Although professional recommendations urge homeowners to reduce their water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees to minimize the risk of scalding while reducing utility costs, installing an anti-scalding device is still an excellent decision in any home with vulnerable individuals, as well as all homes where the tap water is above 120 degrees. In homes with a dishwasher that does not have an internal heater, keeping your water heater set to a higher temperature may be justified, but anti-scalding devices can be used in specific locations where they are needed for protection while still keeping your water at its maximum temperature for specific uses.

Anti-scald valves function with the use of a diaphragm or piston which is able to regulate the amount of hot and cold water passing through the faucet, maintaining water temperatures that are within a few degrees of a preselected temperature. An additional valve is used to prevent hot water from entering the cold water stream, and hot water use in the entire household often declines as the flow of hot water is restricted, draining the tank more slowly and providing hot water for a longer period of time.

Depending on your needs, you can install your anti-scalding device directly at the water heater in order to protect the entire home, or at one or more specific faucets in locations of concern.

Homeowners in the Tucson area interested in installing an anti-scalding device or seeking information on any other home comfort related issue can contact the friendly professionals at Rite-Way, where we have been keeping customers cozy since 1959!

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about anti-scalding devices and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Hair. After you clean your hair bush, toss the hair in the trash, not the toilet. Hair is a common culprit when it comes to clogged toilets.
• Feminine products. Avoid flushing pads and tampons down the toilet. They are too thick and can lead to clogs.
• Condoms. Flushing quickly disposes of condoms, but they can inflate in your pipes and obstruct proper flow.
• Cotton balls and swabs. Toss these into the trash, not the toilet. Cotton is difficult to break down and will accumulate in your pipes which leads to clogs.
• Dental floss. It’s easy to throw it in the toilet, but dental floss can wrap and tangle around smaller items, creating build up.
• Paper towels, napkins baby wipes. All of these are too thick to be flushed and will cause clogs.
• Dryer sheets and cleaning wipes. Both contain chemicals that should not go into the water system.
• Cosmetics. They can contain harmful chemicals that may contaminate the water supply.
• Medication. Don’t flush old or unwanted medication. Sewage systems can not filter medication from the water which means the medication ends up in lakes, rivers, oceans and even your drinking water.
• Pets. A quick burial at sea may seem like the right thing to do, but don’t flush your dead pet. They linger in pipes and cause clogs.
• Too much toilet paper. Try to limit the amount you use. Too much toilet paper can lead to clogs.

If you have questions about clogged toilets any other heating, cooling or plumbing issues,  feel free to contact the friendly professionals at Rite-Way for assistance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about plumbing systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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How They Heat

While heat pumps cool much like air conditioners, they heat by moving liquid refrigerant from the outdoor coil, where heat is collected as it evaporates, to the indoor coil, where heat is absorbed as it turns back to liquid. They come with one indoor coil and one outdoor coil, as split-systems, or with both outdoors, as packaged systems. Both mainly consist of a compressor and two coils of aluminum fins around copper tubing. While packaged systems rely on ductwork to provide conditioned air, split-systems use supply and return ducts connected to a central, indoor fan. Most homes use split-systems with a panel of coils or backup furnace for extra heat.

Heat Pump Efficiency

While technical innovation has raised the efficiency of air-source heat pumps, it is important to compare heating and cooling efficiency. Check the EnergyGuide label and specifically the Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF) and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).

• The HSPF measures heat efficiency by dividing the total space heating by total energy consumption for the annual heating season.
• The SEER measures cooling efficiency by dividing the total heat removed by the total energy consumption for the annual cooling season.

For warmer climates like ours, a higher SEER is more important, and while a higher SEER usually translates into a higher price tag, long term savings will more than make up for the initial investment.

For more expert tips on choosing and maintaining a heat pump in your Tucson area home, or for other home comfort questions, contact Rite-Way Ventilating Co. today. We have been providing premium comfort and value in home heating and cooling since 1959, and we look forward to serving your home’s needs today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Find a comfortable temperature for your home that’s as low as possible for your waking hours. Many people are comfortable with their home between 65 and 70 degrees in the winter if they wear warm clothes like sweaters and sweats.
• Program your thermostat to lower the temperature in your home about 15 degrees when you are typically at work and everyone is out of the house. For most people, this is between the hours of 8am and 5pm, though you may need to alter that for your particular schedule.
• Set the thermostat to come back up to your desired temperature about 30 to 60 minutes before you usually get home in the afternoon or evening. By doing this, you’ll walk into a warm home, but won’t be paying for heating the empty house all day, which can save you money on your heating bill.
• Have your thermostat turn the temperature down in your home when it’s time for bed. If you need to, use heavy blankets in your bedroom or add a portable heater to bedroom spaces on particularly cold nights. Running a portable heater in one room will cost considerably less than heating an entire home over the course of an entire night.

Contact Rite-Way Ventilating Co. for more information on how a programmable thermostat can keep you warm this winter. We proudly serve Tucson, AZ and the surrounding areas and look forward to working with you as well.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Repair or replace? It’s an important question, since it’s much less expensive to repair a furnace than to replace it. When your furnace fails, some basic troubleshooting steps can help you determine how serious the issue is. Unfortunately, some problems –like a cracked heat exchanger or control module failure – are serious enough that they often warrant a new furnace. Also, if your furnace is more than 15 years old, it’s usually better to replace it than have it repaired.
• Size matters. A furnace that’s too small won’t heat your home effectively, but there’s also a danger in overkill. A furnace too large for your home can cycle on and off excessively, wasting energy and potentially wearing itself out quickly. A qualified technician can help you select a furnace that’s just right for your home.
• Efficiency is essential. Newer furnaces are vastly more efficient than older models, but there’s still a pretty wide variation among different makes and models. In general, gas furnaces are far more energy-efficient than oil-burning models, and a furnace made during the last few years can be much more efficient than a model made even five or ten years ago. Newer models are also more costly, but you’ll see a significant savings in energy costs in the long run.

For more information on choosing a new furnace, and for all your heating and cooling needs, contact Rite-Way Ventilation Co. We’ve been proudly serving Tucson and the surrounding communities since 1959.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about new furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Tips To Seal Up Air Leaks

Before you get started sealing the air leaks in your home check to be sure you have the right materials for the job such as caulk or weatherstripping, a caulk gun, and incense sticks. Once you have gathered the materials you need follow these simple tips to seal up the air leaks in your home:

• Use the incense sticks to check for air leaks throughout your home. Hold the lit incense stick near potential air leaks and watch for the smoke to travel horizontally. Everywhere the smoke moves horizontally you have discovered an air leak.
• Seal all leaks that you find with caulking or weatherstripping following the directions on the packaging.
• Install foam gaskets behind all outlet and light switch plates. In addition to caulking and weatherstripping, will help prevent air leaks in your home.
• Inspect your air duct insulation for dirty spots that indicate air leaks, and seal the spots where the air is leaking with a high quality metal tape or mastic sealant.
• Use a foam sealant in bigger gaps around baseboards, windows and wall joints.
• Weatherize your doors with pliable sealing gaskets on the bottom of all exterior doors.
• Be sure to tightly close your fireplace flue damper when it is not in use.
• Cover any single pane windows with storm windows to reduce energy loss, and consider upgrading to double pane, low-emission windows in the future.
• Cover your kitchen exhaust fan when not in use to reduce air leakage.
• Inspect your carpet and ceiling for dirty spots which can indicate air leaks and seal any leaks found.

For more information on how to seal up air leaks in your Tucson area home, contact our professionals at Rite-Way Heating and Cooling Company. We have been serving the Tucson area since 1959.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about sealing air leaks and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Types of furnace filters

• The disposable fiberglass filter – An inexpensive option, the thin construction makes fiberglass filters a poor choice for anyone who is concerned with good air quality. Large particles are trapped, but dust, pollen, and other small pollutants can enter your air circulation. The MERV rating is usually from 1 to 4. The components of your HVAC system will be protected with fiberglass filters.
• The disposable pleated filter – The folded filter material provides a larger surface to capture large and small pollutants. Pleated filters have a MERV rating between 6 and 12. Regular filter replacement is important because particles can buildup quickly.
• Disposable electrostatic filters – Self-charging electrostatic cotton is used to attract and capture small air particles. The MERV rating is a respectable 10 for these filters.
• Washable filters – An unpopular choice with homeowners, the washable filter requires time-consuming maintenance to maintain proper effectiveness. A filter that is not completely dry can contribute to mold formation. The MERV rating is very low at 1-4.
• High-efficiency filters – Dense filter material provides superior filtering, but also can restrict airflow increasing strain on your HVAC components. Pleated cotton attached to a metal grid forms this filter. MERV ratings run 13- 16.

Instructions from your furnace should indicate which filters work the best with your system. The location of the filter is also explained in the instruction manual. Measure the size of the old filter to ensure you purchase the correct size replacement.

Please contact Rite-Way Ventilating with any concerns about installing a new furnace filter. We have been proudly serving the Greater Tucson, AZ Area since 1959.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Install a programmable thermostat. These devices enable you to set the temperature for your home when you’re not around, as it’s both unnecessary and expensive to heat or cool an empty space. The technology also allows you to set the programmable thermostat to turn on your systems at a certain time so that the temperature is comfortable when you arrive home from work or vacation.

Take advantage of your ceiling fans. These fixtures can go a long way to reducing your energy bills when used properly. Make sure you set the switch to run counterclockwise in the summer to circulate cooler air. In the winter, you should reverse the flow to clockwise in order to bring heated air down, especially in homes with high or cathedral ceilings.

Change your furnace and A/C filters regularly. HVAC experts will tell you that your air filters should be replaced on a monthly basis to keep air flowing smoothly and consistently through the systems. High-efficiency air filters with a Minimum Reporting Efficiency Value (MERV) rating of five or higher are recommended. When properly installed and replaced in a regular basis, these filters can save you up to 10 percent on your heating and air conditioning bills. They’re also more effective at cleaning indoor air to remove mold, dust, pollen and other contaminants.

Would you like to hear more energy-saving tips from knowledgeable HVAC experts? Please contact Rite-Way Heating and Cooling Company with your questions on how to reduce your energy bills and keep your home comfortable year round. We’ve been serving the Tucson, AZ area since 1959 and we’re rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau for our exceptional customer service.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy savings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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These are some of the pollutants plants that decrease toxins can remove and just a few of their many sources.

• Benzene – byproduct of paints, glue, plastic and chemical household cleaners
• Xylene – solvent used in printing, leather and rubber production
• Trichloroethylene – found on dry-cleaned clothing
• Formaldehyde – found in cleaning products

Spider Plant

The spider plant is a good choice for people who tend to neglect their plants because they are resilient. Spider plants feature lots of greenery and petite white flowers. The spider plant removes xylene, benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde from the air in your home.

Aloe

Aloe does double duty for those who own this succulent that loves the sun. Aloe Vera clears your home of benzene and formaldehyde. Aloe’s bonus is that you can use the gel inside the leaves on burns and cuts.

Gerber Daisy

Filtering your home’s air of trichloroethylene is as easy as owning a brightly colored Gerber Daisy. They require a lot of light, but would be great for a sunny bedroom or laundry room. Gerber Daisies can also filter benzene from the air.

English Ivy

Not only does English Ivy filter formaldehyde from your home’s air, it also reduces the amount of airborne fecal matter in your air.

Mother-in-law’s Tongue

People use many cleaning products in their bathrooms, and they are a big source of formaldehyde. Mother-in-law’s tongue is great at filtering formaldehyde and thrives in the humid, low light conditions of your bathroom.

Warnack Dracaena

If you want a plant that gets big, like a potential height of 12 feet, then Warneckii is what you are looking for. These huge houseplants can grow without direct sunlight, and rid the air of pollutants from furniture varnishes and oils.

For more information on home air quality issues in Tucson, Arizona, contact Rite-Way Ventilating Co.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about decreasing toxins in your home and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Adding insulation

A wide variety of materials are currently used to produce insulating batts and/or loose fill. Each type has a unique set of pros and cons including a range of embodied energy accumulated during the manufacturing process.

Homeowners have access to the following types of insulating products:

• Cellulose is the most environmentally friendly material commonly used to produce residential insulation products today. With no volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and a reasonable cost, loose fill cellulose can be used for attic insulation as well as blown into walls. Careful installation is critical to prevent settling and help avoid moisture problems.
• Fiberglass is still the most commonly used insulating material in American homes (despite its high environmental impact) due to its high R-value and relatively low price tag. Since its small particulates can cause respiratory issues, fiberglass must be handled with special gear and installation must be done with great care to prevent the irritants from affecting your indoor air quality (IAQ) after installation.
• Cotton is used to produce insulating batts and loose fill which can be used in place of cellulose or fiberglass. Although it has a higher price tag than fiberglass, homeowners can save money and install cotton insulation themselves due to the lack of irritants present in the material.
• Mineral wool is used to produce high quality insulation that is much more moisture resistant than other types. Cons include greater environmental impact than cellulose or cotton products and a higher price tag than fiberglass.
• Foam insulating materials have the highest environmental impact yet may be appropriate for specific applications where their high R-value and moisture tolerance balance the embodied energy required for their initial production.

For over 50 years, Rite-Way Heating And Cooling has been helping Tucson homeowners meet all of their home comfort needs. Contact us today for more information!

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Tucson, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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