Reducing the Costs of Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling in Hickory make up the large majority of our utility costs, so it stands to reason that controlling those two things can save money. There are a number of ways to do that which are just common sense, but also a few you may not have considered.

Air-conditioning Basics

Air conditioners use refrigeration to chill indoor air, taking advantage of a remarkable physical law: When a liquid converts to a gas (in a process called phase conversion), it absorbs heat. Air conditioners exploit this feature of phase conversion by forcing special chemical compounds to evaporate and condense over and over again in a closed system of coils.

The compounds involved are refrigerants that have properties enabling them to change at relatively low temperatures. Air conditioners also contain fans that move warm interior air over these cold, refrigerant-filled coils. In fact, central air conditioners have a whole system of ducts designed to funnel air to and from these serpentine, air-chilling coils.

Air Conditioning Benefits

The benefits of Air Conditioning are to give a comfortable environment at work or at home throughout the seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

An Air Conditioning unit can have two functions - heating and cooling.With an auto changeover switch on most new units, you set the temperature and the unit will cool or heat as required automatically.

Also air purification is another benefit as an anti-fungus filter is used in most modern air conditioning units. This catches allergy-causing mites, smoke particles and odors, making the air in your environment clean and fresh.

Most of us take the ability to warm our homes for granted, but few appreciate the benefits of being able to remove unwanted heat during the summer months.

The Scary Truth about Electrical Hazards at Home and How to Avoid Them

Electricity is the most dangerous and scariest hazard in the home. It is completely odorless, it is silent, and it moves at record-defying speeds. When it strikes, it can destroy objects and property in its path. If an object is a human, electricity can cause severe disfigurement or disability – if it doesn't first kill that person.