Clean Air and Heart Health

      Seventy percent of U.S. households are affected by allergies or asthma. These folks are more susceptible to harmful particles and allergens from the air INSIDE their homes. In fact, up to 72 trillion allergens find their way into your home every day. Add to that, if these family members have heart issues, the problems caused by unclean air are compounded.

     The EPA states, that exposure to fine particles impairs breathing, and increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and other serious health problems. Particles like dust, smoke and bacteria are often .3 microns in size or less. At that size allergens can get deep into your lungs because they aren't filtered well by your nose and throat.
    Many experts tell us that there is often more allergens and contaminants inside our homes then there are outside. Why is that? Well, today's homes are built better, tighter, and insulated better then in decades past. Now, this is a good thing, but it is also a bad thing, in the sense it traps particles, off gases, pet dander and the like inside our homes. We rely on a little one inch pleated filter in our furnace, or in some cases a four inch filter to clean our air. These filters are okay if you don't have health issues related to unclean air. What is the answer for those of us allergy sufferer's?

     According to the 2007 Consumer Digest report, Trane 'CleanEffects" whole home air cleaner is the highest rated professionally installed electrostatic precipatator on the market. "CleanEffects" has been shown to capture 99.98% of all airborne allergens, down to .1 microns in size. It will even capture influenza virus like the swine flu.

So, the irritants like hair, pollen, mold spores, skin flakes, bacteria, dust, tobacco and cooking smoke are scrubbed from the air.
     As published in the BioMed Central Journal, an independent publishing house committed to providing access to peer-reviewed biomedical research, and as accepted and presented at the Indoor Air conference, Trane "CleanEffects" has been shown to reduce triggers for allergies and asthma, and can be an important part of your overall allergy and asthma management plan." For more HVAC summer home tips read my blogs at hvaccomfortguyjerry@blogspot.com or see our website at www.greensheating.com.

"Mini-Splits" Are Not A Small Banana Split!

     Now that I have your attention, I want to talk about electric ductless heat pumps and cooling systems. These are often called 'mini-splits' because there are actually two parts to the system. There is an outdoor unit or compressor, and a indoor unit that mounts on the wall that is the evaporator/fan blower. There is no duct work involved. The ductless heat pump can both, heat and cool your space. A cooling only option is available in ductless units also.

     In countries like Japan and China, upwards of 90% of homes use this kind of system, and have for decades. Central America uses them extensively in private homes and resorts. The U.S. Military uses them to cool the barracks and mess halls in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is just here in north America that we are slow to catch on to the idea.
     The most common question @comfortguyjerry gets regarding ductless heating and cooling is: "Will that one unit take care of my whole house?" The answer is, no. They are designed to provide comfort for a single space. That single space can be a 'great room', a bonus room or upstairs family room, room addition to a house, or a shop. It is also very effective for mobile or manufactured homes. I think you get the idea. To do an entire home would require additional outdoor units, and multiple indoor 'heads', depending on your needs and size of your home.
     You say, 'that sounds expnsive', and it can be, depending on what your needs are. The economy comes in during the monthly operation. They are so, so much more efficient, than traditional heating and cooling systems, and super high efficient central heating and cooling is expensive also. Ductless units are super quiet as well, being rated at just below a human whisper for many brands.

     Let me share with you what I mean by cost efficiency. In the Norhtwestern states of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. To heat with a wood stove will cost $24.31 to produce a million BTU. A propane furnace will cost $57.45, a natural gas high efficiency furnace (95% efficient) will cost $14.73. A ductless heat pump, aka, mini-split, costs only $8.20 to produce that same million BTU, and no pollution to the atmosphere. You do the math. They will pay for themselves in no time.
     Think of it this way. Why turn on every light in the house when you need to use the bathroom? That's what you do every time your furnace or A/C come on. With ductless you only heat or cool the rooms that you need to, or use. I am also convinced that Mitsubishi makes one of the best ductless units on the market today. So the next time you hear the word "mini-split", don't start to salivate for ice cream and banana's.
For more information go to my website at www.greensheating.com.

Spring Clean Your Ductwork Now

As spring starts to roll around the country, people start thinking about spring cleaning. Yes, I know in some parts of the East and Southeast they just got hit with big snow storms, but trust me, spring like weather will soon be here. Usually spring cleaning includes cleaning floors, windows, cob webs, cleaning out closets and pantries. We even start cleaning up our yards and flower beds. We guys think about cleaning out the garage. But the area we overlook the most and should clean every five years or so is our DUCT WORK. We don't think about that because it is out of sight, out of mind. I am adding some pictures of some pretty bad duct work that is not all that uncommon.

I had my duct work cleaned a few weeks ago, and its only my wife and I that live in the house so I was quite surprised at how bad it was..

My advice is to get this done by a professional heating and cooling company or a company that specializes in duct work cleaning. The most thorough cleaning is called 'negative air' cleaning. It will vacuum and brush out everything thats not suppose to be in your duct work. Trust me, you do not want to be breathing air that has blown across that filth. Dirty ducts contain, microbes, dust mites, pet dander and just plain old dirt. Don't forget to have your clothes dryer vent cleaned. It is reported that about 3000 fires a year in the U.S.A are from clogged dryer vents. If you or your family suffer from allergies you know the importance of a clean home and the effort it takes to keep it clean. So be sure to include duct cleaning in your spring cleaning and enjoy the fresh air. This blog from @comfortguyjerry. For more information check our website at www.greensheating.com.

Why Is A Matched System Important? Part 2

     In my first blog on this subject, we focused on matters of 'efficiency' in the system to help you get the 'most bang for the buck', as it were. Today I had a few other comments to hopefully round out my thoughts, and help provide more education on the subject.
     There are really a variety of reasons for purchasing a matched system, meaning a furnace, indoor coil, and outdoor condenser. One important reason is your comfort, and the comfort of your family. If your system is sized properly, then you will be able to control the precise amount of heating and cooling you need, and can relax about the operating cost. How perfect.
     What do we mean by properly sized? Sizing means that the dealer will do what is called a load calculation to determine the right size A/C, coil, and furnace, along with the right size blower motor on the furnace. The load calculation takes into account the size of the duct work, amount of insulation, size and number of windows, and there type. So as you can see the load calculation is to make sure your not purchasing too large of a system for your home and end up heating and cooling rooms that do not exist. Oversized or undersized equipment makes that equipment work harder, cycle more often, etc. I think you get the picture.

     Because the government has set the bar for air conditioner SEER ratings at a minimum of 13, and we are required by law to use the new R410-A refrigerant when we replace and A/C unit, we have to change out the indoor coil, or your new system won't work. Period! The United Homeowners Association, a Washington based consumer organization offers this advice:

                  "If your furnace, for example, is over 15 years of age, it's probably time to
                  boot it our the door....If your furnace's efficiency comes in somewhere
                  between 50%-75% you ought to begin investigating rebate offers for buy-
                  ing a high-efficiency new furnace as well."

Really good advice from a consumer group that is looking out for your interests, and not out to sell you something. HVAC equipment is still a good investment. People don't mind spending $20,000 for a new car that they will keep 7-10 years and only spend an hour a day in. So why balk at the idea of spending half of that amount to keep your home comfortable 15-20 years or MORE. You spend more time in your home then you do in your car, so you can appreciate the value of a new matched system. For more information contact @comfortguyjerry or check our website at www.greensheating.com.

Think 'Ductless' Heat Pump for Problem Homes

Here in the Treasure Valley of Idaho many home owners complain of rooms in their house that are too hot,  too cold, too often. Think about it. If you have a a two story home I can almost guarantee that you complain about that bonus/family room upstairs being too hot in the summer. Many have bedrooms upstairs, or master bedroom at the far side of the house and always seems cold in the winter. Or maybe you have put on a room addition, sun room, or decided to have a shop or craft room put in the garage and now you need it to be comfortable. What is the solution? @comfortguyjerry would highly recommend a ductless heat pump. They are a perfect solution. What is ductless? It is just that. No built in duct work like your present furnace and A/C use. Instead you have an outdoor compressor about the size of a large suitcase. From there they run all the copper lines, electrical, etc up the wall in a covered channel and drill a three inch hole in your wall for the lines to through to the indoor wall unit, which is the evaporative coil/fan. The wall unit usually is mounted up close to the ceiling. The fan runs at whisper quiet, and special technology uses electronic sensors to locate hot and cold areas of the room and adjust the variable speed compressor to make sure of even comfort. No blast of cold air like from a widow air condition and not hot radiant heat that you can't get to close to or you will roast.

The benefits are numerous! No duct work, real comfort.  Highly, highly efficient, and super quiet. Clean air to breath through a series of air filtration systems that give you clean air continuously. They provide both heat and cooling in one unit. There are several brands out there but @comfortguyjerry recommends Mitsubishi Ductless Heat Pumps for quality and durability.

Ductless units are being used in over 80% of homes in Japan, China and Europe already, and have been used for decades. For more information check these websites: www.mehvac.com or www.greensheating.com.

There Is A Difference!

Investing in a new Air Conditioner or complete heating and cooling system might compare to getting professional advice from your doctor when you have a major medical issue. GET A SECOND OPINION. Lets face it folks, heating and cooling systems are not getting any cheaper. And even if a company is trying to get you to buy 'right now' or because they bought a 'truck load' or 'business is slow', etc, it is smart to shop around and get other proposals that will compare apples to apples. @comfortguyjerry is here to tell you; there IS a difference between brands. Just check the Consumer Reports article in the May 2012 issue. That issue shows which brands of central air conditioners and central heat pumps that have the least repairs. Trane brand is one of the top three with the least repairs. So do your homework before you buy. Check out ratings and number of complaints for heating and cooling companies on the Better Business Bureau website. Don't get caught up with someone offering a 'free' furnace if you buy and air conditioner. We are smarter than that. There are no free rides. If someone was offering you a new Cadillac for half price, what would be the first thing you would say? You would say 'whats wrong with it?' Someone offering you a free furnace if you buy and air conditioner? Whats wrong with it?
There is also a strong correlation between number of repairs and the installation. I'm saying, even you buy quality equipment but have it incorrectly or poorly installed, your not going to get the efficiency you paid for and may have more repairs down the road. Personally I would rather justify the price than apologize later for the poor quality. Tweet me @comfortguyjerry. Like us on Facebook at Greens Heating and Air Conditioning or check our website www.greensheating.com.