Kemnitz HVAC Blog

Thank you for visiting our new website!

Tags: Congratulations, Thank You Read More

A properly maintained heating and air conditioning system can last up to 15 years or more. What does properly maintained mean? Well, it means more than just a yearly filter change! It is highly recommended throughout the HVAC community that home and business owners get, at least, a yearly inspection by a trained HVAC technician. (we at Kemnitz prefer ours to also be NATE certified!) Having a quality company, with experienced, highly trained technicians inspect your system yearly means you're getting a more thorough, preventative service. Consider it a yearly "check-up" at the HVAC doctor! During a routine maintenance you could expect a technician: to visually inspect the motor and all electrical components, check the operation and airflow, clean and inspect the condenser and/or furnace, check the gas pressure and/or refrigerant charge, and of course, change your filter if needed. Having this service done regularly will help ensure your system is running at maximum efficiency. It also may help catch potential problems that would lead to expensive future breakdowns, ensuring a long life for your system. Some people think this is an unnecessary yearly expense, but it could end up saving you the expense of having to prematurely purchase a whole new system!

Tags: Untagged Read More

One way a home owner can minimize the number and growth of unhealthy airborne pollutants is to add a proper humidification system to their home. This will help control the relative humidity (rh) in a home, which can have dramatic effects on both your health and bank account!

Carrier's Healthy Air Experts state that in the cold climates, the relative humidity (rh) of outdoor air can be as low as 10%. This is about the same as the Sahara Desert! As cold, dry air infiltrates your home, it can cause a number of unwanted and uncomfortable conditions. We can attribute such conditions as dry nasal passages, sore throats, increased dust and annoying static build up to the dry air that sometimes occupies much of our homes. Humidification systems help to reduce all of these concerns and more. The Healthy Air Experts at Carrier also point out that proper humidity levels during heating may have an impact on comfort and, in some cases, will allow the home owner to reduce the heating set point, thus allowing for energy and cost savings. (Dry air increases the evaporation rate of the body's external moisture levels, causing a cooling effect on the skin. Humidifiers reduce this action)

Humidifiers simply operate by creating water vapor then dispersing the moisture infused air throughout a home.

There are two major types of home humidifying applications:

By-pass Humidifiers: This type offers the most flexible installation process. After mounting the unit on either the supply or return duct, a by-pass duct is connected to the humidifier and then to the duct opposite the unit. As the furnace blower operates, and the higher the pressure builds in the supply duct, air being drawn through the humidifier is dispersed into the living area.

Fan-powered Humidifiers:These come equipped with an internal fan that acts as a booster to the furnace blower during operation. Fan-powered units do not require a by-pass duct. They simply help draw more air through the wet water panel, resulting in moisture rich air being distributed through the home.

One humidifying product currently available is the Carrier "Ideal Humidity" system. The name really says it all. This "Ideal" system will monitor and adjust your home's humidity, even when your system is not actively heating or cooling. This allows for optimal comfort and air quality, (with little or no effort from you!) while helping to save energy usage and costs.

Carrier also passes on a couple of very good reminders about humidification systems that I just could not leave out. #1 - Minerals from the water can build up on the moisture pad, it's important to replace the pad annually to maintain peak performance. #2- When powered humidifiers are installed on the return duct, or with a heat pump, a HOT water supply is suggested.

Tags: Untagged Read More

Air to Air Recovery Equipment : Ventilators!

These days homes are being built tighter for more energy efficiency. It's a logical step in our ever present struggle to save energy resources and as a result - money. A tighter, less leaky home will require less energy to keep climate controlled. What you might not realize is that less air leaked out of a home means less fresh air leaked in. This could mean a dramatic effect to your indoor air quality and health. Carrier's Healthy Air Experts put it best when they said this:
"A solution to Indoor Air Pollution can be Dilution"
The solution to this problem can be as simple as a ventilator. Carrier ventilators are available in both HRV (heat recovery ventilator) and ERV (energy recovery ventilator) models. Both models exhaust stale air from a home and replace it with fresh air from outside, while transferring heat between the air streams. While the incoming and outgoing air streams do not mix, the heat is transferred through a heat exchange core in the ventilator. The heat exchange core is specially designed to capture and transfer maximum heat for maximum efficiency. While ERV's amd HRV's perform the same tasks, there is one main difference. ERV's contain a core that can also handle moisture. So, ERV's are normally used in hot and humid climates, while HRV's are primarily used in climates with much less humidity.

Another option for home ventilation is using a simple powered outdoor vent. When choosing this option ; however , you may want to consider that the powered outdoor vent may cause your home to become pressurized. This may cause the negative effect of drawing moisture into the structure of your home, thus causing a dangerous build-up of mold and other moisture loving microbes. This will not occur with a properly balanced Carrier HRV or ERV system. You should never use any ventilation device where outdoor air is highly polluted or contains strong, offensive odors. This will just cause a larger IAQ (indoor air quality) problem.

For more information on home ventilating we suggest you visit the Home Ventilating Institute Directory at www.hvi.org ! Don't forget to ventilate! Proper ventilation can make your home more comfortable and healthy for all!

Tags: Untagged Read More

NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence, but do you really know what that means?

NATE, headquartered in Arlington, VA, was founded in 1997 and is the largest certification program for HVAC-R technicians in the nation. That includes technicians and contractors in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration. It is currently the only HVAC-R technician certification program that is fully governed, owned, operated and supported by the industry they serve. NATE exams are developed to represent real world working knowledge of HVAC-R systems. Candidates have the opportunity to earn certifications in a variety of service and installation categories.

What does it mean to have a NATE certified servicetechnician or installer in your home or business? It means you're getting the best of the best. These exams are developed by experts from across the HVAC-R industry, and represent a wide variety of perspectives and subject matter. You can count on a NATE technician to be knowledgeable, experienced and professional.

So, next time you make that service or repair appointment, take a moment to inquire whether or not your chosen service company has NATE certified personnel on staff. It could mean a large difference in the quality of service you receive. Remember - When it comes to your air quality and in-home comfort, NATE in Great!

Tags: Untagged Read More

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy recently published a list of simple ways consumers could become more energy-efficient, and with the state of our local and national economies, we couldn't help but pass on a few of these tips.

Here is your checklist for energy-efficient action!

• Turn down the temperature to your water heater. Keep it at the warm setting, aprox. 120 degrees. Not only will this save energy but maybe a few scalded fingers as well!
• Start using energy saving settings on your other appliances. (i.e. - refrigerator, dishwashers, washing machines, etc)
• Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat pump filters
• Check the age and condition of your major appliances. Some older appliances may not be running at the highest efficiency possible
• Assess your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are necessary based on age and current efficiency.
• Visit your local hardware store! Replace, as needed, compact fluorescent bulbs, faucet aerators, and low-flow shower heads
• Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. This could help you save big in the long run!

These are just a few examples of how you can make your home more energy-efficient! For more tips and tricks visit ACEEE's site at http://www.aceee.org/ !

Tags: Untagged Read More

Carrier and Kemnitz Heating and A/C want to make sure your next service appointment is as efficient and smooth as our products! Here are a few items we suggest you check prior to your next appointment.

Pre-Service Checklist

• Know where all your heating and air conditioning units are located.
• Perform basic trouble shooting tactics
  • Check the filter
  • Check the curcuit breaker
  • Turn of the unit if it is frozen
• Check to make sure your thermostat is set to cool
• Write down the model numbers of all your Carrier parts.
• Be ready to clearly explain what symptoms/problems you have had and when they began.
• Make sure your system is accessible and all pets are put away (for our safety and theirs!)
• Make sure an authorized adult is home (someone over the age of 18yrs.)
• Be prepared to answer the phone. Most technicians will call to confirm the appointment when they are heading your way.
• If you are a renter, be sure to have your landlords's approval prior to making an appointment
• Be prepared to make payment at time of service if/when appropriate

Tags: Untagged Read More

Everything you need to know about filtration and more!

Filters are used to remove particles and large biologicals from the air as it passes through the system's air ducts. A general "rule of thumb" to use when selecting the appropriate filter is that the media from which the filter is made of determines down to what size particles that particular media can capture. This is largely based upon how closely and densely the filter fibers in the media are spaced. In other words, when you are looking for the perfect filter, you need to keep 3 things in mind; the material used, the thickness of the filter, and the number of pleats per inch. All of these will determine how the filter will function and how often it will need replacement. (Note: Filters should always be replaced prior to becoming overloaded to avoid system malfunction and health concerns) One other thing to consider when selecting an appropriate filter is the MERV rating, or the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. These ratings are developed from averages of the PSE (particle size removal efficiency). The MERV scale ranges from a low of 1 to a high of 16. The higher the rating, the more efficient the filter will be at capturing smaller particles. This rating should be a strong consideration in homes with occupants who are at risk for lung, allergy and other health concerns.

Types of Filters

Basic Panel Filters: 1 inch thick, coarse filter, which is designed only to protect the furnace or fan coil from bulk dust and large particles. This type is commonly found in home improvement stores as a replacement filter.
2-4 inch Pleated Box/Cartridge Filters: These filter types provide more effective air cleaning than a standard 1 inch filter, and have the ability to capture particles down to 1 micron. All pleated filters have a greater hold capacity, which extends the life of the filter, thus resulting in smaller maintenance costs.

Other Air Purification Aids

Electronic Air Cleaners: These products electronically charge and collect airborne particles onto a collection grid. EAC's (electronic air cleaners) can effectively remove such particles as dust, lint, pollen, and can even trap and remove smoke from the air. The charged particles remain on the collection grid until they are washed away during monthly system cleaning.
Carrier's Infinity Air Purifier: This hybrid between an electric air purifier and a standard media filter is ideal for people with allergies, and homes with small children and elderly. The Carrier Infinity Air Purifier captures particles and kills airborne pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and mold. It has a very high filtration efficiency and germicidal effect, while being extremely easy to maintain. Carrier's Infinity Air Purifier is one of the most complete air purification systems, combining both the large particle filtration of a standard media filter and the fine particle efficiency of an electronic air cleaner.
Ultraviolet Light: Ultraviolet lamps are used in the aid of indoor air quality and employ the use of UV-C light. Other forms of UV light are; UV-A - which is largely used in tanning and UV-B - which is used, in some cases, to aid in the recovery of some skin conditions. UV-C lamps are helpful in enhancing IAQ (indoor air quality) by helping to eliminate microbial organisms that grow on wet surfaces of HVAC systems. The best placement for a UV-C lamp is on the leaving air side of the evaporator coil over the condensation pan, so both areas are irradiated at the same time. One place we often see UV light used is in medical offices and hospitals, where the occupants are at a greater risk for various health concerns and where many more microbes could be floating through the air. It is important to note that UV-C lamps, such as Carrier UV-C Germicidal Lamp, can return an existing unit to an "as installed" condition, which will help reduce maintenance costs over time.

Which ever air purification or cleaning product you choose to use, make sure you are keeping up with scheduled maintenance and replacements when needed. This will ensure you always have the most efficient and effective air purification!

Tags: Untagged Read More

According to the Carrier Technical Resource Guide for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), organizations ranging from the EPA, American Heart Assoc., and even the World Health Organization, are now providing statistics that relate indoor air pollutants to increased risk for serious illness and even death. That's right; some of the worlds leading experts in healthcare are now saying we are at risk just breathing the air inside our homes!! Not only do we need to continue to be concerned with outdoor pollution, allergens and general air quality ratings, we also need to start taking a hard look at the quality of air we and our families breathe when relaxing indoors.

To give you and idea of just how significant IAQ is, the U.S. EPA states, without proper ventilation and air cleaning, indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. 2-5 Times!! The effects and causes of outdoor air pollutants on humans, animals and the ozone have almost become ubiquitous now, but how much do we really know about the causes and effects of everyday indoor air pollutants? For instance, most adults will spend about 90% of their lives indoors. That's 90% of our lives we spend breathing in household dust particles, which can include pollen, mold, bacteria, viruses, pet dander, dust mites, food particles and more. In addition to dust, our lungs have to contend with chemicals released from everyday household items, such as, furniture, paints, carpets and cleaners.

Ok, so I know what you're thinking. What can I do? I can't possibly live without my couch and my favorite "Spring Breeze" air freshener! Worry not, there is another solution! Carrier Healthy Air Expert classifies 3 major key points for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). #1- Eliminating the Source- using less toxic cleaners and keeping a generally clean environment. #2- Ventilating the Space- making sure you have the proper air conditioning and cleaning system installed for your home type and size. #3- Filtering the air- keeping up with the regular maintenance and filter changes.

These are small tasks that can make a large difference in how we feel each day, so take a moment and think about when the last time you had your air conditioner serviced. Has it been awhile? Could you and your family be unncessarily breathing in toxins? If so, Kemnitz Air Conditioning and Heating is here to help! Give us a call, it's a call that could save your health!

**Coming soon - Filters, Air Cleaners and other Purification Products! (Everything you need to know about filtration and more!)**

Tags: Untagged Read More