Ask Sam, The Service Expert

Q. If my home’s air is uncomfortable, what will you look for?

A. We’ll evaluate your home’s air againstmany criteria including humidity, moisture,airflow, filtration, ductwork and carbon monoxide using our exclusive Home HealthReport™ Card.

Q. Is humidity that big of a deal?

A. It sure is. Humidity levels affect yourcomfort and health inside as much as theydo outside. Too much can promote mildew growth. Too little can dry skin, make throatssore and cause respiratory problems. In otherwords, humidity levels need to be balanced in order to feel comfortable at normal temperature settings.

Q. Our basement always seems damp. Does that matter?

A. Yes. It can become a breeding ground formicrobes and contaminants that can lead tosevere respiratory problems, allergies andeven immune system disorders. You mayneed to put in a moisture barrier and then a dehumidification system.

Q. How does inadequate air flow effect my inside comfort?

A. It can cause poor heating and air conditioning equipment performance orincreased energy consumption. It could also lead to things like improper humidity levels, an uncomfortable home and higher utility bills. By measuring your home’s air flow, a NATE-certified technician can determine what changes need to be madein your system to ensure maximum comfort and energy efficiency.

Q. Do I need more than the ’standard’ filter in my furnace?

A. Possibly. Without adequate filtration,expensive heating and cooling equipment can become clogged and lead to decreased efficiency, higher utility costs andpotentially expensive repairs. The wrong filter could also cause dust buildup that can make your family susceptible to colds, allergies and respiratory disorders.

Q. I noticed some damage to my ductwork. Is that a problem?

A. Yes. If ducts are damaged or improperly sealed or insulated, they can waste energy and draw pollutants into your home, then distribute them toevery room.

Q. How can I protect my familyfrom carbon monoxide?

A. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector. In addition, have your gas appliances checked to determine if theyare properly ventilated.

Heating and cooling are two of the most important aspects of home ownership. In fact, heating and cooling systems are major factors for those looking to purchase homes, and are a critical part of living comfortably in a home.

You may frequently hear the term HVAC, which is used to describe home heating and cooling systems. The acronym stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning–which are the 3 primary functions of a home system. They control air temperature and humidity, and maintain the quality of the air in the home.

Central Systems

Heating and cooling systems may be classified as central or local. Central heating and cooling is the most standard method, and is defined by a system that produces warm or cool air in one central area and then distributes it throughout the home. There are many types of systems that work as central systems, from traditional split systems to packaged product systems.

Products typically used in central heating and cooling systems include:

* Heat Pumps
* Air Conditioners
* Gas and Oil Furnaces
* Fan Coils
* Evaporator Coils
* Single Packaged Products
* Controls and Thermostats

Local heating and cooling, on the other hand, produces warm or cool air at the location where it is needed and serves small spaces. Room Air Conditioners and Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) are examples of local heating and cooling.

Heating

Heating systems keep your home warm and comfortable. If you live in a particularly cold climate, the function of your heating system is a high priority.

Most central heating and cooling systems are classified as forced air systems, because they send air through ductwork for distribution. The ductwork can contain products that filter or clean the air. Radiant systems create heat and deliver it using components such as radiators that distribute the heat into the home. Boilers are a traditional radiant heat source.

Typical heating products include:

* Heat Pumps
* Gas and Oil Furnaces
* Fan Coils
* Boilers
* Single Packaged Products

Cooling and Air Conditioning

Whole home air conditioning systems are central systems that rely on ducts to deliver cooled air throughout the home. An air-conditioning system provides cooling, ventilation, humidity control and even heating (if using a heat pump) for a home. Air conditioning units cool refrigerants like Puron Refrigerant and Freon and deliver them to evaporator coils, which dissipate the refrigerant and blow cool air into ducts for delivery throughout the home.

Products such as room air conditioners are local cooling options for smaller areas within homes. Instead of delivering cooled refrigerant to a coil and then to ductwork, a room air conditioner contains all the components in a single unit and blows air directly into a room.

Air conditioned homes often have sealed windows, because open windows would disrupt the attempts of the control system to maintain constant temperature.

Typical air conditioning products include:

* Heat Pumps
* Central Air Conditioners
* Evaporator Coils
* Room Air Conditioners
* Single Packaged Products

Thermostats

The term thermostat commonly refers to any unit that controls the operation of a heating and cooling system. Thermostats are used to turn on heating or cooling systems to bring the home to a set temperature. In addition to basic temperature control, programmable thermostats can be used to manage the timing of the system’s functions, which can control overall energy use and costs.

Learn More

Learn more about the many aspects of heating and cooling, including the types of systems available, how to find the ideal system for your home, how health and air quality impact your home, how energy efficiency can save you money, how heating and cooling impacts the environment, and the many terms and phrases of heating and cooling.

**Article provided by Carrier - Turn to the Experts

Reduce Energy Costs

As your heating and cooling system ages, it can lose its ability to cool or heat your home. If your current heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, or your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old, it may be time to replace it with a more efficient system. Inadequate insulation or equipment installation may be the cause of temperature changes from room to room.

Your new system can help keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter while saving you money on energy bills. Let the professionals at Sears help you determine if your current system needs replacing.

Replacing your current equipment with an ENERGY STAR rated heating and cooling systems can help reduce high energy costs as much as 10-30%.*

Accept No Substitutes!

* Full line of exclusive Kenmore and Carrier heating and cooling systems

* ENERGY STAR qualified systems that can help save up to 25% of your annual heating/cooling costs*

* Sears Heating & Cooling specialist can work with you to determine the right system for your home

* Prevent minor problems from becoming big headaches

* You’re paying for quality

* Cost of utilities is rising, get the most out of your heating and cooling dollars

* A manufacturer’s limited product warranty of up to 10 years*

* A full one year limited warranty on installation*

* Free in-home consultation on a new system

*Article is courtesy of Sears Home Central - for a free estimate, click here
Chris Paulsen
cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

Don’t Assume That All Contractors Are “Pretty Much The Same”

The most important part of shopping for a new indoor comfort system is to pick the right contractor. Choose the wrong one and you risk getting a new system that will not keep you comfortable and will not save you much, if anything, on you monthly utility bills.

In order to get the efficiency and comfort you deserve, you must find a contractor who will:

1. select the right size of equipment for your home
2. install the equipment properly
3. uncover and solve any pre-existing problems with your duct systems or house insulation.
4. ask you a lot of questions
5. NOT provide a quote before doing a diagnostic testing - a good contractor will mention this, a bad one won’t.
6. NOT force you to make a rush buying decision - steer clear of pushy sales people
7. explain everything and suggest several options available to you
8. NOT try to sell you a system over the phone

All contractors are certainly not the same. Sad to say, a small minority are downright dishonest. Both NBC’s Dateline (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14346561/) and CBS’s 48 Hours recently aired hidden camera sting operations exposing fraudulent heating and cooling contractors. A number of these companies that they called out either bent the facts, or commited outright fraud on national television. The better business bureau ranks heating and cooling as one of the highest complaint generating industries.

Fortunately, the great majority of contractors are honest. They work hard and mean well. They are ethical, at the leading edge technically and have business and customer service systems in place that ensure high levels of client satisfaction. Invest the time to identify a good contractor, it will be time well spent.

cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

People who choose to have their heating ducts cleaned tend to do so because their children or other family members are suffering from breathing problems. Air and furnace ducts, when uncleaned, breed mold and mildew and lead to poor air quality. Furnace duct cleaning will also improve the efficiency of your furnace.

Duct cleaning requires not only of the ducts themselves, but of the entire furnace system: the blower, heat exchangers, cooling coils, and condensate pan. When these parts are clean, air flows efficiently through the entire system.

If you or someone in your household is experiencing health problems, and you suspect your furnace air ducts might be the problem, call a duct cleaning company. They can inspect your furnace ducts, and will most likely use robotic video equipment to show you how dirty the ducts actually are. If the video surveillance reveals mold anywhere in the duct system, it’s time to clean your furnace ducts.

Dust and mold can appear to be similar on a scan of the ducts. If the furnace cleaning professionals are unsure, touch a piece of tape to the inside of a furnace duct, and have a lab analyze it for you.

Methods of Cleaning Furnace Ducts

There are several ways to clean furnace ducts. One way is to use an extremely powerful vacuum, which remains in a truck outside. A long hose runs to the furnace area and attaches to the furnace ducts. From the rooms, mechanical brushes, air jet brushes or air snakes pull the dust loose within the furnace ducts.

Another way to clean furnace ducts is with a smaller vacuum unit located inside your house, in the vicinity of the furnace. This vacuum should contain a HEPA exhaust filter to ensure that the dust from the furnace ducts does not fill the air in the room.

A third way of cleaning furnace ducts is to run a rotating brush that is attached to a vacuum nozzle through the furnace ducts.

When selecting methods and services for your furnace duct cleaning, look for quality over cost. A poor quality furnace cleaning job can leave you worse off than before, as it can pull the dust off the furnace duct walls without sucking it all in.

Remember, furnace duct cleaning costs money, so before you sign a service contract, ensure that the company has given you sufficient visual evidence that furnace duct cleaning is necessary. Also, make sure your furnace duct cleaning provider can explain to you in detail how he/she will clean the entire system, not just the ducts. If one component of the system is left uncleaned, it may recontaminate the entire system, defeating the purpose of having put out the cash for the cleaning in the first place. Ask that your furnace duct cleaning provider give you a full duct-length visual inspection after the cleaning is complete, preferably with a camera inside the ducts.

cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

Furnace or Air Conditioner Problems:

Please check the following before calling your service provider. These are problems that homeowners tend to overlook and may not be covered by your warranty.

Step 1: Is your thermostat set to the correct function, i.e. heating or cooling?

Step 2: Has the power to the furnace been shut off?
(A) Appropriate breaker in the main electrical panel.
(B) Fuses in older homes.
(C) Power switch located close to furnace. Sometimes it looks like a light switch, which is normally located on the ceiling above your furnace.
(D) Ensure the furnace fan door is on properly. If it is not, there will be no power to the furnace and it will not operate.

Step 3:Is the filter(s) clean? A dirty filter will eventually cause service problems and drastically decrease efficiency of both the furnace and air conditioner.

Step 4:High Efficiency Gas Furnaces have a plastic vent pipe which projects through the outside wall, normally about 12″ above grade level. This can sometimes become plugged with ice and snow and can cause the furnace to shut down. Remove snow or ice carefully and your furnace should restart in a few minutes. (Some systems require to be reset).
If you cannot locate the problem by following these steps and require service, take note of the furnace model and serial number and please contact us.

Excessive Humidity or Dryness:

Excessive humidity or dryness in your home may cause some concerns.
Step 1:Make sure damper on humidifier system is open in winter and closed in summer.
Step 2:The water valve must be opened to provide water for humidifier.
Step 3:Humidifier pad or cell must be cleaned or replaced once or twice per heating season, depending upon local mineral levels in water supply.
Step 4:Make sure humidistat is turned ON and set according to table

Notes:
A.) Humidifier adjustment does not react immediately. It takes anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to stabilize.
B.) If excess condensate is found on windows it may be a result of the humidistat being set too high, it might also be an indication of improper ventilation of combustion gases.

Important: This section outlines tasks that homeowners can perform which may help identify some small, common problems. However, as when dealing with any fuel (combustible), electronics or machinery, you must proceed with caution and be aware that you are performing these tasks at your own risk.

**Article courtesy of Arpi’s Industries Ltd Inc - Arpi’s has been offering home comfort solutions for over 40 years and we are confident we can provide you with the healthy and comfortable indoor environment you are looking for.

A quality heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system integrated with the appropriate controls (your thermostat!) will provide a safe and healthy home. Today’s HVAC products offer high performance and energy efficiency that translates into lower operating costs and greater value for your dollar.

Please contact us, we look forward to learning how we can help you!

Heating and cooling are two of the most important components of home ownership. In fact, heating and cooling systems are major factors for those looking to purchase homes, and a critical part of living comfortably in a home.

You may frequently hear the term HVAC, which is used to describe home heating and cooling systems. The acronym stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, which are the three primary functions of a home system. They control air temperature and humidity, and maintain the quality of air in the home.

Central Systems
Heating and cooling systems may be classified as central or local. Central heating and cooling is the most standard method, and is defined by a system that produces warm or cool air in one central area and then distributes it throughout the home. There are many types of systems that work as central systems, from traditional split systems to packaged product systems.

Determining the Investment: In Home Comfort SystemLike buying a car, a comfort system’s standard features plus optional equipment affect both performance and price. These are the five main determining factors you should consider as you evaluate a new home comfort system: equipment size, energy efficiency, sound level, safety features and installation quality.

1. Size: Properly sized equipment will meet the exact heating and cooling needs of the home.
2. Sound Level: Higher rated equipment will operate more smoothly with less noise.
3. Efficiency: Energy efficient equipment saves more money on utility costs.
4. Safety: Safety features give your family peace of mind.
5. Installation: Professional installation determines long-term, worry-free operation. Ensure your new system comes with an 100% satisfaction guarantee.