Johnny On the Spot Blog: Posts Tagged ‘HVAC Services’

3 Ways To Insulate Your Home For Winter

Wednesday, November 1st, 2017

Winter is fast approaching. Therefore ensure that your home is properly insulated for this chilly season. This is not just to keep your home warm, but also to make sure your HVAC’s performance is optimized, and its efficiency is secure throughout the season. And of course, you wouldn’t want a scary, soaring utility cost at the end of each month, would you? So, let’s gear up and start insulating!

Here are three cost-efficient and easy ways to insulate your home:

Draft-Proof Your Home

If you feel any draft entering your home, you should patch up all the places where it can possibly enter like the gap between your door and floor, the space and cracks between your windows, and your attic.

Seal Your Windows

Run your fingers across and around your window to find out whether your window has small cracks in it, or if there are any small spaces where outside air can get through. If you feel some cool air brushing your fingertips, then you just caught an open crack! Patch it with the caulk of your choice. You can choose between the latex variety and the silicone which is more flexible to weather and temperature changes than the latex.

Fill in the Gaps

The draft can also come from underneath the gap between your door and the floor. To prevent the cold wind from entering, place a draft snake beneath or if you have any foam pipe lagging, you can also use it as an alternative to draft snakes. For the spaces between the wall and your doors and windows, use an insulating tape to seal it away.

Pay Attention to Your Attic

Your attic should not be considered as just a mere storage room. As part of the insulating process, you must pay close attention to this section of your house. Warm air can easily escape from your attic and likewise, it is an easy entrance for cold, bitter winds to get through your home. You can do a simple Do-It-Yourself attic insulation or, if you are uncertain how to do it, you can always ask for a professional’s help.

There are usually two types of materials used in attic insulation: first, the loose fill which is ideal for irregular attic joist spacing and second, the batt which is best for attics without insulation but have standard joist spacing.

Use Insulated or Layered Curtains

Heat from your home can easily escape if your windows don’t have curtains at all in them or if you are using a thin curtain layer. Aside from adding beauty to our homes, curtains also aid in our home insulation. Use an insulated curtain for a longer-lasting heat suppression inside your home. If such is not available, apply several layers of curtains which you already have in hand. You can also use thick cloths like wool or fleece blanket as curtains.

Determine Your Heating Area

Not all area inside your home needs equivalent temperature. Which part of your home do you frequently stay? Once you determine the zone you usually spend time in, you can set the other temperature from the rest of your home to a lower heating degree. Remember to always keep your room’s door shut to optimize your HVAC’s heating process and maintain the warmth inside that area without exerting too much effort on your heating system.

Insulating your home helps keep your family comfortable throughout the winter season. It also helps your HVAC to work more efficiently considering that you also have your seasonal HVAC maintenance performed. In case you can’t do the insulation alone, do not hesitate to call a professional for help. For more helpful tips on how to insulate your home, call Johnny On The Spot at (725) 977-9461.

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5 Questions To Consider When Buying An HVAC System

Monday, October 2nd, 2017

Before purchasing a new HVAC system, what are the important things that you should consider? What questions should you ask your HVAC contractor so you can get the most efficient HVAC system for your home?

What Size Is Best For My Home?

The first thing that you should consider is the compatibility of your air conditioner size with the area of your house where it will be installed. Inappropriate size can cause your HVAC unit to function inefficiently or produce trouble instead of comfort. If you have a small room, a small air conditioner will suffice. Likewise, larger rooms require larger HVAC unit.

When a small air conditioner is installed in a large room, the system will work hard to meet your desired room temperature. The double effort causes the system to consume more energy which can result in higher monthly utility bills. And if you install a large HVAC in a small room, it won’t run as often as it should, resulting in high humidity levels. High humidity in the air produces mold and mildew which are hazardous to our health and a threat to our home’s interior.

What Type Of Air Conditioning Unit Do You Recommend?

This question is something you should ask your HVAC contractor. The type of unit will vary depending on the design or style and size of your home. Discuss with your contractor whether a split type or packaged HVAC unit is advisable. Tackle your options with them and ask for their recommendations.

Aside from the unit, considering the efficiency rating of the HVAC is also important. Make sure that the efficiency rating is enough and not too much or less for your home’s size. The cooling system’s efficiency rating is referred to as Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The heating system’s efficiency is expressed in Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF). Lastly, the furnace efficiency rating is called Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).

How Long Is The Installation Process?

Your HVAC contractor will provide you a contract. Within that contract, there should be a specified date for the beginning of the installation project and when it is supposed to be finished. Make sure you are knowledgeable about the length of days it will take for the installation’s completion. It will help you avoid any unnecessary extra charges for the service.

For every specific unit, there is a relevant timetable for the project completion of each phase. Your selected model will influence the costs and time period for the installation.

Does The Model Have Incentives?

A lot of energy-efficient models come with manufacturer rebates. These rebates will help you save money. You can ask your HVAC contractor about mail-in rebates. You can also do some research if you are qualified for any tax credits.

Do They Offer A Maintenance Program?

Investing in a preventive maintenance program not only helps you save money but also keeps your HVAC system efficiently working throughout its lifespan. It only makes practical and financial sense to apply for an HVAC maintenance plan with the HVAC contractor who will perform the installation process. It will help you build a positive working relationship with the company and its technicians since they will be familiar with your home’s structure and history better than anyone else.

When you apply for a maintenance program, an HVAC technician will come into your house at least twice a year to evaluate your system’s efficiency and conduct any minor repairs when necessary.

Your HVAC system is a lifetime investment. Therefore, you should make careful decisions, rough estimates and conduct some researchers before you engage in purchases. Knowledge from HVAC contractors can also help you make the right decisions in buying an HVAC unit since they will provide you with helpful tips and suggestions.

For your Las Vegas HVAC concerns, visit us at Johnny On The Spot or call us at (725) 977-9461. Our experts will guide you all the way for your pre-purchasing concerns to after installation.

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HVAC Questions To Ask When Buying a Home

Thursday, September 14th, 2017

The HVAC system should be on your list of priorities to check when buying a home. Depending on its condition, it’s one of the biggest financial costs on its own and affects your monthly bills. It also plays a major factor in the home’s livability, determining the resident’s comfort. Knowing what to ask helps you get the necessary information to spot current problems and foresee potential ones.

What type of HVAC system is installed?

The kind of HVAC system would gives you a good idea on the several important things to note. Older models run on Freon and are less energy efficient than the newer ones. Freon is currently being phased out so it might be more difficult to find and costly to replace. Newer refrigerants are cleaner and safer for the environment. Being less energy efficient is not only harmful to nature, but it also costs more to operate. Older systems could also be an indication of the system’s age. Bear in mind the average lifespan of an HVAC system is 10-15 years. If you do find a home close to this range, don’t immediately back out of the deal as quality regular maintenance would have a great impact on the machine’s condition.

Has the system seen regular servicing?

Ask for documentation. These would tell you what company they trusted to maintain and fix their HVAC units. Begin from the time of installation and have repairs and replacements included. You’ll find out both the company name and when it was installed so you get the exact age of the HVAC system. Take note whether they previous owners consistently stuck with a certain HVAC maintenance company or switched often. The latter would give cause for concern as a new technician would be unfamiliar with the machine’s history. This often results in a different level of care. Research on the companies who’ve previously serviced the HVAC units and ductwork, including repairs and replacements. Find out whether these were trusted names in their respective areas. Lack of regular maintenance would be cause for concern but provides leverage in negotiating the price of the home.

How effective and efficient is the system?

You can easily judge its effectiveness by the temperature levels of the different rooms. Inconsistency would tell you otherwise but be clear if there are rooms that require a different temperature than the rest. As a rule of thumb, older models are less efficient than newer ones. Take into account the brand name, too. Also, check for the Energy Efficiency Rating and the Energy Star rating. The former rates the performance of the machine at its best while the latter indicates the overall energy efficiency of the machine. The monthly utility costs would also indicate how much you’d be spending regularly to keep ideal temperatures in your home.

Is the warranty still effective and transferable?

Newer units are given lifetime warranties but are limited to only the original purchasers. Once the house is sold, the warranty ends as well. Others continue for just a short time after the transfer of ownership. If warranty does continue beyond the sale, request to have the documentation verifying this. Study the terms and conditions of the warranty carefully to prevent voiding it.

While these are questions you could ask and research on yourself, always have an inspector to help you properly evaluate the HVAC system’s condition and effectiveness. They’d be able to point out certain details only a trained eye would identify. With their years of experience, an inspector would also know what else to look for. For advice and service of reliable HVAC technicians, reach out to Johnny On The Spot at (725) 977-9461.

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How To Insulate Your Home for Vegas Weather

Sunday, July 16th, 2017

If you are a homeowner in Las Vegas and you’re looking to improve your home, you may want to take a look at your insulation. With poor insulation, more than half of your home’s heat can escape, forcing your HVAC to work more than it should!

Heating and cooling costs are usually one of the largest parts of your energy bills, accounting for around half of your total energy expenditures. Setting up good insulation may reduce that by around thirty percent.

How Do You Know if You Have Good Insulation?

To find out how much insulation your home currently has and how much is considered enough, it’s best to first look at the Environmental Protection Agency’s table found in their Energy Star website, as it shows how much insulation is needed in every climate zone.

If the floor joists in your attic or basement are visible, that is a telltale sign that you need more insulation. With regards to walls, you’d have to drill a hole to check and although it’s more expensive and difficult, it’s worth checking out especially if you have an old home.

How To Insulate Your Home

1. Min​d The Doors
One of the easiest ways to insulate your home is to start with your doors. Draught excluders or draft stoppers can be used to mitigate heat and AC loss in doors.

2. Insulate The Windows
Aside from doors, heat and AC can also escape through your windows. Run the palm of your hand around the edges of your windows. If you feel the presence of wind, it means your windows have weak points. A helping of putty or sealer can easily remedy those flaws. Fitting your windows with curtains or blinds can also help, especially if they have thermal backing.

3. Double Glaze
Double glazing means adding more glass panes to your windows to further slow down heat and AC loss. If your home doesn’t have it yet, it’s worth considering as it will help lessen your energy bills.

4. Fill The Gaps In The Floor
Homes that have wooden floors run the risk of having gaps between the floorboards. If you want your home’s insulation to be very thorough, it is suggested to bring in an expert to properly fit insulation beneath your floors.

5. Insulate Your Attic
Hot air rises, so heat will naturally go to your attic. Accordingly, you would want to pay close attention to this part of your home and make sure that it is well-insulated. Get either loose-fill or batt insulation, depending on what you need. The process of laying it down can either be done by professionals but you can also try to do it yourself. Talk about a fun weekend activity!

Most homes aren’t as insulated as they should be. In fact, homes over forty years old are likely to have no insulation at all. Fortunately, checking how much insulation your home needs is as simple as 1, 2, 3 and adding insulation can be done by yourself! If you require help, however, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals over at Johnny On The Spot at (725) 977-9461.

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Does The Size Of Your AC Matter?

Monday, May 15th, 2017

The common notion that the bigger the size of an air conditioner the better is not entirely true. Purchasing a small unit may be insufficient if you have a large area to cool. Likewise, opting for something larger than what is necessary might cause harmful molds due to suspended moist in your house.

Picking the right size of air conditioner for your need or use does matter. Below are a few helpful guidelines to help you choose the appropriate AC size.

Match The AC Size To Your Room’s Area

Small rooms only require an AC with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,500 BTU/hr. On the other hand, larger rooms will need an AC with a capacity of 7,000 to 8,500 BTU/hr. BTU means British Thermal Units. But if you’re planning to install an AC for your business establishment, have a professional technician estimate the size and quantity of air conditioners to be used.

However, if you have an air conditioner already installed in your home, how are you to know if it is the appropriate AC size for your room? First look for the manufacturer’s label which has a Model Number (MN). The first three digit determines the SEER ratings while the number that follows determines the BTU. Of course a greater BTU means a bigger AC size.

The British Thermal Unit

BTU is the amount of heat required to raise a certain temperature. In air conditioners, BTU refers to the amount of energy used to remove the heat from the air. You’ll need a higher BTU if you have a large home. The heating or cooling unit will be able to produce more heated or cooled air.

In regards to efficiency, BTU is a good way to compare the capacity of similarly priced units. And if you live in warmer climates, you’ll need 10 – 20% additional BTUs per room over the normal amount.

Equation for Finding the Right AC Size

The equation for finding the correct AC size is very generic. First figure out the square footage that needs cooled and the climate you live in. These will give you a better rough estimate for the air conditioning capacity needed. You can also include the number of windows in your home, ceiling height, typical number of occupants, your ideal temperature and humidity settings in your calculation if you want to be more specific.

Finding the right AC size for your home is like finding the right size of shoes that fits you perfectly. If you need more advice regarding the best AC size for you, visit Johnny On The Spot or call at(725) 977-9461 and we’ll be more than willing to assist you.

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