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>> Problem Rooms

Posted by sgoodman on February 17, 2012 with 0 Comments

Why is the Temperature in One Room so Different than the Others?

During seasons in which there are drastic differences in temperature between the inside of your home and outdoors, you are most likely to notice inefficiencies in your home’s heating and cooling ability. For example, right now you might have a room (or a couple of rooms) that are noticeably colder than other rooms in your home.

Common Home Heating Issues

Source: US Dept of Energy/Energy Savers

There are a number of issues that can cause the rooms of your home to be different temperatures, which include:

Improper or inadequate insulation
Air leaks in heating and cooling ducts
Inadequate weatherproofing of room or home including windows and doors

The quickest way to figure out the source of the problem is for us to use a thermal, infrared camera to help us identify where exactly the problem lies. Once we can target the problem, we thoroughly discuss the recommendations that can often be done by the homeowner.

Proper Insulation

Replacing or adding insulation to your attic or garage is often recommended. Proper insulation in the attic is important because it keeps heat from rising beyond your ceilings in winter, trapping it and helping keep rooms warm.

Radiant Barriers

To help make life indoors more comfortable in the summer, we recommend installing radiant barriers. Radiant barriers are also typically installed in the attic and serve to keep your home from absorbing heat from the sun during summer. By installing radiant barriers, you can help keep your home’s temperature lower, which means your air-conditioner won’t run as long or as often, effectively decreasing energy usage and lowering your energy bills.

Identify Leaks

Sometimes the problem stems from air leaks. If this is the case, typically replacing weather stripping around doors and windows will help, along with using heavy curtains or heat-shrunk plastic sheets on your windows. If these do not resolve the temperature difference in your home, you may want to have your HVAC unit examined and your ducts examined for air leaks.

Contact us online or call 804-491-9420 to set up an appointment. We can help you find the inefficiencies in your home and provide full recommendations on how to help you stop the leaks and save energy, and money on your heating and cooling bill.

Filed Under: Atlantic Heating and Cooling News

>> Under Pressure

Posted by sgoodman on February 8, 2012 with 0 Comments

Hot Water Heater Maintenance Extends Unit Life

Proper maintenance can significantly increase the life of a hot water heater

When it comes to hot water heaters, most of us don’t think about them until something goes wrong. Most people don’t realize that when it comes to hot water heaters, a little maintenance goes a long way. Here are some things that most homeowners miss when it comes to caring for their hot water heater.

What To Look For:

Rust
This one may seem obvious, but rust is a major killer of hot water heaters. Because people tend to install a tank and then never check it again, they often fail to catch the signs of rust that build slowly over the life of the tank. It’s also important to remember that the anode inside the tank is there to prevent rust. Once it is used up, the inside of the tank becomes susceptible to rust and this creates a dangerous situation. The anode should be checked at least once before the warranty on your hot water heater is up. If you use a water softener, then you should have your anode checked at least once per year, as water softeners speed the corrosion of the anode.

Sediment
Sediment is the silent killer of your hot water heater. You can’t see it because it is inside the tank. Over time, as sediment builds, your hot water heater becomes less and less efficient. It takes longer to heat and won’t get as hot. It can also effect your home’s water pressure.

Water Pressure
This isn’t a common problem, but it can easily go undetected. If your home water pressure exceeds 80 psi, you risk damaging pipes, appliances, and especially your water heater. How do you know what your water pressure is? The tank should have a water pressure gauge attached. If not, have an expert come check it for you.

The Bottom Line

Regular maintenance is key to keeping your hot water heater running in optimal condition. Your tank should be checked once a year to ensure that none of the issues listed above effect your hot water heater. Regular maintenance will also help identify problems early on, which means the problem could be addressed before your tank’s warranty runs out, making any necessary repairs far less costly.

The technicians at Atlantic Heating and Cooling in Midlothian, VA will be happy to inspect and service your hot water unit. Call 804-491-9420 or contact us online to set up an appointment.

Filed Under: Healthy Home

>> Atlantic Heat Comfort Specialists

Posted by sgoodman on February 3, 2012 with 0 Comments

When you contact Atlantic Heating and Cooling regarding a problem with your heat pump, air conditioner, water heater or indoor air quality, you will mostly likely meet one of our professional Comfort Consultants or Comfort Specialists. Andrew Cox, Jason Manes and Jerry Hentman are all professionally trained in home heating and cooling issues and they are dedicated to delivering the highest quality service to you.

The Atlantic Heat Team

Everyone who works here has many years of experience in their field, passed thorough background checks and demonstrates high integrity on a daily basis. We think you’ll like them as much as we do!

Filed Under: Sales Team News

>> Space Heaters: Safety and Use

Posted by sgoodman on January 30, 2012 with 0 Comments

Winter has been mild so far in Virginia, however the nights are still cold and people often choose supplemental heating such as electric, ceramic, and kerosene space heaters. Since space heaters aren’t something we use all year round, we aren’t always mindful of the precautions we must take when using them. While in many cases a supplemental heat source is a great solution, it can also be a serious danger.

Safety Precautions for Space Heaters

Avoid leaving a space heater on when you are asleep or away from home.
Heaters should be placed a minimum of three feet away from any combustible items such as paper, cloth, and some carpets.
Plug heaters directly into wall outlets. Do NOT use extension cords.
Do not leave children or pets unattended when using space heaters.
If using propane or kerosene heaters, make sure rooms are well ventilated and that you have working carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
Purchase only heaters that feature the UL mark. This mark means it has been independently tested for safety and is a sign of a safe, quality product.

More information about space heaters, space heater safety, and comparisons of various kinds of heaters.

Energy Efficiency is a Better Solution

Space heaters use a lot of electricity or costly fuel. A better, more effective solution is to improve the energy efficiency of your home heating system. Sometimes your home loses heat due to small areas that aren’t properly weatherized or insulated. Atlantic Heating and Cooling can find these areas using an infrared camera. Once the areas have been identified, a solution can be recommended. Solutions can be as simple as adding new weather stripping to doors and windows or covering windows with a thin layer of shrinkable plastic.

Identifying the sources of heat loss in your home can make your home heating and cooling system more efficient. This means lower energy bills in winter and summer. It also means you might not have to rely on the added cost or added worry of a space heater. To learn more about how Atlantic Heating and Cooling can help improve your home’s heating and cooling efficiency, or to schedule an appointment and free estimate, contact us.

Filed Under: Heating & Cooling Safety

>> Home Testing for Sources of Poor Air Quality

Posted by sgoodman on January 25, 2012 with 0 Comments

This is Part 1 of a 3 part series on Indoor Air Quality. See Part 2 and Part 3.

Air Quality in the Home can Affect Respiratory Issues

Do you have a resolution to breathe better? 20 Million Americans have asthma and our indoor air is worse than the pollution outdoors. Did you know that in 2011 Richmond, VA has the dubious distinction of being the “Asthma Capital” of the US – for the second year in a row?

My husband and I have two kids and they both have asthma as well as constant congestion that causes ear infections. Of course there are medical treatments for these conditions, but since the kids do not seem to be “outgrowing” the medical issues, we have to wonder if there is something unusual in our home causing the problems. They’ve been tested for allergies and have none to speak of. Since I’ve gotten to know the team at Atlantic Heating & Cooling as part of their Internet Marketing team, I asked owner, Mike Davis, what he thought. In particular, I wondered about a small spot on our ceiling that worried me because we’ve had a few minor plumbing leaks before that required new sheetrock. Could there be an unknown leak that has caused a moisture build up and mold growth?

Atlantic Heating and Cooling did a home inspection that helped identify possible sources of poor indoor air quality. I asked if they could use the infrared camera to check for signs of moisture and the possible growth of mold, but when I mentioned my kids had asthma, I was told there were likely other causes of contaminated air infiltrating into our home through the HVAC system and through unsealed gaps in the structure of the house.

Home Air Quality Inspection

Door Blower used to create a vacuum and test for air infiltration

Technicians Jerry and George arrived with an infrared camera, duct blaster, smoke blower, and door fan. They started by turning off the heat and installing a cover over the front door that had a large fan in it. The fan created a vacuum in the home. They then could use the infrared camera around the house to show me where the temperature differences in the walls/floors/ceiling indicated cold spots due to air infiltration and movement of air within those spaces.
Of course I could also see where the windows and doors were letting outside air into the house, however my bigger concern was the contaminated air that we are breathing, and finding ways to improve it as much as possible.

Parts 2 and 3 of the Indoor Air Quality Series:

Sources of Contaminated Air in My Home

Prevent Contaminated Air from Entering Homes

Filed Under: Healthy Home, Indoor Air Quality, Uncategorized

>> Contaminated Air in Homes

Posted by sgoodman on January 25, 2012 with 0 Comments

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series on Indoor Air Quality. See Part 1 and Part 3

Sources of Contaminated Air in Homes

Sources of bad air that enters homes is in our garages (car exhaust, paint, gas & pesticide fumes and dust), the attic (insulation fibers and critter droppings) the space between walls (insulation fibers and construction dust) and the crawl space (dust, dirt, fumes from any chemical stored under there).

How Contaminated Air Enters My Home

Edges of Flooring
Have you ever noticed the dark line that seems to form at the edges of your carpet? In my case, the infrared showed that there was no seal on the other side of the carpet to prevent the air from being pulled in. George explained that the carpet is acting as a filter for the air that is getting sucked into the house, which creates that dark line on the edge of carpets. A simple fix for that is to put backer rod under the edges of the carpet to seal the gap and prevent the air flow.

Garage
Another big source of air infiltration is the garage. Did you know that a car engine puts off carbon monoxide for 30 minutes after the engine is turned off? If your furnace is in the garage like mine, it is pulling that CO right into the house. If you store gas cans, paint and pesticides in the area, the fumes are likely infiltrating your breathing air. As well as the dust that gathers on the floor around the unit. (Have you looked back there lately? It gets nasty quick.) It is a good idea to store all these chemicals outside of the garage if your HVAC unit is there.

In our case, the air handler was not sealed. There were huge openings all around it and it freely pulled dust and contaminated air from the garage. Sealing those gaps was our priority.

George also recommended using silicone caulk to seal the crack in the corner where the garage wall meets the ceiling.

Attic Door
The gap around the pull down steps to the attic allow fibers from the blown insulation and other dust sources, to be pulled into the bedroom, just above where my child sleeps. George told us to use weather stripping to seal the gap. A more sophisticated solution is a bag that goes around the inside of the attic opening to seal off air flow. It unzips for easy access into the attic when needed.

Registers, ventilation fans, electrical outlets/switches and miscellaneous holes in the walls
Using the infrared camera, George and Jerry showed me that there are sources of contamination behind the ventilation fan in the bathroom, around the HVAC output registers and a hole that was in our laundry room wall. There was a capped pipe there for natural gas supply, but the diameter of the hole in the drywall was about 1 inch bigger. To seal these leaks, there are foam insulation products available at home improvement centers, such as Great Stuff.

Leaks in the Air Ducts

Jerry and the duct blaster check the air ducts to see how much good air is let out & bad air in.

In many homes, up to 40% of the conditioned air (heated or cooled) is lost through leaks in the duct work. There are many companies that offer to clean your ducts – which is fine, but the bigger concern is that the gaps in the duct work allow the dust to continually be pulled into your home’s breathing air. Remember that the air is coming from the garage, attic, space between the walls and crawl space. The larger issue is to have the duct leaks fixed. Then if you choose, get the ducts cleaned, but sealing the leaks is primary. You and your wallet will be happier when you are not losing all the heated/cooled air to places outside your living space. Using the duct blaster, Jerry and George could calculate the percentage of heated air that was lost through duct leaks, and a leak is also a source of bad air flow.

Part 3 of the Indoor Air Quality Series:

Prevent Contaminated Air from Entering Your Home

Filed Under: Healthy Home, Indoor Air Quality, Uncategorized

>> Prevent Contaminated Air from Entering Homes

Posted by sgoodman on January 25, 2012 with 0 Comments

Part 3 of a 3 part blog series on Indoor Air Quality. See Part 1 and Part 2.

Once the points of entry for contaminated air in our home were discovered, many were easy to correct. Most problems are fixed with sealants such as:

These simple inexpensive products will seal many of the sources of home air contamination

Inexpensive pre-cut insulation pads for electrical outlets and switches, HVAC registers and attic fans
Spray Foam Insulation (like Great Stuff) to seal gaps in the drywall that aren’t supposed to be there
Silicone caulk for cracks in our garage between the wall and ceiling
Weather stripping around doors, including the pull down attic door

However, if you don’t know what something is, do not seal it and cause a bigger problem, like a fire or block intended ventilation.

Atlantic Heat Performs Valuable Indoor Air Testing

It was immensely valuable to us to see with the IR camera and the smoke blower, all the areas where we had infiltration. I was surprised that the problem I expected (possible moisture in the ceiling sheetrock) turned out to be no problem, however was quickly educated on other likely contributors to my kids’ breathing issues. The experts at Atlantic Heat were very thorough and took time to carefully explain the sources of contaminated air. We (mostly my husband) are steadily working to seal the gaps and remove sources of contamination whenever possible.

If you’d like a home HVAC system inspection like the one they did for me, the team at Atlantic Heat will be happy to run the tests and give you a wealth of information to alleviate many sources of contaminated breathing air. The reassurance we have in knowing what is an actual breathing hazard is invaluable so we no longer have to guess and wonder about the sources. Contact Atlantic Heating and Cooling at 804-491-9420 and they will get you scheduled for a home test right away.

Filed Under: Healthy Home, Indoor Air Quality, Uncategorized

>> Simple HVAC Improvements: Programmable Thermostats

Posted by sgoodman on January 9, 2012 with 0 Comments

A Programmable Thermostat Can Solve Several Home Heating and Cooling Issues

Programmable home thermostats offer solutions to a number of home heating and cooling issues. Whether it’s saving money, maintaining a comfortable temperature, or doing your part to be more eco-friendly, programmable thermostats are a cost-effective solution to all of these concerns.

Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Costs

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American household spends $2,200 per year on energy bills. Roughly half of that cost comes from heating and cooling their homes. The EPA also reports that programmable thermostats can save homeowners anywhere from $100 to $180 annually by providing more accurate and efficient control of your home’s temperature.

Programmable thermostats reduce cost through pre-programmed heating or cooling patterns based on both the season and the family’s schedule. A sample program can be seen on the EPA’s Energy Star website. It shows how the programmable thermostat can be set to run warmer or cooler (depending on the season) while the home is unoccupied. This helps prevent unnecessary use and prevents energy waste.

Stay Comfortable

In addition to raising or lowering the temperature during the day, the opposite can be done at night. This helps prevent you from waking up in the middle of the night either shivering or sweating. After all, if there’s ever a time to be the most comfortable, it should be when you are trying to sleep. Again, your desired temperature settings can be pre-programmed to ensure that your home is comfortable.

Help the Environment

While the debate over global warming goes on, we can’t deny that we all need better energy efficiency. Better efficiency keeps energy demands lower, along with energy costs. We already mentioned that programmable thermostats can save you money, but they also lower the overall demand for energy and the production of greenhouse gasses which coincide with energy production. Additionally, programmable thermostats contain no mercury and pose no environmental threat to you in your home.

Learn More

Interested in upgrading your home thermostat or finding out more about the types of programmable thermostats available? Contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment to get your free estimate.

Filed Under: Simple HVAC Improvements

>> 0% Financing is Back!

Posted by sgoodman on January 5, 2012 with 0 Comments

Take a look at our specials

0% financing for 5 years is available to qualified buyers of a replacement heating or cooling system.

Filed Under: Heating, Installations, Special Offers

>> Heating System Air Filter

Posted by sgoodman on December 28, 2011 with 0 Comments

Change furnace filters regularly for better air quality and to prolong the life of your heating system.

Homeowners know that we are supposed to change the filter on our heating system every 90 days, but it is often last in line of the things we need to do. In the post-Christmas, pre-New Year state of mind, we are thinking about ways to improve in the new year. So consider that you can improve the air quality in your home, by replacing that old, clogged, air filter with a fresh new one.

Change the Air Filter to Save Your Heating System

A clogged air filter prevents proper flow of air through your heating ventilation system. It puts undo strain on your furnace or heat pump and can shorten the life of the system. Regularly changing the filter will prolong the life of your heating and cooling systems, which saves you money in the long run.

The team at Atlantic Heating and Cooling wishes you all the best for the New Year!

Filed Under: Heating and Cooling Maintenance, Indoor Air Quality