Great savings in writing!

Just under a year ago I had the opportunity to provide service for a customer in the Eden Prairie area of the Twin Cites.  The customer had motivation to replace his old hot water boiler through a low interest loan program offered to Minnesota residents, at the time, who were candidates for major appliance upgrades that would improve efficiency and lower utility costs.

As with any other potential client, I approached this project with high intention of finding the best possible boiler and components to fulfill the requirements of this particular home and the owners needs.  The approach is simple really, although some contractors do not take the time but I do and the following is proof of how big an impact this approach can make.

Boiler replacements, the same goes for furnaces and air conditioners, are only truly successful if the installing contractor does a little homework before the physical work starts.  It all starts with a tape measure and some questions.  How many square feet is the home? How well is the home insulated, and how many and what size are the windows and doors? In this particular home, how many feet of copper fin-tube baseboard is there? The only real amount of work needed to get the answers to these questions is actually walking through the home and physically measuring and recording the information.  This information, when all gathered, is then used to figure the proper size rating of the boiler needed to adequately heat the home while using the least amount of energy.  Simple right? For the average homeowner this may be a daunting task, for a contractor with his/her customer's best interest on the table this should be a standard service.

Stay with me for a few more lines....

Following up with my customers after the project is done has always been a habit, after all if there are any quirks or questions that need to be addressed I want them to know I am available.  In this particular case I was contacted by the Eden Prairie homeowner with some very pleasing information.  Pleasing for him especially because it was proof in writing, from his natural gas provider, that he and his family were now using 28% less natural gas this year as compared to the same time last year!  That's a huge savings directly related to the replacement of their [then over-sized] boiler with a properly sized, energy star rated unit that also does the work of heating their domestic hot water; replacing a standard water heater with an efficiency rating of approximately 65%.  Take a look at the "report card" sent to them from their gas company, the proof is in writing, and that is why the simple homework is so worth it! Oh, and the smiley face is the cherry on top...

Simple Ways to Reduce Heating Duct Noise

Put an End to that Rattle and Hum!

You love your home’s central heating and air conditioning, but you hate all the noise it makes. Rattling, blowing, ticking, creaking, and a host of other noises coming from your ductwork can turn a fantastic convenience into a real nuisance in the time it takes to crank up the thermostat. Here are a few tips that can help turn down the volume on a noisy HVAC (Heating ,Ventilation and Air Conditionin) system.


Check Internal and External Components:
One of the biggest contributing factors to a noisy heating system is a faulty relationship between the unit’s indoor and outdoor components. If internal and external parts are linked in such a way that they vibrate against each other, this will send plenty of sound through your home’s ductwork. Because ducts connect every room in your house when you have a central HVAC system, you may find it hard to escape all the noise. If you hear whining, buzzing, howling, or vibrations, have a professional check your HVAC system to ensure indoor ducts are independently connected to outdoor components.

How's Your Insulation?
Insulating your ductwork can also really cut down on unwanted noise. Sounds that come through ducts are generally caused by your heating system’s air handler. This metal box has a motor that can make parts vibrate as the system works. Adding a layer of insulation to the air handler can dampen the noise caused by these vibrations, sending less reverberation through the ducts. Insulation can also eliminate noises on the outside of your house, making you instantly more popular with the neighbors.

Acoustic Insulation:
Another way to insulate is with materials that absorb sound. This helps deaden noises, making them quieter and less intense until they eventually disappear at the farthest point from your system. Acoustic insulation can be added along ductwork, in the same way you might insulate plumbing pipes.

How's Your Fan?
Cleaning your home’s HVAC system fan is crucial to the quiet, efficient operation of your unit. The fan draws in dirt and dust, which can collect on the blades and interfere with its operation. Built-up debris can cause rattling and vibrations that will travel through the ducts and vents. If your fan is the wrong size for your system, it can also create noise as it struggles to keep up with demand. Keeping the fan clean and ensuring you have the right size fan for your unit will cut down on noise significantly.

Cleaning and Maintenance:
Regular duct and heat system cleaning and upkeep ensures your entire heating system is performing at its best. Professional maintenance keeps parts in good working condition and helps make sure that system components are installed correctly. A certified technician will tighten loose connections, fix gaps, clean parts, and add insulation to any system mechanisms that could be causing unusual noise. You should try to have a professional tune up and your HVAC system at least twice a year. The easiest way to remember is to schedule maintenance in the spring and in the fall, just before the peak cooling and heating seasons.


Related Information from Horizon Services...

• Horizon Heating Repair Services
• Horizon Heating Installation and Replacement
• 15 Ways To Stay Warm This Winter
• Home Energy Myths Debunked!
• Indoor Air Quality - A Major Problem for Homeowners

Oats Cornmeal Coconut Squares

A Very Lengthy title!!!! I don't  want to Miss out the main players in this Recipe!!!! Easy, Breezy Recipe to make!!!!

Ingredients
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup Oats
1/2 cup Dessicated Coconut
1/2 tin Condensed Milk
4 pods of Cardamom, Crushed
2 tbsp Almond flakes


Method

Dry Roast Cornmeal and Oats separately. Grind it together in a mixer. Take this grounded mixture to the pan again, add Dessicated coconut and give a good mix, Lower the flame and add Condensed milk, cardamom, Almond Flakes and Mix Well. When the mixture comes together as a Soft ball, take it off the stove and transfer it to a greased Plate and Press it down hard. I did this on wax-paper laid round cake pan. Let the mixture cool a bit, mark squares using a Sharp Knife.

You can even roll them out as Ladoos, once you take it off the stove, let the mixture cool a bit, shape them as ladoos and coat them with some Dessicated Coconut!!!! Squares or Sphere it tastes Fabulous!!!!!

Sending this to CWF-Oats, happening @ Priya's, Event by Sumadhura.

I m running a Blogging Marathon with some of my Blogger Buddies, Please Do check out their Recipes here Srivalli, Priya, Suresh, Jay, Monika, Reva, PJ, Azeema , Ayeesha ,Veena , Usha, Soumya and Gayathri.