Taking Care of Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal is a great piece of plumbing technology. It makes cleaning up after cooking or a meal a lot simpler. But garbage disposals do need some maintenance to continue to function well. And if you do this maintenance on a regular basis, you probably won't have to call for expensive repairs to your garbage disposal later. Here are some great tips on garbage disposal care from Resolve Rooter:

TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL: A GUIDE FROM CLINTON

The garbage disposal is one of those innovations that we generally take for granted in Clinton, but was probably absolutely amazing to the guy who first saw one in action. The convenience of having a whirring blade just below your sink to pulverize food into pipe-friendly paste is pretty incredible.

However, because we sometimes take disposals for granted, we forget to take care of them properly. Disposals don’t ask for much, just a little attention now and then to keep them performing at their peak. There are some pretty simple maintenance tasks you can do periodically to keep your disposal happy:

When using the disposal, be sure to run water down the drain and leave it running for 15 to 20 seconds after you turn the disposal off.

The smaller the pieces going down the disposal, the better. Those blades may be powerful, but they can still sputter and stall against a formidable foe.

Grease, corn husks, potatoes and anything made of paper or plastic are not suitable for the disposal or plumbing in your home. Throw them away instead.

To subdue unpleasant odors, throw some lemon peels down the disposal.

To clean your disposal and remove mineral deposits, pour in a cup of vinegar and let it sit for about an hour, then flush with hot water.

Never use bleach or other chemicals to clean your garbage disposal, as it can damage the machinery.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Wood and Pellet Stoves

Are you looking for a new way to heat your home this winter? A wood or pellet stove is one cozy option. There are some questions that you should ask before you get one installed in your house. Is it legal in your area? Do you want it as a supplemental heating source or as a primary? And what size is right for your home? To help you answer these questions, Energy Savers helps us yet again with an excellent article:

Today you can choose from a new generation of wood- and pellet-burning appliances that are cleaner burning, more efficient, and powerful enough to heat many average-sized, modern homes. It's also important to use a properly sized appliance for the space to be heated. When an appliance is too big, residents tend to burn fires at a low smolder to avoid overheating, which wastes fuel and is one of the biggest causes of air pollution. A reputable dealer should talk with you about size requirements, but a good rule-of-thumb is that a stove rated at 60,000 British Thermal Units (Btu) can heat a 2,000 square foot home, while a stove rated at 42,000 Btu can heat a 1,300 square foot space.

Wood-burning appliances and fireplaces may emit large quantities of air pollutants. Wood smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, organic gases, and particulate matter, many of which have adverse health effects. In many urban and rural areas, smoke from wood burning is a major contributor to air pollution. Because of this, some municipalities restrict wood heating appliance use when the local air quality reaches unacceptable levels. Others restrict or ban the installation of wood-burning appliances in new construction. Before installing a wood-burning system, you should contact your local building codes department, state energy office, or state environmental agency about wood-burning regulations that may apply in your area.

If you have an older wood-burning appliance, consider upgrading to one of the newer appliances certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They include a catalytic combustor that allows combustion gases to burn at lower temperatures, thereby cleaning the exhaust gas while generating more heat. All woodstoves sold today should bear an EPA certification sticker. High-efficiency appliances not only have lower emissions but they are also often safer, since complete combustion helps to prevent a buildup of flammable chimney deposits called creosote.

For the full article, click here to see it on their website.

Green Your Home's Heating

When you are trying to make your own more green, you should think of you HVAC system first. There are many things you can do to make your heating system use less energy, from sealing your house to geting mroe energy efficient equipment. One family in Roxbury, MA is taking it to an extreme by trying to do without heat in the winter. Here is the article from Boston.com:

At a time when most people are contemplating whether to give in and turn up the thermostat, Simon Hare and his family are embarking on a bold experiment in green living: a winter with no heat.

Their modest, two-story cottage in Roxbury will be warmed by the sun, the body heat of Hare, his wife Damiana, and his 16-month-old daughter Lulu, and even the heat thrown off by its energy-efficient appliances. The airtight, well-insulated house is part of a small but growing movement to design and build extremely green dwellings by rethinking what is essential in a house.

“You make it really efficient; you design your house to do your work for you,’’ Hare said. “On a February day of 6 degrees, if it’s getting cool, we can heat the house by making a second batch of pancakes for my daughter.’’

As world leaders prepare to negotiate a new climate change agreement in Copenhagen in December, some homeowners are taking matters into their own hands, building structures that show just how far it is possible to shrink a house’s carbon footprint. While many green buildings are built from scratch on lots ideally situated for sunlight, a growing number of builders and designers are, like Hare, working with existing buildings, and studying the best ways to integrate green building techniques to densely populated, built-out urban areas like Boston.

Hare - owner of a small design and build firm called Placetailor - had hoped to save the original building, a gunsmith’s cottage from 1850, but the structure was too damaged. Instead, he salvaged portions of the chimney and some of the timber, and built his 750-square-foot house in the same footprint.

Hare has yet to spend winter in his new abode, but based on preliminary data and his own calculations, he believes the house will stay around 63 degrees. That’s a level he and his wife are comfortable with, in part because the temperature will be constant with no drafts. The house project is a match for Hare’s ideals. He travels to jobs on a bike, not by company truck, and took his own house as the first project, both to demonstrate these techniques to future clients and to provide for his family.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Heat Pump Systems

If you live in a moderate climate, you might have heard of people talking about heat pumps. Heat pumps are a great technology that are easy to install and can help keep your home comfortable. To learn more, check out this article on Energy Savers that explains how they work:

For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space into a warm, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house; during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they consume.

The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30%–40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates, although there are systems that can overcome that problem.

 Click here to read the full article.

Easy Ways To Winterize Your Home

Keeping out the cold is not just about turning up the heat. You can also do a few simple things to your house to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. An example is a draft snake, which can be as simple as a rolled up towel, placed in front of a door can help prevent air from blowing in. Another thing you can do is put plastic over your windows to add another layer of air insulation, or insulate your pipes to keep the water hot. All of these things will keep you house warm and save you money on your energy bills. For more great tips, check out this slideshow on The Daily Green: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/winterize-home-tips-energy-461008 .

Controlling Indoor Air Quality in Schools

For years, we have heard tale of the risks that indoor air pollution can bring to our families, but what about our children when in school? After all, with indoor pollutant levels usually 5 times higher than outside pollutants, and 55 million children and adults inside elementary and secondary schools for 180 days a year, the risk of pollutants can be quite high.

Fortunately, in most states, laws are being adapted to ensure the chronically low indoor air quality of schools is fixed. In 1995, for example, the EPA estimated that as many as half of the nation’s public schools had indoor air quality problems. Today, that estimate is much lower, but there are still problems to be fixed and illnesses left unexplained. Moreover, there is a very real cost benefit to improving indoor air quality in schools. Preventative maintenance and cleaning can severely reduce the cost of eventual repairs and liabilities if the situation gets out of hand.

Managing Indoor Air Quality in Schools

The first step for many schools is to determine what problems need to be fixed. School districts are recommended to hire someone to coordinate indoor air quality systems with on-site follow-ups. A full evaluation should be completed to determine if there are any specific risks to be aware of, including:
• Asbestos in the insulation of classrooms, pipes or wiring in the school.
• Lead paint, solder, or pipes in older buildings.
• Proper ventilation in each room of the school.
• Proper cleaning and maintenance of ductwork.
• Frequent testing for potential dangers like mold, radon, and exhaust fumes.

Most schools built in the last 15-20 years comply with modern EPA recommendations but because the majority of public schools are much older, some of them 50 or more years old, the risk of indoor air pollutants existing in the building materials is high. So too is the risk of poor ventilation, contaminants getting in through poorly sealed walls and windows and much more.

Teachers and parents should pay particularly close attention to the health of students and watch for unexplained symptoms. If multiple students show signs of respiratory distress, it may be an indoor air quality issue and should be inspected immediately. Combined with the ongoing efforts of schools districts and legislatures, the air quality in our schools should only continue to improve.

Save Money with Better Windows

Everyone likes their windows, which bring light and beautiful views into your home. But unfortunately, they can also can account for 10 to 25 percent of your heating bill. This especially true if you have single-pane windows, it might be time to upgrade to double-pane. the US department of energy also suggests that: "You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Remember, the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration." They have a bunch of great tips, check out their website to learn more.

Ways to Keep Your Heating Bill Down

As we gear up for fall, it is important to understand ways to save money on your heating bills. We all have to stay warm this winter, but we do not have to go broke doing it! There are lots of things you can do, from setting your thermostat a few degrees lower to sealing any air leaks in your house. An article on MSN suggests you, "Learn to love socks. If your feet are cold, your whole body will feel cold, so make a point of wearing socks around the house in the winter. The next step if you’re still feeling cold: Bundle up in a sweater or a blanket rather than cranking up the heat." To read more of their suggestions for keeping your heating bills down, check out the full list.

How To Fix a Drain

Your drains are an important but often overlooked part of your home's upkeep. They are easy not to think about...until something goes wrong. But there are a few warning signs you can look for and a few simple maintenance tasks that you can perform to keep those drains in great shape. Here is a guide from Milani Plumbing about drain maintenance and repair:

How to Fix a Slow Drain: A Tip From Delta

Ever fill up a bathroom bowl or kitchen sink  in your Delta home with water and then wait forever for the water to drain? A clogged drain can take forever to free up and is often the source of frustration and a loss of precious time as you get ready for work or play.

The solutions to fixing a slow drain can be very simple or complex, requiring a little patience or expertise to a major service or repair bill. Let’s hope the solution is the former and not the latter. And here are some suggestions.

If your bathroom sink is draining slowly, remove the stopper and inspect it for any “cling-ons” – namely hair. One of the most common clogs can be hair wrapped around the shaft of the stopper. Remove the hair, replace the stopper, run some hot water and check to see how quickly the water drains down. If that simple fix doesn’t work, dig a little deeper.

Hair can be tangled in the flange or the horizontal rod and clip, further down the pipe. You may need to dig out the hair or debris with a long object like a screwdriver or wire hanger. Don’t bring out the “big guns” like a snake or auger if something simpler will do the trick.

Once the debris is cleared, you may even want to use a small hand plunger to force air down the pipe and remove any other residual debris that may be slowing down the water flow. These steps should clear up the problem. A liquid or granulated drainer cleaner may also break up the clog. Running hot water can do the trick, too.

If these solutions don’t work, a slow drain could be the result of a more serious problem. At that point you may want to use a snake on the problem or call a professional plumber to fix it.

If your kitchen sink drains slowly, the problem could be a build-up of food or grease in the pipes. Once again, using a plunger or chemical drain cleaner may solve the problem. But don’t discount the fact that something may be blocking the pipes, like a piece of bone or a child’s small toy (if you have a mischievous toddler). A visual check of the problem might be the simple solution to the slow drain “mystery.”

If you are at your wit’s end and the water drainage continues to be a problem, call a professional plumber.

Heating News

Here is an article from the Stanford Advocate about proposals to limit the heating aid to low-income families:

Concerns are mounting over Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposal to address a reduction in low income federal heating assistance by restricting payments to oil customers only, shutting out electric and gas users.

It remains to be seen if the governor's fellow Democrats in the General Assembly, critical of past Republican efforts to tighten eligibility requirements, will insist on maintaining higher benefit levels even if it means the cash-strapped state somehow foots the bill.

"This is why we have hearings -- to get ideas together and get experts to testify and figure out what we should do," said Sen. Anthony Musto, D-Trumbull, chairman of the Human Services Committee.

Every year in the late summer the governor submits a proposal to the Human Services, Energy and Appropriations committees and to the Low Income Energy Advisory Board to divvy up Connecticut's share of federal heating aid dollars.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama recommended a major reduction to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, leaving Connecticut officials, who spent more than $115 million in federal dollars last winter, with an estimated budget of less than $50 million for 2011-12.

The Malloy administration last week unveiled a proposal to focus the dollars on homes heated by oil and propane deliveries. Officials reason that state law prevents electric and gas suppliers from shutting off delinquent customers between Nov. 1 and May 1, but fuel oil customers who rely on deliveries do not enjoy that protection.

"The administration's plan is a realistic approach in view of the deep cuts expected in federal funding," said Roderick Bremby, Malloy's social services commissioner. "These families and individuals are most at risk of freezing this winter."

But that approach, others argue, has serious consequences.

"I think there's substance to the (governor's) rationale you're able to keep more people heated during the season," said Rep. Bruce Morris, D-Norwalk, a Human Services Committee vice chairman. "My concern would be those who have electric heat and are not covered during this period of time will be in greater debt in the spring."

Brenda Kelley, director of AARP Connecticut, said senior citizens in particular will be affected by the eligibility limits.

"Even if they have shut off protection, that's not how our members think," Kelley said. "What they'll see is a looming bill at the end of the year." She said some seniors will keep their heat too low or forgo medication and food to pay for it.

Patricia Wrice is director of Operation Fuel Inc., a Bloomfield-based safety net for individuals who do not qualify for LIHEAP. Wrice, who also sits on the Low Income Energy Advisory Board, said there is no way Operation Fuel, which is mostly privately funded, has the resources to make up for the loss of aid to electric and gas users.

"We're an emergency program," Wrice said.

Former Rep. Steve Fontana, D-North Haven, who lost his re-election bid last November, is a former Energy Committee chairman. Fontana said ex-Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell a few years ago offered a proposal similar to Malloy's, shifting LIHEAP funds from electric and gas users to heating oil consumers.

"It's an understandable approach but overly simplistic and overlooks the fact our heating assistance has been based on need and income and not fuel source," Fontana said. "You're saying we're going to distinctly disadvantage one large population of people ... in favor of another. In the past we rejected that notion."

Democrats on the three legislative committees usually have opted to avoid major eligibility changes to LIHEAP, instead promising to use future surplus money or budget cuts to cover shortfalls. And Washington lawmakers have come through and released more heating aid than anticipated.

But, Ben Barnes, Malloy's budget director, said this year's LIHEAP cut is so steep that if the same benefit levels are maintained, the state will run out by November, in part because oil prices are anticipated to reach $4 a gallon.

"We'd have to stop giving out assistance," Barnes said. "We have to be realistic with the resources we have today."

Considering the current mood in Congress, Wrice said, Connecticut might even get less than the anticipated $50 million. She said lawmakers should be proactive and put some state revenues on the table now, while the weather is warm.

Though Malloy inherited a $3 billion-plus deficit when he took office in January, the state comptroller this month reported a $236.9 million surplus. However, that money has been committed to paying future retiree health care and 2009 borrowing obligations.

Barnes said even if state lawmakers somehow found the money now to provide more heating aid, it would undermine ongoing efforts to lobby Washington to come up with additional LIHEAP funds for the winter.

"We have more limited resources than the federal government," Barnes said.

Staff Writer Brian Lockhart can be reached at brian.lockhart@scni.com.

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Malloy-takes-heat-on-energy-assistance-plan-2177193.php#ixzz1YOonkasN

Have Fun this Fall!

Fall is in the air this morning in the Northeast, and it is nearly the weekend! If you can, get outside this weekend and start some of the great fall activities that your kids love. And even if it is still warm where you are, you can do many of these things and just be a little warmer doing them! Here is a great list from FamilyFun.com with some great suggestions:

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I just love the crisp air and watching the leaves change. I'd like to encourage my kids to appreciate fall with some fun activities. Do you have any suggestions?

Heading out into nature is a great way to soak up this colorful season and enjoy the outdoors before cold weather sets in. A walk in the woods, fields or even a city park, gives kids an opportunity to witness the changing landscape up close. It's also a great way to come together after a busy school and work week.

You don't need special equipment for an afternoon jaunt--just some jackets, water and snacks. Kids may also enjoy bringing along autumn journals and crayons for recording observations and making leaf rubbings, and small paper bags for storing treasures found along the path. Once home, kids can use these finds as craft materials. They can create lasting impressions with faux fossils and clay coasters, make whimsical stick hats or use gathered leaves to print colorful autumn place mats.

A trip to a local apple orchard is another fun outdoor activity and offers families a chance to participate in the fall harvest. Most orchards usually open the first weekend after Labor Day (call ahead to find out about picking conditions and the availability of apples). Some farms also offer horse-drawn wagon rides, making the excursion a real adventure for kids. Pack a picnic and you can make a day of it. Don't fret if your family's picking enthusiasm results in a bumper crop of fruit--an abundance of apples means there will be plenty to spare for craft projects. Cut apples in half to create an apple-stamp bag, dry a few for funny-faced apple dolls and sour puss puppets or carve a set of candleholders. Just be sure to save enough to make an easy and delicious apple pie and some homemade applesauce. Wrap any unused fruit in newspaper and store in a cool, dry place.

Of course, if you have a yard full of deciduous trees and a yard full of leaves that need raking there are plenty of ways to play away an autumn day at home:

• Walk a leafy labyrinth. When leaves cover the lawn, rake a twisting pathway through them. Copy a classic maze for extra credit.

• Find a lollipop. Hide a wrapped lollipop under a leaf pile. The first one to find it keeps it.

• Stuff a scarecrow. Break out an old shirt and overalls and stuff until firm. Complete with a pumpkin head.

• Make a sun catcher. Using a low setting, iron a leaf between two pieces of waxed paper with a sheet of plain paper on top. Hang in a sunny window.

• Preserve a leaf. Bring a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part glycerin (available in most pharmacies) to a boil in a saucepan (adults only). Pour the solution into a heat-proof container. Drop in a few brightly-colored leaves and gently submerge with a wooden spoon. Keep the container in a cool, dark place until there is a slight change in the leaves' tints. Then remove them and blot dry with a paper towel. Instead of turning brown and crumbly, the leaves will retain their brilliant hues.

• Play name that leaf. Go out into the neighborhood or local park and have players collect five unusual leaves. Back home, try to identify the trees they came from using guidebooks.

• Rake them into a huge pile and jump in!

Is Your Yard Ready?

Football has started, the kids are back at school, and summer is officially over. Is your house ready for winter? Even if you have done the typically things to get your house ready for fall, like have your furnace inspected and checking your house for leaks, you might have forgotten that your lawn needs maintenance too.  A little work this fall and it will be all ready for next spring, you won't regret any of the effort you put in. Here is a great article from ELA on a few things you should take care of in your yard:

Just because the weather is turning cooler doesn’t mean your work outside is done! Here are a few things you need to do to get your yard ready for fall, and ensure a great lawn and garden next year, too.

Fall is nearly here. You can smell it, feel the crispness of the air in the early mornings, see the beginnings of leaves changing color and the end of the rapid, lush growth of spring and summer. For many people, this is a favorite time of year, when the weather starts to get cooler but hasn’t yet gotten cold and wet.

Just because the most rapid part of the growing season is over doesn’t mean your work outside is done, however! There is a lot left to do if you want to properly prepare your yard for fall and, eventually, winter. Here are a few things that still need to be done.

• Check all landscape lights and other outdoor lighting. All of your outdoor lighting should be checked both spring and fall to make sure it’s in good working order and won’t be susceptible to moisture damage, especially in the wet winter months. Replace bulbs as needed, and be sure that your wiring is in good shape and well protected from the elements.
• Fertilize, aerate, and seed your lawn. Many people assume that just because the days are cooler and the flowers are no longer blooming, the time to do yard maintenance is over. Actually, the opposite is true. Fertilizing and aerating your lawn in the fall helps it to recover after the scorching heat of summer. Seeding in the fall also helps to fill in bare patches, because the grass can grow undisturbed by weeds.
• Mow to 2 or 2 1/2 inches, as needed. You will also need to continue mowing your lawn throughout the fall, until the grass totally stops growing. Between 2 and 2 1/2 inches is a good length. Long grass plus snow for a roof makes a perfect home for mice, so keeping your lawn short will help prevent animals from tearing it up during the winter!

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is an important thing to keep in mind when thinking about home maintenance. You can't see the air in your house so it is easy to overlook. But clean air is important for your health, and it will also help your HVAc equipment run more efficiently. Here are some easy tips from The Clean Act Air on how to maintain good indoor air quality.

There are a lot of reasons to clean your Canby house. Guests, children, pets, simple peace of mind – without the right amount of cleaning, a messy house can quickly get out of control. But, don’t forget the health benefits of removing excess dust and sediment from your home with regular cleaning. Of course, air cleaners are one solution, but there are other ways you can help improve your air quality. To ensure your indoor air quality stays good, here are a few basic cleaning tips you can implement right away.

Regular Vacuuming  – Most people vacuum occasionally when it’s obvious that carpets are getting a little messy. Consider increasing the frequency of your vacuuming to at least 3-4 times per week, possibly more, especially if you have pets. Regular vacuuming removes a lot of the airborne particles that can get into your lungs and cause allergies or asthma flare ups.

Remove Junk from Floor Spaces – Toys, garbage, clothes, and other random junk sitting on the floor can create air quality problems, especially if they are near or around vents.

Bathe and Brush Pets – Pet dander is a top contributor to indoor air quality problems. Bathe and brush your pets once a week to reduce hair loss and get rid of all that excess dander that builds up over time. Consider it an investment in the cleanliness of your home.

Shoes Outside – Shoes bring in pollen and other outdoor pollutants. Take them off outside and you will reduce the number of contaminants that make it inside.

Remove Moisture from Bathrooms – Bathroom moisture results in mold growth and the development of other allergens. Wipe down the walls of your shower and mop the floor daily to remove excess moisture after showers.

Food Waste – Throw away food waste immediately. Food in the sink or garbage can attracts bacteria and bugs and can result in mold growth very quickly. Consider a compost bucket or pile outside where food waste can be disposed or purchase a garbage disposal to get rid of it immediately after eating.

There are dozens more little things you can do that will reduce the amount of allergens and pollutants that build up in and around your home. Consider creating a simple calendar schedule you can follow from day to day to keep your indoor environment clean and healthy.

Are You Thinking Of Upgrading?

Is it time to upgrade your heating and cooling system?  Your HVAC System is a big part of utilities bill, and an upgrade might save you a lot of money in the long run. But where do you start? What are things you should look out for? Here is a great guide from the US Small Business Administration:

Heating and Cooling System Tips:

For commercial facilities, request an ACCA Manual N, and for home businesses request a Manual J, evaluation of your facility's heating and cooling loads before purchasing any major heating or cooling system. By following these guidelines you will receive a system that is sized appropriately for your facility.

Consider implementing efforts to reduce heating and cooling load before selecting equipment.

NEVER OVERSIZE! Avoid over sizing equipment at all costs. Over sizing equipment increases the capital cost at the time of the installation and the costs of operation of the equipment. Request that your HVAC professional conduct an Air Conditioning Contractors of America's (ACCA) Manual N Commercial Load Calculation to ensure proper sizing.

When selecting a new cooling system, have your HVAC professional provide you a quote and specifications for a standard-efficiency and high-efficiency unit including lifecycle costs. If the lifecycle cost is less on the high-efficiency unit, purchase it.

When purchasing Room Air Conditioners or Light Commercial heating and cooling units, select those units that are ENERGY STAR qualified.

Consider energy recovery ventilation systems to reclaim waste energy from the exhaust air stream and use it to condition the incoming fresh air.

In humid climates, consult your HVAC professional about supplemental dehumidification. By controlling humidity at your facility, you can increase occupant comfort and allow for further downsizing of equipment.

Consider specifying economizers. Often available at a low incremental cost, these units draw in fresh air from the outside when the temperature outside is lower than the temperature inside.

Install programmable thermostats and use automated settings to achieve savings.

At a minimum, specify National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) premium motors on HVAC equipment, and consider specifying variable speed drives (VSD) on condenser and evaporator fans.

In dry climates, consider evaporative coolers. These coolers use the evaporation of water to cool spaces, eliminating the need for energy intensive compressors.

For facilities that have heat-generating processes such as cooking, or onsite distributed generation equipment, consider heat recovery as a way to capture free waste heat and use it to offset facility heating and cooling costs.

For areas such as warehouses and garages, consider installing radiant heating. Radiant heating warms objects instead of the air, and requires less fuel. Radiant heat is also useful for warming exterior areas that require heating, such as patios and waiting areas.

Many buildings are impacted by what goes on inside the building just as much as (and sometimes even more than) the weather conditions outside. That is why it is important to properly size equipment and consider the use of a demand controlled ventilation system  coupled with economizers to meet the internal loads of the building, e.g., commercial kitchens, computer data centers, etc.nK

Garbage Disposal Care

Garbage disposals are a very convenient piece of plumbing equipment to own. They dispose of food quickly and easily, making cleaning up after a meal a breeze. But they do need some maintenance and care to continue to work properly for years to come. We found some great care tips from eLocal Plumbers about how to keep your garbage disposal running.

Garbage disposals are an extremely useful household tool. However, it is also an appliance we often take for granted. Sometimes we don’t realize the damage we’re causing it when we throw “everything and the kitchen sink” into it. Follow these guidelines to prolong the life of your garbage disposal.

• Never, ever put your hand in the garbage disposal to remove a clog. Always use tongs.

• Use plenty of cold water while running it to preserve the blades and allow for smooth disposal. Do not use hot water, for this can cause grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing clogs.

• Never overload your disposal. Cut larger items into smaller pieces and put them into the garbage disposal one at a time.

Keep your garbage disposal clean. Here are some useful methods:

o Pour a little dish soap and let the disposal run for a minute with cold water

o Run it regularly! Infrequent use can cause rust and corrosion

o Grind citrus peels, such as lemons, to help eliminate foul smells

o Grind certain hard foods like egg shells or small fruit pits to clean disposal’s walls

Never put the following items down your garbage disposal:

o Animal bones

o Glass, plastic, metal, or paper

o Anything combustible

o Animal fat, grease, or cooking oil. These solidify in cold pipes and cause clogs.

o Fibrous foods like corn husks or celery stalks. These can tangle and jam the motor.

o Potato peels. The starch turns into a thick paste and makes the blades stick.

o Expandable foods such as pasta and rice. They can expand in pipes and cause clogs.

o Coffee grounds. They accumulate in drains and pipes.

o Harsh chemicals, such as bleach or drain cleaners.

How to Maintain Your Room Humidifiers

In the heart of the driest months of winter, a lack of humidity can make your home incredibly uncomfortable. For those who cannot install a full home humidifier, a single room unit may be what you need to stay comfortable, without dry and cracking skin. But, like all appliances, a room humidifier needs to be properly cared for or you risk having significantly worse problems such as mildew and mold in your home.

Using a Room Humidifier

Remember that a humidifier is essentially a closed container filled with water. If you leave that container with water alone, without it running for days at a time, there is a very good chance that mildew or mold will start to grow. Most humidifier manufacturers recommend throwing out the water after 2 days if you haven’t used up the tank. To avoid this happening, make sure the unit you buy is the right size for your room. A 10 or 20 gallon humidifier will take days to empty for a 200 square foot room, and the risk of mold growth will increase dramatically.

Your humidifier should have a filter as well. This filter often doesn’t need to be changed very often – usually just once every 2-3 months depending on how many months you use it. However, if the humidifier frequently has a mildew problem, the filter should be checked and possible changed during cleaning. If mildew gets into the filter, you won’t be able to remove it and the result could simply put more pollutants into the air.

If something starts to grow in your humidifier’s tank, avoid using chemicals that leave residues behind. Bleach can evaporate just as easily as water and enter the air for you to breathe. Luckily, there are plenty of natural cleaners like vinegar or lemon juice that will remove mildew from the inside of a humidifier and not cause any future indoor air quality problems.

Be Mindful of Your System

A well maintained room humidifier will be the one thing that keeps you and your family comfortable through the worst the winter dryness has to offer. However, make sure you follow a regular maintenance schedule for your humidifier, draining it at least once a week and checking it daily for any signs of growth. It does you no good to make your home comfortable if that comfort translates to illness.

How To Calculate Duct Size

The ducts are the hidden part that makes your central air conditioning and heating system work. They allow the hot or cold air to circulate all over your house, keeping it a comfortable temperature. If you are thinking about having a central system installed, you should know a little about how duct size is calculated before you make your final decision. Here is a great article from Omega Heating and Air on how to calculate duct size:

Duct sizing is a complex process using one of three methodologies. The goal of duct sizing is to provide the perfect space through which heated and cooled air can travel around your Chamblee home. Ducts should provide ample air flow to keep you comfortable without overworking your HVAC system or costing you an arm and a leg on your energy bill.

Methods Used for Sizing

There are three methods used for most modern duct sizing. The first is the Velocity Method. The velocity method takes into account the speed at which air flows through the ducts based on their general size. A series of equations is used to determine this, including duct cross sectional area, air flow rate and air speed. A much more detailed breakdown is available on the EngineeringToolbox.com for those interested in the math behind the process.

In general though, the velocity method allows contractors to determine the appropriate size and layout of ducts based on their application (residential, commercial, industrial or high speed) and their position (main or branch ducts).

Contractors may also use the Constant Pressure Loss and Static Pressure Recovery methods to design ductwork for your HVAC system. The constant pressure loss method tends to result in more components but provides a more accurate reading of the actual pressure loss in the system based on the materials used and the layout of your ductwork.

Static pressure recovery focuses on ensuring the same pressure level is achieved at all vents and inlets for the system. It is probably the most complicated sizing method, however, so it is rarely used for residential installations.

Simplifying the Process

Were we to break down the process into its core components, this is what a contractor would do when sizing your duct work:

Determine CFM for Each Room – using the Manual J for load calculations, they would determine the CFM. This is based on the (Room Load/House Load) x Equipment CFM. The entire house must be measured and load calculations completed before this can be done.

Friction Loss Rate – Friction loss rate is the (Available Static Pressure x100 / Effective Length).

Duct Sizing – Finally, the contractor will use a chart or software to select ductwork based on the friction loss and CFM calculated in the first two steps.

The goal of all of this math is to ensure that the system installed is exactly as large as is necessary to distribute heated or cooled air to the entire house. Incorrect measurements result in improper delivery of that air and a system that doesn’t quite get the job done.

Preparing your House For Fall

Fall is coming up soon, and it is time to start thinking about getting your house ready. There are many maintenance tasks that need to be performed to make sure your house is prepared for the cold. We found a great guide from About.com on things you should take care of this fall.

The fall Equinox is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.

Autumn is invariably a prelude to falling winter temperatures, regardless of where you live. It might rain or snow or, as David Letterman says, "Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees." Did you know there is only one state in the United States where the temperatures have never dipped below zero? Give up? It's Hawaii.

Here are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter:

1) Furnace Inspection

Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.

Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.

Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.

If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.

Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready

Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.

If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.

Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.

Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.

Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.

Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.

Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.

If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.

Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.

Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.

Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.

Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.

Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment

Drain gas from lawnmowers.

Service or tune-up snow blowers.

Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.

Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.

Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

6) Check Foundations

Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.

Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.

Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.

Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.

Secure crawlspace entrances.

7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.

Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.

Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.

Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes

Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.

Drain all garden hoses.

Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.

Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.

If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces

Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.

Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.

Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.

Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.

Don't automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.

Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

10) Prepare an Emergency Kit

Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.

Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.

Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.

Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.

Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

Maintenance Checklist

As it starts to cool down this fall, you should really be thinking about winter maintenance. Labor Day symbolized the end of summer, and now the cold will start to come. We found a great checklist on the Energy Star's website on some things you should get looked at this fall:

Maintenance Checklist

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.

Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.

Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific

Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself

Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

Winter Maintenace

As Labor Day approaches, it is time to start thinking about getting your house ready for winter. And as everyone knows, annual maintenance on your HVAC equipment is a big part of that. You don't want your boiler breaking down in the middle of winter! Here are some great maintenance tips from Air National Tampa:

Key Components for Annual Maintenance of Your HVAC System: A Guide From Aripeka

Annual service checkups are an important component of your Aripeka home HVAC system’s ongoing operation. Without these checkups, the system may not run properly when the hottest days of the summer are upon you. While there are some tasks you can perform yourself, most of the vital maintenance tasks need to be performed by a professional annually.

As you look for a contractor to perform your annual maintenance, make sure you find someone who will perform each of the most important tasks listed below for your system each year:

• Electrical Connections – These should be tightened, tested and replaced as necessary.

• Thermostat – A professional thermostat calibration ensures the system runs at the right temperature throughout the summer.

• Control Panel – The control panel is checked for error codes and recalibrated to ensure it continues running as intended for another year.

• Blower Parts – The fan and motor are checked and serviced as needed. Replacement parts are installed.

• Condenser Coils and Evaporator – Both are cleaned and checked for signs of wear. Any bent coils are repaired.

• Gas Connections – An inspection of your gas lines, if applicable, is made. Additionally, if you have electrical components, they will be checked for damage.

• Exchanger and Combustion Components – If you have a packaged system, these are checked for the entire system.

• Refrigerant Check – If you have a refrigerant filled air conditioning system, it will be checked to ensure levels are high enough for another summer.

• Air Filters – While you can do this yourself each month, a professional will check permanent and replaceable filters for wear and tear.

• Moving Parts – All moving parts are inspected, oiled, and checked for damage. If a part needs replacement it is done now to avoid future problems.

Good annual maintenance is necessary to keep your system running smoothly year round. While there are plenty of cleaning tasks you can perform each month, the most important tasks are those performed by your contractor.

If you are interested in learning more about how maintenance will be performed on your system, call your local contractor today.

Common Furnace Problems

As the fall starts to approach, it is time to start thinking about your heating. Though modern furnaces should require nothing more than your turning on the heat, sometimes they can break. Two questions come to mind: should you fix it yourself? Or should you call a professional? To make that decision, it is good to know about the common problems that furnaces have. Here is a great list from doityourself.com:

Modern furnaces are designed to be as maintenance free as possible but furnace problems still occur occasionally.

No Heat
(1) Check that the thermostat is working by turning it up a few degrees to see if the furnace kicks in.
(2) If it does you may need to either adjust the thermostat settings or clean out the air filters.
(3) Check that the pilot light has not blown out if the fuel is not igniting.
(4) If the furnace has electronic ignition the burners may need adjusting and this is best done by a professional.

Not Enough Heat
(5) Clean or change the air filters.
(6) If the burners still don’t provide enough heat they need adjusting by a professional

Furnace Turns on and off too Frequently
(7) Clean the air filters and check the thermostat settings.
(8) Make sure the blower motor is working efficiently and that the fan belt is not slipping.

Noisy Furnace
(9) Make sure the blower motor is running smoothly and that the fan belt is not slipping (that could cause a squealing sound).
(10) If the noise is a rumble caused by the way the fuel is being burned, the burners need adjusting by a professional.

Smell of Gas
(11) If you have a gas furnace and you can smell gas this is definitely time to turn off the furnace, evacuate the house, and call in a professional. Never try to find and cure a gas leak for yourself.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/furnace-problems-11-common-solutions#b#ixzz1WhXZ0hYI