HVAC system

How UV Lamps Help to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Feb 15, 2016 | Blogs

Over the years, HVAC systems have become more efficient at saving you money on your utility bill. But as they provide efficient air conditioning, has air cleaning efficiency improved as well? Air filters and air purifiers work hard to keep your air clean, but if you want to reach the optimum level of air quality, UV lamps are worth considering. Here’s how UV lamps installed as part of your HVAC system in your Semmes, Alabama home, will allow you to breathe comfortably again.

What is a UV Lamp?

An ultraviolet lamp consists of a bulb that emits ultraviolet light from within your HVAC system. While filters and air purifiers work to decrease airborne hazards from running through the duct system, a UV lamp attacks the mold and harmful bacteria that can grow inside your unit, particularly on and around the air handler coils and on or inside any insulation around the system. The ultraviolet light kills mold and bacteria before it can become airborne and enter your home. The UV technology that could be installed in your HVAC system is the same technology used to sterilize hospital rooms and restaurants. It is also used to sterilize water in some cases. It is harmless to you, but it can rid your home of dangerous hazards.

Benefits of Installing a UV Lamp

Not only will a UV Lamp drastically improve the air quality in your home by attacking mold and bacteria at its source, but it also will increase the efficiency of your system. It is able to do this by freeing up the airflow that can be hindered as pollutants spread or accumulate. It will, therefore, keep your air clean and help to lower your utility bill. In addition, UV lamps are easy to install, and a single UV bulb will last about a year. It is therefore a good idea to have your HVAC technician change the bulb during the annual HVAC maintenance visit. If you have more questions about UV lamps and how they can keep your air clean, or if you’d like a UV lamp installed, give Air Specialty a call today at 251-545-3337.

Appliances Continue to Use Power If Not Unplugged

Oct 15, 2015 | Blogs

Even the most energy-savvy homeowner could be overlooking one very simple task that is impacting their energy bill. Many of your household appliances continue to drain a steady stream of energy even when they turned off. If you are looking for ways to create a more energy-efficient home in Semmes, Alabama, you need to understand standby power and what you can do to truly increase energy efficiency in your home.

Minimize Energy Drain

The most efficient way to stop appliances from using standby power is to unplug them completely, where possible. This might not be practical for your washer, dryer, microwave, and dishwasher, as the outlets are not usually easily accessible. However, for other electronic items, you should always unplug them if they will not be in use for a while. Items such as computers, printers, and gaming and entertainments will use a lot of standby energy. If you find it inconvenient to regularly unplug multiple items, using one or more power strips can make a difference on your energy bill. Power strips with on/off switches allow you to cut the power to several devices at once without having to unplug each. Simply turn the strip off, and power no longer flows to the devices. Power strips effectively reduce energy waste and help you to save.

Upgrade for Efficiency

A smart solution for items that you cannot unplug is to upgrade to energy-efficient models. Energy Star-certified refrigerators, HVAC systems, and other appliances, will use less electricity at all times. So even if you are unable to unplug them, you can still realize savings overall. Energy Star-certified appliances are given that label because they are more energy efficient and help to reduce energy waste. So when next you are looking for appliances for your home, look for those with the Energy Star rating. For more ways you can increase energy efficiency in your home, contact Air Specialty at 251-545-3337. The Air Specialty team provides preventive maintenance and other services that will improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC system. We can also recommend more energy-efficient upgrades so your entire home can be more energy efficient.

Zoning Systems: How They Operate and What Benefits They Provide

Aug 19, 2014 | Articles

Keeping your entire home comfortable and trimming energy bills are the most significant zoning system benefits homeowners reap when they zone their homes. A zoned home is divided into separate areas based on different needs for cooling and heating. Without zoning, temperatures can vary widely throughout the home based on a room’s orientation to the sun, level in the house, and a host of other factors.

Homes that have the same conditioning requirements throughout the structure are rare. A house has exposure in all directions to the sun and wind that can make a difference in temperatures throughout the day. A living area that faces south may be cozy in the winter, but exceptionally warm in the summer.

How They Work

These systems work by opening and closing motorized dampers inside the ducts based on the particular zone’s need for conditioning. Each zone has its own thermostat that connects to a central control panel. The control panel sends a signal to the HVAC system, which turns it on and off in a room or zone based on the thermostat’s settings. At the end of the cycle, the dampers close and won’t reopen until the thermostat triggers the control panel again.

Suitability

Homes that have any of these characteristics are appropriate candidates for a zoning system:

Homes with two or more stories
Homes with finished basements
Those with unused areas
Homes with large expanses of windows, especially on the south or west sides
Sprawling homes
Families whose members have different temperature preferences
Homes with raised ceiling plates or vaults in some of the rooms
Homes with finished, livable areas in an attic or over the garage

Benefits of Zoning Systems

Energy savings. Since a zoning system only provides conditioned air to the areas that need it, it won’t use as much energy as a single zoned home. This cuts cooling and heating bills.
Increased comfort. An evenly comfortable home could be one of the most important zoning system benefits. During the cooling season, rooms that have south and western exposure are typically much warmer. Setting the thermostat to accommodate the extra heat gain can overly cool the rest of the home and drive up energy consumption. Multi-story homes are particularly hard to keep comfortable, especially in the summer as the heat in the attic builds and heat in the home rises to the upper floors. Most two-story homes have the bedrooms placed upstairs, and keeping them comfortable at night without over-chilling the downstairs is easy with a zoning system. Kitchen and family rooms are another area where heat tends to build faster than other areas in the home.
Quiet operation. The HVAC system won’t need to run at top speed each time it turns on, which quiets its operation. Anyone whose bedroom is near the air handler will appreciate a lower noise level when the system does turn on.
Effortless operation. When you combine a zoning system with programmable thermostats in each zone, you won’t have to remember to turn them up or down based on when you use that space. Combining a system with WiFi thermostats gives you remote control over the temperatures in each zone of the home. If you won’t arrive home until later than you planned, you can simply delay the time the system turns on.
Prolong system life. Any HVAC system that doesn’t have to operate at full speed will last longer, since there’s less stress on the components.

Installation

The easiest way to reap zoning system benefits is with a new heating and cooling system designed for zoning. However, the systems can be installed in retrofit situations. Dampers are available for standard ductwork sizes. Your HVAC contractor can show you the options available that will work with your system, its ductwork configuration and your home’s floor-plan layout.

If you’d like to learn more about zoning system benefits, contact the NATE-certified professionals at Air Specialty. We’ve provided superior HVAC services for homeowners in the Mobile, Ala., Saraland, Ala., and Lucedale, Miss., areas since 1993.