Heating and Cooling - 2/16 - Talk Local Blog

Archive for the ‘Heating and Cooling’ Category

Wednesday, February 5th, 2014

If you want to maintain an ideal temperature inside your house year-round, profit from considerable energy savings, and lower your utility bill at the same time, consider insulating your attic. To complete this relatively simple assignment, which could represent the perfect DIY home improvement project, start by identifying the very best insulation attic.

Find the Best Products in No Time

When it comes to finding the best insulating materials, it is advisable to set up your own selection criteria. Are you looking for inexpensive materials, or are you eager to pay a little more for superior insulation with an elevated R-value?

Note that products with a high R-value will do a good job at keeping your rooms cold during summer and hot during winter, allowing you to enjoy the highest level of comfort without throwing money out the window.

Analyze a Plenitude of Options

If you are looking for premium insulation attic, keep in mind that there are many appealing choices at hand. Loose-fill insulation is manufactured using several types of recycled materials, including mineral wool, cellulose, or fiberglass. It is used to fill wall cavities and insulate the attic floor; this material is usually installed by professionals.

Blanket insulation represents a mix of materials, such as fiberglass, mineral wool, and different kinds of mineral and synthetic fibers. It is relatively easy to install and pretty cheap, compared to other types of insulation attic.

Nonetheless, it is advisable to consult your fire code and local building codes before giving the green light to this project. Moreover, if you want to make a smart decision, you could also choose to discuss your options with a dependable heating and cooling expert.

Need Help?

Looking for the best insulation attic? Make a smart purchase under the guidance of friendly, competent heating and cooling experts who are just one call away. Find the best ones with Seva Call, your free expert tracking tool.

Tags: Best Insulation Attic
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Types of Heat Pumps: Air Source Heat Pumps

Tuesday, February 4th, 2014

There are several types of heat pumps, and they all use the principle of heat transfer to produce heat. Air source heat pumps are based on this fundamental idea as well. Instead of burning fuel to generate heat, they transfer the heat from outside into your home. Let’s see how they work, and what their benefits are.

What Are the Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps?

These pumps are usually installed outside, near the house, or at its back. They heat the air with the help of a heat pump, which is then transferred to radiators, or other forms of heating, such as underfloor systems. They can even supply you with hot water. Air source heat pumps use electricity, but the energy consumption is not high compared to how much heat it can produce.

Effectiveness and Efficiency

Air source heat pumps may cost several thousand dollars, but if used effectively they can save you up to 40% on your utility bill. This would mean that your investment should pay off on the long run. However, here’s what you should keep in mind to maximize air source heat pump efficiency.

– Air source heat pumps work best with underfloor heating systems or large radiators, because they generate less heat than conventional central heating and require a larger area to produce high temperatures.

– If you consider installing an air source heat pump, you need to insulate your house properly, otherwise you might lose energy.

– Heat pumps do not require much maintenance after installation.

– They can work as an air conditioning unit, cooling your house during hot days.

– Heat pumps have a reduced carbon footprint as compared to other heating systems.

Need Help?

Want to know more about heat pumps or do you want to install one? Seva Call can put you in touch with a local expert who can answer your questions and assist you with installation should you need it.

Tags: air source, types of heat pumps
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Types of Heat Pumps: Absorption

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

For areas that do not experience extreme climates, an energy-efficient way to meet modest heating and cooling demands is to use heat pumps. There are different types of heat pumps, including air-source heat pumps, ductless mini-split heat pumps, and geothermal heat pumps. For residences, a new heat pump system is called absorption heat pump.

An absorption heat pump is basically an air-source heat pump that, instead of using electricity, runs on other heat sources like propane, natural gas, or water heated by renewable energy (solar or geothermal). Typically, absorption heat pumps are fueled by gas, which is why they are also called gas-fired types of heat pumps. The counterparts of these products are the absorption or gas-fired coolers, which operate on a similar concept, but cannot be used to generate heat.

How It Works

An absorption heat pump works by using water-ammonia absorption cycle to produce heating as well as cooling. Similar to a traditional heat pump, heat is released when the ammonia (refrigerant) condenses in a coil; then, the pressure reduces and the ammonia evaporates to absorb heat.

These types of heat pumps provide cooling by absorbing the heat from the inside of your home and provide heating when it emits heat to your home’s interior. Unlike standard heat pumps, the evaporated ammonia actually goes into water and it is then pumped up and heated until it is boiled out of the water. Then, the cycle repeats itself.

Innovations

An important part of the recent models out on the market is an innovative technology called GAX (generator absorber heat exchanger), which is able to recover the heat emitted when the water absorbs the ammonia, therefore, making the unit much more efficient. Other innovative features now available include low-emissions, variable flow rates of ammonia, and higher efficiency of vapor separation.

Ask a Heating Expert

Interested to know more about different types of heat pumps and which one will work best for you? Speak with a heating and cooling professional who can give you expert advice and can take care of proper installation should you decide to invest in a heat pump for your home. Call Seva Call now to be connected directly to service professionals in your area.

Tags: absorption, types of heat pumps
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Best Heating and Cooling Systems

Friday, January 31st, 2014

If you have decided to upgrade or replace your heating and cooling system, chances are you’re confused about the many options available. What are the best heating and cooling systems for your home? To be on the safe side, it is advisable to talk to an expert before you purchase a HVAC system because there are numerous factors to consider.

Here are some clues that might help you refine your search, preparing you to ask the right questions when you discuss your needs with a specialist.

Consider the Features of Your House

Before you start looking for the best types of heating and cooling systems, think about the features of your house. What is its location? Do you live in a cold or hot climate? How is the house positioned? How old is it? How well is it insulated?

By answering these questions ahead, you will be able to better define your needs. This way, when you start comparing HVAC system types, you can be sure you relate them to what you actually need.

HVAC System Technology and Performance

Technology plays an important role when it comes to the performance of an HVAC system. There are basically four types of HVAC systems: split air conditioning systems, window air conditioning systems, packaged air conditioners, and central air conditioning.

Each has its pros and cons, and each is more or less efficient, depending on your needs. Again, to make sure you choose what’s best for you, find the time to consult an expert, and go through all the relevant details.

HVAC System Energy Efficiency Rating

These days, energy efficiency is a major aspect when it comes to choosing the best heating and cooling systems for your home. You can opt for an HVAC, which encourages a green and sustainable lifestyle. This will allow you not only to make your house more comfortable, but also to cut your electricity or gas bill in the long run.

Ask an Expert

Seva Call can make your search for the best HVAC system easier by putting you in contact with up to three local professionals who can help you choose, install, or upgrade your heating and cooling unit. Our service is effective and free.

Tags: Best Heating Cooling Systems
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Heating Duct Supplies

Thursday, January 30th, 2014

A high-quality HVAC system represents an exceptional long-term investment. A modern, fully functional heating, venting, and air conditioning system will ensure an ideal temperature inside your house year-round, boost your level of comfort, and even trigger considerable energy savings for many years to come.

Every once in a while, it is recommended to check your HVAC system. You may notice that some components need to be replaced. In this case, you would have to find and purchase the very best heating duct supplies.

Shop around and Profit from the Best Deals

Surf the Internet to find the most respectable providers of heating duct supplies. If you don’t know how to choose the most suitable parts for your project, hire a heating and cooling expert and let them purchase all the new components that you need.

Cooling coils, fans, dampers, vibration isolators, terminal units, compressors, and air terminals are some of the most important pieces that may require repairs or replacements. After a certain period of time, you’ll have to invest in some of the pieces mentioned above, to raise the effectiveness of your HVAC system and protect your investment. For the same reason, you should invest time and effort in regular maintenance routines.

Find the Best Heating Duct Supplies

Purchase heating duct supplies only from respectable providers. This way, you’ll avoid scams and costly mistakes. Opt for products that come with an extended guarantee. Moreover, choose to do business with a supplier offering you the chance to find a large selection of HVAC components, plus accessories, like aluminum foil or sealants, enabling you to start and finalize successful DIY projects.

Ask an Expert

Want to find quality heating duct supplies but don’t know how to identify them fast and effortlessly? Rely on expert advice provided by a heating and cooling specialist. Find the most competent one with Seva Call, your free connection to the best local professionals.

Tags: Heating Duct Supplies
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Three Best Wood Stoves

Wednesday, January 29th, 2014

Are freezing weather and high energy bills making you think of buying a new wood stove to keep your home warm and cozy? There are certainly many brands on the market to choose from. Here are some of the best wood stoves out there:

Hearthstone Heritage

This is one of the best wood stoves recommended by experts for use throughout the cold months, and is rated 55,000 BTU for spaces up to 1,900 square feet. It uses soapstone, which has excellent abilities to absorb heat and radiate it, allowing the stove to give off heat for up to 12 hours after it is loaded with firewood.

This stove is, therefore, not for making quick fires. It features a huge glass window that gives a great view of the fire and is easy to load through a side door, although it needs to be reloaded after about 8 hours or so.

This stove is easy to set up so it will burn air from the outside only to lessen indoor pollution. The Hearthstone Heritage has been certified by the EPA for low emissions and includes a lifetime warranty.

Quadra-Fire

Another top-rated brand, Quadra-Fire, offers modern-looking wood stoves. Many of its top-ranked stoves use sheet steel with the firebox lined with brick, which allows heat to radiate from the stove very quickly. However, while steel stoves are great for quick fires, they do not hold heat as long as stoves made with cast-iron or soapstone.

Quadra-Fire also has different size stoves to heat various sized areas up to 2,400 square feet. Quadra-Fire wood stoves carry lifetime limited warranty.

Vermont Castings

This is the most often recommended wood stove brand and it makes non-catalytic cast-iron stoves in classic, ornate designs. The cast iron in these stoves absorbs and stores heat from the peak of the fire and radiates it out as the fire subsides. As you can expect from the best wood stoves, these stoves are EPA-certified.

The medium-sized model, DutchWest 2478, is a 40,000 BTU stove rated to heat areas from 800 to 1,400 square feet. It is capable of holding a fire for up to 10 hours, so you can load it with fire logs before you leave for work and your home will be warm and cozy when you get back. It can also be adjusted so that it burns outside air only.

The warranty on Vermont Casting stoves is 3 years on the cast iron and 1 year for the other parts.

Which Wood Stove is for You?

Any of these brands offer great heating efficiency and will add a nice charming ambiance, as well as cozy warmth to your home. However, remember that even the best wood stoves will need regular maintenance to keep them clean and in good working condition. When you’re looking for professional wood stove service, count on Seva Call to get you the help you need.

Tags: cooking, oven, stove, wood stove
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Home Insulation Grants

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

People who want to experience considerable energy savings and protect their resources in the long term should think about insulating their homes in a professional manner. Nonetheless, this type of home improvement project requires a considerable financial investment that many families can’t afford to make.

Here is some helpful info on home insulation grants that you may want to consider.

Weatherization Grants for Low-Income Families

Families with limited financial possibilities could apply for a weatherization grant, offered by the US government. Insulation grants are provided to organizations from your very own community. All of the candidates who apply for this type of grant are carefully screened by the organization.

If you are eligible, the organization will pay for your project (materials and installation costs are usually included) or reimburse you the money. If you need more details on this topic, just call your gas company or electrical company and get the most accurate answers to your questions.

Benefit from Tax Credits

Remember that the grants mentioned above are only for low-income families. If you are not eligible for this this type of grant, you can still benefit from tax credits. Tax credits are not repayable and can decrease your tax liability.

The main drawback is that this financing option only covers up to 30% of your expenses (excluding installations). This means that you can get only approximately $1,500 through this method. It may not sound like much, compared to the total costs triggered by this home improvement project, but it’s a decent start.

Ask an Expert

Different sources may provide misleading, confusing info on home insulation grants. To shed some light on this matter, discuss your options with a heating and cooling expert. Spot the best ones in your area with Seva Call, a free service introduced to connect you with the best professionals in your area.

Tags: Home Insulation Grants
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Propane Gas Heating Installation and Maintenance

Monday, January 27th, 2014

Propane gas heating offers many advantages for heating homes. Unlike a standard electric furnace, a propane furnace produces hotter air. Compared to other fuel oil furnaces, it runs more efficiently and cleaner. It offers all the benefits of gas heating without the restrictions of being located near a natural gas pipe.

How It Works

Propane gas heating works by using a forced-air blower, which moves hot air through a pipeline network in your home. There are many available propane furnaces with efficiency ratings of 95 or higher, producing air that’s up to 25 degrees hotter than electric heating pumps. For homeowners, the ability of propane gas heating to generate hotter air simply means getting more heat in the home for less of the cost.

Modern propane furnaces are also not just energy-savers but space-savers, too. Many units designed to heat the entire house can fit into small spaces such as utility rooms and even closets. They are also quite durable with an average life span of up to two decades, longer than the average for electric heating pumps.

How to Install and Maintain

Propane gas heating serves the needs of millions of households for home heating. If you’d like to enjoy the benefits of this type of heating, here are some useful tips:

– Rely on a heating professional for installation. A propane gas heating system must be installed only by a qualified service technician with the proper knowledge and training in installing, servicing, and maintaining a propane furnace.

– Teach your household how to detect leaks. Propane has a strong smell like a rotten egg, so it is quite easy to detect if there is any leak just by sniffing. Teach household members how to recognize the smell of propane so you can call a technician in for help at the first sign of a leak.

– Arrange for a yearly checkup. While your propane furnace is built for durability, it’s highly recommended to schedule a yearly professional inspection. When done by a qualified service technician, this inspection will ensure that the critical parts of the system, such as the pilot light and ventilation system, are all running at peak condition.

– You should have the furnace filter changed regularly to help the system stay clean and running efficiently.

Want Propane Gas Heating in Your Home?

For safe and proper installation or maintenance, always rely on a qualified professional. And to find the right professional for free, rely on Seva Call. We can match you with up to three local professionals so you can choose quickly who to work with. Try us today!

Tags: Propane Gas Heating
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Heating Duct Fans

Friday, January 24th, 2014

When it comes to purchasing and installing a new heating and cooling system or replacing some of the most important components of your old one, it is imperative to understand the particularities and the functionality of essential heating duct parts. Heating duct fans influence the overall performance of your system a great deal, so they should be chosen and implemented with maximum care.

Discovering the Particularities of Different Kinds of Heating Duct Fans

These days, you could find a generous selection of heating duct fans on the market, displaying different price tags and different features. The key is to find and purchase a fan designed to meet your unique ventilation needs. There are several models that you may want to take into consideration:

1) Tube axial fans, which are reliable, cost-effective and provide a medium-duty output without burning holes in your pockets.

2) Centrifugal duct fans make less noise and ensure superior ventilation in any type of environment; they are suitable for multiple applications, including household ventilation, commercial ventilation, hydroponics, and horticulture.

3) Mixed flow duct fans are well liked for their versatile design, ensuring easy servicing. Moreover, they deliver superior pressures without making a lot of noise.

Most models of heating duct fans have solid blades made from quality materials, such as polycarbonate sheet or balanced aluminum. They can boost your supply air, enhance your indoor air quality, and allow you to feel comfortable in your own environment year-round. Just make sure you opt for a model that meets your particular ventilation requirements.

Ask an Expert

When it doubt, don’t hesitate to contact a reliable heating and cooling expert. Spot the best ones in your area with Seva Call, your number one connection to the best professionals. Use it speak with reputable professionals who can help you when you need it most.

Tags: Heating Duct Fans
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Heating Duct Parts

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

These days, when most homeowners would do anything it takes to save time and money while conducting home improvement projects, more and more stores offers a generous selection of heating duct parts, tailored to different needs and requirements.

Why and When Do I Need New Heating Duct Parts?

Only a heating and cooling expert can provide the best answer to this question. Generally speaking, when you notice that the performance of your heating and cooling system is much lower than it used to be, then it may be time to replace one or more defective or worn out components. Fortunately, you can find all the heating duct parts that you may demand in almost any home improvement store.

How to Find the Best Heating Duct Parts

You could start the search by surfing the Internet and analyzing the offers of giant companies. Here you’ll be able to compare different heating duct parts based on various selection criteria, like price tag, manufacturer, customer reviews, and shipping method, for instance.

This is a great opportunity to make a smart investment and purchase reliable products reflecting a fair quality-price relationship. On the other hand, you could also choose to buy insulation, hoods, chimney caps, ceiling boxes, and replace your old components by simply contacting your local provider of heating duct parts. This way, you may also be able to profit from expert guidance and incredibly tempting discounts.

Ask an Expert

Don’t know how and where to spot the most convenient heating duct parts? In this case, choose to talk to a heating and cooling pro who could guide you in the right direction. Find the most competent one with Seva Call, your trusted expert tracking service. Use Seva Call to get connected with the best professionals and save time and money.

Tags: Heating Duct Parts
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