Why Should You Choose UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Products?
By ACHeatingConnect
When it comes to making a purchase, finding a reliable product is sometimes difficult to recognize. Luckily, UL (Underwriters Laboratories) approved products make that decision simpler, ensuring required standards are met such as safety, sustainability, performance, and quality. In addition, UL certified products must pass testing that is set forth by UL and the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
The UL listed mark on an HVAC unit lets homeowners know that the unit has met the required standards. When a unit is UL certified, it means the components inside are also UL recognized components. This means that the manufacturers of these approved components are inspected at a minimum of four times per year. This ensures the products are being manufactured to the UL standard and the quality of the product hasn’t deteriorated. Nearly 22 billion products annually hold the UL mark. Looking for UL marks and labels when purchasing products ensure a reliable and honest manufactured product.
It is best to make sure that the compressor being replaced in your system holds the UL recognized logo to meet the same standards as the system requirements for UL Certification.
3 HVAC holiday decorating tips to avoid
The holiday season is here which means many of us will start to unpack the ribbons, wreaths, lights and other decorations to adorn our homes with festive cheer. But before you start decking your halls, be sure that your joyous aesthetics aren’t jeopardizing your home comfort, your HVAC equipment or your energy bill! Read on to make sure you aren’t making these holiday HVAC decorating mistakes.
1. Don’t cover the thermostat
All of those pretty posts with DIY project details on how to cover your thermostat could be jeopardizing your home comfort and your energy bill. Your thermostat is designed to be exposed so it can accurately gauge the temperature of your home.
2. Don’t heat up the thermostat
Keep those sparkly lights far away from your thermostat. Exposing a thermostat to a heat source can cause false readings. This may prevent your HVAC equipment from running when it should, or may cause it to cool when it should be heating which could lead to equipment or other home damages. For the same reason, you shouldn’t have your thermostat near windows with direct sunlight, lighting and lamps, or other electronic equipment that could generate heat.
3. Don’t block your air vents
When decorating for the holidays, we often move around furniture to accommodate trees, presents and other adornments. When you block your air vents, your blower could be working harder. Take care to keep any objects in your home clear from your air vents to maintain a comfortable home temperature. Also, if you are a household that puts up live trees, know that they could dry out faster if positioned too closely to vents and could be a potential fire hazard.
Pay attention to these common HVAC decorating gaffes so you can keep your home and family cheerful – and not uncomfortable – this holiday season.
Maintenance Tips for Your HVAC System:
- Change the air filter monthly to make sure it stays clean.
- Have a technician clear the air conditioning drain yearly to avoid backup.
- Use air conditioner cleaner to clean the coils on your unit; make sure the power is off when you do this.
- Clear the area around the air conditioning unit of brush to make sure the unit can pull enough air in.
- Make sure the access panels are secure.
Energy Saving Tips:
- Keep your system well maintained and tune the equipment up yearly- the better shape your system is in, the more efficiently it will run.
- Get a programmable thermostat- with this, you can save energy when you are away from home by setting the thermostat to increase or decrease temperatures as you please.
- Seal your heating and cooling ducts- the less air that escapes your home, the better!
- Make sure doors and windows are shut and properly sealed as well.
- Update old equipment with newer, more energy efficient models to lower energy costs.
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