How To Make HVAC Equipment Purchases Easier
A properly maintained HVAC system will last a long time. When it doesn't work right, your wallet quickly empties. This article has some great tips to get you started, so read on!
Do not be surprised if the HVAC contractor you choose does an evaluation on your home. Any good contractor will spend time looking at the system you currently have and what the needs are for your home. They will also take a look at your duct system and look for air leaks.
When the spring comes and the days begin to warm up, call in a pro to give your HVAC a once over. This will ensure that your air conditioner works as expected all summer long, stopping you from sweating it out when you least expect the system to fail.
Do you hear a clicking sound when your fan is turning? This may mean that there is something in the way of the blades of the fan. If it gets so bad that the blade bends, you must replace it, just unbending it will leave the fan unbalanced and can cause further issues.
When selecting a location for an outdoor compressor, opt for a shady area, if possible. The cooler air entering the unit will require less work to get to the proper temperature.
When you are no longer using your outdoor air conditioning unit, be sure to protect it with a tight cover. This will keep it free of debris, frost and snow so that you'll have a working unit when the spring comes and you are ready to uncover it and use it again.
If you want to cool your home in the summer without using your air conditioning on full, consider installing fans in your home. An attic fan can blow hot air out while sucking in cool air into your basement, and ceiling fans help distribute the air in your rooms evenly.
If you have fans in place to help make your HVAC more efficient, be sure that they're turning in the right direction. They should be pushing air downwards over the people in the room to help cool their skin. If it's blowing upwards, all it does is push hot air into the room.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. AC units will only cool a house down 20 degrees. So if your home is 100u00c2u00baF, you'll only get the temperature down to about 80. Depending on the humidity level, this temperature isn't considered a safe sleeping temperature for the human body to be able to recover from the summer heat.
Consider an annual service agreement for technicians to regularly inspect your AC unit. Schedule brief inspections for the winter to make sure nothing is obviously wrong. The most important time for an inspection and service is just before it starts getting warm. You don't want to discover an AC website breakdown when you need it working most.
Improve the efficiency of your air conditioning by installing ceiling fans. Change the airflow direction of the ceiling fans. During the summer, the blades should move in a counter-clockwise direction. During the winter, the blades should move clockwise to help move the hot air in the ceiling down into the room.
When dealing with HVAC contractors, make sure that you get everything in writing. While verbal contracts are legal in many places, it is usually very difficult to prove them. Having everything on paper is a great way to make sure that no ons is confused about any aspect of the process.
Make sure your HVAC is clear when working outside. You should try keeping any vegetation about two feet away from your outdoor units. Keep the areas above it and on each side of it clear. Make sure you aim your grass clippings away from the unit when mowing. Keep leaves from getting inside your unit in the fall.
If you can, find a way to create shade over your outdoor HVAC unit. This can actually save you money as shaded air being pulled in by the HVAC unit is typically 5 to 6 degrees cooler than air that's heated by direct sunlight. It's a smart solution to lowering those energy bills.
When determining the location of your air conditioning unit, think about which way the air flows. If you have to place it in a corner of your home, be sure you're getting a unit that has air flow coming from a direction that's not facing the wall.
Ask for referrals from friends and family. The best way to judge if an HVAC company is going to do a good job is from people who have actually used them. Ask your acquaintances if they have had work done, and find out if they were happy with the job, timeliness, and budget.
In order to save money overnight, buy an air conditioner with a switch that sets it to be fan-only. This will push hot air outside and bring in cool air from near the ground. Turn this on just before bed so that you can cool the house as you sleep.
Consider a digital window air conditioner with a remote to make use easy as pie. These often come with a thermostat in the remote, turning off the unit when the air near the remote is cool enough. Place the remote on the other side of the room so that the whole area cools down.
Make sure you're prepared for a home evaluation from your chosen HVAc company. The technician needs to check out your current home and unit to figure out your needs. They must check teh size of your house, your windows, and the insulation. They have to make sure whatever unit they install is the proper fit for maximum efficiency.
You should make sure the contractor you hire to repair or install your HVAC system has a hotline for emergencies that is available all day. Your system can go out after hours, and if you need help, you want someone who can be there at any time of the day.
Properly functioning home HVAC means room temperatures indoors in seasons both cold and hot. Improperly functioning home HVAC means variable humidity levels indoors, uncomfortable temperatures and air that is possibly even dirty to breathe. Keep your family comfortable, healthy and happy with the ideas within this article about your home's HVAC.
Rail funding, real property tax hike weighed by Honolulu City Council in new tax bill
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A bill to tax visitors to Oahu is moving forward in the Honolulu City Council. The 3% tax will help to fill county funds after losing out on about $45 million from the state.
For years, the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) was designed to help with tourist impacts on the Hawaiian islands as it was collected by the state and distributed to the counties. Now, new state law allows the counties to collect it themselves at a maximum of 3%, but some councilmembers are concerned that the money will go toward the Honolulu Rail Project.
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Under Bill 40, Honolulu could collect up to $7 million per month.
“We do need to fill that $45 million puka, and that’s the first thing that the bill does,†Tommy Waters, Honolulu City Council chair and the presiding officer, said.
That money would be divided up between:
Parks and natural area support
General fund for things like police, fire and rescue costs
The Honolulu Rail Project
Hawaii residents want better management of booming tourism industry
“Now what we have in front of us is a bill that would use that money that was supposed to help with the impacts of tourists to pay for rail,†Honolulu City Councilmember Heidi Tsuneyoshi said.
The amount of revenue that would go to each has yet to be determined. Some councilmembers warn against another option to fill the $45 million lost — a rise in real property taxes.
“If there is no action taken on this 3%, there is no 45 million, then we get to cut the budget,†Honolulu City Councilmember Calvin Say said. “Let’s be honest with ourselves, I’ve publicly said all of us in this chamber. We don’t agree with raising property taxes on our residents.â€
Tourism arrivals expected to remain high through 2022, Maui overwhelmed
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi fully supports the bill but does not yet know how much revenue will be used for the rail.
“Clearly I have no apprehension at all about allocating the rest of those resources. We’ll determine what that is once we can deal with the specifics towards offsetting the cost of rail,†Mayor Blangiardi said.
As the economy continues to recover from the COVID pandemic, some industry experts have warned against putting a tax on Hawaii’s economic driver.
Study found tourists willing to pay more for Hawaii culture, sustainability, locally grown food
“It’s an unfortunate time for any kind of tax increase on an industry that is struggling,†Hawaii Lodging and Tourism President and CEO Mufi Hannemann said. “We would hope that the majority of these funds, if not all of it, will be for tourism-specific projects and initiatives.â€
There is another belief that tourists will continue to pay to come to the islands, even with 3% added on top of the state’s 10.25% TAT.
“We’re a premium destination, and we can charge a premium price and tourists are willing to come, as long as we continue to provide that product and that would be that the beaches are clean,†University of Hawaii at Manoa Travel Industry Management Professor Dr. Jerry Agrusa said.
Some councilmembers also proposed waiving the tax for Kama’aina, which is something they plan to talk about in future committee meetings and readings. The bill passed its first reading Wednesday, Oct. 6.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Y-6SaXPjRVtz9jg2jKWxkVu8RmnC1PiZlvtFgdq4U1E/edit?usp=sharing