Whether it’s getting colder or hotter outside, you need to get your indoor space ready for the changing seasons before it’s too late! Take simple steps with Missoula heating service, Garden City Plumbing, to get prepared for summer or winter, so your plumbing and HVAC systems will be ready to do their jobs.
Missoula Heating Service: Winterize Your Space
Getting winter-ready involves making sure your space is properly insulated and that your heating system is in working condition. Aeroseal Duct Sealing is one of the best ways to make sure your paid-for heated air doesn’t escape right through your walls. Standard Missoula heating service is a wise choice for long-term maintenance and winterizing your space. It may be a good time to upgrade to geothermal heat or radiant heat. Also, take action to keep your pipes from freezing.
Aeroseal Duct Sealing
Aeroseal Duct Sealing is a patented breakthrough technology that tackles air leaks from the inside out. Aeroseal software allows the technician to accurately measure the duct leakage in residential homes and commercial buildings. The Aeroseal process puts escaping air under pressure and causes polymer particles to stick first to the edges of a leak, then to each other until the leak is closed. This is still a relatively new option in the Missoula heating service industry, but it’s a very effective way to cut down on your heating bill.
The Aeroseal in Missoula heating service is a 6-step process. It’s affordable and takes very little time to bring you big savings and comfort:
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- Wall registers are covered in order for air to escape only through the leaks
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- Sealant is injected into the ducts for approximately 1 hour
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- Small aerosol particles are kept suspended in the airflow by continuous air movement
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- As the air stream makes a sharp turn to exit through a leak, the particles collide with and adhere to the leak edges
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- Ducts are sealed with only 1-2 oz. of the sealant material remaining in the ducts
- A computer-generated analysis summarizing your home’s or building’s amount of leakage is generated, providing verification of success of the process
Prevent Frozen Pipes
Each winter, a quarter of a million families are affected by water pipes that freeze and burst. A three-millimeter crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day. Both plastic (PVC) and copper pipes can burst.
Taking a few simple steps can help to prevent frozen pipes.
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- Insulate pipes in your attic and crawlspace. Exposed pipes are the most vulnerable to freezing. Use heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products that have been approved by independent testing organizations and only use as intended (exterior or interior).
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- Seal all leaks that allow cold air near inside pipes. Check around all electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes for air leaks. Use insulation or caulk to keep the cold air out and the hot air in. Missoula heating service professionals can take care of this for you.
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- Disconnect all garden hoses and, if practical, use the indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This will help reduce the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe located just inside the house.
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- A small amount of trickling water in areas prone to freezing can make all the differences in keeping your pipes from freezing. Let warm or cold water drip overnight from a faucet located on an outside wall.
- Open cabinet doors to allow the heat in your home to get to the pipes located under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.
Radiant Heat Systems – Missoula heating services
Comfortable radiant floor heating distributes even warmth. Whether your floors are wood, tile, or concrete slab – with or without carpeting – radiant heat is comfortable and efficient. A radiant heat system can provide room-by-room temperature control. Energy usage can be reduced by up to 40% according to Missoula heating service professionals. This is a wide step towards cutting down on the heating bill and using a more efficient system. Clean radiant floor heating provides a healthier home environment by eliminating forced air systems that spread dust, pollen, and germs throughout your space.
Conventional heating systems must be set at higher temperatures to achieve the same comfort level as radiant heat systems. The lower temperature required for a radiant heat system helps to maintain a natural humidity level, lower static electricity levels, and nearly eliminates drafts. Just imagine: no more uneven temperatures, and no hot blasts from vents. No scorching radiators or baseboards, and your lower fuel consumption is friendly to the environment and your budget! Radiant heat gives you access to far more cost effective Missoula heating services.
Geothermal Heat Systems – Missoula heating services
Geothermal heating and cooling, also known as a ground source heat pump, has is the “most energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive of all space conditioning systems,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The system’s basic concept takes advantage of the earth’s constant temperature, approximately 55 degrees, to both heat and cool a home. By using this steady flow of heat from the earth in the winter and displacing the heat in the earth during the summer, a geothermal heat pump can save homeowners anywhere from 40% to 70% in heating costs and 30% to 50% in cooling cost compared to conventional systems.
Get Ready for Spring and Summer
You can do a lot of HVAC prep to get your living space ready for spring and summer. From getting your air conditioner tuned up and having the vents cleaned, to making sure you space is properly ventilated and insulated to make the most of your central air, you can improve the air quality and make your space more comfortable. Allergy symptoms are less problematic with a properly maintained HVAC system, and your risk of mold growth will be lower if the humidity is controlled.
Duct System Evaluation
In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. But in typical houses, about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.
Some signs that your home may have leaky, poorly insulated, or inefficient ducts:
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- you have high summer and winter utility bills
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- rooms are difficult to heat and cool, or feel stuffy
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- ducts are located in an attic, basement, crawlspace, or garage
- there are visibly tangled or kinked flexible ducts in your system
Fumes from household and garden chemicals, insulation particles, and dust can enter your duct system, aggravating asthma and allergy problems. Sealing ducts can help improve indoor air quality by reducing the risk of pollutants entering ducts and circulating through your home. Leaky ductwork in your heating and cooling system may cause “backdrafting,” where these gases are drawn back into the living space, rather than expelled to the outdoors. Sealing leaks can reduce this risk.
Get Home Inspection by HVAC Pros
The best way to make sure your home is ready for spring and summer is to get a full inspection. Missoula heating service and HVAC pros will check that your cooling and ventilation systems are clean and in working condition. They’ll also see how efficient your insulation system will be. Something as simple as a home inspection can save you thousands of dollars in utility bill costs. You will benefit from knowing that easy fixes can be made. You also should learn what economical habits you can adopt in order to drive down your air conditioning costs. All of this and more can be learned from HVAC professionals during a home inspection before the hot months of summer.
Don’t pay an arm and a leg for heating and cooling
With proper prevention, routine maintenance, and a thorough inspection pre-season, you can save money on heating and cooling this year. Don’t get crushed with the cost of Missoula heating service, air conditioning, and utility bills during peak season. Get your space ready for severe temperatures and changing seasons ahead of time!
