Do I Need a Whole-House Dehumidifier?

 

Air conditioning alone can't satisfy your home's humidity requirements. Your air conditioning system is designed to control temperature, not humidity, and only removes humidity as a byproduct of cooling. During the spring and fall seasons when it’s still cool outside but damp inside, your air conditioning isn’t running and your house is uncomfortable — you need an Whole-Home Dehumidifier.

Why Do I Need a Whole-House Dehumidifier?

Have you ever experienced any of the following uncomfortable and/or unhealthy conditions:

• Do you have trouble sleeping at night due to clammy skin or stuffiness in the air?
  
• Have you ever reduced the temperature setting because you're uncomfortable with the stuffy feeling?
  
• Have your floors or other surfaces ever felt sticky or “sweaty”?
  
• Are you concerned with mold and mildew growth in your home?
  
• Do you have musty odors or smells in any area of your home?
  
• Do you have condensation on your water pipes?
  
• Have you seen wet stains on walls or ceilings?
  
• Do you or a family member have allergies (over-moist air can encourage the growth of mold, bacteria, and dust mites—three commonly known household allergens).

Experiencing any of the above conditions can make sleeping and even daily activities miserable — plus some conditions can be hazardous to your family’s health or your home’s furnishings.

What Happens When Humidity is Too High?

When there is too much moisture in your home, wet air can get trapped in corners, basements, and other closed areas. This is usually most noticeable in bathrooms, where moisture gathers in corners and on ceilings and creates mildew that is often difficult to remove. Condensation can also accumulate in windows, causing water to drip down the window and wooden frames to rot. Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are also prone to having higher humidity levels.

This excess moisture provides a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold (which can be harmful to your health if left unchecked), and also makes your home more inviting for pest and insects such as cockroaches and termites.

Does the air in your home feel stale and musty? Do you have problems breathing at night because it's too dry or too humid? Komfort Heating & Cooling can help. Contact us today to learn more about our dehumidifiers and air quality products and services.

For More Information or to Schedule
Your Spring Tune-Up

Contact us at

Komfort Heating & Cooling

262-723-2662

Click To Like Us On Facebook

Spring HVAC Tips

Spring Cleaning Begins with HVAC!

Spring cleaning is a common practice and it can be difficult to remember to do everything that is on your list. Although it can be overwhelming, an easy place to start is with your home air conditioning system. As a home owner one of the most important things on your spring cleaning list should be your home heating and cooling system. As the weather warms up, you want to make sure your HVAC system is working properly and efficiently to take on the summer heat. Clean air is a clean home! Here is a list of things to get you started on your home AC spring cleaning:

 

Top 5 Spring Cleaning Tips

1. First things first, always check your air conditioning and heating equipment at the beginning of each new season to make sure it is running properly to avoid high energy costs.
2. Replace your air conditioning system filter at least once every month. There are many different kinds of filters depending on your needs. Call one of our service representatives and we can help decide which is best for your system.
3. Make sure your doors and windows are caulked and sealed properly to keep heat and humidity from getting inside your home causing your AC system to be overworked.
4. Wash your exterior condenser unit off with a hose to remove dirt and debris from the fin area.
5. Having an A/C company inspect the entire system is extremely recommended for best results. Komfort Heating & Cooling offers Spring Tune-Ups as a part of our Preventative Maintenance Program to make sure your system is ready to take on the extreme temperatures of the summer.

Spring Energy Saving Tips

1. Spring is a great time for free heating & cooling from the outside. Open your windows when the temperature is right outside. You can also use natural ventilation by turning on your fans to circulate your home air.
2. Annual air conditioner service/check up is important to make sure your system is working efficiently and not wasting energy. (We can help with this!)
3. Turning off your air when you're not home can make a world of a difference. Running your AC at 78 instead of 72 degrees can save you between 6 and 18 percent on your energy bill!
4. 90% of incandescent bulbs' energy is given off as heat. Try CFL or LED lights that run cooler and save energy. Avoid running appliances like your oven on warmer days and use natural lighting from outside.
5. Use greenery like trees from your landscaping to create shade and keep the heat from your home.

For More Information or to Schedule
Your Spring Tune-Up

Contact us at

Komfort Heating & Cooling

262-723-2662

Click To Like Us On Facebook

 

Guidelines for Floods and HVACR Equipment

After a flood, homeowners are advised to take important safety precautions with regard to their home’s heating and cooling systems. A house or basement exposed to standing water can damage your home’s water heater, furnace, boiler, air-conditioning, ventilation, and heat pump system — putting your family at risk.

Replace, Don’t Repair

Flood-damaged heating and cooling equipment and systems should be replaced and not repaired, according to AHRI. All inspection and replacement work on flooded equipment should be performed by qualified heating and cooling contractors, not by homeowners. You can turn misfortune into opportunity by considering new, energy-efficient models that will lower your future energy bills. Also ask your local utility about available rebates for new energy-efficient gas or propane furnaces.

Ductwork

If you have a central forced-air furnace in the house you are repairing, pay attention to your ductwork too. A qualified heating contractor will not try to salvage duct insulation that has been in contact with flood water, but will replace it because it is impossible to decontaminate. Your contractor also will clean, dry and disinfect the ductwork. Doing a thorough job will require disassembling the ductwork. These repairs to your ductwork also give your contractor the opportunity seal joints in the ductwork and improve insulation to reduce heat loss.

Gas Furnaces and Boilers

If there is any question whether flood water has reached a gas appliance, have the unit checked by a qualified heating contractor. Natural gas furnaces, space heaters and boilers all have gas valves and controls that are especially vulnerable to water damage from floods and that damage may not be easy to detect. Corrosion begins inside the valves and controls, and damage may not be readily visible, even if the outside of the device is clean and dry. At a minimum, this damage can result in reliability problems.

Electric Furnaces

An electric furnace consists of electrically heated coils, a fan to provide air circulation across the coils, and controls which include safety relays. Just like the gas-fired warm-air furnace, the electric furnace is susceptible to corrosion and damage, resulting in reliability problems or safety hazards. If there is any question whether flood water has reached an electric furnace, have the unit checked by a qualified heating contractor.

Propane Heating

Use extreme caution when there is the potential for propane leaks and get propane equipment checked, repaired and/or replaced by a qualified heating contractor as quickly as possible after a flood. In every case, your contractor must replace all valves and controls that have been in contact with flood water. Propane systems also require attention to their gas pressure regulator. This regulator contains a small vent hole in its body to sense outside pressure. For effective gas pressure regulation, this hole must always remain unobstructed. During a flood, debris can easily plug the hole, causing dangerous malfunction or corrosion. The regulator should be replaced, as water from floods can carry corrosive chemicals.

Heat Pumps and Air Conditioning Systems

Split air conditioning and heat pump systems have power and control wiring between the indoor and outdoor parts of the system, and the piping that moves the refrigerant from inside to outside the home and back.

Even if the system is in contact with flood water for a long period, this sealed system is likely to remain intact. However, if flood water has repositioned either the indoor or outdoor units of a split system by only a small amount, there is the potential for a breached refrigerant system. The heat pump (or air conditioning system) will then require major repair or full replacement.

If the refrigerant system remains intact after the flood, the entire system should be cleaned, dried, and disinfected. You should have a qualified heating and cooling contractor check all electrical and refrigeration connections for both indoor and outdoor units, including all control circuits. The decision to repair or replace should be made by a qualified professional on a case-by-case basis.

Water Heating System

Whether your water heater is gas-fired, oil-fired or electric, if it was exposed to flood water, the unit should be replaced. A new water heater is a relatively small investment, and replacing it is fairly easy to do.

 

In a gas unit, valves and controls will likely corrode. In an electric unit, the thermostat and controls will likely corrode. In both types, the insulation surrounding the unit will be contaminated and will be nearly impossible to disinfect. Additionally, the insulation would take a long time to dry, leading to corrosion of the tank from the outside.

Even if water heater components have been cleaned and the unit seems to operate properly, parts may corrode in the future. Both gas and electric water heaters have a pressure relief valve that can corrode and stick after being exposed to flood water. Be sure, therefore, to replace this valve as well.

For More Information

Contact us at

Komfort Heating & Cooling

262-723-2662

Click To Like Us On Facebook