|
|
July 2004 Articles |
These are condensed versions of the Radio Program
07/01/04
At Quality Service, Inc. we are proud to
participate in the Free Enterprise System. In many parts of the world, it
wouldn’t be possible for a company like ours to serve customers like you. As
we approach our nation’s birthday we want to reflect and give thanks for the
actions of a few brave souls 228 years ago. In that vein, we hope you enjoy the
following. Neighbors watch from the shade- Tikes on trikes, in parade. High
school kids at the lake, water ski and jump the wake. Picnic lunch, family fun,
grilling dogs in foot long buns. Softball games in the
park, the kids can’t wait for the dark. Sparklers dance in the night, sky’s
ablaze, what a sight! Black cats pop, rockets fly, necks are craned to the sky.
With the fun, let’s take pause, to remember this day’s cause, Recall the men
from the past, against the odds, they stood fast, Evident truths they swore, All
was changed from before,
07/07/04
Today, we field questions from our readers and radio listeners. If you have a home comfort question, we’ll be glad to answer it here, too. Call us at 635-3452 and look for your answer right here. I’ve recently heard about “zoning”. What is it and how is it a benefit? Zoning is a great way to eliminate hot and cold spots in your home. There is more than one-way to accomplish “zoning”. Basically, it’s just chopping up the space to be conditioned and cooling or heating just those areas, as they need it. You can do it with equipment (more than one air conditioner/furnace) or with ductwork. We find it more efficient and cost effective to do it with ductwork. In this type of system, you have sensors and controls for each “zone”. Every week, here and on the radio, you emphasize the importance of “Changing the filters!” What is the big deal if the filter gets a little dirty? First, if you can see the dirt and dust on your disposable filter, it’s already too late. For the most part, these filters are meant for the protection of your equipment. These filters do not remove many allergens or pollutants, but they do help keep the coils and other internal parts of your equipment clean. If these components get dirty, they do not function properly. If they don’t function properly, you lose efficiency and cost yourself a lot of money in operation. Also, this will cause problems in the equipment that will shorten the life or at least cause costly major repairs. It is especially important to keep your filters extremely clean during the summer when your air conditioner is operating on overtime. If someone in your home has breathing or allergy problems, you really need to look into advanced methods of filtering your indoor air. We can clean the air inside a home to near hospital quality, and it may not cost as much as you think.
07/21/04
Isn’t a heat pump and air conditioner the same thing? Thanks for this question. It’s a great one. When you are cooling, like we are now, they are exactly the same. The difference comes during heating season, when a heat pump actually uses the heat from outside to warm the house. My unit seems to run constantly lately. Why could that be? There can be several reasons. The refrigerant could be low. The filters may be dirty, or it could be as simple as having a heat source too close to the thermostat. You must also remember that it’s been extremely hot recently. If it’s 98 outside, it takes a lot of work to keep the temperature at 70 inside. It can seem as though it runs too much, but that can be pretty normal when it’s that hot. How much of the average utility bill goes for cooling? Probably more than you realize. The cost of heating and cooling your home, on the average, is 50% to 70%! That’s right…over half of your utility bill this month will go for cooling! By the way, about 20% goes for water heating and 10% to 30% for the operation of appliances and for lighting. That’s why we are so often sharing ways to curb your utility bills. I know insulation is important. How important? Insulating your home properly is the key to affordable utility bills. The most important place to insulate is the attic. Did you know that your attic could reach temps of 140 degrees or more? That can put a real strain on your air conditioner, and the attic insulation is the only thing between you and that heat. Please contact us with your questions at 635-3452 or www.qualityserviceinc.com.07/28/04
These are questions from you. We received them on the phone at 635-3452 or on our website at www.qualityserviceinc.com. In new construction, when is the time to start on the heating and cooling system? We like to “rough in” as soon as the house is “dry” or the roof is on. Roughing in is basically starting the ductwork, cutting the openings in the floor (or setting them in the ceiling), and building our returns and equipment spots inside the house. We can install some equipment now,too. That’s when the plumber and electrician like to start their rough ins, too. It’s that time after the house is framed up well and the insulation and flooring and such isn’t yet started. When do you “finish” the HVAC work in a new house? It’s usually toward the end of construction. It’s AFTER the floors and carpets. It’s after all the drywall and trimming is complete. We come back in and put in the remainder of the equipment, all the vents, hook up the last of the ductwork, connect all the electrical and controls, and perform a “Start-up” to assure that the HVAC system is ready for the homeowner to move in. Tell me about warranties on new equipment. Every brand of equipment has its own warranties. Generally, the more efficient and the more features a unit has, the longer and more complete the warranty. There are also extended warranties available on our equipment that cover parts AND labor for up to 10 years. The labor can be very costly in these repair situations, and a warranty that covers it is a wonderful idea. They’re also not as expensive as people may think. Be sure to contact us with your question today. And, remember, “Change your filters!” We’ll be back next week.
About Quality Service | About Mike | Home | Terms of use | Maintenance Agreement |Contact Us