recycling air conditioner condensate
pvel
14 years ago
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dorisl
14 years agoRelated Discussions
basement floor condensation
Comments (9)You are describing a bizarre yet well documented concern = "sweating slab syndrome". It can be one of the most difficult things to "fix" because it has multiple factors that cause it. A professional moisture remediation company (they must specialize in basement moisture and concrete slab sealing) needs to find all of the "factors" and then fix each one individually. This can be a simple issue such as not having a vapour barrier underneath the slab (more common than you think) or it can be because of multiple factors that have recently come into play such as rising water tables, new builds in the neighborhood forcing ground water into new underground channels together with the age of your slab, lack of sump pump or weeping tiles, etc. A simple fix is probably not in the cards. Spend the money on the moisture remediation first and you might find you don't need the "air exchange" systems. I once had a family who installed in-floor heating to "dry out" their basement. It turned out the in-floor heating was evapourating off MORE moisture than ever before. The reason: water/evaporation channels in the slab (already there) were acting like straws. As the water was evaporating OFF the slab more water was being sucked into the slab = more evaporating off = more sucking through = more evaporating off. It was a massive circle which began to cause humidity problems upstairs and ruining their hardwood floors. They spent $7,000 for the in-floor system...only to find out the "real" fix would have been $8,000. Now they have run out of money and are still dealing with a wet basement AND another $8,000 worth of "fix" that should have been done in the first place. And their hardwoods are now in danger of needing replacement because of the moisture in the home. The lesson here is: get the diagnosis, fix it properly and you will end the battle with the mold without spending 3-4 times the amount because you are trying to "fix" the wrong thing....See MoreAdding central air conditioning to an existing furnace setup in attic
Comments (2)Patricia's recommendation is correct, but Houzz has a HVAC forum. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/hvac...See MoreCentral air conditioner installation
Comments (14)That is about how much we use ours, too (Midwest). We still have some nasty hot and humid summer days, so I am very thankful to have AC when we need it! We looked at the cost differences between a more expensive high SEER unit and a cheaper 13 SEER unit, and we stuck with the 13. That said, the 13 seer was included in our new build, so we were just looking at the cost of upgrade (which wasn't worth it in our case). This article helped me understand seer a little better: https://asm-air.com/airconditioning/what-is-a-good-seer-rating/ I don't think you *need* a high seer unit, but I do think you still might come out significantly ahead by paying for the rough in and then installing a unit on your own. Maybe get a little better than a 13 seer if you think it would save you over the long haul, but I don't know if a high seer unit would pay for itself with your usage, either. The cost of the 13 seer is high through your builder. Of course, there is always added value in things being "done" when you move in. I am not sure how much work is involved with install when you already have it roughed in. If it is a reasonable price to have someone else do the install after closing, and not disruptive, I would consider asking the builder to do the rough in and shop for a unit myself. Even if you don't end up with a significantly better unit than the builder would provide, you should still come out ahead. Make a few calls to get a ballpark for what it would cost to install a new xyz (16 seer unit, for example) in your area....See MoreUnsightly Air Conditioner!
Comments (4)Characteristics of Eco-Friendly Air Conditioning Units. https://www.newcentralairconditioner.com/ 1. Size Matters An under-sized air conditioner not only won’t keep the home cool but will keep trying, wasting electricity and running up the household’s energy bills. A too-small unit won’t be able to balance the air cooled in the unit’s condenser with the humid, expended air that the evaporator draws out from the home. 2. Two-Stage Compressors It’s the compressors of an air conditioning unit that typically uses the most electricity. Compressors have to work hard to squeeze out the heated vapors so that the refrigerant returns to its cooled state. Two-stage compressors automatically compress less on cool days and more when it’s hot, saving energy. 3. Customized Matched Systems Some eco-friendly air conditioners achieve optimum energy efficiency by using one source of energy for cooling and another for heating. Customizing each component of the system, from the thermostat to the indoors coils, creates systems based on a home’s individual heating and cooling needs. 4. Geothermal Heat Pumps Geothermal heat pumps use the earth as a heat sink, capitalizing on the natural flow of heat from a warm area to a cool one. They can be up to 40 percent more efficient at cooling a home than conventional air conditioners. While pricey to install, geothermal heat pumps recoup their upfront costs through savings on monthly energy bills. 5. Programmable Thermostats Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the most affordable ways to green up an air conditioning system. Homeowners can program the thermostat to remain off when no one is at home and to automatically turn on and cool the home for the household’s return. 6. Regular Maintenance HVAC professionals should inspect and service air conditioning units at least once each year. Maintenance includes testing refrigerant pressure, accessing the unit’s air flow and checking for leaks. HVAC specialist may also recommend modifications to increase the system’s energy efficiency. 7. Replacing Air Conditioners Over 89 million heating and cooling systems in the United States were installed more than ten years ago. These systems operate well below the environmental and energy efficiency standards that are in place today....See Moretuscanseed
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