Tag: heating

In any building, the exterior environmental conditions determine the primary rate of energy consumption that is necessary to maintain a cool indoor environment. In Arizona, the extreme highs of outdoor temperatures typically place a great demand on home air conditioning equipment. Understanding how your home cooling unit functions under load bearing conditions can greatly increase your ability to monitor energy efficiency.

Cooling load sources make up the most complex component of Arizona home energy consumption. According to recent census figures, approximately 80 percent of Arizona houses are constructed in the following four desert cities:

* Kingman, AZ

* Phoenix, AZ

* Tucson, AZ

* And Yuma, AZ.

In general, the homes are designed for a dry environment with intense sunshine, yet even the best methods of home construction cannot fully counter the typical Arizona heat wave. Local homes usually use a stucco exterior and tile roofing materials. Most are constructed without a basement. Such homes, built on ground-level slabs, tend to provide better cooling efficiency.

Yet energy efficient cooling is an on-going process. By controlling the cooling load associated with the following areas of your home, you can reduce excess heat, unnecessary energy consumption expenses and air conditioning repair and maintenance requirements.

Start with the windows:

Assuming that your windows are air tight, use additional shading to reduce the cooling load. Thermal insulating properties are good during the winter, but offer little value toward a reduced cooling load. By applying window glaze, blinds or external overhangs, you can see a major improvement in your air conditioning performance. But don’t go cheap. Remember, Arizona can experience some powerful windstorms. Build the overhangs to last.

Investigate the air conditioning ducts:

If your home is built on a slab, the air conditioning ducts will be run in the attic. Hot attics and leaky duct work make unnecessary cooling loads. You can’t relocate the ducts, but fixing the leaks is definitely doable. Leaky ductwork creates two complications:

1) They waste cool air

2) They create additional indoor/outdoor air infiltration, which often raises the relative indoor moisture rate as well as increasing the cooling load on your air conditioning equipment.

If your home does have a basement or a crawlspace, this does not mean that a leaky duct system can be ignored. Check it. Fix it. If necessary call an Arizona air conditioning repair center.

Add insulation to the walls and ceilings:

In general, Arizona homes are well crafted and the walls and ceilings are adequately insulated. The associated cooling load is typically rather small. However, additional insulation can be relatively inexpensive and the long-term benefits can make the cost worthwhile. Don’t let small change bleed over into extended energy waste that could result in your home needing the services of an Arizona air conditioning replacement expert.

Little Adjustments and Corrections Make Big Differences

Some cooling corrective processes require professional help. Others can be accomplished by able-bodied homeowners. Every situation is unique, but every situation is worth taking time to seek and correct the things that are hindering the performance ratio of your home air conditioning system.

Poor Indoor Air Quality – A Nationwide Problem Correctable By Standard Air Conditioning Equipment

The quality of indoor air concerns every homeowner. Indoor air hazards affect your health, your lifestyle and the cost of home air conditioning. Dealing with the likes of airborne biologicals, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead content, molds, smoke, radon and other hazardous breathing components requires careful monitoring of indoor air filtration systems and air conditioning efficiency.

So Much Time Indoors and So Little Thought To the Consequences

Most U.S. citizens spend more time indoors than outdoors. Office, factory and even warehouse workers move from one sealed environment to the next. With so many warning about the risks involved in too much exposure to sunlight, smog and other outdoor hazards, many people never stop to consider the quality of air within their own home.

Throughout the nation, some families endure indoor air of lower quality than the surrounding outdoor air. Strange as it may sound, the efficiency of modern homes promotes the problem. Houses are now constructed tighter, with increased energy-efficiency in windows and doors, better insulation properties and purposeful air recycling equipment. The very assets that are designed to enable more efficient home air conditioning can actually lead to lower quality indoor air.

Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality and a Need For Advanced Air Filtration and Air Conditioning Control

Addressing the hazards relating to poor indoor air quality can be simple or complex. Some problems are easily resolved by simple air conditioning maintenance programs. Other problems may require specialized equipment, authorized professional disposal of contaminated materials or even temporary off-site living quarters.

Here are some signs that may indicate your need to investigate the quality of your indoor air supply:

* Odors – Be on guard for persistent and unusual odors, stale or stuffy air.

* Air Flow – Pay attention to long-lasting slacks in air movement throughout the home.

* Air Conditioning Equipment – Clean your home heating and cooling units. Repair faulty central air conditioning equipment.

* Excessive Condensation – An oversized cooling system permit too much condensation in the home air supply.

* Excessive humidity – This condition typically accompanies too much condensation.

* Molds – Never permit mold to linger in your home. When you see it, clean it up. If it persist, locate and eliminate the cause.

* Flues and Chimneys – Perform a yearly checkup on your home’s flue pipes and/or chimneys. Correct any damage. Remove any clogs.

* Home Construction – If your home is equipped with air-tight windows and doors, be careful with any heating system that generates fumes, consumes oxygen or emits carbon dioxide.

* General Health – Pay attention to your own health. When symptoms of illness seem to alleviate when away from home, poor indoor air quality may be the cause of your health problems.

* Remodeling – Weatherizing your home, installing new furniture or remodeling may introduce various changes into your home environment. Pay attention to any associated health changes. Remodeling may generate an increase in dust and other allergy causing components. Better window seals may capture air contaminates that have previously been dispersed without consequences.

* New Hobbies – New indoor activities can introduce glues, paints and other health affecting airborne components.

Solutions

Every component of indoor air pollution has a different method of resolution. For remodeling issues, practice pollution containment. For molds and mildews, apply better air conditioning control or in some events call in professional mold handlers. For situations pertaining to indoor hobbies, practice general awareness of cause and effect.

In general, analyze each unique situation and react appropriately. If you need help, call in a professional indoor air quality service person.