Cooling Tips

Central Air Conditioning Tips

• A Set Comfort Level — Set your air conditioning thermostat to 78° Fahrenheit, a comfortable temperature for most people. Keeping your A/C at a constant temperature could cut your energy costs by as much as 30%.
• Tune-up Time — Clean or replace your air conditioner's filter regularly to help it run more effectively.
• Keep It Clear — Shift heat-producing items away from your thermostat, as heat emitted by television sets, lamps, computers, and other electronics will cause your A/C system to work harder to stay at the optimal temperature.
• Use One at a Time — Do not run evaporative coolers or humidifiers at the same time as your air conditioner, as these are opposite cooling processes and leaks, drafts, and moisture added by humidifiers and evaporative coolers force the air conditioner to use more electricity.
• Keep Cool Air In — Insulate your home and caulk or weather-strip around doors and windows to keep cool air inside and cooling costs down.
• Use Zone Cooling — Close doors and/or vents to rooms that are not frequently used. (To avoid damage to your central cooling system, close off no more than one-fourth of the vents in your home.)

Other Indoor Coolers

• Fans are Cool — Use a portable or ceiling fan to circulate air. Fans cool just the areas you need, and they use less electricity to operate than do air conditioners.
• Windows Cool, Too — During the day time, open windows for cross ventilation and close screens or drapes to shade direct sunlight out and lower your cooling costs.
• Room A/C — Limit using your room air conditioner unit only when the space is occupied and set the thermostat to 78% or higher. If you have a window unit, ensure that the installation is properly insulated, secured, and free of indoor leakage.

Cool Outdoor Tips

• Misty Coolers — Many recreational and some public business centers now offer misty umbrellas or patio areas to help you stay cool while enjoying outdoor activities.
• Stay Hydrated — Drink plenty of water or cool beverages to stay hydrated during the hot summer.
• Dress Appropriately — Wear light-colored light-weight clothing, protective eye wear, and a head covering to help protect your skin, or use an umbrella, especially if you are sensitive to extreme weather.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

UVC Lights

Today's homes have excellent air sealing that keeps conditioned air inside to improve your comfort system's energy efficiency. But airtight homes also trap contaminants - mold, bacteria, viruses and pollutants - that can trigger allergy symptoms and asthma attacks. A Ultraviolet Germicidal Light (UVC Light) destroys the DNA of living organisms. Combine it with a high-efficiency air cleaner, and you'll improve the hygiene of the conditioned air circulating through your home, while keeping your system running cleaner and more efficiently.

Cleaner, healthier air.
Mold, fungus and harmful bacteria are killed in their tracks so your home's air quality is restored back to freshness. You'll also benefit from reduced allergy symptoms and asthma attacks.

No foul odors.
That funky smell, otherwise known as "dirty sock syndrome," is a by-product of microbial growth on your wet coil. Upon installation, the UVC light both prevents and eliminates these unpleasant odors.

Improved system performance.
Microbial organisms restrict airflow and limit heat transfer capability, increasing the operating cost of your equipment. The UVC light makes it impossible for these organisms to survive, so your system runs at peak efficiency.

Save money.
The UVC light continuously cleans the coil and drain pan, making your system run more efficiently, resulting in less energy use and lower utility bills.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Carbon Monoxide Detector

California homeowners are required to install carbon monoxide detectors.

A carbon monoxide detector or CO detector is a device that detects the presence of the carbon monoxide (CO) gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. CO is a colorless and odorless compound produced by incomplete combustion. It is often referred to as the "silent killer" because it is virtually undetectable without using detection technology.

California Law Requirements

Here are important facts about the carbon monoxide law below. You can view the entire law on the California State Senate website.

• Who It Impacts: All existing single-family homeowners that have fossil-fuel burning appliances, fireplaces and/or attached garage.
• What The Law Requires: A carbon monoxide detector must be installed in these homes.
• How Much Does A Detector Cost: Carbon monoxide detectors cost anywhere from $10-$50. You can compare prices here.
• How Is The Law Enforced: People requesting homeowner loans will have to show that they have installed carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
• What About Apartments: The law will require all other types of residential units other than single-family homes to have carbon monoxide detectors by Jan. 1, 2013. The owner of the rental unit will be responsible for installing the detectors.
• Fines: You will get a warning to install a carbon monoxide detector within 30 days of notice. If you fail to do so, fines will be up to $200.

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Protect your Air Conditioner from Tampering

Refrigerant theft has been a well-known problem for years. However, an even larger problem is that most refrigerant is not being taken for resale, but is being consumed as a drug. Unprotected refrigerants are easily accessible with a simple pair of pliers or fingers, and the thieves can sniff the refrigerant directly from the valve or store it in a plastic bag for later use. Unfortunately, the "high" or "rush" an individual gets from "huffing" is from the oxygen being displaced in their body. This has resulted in documented cases of brain injury and even death to individuals.

A service call to refill freon costs between $275 to $300-dollars and it's the homeowner who gets stuck with the bill, To find out that there was no problem with the system is very frustrating. But people who get high from freon are the ones that could pay the ultimate price.

To combat the serious problem, Novent LLC developed a simple tamper resistant cap that can stop the theft of refrigerant. The Novent Tamper Resistant Refrigerant Cap requires a special tool to apply and remove the product, making it virtually impossible for a thief to access the refrigerant. The Novent caps also protect refrigerant cylinders. The caps are anodized to match refrigerant color codes and stamped with the chemical codes. This prevents mixing of different refrigerants.

The Novent patented locking caps, which can only be installed and removed with a special screwdriver or MultiKey key-ring wrench, are available only through licensed HVACR contractors.

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com