Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jan 07, 2010
Healthy Indoor Air Requires Proper Ventilation
Energy efficiency is a good thing. It saves money while protecting the environment. But there are times when energy efficiency can go a little too far. There have been cases of new energy-efficient homes that were sealed so tightly against outdoor air that they became germ factories or “sick” homes. Homeowners traded off low fuel bills for high doctor bills. What researchers discovered is that healthy homes require a certain amount of air exchange – fresh air replacing used, stale air – to maintain the health of their occupants. When a home is too tightly sealed against air exchange, air is circulated over and over, constantly reused, spreading germs, mold and other unhealthful qualities. Healthy indoor air requires proper ventilation.
To solve the problem, the heating and cooling industry has developed energy efficient ventilators that bring fresh air into your home without any loss of energy. Performance Heat Recovery Ventilators introduce necessary outdoor air into your home during the long heating season. These energy-efficient ventilators replace stale, germ-laden, recirculated indoor air with fresh, clean outdoor air. Bringing fresh air into your winter home also replaces some of the humidity forced air heat removes from your home. Higher humidity is easier on stressed winter sinuses, making breathing easier and actually protecting delicate sinuses from infection. Proper winter ventilation boosts indoor air quality and creates a healthier indoor environment for your family.
During the summer cooling season, Performance Energy Recovery Ventilators perform the same service. When you operate your air conditioner, these high efficiency energy recovery ventilators guarantee that the air you breathe is healthy while you are indoors escaping from summer’s heat. Ventilators that work with your air conditioner not only provide a healthy exchange of air that reduces indoor air pollutants, they reduce humidity as well. In summer, reducing humidity increases indoor comfort for your family.
Making a ventilator part of your home comfort system is like being able to open a window in every room even on the hottest or coldest days ... without the drafts, the humidity or the high energy costs. Its literally a breath of fresh air. For proper sizing and operation, Performance Ventilators should be installed by a heating and cooling professional. If you live in Northeast Ohio, contact Raymond Plumbing.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jun 26, 2009
Get with the program! Maintain a comfortable home and save money at the same time with a programmable thermostat. Set the times for your air conditioning or heating to turn on and off based on a pre-set schedule.
In the summer, you can keep your house warmer than normal when you are away and lower the thermostat setting only when you are at home and need cooling. You can follow the same strategy in the winter by setting the thermostat back 10 – 15 degrees when you are not home or sleeping. This will save you a significant amount of money on your utility bills.
When you program your thermostat consider your schedule. A programmable thermostat can be set to begin its cool down well before you leave or go to bed and return to its regular temperature two or three hours before you wake up or return home. Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal as you wake or return home. Also consider the location of your thermostat. You want to make sure your thermostat is away from direct sunlight, windows, skylights, doorways, and drafts for efficient performance.
At Raymond, we offer a variety of different thermostats that fit your needs. A qualified Raymond technician can evaluate your home to determine what type of thermostat best fits for your needs. Stay comfortable when you’re home and save money when you’re not. Remember, you can save more money by registering with Raymond here.
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Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jun 26, 2009
When the temperature outside begins to climb, many people seek the cool comfort of indoor air conditioning. But A/C does more than just cool your home and improve your comfort.
Here’s what A/C can do besides just cooling your home:
Keep you safe. Without air conditioning, you are more likely to open your windows for air circulation. Leaving your windows open for a long period of time allows easy access to your home and can become a security threat.
Even second floor windows, left open all day can be a risk. And not just from theft, but from animals too. After the first time a squirrel comes in through your window, you’ll want to keep it shut.
Air Conditioning works best when the windows are closed and therefore provides protection to help keep your family and home safe.
Improve air quality. Fresh air is nice, but it also circulates allergens, viruses and bacteria through your home. All of these substances can impact your health and make breathing harder and affect your quality of life. Air Conditioning can help eliminate these triggers and keep you healthy all summer long. No need to use more allergy medicine than you have to.
Help you sleep. Getting a full night of restful sleep, without interruption, allows your immune system to work at its best. While temperature isn’t the only factor in your sleep habits, it’s definitely a key one. Air conditioning will keep your comfort level perfect, so you won’t toss and turn all night.
Be efficient. Centralized units are the most effective way to deliver cool air to all parts of your home. The cool air travels a direct route through the air ducts and vents into individual rooms and hallways. In addition to the superior efficiency, central A/C makes less noise inside than window A/C units.
There are many factors that can affect what type of air conditioner you will want. Everybody's home is different. A qualified Raymond technician can evaluate your home to determine what type of system is best for you. If you have additional questions or are in need of a professional plumbing, heating or cooling services, contact us.
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Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jun 11, 2009
Are you trying to save money on your energy bills and still want all the comfort that comes with running your air conditioner this summer?
Some of the most effective things you can do are easy and only take a minimal effort. So, whether it is to just save a little money or even if it is just to be a little more kind to the environment, here are a few tips to help.
- 1. Use drapes, shades or blind over your windows during sunlight hours to reduce the amount of heat that the sun infiltrates.
- 2. If you do not have a ceiling fan in your home, consider installing one near your air conditioner. A fan will keep the airflow steady. As a cheaper option, you should consider purchasing a standing fan that would fulfill the same purpose as a ceiling fan.
- 3. Thoroughly clean or replace air conditioner filters each spring through a service provider like Raymond Plumbing & Heating. Filters should be cleaned monthly during the cooling season and once every other month the rest of the year. Doing so can save 5 percent of the energy used, because a dirty or clogged filter means the air conditioner must work harder to provide the same amount of cool air.
- 4. Make sure to have a spring (for air conditioning) and fall (for heating) maintenance check done by a local utilities service provider. Keeping your systems in peak performance will always save on energy costs. If you are in the West side of Cleveland to Lorain Ohio area, consider us at Raymond Plumbing & Heating.
- 5. When you are away from your home, lower the speed of the air conditioners’ fan. Your home will remain cool and you will be using less energy.
- 6. Make sure there is good airflow around your unit. Keep the outside unit clear of plants and keep grass clippings, cotton wood and leaves off the coil.
These tips and others can be found at www.purityplanet.com. We, at Raymond hope you find them useful and cost-effective for your home comfort.
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