplaces are always an option in almost any home as an attractive feature that many people do not immediately consider. So if you are interested in a corner fireplace why not check out Andrea’s site providing all the information you need to make the best decision when buying one.
Types of Woodburning Stoves no comments
Before choosing a woodburning stove you need to be informed about the functionality together with the quality of the stove. Most manufacturers maintain the quality of the types of stoves they supply to various consumers by ensuring that they have kept on changing the fuel refilling period. There are many incredible types of wood burning heaters. One perfect type of stove is the Dru Stove. It is featured by its incredible cast iron. The stove is known to be very long lasting since it has been strongly built.
The Dru 44 MF stove has a multi-functionality since it is multi-fuel made. Any fuel type can be used on it and it will produce the most incredible work out put. It is best to warm a living room during the chilly winter and rainy seasons, whereas the Dru 64 CB together with the 78 CB perform a perfect job of ensuring that they have also given out a soothing warm heat radiation. The incredible clean burning woodburners give out heat power that adds up to 9 to 11 kilowatts. The Morso Stove is another perfect performer. It is known to be ranked among the top range stoves that have been made by a well established Danish manufacturer.
The Morso is known to be very long lasting. In case it begins loosing its functioning ability, it can be easily renovated to a new brand appliance. The Franco Belge Stove is yet another perfect type of woodburning stove that performs a heavy duty heat out put. In case your living room lacks a fireplace, this is the ideal stove to purchase. The Arrow woodburning stove is small in size but works out great wonders. It is an efficient stove that has been manufactured by the Arrow Company. The woodburning stoves are the best option in the chilly seasons.
For more information visit Stove Site. – They have a great variety of Stoves from the top brands. Woodburning stove, hunter stoves – Wood, Gas, and Electric.
Used Wood Burning Fireplaces no comments
When you plan to improve the ambience of your living space, the best option to consider is wood burning fireplaces. Since ages, people used wood burning fireplaces for its relaxing warmth, intimate fragrance and cozy view. Many health experts have said that wood burning fireplaces have many more benefits, such as heat and energy autonomy, handiness, cost-effectiveness to control unpredictable energy bills and also restricted emission.
Since ages, people used wood burning fireplaces of three types, namely traditional, clean burning and EPA-certified. A conventional wood-burning fireplace happens to be the most familiar type and is often related to the age old concept of a fireplace. They are mostly done from brickwork or are factory built. The clean burning and EPA-certified fireplaces are manufactured with much advanced technologies and also provides the user with greater benefits. These fireplaces are insulated and have blocked burning systems, where the glass doors have to be tightly closed for suitable operation. This particular system facilitates burning of the wood more competently and provides considerable heat as well. They particularly help in areas with frequent power cuts or when your home heating proves to be an expensive issue.
Even if you have used wood burning fireplaces earlier, you can consult the specialty retailers before hand for the best suggestion. Of needed you can also take help for the procedure of installation of the fireplace. Ask them about the operating and maintaining regimes required for the wood- burning fireplace. These fireplaces specifically need regular chimney inspections and also cleaning of the chimneys by a sweep.
In the past decades, people used wood burning fireplaces to enhance the antique atmosphere of living rooms. However now, they are utilized to save electric bills as well. Since fireplaces cannot function without any air, a draft occurs after the air is moved towards the fire and consequently heated thereby pulling the air from inside up direction of the chimney. Thus, a vacuum is created that pulls the cold air. Many of these fireplace feature blowers that enhances heat circulation in the room installed within as well as other adjoining rooms.
Once you gain enough knowledge about the functioning of these and select the perfect one; get it installed properly and ensure safety from every aspect. Eventually, you will be able to feel the benefits of having it in your home particularly during the winter season. After you have used it for considerable time, this natural heater is sure to be your favorite choice.
If you are looking for Used Wood Burning Fireplaces then feel free to visit Used Wood Burning Fireplaces.
Boiler Replacement no comments
If your boiler is more than fifteen years old you may want to consider a boiler replacement as a home improvement project. With the increasing cost of fuel oil and gas you may be able to save a lot of money and have a more reliable boiler. There are government tax incentives available for installing an energy efficient heating system and a credit “cash for junkers” program is in the making to help you out. Replacing a boiler that is operating on old technology can also contribute to reducing greenhouse emissions. In addition to the federal government incentives for upgrading your heating system there are many states that offer incentives for green remodeling and improvement projects.
Increasing energy efficiency is the most important consideration when considering a boiler replacement. New boilers such as a System 2000, runs at 86% efficiency and is relatively maintenance free. That means that 86% of the fuel entering the boilers combustion chamber is converted into heat. Most 15- 20 year old boilers operate at roughly 60 percent efficiency, at best. This 21% difference adds up to a lot of fuel cost savings for you in a year. Putting it in dollars, if you are burning 800 gallons of fuel oil a year to heat your home and provide domestic hot water, you can save approximately 168 gallons of fuel oil a year. That comes to about $504 a year if you are paying $3.00 a gallon for your fuel oil.
For residential heating systems, boilers essentially heat hot water that is circulated to baseboard heating units or air handlers that convert the hot water heat to forced hot air heat. Many homes use a combination of both baseboard heating units and air handlers for forced hot air for heating. In addition, the boiler heats the domestic hot water by circulating the hot water from the boiler to a heating coil in a hot water tank to heat water. There are several very efficient boilers available on the market. However, I am partial to the System 2000 boiler because it is a very reliable system that incorporates the latest in digital technology control. It has a state of the art digital energy manager (computer) that controls the unit. The boiler uses less than 0.75 of a gallon of fuel oil per hour to heat a 2000 square foot home that is well insulated. The System 2000 comes in two different sizes depending upon your heating needs. The boiler can also operate on natural or LP gas.
Like all heating systems a boiler requires periodic maintenance to insure it is operating at peek proficiency and prolong its life. A system 200 only requires cleaning every two years as compared to other boilers that require cleaning every year. Such periodic maintenance and adjustments should be performed by a licensed boiler professional. A System 2000 boiler replacement or new installation cost approximately $4,500. This may seem expensive but the pay back can take as little as nine years in addition to giving you the assurance that you will have a reliable heating system and is certainly greener than any 15-20 year old boiler. If you’re heating system is due for a boiler replacement, consult with a heating professional to insure that you get the latest in boiler technology and what the state and federal incentives are for updating your heating system. Your home heating system upgrade will save you money.
Home Addition Plus Perks provides extensive suggestions on home improvements and decorating ideas to enhance your home and quality of life. Your home is a major financial investment and like all investments, it requires frequent attention to maintain its value as well as providing a comfortable place for your living enjoyment. Given the cost of home improvements by someone else, a contractor, it can be more cost effective to do things for yourself and by yourself. We will help you in that effort by providing suggestions and recommendation with detailed instruction as necessary. We also offer home decorating and gardening suggestions for enhancing the interior and exterior of your home. To help you stay healthy we offer suggestions on diet and exercise too. You can find us at http://www.homeimprovementplusperks.com
Save Money by Upgrading Your Thermostat no comments
One way to heat less is to avoid heating rooms that are not being used. If you have a spare bed room that is only used for storage you can shut off the heat going to that room and close the door.
You may be able to reduce the heat in some rooms that are used only for short periods of time. Try closing the louvers on the warm air outlet to reduce the amount of heat that you let into the room.
Another way to heat less is to turn the thermostat down when no one is home. If your house is empty during the work or school day, turn the thermostat down 10 or more degrees so you heat less. If you go visit the grand kids on the weekend turn the thermostat down so you heat less.
Here is where you can save with a better thermostat.
Replace your old fashion thermostat with a new digital thermostat. By using a digital thermostat, you can program it to preheat the house. When you know that he house will be warm when you get home you are more likely to turn in way down when you leave. Set your thermostat to warm up you house ready to welcome you home. A good programmable thermostat can be bought for under $100. The $20 on sale basic model I bought a works just fine.
In our house, the thermostat is set at 68 during the day and 62 at night. That is cooler than some folks like, but we like it that way. Using a programmable thermostat makes setting the temperature down at night easy and you do not have to worry about forgetting. Set it to turn the heat down about an hour before bedtime. We program ours to start warming the house up an hour before we get up in the morning.
Remember heat less by keeping the thermostat low. Turn it down when no one is home. Turn it way down when your mother in law visits. To get the feel of being there turn it down during TV football games. Turn it down and buy a new sweater with the money you save.
It is cheaper to use an extra quilt or an electric blanket and turn the thermostat down even more at bedtime. I sleep better when it is cool in the house.
Remember heat less and save more.
I am a, Baby Boom Vintage, Energy Conservation Engineer. My mission is to help folks save money on their energy bills. The more than 137 FREE articles that I have written teach folks how to save money on their utility bills.
Click here for an index of ways you can save money by saving energy
For more information on saving your energy money, visit the Energy Boomer blog at http://energyboomer.com
Not Changing Your Furnace Filter Can Be Dangerous – Don’t Become A Statistic no comments
We have all heard the horrifying story about the family that just barely escaped with their lives, or even worse the family that died in their sleep, there lives ended by a silent killer. The silent killer is CO (Carbon Monoxide). If you don’t change or maintain your furnace filter as recommended by the manufacturer you could be putting your family in danger. Your furnace filter is designed to remove dust from air as it passes through your furnace. The longer your furnace filter is installed the dirtier it becomes. This increased loading of the filter with dust causes a resistance to air flow through the filter and reduces air flow.
Gas and oil furnaces, like all heating and air conditioning equipment, are designed to have a certain amount of air flow at all times to operate properly and at highest efficiency. This air flow is measured in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute). These appliances have a heat exchanger which has the heat source, flame, inside and the air passes over the heat exchanger on the outside. As the air passes over the heat exchanger it picks up the heat from the flame inside.
To get maximum efficiency from these systems the walls of the heat exchanger are made as thin as possible but not so thin that they cannot withstand the heat that they are subjected to during normal operation. This brings us back to the fact that these appliances are designed with minimum air flow requirements.
A furnace filter that remains in the system so long that it begins to negatively impact air flow can be dangerous. As the amount of air flowing over the heat exchanger declines, the operating temperature of the heat exchanger increases. This is when heat exchanger can crack because they are operating above design conditions. The hotter the heat exchanger gets the more it expands when heating and contracts as it cools during the off cycle. This expanding and contracting can become excessive and cause the metal of the heat exchanger warp or crack. A cracked heat exchanger can cause combustion gases to mix with the air in your home.
The good news is that properly designed furnaces have high limit switches that prevent excessive heating of the heat exchanger. These limit switches monitor the temperature at or near the heat exchanger and if the temperature reaches a predetermined set point, the unit will be shut off either until manually reset or until the limit switch senses that the temperature is within safe limits and resets automatically.
A furnace can operate a long time on an auto reset limit switch without anybody even knowing. This means that the furnace is operating at the limits of its design capabilities. Today most limit switches are the manual reset type, designed this way so that the furnace will not operate until it is serviced and the problem corrected.
Don’t rely on these safety switches to protect you from disaster. These are mechanical devices which can and do fail to operate properly at times. So reduce your risk by maintaining your furnace filter properly. This means cleaning or changing your furnace filter regularly. It is always best to follow manufacturers guidelines.
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