Heating and Air Conditioning Systems

There are many different types of central heating and air conditioning systems. The right one for you will depend on where your property is situated i.e. what type of weather conditions you get, the size of your home and your own personal requirements i.e. the size of your family. The idea behind any system is the same i.e. you want to heat the house when it is cold and cool it when it is warm. This will involve either moving air or moving water. All systems work on either one or a combination of these principles.

A gas forced air system is probably the most common central heating system in the US today. Basically a furnace heats the air which is then blown through your home by a system of fans. When you want to cool the air i.e. in summer, the same system takes the air in your home and passes it via a refrigeration device. That is the most basic explanation but there really isn't an awful lot more to these systems. Do they work? Yes but they are not very efficient, are prone to being drafty and can result in needlessly high bills. You could have a standalone electric system which is popular as it is cheap to install. But it is expensive to run and you cannot add air conditioning to the same system so that is an additional cost should you need cool air in the summer.

You could have a water based system often referred to as Hydronic. A hot water system works on the basis that water is heated and distributed through your home via a system of radiators which then emit heat to those individual rooms. Radiators have become smaller and more effective than those in use in the 1960's but it is still not an incredibly efficient system and cannot be used for air conditioning.

The best system is probably a combination of a couple of the above technologies. You should discuss your options with a professional Heating and Air conditioning systems company. They will be happy to advise you on the best option for your particular needs.

Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Dehydration

The desire to slake our thirsts with fresh glasses of water may seem like the most natural thing in the world, but as we age, that thirst urge diminishes. That makes older people acutely at risk for dehydration, because they can lose important amounts of body water without ever becoming thirsty. But as long as you can keep up with the amount of fluid your body needs, you don't have to worry about dehydration. Here are some ways that you can keep from going dry.

1. Eat More Vegetables And Fruits

When your body is depleted and you are trying to fill the tank, nearly any form of liquid can make a worthy contribution. That includes the water in fresh fruits and vegetables, since the majority of these are at least 75 percent water.

2. Avoid These Drinks

Alcohol and caffeine are powerful diuretics. When you have drinks that contain these diuretics, they flush out fluid faster than they contribute it. Avoid them altogether, if you can. If you can't, limit the intake.

3. Drink More With Exercise

When you exercise, be sure that you drink plenty of water before, during, and after. An hour before you exercise, drink 8 to 16 ounces of water, unsweetened juice, or a sports drink. If you exercise enough that you are breaking a sweat, you need about 20 to 40 ounces of water per hour, which is 4 to 8 ounces every 15 minutes.

4. Stay Cool

Hot weather is another common cause of dehydration in the elderly. Water loss increases in a warm environment. Always use an air conditioner or fans in hot weather. Older adults should never stay in temperatures over 1000 F, especially if they are indoors without adequate circulating air.

5. Drink Frequently

Dehydration creeps up on people. You need to be aware of the risk and take preventive measures. When you are past 60, you can't depend on the usual signals to tell you that you are thirsty. So you have to schedule your drinking to stay dehydrated - and that often means that you should drink before you feel thirsty. It is recommended to drink 64 ounces-eight 8-ounce glasses - of fluid a day. Make it simple: just remember to drink one glass at least every other hour during the day.

6. Be A Water Carrier

Plastic water bottles are handy, easy to carry, and a constant reminder to drink throughout the day. A quart-size bottle is best for day-long drinking. Don't feel self-conscious carrying a bottle around. Whether you are in an office setting or a park, water bottles have almost become part of modern dress.

7. Spark The Flavor

If you do not like the taste of water, dress it up with lemon slices. Buy flavored seltzer water if you like a bubbly treat or flavor up plain seltzer with cranberry juice, peach nectar, or whatever kind of juice you like.

Central Air or Window Air Conditioner?

All air conditioners' power is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU). The amount of power you need depends on the square footage of your room. It is important that you choose the right size air conditioner for your room. Unfortunately, picking the wrong size window air conditioner is most prevalent.

An air conditioner that is too small for your room will have to run longer in order to reach the temperature that you have set on the thermostat. Thus, the unit will ware faster and contribute to increasing your energy bills.

If you buy an air conditioner that is too big, then your room will get cold fast much faster. This also means that it will have to turn itself off and on a lot to maintain the temperature you have set on your thermostat. This will increase your energy bills and make your home feel damp.

Pros to Central Air

Central Air conditioning is great for cooling an entire house. It is recommended to have a central air conditioning unit if you have a house that is more than one story. Central air can even help to dehumidify your entire home, preventing the growth of mold.

Cons

Installing a central air conditioning unit can be very expensive. If you already have ducts in your house, then a central air conditioner will cost around $4,000. If you don't have ducts installed, then you're looking at closer to $10,000 for your central air conditioning unit. Once it is installed however, there are usually no problems and no maintenance required.

Pros to Window AC

Window air conditioners are great for supplying heat to a targeted area. They are great if you only need to cool a couple of rooms, or if you live in a one story house.

Often placed in an open window, they convert the hot air outside into cold air that is then blown into your room. You can install these units yourself and they are relatively easy to transport from window to window.

Cons

They can't blow the air they generate to a large area. They are most effective with a portable rotating fan so that the cold air can be circulated throughout the entire room.

Unfortunately, they require a lot of maintenance. It is recommended to clean your filters regularly, especially if you have been using it a lot. You will have to uninstall your window air conditioning unit every winter and then reinstall it for the summer time. It can be easily stolen because it located in your open window.

Recap

Make sure you consider the size of the rooms in your home and your other needs before purchasing your ac unit.

American Standard Central Air Conditioning - Regular Maintenance Can Keep Your Unit Running Like New

Preservation is part of any item you own throughout life. If you want your American Standard central air conditioning unit to remain in good shape, you have to take care of it. Cooling systems are expensive and an item you don't want to replace often, a little maintenance can go a long way and prevent the deterioration of your American Standard central air conditioning cooling system. Many air conditioners start out being very efficient, but after a few years of use and little care, they can easily eat up your cash and time with higher energy consumption and repairs. An annual service call for cleaning and part checks by an expert will frequently avoid high cost system repairs. Home and business owners can take preventative measures as well by taking a little time to check and keep up their unit. A professional installer or the manufacturer is the best source for upkeep information. One effortless phone call can save you a lot of irritation in the future.

Maintaining American Standard Air Conditioners

American Standard air conditioners need to be cleaned at least once a year. Before they can be cleaned, the power to the units should be disconnected for safety. Circuit breakers are located inside your home or business electric panel. Clear all leaves and other rubble so that it is not lying around the unit or covering it in any way. Then take off the fan shield so the motor ports can be lubricated with electrical motor oil. Check the drain for water accumulation and clogs. Clogs create the possibility of water leaks in the building being cooled and diminish the unit's competence. Use a cleaner designed for system cleaning to spray the coils. Follow the directions precisely and allow it sit for the appropriate amount of time. Rinse the fins and coils with a hose after this time period has passed. Yearly service from an expert is more detailed and will involve checking the compressor and other components for damage as well as cleaning them. Examine the blower and vacuum the inside unit. Change any disposable filters and clean permanent filters. Clean the drain if necessary. Once finished, replace all covers and turn the circuit breaker back on. If you are uncomfortable performing this maintenance yourself, contact a professional that regularly cleans and repairs American Standard air conditioners.

Do You Need an Industrial Air Conditioning Service For Cleaning?

Businesses that make use of combined air units and large industrial systems need an industrial air conditioning service for both cleaning and preservation. With large commercial systems, more must be checked and cared for. An industrial air conditioning service provides the same benefits as any other cooling system specialist. It is just on a much larger level when it comes to expertise and care. Service includes looking over all major components, lubricating all moving parts, and checking controls. Fans, belts, and motors are inspected as well as electrical components. Filters are changed, leaks are located and repaired, and drains are cleared. These are just a few of the jobs performed during industrial maintenance and are better suited for an experienced industrial professional.

Furnace and AC Tune Ups Pay You Back Guaranteed!

Every homeowner should learn the importance to routinely service, clean, test and adjust their heating and cooling appliances on an annual basis by a licensed HVAC contractor or company to ensure that their heating and cooling appliance runs at peak performance and efficiency as advised by heating and cooling manufacturers!

A forced air furnace has working components that can wear out to cause expensive parts failures on more expensive parts on the appliance. If a home owner elects to pay a heating and cooling contractor to routinely perform tune ups and cleanings on their furnace these smaller less expensive mechanical problems can be detected early, resolved accordingly to effectively save the home owner money in allowing more expensive parts to last longer, nominal efficiency bumps can be created, safety hazards can be reduced in a likely scenario to become less probable and peace of mind can be created to drastically reduce the likelihood of an unforeseen break down during the winter when a homeowner would least desire the occurrence to occur!

A contractor offers periodic $79.00-$99.00 tune up specials (industry retail value: $135.00) in an attempt to expand the company's customer base while delivering a high value to people who explore the advantages and benefits of what a licensed and insured heating and air conditioning contractor can deliver in performing such a service.

A company would deliver the service in a professional manner to deliver the following checks and adjustments when a tune up is performed properly;

#1: Gas leak detection from gas shut off to the furnace is made and if any leaks are discovered the HVAC technician will show the home owner and make the proper recommendations for a safe repair to the home owner.

#2: The run capacitor for the blower motor is tested and replaced at a small additional charge if found to be weak in order to extend the life span of a vastly more expensive blower motor.

#3: Amp Draws are taken on the blower motor to ensure that the motor is running in manufacturer advised ranges to safe guard the motors life span and thus to save the home owner money.

#4: The induced draft motor amp draws are taken.

#5: Flue pipes are inspected to ensure that there are no dangerous defects present to create a dangerous scenario for the home occupants.

#6: Flame sensors are inspected and cleaned if needed.

#7: Ignitors are tested and replaced at a small additional charge if they are proven to be at the end of their service life.

#8: Gas valves are tuned using a manometer to ensure that they are set to proper water column to ensure maximum performance and efficiency.

#9: Older manual thermostats will have their heat anticipators adjusted or a recommendation at an additional cost will be made to replace the thermostat with a programmable digital thermostat.

#10: Combustion Gas Analysis is performed to ensure that the furnace is safely and efficiently operating.

#11: Limit switches are tested to ensure that they are operating safely by manufacturers design and specifications.

#12: The furnace burners and blower compartments are cleaned out of bulk dirt contamination if present.

#13: The furnace filter is inspected and proper filtration recommendations are made by the professional Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC technician to the home owner.

#14: The heat exchanger is visually inspected and if a dangerous scenario is discovered the HVAC technician will use more extensive testing measures to ensure that the heat exchanger is safe and functioning correctly.

#15: Temperature rise readings are taken to ensure that the furnace is operating at proper temperatures as rated by the respective manufacturer of the heating appliance, which in turns allows the HVAC technician to adjust or not adjust fan speeds accordingly to make sure that the furnace is running at peak performance and efficiency.

#16: The HVAC technician will make proper recommendations to the home owner and answer any comfort questions that the home owner may have about their heating and cooling equipment.

#17: The HVAC technician or heating and cooling professional will also address proper air mixing in the home, brief duct sizing, brief furnace sizing and make appropriate recommendations to cue in the home owner as to if everything is sized correctly, close or is well off!

#18: The furnace pressure switch is tested to ensure that it functions correctly.

#19: All tubes and or belts are inspected to make sure none are worn on the furnace.

#20: All wiring connections are inspected to ensure none are loose, disconnected or are making improper contact to connected spade terminals of the furnaces electronic connection points.

#21: Step down transformers on the furnace is inspected to ensure that it's operating and functioning correctly.

#22: The Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC technician will inspect high voltage connections to ensure that a reversed polarity occurrence is not present.

#23: The HVAC technician inspecting the furnace will also ensure that the AC coils are clean and free of debree and at an additional charge will offer to professionally clean them if they are discovered dirty to lose tremendous efficiency value, reduce unnecessary costly limit switch life spans on the furnace, create unnecessary odors and to eliminate bacteria that can commonly grow on an AC evaporator coil to potentially assist in making a home owner sick too!

#24: The HVAC technician will also test limit series roll out switches to ensure that no defects are present.

#25: The Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC technician will also inspect and make sure that flammable substances are not stored near the furnace and advise the homeowner to relocate such substances if they are discovered to be near the furnace during a tune up and cleaning of the furnace.

#26: The HVAC technician will inspect furnace drains, if present, to ensure that they are functioning correctly.

#27: A Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC technician will also test for spillage to ensure that dangerous flue gases are not back drafting into the home.

#28: The Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC technician will also inspect control boards and or ignition control modules to ensure that the parts are allowing correct purge cycle sequences of your forced air furnace too.

#29: The HVAC technician will inspect the blower motor lock shaft to ensure that the blower wheel is not loose on the blower shaft. When this is detected at no cost to the home owner the lock shaft is tightened up which in turn saves the expensive blower motor from premature failure!

#30: The Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC technician will also check over the HVAC system and make sealing recommendations to the home owner if excessive air leaks are discovered to cause the HVAC to be concerned with efficiency of the HVAC system.

Many heating and air conditioning licensed and insured HVAC companies and contractors offers similar tune ups amongst each other and cleaning services by various Heating and Air Conditioning companies maybe performed differently, but should produce the same results. Many tenured technicians have an impressive innate ability to whiz through what doesn't immediately arise or pop to their attention while swiftly and effectively zeroing in on what stands out to them. Bare in mind if you performed thousands and thousands of furnace tune ups as many tenured Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC professional has, well, you'd have that same ability to do so yourself as with many other tenured HVAC technicians can do it likewise with other Heating and Air Conditioning service providers too!

After it is all said and done, whether a home owner calls one reputable Licensed and Insured Heating and Cooling Professional on an annual basis to the next, well, in the long run the home owner is going to save a tremendous amount of money by catching the small problems that are less expensive to resolve BEFORE they balloon into a small fortune in a more costly break down, by improving efficiencies on key found furnace adjustments and by cleaning the dirt which accounts for approximately 50% of efficiency loss and in reducing sensitive electronic components from failing prematurely as a result! Home owners who routinely have their furnaces tuned, cleaned, adjusted with preventative maintenance on worn furnace components ALWAYS saves vastly more money in the long run than the home owners who neglect to maintain and service their expensive heating and cooling equipment, guaranteed!

So after reading this article, make sure you call and schedule your heating and air conditioning professionals of choice today, but make sure they are licensed, insured, possesses a great record with the BBB and or Angie's List and that the companies sustains themselves as a reputable, trusted and relevant HVAC business and you won't regret it at all in the long run. You will stay warm, comfortable, pay the best utility bill as possible and off set costly and untimely winter break downs too!

By: Mike Meincke. December 6th, 2011. Visit http://www.duffeysheating.com to learn more!

How to Clean a Furnace Blower

Keeping the blower assembly on your furnace clean helps improve performance and efficiency by allowing the air to flow unobstructed. The process requires a number of steps, and you might want to call in a professional to do the job. If you choose to do it yourself, here's the procedure.

First, turn off the power to the furnace. This should be done at the fuse or breaker box. Then turn off the furnace and fan switches inside the unit. Also switch your thermostat off.

Second, take the blower assembly out of the furnace. To do this, you have to disconnect the fan motor wiring harness connector. Make sure you make your own schematic showing how the wires run before you perform the disconnection.

To remove the assembly, take out the screws; then slide it out. Make sure you don't touch the terminals of the capacitor, which is probably connected to the side of the blower assembly. There may be some refrigerant lines in this area. Don't bend them so they crimp.

Third, if the capacitor is attached to the blower housing, discharge it and take it out. If you can't find the capacitor, it probably isn't required on your unit or is located somewhere else in the furnace, so you can move on to the next step.

If you do find the capacitor on the side of the housing, remove the wires with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Make sure they have an insulated grip to prevent electrical shock. Also, do not touch the terminals.

You can discharge the capacitor using a resistor-type jumper. If you don't know how to use a jumper, call a professional. When the capacitor is discharged, go ahead and remove it.

Fourth, take the motor and blower wheel out of the housing. Mark the spot where the hub sits on the fan shaft because this piece must be replaced in exactly the same spot.

To remove the wheel, loosen the setscrew. Then turn the housing over and remove the motor bracket bolts. Turn the housing back over and, with a piece of two-by-four, softly knock the motor and shaft out of the wheel. Also remove the deflector portion of the housing by removing the screws.

Finally, clean the blower wheel and the fan motor. It's easiest to use a spray wand at the car wash to clean the wheel, but don't direct the water at the wheel at full pressure to avoid bending the fan's fins. You can clean the motor with a soft brush (no water).

Keeping your furnace blower assembly clean can mean lower energy bills and a more comfortable home.

Air Conditioning Repair Is Essential In the Summer

Air conditioning repair is something you may need during hot, summer months. In some areas, an air conditioning system is used all year round. Having a system that is working properly is important. If it is not working properly, it will not be able to cool your home. It may also cause your energy bills to rise because the system may be operating inefficiently. If you are struggling with problems like this, you will need to hire a company that offers air conditioning repair services. Finding a company that is committed to its customers is important, and this is the type of company that you should look for. Most of these companies not only provide residential repairs, but they will also repair commercial systems.

In addition to offering repair services, an HVAC company may also provide quite a few other services that are related to this important component in your home. This includes air conditioning installation. If your system is shot or if it is just really inefficient, they can easily replace it with a new system. The new system will cool your home faster and will work more efficiently. This means that you will save money each month on your energy costs. Maybe your system is fine, but you could possibly have dirty ducts throughout your home. A company like this can clean all of your air ducts, leaving your home cleaner and stopping the spread of germs and bacteria throughout your house. Another thing you may need is a new thermostat. A thermostat controls your home's temperature level. If yours is inaccurate or is not working, have a new one installed. You can even have an automatic thermostat installed. These are programmable making it easy for you to adjust the temperatures in your home at different times of the day without ever touching the thermostat.

If you suddenly notice that your air has stopped working, you can call an air conditioning repair company for an emergency visit. Many companies offer this service and it does not matter what time of day it is. They will get your air conditioning up and running so that you are not miserable in the heat. They will promptly come to your home, analyze the problems and get them fixed quickly. Calling an air conditioning repair company is the best thing you can do for all of your air conditioning problems and solutions. The experts at an HVAC company can easily diagnose all types of problems and fix them so that they are working once again. You can then stop suffering from the heat, and this will help you feel better. You can also schedule an appointment for routine maintenance. The company can come and inspect the system to make sure that everything is clean and working properly. This will help your system stay running and can help you avoid outages when you really need the air conditioner to be working. Call today and schedule an appointment with a skilled and experienced air conditioning repair company.