You may have heard our jingle on the radio or seen our motto online, but when we say “We Want to Bring You Comfort”, what does that truly mean? By comfort, we mean home comfort, which is extremely important to your overall happiness and health. Many will agree that there is nothing worse than coming home from work in the winter only to have to pile on wool socks, sweaters, and blankets because their home is cold and drafty. Or, in the summer with days so hot that one may wrongfully assume they’re having hot flashes and their family can’t sleep with blankets on, let alone get much sleep at all. Home comfort technology fixes these nuisances by creating and maintaining a comfortable indoor environment in your home. The best equipment will adjust to extreme temperature fluctuations and keep you and your family comfortable season after season. Home comfort involves utilizing technology that delivers the best in temperature, humidity, and air quality.
Temperature
The average homeowner spends a lot in household energy, and some of this cost is to heat and cool their homes. Energy consumption and costs vary based on where you live, the length of the heating or cooling season, the age and structure of your home, and the type of mechanical equipment that you have. To maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, it is not only important to make sure that your home has adequate insulation and windows, but also to ensure that your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment is efficient, maintained, and replaced when needed. Some key points to remember regarding temperature and home comfort are:
- Ideal indoor temperature - Keeping your indoor temperature between the range of 20-22 degrees celsius is optimal. This may need to be slightly higher if you have seniors or infants in the home. While you are away the temperature can be reduced to 18 degrees celsius.
- Smart thermostats - Utilizing a smart thermostat will allow you precise temperature control during the heating and cooling season. Many smart thermostats, such as the Google Nest, will recognize your patterns, will adjust the temperature accordingly when you leave or come home, and will send you reports on your energy use and energy savings. Read more about the benefits of smart thermostats.
- Equipment tune-ups - It is strongly recommended to have your furnace and air conditioner professionally inspected and serviced no less than once per year. An improperly maintained HVAC system is linked to higher energy consumption, more frequent breakdowns, emergency repairs, and premature replacement of your entire system. Many manufacturer warranties are void if you neglect this important task. Don’t wait for equipment to fail before paying attention to it: Avoid being without heat in the middle of winter, or without cooling on the hottest summer days, by having your equipment professionally maintained.
- Equipment replacement - As your furnace and air conditioner age, their energy consumption increases. Newer technology is more energy-efficient. When it is recommended to replace your furnace or air conditioner, it is best to do so before waiting for it to break down completely. This will ensure continual home comfort (and energy savings) for you and your family.
Humidity
The level of humidity in your home can certainly affect your home comfort. Your home should have a humidifier attached to its furnace, and it should be set accordingly to obtain ideal humidity levels. This is an important discussion to have with your furnace technician at the time of your annual maintenance appointment. A home that is too dry or too humid can lead to many issues for your family including the following:
- Health problems - nose bleeds, dry skin, and sinus problems can all be triggered by dry air. These problems tend to get worse in winter months when our furnaces are running more often.
- Damage to your home - Wood furniture and flooring can become damaged by a home that is too dry. If you notice new spaces between your floorboards or splintering and cracking of your floors or wood furniture, you most certainly have a low-humidity problem. Alternatively, if your home is too humid (less common in Alberta climate), you may notice excessive condensation on your windows, damage to your wall, and mould or mildew problems.
Air Quality
Air pollutants like mould, fungi, bacteria, and dust mites can get into your home’s central ventilation and cause problems to your home comfort and ultimately to the health and wellness of your family. You can protect your indoor air quality in a number of ways:
- Ventilation - Ensure the air is moving in your home by keeping your furnace fan running all the time. Your furnace filter will then trap larger contaminants and prevent them from recirculating.
- Upgraded air filters - You may consider upgrading your furnace filters to a HEPA system to trap smaller particles and reduce air contamination.
- UV lights - If anyone in your family has health issues, it is highly recommended to have a UV-C light installed on your central HVAC. A UV-C light system will purify your air 24 hours a day, destroying airborne viruses and bacterias.
Read more about indoor air quality systems that work on your homes mechanical.
Always Plumbing & Heating is dedicated to your comfort with true 24/7 service. We’re here to recommend ways that will not only make you more comfortable today but help you save money down the road. By offering you state-of-the-art solutions, committing our team to continuous training, and helping you take care of the equipment you already have, it adds up to fewer repairs and non-stop comfort, season after season. “We want to bring you comfort”, not only in your home but in the service we provide.
Next time you face a heating or plumbing concern, reach out to the expert plumbers and home comfort technicians at Always Plumbing & Heating.
You can call on us anytime. Yes. ANY time. That’s why our name is ALWAYS.
Call us at 780-489-8118 today to get started.
