Heating and Cooling Of Yesteryears

Do you wonder how people kept themselves warm or cool as the case may be in houses of yesteryears? No one can imagine themselves living in conditions with an air conditioner in summer and a furnace/heater in winter. The first thing that flashes through your mind is,How can I live inside my home when it is so hot or so cold? 

About a century ago, people were accustomed to living without heating and air conditioning units. There was no technology or the HVAC systems that we have and are taken for granted during these past few years. Electricity was also not available and yet, people lived comfortably and remained healthy. Houses were designed to keep cool in summer and warm in winter. To know about the way houses were designed and built hundreds of years ago, take a look at some of the essential features that were addressed by architects.

• Natural resources – For those who lived centuries ago, the absence of electricity did not pose a problem for keeping warm or cool during the changing seasons. Houses were naturally insulated thanks to the structure and materials used to build them. Every home had a fireplace which was religiously lit at dusk to keep warm. The fireplace would always have sufficient amount of logs that lasted the entire night. The warmth which was derived from the fire would be absorbed by the walls made of stones or bricks, which had strong energy retention capacity to keep the warmth inside and the cold out.  
• Structure – The structures of old houses speaks a lot about keeping the inhabitants comfortable indoors. The walls were very thick which prevented warm air from seeping out and the cold air from entering inside. Some homes had double walls for extra insulation and it was not an uncommon sight to see people building wooden walls inside and concrete walls outside. The double wall served as an excellent insulator for the home.
• Bricks – Walls that were built by bricks were thick and very large. Another interesting fact is that bricks take a long time to heat and also a long time to cool. That’s why, during winter months when the house is warmed, bricks can retain the heat without losing it too quickly. This of course functions the other way during summer when hot air is prevented from entering inside.
• Glass – Glasses were placed in homes all around the south side during the construction process. Sunlight enters the house from the south side so the rays would penetrate through the glass and warm the indoors. This is indirect heat energy from the radiation of the sun’s rays used to keep the house warm and cozy. Temperature inside slowly increases as the warmth of the sun’s rays moves indoors to every area. Drapes and thick curtains are also used to retain heat inside without losing it too quickly.
• Paint – The difference with painting your home with dark colors compared to that of light colors is that dark colors absorb heat more efficiently and quickly. Light colors reflect sunlight and thus cannot retain the heat from the sun’s rays. That’s why old houses are usually painted with dark colors so that the radiation from the sun is absorbed outdoors and the dark color of the paint locks the heat in.
• Heat retention methods – To reduce heat transfer indoors, windows play an important role. Cement filling was used to seal the gaps between the window frames to keep warm air inside and prevent cold air from seeping in. This helped in heat retention and decreased air flow between the outside and inside. Ancient History says that the Romans used advanced heat retention methods to keep warm. They used hypocausts which was an under floor heating method where floors were raised above the surface of the ground by pillars with a layer of tiles, a layer of concrete and then another layer of tiles on top. Spaces were then left between them so that smoke or hot air from the furnace would pass through these enclosed areas and then out through the roof. This ensured that there was no pollution in any interior areas of the house but only efficient heating.

Significance of maintaining the Air Conditioner during winter

The air conditioning is one of the most overused electronic gadgets in any household. Since it starts running from spring, the machine hardly gets any rest throughout the summer and is switched off only when winter approaches. Seldom people bother about its maintenance until an emergency situation arises. This is turn results in additional expenses and hassles too. Rather than waiting for an emergency to happen, it is advisable to take proper care of the air conditioner during winter so as to ensure its peak performance during the spring or summer months. If this explanation doesn’t sound motivating enough then discussed below are few reasons which should encourage you to maintain the AC unit in spite of the freezing weather.

Ø  Utilize the winter month to carry out a thorough inspection of the cooling unit

If last summer you were troubled with exorbitantly high electric bills, then utilize this resting period to take a close look at what is bugging your cooling unit. Is it because of accumulation of too much debris or a clogged filter which is causing the problem? Do you feel any component of the AC unit is damaged or rusted and hence causing over expenditure? Then it is time to give a call to the HVAC unit so that they can do a detailed inspection of the air conditioning system and suggest necessary measures.

Ø  Regular maintenance of the AC unit ensures prolonged life and round-the-year smooth performance

If you have invested thousands of dollars just a year back to purchase the new air conditioning unit, then it is natural that you would like to retain it for few more years and that too in perfect condition. By following a proper maintenance regime, it is possible to ensure a smooth and extended performance of the AC machine. In fact specialists suggest inspection and tuning of the cooling unit by an HVAC professional, at least once or twice in a year. So why not schedule the winter time for yearly inspection thus ensuring the AC runs uninterrupted during peak seasons!

Ø  Make sure that the air conditioning unit looks its best

While you just can’t avoid having an AC condenser which looks large and bulky, the best you can do to improve its look is by keeping it dirt and rust free. Clean and dry it thoroughly and then cover it up properly before the winter sets in. This way you not only protect the machine from extreme weather and critters but also make sure that the unit looks spotlessly clean when you uncover it to use.

Now that you know why you need to winterize the air conditioner, the next thing to decide is how to do so. While some basic cleaning acts or covering the AC unit can be performed at home, for specialized assistance you should get in touch with an Air Conditioning specialist. One good idea is to look for a certified service provider which has all-round expertise in installation and maintenance of cooling units.

How to winterize your home

It’s that time of year again. You have pulled out sweaters and mittens from your closet and cranked up the thermostat to increase warmth inside your home. But is your home properly winterized for the cold months ahead? The autumn season is a prelude to falling winter temperatures where the weather might snow, rain and have chilly winds blowing everywhere. Just for trivia’s sake, there is one place in the United States where outdoor temperatures never fall below zero. Have you guessed it? It’s none other than Hawaii!

If you live in any part of the United States, the fall equinox is the right time of year to start girding your home for winter. As temperatures begin to dip, proper planning and maintenance is required to keep your home in tip-top shape. 

Here are sure fire tips to help your home get cracking for Old Man Winter:

1.    Clean the gutters – The rule of thumb for proper drainage is that water should be at least ten feet away from the home. When the leaves starts falling and debris starts collecting, you need to clean out the gutters by removing them by a spatula, scraper or by hand. Then give it a good hose rinse so that all the snow can drain easily. Drains which are clogged will cause ice dams to form. This will in turn cause the water to back up, freeze and then seep indoors. When hosing the gutters, make sure that there are no misaligned pipes or leaks. Also make sure that water is carried away from the foundation through the downspouts, which will prevent water damage and flooding.

2.    Check the ducting system – A lot of homeowners don’t realize that they could be wasting a huge amount of energy and money while heating their house with improper ducting systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home will lose up to 60% of heated air before the conditioned air reaches the vents. This is because the ductwork might travel through unheated spaces or is not well-connected and insulated. Always check the basement, attic and crawlspaces to see if there are leaks, drafts and damaged pipes. Always remember to clean the ducting system every year with a vacuum to get rid of dust, mold, hair and microorganisms that can gather and cause indoor air pollution.

3.    Insulate the house – A way to save money in the long run is to insulate the house thoroughly. Regardless of the climate you live in, you need at least 12 inches of insulation in the attic. It’s not about measuring R values that determine the best possible insulation for your home but it’s about finding areas to seal and prevent the loss of heated or cooled air.

4.    Block leaks – Check for leaks both inside and outside the home. Not many people know that the average American home has leaks that measure up to a nine square foot hole in the wall when combined with all indoor spaces! First, find the leaks. Walk around the house holding an incense stick on a breezy day in drafty areas of home like electric outlets, window/door frames and of course the basement and attic. You can insulate by weather stripping and caulking windows and doors for starters. Put up storm windows to provide better warmth and comfort inside the house.

5.    Check the furnace/heating unit – It’s important to turn on the furnace or heating system and check to see if it functions well before the start of the winter. You can get a maintenance check done before hand to prevent unnecessary problems that could arise later. A HVAC expert will carry out a thorough check up of the furnace/heating system. You also need to get your filters cleaned out regularly or replace worn out ones.

6.    Check the chimney and fireplace – Most people think about cleaning the chimney during spring. This is a common myth and not true as it needs to be inspected and cleaned before use every year. You need a professional to undertake a Level 1 inspection to examine all the accessible portions of the chimney. You can buy a protective cap for your chimney to keep out foreign objects like birds and tennis balls. For the fireplace, make sure the damper is closed when not in use.

7.    Protect the pipes – Before Jack Frost sets his grip on the weather, you need to protect your pipes for the winter. A burst pipe is a real nightmare during the winter freeze, so you need to ensure that the water outlets are shut off and the pipelines drained thoroughly. For pipes that run through basements, garages and crawlspaces, cover them properly with fiber glass insulation or pre molded foam rubber sleeves. If you are worried that your pipe will freeze, wrap it with heating tape which basically is an electrical cord that gives off heat. 

Check your alarms – The smoke detectors should be checked for operation and batteries should also be replaced. Make sure that you replace the detectors every ten years. You can also do a test run inside your home with a little bit of smoke to see if it works. Also make sure that the fire extinguisher is close by for easy access. You can also invest in a carbon monoxide detector for the safety of your family. It’s mandatory that every home has one.

Curb Inefficient Heating and Cooling With Energy Audits

An inefficient heating and cooling system does not go unnoticed for any home as it will be uncomfortably hot during summer and cold and drafty during winter. There are also problems associated with excessive dust due to indoor air pollution, expensive energy bills, peeling paint on the walls and ice dams on the roof due to bad insulation. With hot and cold spots in various areas of your home, it definitely depicts inefficient heating and cooling systems. If you are always trying to set the right temperature on your thermostat for comfort or adjusting the air vents, then there may be improper airflow indoors.  

If you have improper airflow, it will definitely bring harm to the working life of your furnace and air conditioning systems in the long run and contribute to high energy costs. There are several areas that need to be addressed if your home has uneven heating and cooling:-

• Sizes of the HVAC unit – Many homeowners make the mistake of buying the wrong size heating and cooling units. Bigger units for small indoor areas and smaller units for larger indoor areas end up consuming more energy. This is because bigger units consume more energy and are not required for heating and cooling small indoor areas. Smaller units consume more energy because they need to yank up more power to heat and cool larger indoor areas. This will increase your utility bills and reduce the working life of your system. A large unit will also cause fluctuations in electricity supply for your home due to over capacity. You can ask a technician to run a check on your units and replace it if it’s not of the correct size.
• Speed motors – The motors in your unit could also be one more feature that contributes to improper heating or cooling. For better control of indoor airflow, check to see if it’s a variable speed motor. This kind of motor moves the air slowly through the system and provides even heating and cooling. Variable motors also aid in air filtration and moisture control for optimum working efficiency of the system
• Ductwork – Improperly sized ducts causes constriction in the air flow which provides imbalance in heating and cooling. Leakages and blocks in the ducts will also cause uneven conditioning of air. If your ducts are not of the proper size, they need to be replaced at the earliest. For proper airflow, blocks and leaks also need to be removed. You can get a professional HVAC contractor to fix all of the technical glitches in your heating and cooling systems. Only a professional can find out the underlying causes of the problem and take the necessary steps to rectify it.  

The advantages of an energy audit

To go one more step further for energy efficiency, undertake an energy audit of your entire home. Homeowners can determine where the home loses its energy efficiency and where maximum consumption takes place that causes expensive utility bills. An energy auditor is the right person to detect problem areas indoors and find a solution for it. Only a professional audit will help in determining the amount of energy that is used and evaluate techniques and processes to improve efficiency. State of the art equipments are used by energy auditors to carry out the inspection. Leaks in the building are measured by blower doors and missing insulation in hard to reveal areas like basements, attics and crawlspaces are detected by infrared cameras.

One of the biggest advantages of performing an energy audit is that it pushes homeowners into doing stuff they know they should have done long before.

What are the Advantages of Zone Heating over Central Heating?

Heating your entire house everyday may not be the best economic choice for your utility bills, particularly with the rooms that are used only during a certain part of the day, like bedrooms. Keeping them warm the whole day and using the room only at night is like literally throwing money into your furnace and burning it up.

Zone heating has a lot of advantages over Central heating systems simply because it saves homeowners an average of 20 to 30 percent on energy costs. This is because Central heating systems are designed to heat the entire house with the same temperature while a zone system heats only specific areas and saves on the rest. You can heat rooms that are used more during the day like your living room, kitchen and dining rooms and prevent usage of energy in bedrooms.

Every family has different comfort and lifestyle needs. You may have a home office that needs to be cooled or heated only during the day. Or, you may use the upstairs bedrooms only when you have guests over. This is when zoning will keep specific areas in your house at the perfect temperature so that everyone feels comfortable at all times. You can restrict airflow with dampers in unneeded areas indoors and save huge amounts of energy in return. This theory is simple to switching on and switching off a light bulb. You can use them when you need to and turn them off once you leave the room.

Also known as automatic balancing systems, zoning systems are the ultimate solution for comfort problems with lower energy costs. The system is designed to eliminate uncomfortable and annoying cold and hot spots in the house through the use of duct dampers and multiple thermostats serving a central HVAC unit. If you are planning to install a new HVAC unit in your home or office, consider adding the zone system to reduce utility costs and improve comfort levels.

Even for new homes, the zone system can be installed during construction. It offers the homeowner control over their heating and cooling any time of day or night. So the more zones, the more control you have over your heating and cooling. In today’s world with depleting fossil fuels and rising energy prices, it is very important that you are aware of how you heat and cool your home.  You can practice heating and cooling rooms that are used the most rather than trying to heat the whole house with the same temperature. An efficient way to do this would be to supplement your central heating system with multiple thermostats for every room indoors. This ensures a reduction in energy consumption. The zoning system segments each area of your house to be individually controlled by a multi-zone heating/cooling controller.

The advantaged of zoning systems over central heating are:

• Efficiency – Save hundreds of dollars every year in heating and cooling costs with a well designed zoning system.
• Control – Adjust comfort levels indoors with a zone system. It can divide the house into different areas to heat and cool at specific temperatures with a programmable thermostat.
• Comfort – Without affecting other indoor area, the zone system can meet the specific temperature and airflow requirements of one room.
• Quiet Performance – Operating at lower speeds and less noise, the zone system can deliver optimum levels of working efficiency coupled with peak performance.

Looking at its advantages, the zone system saves a significant amount of energy. Occupied areas indoors will have the perfect temperature setting while unused areas will save on energy. There is no problem of under usage or over usage of energy when there is a zone system in your home or office. It also possesses the added advantage of stretching the capacity of your HVAC unit. The zone system has proved time and again that it is a powerful energy and air management tool that can provide for increased comfort and energy savings.