Regular Maintenance and Care Tips to Avoid a Need for Furnace Repair

During increasingly severe winters, it is crucial to have a well-functioning heating system. There are a number of reasons why you may need a costly furnace repair. Some of the most common issues are easily prevented with regular attention and maintenance. Some of the reasons your heating system may be having trouble include the following.

Lack of Professional Maintenance

You keep the oil changed and tires rotated for your car on a regular basis. You should do the same for the major equipment that operates your home’s heating and cooling system. Many furnace repair services will offer regular maintenance plans to keep your system running smoothly. The cost of the plan may be less than the cost of repairs. During regular maintenance, a technician may provide some of these services:

– Run diagnostic tests of all the working components of the system

– Conduct a safety inspection, including for carbon monoxide

– Check the condition of all mechanical and electrical components

– Remove debris in the ductwork

Dirty or Clogged Filters

Between visits from a licensed specialist, you should keep your filters clean and free of dust and dirt. When they are clogged, your system has to work harder. That means the equipment is under more strain and may wear out. It also means your energy costs will increase since the system will run longer to do its job.

You should replace filters on a monthly basis. If you don’t have a replacement handy, vacuum them thoroughly to try and remove as much dust as possible.

Mechanical Wear and Tear

The furnace has many moving parts, such as belts, bearings, coils, and wiring. While regular maintenance and changing filters can help reduce the wear and tear on these parts, you won’t be able to prevent all issues with the equipment. Some common problems are poor heating control or airflow problems when the motor is worn out. A homeowner needs to be aware of any mechanical breakages or changes to the functioning of their system.

Pilot or Ignition Control Problems

Most systems today have two types of ignition methods: hot surface ignition or intermittent pilot. It is not unusual to have an issue with the ignition system if your furnace is providing only intermittent or no warmth at all. The ignition system powers the heater when the thermostat reaches the configured temperature. If the pilot light won’t stay lit, some reasons may include a loose or faulty thermocouple, a clogged orifice, or a flame that is set too low. You can clear a clogged orifice using a piece of thin wire; just be sure to cut off the gas and power to the equipment first. Also, check the flame adjustment screw for the pilot light if your equipment has one. Refer to your owner’s manual to see how to turn the screw to adjust the flame level.

Thermostat Issues

As stated above, the thermostat tells the system how much heat to provide. If you have problems, you may have no heat, no fan to push the hot air through, or intermittent warmth that cuts off and on. The system could have faulty wiring due to age, or it may need a new transformer. Many times, excessive dust can cause issues, and a simple cleaning will solve the problem. You can use a small paintbrush to gently wipe off accumulated dust and debris from the components.

Even though you may be able to address some of your furnace repair needs yourself, it’s a good idea to have a professional you can call when needed. Do your part by keeping filters changed and having regular maintenance checks to keep your system running as smoothly as possible.

Source by Aaliyah Arthur

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Spring Cleaning Should Include An Air Conditioning Tune Up

As a home owner you should be aware of what is involved in an air conditioning tuneup. If you read any home maintenance articles this spring, most will encourage an A/C tuneup; some will even claim 25% savings. Predicting savings without knowing what type of tuneup received is a little silly. Encouraging a tune up without explaining the difference between an average tuneup and a high quality tuneup is a shame and expensive.

Most tuneups claim to adjust, check, reset, or modify back to factory settings. What does that mean? It implies that when the service tech is done your system will be good as new. What it really means is that the ad is not very specific; tough to figure if you got your moneys worth.

First a little insight, the tuneup is the basic advertising model for most HVAC companies. The idea being they sell you a $59 tuneup hoping you’re so impressed with the work that it will lead to a new furnace install when the time comes. Any HVAC company will happily service a customer for years just for a chance at landing the new equipment job. If that logic is stretched out the more tuneups the more future jobs so why not drop the tuneup price? Just one problem as price drops, pressure to do more tuneups per tech increases and the quality of the tuneup suffers.

What should a quality tuneup include?

1. Measure airflow of system, absolutely critical for capacity and efficiency. Most air conditioners require 400 cfm of air to operate at capacity. There are three ways to measure airflow

A. Static pressure measurement. This is the most accurate method providing the blower wheel is cleaned.

B. A duct traverse. This involves drilling a series of holes in your return drop to measure air flow with a wand style meter.

C. Tru-flow air meter. A measuring device installed in the filter slot. Some techs believe its accuracy drops with poor duct design.

D. Temperature drop across the system is not an accurate measurement of air flow, while temp drop is important in diagnosing

it will not accurately determine air flow

2. Clean the condenser. The out door unit should be sprayed with a heavy foaming cleanser that soaks for ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing.

3. Measure indoor and outdoor conditions. Indoor wet bulb, indoor dry bulb and out door dry bulb should all be measured. A qualified tech will have the tools for this. After all measurements are taken the tech should plot them on a sliding chart that will determine required super heat. Super Heat is an HVAC measurement that sets proper refrigerant charge.

4. Adjust refrigerant charge, as important as airflow. After airflow is set, the condenser is cleaned and super heat is determined, the tech can hook up his gauges and set the refrigerant charge.

5. Other useful measurements.

A. Temperature drop across coil should be 18-22 degrees, this is universal.

B. Temperature drop across outdoor unit. The tech will know this depending on unit.

C. Amp draw of compressor:b this will depend on size of unit.

For any company to do this work correctly it will cost more than $59. Tell the dispatcher what work you want done and understand that it will cost more. If it costs twice as much as a junk tuneup it’s worth it for your comfort and wallet. Some companies will only pull and clean blower wheels on a Time and Materials basis and thats okay. Now you can talk to your tech with out worrying about being bluffed into a bad job.

Source by Aaron Simac

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Time For Your Spring Air Conditioner Checkup

It’s been a long winter in most of the country, but spring has finally arrived – birds are returning from their winter habitats, the first flowers and plants are beginning to emerge from the thawed earth and you see the branches of the trees in your neighborhood bearing buds which will soon bring forth leaves. It’s a great time of year and we all look forward to the warming temperatures and spending more time outdoors. Of course, this means that summer will be here before we know it and with it, the need for air conditioning.

Spring may not be a time when most of us spend too much time thinking about air conditioning, but now is definitely the time to give your air conditioning system’s annual spring checkup – put it on to your spring cleaning list and make sure that’s your whole home is prepared for the arrival of summer.

There are a number of different things which should be examined as a part of your spring air conditioner checkup; keep reading to learn more about this process – there’s more to it than you may have supposed. That’s why this is a job best left to the professionals, no matter how handy you may be elsewhere around the home. Central air conditioning units are complex pieces of equipment.

1) The first thing that needs to be checked is your air conditioning unit’s coolant levels – you definitely don’t want to try cooling your home without having ample coolant in the system. This will be check and if necessary, topped up to the appropriate level. You’ll also need to have the disconnect switch looked at to make sure that it is in good working order; this is a vital part of your AC system.

2) Next on the list are your condenser coil and your condensate line. The condenser coil is a key part of your air conditioning unit and if this is not working properly, your AC is not going to work efficiently (or perhaps even at all). The condensate line carries water condensation from the air away from the rest of the unit and if this becomes clogged, your air conditioning unit can become flooded – this should be checked for foreign objects regularly.

3) As part of your spring checkup, the startup capacity will be checked, along with measurements of several other important metrics including testing whether your compressor amperage meets the unit’s specifications, the performance of your unit’s motor as well as whether your unit’s capacitors are performing within the parameters specified by the manufacturer.

4) Testing the safety controls is another important part of spring checkups and maintenance for your central air conditioning unit. Like anything else, safety comes first with your air conditioning unit and your safety controls including various fuses and emergency off switches need to be tested at least once a year to make sure that your air conditioning unit is operating safely.

5) The main switching relay of your air conditioning unit also needs to be evaluated to make sure that it is in good shape. This is the core of the electrical system in the unit and as such needs to be examined as part of your spring checkup. The motors in your unit will also be lubricated if required and your thermostat tested and calibrated to ensure proper functioning for your unit once summer heat sets in.

6) All wiring and connections in your air conditioning unit will need to be checked and tightened to ensure continuing functionality and safety. Air flow including your air filter will also be done during your air conditioning spring check up and if necessary, your air filter will be replaced.

Following all of these internal tests and tune-ups, there will be several tests done within your home as well. Air temperature will be tested during the operation of your air conditioning unit to make sure that your air conditioning is working properly. The connections of the air ducts going into your home from the unit will be checked and reconnected if necessary to prevent cool air from escaping before it even makes its way into your home. Your unit’s piping will be inspected to make sure that it is in good shape and free of vibration, the state of your outdoor motor fan checked and your unit’s function monitored to make sure that every part of your system is working together properly.

As you can see, there are a lot of different things which need to be looked at as part of your air conditioning unit’;s spring checkup; all of them are necessary to make sure that your central air is working efficiently and safely. Now that spring is upon us, it’s time to schedule your spring air conditioning checkup so that once the mercury begins to rise; your home will be well prepared.

Source by Natasha Fatale

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Air Conditioning Repair Tips and Advice

No matter how well you maintain your home sometimes things are going to break down. It might mean a minor inconvenience to you or it might mean a major disruption of your life. Repairs around your home can add up quickly, especially if you don’t deal with them right away. The longer you wait to address the issue, the worse it gets.

If you live in a warmer client, maintaining your air conditioner is probably a big priority. No one likes to come home to a hot house in the middle of summer. Some air conditioning problems can be solved with simple maintenance. Removing dead leaves or debris away from the outside unit could get your home cooler again right away. If the air filter becomes clogged or dirty it could also cause your home to feel warmer than it should. These both seem like easy fixes but unfortunately it’s not always that simple.

When you have to call a professional to repair your air conditioner you might be worried about how much it will cost or how long it will take. Make sure any technician that enters your home is licensed and experienced. Check references, your local Chamber of Commerce, and the Better Business Bureau to be sure your company is reputable. Get a price before you agree to any work being done. Find out how long it will take for them to get your unit running again.

Anytime something breaks down in your house it causes a big inconvenience, but some things can be a bigger inconvenience than others. When your air conditioner breaks on a hot summer day, you’re probably desperate to get it fixed. Don’t make the mistake of hiring the first company you come across without checking them out first or you might just end up sweaty and broke.

Source by Christina Cole

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Building an Energy Efficient Home – Top 10 Tips

1. Choose an architect who understands low energy efficient house design

• Be sure that builders are aware of the low energy aim of your house
• Choose tradespeople that have both knowledge and experience in energy efficiency
• Remember many architects/builders don’t go beyond minimum building standards and regulations but minimum isn’t the most efficient.

• Minimize Your Heat Loss:
• • Keep your house plan simple and compact – A house that is compact and without extensions will have less heat loss due to the reduction in the external walls and roof area. Remember that single storey houses such as bungalows lose more heat through the roof than two or three storey houses where the rising heat is used throughout the levels before reaching the roof.
  • External walls should have high level insulation
  • Ensure there is good controlled ventilation and draught-proofing
  • Your architect can provide energy calculations of expected annual fuel bills
• Maximize Your Solar Heat Gain:
• • Build along the East West axis – An energy efficient house will capture the free energy from the sun to heat your home and water. Ideally where possible choose a site where your house can face the sun (external blinds can prevent overheating in the summer months) and be sheltered from prevailing winds.
  • Houses in the northern hemisphere should locate most windows on the south side with reduced window size on the north side, and vice versa for houses in the southern hemisphere – Most windows should face the sun side to benefit from solar gains. However, some windows will have to be on the non-sun side to enable good daylight in all the rooms in your home.
  • Kitchens and breakfast rooms are mostly used in the mornings, so for houses in the northern hemisphere a south-east orientation will take advantage of the morning sun. For houses in the southern hemisphere then a north-east orientation will take advantage of the morning sun.
  • Halls, stairs and bathrooms can be located on the side that doesn’t get much sun as there are less frequently used.
  • Locate living rooms and main bedrooms on the sun facing side
  • In two storey houses consider having your bedrooms on the lower level (cooler for sleeping) and your living rooms on the upper level further reducing your heating requirements as upstairs gets warmer
  • Use the sun’s energy
    • Wind Turbines can take full advantage of wind power generation
    • Heat Pumps use the sun’s energy – all renewable energy systems are complementary to an energy efficient house design
• Install Energy Efficient Heating And Hot Water System:
• • Renewable energy systems
  • Solar heaters
  • Use a condensing boiler if using gas or oil
  • Install easy to use controls

  More information on these can be found at the Home Heating Systems and Solutions site.

• 
  Consider Thermal Mass
• • When thinking of an energy efficient house remember that the use of certain materials will also improve the ‘thermal mass’ of your house by their ability to slowly absorb solar heat during the daytime and then slowly release this free heat through the night – The common materials used for thermal mass are:
    • Adobe bricks (mud or earth bricks)
    • Rocks and stones
    • Concrete (preferably concrete with stone)

    This is because they have:

    • High specific heat – able to store a large amount of heat for a long period of time like the heat bricks in a sauna
    • High density – basically the weight (mass) of a material in relation to it’s volume (it’s size) – the greater the mass per unit volume the greater the density
    • Low thermal conductivity – slow absorption and slow release of heat
  • Thermal mass is not insulation, it is the amount of specific heat that can be stored in a material (water has high thermal mass by being able to store a lot of heat). Insulation materials have a lower thermal conductivity to restrict the flow and absorption of heat.
• Insulation
• • The percentage of heat loss from a house is approximately:
    • 42% Roof
    • 12% windows
    • 12% Unblocked chimneys and draughts around doors
    • 24% walls
    • 10% Floor
  • So when thinking of building an energy efficient house understand that installing insulation at the build stage is the easiest and cheapest way of improving your homes energy efficiency.
    • You can upgrade standard timber framed walls by using 140mm studs instead of 90mm studs – this will allow you more insulation. Masonry cavity walls can be improved by being filled with polystyrene insulating foam and by using lightweight thermal blocks.
    • You should have at least 250mm of loft insulation, 100mm of insulation between the joists and 150mm of insulation laid across the top. Loft conversions require careful attention especially if dormer windows are installed but a high standard of insulation can still be achieved.
    • Heat loss from the floor varies with different floor types. However, ground floor insulation is pretty easy. Generally a 125mm layer/sheet of polystyrene is used this size will be increased if installing underfloor heating to minimize heat loss.
    • Ensure insulation overlap between elements, e.g, between the wall and loft/roof cavity
    • Ensure air gaps such as wall cavities are clear of debris that can bridge therefore compromising the insulating air gap
    • Make sure fibre insulating materials are not compressed (packed tightly) as this will undermine its ability to properly insulate
    • Make sure that all insulating materials are kept dry
    • Be sure to seal all holes where services such as water and gas pipes enter your home
• Windows And Conservatories
  • You’re always going to lose more heat through windows than through walls especially single pane windows. To minimize heat lost through windows ‘Low-E’ coated double glazing should be installed in all new houses.
  • Double glazing does not only reduce heat loss, it also offers some sound insulation. With double glazing the two panes are generally vacuum sealed. However, you can get argon-filled units (gas filled), and triple glazing which are well worth considering if you can afford them.
  • Conservatories can save you a little energy by acting as a buffer between the adjoining wall by trapping the heat from the sun, thereby reducing the heat loss from the room separated by the adjoining wall. To be effective, conservatories should be located on the sun facing side of the house and preferably not overshadowed by trees or other buildings.
  • Conservatories correctly placed should not require any permanent heating, but the doors that separate the house from the conservatory should be double glazed and shut when not in use.
• Efficient Home Heating
  • A well insulated house is a low energy consuming house meaning that energy efficient house heating requirements are lower than a similar sized house which is poorly insulated.
  • Your heating system should take into account:
    • Fuel source and availability
    • The time you will spend in your home – quick or slow response systems
    • Construction material – timber framed houses should have responsive heating, such as radiators or air heat pumps, as the timber retains less heat than concrete, for example
    • Underfloor heating systems are not suited for houses built from lightweight construction materials, like timber frame, because of their slower heating response
  • You can have hydronic underfloor heating (wet or water based) systems combined with radiators. These are usually designed with the underfloor heating downstairs and radiators located upstairs.
  • Tiled solid screed floors work the best with underfloor heating. If you prefer a softer floor finish rather than tiles you should consider rugs rather than fitted carpets for better heat transference/output within the room.
  • Renewable energy systems such as heat pumps and solar heating are perfectly suited for energy efficient house designs.
• Ventilation
  • Ventilation is an important aspect not to be overlooked as it provides both fresh air and removes stale air and moisture. Removing moisture prevents bacterial growth thus maintaining a healthy living environment.
  • Kitchens must have extractor fans or passive stack ventilation (PSV). PSV works using the principle of ‘rising’ warm air carrying stale air up and out.
  • Mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery do offer filtered air and a reduction in noise intrusion as windows can be kept closed. However, unless you are using a renewable power system such as photovoltaic (PV) or wind turbines, then the power required to run the fans rules it out as a feature for an energy efficient house. Also, for a heat recovery system to work efficiently the house must be well sealed.
  • All rooms should have trickle ventilation – allowing air to come in at a trickle rate to provide required room air change rate per hour (ACH).
• Lighting and appliances
  • These should be low energy rated (low-wattage) saving you money in running costs and helping the planet by reducing CO₂ emissions.

  So now you can save the planet and save yourself running costs by building an energy efficient home.

Source by George Meates-Dennis

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Ways to Clean Your Old Furnace

Cleaning a furnace may seem like a daunting task for a lot of people, but you cannot escape the fact that you really need to keep them clean to maintain its perfect working condition. It is important for someone to know how they can keep their furnace clean, and this is what this article will be showing you today. Below is the step by step procedure that you need to take when cleaning your furnace:

1. You need to cut of the power supply of your furnace by turning the switch of the breaker. You also need to shut down the fuel supply to be sure that you will be safe when cleaning your furnace.

2. Once you’re sure that you have turned your furnace off, you need to vacuum it carefully to avoid displacement of any wiring. After this, you need to remove the dust in hard-to-reach places by using a soft brush. For the second time, vacuum the area to be sure that it will be clean and free from dust.

3. Remove the furnace blower and start cleaning it by removing dust build-up on it. You may need to use a soft brush, toothpick, and cotton swabs when cleaning it. Make sure that you are going to remove all the build-up in all surfaces.

4. You also need to clean the ventilation of your furnace to ensure that you will get good quality of air. There are a lot of people who tend to ignore the idea of cleaning the ventilation, which is the reason why they are having problems with their furnace. You may also need to use disinfectant spray to be sure that your furnace will be free from micro-organisms.

5. Once you’re done with all these things, you need to put them back together and keep it running for several minutes to see if there are any problems with the unit. Make sure that there are no loose connections and displaced wiring before you put it together to be sure that your furnace will work properly.

6. Once you’ve confirmed that your furnace is now running perfectly without problems, the last step that you need to take is to put the front panel back in place. You may need to do these steps once every six months to be sure that your furnace will remain clean and will be efficient in providing heat for you.

Source by Earl Ruble

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The Benefits of Condenser Cleaning

Condenser cleaning is important because most households and industrial workplaces make use of air conditioners whether heavy-duty or simple types to freshen up and clean the surrounding air. As it filters out the circulating air, it is inevitable that dirt, dust and other particulates will adhere to the system.

The same is true also for refrigeration condensers, which are important components of the whole system as it is the one responsible for the cooling sensation given off by the unit. The accumulation of whatever debris that clings on to this part of your cooling system is something that should be given attention that this will affect the overall functioning of the system.

It is recommended that an owner should have their condenser cleaned every month on a regular interval. However, if it such is not possible, they have to make sure that the units should be cleaned every six months.

The first step to keep this section of your system working well is to ensure that there is an appropriate amount of air that flows freely to it and that the hot exhaust air escapes easily without re-circulating back to the interior.

If this section is stationed outside, make sure that plants, branches and other stuff, which may block the flow of air, is removed. Removal of dust that has stuck to the surface of the condenser and which, may coat it can be removed using a vacuum cleaner or through brushing. You can do both for interior and exterior coils but a heavy duty brush can be applied in the exterior to also blow away the debris found in the interior. For removal of oil, using a degreaser will do the trick. Just make sure to turn the unit off before application.  

There a number of associated benefits of condenser cleaning. Abnormal operating temperatures and system pressure will be prevented if this section is frequently cleaned.

This also entails that there will be a great reduction on the cost allotted for service repair costs. Maintaining your unit through dusting and thorough cleaning will also increase its longevity as a tool. Since you preserve its part, it is assured that the whole system will be indispensable for your use. Condenser cleaning will also ensure that nothing will obstruct the operation of the unit. In this way, your unit will not have to overwork and thus you will be paying for an appropriate electric bill. 

Source by Martin Applebaum

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HVAC Marketing Strategies

Are your furnace and air conditioning sales suffering because you use the same old ways of marketing?

Thirty years ago in this industry, there were far fewer contractors and much less competition but today it is a much different story. The common complaint I now hear from almost every contractor is; “there are just too many contractors to make a decent margin.”

They also say that they are not satisfied with the institutional type of marketing that they are offered – “it doesn’t make the phone ring”.

What else?

77% of contractors spend over half their marketing money on Yellow Pages and 81% of them rate their own ads as resulting in “fair or poor” lead quality.

Add to that the fact that newspaper, radio, flyers and even some direct marketing is not nearly as effective as it use to be and it all adds up to this…

It’s time to adopt a new set of marketing strategies based on current best marketing practices that work! It’s time to focus on a comprehensive and highly effective direct marketing plan that captures consumers when they need HVAC solutions…

It’s time to turn our efforts to new HVAC Marketing Strategies!

As a 27 year veteran of the HVAC Industry I have witnessed many changes in the HVAC market but the one thing that has not changed is the way we market our products and services.

So, why is it important that we change now?

Because, statistically speaking 98% of all Canadians that have a computer with access to the internet, go to an Internet Search Engine to research whatever it is they want to buy, including researching all HVAC solutions. However, only 36% of Canadian businesses actually do any form of internet marketing. And, of that 36%, less than 1% do it effectively!

The HVAC industry existing websites are only online brochures that do not increase business because they do not adhere to the best internet marketing strategies. Winning internet marketing strategies include; researching highly targeted markets and bringing that traffic directly to our dealer sites then converting that traffic into leads and sales.

Dealers need HVAC Marketing Strategies that are automated to the point that it constantly attracts new customers as well as delivering marketing materials to existing customers. This is all obtainable through proper use of the best internet marketing techniques.

For example; even if a homeowner has a yearly equipment maintenance program, they will still spend between $650 -$750 per year over and above the maintenance cost. For that very reason it is important for dealers to stay in constant contact with their customers so that the money they spend goes into the dealers coffers.

Having been in the HVAC business for years and experiencing first hand what contractors don’t have to grow their business, I have decided to offer up a winning solution.

Source by Greg Sheldon

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HVAC Preventive Maintenance Tips

Air conditioning and heating units are costly to replace. So, it’s important to do some regular preventive maintenance on your home units. This maintenance can be done by the home owner and will help the unit last longer.

This maintenance should be done at least twice per year. I do it one time in the fall right after the leaves have fallen. And, once again in the spring just before the air conditioning is needed to beat down the summer heat.

Here are some tips to help you with this task:

1. Clear debris from around the outside unit. Eliminate any brush or leaves that are too close to the unit. When the unit turns on, brush and leaves may interfere with air circulation.

2. Look inside the condensing unit and remove any leaves or dirt that may have accumulated there. You may have to unscrew the top mesh to get into the unit. Once cleaned, make sure you put the top mesh back on.

3. Clean the condensing coil with a coil cleaner. Coil cleaners can be found at Lowe’s or any HVAC store. Just spray it on and allow it to foam up. After 3-4 minutes, wash it off with a hose and water.

4. Turn the unit on and inspect the fan blades. Check to see if they look like they are properly balanced. If the blade is bouncing around or making a lot of noise, call a professional repair service to fix it before further damage occurs.

5. After shutting the unit off, check the blower wheel. It should turn freely by hand and it should be free of dirt.

6. Inspect all of your wire connections with a screwdriver and make sure that they are all tight.

7. Inside you house, replace all of your air filters. This should be done about every three months.

8. Check the duct to your air conditioning system. You may have to climb into your attic or under your house to completely do this. Make sure all of the insulation around this duct is secure and not torn. Look for and repair any air leaks.

These are the simple preventive maintenance items that most homeowners can do themselves.

Of course, a professionally done preventive maintenance program will cover another 10-15 items that requires some special tools and electrical knowledge. If you can afford this ($150-$250/year), I would highly recommend that you call a HVAC Service in your area and ask them to come and inspect your unit. If you can’t afford it, at least cover the eight items listed above – it could save you a lot money.

Source by Richard S. Cannon

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Energy Efficient Homes – Build Your Dream Home

We’ve all heard the urge to “go green.” But what does it mean exactly? Is it really possible to build an energy efficient home that does not rely on coal energy or chemical energy? Is is possible to rely solely on alternative energy sources for our everyday needs? If you want to know the answers to these questions, just look at today’s retirees.

There is a lot to be said for the new crop of environmental-friendly, retiring Baby Boomers who are refusing the canned retirement solutions that are out there aplenty. Many have had to live in the cities that created their employment…complete with smog and crime. Years have gone by, the kids have been protected as much as possible in gated communities and the day has finally dawned when it’s time to take a look at “what’s next.”

The idea of travel that so held the attention of their elders has less appeal to our Baby Boomers. Cruise ship horror stories and the risks that have become part of RVing have taken the shine off of what their parents were satisfied with. Also, many have traveled extensively in their work and have added expensive vacations to far away places with strange sounding names to the mix.

Freedom doesn’t even have the draw that it had for earlier generations. Many Baby Boomers have been connected with web-oriented businesses and have been able to work at home some of the time, following their own pace. This usually meant longer hours for most of them, but more personal freedom was involved.

As a result this new breed wants to get the heck out of Dodge and do some kind of physical work. That’s right, they don’t want to be taken care of or sit around the campfire, they want to address the challenges that correspond with their ideals.

Peace and quiet rate high on many Baby Boomers’ lists of priorities. Living more simply calls to them. “Off the grid” was not a phrase most of us were familiar with even ten years ago. If we had heard it, it would have been with fear and loathing that we would have considered living without being connected to a reliable power source. However, these up and coming retirees are often extremely interested in solar panels and battery banks. Conservation and personal independence rank high.

In addition, unique designs for homes that circumvent the need for central heating and air conditioning are coming to the fore. The strawbale house is a wonder in temperature economy. Thick walls of dry bales of straw are covered with a “skin”. The one I recently viewed was plastered with a mixture of adobe mud and cement.

Contractors and architects are getting on the bandwagon as this trend spreads. Books and seminars on strawbale building are in heavy demand. And then there are the Earth Ships. These are energy-efficient homes dug into hillsides and constructed with great care to offer shelter without messing with the environment. The one I visited looked amazingly cozy.

Our Baby Boomers want a new kind of challenge and most of them are extending it into organic gardening, another science that offers them simplicity and increased wellness. They want to grow what they eat to a great extent. There’s usually plenty of room to do this because they buy acreage not a lot. This movement toward healthy living isn’t carefree, but that’s not what most of them are about. They are willing to work long and hard.

You will find, in their strange residences, battery-run, laptop computers! After all, email, like life, must go on! Boomers are making sure that the things that matter to them are included. It’s never been about denial. For lack of a better description, I would call their evolving ethic “creating a challenging simplicity.”

If you get a chance to read up on this movement and/or have an opportunity to visit someone who is immersed in it, don’t pass it up. Rome is being rebuilt, yet again.

Source by Della Franklin

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How To Maintain An Oil Burning Furnace

Oil burning furnaces need maintenance, more than gas or propane burning furnaces need. My own experience says you can go as long as 3 years without servicing it, but that is not advisable because sometimes the failure that results is severe (electrode insulator cracks, and you get the Bessemer Process on the electrode mount, which is to say, it melts). You are far better off cleaning them annually.

Cleaning and servicing them is no big deal, but it is messy since that soot is tarry and stinky.

Turn off power to the system. Remove the oil burner assembly, which will also have the electrodes on it. How you remove this assembly is very dependent on the particular unit; follow the oil line out of the pump to where it goes into the furnace housing and that will give you a good clue. Often (usually) you have to either remove or hinge back the high voltage transformer to get at this assembly.

When you have the burner out, remove the nozzle and replace it. Make sure you replace it with a nozzle with the same spray pattern, though you can vary the gallons per hour (GPH) rating to rate the furnace up or down in capacity.

Spray patterns are described as either solid, semisolid, or hollow – which refers to the distribution of oil in the spray cone, and have a specific angle which defines the angle of the cone of oil that is shot into the furnace. Solid is the most common pattern in my experience and 85 degrees is the most common angle that I have seen.

Wipe the whole assembly down to get the oil and soot off of it. You will need to position and gap the electrodes, but first do a visual inspection of them. If there are visible cracks in the insulators, replace them. If the ends are eroded and pitted, replace them. If in doubt, replace them.

There is a special tool you need to position and gap the electrodes; do not try to do this without that tool. It only costs about $4 at a supply house; I repeat DO NOT TRY TO DO IT WITHOUT THE TOOL!!!! You can have a fire, and in the worst possible case, an explosion that wrecks the furnace if you gap them badly enough. Make sure you gap and position the electrodes to conform to the particular spray pattern of the nozzle.

When you have done all this, take a rag and wipe down the air passages leading into the furnace. Wipe off the squirrel cage on the combustion blower. Wipe off the oil pump, the transformer, and the electrodes on the transformer. Also look for an optical flame sensor (some units have them) and wipe it clean.

Reassemble the furnace and fire it off. The flame should start instantly and quietly – no WHOOMP, no delays followed by a WHOOMP. If it is adjusted right, it will just start, immediately and quietly.

You then need to adjust the air to the flame. Open the inspection port so you can see the flame. Turn down the air until the flame becomes dull yellow and smoky, then increase the air until the smoke just vanishes and the flame “flower” is bright yellow. If the flame “flower” becomes too lean, it will be very bright and tinged with blue. At this point, you are sending too much air in and sending too much heat up the flue. When the inspection port is closed, if the flame roars and the furnace kind of “shudders” a bit, back off the air until that stops, then look again in the inspection port to make sure the flame is not smoky.

When all this is done, allow the furnace to reach operating temperature, then adjust the flue damper. The flue damper should swing freely and not catch, either open or close. If you cannot achieve this, replace it. When you have achieved this, adjust the damper so that it is swinging about half open when the furnace is running and at temp. When the furnace stops and the flue cools, the damper should swing shut on its own.

Beyond this, oil the pump motor, oil the blower motor, change the filters, tighten the belts, replace the oil filter, and you are done. You could also test pump pressure but that does not change unless either tampered with or if the pump is failing; I almost always ignore it.

Although this sounds like a lot, when you get good at it you will do it end to end in 1/2 hour. You will also stink of fuel oil when you are done, so wear old clothes.

Oh yes. Must not forget. You WILL spill a certain small amount of fuel oil over the course of this; have some kitty litter (oil dry) available.

Source by Jim Locker

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The Trouble With Black Mold In Air Conditioners – And What To Do About It

Both AC units and air ducts make great places for mold to hang out.

With AC units, water leaks out of them and makes a nice place for mold. In these water pools mold grows, and then their spores are passed along through the ducts to every part of the house.

Your heating and cooling system also can suck air out of different parts of the house. This means that mold can be passed all over the place, every which way, by your ventilation system.

The HVAC unit that sits outside your home is perfect for mold, because there’s always water around it. Mold often grows in the unit’s water pools. The evaporator coil is also a major trouble spot.

How Can You Tell?

First, there are the regular mold symptoms which usually resemble sinus trouble; runny nose, stuffy nose, and sinus headache. If you can smell mold when you turn on or run the AC, you definitely have a mold problem there.

To make sure, you can always get a home testing kit from your hardware store. This might be a good idea anyway, and it can also tell you if the source of your mold troubles is your AC unit.

Take the testing gear and check each room. Check around all the vents. Also, check around the unit itself outside, especially where there is any standing water.

What Can You Do?

If you have mold in your air ducts, it doesn’t do much good to clean them. That’s not just my opinion; that’s what the EPA recommends. If you have mold in your ducts, it’s symptomatic of a mold problem elsewhere in the house, and until you address that, you won’t make any progress on the mold.

For the AC unit, you have to clean it on a regular basis to keep them mold free. Of course, you have to thoroughly clean up any mold that you find around the unit, or in the little pools of water around it.

In general, keep the fan mode switch on your AC on “auto” mode. If you put it on “on,” it will recirculate all that moisture that has collected on the evaporator coil through your house and air conditioning system. You don’t want to raise the humidity level of your house; that will cause mold problems all over.

If you are building a home or buying a new AC unit, look for one that has options to control the humidity. Some have variable speeds, or different modes like “moisture removal.” This will help greatly in controlling your house’s mold.

Another tip on picking an AC unit is that bigger machines usually increase humidity. For some reason, people generally choose oversized AC units for their homes. This is actually not a wise choice, because a bigger unit will create more moisture and circulate that moisture through your home.

If your heating and cooling system is infested with mold, you will probably have to call a professional and have the whole house tested and remediated.

Source by Rich Fuller

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Basic HVAC Repair – Maintenance and Installation Information

Air conditioning is simply a procedure that tends to control the filtration, air circulation, surrounding temperature as well as humidity of the environment. It is associated with the cooling and the dehumidification process of air, and is recognized with refrigeration equipment. A residential AC system keeps your entire home cool in summers, while it also assists lower indoor humidity levels. It can also be centralized with ductwork in order to carry the cooled air to various rooms or individual units that cool specific areas of the house comfort.

Most of the people are still unaware of the real facts of air conditioning equipment. They think that air conditioners are used to lower the temperature in homes by pumping cool air inside. However, the actual process is the removal of warm air from your house and circulate it back in as cooler air. This is a regular cycle and continues to run until the thermostat reaches the desired pre-set temperature. The major system elements involved in the process of cooling the air are a compressor, a fan, condenser coil, evaporator coil, as well as a refrigerant. The AC unit extracts heat from the air present in the house and transfers it outside, leaving the cooled indoor air to be re-circulated to keep the temperature at equilibrium.

However, the AC unit is prone to sudden failure because of a heavy load or temperature fluctuations. The apparent indicators for deciding whether to replace or repair the unit are:

1. Age of your furnace or Air Conditioner

2. Cost of operating it

As a matter of fact, an average furnace has an expected lifespan of about 15 years and can run even longer through regular maintenance and services. If your furnace is old, then it may be the perfect time to consider its immediate replacement. In order to make an informed decision, have your furnace inspected at regular intervals from an expert HVAC technician and get an estimate for both HVAC repair as well as HVAC replacement. You should also ensure that the assessment includes potential increased energy savings, furnace inspection, duct inspection and expected short term and long term costs for repair, replacement and new installation.

HVAC technicians also offer the following essential services including;

1. Air Conditioner Repair & Service

2. Preventative Maintenance Programs

3. New A/C Units

4. Furnace Repair & Service

5. Heat pump repair service

6. Air Handler Maintenance & Service

7. Thermostats

8. Ductwork

9. Furnace Ductwork Installation

So, if you want high indoor air quality then you must call an expert technician that can solve your HVAC related problems for efficient living.

Source by Karrin Garnia

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Helpful Air Conditioning Tips for Preventative Maintenance

Air conditioners are complicated machines which is why most folks call an air conditioning technician for repairs. These can get expensive, especially if you are in an emergency type situation. Outside of repairing your ac unit, there are various things as a home owner you can do for preventative upkeep to maintain your machine running in tip-top form.

Here are some straightforward do it your self guidelines for ac preventative upkeep:

• Keep your ac unit absolutely free from any vegetation that may possibly develop close to your unit and restrict air flow.
• Keep your outside condensing unit clear of leaves and other varieties of yard debris
• Make certain to clean your air conditioner’s filters a couple of times a cooling season. If you have a clogged or dirty filter it will make the machine perform twice as hard, lose some of its energy efficiency and may well even lead to the unit to overheat. If an air conditioner gets too hot they will shut off.
• Add bleach to the intake pipe of your air conditioner each 3 months to clear away any mold that may have grown in the pipes. It is encouraged to use in between a third and a half a cup (based on size of unit) of bleach and run the air conditioning quickly afterward.
• Have a HVAC technician come and tune-up you air conditioner. They will typically occasions run specials for an early ac tune-up unique in the spring to leading off coolant levels, check temperature outputs and make certain every thing is operating appropriately. I know I said these are tips you can do yourself but having a technician come each year is something you can do. Air conditioners leak fluid and will not run as efficient if coolant levels are not topped off. A spring air conditioning tune-up will run you about $100 but will make your machine run cooler, long and much more efficient.
• Make sure to examine the evaporator coil and clean it if necessary with a wire brush.
• While the machine is running, monitor the fan to make sure the belts are tight and motion is not restricted in anyway.

You have spent a good amount of money on your ac unit and the last thing you want is to have to devote additional dollars on pricey air conditioning repair. Adhere to these simple do it your self recommendations to assure your air conditioner continues to cool your house appropriately.

Source by John Stackson

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Ideas For Achieving Energy Efficient Homes

With all costs on the rise, adding up to the already huge problem with the New York housing crunch and worldwide economic woes; more and more people are searching of ways to cutback on costs. In our homes, one of the largest shares where our hard-earned budget goes to is the energy bill, thus making the efficient use of energy a great way to reduce monthly expenses.    With that said, let us look into superb ideas to achieve energy efficient homes which are practical whether you are in Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan or Queens.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #1:

Proper and Enough Insulation and Sealing

Other than maximized indoor comfort and increased home value, proper and enough insulation and sealing also makes your HVAC systems work less hard thus resulting to less operation costs and lower energy bills. Unknown to many homeowners, a well-insulated home extends beyond just the exterior walls and the attic. You should also ensure insulation in these areas: floors, ceilings especially those below unheated areas, basement walls, kneewalls, overhangs, and between interior walls. 

Air leaks are silent predators that waste much energy even if you own a set of state-of-the-art energy efficient systems. Sealing should be approached in such as way that the whole house is benefited starting from the systems alone with its series of ducts and pipings to the walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, electrical outlets, and lighting and plumbing fixtures.  

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #2:

Lighting

Saving energy with lighting can be done in many ways. 

• Replace existing lighting fixtures with efficient models that give off as much brilliance but uses up less electricity like compact fluorescent bulbs, reflector lamps and tungsten halogen.   
• Make use of lighting controls such as dimmers and other devices that reduce the time that lights are on unnecessarily.
• Make full use of natural lighting. 

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #3:

Solar Panels

When thinking of energy-efficiency, nothing beats making full use of natural resources as not only are they powerful, they are free as well. One of the most popular innovations in natural resource-use is solar panels. Solar panels can come as solar thermal collectors with which the energy from the sun is used to heat water or liquid fuels, or solar photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity. 

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #4:

Appliances

A good percentage of energy consumption in homes results from operating appliances. When shopping for appliances, it would be wise to pick those with the Energy Star label. Though the initial cost would be much higher, think about the long-term benefits. When computing the ‘real’ cost, you should also take operating costs and annual energy consumption into consideration. Looking into such factor proves that energy-efficient appliances are wise investments.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #5:

Proper Maintenance of Appliances and Home Systems

Without regular cleaning and proper maintenance, appliances and HVAC systems would be working laboriously. This added strain would not only lead to damages but more consumption of energy as well. So, check your manuals for recommended ways of cleaning and proper equipment maintenance.

Source by Eugene Makeev

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Step by Step Furnace Cleaning Guide

Many homes have a gas furnace to keep it heated. The furnace burns natural gas to heat up an exchanger to indirectly heat the air from the home as it passes over it. The air from the home is circulated by a fan located inside the furnace. Due to the nature of a how furnace operates, it is essential to keep it clean to keep it running efficient.

Often homeowners don’t think much about the furnace, as long it is working. Once it has a problem, they tend to call a heating company to come fix it. Many times the problem is simply a dirty filter, or poor maintenance on the furnace. Simple to fix items that can cost the homeowner plenty.

Changing a furnace filter, and keeping the furnace clean and running well, is fairly simple tasks, that any homeowner can learn. A step by step guide that starts with safely shutting down the furnace, followed with more steps on how to open and clean the furnace, can help the homeowner save on costly repairs and costly contractors.

Learning how to change the furnace filter can is probably the most important thing a person can learn to do to help maintain their furnace or air conditioner. A clean filter is the number one thing to keep the heating equipment running at its peak performance along with maintaining its life span. Most people don’t think about or bother with the filter as often as they should. The filter should be checked every other month. Typically a filter will need to be changed every 1-3 months, depending on the cleanliness and type of the surroundings.

Cleaning the burner and fan compartment, should be done twice a year as a minimum. At the very least, once before the heating season, and once during. This will ensure the furnace is running its best during the time it is needed most.

Source by David Huber

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The Cost of Air Conditioner Duct Cleaning – Is It Worth It?

Duct cleaning is actually a misnomer; to improve your air quality and the energy efficiency of your AC system, a complete HVAC system cleaning is required (HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).

Duct Cleaning Affects AC System Efficiency

According to the EPA, a build up of just over four-tenths of an inch of dirt on the cooling coils can result in a 21% decrease in the efficiency of the coils. Yet duct cleaning alone never touches the cooling coils. The cooling coils are what remove the heat and humidity from the air in your home. If they are not working efficiently, your AC system has to work harder, run longer, and use more electricity to cool your home, not to mention the fact that the air you breathe passes over the dirt on these coils. Air duct cleaning without addressing the coils would be like cleaning your vacuum cleaner hose without emptying the bag; pretty much a waste of time and money. Your air ducts might be clean, but your air handler (which includes the blower, cooling coil, and plenum box, where all of the ductwork originates) would still be working inefficiently and compromising your air quality.

In our opinion, the cost of air conditioner duct cleaning is not worth the cost. Your entire system needs to be cleaned in order to reap the benefits of better indoor air quality and better energy efficiency.

The air from your home enters your AC system through the return grill, the large vent with the filter inside. The most common fiberglass filters are only 7% efficient at stopping dirt from passing through them. If they were too effective, they would also restrict the air flow to your AC, and it would have to run longer to cool your home. The air is drawn into the blower and forced through the cooling coils. It is when the air comes in contact with the chilled coils that the heat and moisture is removed. The moisture runs down the coils into the condensate pan, much the way moisture condenses on and runs down your bathroom mirror during a hot shower. Here it is pumped to the outside of your house. Since the coils are always wet, they tend to pick up the dirt in the air more quickly than a dry surface and are a good breeding ground for microbial growth. The conditioned air then enters the plenum box where it is distributed to your air ducts and AC vents. The blower, cooling coils, and plenum box are all in one unit and together are called the air handler. This is the heart of your AC system.

Not all duct cleaning services are equal.

The problem is that in many states, unless a company has an HVAC license, they are not permitted to access or clean these components. This is to protect you from having your system accessed by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing. So in these states, all an unlicensed duct cleaner can do is reach what they can from your AC registers, and the rest of the system goes untouched. So you can see that duct cleaning without cleaning the air handler components is totally inadequate.

However, entire HVAC system cleaning by a licensed company is definitely worth the cost, especially compared to the cost of not doing it. The Louisiana Coop Extension Service estimates that 9 out of 10 HVAC system failures are caused by dust and dirt. A dirty system has to work harder and run longer than a clean system. Add to that the fact that the EPA has found indoor air to be 70% more polluted than outdoor air, and that the average house collects 40 pounds of dust a year (Discover Magazine), and you can see the importance of maintaining and cleaning your system.

Start with your local BBB website to find a reputable air duct cleaning company that is licensed to perform the entire job, and begin to save energy and breathe easier.

Source by David A Selter

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Fall and Winter Heating Tips

With fall approaching rapidly, getting your heating system ready for fall and winter weather should be (and likely is) a great concern for you as a homeowner.  The heating system is the lifeblood of the home during the colder months of the year, and the cost of heating your home during this time is probably one of your biggest upcoming expenditures.  The tips that follow will help you to get your heating system ready while also helping to reduce the cost of keeping your interior toasty warm. 

Routine Maintenance

Early fall and early spring are the ideal times for you to have your heating system inspected.  While you’re likely do basic maintenance tasks yourself, like changing out a furnace filter, an annual inspection of your heating system is important to stave off costly repairs.  A certified technician can spot potential problems with your HVAC system before they become major issues, and can get your system ready for the cool weather ahead by making sure that everything is in good working order. 

Filter Maintenance

Your HVAC air filter is an important part of your heating and cooling system.  By replacing the air filter each month – your system will not have to work as hard, which means that it will use less energy.  Changing the filter regularly can also help your system to last longer.  Most folks can perform this simple task in addition to cleaning the vents and ducts to remove built up dust. 

Updating an Older System

If you have an older heating system, now may be the time to update it, or even replace it.  For example, a gas furnace that was installed prior to 1977 is likely to be as much as sixty percent less efficient today than a modern model.  What this translates to is around half of the fuel expended by the furnace actually reaching the home in the form of heat.  A modern gas furnace can achieve an efficiency rating as high as ninety-seven percent, which may cut your use of gas in half.  Now that’s savings!

Use a Programmable Thermostat

While most homeowners don’t have the knowledge to install a programmable thermostat on their own, having your heating and cooling technician make this installation during your annual inspection is a good idea.  A programmable thermostat allows you to turn your heat down during the day when you are at work while you are asleep at night, and then back to a higher temperature when you need it.  It takes much less energy to warm a cool home than it does to keep the home warm all day.  With proper use of your programmable thermostat, you can cut your heating costs by around twenty percent. 

Use Your Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are not just a great idea for the summer, but they can be used during the cooler months of the year to blow air upward.  By reversing the direction of the fan, the blades move the air upward, which his particularly useful in rooms with high or vaulted ceiling where heat rises naturally and then is forced back down into the room. 

Check Heating Vents

And finally, make sure that all of the heating vents in the home are opened and that they are not blocked by furniture or other items.  This allows for an even distribution of air throughout the home. However, if you have rooms that are not being used, such as a guest bedroom, you can invariably close the vents to those areas in order to cut down on energy costs.

Source by Fiona Baron

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Basic Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance Tips

Air conditioning unit is one most used electrical appliances in all over the world and it is considered as a primary commodities for all the commercial as well as business establishments. Now a days, even residential building do have this unit in the state in order to maintain healthy and hearty atmosphere at their desired place. With the regular and frequent use of this unit takes toll in their internal machinery parts necessitating them air conditioning repair and maintenance. It is one of the best and suitable means of keeping unit effective as well as helping unit to run at top efficiency when you needed it badly. Therefore, it becomes a mandatory thing for the unit’s owner’s to perform regular and periodic maintenance which increases its longevity and helps in providing effective cooling. However, being a mechanical machine it is liable to wear and tear at least once in a year which needs proper maintenance and repair of air conditioning Tucson. Here are some common problems which arises due to skipping of regular maintenance and should be included in the maintenance program for the effective cooling and maintaining healthy and hearty atmosphere at residential or commercial place.

Air filter maintenance: One of the first and foremost thing that one should have to perform for the purpose of keeping air conditioning unit effective. Ideally, air filter should be inspected once in a month or two and depending upon the condition of filter it should be cleaned or replaced. If the air filter is not cleaned or replaced can cause lots of problems and makes you pay huge amount on air conditioning repair. Dirty filter blocks the flow of air resulting it to make harder for the unit in order to provide effective cooling. Therefore, a regular cleaning of air filter and its grill can solve this problem and helps your system to provide effective cooling.

Faulty Cooling: Another common problems faced by the unit’s owners without having regular and periodic maintenance. In most of the cases it happens due to compressor is not running in spite of unit fan is running. The first and important thing you have to check is the compressor wire it may get burnt or shorted. It can be also be due to the possibility of overloading in protector or may have defective capacitor. In order to stay away from this problem it is always better to call an air conditioner repair professional who have all the experience and necessary tools to solve this problem.

Compressor maintenance: This is also called as outside unit because it is generally located outside of the building. If you are getting an effective cooling from your air conditioner then it is better to check this unit. This unit is generally gets affected by the external factors like rain, heat and leaves. Therefore, it recommended that if you are not using the air conditioning unit in winter then cover your unit’s compressor with a piece of cloth so that it will not get dirty.

Hence, in the event of acquiring best and effective services for air conditioning Tucson residents have to tune-up their system regularly.

Source by Kathy Roma

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Energy Efficient Homes – 5 Energy Saving Tips During Global Fuel Crisis

Energy efficient homes are a great way to reduce the impact of rising global fuel prices. People are now being forced to spend a greater proportion of their monthly budgets on energy bills. There has never been a more crucial time to carry out simple energy saving home improvement works.

In 2008, after countless energy price hikes, people are finally beginning to realize that energy saving as beneficial for their bank account as it is for conserving the environment.

Shell last year announced record profits of $27.5 billion and that was when the cost for a barrel of oil was under $100. This year they are reportedly making well over $75 million each day. Surely with all that profit our energy costs should be falling not rising.

What’s the solution?

We can’t control global economics and most of us do not have an oil well in our back yard. However, to a large extent we can control the amount of energy we use and the energy saving measures we employ. In particular we can start by maximizing the energy efficiency (i.e. minimize energy usage) of our homes.

Households spend on average around 10 per cent of their annual income on home energy bills. Using a few simple, often overlooked, techniques annual energy bills can be cut by around 75 per cent. The following five ‘no-cost’ or ‘low-cost’ energy saving measures offer some of the best and most cost-effective solutions to the energy problem with relatively short payback periods:

1. Home Energy Audits – easy to carry out and useful to identify areas for home improvement. Focus on areas of lowest energy efficiency, such as un-insulated lofts, single glazed windows, open fireplaces and energy ‘eating’ appliances (e.g. tumble dryer).

2. Home Improvements – include loft insulation, wall insulation, draft proofing, and double / treble glazing (can generate total savings of around $1,000 a year).

3. Heating system solutions – include adjusting programmers, fitting thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and lowering thermostats (lowering your room thermostat by just 1°C can save you over $100 a year).

4. Energy saving products include energy saving light bulbs and home appliances such as tumble dryers and fridge/freezers (can generate total savings of up to $500 a year).

5. Other techniques include changing your energy supplier and seeking financial assistance from governments or other bodies to increase your home’s energy efficiency.

These simple energy saving solutions are cheap and easy to implement and, unlike more costly solutions such as solar power, do not require massive investment. They can quickly generate significant reductions to annual energy bills whilst lowering carbon dioxide emissions.

Jane Longton, Orlando, Florida fitted loft insulation, double glazing, and draft proofing in 2007 and her annual energy bills have fallen by more than $900. Energy efficiency upgrades also have the benefit of providing year on year savings once installed and they enhance property saleability.

According to the U.S. government global energy demand is set to rise 54 per cent by 2025 so, unfortunately, we are likely to see many more uncapped energy price rises over the next few years. By increasing our home energy saving any future increases in global energy costs will have less impact on the energy bills of those who have made some sensible changes.

Source by Ed W

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Oil Burner Cleaning How to Prepare Your Shop Vac For the Job

So you think you want to clean that oil furnace or oil boiler yourself. You have watched the service guy do it and really didn’t think that it looked all that hard. You stick the hose of your shop vac into the chamber and all the soot is broadcast all over the place! Yikes, what did he have that you don’t in there?

When cleaning an oil fired appliance you need to remember that the dust created by the unit is very fine and will just go right through the filters that are standard to most shop vac’s. You will have to go to the store and find some special equipment to catch all that fine black dirt. It is very easy to find if you know what to look for.

Most vac’s have a foam filter over a cage that holds the ball on wet/dry vac’s or the cage that holds the foam filter on just dry vac’s. When you go shopping for your new filters, look for the paper filter and ring that hold the filter paper over the cage. This filter is actually your second stage of defense. To really help out you need to get your first stage.

The first stage is a paper filter bag that installs over the intake to you tank. These bags come in different sizes depending on the size of your vac. You take the bag and carefully install it in the tank making sure that the mouth of the bag is seated securely onto the intake of the tank. This bag will catch the majority of the dust and make it very easy to contain and throw out also.

Now you are ready to clean your oil furnace or boiler like a pro. As long as you keep everything dry you will be fine. Dampness or water will make a hole in the bag and filter which will ruin any chance of filtering your air intake properly. Also remember that you are filtering through a fairly fine media and it will plug up rather quickly. You may need to change the bag and filter a couple of times to complete a job.

One final thing for you guys. If you are planning to use the shop vac that your wife uses for her everyday cleanups, you may want to rethink this. After you get done with it and have black soot all over the nozzle and such you will be sleeping in the doghouse if your wife goes to use it and ends up with black on something good of her’s. You have now been warned. Don’t blame me for anything that happens to you as a result of not heeding this warning.

Source by D. Floyd Kolb

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Cleaning Your Air Conditioner’s Grilles – Outlets

Air conditioning grilles like all things in life unfortunately get dirty. Air conditioning grilles however can be a breeding ground for mould, dust and all sorts of bacteria. Below are some hints and tips on how to clean your air conditioners grilles to keep you and your family safe.

The main air conditioning grille to clean is the return air grille and filter. This grill is the large grille usually located in the ceiling in the hallway or sometimes in a wall. Usually 2 clips can be loosened where the cover will pivot down making the filter accessible. The filter can then be vacuumed or cleaned with warm soapy water. You can clean the filter whilst still in the housing or you can usually take it out to clean it.

The filter frame itself can also be cleaned using warm soapy water or by vacuuming. Ensure that the water around the grille is completely dry before re-starting the system.

Ceiling grilles (diffusers) also can breed bacteria and often can appear quite dirty after many years use. If you look in some old commercial stores and buildings you can often find white grilles dirtied by black dust and mould growing on the grille. To clean simply get a ladder and wash with warm soapy water. Take care when standing on the ladder and if possible get someone else to assist you. Some grilles can actually come out of the ceiling quite easily which means you can take them out and then clean in the sink.

When cleaning ceiling grilles, avoid using harsh detergents, chemicals or scrubbers as you may discolor, stain or scratch the grille. You should also never place the grilles to be cleaned in the dishwasher as the intense heat can melt and warp the grilles.

With these tips in mind, you should start cleaning your air conditioners grilles today. Cleaning the grilles will ensure you and your family stay healthier. Take care when using any ladder and if you think you might struggle, always seek a professionals help.

Source by James Fletcher

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HVAC Tips to Save Time And Money With Reusable Air Filters

Most of the filters used in HVAC system vents and cold air returns are made of cardboard and fiberglass. They are disposable air filters that must be replaced every one to three months during periods of intense operation. What do they do? Pretty much the same thing any other type of filter does, i.e., they catch unwanted materials and stop them from slowing down the system.

If you own an air conditioner, hopefully, you are aware of the fact that it has an air filter. This disposable device helps keep harmful allergens, dirt, and pollution from entering your home. The more you use your AC, the more dirt and airborne agents the device will trap. When it becomes completely clogged, your HVAC system will not work as well. After about a month of heavy use, a disposable model should be removed, discarded, and replaced with a new one.

Are Reusable Models Better?

Made of more durable materials like aluminum or steel, reusable air filters can be cleaned and replaced every one to three months. They are available in various dimensions and can fit a wide range of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system vents and cold air returns. A well-made one can easily be cleaned with either a vacuum cleaner or a garden hose. If the device is clogged and dirty, it is often best to turn the hose on it. Just remember it should be sprayed in the opposite direction of the airflow – that is, from the inside out.

Possible Exceptions

While they do offer some obvious advantages, reusable models may not always be necessary. If, for example, you are only renting a home for a short time, disposable devices will save you money. Sold in multi-packs at most hardware and home improvement centers, they are quite a bit cheaper than reusable filters.

However, if you own a home or intend to live or work somewhere for over a year, reusable models make sense. There is absolutely no question that they will save you money in the long run. They may also save you big bucks on Kleenex and allergy medication since they are generally better at trapping airborne particles, especially the electrostatic models.

What Are They?

Electrostatic filters use special filtering materials that actually create a static charge when air passes through them. This charge causes airborne particles to be attracted to the material like a magnet. Whether dust, fungi, mold, or any other allergen or impurity, the average electrostatic model is said to be ten times more efficient than the standard disposable device. Many of the leading names claim to trap up to 94 percent of the dust and dirt that run through them. They will also pay for themselves in about a year.

What To Look For?

All of the top reusable models have sturdy metal frames that will stand the test of time. These parts can be used to replace disposable devices in your entire HVAC system, including your furnace, central heat, and AC. They should also come with a lifetime money-back guarantee.

Reusable air filters can save you time and money on HVAC maintenance and repair for many years to come.

Source by Aaliyah Arthur

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Tips For Central Air Conditioning Maintenance

Performing your own central air conditioning maintenance is not as hard as you may think. It is just a matter of knowing where to start and paying attention to what you are doing. Knowing the parts of your system is very important before you start performing a maintenance. Know the components of your system. The system consists of an air handler, condensing unit, drain line, and line set plus other components within these parts as well. The purpose of performing a maintenance is so that you may identify problems with your system before they become major problems and cause a breakdown when you least expect it.

Cleaning your air conditioner regularly will prevent the dirt from building up which is among the leading causes of air conditioner failure, To do this, you need to clean your air conditioner thoroughly twice every year depending on the frequency of use and the length of time you keep the unit running.

Always check the operation of your system before performing a central air conditioning maintenance to make sure that all components are operating. Because there is nothing worse than to complete your maintenance and find out that your system is not operating correctly. It may lead you to think that you caused the problem if you had not verified first that all was working at the start of your maintenance. Also at this time if you are not getting air flow to parts of the home, check your duct work for possible leaks and repair them if needed.

Now that you know something about maintaining air conditioners it will be easier for you to understand the detailed manuals for central air conditioning maintenance that are provided on the internet.

Source by Steven Gail

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Energy Efficient Home Design – The Basics

Good house design takes its form in part from the forces that act on it. Climate and weather are two of the strongest form-makers (there are no igloos in the tropics) since houses must be designed and built to repel the damaging effects of the world we live in. Mother Nature is always trying to tear our buildings down.

Climate and weather also affect the comfort of our homes, and cause us to seek out ways to maintain the temperature and humidity of our homes within tolerable levels. A great deal of design effort is devoted to keeping the heat in or keeping the heat out, depending on the climate and season.

This Old House

At times throughout American history, the forms of our homes have reflected – to greater or lesser extents – our ingenuity in making our homes’ internal climates more comfortable.

Settlers in the Deep South built deep porches around their low-slung homes to shade them from the harsh sun and to create a reservoir of cooler air that could be drawn into the house.

New Englanders built compact homes with small windows to shield them from winter winds and to hold in as much heat as possible. And prairie homes, often built of stacked sod, were half-buried in the earth to even out the temperature swings and to protect them from the frequent violent storms that sweep the plains each summer.

Simple and effective strategies like these were necessary because fuel for heating homes was limited. We created houses that conserved resources; we didn’t know how not to.

That changed with the era of cheap and plentiful electricity and natural gas for home heating, and with the introduction of the first air conditioners for private homes in 1928. Suddenly, houses didn’t need to respond to their environment; any home could easily be kept as warm or as cool as desired using mechanical means regardless of the weather outside. Little thought was given to energy conservation strategies until the early 1970s, when the cheap energy we’d taken for granted became suddenly very expensive, and the climate-ignorant houses we’d built for decades became expensive to heat and cool.

That 70’s Show

But then a very cool thing happened. Architects and builders across the country began to revive the “lost art” of designing homes that responded to climate and weather. Ancient ideas like earth-sheltering and thermal massing were used again. New passive-cooling strategies and unique ideas like the Trombe wall were invented.

And most interestingly, the houses using low-energy techniques took on new, exciting forms. Suddenly there was something else out there beside Old World inspired design. It was a fun time full of invention and experimentation.

But that era was short-lived. By the mid-1980s fuel was cheap again and energy-efficient unique home design was all but forgotten.

Back To The Future

So it’s no surprise that we now find ourselves having come full circle, with rising energy prices and a revised interest in home energy efficiency. It’s a critical concern in a time when some studies show residential buildings consuming up to 21% of the nation’s energy.

Today’s home energy efficient strategies are different than they were 30 years ago, however. Today the focus is on technology rather than on design. New materials are techniques have been developed that make otherwise climate-insensitive home designs (and there are plenty) better stewards of the energy they need to maintain human comfort.

Technical solutions can be expensive, however, since they demand that common building materials perform at a higher level. Windows have “high-tech” glass with low-emissivity coatings, Argon gas-filled spaces, and up to three sheets of glazing. Heating systems are running at higher efficiencies, and may come equipped with programmable thermostats and insulated ductwork. Solutions like these do conserve energy and are important components in any home but the technology crutch shouldn’t be leaned on too heavily. We also need better design.

Designer’s Challenge

What if, instead of spending hundreds of additional dollars on high-tech glazing to keep the sun’s heat out, we more carefully located our windows to avoid direct sunlight in the first place? What if we used elements of the house itself to shade those windows from heat radiation and UV rays?

Suppose we took better advantage of the ground’s relatively stable temperature to stabilize the temperatures in our houses, rather than exposing every square foot of a home’s exterior surface to the elements? Instead of constant mechanical air conditioning to remove heat and humidity, why not try opening windows onto shady porches and let the breeze cool the house?

And what if we opened our minds a bit – stopped thinking so much about fashion and resale value – and allowed the forms of our houses to be shaped more by how they respond to the climate and the environment we live in?

The surprising result might be interesting and beautiful homes that cost very little to heat and cool – just like the old days.

Source by Richard Taylor, AIA

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How to Clean a Gas Furnace

Many homeowner’s today looking to save money can start by learning how to clean a gas furnace. Many homes have a gas furnace, and keeping it clean improves its efficiency and life span. It is easy to learn, and with step by step guide it is even easier.

To clean a gas furnace, you must first safely shut it off. Find the main power switch, and turn it to the off position. If desired, for extra safety, you can shut off the gas valve serving the furnace. Please note: if you shut off the gas, you may need to relight the pilot light. Older style furnaces have a pilot light that stays lit all the time- called a “standing pilot”. Modern furnaces have electronic devices that light the pilot, or the burners automatically, and do not require manual re-lighting.

Once the furnace is shut off, remove the panels. Use a vacuum with extension tool to clean dust, dirt and cobwebs from surfaces. Being careful not to bump or damage control parts and wiring. Locate the furnace filter and see if it has signs of excessive dirt. Most filters are white or bluish in color. If the filter looks gray, brownish, or is full of pet fur (if you have pets), purchase a new filter from a local hardware store and replace it. Be sure to get the same size, and note the direction of airflow. The arrow on the filter should point towards the furnace fan.

Also note: some furnace have washable filters. They usually are made of a plastic or sometime aluminum frame. Wash the dirt off, by spraying water through the filter. Spray through the filter opposite of the airflow. Look inside burner area, and down burner tubes. Check for excessive rust, soot (ash) or corrosion. If you see any, have furnace inspected by qualified professional to ensure the furnace has no blockage or holes in the heat exchanger that could result in carbon monoxide leaks.

Put panels back on, turn furnace back on. Set thermostat to call for heat, and verify furnace is still operating properly. Set thermostat back.

Source by David Huber

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