Free Shipping on orders over $50

American Standard Air Conditioner – Why It Is The Best American Air Conditioner

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Monday 6 October 2008 7:02 pm

The American standard air conditioner is one of the leading brands of air conditioners that are available in the market. The American brand air conditioner is well known for its top notch quality and service.

The air conditioner from the American standard company is very reliable and comfortable to the customers. There are several advantages in buying an American standard air conditioner. One of the major advantages is the fact that it lets the customer stay cool and it also helps in saving a lot of money with his efficient usage of current.

There are several American standard models available on the market. These models vary with respect to the SEER value. SEER is nothing but the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is the ratio or the rating that is used to measure the efficiency of cooling factor of a specific heat pump or an air conditioner.

If the seasonal energy efficiency ratio is higher then the efficiency of the air conditioner is also higher and vice versa. So it is always better to buy an air conditioner with a higher SEER value.

The American standard air conditioner ranges in the efficiency factor from the SEER value of 13 to the SEER value of more than 18. This SEER value for the American brand air conditioner is among the best that is available in the market. The American standard air conditioner has the highest rating for efficiency in the air conditioner industry.

Because of this factor a lot of customers usually buy the American standard. There are several choices to choose from. One of the best models is the allegiance American standard air conditioners. If you want the best, I recommend getting the Allergiance 18 which has maximum efficiency and cooling.

There are so many choices are comfort that is available to the customer to choose from. There are several technological factors also that come in to consideration while buying the air conditioning unit.

The American standard air conditioner gives you the comfort of cooling that the customer always looks for in his home. It is thus a very effective air conditioner unit with the latest technologies.

Learn where to buy cheap american standard air conditioner online. Also visit my site to learn more about the best cheap portable air conditioners.

A Fireplace Heat Exchanger Can Help With Heating Costs

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Friday 26 September 2008 10:19 am

These days, many people are looking to their fireplaces to help them save a few dollars on their heating bills. In general, this is a good practice as long as they keep safety in mind. However, some might notice that they’re not getting the optimum amount of heat from their wood burning fireplaces.

Indeed, rooms often become colder than usual if a fire is burning, and it seems that the only way to stay warm is to stay right by the fire. This leaves many wondering how other houses with a fireplace get that toasty warm feeling throughout.

There’s an easy solution, even though it’s also somewhat complex. If many areas of your home feel particularly chilly when you have a fire burning, you most likely would benefit from a fireplace heat exchanger. That’s the simple part of the answer; the more complicated part is understanding exactly why you need it.

The fact is that the wood fire burning in your open fireplace will gobble up much of the air in your home that you spent good money to heat to a comfortable temperature. The fireplace uses up this air but it also replaces it; however, the substitute is cold air from outdoors. That’s why the rest of your house is colder when a fire is burning in one room.

But don’t despair; the answer lies in purchasing a fireplace heat exchanger. If you install a heat exchanger along with some glass doors, you can get rid of that cold air throughout your house.

If you have an open wood burning fireplace, a heat exchanger is essential; it’s unfortunate that so many people don’t realize this. Eventually, they either remain chillled or they put out more money and time attempting to keep out the cold outside air. If you don’t have this important fireplace accessory, you’re fighting an endless battle that you can’t win.

You’ll likely spend around five hundred dollars to buy a fireplace heat exchanger. Also, you will need to purchase a set of glass doors or that five hundred for the heat exchanger will just be wasted.

Radiant Floor Heating: Why it Rocks

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Thursday 25 September 2008 8:55 am

For home and business owners, radiant floor heating offers many pros over other heating systems.

Radiant floor heating is a series of pipes coiled in a room under the subflooring. Heated water is forced through the pipes, and heat naturally rises through the room from these pipes. With radiant floor heating, there are no cold tile or hardwood floors.  Say goodbye to your cold, garage floor like ground. People with poor circulation in their feet, such as the elderly and diabetics, will appreciate always getting out of bed to a warm floor beneath their cold feet. Parents too like a warm floor when babies are learning to crawl or toddling around in their bare feet.

While in floor radiant heat works on the same principal as steam or forced water radiators, radiant floor heating offers several advantages over a wall-mounted radiator. Wall-mounted radiators can cause hot and cool spots in a room, depending on your distance from the radiator. As an alternative, an in floor radiant heat system heats the whole floor under a room, giving even heat. Radiators are hot to the touch, which can cause burns. Because the radiant floor system is under the flooring, though, there are no hot pipes to touch, and the floor underfoot is never more than pleasantly warm.

Radiators also take up precious wall space, as furniture cannot be pushed up against them, and because they create hot spots, furniture has to be arranged so that no one sleeps or sits too close to the radiator. However, as the radiant floor system is buried under the flooring, it takes up no space and does not cause hot spots.

An in floor radiant system is more efficient (and thus cheaper) that a wall mounted radiator. An on wall radiator needs very hot water to caused convection to heat the entire room. Because the radiant floor heating system distributes its heat evenly over the entire room, convection is not necessary. A radiant floor system doesn't need as hot of water to work well, which makes it cheaper.

The primary advantage of the radiant floor heating system over a forced air system is air quality. Furnaces and heat pumps cause the air in a building to dry out rapidly. This can cause a lot of problems for people with sinus or lung issues. Also, coming in from cold and damp to hot and dry can be hard on people with poor health. People with allergies suffer under forced air systems as well because such systems stir up allergens and the dryness causes them to linger in the air longer than usual. Duct work can also harbor allergens, such as mold, compounding the problem.

In most cases, radiant floor heating, when properly installed and insulated, is cheaper to operate than any other system on the market today, and is considered by most to be the most comfortable home heating system as well.

Best Air Filters Reviews

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Tuesday 23 September 2008 1:44 pm

Many diseases are air borne or air related. There are so many illnesses that can be prevented with the selection of the right air filter. Air filters have been known to decrease the intensity level of illness such as asthma and the likes. Next time you are wondering whether to get an air filter or not, remember that your health can be protected with a good air filter.

If you have an area in your home that is more prone to dust particles, then a pleated air filter will be your best bet as it is designed to tackle dust particles more. You must be able to determine which air filter is best for the kind of air impurity that you may be facing in your home or office. Air impurities can be sucked out neatly with the right kind of air filter.

Air conditioner filters are of different types with each serving a particular function. The conventional fiberglass disposable filters are the most popular type of air conditioner filters and help to trap dust particles. The conventional fiberglass air conditioner filters are disposable in nature and therefore need to be maintained regularly.

Car experts often suggest that the best time to replace your car air filter is annually. Don’t wait for your car air filter to wear out before you replace it as that will simply diminish the function of you car. You can use a vacuum to suck out the dust and other debris from the air filter of your car.

Breathing clean air that lacks impurities is as simple as buying an air filter. Air filters help to make the air you breathe less threatening by removing all those impurities air normally has. Sometimes, finding the right filter for your air purifier can take a lot of searching and questioning; so you should be patient in your search.

Taking care of your home can reduce the rate of pollutants in the air around. You can accelerate the function of an air filter by simply cleaning your home regularly. Air filters or purifiers pick up and get rid of dust, smoke and pet danders.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), breathing in ozone from an ozone air purifier is bad for your health because it is an irritant. If you are suffering from asthma or other respiratory related diseases, you may be made even sicker by using an ozone air filter because it releases some amount of ozone into the air. Ozone air purifiers are discouraged because they precipitate the activity of free radicals in the body which cause diseases.

Taking the function of air filters seriously would be a wise choice on your part. Air filters can help you eliminate the risk of diseases and give you unbelievable sense of well being.

Jon Ferriss writes frequently about home air filters on his website.

Air Condition Repair – DIY Air Conditioner Repair

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Tuesday 23 September 2008 1:43 pm

The major air condition repairs carried out are due to the air conditioner not being able to turn on, or the cooling capacity has been reduced, the air flow is lost or it can also be due to the internal components of the air conditioner. The usual air conditioner components that need to be replaced are the faulty air compressor or condenser, defective air handling unit, defects in the duct system and the air leaks.

If your air conditioner doesn’t start, you have to look at the controls and the switches as most of the problems due to air condition repair are electrical repairs. You have to check whether the circuit breaker and the thermostat are properly functioning.

After that you need to check the air handling unit which comprises the return air plenum, air filter, blower fan, cooling and heating coil and the supply plenum. Next you need to check the circuit breakers for the compressors and the air handling units.

If the air conditioning problem is not resolved, then you need to check the duct system i.e. the return air ducts and the supply air ducts and the filters whether they carry air from the air handler to the different intended rooms in the building.

The other most common problem with air conditioners would be that the air conditioner doesn’t give good cooling effect. It so, you will need to check the blower unit.

If you find that it is dirty, you should clean it as it causes loss of cool air supply. The reduced cooling could also be due to old or aged air compressors which have to be replaced.

The air compressors are costly and this would be an expensive repair. Cooling effect is reduced even if the condensate from the air conditioner is not being drained properly or there are leaks in the air handler, or due to damaged air ducts or due to the problems in the air conditioner refrigerant system.

Visit my site to learn more about home air conditioning repairs. Learn why air conditioning filters are important and how to choose and buy air conditioning filters.

Switching Energy Suppliers

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Tuesday 23 September 2008 1:42 pm

I know we’re all about energy efficiency at lowermyutilitybills.co.uk but I thought it might be timely to remind us all of a few impartial ports of call for us to turn to and find our way through the maze that is competitive energy supply

With gas and electricity prices soaring it is important to find the best deal based on your needs. Many people, especially older consumers, are reluctant to switch supplier and inevitably are paying way over the odds for their gas and electricity. Energywatch’s Priority Consumer Team want to alleviate the hassle and fear people have about switching. They will do all the work for you by:

Finding the best deals based on your needs

Provide free and totally impartial information in a simple and clear format

Provide back up support if you have any concerns or issues relating your energy bills

The team can also advise you about energy grants, and free services that you may be missing out on – all of which will help to reduce your bills and keep your home warmer.

All you have to do is call energywatch’s Priority Consumer Team on  0845 688 9594 or email             (priority.consumers@energywatch.org.uk ) and they’ll do the rest, it couldn’t be easier, so why pay more when you don’t have to?

Energy Savings Trust…

…is a national organisation with local energy efficiency advice centres, and which encourages the use of cleaner, sustainable energy and energy efficiency. Its website has free and impartial advice to help you reduce bills and save energy.

This includes all aspects of domestic energy saving – including a free home energy check tailored to your needs – and information on energy home improvement grants/offers currently available.

Contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on

Freephone    0800-512-012      

Energy Savings Trust (Head Office)
21 Dartmouth Street
London
SW1H 9BP

Website: www.est.org.uk/myhome

EAGA…

…runs the government funded Warmfront Scheme. Consumers can benefit from grants of up to £2,700, which can make your home warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat.

And if you’re not on the mains gas network you may be eligible for a grant of up to £4,000 to install an oil based central heating system.

If you own your home or rent from a private landlord and receive benefits related to income, age or disability, then you could be entitled to the following:

An new energy saving central heating system in your home, or an upgrade / repair of your existing system

Loft insulation

Cavity wall insulation

Draught proofing

Contact EAGA on Freephone   0800 316 6011      

EAGA
Scottish Life House
Archbold Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1BR

Website: www.eagagroup.com

Affordable Warmth Groups…

…can be found in many areas, and offer free advice on energy efficiency grants in addition to those provided by EAGA – Warmfront. They can also arrange for the work to be carried out. You can find out if there is an Affordable Warmth Group in your area by ringing your local council (ask for their energy advice section).

Website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/LocalCouncils/fs/en

National Energy Action…

…is dedicated to eradicating fuel poverty. They work with local councils and many other partner organisations. They are also responsible for overseeing and administering the Warm Zone Scheme.

Warm Zones were set up in certain areas to help households who can’t afford enough warmth for health and comfort. These are called “fuel poor” households. More information about this can be found on the Warm Zones website.

Subject to funding, Warm Zones can provide free or low cost insulation measures to:

All households who are found to be in fuel poverty

All households on certain benefits

Free central heating measures will be available, subject to need, location and available funding, for:

Households who are found to be in fuel poverty or on certain qualifying benefits

Free benefits advice and support to help increase household income is also available, together with free energy advice to help save unnecessary household spending. For households that don’t qualify for free measures, Warm Zones can offer significant discounts on insulation. Currently the scheme covers East London, Gateshead, Hull, Neath Port Talbot, Newham, Newcastle, Northumberland, Sandwell and Stoke. If you live in one of these areas, ring  0191 269 6113 to get contact details.

Website: www.warmzones.co.uk

Scottish Executive Central Heating Programme…

…the Scottish Executive Central Heating Programme is available to those people aged 60 years or over and who are home owners or rent their home from a private sector landlord (not Local Authority owned nor Housing Association owned).

The Scottish Executive has extended the Central Heating Programme to include those people aged over 80 years or over, who are home owners or rent their home from a private sector landlord and:

Have a partial heating system or

A system that is inefficient (usually over 20 years old).

For these clients the programme allows their partial systems to be upgraded, where required or a new heating system to be installed.

From 1st January 2007, the qualifying criteria will extend further to include those people in receipt of the minimum income guaranteed element of Pension Credit to be eligible if they have a partial or inefficient system.

Central Heating Programme
FREEPOST
SCO4421
Edinburgh
EH6 0BR

Tel: 0800 316 1653      

Website: https://www.britishgas.biz/ScottishExecutive/CentralHeatingProgramme.aspx

More tips, advice and reports at www.lowermyutilitybills.co.uk

 

Air Conditioning Air filters – How To Clean Air Conditioning Filters

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Tuesday 23 September 2008 1:40 pm

In order to ensure proper functioning of the air conditioners, you should make proper arrangements to be sure that the air conditioning air filters are matching with the unit and it is clean. The air filters are mainly used to help provide a cleaner environment and protect us from dust allergies. The main intention of using air conditioning filters is to keep the components of the air conditioner clean.

A air filter has many ill effects such as, they have reduced level of cooling and heating, they lead to the failure of the compressor, they increase the blower power consumption level, the equipments with dirty filter has a shorter life.

We should clean the conditioner air filters at least once in two months for home applications and within 2 weeks in an office environment. We shouldn’t wait for the entire filter to be filled with dust and then clean it. If you find that the fiberglass is coated with dust then you can be sure that it is time to clean the air filter or even replace it.

The size of the air conditioning air filters would be 1.5 square feet of filter for a capacity of one ton. There are many types of air filters available – fiberglass filters, mesh filters, electrostatic filters and the electronic filters.

The fiberglass filters are mainly used in residences. They have a low cost with low efficiency too. These are coated with adhesives to collect dust. When this filter is being cleaned, the adhesive is also removed along with the dust and the filter becomes useless.

The mesh filter is permanent air filters made of aluminum mesh can be cleaned and dried easily. The electrostatic filter uses the idea that the air movement via the filter generates static charge and collects the dust particles.

The electronic filters use the electrical power for filtering the air and they are also a form of permanent filter. The main aspect that has to be considered while choosing an air conditioning filter are that the duct from which the air returns are sealed thoroughly from the air leak or else the unfiltered air will enter the stream of air.

Learn how to choose and clean your air conditioning filters by visiting my air conditioning site. Learn how to choose the best home air conditioning filters.

Tankless Water Heaters Hit the Mainstream

Posted by HomeDesigner | Heating | Saturday 13 September 2008 10:41 am

A tankless setup is a superior choice than the traditional water heater system. Why? Consider a few of the reasons.

Possibly you have been downstairs in your basement and it looks like the ancient hot water heater belongs in the garbage. Although many people used to think that a tankless water setup would not operate as well as the other types of water heaters, they were pleasantly surprised when they enjoyed for themselves the multiple benefits of employing a tankless water heater. Most been surprised how easy a demand water heater is, and in turn made the switch from a tank based water heater.

With this kind of water heating system, a huge amount of hot water is available as needed instead of storing it in a tank. That way you will not be thinking about all that warm water sitting in there needing to be warmed up over and over. Lastly, a tank-less water unit will lower your heating costs and will not leak water like standard tank heaters.

Another benefit with on demand tankless systems is that the homeowner can open up a good amount of floor space in the house for other things, such as extra living area. The tankless hot water heater can save the homeowner on the water fees too, no more sitting around for hot water. An additional reason why most homeowners are looking into the tankless water unit is safety. Since it is a much smaller unit, there is a reduced chance of having a little one get scalded by extra hot water.

So, the next time you look for a replacement water heater for your family’s home, consider putting in a tankless water heater. With the reasons considered in this article, you can see why using a demand water heater is indeed more advisable than using old units. Make sure that you compare prices and benefits of the varied types of water heaters before you arrive at a purchasing decision. Major manufactures of tankless systems include Rinnai Tankless water heaters and Rheem on demand options. Value oriented homeowners can start their search on the Internet for the right kind of tankless water heater systems.