March 24th, 2011 by Ben Thompson
5 Tips to beat the heat in a poorly performing house:
1) Don’t forget to close your windows and shades in the morning to keep in the cold air trapped inside during the day.
2) Change your furnace filter monthly or as soon as the light passing through it is reduced by particulates.
3) Keep your AC Condenser clear of plant material, level, and raised up off the ground at least a few inches.
4) Cut the power at the breaker box and rinse the fins of the condenser when dirty.
5) Put a fan at the bottom of the stairs blowing cold air up to the next level.
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March 24th, 2011 by Ben Thompson
Today it is more than 90 degrees outside, and the funny thing about when it is this hot people get really grumpy. The message I have for you today is a bit counter-intuitive. A properly designed house could have intentionally been DESIGNED to not be comfortable on extreme weather days.
Here is why I am willing to be uncomfortable 10 days out of the year. It’s all about efficiency. Most of our cooling systems are drastically over-sized. What that means is the equipment kicks on and quickly returns our homes to our desired 70 degrees. Homes with over-sized equipment are often cold and clammy.
Cooling equipment is designed to cool and also remove humidity from the air. Moist air needs to be colder than dry air to feel comfortable. If you have visited the both Southwest and the Southeast regions of the United States you know the difference between dry and humid air. To remove humidity we want our air conditioning system to have longer running cycles.
When it’s time to upgrade your HVAC equipment do not get talked into larger equipment. It is more expensive up front, and the short cycling can cause it to break more frequently than properly sized equipment. Demand that guys like me make a scientific case for the things we specify into your home.
The path to both resource efficiency and comfort is to 1st change the energy load required to keep your home comfortable and then use the highest performing equipment you can afford [that is properly sized to your home]. I can help you walk down this path as far as you’d like to travel.
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March 22nd, 2011 by Ben Thompson
1. Change your air filter monthly in peak heating & cooling seasons. Restricted air flow is the #1 cause of HVAC service calls.
2. Only professionals should install an A/C unit.
3. Running the “Fan On” setting will help stabilize the temperature in your home.
4. If no A/C – open the windows in the early AM to pre-cool the house for the day.
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March 22nd, 2011 by Ben Thompson
1. Turn off the power at the electrical panel or remove the “key” fuse on the gray box outside.
2. Cut away anything growing over it that restricts air flow.
3. Rinse the radiator fins with a hose (dust, dirt, grass clippings, fuzz, leaves, reduce its ability to evaporate water efficiently).
4. Turn on the power.
5. Repeat seasonally.
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