AirHandlers – Page 5 – Air Handlers Inc.

Fall Comfort Time!

Fall is here! That means pumpkins, color changes in nature, and cool weather. If you haven’t already completed your maintenance check for the colder days to come, it should definitely be something you do.

We have some other tips for staying warm and increasing your energy efficiency:

BLOCK THE BREEZE:
A cool breeze can drop the temperature of a place by 30%. Use a sealant to cover up cracks, and block crevices on doors and windows to prevent the cold breeze from coming in. It will also help to avoid heat from escaping your home.

INSULATE:
Insulating walls and the ceiling using Building Insulation Materials is the best way to trap heat inside. Since hot air rises, ceilings should be properly insulated to make sure it doesn’t get absorbed by the cold temperature outside. Heat lasts for more than 14 hours in an overly insulated room, whereas, it’s 8 hours in an average room with concrete walls.

SITTING BY CANDLELIGHT:
Add ambiance to your home with candlelight. It’s a cheap yet great source of heat. Cooking is another way to warm the air in your home.

LET THE SUN:
Sunlight is one of the greatest sources of heat and light energy. You get most of it during the day. Open your curtains or blinds and allow the warmth of the sun to heat your home. Remove any obstacles that block your windows such as plants or any other items.

REDECORATE YOUR HOME WITH RUGS AND CARPETS!
Cold air is heavier than warm air, thus sinking to the bottom. That is why concrete or porcelain floors are cold to walk on. Adding rugs and carpets act as insulation and prevent heat loss from the floor.

A Special to Fall Into

It’s that time of year again! Leaves are going to start changing (if they haven’t already) and the weather will start to remain cooler. Are you ready? Air Handlers can help ensure your system is running smoothly and efficiently.

For a limited time, get up to $1,600 in rebates or low monthly financing when you finance a new system! Check our Specials page for more details.

The Benefits of Purified Air

How Do Indoor Air Purifiers Work?

Air purifiers use a system of internal fans to pull the air in your home through a series of filters that remove harmful airborne particles like dust, pollen, and bacteria. The air purifier then circulates the purified air back into the room. This process repeats itself several times an hour, keeping your environment healthy.

With this information in mind, an air purifier should sound like a solid plan, right? If not, here are some points to consider:

Air purifiers ensure you and your family are breathing clean air. The EPA estimates that indoor air is two to five times dirtier than outdoor air — and sometimes up to 100 times dirtier. A good air purifier circulates and cleans the air, keeping you healthy.

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Air purifiers remove unpleasant odors. You love to cook, but your weekly fish fry makes the house smell like, well, fish. Air purifiers don’t only clean the air, they also help get rid of unpleasant odors.

Air purifiers trap airborne allergens released by pets. You may love your pet, but your furry friend releases pet dander, fur, and other airborne allergens into the air in your home — not to mention the smells! Air purifiers help combat these allergens by trapping them before they settle into your home.

Air purifiers help neutralize smoke. Smoke stinks. Whether it’s a family member who smokes or your love for a roaring fireplace making your home smell dingy, an air purifier can help trap smoke before it ends up in your upholstery.

Air purifiers trap dust. There will always be dust. No matter what you do to keep your home clean, dust accumulates. An air purifier helps trap dust before it has the chance to settle, reducing build-up and leaving you with less to clean.

Air purifiers remove up to 99 percent of airborne bacteria. Small airborne particles like pollen, mold spores, and other bacteria float around in the air, causing your family to get sick. By cycling the air in the room repeatedly through internal filters, an air purifier helps remove up to 99 percent of these airborne pollutants.

Air purifiers combat seasonal allergens. Seasonal allergies are a problem for many people. Air purifiers help keep the allergens that make breathing uncomfortable out of your home.

Air purifiers stop sickness and germs from spreading. Worried about catching your children’s flu? Your spouse’s cold? True HEPA air purifiers with UV bulbs capture and neutralize up to 99.97 percent of the airborne germs that you want to avoid.

Air purifiers keep your lungs healthy. Consistent exposure to dust, pollen, dander, and other airborne particles can cause long-term breathing and health issues for you and your family. Using an air purifier in your home gives you the confidence that your lungs will be healthy for years to come.

Air purifiers fit everywhere. They come in a variety of sizes and have a variety of features that will keep the air healthy in any room of the house.

Some Summer Tips for your HVAC

Summer is here (in a way). While the extremely hot temperatures haven’t hit our area, what has come has been muggy some days. This increase in humidity might have some of you turning on your AC, even if only for a short time. Even without heavy usage, it’s still a good idea to practice these maintenance tips for your HVAC system.

Summer Thermostats

Summertime means schedule changes, especially for kids out of school for the summer or families planning to travel for vacation. Make sure to adjust your thermostat settings to account for your family’s new schedule and any vacations that occur. Examples include:

Later wake-up times in the morning, since there’s no bus to catch for kids
With family members home all day, adjust setbacks for more occupancy hours rather than a vacant home from 8am to 5pm
Summer sports and activities that keep you out of the home for periods of time
Later bedtimes

Improve Your Airflow

Good airflow through your air conditioner helps the system function efficiently and deliver better comfort throughout your living areas. These HVAC maintenance tips show you how to improve airflow through your cooling system this summer:

Change your air filter on a regular basis. In the summertime, filters often fill up with debris quicker than in the spring because the system runs more frequently. Check the filter each month to determine if a change is necessary.

Clean off the exterior air conditioner. Do this whenever you do lawn maintenance or cut grass. Grass clippings, mulch, leaves, and other outdoor debris can gather on your condensing unit and block the fins that allow heat to leave the system.

Clear the area around the outdoor unit. In addition to cleaning, make sure there are no plants or other items in the two feet of space immediately surrounding the unit. Prune shrubs and branches nearby and pull up vegetation that has grown around the unit’s base. Relocate outdoor storage away from your unit to eliminate any airflow obstructions.

Ensure vents are open and unblocked. Walk through your home and check every vent, register, and return air grille. All vent and register louvers should be set open. Move rugs, furniture, and other items away from the vents and grilles to allow air to freely circulate through the ducts, into your home, and back to the air conditioning system.

Fighting the Dust War

It’s the time of year when you may be starting to run your AC unit (or at least be making sure it’s ready for the hot days to come. If so, then you should also be making sure that you home is ready for your system to com on. One thing you should be considering is dust buildup.

Most of the time, dust may collect and you clean that spot. However, there are some places that aren’t dusted as often, such as the blades of a ceiling fan or the window blinds. These places can sometimes be tricky to clean, but don’t worry! We found some good tips for you at HGTV.com. These tips will help you get rid of the dust in these hard to handle areas and help keep your unit running smoothly.

Tips for Heating and Cooling Old Houses

Originally posted on HVAC.com

Old houses are notoriously challenging to heat and cool. Structural differences from modern homes make efficient heating and cooling difficult to achieve, but enjoying the history and beauty of an older home doesn’t have to mean paying an arm and a leg to stay comfortable! These HVAC options for old houses keep your interiors at the right temperatures throughout the year.

Best Way to Cool Old Houses

Many older houses were built long before air conditioning was standard in the home. Therefore, they lack the infrastructure (ductwork) needed to accommodate modern forced air cooling systems. Therefore, the traditional central air conditioning system is not always the best way to cool old houses.

Luckily, there are energy efficient solutions available that work well for an older home’s cooling needs. As a bonus, these systems provide heating as well!

High-Velocity HVAC Systems

Ductwork is most often nestled in the areas of the home we cannot see – if central heating and cooling wasn’t included when your home was first built, it may not have the space necessary to install unobtrusive ductwork to accommodate central HVAC. High-velocity systems use a dedicated HVAC unit connected to the mini-duct system to provide heating and cooling throughout the home.

High-velocity systems use mini-ducts, which are much smaller than standard ductwork, so they can be more easily incorporated into the home in many cases. Mini-ducts are approximately three inches in diameter. Because of their smaller size, they may be snaked over ceilings and through walls for installation. Their vents are small, creating less disruption in the interior aesthetics of the home.

Ductless Mini-Split HVAC

Another solution to the ductwork dilemma many older houses face is a ductless HVAC system. As the name suggests, these units do not require ductwork installation, making them a best way to cool old houses when ducts are not an option.

Ductless mini-split HVAC systems utilize an exterior heat pump connected to interior air handling units which directly distribute conditioned air to the living areas. One exterior unit can support a number of interior air handling units (the capacity depends on the model you select). The interior and exterior components are connected via a line set containing wiring and refrigerant piping, through a small hole in the exterior walls of the home.

Interior air handling units are mounted on the wall (either up high or down low) or can be installed within the ceiling of a room, controlled via a remote. A great benefit of ductless HVAC is the zoned heating and cooling they provide – each individual air handler can be controlled independently. Occupants can adjust temperatures just for the space in use, saving energy in unused areas of the home.

Best Way to Heat Old Houses

The cooling solutions mentioned above are also some of the best ways to heat old houses. Another option which may be appropriate for your older home is radiator heating. Many older homes have radiator heating systems in place, as this technology was quite common in the 18^th century.

Upgrading old, inefficient radiator heating components with new, high efficiency models provides an excellent solution for whole home heating in an older house. Your HVAC contractor can examine existing components to determine which upgrades are needed and if the old system is still usable. In many older systems, in-room radiator units are often in good condition and can be used with a new boiler to provide heating throughout the home.

New modulating-condensing boilers offer better efficiency for hot water radiator heating systems compared to older home heating boilers. These boilers heat only the amount of water needed to provide for the home’s heating needs, rather than heating all the water within the unit at once. This technology provides great energy conservation, drastically cutting energy bills as a best way to heat old houses.

Comfort Matters: Preparing Your Home For Spring

Article originally posted on Lennox.com

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the squirrels are chasing each other up and down the trees. With all this activity going on, it’s hard not to get excited about the arrival of spring. So if you’re feeling energized and enthusiastic about this bright and breezy season, why not seize the moment and get some spring cleaning and much needed seasonal home maintenance done!

Get the clutter gone.

Decluttering is a great way to rid your home of stuff you no longer want, need or value. The benefits of owning fewer things are manyfold and include: fewer things to clean, fewer dust traps, less stress, less to organize, and more free time to do the things you really want to do.

Decluttering also frees up space in your home, which makes spring cleaning even easier. And if decluttering the whole house in one go feels too daunting, then simply tackle it one day at a time. If you get rid of one item every day for a whole year, by the time you’ve finished the project, your home will be 365 items lighter.

And for the items you want to keep, why not consider new ways of storing them or keeping them tidy. There are plenty of home organizational tips and tricks available to help you get ideas. Sometimes, just reorganizing your home can help you maximize the space you have and minimize the hassle you experience every time you want to find or use something.

Clear and clean—inside and out.

The outside of your home has probably taken more of a beating from winter than the inside, so start there. Walk around your home and examine caulking around the outside of windows and doors, and open those windows and doors and examine the weather stripping. Replace old or cracking caulk and worn weather stripping, where necessary. Also, inspect the roof for broken or missing shingles or tiles, and clean out gutters and downspouts at the same time.

Remember to check the air conditioner unit.

And while you’re outside checking the house and tidying the yard, remember to also check the air conditioner unit to ensure it’s debris free and in good working order. In fact, springtime is an ideal time to get your air conditioner, and the rest of the HVAC system, cleaned, serviced and ready for summer. So contact your local Lennox® Dealer soon and schedule an HVAC maintenance check. Clean coils, ducts and filters help to ensure that the system works efficiently and effectively all year long.

Think about cleaning the air in your house, too.

Cleaning the windows is a great place to start your inside spring cleaning. With so much more light filling your home, it’s easier to see just how much cleaning needs to be done. From ceiling fans to carpets and curtains, and from bathroom tiles to the top of kitchen cabinets, once you start clearing away the dust of winter, it’s really hard to stop.

But here’s one thing you may not have considered during your spring-cleaning frenzy, how clean is your indoor air? Springtime, especially, means the release of a lot of pollen and mold spores into the air, which in turn can cause a lot of unpleasant allergy-related symptoms. Lennox has Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) solutions that can remove 99.9% of allergy-causing irritants from your home’s air, providing extremely effective allergy-season relief. So when you’re getting your HVAC system serviced, ask your Lennox Dealer about what type of IAQ solution would be right for your home. He can recommend solutions that will combat your exact IAQ problems. So even if you can’t change the season, at least you can change your home into a sneeze-free, cough-free, and itchy-eyes-and-runny-nose-free zone.

A Special Spring Special

Spring is going to be here before you know it. Will your system be ready for this change? If not, we have a special Spring special to share with you! Your home should be a comfortable place and deliver energy efficiency.

Curious yet? You could get rebates up to $1,700 on a new system or financing for as low as $116 per month! Check out our Specials page for more information.

A Special Special

Check out our latest special!

The perfect system should adapt to your life to deliver the ultimate in energy savings and precision temperature control. We agree.
And that’s why we’re proud to be a leading provider of innovative, home heating and cooling systems. Our high-efficiency, Lennox® residential air conditioners, furnaces and HVAC systems help maximize comfort while reducing utility costs. Plus, our Lennox air filters, humidifiers and dehumidifiers help create healthier and cleaner indoor environments. Call now and save with REBATES UP TO $1,250 OR 0% APR for 60 MONTHS with the purchase of qualifying equipment!

Check out our Specials page for more information.

Having Furnace Problems?

Winter has arrived and the holidays are starting to wrap up… not to mention that the new year is nearly here! In all this time of relaxing after the holidays and enjoying the warmth of your home, the last thing you need is for your furnace to quit. To prevent a situation that would leave you stressed and require expensive emergency services, we want to re-post a list of things to look out for to determine if your home furnace has a problem. We also provide some simple fixes you can try on your own for minor challenges. It should be stressed that if you suspect a major issue with your home furnace, you should get help from a qualified professional rather than going at it on your own.

Thermostat malfunctioning
Your thermostat is an integral part of the safety features of your home furnace. It shuts down the furnace when it exceeds the maximum temperature specified to conserve energy and prevent accidents. This operating temperature varies from furnace to furnace. Your thermostat may be malfunctioning if it continuously shuts down before it even reaches this specified temperature. This continuous shutdown can make your living area very uncomfortable, and a simple fix for this is to check the battery of the thermostat and replace it to get your furnace working at its optimum. The thermostat setting should also be reviewed to prevent inadequate heat production by the furnace or total shutdown.
Lack of maintenance
If you fail to maintain your furnace properly, you should not be surprised when it breaks down. To cut down costs which arise from a total breakdown, you should plan for annual tune-ups and maintenance by qualified professionals.

Faulty Filters
Filters are very essential, but often overlooked components of the furnace system. They are built to remove unwanted particles from the generated airflow. A build-up of dust and dirt over time leads to a clogged filter. During the process of dust and dirt by passing air through the vents, a clogged filter puts more pressure on the furnace. A clogged filter may even lead to a total shutdown of the furnace as the heat exchanger might stop working due to overheating caused by an over clogged filter.
If your environment generates a lot of dust and dirt, ensure that you change your filters regularly. Most furnace manufacturers specify between a month to three for a change of your filter. A filter change is essential if you have a child-friendly environment so that your air filter does not become an air pollutant.

Size issues
When your furnace does not heat enough, it may be a pointer to the fact that your furnace is the wrong size for the space provided. To solve this problem, get a professional to estimate your needs and help you determine which furnace system would be the perfect fit for the space provided. Ensure that you are guided by professional advice from picking a furnace up to its installation.

Gas
If your furnace is not starting up, a simple solution is to check the gas valve and carefully turn it o if it was turned off. If you suspect a gas leak, leave the affected area immediately and contact the fire service.

Vents and Pipes
In gas furnaces and high efficiency condensing furnaces, vents are very vital to maintain because they take emissions outside the building. Most times, these emissions are combustible, and it is essential that they are not covered to prevent fire outbreaks.
There is also the danger that the pipes leading to the vents will become clogged with ice leading to serious problems. To prevent clogging from ice, exhaust vent pipes need to be shortened. When the pipes are too long, a build-up of moisture might occur because the force pushing out the exhaust is not enough to go the length of the pipes. This makes it more likely for ice clogging when the exhaust finally reaches the outside.
To prevent these problems, ensure that the outside units are clear and clean before it becomes too cold. In screening pipes and vents you should use materials that will not inhibit the flow of exhaust.

Electric ignition
Furnaces come with an igniter which automatically lights up gas when switched on. If the furnace fails to light up, the usual suspect is the ignition wire which should be inspected. If the situation persists, you should turn off the igniter and reset it. If it is an electronic igniter, it is not wise to attempt to light it manually as it is a highly complex system which should not be tampered with.

Noise
Continuous rattling, screeching and other unwanted sounds are often early indicators of a more serious mechanical or electrical problem. These noises also arise due to wear and tear and a trip to a qualified professional would get all issues cleared up.
It is essential to be proactive as a home furnace owner and to deal with issues as soon as they arise to ensure that your furnace is always in good condition