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

Business Tips to Stay Competitive

Posted by Frank under Service Providers, Tips

1. Know who you’re up against.

In the ancient words of Chinese general Sun Tzu, you must “Know your enemy as you know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.” It’s essential to understand all we can about our competitors. What we mean by this is know what they’re saying and how they are saying it by obtaining copies of your competitors advertising and brochures.

2. Offer more value.

Some product and service providers traditionally compete based on discount pricing. However, for many other types of businesses price cutting is often detrimental. For example, if you offer a service and charge the same rates as your major competitors, cutting your prices may make you look suspiciously cheap. This will inspire customers to wonder what’s “wrong” with your company or the services it provides. A better idea is to offer something of additional value that your customers will find tempting.

3. Add a sales channel.

One channel selling is not effective, such as exclusively through a brick-and-mortar store or by catalog only. Introducing another channel, such as joining an online service marketplace for instance (ServiceLive.com), will give you a much greater reach for new business and customers.

4. Extend your offer.

If you’ve reached the maximum market share in a particular service, add a new one. By adding a new service it may stimulate more work with a new customer base. The more services you offer the greater chance for more service opportunities.

5. Tune into your customers.

In order to remain highly competitive, you must understand what your customers need. Unfortunately, your customer’s needs and preferences can change rapidly.  It would be prudent of you, to conduct survey’s on a regular basis to solicit customer feedback around the services your company provides via your business web site. To get the best results, anonymity will encourage your customers to provide honest feedback. As a small business owner you are in a enviable position of being closer to your customers than many of your big-business competitors.

Share some of your business tips that keep your business ahead of the competition.

Tags: Business News, customer service, Customers, Survey, Tips

How to Prevent Costly Home Repairs

Posted by Frank under Homeowner, Tips

While major plumbing problems are best left to professional plumbers, there are several precautions homeowners can take to prevent costly repairs. We are in the summer season, but be prepared for the winter.

• Disconnect outside water hoses. Water left in the hoses can freeze and expand, causing faucets and connecting pipes inside your home to break.

• When pipes freeze, water pressure builds causing cracks - no matter if the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel. Even a tiny crack can unleash more than 250 gallons of water in a single day.

• If your home has interior shut-off valves leading to outside faucets, close them and drain water from lines.

• Cover outside faucets using a faucet insulation kit available at home centers.

• Insulate pipes in unheated areas, such as garages or crawl spaces, with heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables.

• Seal door and window leaks to reduce cold air drafts.

• Your water heater works harder during cold weather. Flush it out and remove sediment buildup, which causes corrosion, shortens its life span and reduces heating efficiency. Drain several gallons from the faucet near the bottom of the tank through a hose directed into a nearby drain.

• Carefully test the water heater’s pressure relief valve (water is very hot) by lifting up on the lever and letting it snap back. The valve should allow a burst of hot water into the drainpipe. If not, call a professional to have a new valve installed.

• Set the water heater’s thermostat at 120°F for optimum performance.

• Clear leaves and debris from downspouts to ensure easy drainage when water freezes and thaws.

• Inspect and clean sump pump and pit. Pumps exposed to extreme cold can freeze, preventing the pump from operating.

• When leaving home for extended periods, shut off the main water valve and drain the system by opening faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Keep the heat on and set no lower than 58 degrees.

By following these tips, you can save in costly repairs and reduce your utility costs. It’s always best to consult with a professional if you’re not comfortable with following the tips above. If you’re a homeowner you can create a Simple Buyer account with ServiceLive and have a qualified Plumber perform an inspection before the winter arrives.

Tags: homeowners, plumbers, plumbing, repairs, servicelive, Tips