Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Happy Wednesday RVA, here's a puppy who loves air conditioning
Thursday, April 9, 2015
How to Ease Your Spring Allergies in Your Home
Friday, April 3, 2015
Keep Your Home Safe, Clean, and Comfortable All Year: the Spring Coupon is Here!
Thursday, April 2, 2015
10 Things on your spring cleaning checklist
Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.
Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15%.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
HVAC Throughout History
In 1906 North Carolina textile manufacturer came up with the phrase “air conditioning” because the technology actually improved the quality and condition of the cloth being made in his plant
In 1903, the New York Stock Exchange building in New York City was one of the first structures to use an air conditioning system.
The Romans were the first civilization to use any type of warm-air heating system.
The first concept of air conditioning occurred 500 years ago when Persians built wind towers to try to get the same effect as air conditioning. These towers were rigged with wind scoops to catch prevailing breezes. Internal vanes circulated that air throughout the buildings while forcing hot air out. This was especially handy considering the 100+ degree temperatures during summer.
Radiant heat isn't a new concept. The Romans had something very similar where the floors were laid out as a series of stone slabs with a heat source located below the floor.
The very first steam-heating system installation was in England so the Governor of the Bank of England could grow grapes in the cool temperatures.
In 1936, Packard was the first automobile manufacturing company to incorporate air conditioning in passenger cars.
Before air conditioning was common, many businesses and government offices took a summer vacation.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Can I Move The Thermostat On My Heat Pump Up And Down Like Other Heating Systems?
During the heating season, we recommend a setting that is comfortable for your household. Once your thermostat is set, the best policy is to leave it alone. Raising the thermostat as little as 2° F may cause the supplementary heat to come on, thereby increasing your energy usage. Although night setback is recommended during the winter for most types of heating systems, to save energy and reduce costs, it is not generally recommended for a heat pump unless a programmable thermostat designed expressly for a heat pump is used. When you have a heat pump, and raise the house temperature in the morning, the supplementary heat may come on using more electricity than you save during the night. Reduce the thermostat temperature setting for weekend trips or vacations during the heating season.
Monday, March 17, 2014
What Are Some Ways To Help Control My Heating And Cooling Costs?
Once the thermostat is set, it should be left alone. However, programmable thermostats are commonly installed on systems to setback the house temperatures while you are away from your home. The air filters inside the system need to be checked, cleaned, or changed each month. The outdoor fan should not be covered or obstructed, so it can receive proper air flow. Precision Tune Up checks should be performed which include refrigerant level checks, indoor/outdoor coil inspections (cleaning, if needed) and duct inspections. Duct inspections are very important. A poorly performing duct system can cause air comfort problems, high utility bills, and could become hazardous. We can measure your entire system's performance and show you how to get the most out of your heating and cooling system.