Airflow and Room Temperature Solutions
A few years ago I was driving my 8 year old son to his football game. It was a Saturday afternoon in the fall and it was a comfortable 64 degree day. My son was in the back seat and asked me to turn the air conditioner on. As I reached for the controls I asked why since it was already cool and he said “because my coach told the team at practice that the best conditioned team is going to win.” Clearly spoken from a heating and air conditioning contractor’s son! Imagine if children’s logic reflected reality. Our world would be a lot more interesting.
So here we are with fall setting in once again with cool, crisp nightly temperatures accompanied with football season. Just because the outdoor temperatures are fluctuating does not mean your indoor air has to change your comfort level. Consistent indoor comfort is ideal. If the room temperatures in your home vary significantly, then your system is not operating properly and you will need a service repairman to diagnose the issue. The goal is to meet room temperatures with the thermostat setting, but concern should be noted if there is a 3 degree difference from room to room. Room temperature fluctuations could be due to:
~Disconnected or poorly designed ductwork
~Thermostat location
~Poor insulation
~Window leakage
If you experience hotter temperatures upstairs in the summer and colder downstairs in the winter; or perhaps a room over the garage gets neglected from proper airflow, your comfort system may be insufficiently designed or sized. A simple load calculation can be performed by a professional to determine the proper sizing required for you space. There are effective solutions to improve your comfort such as:
~Installing a ductless mini-split system
~Installing a zoning system
~Duct redesign to improve airflow
~Install a properly sized system
Every home is different, so schedule a qualified technician to determine your best solution to overcome comfort issues. To optimize the efficiency of your comfort system and reduce failures, change your filters monthly.
757-430-0358
How To Reduce Air Conditioning Failures
Dirt and neglect are the leading causes of air conditioning failures. Keeping operating costs down is important to all of us, so Kellam Mechanical has seven super money and sanity saving tips to keep your air conditioner dependable:
1. Schedule system maintained annually with a qualified technician. Tune-ups provide higher efficiency and reduces comfort system failures. Kellam Mechanical’s USA (Ultimate Savings Agreement) 25 point inspection annual maintenance program pays for itself through energy savings and program discounts.
2. Change your disposable filters, or clean your permanent filters monthly. Pet dander, dust and dirt accumulate fast, clogging up filters which reduces airflow and causes your system to work harder. Dirty filters will cause system inefficiency and can lead to expensive repairs from compressor failures and freezing coils.
3. Protect the coils in your outdoor unit. Use caution when weed eating or mowing around the outdoor unit to prevent coil damage. Any deck or fencing should be at least 2 -3 feet from the unit to allow for proper airflow around the equipment and access for repairmen. Keep animals from urinating on outdoor coils to prevent corrosion, which can lead to expensive refrigerant leak repairs.
4. Remove the threat of water damage. Some units are located in attics above valuable living space. Install a ceiling saver safety switch that detects drain clogs. Safety switches shut down the system before water damage occurs. Water damage can be costly so be proactive and protect your ceilings, walls and valuables. This will help avoid the pain of insurance claims as well.
5. To fight corrosion, install a corrosion grenade. Systems within one mile of the ocean experience shorter life expectancies and higher failure rates due to salt and sand exposure. Rinse units down periodically with fresh water to help mitigate the effects of the harsh environment.
6. Install a surge protector to protect your equipment’s major components from voltage spikes and brownouts.
7. Choose the right contractor with educated technicians who are NATE certified.
Damage control is important and system maintenance is necessary. Kellam Mechanical will be glad to dispatch one of our NATE certified techs to help reduce your comfort system failures that will save you money. 757-430-0358
Kellam Mechanical Earns Energy Star Building Rating
Kellam Mechanical Heating, Air Conditioning and Electrical, owned by Scott Kellam has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification, which signifies that the building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.
“Kellam Mechanical is pleased to accept EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts,” said Scott Kellam, President. “Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to positive environmental efforts while also lowering our energy costs. I am proud to share that Kellam Mechanical is the 1st and only heating and air conditioning residential contractor in the state of Virginia to achieve this accreditation. We not only promote green products and practices, we live it every day.”
Commercial buildings that earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Scott Kellam constructed Kellam Mechanical’s office/warehouse in 2007 with energy efficiency at the forefront.
To earn the ENERGY STAR, Kellam Mechanical took the following actions:
· Installed a highly efficient Geothermal system that does not use fossil fuels nor emit combustible gasses into our environment
· Installed highly effective insulation systems
· Installed energy efficient lighting
EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance scale helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a 75 or higher on EPA’s 1-100 scale may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification and Kellam Mechanical scored an impressive 89%. Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, data centers, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, houses of worship, and warehouses.
To learn more about Kellam Mechanical’s green products and practices, click here!
Customers Have Rights!
To show our cust
omers that we value them and we have a serious commitment to customer service, we implemented a Customer Bill of Rights. We provide this document at every visit to your home.
First, we offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee. If you are not satisfied, for any reason, within the first year after installation, we will remove the equipment and give you a full refund.
Secondly, our employees are courteous and on time. Kellam technicians are drug free and smoke free. Don’t worry about finding cigarette butts on your property, because it will not happen. We offer a Clean Home Guarantee as well as an On Time Guarantee.
Thirdly, your comfort is a priority. With our Comfort Guarantee, we promise that there will be no more than a 3 degree temperature variance between rooms. Our total comfort system air will be re-balanced if needed.
A 24 Hour Service Guarantee is also a part of our Bill of Rights. If you have a problem during the warranty period with your comfort system repair and it is not completed in 24 hours, we will pay for your night in a hotel.
Kellam Mechanical takes the service to our clients seriously. For more info or details on our Customer Bill of Rights, click here!.