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!

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER CHALLENGE?

Dealership Sales/Project Manager Mechanical and plumbing contractor has all the building blocks in place to expand our ability to provide our customers with the excellent service they are accustomed. We are looking for a person with the technical and business skill set to stack those blocks into a powerful, leading-edge division and nurture it as it thrives.

What we are looking for: • Someone who is willing to roll up their sleeves and do what is takes to succeed.
• Has a proven success record with knowledge in air conditioning, heating, and plumbing (mechanical degree preferred, but experience will be considered).
• A leader and mentor with an inclusive style, whose former employees want to keep in touch.
• An effective and passionate writer and speaker who has no problem talking to people you don’t know (not afraid to knock on doors).
• Wants others to be successful.
• Not afraid of sales

What’s in it for you? • The opportunity to use the sum of your experience and knowledge
• A staff that is ready to be mentored and encouraged to grow
• An excellent work culture
• An attractive and competitive compensation/benefits package, commensurate with your experience.

To apply: Please email your resume to: www.coolwater_pcola@yahoo.com.
This position is one you will want to stay at until you retire. If you are looking for a short term build-it-and-move-on position, please do not apply.
EEO Employer/Drug Free Workplace
Must have a good driving records and clear criminal history.

WHAT MAKES AN AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING SYSTEM ENERGY EFFICIENT?

Saving money and energy efficiency is a big topic in today’s society. When it comes to saving money on your power bill, we all know a few basics that apply to the Air Conditioning and Heating system such as keeping your air filters clean, setting your thermostat higher when you are not home and having your system regularly checked by certified HVAC technicians.

You can also save money by updating your old Air Conditioning and Heating system to a new higher energy efficient system. But before any of us make a big decision such as updating an Air Conditioning and Heating system, one question that always comes to mind, ”What is going to save me the most money”.  That all depends on which energy efficient system is installed. But let’s take it a step further by finding out what actually determines the efficiency of an Air Conditioning and Heating system? The answer is the units SEER rating.

The SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is mathematically determined by the performance and energy efficiency rating that measures the effectiveness of a central air system. This is defined by the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute in its standard ARI 210/240.

The SEER rating of a unit is the cooling output BTU (British Thermal Unit) during a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours during the same period. The higher the units SEER rate, the more energy efficiency the system is. Think of a SEER rating like miles per gallon in cars. The higher the rating, the more energy efficient the unit is. Therefore, higher SEER ratings lead to more savings in energy usage which in turn leads to a lower power bill.

SEER Rating Timeline:

• 1980s: SEER rating was 6
• 1990s: A minimum SEER rating of 10 was mandated by the Department of Energy.
• 2006: Air Conditioning Units manufactured in the United States must have a SEER rating of 13 or higher.
• Present: You can purchase an Air Conditioning system with a SEER rating above 20.

Manufacturers can put together combinations of indoor Air Handler Units (Variable Speed Types) with different outdoor units to achieve the higher SEER ratings. Before purchasing a new Air Conditioning and Heating system, you should familiarize yourself on different heating and cooling systems and their SEER ratings.

Potential Annual Savings* for cooling your home based on the efficiency of a matched system:

• 8 SEER = 0% savings
• 10 SEER = up to 20% saving
• 13 SEER = up to 38% saving
• 14 SEER = up to 43% saving
• 15 SEER = up to 47% saving
• 16 SEER = up to 50% saving
• 20 SEER = up to 60% saving

*Minimum efficiency established by the Department of Energy. The majority of systems installed prior to 2006 are 10 SEER or lower. Potential energy savings may vary depending on your lifestyle, system settings, equipment maintenance, local climate, home construction and installation of equipment and duct system.

Air Design Systems can provide you with helpful information on different Air Conditioning and Heating systems along with different SEER ratings that fit your needs. Call 202-COOL today for your free estimate to install a new energy efficient Air Conditioning and Heating system.

Need emergency after-hours or weekend Air Conditioning/Heating or Plumbing service? Air Design Systems provides 24-hour on-call service with no additional after-hour charge. Call 202-COOL night or day, Air Design Systems is on the way!

Visit www.airdesignhvac.com for more information about all of our services we provide!

IMPROVE THE LOOK AND VALUE OF YOUR HOME BY REPLACING YOUR OLD SHOWER AND TUB WITH A NEW UPDATED WALK-IN SHOWER

Are you looking to update the look of your home? According to a recent survey done by members of Angieslist.com, “Fifty-nine percent want to update or improve their home, twenty-two percent plans to make repairs and nine percent are looking to increase the resale value of their home.” A great way to improve the look of your home and its resale value is to update the look of your bathroom. Air Design Systems has satisfied many customers with their shower updates. Let us do the same for you!

There are many shower options to choose from. Listed below are two of the most popular choices:

• Four piece walk-in shower. This includes the shower pan base and the three wall pieces (single control Delta faucet and water spout).
• Marble walk-in shower

Air Design Systems can also cater to customers needing Handicap Accessible showers. Listed below are some of the Handicap Accessible shower features:

·         Built-in shower seats

·         Hand held shower heads

·         Grab bars

Don’t wait for your retirement years to change out your old tub and shower. Let Air Design Systems update the look of your bathroom by removing your old tub and shower and install a new walk-in shower. Polish off your bathroom updates by removing your old and outdated toilet and let Air Design Systems install a new Comfort Height toilet.

At Air Design Systems, we take pride in being the Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing Professionals of Pensacola. Let our plumbing professionals take care of you and all of your plumbing needs! Call 202-COOL today for your FREE estimate.

Need emergency after-hours plumbing service? Air Design Systems provides 24-hour on-call service with no additional after-hour charge. Call 202-COOL night or day, Air Design Systems is on the way!

Visit www.airdesignhvac.com for information about all of our services we provide!

Online Sources:

AngiesList.com. “N.D.” “Homeowners Planning to Remodel Should act Fast in 2011”. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from the AngiesList website: http://company.angieslist.com/visitor/news/default.aspx 

BENEFITS OF HAVING YOUR AIR DUCTS CLEANED

Does your home produce a musty or moldy smell that no amount of air freshener can eliminate? Do you and/or a family member suffer from allergies or asthma that seems to get worse while at home? These problems could be caused due to dirty air ducts. You can eliminate these problems while also increasing the performance of your air conditioner unit by having your air ducts cleaned regularly.

Many people only clean their air ducts after a major event such as fire or flood, an infestation of insects, rodents, mold, or after a remodel. However, you should actually have your air ducts inspected often by a professional trained in the Indoor Air Quality field. A good time to have your air ducts checked is once a year when your preventive maintenance is being performed.

Not only will having your air ducts cleaned eliminate any musty or moldy smells, it can also drastically reduce the amount of dust and allergens in the air that affect those with allergies and/or asthma.

BEFORE AIR DUCT CLEANING

AFTER AIR DUCT CLEANING

Air Design Systems has a NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) certified specialist on staff, and we use a state-of-the-art HEPA-AIRE Duct Cleaning System. It is the most advanced source removal equipment available. This high-tech system enables our technicians to reach and thoroughly clean your entire duct system.

Visit www.airdesignhvac.com or call 202-COOL for more information on air duct cleaning and/or preventive maintenance.

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!