The Heating & AC Blog

The beach scene is a way of life for some people, like me.

I have been going to the beach frequently ever since my family moved south when I was eight years old.

I still remember being in awe at the size of the waves. I was much smaller back then so the waves seemed like tidal waves and I had so much fun. I still am going to the beach some 40 years later and have been going steadily almost the entire time, except for a short stint in NYC to chase my comedy career. I’m back in the sand again. I have a heater for sale today online because I am going to buy a geo heat pump and use my central heat instead of the small space heater. I noticed that it uses a large amount of energy when I run it on high, as I’ve always been doing, and this is why my power bills have gone through the roof. I guess the central heat and air unit, even though it’s much larger, is more cost efficient to run. The rates have gone up drastically here this past year, along with all across the globe I bet, and I need to try and cut costs however I can nowadays. I think this new electric heat pump will be much more efficient and pay for itself in a matter of a year or less. It is supposed to come with a 10 year guarantee on parts and labor so I should be pretty set for a while.

 

energy saving help

Almost everyone with a full head of hair has encountered a slow or blocked drain at some point in their lives. Drain stoppers perform a decent job of delaying hair infiltration, but a clog is typically unavoidable. Fortunately, there are three simple techniques to remove hair from your drains such as. a snaking tool, a baking soda and vinegar combination, and plunging. When less invasive approaches don’t seem to work, homemade or store-bought snaking tools are an excellent way to unclog your sink or bathroom drain. A wire hanger may be used to build your own snaking device. To break up any obstruction, just straighten out the hanger and insert it down the drain. Another option is to purchase a Zip-it tool. It’s also a good idea to flush your drain with hot water after snaking it to ensure the clog is entirely removed. Combining baking soda and vinegar generates a chemical reaction that works well for clearing small blockages. Pour some water down your drain, followed by baking soda and vinegar, to attempt this unclogging mixture. Wait five minutes before pouring boiling hot water down the drain. If the hairball won’t come back up the drain, try pushing it through the trap or wherever it’s trapped. Grab your trusty plunger for this task. Seal the deal by plunging your drain with a cup or flat plunger. Even the most cutting-edge gadgets in the store may not solve your clogged problem. Clogged sinks or tubs are sometimes the consequence of a greater problem. In any case, attempting DIY solutions may be more costly to your home’s plumbing system and your finances. Calling a skilled plumber will guarantee that the problem is appropriately diagnosed and resolved.

water heaters

He should create a comfortable environment for his customers

I don’t like visiting the dentist for my annual teeth cleaning. I procrastinate for as long as possible. I don’t have dental insurance, so the appointment costs me quite a bit of money. I always spend a long time sitting in the waiting room, so the start-to-finish process takes up a great deal of my day. The procedure is unpleasant, uncomfortable and downright painful. Afterward, my teeth hurt so bad that it’s difficult to eat. Plus, the dentist always tries to upsell me on all sorts of expensive fluoride treatments, whitening treatments and gum surgery. One of my biggest complaints with the dentist office is the air conditioning. My last appointment was toward the end of July. The outside temperature was 87 degrees with brilliant sunshine, blue skies and high humidity. I dressed for the weather. I wore shorts, a tank top and sandals. As soon as I stepped into the waiting room, I knew I had a problem. The dentist office felt like a refrigerator. I immediately started to shiver. I tried three different chairs, attempting to escape the freezing cold air blasting from overhead vents. I asked the receptionist if she could possibly raise the thermostat setting. She promised that she would, but I noticed no improvement in the temperature. I waited for nearly an hour before I was escorted into the back. I then waited in the dentist’s chair for another twenty minutes with cold air directly blowing on me. I was extremely aggravated. It’s bad enough that the dentist wastes my time and hurts my teeth. I shouldn’t need to pay such high costs for his service if he can afford to run the air conditioner at maximum capacity. He should create a comfortable environment for his customers. I noticed that the dentist and all of his staff were dressed in long pants and long sleeves.

 

a/c repairman

After we got married, my husband and I spent almost five years living in a cramped, outdated apartment.

We went without off-street parking, a backyard and sufficient closet space. We put up with faucets that continually dripped, air conditioning that smelled like pond water and a heater that couldn’t keep our very small apartment warm enough. We saved our money with the goal of buying property and designing our own home. We spent hours researching styles of roofs, types of windows, appliances and every detail of a new construction build. One of our biggest concerns was finding the right professional contractors. While we hoped to do a good share of the work ourselves, we hired a licensed electrician, plumber and HVAC contractor. We wanted to take advantage of their knowledge, experience and recommendations. Not only do all of those essential systems need to pass code, they directly impact our ongoing budget and enjoyment of the home. The number and placement of power outlets, light fixtures, water heater and faucets are incredibly important. In our local area, with temperature swings from the high eighties to the negative twenties, heating and cooling are a year round concern. The layout and fabrication of the ductwork affects energy efficiency, comfort and air quality. We found a fully licensed, insured and factory authorized HVAC contractor that includes custom sheet metal fabrication capabilities. We chose a company in good-standing with the Better Business Bureau. All of the technicians are NATE-certified, EPA-certified and ACCA-certified, and they back their work with 100% satisfaction guarantee. We are extremely happy with the results of our efforts and investment. Our new house is just perfect for us.

boiler installation

I was initially scared off by the cost of a geothermal heat pump.

This type of temperature control is a much bigger investment than more conventional options.

The excavation required to install an underground loops system is invasive, labor-intensive and expensive. However the ground loop is warrantied for fifty years and can be expected to last twice that long. Because the actual heat pump is located inside the house and protected against the weather, it should last upwards of twenty years. That provides plenty of time for the savings on monthly heating and cooling costs to add up. A geothermal heat pump uses the free and renewable energy provided by the sun. Even in the middle of the winter, the underground temperature remains fairly constant. The heat pump pulls heat out of the ground and transfers it into the house. In the summer, the system reverses direction to extract heat out of the house and transfer it into the ground. This process achieves energy efficiency ratings of 400% perfect. It means that for every unit of energy the heat pump requires to operate, it produces four units of energy. It cuts the cost of temperature control in half and has paid for itself in under five years. I like that geothermal heating and cooling is especially environmentally friendly. It avoids the burning of fossil fuels, eliminating the production of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses. With the addition of a simple switch, our geothermal heat pump provides a nearly free source of hot water. It helps to dehumidify in the summer, doesn’t dry out the air in the winter, and effectively filters out contaminants all year round.
commercial hvac provider

I am always looking for new and better ways to reduce household energy consumption.

• I’ve read that approximately 50% of energy costs are the result of heating and cooling.

Because of the severe weather in my local area, we switch between relying on the furnace to running the air conditioner with very little break in-between. I’ve invested into thermal-paned windows, an Energy Star rated front door, attic insulation, caulk and weatherstripping. I’ve installed a smart thermostat to help with temperature control and energy savings. Just recently, I came across a list of energy saving strategies. The article mentioned that the average duct system allows up to 30% of conditioned air to escape. That’s a significant amount of heated or cooled air just disappearing. If the maximum amount of air produced by the furnace or air conditioner fails to reach the intended destination, the system needs to run more often and for longer cycles. The system uses more energy and my utility bills go up. Plus, the rooms of the house aren’t going to be as comfortable. There’s the potential for outside pollutants to enter the ductwork and get spread throughout the living area. The added strain on the heating and cooling equipment increases the potential for malfunction. I called a local HVAC contractor and had my duct system tested for leaks. The testing revealed 20% energy losses through small holes and cracks at the seams. I then invested into a process called Aeroseal. The technician blocked off all of the supply and return registers. He pumped highly pressurized air into the ducts. This air contained adhesive polymer particles. As the air leaked from imperfections, those particles adhered to the edges, accumulated and built up an airtight seal.

duct cleaning

Every summer during the month of June, my wife and I take a vacation and get away from the house for a couple of days.

We leave the kids at my mom and dad’s and we stay at a hotel for the weekend.

Last June, my wife and I decided to spend a whole week in the tropical islands off the coast. We rented a hotel room that we found online. The place had excellent reviews as well as a continental breakfast each morning. When my wife and I checked into the hotel, we were worried about the temperatures in our room. The hotel lobby was warm and uncomfortable. There wasn’t any cold air coming out of the vents on the wall next to the front lobby desk. I asked the manager if there was a problem with the indoor air conditions and he rolled his eyes. The guy told me that the lobby doesn’t have any heating or air conditioning, because the doors are constantly being opened and closed. He promised that the indoor temperatures in the room would be just fine. He told my wife and I to give him a call if there were any problems at all. As soon as we entered the room, I could tell that the air conditioner was running. The temperature inside of the room was vastly different from the temperature in the hallway. It seemed clear to both of us that the hotel temperature problems did not include the rooms. The week-long stay was filled with adult fun and entertaining activities.

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