Heating & Air Conditioning Homeowner Must Do’s

Posted by Michael C under Homeowner, Tips

HVAC techs from all over the country find that many of the things they fix on a daily basis are things that the homeowner could have done or prevented themselves. Let’s take a look at some of the items that homeowners everywhere can do to make their HVAC system last longer; be more energy efficient and provide a healthier climate inside their homes.

1. Clean or replace your air filter regularly. Depending on the type you have, either replace it or wash it every 30 days.
2. Vacuum the dust off of the return grille inlet every month.
3. If you have a gas- or oil-fired furnace or boiler in a closet, basement or garage, be sure to keep the area around the equipment free and clear of not only combustible materials, but also from household cleaners, insecticides, etc. Even the fumes from bleach can cause the cabinets of HVAC equipment to accelerate in the rusting process, leading to premature failure.
4. Keep landscape debris and shrubbery away from outdoor heat pumps and A/C units. Keeping a distance of at least 12 inches from all sides of the equipment to landscaping debris or shrubs will enhance the amount of airflow through the unit. This lowers operating temperatures, increases efficiency and lowers your electric bill. A heat pump or A/C unit that is smothered in shrubbery runs too hot and can prematurely fail. Also, be sure not to have anything closer than 48 inches from the top of the unit so the air may discharge itself properly.
5. Flush some water through the condensate drains on your A/C coil or boiler sump drain to ensure algae doesn’t get a firm grip. Also, if you have a condensate pump removal system, flushing with water until you hear the pump activate is good preventative maintenance BEFORE you have water all over the floor.
6. If you have a boiler system and use radiators, it is essential that these radiators be cleaned as needed to keep the dust off of them. This could be monthly or weekly! Everyone’s house or office is different. Keep them clean and clear of furniture or toys so they may do the job they were intended to do.
7. If you have a humidifier attached to a central heating and air system, know the type you have and keep it clean. Whether it has a foam drum type pad or a honeycomb insert, these pads/filters must be cleaned or replaced as directed by the manufacturer. Also, it is very important to keep the internal bodies of humidifiers squeaky clean so mold and mildew doesn’t form and grow and grow and grow. If possible, only use a steam type humidifier.
8. Some parts of the country still utilize what is known as a “swamp cooler.” This type of evaporative cooling is fantastic for those of you primarily in the desert Southwest. These systems have their own quirks and must be maintained to avoid failure of operation and the growth of bacteria.
9. Always know exactly where all of the electrical cut-off switches and breakers are for all of your HVAC equipment. Hot water systems my have additional cut-off switches for circulating pumps, etc. If something isn’t working, always check all of the switches and breakers. Properly label and identify every switch and/or breaker.
10. Most importantly, no matter what type of heating and cooling system you have purchase AT LEAST at Bi-Annual Preventative Maintenance Plan from your local professional who is licensed, insured and bonded in the profession of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Bi-Annual maintenance is the absolute most important thing you can do to prolong the life of your system; keep your energy bills at their lowest and attempt to avoid nuisance failures of operation in the middle of winter or summer when demand is at its highest. Talk to your local professional. Make sure they clean your HVAC system. All coils, blowers and drains should be cleaned. It’s good to check, but it’s better to clean, too!

Blog contributed by Michael Covert
Web site: http://www.covertaire.com/

Tags: AC Tips, energy tips, Heating Tips, HVAC, HVAC Tips

The ServiceLive Twelve Days of Christmas

Posted by Sarah under Homeowner, Service Providers

On the first day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
A handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Second day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Third day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Forth day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Fifth day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Sixth day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Six buyers paying,
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Seventh day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Seven gardeners a-mowing,
Six buyers paying,
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Eight day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Eight orders posting,
Seven gardeners a-mowing,
Six buyers paying,
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Ninth day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Nine Pros from Lansing,
Eight orders posting,
Seven gardeners a-mowing,
Six buyers paying,
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Tenth day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Ten orders closing,
Nine Pros from Lansing,
Eight orders posting,
Seven gardeners a-mowing,
Six buyers paying,
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the Eleventh day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Eleven dispatchers typing,
Ten orders closing,
Nine Pros from Lansing,
Eight orders posting,
Seven gardeners a-mowing,
Six buyers paying,
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
ServiceLive sent to me
Twelve Plumbers plumbing,
Eleven dispatchers typing,
Ten orders closing,
Nine Pros from Lansing,
Eight orders posting,
Seven gardeners a-mowing,
Six buyers paying,
Five golden ratings,
Four IT techs,
Three installed lights,
Two rekeyed locks,
And a handyman to trim my maple tree!

Happy Holidays all!

Tags: Christmas Carol, Gardeners, Handyman, Lights, plumbing

Focusing on emerging Customer segments

Posted by Sharon under Business News, Homeowner

Sex and the City: Season 2, Episode 5. Single, financially-secure, intentionally-childless Miranda purchases a large apartment unit in New York City. Very few services are tailored to her profile as a homebuyer; in fact, through the entire buying process, she faces unfettered curiosity and judgment on her decision (and ability) to purchase a home without a male partner. The show aired in 1999, when…

• The definition of discrimination had included sex for over a DECADE (Fair Housing Amendment Act). As recently as in 1989, a woman’s paycheck was not considered when a married couple applied for a mortgage).
• 54% of single women (never married, divorced, or widowed) owned homes (vs. 47% of single men).
• Over 18% of home purchases were made by single women.

Fast forward a decade. As a single, first-time home buyer, I purchased a condo in Chicago. My financial independence reflects a trend among single women caused by demographics (delayed/no marriages, rising salaries, increasing divorce rates); greater credit access (loan programs for women, inclusion of child support payments in single parent incomes, first-time buyer programs); and macroeconomics (low interest rates/down payments, novel financing products, general housing bubble).

• Of home buyers, single women make up 14% (1995) to 22% (2007); single men stay roughly at 9%.  In fact, from 2000 to 2003, 3.7million single women purchased over $550B in real estate – 1.5million purchasing for the first time.
• Of homeowners, women buyers make up 46% (2007), vs. 36% of all buyers.
• By 2010, 28% of households are expected to be headed by women – that’s 31 million homes.

This established market is an opportunity for Service Providers – take notice!

From 2002 to 2003, single women spent $9.3M on remodeling. Home builders are beginning to include security enhancements, energy efficiency, and increased storage – features often sought by single women homeowners. According to surveys conducted (2003, 2004):

• Home improvement support: 69% of women homeowners consider themselves “at least somewhat handy”; over 70% report enjoying home repair projects.
• Seasonal care: 75% of minority homeowners are significantly concerned about home maintenance.
• Renovation jobs: 13% of second/vacation homebuyers are single women, some of whom buy older homes to fix up for resale.

Women were more likely to recommend their agents to friends and family, according to another study. This word-of-mouth marketing may translate into increased buyer ratings for Service Providers.

Sources: National Association of Realtors, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Businessweek, Fannie Mae, MarketWatch, Mortgage Bankers Association, Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, Sears, Roebuck and Co.

http://www.searsmedia.com/tools/press/content.jsp?id=2003-11-21-0002063356
http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/markets/n06-3_drew.pdf
http://www.hud.gov/
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_42/b3854001_mz001.htm
http://www.realtor.org/library/library/fg212

Other resources I found interesting:

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/real-estate/20060706a1.asp
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/singlewomenhomebuyer

Tags: Business News, Economics, Finance, people, Women

Humidifier Settings, Installation and Maintenance Tips

Posted by Jim under Homeowner, Tips

During extremely cold weather, your home loses humidity to the outdoors and may drop to as low as 10%.  The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommend that your home maintain a humidity level between 30-60%. As the exterior air temperature changes so do the optimal interior humidity levels of your home (see chart below):

A simple visual inspection test, look at the condensation forming on your windows. If excessive moisture collects on windows your humidistat is set to high. Excess humidity over a prolonged time can damage windows and walls especially when outdoor air temperatures are very low.  As the temperature drops outside so must the humidity levels in your home. If the weather man calls for a prolonged cold snap be sure to lower your humidistat.

Settings:

In general we recommend setting the dial at 35%. You may want to raise or lower it slightly because each home is different. Increase the humidity setting until you see a small accumulation of water droplets forming on the bottom half inch of your window panes then back it off slightly (a few percent) to ensure the proper humidity level for your home have been reached.

Depending on the model you choose and the size of your home, a humidifier uses from 1 to 15 gallons per day when the furnace is operating. This minimal amount of water is enough to raise the humidity to your desired level

Installation:

A whole house humidifier is installed in the duct work, right beside your furnace. Although it can be installed by a handy do it yourself home owner it requires knowledge of HVAC, plumbing and electrical so it may be outside the expertise level for the average do it yourself home owner (Tip: leverage ServiceLive to find a professional in your area).

As far as console/room humidifiers, simply purchase one at your favorite retailer, following the instructions and plug it in.

Maintenance:

One of the most important aspects of a humidifier, whether it’s a console/room unit or a whole-house unit, is the filter. The filter allows air to circulate through the wetted media trapping particles and adding clean water to moisten the air. Depending on your water’s hardness and mineral content you may need to change your filter twice during the season (Tip: if you have the humidistat on max and the air in your home is still dry and/or your console/room humidifier doesn’t need refilling as often, it’s probably time to replace the filter).

Whole-house humidifiers are recommended for their lower maintenance and because they evenly distribute the humidity across the entire home. Because of lower water requirements, a whole house humidifier can run for eight to twelve weeks before needing a thorough cleaning (Tip: do it your self by purchasing a  filter sold at major home improvement big box stores and/or local hardware stores. Simply right down the make/model, purchase and replace the filter… the process is similar to changing your furnace filter).

Console/room humidifiers, on the other hand, need to be refilled daily and may need to be cleaned out weekly during the season to remove any mold and bacteria build up.

Irregardless of the type of unit you have we recommend installing a new filter at the start of the season and then once again after the first of the year (every 2-3 months depending on the hardness of water in your area).

Tags: Energy, Humidifiers, Installation, maintenance, Tips