Year: 2016

Business Owner’s Guide to Commercial HVAC Installation Cost

If your business is in the market for a new commercial HVAC system, you may have a hard time interpreting the installation quotes you receive from various contractors. There’s also a pretty good chance that you may not fully understand the available equipment options or installation requirements. Lack of knowledge in these areas can lead to unnecessary expenses and confusion. Fortunately, you can improve your understanding of commercial HVAC installation costs by following a few simple guidelines. Get a Thorough Cost Breakdown Contractors who specialize in commercial HVAC systems may use a number of different methods to quote your installation expenses. This means that services grouped together by one contractor may be listed as separate expenses by another contractor. You can eliminate any potential confusion by asking each firm you’re considering for the job to submit a complete cost breakdown that covers all aspects of the proposed installation from beginning to end. Familiarize Yourself With System Types and Manufacturers In addition to standard heating and cooling technology, the commercial HVAC market includes modern technologies such as chilled beam systems, VAV (variable air volume) systems and VRF (variable refrigerant flow) systems. In terms of cost versus long-term benefit, each of these

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Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying a New AC or Furnace

The purchase of a new air conditioner or furnace is one of the larger expenses you can expect during your home’s lifetime. If the system you buy does its job properly, you’ll receive the benefits of reliable household heating and cooling. On the other hand, if your new heating or cooling system doesn’t work reliably and efficiently, you may end up paying the price for decades to come. Here are some of the key pitfalls to avoid when purchasing a new residential furnace or AC. Buying a System That’s Too Big or Small Each residential air conditioner and furnace on the market is designed to deliver cooling or heating to a home of a certain size and layout. Unfortunately, many consumers mistakenly purchase a system that’s too large or too small for their home. Potential consequences of this mistake include early furnace or AC failure, unnecessarily steep monthly utility costs and a perpetually uncomfortable building interior. Failing to Check Your HVAC Contractor’s Background No matter where you live in the U.S., you probably have access to a number of skilled and reputable heating and cooling contractors. Unfortunately, you also likely have access to disreputable contractors who do such things as

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How ductless mini-split heat pumps work

Ductless mini-split heat pumps are one of the latest innovations of the modern revolution in home heating and cooling technology. Instead of replacing a malfunctioning heating system with a centralized unit that simultaneously services your whole house, you can independently deliver fully controllable heating to as many (or as few) rooms as you wish. Here’s a brief rundown on the way that ductless mini-split heat pumps get the job done. What Does a Heat Pump Do? First, let’s look at how a heat pump operates. A traditional furnace in a centralized system generates heat internally by doing one of two things: burning a fuel source (e.g., natural gas or propane) or activating an electric component called a heating element. A heat pump does not produce its own heat. Instead, it pulls heat from one of three sources (outdoor air, the ground or nearby water) and passes that heat on to the interior of your home. During warmer parts of the year, a heat pump can function as an air conditioner by reversing itself and pulling heated air out of your household’s interior. What Is a Ductless System? A traditional heating and cooling system with a central heat pump relies on

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An Overview of Carrier® Cor Thermostats

Technological advances have led to a multitude of options for controlling temperatures in your home. Among the most popular innovations is the Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat, which gives you the ability to wirelessly control household temperatures with an app installed on your smartphone, tablet, laptop computer or desktop computer. The Carrier® Cor thermostat is a relatively new Wi-Fi thermostat with a well-rounded feature set. Let’s look at some of the highlights of this device. What Do Wi-Fi-Enabled Thermostats Do? A Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat has something called an IP (Internet protocol) connection, which allows it to receive commands from wireless signals that pass through your household’s Wi-Fi modem. With this type of thermostat installed in your home, you can enter temperature control commands from any location within range of your modem’s signals. The complexity of the commands you can issue depends on the make and model of thermostat you purchase. Some products give you comprehensive control over temperature-related functions. Features of the Carrier Cor Thermostat The Carrier Cor has a number of features that make it an appealing option for homeowners seeking a full selection of temperature controls. The feature list starts with the unit itself, which is built around a color touch screen and

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Energy Efficiency Tips for Your Business

Energy efficiency means saving money, and when you own a business saving money anywhere you can is important. With just a few simple tips you can make sure that your business HVAC systems are running efficiently and that you aren’t paying more in your monthly energy bills than you should be. Start with Energy-Saving Products If you are replacing an HVAC system, or building from the ground up, spend the extra money to get a system that is energy efficient. While this equipment costs more up front, it will save you a ton of money in the long run. Invest in Insulation Insulation is another place where you can spend up front, but get savings over time. A building that is well insulated will require less heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Your HVAC system will run less often and cost you less money. Use a Programmable Thermostat A programmable thermostat is a great investment for energy efficiency. You get better control over how warm or cool your workspace is and you can set it to run less when no one is at work. Make sure your employees are allowed to dress comfortably so they aren’t tempted

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How to Keep Mold Out of Your Workplace HVAC System

Mold is a dreaded contaminant for home and business alike. Just the hint of mold in your HVAC system probably makes you nervous. Clean up requires skilled professionals and it can cost a lot to make sure every last bit is gone. Instead of facing that situation, you can take preventative steps to keep mold out of your HVAC and out of the air you and your employees breathe. Rely on Professional HVAC Installation and Maintenance If an HVAC system is not installed well, if corners are cut, you could be facing a situation in which mold-growth is inevitable. Poor installation can mean leaks and misuse of insulation and sealants to keep moisture out of the system. The equipment that gets installed can also be a source of mold, so be sure a professional is taking care of your installation and inspects every piece before it goes in. Keep an Eye on Ducts No matter where the mold may be growing within your HVAC system, it is the ducts that spread it around and make your workplace dangerous for you and your workers. It’s important to check the ducts and vents regularly to be sure there is no mold growth.

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Extreme Weather Can Affect the Air in Your Home

Extreme weather events can negatively impact indoor air quality, which may lead to serious health consequences. With weather events such as heat waves, storms and floods increasing in recent years, air quality should be on every homeowner’s radar. Higher Temperatures Bring Air Quality Problems Intense heat waves can make it miserable to be outdoors, but it can also create problems for those who stay indoors. Heat may trigger various events that threaten indoor air quality. Heat increases the production of pollen, which gets into the air both indoors and outdoors. A good air filter should remove most of the pollen from your indoor air, but a significant increase in the overall amount of pollen will increase the amount that makes it through the filter and into your home. Rising temperatures, and the associated rise in energy costs, inspire many homeowners to improve their weatherization. However, the nature of weatherization—limiting the movement of air between indoors and outdoors—can worsen air quality problems. Super efficient and weather-tight homes rely entirely on mechanical systems for fresh air, and any problems in those systems can send indoor air quality plummeting. Air Quality Threats From Storms and Flooding Violent storms that cause brownouts or blackouts

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8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Home’s Value

There are a number of ways you can increase the value of your home without spending a fortune. The items on this list are not difficult, and most of them can be completed for a few hundred dollars or less. The exterior of your home gets dirty and grimy over the winter, and can even attract mold. To make it look clean and bright, have it professionally power washed by a licensed contractor. Once the work is done, your home will look much more attractive. An easy way to add value to your home is to update its exterior. Painting the front door a bright color, updating its hardware and replacing outdated an outdated light fixture can go a long way toward increasing the value of your home. Clear out any weeds and trim shrubs and trees on your front lawn. Plant some bright flowers near the front door. You can add flower beds, hang plants, or place attractive pots or flower boxes, depending on your preference and the style of your home. Steel entry doors are not only stylish, but they also help to keep you, your family and possessions safe and secure. Change out the existing door for

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Indoor Air Quality a Rising Concern For Home Buyers

Many potential home buyers are actively looking to relocate in the spring and summer months, and this makes the warmer months of the year a very busy time for the real estate market. If you have decided to buy an existing home or build your dream home, indoor air quality is something that should be a priority. There are ways you can ensure that your future home is healthy and safe for all the members of your family by dealing with these concerns before you make a buying decision. Indoor Air Concerns for New Home Buyers When you decide to purchase a new home, you give yourself the best opportunity to ensure that your indoor air quality is healthy. During the past 10 years, home builders have noted that consumers have been asking for “green” building materials more often. They want to buy homes built with flooring, cabinet materials and other products that are environmentally sustainable and free from dangerous chemicals. Bamboo is a popular choice for flooring, and it is an example of an environmentally friendly building product. Reclaimed oak, which is usually found locally, is another one, and is a better choice than traditional oak for flooring when

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The benefits of going ductless

If there’s one thing people hate it’s a large utility bill. That shock of a large payment just to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home is something that has frustrated people since central air became used. Depending on the home and the setup of the HVAC system, the traditional forced-air system with its mazes of ductwork, might not be the best option. Central Air Disadvantages The drawbacks of a forced-air system aren’t limited to just a large bill. As any homeowner with central air knows, not all parts of the house will receive the same level of cooling and passive heat loss/gain from the environment. Uneven heating and cooling has led to numerous fights over control of the thermostat. You house will lose and gain heat naturally. And that heat loss doesn’t happen homogenously across the entire home, either. Rooms that share a wall with the outside sun-facing walls will naturally gain heat faster and the rooms that don’t receive sun will lose heat faster in winter. To change the temperature in one room requires you to adjust the thermostat and cool the entire house for that single room. It’s not a terribly efficient way of doing things. Speaking

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