Category Archives: Uncategorized

How important is having good air quality in a home and how can I obtain it?

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As homes become more sealed with insulation and poly seals for energy efficiency, the air quality goes down. Without proper airflow systems in place, the air quality can be compromised, as you breathe in your pets’ dander and household chemicals.There are two types of air exhaust systems to promote air flow through your home. Traditional simple fan exhaust systems include inline and bathroom fans, which take stale air out and bring clean air in. The second is an HRV (heat recovery ventilator) system — air is pumped out of the house and the expelled air heats the clean air coming into the house. It goes through a heat exchanger so the warm air isn’t wasted. Furnace filters clean air contaminates and have a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating ranging from 1 to 16. The higher the MERV rating, the more tiny particles that are caught. A MERV 16 filter or HEPA filter ensures the air quality is of a high standard. Cheap filters are meant only to protect the furnace and the motor. They have nothing to do with air quality.Tips for great air quality:

INSPECT YOUR FILTERS: Some filters need to be changed as often as once a month where others can last for up to seven months. You get what you pay for.

Maintain your humidifier: If someone in your home has a cold, it’s a very good time to put a bit of bleach across the top of your humidifier. Airborn germs like humidity, so this will prevent them from sticking around.

Inspect your furnace: If there are rusty marks on top, steam on the vents or the vent pipe isn’t hot anymore, this could mean your furnace is down drafting and pumping in dangerous carbon monoxide.

RUN YOUR FANS: By changing the air all the time, you are constantly cleaning it and removing toxins.

Invest in your health: Forget spending extra money on a snazzy TV and incorporate an HRV system with a high-quality filter so you can save on your heating bill while having clean, fresh air.

THE EXPERT SAYS

CLEARING THE AIR

- The air plates in electronic air cleaners Should be gently cleaned every two months with an approved cleaner.

- Permanent or disposable air filters should be cleaned/changed every two months.

- For new homes, you should wash permanent air filters once a month for the first year.

- Have your furnace inspected annually.

 

http://www.calgaryherald.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com

Money Loss Calculators ‘Key’ to Halting Energy Waste

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Adding calculated energy efficiency measurements or “money loss” calculators to plant equipment such as furnaces is a great way of alerting factory operators to energy loss, according to SustainablePlant.com.

Money loss calculators are software programs that, when used on a furnace, measure such variables as oxygen, draft and fuel usage and analyze the info to produce an easy-to-understand “dollars lost” readout, according to the article by Gary Faagau, president and founder of performance measurement firm Sumira Services. Money loss calculators can also be used on other plant equipment including turbines and heating systems, Faagau says.

According to the article, factory workers often ignore efficiency information unless it affects productivity. Using the dollars lost display provides operators with a visceral readout on performance and heightens the likelihood that the operators will take notice of the information, according to the article. Faagau advocates an incentive system to ensure operators don’t start ignoring the money loss indicator.

Last year a DuPont plant in Orange, Texas was recognized by the American Chemistry Council for initiatives, including furnace efficiency improvements, that saved 540 million btu.

By upgrading the design of its ethylene furnaces, the company achieved more than 67 million btu/hr fuel savings. The investment builds on upgrades made in 2008, which reduced annual CO2 emissions by 34 million pounds (17,000 tons).

This month Philips Electronics reported that its energy consumption was down by three percent in 2011, compared to 2010. The company attributes the reduction to less load in glass furnaces, along with organizational changes, energy efficiency improvements and production mix changes.

 

http://www.environmentalleader.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com

Tips that let you turn down the thermostat and save your money

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With today’s high fuel prices, heating your home in the cooler months can be expensive. By turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours, you can save up to 15 percent per year on your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

“There are basic steps homeowners can take to maintain a comfortable home while living with a lower thermostat setting,” says Bob Vila, home renovation and repair expert.

To help you get started, Vila offers some useful advice:

Seal your drafts

One way to make sure you’re not throwing money out the window is to ensure heat’s not escaping through it as well. From mail slots to doorways, to cracks and loose window fittings, air leaks can be found throughout the entire home, sending heated air outside. Without compromising the ventilation system or air quality, you can seal most of these leaks by applying weatherstripping. Weather-stripping comes in many forms, including adhesive backed foam strips for door and window frames, sealants for cracks and shrink-film for windows. Many come with easy application features.

Warm air can even leave a room through electrical outlets. Seal these holes tight with fire-retardant plastic foam outlet covers.

“Not all rooms should be treated equally when it comes to heating,” says Vila.

By targeting only frequently used rooms of the home, you can turn down the thermostat and save energy. But don’t forget to close the doors of rooms not in use.

Portable heaters are ideal for zone heating because there is no installation involved, so you can create cozy spaces quickly. But traditional units can get very hot, posing a risk to pets, children and flammable materials such as curtains and carpet.

“Opt for a product with no exposed heating elements,” advises Vila. “You get the warmth you want without any risks.” For example, EdenPURE heaters don’t get hot to the touch, don’t have exposed heating elements that can cause a fire and won’t reduce humidity or oxygen in a home.

Five-minute fixes

There are also many quick fixes that will help you heat efficiently.

Between annual furnace check-ups, clean or replace air filters once a month. Dirt and build-up prevent systems from operating at maximum efficiency.

Ensure heat registers are dust-free and clear of obstructions like drapes and furniture. Change the direction of your ceiling fan to a clockwise rotation. This forces cooler air upward, sending the warm air down into your living space.

Don’t forget that thermostats need upkeep as well. Calibrate your thermostat for proper temperature readings, dust the inside and cover with a soft brush.

With a little effort, you don’t need to sacrifice your family’s comfort to save a dime.

 

http://www.tribunact.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com

Maintenance matters in heating, cooling

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Reliability of furnace, air conditioning directly related to how it’s cared for

Homeowners depend on their home heating and cooling systems to keep them comfortable year round. The reliability of these systems is directly related to their proper maintenance. For that reason, having a basic understanding of your system’s functions and needs is extremely important. The Gazette caught up with Pierre McClure, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician with Electro Aide to find out what homeowners need to know.

WHAT TYPES OF HOME HEATING SYSTEMS ARE THERE?

There are several ways to heat a person’s home, including hot water systems with boilers and radiators, natural gas, electric, oil and forced air systems. Hot water systems, whereby hot water circulates through pipes throughout the house, is very old technology. Electric and natural gas are most efficient and clean. Because we pay so little for electricity in Quebec, electric is the least expensive. In terms of insurance costs, oil and natural gas will set you back more than other systems because of the risk of an oil spill and necessary accessories such as a chimney.

A lot of newer homes and apartments are going with baseboard heating, which is affordable but many people find it produces a very dry heat. I personally find the best way to go is a central ventilation system because you can do everything that way; you can filter the air, heat, cool and humidify all in the same system. Every other type is limited and would require you to get a second system for air conditioning.

WHAT GOES INTO HOME HEATING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE?

Making sure your system’s filters are clean is key. Filters should be checked on a monthly basis. Some of them are washable and others need to be replaced altogether. People that live in the city or have pets should check them even more often. It’s amazing to see a filter in a city home versus a country home. The city filters are always so much darker from all the pollution. The same goes for people who smoke, I can always tell by the condition of the furnace filters if there’s a smoker in the house.

In terms of professional cleaning, I’m not a big fan of companies that are hired to clean ducts and ventilation systems because they often do more damage than good. It’s impossible for them to be able to see every inch of the system they’re cleaning, so they pass a snake device through the system, which bangs on the walls of the ducts to loosen any debris. But because they’re doing it blind, they can end up tearing insulation or knocking things out of alignment, especially in older systems. Things that were constructed decades ago can be fragile and banging around in the ducts can be dangerous.

Sometimes our clients call and say that they had their system cleaned in recent weeks and now the heating or cooling in one room has just about stopped working. When we take a look, we often find that there’s a chunk of insulation blocking the air.

WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?

It’s not up to the homeowner to go into the furnace to make sure connections are tight and drains are clean. Having a maintenance agreement with the company from which you bought the system is always a good idea. Ideally, your system should be inspected about twice a year to check for anything that could cause a problem. But of course, if you notice that heating and cooling has stopped working as well in your home, don’t wait for your next scheduled inspection to have the problem evaluated.

WHAT’S NEW IN HOME HEATING TECHNOLOGY?

Geothermal heating systems are really interesting. They’re not widely used at this point in time because they’re extremely expensive. The system basically comprises a deep hole on your property that converts heat from the ground into air that is pumped into your home. It works by absorbing heat in winter time and rejecting it in the summer. I do a lot of work in areas such as Westmount and it’s amazing to see the systems people are putting in. They’re using geothermal systems to heat their pool water and their driveways to avoid shoveling in the winter. I think geothermal systems are definitely going to become more popular in the future as the technology improves and the systems become less expensive. For now, if you can afford it, it’s a fantastic option that will save you money over time on heating costs.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com

Save Energy by Improving the Insulation of your home

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As a homeowner you want to ensure that the temperature of your home is comfortable while minimizing your energy bill. Though these goals can appear to be contradictory, they can both be achieved by improving the insulation of your home. Before you can improve your home insulation, you need to have a complete energy audit done. Whether your home is located in Yorktown, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Gloucester, Smithfield, Hayes, Seaford, or Poquoson. You can contact us for a home energy audit. Our expert energy auditors will check the insulation panels, check for air leaks near doors, and windows as well as ducts, check the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling devices such as the furnace and water heater, and more. They will then recommend changes that will improve the insulation of your home.

Signs of Poor Insulation

If your home experiences any of these problems, it is a sign of poor insulation. Check for:

Damp or musty smells

Drafts of cold air

Peeling paints from walls

Some rooms or parts of rooms being colder than the others

Cold floors

Frequent running of the HVAC unit

Rectifying Poor Insulation

Depending on the cause of the poor insulation, the energy auditors will recommend:

Insulation of attic, crawl spaces

Replacement of windows and doors

Replacement of electric, gas, or tankless water heaters

Replacement of other heating and cooling devices

Air sealing

Sealing of ductwork

Cleaning of ductwork

Changing the filter of the ductwork

Installing geothermal heat pumps

Installing Solar PV panels

When you follow the recommendations of the energy auditors you will be able to see a substantial reduction in your energy bill and this is not just for one month or a few, this is for years and can be used as a selling feature when you are selling your home. Moreover, your home will now be uniformly heated or cooled, making it noticeably more pleasant. All cold drafts will be eliminated as well. The cleaned ducts will ensure that the air you breathe is cleaner and healthier, eliminating a major cause for air borne health problems such as allergies.

Advantages of Using a Local Contractor

We, at Dr. Energy Saver Yorktown, are a local contractor with a reputation for reliable service in the area. Additionally, we are backed by the technology and products offered by national leaders in home energy savings. This double advantage can be yours if you retain our services. All our technicians have been factory trained by the suppliers of the products we use. This means that the installation of the devices is done properly, leading to greater energy savings. Whether you want your home air sealed or your ducts cleaned and sealed, our technicians have the right products and will use the right methods to ensure that your home is properly insulated. The better doors and windows we offer, when installed by our trained technicians will ensure that there is minimal air leakage from your home. By making use of the services of our certified technicians you can be sure that you have done all that is possible to insulate your home effectively and properly.

Dr. Energy Saver Yorktown specializes in attic insulation in Yorktown and other surrounding areas. Visit them online for a home energy audit to find out where you are losing energy in your home.

 

http://local.cincinnati.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com

Lower Preparing to Outlaw Outdoor Wood Burning Furnaces

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VILLAS — Lower Township Council introduced an ordinance Mon., Feb. 6 prohibiting outdoor, wood-burning furnaces.

The ordinance allows existing outdoor wood burners to continue to operate but does not allow installation of any new units. It prohibits burning trash, plastics, rubber, garbage, material treated with petroleum, particle board, railroad ties, pressure-treated wood, leaves, cardboard and paper products.

A clause in the ordinance specifies if an outdoor wood burning furnace is not used for seven months, it would not be permitted to be reestablished as a non-conforming use and must immediately be removed by the property owner.
Mayor Michael Beck questioned how that section of the ordinance would be enforced. He said the clause in the ordinance would prevent a furnace from rusting away in a backyard.

If the owner fails to remove the furnace, the township, the “code enforcement officer shall take responsible steps for its removal.” Costs of removal including attorney fees plus “an amount equal to 50 percent of said costs of removal shall be charged to the owner of said premises.”
If the costs are not paid in 30 days, they will be converted to a tax lien on the property.

Two S. Andrielle Lane homeowners filed a complaint with Lower Township police Oct. 23, 2011 against their neighbor, Pawel Banach, for smoke coming from a wood-burning boiler in his backyard.
Adjoining property owners and neighbors who live down the street complained to the township that the boiler sent smoke inside their homes.

Township Council passed an ordinance Oct. 3, 2011 that allowed residents or township officials to sign a complaint against a neighbor operating a wood-burning boiler in their backyard.

http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com

A checkup for your furnace can help keep you healthy

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ROCK HILL, SC (WBTV) – A furnace can be described as the lungs of your house. The air ducts, like veins and arteries.

“If you have a restriction or clot in your veins and arteries you have problems out of your heart and lungs same thing with your system,” said Phillip Porter with Rock Hill Comfort Systems.

Porter pulled a furnace out of a house in Rock Hill last Friday. They were just giving it a yearly check up until they saw a two inch thin crack in the wall of the heat exchanger.

He says a crack like that would leak Carbon Monoxide into a house.

Carbon Monoxide is odorless and tasteless. Most store-bought detectors like this one won’t even sound off until the CO reaches 200 parts per million in a house.

By that time, it’s too late. You’re probably already getting sick with dizziness, headaches, and nausea.

The maximum allowable levels of Carbon Monoxide in a living space is one to nine parts per million.

“Heat exchangers can crack or burn holes any time of the year,” said Porter.

Porter uses a special small fiber optic camera to check the wall of the heat exchanger for cracks.

Porter says a simple yearly check like this could save your life and save your furnace from the recycle bin.

For the month of February, Comfort Systems in Rock Hill is giving free furnace inspections for Senior Citizens, Veterans, and Active Duty Military.

They are working on a campaign for public awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide

Homeowners will be shown a picture of their heat exchanger and CO levels will be measured.

 

http://www.wbtv.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com

Differences in Water Heaters

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href=”http://www.prescottenews.com/media/k2/items/cache/9172cd6e1f8604220a5b9d75966852e9_XL.jpg” rel=”{handler: ‘image’}”> 9172cd6e1f8604220a5b9d75966852e9 L Differences in Water Heaters

Yes, the hot water heater you choose will make a difference.

There are two main types of energy that operate water heaters. Gas and Electric. There are also units which operate on solar power however most solar water heaters require some source of electrical or battery backup for uninterrupted operation. There are a lot of options to consider when it comes to the selection of water heaters and there appears to be pros and cons with each type of unit so when it comes to making a choice you certainly need to do some research and consult with professionals to determine what your needs are so that you make the appropriate selection.

One very important factor to keep in mind when going thru the selection process is the “Energy Factor”. Water heaters with high energy factors are more efficient. Electric water heaters have factors between .75 and .95 vs. Gas water heaters which range from .5 to .7 thus Electric water heaters are more efficient. It should be noted that if electricity costs more than gas; a gas heater might still be cheaper to run even though it is not as energy efficient.

Gas (and/or) Propane Direct Vent Water Heaters expel the (exhaust) combustion gases to the atmosphere directly thru the use of a vertical vent. Direct venting works because heated air is lighter than cool air and in turn will rise naturally due to the difference in buoyancy between the hot and cold air. This system only works when the exhaust gases can be vented vertically and the overall hot water heating costs are low compared to other types of water heaters. This type of water heater is very common and a natural gas unit usually costs less money to operate than a propane unit since natural gas is typically less expensive than propane. This type of unit also does not require any power (electric) to operate.

Gas (and/or) Propane Power Vent Water Heaters expel the (exhaust) combustion gases with the use of a blower and is the type of unit needed when a tank type gas/propane water heater is installed in a location that does not have the ability to vent vertically. The blower will push the exhaust gases through horizontal vent pipes. The main benefit of this type of heater is the ability to save money by horizontally venting the unit to the outside through less expensive vent pipe or in situations where venting vertically is not an option. A power vent unit is not always the least expensive option since the unit will cost more initially due to the extra equipment (blower/fan) and it also requires power to operate the blower. Also some people find that the sound of the blower running is quite loud so use careful consideration when determining where this type of unit will be located.

Electric water heaters do not require venting thus they can be placed almost anywhere. They have a high Energy Factor thus they are very energy efficient. They also last longer since they have fewer parts than Gas water heaters. Electric units are usually less expensive to purchase and they are easier to install plus there is no chance of a fuel leak or the presence of combustible gases. Electric water heaters are the most common type to be connected or fed by Solar Power.

Once you determine the type of energy source you want to use for your water heating there are still a few other decisions you can make and this would be whether or not you want to purchase a standard tank unit (described above) or purchase a tankless unit. Tankless units heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage “tank” water heaters.

If you decide to go tankless then gas-fueled units usually produce more gallons per minute than electric units. Gas units still need an electrical connection in order to operate and they also need to be vented like a tank unit so that the exhaust can be expelled outside the building.

When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. In an electric Tankless Water Heater an electric element heats the water. In a gas-fired Tankless Water Heater a gas burner heats the water. As a result, Tankless Water Heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. Typically, Tankless Water Heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2 – 5 gallons (7.6 – 15.2 liters) per minute. Typically, gas-fired Tankless Water Heaters will produce higher flow rates than electric Tankless Water Heaters.

Tankless units have become very popular due to their compact and space saving size; also they are appealing in that they do not hold water or continually heat water when it is not needed. There are still a lot of pros and cons with regard to tankless units so be sure to consult with a professional so that you can determine if the pros will outweigh the cons.

Some of the cons for the tankless units are:

  • Takes a little time to heat the water once the demand is made; hot water is not waiting in the pipes like in a standard tank unit.
  • The initial cost of the unit and installation is higher than a standard tank unit.
  • If the unit is turned on/off frequently there could be a “sandwich” affect of cold water mixed in with the hot water.
  • Can be expensive to service especially with regard to the electrical components.
  • If you lose power you will not have hot water.

Some of the pros for the tankless units are:

  • They are typically less expensive to operate than a standard tank unit.
  • Space saving – takes up little space.
  • Can install multiple units in various areas of the house so that “wait time” for hot water is minimized.

Technology on the tankless units continues to be upgraded. Some manufacturers now make their units with recirculation pumps so that “wait time” for hot water is minimal at best. This includes the fairly new “Hybrid” tankless unit which reuses some of the heat generated from the unit to heat the water passing thru the tank.

Once again; do some research; talk with professionals and make sure that whatever system you are installing is sized properly for the use you need to ensure that your water heating system will service all of your needs adequately. There are still some energy star models and types of units where rebates are possible so be sure to check out this information in your area as well.

 

http://www.prescottenews.com/

Furnasman
Furnasman.com