WHAT IS IN YOUR WATER HEATER?

Some cities water supply is filtered, and water is naturally soft with little mineral content. But if your cities water supply is different, you may have a large build up of sediment in your water heater.

What is sediment?

Sediment is any solid that settles at the bottom of a water heater. It can be sand or debris from wells or water mains. It can also be calcium carbonate. Calcium Carbonate is a mineral that is found in water and when heated causes the mineral to precipitate out.

How is sediment harmful to your water heater?

Sediment, which resembles sand, settles at the bottom of the water heater creating a barrier before the gas burner and the water. The sediment slows down the heat transfer and can possibly clog the drain valve which can stop water flow. When the sediment settles at the bottom of the water heater, it over heats the tank bottom and damages the steal and glass lining, which can lead to your water heater burning out all together. Sediment can also cause a loud annoying noise that can also be alarming. The water gets under the sediment layer, turns to steam bubbles and then collapses causing a loud noise.

How can you fix your sediment problem?

Unfortunately there is no permanent fix for sediment build up. However, a good way to keep it maintained is to have a plumbing professional drain your water heater annually. They can also install a filter in your water heater. By doing this, your water heater can perform and its optimum efficiency which in turn can save you money! While there, they can also check for leaks and make sure your water heater is performing properly.

Call Air Design Systems today to schedule a plumber to check your water heater and service all of your plumbing needs.

Visit www.airdesignhvac.com or call 202-COOL for more information on water heaters and all of your plumbing needs.

Have an air conditioning or plumbing emergency in the middle of the night? Air Design Systems has a professional after-hours answering service, and a full service department with 24-hour on-call HVAC and Plumbing technicians. Call 202-COOL night or day, Air Design Systems is on the way!

WHAT DETERMINES THE PROPER UNIT SIZE FOR YOUR HOME?

“What size air conditioning unit do I need for my home?” is the most frequently asked question that our HVAC salesmen hear. As simple as the question may seem, there are many deciding factors that determines the proper size unit for each individuals home.

The process starts with a complete load calculation. The load calculation consists of simple data that determines the proper size unit for your home. Below is a list of data that we gather to decide what size unit is best for your home:

• Square footage of your home
• Volume of your home (Sq ft x ceiling height)
• Insulation in the attic and walls
• Direction your home faces (North, South, East or West)
• Total amount of glass windows and doors
• Single pane windows or double pane windows. (Double pane windows is recommended)
• Doors (Metal insulated doors recommended)
• Roof eve overhang (the more overhang = the better!)
• Air infiltration (cracks or air leaks within your home)
• Tree shading over your home
• Type of floor/slab or off ground
• Duct loss (air leakage from ductwork)

Once this information is gathered, it gets loaded into a calculation work sheet which then produces the correct tonnage of air conditioning unit that best fits your home.

Are you considering replacing your air conditioning unit in your home? Call Air Design Systems for a free estimate on replacing your unit.

Have an air conditioning or plumbing emergency in the middle of the night or weekend? Air Design Systems has a professional after-hours answering service, and a full service department with 24-hour on-call HVAC and Plumbing technicians. Call 202-COOL night or day, Air Design Systems is on the way!

IS YOUR GAS FURNACE SAFE?

With winter just around the corner, many will soon be firing up their gas furnaces for the first time since last winter. A properly functioning furnace can be a safe and efficient device, but an old leaky furnace can be dangerous! Gas leaks can develop at piping joints, shut-off valves, and inside the furnace itself. Exhaust flue pipes can become obstructed and heat exchangers can develop rust holes, resulting in carbon monoxide leaking into living areas. Air Design Systems highly recommends installing carbon monoxide detectors in every house with any type of gas appliance. They look and sound similar to a smoke detector and can be purchased at most hardware stores or home improvement centers. A good preventive maintenance check up on the furnace can help make sure the burners are clean and the fuel/air mixture is correct. The internal safety devices will also be checked to make sure the furnace is safe and functioning properly.

Be prepared this winter season and call Air Design Systems today to schedule your winter maintenance on your heating unit.

Visit www.airdesignhvac.com or call 202-COOL for more information on preventive maintenance.

Have an air conditioning or plumbing emergency in the middle of the night or weekend? Air Design Systems has a professional after-hours answering service, and a full service department with 24-hour on-call HVAC and Plumbing technicians. Call 202-COOL night or day, Air Design Systems is on the way!