HVAC Information For Homeowners

Have you ever noticed that it is often freezing cold in the hospital? Especially if you go to the emergency room for some reason, you better stop and get a jacket or a sweater before you drive there.

If you have to take an ambulance, you are going to be cold unless they give you a blanket straight from the blanket heater.

Anyway, I recently had to go to the ER with a friend of mine, oh, and let me tell you they must have their AC thermostat set to 40 degrees or something. It was so cold in there, and when you walk outside the thermostat was in the 80s! It was quite a contrast. The nurses and doctors that were working in the ER were all wearing either a sweater or a jacket. I asked the woman behind the desk why they didn’t turn the AC thermostat up a little bit, because it was obvious that everyone was freezing. It turns out, though, that hospitals turn their air conditioning very cold in order to discourage the growth of germs and viruses.Doctors always wear those white coats, and they also often walk around quickly from room to room, so ordinarily they are not cold no matter where the AC thermostat is set. The nurses and other professionals who spend most of their time at a desk behind a computer, however, really would benefit from having the air conditioning a little bit warmer. I did notice that a couple of them had portable heaters plugged in down by their feet. They did tell me, though, they are really not supposed to do that.

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I live in the Southeast, and we love our air conditioning here

This weekend has been a very busy one for me. Friday night came and I had committed to going to my church to make 2000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It turns out that we only made it at 11:00, but that is because we ran out of ingredients. It turns out that the homeless shelter has asked us to make as many peanut butter sandwiches as we can every week because it helps them to have them on hand to provide a quick lunch or a midday snack without having to cook. The second reason this was such a good blessing is because I got to meet so many great people. I did run into people I already know oh, of course, because it was taking place at my church, but I also ran into people I did not know before. It was very lovely to do in our big room in our Parish Hall. We recently bought a new HVAC system for that building, and the air conditioning was set exactly where it should be. If we had not had AC, we really would have been quite hot. Even though it is September, and everybody is selling pumpkin flavored everything, it is still very much like summer here where I live. I live in the Southeast, and we love our air conditioning here. In our church Hall, we have central air conditioning for the major rooms, but we also have a few small rooms that are used as classrooms oh, and those have mini split air conditioners in them. That way, we do not have to use the central AC if the only people using the building are the kids in the classrooms. But I tell you what, I was very happy to have the AC running strong while we made 1100 PBJ sandwiches

 

 

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I live in the Southeast corner of the United States, and trust me when I say this: I love air conditioning.

I think the man that invented air conditioning should be Declared a saint.

I am 100% certain that he is responsible for saving many lives. Without air conditioning, I am pretty certain that I would not be able to live here in this beautiful state where I live. That being said, the best kind of air conditioning is natural air conditioning. In other words, I love it when the fall and winter arrive because I can open my windows, breathe the fresh air, and turn the air conditioner off. Because I live so far south, I generally don’t have to use the heater very often, but in the winter there does come a time when I turn the heating on at night. Usually, I don’t have to use it for more than a few weeks of the year, but trust me when I say this. I use the air conditioning system almost every month. There might be one or two months of every year when I get to enjoy using no HVAC, and counting on mother nature and her natural air conditioning for cooling. I remember when I was a kid, I lived in the Northeast, and we had natural air conditioning much longer. At Thanksgiving time, we used to have a big glass bottle of apple cider, and we would open the door and put it outside instead of putting it in the refrigerator. Those days are long gone now that I am in the Southeast, but I still appreciate natural air conditioning oh, but I also greatly admire the man who invented AC.

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This particular Hotel had mini-split AC units for each room or Suite of rooms, so it was easy to set the thermostat down to 60 degrees and crawl under a whole bunch of blankets

Recently, I have been feeling a little down in the dumps. Someone told me that perhaps I should take a little time for a getaway. Well, it didn’t sound like a terrible idea, but I made a commitment to myself a couple of years ago that I was not going to take any more Vacations By Myself. When I go on vacation I have no choice but to go alone. I decided that was a waste of money because I really don’t enjoy it like I should. Oh, I decided that I should listen anyway and go ahead and just take a weekend away. So I made a reservation at a hotel on the beach oh, and off I went. Well, of course it had to rain the whole weekend. So here I was stuck paying $250 a night for a weekend getaway where there was nothing to do except sit and look at TV. Well anyway, I decided to make the best of it, and the way I chose to do that was to use the air conditioning like there is no tomorrow. I remember when I was a kid I used to be thrilled to go to a hotel because I could adjust the thermostat on the AC all the way down as low as I wanted to. Nobody got aggravated with me, and my mother didn’t say leave the thermostat alone. Well I decided I was going to live like a kid this weekend, so I chose to release my inner child and crank that air conditioning dial all the way down. This particular Hotel had mini-split AC units for each room or Suite of rooms, so it was easy to set the thermostat down to 60 degrees and crawl under a whole bunch of blankets. So that’s what I did. And that was an amazing little getaway and I feel a hundred percent better. Sometimes all you really need is some good, free HVAC.
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Radiant floor heating offers a long list of benefits that starts with customization.

Homeowners can choose to install heated floors throughout the entire house or target specific rooms.

Plus, the system accommodates the setup of zone control. A series of thermostats allow independent temperature adjustment in specific rooms. There’s no need to heat unoccupied areas to the ideal temperature, providing significant energy savings potential. Temperature settings can cater to the requirements of the room and even personal preference. There’s also the advantage of concealed equipment. The network of pipes is installed under the floor, where it doesn’t take away from the appearance of the room, occupy valuable space or force furniture to be arranged around it. The operation is entirely silent. A boiler heats up water and circulates it through the network of pipes. The heat spreads across the surface of the floor and warms up all of the objects sitting upon it. The floor as well as those objects radiate heat in the air. This process eliminates cold spots and drafts and ensures a very even temperature from floor to ceiling. Because the higher room temperature is near the floor, a lower thermostat setting provides perfect comfort. There are none of the concerns associated with forced air, such as heat rising straight up to the sealing, energy losses through ductwork leaks and an influx of air contaminants. A radiant floor heating system is especially clean and doesn’t contribute to issues with insufficient humidity. The only drawback of radiant heated floors is the lack of a cooling option. The system is strictly for heating purposes.

 

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There are sources for contamination in every room in the house.

Dander from pets, pesticides, cooking, personal hygiene products, pressboard furniture, electronics and moisture all create concerns.

Even the heating and cooling system can contribute to problems with indoor air quality. In a tightly sealed home, particles and pathogens become trapped inside. They get re-circulated by the heating and cooling system and spread to every room in the house. Dust, pollen, dander, bacteria, mold spores, viruses and even odors are then breathed in by family members. The majority of people spend 90% of their time indoors. The US Environmental Protection Agency suggests that indoor air is likely to be at least five times more polluted than outdoor air. Sore throat, coughing, sneezing, difficulty sleeping, headaches, itchy eyes, respiratory infection, skin rashes and symptoms of allergies and asthma can often be blamed on poor indoor air quality. Fortunately, there are effective solutions. The HVAC industry has responded to the rising demand of homeowners and developed a wide range of products.There are now whole-home dehumidifiers, humidifiers, air cleaners, ventilators, filters and UV lights. One of the most beneficial options is an air purifier. This advanced technology not only filters out 99% pollutants smaller than a grain of salt but actively kills the majority of pathogens. It works to disrupt the DNA of mold, bacteria and viruses, rendering them harmless. Air purifiers combat odors and create a fresher, cleaner and more hygienic living environment. The system installs into most types of heating/cooling systems, operates almost silently and requires only yearly upkeep.

 

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Ductless mini split systems provide a straightforward solution to some of the most difficult temperature control challenges.

Ductless systems consist of two main components.

There is a compact outdoor compressor that connects to one or multiple streamlined and lightweight indoor air handles. The two units link together by way of a conduit that houses the electric line, refrigerant line and condensate drain. The conduit requires only a three-inch hole in an exterior wall and because of extensive line lengths, allow freedom of location of the indoor air handlers. Mounting high on the wall, down near the floor and even into the ceiling, the air handlers are unobtrusive and quiet. The whole system can usually be installed and running in a single afternoon. There is no need to tear down walls or ceilings. There’s no big remodeling project or mess to clean up. A ductless split system accommodates older homes that lack conventional ductwork, tight installation spaces, and just about any size or style of space. There are ductless air conditioners for strictly cooling purposes and ductless heat pumps that combine heating and cooling capacity. Modern systems feature inverter technology that allows the equipment to automatically adjust speed according to demand. By providing only the exact amount of heating or cooling necessary to achieve comfort, the ductless system is especially efficient. Plus, today’s ductless models are able to handle outdoor temperatures below freezing. Many of the models adjust through a wireless remote or even an app on a smartphone. They are effective at dehumidifying and filtering contaminants out of the air.

air quality systems

The rising cost of energy bills has made homeowners more concerned with tightening up the thermal envelope and preventing waste. There are a variety of simple and effective energy saving measures that significantly trim monthly costs and reduce negative impact on the environment. One of the most beneficial investments is upkeep for the heating and cooling system. Like any piece of machinery with moving parts, the heating and cooling equipment experiences wear and tear. A gradual buildup of contaminants within the system, broken parts and other small issues add up to inferior performance. The system then needs to work harder and run longer to achieve desired comfort levels. The longer run times translate into greater energy consumption and higher costs. Annual maintenance completed by a professional HVAC technician restores peak energy efficiency and extends system service life. On their own, homeowners can be conscientious about replacing air filters. Whether the system is sitting idle or working hard, contaminants can find their way into the inner workings. The filter is designed as a line of defense. Once the filter becomes clogged, it no longer does it’s job. Filters should be changed approximately every month. Homes with pets or occupants who smoke may need to replace filters more often. A main source of energy losses in the average home is the duct system, often sacrificing up to 30% of heated and cooled air to leaks at the seams and holes. It’s important to have the ductwork inspected and tested every few years. Windows and doors tend to allow conditioned air to escape and outside air to come inside. Upgrading to Energy Star rated options and properly caulking and sealing can make a big improvement.

 

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And we needed better compensation for the extra hours

I work from home, and my schedule is just as crazy. I always thought working from home would be easier. I’d work for an hour or two in the morning, then chill and do other things for the remainder of the day. I even fantasized about starting a garden, and perhaps sharing my growing experience online. So, when the pandemic sent all of us home, I knew it was time for my dream to come true. It was a bit scary for the first few months as we watched the pandemic unfold. Then, our boss sent out an email that we were to resume work. The schedule was even tighter now because we weren’t in the office. I found myself working past 5 pm on most days, and quite early each morning. Things got so bad that we had to have a meeting about work hours. During the day of the meeting, I was having some AC issues in my home. So, I risked and scheduled a HVAC worker to come and carry out cooling repairs in my home. I showed him the location of the HVAC cooling system, and informed him I’d be in a meeting. If he needed anything, just shoot me a text and I’d come out of my office. As the HVAC worker took care of my HVAC cooling system, the meeting went on. We explained to our boss that we were working longer than we did at the office. And we needed better compensation for the extra hours. If we are to work overtime, we need fair compensation from the company.

air conditioning filter

There’s so much that goes into buying and moving into a new house.

But, once you are settled, it’s the best feeling in the world. For a long time, I wanted to buy my house and renovate it. However, houses are expensive nowadays, so I had to be patient. I worked hard, saved as much as possible, and finally the day came to start house hunting. I am fortunate to have a few people in my family who are realtors. My uncle has the most experience in the industry, so I trusted him to find me the right property. We went house hunting during early spring so we’d be ahead of the pack. And, it worked. I found the best 3-bedroom single-family home in the best area. And the best part is it came with a new HVAC system. The owner had done a few renovations to make the house presentable. He also made sure to replace the HVAC system. So, I didn’t need to have an HVAC worker do the replacement. Instead, I hired the HVAC worker to inspect and clean the air ducts. The ductwork in your home is crucial, and it needs regular cleaning. Dirt, dust, mold and debris tends to accumulate overtime, and this affects indoor comfort. So, that’s why I had the HVAC worker do a professional duct cleaning before I moved into my new home. Duct Cleaning doesn’t have to happen every month of the year, but at least it is done two to three times. This is the advice I got from my HVAC worker as he cleaned my home. Otherwise, you might end up with health issues because of poor indoor air quality.

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Working from home was something I always desired when I was still in an office.

• Well, life has a funny way of giving us what we think we need.

The pandemic changed everything and I found myself working from home full time. At first, it was great, and I got to relax and not participate in the office madness. However, a few months into it, I actually missed my colleagues and hanging out after work. Then, my boss announced my position was fully remote. I only needed to go to the office once a month once people were back. I wasn’t sure how to feel about this change in my job situation. I even thought of quitting and finding a job that I could go to every day. That thought hit me hard because I realized I never really liked remote work. The last nail on that coffin was when my heat pump failed in the summer of 2022. I had been at home busy at work in my office, and I was sweating so much. Opening the windows offered no relief because the temperature outside was almost 100F. I had contacted a HVAC worker to come and fix my heat pump, but there was a line of people ahead of me. I had to wait 24 hours to have the heat pump fixed, and I wasn’t having a fun time. When the heat in my office got to be too much, I chose to go work in a cafe in my area that has excellent AC. Perhaps I’ll look for a job in an office with proper commercial HVAC cooling in the near future.

 

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