The Many Benefits of the HVAC System

Although it is extremely important and beneficial, many people have never actually heard of an HVAC system. Then there are those who have heard of it, but they aren't familiar with its capabilities. If you find yourself in either of these categories, here are a few examples of this system's capabilities. You won't necessarily know everything there is to know about the unit, but at least you will have some basic knowledge.

First, one thing that might help you become more familiar with this term is if you get a breakdown of what each letter stands for. HVAC is actually short for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. In other words, this system has the ability to provide all three of those services.

So, let's start with the first category of heat. Every building, whether it's a residential home, business or warehouse needs heat every once in awhile. Some need it more than others, depending on their location. This includes places like Colorado, New York, and even Montana, which are places that have been known to have harsh, snowy winters. Without the proper amount of heat, people in areas like these would be miserable during the winter months.

Just imagine being at home in the middle of winter, in a place like Colorado without an HVAC system. It's snowing outside and the temperature is in the mid-teens. You have a fireplace, but it is only capable of heating the room that it's in. So, the rest of the house is forced to succumb to the harsh, freezing temperatures. The good news is that, the heating unit is available. Therefore, no one has to live in those types of conditions. This also goes for business offices, warehouses, and any other building for that matter.

Along with providing heat, this unit also provides cool air, which is just as important. Most times, the cooler air is needed during the summer time. However, some places are warmer for a good portion of the year. This includes places in the South that are more subtropical, like New Orleans. The humidity doesn't make things any better. So, being able to stay cool is extremely important.

Lastly, HVAC units also provide buildings with ventilation. Some people underestimate the importance of having proper ventilation. Not only can it retain the heat or cool air, as needed, it can also work as a filter. Because of the filter it provides, harmful chemicals and toxins are removed or prevented from infiltrating the building.

Time to Have Your Furnace Maintained for Winter   Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product   

Working With One Company for All Your Cooling Needs

If you're running a business that requires cooling of any sort - air conditioning, refrigeration, or something more special - then you'll likely need to spend quite a lot of time talking to different companies and comparing their services of this type, as the market for these products is quite diverse. One piece of advice we can give you though, is to try and find one company that can service you in all aspects you're interested in. That is, if it's possible, you should avoid having to buy your different cooling equipment from separate companies, as this is going to complicate things unnecessarily.

When you're searching for that one ideal company, start with air conditioning as your primary feature of interest. This is often the thing that requires the most effort and precision from the company that provides the service, so it's quite necessary to make sure that they have solid experience in providing quality air conditioners and know how to perform proper maintenance on them as well.

Before you take those discussions any further, make sure that you are working with a company that can actually provide commercially oriented services. This might sound like a no-brainer, but the truth is that there are many companies on the market for air conditioning and cooling systems who only work with domestic customers, and unless you specify that you're representing a business, they might just assume that you're one of their regular customers!

Refrigerators are a bit easier to find in good quality for the most part, especially if you don't need anything too special in this regard. Commercial refrigerators tend to have some intricate differences in their designs compared to domestic units though, so pay attention to those to avoid any surprises when you start fitting the machines in your building.

We mentioned the importance of maintenance above - this can't be stressed enough. Cooling equipment can fail from time to time, even when properly taken care of. This should be addressed as early as possible, especially if you rely on those machines for your regular business. There's often not much that you can do on your own in those situations though, so you'll be relying on the company you're working with almost entirely. Even though they'll probably give you some general guidelines for the maintenance of your machines, you'll still need their services when the need for a repair comes up.

In the end, after you've found a good company for your cooling machines and equipment, it's mostly easy from then on as you'll keep using their services and you'll have a nice array of machines that are always fully operational and provide you with the quality of cooling that you truly require. And that long-term relationship with this company can also benefit you later on, by giving you access to better prices and various special deals only available to recurring customers. This is a common practice in this line of work, so see what your cooling company can do for you and keep an eye out for promotions!

Time to Have Your Furnace Maintained for Winter   Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product   

Help You Improve Your Home's Value

You do not want your home to have shoddy work done to it. This is why it is important to know what you are doing before you try and tackle a home improvement job. Follow the ideas presented here to become a good, all around general handyman.

You should make sure you take into consideration how much you value your personal ideas against your home's value whenever you decide to sell. The more personal the renovation, the harder it might be to sell to someone further down the line. It might not be worth the investment.

You can use aluminum foil as a protective covering for certain surfaces before you paint. You should always be careful to avoid having aluminum foil come in contact with anything electrical. Aluminum foil is a lot easier to use than tape, and it will protect the covers from unintentional splatters. Plus, cleanup time will be much shorter! Just let all of the paint dry prior to removing the foil, then recycle it.

Consider using white tile to repair your roof if needed. Dark colors absorb light and cause the attic to become extremely hot. Choosing lightly colored tiles prevents heat from being absorbed into your attic. A cooler attic will help should it become necessary to get in your attic.

There are a few improvements and projects your home will need that you must hire a professional for. For example, your air ducts and vents often go overlooked, but it is essential for the health of the air in your home to have your air vents and ducts cleaned at least once a year. Although this must be done by a professional, pricing is usually fairly reasonable and it will greatly improve the quality of the air your family breathes.

Think about hiring a professional when you are working on home improvements. They can help you budget, gather supplies and do a great job. Let them help you succeed.

When hiring a contractor, you have to keep track of everything that you do with that professional. Not all contractors will keep records for you. Save all the paperwork that is at all related to your project. This helps you and the contractor stay focused on the job.

Prior to purchasing and installing blinds, make sure you measure carefully. If you do not measure the windows you may not be able to properly install the blinds. There are many types of blinds that you could use in your window's interior frame.

Vinyl decks are popular with homeowners. If you've got one, make sure to thoroughly clean it at least two times every year so that it will look great and provide you years of use. Fall and spring tend to be the best times of the year to clean your vinyl deck.

When beginning a home improvement project, try to get an accurate estimate of how much work you are facing. Make a comprehensive list of tasks you need to complete. Seek out a second opinion to ensure you haven't missed anything in your assessment. If you make sure you know exactly what must be done, it'll be easy to keep costs down.

Do you want new cabinets? Is money an issue? Consider refacing them. If you are working with a large kitchen, replacing all of your cabinetry can be very costly. A more affordable alternative is to refinish the front of the cabinetry. It will still give you that new modern look you want, but it won't break your budget in the process.

If you aren't sure what you're doing, the repairs you make could be meaningless. Use what you have learned to create a comprehensive plan and avoid expensive mistakes.

Time to Have Your Furnace Maintained for Winter   Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product   

Ways To Ensure That You Receive Good Boiler Servicing

Boilers are important for the comfort safety and conveniences that they provide in your home. They are an essential feature in all residences. Regular boiler servicing is always recommended, not only for the continued and necessary conveniences, but also as a preventative maintenance. A faulty boiler can be very dangerous. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from leaking systems should be avoided and it is recommended that your boiler should be serviced annually.

As with other services, you are always trying to get the best value for your money.

The best and obvious choices for boiler servicing should be someone that operates locally. Word of mouth is still the most trusted of recommendations, so you can ask your friends and family to recommend someone. Online searches will provide a great deal of information, but online searches still requires that you conduct some due diligence.

You should be able to contact the entity or person that you choose, and extended hours are very much desired as there is no scheduled time for your boiler to break down. Check the hours of operation, and conditions, some companies may charge extra fees for emergency services, and it is usually easier to contact someone that operates in your area.

Get a written quotation that explains the problems and the proposed solutions before entering into any contractual agreements. You should have a detailed cost that can be used to demonstrate that you are receiving the best possible value for your hard earned money.

Obtain multiple estimates for your boiler servicing contracts. You can then compare estimates along with the proposed services. Some services may or may not be needed, but can be value added, and may still be worthwhile. Remember that you are now entering into relationship that should be built on trust, and here you will have to trust your instincts to determine whether the other party can be trusted.

Although your boiler may be in a temporary state of disrepair, a service contract may be very handy. Enquire about service contract and compare prices and services that are offered. The maintenance contract will go a long way to ensure hours of trouble free operation. Arrangement for services may differ, as discounts for regular services may be provided with the maintenance contract.

Check the qualifications of technician. The entity or person should be licensed and insured and should have been working in the industry for an extended period. You do not need someone who will be learning the job at your expense. They should have the necessary industry certification to perform the required tasks, and should be thoroughly familiar with current regulations.

All boilers are not the same, nor should all the service contracts be the same, and to decide which contract is best for you, should be familiar with how your boiler operates you can also ask your potential service provider if he has experience with your type of boiler.

Time to Have Your Furnace Maintained for Winter   Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product   

Heating Installation - 3 Types for Your Home

If your unit needs to be updated, it's time to decide which type of heating installation fits your home, your budget, and your needs. It's uncommon to come across a house in cold climates without one, as a climate controlled home isn't just a luxury in those areas but a necessity. Going without it may be an option in Florida or southern California, but it is not an option in the northern United States. Whether you were unlucky enough to buy a home without one, or yours needs to replaced, here are three of your options.

Forced Air Of all the types of heating installation available to homeowners, this is by far the most popular and common. Because this system is so popular, many homeowners are unaware that any other options are available. This system works by applying heat to the air in a furnace, then distributing that air through a series of ductwork and vents. It can be fueled by electricity, gas, or oil. One of the main advantages of this type of heater is that it can double as an air conditioner, meaning the homeowner doesn't need the money (or the room) for two separate systems. They are also usually among the least expensive of the options.

Radiant Heat Growing in popularity, the radiant heating installation has gotten a reputation for providing homeowners with the most "natural" heat they can buy. There are several types of systems that qualify as radiant, using stoves or tubing to work the heat through the floors, relying on the natural tendency of heat to rise as a method of warming the house. Some homes have the radiant panels actually put into the ceilings for additional support. One of the biggest reasons true believers promote radiant systems is the evenness of the warm air. You won't get those "hot spots" you can get with other systems, nor the cold patches that often accompany forced air systems. On the other hand, installing one can be expensive, and it can take a while for the house to warm up.

Baseboard System This has more in common with the radiant system than forced air, though it hasn't reached yet reached the same level of popularity. Using radiation and convection, the system uses hot water from a boiler to warm the home from the baseboards up. These heating installation systems are quiet and energy efficient, but much like the tubing radiant systems it may take some time to heat the entire home. Some homeowners also find the baseboard convection units cumbersome and difficult to design around.

Time to Have Your Furnace Maintained for Winter   Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product   

Four Potential Problems of Poor Wintertime Indoor Air Quality

People tend to think that outdoor air is polluted, especially in the city. Smog and emissions from cars and factories lead many consumers to believe it's better to stay indoors.

In reality, indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air, even in the city. It's estimated that pollutant and contaminant levels inside may be two to five times higher than they are outside.

According to Health Canada, Canadians are already spending an average of 90 percent of their waking hours indoors. A majority of Canadians spend even more time indoors during the winter.

The amount of time that we spend inside in winter isn't the only factor that may be contributing to poor health. During the months of November to March, we may be inhaling higher concentrations of pollutants and contaminants than during the rest of the year. This is because we keep our windows closed and seal up drafts.

This may keep the heating bill lower, but it also means that air circulation is hampered and reduced. This causes pollutants and contaminants to settle inside and accumulate faster than they can be pushed out.

Poor indoor air quality (at any time of the year, but especially in winter) can cause or exacerbate a number of different kinds of problems, including:

1) Respiratory illnesses: Viruses are an ever-present threat, but wintertime is particularly bad. Many types of viruses, including the common cold and the seasonal flu, thrive in cooler temperatures. Left unchecked, they can settle indoors and be blown throughout a home.

2) Dust: People sometimes think of dust as a summer or dry-weather problem. Actually, dust is a year-round issue, and can actually be worse in the winter months. Decreased air exchange/circulation (due to closed and sealed windows and cracks) causes dust to accumulate more rapidly.

Dust is more than just a mere cleaning problem. Dust can irritate existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma. It also contains allergens that can trigger reactions and lower immune functions.

3) Mould: This is another potentially serious problem in residential homes, and it's typically worse in winter due to wetter weather. Poor air circulation and exchange encourages the formation of mould, and once it starts, it's virtually impossible (and very expensive) to get rid of.

4) Asthma: Pollutants, allergens, dust and mould are all potential triggers for an asthma attack. Poor indoor air quality can lead to more frequent asthma attacks as well as more severe ones.

Home owners can greatly reduce the potential for these kinds of problems in several ways. First, have your heating system/furnace inspected and cleaned annually. The best time to do this is just prior to the cold season (before you need to use your furnace).

A professional service will clean your system of contaminants and pollutants and identify potential problems. Plus, your furnace's air filter will be replaced, allowing for better trapping of those harmful airborne particles during the upcoming cold season.

You should also have your home's ducts cleaned each year. Pollutants can settle and become trapped in air ducts, and once you turn your furnace on they'll be blown throughout your home. A professional cleaning will remove many of these particles, along with trapped dust and dirt.

Time to Have Your Furnace Maintained for Winter   Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product