Your Heating & Cooling

I sit in the back of the building at work in a corner office.

I love my office because it doesn’t get a lot of traffic, I assume because it is the last office before you get to the offices of all the Partners. We call it “executive row” and not many people venture over here to socialize. I don’t mind sitting near “executive row” because I sometimes get to hear exclusive information that has not yet been released to the rest of the company. Last week, while I was sitting in my office, I randomly overheard a conversation that Bill, who is one of the Partners, was having with one of his friends. I believe his friend is also a business owner because he was telling Bill about the new building automation system (BAS) that he just installed in his facility. At first, I didn’t know what he was talking about, but then he mentioned that he uses his BAS to control all the lights, security and fire system as well as the HVAC system. From what I gather, having a BAS is a way to simplify and better manage all the electrical systems in the building. Bill sounded interested as he mentioned that it would be a great way to conserve energy and it would cut down on high maintenance costs. We do spend a lot of money heating and cooling our office space, and we have a few thermostats that control the HVAC systems in our office building. It would make sense to consolidate all the HVAC controls under one network because it would save us money, and it sounds like Bill is considering getting the BAS system for that reason. Anything to save money is the ultimate goal.

air conditioner service plan

If I am trying to purchase electronics or any new piece of equipment, I typically go with a brand that is trusted and that I am familiar with. I also do some research on the internet to see what others are saying prior to making my purchase. Companies rely heavily on customer feedback to boost sales and to increase their target market. If a product has great reviews and is rated with 4 or more stars, it is guaranteed to sell more units. The same applies for HVAC companies. Recently, Carrier was named the best HVAC company of 2022 after receiving a 4.2 star rating. Carrier is a giant in the HVAC industry and was credited for inventing the modern air conditioning system back in the early 20th century. So, it makes sense that over 100 years later the company is trending at number one in the industry, manufacturing over 15 energy-efficient products that include air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, and ductless HVAC systems. I don’t have a Carrier HVAC in my home, but if I were to need a new HVAC, I would first look at the systems made by Carrier, and then compare the products from the other manufactures in the business to them. I know Carrier’s products will be a bit more expensive, but it is wise to spend a bit more, especially if you are getting a reliable HVAC unit. The other manufacturers that had 4 stars or above were Bryant, and Goodman. They also make great HVAC equipment perhaps just as efficient as Carrier. So, I would consider them as well, if I ever need to purchase a new HVAC system.

energy saving tips

To which she answered that she did

Mia and I have been friends since we were in junior high school. We became friends because she came to my rescue when some girls were picking on me in the cafeteria of our school. If it wasn’t for Mia, I don’t know what would have happened to me, so I am grateful that she was kind enough to come to my rescue that day. Mia and I went to the same high school and have remained friends even after we went away to college. We now live in different states, and we haven’t seen each other in almost two years – partly because of the pandemic and the lockdowns. However, now that things are getting back to “normal”, I suggested that we take a quick weekend trip to an island for some rest and relaxation. To my surprise Mia said no because she was concerned about the air quality on an airplane. I asked Mia if she had been to a restaurant lately, and she said yes, and then I asked her if she sat inside. To which she answered that she did. I proceeded to tell Mia that the air quality in airplanes is cleaner and has less pollutants than the air quality in a restaurant. At first, Mia didn’t believe me, so I sent her the study that states that the air inside the cabin of a plane is circulated and exchanged between 10 to 30 times per hour, and the recirculated air goes through HEPA filters, which remove close to 99% of the pollutants in the air. Needless to say, Mia was surprised to see the results of the study, and the good news is, we are headed to the islands next week.
Rooftop HVAC

Working from home has become the new normal for many people.

For me, the experience has been great because it has created more balance in my life. However, for some parents, the ordeal became a huge nightmare. My friend Jessica struggled a lot because she was juggling her full-time job while simultaneously homeschooling her two young children. That is no easy task to conquer, and I can understand the challenges that she faced. So, when the kids were able to return to school, Jessica did not hesitate to send them back right away. However, she was concerned about the air quality in her children’s schools, and she wanted to make sure that the air that they were breathing was free from viruses and pollutants. Having proper ventilation in schools is essential for the safety of children, and the pandemic has brought this issue to the table. It is a reasonable concern, and it should be given the utmost consideration. Fortunately, school boards across the country have had the same concerns, and they have taken a few measures to improve the air quality in several of their schools. Some school boards have approved the use of COVID relief funds to upgrade their HVAC systems, and schools that had no HVAC systems are currently installing them. These multi-million-dollar projects will guarantee that the air quality inside school buildings is clean, and they will help to prevent the spread of viruses. The HVAC upgrades should give parents some peace of mind knowing that their children are breathing clean air when they are at school.

central air conditioning

I love going on vacation and visiting small towns around the country.

Some of my favorite small towns have been places in the South – they are the real hidden gems of the states.

Most of these small towns are filled with local residents who own specialty stores, galleries, and boutiques. They sell unique artwork, jewelry and antiques. I enjoy shopping in these stores because most of these pieces are one-of-a-kind. Last month, I visited one of those small coastal towns in the South, and I stopped inside one of the local art galleries. It was filled with pottery, beautiful jewelry, sculptures, and paintings all from local artists. I found a few pieces that would fit perfectly in my home, so I didn’t hesitate to purchase them. While inside the gallery, I noticed that it was a bit stuffy, and I assume it was because the weather was unseasonably warm. Upon further investigation, I noticed that the air conditioner was not working well. The small gallery had an old window A/C installed in the back of the building, and it was not doing a great job keeping the gallery cool. I didn’t want to be intrusive so I didn’t say anything, but I believe the business should consider getting a ductless mini split system. It would be more energy efficient than the old air conditioner that is currently working extra hard to keep the place cool. Plus, the mini split system would also provide heating in the Winter. The gallery is an old historic house with no ductwork or HVAC system installed, so it just makes sense to get the best option for the space, so that the customers and employees can be comfortable while inside.

 

 

a/c repair

Being a homeowner feels different.

All my life I’ve lived in apartments.

I never wanted to be away from the city. But, after my daughter was born, I knew she would need a different neighborhood. Living in an apartment meant we’d have to go to the park if she was to play outside. But, if I found a bungalow with a back yard, she would play outside whenever she wanted to. It took some time but I finally came across the best house for the two of us. It was in a lovely area and close to some amazing school districts. Moving wasn’t that hard since my brothers stepped in to help sort things out for me. They were the best uncles my daughter could ever ask for. It was summer when we finally settled and I was happy the house came with an excellent AC system. The fact that the seller did an upgrade for the air conditioning was one of the reasons I settled for this bungalow. That and the lovely backyard where my daughter would have a time of her life. Months passed and it was the end of fall. I found myself wondering if I should cover my AC unit to prevent snow from getting in. I chose to ask the HVAC professional who came to service the gas furnace one afternoon. He explained that it was okay to cover the AC unit in winter to prevent debris and other junk from getting in. but, it was nearly impossible to prevent moisture from getting inside the unit. Luckily, it was built to withstand such an issue.

radiant heater

Jeremy is a man who believes in giving excellent service to his customers.

He works in a beauty parlor and is a sort of perfectionist.

It takes him twice as long to finish working on one client, but his boss never complains. Among his employees, Jeremy is among the most on demand beauticians thanks to his excellent work. He began working there straight out of cosmetology school and has continued to excel in his skills. The other day, there was an issue at the beauty parlor. The boss was away so it was up to Jeremy to ensure everything was running smoothly. At about 10 am as they were busy working on clients, the air conditioning system shut off. This wasn’t the normal on and off cycle. The unit went off and no one could get it to work again. This was a huge issue since the beauty parlor was full and it was in the middle of summer. Jeremy had to act fast and got in touch with a nearby HVAC company. He had seen it several times while working and thought they would know how to handle the faulty air conditioning system. It took 3 hours for someone to come by the beauty parlor to inspect the cooling system. This is only after Jeremy called back 3 times. When the HVAC technician arrived, he went straight to work without as much as a hello to Jeremy. Being late and rude wasn’t the best start. Plus, he didn’t even manage to fix the air conditioning system which made Jeremy quite unhappy. Jeremy had to walk over to the HVAC company and give the owner a piece of his mind about proper customer service and efficient work.

 

Digital thermostat

It was going to be rough.

This is what kept ringing in my head the day I got laid off from work.

The whole company was making losses so the decision was to lay off 50% of the staff. Everyone had seen this coming, but it was still a huge shock. This meant I had to look into a few things if I was to survive until I got another job. First, I had to check in with my parents about some money they had offered me. This would help me cover rent for a year and also offset some bills. But, I also had to cut my costs until I was back on my feet. That first month, I took notice of my cooling bill and realized it was too high. Given I’d also incur huge electric costs in winter, I had to find a solution to this. I called the AC business which did my installation to send me an HVAC expert to inspect my unit. Keeping it working efficiently was at the top of my list. As the HVAC expert did the maintenance work, he also spoke to me about installing a smart thermostat. I was skeptical about the ability of a smart thermostat saving me money. But he said I shouldn’t knock the idea off before giving it a try. A smart thermostat makes the cooling and heating systems much more efficient thus regulating energy use. It adapts to the temperature change thus reducing the amount of energy the system uses each day. I was finally convinced and went ahead to order a smart thermostat for my home.

 

 

heating and air conditioning system

My dad is an excellent man. After he and my mom split up, he always made sure he was in our lives. At first, the situation between them was best described as awkward. But, they soon dealt with the hurt feelings and began co-parenting. My mom even managed to find another partner and got married. But, it took dad several years before he was ready to settle down again. His focus was his company and kids. The time he got married again, he bought a lovely home for his new family and we each had a bedroom in it. But, when they got two kids, there wasn’t enough room for all of us. Dad being dad, he wasn’t about to let us not have space in his home. So, he set about converting the garage into an extra two bedrooms. It was a double space garage which would suit us older kids since it was also private. The only issue was figuring out how to air condition the space. Dad has the option of extending the ductwork which only served the house and not the garage. After speaking with an AC worker, he realized this was going to be time-consuming and also cost a lot of money. The other option was to install ductless AC systems. Dad would buy two so that my sister and I had one in each room. The AC worker’s company had a 50% off offer on ductless ACs which dad jumped at. We ended up installing the new ductless AC systems in just a few hours. It was the best decision ever not to extend the ductwork into the garage.
Heating device

My buddies and I used to practice in my parents’ garage. My father used to work on cars in the garage, but he gave up doing that. He also attempted to turn it into some sort of man cave, but he didn’t get very far with it. Still, it was a lot cleaner than it was previously with no aggravating smells. There was a fridge and a ping pong table in there, but that was just about it. Then I asked my father if my buddies and I could practice our music in there, and he said it wasn’t a problem. He actually got a ductless mini split installed in there and we soundproofed the garage. Our practice sessions were pretty nice after that, especially with that HVAC machine he had installed in there. It was nice being able to adjust the temperature control settings how we wanted, and the ductless mini split is super energy efficient so there wasn’t a noticeable spike in the energy bills. Eventually though, I decided to buy my own house. I was working a pretty good job out of high school and things just kept getting better and I was making more money than I thought I’d be making. The house I got is fairly large, and it has a really huge basement. Seriously, the basement is just as big as the floor level of the house. We set up our stage and banner and we have been jamming out. At first, we had to use a couple of window AC units, but then I thought about what my dad did to make the garage comfortable. I ended up installing a ductless mini split in the garage, and we were perfectly comfortable after that. We even perform for a lot of people who come out to visit and at different venues these days.

Quality air conditioner