Posts Tagged ‘Clarkdale’

Winterizing Your Home on a Budget

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Are you looking for inexpensive ways to save money on energy bills this  winter? Now is a great time to tackle these home projects and each of them is very affordable.

1. Add weather stripping to your doors and windows. Keeping warm air from escaping and drafts from blowing in can make a 5% to 10% difference in your energy use.

2. Seal exposed ductwork in attics and basements. Check for gaps in seams and joints, holes, or other places where warm air can escape. Use high quality mastic, rather then silver or duct tape that won’t hold as well or be efficient. Experts say that as much as 20% of warm air can escape through leaky ducts, so this is a great way to save money!

3. Put an insulation blanket on your water heater. The water tank warms up 30 or 40 gallons of water and then it starts to cool off, wasting money. An insulating blanket will slow down the heat loss substantially.

4. Program your thermostat so that the system runs less when you are nott there. Let the temperature fall 10 degrees or so when the house is empty, and you can program it to warm back up before you get home

5. Run full loads of laundry instead of several small loads. You’ll reduce your water use and your overall electrical use.

6. Add insulation to the attic. In winter, heated air escapes through the ceiling into the attic and out of the house. In summer, the attic gets hot and that air pushes down into the house, causing the air conditioner to work harder. A layer of insulation (minimum R19) in the attic will help year-round.

7. Have your furnace or heat pump cleaned and tuned up for winter. A dirty furnace or heat pump coil can waste 20% or more of the energy it uses. Having your entire HVAC system serviced before winter is a cost that might pay you back very quickly.

These are very good ways to reduce energy use on a limited budget. They are easy to accomplish and you will notice immediate results — lower energy bills every month going forward!

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The Most Important Part of Your Home — Your Furnace:

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Winter is coming fast, and it certainly doesn’t let us forget it! Blustery winds that chill through to your bones, iced up car windows, and snow days, this often means that the temperature outside has reached as low as 30 degrees or colder when wind chill is considered!

A large reason that we are able to live comfortably in this weather is because of a special appliance that is often tucked away in your house and not really considered on a daily basis: your furnace.

Furnaces consist of three major components: the burners, a draft inducer, and a heat exchanger. When you bump up your thermostat or it detects that the temperature of your house/building has dropped below its designated temperature, it send a signal to the furnace to ignite its burners.

After the burners are ignited, the draft inducer kicks into action, and sucks the hot gases from the burners towards the heat exchanger. A draft inducer looks similar to a cars turbocharger, and works in a similar manner also. While the hot gas is moved through the heat exchanger, the furnace also brings air from your house through the heat exchanger in order to warm it. If the draft inducer is dirty in any way, this could cause the unit from igniting or staying lit.

And there you have it! Now you understand the basics of how a furnace works. Always use a professional to carry out maintenance and repairs to keep it running at peak efficiency and safe for the whole family.

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Toxic Free Cleaning: Some Tips From Clarkdale

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Once upon a time, the goal of cleaning in Clarkdale was to remove dirt – plain and simple. We didn’t think twice about spraying bleach, ammonia or a dozen other chemicals onto every surface of our homes in an effort to destroy germs and ensure no one got sick.

But, times change and so too does our understanding of how safe toxic cleaners with bleach and ammonia really are. Today, a whole movement has developed around cleaning without chemical laden cleaners that make people sick and worsen indoor air quality. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best replacements available.

  • Soap – There are plenty of soaps without scents or chemical additives that are biodegradable and safe to use on eating surfaces. Look out for anything with petroleum bases, however.
  • Lemon – Lemon and other citric bases are fantastic for killing bacteria on eating surfaces and in bathrooms. Many organic cleaners these days use orange or lemon concentrates as an antibacterial.
  • Vinegar – Vinegar is fantastic for cutting grease and removing mildew or odors from surfaces. It can even dig into wax build ups and stains on clothing.
  • Alcohol – Isopropyl alcohol kills almost all forms of germs, bacteria and viruses. An alternative is 100% alcohol in a water solution (70/30) as some commercial alcohols have been linked to additional health problems.
  • Cornstarch – This works wonders for cleaning rugs and carpets, polishing furniture and cleaning windows.
  • Borax – Borax is an old brand and a simple solution of sodium borate, safe and effective for cleaning walls, floors, and surfaces in your kitchen.

There are a lot of other alternatives to chemically based cleaners that use mixed formulas. Some examples include:

  • Air Freshening – A mixture of baking soda and lemon juice works wonders for absorbing odors while grinding lemon slices in a garbage disposal will kill any unwanted sink odors.
  • Mold and Mildew – Hydrogen Peroxide mixed 1 part to 2 parts water is highly effective in removing mold and mildew from shower stalls, flooring and ceilings. Don’t use it just before showering, however.
  • Stains – Stains on your carpet can be removed with a mixture of water and vinegar while borax and vinegar work well for big time stains on the carpet.

The key is to know there are alternatives to chemically laden cleaners known to cause a wide variety of health problems, both during and after use. And it is important to remember that advanced air filtration systems and UV germicidal lights are another safe alternative that can keep your home healthy.

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Is My Home as Comfortable as It Could Be?

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

When it comes to indoor comfort, there are a surprising number of things you need to take into account. Of course, you need to have a good heating and cooling system in place so that you can easily maintain a comfortable indoor temperature all year round. But that really isn’t enough when you’re trying to create the optimal indoor environment. So what else do you need to consider?

Humidity 101

Well, for starters, it’s a good idea to check the humidity levels in your home. Improper humidity can lead to all sorts of problems, and it can also make it harder for your home heating and cooling systems to maintain a comfortable temperature. Air that’s too dry doesn’t hold heat as well as properly humidified air, so in the winter, your heating system will have to work harder to keep your family comfortable. Too little humidity can also dry out your skin and cause the symptoms of colds, allergies and asthma to last longer and be more severe.

On the other hand, if there is too much humidity in your home, you’re more likely to develop problems with mold and dust mites. And your home cooling system will have a harder time keeping you comfortable indoors. Luckily, there are plenty of great humidification and dehumidification systems on the market right now that can take care of all of these types of problems for you, and they’re definitely worth looking into if you’re concerned about the overall comfort level in your home.

Indoor Air Quality

Along these same lines, you should take the time to have your indoor air quality checked by a professional. Indoor air pollutants are a growing problem, particularly in newer homes that are sealed up tight against the elements. These seals prevent all of your temperature conditioned air from escaping and make your home more energy efficient, but they also lead to inadequate ventilation and a buildup of things like gasses, dust mites, bacteria, mold spores and pet dander in your indoor air.

These are obviously not the types of things you want to breathe on a regular basis, so it’s a good idea to invest in ventilation and an indoor air quality system that can bring in a steady supply of fresh air from outside and remove any harmful contaminants from the air circulating through your home.

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What Is a Load Calculation and Why Is It Important?

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

An integral part of designing and installing a heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system is the load calculation. Calculating the load of a room, home, or building essentially consists of determining how much heat is lost and gained within that area. A proper load calculation is critical to installing an appropriate HVAC system, as well as ensuring maximum efficiency or diagnosing problem areas of an existing system.

The Load Calculation Process

When conducting a load calculation for your home or office, a professional will consider several factors that can affect heat loss and gain. First among these is the construction of the building. This includes not only cubic footage, but also the type of material making up the walls, ceiling and floor, as well as any duct work. A professional performing a load calculation will examine the entire building envelope, including whether the walls are wood or masonry, if there are cathedral ceilings, what type of insulation is installed, and so on.

Secondly, load calculation takes into account doors and windows, as these can affect heat gain and loss. The number of doors and windows, as well as the size, shape and material of each one is included in the load calculation. This includes skylights and sliding glass doors, as well as the type of material shading any windows. A professional will look at pane thickness, number of panes in each window, if there are storm windows installed, any drafts in door installations, and even what kind of drapes are on the windows in order to accurately calculate load.

Additional Factors

There are other factors a professional must take into account, including appliances and occupants. Heavy appliances tend to give off heat, as does having a lot of people in a space, so these must be considered in order for an HVAC system to properly regulate temperature and airflow. Last but not least, of course, is the matter of desired temperature change. By how much do you want to raise and lower the temperature of your home or office?

Calculating load prior to installing a new HVAC system is a vital part of the process. It is also a good idea to perform a calculation with current systems, as it may reveal already existing inefficiencies or deficiencies. An inefficient HVAC system not only results in unsatisfactory heating and cooling, but also unnecessary cost due to wasted energy. As you can see load calculation is an elaborate and complex process, but it is necessary for a properly functioning HVAC system.

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