The Heating & AC Blog

If you are really serious about your collection, you need to invest money in protecting it.

I have always felt this way.

When I first started to collect rare and vintage comic books in my teenage years, I always took care of them. I sealed them in bags, using cardboard backing so they would never get bent. I kept my entire collection in boxes, and stored them in a safe place away from moisture and sunlight. I still do all of those things, except now my collection consists of fifty thousand comics! I considered paying for a climate controlled storage locker, but instead I decided to build my own collection room at home, with its own dedicated HVAC system. This was not a cheap thing to have done, but compared to the price of renting a climate controlled storage locker for several years, it was reasonable. I needed a dedicated HVAC system for the collection room, as well as additional insulation in the walls and blackout shades for the window. I didn’t need to make the room as cold as a freezer by any means, but I needed reliable and consistent climate control settings that would never change no matter what. There is an ideal level of temp and humidity for comic books, and I got that locked in! The only possible problem I have is a long-term power blackout for the area would shut down this HVAC system. In case that happens I have a small power generator in the storage shed, which I can hook up to the HVAC system in case of emergencies.

 

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By the time he was done I had a much better understanding on how my water heater worked, and what the possible issues could be

A month ago I didn’t know anything about plumbing, water pipes, or heaters. A lot can change in a short period of time. Thanks to Youtube and other online resources I have taken a crash course in home renovations. I do all of this because I am strapped for cash, and simply can’t afford to pay a professional to handle the work for me. The problem started simply enough, with a decrease in my water pressure and my water temperature. I took a hot shower that was only luke-warm, no matter how much I cranked the knob. After a cursory inspection of my equipment, I determined that the water heater was no longer working properly. With no way to pay for professional help, I tracked down an online video featuring a tech inspecting my exact model of water heater. I sat on the floor next to my water heater, phone in hand, and followed along with his every movement. This HVAC tech was a little boring, but went into exhaustive detail about each and every element of the device. By the time he was done I had a much better understanding on how my water heater worked, and what the possible issues could be. It turns out that this problem was something I could fix temporarily, but I was going to need a new water heater before too long. I have heard that the tankless water heater is the best on the market, so perhaps that’s what I need to buy. For now, I just need to get the old water heater up and running again.

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Spending a few weeks chopping wood did wonders for my physique.

I used to pay for a gym membership, and then use it a few times a year, but those days are over! I went to the old family hunting lodge to “get back to nature” and spend some time hunting and fishing.

I did not anticipate the plunge in temps, nor the worst snowstorm in 30 years hitting the area. After that I really had to “get back to nature” including chopping firewood, because the electricity and the natural gas heater were both offline. The natural gas heater actually doesn’t require electricity to run, which is what makes it so reliable. This is how bad the storm was, and how deep the snow was, that it took out both the power and the heater! Thankfully there was an old brick fireplace in the back of the kitchen. This cabin is several decades old, and for much of that time there was no electricity at all, this fireplace provided all the heating for the home and the kitchen. If you have never used a fireplace for survival, it turns out they are a lot more work-intensive than you think. I spent a couple of hours a day chopping firewood just to make sure the brick fireplace never went cold. This is how I lost so many pounds in such a short amount of time. The old brick fireplace was pretty amazing, and not only kept me warm but also provided enough heat to cook my food and boil my water.

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The southwestern section of the country is a place of unmatched beauty.

• I am an artist, one who is slowly building a reputation for high quality landscapes painted with oil paints on canvas.

Over the years I amassed enough cash to allow me to live out one of my dreams. I wanted to move out to the sandy desert of the southwest and live in a cabin or bungalow, where I could be a hermit and focus entirely on my art. The weather here is hot, but dry, which is a welcome change! What is not as welcome is the poor air quality, because the complete absence of humidity has been wreaking havoc on my respiratory system. I immediately had to invest in a new humidifier for my cabin, but even that wasn’t enough. I consulted an online air quality expert, who was also a certified HVAC tech, and asked for some pointers. I love my new house, and the beauty of the surrounding land, so I don’t want it ruined because of poor air quality. The expert said that the easiest solution would be to buy another, much bigger, humidifier for the cabin. Obviously I needed an excess of moisture in the air, so adding more humidifiers would be the quickest fix. He also gave me an idea about setting up a buffer zone in the front hall of my house, as an extra layer of defense for my indoor air quality. I am committed to making my new home work, so I will follow all the advice the HVAC tech gave me and hope that it works.

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If we ever have somebody staying over in the upstairs guest kitchen, we just about constantly have to put an electric space furnace in there

When I was making the rounds at the after holiday sales this year, I bought a current electric space heater. I know prefer I am constantly in need of a space furnace in some area of the beach house or another, but even though we installed a current high efficiency heating and cooling system last year, our beach house is honestly outdated and honestly drafty. That means that even though we have a undoubtedly great heating and cooling system, the insulation in the beach house does not constantly do its job to keep it in. Sometimes it can get honestly aggravating because it makes our heating and cooling bills go up. I know that we need to get some current insulation of some sort however up until this point we haven’t made it a point to do so yet. The two of us don’t have much cash saved up in our loft improvement fund. The two of us unquestionably will have it soon, however we do not have enough to do that yet, anyway, once in a while it gets super frigid in our beach house and the only thing that helps is an electric space heater. That’s the way it is in our upstairs kitchen anyway. If we ever have somebody staying over in the upstairs guest kitchen, we just about constantly have to put an electric space furnace in there. Otherwise, the temperature in the room stays way too frigid to be comfortable. This current electric space furnace that I got is undoubtedly great, though. It’s light and portable however it gives off more heat than you would suppose it would!

 

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All indoor activities with the cooling system running at the highest setting

Being pregnant has been one of the worst things ever. I have had a horrible pregnancy. Right from day one I have been sick as a dog. I felt nauseous in the first trimester. In the second trimester I was vomiting. Now I am dealing with acid reflux to the point where I can’t sleep and I gag. I am ready for this to be over. On top of all of this, my body temperature is out of control. A woman naturally experiences an increase in body temp when being pregnant. I feel like I got more than a few degrees warmer. I live in the south as well and am pregnant in the summer. I basically sit inside with the air conditioner running at all times. If I leave the AC, I go outside in the heat and immediately feel sick. I get nauseous, light headed and have to cool down. I don’t know what I would do without my air conditioning system. I honestly think I couldn’t survive the pregnancy. Not having a pool as well makes it difficult. As my pregnancy has progressed I have gotten less tolerant of the heat too. I used to push through and just deal with the sweat. Now I can hardly stand it. I have gotten into reading, cleaning up my house and preparing for the baby. All indoor activities with the cooling system running at the highest setting. I am hoping that my normal body temperature comes back when I give birth. I know my husband isn’t pleased with the AC settings.
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My current furnace is nearly thirty years old.

While I’m impressed with its lengthy lifespan, I think it’s time to replace it. The system continues to operate but performance is gradually decreasing. I’ve seen a steady rise in the cost of my utility bills. When the system was brand new, it only provided an 85% AFUE rating. Efficiency has certainly diminished over the years. There are models on the current market that offer 98% AFUE rating. I know that updating to a high-efficiency furnace would provide considerable savings on my monthly expenses. This would help to recover the investment while also reducing our carbon footprint. My older furnace is a single stage model. It is only capable of operating at maximum speed. When the temperature in the home drops below the thermostat setting, the furnace starts up and blasts at one hundred percent capacity. Once the temperature is raised to the desired level, the heating system entirely shuts down. This creates uneven temperature, creates complaints with insufficient humidity and puts a lot of wear and tear on the various components of the systems. Modern options include adaptable-speed technology that allows the system to adjust in tiny one percent increments. The furnace can operate anywhere from forty to one hundred percent capacity. It automatically adjusts to supply only the precise amount of heat necessary to maintain perfect and consistent indoor comfort. Running longer at lower speed uses less energy, better filters contaminants from the air and promotes greater reliability and longevity from the system. I’m also excited by the potential of zone control. I am hoping to replace the furnace this fall and enjoy a brand new system this coming winter.

 

 

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