Geo heat pump takes me back

It’s weird getting old.

  • I’m in my early 70’s and some days, I feel every day of that age.

But honestly, most times I feel like I did when I was say 35. It’s like I don’t think differently or feel differently due to age. The only discernible thing is that my body has aged, hurts more and I’ve slowed down. Also, I have so many experiences to draw from when it comes to living life. Still, I have plenty I want to accomplish and one of the things that was on my list is now a reality. I finally built a custom home. My wife died nearly 10 years ago. She died suddenly and that just about wrecked me. I was still working inside the zone controlled HVAC of my business when that happened. But afterward, I just lost the passion for the business my wife and I had built together so I sold it. And I moved back to the region where I grew up as well. That’s where I chose to build the house that should be the last place I live. So I wanted it to be a really cool house. From the HVAC equipment to the kitchen, I wanted to have my stamp on this house so I was really involved with the design. As far as the HVAC equipment, I went with a geothermal heat pump. This thing is amazing in that it’s just remarkably efficient. And this heating and cooling equipment will last more than 30 years. The HVAC heating comes from radiant floor heating and that really takes me back. I grew up in a house not far from here that had a great big boiler in the basement that produced the warmest radiant heating.

smart thermostat

My first house is brand new and has amazing HVAC

When I got out of college, I was lucky enough to score an entry level position with the company I had interned with. This was a big deal and allowed me to start my career track right out of school. The offices I was welcomed to had it all. There was zone controlled HVAC and all sorts of other amenities. It felt like the big time because it was. And that job came with a nice salary. While it was an entry level position, the pay was nothing to sneeze at. But instead of going wild and spending all that money, I had a plan. It was more important to me to get a house and my own HVAC equipment than it was to have a bunch of fancy stuff and a fancy apartment. So I kept my apartment with the not so great quality heating and air, noisy neighbors and cramped space. But the price was right and I was saving a lot of money. I kept taking the bus to work and didn’t buy a car. It went this way for about 7 years before I was able to put a downpayment on a new house. Actually, it was a new planned community that would come with a newly constructed home. So my first home was a brand new one. I was able to pick from several floor plans and the level of appliances as well. When it came to the residential HVAC, I went with the best that the builder offered. And man, am I glad that I did that. The quality heating and air in my home is the best. I mean seriously, it’s the best heating and cooling I’ve ever experienced and it’s in my own home!

Indoor comfort business

Huge profit without too much HVAC hassle

I really wasn’t all that interested in doing all the stuff that had to be done to sell the house.

If the truth be told, I wasn’t all that wild about selling the house in the first place.

But I have to agree that our family home was just too much house for just two people. Still, I don’t like change and I wasn’t happy about all the hassle it was going to take to get the house sold. I’d much rather just enjoy sitting quietly in the air conditioning. However, that wasn’t going to happen. For one thing, that air conditioning was on the list for things that needed to be improved. The realtor had suggested that we upgrade to new residential HVAC equipment. I had to agree. The HVAC equipment was nearly 20 years old and it wasn’t the best. Not to mention the fact that we had almost no HVAC technology with our system. There was a digital thermostat that I finally learned how to program. But other than that, the HVAC unit was a no frills deal. Stil, it had gotten the job done for us. Much of that thanks is due to the HVAC maintenance we made sure the HVAC unit got twice a year. Yet, it was time for that old HVAC unit to go and we needed the latest in residential HVAC to sell the house anyway. I was so pleased that there was zero hassle to this HVAC equipment project. The HVAC professionals took care of the whole thing and we didn’t have to do anything. But I was stunned by the new HVAC and the price that it helped bring for our home.

 

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Whole-home humidifier improves comfort

I live in an area where temperatures below freezing or even below zero are no surprise.

We rely heavily on the furnace for more than half the year.

With especially cold winter weather, the air becomes extremely dry. The constant blast of heat causes problems with insufficient moisture in the home. There’s concerns with damage to hardwood floors, moldings, antiques and musical instruments. The dry air aggravates issues with allergies, asthma, psoriasis and eczema. It can be blamed for headaches, congestion, sore throat, itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing. When the air becomes overly dry, it can be difficult to sleep and take longer to recover from colds and flu. Plus, the air feels cooler, encouraging higher thermostat settings and utility bills. It adds to demands on the furnace and can increase the likelihood of malfunction. I looked into all different types of humidifiers. The portable options are a great deal of work and don’t provide much benefit. They only provide improvement in a single room. There are three styles of whole-home humidifiers that install into the furnace and introduce moisture into the air as it passes through. Bypass, fan-style and steam-style humidifiers improve indoor air quality and comfort. They operate quietly, require only annual upkeep and save enough on the heating bills to recover the cost of installation. I chose a steam-style option because it offers a very natural process and can handle the requirements of a larger home. This type of humidifier uses electrodes to turn water into steam and allows me to customize the level of moisture to preference.

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Window air conditioners are ideal

The summer weather in my local area doesn’t last more than two months.

There are those years when the whole season is chilly and rainy.

At other times, the temperature climbs into the high eighties with excessive humidity. After the super long, freezing cold and snowy winters, I am always anxious to open up the windows and bring fresh air into the house. I am delighted to shut off the furnace and avoid especially high utility bills for a little while. I have no desire to close the house back up and rely on a central air conditioner. My family spends most of our time outdoors. We barbecue on the patio, swim in the pool and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine. There’s no need to keep the whole house perfectly cool. We need the bedrooms to be comfortable for sleeping. The ideal solution for us is window air conditioners. I was able to buy window cooling units at the local home improvement store at a reasonable price. The units are compact, lightweight and easy to install into the windows. Each family member is able to adjust the temperature in their bedroom to personal preference. Despite the small size, the air conditioners provide sufficient cool air to provide ideal comfort levels. They are surprisingly energy efficient. Since we only operate the units at night, the cost on the utility bill is minimal. I like that each model includes a wireless remote that allows us to raise or lower temperature and adjust fan speed without even getting out of bed. I sleep so much better with the air conditioner running.
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Happy with a boiler

Living in the northeastern part of the country, winter is definitely the longest season.

The cold weather often lasts for eight months.

The temperature is in the thirties or below for most of the year. It’s not unusual to experience negative digits with brutal wind chill and up to six feet of snow accumulation. The heating system carries a heavy workload. It needs to be exceptionally powerful, reliable and energy efficient. When we built our house, my husband and I looked into all different types of heating options. We considered forced air furnaces, hybrid heating and a variety of makes and models. After a great deal of debate, we chose a boiler heating system. There are quite a few advantages to an operation that relies on water instead of air to convey heat energy. It won’t dry out the indoor air, eliminating the need to install a humidifier. The boiler runs almost silently and provides a more gentle style of heat. There are no concerns with drafts, cold spots or temperature stratification between the floor and ceiling. As a closed system, the boiler uses the same water and doesn’t draw in contaminants. It doesn’t spread air pollutants into the home. We also had our choice between any combination of baseboard heaters, radiators and radiant floor heating. We opted for radiant floor heating because the equipment is entirely concealed beneath the floor. It doesn’t detract from aesthetics, take up space, or require the furniture to be arranged to accommodate it. We also enjoy the added bonus of zone control. With a thermostat in each room, we can tailor the temperature setting to our preferences and the occupancy of the space.

 

 

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Holes in the ductwork cause complaints with air conditioner

My air conditioner was only three years old when I had some complaints with it.

  • I noticed that the cooling system was failing to manage the heat and the humidity.

Certain rooms were especially overheated and muggy. The air coming from the vents was almost tepid and had a musty smell. There was much more dust circulating in the air than normal, and I had concerns with indoor air quality. Whenever the air conditioner started up, my kids would sneeze and cough. I had problems with migraines and congestion. My husband complained of a sore throat. I blamed the air conditioner. I finally hired a local HVAC contractor to repair the air conditioner. When he inspected the various components of the cooling unit, he found no issues. He then tested the performance of the ductwork and discovered air loss by way of holes and cracks at the seams. He estimated that 25% of the conditioned air was leaking out. Because the maximum amount of air was failing to reach the intended destination, the air conditioner was required to work a lot harder and use more energy. This resulted in higher utility bills and inferior comfort. Those same flaws in the ductwork were also drawing in unfiltered outside air and causing the unpleasant smells and concentration of contaminants. He said that the accelerated wear and tear on components would eventually lead to an air conditioner malfunction. He recommended duct sealing. I wasn’t sure how it was possible to fix all of the little leaks because the pipes are largely concealed inside the walls and ceilings. However, there is a new method that involves pressurized air containing polymer particles getting blown into the ductwork. The supply and return registers are blocked off, sending the air out of the cracks and holes. The adhesive polymer particles stick to the edges, gradually buildup and form an airtight seal. The process was completed within a couple of hours and caused no mess or damage. This type of duct sealing is guaranteed for ten years

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Problems with furnace caused by lack of maintenance

Winter weather arrived far earlier than expected this past year.

It seemed as if one day the outside temperature was in the upper fifties and the next day it dropped below freezing.

I had not yet put away the patio furniture or winterized the pool pump when there was already several inches of snow on the ground. I was suddenly in a rush to put the summer items away and find all of the winter necessities. I needed to locate the snow shovels, ice scrapers, boots, wool coats, hats and gloves. The lawn mower needed to be replaced with the snow blower. I made an appointment to get the snow tires put on the car. Unfortunately, I totally forgot about scheduling professional maintenance for the furnace. I raised the thermostat, noticed that the heating system made a strange noise and the air smelled odd, and then I forgot all about it. I failed to pay attention when the furnace was running longer and more often than normal. When it struggled to keep up with demand, I simply raised the thermostat setting by several degrees. It wasn’t until the heating system quit entirely that I called for service from a local contractor. By that time, we were experiencing a winter blizzard with below zero temperatures and feet of snow accumulation. A lot of people were having complaints with their heaters, and it was difficult to get an appointment. I ended up paying a higher rate for emergency repairs outside of regular business hours. The technician inspected the inner workings of the furnace and discovered a significant buildup of dust and debris. He said that this buildup was the cause of the problem. It had caused the furnace to overheat and shut down. I was lucky that the heat exchanger hadn’t cracked. I would have needed to replace the whole furnace. A thorough cleaning was enough to get the system running properly again.

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Air conditioning professionals should meditate more often

I am a meditation teacher and I absolutely love doing what I do.

  • Teaching other people the power of slowing down and tapping into our inner thoughts and body is something I will never take for granted.

I am constantly looking for opportunities to connect different professions to meditation, and I recently stumbled upon the stress of air conditioning businesses. I live in the South where the summer is quite hot, so air conditioners are basically running nonstop. Air conditioning trucks and vans are constantly parked along the street in my neighborhood to either fix or install new air conditioning systems. Most of the air conditioning companies cover a large radius, so they are traveling and doing manual labor all day long. I recently approached a local HVAC business to do a short guided meditation for the technicians before they headed out for the day. The technicians were so stressed out about the demands of their day, but after the meditation they seemed really relaxed and in control of their outcome. I’ve started to add other HVAC businesses to my portfolio as the word is spreading how meditation can help even the average working man. Working with the technicians definitely has its perks, as they are constantly offering me free inspections and discounts on air conditioning upgrades. I would never say no to a better air conditioner in this hot climate, so it’s been a win-win for me! I’m really proud of all of the guys I’ve worked with so far. They’ve come a long way since our first meditation, and we are just getting started.

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Ductless mini splits are great alternatives to central air conditioning

My family and I go to the beach house every summer for vacation, and that has been our tradition since I was a little girl.

  • The beach house that we stay in has been renovated a few times, but I think they finally have made changes that make sense for the style of the home.

One pretty drastic change they made was to install ductless mini splits instead of having central air conditioning. At first I thought this idea was really silly because central air conditioning seems to be the most favorite way to cool off in such a warm climate. I also like central air conditioning because you don’t have to monitor different units and splits. The owners decided they wanted to switch because the beach house is two stories and running the central air conditioner upstairs didn’t make sense for the amount of months they rent the house out per year. They decided they wanted the mini splits so that the air conditioning can be monitored and adjusted in different parts of the house depending on how many people were staying there at one given time. My brothers and sisters hated the mini splits when we first arrived at the house because they are a bit noisier than the central AC we’ve gotten so used to. But after a few days nobody really mentioned anything about it. We get used to things all of the time. We don’t like change when it happens, but once we stabilize ourselves in the new environment, we don’t even notice it anymore.
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