Zoning systems represent the next step in evolution

Many of us grew up in homes with just one thermostat, even though the home had different areas with very different climate characteristics. This meant the thermostat was expected to do the impossible, keep your living room at a comfortable temperature while doing the same for a cold and clammy basement and the warm bedrooms on the top floor. A zoning system allows you to divide the home into two or more zones, with a central control panel controlling thermostats and duct dampers for the different zones. That way you can heat or cool specific areas, as desired.

Improving comfort levels and lowering costs one room at a time

Normally, a zoning system will group rooms with similar characteristics, so upstairs bedrooms might be in one zone, the main living floor will be in another zone, and a finished basement might be in a third zone. Or you might create a single zone out of a windowed area that gets more afternoon sun than other rooms, or a great room with high arched ceilings.

Not only does a zoning system allow you to keep everyone comfortable no matter what room they’re in or what comfort preference they might have, the cost of doing so is considerably lowered. This is because instead of being forced to heat or cool an entire house at once, energy is only expended for specific areas that require a temperature adjustment. If used wisely, this can greatly reduce your energy costs.

If you would like expert advice on the use of a zoning system, or for any inquiries on home comfort, please contact us at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We have been serving the heating and cooling needs of the Greater Cleveland area for nearly 80 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about zoning systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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• Add a variety of houseplants. All plants help filter the air; however, some are better than others at keeping air in the home clean and fresh. Plants such as peace lilys, bamboo trees, spider plants, rubber plants, and devil’s ivy all protect the air from pollutants such as xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde.

• Remodel your kitchen. While this may not be the “simplest” tip, it can do wonders for indoor air quality. The kitchen is a haven for excess moisture and therefore mold and mildew, so remodeling will result in cleaner air.

• Use natural cleaning products. Avoid polluting the air in your home by using natural rather than commercial cleaners, such as baking soda and white vinegar.

• Change your furnace filter. Year round, change your HVAC filters often to keep air fresh. Choose a quality air filter that will scrub your air of particulates large and small.

• Keep ducts clean. Employ a trusted HVAC contractor to inspect your ducts for dust, debris, mold, mildew and rodent excrement. If the ductwork needs cleaning, have the professional do the job.

• Use welcome mats. Encourage guests to wipe their feet on welcome mats before entering your home and bringing assorted pollutants with them. Better yet, have a standing rule for everyone to remove their shoes before entering.

• Perform radon testing. Radon is an odorless gas that increases lung cancer risk, especially if you smoke, so remember to test for it.

• Ventilate the air. Ventilation is a key factor in preventing the growth of mold and mildew in the home. Invest in a quality home ventilation system to combat this problem. When the weather allows it, open the windows.

• Avoid paint strippers. Paint strippers contribute to poor indoor air quality, so avoid using them as well as paints that feature volatile organic compounds, another type of air pollutant.

For more expert advice about indoor air quality and other issues relating to the home, please contact us at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We have been serving residents of the greater Cleveland area for 75 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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Scheduling professional service

If you want to get a handle on your energy usage, hiring the right HVAC technician needs to be a priority. Here is what you can expect the technician to check during your A/C maintenance service call:

• Refrigerant – In addition to checking for just the right amount of refrigerant for your air conditioning system, the system will be tested for leaks. This is actually pretty simple; if the refrigerant is low, the system likely has sprung a leak. If refrigerant needs to be removed from the unit, the technician will capture and safely dispose of it.

• Ductwork – The technician will search for any leaks in the ductwork, and seal any that are found.

• Belts and oil motors – To ensure smooth operation, these components will be evaluated for any wear. Belts will be tightened.

• Thermostat – Accuracy will be confirmed by the technician.

• Airflow – To run properly, airflow through the evaporator coil is essential. An expert can measure the level of airflow to ensure efficiency and performance.

• Electric terminals – If needed, these terminals will be cleaned and tightened. There’s also the possibility of applying a non-conductive coating to the terminals.

• Control sequence – The technician will check your system’s electric control sequence to ensure that heating and cooling run separately.

A few quick things you can do yourself

Once you contact an expert, don’t sit around and wait for him or her to arrive. Before someone comes to your house, perform the following tasks to make his or job easier:

• Replace the dirty air filter.

• Remove any debris from around, or on, the outdoor condensing unit, such as leaves, grass, plants, weeds, etc.

• Hose off the outdoor unit.

• Remove any obstructions from interior air vents and registers.

If you’d like additional advice about A/C maintenance, or for other issues concerning home comfort and energy saving, contact the professionals at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing. We have been serving the HVAC needs of the Greater Cleveland area for over 78 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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Fiberglass

Fiberglass insulation is inexpensive. It’s also relatively easy to install in the blown-in form using a special blower device. However, you can also install fiberglass rolls or batts that are easy to lay down in large spaces, though the process does require meticulous, patient work to apply the material from edge to edge. If the job is done poorly, the insulation’s efficiency decreases. When properly installed, however, fiberglass maintains its efficiency in moderate to cold temperatures. However, it will not act as an effective air barrier or moisture barrier. If the exterior envelope of your home leaks, or leaks exist between the attic and living spaces. you’ll still want to seal them, whether you have insulation or not.

Cellulose

Cellulose is also inexpensive and easy to install. Once you know how to use the blower device, you can easily install the insulation in the needed areas. Cellulose’s efficiency rating, or R-value, is similar to that of fiberglass; however, during very cold temperatures, cellulose outperforms fiberglass, resisting heat better when temperatures become extreme, an advantage for greater Cleveland homeowners. Cellulose also will not act as a proper barrier to resist air movement or moisture; however, because of its densely packed construction, it resists air movement better than fiberglass.

So what’s the bottom line when choosing insulation? The best type of insulation largely depends on your local climate and where you plan on installing it. Before starting the project, consult with your HVAC professional, or better yet, enlist the help of a professional to perform the installation.

Get expert advice when upgrading home insulation. In the greater Cleveland area, please contact us at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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Good ductwork design ensures:

• The ducts can deliver just the right amount of heating and cooling to every room in the home, and take into account differing room situations.
• That ducts are sized correctly so that the air handler’s pressure drop meets manufacturer’s specifications for airflow.
• Effective seals around the duct joints, making sure that conditioned air isn’t lost through duct leaks. A properly sealed duct system also promotes the delivery of airflow, and prevents hazardous backdrafting of combustion gases.
• A balanced return air supply, along with an equal amount of supply air. A balanced return and supply duct system eliminates the possibility of home pressure that’s too high or too low. This reduces air infiltration going both ways, inside and outside.
• That temperature losses and gains are minimized as the air leaves the air handler and enters the rooms through supply ducts, and as the air returns to the air handler from the return registers.
• The proper placement of duct supply registers and return grilles.
• That ducts, as much as possible, are located inside the home where any lost heat energy or air at least is integrated into already conditioned air. This is preferable to losing conditioned air to unconditioned areas.
• That ducts located outside of the areas that receive conditioned air are insulated properly to reduce energy losses.
• That two-story homes employ two duct systems, accommodating the often drastic temperature differences between the first and second floor.
• Duct supply registers are installed in areas away from exhaust vents, which interfere with the delivery of conditioned air.

For more information about ductwork design, please contact us at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today. We serve homeowners in greater Cleveland.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ductwork design and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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The programs

The programmable thermostat you select should offer sufficient programming options to match your lifestyle. If you were, for instance, to select a device that only offers one four-program daily setting for every day of the week, but your schedule changes drastically from day to day, you’ll probably have to void the settings frequently in order to have the heat on when you’re home. In order to follow the energy-saving guidelines below, you need the right type of thermostat.

Learning about settings

Following just a few primary guidelines encourages savings:

• Time frame – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends that homeowners employ a setback in winter, or a set forward in summer, that lasts at least eight hours long. That’s the length of time the federal agency’s studies show is required in order to achieve meaningful savings. If you can set two eight-hour setbacks/forwards, even better. Most homeowners employ setbacks/forwards at night and during the day when the home isn’t occupied.
• Degrees – Common sense tells you that the lower you can set the thermostat in winter, and the higher you can set it in summer, the more you’ll save. And the DOE found that to be true, too, estimating that homeowners can save 1 percent on energy costs for every 1 degree they set the thermostat back/forward.
• Hold – Nearly every programmable thermostat employs a hold feature that allows homeowners to bypass the next preprogrammed setting. It’s a convenient feature, because without it, you’d have to reprogram the device to change the temperature. However, using this feature too often will negate the potential savings that programmed settings offer.

Get a programmable thermostat and save. Please contact us at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for more information. We serve homeowners in greater Cleveland.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy savings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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• Age – Experts put the estimated life span of a storage water heater between eight and 12 years; however, electric systems tend to last a little longer than gas models.
• Maintenance – If you’ve faithfully scheduled preventive maintenance for your water heater, you can expect it to last longer than the expected life span. That’s because maintenance keeps the system in good working condition and identifies wear early on, helping ward off problems related to long use.
• Water – If the water the system produces is discolored or rusty, that’s a surefire sign it is experiencing problems, and it may even be failing. If this is the case in your home, contact a professional for emergency service.
• Temperature – A water heater that’s nearing its last breath will produce water that’s not quite as hot as it used to be. It may also run out of hot water more quickly.
• Leaks – Any signs of a leaky system such as moisture on the floor around the unit or large amounts of pooling water spells trouble. Your technician may be able to fix the problem, but if the system’s aging and you haven’t maintained it, invest that repair money into a new system.

Proper care of the water heater is the best way to promote an efficient system, and one that can supply a sufficient amount of hot water for your household’s needs. Ensuring comfort and efficiency requires that you invest money in annual preventive maintenance; however, the payoff is a reliable, efficient, long-lasting water heater.

For expert help assessing the condition and life span of your home’s storage tank water heater, contact Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today. We serve homeowners in the greater Cleveland area. For all your plumbing, heating and cooling needs, call or visit our website for more information.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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• Checking the main water supply valve. It’s important to open and close this valve periodically to ensure it doesn’t become stuck in the “on” position. The plumber will check its condition, too.
• Addressing plumbing pipe noises. Also called water hammer, noises that stem from supply pipes can be resolved by installing air chambers to anchor the pipes.
• Analyzing the water, a particularly important task if you use well water in your home.
• Cleaning faucets, removing sediment buildup on the aerators, or replacing them as necessary.
• Repairing leaks in faucets, replacing any washers as necessary, and smoothing out the washer seats.
• Inspecting pipes for evidence of deterioration, corrosion, rusting or leakages.
• Testing the toilets for leaks.
• Draining the water heater.
• Checking the safety of exhaust venting for the water heater or boiler.
• Inspecting the insulation installed around the tank of the water heater, making sure it’s not interfering with the system’s venting and other instruments.
• Testing the safety of the water heater or boiler’s flame, and checking the operating temperature.
• Checking the sump pump, if your home has one, to make sure it’s in good working condition to take care of heavy spring rains, and cleaning it.

Here are some tasks you can to do keep your plumbing system in good shape:

• Inspect the pipes that have insulation wrapped around them, ensuring they’re in good condition.
• Shut off the water supply to outdoor faucets in the fall, and let them drain before temperatures freeze.
• Store garden hoses indoors.
• Address plumbing leaks right away.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment for plumbing system maintenance, contact the local experts at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today. We serve homeowners in greater Cleveland with plumbing services, heating and cooling maintenance, and indoor air-quality solutions. Give us a call today or visit our website for more information about our plumbing maintenance plans and emergency repair service.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about plumbing system maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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To make your greater Cleveland home as safe as possible, use this home safety checklist:

Electrical safety

• Avoid using appliances and electronics with damaged, frayed or exposed wiring in the cords.
• Follow safety guidelines for electrical outlets, and don’t overload the circuits by plugging too many devices into one outlet.
• Never leave wiring in electrical outlets or light switches exposed. Always cover them.
• Don’t operate appliances that are malfunctioning, overheating or smoking. Dispose of them immediately and replace them with new appliances.

Chemical safety

If you must store chemicals in your home, follow these safety guidelines:

• The location where you store chemicals should be well ventilated to let fumes escape.
• Never store chemicals near a heating device or appliance with an open flame.
• Ideally, you should store toxic cleaning solutions, pesticides, gasoline and the like in a detached garage or shed, instead of the home.

Fire safety

• Be aware of materials that will quickly ignite and cause a fast-moving fire in your home. These materials include old mattresses, furniture in disrepair, papers and boxes in storage, and old clothing. Remove these items from your home if possible.
• If you must keep some of these items in the home, store them far away from electrical equipment, equipment with open flames, and combustible appliances.
• Schedule annual preventive maintenance for all combustible systems in your home to ensure they’re in good operating condition, and to avoid fire hazards. Maintenance also promotes healthy indoor air by preventing combustion gases from getting into the home’s living spaces.

You’ll never regret the steps you take to increase home safety. For more expert advice, or to schedule preventive maintenance for your HVAC equipment or water heater, please contact us at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We serve homeowners in greater Cleveland. Give us call today or visit our website for more information.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about home safety and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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What is a blower door test?

A blower door device consists of these components:

• A frame that fits into a doorway
• A covering that runs along the perimeter of the frame
• Hinges that allow the frame to adjust, fitting into any exterior door
• Gauges that measure air pressure
• A high-powered fan

After the blower door is put in place, and all doors and windows have been closed, the blower is activated, sucking air out of the house. This depressurizes the house until the pressure differential between inside and outside reaches a standard amount. At that point, a computer measures how much airflow is required to keep the home at the standard pressure level. A higher number will indicate more air leaks, which make it harder for the blower to maintain the pressure.

To identify where the leaks are occurring, the technician may move about the home with a smoke pencil, looking for areas where air movement makes the smoke waver. They may also use a more sophisticated test using an infrared scan to both identify the location of air leaks and find where insulation is lacking. This points out where air leaks need to be sealed and insulation needs to be upgraded.

Why should you have a blower door test performed on your home?

With the results of the blower door test, you can run the numbers with the auditor to determine the potential payback of efforts to seal the home’s perimeter. Keeping more air inside the home prevents high energy bills in summer and winter.

For more information about home energy evaluations, or to schedule a blower door test, please contact us at Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide quality HVAC and plumbing services to the greater Cleveland area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Western Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy evaluations and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

For those Do it Yourselfers who would rather take control of your own indoor comfort, you can shop our online store for replacement parts, products and accessories!   

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