A couple of years ago, we needed to replace our furnace.

It was the perfect opportunity to finally add central air conditioning to the home. I was tired of struggling with window air conditioners. When the HVAC contractor came to the house to provide a free estimate, I asked about cooling system options. He recommended we install a heat pump rather than an air conditioner. I was initially skeptical. I knew that a heat pump costs a lot more to purchase and implement than an air conditioner. After doing some research, I learned that the combination of a furnace and heat pump is called a dual fuel system and offers incredible cost-saving potential. The big difference between an air conditioner and a heat pump, is that one provides strictly cooling and the other offers both heating and cooling. Throughout the summer, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner. It pulls heat out of the air to create a cooling effect. When the weather cools down, the flow of refrigerant reverses to bring heat into the home. The system takes advantage of free ambient heat found in the outdoor air. The absence of a combustion process eliminates the dangers and environmental impact of greenhouse gasses. Plus, heat pumps are especially energy efficient. They cost less to run than a gas furnace. The weather in my local area allows us to run the heat pump for the majority of the year. We only switch over to the furnace once the outside temperature dips below freezing. At that point, the furnace is more effective.

 

 

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The size of the furnace is based on a lot more than square footage

I’ve been researching new furnaces. I’ve learned about the advantages of higher AFUE ratings, adaptable-speed technology and zone control. Most of the top manufacturers offer similar features, efficiency levels and warranties. From what I’ve read, the most important aspect of furnace installation is the integrity of the contractor. There are HVAC contractors who provide a quote for a top-of-the-line model and then install a much cheaper furnace. There are those who don’t take the time to properly size the heater. They either replace the old unit with one of the exact same size or oversize the furnace. Since the installation of our current furnace, we’ve made quite a few home improvements. We’ve replaced windows and doors, added attic insulation and torn down walls to open up our space. We probably don’t need as big of a furnace as we once did. A larger furnace costs more and won’t provide better performance. A furnace that is too big for the demands of the house will reach the desired temperature too quickly. It won’t have the opportunity to achieve optimum efficiency levels. It might short cycle, causing unpleasant temperature fluctuations. The continual starting up and shutting down accelerates wear and tear, leading to more frequent repairs and shorter lifespan. I started looking for a contractor who uses the recommended Manual J calculation to determine the ideal size of heating system. The size of the furnace is based on a lot more than square footage. The number of windows and doors, number of floors, color of roof, amount of sunshine, occupancy and climate all factor in.
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I have an older home that presents a challenge for heating and cooling.

The residence lacks conventional ductwork, making centralized heating and air conditioning just about impossible.

The walls and ceilings are the original plaster and lathe. We were unwilling to tackle the huge project of tearing them down. Not only would this have created a huge mess and cost us a fortune, but it would have destroyed the historical integrity of the residence. Trying to get by with an assortment of baseboard heaters, window air conditioners and electric fans was frustrating. Our house felt overheated in the summer and chilly in the winter. The combination of portable heating and cooling equipment looked ugly. I started looking for an alternative and came across high-velocity heating and cooling. Designed to retrofit into older homes exactly like ours, the genius of the system is the mini-ducts. A network of flexible pipes only two-inches in diameter are able to be threaded through the walls around plumbing pipes, studs and electrical outlets. The installation doesn’t cause damage or require major remodeling. The mini-ducts connect to circular-shaped vents that are only six-inches in diameter and offer versatility of location. The heating/cooling equipment is so compact that it can be installed into a closet or the attic. The operation uses a process of aspiration, delivering conditioned air into the rooms of the home at such a high rate of speed that it creates a slight suction. Old and new air mixes rapidly to quickly raise or lower room temperature. Insulated ducts, shorter run times and smaller ducts adds up to exceptional energy efficiency. Our home is so much more comfortable because of the high-velocity heating and cooling system.

 

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The fairgrounds lot has been there forever, and it has always been nothing particularly special.

• There are some buildings on it, but they are simply CBS block buildings and they have no particular beauty or loveliness to them.

The other day, though, I was driving down the street where the fairgrounds are. I had reason to go that way and I discovered that they are doing renovations at the fairgrounds. The simple CBS block buildings are now painted to be quite pretty. And painted down in the corner there is a logo for the company that is sponsoring the fairgrounds renovation.It turns out that the renovation is being sponsored by a local HVAC company. Not only are they cleaning up the grounds and painting the buildings, they are installing modern HVAC technology into each of those Fairgrounds buildings. Many people want to use the fairgrounds for more than just the fair, but one thing that always holds people back is that the buildings do not have Heating and Cooling. During the fair, they simply use big box fans and industrial fans in those buildings. Even the buildings that are used for snack companies to sell hot dogs and stuff do not have air conditioning. Well, that is all about to change because of our local HVAC company. They will be installing HVAC with Zone control throughout the entire Fairgrounds. That way, they can set the thermostat to different temperatures in different buildings, and in fact, they can keep the heating and cooling system completely off if nobody is using a certain building. I think it’s a fabulous idea!Next time I walk around to visit all the booths that come to the fair, I can do so in air-conditioned comfort.

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Lots of people nowadays are working from home. Personally, I am jealous because I do not have that opportunity. The biggest reason I want to work from home is Heating and Cooling. I have noticed that no matter where I work, the HVAC system is never set right.It seems like just about everyone is either too hot or too cold, no matter where the thermostat rests. At home, though, you can set your heating and cooling system thermostat to whatever temperature your little heart desires. It’s amazing what a difference it makes to my productivity to have the HVAC system set to a comfortable setting. In addition, Having the heating and cooling systems set where I want them on the thermostat just makes me happier. I think it is a waste of energy when half the people in the office are wearing a sweater because they have the AC running so much. It seems like the people who are in charge of the HVAC system in businesses don’t care about people actually having the right amount of air conditioning and also keeping the HVAC system from losing its life by running constantly. The same thing happens when winter rolls around. I walk into my office in the winter and I am blasted by the heater. It seems like there is a heater blowing air right on my face as soon as I walk in the door, but really that is just the heating system working in the building. Sometimes I want to wear a tank top in the winter because I know that the heater is going to be blasting at me all day long. If I could find a job where I worked from home, I would probably take it even if there was a pay cut simply so I could have the thermostat at a reasonable setting.

heating technician

Is your doctor’s office similar to mine? I have noticed that every single person at the doctor’s office wears a sweater.

• I find it very strange that the doctor insists on having his AC thermostat set so low that everyone is cold.

I asked him about it the last time I was there, because I thought he could perhaps help the environment by running his AC system a little more efficiently. He could turn the thermostat up a few degrees, his patients and employees would be more comfortable, and he would be saving money as well as helping the planet. He kind of chuckled at me and asked me if I remembered basic biology from high school. Well, the fact of the matter is, I rarely paid attention in science classes in school. That’s when he told me that bacteria and viruses, for the most part, thrive on hot humid places. In other words, the more he uses his air conditioning, the less likely it is for me to get sick from the kid across the way who is coughing and hacking into the air. That is when I decided that his employees will just have to be uncomfortable and wear sweaters. I certainly do like the idea of a heating and cooling system keeping the place less germy. In fact, I love that idea! I often carry a sweater in my car so that I can accommodate for extra air conditioning no matter where I’m going. Oh, and I will just have to remember that the AC thermostat is likely to be set pretty low at my doctor’s office so I should go ahead and bring a sweater. I don’t want to wear long sleeves or heavy clothes when I go there, though, because let’s face it that man makes me get on the scale! He did tell me that when he goes home at night he does adjust the AC thermostat to a higher setting so it will run less.

Air quality systems

I live in the Southeast, and almost everyone in my family lives in the Southeast as well.

However, there are only two of us in this state, and my brother lives about a 5 hour drive away from me.

The other day I was talking to him on the phone and he told me he is having a renovation done at his house. The last time I was at his house I was admiring how beautiful it is and how well laid-out it is, so I could not believe he was renovating. I saw absolutely no reason to renovate that house. It turns out it’s not that kind of renovation. He is doing what is called an HVAC renovation. He is pulling out everything to do with his current HVAC system and replacing it with more modern HVAC technology and improved Heating and Cooling methods. His regular old central heating and cooling system will be replaced by a HVAC with Zone control. He will have Heating and Cooling that is individually adjustable based on what zone of the house people are in. For example, he rarely has company, but sometimes we all show up at his house and he has a house full of people. With his HVAC Zone control system, if no one is there except him and his wife, he will be able to turn the thermostat setting for Zone 2 way up so that the air conditioning does not kick in as often. His HVAC consultant tells him that he will likely save 40% on his cooling bill throughout the year. In addition, he will have Smart thermostats that are workable through his cell phone app. He will also have a sea center on his air conditioning vents. At that point I stop listening, but I know that his HVAC system is going to be amazing when it’s done.

Quality HVAC

I am getting sick of being inside hospitals after dealing with my mother’s recent health problems.

She was in a hospital room for two weeks after falling and breaking her leg.

The hospital had to perform a few surgeries because of the severity of the fracture and the wound it created during the fall. I wasn’t sure how long she was going to stay in the hospital at first because the doctors couldn’t come to an agreement on what her long term should be given all of the variables. It was frustrating, but at least our apartment is roughly five minutes away from the hospital where she was staying. And despite it being towards the tail end of the pandemic-stage of the long term COVID crisis, I was still worried about the virus when she was put in the hospital. They told me about how they keep the rooms isolated with separate HVAC systems and air purifiers as well. This new hospital was finished during the pandemic and a lot of the last minute changes to the designs were done in response to the pandemic itself. They also use dehumidifiers to keep the moisture levels to such a low level that it prevents the spread of germs like bacteria, viruses, and fungal spores. With all of these mitigation efforts in these isolated indoor climate control systems, it results in amazingly clean air quality throughout the whole hospital. We use a dehumidifier at home for the same reason—improved indoor air quality. Sure, it costs more money on our electricity bill to run a dehumidifier, but I’m happy with the improvements it makes to our air quality and our allergies as well.

 

 

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When you’re a child who doesn’t pay the bills, it can be easy to forget how expensive electricity truly is at the end of the day.

I remember leaving lights on in unattended rooms and how angry my father would get when he’d find out. He told me it was like walking out back and burning dollar bills in the fire pit. Needless to say, my father’s insistence had an effect on me, but it was probably over the top because I find myself being just as cheap as my dad some days. It’s one thing to expect your kids to abide by your rules regarding the thermostat and it’s another thing to constantly tell them “no” whenever they ask for something minimal from the store. My mom tells me to be more compassionate like she was when I was growing up. However, it gets stressful with inflation levels and energy itself costing so much more now than it did just a year ago. We utilize a gas powered furnace to keep the house warm in the winter and the cost of gas has naturally gone up with everything else. It’s painful when I think about the money that we’re literally burning every minute the furnace cycles during the winter season. I think by next winter we will have an electric heat pump as a secondary heat source to run whenever temperatures are high enough where it will work efficiently. That way we can keep the gas furnace for temperatures lower than 20 degrees, or whenever the winter cold snaps are at their worst. A lot of people are switching to heat pumps for heating their homes because of their sheer energy efficiency compared to other residential indoor heating systems.

 

heating repair

My budgeting was a lot easier before prices on every single conceivable expense increased over the past two years.

I remember how good I would feel at the end of the month whenever we’d have a tiny amount of money left over to put away in our savings accounts for a later day.

These days I’m lucky to have enough money from my paychecks to cover my credit card and vehicle payments. I couldn’t even imagine having enough money for savings accounts amid the current inflation rates. Gasoline shot up to $4.80 in my area for a few months before dropping below $4 again during the past week. While this might seem like progress, I doubt we’ll ever see a reversal of the price increases at the grocery store. While things like my hot dogs are still under $1, even the Dollar Store is now longer an actual dollar—they had to raise their prices to $1.25 last year and lots of people were hurt by it overnight. That’s a massive 25% increase on prices without any warning or transitional period. It seems like a gradual increase would have been better, but it’s possible they only wanted to do one single increase so they wouldn’t be forced to do it again as inflation worsened. Needless to say, my electricity costs more, making heating and cooling expenses higher than ever. It’s painful whenever I hear the air conditioner or furnace turn on depending on the season, and thinking about all of the money it costs in the short term. Because of the increased energy costs that come with running a central HVAC system, this has caused me to become increasingly stingy at the grocery store.

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The attic is designed for more than storing old clothes, furniture, sports equipment and holiday decorations.

It is intended to provide a protective barrier between the living space and the exterior heat, humidity and cold.

For the attic to fulfill its potential, it needs to be properly insulated. Approximately ninety percent of single-family homes in this country are not sufficiently insulated. Temperature control adds up to about 50 to 70% of the energy consumed by the average household. If the home is under-insulated, it costs more to achieve and maintain comfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can save around 15% on their heating and cooling costs by sealing up cracks and adding insulation to attics and crawl spaces. There’s also less wear and tear on the heating and cooling system. Drafty homes force the HVAC equipment to run longer and more often. Because heat rises, an attic that is not insulated tends to steal heat from the living space in the winter and add heat in the summer. Reducing the workload of the heating/cooling system not only trims costs but lessens the chance of malfunction. You’ll further enough fewer temperature fluctuations and superior comfort. A temperature difference of ten to fifteen degrees between the upstairs and downstairs is an indication that the home doesn’t have enough insulation. With bedrooms most often located on the upper floors, increasing insulation helps to optimize comfort at night and in the early morning, when outside temperatures are at their lowest point. Leaks caused by poor insulation allow contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, bugs and more to enter the home. The influx of airborne toxins compromises indoor air quality and creates a significant health threat.

 

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I’ve been feeling down lately; I think it has to do with the hot and sticky weather that’s come all of a sudden. Everything I do seems to be a big effort as I go through my day attempting to complete my tasks like a slug. The fact that I have to stay in the city today to attend language class doesn’t help lift my mood either. I just feel like fluffing about all day doing nothing; however, there are things that need to get done. One of those things is getting the air conditioner fixed, because without it, summer here would be unbearable. I would also like to change the air filters in order to maintain good indoor air quality. My partner and I want to go on vacation this summer, maybe for two weeks, but we need to save some money for that. That’s why I have to call my pal who works for an HVAC company to provide us with energy saving tips, as we’ll for sure be running the a/c unit almost non-stop during the summertime. We were also considering getting an RV to be able to travel and live in climate-controlled comfort, but that’ll have to wait until we have enough money. For now, we are working hard and staying in my partner´s mom’s house with awesome heating and cooling systems to save money. At least we will be comfortable here for a while. I just hope that the HVAC provider can come soon to fix that air conditioner, or we’ll be laying on the floor all day without doing anything!

 

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