More and more American families are choosing to live off-grid or at least adopt some of the practices of homesteaders in order to make a more positive impact on their environment. Even if you are not planning to live completely off the grid, these alternative heating and cooling options can help you reduce energy consumption and may even be able to help you save some money in the long run. Tips for Off-Grid Heating and Cooling Here are some tips for heating and cooling for those who want to live off-grid: Make sure that your home is well-insulated. One of the most important first steps in transitioning to off-grid heating and cooling is making sure that your home is well-insulated. A significant amount of energy is wasted when poor insulation allows warm or cool air inside the home to escape. By checking that your home is well-insulated and fixes any problem areas, you can help increase […]
The Most Common HVAC Myths: Debunked
Everyone wants to get the most out of their HVAC system. In order to do this, you need to properly run and regularly maintain the unit. However, there are many misconceptions out there that can keep you from prolonging the life of your air conditioning or heating system. Common HVAC Myths: Debunked Below, we bust some of the most common HVAC myths so that you can educate yourself on the best ways to prolong the life of your HVAC unit. Myth: Closing air vents will help you use save energy and lower your electric bills. Debunked: Many people think that if they just close the air vents in rooms where the AC is not being used, it will help save energy, and thus lower their electricity costs. The truth is that closing your air vents does not reduce the amount of air being pushed throughout the room. Instead, the pressure load will be balanced throughout […]
Radiant Floor Heating Systems
For many thousands of years, harkening back to the days of ancient Manchuria, Korea – even the Romans – in homes and villas across time, the favored method of providing heat has been radiant floor heating. While not exactly a new method of heating new technology in providing that heat has made it safer, more convenient and much, much, safer. Modern Radiant Floor Heating In modern systems there are a few ways of installing them: Inside concrete slabs as they’re poured On top of the concrete, but underneath the floor covering Directly underneath or on top of the wooden subfloor Laying of the heating elements inside concrete is often the preferred method due to it being able to act as a heat sink, charged up during off-peak and slowly radiating heat in times of peak-power usage. However, if retrofitting radiant floor heating to a home, this not usually an option. Installing the elements on top […]
Furnace Inspection Checklist
Inspecting a Furnace Furnace inspections should be carried out at least once every two years and in the fall. Parts of the furnace are prone to wearing out and should be inspected thoroughly to ensure safe and efficient operation in the clients home. The first step to inspection is to examine the furnace body itself for any signs of damage or corrosion. Assuming that there is no damage or corrosion you can then move on to inspecting the rest of the furnace. Examine the flue pipe for damage and a tight fit. The gas line should be in good shape and be free of any leaks. Use a gas detector to check for leaks around all connections on the gas line. Next, remove the cover from the furnace and inspect the interior for signs of corrosion. Examine all of the wiring and their connections. Replace any wiring that shows heat damage or insulation that is […]
The History of Air Conditioning: How Your Descendants Stayed Cool
On those really hot days when you can’t imagine being out of an air conditioned home or office, aren’t you happy to live in the 21st century? Luckily, your descendants and those before had all types of inventive ways to keep cool. And all of that clever thinking eventually led to the development of the air conditioning that you enjoy today! Let’s get started with a brief, yet surprisingly fascinating history of air conditioning. The Fascinating History of Air Conditioning Underground Homes The cave dwellers found that it was cooler underground and inside the Earth. They built homes in caves to get themselves out of the hot sun. Although this was around 12,000 years ago, the cave dwellers knew what they were doing. (Today we call this geothermal cooling, and it’s highly efficient and green!) First Water-Cooled AC Fast forward to the days of the Egyptians, when the first water-cooled air conditioner was discovered. The […]
