February Articles

February 2004 Articles

These are condensed versions of the Radio Program

02/04/04

People always ask us, “What is the best type of fuel to use to heat my home? What type of system should I use?” A lot of factors are involved. Factors are the cost and availability of the fuel or energy source; the type of appliance used to convert energy to heat; how the heat is distributed (ductwork, fans), the cost to purchase, install, and maintain the heating appliance and more. One fairly simple way to evaluate your options is to compare the cost of the fuel. You have to know how much heat you get for how much energy money you spend. You also have to know the efficiency by which that energy is converted to heat. As an example, we’ll use a 97% efficient gas or electric furnace. That is high-efficiency for that type of equipment. If you pay for 1 watt of energy, they’ll convert that to nearly 1 watt of heat. So, let’s say that’s 1 to 1. An all-electric air source heat pump is up to 400 percent efficient. If we just use 200% for our purposes here, it would cost you less than half as much to run the heat pump as it did the gas or electric furnace. The weather, thermostat setting, and more will affect the efficiency of the heat pump, and that’s why we’re just using 200% efficiency here. We use as our source here information from the U.S. Department of Energy website. The choice of your heating system is a personal one. You must be comfortable in your home and be comfortable with the cost of operation. You must be satisfied that it will last as long as you need it and that it was properly sized and installed. We are proud to say that Quality Service goes out of our way to make sure you are satisfied in all these matters when we install your equipment. If you have any questions about your indoor comfort or air quality, please contact us. Our phone number is 635-3452, or visit our website at www.qualityserviceinc.com. We also want you to check out our weekly Saturday morning radio show on WTRB at 10.

02/11/04

Duct system questions today! What is the duct system? Simply, the duct system in your home is a collection of tubes that distribute heated or cooled air to the various rooms. Your house is actually part of it and the duct system has a very serious role in the cost and effectiveness of your home comfort equipment. What else does it have an effect on? It affects the health of everyone in the home through the possible distribution of allergens and pollutants throughout your house. What does the duct system consist of? It is a branching network of round or rectangular tubes usually constructed of sheet metal, fiberglass board, or a wire and plastic composite called “flex”. The best choice by far is metal. It’s located under the floors, over the ceiling, and sometimes in the walls. You usually see only the outlets which is a vent covered with grillwork. The system has both supply and return ducts and a fan that moves the conditioned air into supply ducts going to the rooms. Where does the fan inside get the air it’s forcing through the ducts? Many people think it comes from outside. It does not. The air ideally comes from the “return” air openings that should be centrally located in your house. It’s a closed system and that means that you just heat or cool the same air over and over again. It goes through the supply ducts and into the house. It is then picked up again by the returns and the whole process starts again. You must recycle the air, otherwise it would be way too difficult and expensive to heat and cool fresh air all the time. We hope this answers some of your questions about ductwork. If you have any questions concerning your home comfort system or indoor air quality, contact us, Call us at 635-3452 or check our website at www.qualityserviceinc.com. We’ll answer questions here and on “Ask Mike” at WTRB every Saturday morning after the 10 o’clock news.

02/18/04

Let’s answer questions today about high efficiency home comfort equipment. First question, what is a “SEER” rating? This is a question worth answering every time we hear it. A SEER rating is a measurement that tracks the efficiency of equipment. You can make an easy comparison to “miles per gallon”, or MPG in automobiles. What SEER rating does my old condensing unit have? If it’s not a brand we carry, we’d have to look at it and get some numbers to find out, but units installed even 10 years ago could be as low as a 6 SEER. Just as the government has required auto manufacturers to improve the MPG efficiency in their cars, they have required our manufacturers to improve their efficiency. What is the highest SEER rating available now? There are systems rated as high as 19 SEER. As of right now, the minimum SEER rated equipment that can be made is a 10. Beginning in 2005, the minimum will be a 12. Should I replace my old unit even if it still runs? Many times the answer is yes. If you are running equipment that is rated 6 or 8 SEER, you are just costing yourself a great deal of money. A new, more efficient model can save you enough in monthly utility bills to pay for itself. It’s true. For example, if you got a TVA loan for a 14 SEER unit, you could save more in energy than the monthly payment added to your bill. After it’s paid for, you’ll actually be making money for the rest of the equipment’s life. If you want to know more about high efficiency equipment or have any questions about your home comfort, call us at 635-3452. You can also find us at www.qualityserviceinc.com, and catch us on WTRB every Saturday morning.

02/25/04

Okay. We don’t want to scare you, but today’s questions concern MOLD! Everybody’s afraid of it, but it’s not that scary if you just work to prevent it. The information we’re supplying today is as a courtesy, and not to present ourselves as a mold expert. Detailed information on microbiological organisms, human exposure, health and remediation should be obtained from appropriate resources. Let’s start questions. How does the mold get in here? There are mold spores everywhere. Only when they are provided with food, water and a place to live does mold grow. The spores get in through the air and are carried in on clothing, pets, and more. How and where can I prevent mold growing in my home? Watch for the possibilities. During heating season, air ducts can leak and allow moist air from outside to get in. Look for sweat around windows and dust accumulation around vents. Be sure weather stripping and caulking are in good shape. What else? Look for improper furnace venting. Exhaust gases contain moisture, which can condensate inside the home if not vented properly. That’s not to mention the dangers of carbon monoxide. What about when cooling my house? Again, condensation can form. Look for it on drainpipes, air outlets, or on the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Where else do we look for the right conditions for mold? The plumbing system! First, stop any leaks and drips. If you have them you are not only wasting water, you are adding to the humidity in the house, and providing moist surfaces for mold to grow. Tubs and showerheads can cause moisture problems if they leak into the wall. Insulate the piping, and exhaust moist air from the shower through a bathroom exhaust fan. We’ll talk more about mold and it’s effects and prevention soon. Change your filters! We’ll see you on the radio on WTRB Saturday morning, or right here next week. You can “Ask Mike” by calling 635-3452, or by Visiting our website at www.qualityserviceinc.com.