Electronic Zoning for Your Home

Have you ever noticed that certain rooms in your home are usually too hot or too cold in relation to the rest of your house? This happens, of course, for the simple reason that heat rises, so rooms on higher floors will generally be warmer than those on lower floors. The sun can also play a factor on parts of your home that get the majority of its heat throughout the day. Not only can this be annoying for the people living in the home, but it can also cause your heating and cooling bills to be higher than they should be, depending on where your thermostat is located, because it is constantly trying to heat up a room that is perpetually colder than the rest of your house. A solution to this problem is electronic zoning, which is where you set up a system of thermostats in your home that control dampers within your ductwork, adjusting the temperature in each area respectively. Systems like these tend to be expensive at first to install, but the home comfort and energy efficiency you will receive, if used properly, is well worth the investment.

Home Comfort

As was said earlier, the existence of overly warm and cold areas in your home can be quite annoying for you and your family. By installing an electronic zoning system, you will have the ability to even out the temperature throughout your home by denying heat to the rooms that do not need it, while supplying more to those that do. But that is not that only way electronic zoning systems can bring you more home comfort. Most people have different temperatures they prefer to exist in. This is especially noticeable when you have a large family. An electronic zoning system can allow individual members maintain their personal spaces at the temperature most comfortable for them, allowing them to sleep better at night and work more comfortably during the day, increasing their health and efficiency. 

Costs

The one thing that makes most home owners turn away from electronic zoning systems is the cost of the system and the installation, which can be more than some wish to pay. But there are ways to plan the installation, so it is more cost efficient. If possible, you should try to install the electronic zoning system at the same time as you are replacing your current ductwork. This will minimize the extra costs of unnecessarily tearing out ductwork, because you will be doing two jobs at once. If you are planning on building a new home, it is also a good time to consider installing such a system. But no matter what, you will save more money on energy bills that will eventually pay for the cost of the system.

Energy Efficiency

The wonderful thing about electronic zoning systems is that you do not have to heat areas that are going unused, such as basements or spare bedrooms, so your heater will only need to work enough to heat the remainder of your home. As long as you are taking advantage of this feature, electronic zoning systems can save you up to thirty percent on your heating and cooling bills. The savings and the included home comfort will be well worth the cost of the initial installation.

Staying Warm During Winter

Winter is well under way, and it's highly likely that the weather will only get colder during the next few months. Hopefully most people will have already booked their fall furnace tune up, and are sitting at home, safe in the knowledge that everything is working as it should be. However for those people who are running a little behind schedule, it's never too late to book a furnace service. It is all too easy to put off this type of maintenance, especially if your furnace seems to be running smoothly as it might seem like a waste of money.

Advantages of Having Regular Servicing

This point of view couldn't be further from the truth, as having a regular furnace service could save you money in the long run. Most of us get used to our furnaces little foibles, and accept them as being normal. However there is often a lot that can be done to help improve home comfort without the need to spend a fortune. It could simply be that the thermostat needs changing, or that your home could benefit from electronic zoning to help make the heating system more efficient. Just something as simple as having a filter changed can make a real difference to the efficiency of a furnace. In addition, that full furnace tune up could even save your life, as it’s highly likely to include a carbon monoxide leak detection service.

If You’re Keen on Hobbies, Now Is Time to Get a Garage Heater

One part of the home that is often overlooked in terms of keeping it warm and comfortable is the garage. However, many people have hobbies and would benefit greatly from the installation of garage heaters. There are quite a few things to consider when choosing the best garage heater for your needs, as this includes the energy source, and the size of the garage. Garage heaters can be bought to run on a huge variety of fuels, including kerosene, propane, natural gas, coal, electricity, fire wood and wood pellets. The choice largely depends on which energy source is easiest to obtain, and the amount of time you intend to spend in your garage.

Choosing the Best Garage Heaters for Your Needs

Many people like an infrared garage heater, as it is economical and efficient. Infrared heaters are designed just to heat up objects and people, and provided you have it positioned correctly, you'll probably keep toasty and warm. This might be especially good for anyone who is fairly stationary when pursuing their hobbies. It might not be so good if you need to move around the garage quite a lot. Some people find a hot water radiant system to be the most efficient choice, and this is especially true if you live in a house that already has a hot water radiant system as it is relatively simple to install a hot water garage heater. Electric garage heaters are cheap to buy and very easy to operate. They also tend to be pretty good in terms of maintenance, and are often the best choice when other types of garage heaters are too impractical or expensive to install.

Small Changes Can Lead to Greater Energy Savings this winter

Apparently the average household in North America spends more than $2,200 every year on energy and around half this money is spent on heating and cooling the property. However there are several things most homeowners can do to help improve the efficiency of their furnace or boiler, which should lead to energy savings. This has to be a worthwhile consideration, especially as energy prices are currently quite high, and most people simply don't have the money to waste in this way. So how can you stay warmer this winter for less money? The first thing to consider is whether or not your heating system is adequately maintained. If you neglected to book your fall furnace tune up this year as a way of saving money, then just pause and think for a moment as this decision could end up costing you more.

Maintaining Heat Pumps, Furnaces and Boilers

A neglected and dirty home heating system is far more likely to be inefficient and to fail, as all heating systems need regular routine maintenance. This includes regular filter changes, as a clean filter will prevent dirt and dust from building up in the system. Most filters need to be checked on a monthly basis, especially during the winter months when more heating is required. This is obviously something you can do yourself, and it does pay to get into a regular routine.

Getting a Proper Maintenance Check from a Qualified HVAC Technician

However, having a proper maintenance check from a qualified technician is one of the most important things you can do to keep your system in tip top condition. They'll be able to check if your thermostat settings are correct, and that the heating turns on and off at the preprogrammed temperatures. They'll also be looking to ensure all the electrical connections are tight, and will measure the voltage and current on motors to ensure they are operating properly and safely. Your technician will lubricate the moving parts, as lack of lubrication will create excess friction, causing equipment to fail much earlier. They’ll also inspect any condensation drains and will make sure they aren’t blocked as this could affect the humidity levels in the home. If neglected this could lead to bacteria and mold developing. 

Additional Maintenance for Your HVAC System

Additional maintenance for your HVAC system can include things such as checking that the ducts are clear and free from dirt and dust, and arranging for duct cleaning if necessary. Your technician will also be able to check to make sure the ducts don't have any leaks or holes, and that they are properly connected. A poorly maintained or leaky duct system can lead to higher energy bills, and it's often more difficult to keep the home comfortable no matter how hard the heating system is working. There are ducts often concealed in walls and ceilings and access to them can be quite tricky, so it's something that is often left to professionals. It may also pay to look at the thermostats of your system and to replace them if necessary with programmable thermostats. It is estimated that a properly programmed thermostat could give around $180 every year in energy savings.

Choosing the Best Thermostats for Your Home this Winter

Thermostats are one of those things that are often overlooked when planning a home heating system, but a correctly programmed thermostat could offer considerable energy savings, especially if your house is empty for specific times each week. There are several different types of models available, and you need to take into consideration your schedule, and whether or not you are away from home for regular periods of time, for instance, for work or school or other activities before picking the correct make and model.

Different Types of Thermostats Available for Home Use

It is possible to purchase seven day thermostats, and this might be a good choice if you find your schedule changes daily, and that certain members of the household are home earlier on some days compared to others. A seven-day thermostat gives great flexibility and enables you to set several different temperature periods each day. Another model worth considering, if you have a more regular schedule, is one that allows you to pre-program settings for five days of the week, and to program a different setting for two days of the week to cover weekend use. This model is perhaps one of the simpler ones to use and setup. There is another possibility available, and that is a thermostat that can be programmed for five days for regular use during the week, and which then has two separate daily settings for Saturday and Sunday. This might be nice if you have regular things you do each weekend, such as sporting activities or hobbies that involve being away from the home for quite a period of time.

Getting the Most Benefit from Programmable Thermostats

It's best to keep the temperature set at an energy-saving level for those times during the day when no one is home, or for during the night, and to remember to set these programs on constant when you are away from home for a while for vacations. If you have multiple heating zones within your home then your programmable thermostat will enable you to accurately set each zone, maximizing energy savings and giving the greatest home comfort. One of the mistakes most people make is to override preprogrammed settings, and then they wonder why their energy savings aren't as great as they thought. These types of thermostats are designed to be set and left alone.

Choosing and Positioning Your Thermostat

Your thermostat needs to be installed correctly, and must be in the proper position for maximum efficiency. This is definitely something to discuss with your HVAC technician as they will be able to guide you on its positioning. In general it needs to be kept away from heating or cooling appliances, and from doorways and windows that could receive direct sunlight, or which may be in the path of drafts. One of the best positions to choose is on an inner wall. These thermostats are designed to run on batteries, so you'll need to check occasionally to see if they are running low.  If you have a heat pump you may need a different type of programmable thermostat to give the greatest energy savings, and this is something best discussed with a qualified installer.

Why Choose a Solar Heating and Cooling System

It's easy to see the attraction of using solar power to heat and cool your home as it is free and very clean. Solar power has next to zero impact on the global climate in comparison with conventional electricity that produces emissions that can be harmful to the environment. It's renewable, and this is especially important when other energy resources are becoming scarce. If the sun is shining then electricity can be generated. By installing a solar heating and cooling system in your home you'll be able to use less electricity from your utility company, helping to lower your heating and cooling costs. It may even be that your area offers incentives for installing renewable energy systems. In addition having a solar heating and cooling system can help add value to your home. It's the sort of thing that homeowners are now looking for and will help it to sell more easily. Energy prices are never going to fall and a solar power is extremely reliable. If you are thinking about having a new heating system fitted this winter then it could be worth taking a closer look at solar energy.

How Does a Solar Heating and Cooling System Work?

The typical home solar heating and cooling system works through using photovoltaic cells to take the sun's energy and convert it into electricity. Most kinds use a grid tied photovoltaic system as this is the least expensive way to utilize this energy. This means when the photovoltaic cells aren't able to produce electricity, it is provided by the utility company’s grid. If the photovoltaic cells produce an excess of energy then it is fed back into the grid, resulting in your electricity meter actually going into reverse. The alternative is to have a stand-alone system that isn't tied to any type of grid and which provides all the energy needed for home comfort. These types of systems are generally more expensive to install but may be good for people who live in remote areas where access to utility companies is quite costly.

Is Your Home Suitable for a Solar Heating and Cooling System?

Not everyone's home is suitable for this type of system, so it's essential to get a full evaluation from a trained installer beforehand. It's best if you have a roof that has a southern exposure and which isn't shaded by trees or other structures. The evaluation should be able to tell you the amount of annual solar energy that you could reasonably expect to be generated. You'll also need to check to see if your local utility company has a plan in place to enable you to sell back electricity generated by your system. They should be able to tell you about any possible rebates you may be eligible for.

Greener Heat, Even in winter

Solar energy has a number of advantages, and you can even start off with a relatively small solar panel and expand the modules at a later date once you have seen the potential energy savings that can be made. It is a great way to ensure you always have home comfort, and lower fuel costs mean you won't need to turn the heat down during winter.

Improving Indoor Air Quality for Winter

During the summer, most of us try to have our windows and doors open as much as possible to make the most of the fresh air and light, but now fall is well and truly here and winter is peeking round the corner and it's an excellent time to take a look at your indoor air quality. Did you know that poor indoor air quality is one of the five top environmental health risks? During the summer months this risk is mitigated due to the extra ventilation, but with the coming of winter it may be worth looking at an air cleaning device such as an ultraviolet air cleaner. These devices are designed to remove pollutants from the air, and can be installed in the duct work of a home. The best time to doing this is generally after duct cleaning has been carried out as it would then be able to clean the air throughout the whole house far more efficiently. You can also get portable air cleaners to just clean specific areas of your home. The choice isn't just limited to ultraviolet air cleaners as you can buy other different types of cleaners, all of which will help improve indoor air quality. It is best to ask a qualified installer for their opinion and advice.

Different Types of Air Cleaners Available to Remove Pollutants from Your Home

Different types of air cleaners on the market include air filters designed to remove particles, although these tend to be most effective at removing smaller particles that remain in the air for a longer period of time. There are also filters designed to remove gases, but these generally tend to be less frequently used and need replacing often. Others are biological filters and are designed to remove bacteria and mold spores. Certain types of mold and bacteria can be more resistant to normal and ultraviolet radiation, requiring long exposures to be killed.

Advantages of Improving Air Quality

The advantages of improving air quality, especially in time for winter are pretty obvious. This is especially true for homes where there are elderly people, small children or people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Improving indoor air quality could help reduce their symptoms, although some allergens are likely to remain as they tend to settle more quickly. This means householders who do install additional devices to improve indoor air quality will still need to take extra measures to control allergens, such as frequently vacuuming carpets and furniture and washing sheets and soft furnishings to help remove allergens. It is worth bearing in mind that air cleaning devices won't necessarily remove odors, as many tend to be designed to remove particles.

Carbon Monoxide Leak Detection for winter

During the winter months, carbon monoxide leaks can become far more of a problem, especially as this is a colorless and odorless gas that is extremely toxic. It can kill you before you are even aware it is present, and even at low levels can produce unpleasant symptoms that often feel like the flu. These include dizziness, nausea, headaches and fatigue, although they can vary greatly from person to person. In addition to making sure appliances are properly maintained, it's easy to fit an economical measuring device that will alert you if levels rise dangerously, and it could save your life.

The Advantages of Choosing a Hybrid System This Winter

Energy prices are going up and most families are worried about the cost of heating their home and are looking for ways to lower fuel costs. However it can be difficult to find a system that is absolutely perfect and this is where choosing a hybrid system could really pay off. This is a system that chooses the most cost effective way of heating the home and consists of several different components to optimize results. This includes the use of a heat pump to enable heating and cooling through electricity, as well as implementing the use of a gas furnace for those times when the temperature drops dramatically. It's this use of fossil fuels and electricity that increases the efficiency of the hybrid system, giving owners lower fuel costs. The advantages are easy to see as when it is very cold, gas furnaces are able to deliver blasts of heat, adding to the home comfort by making the house feel toasty. However, this isn't so great during the milder months, and the heat produced by a heat pump can be more preferable. Heat pumps deliver hot air at lower temperatures than traditional furnaces, and can often lead to a home feeling slightly more comfortable during milder months.

Hybrid Systems Automatically Switch for Energy Efficiency

Your hybrid system will automatically switch over to the most efficient way of heating your property so there's nothing for you to do but sit back and enjoy the benefits of lower fuel bills and increased home comfort. Heat pumps are very efficient at extracting heat from the air, even when it feels relatively cold outside. The advantage of doing so is that this heat is effectively free even though it still costs money to actually pump it inside the home. During the months when the weather isn't particularly cold, running a heat pump can be extremely effective. However, when the temperatures drop during winter it can become more economical to use a gas furnace. Hybrid systems will reach a certain point at which they'll switch over to using the furnace.

Cost Effectiveness of Using a Hybrid System

The cost effectiveness of using a hybrid system can vary quite a lot depending on the equipment used and the age of your system. Older systems and systems that have been poorly maintained will waste more energy. All hybrid systems will have a certain amount of manufacturer required maintenance, and this will almost certainly include a fall furnace tune up. And this time of year you should be checking to make sure the thermostat, air exchangers, humidifiers and air cleaners within your system are working correctly. Filter changes can help make the system more efficient, as can duct cleaning as this will allow the maximum amount of air to be pumped throughout the house.

Maximizing the Effectiveness of Your Hybrid System with Electronic Zoning and Thermostats

Electronic zoning and the use of multiple thermostats can help increase the effectiveness of your hybrid system. Certain rooms are always more difficult to heat and others, and using electronic zoning will help even out the temperature differences. Using multiple thermostats that constantly read the temperatures within their zone will enable the system to work accordingly. It's also great for those rooms you would like a little warmer or cooler.

The Growing Popularity of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems

The use of geothermal heating and cooling systems is growing considerably in both residential and commercial buildings. It's easy to see the attraction as green geothermal energy can be obtained just about anywhere, even in your own backyard, and is one of the cleanest sources of energy available. This technology has been around for quite some time as the first ground source heat pumps were installed back in the 1940s, but it has only recently come to the forefront.

Energy Savings Available by Installing Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems

The energy savings available by using geothermal heating and cooling systems can be considerable, but do very according to the region and the type of system installed. It is well worth doing your homework before choosing the best system to give the greatest home comfort and energy savings. However this type of system will always be cheaper to run than conventional HVAC systems, and lower fuel costs are certainly something everyone wants these days. Energy prices have increased substantially over the past few years, and very few of us have money to waste in this way. The vast majority of homeowners who install these types of heating systems are very happy with their purchase, especially as they have a more energy efficient home, giving greater home comfort and lower fuel costs.

Getting ready for winter with a New Geothermal Heating and Cooling System

This is the perfect time of year to think about installing a new geothermal heating and cooling system, especially if last winter's fuel costs seemed a little on the high side. Older furnaces and heat pumps can be less than efficient, and installing a system with the greatest energy efficiency possible will not only help keep your family warm and cosy this fall and winter, but could also increase the value of your home. More and more people are looking for more energy efficient and greener ways of heating and cooling their homes, and it's definitely becoming a selling point. There's probably just enough time to start looking around for a suitable system to meet your needs that can be easily installed before the holidays. Anyone who spent the previous winter worrying about energy prices, and who spent much of the time turning down the thermostats, will love the luxury of having a warm home that is heated by green energy.

A Little Bit about How Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems Work

The concept behind geothermal heating and cooling systems is really quite simple, regardless of where you live, the temperature can vary quite a lot above ground, but below ground it remains fairly stable year-round. The ground is able to remain warmer as it absorbs nearly half of the energy given out by the sun. This free energy is tapped into by the geothermal heating and cooling system, and the heating system uses an earth loop to draw out the heat stored underground before distributing it through air ducts as warm air. This heat can also be used to warm up water, or to warm up a radiant floor system. When your home needs cooling then the system works in reverse, extracting warm air from your home and moving back into the earth loop, or using it to heat water.

What is Radon Mitigation?

There is a lot of discussion about radon mitigation in the news, especially when everyone is starting to make their pre-winter inspections of their homes and HVAC systems. There are a number of products on the market that can improve indoor air quality and remove things such as dust, debris, allergens, and excess moisture. While you are inspecting your home, performing your carbon monoxide leak detection tests, you should also test for radon. If you have high levels of radon in your home, you will need to remove it by using a process called radon mitigation. Radon mitigation will not only improve your indoor air quality and home comfort, it can also save your life.  

What is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is produced naturally when uranium, also a radioactive gas, breaks down in the soil, rock, and water. It is one of the noble gases, which means that it will not readily bond chemically with other elements because its outer shell is full. Colorless, odorless, and tasteless, radon seeps into your home without your knowledge. Since radon concentration in the soil varies from region to region, you should check to see if you live in an area where concentration is known to be elevated. Radon seeps into your home through cracks in the foundation because air pressure inside the home is lower than the pressure in the soil around and underneath the home. Radon can also be found in rocks such as granite and limestone, so you could have radon in your home because it is seeping out of your limestone or granite countertops and other home furniture and building accents such as fireplace surrounds.  

Why Should You Test for Radon?

Radon, by nature, is a radioactive gas. It has been known to cause certain cancers. There are a number of people who develop lung cancer even though they never smoked and are not regularly in the presence of secondhand smoke. It is recommended that you perform at least a total of three tests: two short-term tests and one long-term test. A short-term test will measure the radon levels over a period as short as two days to as long as 90 days and long-term tests will take over 90 days. If you two short-term tests, you can get a more accurate reading in case transient weather interferes with the results. Since the weather can affect the level of radon in your home, a long-term test will give you a better picture of the average radon level in your home year-round. When you complete the test, you send it to a testing facility for the results. You should consult a professional when you receive your results so that you can determine if you need to take any action.  If you have a well, you will need to use a different type of test. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that a home should have a radon reading that is less than 2 pCi/L. Any reading that is 4 pCi/L or higher mandates radon mitigation. 

Which Radon Mitigation Method Should You Use?

Radon mitigation is a specialized skill that would be handled best by a professional. The professional will have the necessary knowledge needed and will know which mitigation method to use, which will depend upon on the size of your home and the foundation, and the level of radon detected. The most common and effective method is soil suction, which draws out the radon from underneath the home and vents it out through pipes into the air above the home. If the building materials are the culprit for the elevated reading, the best method to use is mechanical ventilation, which uses fans to replace the indoor air with fresh outdoor air. An aeration system or activated charcoal system would help remove radon from well water. 

What Can Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Actually Do

Many people are concerned about how to maintain the balance between lower fuel costs, improving air quality, and increasing home comfort. With the fall approaching, rising energy costs is making the balance harder to maintain, but technology has been answering the rescue signal. Ultraviolet air cleaners promise to provide cleaner, healthier air, but you may not be sure about the capabilities and claims of them. You should take time to conduct research so you can make a wise choice. You need to know what this new and evolving technology can do for you and what it cannot.

 Things that Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Can Do

The ultraviolet air cleaners are mainly used in hospitals and other places that require a sterile environment. They are capable of removing airborne germs and bacteria from the air and help improve indoor air quality. It is not like a HEPA filter air cleaner that needs to have the air moving through it in order to work. An ultraviolet air cleaner produces oxidizers that emanate from the machine to coat and sanitize surfaces to kill germs, bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungus. It has proven to be effective against stopping the spreading of highly contagious infections such as tuberculosis. Many people chose this type of air cleaner because it operates quietly and it even cleans the air of smoke and dust. As technology develops, these machines will be able to include features such as a charcoal filter to eliminate smoke and odors and an ionizer that eliminate harmful particles by attracting them with negative particles. 

Things that Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Cannot Do

The thing that separates the ultraviolet air cleaners from the HEPA filter cleaners is the thing that limits its usefulness. Since they are not dependent upon air moving through it to work, the only way it can kill the germs is to make the germs mobile so that it can be moved toward the ultraviolet light. It mainly keeps surfaces sanitized. That means that the germs have to be mobile and deposited directly on you for it to work. It also will not be able to trap airborne particles such as dust and debris. You can use the ultraviolet air cleaner as part of a hybrid system that would also include a HEPA filter air cleaner. One major drawback to these air cleaners is cost. Small systems are costly and if you need to affect a large space or your entire home, the price rises. It may also cause your energy costs to rise.  

Your Needs Should Be the Deciding Factor

Ultraviolet air cleaners are for people who need to have a sterile environment or are very sensitive to germs and allergens. If you have allergies to mold and other pollutants that cause severe reactions, you could consider installing one of these systems. This system would be good for people who need to be in a quiet environment. If you invest in a portable model that you can transport from room to you if you do not need to or want to include the entire house. If want to improve air quality in your entire home, you can consider investing in a hybrid system that includes the ultraviolet air cleaner and HEPA filter air cleaner. You can consult with a professional to obtain advice on which system you should get depending on your needs and budget. You should be aware that even though you will experience an increase in home comfort and home air quality, you will not see any energy savings from these systems.

Lower Fuel Costs and Home Comfort Can Be Achieved

You may be thinking about starting on your fall maintenance and inspections tasks at this time, but you need to save money and lower fuel costs. You may have done your fall furnace tune up, duct cleaning, and filter changes, but you feel that you need to do more. You may be thinking of taking on a larger project, such as replacing your existing heating and cooling system or just make an addition or two to it. Technology has been able to produce three earth-friendly systems that may be able to help you increase your indoor air quality and home comfort. You can choose a hybrid, solar heating and cooling, or geothermal heating and cooling system. 

A Brief Overview of Hybrid Systems

The hybrid system is the most popular of the three systems. It uses two fuel sources. One fuel source is an electric heat pump and it is paired with either a gas boiler, oil furnace, or a gas furnace. Depending on the settings you program for it, the system will automatically switch between the two fuel sources to use the most cost-efficient fuel. The settings for the automation depend upon the home comfort you desire, the seasonal temperature range, and the current energy prices. Your dealer or contractor can make these settings for you if you do not understand the instructions in the manual. During the colder months, the outdoor unit of the system absorbs the heat and pulls it inside to circulate through the home. During warmer months, it pulls the heat in the house to the outside to create a feeling of coolness. 

A Brief Overview of Solar Heating and Cooling Systems 

Solar heating and cooling systems are available in two different models: active and passive. An active solar heating and cooling system uses either liquid or air that collects in a hydronic collector. This system collects and absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it directly into the home or a storage system to be distributed throughout the home where it is needed. Solar systems can be used with absorption heat pumps and coolers, boilers with hot water radiators, or radiant heating systems. People have used the active solar heating and cooling systems to reduce and even eliminate their need for electricity, propane, and oil heating. A passive solar heating and cooling system uses the power of the sun in the opposite manner. Instead of absorbing heat from the outside, it reflects the outside heat away. A passive system would include things such as precisely-designed overhangs, a white reflective roof, and reflective double-glazed windows. You can also incorporate landscaping that would provide a copious amount of shading and even install a photoelectric panel. However, if you do not have direct exposure to the sun, solar heating and cooling systems will not be as effective.  You must be able to commit to a regular maintenance schedule with these systems to keep them in good shape. 

A Brief Overview of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems 

A geothermal heating and cooling system is a heat pump that uses the earth’s temperature to heat or cool water or refrigerant that flow through underground pipes. The temperature remains constant; it does not depend on the temperature of the air. The air temperature fluctuates and cannot provide stability to the system. The heat pump is installed indoors and conventional air-to-air heat pumps are installed outdoors. One thing that gives geothermal heating and cooling systems an advantage over solar is that geothermal systems do not use air or fans to circulate air over the compressor coils. Instead, refrigerant is cycled through a system of pipes by a compressor and circulation pump that operates quietly. Geothermal heating and cooler systems tend to last longer and they require very little maintenance whereas the solar systems require a regular maintenance schedule.  

Seven Ways to Lower Fuel Costs

Fall is a time when children go back to school, leaves on the trees change colors, and the days and nights turn a little cooler. This is the time when rising fuel costs may cause a little pinch in your budget. To save money, there are seven ways to lower fuel costs that are easy to implement and operate.

Get a smart thermostat and monitor your temperature

A smart thermostat is a device that will allow you to program it to set the temperature based on your daily routine. You can set it to automatically turn on right before you rise for the morning, and then set it to turn itself down while you are away from home and during the night. Because it uses your Wi-Fi network in your home, you can control it from a cell phone or tablet. You should also keep your thermostat set at a lower temperature to save on fuel.

Make sure your fireplace damper is closed

A fireplace damper is essentially a hole in your roof. If it is left open, you will lose a lot of heat out of your home because heat rises. Because fireplaces actually draw heat out of the home, it is best that you limit your use of it. 

Seal up your doors, windows, and other spaces

Many people do not realize that they can be losing heat because they have cracks and leaks around their doors, windows, and electrical outlets. You should use the fall season to caulk around your doors and windows and install outlet gaskets around your electrical outlets. 

Inspect, clean, and repair ductwork

Heat can be lost through leaks in the ductwork of your HVAC system. You should make sure that perform a thorough duct cleaning and seal up any leaks you find. You should also inspect the ductwork and make any needed repairs. 

Clean, inspect, and repair your heater and humidifier

Your fall furnace tune up should include a complete inspection and cleaning of the furnace and humidifier. Keeping furnaces and humidifiers clean will help the parts last longer and you will save money on more expensive repairs later. Change or clean the furnace filters and humidifier filters. If you need to have any repairs done or you would rather not do them yourself, you can call professionals to do it for you. You should also maintain the manufacturer required maintenance schedule that is recommended in your product manuals. 

Winterize your windows

You can tighten up your home by winterizing your windows. You can find window winterization kits in your local home improvement store that are essentially plastic sheets that are applied to your windows. The plastic adheres to the glass to keep warm air from seeping out and cold air from seeping into your home. 

Check your attic insulation

You should make sure that your attic insulation is sufficient and intact. You can have a professional give your attic an inspection to make sure that you have a sufficient amount of insulation and make recommendations and additions if needed. The condition of your insulation will also let you know if you have any problems with your roof. If your insulation is damp, that may indicate a leak that should be addressed as soon as possible.

Heat Pumps Provide Efficient Heating and Cooling

Efficient cooling and heating for your home can come from installing an air-source heat pump into your home; these are especially good for warm climate areas. These units deliver more heat compared to others, generating up to three times more heat energy than the electrical energy that it consumes. 

When it comes to rating the cooling efficiency, the acronym SEER is used and it stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. It is the total heat that is removed from conditional space in the annual cooling season, divided by the whole electrical energy consumed. Ratings for the compressor efficiency are done with HSPF, which stands for heating season performance factor. 

The most efficient heat pumps have SEERs of between 14 and 18. A SEER rating of 14 to 18 means the heat pump is adequate and more efficient than ones with a 6 rating. The old heat pumps were made with a SEER rating of around 6, and the newer ones come with a rating of around 12. This means that the older ones would use twice the energy to heat or cool your home as one of the new pumps. These facts are good reasons to purchase a new heat pump, if your home uses an older, outdated one now. 

Some of the factors below will help decide where to install air-source heat pumps. When picking the heat pump, be sure that it is one with a control for demand-defrost that will minimize the amount of defrost cycles that occur. This will reduce heat pump and supplementary energy use. 

Reverse Cycle Chillers

One of the best innovations within the heat pump industry is the invention of Reverse Cycle Chillers or sometimes simply referred to as RCCs. These air-source heat pumps offer an advantage of allowing the user a variety of cooling and heating distribution systems from forced air to radiant floor heating. 

Cold Climate Heat Pump

Currently, there is only one maker of this type of heat pump, called Cold Climate. It has a two-cylinder, two-speed compressor for the utmost in efficient operation. There is a back-up compressor that lets the system operate equally well even down to very low temperatures. A heat plate exchanger is situated to extend performance to well below zero. This plate is called an economizer, according to the company that manufactures it. After testing procedures, the results showed 60% more efficiency over the usual air-source heat pumps. 

Tips for Heat Pump Placement

If adding the heat pump to an existing electric furnace, the pump coil should be always placed on the upstream side of the unit for the most efficiency. When placing the outdoor unit, remember that they are fairly noisy and would be better placed away from windows to minimize the fan sounds that enter the home. There are also noise-absorbing bases that can be purchased to reduce motor noise from the unit. 

In addition, the outdoor unit should be placed out of high wind areas to avoid defrosting issues. A bush or fence can be strategically placed upwind from the coils to block the high wind and prevent damage. The bottom line when installing heat pumps is efficiency and money-saving on electric bills. 

How Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Improve Indoor Air Quality

Many people are becoming increasingly concerned about the indoor air quality of their homes. Perhaps you suffer from allergies and you need to find something to help alleviate your symptoms or you have a compromised immune system resulting from disease. You may be able to find some relief by having an ultraviolet air cleaner installed in your home. Before you begin to reach into your pocket and spend money on a system, you need to have a clear understanding of what ultraviolet air cleaners are and what they can and cannot do so you can assess if this new technology is worth the expense. 

How Do They Work?

These ultraviolet air cleaners use ultraviolet radiation from lamps. In the ultraviolet spectrum, you will find three bands: UV-A, which is the band that, UV-B, which is the band that causes the most damage to the human body, and UV-C, which is a short wave ultraviolet (UV) rays that cannot penetrate the skin. The ultraviolet lamps use the UV-C wave to destroy biological contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, mold spores, fungi, and germs. Within this class of air cleaners are three types: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) cleaners, photocatalytic oxidation cleaners, and ozone generators. UVGI is the most common type of ultraviolet air cleaner that uses UV lamps to kill the contaminants. Photocatalytic oxidation air cleaners have a catalyst combined with the ultraviolet lamps that reacts with the light to transform pollutants into harmless particles. Ozone generators produce ozone that is used to kill the pollutants. 

Where are They Used?

Ultraviolet air cleaners have been used widely in hospitals and operating rooms for many years because they have the ability to destroy bacteria, viruses, and other pollutants which can cause infection and complications for patients. If you wish to install one in your home, the lamps must be installed directly over the coils in your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. This will keep mold and mildew from collecting in the drip pans. You can also purchase a portable unit to be used in any room you choose. If you have a sick family member, you can put the portable unit in their room and it will help keep the germs at bay. The chance of the sick person becoming more ill is greatly reduced.

What are the Benefits and Limitations?

While the ultraviolet air cleaners have the ability to kill biological pollutants, there limits to what this device can accomplish. The unit does not rely on a filtration system to clean the air. Instead, it uses the ultraviolet rays to burn the contaminants as they pass through the rays. In other words, this means that the pollutants must travel to the lamps in order to be destroyed. The unit does not circulate the air or use any type of air handlers to pass air through the unit. The germs must travel to the lamps and stay there until they are burned up. Because of this limitation, this system would work best when installed in the HVAC system to keep it free of mold and mildew. Another limitation is that these air cleaners cannot remove larger particles from the air, such as pet dander, dust mite and cockroach allergens, dust, or pollen. It also cannot remove gaseous pollutants, such as paint or gas fumes. In order to get the full benefit of ultraviolet air cleaners, it is best to use them in tandem with a complete indoor air quality improvement system. You can combine the ultraviolet air cleaner with a HEPA filter air cleaner. The bulbs in the ultraviolet air cleaners must be replaced yearly because they burn out. These bulbs can be quite expensive and running the air cleaner will cause your electric bill to rise. When you make the decision to invest in an ultraviolet air cleaner system to improve your indoor air quality, be sure that you receive thorough advice from qualified HVAC professionals to determine which system or combination of systems would be best for you.  

Humidifiers: Why are They Important to Your Home?

If you have been suffering from headaches more frequently or feeling fatigued, you can probably blame it on the humidity, or lack of it. Home comfort is dependent upon not only the temperature of the indoor air, but also on the humidity of the air. Having too little moisture is just as damaging as having too much moisture. If you notice that the air in your home is overly dry or that your skin feels dry, you may consider investing in a humidifier to incorporate into your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. 

How Do They Work?

Humidifiers work by passing air through a damp filter or sponge. This moistened air travels through your home’s ductwork to distribute throughout your home. The filter is kept damp constantly as air is passed through it. There are several types of humidifiers available. Steam humidifiers uses steam instead of a damp filter. The steam is blown through the ductwork every time the sensor detects a drop in the moisture level in your home. Spray mist humidifiers will spray a fine mist of water directly into the ductwork that carries it through the home. This type of humidifier does not use a damp filter. A flow-through model uses a pad to absorb water that is blown through the ducts with the help of a blower fan. Wicking humidifiers operate in the same manner as an oil lamp. Water is placed in a reservoir and the water is wicked from the reservoir by a filter and blown through the ductwork by a blower fan. 

Basic Maintenance Required

Because humidifiers use water, they should be cleaned regularly. The filter or sponge should be changed as often as the manufacturer recommends. This information can be found in the product manual. Your dealer or contractor can show you how to do this. You should also regularly inspect the unit visually. Look for leakages from the water supply line, the shutoff valve, drain line, and enclosure. Make sure that there is no leakage underneath the unit. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule to prevent mold and milder from growing in the unit. You should also inspect your furnace and make any furnace repairs needed. Since you are pumping humid air through your ductwork, you should also implement a regular duct cleaning schedule. This will keep the mold and mildew at bay and help your humidifier perform optimally. 

The Importance of Humidification

Maintaining proper humidity in your home is important to your health and your finances. If you home is too dry, you will tend to experience increased headaches, nosebleeds, dry skin, and sore throats. Air that is too dry can also compromise your immune system and make you more vulnerable to germs, bacteria, and viruses. Dry air also causes static electricity which can result in unpleasant shocks. You will also save money by installing a humidifier. Most homeowner’s insurance policies will automatically cover humidifiers, and you may qualify for tax credits, deductions, and exemptions. Be sure to check with your tax professional for details and to determine your eligibility. If the air is too humid, it can cause the wood doors, trim, floors, and furniture to warp and stretch. If the air is too dry, it can cause the wood to dry and crack. You will also lower energy costs with humidification. Too-humid air in the summer will not allow you to cool off, causing you to crank up the air conditioning. Too-dry air in the winter will not allow you to warm up easily, causing you to crank up the heat.  Your contractor will be able to help you find the right level of humidification for your and program the settings for you so that you can experience optimum home comfort. 

How to Save Money Using Solar Heating and Cooling

There are many ways to achieve the home comfort you want to have. Many of the newest methods help you to lower fuel costs while reducing your carbon footprint. It allows you to get the environmental efficiency you are looking for so you can get the help needed to save money while still getting the temperature control you are looking for. One of the great ways you will be able to accomplish this is through the use of solar heating and cooling. These harness the power of the sun to provide the temperatures you are looking for within the home. By using the power of the sun, it is not necessary to spend money on electricity or gas for altering temperatures in the home.

How Solar Heating and Cooling Works

Before installing the solar heating and cooling system in your home, it is important to understand how it works. The system uses solar panels installed on the roof to do more than just provide electricity. These can help to alter the temperature in the home by heating water that runs through the pipes in the solar panels. Cooling the home is accomplished by releasing the hot air from the home through the panels. As the water circulates through the panels, it helps to achieve the correct temperatures within the home as well.

How to Lower Fuel Costs More

When it comes to heating, you may find that the solar heating and cooling is not enough to do the job. Rather than employing furnaces to make up the difference, you may consider installing infrared heating as well. The system uses infrared light to warm the air as it passes through air handlers. The process instantly alters the temperature of the air and does not require a long period of time to heat up. Almost as soon as the air is moving through the handler, it can be heated by the infrared light. Make sure to have these installed in the vent so that it will be able to heat the air as it is moving through the system. It allows you to have the kind of temperatures you are looking for so that you can enjoy warmer temperatures throughout the winter time.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling as an Alternative

Those who are looking to use solar heating and cooling as a way to save the planet may also consider using geothermal heating and cooling. The ability to lower fuel costs is possible because of the use of natural heat and cool from the surrounding areas to maintain the temperatures within the home. If you are living in an area of the country in which there are subterranean heat vents, you can tap into these to maintain a warm home throughout the summer months. It is a great way to put the power of the earth to use in heating your home rather than having to start a fire or using electricity to do so. It is a perfect way to get all of the heat you are looking for without having to manipulate the air at all. You will appreciate the way in which you get the results you want in a natural way.

How to Set Thermostats for Better Home Comfort

One of the best ways to enjoy the best home comfort is to understand how to set the temperatures in your home. Modern thermostats offer you a lot of control over the temperatures in your home. You can set the current temperature as well as setting a schedule for your home. These modern thermostats can also allow you to create electronic zoning in your home and so much more. Setting these to the correct temperatures and at the correct times will help in getting the kinds of temperatures you are looking for throughout your home. It will allow you to get the help needed to enjoy your home even more.

Creating Electronic Zoning

One of the greatest things you can do with modern thermostats is the ability to use electronic zoning. This is the process by which the temperatures throughout the home can be controlled from one unit. The zones are generally the different parts of the home. Such places as bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen can all be zones in your home. Set the temperatures for each based on how often you will use it. Never have these at completely different temperatures form the rest of the home. This is because it will create a barrier in which the other zones have to struggle to achieve the temperature they want. The best way to create these zones is to set the other zones to just a few degrees off of what the rest of the home is.

Setting Schedules on Thermostats

Another great thing about these digital thermostats is the ability to set schedules. Nights, weekends and weekdays are all different parts of the schedule you can set on the thermostat. Remember that when you are sleeping, you do not require the same amount of heating or cooling as you do while you are awake. The lack of motion and the use of covers can help you to regulate your temperature better at night. Make sure that you are setting the thermostat so it will turn on the HVAC unit less often while you are sleeping. You can also set the thermostat so that it will not maintain the desired temperature while you are at work. Being a few degrees off will help your home to recover quickly when you get home.

Temperature Control for Increased Home Comfort

The main objective when setting thermostats is to get the best home comfort possible. One of best ways to get the temperature control you are looking for is to make sure that it is set within an acceptable range from what the temperatures are outside. The biggest one to think about is cooling. Set your thermostat to just ten degrees cooler than what the temperature is outside. Doing so will help to prevent your system from being overworked. It will also help you to save a lot of money throughout the year. Some systems will encounter problems if they run all of the time. Using the right settings will help to prevent problems from occurring. You will appreciate not having to pay a lot of money for repairs simply by using your thermostat in the right way.

Improving Air Quality with Duct Cleaning

One of the important things to pay attention to whenever operating an air conditioning unit or heating unit inside of the home is the air quality inside of the home. Part of the problem many encounter is that the indoor air quality can be compromised when ducts are not as clean as possible. Investing in duct cleaning can help in reducing any of the health problems that can occur whenever different kinds of bacteria have accumulated inside of the ducts. The process of cleaning the ducts is fairly straightforward. After cleaning the ducts, it is all about making sure that the air can stay clean through air cleaners including ultraviolet air cleaners. This makes it possible to maintain clean air inside of the home and cleaner ducts as well.

Going through the Process of Duct Cleaning

Cleaning the ducts is a process which uses a lot of positive pressure. All of the dirt and bacteria is pushed at a higher rate than normal from the air handler and into the ducts. There are bags attached to all of the vents in the home which catch all of the dirt and bacteria rather than allowing it to go back into the home. Some technicians have remote units which go into the ducts and vacuum the ducts clean. These have an attached hose along with the guiding wires and a camera so they can be controlled while cleaning all of the ducts throughout the home.

Air Cleaners for the Home

After the ducts have been cleaned, it is important to make sure that they will not just get dirty again. This is possible by purchasing some air cleaners for around the home. These are simply set on the floor to clean the air in the room. They operate by using fans and electronic cleaning methods to clean the air. These feature an electrically charged plate that all of the dirt and bacteria are drawn to. To clean the filters, you simply run them under cool water. Some units also have HEPA filters you can use to catch many of the microscopic particles in the air that are causing you trouble. This will help to boost the indoor air quality on your home.

Ultraviolet Air Cleaners for the Home

Another way in which you can clean the air is by using ultraviolet air cleaners. These attach directly to the intake vent for the home. As the air passes into the air exchanger, the unit will charge the air using ultraviolet light. The purpose is that the air is naturally cleaned because of the ultraviolet light. It allows the air to be cleaned without adding any heat to it and without having to have any additional cleaners in the home for you to trip over. The unit is easily installed into the existing air conditioning and heating system that you have without having to spend a lot of money on a conversion system. The electricity for the unit operates off of the same power grid as the air exchanger, so that it will work any time that there is air passing through the ducts. It can help to quickly and efficiently clean the air for the entire home.

Why Ductless Air Conditioning Is Better than Window Units

There are many alternatives that can be used to cool your home during the summer months. Many with a limited amount of space have been turning to smaller units to cool their home. It is a lot less expensive than installing all of the vents and ducts throughout the home. In fact, some older construction buildings lack the infrastructure to handle the installation of an HVAC unit. Until recently, getting the cool air desired inside of the home has required the use of a window unit. The new ductless air conditioning systems allows you to get the cool air you are looking for while still being able to use the window for anything you want it for.

Rotation of Air with Ductless Air Conditioning

One of the truly great things about the ductless air conditioning is the position of the vent. Window units are at waist level generally and do not offer a lot of circulation for the air inside of the room. These generally have to work overtime in order to get the cool air you are looking for inside of the room. The location of the vent for ductless systems is close to the ceiling. The cool air from the unit is able to drop to the lower parts of the room cooling the warm air as it rises. Any warm air still in the room will be used by the air conditioning unit to keep the air flowing in a circle. It efficiently cools the room so that it can use less energy. They are also far quieter than the window units so you do not even know they are running.

Built in Thermostats

Another problem in window units is that it is difficult to control the temperature in the room because you only have settings of high, medium or low for cooling. The ductless air conditioning has a built in thermostat. With thermostats built right into the unit, it is possible for you to be able to set the temperature of the room to whatever feels best to you. It will allow you to not only make sure that you are getting the temperatures you want in the room, but allows for easy adjusting. These often either come with an external control for putting on the wall or a remote to make it easier to adjust the temperature to your liking.

Installing Ductless Air Conditioning

The process of installing the ductless air conditioning is not extremely involved. This does have an external unit that corresponds with the internal unit that controls air temperature. This requires that a hole is drilled into the building in which the pipes can be run. This is generally a small hole as only the Freon tubing in and out of the home needs to be able to get in and out. The external unit needs to be on a concrete slab just like a normal unit for HVAC. The process of installation is best handled by a professional rather than doing it yourself. They will be able to waterproof the home so that nothing will alter the indoor air quality or the structural integrity of the home.

Boosting Home Comfort with Better HVAC

When you are home, you deserve to be as comfortable as possible. This is the reason why you have a great HVAC unit in your home. This delivers the heat and air conditioning you are looking for in your home to feel completely at ease all throughout the year. Making sure that you are getting the right products will help you to have the best home comfort possible. This is why it is important that you are getting the right air conditioning and repairs whenever you need it. It is also important that you are able to use the best air handlers you can find. Improving the indoor air quality is just one more way you will be able to get the kind of comfort you are looking for in your home.

Air Conditioning and Repairs Experts

To make sure that you are getting the best in home comfort, you will need to make sure that your air conditioning unit is being serviced regularly. There are certain experts in your area with the ability to maintain your system so you will not encounter any kinds of problems. They will look over your entire system including looking at the ducts and the ventilation. They will test the temperature of the air coming out of the vents and make sure that all working parts are functioning properly. This will allow you to get everything you need so you can have air handlers you can expect to work whenever you need it.

Air Handlers for Any Home

The size of your home will play a big role in the air handlers you will need. Some homes will even require that you have more than one HVAC system. Make sure you are considering the amount of square feet in your home as well as certain heating and cooling challenges for air handlers. Making sure that you are getting all of the power you need from these handlers will make sure that you are getting all of the help you need to boost home comfort throughout your home. Look at the air handlers to see how many square feet each will be able to handle. This will allow you to buy the right size of unit so you can get even more out of running your system.

Air Cleaners Offer Cleaner Air

Another thing that will add to your home comfort is when you have better indoor air quality. Not only will you be able to breathe easier whenever you have better air quality, but the air will smell better as well. The air cleaners which are available on the market can either be attached to the air handlers using ultraviolet air cleaners or you can purchase electronic air cleaners which allow you to clean the air in the different rooms instead. This will allow you to enjoy better air quality as well as making sure that you are getting exactly what you need so that you can kill bacteria in your home. You will appreciate the home comfort whenever you are trying to relax in your home. Everyone else who visits your home will notice a difference as well in the air quality and comfort level.