3/16/11 - As the cooling season approaches, TBLM would like to remind you of the importance of changing your filters monthly. Even filters that claim to be good for 90 days can get clogged well before that 90 days has passed. Clogged filters restrict airflow, and completely inhibit the ability of a system to condition the air. Cooling a space is more about the removal of heat than the introduction of colder air. Clogged filters will also cause pressures to run higher than normal, leading to the failure of major components.

2/9/11 - If the old heater is leaking, replace it. That's a straightforward decision. But if it's not leaking, what criteria will help you decide whether or not to keep it? Age alone is not the deciding factor. In fact, older tanks often have the advantage of being more sturdily built.But tanks do deteriorate with age. You will need to inspect the water heater to determine if it is a good candidate to keep and maintain. A tank's age is usually encoded in its serial number. If it begins A-83 or 0183, the tank was built in January 1983. B-83 and 0283 mean February 1983, and so on. Knowing the tank's age is a start.

Inspect all tank fittings to get more information. Do you see any signs of rusting or leakage? Look into the combustion chamber and the flue of fuel-burning units. While slight rust or water marking from condensation are not a problem, heavy rust and water streaks are danger signals. A pile of rusty scale on top of the burner suggests that tainted air has damaged the flue.

If your inspection of fittings, combustion chamber, or anode suggests that the tank has undergone substantial damage, replacement is a reasonable choice.

Perhaps you found little or no evidence of tank deterioration. Then, assuming the tank has insulation and is correctly sized, the most cost-effective thing to do is probably to keep it going. But, you may be thinking, what about energy use? The main difference between most old and new heaters in terms of energy performance is the insulation level.

Whether you keep the old heater or replace it, maintain it regularly This will avoid the cycle of replacement, saving the energy needed to produce new equipment and dispose of the old. 

11/2/10 - Winter is the season for humidifiers in most areas of the country. Whether you use gas or electric heat, the air from your furnace will not only keep you warm, it will dry out the air in your home. Humidifiers, by sending small molecules of moisture into the air, can help keep you healthier but also extend the life of your furniture.

The benefits of humidifiers during the heating season are many. The most common are listed below.

1. Can help relieve cold symptoms by making the air you breath moist, which helps keep your lungs more elastic.

2. Reduce susceptibility to infection by keeping the mucus membranes of your throat and nasal passages moist allowing the tiny hairs (cilia) in both to work at expelling foreign objects such as mold, pet dander and bacteria.

3. Relieve and prevent dry, scratchy skin and lips.

4. Keep valuable wood furniture from drying out and cracking.

5. Reduce static electricity, thus reducing the tiny shocks received from touching certain objects and other people.

6. Can help prevent wood floors from buckling and separating.

7. Reduce nosebleeds, as the air you breathe is moist.

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8/20/10 - In the year 1987 conference was held, where a protocol by the name “Montreal Protocol” was signed by a number of countries to phase out the use and production of CFC refrigerants. US is one of the 190 countries where the manufacturing of R22 has to be stopped in phase manner and where the alternatives have to be found out.
As per EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the timeline for phase out of R22 from United States is as follows:
January 1, 2010: By this date there would be complete ban on the production and import of R22 and R142b. However, there is exception for the on-going servicing needs of the existing plants and equipment.
January 1, 2015: By this date there would be ban on the sale and use of R22. There is exception for certain cases, including the serving needs of the existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
January 1, 2020: By this date there would complete ban on the production and import of R22 refrigerant. The gas would not be available even for servicing of the existing plants.
After January 2020, the refrigeration and the air conditioning systems using R22 would have to depend on the stockpile of the refrigerant available with them. One just can’t really predict till when R22 would be available after the January 2020 deadline. It may also be available till the expiry of the equipment, but it would be surely lot more expensive. The owners of these equipment would have to either switch to the new alternative refrigerant or bear the costs of the highly expensive refrigerant R22 at that time or they may have to totally shutdown the equipment.

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8/6/10 - Your home A/C system is a closed loop system & refrigerant should never have to be added. If your unit needs more than 2 lbs or charged more than once a year it is recommended you have a leak check done to your system. You most likely have a serious refrigerant leak & it needs to be repaired. Leaking units don't operate efficiently; take their toll on the environment, & can cause serious HVAC mechanical problems.

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7/26/10 - A/C units create a lot of condensation, which should go into a floor drain or be carried away by a condensate pump. If water is pooling at the base of the unit, something may be blocking the water's flow. Try putting the end of the drain tube into the hose of a shop vac & turn the vac on for about a min. This should clear the tube. Pour a diluted solution of bleach through the pipe to kill the algae.