What’s the Right Temperature for Yoga at Om? I Mean Home!
If you’re like me, maybe you don’t have time to jet to a yoga class. I have a jam-packed schedule and have to plan my laptop-based yoga sessions around it. For the best workout, I require two things: the absence of family members pointing and laughing at me and a temperature that doesn’t leave me so cold that I hurt myself. Not to mention (but I’m completely mentioning), it’s a bummer when I get to Shavasana and I’m too chilly to fully relax. The argument for warmth in yoga i
Is Duct Cleaning a Scam?
Recently a friend of mine whose opinions and recommendations I value — on anything from movies to marriage to motor oil — told me he had just had his home’s air ducts cleaned. In fact, he couldn’t stop raving about it. He claimed he’s never breathed easier, the air is fresher and he regrets not doing it years ago. I politely nodded and tried to change the subject. Working in the HVAC industry, I’m no stranger to the debate on duct cleaning. Debate? Yes. The fact is, empirical
Removing the Mystery: What Happens During Spring HVAC Maintenance.
Preventative maintenance prevents unpleasant surprises, especially when those “surprises” pertain to your HVAC system and could end up costing hundreds of dollars in repairs, or even thousands if you need a total system replaced. Arguably the most important facet of HVAC maintenance is filter replacement, which should be done every 30 to 90 days, and can be accomplished by almost anyone with opposable digits. However, because the HVAC system utilizes electricity, and often ga
Add to the List of "Things that ain't Good": Water Underneath the Furnace
So, you’re down in your basement adding strawberry preserves to the food cache you’ve stockpiled in preparation for the Zombie Apocalypse. Or, maybe you’re just down there doing laundry. As you navigate your way around the shop-vac, duck under some cobwebs, and zero-in on your destination, something in the back of your brain sounds an alarm. Not everything is as it should be. You pause for a second and wonder what exactly your subconscious picked up on. Then a brief shock of
Get Pumped and Move Your Heat
Let’s attempt to demystify the oft-misunderstood and underappreciated humble heat pump. Even the name itself, “heat pump” is a somewhat of a misnomer because it does so much more than merely pump heat. It also has the ability to pump cool air so it can serve in a dual-capacity as an air conditioner and heater. And that’s the gist of heat pumps: they move heat rather than make heat. Traditionally used in more temperate climates, new technology has paved the way for the utiliza
How to Help Your Furnace This Winter
For most of us, whenever we feel even the slightest tinge of temperature discomfort, like automatons we seem pre-programmed to reach for the thermostat and dial-in quick relief. This shouldn’t be our default tactic in warding off the winter chills. There are easier and cheaper means of keeping cozy, rather than throttling the furnace, while Jack Frost is up to his dastardly deeds. In terms of winter home comfort, a furnace is the go-to weapon in your arsenal for warmth, preve
“You're hot then you're cold, You're yes then you're no, You're in then you'
An old, temperamental heating and cooling system can be a pain in the neck on so many levels. It’s inherently inefficient which puts a hurt on your wallet. It’s an inconvenience, in that one minute you feel on the verge of hypothermia, and the next minute you swear you’ve been relocated to a sweat lodge. These old units, with their “bangs” and “clangs,” are jarring. They can also be tremendous space hogs where square footage is coveted. The best way to overcome all these issu
Rake Leaves, Check. Clean Gutters, Check. Central A.C. TLC, Check (or should be).
Now that Autumn is in full swing, and crisp, cooler temps are the norm it’s time to devote some TLC to your air conditioner. In less than an hour you can fully prep your outdoor air handler so it can easily withstand harsh winter weather; not only will it be shielded from snow and ice, it will also thwart potential rust and corrosion. Here are some simple steps that anybody can undertake to safeguard their HVAC investment. First, hit the kill switch on the exterior power to t
Duct Cleaning: Scam, Sham, or Legit?
Chances are that if you talk to a friend who recently had the ductwork in their home cleaned out, they’ll babble incessantly about all the benefits to be recouped by undergoing the process. “I can breathe so much easier!” “The house smells fresher.” “My allergies have practically disappeared!” Etcetera, etcetera. Well, all those benefits could be figments of your friend’s imagination. In other words, there are opposing factions of HVAC professionals who debate the efficacy of
