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Myth Busters: 3 Ideas About Energy Efficiency Debunked!

There are many energy efficiency myths that people believe to be true. Unfortunately, these misguided beliefs are costing the average consumer a lot of money in high utility bills. Below are some simple truths about energy efficiency to bust the myths. Myth 1: More Energy is Consumed When Lights are Switched on and off Several Times than when They are Left on The truth is that energy is used to power light bulbs to produce light, so they do not consume anything when they are switched off. Turning the lights back on simply completes the circuit needed to turn on the light. As far as incandescent, LED and other types of modern light bulbs are concerned, the statement is simply a myth. However, fluorescent lighting tubes usually take a couple of minutes to turn on, so they may consume more energy to turn back on. Therefore, it may make sense to leave them on throughout. Myth 2: An Electric Space Heater can Help Save you Money In some countries, this can be true because other heating fuels like natural gas, propane gas and heating oil are much more expensive compared to electricity costs. In the United States, however, natural gas

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Stop Mold Growth In Your Office’s HVAC

Most of today’s businesses have an HVAC system which is harboring some level of mold growth. Mold cannot be avoided, but it is possible to keep its growth under control. The more mold, the more likely your employees will suffer from respiratory problems aggravated by the mold growth. Mold can be unnoticeable, but it could also be indicated by employees suffering from respiratory problems. This is especially probable if they already suffer from asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses. The best way to tackle this problem is to stop mold growth from growing to an excessive level. How To Effectively Stop Mold Growth The most effective way to control mold growth is to clean the HVAC system regularly. First turn the HVAC system off before you begin cleaning it. Clean the entire system with a disinfectant and apply a mold inhibitor. Your cleaning efforts should include the ductwork, filters and fan blades. Use a wet vacuum to clean up any standing water as mold needs water to grow. After cleaning the ductwork, filters and fan blades, you must allow them to dry thoroughly before turning the system back on. It’s important to clean and or replace the HVAC filters regularly

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The Basics About Legionnaires’ Disease and HVAC systems

Most of us don’t really consider the indoor heating or cooling system as dangerous. The systems are there to cool or heat the building up and that’s it. Proper maintenance ensures that you can enjoy the heat during winter and cooling during summer. But did you know that your building ventilation systems could make your sick? Apparently, they can! On July 15th 2015, New Yorkers were told that more than 100 people tested positive for Legionnaires Disease. The infection caused by Legionella pneumophila bacteria that spread because of an infected water-cooling tower. Due to poor maintenance, the bacterial infection spread to all five cooling towers of the South Bronx building and infected the people in the building and around it as well. At the time of writing, more than 10 people had died from the infection and the city health commissioner had issued health warnings to people living in the area. What Caused The Legionella Outbreak? Legionella bacteria thrived in wet humid locations and the cooling system of the building had not been cleaned in quite some time. The bacteria spread through the ventilation system and it was vented out in the form of water droplets. The sick, elderly, children,

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Myths About Commercial HVAC Companies

There are various misconceptions that some people hold about heating and cooling companies. Such include the assumption that a large commercial HVAC company would provide better services and is therefore better. Those who’ve had sour experiences with larger firms will know that this isn’t necessarily true. However, it may be difficult for one to understand why. There are also other things that need to be noted. The Bigger The Company; the Better The Service One may be tempted into thinking that big companies do everything right. This could be due to the idea advertised by such firms that they offer better service because they have more technicians. This means more hands on the clients’ equipment. Typically, expertise about HVAC systems doesn’t flow freely in larger firms. The best firms are those that offer the same service each time they handle a client’s equipment, regardless of their company size. This means that an experienced professional assumes long-term personal responsibility for the particular unit. All Commercial HVAC Companies Perform Tune Ups The Same Way Most firms view a tune-up as an opportunity to look for other issues to address as they replace the filter, so that they can bill the client more.

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Keep Your Commercial HVAC System Running Properly

A Commercial HVAC system is a huge investment that require proper care in order to work efficiently. Neglecting your HVAC system will increase your energy cost and reduce your unit’s life span. Here are some tips on how to take care of your commercial HVAC system. Take Advantage of Off-peak Season Most people wait until peak season to perform maintenance on their HVAC units. During this time, there is a higher demand for technicians, and the cost for this service tends to go up. A good way to go about this would be scheduling your cooling maintenance during winter. This way, when summer sets in, you won’t have much to worry about as far as emergency repair is concerned. Preventive Commercial HVAC System Maintenance Most people neglect servicing their units simply because it still “runs”. However, waiting until your unit breaks down to take action can be costly in more ways than one. For starters, worn out components in your system will not only increase energy cost but also interfere with indoor air quality. Regular maintenance ensures your unit continues cleaning your air, while reducing energy costs. Replacement Vs Repair In some cases, replacing a worn out HVAC system is

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Tips for Hiring a Commercial HVAC Contractor

Whether you want an HVAC system designed for your commercial establishment or an existing system repaired, it is crucial you hire the best HVAC contractor you can afford. Hiring a commercial HVAC contractor can be challenging since there are many service providers in the industry. At MightyServ, we understand that you may have a hard time hiring a contractor, so here are some tips to help you out. Before You Hire a Commercial HVAC Contractor: Ask friends, colleagues, relatives and neighbors to give you referrals to contractors they have worked with in the past. If they had a great experience with the HVAC contractor, chances are high you will have a similar experience. This is the quickest and most convenient way of finding a great commercial heating, ventilation and cooling contractor. You can use these referrals to make a shortlist. Next, ask for references from the contractors on your shortlist. These are simply names and contact details of previous clients. Be sure to call them to learn about the quality of service offered by the contractor. A long list of satisfied customers shows the contractor is able to meet or even exceed customer expectations. Ask the contractor to provide proof of insurance

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Should I be concerned about carbon monoxide in my home?

The short answer is YES! You should be very concerned about carbon monoxide in your home. If there are high levels of carbon monoxide in your home, it will make you sick at best, and kill you at worst. Between twenty and thirty thousand people become ill from carbon monoxide poisoning each year in the US alone. Around five hundred people a year die of carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States. Carbon monoxide gas is produced when carbon is burned without sufficient oxygen in the air. Thus if you burn anything made of carbon within an enclosed space rather than outdoors, then you will be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The trouble with carbon monoxide is that it doesn’t have a color. Nor does it have a discernible taste or smell. So you could be breathing in carbon monoxide at dangerous levels at this very moment without any knowledge of it occurring. Buy A Carbon Monoxide Detector For Your Home At present, having a carbon monoxide detector is mandated by law in twenty five states in the US. However, some states in the US relaxed the rules in 2012. That means people living in those states that have

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Indoor Air Quality: Facts You Need to Know

What causes people to suffer poor health? When asked such a question, most people refer to things like poor diet, lack of exercise, and genetic factors. However, if you have noticed a decline in your health, it could actually be caused by the air you breathe in your home every day. You might be surprised to find out how poor the indoor air quality in your home is. There are many seemingly innocent items in most households that can cause concerns with your health. After reading this article, you may want to throw a few items away. Items Affecting Indoor Air Quality In Your Home: Paraffin candles, for example, are a major cause of poor indoor air quality in homes. The candles give off two different carcinogen as well as some chemicals that are also found in exhaust fumes. Throw the paraffin candles away. Replace them with soy or beeswax candles scented only with natural essential oils. Air fresheners are no good for you either, and they are especially harmful to babies and young children. They contain phthalates, which can disrupt hormone function in children and can interfere with their reproductive development. Your furniture might also be having an adverse impact

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Surge Protectors and HVAC: What You Need to Know

Power surges are the biggest threat to electrical appliances. If there are no protective systems to protect a device from voltage spikes, its circuit will be fried during a power surge, making the device useless. This is the reason why homeowners often spend a lot of money on surge protectors. Unfortunately, many of these homeowners forget to protect their HVAC systems against power surges. This can be a costly mistake considering the cost of procuring and installing HVAC systems. Read on to learn more about HVAC surge protectors. The Importance of Surge Protection in HVAC Systems A few decades ago, HVAC systems had very few parts that could be damaged by power surges. Modern HVAC systems, however, contain printed circuit boards and electronic components that are susceptible to the destructive power of voltage spikes. A power surge can either cause minor damage that may not have an immediate effect on the performance of the system, or serious damage that will lead to complete system failure. Common Causes of Power Surges There are three common causes of power surges. The first is lightning strikes on power lines, which will inject millions of volts into the grid. The second is irregularities in the

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My Air Conditioner is Frozen! What Happened?

When your air conditioner is running but your home is gradually getting warmer, you have a problem. Hold your hand over the supply registers. Do you feel little to no airflow coming from them? Your air conditioner is frozen. Whether you see any ice or not, your air conditioning unit is clearly letting you know there is ice in it. There are steps you immediately need to take to prevent damage to your unit’s compressor and further waste of money. Handling Air Conditioner Freezes Turn your A/C unit off immediately to prevent any (or further) damage to your compressor. While waiting for the accumulated ice to melt, find the drain for the condensation pan and be sure it is not blocked. If it is, unblock it. If you can, turn on the air conditioner’s fan without running the compressor. This will accelerate the melting of the ice. Once all the ice is melted and unblocked drains are clear, turn your unit back on. It should begin to cool your home again right away. What Causes My A/C to Freeze? Several maintenance-related issues are usually the culprits of air conditioner freezes. One of the main ones is low airflow due to

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