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“Winter is coming.”  Yea, I started this off with a cheesy Game of Thrones reference, however it doesn’t excuse the fact that winter is actually coming.  With luck, when winter arrives here in Chattanooga we will not have to deal with the half-dead blue-eyed zombie creatures, but only some lower temperatures.  If you’re like me, some of you would rather deal with zombies as opposed to the cold weather.

My job during this time of year isn’t necessarily to keep you warm, no.  My job is to prepare you and your HVAC system for the cold shock it is getting ready to receive.  Granted we can keep you warm yes, but my point is, we are not in the full throws of winter yet.  We still have time to fix your system before it’s too late.

Let’s explain somethings, specifically how your heat works.  No, it’s not just flicking the switch from cool to heat.  We have 2 main styles:

Heat Pumps:  These things dominate the residential heating market and have since the 1940s.  They use a refrigerant cycle to absorb heat from the outside and bring it inside, where air blows over a coil and produces heat from your home.  It is essentially an air conditioner but the cycle is reversed.  The process uses all the major components of the typical HVAC heat pump system along with something called a reversing valve.  They work best in climates that don’t get too, too cold and where energy rates are cheap.

Gas Furnaces:  Some of you may have a gas furnace.  The gas furnace uses gas fuel to heat air either directly or indirectly.  The air is then blown through ductwork with a blower to warm the home.  These work very well and efficiency has increased dramatically over the years.  The limiting factor is living somewhere the gas company services.

There are other types but these are the 2 that we will concern ourselves with now.

With winter staring us down, we must, like I said above, prepare ourselves and our heating units.  We do this with regular maintenance.  Imagine your system is like you.  You have laid down to go to sleep.  After laying in the bed for a few moments you finally pass out.  That night you are getting some of the best sleep EVER!  You’re out cold.  An earthquake could not even wake you up.  In this scenario, we don’t have an earthquake, but we do have one of your kids.  During your slumber one of your kids comes in your room and shakes you awake.  “Mommy, I’m hungry.”  You wake up startled.  Keep in mind you were just having the best sleep of your life!  Now your awake, fuzzy headed with your night’s sleep cut short.

You are the child in the scenario flicking the thermostat from cool to heat.  When it gets cold enough during that night and heat comes on from its summer slumber we have essentially woken it up.
Resting components come to life and the heat magically starts working.  I mean, it is supposed to start working..

We would love to come out and service your system and get you ready for the cold season.  Southern people don’t do cold, so let us ensure the heat comes on.
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www.indoorairsolutionsga.com or 706-820-6041
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Trends are important, right?  We look to trends to determine certain things.  Sometimes we need trends to help us decide to wear.  Sometimes we need trends to tell us what to eat.  Sometimes we need trends to help us make some of our life decisions.  These trends should be somewhat predictable over time and help contribute something of value to our lives.  This value could be in the form of money savings or it could be something that increases our material quality of life.

Regardless, and whether we want to believe it or not, trends help us choose.

With Heating and Air, finding trends are not that hard.  In the Tennessee Valley, our weather is somewhat (emphases on “somewhat”) predictable.  We know summer time, specifically middle August summer, will produce heat and humidity.  It is just how it is.  Now, based on this trend we are able to assume certain things.  Among those things we can reasonably predict how your AC unit should be functioning.  Listed below are a few cause and effect scenarios for this time of year you may be dealing with, some of which you may not even be aware of.

1)      Your duct work is sweating, is trending.  Now, in years past we would just chalk this up to, “oh, it’s the South.  You have to put up with some sweaty duct work.”  False! Fact: You do not.  Your sweaty duct work could be contributed to insufficient insulation, poor installation, excessive humidity, bad vapor barrier or all the above.  Nevertheless, you do not have to deal with this.  Replacing this stuff is possible and affordable.  Rid yourself of increased power bills and excessive humidity.  Water is not your friend.  Get rid of it.
 
2)      Mice could be in your crawl space is trending.  This trend is a thing.  Especially this year for some reason.  These little critters will do a number on your duct work.  They will slice through it like butter.  This will cause your power bills to go up as well as your indoor air temperature.  Cute maybe?  Destructive, definitely.
 
3)      Your Evaporator coil is dirty is definitely trending.  Yes, it is.  You may of just had it cleaned, but it is still dirty.  It is just how it goes.  Our climate has a great deal of humidity.  We all know that.  That humid air passing over a cold Evaporator coil is the perfect place for dirt to cling to.  Over time dirt builds up more.  It then insulates and stops up the coil causing a myriad of problems ranging from poor air flow to frozen evaporator coils.  Its dirty, trust me.  Visit here for some good info:  http://www.indoorairsolutionsga.com/regular-maintenance.html
 
4)      College football starting is trending too!  I’m not going get into who is the best team… mostly because I want you to be our customer, still, we are excited!
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Anyways, look, this stuff can get pretty complicated, especially if you have more than one issue going on.  We are here to help out the North Georgia and Chattanooga area feel comfortable for less.  We are affordable and reasonable.  Let us know if we can help with some of these trends.