High humidity in St. Petersburg

I grew up, went to college and spent many years living in the northeastern part of the country.

I was very accustomed to especially long, snowy and bitterly cold winters.

The furnace ran for approximately eight months per year. I often needed to shovel the walkways and driveway multiple times per day. A wool coat, heavy boots, ice scraper and snow shovel were necessities. When I was able to arrange my job so that I can handle everything online and work from home, I immediately relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida. I now run the air conditioner just about year round. Even in the middle of winter, the nighttime temperature rarely falls below fifty-five degrees. My new home is not even equipped with a heating system. I no longer worry about pipes freezing, the weight of the snow on the roof or icy roads. My concern is issues with humidity. The climate in St. Petersburg is excessively humid. While the air conditioner pulls heat out of the air, it isn’t designed to handle such an abundance of moisture. Because overly humid air feels warmer and rather sticky, it can be tempting to lower the thermostat. I quickly realized that this adds to the strain of the air conditioner and results in much higher energy bills without solving the problem. I also tried portable dehumidifiers. They provided very little benefit and yet required a great deal of work. The reservoirs filled up very fast and became a source of mold growth. I finally consulted with a local St. Petersburg HVAC contractor and invested into a whole-home dehumidifier. The improvement to comfort has been amazing.

New HVAC technology in St. Petersburg Florida

A heat recovery ventilator helps with air quality and utility bills

One of my favorite aspects of living in Springfield, Missouri, is the four distinct seasons.

While fall can be somewhat wet, chilly and windy, the changing colors of the leaves creates stunning scenery. I also appreciate the fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, squash, and zucchini at that time of year. Our local winters are especially long and quite cold, with temperatures often dipping below freezing. We get approximately 18” of snow, which makes the landscape look clean and magical. I don’t mind bundling up to snowmobile, snowboard or cross-country ski. Spring tends to take a while to arrive, but the flowers are worth the wait. I’m always excited to catch sight of the first sprouts of daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. Summers tend to be especially hot and muggy, bringing temperatures in the high eighties or low nineties. The weather does create difficulties with indoor comfort and air quality. We deal with excessive humidity in the summer and insufficient moisture in the winter. The heating and cooling systems take turns operating, with very minimal break in-between. The cost of indoor temperature control is responsible for a significant portion of the budget. Because it’s necessary to keep the windows closed for the majority of the year and the house sealed tight against energy waste, the living space can become overly polluted. I have invested into a heat recovery ventilator or HRV that brings in a constant supply of fresh air. It helps to get rid of humidity in the summer, reducing the workload of the air conditioner and cost of monthly electric bills. In the winter, it uses the outgoing stale air to preheat the incoming air, lessening demands on the furnace and saving money on heating bills.

Springfield Missouri Ductless multi split

Upgrading to a dual fuel system

My husband and I moved our family to South Bend, Indiana, because of an advantageous job opportunity. The significant increase in income allowed us to purchase a sizable piece of property and a home large enough to provide our four kids their own bedrooms. However, relocating from the deep south was quite an adjustment. While the summers are quite warm and somewhat humid, the temperature rarely climbs above eighty-five. The winters are extremely brutal. They are long, freezing cold, snowy and windy. The average snow accumulation is upwards of sixty inches, and the wind chill is downright dangerous. I don’t think I will ever get accustomed to the winter weather. We purchased a house that was outfitted with a forced air furnace to heat the entire house but only window air conditioners. I was not happy with having a window unit blocking the view and destroying curb appeal. Plus, I didn’t like having certain rooms cool and others hot and sticky. When I began researching central air conditioners, I spoke with a local HVAC contractor from South Bend. He recommended that I invest in an electric heat pump. The combination of a heat pump and furnace is called a dual fuel system and provides some major advantages. While the heat pump was a bigger investment than an air conditioner, it supplies both heating and cooling. The heat pump acts like an air conditioner during the summer but reverses operation when the temperature cools off to transfer heat energy indoors. The process is especially energy efficient, making it less expensive to operate than the furnace. When the temperature drops below freezing, the furnace automatically starts up and handles demand for as long as necessary.

 

 

South Bend Indiana HVAC unit

The need for a dehumidifier in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, sees a little more than fifty inches of rain per year.

The summers are extremely hot and humid.

The excessive moisture can lead to some problems. When the air is overly moist, it feels warmer. There is the temptation to lower the thermostat setting. The air conditioner is then required to run longer and strain harder to bring the temperature down. Overcooling the air, however, doesn’t remove the humidity or solve the problem. The result is higher electric bills and greater potential for air conditioner malfunction. When the home environment is overly warm and humid, it creates the ideal environment for growing mold, mildew, bacteria and viruses. Cockroaches, millipedes and dust mites are more prevalent in warm, moist conditions. There are concerns over indoor air quality and health issues. Headaches, difficulty sleeping, nausea and aggravated symptoms of allergies, asthma and respiratory infection can be blamed on the abundance of airborne contaminants. High humidity can cause wood floors, doors, moldings and furnishings to swell and warp. In Tuscaloosa, a whole-home dehumidifier is a good investment. This type of indoor air quality accessory installs right into the cooling system and pulls moisture out of the air as it passes through. The device operates very quietly, allows customized adjustment and news only yearly service. With proper humidity levels, the air feels cooler at higher temperature settings. Reducing the workload on the air conditioner not only trims monthly expenses but also contributes to greater system reliability and longevity. The dehumidifier contributes to a healthier, cleaner, more comfortable and productive indoor environment.

HVAC contractor in Tuscaloosa Alabama

Making improvements to the heating and cooling system

When I moved to Plano, Texas, I really had no idea of what the weather was like. Because of seeing Texas portrayed in the movies as very hot and dry, I was completely surprised by the high humidity in the summer and the chilly winters. It’s not unusual to get a couple of inches of snow per year. With temperatures soaring into the upper nineties and plummeting into the low thirties, keeping a comfortable home is somewhat of a challenge. There are days when it’s necessary to run the air conditioner during the afternoon and still need the heating system overnight. There is rarely a time when I can simply open a window and enjoy the fresh air. Heating and cooling account for approximately fifty percent of the household energy consumption. Because of this, upgrading the air conditioner and furnace was one of my first big home improvements. It was a significant investment because the ductwork installed into my home was outdated and not designed properly. Plus, the previous owners had done quite a bit of remodeling and the ductwork no longer suited the layout of the residence. I found an HVAC contractor that includes sheet metal fabrication to allow for custom designed ductwork. I chose a top-of-the-line air conditioner featuring a 26 SEER and an Energy Star rated furnace that achieves a 98% AFUE. Although the new ductwork, heating and cooling required taking out a loan, I feel it was a worthwhile upgrade. My energy bills are significantly lower every month, all year round. The systems are covered by a manufacturer’s warranty and provide far superior comfort and indoor air quality. The air conditioner does a good job of handling excess humidity and filtering out air contaminants.

HVAC provider in Plano Texas

Snowmelt system is ideal for Minnesota

The weather in Minneapolis, MN is brutally cold, and having an effective furnace is a must-have. How I combat the winters of below chilly temperatures with snow, ice plus freezing is through a powerful heater, but i utilize a boiler system for the winter… The boiler sits in my basement plus happily works all year around. I have it hooked up to my baseboards to create an even heating distribution. Recently I Realized that boilers have even more adjustable operation. It was easy to hook up piping to the boiler plus have it installed under the driveway. The piping then has sizzling water in it that heats the driveway. That way no snow forms on the driveway anymore, but no more ice plus since the car sits on a furnace, it doesn’t have snow or ice on it either. A snowmelt system is imperative for those living in Minnesota, with severe snow plus ice, having it be melted right when it falls is ideal. I save so much money not having a snowblower. I also don’t need to shovel, scrap, or pad in more time before I leave for work. I now have been going around Minneapolis plus boasting about my current furnace. I found an MN heating company that installed my boiler plus was able to do the snowmelt system. The only con was the driveway needed to be ripped up for the installation, but I am entirely glad that I did this since I was able to get the system totally protected plus done right by the local business.

Minneapolis Minnesota heating business

Gas boiler for SD winters

Sioux Falls can get undoubtedly cold.

I have made sure to prepare accordingly… When I moved to SD I researched unusual types of boilers.

I nailed down that I wanted a boiler! They have three unusual fuel types, and you can get a gas, oil, or electric powered one. With gas it is more common but you have a hard upgrade. You need a flue system & gas hookups. You also need to ensure you are good about cleaning it. With a gas powered unit it can really overheat & crash on fire. It can also release carbon monoxide if you aren’t careful, then an oil based boiler is more powerful & burns a hotter flame. However, now you are dealing with an on locale oil tank & additionally are dependent on oil deliveries… Electricity is 100% efficient but it is super fancy to run; For SD winters, an electric based boiler would be a pro investment. I ended up going with a gas boiler. I am lucky that my Sioux Falls heating dealership does yearly service programs. I am already signed up so I never potentially let my heating system run gross, but once a year a corporation comes in to oil, tighten loose parts, & scrub the inner workings. They are able to catch small repairs, improve air quality, & lower my energy bills with usual service, so that is a win-win frogger. So far I have to say the boiler works good in Sioux Falls. It is powerful enough to combat the chilly & chilly lower temperatures. I am grateful I did research before buying.

Sioux Falls South Dakota heating company

Debating on ductless A/C for my Fort Worth office

I have talked to a Fort Worth A/C supplier to see if it can change from central to ductless.

Living in Fort Worth means the priority has constantly been cooling! I debated for quite sometime if I wanted a central or ductless system in my home, but for a while it seemed like a nice idea to have central AC. I worked in Fort Worth & had to leave my home every afternoon at 9. I wouldn’t get back until around three. I would have the A/C off the entire time & to power back on when I returned home, but once I arrived home I was all over the house. I was in my room cleaning, doing laundry, or washing dishes in the sink. It made sense to keep the entire house cool; Well time passed & I eventually started laboring online instead. I don’t need to leave or drive around anymore. I also am stuck in a single space for a long time. When I finally do leave my office I want to be out of the house, and my cooling system is showing signs of age. I have talked to a Fort Worth A/C supplier to see if it can change from central to ductless. I like the idea of having only my office with air conditioning & the rest of the house not to be. I could save so much money. While I am outside, why would I bother with AC? The Texas summers are brutal however with the help of a smart control unit I could come up with a schedule that works so I never am hot inside of my house. I just need to know if I can genuinely make the switch.

Fort Worth Texas Cooling

Debating on ductless A/C for my Fort Worth office

Living in Fort Worth means the priority has always been cooling; I debated for quite sometime if I wanted a central or ductless system in my home… For a while it seemed like a good idea to have central AC.

I worked in Fort Worth plus had to leave my home every day at 9. I wouldn’t get back until around three. I would have the A/C off the entire time plus to power back on when I returned home; Once I arrived home I was all over the house. I was in my room cleaning, doing laundry, or washing dishes in the sink. It made sense to keep the entire house cool, and well time passed plus I eventually started working online instead. I don’t need to leave or drive around anymore. I also am stuck in a single space for a long time. When I finally do leave my office I want to be out of the house! My cooling system is showing signs of age. I have talked to a Fort Worth A/C dealer to see if it can change from central to ductless. I like the idea of having only my office with A/C plus the rest of the house not to be. I could save so much money. While I am outside, why would I bother with AC? The TX summers are brutal but with the help of a smart control unit I could come up with a schedule that works so I never am sweaty inside of my house. I just need to know if I can particularly make the switch.

 

Fort Worth Texas Cooling system

Investing in zone control for my addition

I decided that for my new construction build I wanted zone control

I am a single man in his thirties living in Birmingham, AL, and i have since decided that I am going to sink all my money into my house; Why not? I don’t have a husband or teenagers. I cherish my task as well as I make wonderful money; How much can you absolutely save for retirement right? So I have done a whole bunch of remodeling. I recently put an addition onto my house. It is an office with an linked bathroom. I also added a household gym. With the addition I needed to consider my heating as well as cooling. In Birmingham my buddy and I get both periods of highs as well as lows! So I had to get both. Thankfully the Birmingham, AL Heating as well as Air Conditioning company I found does new construction projects. I could have added air duct to the addition as well as linked it to my central unit, but I would have needed to substitute the size. Since I basically am in the office most of the time, why not only supply Heating as well as Air Conditioning in that one space? The household gym will be used once a morning for an hour, however again, why don’t I have timed heating as well as cooling only when I am in it? No need to create whole household temperature control for a gym I won’t be using until around 9 am, but on the weekends I won’t step foot in the office. I decided that for my new construction build I wanted zone control. I achieved that through a ductless mini split in the two new areas. It was simple to install as well as at a low price. It looks nice, professional, as well as requires minimal upkeep.

Birmingham Alabama air conditioning business