| Whole House Mechanical, LLC Winter 2010 Newsletter |
| With back lit screens, graphic designs, touch screens, user-friendly interfaces, and visual appealing design, today’s thermostat is no longer an eyesore but a showpiece you will want to display. The new Carrier Edge thermostat is just 1/8" thick and is available in seven designer face plates to match the décor of your home. With all the thermostat options available which one should you choose? Energy Star rated programmable thermostats offer you savings by utilizing the time spent in and away from your home. From the simple to hi-tech, there are many options available. Talk to a Whole House Mechanical Project Engineer and see which thermostat is best for you. |
| furnace and redirecting it throughout the humidifier into the supply air plenum. Hence the name by-pass humidifier. A small water line is run to the humidifier and distributes water evenly over an evaporator pad. The air flowing through the humidifier absorbs the moisture from the evaporator pad and distributes it throughout the house via the ductwork. The excess water is drained out of the humidifier to eliminate standing water from promoting mold or mildew growth inside the unit. The average size humidifier will use 12 - 18 gallons of water a day. The humidistat measures the moisture in the air and relates to the humidifier how much humidity to produce. Where space is limited, one option would be a fan-powered humidifier. A fan-powered humidifier operates the same as a by-pass humidifier only a electric fan blows the air across the evaporator panel directly into the ductwork without the need for the by-pass duct. |
Home Comfort
| So where should a thermostat be located? A thermostat should be installed at a height of 54” on an inside wall of a frequently used room with good air circulation within ten feet of a cold air return grille. A thermostat should not be installed near heat producing objects such as a fireplace, lamp, television, direct sunlight, or a stove that may produce a false temperature reading. Nor should a thermostat be installed near a supply air grille, behind a door, or in a stairwell. All these factor into an accurate indoor temperature reading. No matter what brand or type of thermostat you have, from the simple round style thermostat to the digital programmable to the technologically advanced, the thermostat is the life center of your heating and cooling system and your comfort. Thermostats have followed suite with today’s technologically advancements. Now a thermostat controls not only the indoor temperature but also humidity, register outdoor temperatures, controls zone dampers, has reminders for homeowners to change the filter and humidifier water panel, reminders for when routine maintenance is due, and also alerts the homeowner when the system is not operating properly and needs to be serviced by a technician. For those of you who love technology and to be able to access your home even when you are not there, there is a thermostat for you. There are thermostats on the market today that can be accessed and controlled via the Internet or telephone. You can see and/or hear the current thermostat settings, program, and change the settings. With an integrated Internet thermostat you can view and change the thermostat settings and also view the current outdoor temperatures just as if you were standing right in front of the thermostat. The ecobee thermostat can be integrated to the iPhone in addition to the Internet. Let’s say you are leaving the office early and the weather turns a bit chilly, you can access your thermostat and increase the thermostat setting to have the house nice and toasty when you arrive home. Or the days turns out much warmer than the weatherman predicted and you left the air conditioning turned off, just access your thermostat and turn the air conditioning on for a cool and comfortable home. All this can be done right from your desktop or cell phone. This is also a great feature to have if you travel often, own a second home, or have an off site building. |
We all have experienced the sudden jolt of static electricity when we least expected it, such as turning on a light
switch or touching a metal surface after you shuffled your fluffy slippers across the carpet on a cold winter's morn.
Or you may have one of those super soft & fuzzy blankets that are notorious for producing static shock. No matter
when or where it happens, static shock is an unpleasant experience!
Static shock is prevalent in the winter season in homes, offices, and buildings with a forced air heating system. A
forced-air system heats the space well but absorbs the moisture from the air. The air then draws moisture from
the objects in the room. Have you ever noticed how a hard wood floor shrinks in the winter? Moisture is even
drawn from you, resulting in dry skin, itchy nasal passages, and chapped lips. Allergies, viruses, and dust mites
love a dry home. Common household activities such as cooking and bathing do not produce the needed
moisture in the home. A whole house humidifier is the answer. There are several different options on the market
today to meet your home humidity needs.
The most common humidifier is called the by-pass humidifier. The humidifier is attached to your heating
system's supply air plenum. A duct is installed from the return air duct, "by-passing" air from entering
switch or touching a metal surface after you shuffled your fluffy slippers across the carpet on a cold winter's morn.
Or you may have one of those super soft & fuzzy blankets that are notorious for producing static shock. No matter
when or where it happens, static shock is an unpleasant experience!
Static shock is prevalent in the winter season in homes, offices, and buildings with a forced air heating system. A
forced-air system heats the space well but absorbs the moisture from the air. The air then draws moisture from
the objects in the room. Have you ever noticed how a hard wood floor shrinks in the winter? Moisture is even
drawn from you, resulting in dry skin, itchy nasal passages, and chapped lips. Allergies, viruses, and dust mites
love a dry home. Common household activities such as cooking and bathing do not produce the needed
moisture in the home. A whole house humidifier is the answer. There are several different options on the market
today to meet your home humidity needs.
The most common humidifier is called the by-pass humidifier. The humidifier is attached to your heating
system's supply air plenum. A duct is installed from the return air duct, "by-passing" air from entering
Did you know the location of your thermostat plays a huge part in the comfort of your home?
I was unaware of this fact when my husband and I purchased our first home. The existing thermostat was located near an entry door in the
kitchen directly above the stove. The thermostat could not accurately register the indoor temperature due to its location. Needless to say the
thermostat kicked on every time the door opened. When I used the stove in the winter the thermostat would read 80 degrees and not turn the
furnace on while the rest of the house was freezing. It was the opposite in the summer as the air conditioning was constantly running due to the
stove producing heat. The thermostat was relocated in a hallway out of direct sunlight and on an interior wall. Now when I am cooking or the
door opens the thermostat is not effected.
I was unaware of this fact when my husband and I purchased our first home. The existing thermostat was located near an entry door in the
kitchen directly above the stove. The thermostat could not accurately register the indoor temperature due to its location. Needless to say the
thermostat kicked on every time the door opened. When I used the stove in the winter the thermostat would read 80 degrees and not turn the
furnace on while the rest of the house was freezing. It was the opposite in the summer as the air conditioning was constantly running due to the
stove producing heat. The thermostat was relocated in a hallway out of direct sunlight and on an interior wall. Now when I am cooking or the
door opens the thermostat is not effected.
A Shocking Experience!
The newest innovation on the market is the steam humidifier. The Honeywell company has created the TrueSTEAM
humidifier which uses over 50% less water than the standard humidifier by producing steam to humidify the air. The
TrueSTEAM humidifier is installed on your existing ductwork, but works independently of your furnace. A heating element converts the water
into steam minimizing the water usage. The steam is then distributed into the ductwork. It is also self cleaning and only requires an annual
cleaning of soap and water. This unit is another great option if there is limited space for installation.
With these options available for humidifiers, call Whole House Mechanical to install the right humidifier for your home. Then you can put on
those fluffy slippers and snuggle up in that fuzzy blanket with no fear of static shock this winter after the installation of your new humidifier.
humidifier which uses over 50% less water than the standard humidifier by producing steam to humidify the air. The
TrueSTEAM humidifier is installed on your existing ductwork, but works independently of your furnace. A heating element converts the water
into steam minimizing the water usage. The steam is then distributed into the ductwork. It is also self cleaning and only requires an annual
cleaning of soap and water. This unit is another great option if there is limited space for installation.
With these options available for humidifiers, call Whole House Mechanical to install the right humidifier for your home. Then you can put on
those fluffy slippers and snuggle up in that fuzzy blanket with no fear of static shock this winter after the installation of your new humidifier.
| Whole House Mechanical, LLC 1025 Hwy 212 Michigan City, IN 46360 www.whmllc.com |
It is coming!!! I just do not know when. The coughing, sneezing, chills, fever, body aches, just to name a
few. From the common cold to the flu, it is going to come knocking at the door - it is just a matter of time.
I don’t like to be sick nor do I like to have my family members sick. When I start thinking about all the
things I come in contact with on a daily basis, that have been touched by many different hands, the result
is staggering. The grocery store carts (I greatly appreciate the stores with the antibacterial wipes for the
grocery cart handles), gas pump handles, doorknobs, money, and the list goes on. I have no idea if the
person who last handles these items is sick or not. Chances are I am going to get sick from someone
or something and I am going to bring whatever “it” is into my home.
Even though I sterilize and sanitize the best I can, I am still breathing in whatever the sick person is
breathing out. Have you ever been in a house with a sick person and it smells like sickness? That is
because the contaminated air is being circulated throughout the ductwork of the house. Yes, there are
aerosol sprays that claim to kill viruses and bacteria while making the house smell fresh but that is a
temporary fix. Why not have a permanent filtration system installed on your existing furnace, which
operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week killing viruses and bacteria and purifying the air?
The Carrier Air Purifier was the first air purifier on the market that not only filters the air but also captures
and kills bacteria, viruses, and mold. The patented technology of the Carrier Air Purifier is so effective
that it has been installed in hospitals and government offices to clean and purify the air.
few. From the common cold to the flu, it is going to come knocking at the door - it is just a matter of time.
I don’t like to be sick nor do I like to have my family members sick. When I start thinking about all the
things I come in contact with on a daily basis, that have been touched by many different hands, the result
is staggering. The grocery store carts (I greatly appreciate the stores with the antibacterial wipes for the
grocery cart handles), gas pump handles, doorknobs, money, and the list goes on. I have no idea if the
person who last handles these items is sick or not. Chances are I am going to get sick from someone
or something and I am going to bring whatever “it” is into my home.
Even though I sterilize and sanitize the best I can, I am still breathing in whatever the sick person is
breathing out. Have you ever been in a house with a sick person and it smells like sickness? That is
because the contaminated air is being circulated throughout the ductwork of the house. Yes, there are
aerosol sprays that claim to kill viruses and bacteria while making the house smell fresh but that is a
temporary fix. Why not have a permanent filtration system installed on your existing furnace, which
operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week killing viruses and bacteria and purifying the air?
The Carrier Air Purifier was the first air purifier on the market that not only filters the air but also captures
and kills bacteria, viruses, and mold. The patented technology of the Carrier Air Purifier is so effective
that it has been installed in hospitals and government offices to clean and purify the air.
The Carrier Air Purifier replaces the standard filter and is installed to your furnace and ductwork. Particles and
pathogens entering the air purifier are electrically charged by ionization while the filter is negatively charged
attracting the particles into the filter where they are in literal terms electrocuted, killing up to 99% of the
pathogens. I picture a bug zapper where the bugs are attracted to the pretty blue light only to find a not so happy
ending. This does not sound appealing but the end result is clean, purified air for you and your family to
breathe.
So as you are preparing for the winter season by stocking up on Kleenex, cold medicine, and hand sanitizer,
don’t forget about the air you breathe in your home. Call Whole House Mechanical to install your new Carrier Air
Purifier today!!
pathogens entering the air purifier are electrically charged by ionization while the filter is negatively charged
attracting the particles into the filter where they are in literal terms electrocuted, killing up to 99% of the
pathogens. I picture a bug zapper where the bugs are attracted to the pretty blue light only to find a not so happy
ending. This does not sound appealing but the end result is clean, purified air for you and your family to
breathe.
So as you are preparing for the winter season by stocking up on Kleenex, cold medicine, and hand sanitizer,
don’t forget about the air you breathe in your home. Call Whole House Mechanical to install your new Carrier Air
Purifier today!!
It is coming!!! Are you Prepared??
| (219) 879-6264 info@whmllc.com |