Your Local Tour guides

When I first moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, I was unprepared for the extreme heat and humidity.

I bought a fixer-upper home that was in need of some major updates.

The roof was in bad shape, which had caused extensive water damage to the walls and ceilings. Many of the windows were broken, the doors didn’t shut tight and there was no insulation. The electrical system failed to meet code and the plumbing pipes were corroded. I needed to replace the water heater, refrigerator, stove, washing machine and dryer. I decided to take the house down to the bare studs and start fresh. I discovered that the ductwork was a mess. Not only was the system poorly designed, but there were gaps at the seams and large holes. While I can manage a lot of home improvements on my home, I can’t fabricate and install ductwork. I researched, asked around and found a local HVAC contractor that specializes in sheet metal fabrication. I was very impressed with their work. Although the ductwork and the new air conditioner were installed early in the process, I didn’t dare run the cooling system. The rest of the construction was generating a great deal of dust. I didn’t want the debris to get sucked into the cooling unit and ductwork. Going without central air conditioning while installing plumbing pipes, electrical lines, drywall, light fixtures and cupboards was excruciating. The temperature in Tuscaloosa regularly soared into the nineties. Although I ran multiple box fans, I was overheated, sweaty and miserable. It was a huge relief when construction was completed and the house cleaned up. I was very excited to finally lower the thermostat setting, start up the air conditioner and enjoy cool comfort.

 

HVAC technician in Tuscaloosa Alabama

Living in South Bend, Indiana, the heating system is the priority.

We can get by without centralized air conditioning. The summer temperature rarely climbs above the low eighties and the nights are typically quite cool. Rather than spend the money on a whole-home system, I’ve invested into window air conditioners for each bedroom. I was able to purchase energy efficient, quiet and powerful cooling units at the local home improvement store for around two hundred dollars each. Installing them into the window in the spring takes just a few minutes. I plug the unit in and it’s ready to operate. Having window air conditioners allows each family member to adjust the temperature in their bedroom to their liking. Plus, we only run the cooling units at night. They use very little energy. One of the nicest features of the compact air conditioners is the cordless remote. We can adjust the temperature, fan speed and even the direction of airflow without even getting out of bed. Each air conditioner also features an energy saving mode. For upkeep, the equipment requires little more than an annual cleaning. I make sure to wipe down the unit, wash the air filter and change the batteries in the remote. Although having a window air conditioner obscures the view through the window and detracts a bit from aesthetics, the system provides many benefits. By keeping the windows closed, there is far less influx of pollen, dust, exhaust fumes, insects and other air contaminants. The air conditioner makes just enough operational noise to drown out barking dogs, tweeting birds, traffic and sounds that would otherwise disrupt our sleep. I find that I sleep much better with the air conditioner running. I usually leave it in place until it’s time to start up the furnace in the fall. I then carry the window units up to the attic for storage.

 

Zone control in South Bend Indiana

The weather in Springfield, Missouri, is quite unpredictable.

The temperature can soar into the high eighties or plummer into the teens.

We often deal with excessive humidity, rain, hail, sleet and snow, all within a few week span. My home in Springfield is old and large, encompassing around twenty-five-hundred square feet. The house has seen a lot of renovations over the years. Walls have been removed and added. Windows have been enlarged and a screen porch enclosed. Very little attention was given to the design of the ductwork. There are areas of the house that lack sufficient vents to handle demand. When we first moved in, we got very frustrated with feeling overheated or chilly in certain rooms. Adjusting the thermostat simply resulted in the rest of the house being uncomfortable and especially high energy bills. We tried adding box fans and space heaters, but weren’t happy with the results. They offered little improvement to comfort while greatly detracting from aesthetics. After consulting with a local Springfield HVAC contractor, we decided to invest into a ductless system. The ductless configuration consists of an outdoor compressor that powers eight individual indoor air handlers. Each air handler features an independent thermostat and provides both heating and cooling capacity. We’re able to customize the temperature setting in each of those eight rooms. Despite the compact equipment, the ductless system is wonderfully powerful. The operation is quiet and amazingly energy efficient. We’ve found that the ductless units help with dehumidification in the summer and air filtration year round. I like that we can control the ductless air handlers by way of an app on our smartphones. We can program them to start up and shut down at specific times.

 

Heating maintenance in Springfield Missouri

Moving to St Petersburg, Florida, was a big change for me.

I grew up in the northeastern part of the country, where the summers are short and winters are brutal.

There was no need for central air conditioning. We got by with window air conditioners in the bedrooms, and there were years when the units were unnecessary. The furnace ran for eight straight months, handling temperatures down to negative twenty-five. Snow shovels, ice scrapers, rock salt, heavy boots and wool coats were essential. I was eager to head south. I expected extreme heat and humidity but didn’t totally understand the difficulties. Running an air conditioner just about year round is expensive. The excess humidity creates concerns with indoor air quality. It encourages the growth of mold, mildew, dust mites, bacteria, viruses and cockroaches. The summer weather in St Petersburg is as problematic as the winter weather up north. It’s essential to tighten up the house to prevent energy waste. I am once again trapped indoors for months at a time. When the temperature soars into the nineties, I feel tired, sluggish and unproductive. I’ve learned the importance of taking very good care of the air conditioner. To make sure it operates at peak efficiency, capacity and reliability, I change the air filters every four to six weeks. I arrange for professional service from a local St Petersburg HVAC contractor every spring. The technician cleans the condensate drain and coils, tests the refrigerant charge, verifies the accuracy of the thermostat, tightens wires and makes little adjustments. I make sure that the ductwork gets checked for leaks and cleanliness as well.
Air conditioning maintenance in St. Petersburg Florida

The air handlers easily handle the challenge of the winter weather in Elgin

A few years ago, my husband and I bought a larger home. With five kids, two dogs and one cat, we need quite a bit of space. The house is plenty spacious but older and somewhat outdated. Over the years, former owners have made numerous renovations. They were not careful about the number or placement of heating/cooling vents. Our first winter in the home was very chilly. Raising the thermostat setting forced the furnace to run constantly but did little to solve the problem. Certain rooms were overly warm while others were way too cold. Tearing out walls and ceilings to reconfigure the ductwork wasn’t an option. We were unwilling to tackle such a messy, invasive and expensive job. We looked into space heaters and all different options and finally decided to have a ductless multi-split system installed. The ductless system consists of an outdoor compressor that links to eight air handlers mounted on the walls of separate rooms. The air handlers are lightweight, compact and operate quietly. They provide both heating and cooling capacity and feature independent thermostats. We’re able to customize the temperature setting in each room. The ductless system includes inverter technology that enables it to vary speed and output depending on demand. The operation is wonderfully energy efficient, and despite the small size of components, the system is surprisingly powerful. The air handlers easily handle the challenge of the winter weather in Elgin. Plus, we’re able to make adjustments to the various air handlers by way of an app on our smartphones. Having access to zoned air conditioning is a wonderful perk in the summer.

Electric fireplace in Elgin IL