We have talked earlier why it is important to have the attic properly insulated or given new insulation when upgrading to an energy-efficient system. This blog is meant to highlight the different types of Attic Insulation, their cost value and what homes they are ideal for.

1. The cheapest - The Fiberglass

Fibreglass Insulation is used in every other Toronto home for all the cost-effective reasons. Although the fiberglass is the least expensive, it rating is also relatively very low when it comes to efficiency. Owing to the ease of installation, fiberglass is often the first choice of DIY approach homeowners because it is cut in custom length and width leaving homeowners with the only job to roll it in the spaces of the attic.

Note here that this type of installation, though, is most favorable for less humid climates, it is not ideal for very humid climates.

2. The Foam Boards - Effective Air Barrier

Fiberglass does not offer an effective air barrier. Therefore, a step up from fiberglass in efficiency and price is the rigid foam boards. They offer a structural layer and therefore are ideal for those who want to add to the thickness of the existing attic insulation. The rigid foam boards cannot be set fit by default into the attic. They in fact need to be cut and fit according to the spaces that need to be filled.

Lack of sufficient knowledge about HVAC warranties, as we always mention, is the primary factor behind homeowners experiencing frequent warranty claim rejections. HVAC warranties can not only save you bucks on repairs and maintenance, but they can also be of great use if a unit fails to perform or manifest production faults. However, neither replacement expenses nor repair dues is paid by the company if a homeowner knowingly or unknowingly voids his warranty. The unit no more remains covered even if the initial warranty offered 10 or 15 years of warranty. So the point lies in ensuring that the warranty remains valid. And this is only possible when a common homeowner is equipped with sufficient knowledge about HVAC warranties.

This blog is dedicated to discussing some basic know-how about the HVAC parts warranty. How a unit replacement is ensured and what factors need to be proven to get a replacement unit or replacement parts.

The must-know conditions for Parts Replacement

- In order to claim a part replacement or unit replacement, a homeowner is necessitated to contact a certified HVAC contractor who inspects the units and proves that the problem has arisen as a result of the manufacturing fault. The claim is then made to the company proving the fault in the unit. Depending on the situation, a part or unit replacement may take place.

- Regarding the parts warranty, note that some parts of the unit have relatively more warranty than the unit itself or the other parts. For example, the critical parts like compressor, heat exchanger in Furnaces and coils in Air Conditioners usually have more warranty. The part must be claimed within the offered duration; 5-10 years.

- Replacing a unit from one place to another without professional help voids the warranty; however, if it is the homeowners who change places and a new homeowner comes to the house, he can still claim the warranty.

What happens after the conditions are met?

As mentioned, in order to claim a parts warranty, a certified HVAC contractor must inspect the unit. Once the problem is proven, the defective part is then purchased from a certified dealer and is replaced. During the inspection, if other parts are also found to be problematic and are not covered under warranty, the homeowner has to pay for such parts.

Will you have to pay for labor costs?

The certified HVAC contractors, when they first install the unit, offer a one year of installation warranty which means any issues in the installation will be covered for free within the given time. Covering all service costs within the duration of one year is now a common practice. Although there is no hard and fast rule, in most cases, you will not have to pay for the labor cost as long as the unit or the parts that need to be replaced are covered by warranty.

Have you ever experienced a scenario in which a unit or part replacement was made because of the manufacturer's fault? If yes, was the experience smooth?

It is indeed a frustrating situation when your indoor unit of mini-split Air Conditioner system starts leaking. This is because the inside wall unit has a coil that aims to pull moisture from the air as it cools. When the drain pipe gets clogged with the dust; it makes condensation to drip down and far away from the unit. The issue not just affects the home comfort but leads to water damage that no homeowner wants to deal with!

Luckily the problem can be solved with a little HVAC know-how. Read on to learn the basic steps to get out of this problem.

Many contaminants like formaldehyde, retardants, tobacco smoke, radon, dust mites, pet dander, and combustion smoke exist in a home. These pollutants make our home five times more polluted than the outdoor environment. Keeping floors fresh, making home no-smoking-zone, testing the radon and not to mention ventilation that moves fresh air in and stale air out can significantly make the air cleaner and healthier to breathe! But still, some home requires air purifiers to get rid of stubborn contaminants.
Walk through our in-depth guide and learn more about air purifiers, installation, repair cost, and maintenance tips. 

All duct cleaning service providers are not equally responsible and trained. Talk to different companies and get the written statements before choosing a company. Ask them to come up with relevant state license, and whether they have experience on a system like yours. Make sure not to hire cleaners who assert unsubstantiated claims about health benefits and don't go for those who urge you to have cleaning as the routine part of the heating and cooling system. Here we present SUGGESTIONS for choosing a reliable duct cleaning service provider and ways to determine if the service provider did an excellent job.

It is not wrong to say that we heavily rely on Air Conditioners to beat the heat and when we have an infant or elderly at home, it becomes essential to have fully functional AC for their overall health and wellbeing.

Firstly, the Air conditioner should not be taken for granted because when it breaks down, we can’t keep the serenity and straightly get mad. Before you fret, it’s better to assess the problem and identify the real reason behind this trouble. However, it sometimes gets difficult to figure out the exact issue – especially when AC has not been timely serviced.

They say, 'Prevention is better than cure''. And they say it right. Adopting preventive measures to avoid Air Conditioner fires can save you from massive property damages and life losses. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) of the United States provided with astonishing figures of annual damages and losses caused by Air Conditioner fires. Here is a summary of the 2016 report covering the data for the year 2014;

- Around 78,000 home structure fires were reported to have been caused by AC fan or other Air Conditioner equipment. 
- A life loss of 50 people was recorded in 2014 in the US alone while over 200 were sent for medical treatment as a result of mild or severe injuries.
- A property loss of 213 million dollars also resulted from these fires.  
- From 2006-2010, up to 2,500 fires were caused by Air Conditioners annually. The fires caused by Heat Pumps were 500 (This does not imply that heat pump does not cause a fire. The difference in the number is due to the fact that more people use Air Conditioners).

What causes Air Conditioner Fires? 

Since Air Conditioner is an electrical-mechanical appliance, the fires usually have the very reason behind; electrical or mechanical. For example; up to 33% of fires in previous years were caused by failing insulation of the wire or cable, short-circuiting, over-heating of the appliance or poor wiring material used. 

Ways to prevent Air Conditioner fires 

- Strictly avoid over-usage

As mentioned above, over-usage was among the top reasons for fires as it over-heats at the appliance. It is common among Canadian homeowners to constantly run the Air Conditioner during hot summers. But whether it's a Split Air Conditioner or a Central Air Conditioner, non-stop usage is one BIG MISTAKE. And since a lot of people haven't yet shifted to Programmable or Smart Thermostats, the AC keeps on running on unusually high temperatures resulting in high bills and burdening the system.
So the solution is; avoid over-usage of the appliance and follow the right practices; turn off or lower the system when not in use. Choose hours of the day to give rest to the system. Use additional appliances; fan, portable Air Conditioner or fans as alternatives to give rest to the system and to use them when there are only a few people at home. 

- Maintenance ensures safety 

While a lot of homeowners think that the rant of HVAC technicians about Air Conditioner maintenance is just their way of ensuring more customers to make more money, the truth is that maintenance is a genuine need of the appliance. And, avoiding or postponing it becomes the cause of big loss and massive damage. Almost all the reasons for fires caused by Air Conditioner can be traced back to this one reason of no or bad maintenance. For instance; dirty filters cause fires, damaged wires that do not get in time repair cause fires, improperly functioning of fan motor cause fires, dried operational parts which produce sparks cause fires and the list of reasons goes on. All these reasons are those which can be identified and fixed if the appliance is given in time maintenance. 

To cut the long story short, the simplest and easiest ways to avoid Air Conditioner fires is to;
- Avoid over-usage
- Provide the system with regular maintenance 

Usually, the noise and odour problem in the typical Central/Duct Air Conditioners are attributed to the duct system itself which harbours dust and debris, mould and spores. These elements in the duct later become the source of loathsome odours and irritating noises as the components get clogged and the airflow is hindered. But since the ductless system does not have a duct, why do these units too produce the same issues? In this blog, we shall explain why the Ductless Air Conditioners develop noises and odours. Simple DIY solutions shall also be discussed.

Odourous Split Air Conditioner - Fix it!

Causes:

The cause of a split unit giving odours, as it is turned on is the dirt developed inside of it. As you might already know that a ductless operates on the principle of pulling the warm indoor air outside, treating it with the condenser (which result in condensing the air and turning the warm air into liquid) and sending the cool air back into the indoor. Since the air is not generated by the AC, it is the indoor air which is full of dust and debris that keeps going in and out. Although there are filters installed in the system, these filters do not trap all dirt. As a result, this dirt goes and sticks back into the compressor unit components. Also, the liquid of condensation sometimes does not get drained because of clogged condensate line. As a result, mould is developed. So every time, a cycle of air is treated to be circulated back in the indoor, all these odours also go along with that air. And it is for this reason that every time the AC is turned on, a very detestable odour is circulated in the indoor.

Solutions:

You might already have discovered the solution.
i. Clean/replace the AC filters
ii. Also, use a hose (of not a very high pressure) and clean the condenser unit as well so as to clear all the dirt
iii. Check the condensate line and clear it if found clogged 

Noisy Split Air Conditioner - Fix it! 

Causes:

Split Air Conditioners usually have very unfelt operational noise. Many latest models have almost no operation noise at all. But even the split units can become extremely noisy and when they do, they can keep you as well as your neighbours awake. The most common reasons for the noisy unit are;

- Loose cabinet: Since the compressor unit vibrates as it operates, the nuts keeping the cabinet together are loosened. As a result, they vibrate and bang with their closes part causing a noise. 

- Bent or clogged blade: A clogged fan blade could be another reason for the noise. But in case you have serviced the unit only recently, there are chances that the fan blade has been bent. 

- Use a torchlight to see if the components inside are clogged. Sometimes, especially when the outdoor unit is not covered during intense weathers, the components develop hard clogs. They still work with those clogs but not without causing big bang sounds. Consider giving a clean up to the unit. 

Solutions:

- Tighten the screws of the cabinet if found loose
- Check the blade for clogs and using a medium pressure water pipe, clean it
- Thoroughly clean the entire unit, so that all clogs go away

How often do you experience noise and odour problems in your Ductless Air Conditioner? How do you fix them? And how often do you have to spend a massive sum on these petty issues.

Optimal Temperature

Ensuring optimum temperatures at night will allow you to get a better night's sleep and save energy cost simultaneously. Temperatures should fall in the range of 21 to 23 degrees Celsius during the heating season when the members of the household are in the home and awake. When occupants are asleep or away, it is recommended between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius.

Air Humidity

The air humidity level can affect your home comfort as well as your heating or air conditioning unit's proper functioning. If humidity somehow becomes the major hurdle of your home comfort; then consider a humidifier or dehumidifier as per your home’s requirements.

Air Quality

To protect the health of household members, indoor air quality is extremely important. Mold, fungi, bacteria, pollen, and spores are the major pollutants. This is how you can protect yourself from the unhealthy air: - Avoid exercising or spending time outside when the pollution level is high. - Refrain everyone to smoke indoor and use precautionary measures to keep your nearby area tobacco-free. - Go for the electric lawn care equipment and avoid using gasoline-powered machinery. - Don’t exercise near high traffic areas and try to use less electrical energy since more energy consumption will lead to bad air quality.

Proper Air circulation

Using your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is one of the easiest ways for air circulation. You can do this by setting the "fan only" option to your system. This system allows passing indoor air through the filter system. You can also use ceiling fans in your place which effectively move air around the room.

Professional Duct Cleaning

Professional cleaning of your home air ducts also protects your health and energy costs. Many nasty things such as dust, cobwebs, fungus, and even mold can collect in your ductwork. Your furnace will need to work harder to filter and push clean air in your entire home with this waste piled up.

Smoke Detectors and Carbon-monoxide detectors:

It is recommended to have installed one carbon monoxide and smoke detector on each level of the home, especially near bedroom or sleeping areas to maintain an ideal comfort for your home and avoid unhappy accidents.

Wrapping up the article:

People spend so much money on household energy, particularly for heating and cooling homes. How much you spend is contingent upon the area you live and the length of the season. As per the recent Stats Canada survey, natural gas is being utilized by half of the households in Canada while timber usage is considered a secondary source to create an ideal ambience. But to keep your place cool or warm, make sure to choose wise steps which can save your cost and maintain the home comfort effectively.

Why is it essential to have regular furnace tune-ups?

 

The benefits of regular Furnace Inspection:

What to expect from a Furnace Inspection?

Other ways to prolong the life of a Furnace:

Cloggy Air filters can spike up the bills

Keeping Furnace for too long

Closing supply registers:

Increasing temperature of a Thermostat:

Not Buying the right size:

Running Furnace All day:

Prioritizing price only: