10 Ways to Save Money and Energy - 4 Are HVAC Related

The following post was found on the businesswire.com website and refers to Florida Power and Light's 'Top 10 Tips to save you money':

Money-Saving Makeovers Help Families Conserve Energy and Dollars
JUNO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)JUNO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
April 18, 2007

• Cool your home at 78° or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82° or warmer when you're away from home.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings. It also helps to maintain a comfortable temperature when everyone wakes up or returns home.
• Clean or replace the a/c filter every month to trim cooling costs and help the unit run more efficiently.
• Adjust the water level on the washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer before every load. Use the auto sensor function (if there is one) to conserve energy by not over-drying the clothes...

"Handyman Show" Discusses Air Duct Cleaning

Truck Mounted Vacuums are the Best Method of This Television Handyman.

While both methods of air duct cleaning are better than doing nothing at all, truck mounted vacuums seems to out-weigh portable vacuums. More importantly though, check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if and how the company resolves complaints. Here is what a Local TV personality had to say regarding air duct cleaning:

Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The Detroit News

Glenn Haege: Ask Glenn

Dear Glenn : I really enjoy your weekly articles. Having read about dust mites in last Saturday's article, I want to ask what you think of the companies that clean furnace ductwork. I've seen them around for many years and wonder if they really help.

John, Westland

Dear John: I have recommended duct cleaning for at least 20 years.... I like duct cleaning using the large high-powered truck mounted vacuum systems....more

If you have a question, call the "Handyman Show" with Glenn Haege from noon- 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at (866) ASK GLENN. The show can be heard locally on WJR-AM (760) and more than 160 radio stations nationwide. To suggest a question for Haege's Wednesday "Ask Glenn" column at detnews.com, write: Ask Glenn, Master Handyman Press, P.O. Box 1498, Royal Oak, MI 48068-1498, or e-mail askglenn@masterhandyman. com.

Again, please don't get too hung-up on which vacuum is best cleaning air ducts. Do some research and determine which company has the best reputation, customer service and of course pricing.

Spring Time is Here - Maintaining Your A/C

A/C - Maintenance

Spring is right around the corner. Time to start thinking about getting your central air conditioner ready for the dog days of summer. Your home’s heating and cooling systems should give you many years of service with proper maintenance. Preventive maintenance will lower your energy costs, prevent costly repairs and prolong the life of your systems. Regular maintenance will ensure that your system is ready to heat and cool your home when needed. Most heating and cooling systems should be serviced once a year by a professional heating or cooling contractor. The professional contractor has the tools, instruments and training necessary to maintain your system for dependable, trouble-free operation. The contractor should inspect your systems, including the thermostat, the blower motor and fans the ducting as well as the AC condenser and evaporator units, the furnace gas connections and heat exchanger and complete necessary maintenance tasks and adjust the entire system for optimal performance.

Here are some things that you can do.

Filters :Inspect air filters and clean or replace as necessary.

Registers : Reduce dust in your home by vacuuming heat registers and the cold air return as part of your regular cleaning.

Ducts: Examine exposed supply ducts for gaps or leaks allowing heated air to escape. Look for gaps and run your hand along exposed supply ducts with the blower running to feel for escaping air. Seal any leaks with duct tape.

Listen : Listen to your condenser, evaporator and furnace when they are running. If you hear unusual noises, follow the appliance manual’s directions or consult with your professional heating contractor.

Obstructions : Remove any objects or debris that may have fallen through the registers. Remove any drapes, furniture or other objects blocking registers, interrupting airflow and lowering your system’s efficiency.

Condensate Removal

One of the most inconvenient and costly home repairs - ceiling/floor damage is due to evaporator coil condensate overflow. It is preventable.

Each unit has a primary drain to handle the amazing amount of moisture an evaporator coil can produce (up to 50 gallons on a very hot, very humid day!). If the primary drain line becomes clogged the drain pan under the evaporator coil and it’s attached drain secondary drain line are supposed to handle the water – often they do not, resulting in costly and unsightly ceiling and floor damages.

If you have upper floor or attic mounted evaporator coils (they’re the ones inside your house – the condenser is the one on the outside) make sure you check the drain lines and drain pans. The auxiliary drain needs to have a separate drain line! Too often, I see the auxiliary drain line tied into the main drain line. The drain line for the auxiliary drain pan really needs to terminate at a conspicuous area. Over a door or window would do best. When you see moisture dripping from the auxiliary drain line, go check the drain pan under the evaporator. If it has water in it - the primary drain line is clogged and you should call a professional.

To kill fungus, prevent organic build up and keep your primary drain running smoothly, pour one cup of a 50/50 solution of bleach and water into the opening at the condensate drain line where it leaves the evaporator coil. Doing this in the spring and fall will also help prevent condensate from backing up and flooding.

Make sure the drain pan opening to the secondary drain line (usually white PVC) is not clogged with organic material, insulation or other debris. If the line is visible make sure it has a downhill slope to the outside (they are often jostled about or stepped on in the attic).

HVAC systems, like cars, will run better and last longer with proper care and maintenance. But not many of us really know what to do to maintain them. Most of us have lots of questions like “How often should I change my filters? If I use a media filter (the special, big, expensive 4” thick ones) should I also use the disposable ones in return air chases?” etc., etc. HVAC-Talk (Click Here) is a really good place to go for information. Click on “HVAC Forum” to get free information, advice and suggestions from HVAC pros.

John Harashinski

On The Level Home Inspections

Internet Specials on Furnace, A/C and Air Duct Installation

Residential Heating and Air, also known as CleanMyFurnace.com is now offering special "internet only pricing" on new furnace and a/c installation. CleanMyFurnace.com has been installing furnaces and air conditioning HVAC systems across the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area for over 15 years.

Although the website name; CleanMyFurnace.com implies furnace and air duct cleaning, they have actually been a full service HVAC company from the start. Now, CleanMyFurnace.com is offering "Internet Only Pricing" on new furnace and air conditioning installation.

Money Saving Tips During the Summer Heat Wave

Here are some great tips for saving money this summer which I found on The Motley Fool website:

Get Ready for the Heat Wave

By Dayana Yochim

April 10, 2007

Your pale legs may not yet be ready for prime time, but make no mistake -- summer's coming, and a lot of consumers are starting to sweat the accompanying AC bills.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average family shells out $1,500 annually for utilities. Air conditioning can account for as much as 70% of summer energy costs. To put this in everyday context, let's hear from Mr. Electricity: He says that running central AC for 12 hours a day for three weeks uses more energy than leaving the refrigerator door open 24 hours a day for an entire year. (I'm not willing to sacrifice my Fudgesicle stash to fact-check that theory.) While that may be good for electric utility companies like Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) and Sempra (NYSE: SRE), it'll put a major dent in your pocketbook if you're not careful.

Pre-season drill
To twist a timeless cliche: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of sweat. Small things (like changing the filter and cleaning the coil) can reduce your unit's original efficiency anywhere from 5% to 20% each year. Here are some tips that will help you beat the heat wave and keep your (financial) cool this summer:

Get audited: Many utility companies perform energy audits for free or a small fee. They'll identify trouble spots and make remedy recommendations.

Get a regular HVAC physical: Regular maintenance (which you're going to schedule right now, right?) will prevent a minor HVAC problem from turning into a major one.

During an annual checkup, your heating/cooling pro can also look for buildup on the outdoor AC and heating coils and clean them. Ask them how to check and clean the indoor coil, too. Because the coil is moist during summertime, it attracts a lot of dust. According to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), dirt buildup on the indoor coil is the most common cause of poor efficiency.

Keep your coolant: A system that's 10% low on coolant (also called freon or the "refrigerant charge") costs about 20% more to operate than a system that's fully loaded, says the ACCA. (Leave the topping off to the pros, since freon is a hazardous substance.) Additionally, low freon can cause the compressor to overheat and die early. That can result in a big-ticket repair bill if you have to replace the compressor or condensing unit.

Go with the flow: All AC operation manuals recommend cleaning or replacing your air filter about once a month. (Easier said than done in my place, where doing so requires moving a bookcase. Is that bad feng shui?) Most filters cost less than a cappuccino, and a clean one can lower your AC's energy suck by 5% to 15%.

Keep a lid on it: Grandma was right about drafts being dangerous. Worn-out (or nonexistent) weatherproofing can result in serious air leaks that can contribute to more than one-third of cooling costs. (Looks like plastic sheeting and duct tape are handy to have around.) About 30% of the heat in your house is absorbed through the roof. Vents and attic fans can help keep things circulating and prevent your bills from going through the ... well, you get it.

Do planetary good and save big: Switching to a high-efficiency air conditioner (see energystar.gov for more), though costly, will probably put the most money back in your pocket over time. According to the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), a homeowner replacing a 10-year-old unit could improve energy efficiency by as much as 55% by upgrading to a system with a more efficient SEER. Not only that, but the karmic bonus points are immeasurable. Two-thirds of all homes have AC, releasing about 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air each year. (That's two tons for each home with an air conditioner.)

If you need more incentive to replace that old unit with a more environmentally friendly one, Uncle Sam's got it: He offers tax credits -- up to $500 per home -- for certain energy-efficient improvements. In addition, some states offer rebates on the cost of purchasing energy-efficient units. For more, visit the Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) website.

More ways to make and save money during heat waves:

• Make Money From Mother Nature
• 50 Simple Tips for Big Savings
• Go Green, Save Money

And, finally, beware of the cost of cool (metaphorically speaking, that is).

Dayana Yochim keeps her cool in the D.C. heat by drinking plenty of fluids, using a defrizzing hair balm, and programming her thermostat. She offers all sorts of cool money tips (at least $450 worth every month) over at the Motley Fool Green Light service. Take a 30-day free trial and come hang out with the cool kids counting their cash. Duke Energy is an Income Investor pick. Dayana doesn't own any of the companies in this story. The Fool has a disclosure policy.

Click here if you would like to see examples of a dirty a-coil. This a-coil isn't even that dirty!

Air Conditioning Service Contracts

I found this article on MyWestTexas.com and thought it was very pertinent to air duct cleaning. The author, Trish Powell of the BBB, explains that while this is the time of year to get your air conditioner tuned-up and inspected - BEWARE of service contracts.

Here is a link to her article: http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18177043&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475590&rfi=6

Do You Have Mold in Your Air Ducts?

I just found this article about mold and thought I would share it with all of you. While it is from New York and is not specifically about air duct cleaning I thought it was very relevant to our industry.


Facts About Mold
by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

What is mold?
•Mold (mildew), mushrooms, and yeast are all types of fungi. Fungi are found both indoors and outdoors.
•Hundreds of different kinds of mold are commonly found in the United States and New York City.

How do I know it's mold?
•Mold can be many different colors. It may look furry, slimy, or powdery.
•Some mold has a musty, stale, or earthy odor.
•Mold usually grows in damp places, such as bathrooms and basements.

How does mold grow?
•Mold needs water and food. It can grow almost anywhere there is water, high humidity, or damp conditions.
•Mold grows faster in warm temperatures and high humidity.
•Mold can feed on paper, fabric, wallpaper glue, sheetrock, wood, soap scum, leather, and many other surfaces.

How are people exposed to mold?
•You can breathe in mold particles if mold is disturbed or damaged.
•You can also breathe in tiny spores (similar to seeds) that mold may release into the air.
•You can touch mold and get it on your skin.
•You can swallow mold if you eat moldy or spoiled food.

What are the health effects of mold?
•Some people are allergic to molds.
•Mold exposure may cause or worsen asthma symptoms, hay fever, or other allergies.
•The most common symptoms of mold exposure are cough, congestion, runny nose, and trouble breathing. Symptoms usually disappear after the mold contamination is removed.
•More severe reactions to mold may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of mold on the job, such as farmers working with moldy hay.

Should I see a doctor if I have been exposed to mold?
•If you think that you or your children have symptoms related to mold exposure, you should see a doctor. Keep in mind that many symptoms associated with mold exposure are also caused by many other illnesses.

How can mold be prevented?
•The best way is to remove water and moisture sources. Fixing leaks, drying damp areas, and removing humidity from the air (e.g., using a dehumidifier in basements; cracking a window while taking a shower in bathrooms with no exhaust ventilation) will help stop mold growth and keep it from coming back.

How can I safely clean mold in my home?
•Use soap and water to clean small areas of mold (less than 10 square feet) on walls or other hard surfaces as soon as you see it.
•Wear waterproof gloves.
•Dry the cleaned area completely.
•If the mold returns quickly or spreads, there may be an underlying problem such as a water leak. To stop mold, water problems must be fixed.
•If large areas of mold are present, you may need a professional mold
abatement company. Check the phone book for mold abatement contractors.

What does my landlord have to do?
•Your landlord and building manager must keep your building in good condition so mold will not grow. This means repairing water leaks and correcting persistently high humidity levels.
•If you have a lot of mold (more than 10 square feet) or it keeps coming back after you have cleaned it, ask your landlord to fix the problem.
•If the problem isn't fixed, call 311.

More Information:
For those seeking to learn more about mold, the EPA offers a free online course at: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/index.html