Residential Duct Cleaning

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Air Duct Cleaning
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Many older homes will have a large build up of dirt and dust on the walls of the ductwork, which negatively impacts the indoor air quality in the home, which impact the health of the residents.  While indoor air quality impacts all of us; it really makes a big difference in the lives of those that suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory health issues.  In addition, in severe cases the amount of dirt and dust in the ducts restricts the amount of air flowing into the areas that the ductwork is supplying air to, which impacts the heating and cooling of that area. 

The good news is that the cleaning of the ductwork is easily accomplished by using a qualified duct cleaner.  The technicians, who are highly skilled, will clean the ducts utilizing a number of specialized tools, including brushes and vacuum cleaners.  The vacuum cleaners deposit the dust and dirt into a storage unit on a truck using sealed hoses, which keeps the home clean. They are experienced in working in occupied homes and will complete the work in a professional manner and will leave your home clean once they are finished. 

The process for a homeowner’s perspective is very economical, fast and relatively clean.  In many cases the work will be completed within a day and the benefits are noticed immediately, both as far as indoor air quality, as well as the amount of air being supplied to each area of the home by the ductwork.  Air duct cleaning is a home maintenance item that should not be overlooked as it directly impacts your health, as well as the health of your family.

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Humidifiers and Electronic Air Cleaners

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Humidifiers
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Humidifiers and electronic air cleaners are two HVAC accessories that can easily be retrofitted to almost any existing HVAC system.  Both are economical and will vastly improve the comfort of the occupants, as well as the indoor air quality of the home, which impacts the health of the occupants, especially those with allergies, asthma and other respiratory health issues. 

Many HVAC systems dry out both the occupants of the home, as well as the home itself because the air is dry.  This is especially true with gas fired furnaces, where the air is very dry.  It impacts people by drying out the mucus membranes in the nose and nasal passages, which leads to nose bleeds and dry skin during the winter.  The wood materials in the home are also impacted as the moisture is drawn out of the materials leading to moldings cracking and gaps opening up on hardwood floors.  The installation of a humidifier reintroduces moisture into the air, which results in the occupants of the home being more comfortable and the building materials staying stable. 

Electronic air cleaners are an excellent way to further eliminate germs, dust and other pollutants that exist in the air in a home.   As with humidifiers, there are number of different types on the market, with some being better than others on the size of the particles captured.  All electronic air cleaners will need some periodic maintenance such as cleaning or replacement of the filter media. 

A qualified HVAC technician can easily install both of these products within a day.  The humidifier will require a small line to be run from a water pipe to the unit, as well as a power supply.  The air cleaner will require some minor modification to the ductwork as well as a power supply.  Both will dramatically improve the indoor air quality in the home!

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Commercial HVAC Service

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Commercial HVAC Service & Repair
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Commercial HVAC maintenance is often overlooked in many smaller commercial office buildings without a building engineer.   In many cases the tenant’s lease will shift the responsibility for the maintenance, service and repairs of the HVAC to the tenant.  As a result, routine maintenance is often overlooked and the first time a HVAC contractor is called is when the system stops working! 

All commercial HVAC systems should be checked at least two times a year, depending upon the type of system being used.  Often the smaller office building will utilize a number of packaged roof top units that supply heating and cooling to the space.  The service should include the cleaning or replacement of air filters, inspection of belts, fans and refrigerant levels.  Also a visual inspection of the office space should be done as well to determine if any modifications have been made that impacts the way that the system performs.  Issues identified can be correctly before they become critical.  Depending upon the part of the country that the building is located in and the seasons, often this service can be scheduled before the traditional heating and cooling seasons begin. 

Many HVAC contractors will offer various commercial HVAC service plans to assist building owners and tenants in their maintenance needs.  These plans can vary in scope and price and often can be tailored to the needs of the customer.  In addition to addressing the HVAC maintenance needs of the customer, these plans also help develop a relationship between the owner and tenant of the building and the HVAC contractor.  In many cases having a relationship with a HVAC contractor is beneficial when the A/C stops working on the hottest day of the year!

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Residential Emergency HVAC Service

May 21st, 2013 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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A vast majority of residential HVAC service contractors have a service department that offers 24-hour emergency service.  However, not every heating or cooling issue is considered an emergency.  Many HVAC contractors consider conditions that threaten either life or property to be an emergency.  

In many cases, especially during dramatic seasonal changes such as the first really hot day of the summer or very cold winter days, the contractor will need to prioritize emergency service calls in the same way an emergency room prioritizes patients.  That being said, the HVAC contractor is committed to resolving the issue as soon as possible.  

A home with no heat is considered and emergency when the temperature is at or below freezing by most HVAC contractors.  Obviously the occupants could be in danger due to the cold and the property is in danger if the pipes freeze.  In homes with two furnaces, if one is still functioning, it is not considered an emergency, as the occupants of the home can easily relocate into the heated part of the home until the HVAC contractor can get there. 

A home with no air conditioning is not considered an emergency.  The only exception for most HVAC contractors would be if one or more of the occupants was sick or elderly and could not be easily moved to a cooler place.  Obviously, this could be life threatening if they could not be relocated to a cooler place. 

In many cases the consumer can benefit from developing a relationship with a residential HVAC contractor before an emergency occurs.  One way to develop this relationship is to consider a semi annual maintenance plan where the HVAC contractor performs an inspection of the HVAC system and performs preventative maintenance before the heating and cooling seasons.

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Replacement of HVAC Systems in Commercial and Industrial Facilities

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Commercial HVAC Service & Repair
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Although most industrial and commercial facilities will schedule a “shutdown” of the facility for a HVAC system replacement, these replacements are one of the most challenging and stressful tasks any commercial or industrial facilities manager will face.  

Often these commercial HVAC system retrofits involve much more work than just replacing a roof top unit or a chiller.  In many cases the work will involve design work, coordination of various suppliers, permits, selective demolition, structural modifications, new walls, electrical work, welding, piping, the removal and re-installation of architectural elements such as windows and doors. 

In many cases this work is outside of the scope of the mechanical contractor doing the actual replacement.  The coordination of the various trades in many cases falls on the facilities manager, which is not an ideal situation, as they typically do not have the time to devote to the project due to their daily job responsibilities.  A common occurrence in these types of projects is for the completion date to be missed as a result of other trades not performing as required, so the HVAC contractor can complete their work.  Missed completion dates cost industrial and commercial businesses real money if they are not able to be operational as scheduled. 

In some cases the HVAC contractor will be both experienced enough and have the resources available to coordinate the entire project from design to commissioning.  Often these HVAC contractors will specialize in this type of work and have experienced staff to self perform a majority of the work and will only use proven subcontractors.  In addition, they understand how critical it is for the facility to be operational on the day scheduled!

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Should You Consider a Solar Powered HVAC System?

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Reducing HVAC Energy Costs
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Here’s how it works. Just as the sun’s solar energy can be harnessed to produce electricity, so can it be used to generate the power of a building’s entire HVAC system, in addition to other electrical devices. Currently, solar powered HVAC systems are either stand-alone, which means they operate independent of the utility grid, or grid-connected, which means they are part of an interactive system with the utility company.

With the grid-connected type of HVAC system, the solar system can produce enough power to supply the current needs of the buildings systems or, if the current electrical demand of the building is less than that the power produced by the solar system,  it can be back-fed into the utility grid. Some states provide cost incentives to allow business owners to take advantage of these lower operating costs, thus promoting the transfer of HVAC systems to the solar powered. 

A single solar rooftop unit can be fed electricity directly from solar modules to power a building’s entire central heating and cooling systems. Excess solar energy, when the rooftop unit is not operating, can be used to supply electricity to other of the building’s electric needs. If more power is generated by the solar system than is needed by the building, it is re-routed back to the utility grid. Additionally, real-time 24 hour monitoring can be provided to aid in a further increase of efficiency by tracking data as to how the environment is actually impacted by the system and what savings are realized. 

Contact your local HVAC professional to see if a solar powered system would meet your specific business or individual needs.

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Lower Energy Costs With Solar HVAC

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
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Have you been thinking about converting your building’s HVAC system to solar? Some statistics indicate that a building’s HVAC system accounts for forty to sixty percent of the building’s energy use. While it is a given that HVAC systems are a necessity, nevertheless they are largely responsible for sending utility costs soaring. 

Replacing older units with up-to-date high efficiency rooftop units will immediately save you energy costs. As aging equipment tends to require costly repairs and service, this step alone will eliminate such costs. Furthermore, decreased overall energy consumption will lower operating costs, in addition to requiring less peak electrical demands. 

With the addition of solar energy, an increase in operational cost savings can be realized by harnessing the sun’s power to run a building’s entire HVAC system and more. Through reduced dependence on the utility electric grid and lower carbon emissions, building owners can control their energy costs much more effectively. Solar energy can be integrated without costly changes to the building’s electrical infrastructure and can help the rooftop unit achieve net-zero energy status. Because solar modules can generate more power than the rooftop unit consumes, power is returned to the utility grid when the energy is not being utilized; thus, potentially providing building owners with a utility tax credit. 

As the building industry continues to evolve with more green building requirements, upgrading to a solar HVAC system can help your building achieve such sustainability goals, in addition to substantial energy and cost savings. If it is time for your building to go solar, contact your local HVAC professional to ensure that all of your individual needs are met during that transitional process.

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Lower Costs By Reducing Your Need for Air Conditioning

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Central Air Conditioning
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Of course, it should go without saying that if we use less air conditioning then that should reduce our costs. However, most of us just want to run out and buy a new, bigger, better, more energy efficient air conditioning system. That, too, can be a solution to high summer energy costs. But, before you do that, try some of these cheaper ways to reduce your cooling costs by reducing your need for mechanical air conditioning in the first place. 

Improve your insulation and air sealing to prevent heat from entering your home, much the same as you take precautions to prevent cold air from entering your home in the winter. Rid yourself of old appliances that give off a lot of heat. Consider replacing that energy wasting, inefficient refrigerator and remember to unplug anything electronic if you are not using it. Even light bulbs can give off heat, so replace those incandescent bulbs with LEDs. Shade those east and west windows during peak sun exposure times. If you are considering repairs or replacement of your exterior finishes, look for energy products that will help to cut down on heat gain through your roof, paint or siding. Fans can create a lot of comfortable cool air when there isn’t much humidity; they are quite effective, especially ceiling fans, while using much less energy than an air conditioner. 

If you are still looking to upgrade or purchase a new air conditioning system for your home, remember that every home has specific requirements. Your local HVAC professional contractor can ensure that you get the most effective and energy efficient air conditioning system for the your individual needs.

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Oh, How Marvelous Is Air Conditioning!

May 21st, 2013 Posted in HVAC Equipment
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Air conditioning is a fact of life these days. Most of us expect it’s comforting availability when the long days of summer test our personal physical heat tolerance. Invented in 1902 as a way to reduce air moisture in a lithographing company, few people could afford the luxury in their homes, so most visited theaters and department stores to enjoy a brief respite from the heat. 

Today, the ease and automated comfort of central air conditioning has taken the sting of extremely hot days out of most homes. Cooling the inside air is the main function of an air conditioner, but it is not all that it does. Air conditioners use a thermostat to regulate the air temperature. They also perform as a filter to remove airborne particles from the air. Since reducing the temperature of a volume of air causes it to release moisture, air conditioners also serve as a dehumidifier. 

Air conditioners work much like refrigerators and use refrigerants to move air in two directions. Air conditioners actually have two sides; the cold side moves air inside while the hot side moves air outside. A fan blows air into the room over coils that are chilled while another fan vents the hot air coming off the compressor to the outdoors. Liquid refrigerant is compressed and moved into the evaporator by the expansion value; the refrigerant’s pressure drops, expands and returns to a gas while in the evaporator; following which, the refrigerant is then pressurized by the compressor which results in its liquefying once again; and, so the cycle repeats. 

While there are some differences between window units, split-system units and central air units, your local HVAC professional will know which system is best suited to meet the individual needs of your home.

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Tips to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

May 21st, 2013 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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Most people think of air pollution as something that is only of concern when we are in the great outdoors. However, the truth is that the inside of our homes or offices can be even more polluted that the outside. The air inside your home can be polluted by chemicals found in your mattress, carpet or paint; house dust can contain lead; and chemicals used in fragrances or cleaners can be volatile or become health hazards. 

In all of that mix above, you can find major allergens, mold and pet dander (whether or not you own a pet). Many people are particularly vulnerable to allergens or indoor pollutants, especially those who suffer respiratory conditions, be they young or old. As we spend more time indoors, clean and healthy indoor air quality becomes more important.  Change your furnace filters regularly and be sure to have your local HVAC professional service your heating and air conditioning system as you approach those hot and humid months ahead. 

In the meantime, simple things that you can do include using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Use a new microfiber mop (and dust cloths) to capture more dust, using just water without cleaners or chemicals. Keep a large floor mat at every door. Keep the humidity in your home around 30%-50% to keep dust mites and other allergens under control. Inasmuch as cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, make your home a no-smoking zone. Have your home tested for radon, a colorless, odorless gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today. Finally, limit your use of cleaners and spray products that contain synthetic fragrances, which can emit any number of toxic or hazardous chemical compounds.

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