Heating & Air Conditioning System Installation 101

Replacing your old heating and cooling system with a new, energy-efficient heating and cooling system is a challenging decision for most homeowners. Heating and cooling can account for nearly half of the energy used in your home. You want to maximize your comfort, but you don't want to pay through the nose. The right system may cost more upfront, but save money and reduce utility bills over time. The wrong system may need constant repair, under perform or die before its time. So much to consider!

When it's time to install a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, make an educated decision with the help of these simple suggestions:


Find the Right HVAC Contractor
Getting the right contractor is key to getting a quality installation. Make sure the contractor you choose has at least several years of experience and can provide references. Make sure that the contractor is licensed and insured. Be sure to ask for a written contract of all work in advance. And always choose a contractor’s whose service and installation technicians are certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is an industry-supported certification for heating and air conditioning technicians. NATE-certified HVAC technicians have met the nation's highest standards for HVAC training and knowledge.

Here are some additional things your heating and air conditioning contractor should do BEFORE you sign a contract:

• Measure existing ductwork to be sure it can handle the increased air flow of a new system
• Do a complete Load Calculation that will take into consideration window and vent locations as well as existing hot or cold areas of your home.
• Discuss with you any indoor air quality issues such as allergies, humidity levels in your home and any additional features you would like in your new home comfort system.
• Present you with several system options, not just one.
• Give you a written guarantee that your new heating and air conditioning system will perform as promised.

Bottom line: all heating and air conditioning contractors are not alike. In the end, it’s the contractor who will make the biggest difference in how the installation or replacement goes.


Properly Size Your Heating and Air Conditioning System
When installing or replacing heating and air conditioning cooling equipment, bigger isn’t always better and one-size does not fit all. Oversized HVAC equipment will cost more up front, consume more energy, provide inadequate cooling and humidification, and ultimately, need to be replaced prematurely. And don’t assume your current heating and air conditioning system is the right size either; today’s HVAC equipment is more efficient than those 10 years or older and your original system may have been sized improperly. Efficiency, not size is what you're after. Ask your HVAC contractor to thoroughly measure your home and calculate the "size" of the system using Manual J, or an equivalent industry-acceptable calculation tool.


Proper Installation is Crucial
One of the biggest factors in getting the best performance out of your new heating or air conditioning system depends on how well it is installed. Shoddy installation accounts for over half of the HVAC service calls and most customer dissatisfaction during the first year of operation. At a minimum, make sure your HVAC installation technician performs the following:

• Installs equipment in easily accessible areas for easy maintenance.
• Tests for adequate airflow and verifies that the cooling system has been charged with the correct amount of refrigerant.
• Conducts a combustion safety test after ducts are sealed to be sure all gas or oil-burning appliances are working properly.
• Replaces indoor and outdoor coils for maximum efficiency.

Sealing and Insulation
Central air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces rely on a system of ducts to circulate air throughout your home. Heated and cooled air can easily escape through gaps between duct joints. Ask your contractor to seal and insulate ducts throughout your home; this can improve your heating and cooling system’s efficiency by up to 20 percent!


Heating and Air Conditioning System Maintenance
Your contractor should be available to do annual check-ups and tune-ups of your heating and cooling system to help prevent future problems and keep your system in fine working order. If your contractor offers a Service Partner Plan or other kind of maintenance contract, sign up for it! It will keep you on a schedule of regular and proper maintenance, save you money over time and give you peace of mind.

Also be sure to keep your system clean and free from dust, dirt and debris. Accumulated dust and other impediments can block the flow of air and that can drastically reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Be sure to check your air conditioner or furnace filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it or clean it. Never go longer than 3 months without replacing or cleaning a filter.

Look for the ENERGY STAR Label
When deciding on a heating or air conditioning system, insist on it being an Energy Star qualified system. The Energy Star designation is your best assurance that you are are buying an energy-efficient system. Be sure to ask your HVAC contractor to estimate your utility costs of purchasing an Energy Star qualified system. Although Energy Star heating and air condition equipment may cost more initially, they will cost much less to operate over time. In fact, most Energy Star qualified heating and air conditioning products can yield annual returns of 15–30 percent in lower energy bills. That translates into hundreds of dollars in annual savings.

More About Heating & Air Conditioning Installation...

• Choosing the Right Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor
• Making the Right Decision about Heating and Air Conditioning
• Heating and Air Conditioning System Analysis
• The Heating and Air Conditioning Installation Process
• 5 BIG Mistakes Homeowners Make When Replacing Their Heating and A/C Systems

PARUPPU URUNDAIKKUZHAMBU

பருப்பு உருண்டைக்குழம்பு

This is a very famous dish in Tamilnadu. With hot rice, the paruppu urundai kuzhambu makes the meals very delicious. I have combined my mother’s and my mother in law’s recipes with a few innovative tips of mine to get a mouth watering paruppu urundai kuzhambu! This suits well with idli, curd rice and dosas also. Drumstick pieces are added to enhance the flavour of the kuzhambu. Some people fear to drop the fresh balls straightly in boiling kuzhambu. For that, one can go to a safer method. The balls can be steamed for 10 minutes before adding in the kuzhambu. But the taste of the balls will be little hard.

Ingredients:
For urundai:
Tuar dal- 1 cup
Bengal gram- half cup
Fennel seeds- 1 tsp
Chilli powder- half tsp
Turmeric powder- half sp
Salt to taste
Curry leaves- a handful
Chopped coriander- 2 tbsp
Finely chopped garlic flakes- 2 tbsp
Finely sliced onion-2
For kuzhambu:
Tamarind- a small orange size
Chilli powder- 2 tbsp
Coriander powder- 3 tbsp
Turmeric powder- half sp
Salt to taste
Drumstick-2
Finely chopped small onions-1 cup
Finely crushed tomato- 1 cup
Fenugreek powder-1 tsp
Curry leaves- 1 arc
Gingelly oil- 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder- half sp
Procedure:
For urundai:
Soak the dals in enough water for 1 hour, then drain the water and grind them to a coarse thick paste with the fennel seeds and salt.
Add onion, garlic, powders and the greens and mix well.
Make lemon sized balls and keep them away in a fridge.
For kuzhambu:
Soak the tamarind in enough water for an hour and then extract its juice.
Heat a pan and pour the oil. Add the onions and fry them to golden brown.
Then add the tomatoes with the turmeric powder and fry them until the tomatoes are mashed finely and the oil floats on top.
Add the fenugreek powder and fry it for a few seconds.
Add the powders with the tamarind juice and salt.
The kuzhambu must be watery.
Add the drumstick pieces and let it boil for some minutes.
When the drumstick pieces are half-cooked, drop the balls 5 at a time.
After 5 minutes of interval, again drop 5 balls in different places so that the balls will not stick with each other.
Thus finish all the balls and allow the kuzhambu to boil on medium fire for some minutes until the kuzhambu and the balls are cooked well.
pour 2 tsp of gingelly oil around the corners.
Keep the kuzhambu on very slow fire a few minutes and put off the fire.
Options:
Along with the balls, paruppu vadais and pieces of paruppu adai can also be added.
Paruppu vadai:

Flatten the balls in to a vadai shap and deep fry them in moderate oil to golden brown.
This can be eaten as a side dish also.
 For paruppu urundai kuzhambu, this vadai, appalam, and papads are suitable side dishes.
Paruppu adai:
Flatten thinly the balls on hot tawa and cook them as adai. Pour gingelly oil around the corners.
When cooled to golden brown, cut each adai in to 2 inches cubes and drop them when the kuzhambu is boiling.

Home Water System Basics

When it comes to your home's plumbing and water system, you're probably pretty familiar with those items which are in plain view, such as your your pipes, drains and fixtures (sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, faucets etc.). But what about those components that are down in your basement or working quietly in the background or out of sight? They're just as important. Here is a quick overview of some of the other major components and equipment that make up your home's water system.

Tank Water Heater
This is the most common type of hot water heater found in homes today. Operating on either electricity or gas, tank heaters are made from copper, stone, glass, aluminum or galvanized steel. The tank’s material affects function, cost of operation, and energy efficiency. Metal tanks can rust over time, so it’s wise to invest in a magnesium coated rod, which hangs down into the tank and prevents corrosion. To maintain a tank heater, water should be drained at least once a year so sediment can be cleared out and the interior of the tank can be inspected for damage.

Tankless Water Heater
An emerging trend in water heating is the tankless heater. Rather than storing hot water in a tank, these units attach directly to your home’s plumbing and heat water on demand. As water moves through the pipes the tankless heater warms it so you get hot water only when you need it. Tankless heaters are run by either gas or electricity and are generally more energy-efficient and cheaper to operate than tank heaters. However, tankless heaters cost more up front. Large units are installed where water comes into the house, while smaller units are installed where water is used.

Sump Pump
Sump pumps are used to get rid of ground water that may collect around a home’s foundation or in basements that sit below the water line. There are two main types of sump pump -- submersible or pedestal. Submersible sump pumps have a motor and pump encased as a single unit that rests in a pit or shallow well below the ground. Pedestal pumps have a motor that sits above the water line. Regardless of the type of pump you have in your home, your basement should have drain tiles that direct water into the sump.

All-Purpose Pumps
These lightweight pumps are most commonly used by boaters, campers and homeowners to drain water from flooded basements or low spots after heavy rain. Battery-operated pumps can be hooked up to a car or other vehicle, while other types of pumps run on standard household electricity.

Septic Tank
Made of any one of a number of materials, septic tanks collect and hold sewage as it decomposes. Septic tanks should be matched to the size of your home to ensure adequate space and prevent back-up or malfunction. Tanks must be pumped and cleaned out regularly, once every two years or so, but should be inspected more frequently, about every 18 months. A certified professional can take a look at your septic tank to make sure the sludge level is not excessive and will notify you of any cracks or leaks in the tank that could cause problems. Most experts recommend using some kind of enzymatic additive or septic cleaner once a month to boost bacteria levels and speed decomposition of waste inside the tank. These cleaners will help keep waste levels manageable so that sludge doesn’t back up into pipes or block drainage lines.


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