Air Quality Forecast
On Friday May 31st the Seacoast and high elevations above 3000ft) will be deemed unhealthy for sensitive people (Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma). This will extend into Saturday June 1st as the area of concern expands to include Hillsborough, Merrimack and Rockingham Counties. The pollutant of concern for this period is Ozone. (NH Department of Environmental Services, 2013)
Static or electrostatic charges occur every day. Almost everyone has been shocked by static charges and many have witnessed nature's lightning storms, which are magnificent displays of the power behind static electricity. So what is an electrostatic charge? An electrostatic charge is an electrical charge which is built up on an insulator or a material which is non-conductive.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the quality of air inside homes and office buildings as it relates to our health and comfort.
So you didn't think changing your air filter was important... Not only does a bad air filter result in poor air quality it can eventually cause restrictions to air flow. The filter below is covered in pet hair, human hair, dust and many other indoor contaminants. Air flow restrictions can result in poor efficiency and premature equipment failure. Changing your filter is a simple task and it could save you from costly service calls.
Our last blog post talked about air flow restrictions and the importance of changing your air filters. Ductwork debris can also cause air flow restrictions. LeBlanc technician Kyle D. discovered all these forgotten items while installing a furnace in Milford, NH 03055. A.J. LeBlanc Heating does not currently clean ductwork but we can certainly offer referrals to those in need of a good duct cleaning.
We are currently testing a Honeywell Lyric smart thermostat at our office in Bedford NH. In addition to the Honeywell Lyric we plan to test a few other brands in an effort to offer our customers the best smart thermostat solution. A.J. LeBlanc Heating is also a Nest Certified Installer, however we only recommend the Nest for basic HVAC system control.
Heating & Cooling Thermostat Setbacks
According to the U.S. Department of Energy you can save about 5 percent to 15 percent per year on your heating bill by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours. That’s a savings of as much as 1 percent for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long. If your normal heating costs are $1,500 per year, that is a savings of $75 to $225 every year.
Humidification is the process of adding moisture to the air and it is one of the most important aspects of total indoor comfort. People tend to associate humidity with the discomfort of hot, steamy summer days and it is true that too much humidity can cause problems. However, properly controlled humidity offers many proven benefits to your health, home and comfort. The reduction of humidity is especially prevalent during the winter heating season. This is because the relative humidity (RH) of the cold, outdoor air drops significantly when it is brought into your home and heated. Humidity control is a primary issue associated with forced hot air systems (furnaces).
A.J. LeBlanc Heating has begun in house testing of the Ecobee3 Thermostat. We have multiple technicians testing this smart thermostat in their homes. We are testing the Ecobee3 for its compatibility with furnaces, boilers, zoning, heat pumps, air conditioners and humidifiers. Although we have not logged many test hours this smart thermostat seems to preform extremely well. The Ecobee3 does a good job at integrating the best aspects of the Nest and the Honeywell Lyric, it is both simple and intelligent. View more smart thermostats at leblanchvac.com/smart-thermostats
Dead Nest? The Nest thermostat has an internal battery which can usually be charged by the 24v heating and cooling wires coming from your homes HVAC system. Problems arise when there are too many components borrowing from the same power source. The Nest learning thermostat is a power stealing thermostat which can cause system malfunction or improper system operation. The solution is to add what is known as a common wire, this wire is a separate 24 volt supply dedicated to charging your Nest thermostat. Although Nest claims this wire is not necessary with all installations A.J. LeBlanc Heating would highly recommend it to anyone using any smart thermostat. Installing a common wire can range in difficulty - if the thermostat wires are inaccessible from the power source walls may need to be opened or an alternative thermostat location may be suggested.
A.J. LeBlanc Heating's favorite smart thermostat has just launched free updated features for all ecobee3 thermostat owners. As of today, all ecobee3 customers have received a free update to firmware version 3.6, which brings the most highly anticipated customer-requested features to ecobee3 thermostats, mobile apps, and web portal. In addition, ecobee has launched a new app for Apple Watch and updated their iOS mobile app with new features and improvements. With ecobee's Apple watch app you can..
- Monitor and adjust your home’s temperature.
- View your remote sensors.
- Even set your thermostat to Home or Away with a tap.
- ecobee is an easy way to make life more comfortable, right from your wrist.
