Gas condensing furnaces are considered the most efficient-between 90 and 96 percent efficient. The combustion gases in the furnace are cooled to the point where water vapor condenses, releasing additional heat into the house. The liquids that result are piped to a floor drain. Continue reading →
Adjustments to Heating & Air-Conditioning System (2)
Adjustments to Heating & Air-Conditioning System
If you are planning an addition, you’ll probably have to make appropriate adjustments to your heating and air-conditioning systems. You’ll notice that I didn’t mention increasing the size of your heating and air-conditioning system. Proper sizing involves more than the square footage. It is also based on the amount of heat your house loses during cold weather and gains during warm weather. Continue reading →
Dealing with Indoor Pollution (2)
You can design your renovation projects to minimize indoor pollution, in consultation with your contractor and architect. Your local chapter of the American Lung Association has access to data obtained from the various “healthy house” efforts of its chapters around the country. Continue reading →
Dealing with Indoor Pollution (1)
You can deal with indoor pollution in a few different ways. One is to avoid pollutants by eliminating problems at the source, such as asking the only smoker in the house to take it outside. If you can’t avoid pollutants, then you need to seal them out. Another way to get rid of pollution is to use some sort of mechanical ventilation system, such as kitchen or bathroom fan. Finally, you can use a whole-house air cleaner to filter out the pollutants. Continue reading →
House Roofs (2)
In addition, a vapor barrier should be installed on the side of the insulation that remains warm in winter, especially if the outdoor temperatures average 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below in the coldest winter months and the relative humidity within the house is a constant 50 percent.
