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 Road Ahead!

Posted by Val under Business News, Tips

By now customers are aware of the difficult times that our economy is facing and the need to cut expenses. Many companies are now focused on better understanding their customers and transferring that information to the people at the frontlines of their businesses.

The online service industry is heavily dependent on that frontline, which includes contractors, providers, sales associates, etc.

To be competitive in many industries, and to be able to create revenue, many online service companies are reducing their prices. At the same time, some companies are hiring online service providers who do not have a license, insurance, background checks, or additional skill requirements, to make up for those reduced prices.

So how are online service companies growing in the market place? Their front-line representation is made through partnerships with providers and contractors!

Here are a few tips:

• Hire licensed providers and contractors
• Perform background checks and screening services
• Engage qualified and experienced prospects
• Provide training to cover company business model and how to treat your customers
• Charge no enrollment fees
• Promote and market the service provider’s business
• Introduce the service provider to your customers prior to the service call
• Provide online forums for providers to learn while sharing their experiences

Here at ServiceLive we look forward to continuing to build the road ahead. In order to continue to succeed, we are focused on recruiting qualified providers, while assuring that our customers receive the best experiences.

Tags: Business News, Contractors, Jobs, servicelive, services

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

The Importance of Humidifiers during the Winter

Posted by Jim under Homeowner, Tips

In most areas of the country winter is the season for turning on the furnace to heat your home.  Whether you have a gas or electric furnace the process of heating the air removes much needed humidity and dries out the air inside your home. We all know the benefits of having our furnace in good working order; however, many home owners do not fully understand the need and benefits of installing a humidifier.

Benefits of Humidifiers:

A significant contributor to respiratory infections is inadequate humidification during cold weather. Winter weather is blamed for these problems; however, the actual cause may be a lack of humidity in your home which results in the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes drying out and becoming irritated. Humidifiers provide the following health and home benefits:

1. Keep the mucus membranes of your throat and nasal passages moist allowing the tiny hairs (cilia) in both to work at expelling foreign objects such as mold, pet dander and bacteria.
2. Reduce susceptibility and/or symptoms related to respiratory infection, asthma, hay fever, cold and flu
3. Moisturizes the respiratory system allowing for easier breathing and more comfortable sleep – reduces likelihood of nose bleeds and snoring
4. Helps soothe dry itchy skin, throats and coughs (avoid dehydration)
5. Reduce static electricity which may cause problems with electronic equipment
6. Hydrates wood floors, woodwork, furniture, musical instruments and house plants. Low humidity levels have an enormous impact on wood products. Lack of humidity can cause cracking/buckling in hardwood floors. Low humidity levels can also damage musical instruments such as pianos, violins, and the like.
7. Reduced heating bills (savings yielded by turning down the thermostat are slightly offset by the cost of running/maintaining the humidifier). Dry air makes you feel colder than humidified air. If you have the temperature at 69 degrees Fahrenheit at 35% relative humidity, it feels just as warm as 72 degrees Fahrenheit at 19% relative humidity. You have the ability to turn your thermostat from 72 to 69, but you still feel just as warm. So ultimately, that calculates into energy savings.

Types:

There are two basic types of humidifiers on the market today: console/room (meant to humidify a single room) and whole-house units (humidify the entire house). Of the two, a whole-house humidifier is the best option if you are able to install one to your existing forced air central heating system (ServiceLive can help with the install).  Console, or single room, humidifiers are available for those that do not have the option of going with a whole-house unit (these are best placed in bedrooms if you cannot afford to purchase one for every room).

Whole-house humidifiers are the most recommended for many reasons. The first being lower maintenance. Because of lower water requirements, a whole house humidifier can generally run for eight to twelve weeks depending on the hardness of your water before needing a thorough cleaning and filter replacement. 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.

While many console/room humidifiers are sold stating they are full house, few live up to that expectation. The general rule of thumb is to look at the manufacturer’s statement of square footage served and cut that in half. This is another reason the whole-house humidifiers are a better bargain. Since they are attached to the existing heating system, they do indeed circulate moisture through the entire house using the existing furnace ductwork. Console/room humidifiers use a small fan to disperse the water into the air.

Tags: Energy, Health, home improvement, Humidifiers