Signs that You May Need a Dehumidifier in Your Home

Humidity can be an issue, especially in certain regions of the country. The southeast is particularly prone to high humidity, which can affect the comfort and air quality in your home. Humid air is not just uncomfortable, it can cause damage to wood and other materials in your home. Mold can lead to expensive repairs and put your family’s health at risk. Here are a few signs that you may need to lower the humidity in your home with a dehumidifier.

  • Musty smell. The distinct musty smell of mildew is a sign you may have too much humidity in your home. This means there is mold in your home, whether it is hiding in cardboard boxes in the garage or growing in the corners of your bathroom.
  • Condensation on windows. If you notice constant condensation on windows or glass doors in your home, too much humidity may be a problem. This water condensation can ruin the trim and molding around doors and windows; it can also lead to dangerous black mold that can release harmful spores into the air.
  • Mold growth on walls, doors and ceiling is a bad sign. This means the air is humid enough to allow mold to grow on an open surface. Cleaning the mold off the surface is only a temporary fix – you need to control the moisture levels in your home.

If you have any of these signs of humidity or the humidity level in your home is constantly spiking above 50-60%, you should consider adding a whole home dehumidifier to your HVAC system. This can improve your air quality, protecting your home and family.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

Benefits of Owning a Heat Pump

If you are considering upgrading your HVAC system, you may have wondered whether a heat pump could have advantages over a traditional heating and air conditioning system. Of course, air quality and comfort are important, so you want to ensure that the system you choose will give you and your family the environment you prefer. Here are some benefits that heat pumps offer to help you determine if this system would be a better choice for your home.

  • Energy efficiency. Heat pumps can offer savings on your energy bill. Heating costs can be reduced by up to 40% versus electrically heat.
  • Safe surfaces. Heat pumps do not create hot surfaces that can create an unsafe environment. This reduces fire hazards and burn possibilities for small children or pets.
  • Environmentally-friendly. Heat pumps do not use fuels that can harm the environment – no gas, wood, smoke or oils, just a transfer of air to heat or cool your home.
  • Lower humidity. The transfer of air allows for better control of humidity in your home. The air is automatically circulated and excess moisture in the air is collected in the unit as it passes through, draining outside to keep humidity levels low.
  • Temperature control. Heat pumps can bring in warm air or work in reverse to release warm air for temperature control. Use automatic settings to control when the pump is turned on for better energy efficiency.

Heat pumps are great for mild climates when winters are not too severe and summer heat is not overbearing. To learn more about the benefits of heat pumps and to determine if they are a good fit for your home, talk to your local HVAC service provider.

Posted on behalf of:
Western Aire Heating & Cooling
Marietta, GA 30066
(770) 505-7426

4 Reasons to Reinsulate Your Home

Do you have adequate insulation in your home? Many older homes and some newer ones do not have adequate insulation for maximum efficiency. Some homes have little or no insulation, making it harder to keep them cool or warm. Since insulation is hidden away in walls, attics and crawl spaces, you may not know what amount of insulation you have. Here are four reasons to check your insulation levels and consider reinsulating if they are not sufficient.

  1. Energy savings. Insulation helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer during the winter. This added layer of insulating materials in your walls can reduce your energy usage and have a significant impact on your utility bills.
  2. Insulation settling. Even if you have insulation, it may have settled over the years. Investing in new insulation, preferably blown-in insulation, can improve the level of insulation in your home.
  3. Sound-proofing. An added benefit of more insulation is how it helps sound-proof your home. Keep outdoor noises dulled and reduce the sounds that leave your home for improved privacy. Adding insulation in the interior walls can help muffle sounds – this is perfect for noisy rooms like the kid’s play room or a theatre room in your home.
  4. Keep it green. New insulation can help you reduce the energy you use, reducing pollution and use of natural resources. Make sure to choose a green option in insulation like blown-in R19 that is made from recycled products.

A well-insulated home can make it more comfortable all year round and save you money on your energy bills. If you think you may be losing heat or cold air through thinly insulated walls, call your local HVAC service to have an efficiency evaluation performed.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

Is Your Commercial HVAC Control System Out-of-Date?

In many manufacturing environments, controlling the air quality is vital for production. Many products require a stabilized temperature and high levels of air purity during production. While you can manually manage your HVAV system with an older pneumatic system, digital direct controls or automation systems offer a higher level of sophistication and management. If you are relying on an older control system for your HVAC system, it may be time to upgrade.

Upgrading to Automation

While digital direct controls offer more accuracy than traditional pneumatic systems for commercial HVAC control, automation offers more advantages. Automation reduces the need for constant manual monitoring on the production floor, regulating temperatures and air quality within set parameters. Automation can be retrofitted to an older system or integrated with a new HVAC system.

HVAC automation allows you to set your HVAC system controls to regulate all aspects of the environment and air quality. You can set fault detection alarms that can alert your management team 24/7 through remote access. This ensures that any issues are resolved immediately, reducing lost productivity and damaged products. Some other benefits include:

  • Improved energy efficiency
  • Automated data collection
  • 24/7 access to controls via computer/mobile devices
  • Off-site monitoring for multiple locations

Advanced commercial HVAC automation systems may require an initial investment, but can save your company money in the long run. Reduced labor, lower energy costs and increased productivity can all impact the savings that automated controls can offer for your commercial HVAC system.

If you are ready to upgrade the control system for your commercial HVAC, consider automation. Improve your ability to control your commercial HVAC system and see a return on your investment with better quality and higher productivity.

Posted on behalf of:
JS Thomas Service, Inc
4085 Nine McFarland Dr
Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 475-2600