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Posts Tagged ‘portable hvac’

These days, it seems like everyone is looking for ways to go green. Important actions such as recycling and reusing, conserving water and saving energy are the order of the day. There are many different ways we can contribute to helping the environment, and some of these methods may even help our pocketbooks as saving energy, for example, also helps you save money off your electric or gas bills.

What Does a Thermostat Do? A thermostat’s job is basically to control the output from your home’s heating or cooling system based on room temperature (hvac). This is done by what is basically a heat-activated switch. A heat sensor causes the opening or closing of the switch, which in turn starts, continues, or stops an electrical circuit that is connected to the house’s heating or cooling system. Many people prefer an electromechanical model to an electronic model simply because they are less expensive. Others prefer electromechanical models because they are not technically inclined and prefer simplicity. Here we will explain why electronic thermostats help save energy and how they end up paying for themselves in the long run.

How Will an Electronic Model Help Save Energy? An electronic, or digital thermostat has the primary benefit of being programmable. Because of this, the unit allows you to remain in greater control of the energy output of your home’s heating or cooling system. Having this control allows you to set the times that your heating or cooling is turned on and off based on a pre-determined schedule. If done correctly, you will reduce the energy used by these systems by not operating them during the night when everyone is sleeping or during the day when nobody is home. Most electronic thermostat models offer flexibility in terms of making changes to your heating and cooling schedule (seasonally or however you choose) or allowing you to manually override the heating and cooling schedule at any given time that you deem necessary.

How Much Money Can I Save? If you set up your thermostat’s schedule to reduce heating output by ten to fifteen percent for a period of at least eight hours a day, it is possible to save between five and fifteen percent a year on your energy bill. The same is true with air conditioning. If you automatically maintain your home warmer in the summer during the hours that you are not there, you can achieve an even greater level of savings. Can’t I Save Energy by Adjusting My Thermostat Manually?

While it is true that you can adjust your thermostat manually and be very cautious about turning it down every time you leave the house, an electronic thermostat has certain benefits that a manual unit just doesn’t offer. For example, if you follow this strategy with a manual thermostat, you will have to endure some discomfort upon returning home or waking up in the morning while the system works to heat or cool your home to a comfortable temperature. An electronic thermostat will have the home at an ideal temperature just when you need it to be.

In buildings and homes, air is transported via the air ducts. These metal ducts originate in the basement and extend throughout the home or building. Constant use will eventually result in an accumulation of debris and possibly harmful organisms such as bacteria and mould. The accumulation causes contaminants to be dispersed throughout the rooms where they can be inhaled causing illnesses such as allergies, lung congestion, shortness of breath, and sneezing and watery eyes. To eliminate the negative effects of dirty ducts, you need to have them cleaned by a trained professional.

The purpose of duct cleaning is to improve the quality of indoor air condition, reduce the amount of dust and dirt build up in the home or office, and help people and pets breathe easier and live healthier. This is especially important for people with asthma and bronchial disease.

Knowing when to clean your ducts depends on a number of factors. For instance, if you have pets, had recent renovation or construction, smoke, live in an area of high winds, you should have your ducts cleaned. Another indication that it is time to clean your ducts is if you have weak air flow or your furnace is working too hard.

You can check for poor air flow if you place your hand over the vent and there is not much air coming through when the furnace is running. In order to determine if you need your ducts cleaned immediately ask yourself: After I clean, how long does it take to see dust start to accumulate? Do I see dirt in my return or supply vents, furniture, draperies, or carpets that are close to the vents? Do my filters get filled with dirt and debris quickly? Am I tired a lot? Do I have problems sleeping? Do I wake up congested or with a headache? Do I start coughing or sneezing for no reason when I am indoors? Answering ‘yes’ to any of these questions may indicate that it is time to clean your ducts. If you have a disaster in your home with a fire or flood that damaged your duct system, your insurance company should cover the costs of duct cleaning.

The commonly accepted rule for when you should have your ducts cleaned is once a year, especially if your home or building is prone to dust and dirt build up. Many experts suggest that you have your ducts cleaned in either the Spring or Fall. People with severe allergies and asthma will often have their ducts cleaned twice a year. Cleaning your ducts will also keep your system running smoothly and reduce energy costs resulting in a more energy efficient system. You will not have to run the furnace as often which will reduce energy costs.

Generally speaking, the normal home duct cleaning process of about 20 vents and one unit can take about three to four hours. Most duct cleaning companies will book only two jobs a day.

Because there can be so many air born contaminants in our homes and buildings, having your ducts cleaned by a trained and experienced professional will improve the quality of your indoor air and eliminate organisms such as mould, mildew, dust mites, mouse deposits, dust, dirt, etc. The result will be a cleaner home with healthier air and a family that sleeps and breathes better. Duct cleaning is a great way to ensure that you and your family have the healthiest indoor air.