Helpful Hints For HVAC Novices And Pros
Hiring an HVAC professional to either replace old heating and cooling equipment or install a brand new unit is something with which not every homeowner is entirely comfortable. The best way to confront this type of challenge is to gain some great tips and tricks. The article below should serve that purpose quite nicely.
If you must hire someone to help you out with your HVAC system, be sure to learn about all of the requirements your state has legislated regarding licencing and insurance. You need to be able to ask anyone you plan to hire if they meet these requirements before you hire them.
Some fan condensers may contain oil parts, and if yours does, ensure it is lubricated at least once per year. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Pick out a SAE 20 type of oil because it has no detergent, is lightweight, and you should put around 10 drops in the ports but make it to where they don't get too full.
Look for deals and rebates on the HVAC system you are having installed. Many ENERGY STAR units come with huge rebates either from your local utility company or the government itself. Investigate your options as it could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the installation costs.
Change your air conditioner filter quarterly, or four times a year. This not only keeps the air coming into your home easier and cleaner to breathe, it takes a lot of stress off of your AC unit itself. You get to enjoy health, money savings and reduced energy use altogether at once.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. If it's lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
Always ask for references before you allow anyone to start doing work on your HVAC system. Call several of them to make sure that they are legitimate. Many people take the word of the contractor when it comes to customer satisfaction and that can prove to be a mistake in the end.
If you want to turn off your air conditioning at night to save money, consider putting a standing fan next to your bed. You can set it to oscillate from your toes to your head, blowing cool air over your body and letting you sleep comfortably all night long.
Turn to online reviews if you're not sure how you should hire to perform HVAC maintenance. Many websites allow consumers to share their experience with a service. This will help you find a top notch professional.
Before having someone install a new HVAC system or maintain or repair yours, make sure they are insured. Having someone who is insured work on your system will assure that if anything happens while they are working at your home, they are financially covered and you will not be responsible.
Before having someone install a new HVAC system or maintain or repair yours, make sure they are insured. Having someone who is insured work on your system will assure that if anything happens while they are working at your home, they are financially covered and you will not be responsible.
To block out the sun on hot summer days, allowing your air conditioner to run less frequently, invest in heat blocking drapes. These textiles come in beautiful patterns and colors today, looking just like their designer counterparts. They will keep the heat out so that your home stays cooler without costing you an arm and a leg on utility bills.
Think about which way the air flows when installing a air conditioner. If you must position it in a corner, be sure you can change the direction of air flow to avoid having it hit the wall.
When buying an air conditioner, you want to find out with a SEER rating of 13 or higher. 13 is the minimum standard set by the government, so higher ratings, while not mandatory, are going to offer you better efficiency. SEER ratings can go as high as 19, so keep this in mind as you shop.
A great way to ensure that the HVAC professionals you hire are up to the task is to take steps to verify that they possess proper licensing and certification. Failing to check these very important credentials can cause you to hire someone who is more likely to do more harm than good and charge you a great deal of money along the way.
To block out the sun on hot summer days, allowing your air conditioner to run less frequently, invest in heat blocking drapes. These textiles come in beautiful patterns and colors today, looking just like their designer counterparts. They will keep the heat out so that your home stays cooler without costing you an arm and a leg on utility bills.
Consider a digital window air conditioner with a remote to make use easy as pie. These often come with a thermostat in the remote, turning off the unit when the air near the remote is cool enough. Place the remote on the other side of the room so that the whole area cools down.
When you have a short list of contractors to consider, ask the people on their reference list about not only the service they received, but also how well the system is still running. Did they need more work down the road? Has the company come back to make things right?
Be sure to choose a contractor who designs your HVAC system themselves. A salesperson is not equipped to get such a job done right. If a project is designed incorrectly, gases from the system can be blown into the house and your family can be made sick or even worse.
When it's winter time, get your condenser unit covered so it can be safe. It prolongs the lifespan. If the temperature outside is lower than sixty, do not use the compressor. Use the fan.
Don't get caught up in the myth that you have to have a huge system in order to get great service. Things have changed a lot in the past few decades. Things like how much insulation you have, the climate you live in and the number of people in the house will all affect the size of the HVAC.
This article will make you more knowledgeable about all the different HVAC systems available. Next time you have trouble with your unit, you will now be much better prepared. Remember the tips here to help you with HVAC systems.
Fixing Major Plumbing Problems With A Plunger: Why The Repo Problem Is Deeper Than It Appears
A lot has been written in the news recently about the repo problem. A couple of days ago overnight funding rates spiked to 10%, which has been unheard of since the financial crisis. How can it be that with all the money being printed by global central banks, dealers are not able to finance their holdings of Treasuries overnight at reasonable rates, and a corporate tax payment date can move the Fed funds rate way beyond the Fed’s target range? Could this “latent illiquidity” be a bigger problem than it first appears? Has the Fed lost control of the one thing it can control? My view is that the repo problem is one symptom of large interest rate differentials between the US and the rest of the world, and is causing traditional buyers of US Treasuries, i.e. foreigners, to hesitate because it costs them money to do so on a currency hedged basis. (Source for all data in this paragraph: Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal).
The Fed’s solution to the whiff of illiquidity in the markets has been to flood the system with more money each morning. The way the Fed has done this is to buy $50 billion to $75 billion worth of Treasuries from dealers every day in exchange for cold hard cash. In the short term, this has driven the lending rates back into their target range. For now. Listening to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference yesterday, it appeared that the Fed has declared victory and they have the situation under control. But I don’t need to remind readers that small anomalies in the basic foundation of markets, like the world’s most powerful central bank not able to control the one rate they need to control, is potentially the symptom of something more structural and consequential. Putting in short-term cash to ease the repo squeeze is like trying to unclog the plumbing of a large city using a plunger.
I believe that the real problem is that the current global financial system and its plumbing has evolved since the financial crisis in a more or less ad hoc and random basis. The Fed, ECB, BOJ and other central banks created a whole slew of acronyms to solve short term problems. This is like building the infrastructure in a house without a coordinated plan, where each room has different size pipes feeding it water, or multiple gauges of electrical wiring distributing electricity.
Let us take the plumbing analogy one step further to see why the problems we are seeing are inevitable, and why throwing more money at it is not a permanent solution. We have the Bank of Japan flooding the system with a huge pipe, taking rates more and more negative and buying up more and more of the local debt. Some of the money leaks out into the rest of world looking for yield. We have the European Central Bank also printing money and making larger and larger pipes that drive money from the core countries to the periphery. Some of this money also leaks out looking for return, since it costs money to keep money at the ECB due to the negative yields. All symptoms are that the banking system is now saturated with free money in Europe, and is beginning to refuse this liquidity spraying out of a firehose. Then we have the Fed, which went from a big pipe to a tiny little pipe as QE became quantitative tightening.
Knowledge Is Power, And These HVAC Tips Are Priceless
What is HVAC? It's what warms you in the winter and cools you in the summer. Are you having issues with your current set-up? Would you like to install something new like an upgrade? To find out more about the situation, check out the advice that can be found below.
If you must hire someone to help you out with your HVAC system, be sure to learn about all of the requirements your state has legislated regarding licencing and insurance. You need to be able to ask anyone you plan to hire if they meet these requirements before you hire them.
Look for discounts wherever possible. HVAC systems can be rather costly, so you'll want to seek out whatever discounts and deals that may be out there. When shopping around, ask about any current specials running, and look for discounts that are related to ENERGY STAR compliance. Both can save you a lot of cash.
Clean the condenser on your debris regularly. Leaves and debris can accumulate quickly, particularly following storms, and that can cause problems for your system. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Change your air conditioner filter quarterly, or four times a year. This not only keeps the air coming into your home easier and cleaner to breathe, it takes a lot of stress off of your AC unit itself. You get to enjoy health, money savings and reduced energy use altogether at once.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. If it's lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
Let your friends and family know about the discounts that are possible via ENERGY STAR. There's a lot of savings that can be had here, so why hold this good news all to yourself! You can save those closest to you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.
If you want to ensure your air conditioner offers you great performance, keep it dry. If it is located in a dry, cool area, you'll find that the efficiency goes up and the unit lasts a long time. You can even buy a water vapor cooler to cool it as it is running.
Have your HVAC inspected every year to ensure that it is working properly. The technician will check your filters, drain lines, air flow and Freon levels. This will have your HVAC working at peak performance saving you money all season long. It will also alert you to any repairs that need to be address before more info they become big problems.
For your outdoor HVAC unit, make sure that your foliage is cleared around it. Two feet distance between the HVAC unit and shrubs is a good amount to remember. If you let the foliage creep up on the unit, it can cause all sorts of issues with debris and growth into the system.
When water condenses on your air conditioner, it drips into a pan and drains out. This drain should be inspected on a regular basis. If algae forms in the drain line or if the drain line freezes, you could be in for some expensive repairs. The drip pan could overflow causing extensive damage to your ceilings.
Consider painting the outside of your home in a light color to reflect heat if you live in a hot climate. If your summers are cool, use a dark color to instead heat up your home in the winter. This simple change can end up saving you a lot on your utility bills.
Make sure your HVAC is clear when working outside. You should try keeping any vegetation about two feet away from your outdoor units. Keep the areas above it and on each side of it clear. Make sure you aim your grass clippings away from the unit when mowing. Keep leaves from getting inside your unit in the fall.
If you don't want to install ductwork in your home, consider a mini-split system instead. They work form the outside in, allowing your whole home to cool without a central air conditioner. This allows you to enjoy all of your indoor space in a cool, comfortable way all summer long.
Is your home's electrical set-up ready to handle a new air conditioning unit? Most homes have 115-volt circuits in place, but larger air conditioners need 230-volts to be used. Some smaller units may need their own dedicated circuit as well to ensure your home doesn't go dark when you turn them on.
Have your HVAC inspected every year to ensure that it is working properly. The technician will check your filters, drain lines, air flow and Freon levels. This will have your HVAC working at peak performance saving you money all season long. It will also alert you to any repairs that need to be address before they become big problems.
Keep your evaporator coil clean. A dirty coil will cause the unit to strain when cooling air. You can clean the coil yourself easily. Simply remove the front panel to expose the coil and use a soft brush attached to a vacuum to remove any dust and debris that has accumulated on the coil.
It is important that any contractor you hire is familiar with your make and model of HVAC unit. Ask them what brands they work with most frequently and compare it to what you have. If you can't find a contractor that knows your brand well, instead consider who has the best reputation.
In the winter, keep your condenser unit properly covered. This will help it to last longer. Additionally, it's important to remember not to utilize the compressor if your outside temperatures drop below 69 degrees. Do this by simply turn on the fan so that you don't cause the unit unnecessary strain.
When it's winter time, get your condenser unit covered so it can be safe. It prolongs the lifespan. If the temperature outside is lower than sixty, do not use the compressor. Use the fan.
Don't get caught up in the myth that you have to have a huge system in order to get great service. Things have changed a lot in the past few decades. Things like how much insulation you have, the climate you live in and the number of people in the house will all affect the size of the HVAC.
Now that you have read this article, you should be much better informed about what to look for in a new HVAC system. This is an important decision, so it is not one that you should make in a hurry. Take your time so that you can find the right system for your needs.Fixing Major Plumbing Problems With A Plunger: Why The Repo Problem Is Deeper Than It Appears
A lot has been written in the news recently about the repo problem. A couple of days ago overnight funding rates spiked to 10%, which has been unheard of since the financial crisis. How can it be that with all the money being printed by global central banks, dealers are not able to finance their holdings of Treasuries overnight at reasonable rates, and a corporate tax payment date can move the Fed funds rate way beyond the Fed’s target range? Could this “latent illiquidity” be a bigger problem than it first appears? Has the Fed lost control of the one thing it can control? My view is that the repo problem is one symptom of large interest rate differentials between the US and the rest of the world, and is causing traditional buyers of US Treasuries, i.e. foreigners, to hesitate because it costs them money to do so on a currency hedged basis. (Source for all data in this paragraph: Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal).
The Fed’s solution to the whiff of illiquidity in the markets has been to flood the system with more money each morning. The way the Fed has done this is to buy $50 billion to $75 billion worth of Treasuries from dealers every day in exchange for cold hard cash. In the short term, this has driven the lending rates back into their target range. For now. Listening to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference yesterday, it appeared that the Fed has declared victory and they have the situation under control. But I don’t need to remind readers that small anomalies in the basic foundation of markets, like the world’s most powerful central bank not able to control the one rate they need to control, is potentially the symptom of something more structural and consequential. Putting in short-term cash to ease the repo squeeze is like trying to unclog the plumbing of a large city using a plunger.
I believe that the real problem is that the current global financial system and its plumbing has evolved since the financial crisis in a more or less ad hoc and random basis. The Fed, ECB, BOJ and other central banks created a whole slew of acronyms to solve short term problems. This is like building the infrastructure in a house without a coordinated plan, where each room has different size pipes feeding it water, or multiple gauges of electrical wiring distributing electricity.
Let us take the plumbing analogy one step further to see why the problems we are seeing are inevitable, and why throwing more money at it is not a permanent solution. We have the Bank of Japan flooding the system with a huge pipe, taking rates more and more negative and buying up more and more of the local debt. Some of the money leaks out into the rest of world looking for yield. We have the European Central Bank also printing money and making larger and larger pipes that drive money from the core countries to the periphery. Some of this money also leaks out looking for return, since it costs money to keep money at the ECB due to the negative yields. All symptoms are that the banking system is now saturated with free money in Europe, and is beginning to refuse this liquidity spraying out of a firehose. Then we have the Fed, which went from a big pipe to a tiny little pipe as QE became quantitative tightening.
.com/sites/vineerbhansali/2019/09/19/fixing-major-plumbing-problems-with-a-plunger-why-the-repo-problem-is-deeper-than-it-appears/?sh=790154996773">https://www.forbes.com/sites/vineerbhansali/2019/09/19/fixing-major-plumbing-problems-with-a-plunger-why-the-repo-problem-is-deeper-than-it-appears/?sh=790154996773