What is the best way to heat an attic? Many people who ask that question are looking to expand the living area of their home as a private living space or storage for items that could be negatively affected by extreme temperatures.
The first step is involving a Geiler Company HVAC professional. Decisions involving cost and safety have to be made at various steps in the process to ensure that you end up happy with your new livable attic area.
We will begin by examining the existing insulation. Without sufficient insulation, any heating energy will escape to the outside and end up costing you money. Depending on the size of your attic space and the level of insulation already present, it might be necessary to add more to make your attic livable.
The next step is to make sure that the attic floor is solid enough to hold the weight of persons, furniture and storage items. You don't want anyone or anything falling through the floor.
Next, you will want to run electricity to the attic space if it's not there already. Extension cords from the floor below will not do. Those are a safety hazard. Make sure a Geiler Company professional takes a look at your situation and provides you with analysis and options and then have them do the work.
Now that you have a safe and properly insulated space with available electricity, what is the best way to heat the attic? The Geiler Company recommends a single zone mini split system heat pump. "Single zone" means that it's only responsible for heating one area, and "split system" means that it is separate from the HVAC system of the house. These systems can cost anywhere from $1500 to $2000 or more, depending on their heating capacity. That may sound like a lot, but it's probably cheaper than cutting up your attic floor to extend existing duct work into your attic. If your attic is large enough, your house's HVAC system might not be able to handle the extra space. If that happens, you will have to get a system with a higher capacity. Given these facts, a single zone split system heating unit is the smart way to go. One important consideration is to buy a unit with enough capacity to generate enough heat in the space provided during those single digit winter nights.
Every situation and every home is different. That's why we recommend involving a Geiler Company professional in the planning process for heating your attic. We will make sure the job is done safely, promptly and professionally. Call the Geiler Company today at (513) 574-0025 today and let us help you get started.
Reid Geiler
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A ductless heating system could be a low cost and energy efficient system for your home that could also save you a lot of money in the long run.
Ductless heating systems are also referred to as "split systems" because they rely on a main outside unit and up to eight wall mounted inside units that provide different zones or areas that can be controlled individually. These systems are ideal for homes that don't need to heat certain rooms in the winter. Certain rooms can be set to warmer temperatures to maintain comfort and other rooms can be set a little lower to save money and energy. The wall mounted units can also be installed within hours with very little construction activity needed. A small hole for the piping from the main heating unit and a some wall brackets are all that are needed.
A ductless air conditioning system could be a low cost and energy efficient system for your home that could also save you a lot of money in the long run.
Ductless air conditioning systems are also referred to as "split systems" because they rely on a main outside unit and up to eight wall mounted inside units that provide different zones or areas that can be controlled individually. These systems are ideal for homes that don't need to cool certain rooms in the summer. Certain rooms can be set to cooler temperatures to maintain comfort and other rooms can be set a little higher to save money and energy. The wall mounted units can also be installed within hours with very little construction activity needed. A small hole for the piping from the main cooling unit and a some wall brackets are all that are needed.
Some of the advantages of a ductless air conditioning system include:
Energy efficiency: Ductless air conditioning systems directly cool the area that they are in, rather than having cold air forced from a central air conditioner through a traditional duct system. Up to 25 percent of energy in a traditional cooling system can be lost as it travels throughout the home, more if the ductwork is leaking in places you can't see. This wasted cold air costs you money. Also, if the central thermostat for a traditional ducted air conditioning system is located in a warmer area, the whole system will continue to burn energy (and money) to meet the demand.
More control: Ductless air conditioning systems can be programmed individually to deliver the precise amount of cool air desired to a single area at a lower cost. For example, rooms with east or west facing windows can be kept cool without making other areas of the home too cold for comfort. The units are also Energy Star compliant, which means that homeowners may be eligible for rebates and/or tax breaks by installing a ductless air conditioning system. The Geiler company can help you find out what local, state and federal tax breaks or loan incentives are available when you purchase a ductless system.
Quiet operation: The units continually work to deliver cool air to their designated area of the home rather than starting and stopping. They are also designed to run quietly. The days of hearing the central air conditioner turning on and off or hearing the loud fan pushing the cool air through the home are a thing of the past for ductless air conditioning system owners.
Improved air quality: The units are designed with a mulit-stage filtration system to ensure air quality. Hundreds of feet of traditional ductwork in a home can gather a lot of dust, mold, and other contaminants. Ductless air conditioning systems eliminate this issue when cleaned regularly.
Ductless air conditioning systems are ideal for new construction, home additions or free-standing areas. Contact the Geiler Company at 513-574-0025 today to see if a ductless air conditioning system is right for you.
Are solar panels or a heat pump system better for your home? Answering that question depends on a number of important factors, including where you live in the country, the age and location of your home and how much money you are willing to spend up front.
Solar panels work best where there is a lot of sunlight and heat pumps work best in areas where more heat is required on a yearly basis to keep things comfortable in a home. In the Cincinnati area, where its not uncommon to run the heat anytime between October and April, heat pumps win this particular battle.
What causes pipes to leak?
There are a number of causes that make water appear where it's not supposed to in your home. Some of the most common reasons are:
Age-Nothing lasts forever, including plumbing. If your piping was installed 30 years ago or more, the materials used have started to degrade and leaks are inevitable. The older the plumbing, the greater the risk. Corrosion of the pipes themselves or the rubber seals shrinking and cracking are two of the most common pipe aging issues.
High Water Pressure-Who doesn't like good water pressure? The answer might be your pipes. Household plumbing is rated for maximum water pressure capacity and if you exceed that, the pipes will eventually leak. Even if your pressure is within the rated capacity for the pipe, repeatedly stressing the pipe with the initial surge of high water pressure will eventually wear the pipes and seals down.
Untreated clogs-If you have used a corrosive substance to get rid of a clog, especially more than once, it's possible that the drain cleaner is stuck somewhere eating away at the pipes instead of the clog. Harsh chemical clog removers can be more trouble than they are worth, so it's a good idea to call a licensed plumber the next time a drain backs up.
Pipe Joint Damage-Extreme weather like repeated heating and cooling can cause cracks in pipes, which eventually turn to leaks. Pipe joints are a common place for this to happen.
Fixture Cracks-If a faucet, sink or toilet has been pulled on or damaged, leaks can develop near the joint that attaches them to your plumbing. If you persistently find any water near fixtures, call a licensed plumber to check things out.
Improper Installation-What might seem to be an easy DIY plumbing project might have unexpected complications. If you suspect that you might have improperly installed piping, call a licensed plumber for an inspection before the damage gets worse.
Shifted Connections-Long term foundation or ground shifting can eventually strain a connection until it gives way and starts to leak. If there is no other explanation for a leak, this could be the cause.
If you notice stains on the wall, a moldy smell or water where it doesn't belong, it's likely you have a leak. Other signs of a leak are discolored or smelly water, which means that your water supply has been contaminated by an open pipe.
If you think you have a leak, don't wait.
The HVAC system is one of the most important and expensive parts of any home. As a result, homeowners face a difficult decision when the system starts flashing some warning signs. Yes, homeowners must determine between that repair vs replace HVAC decision.
We are hearing from the field that some consumers are under the impression that R22 units cannot be operated or cannot be repaired as of Jan 2020. This is simply not true.
