Whole-Home Humidifier VS Portable Humidifier - Which one to choose?

Humidity is one of the many things which is dangerous when it is too low and is equally troublesome when it gets too high. High humidity levels can be reduced rather easily by using simple techniques like increased aeration. On the other hand, remedies of low humidity levels are difficult and comparatively expensive.

One of the remedies of low humidity levels is the device called “Humidifier”. It is an electrical device that raises the humidity levels of the indoor air which gets really dry during the winter season especially. There are in total many types of Humidifiers that are employed for increasing the humidity levels of the air. Below we discuss two main types under consideration are:


- WHOLE-HOME HUMIDIFIER

The Whole Home Humidifier is basically a get-it-and-forget-it type of device. Once it is equipped this item will work on its own, requiring very little or no maintenance. This device is connected to the blower system installed on the furnace present in the home. From there it draws water from the main water supply and then automatically injects this water in the whole home via the humid air.

This type of humidifier is cheaper as it reduces the maintenance cost. It is an automatic machine as it maintains the humidity levels by itself to the required levels. It also is a noiseless device making no noise at all.

At the same time, the whole home humidifiers are larger in size compared to any other type. It also requires professional help to install this type of humidifier which is another problem associated with this type.

- PORTABLE HUMIDIFIER

The portable humidifier unit is intended to serve the same function, but for the particular room, to increase the humidity level in the air. Whenever you want to increase the moisture in your kitchen, living room or bedroom, this compact moisturizer can be used as you wish. It can not be used for your entire house due to its smaller and compact nature, and it will only increase the level of humidity in a particular room.

The foremost advantage of this type of humidifier is its portability which enables the user to carry this device anywhere anytime. It is also easy to clean due to its small size.

The major problem linked with this device is that it needs to be supplied continuously with water. Adding to the problems is the noise which this device produces causing irritation to the users.

Which one to choose? 

Keeping in mind the pros and cons of both the devices, the whole home humidifier come up as the type which is better than the portable humidifier to be used. The major advantage which makes it the better choice is its water consumption directly from the main water supply reducing the headache which the user may have in the case of a portable humidifier to supply the water manually to the device. This makes it a preferred choice for the user.
However, depending on your peculiar need and after a professional consultation, you can always choose between the two. We suggest, for larger homes, go for whole-home humidifiers while for small spaces and apartments, portable will serve best. 

Want to discuss more? 
Call today: 1-855-245-4328

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Why are Toronto homeowners shifting to Ductless Mini Split?

Every other home in Toronto and Mississauga has a duct system installed in it and it was for a long time that central heating and cooling has remained the most widely used home heating method. However, a shift has recently taken place and people are now preferring ductless system over the duct system keeping the benefits that it offers and also the headache of duct maintenance that it takes away.
Below we discuss the prime reasons why homeowners are preferring to shift to ductless systems.

Energy Efficiency - Saves up to 30%

A lot of energy is lost in the ductwork as the air flows through it. The ductless system helps save up to 30% energy by taking the duct out of the equation. 


Supreme Indoor Comfort using Zoning features

The latest zoning feature has fascinated homeowners, even more, to shift to ductless. The reason being the ability to warm/cool different indoor spaces differently with separate Thermostats. Also, the unused spaces need not be treated, unlike the duct system in which the system warm/cools the entire space.

Easy Installation and DIY maintenance

The installation of a ductless mini-split system is far easier than the duct system. For a duct system to be installed, the ductwork needs to be installed prior to it which itself takes several thousand dollars and a huge space. Comparatively, the ductless is easy to install and takes only a couple of hours to be fully installed. Also, maintenance is relatively easy. Homeowners can easily clean the filters of the interior unit while the outdoor unit can also be washed with a low-speed hose.

Accommodation and Replacement ease

People are now living in small rooms and apartments. Such spaces can't afford ductwork installation and leave homeowners with the choice of space heaters or room coolers. Ductless mini-split offers a space-saving solution in this case. Also, replacement and relocation is easy. So if you change homes, you can take your system with you.

Several indoor units supported by one outdoor unit

The latest mini-split ductless units of Lennox and York support up to 5 indoor units with only one outdoor compressor unit. This suggests that the temperature of different areas can be controlled differently. A huge amount of energy can be saved this way.

Cooling as well as heating solutions

Earlier, the mini-split ductless units were only used as home cooling. The latest technology has allowed their usage for home cooling as well as for home heating.

Safer for home and locality

The conventional duct systems contain large piping outside of the exterior walls. This has often served as an inlet for burglars. The mini-splits units, with no such pipping, provides safety and saves from such unhappy incidents.

There are convincing reasons why homeowners want to shift to ductless mini-split units for home cooling and home heating. The previous year showed an increase in the purchase of split systems. Also, some latest models are now offering air cleaning features within a mini-split unit as well.

Are you still on central heating/cooling or have made a successful shift to ductless mini-splits?
How is our experience with the mini-split systems?

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Factors that decide the cost of a Furnace


Starting from a $500 Single Stage Furnace, there is a variety of Furnace models available in the market, the prices of which are up to $3,000. The huge difference in the cost is decided by a couple of factors among which are brand, efficiency, performance and size. Let's figure out in detail how do these factors impact the cost and which factors impacts the overall Furnace installation cost the most.

- Brand

The rapid expansion in HVAC industry has introduced dozens of brands in the market. This has created a sheer competition resulting in brands offering affordable Furnace units. However, there is still a distinction between less known and more known brands. Those having won the customer satisfaction, nonetheless charge more than what less known brands charge even if the quality is almost the same. So while planning a purchase, consider this factor. A brand could be offering quality appliance, good features and charge less and another could be charging several times more while offering the same features. Choosing a very well known brand therefore, is not always the right choice primarily when you are low on budget.


- Efficiency

Furnaces today are advertised mainly by advertising their efficiency rating. That is because the better the efficiency, the less electric bills would be and the more there will be indoor comfort. But this feature comes with a price. Furnace with 60%-70% efficiency ratings are cheaper while the latest ones with 90% AFUE rating are the costliest. Therefore, when planning a Furnace purchase, it is important to consider efficiency rating and this decides the price. If you don't have budget issues, surely go for better efficiency rating Furnaces. Do the opposite if the situation is otherwise.


- Performance

In addition to efficiency, the operational performance of a Furnace also decides its price. There are single stage (units that operate at highest 100% speed), two-stage (those that operate between 70%-100%) and variable speed (those that operate at 60% blower speed most of the times). The single stage units are the loudest and create the least comfortable indoor while the variable speed offer just the opposite. This single feature of blower speed impact comfort level, noisiness and energy bills. This is the reason why single stage are the cheapest and the variable speed the costliest Furnaces available in the market. Hence, when deciding a Furnace purchase, don't forget to consider Performance factor.

- Size

The size is another factor that decides the price. Bigger unit = more dollars. Usually for a 600-1000 square feet home, a Furnace with standard 40,000 BTU size is enough. For larger spaces; 2,300-3000 square feet, units with 120,000 BTU suffice well. Beware to choose the right size of Furnace as choosing a larger unit for a smaller space is also a big mistake that homeowners make.


- Installation

Installation when done with a professional service costs at least $500. The installation cost can vary depending on the unit size and the service you hire for installation. While professional installation cost more, we still suggest professional installation keeping the consequences of unprofessional installation in consideration that later on cost even more.

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Home renovation and Furnace usage: Reason behind the dirty and used furnace

Construction or renovation of a home is a messy process that brings sawdust, paint fumes and many other airborne particles that you would not even think to breathe in. These particles are not even suitable for the HVAC equipment either! 
Since new home construction has started to pick up again, do not let your Furnace be used as a ‘ construction heater.’ This construction dust is highly likely to enter heat exchanger, burner area, venting system, and in the blower housing and wheel.

HVAC technicians warn that you must not turn the Furnace or Air Conditioner on while you’re either renovating or constructing home. Dust like sawdust, paint fumes, drywall dust or glue vapours enter the system through return air vents and clog the equipment causing severe strain - especially the drywall dust that tends to infiltrate the whole system.

We helped to shine a light on some of the issues about furnace usage and construction that every homeowner must know about. 


Why Your home’s new furnace is USED

Homeowners often feel cheated when they discover the furnace that they expected to be un-used in their brand new home is used by the builders first. In general, no builder is allowed to run a residential furnace during construction – especially when the house is in the drywall phase.

Back in 2016, a stand was taken by the furnace manufactures where the industry adopted a position that gas furnaces will not be permitted to use in Canada when the building will be under construction!

In case the furnace is to be used in the last stages of construction, the following condition should be met!

The interior drywall should be installed and taped.

The system’s supply air and return air opening must be sealed to reduce the infiltration of dust. The purpose is to protect the system prior to and during drywall installation and woodworking.

The building must be thoroughly free from drywall dust and debris.

A new furnace rated at MERV 11 or finer must be installed.

The necessary arrangement should be made with fuel distributor to figure out the furnace subsequent to it being employed for finishing the heat. 

What should you do when the furnace was operating during construction?

If you suspect the furnace being operated either during home building or renovation, follow these two steps to stop the problem before it gets worse.

Firstly, don’t panic; instead, do a visual inspection by taking off the front panel. If you suspect drywall isn’t okay; look for the evidence of damage right away. The harm or damage could be seen like a small bag of flour exploded in there.

Secondly; consider calling a knowledgable HVAC professional who can advise you about the best available options. You can avoid the furnace from being caked with the sawdust or drywall by having the air ducts cleaned before moving in. But it will not always be the case. Better hire a pro HVAC technician to get the best help!

Still have issues and want an HVAC professional to help you out? 
Call us today; 1-855-245-4328

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5 To Do's - How to shut off the Air Conditioner after Summer

To many people, shutting off the Air Conditioner means unplugging the switch and covering the outside condenser unit. While this is a layman approach towards a heavy duty HVAC system like the Air Conditioner, the professional's approach is all the way different. Since we know little about the heating and cooling system, we should rather rely on professional's advice. So here we bring to you; the professional's recommended way of switching off the Air Conditioner for the season. 


1. What you already do - Switch off!!!

You already switch off. So yes, begin by switching off the unit. In the case it is a Central Air Conditioner, switch off first from the Thermostat and later, disconnect the power supply to the condenser unit from the electrical box located close to it. Switch it to ''off'' position.

2. What you don't (usually) do - Clean filter at the end of season

A lot many people, as the summer ends, forget about changing the filter, not realizing the fact that the same duct work would be used to blow warm air in winters. As a result, the filters are usually very dirty when the Furnace is turned on for the first time in winters. From now on; add this to-do of cleaning/replacing filters at the end of summer in your list. 

3. Let the indoor breathe fresh

Nature has its own way to take us through different seasons. You don't have an abrupt change in seasons. They are very subtle and serene. And this is why, as the summer ends, there is a period of moderate weather that neither requires Air Conditioner nor Furnace. And that is the time when you should allow your indoor to breathe fresh air. Some homeowners continue to use Air Conditioners until they see the first blow of Winter (a little exaggeration). This practice results in a very contaminated indoor. Since the indoor does not get sufficient fresh air and becomes more polluted than the outdoor air. So make the most use of the moderate weather period after summers and use only fans if needed. Keep the windows open and let fresh air circulate.

4. Clean the outdoor condenser unit thoroughly

It is recommended to clean the unit before starting using it but the same is recommended as you bid good bye to your unit. First remove the leaves, dust and debris from the unit using a fine brush. A low pressure vacuum will do as well. After that, use a hose to clean the unit with plain water. During this course of action, if any damage to the unit is inspected, get it repaired instantly instead of postponing it for the next summer. This is because the problem might worsen over time.

5. Cover the condenser unit 

One confusion that homeowners face is whether or not to cover the condenser unit. Some say not covering the unit makes it a home to pests and animals. While others say that covering their unit results in excessive moisture accumulation and eventually causing the unit to rust. So what to do?
The right way is to cover the unit but not just with any cloth. Cover it with insulated covers manufactured specifically for the condenser units. If you wish to keep it cheaper, use vinyl tarp waterproof plastic to cover the unit. Use elastic cords to hold it tight around the unit.

The advice of all advices if to provide your unit with proper maintenance throughout the season. The wise homeowners, even at the end of summer, call a maintenance tech to ensure that they are closing the system with no sickness. Make sure you do the same this time.





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What Not To Do When AC Stops Working

A good AC is one that boasts exceptional home comfort by even temperature, reduce the energy bill and deliver the highest or exceptional reliability. HVAC manufacturers keep rolling out the enhanced and competitive product to exceed the expectation and leave no stone unturned to provide homeowners the best of the best HVAC equipment. However, there are still some inevitable consequences of neglecting timely AC maintenance which leave homeowners in an urgent need of appliance repair. But hey! There are things that must not be tried as part of DIY. Read on the article to know what not to do when the Air Conditioner stops working.

Don’t lose the cool and try not to fix it yourself:

Don’t be panic; call Air Conditioner specialists for the fastest emergency service. Tinkering with the AC unit is not as simple as it seems and is best to be left to the HVAC technicians. They can troubleshoot the system to get it up to function smoothly. Meanwhile, you can google to wrap your head around to watch HOW TO VIDEOS or DIY tips to troubleshoot the problem.
Unless you have prior experience with troubleshooting unit or mechanical repair, pass the problem to a pro who can fix the problem in half the time.

Don’t ignore the obvious:

Before you lose the cool and start calling the expert or looking at the replacement parts yourself. Be sure to check Thermostat to ensure program settings are correct; it should be set to auto. It is also good to verify that the thermostat battery is not running out.
Make sure the circuit breaker is not tripped, if so, flip the breaker on and see if the unit works. The other glaring problem can be clogged air, clean the filter with soft brushes, lukewarm water, and soap and check if it remedies the problem. 

Most frequent AC Unit Problem homeowners face:

The best remedy to make AC unit work again is to clean and repair the filters. If the problem persists, there may be a list of other issues to diagnose with simple DIY methods. However, if you are running a new system and have no knowledge about HVAC equipment, consider availing the services of a professional – especially when problem is severe and can’t be fixed on your own.

- AC unit not blowing the cold air
- Ac unit does not turn on
- Ac does not turn off
- Leaking water inside and outside
- Sudden leakage when turned off
- Unusual smell and noise
To resolve the issues outlined above requires expertise. Therefore we recommend consulting an HVAC technician. 

Avoid switching on and off your AC unit:

When AC runs as it supposed to, it automatically turns on and off according to the changing temperature. When you repeatedly switch on and off; it puts an extra burden and maximize the chances of wear and tear. 

Don’t Miss Out Yearly Inspection

We wholly rely on an air conditioner in hot and humid months hence can’t afford its sudden breakdown. Having an AC unit serviced annually makes it run more smoothly, improves longevity, and saves you money on electric bills.

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Why Whole House Ventilation Is Crucial?

Energy efficient homes consider mechanical ventilation as the ideal home building strategy. You may have heard a lot about the whole house fans, whole house ducts, full house ventilation, etc and all these terms possess no significant distinction and somewhat used interchangeably.

It’s hard to sense the effects of failing ventilation system early on. However, homeowners need to keep a close eye to the old or destructive ventilator to pre-avoid any health-related problems. 


What is whole house Ventilation?

Whole house ventilation is the latest expression of a mechanical system where an air continuously moves through the house at a considerably low rate. The aim is to provide your home with a consistent fresh air to maintain impeccable indoor quality.
Generally, two fans and duct systems are employed to remove the stale air and to bring the fresh air in. We classify whole house ventilation into various types, and each has pros and cons associated with it. 
 

Supply ventilation:

In supply ventilation, a home gets pressurized air, meaning a fan is used that pushes outside air inside while a duct or vent helps in leaking the stale air. Supply ventilation is not what we prefer for extreme weather but can go a long way for the mild climates. 

Exhaust Ventilation:

As opposed to the supply ventilation, exhaust ventilation is functioned to depressurize a home by exhausting air from a place. The major disadvantage of this ventilation is that pollutants or mold or dust from the attic, are more likely to draw into your home. 

Balanced Ventilation:

In balanced ventilation, two fans and ducts are used that banish the air wherever pollutants are likely to grow. This type of ventilation is the amalgamation of both supply and exhaust ventilation as the home neither gets pressurized nor depressurized. 

HRVs and ERVs

HRVs and ERVs are the energy system with a tendency to receive 60%-80% of energy exiting the system. These systems are built to minimize energy loss and control the ventilation inside a home.

Signs the ventilation needs attention:

To live in a healthy and comfortable place; we need to ensure our home meets all standards for an authentic style and ideal amount of ventilation.

Feeling tired to the bone due to high fatigue: The poor IAQ (indoor air quality) means the more exposure of occupants with contaminants or dust particle. When the air with pollutant is inhaled, it may impede the function of the lungs, making oxygen circulation difficult and a person feels more overtired or drowsy.

Stuffy air that leads to improper breathing: The visible sign of poor ventilation is when the air feels more stuffy, and you can’t breathe properly. Generally, a malfunctioning ventilation system that does not let the adequate amount of fresh air enter raises such issues.

Horrible smells: A horrible smell more like smelly socks and musty odors or feeling of dampness are the symptoms of poor ventilation. 

What happens if ventilation does not work:

Never let the ventilation system fail as it generates many issues related to your home aesthetics and health, including:

- Running water and moisture from cooking begins to build up around the ducts
- Accumulation of volatile organic compound
- High level of carbon dioxide

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