Product Feature: 5000 FocusPRO® Digital, Non-Programmable Thermostat

Honeywell's FocusPRO® 6000 Programmable Thermostat offers the perfect blend of features, performance and value that delivers the highest degree of temperature control accuracy. With the largest backlit screen in its class and an easy-to-read digital display, FocusPRO prominently displays both room and set temperatures. Plus, you'll enjoy energy savings by setting the simple programming periods to fit your lifestyle.

Product Feature: Ceiling Saver Kit

Protect your home from unexpected “flash floods”

More than cooling the air, the main function of an air conditioner is to dehumidify the air to create a comfortable environment. The water released from the dehumidified air is then drained away. If your air conditioning system is located in your attic, this can pose serious problems. If your drain ever clogs, the condensation will overflow from your air conditioner and onto your ceiling. Repairing or replacing your ceiling could cost you hundreds or possibly even thousands of dollars if you have a cathedral ceiling. For this reason, we offer a ceiling saver kit.

The ceiling saver kit catches any potential leaks in a custom fabricated pan that has a separate drain line to protect your ceiling from leaks. What if the back-up drain gets clogged? We’ve got it covered. We also install as part of our ceiling saver kit a safety switch that will automatically turn your air conditioner off eliminating the possibility for any more condensation to occur. At this point, you will realize that your air conditioning system is not working and call us for service to correct the problem without ever leaking a drop of water onto your ceiling.

FAQ: Should the Outdoor Unit Run Continuously?

Below the balance point (around 30° F), it is normal for the outdoor fan to continually run. If the outdoor unit continually runs during normal heating (30° - 50° F outside), possible problems are:

• Thermostat set too high
• Thermostat needs adjustment
• Low refrigerant level in unit
• Thermostat exposed to cold draft
• Outside unit coil is blocked by snow, ice, etc.

If the outdoor unit continually runs during normal cooling, possible problems are:

• Low refrigerant level in unit
• Very warm weather (over 90 ° F)
• Thermostat located near heat source, such as appliances, TV, etc.
• Dirty filters or too many registers closed limiting air movement
• Improperly designed duct work
• Unit may be undersized 

Call us today at 1-800-358-(HVAC) 4822 for help with your HVAC system!

Product Feature: Honeywell F500 Whole-House HEPA Air Cleaner

• Ultimate in Performance (HEPA) - Captures up to 99.97% of particles that pass through it including pet dander, bacteria, pollens and more which can trigger allergies and irritate eyes and throats
• Odor Reduction - Activated carbon filter helps reduce odors
• Peace of Mind - HEPA is the #1 doctor recommended air cleaner for allergy treatment programs
• Minimal Maintenance - Only requires periodic, quick and easy filter replacement
• Quiet Operation - Cleans the air quietly out of sight, out of mind
• Helpful Reminders - Wireless Airwatch Indicator provides filter change notification
• Versatile Operation - Models for both conditioned and unconditioned spaces (such as unfinished basements, crawlspaces or attics)
• Model Numbers - F500A1000, F500B1009
• 5-Year Warranty

Do You Suspect Your Office Has an Indoor Air Problem? - A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, Part Twenty-Two

Welcome back to our Guide to Indoor Air Quality series. Last time, we talked about building a new home. Time for part twenty-two...

Do You Suspect Your Office Has an Indoor Air Problem?

Indoor air quality problems are not limited to homes. In fact, many office buildings have significant air pollution sources. Some of these buildings may be inadequately ventilated. For example, mechanical ventilation systems may not be designed or operated to provide adequate amounts of outdoor air. Finally, people generally have less control over the indoor environment in their offices than they do in their homes. As a result, there has been an increase in the incidence of reported health problems.

Health Effects

A number of well-identified illnesses, such as Legionnaires' disease, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, have been directly traced to specific building problems. These are called building-related illnesses. Most of these diseases can be treated, nevertheless, some pose serious risks.

Sometimes, however, building occupants experience symptoms that do not fit the pattern of any particular illness and are difficult to trace to any specific source. This phenomenon has been labeled sick building syndrome. People may complain of one or more of the following symptoms: dry or burning mucous membranes in the nose, eyes, and throat; sneezing; stuffy or runny nose; fatigue or lethargy; headache; dizziness; nausea; irritability and forgetfulness. Poor lighting, noise, vibration, thermal discomfort, and psychological stress may also cause, or contribute to, these symptoms.

There is no single manner in which these health problems appear. In some cases, problems begin as workers enter their offices and diminish as workers leave; other times, symptoms continue until the illness is treated. Sometimes there are outbreaks of illness among many workers in a single building; in other cases, health symptoms show up only in individual workers.

In the opinion of some World Health Organization experts, up to 30 percent of new or remodeled commercial buildings may have unusually high rates of health and comfort complaints from occupants that may potentially be related to indoor air quality.

What Causes Problems?

Three major reasons for poor indoor air quality in office buildings are the presence of indoor air pollution sources; poorly designed, maintained, or operated ventilation systems; and uses of the building that were unanticipated or poorly planned for when the building was designed or renovated.

Sources of Office Air Pollution

As with homes, the most important factor influencing indoor air quality is the presence of pollutant sources. Commonly found office pollutants and their sources include environmental tobacco smoke; asbestos from insulating and fire-retardant building supplies; formaldehyde from pressed wood products; other organics from building materials, carpet, and other office furnishings, cleaning materials and activities, restroom air fresheners, paints, adhesives, copying machines, and photography and print shops; biological contaminants from dirty ventilation systems or water-damaged walls, ceilings, and carpets; and pesticides from pest management practices.

Ventilation Systems

Mechanical ventilation systems in large buildings are designed and operated not only to heat and cool the air, but also to draw in and circulate outdoor air. If they are poorly designed, operated, or maintained, however, ventilation systems can contribute to indoor air problems in several ways. For example, problems arise when, in an effort to save energy, ventilation systems are not used to bring in adequate amounts of outdoor air.

Inadequate ventilation also occurs if the air supply and return vents within each room are blocked or placed in such a way that outdoor air does not actually reach the breathing zone of building occupants. Improperly located outdoor air intake vents can also bring in air contaminated with automobile and truck exhaust, boiler emissions, fumes from dumpsters, or air vented from restrooms.

Finally, ventilation systems can be a source of in door pollution themselves by spreading biological contaminants that have multiplied in cooling towers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, or the inside surfaces of ventilation duct work.

Use of the Building

Indoor air pollutants can be circulated from portions of the building used for specialized purposes, such as restaurants, print shops, and dry-cleaning stores, into offices in the same building.

Carbon monoxide and other components of automobile exhaust can be drawn from underground parking garages through stairwells and elevator shafts into office spaces.

In addition, buildings originally designed for one purpose may end up being converted to use as office space. If not properly modified during building renovations, the room partitions and ventilation system can contribute to indoor air quality problems by restricting air recirculation or by providing an inadequate supply of outdoor air.

What to Do if You Suspect a Problem

If you or others at your office are experiencing health or comfort problems that you suspect may be caused by indoor air pollution, you can do the following:

• Talk with other workers, your supervisor, and union representatives to see if the problems are being experienced by others and urge that a record of reported health complaints be kept by management, if one has not already been established.
• Talk with your own physician and report your problems to the company physician, nurse, or health and safety officer.
• Call your state or local health department or air pollution control agency to talk over the symptoms and possible causes.
• Encourage building management to obtain a copy of Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers from the EPA. Building Air Quality (BAQ) is simply written, yet provides comprehensive information for identifying, correcting, and preventing indoor air quality problems. BAQ also provides supporting information such as when and how to select outside technical assistance, how to communicate with others regarding indoor air issues, and where to find additional sources of information. 

 

That brings us to the end of our series, A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. We hope you found the information helpful!

*Content provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. CPSC Document #450. This document is public domain.*

Product Feature: GT-PG Geothermal Heat Pump

High-Efficiency Geothermal Unit for Excellent Performance

Carrier’s GT-PG series offers exceptional quality and high performance. A single-stage scroll compressor, combined with Puron® refrigerant, optional variable-speed motor, tin plated coil, microprocessor control and quiet operation make this a great choice. Available in vertical top flow, vertical bottom flow and horizontal flow, all with optional hot-water generator. In sizes from 1½ through 6 tons.

Models: 50YEV, 50YEH, 50YED

• Puron® Refrigerant
• Up to 20.2 EER, 4.2 COP (closed loop)
• Up to 27.4 EER, 5.1 COP (open loop)
• Superior humidity and temperature control
• Single-stage scroll compressor for reliable performance
• Choice of variable-speed or single-speed blower
• Insulated cabinet for quiet operation
• Tin plated air coil for long life
• CXM Unit Performance Sentinel™ Control Board for precision operation
• 10-year limited warranty
• Available in vertical top discharge, bottom discharge and horizontal 

All About Air Ducts: Post Duct Cleaning Consumer Checklist

How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did a Thorough Job

A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers use remote photography to document conditions inside ducts. All portions of the system should be visibly clean; you should not be able to detect any debris with the naked eye.

Show the Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider before the work begins. After completing the job, ask the service provider to show you each component of your system to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily.

If you answer "No" to any of the questions on the checklist, this may indicate a problem with the job. Ask your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you can answer "yes" to all the questions on the checklist.

Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist:

General

• Did the service provider obtain access to and clean the entire heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components (drain pans, humidifiers, coils, and fans)?
• Has the service provider adequately demonstrated that ductwork and plenums are clean? (Plenum is a space in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; can be duct, joist space, attic and crawl spaces, or wall cavity.)

Heating

• Is the heat exchanger surface visibly clean?

Cooling Components

• Are both sides of the cooling coil visibly clean?
• If you point a flashlight into the cooling coil, does light shine through the other side? It should if the coil is clean.
• Are the coil fins straight and evenly spaced (as opposed to being bent over and smashed together)?
• Is the coil drain pan completely clean and draining properly?

Blower

• Are the blower blades clean and free of oil and debris?
• Is the blower compartment free of visible dust or debris?

Plenums

• Is the return air plenum free of visible dust or debris?
• Do filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency as recommended by HVAC system manufacturer?
• Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit) free of moisture stains and contaminants?

Metal Ducts

• Are interior ductwork surfaces free of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the system.)

Fiber Glass

• Is all fiber glass material in good condition (i.e., free of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)?

Access Doors

• Are newly installed access doors in sheet metal ducts attached with more than just duct tape (e.g., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)?
• With the system running, is air leakage through access doors or covers very slight or non-existent?

Air Vents

• Have all registers, grilles, and diffusers been firmly reattached to the walls, floors, and/or ceilings?
• Are the registers, grilles, and diffusers visibly clean?

System Operation

• Does the system function properly in both the heating and cooling modes after cleaning?

Radon (Rn) - Reference Guide to Major Indoor Air Quality Pollutants in the Home

In this series, we'll detail the sources, health effects, levels in the home, and steps to reduce exposure to the 11 major indoor air quality pollutants in the home.

Radon (Rn)

Sources

Earth and rock beneath home; well water; building materials.

Health Effects

No immediate symptoms. Estimated to contribute to between 7,000 and 30,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Smokers are at higher risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer.

Levels in Homes

Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon level is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.

Steps to Reduce Exposure:

• Test your home for radon_it's easy and inexpensive.
• Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
• Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.
• If you want more information on radon, contact your state radon office, or call 800-SOS-RADON. 

Next in this series... Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)

*Content provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. CPSC Document #450. This document is public domain.*