Month: May 2013

Airtight construction through the use of solid materials and modern carpentry methods seals out leaks and keeps your Longview home draft free and energy efficient. Insulation helps keep the heat inside (or outside in the summer). The disadvantage to an airtight home, however, is that the trapped indoor air can lead to unhealthful conditions and high moisture and humidity levels. That’s why it’s so important to have an effective ventilation system in your Longview home.

Airtight homes should be constructed of materials that won’t leach toxic fumes or particles into the air. They also should be resistant to moisture and mold growth. It’s important that a home is able to dry out after wet Texas weather without retaining moisture.

Another potential air quality hazard is fumes from appliances that use combustion, like gas furnaces or water heaters. A way to avoid this is to place these appliances in their own spaces, away from living quarters, with separate ventilation systems. Oven range fans and bathroom exhaust fans also help to move poor air outside before it degrades indoor air quality.

In Longview where it’s often hot and the air conditioning is on regularly, humidity problems can be a big problem without proper dehumidification and ventilation. It can lead to an excess of moisture, which damages hardwood furniture, endangers health and creates odors. Uncontrolled moisture can cause toxic mold growth. Humidity can be partially controlled with the right size air conditioner. Make sure the unit is not too large; it should provide long cooling cycles with enough running time to remove humidity.

Above all, a whole house ventilation system is one of the most important pieces of equipment to add to an airtight home. It will solve both air quality and moisture problems when it’s placed in a location where fresh air is plentiful – not where it will draw in exhaust fumes from a garage or roof. A balanced ventilation system not only brings in fresh air; it removes stale air and helps control humidity and moisture.

With our experienced, factory-trained technicians, JD’s A/C can help install the right HVAC equipment and ventilation system to regulate air quality and humidity in your Longview home. Contact us to find out more how to keep your home airtight and healthful.

At JD’s A/C, we know that our friends and neighbors in the Longview, TX, area depend on great air conditioning to beat the intense summer heat. One of the best ways to keep your cooling system running at peak efficiency and minimize air conditioner maintenance costs is to maximize air circulation. Here are a few ways to help air circulate in your home and maintain a comfortable temperature all year long.

Doors and Windows

Perhaps the simplest way to improve circulation in your home is to open doors and windows to let in breezes. A secondary screen door can allow you to leave your front door open through much of the day and let fresh air in and out of the house. Of course, make sure your air conditioner is off whenever the doors and windows are open.

Ceiling Fans

Many people make the mistake of thinking that air conditioners act as a replacement for ceiling fans; each system makes the home cooler, so there is no need to have both. In reality, ceiling fans and air conditioners play complementary roles. Heat tends to rise, so hot air tends to collect up at the top of the room, where an air conditioner needs to work very hard to cool it down. A ceiling fan, however, circulates that hot air downward to reduce the strain on the air conditioner.

To take full advantage of the benefits of ceiling fans, we recommend investing in an Energy Star rated fan. Remember that some fans come with reverse settings that can help improve air circulation during the heating season as well.

Air Filters

An essential component of your air conditioner, the air filter removes dust and debris from the cool air that flows out of the system before it enters your home. Advanced air filters remove more pollutants from the air, but they can also slow down air flow under some circumstances. Consult your air conditioner’s documentation and make sure it can accommodate a more powerful filter before you upgrade.

Cleaning or changing the air filter on a monthly basis is an important part of air conditioner maintenance; if the filter is clogged with debris, the circulation of air through your cooling system will slow down. If your air conditioner use a disposable filter, go to a factory authorized dealer to find replacements that fit your make and model; don’t settle for generic filters from a hardware store. If you have a reusable filter, the best policy is to wash it in cold water and let it air dry before you put it back in the air conditioner.

Attic Venting

If left unchecked, stale air in your home’s attic can slip through the attic floor and impact circulation throughout the house. Setting up an attic vent is a job best performed by ventilation experts, but if you invest in one, your home should benefit from improved air circulation for many years to come.

At JD’s A/C, we know that our friends and neighbors in the Longview, TX, area depend on great air conditioning to beat the intense summer heat. One of the best ways to keep your cooling system running at peak efficiency and minimize air conditioner maintenance costs is to maximize air circulation. Here are a few ways to help air circulate in your home and maintain a comfortable temperature all year long.

Doors and Windows

Perhaps the simplest way to improve circulation in your home is to open doors and windows to let in breezes. A secondary screen door can allow you to leave your front door open through much of the day and let fresh air in and out of the house. Of course, make sure your air conditioner is off whenever the doors and windows are open.

Ceiling Fans

Many people make the mistake of thinking that air conditioners act as a replacement for ceiling fans; each system makes the home cooler, so there is no need to have both. In reality, ceiling fans and air conditioners play complementary roles. Heat tends to rise, so hot air tends to collect up at the top of the room, where an air conditioner needs to work very hard to cool it down. A ceiling fan, however, circulates that hot air downward to reduce the strain on the air conditioner.

To take full advantage of the benefits of ceiling fans, we recommend investing in an Energy Star rated fan. Remember that some fans come with reverse settings that can help improve air circulation during the heating season as well.

Air Filters

An essential component of your air conditioner, the air filter removes dust and debris from the cool air that flows out of the system before it enters your home. Advanced air filters remove more pollutants from the air, but they can also slow down air flow under some circumstances. Consult your air conditioner’s documentation and make sure it can accommodate a more powerful filter before you upgrade.

Cleaning or changing the air filter on a monthly basis is an important part of air conditioner maintenance; if the filter is clogged with debris, the circulation of air through your cooling system will slow down. If your air conditioner use a disposable filter, go to a factory authorized dealer to find replacements that fit your make and model; don’t settle for generic filters from a hardware store. If you have a reusable filter, the best policy is to wash it in cold water and let it air dry before you put it back in the air conditioner.

Attic Venting

If left unchecked, stale air in your home’s attic can slip through the attic floor and impact circulation throughout the house. Setting up an attic vent is a job best performed by ventilation experts, but if you invest in one, your home should benefit from improved air circulation for many years to come.

A heat pump is one of the most efficient cooling and heating systems you can choose for your home. You can expect to save quite a bit of money over the years. But you can boost your savings even more by getting your Longview home ready for that new heat pump. There are plenty of things that you should do in preparation for the installation. Here are some of the important things that you should not overlook when you’re prepping your home.

Getting a load calculation: This is an extremely essential step that helps you determine your heating and cooling needs. Your installer should use the industry standard Manual J method to determine your cooling load and the size of your new system. A system that’s too big or too small will undermine your energy savings.

Check your duct system: Your professional installer should check your duct system and seal any leaks. If your system is going into a home that you’re building, work with your contractor to ensure that the duct runs are as short and straight as possible. Your ducts shouldn’t run through any unconditioned spaces, either.

Your contractor should also help you determine the number of supply registers you need. Ideally, every room in your house should have a supply and return register. Remove any objects that may be blocking your registers.

Energy audit

To improve your home’s overall efficiency, it’s a good idea to get a handle on where you’re losing energy. A professional energy auditor will use equipment like the infrared scan and a blower door test to detect leaks in your home.

For expert heat pump installation and service, contact JD’s A/C. We’ve been helping homeowners in the Longview area for many years. Give us a call. We’re happy to help you, too.

A heat pump is one of the most efficient cooling and heating systems you can choose for your home. You can expect to save quite a bit of money over the years. But you can boost your savings even more by getting your Longview home ready for that new heat pump. There are plenty of things that you should do in preparation for the installation. Here are some of the important things that you should not overlook when you’re prepping your home.

Getting a load calculation: This is an extremely essential step that helps you determine your heating and cooling needs. Your installer should use the industry standard Manual J method to determine your cooling load and the size of your new system. A system that’s too big or too small will undermine your energy savings.

Check your duct system: Your professional installer should check your duct system and seal any leaks. If your system is going into a home that you’re building, work with your contractor to ensure that the duct runs are as short and straight as possible. Your ducts shouldn’t run through any unconditioned spaces, either.

Your contractor should also help you determine the number of supply registers you need. Ideally, every room in your house should have a supply and return register. Remove any objects that may be blocking your registers.

Energy audit

To improve your home’s overall efficiency, it’s a good idea to get a handle on where you’re losing energy. A professional energy auditor will use equipment like the infrared scan and a blower door test to detect leaks in your home.

For expert heat pump installation and service, contact JD’s A/C. We’ve been helping homeowners in the Longview area for many years. Give us a call. We’re happy to help you, too.