Archive for the ‘Home’ Category

The whole house fan this great cooling system

Old air conditioning systems are not very energy efficient, but to remove the old and installing the new system might be expensive, if you find this is the case, one might look to fit the system to run with the older air conditioning system, this will improve performance and you will save money by having the The whole house fan installed, you will also save money without having to remove the older system.

How do the Whole House Fans Work
The whole house fan works by using fresh air from outside, it then sucks the air from outside then circulates the air throughout the house, as this happens the hot air gets forced out through the celling or attic, this process takes place in only minutes, but if the air outside drops from 75 degrees to 65 degrees in 1 hour, for example, the house will take around 4 hours for the temperature to drop that much.


The whole house fan can do this job in half that time, as it forces the hot air out via the celling or attic, thus putting the fan on in early hours of the morning, you can bring cool fresh into the house, then close the house up keeping the hot air out during the hot day, switching the system back on in the evening will ensure all day comfort, even on those very hot days.

What are Advantages of the Whole House Fans
With places with milder climates, the Whole House Fan, you probably wont need the central air conditioning system anymore, you many want to consider installing an efficient heating system for the cooler months of the year, what are the operating cost of the whole house fan,

It is about one tenth that of air conditioning and should enable you to cut your energy bill by 80 percent, These fans would typically draw 400 to 600
watts of electricity, operating for eight cents or less per hour, therefore, under the right circumstances the whole house fan can ventilate an entire house on the energy an air conditioner would use to cool one small room.


Solar Heating for hot water in your home

It lights our day and its been there for millions of years the sun, so has solar thermal energy, but to harness it is another matter, with the cost of energy going up and the lack of money, many people are looking for ways to save money, allot of people now use solar energy every day in their homes and even at the office.


Solar thermal energy can be used to heat water for showing, bath tubs etc, it can heat whole swimming pools, and you can even use it to heat areas or rooms, there is even some companies using the suns energy to boil water
with parabolic mirrors thus allowing them to run steam turbines to generate electricity for the grid.

Most solar heating systems contain glass and copper pipping, this is one of the best types to heat water, inside the pipework is lightweight aluminum absorber sheets, this helps for the best heat transfer, the system also contains a circulating pump, this pumps the water around the system until its hot enough to be stored into the water storage tank, the tank is much the same as a Electric hot water tank it even has the heating element for times when their is less sun or on cloudy days, the cylinder contains a thermostat when it cools down the water recirculates around the solar heating system, heating it up again.

The great thing about solar heating systems is that you can get hot water without burning coal, the energy is renewable and this will help reduce your energy bills quiet a bit, the solar system works best mainly in the summer time which you can get up to 90% of hot water, although during the cooler winter months, it should give you about 20% of hot water, you will save allot of money on your energy bills.

The cost to install such systems does cost much more than the average Electric hot water system, but the savings you will reap far out way the bills, besides many countries offer government rebates and the price of energy just keeps rising, in Australia prices of Electricity might rise as much as 44% by 2012, not only that but you will be reducing the carbon footprint.

We cant all get solar hot water sometimes due to conservation or maybe your renting a place, to install such a system would be out of your own pocket and many landlords like to keep their costs down as much as possible, but we can all play our part in saving energy lowering our energy bills, take shorter showers, wash clothes in cold water, hang clothes out to dry, don’t use a clothes dryer unless you really need to, and switch of appliance’s at the wall when not in use, we can all do our bit, remember if everybody does their little part, our environment will be a lot better for future generations.


Wine Cooling System

Wine cooling systems are designed to constantly maintain a temperature (between 55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity levels (between 50 to 70 percent); however, only the right conditions. Before anybody can install a refrigerator you should have the room, vapor sealed and properly insulated.


Wine cooling systems and models are chosen based on location size, that is measured in cubic feet (L x W x Ht). Brands such as WhisperKool, CellarMate, Breezeaire and ChillR manufacture split and standard cooling units.

Types of wine cellar coolers:

Two main types of wine cooling systems exist and these are: (1) standard cooling systems and (2) split cooling systems. The less expensive of the two, the standard cooling system, is much like a built-in or through the wall air conditioner. This system needs to vent to an adjacent climate controlled room that is typically as big, or larger than your wine cellar. The split cooling system is two separate units, the condenser unit and the evaporator unit. The evaporator is typically wall mounted inside the wine cellar with the condenser located outside the house. (The two pieces of equipment must be approximately 50 linear feet apart, which in some cases means that the condenser will be located within the house).
Split cooling and standard cooling:

Both types of refrigeration systems are popular and choosing one over the other is a matter of situation and preference. Standard cooling systems cost less up front, and can be easily installed. Potential drawbacks include noise factor, and shorter life span (around 5 to 6 years) compared to a split cooling system. Split systems are useful when dealing with site difficulties or when additional flexibility is needed. Costs for this systems are higher than the standard ones, and to install, an HVAC person must be hired. but the life span is about 15 years or more.

Brands Here is a list of some of the best in the world of wine cellar coolers:

* WhisperKool by Vinotheque
* Breezaire
* ChillR by Koolspace
* CellarMate


Solar air conditioning for your home

Use the sun to cool your home or office will provide great cooling, savings and is environmentally friendly, this systems does not use the grid.

As we know air conditioning is something that we need when it starts to get hot, as the intense sun and radiation cause the building to heat up, a lot of people love the new type of solar cooling system, technology already was here back in 1878 it was first demonstrated, its basic components putting them together in an smart way, but turning the sun into cool air is complex process.

How The solar air cooler work it harnesses the sun and radiation then heats up solar panels simpler to hot water panels the heat which is gained through this process is stored in a large insulated tank, the heat is then used to drive an absorption chiller or a dehumidifier depending in your located in hot dry area or humid area.

The small amount of suns energy in winter can even heat your home in winter time thus saving you even more money and using less energy, and making hot water for you all year round.

In the end dry and the sun is used to process the cooling meaning using no electricity as compared to conventional air conditioning systems, low energy consumption mean less greenhouse gas and the gas that is used in the solar cooling system is greenhouse neutral, conventional air conditioning systems use a lot of energy and contribute to global warming, if a conventional air conditioner 3000 watts is run for 8 hours per day for 3 months of the year, over 700kg of CO2 is generated, as it gets hotter and global warming in cresses these conventional air conditioning systems will be less efficient meaning they will be used even more and put more burden onto the planet

People buying air conditioning systems are putting the price up on electricity because its not the cost of the unit but the more systems that are brought means more power needs to be generated causing thousands of dollars for infrastructure investment, this price is passed onto every consumer of electricity there for the need of solar cooling is paramount with heat rising and less use of conventional air conditioning systems, it will also save you hundreds of dollars every year that can go towards things you love.

There are already many hundreds of successfully installations throughout the world, but why hasn’t many people brought a new solar cooler, its because not many people know about these great systems and there is not much demand for them as of yet, plus service people tradesmen need the experience to installed these new systems, the systems are rather complex and need careful installation and design to perform at its best.


How to Fix a Refrigerator That is Not Cooling

Refrigerators normally don’t go kaputt, unless they are not maintained periodically. But sometimes even though you take all the requisite measures to do so, your refrigerator might face problems. One such common problem is that the refrigerator does not do its cooling functioning properly. However, don’t let this problem freak you out, it may not be that serious a problem. It can be easily dealt with at home if the things are not very serious. You can check out several things before you decide the situation is hopeless. Let’s see these ‘refrigerator not cooling’ solutions.

How to Fix a Refrigerator That is Not Cooling

Fix #1
First of all, the most simplest thing to do is to check the temperature. It might very well have happened that the temperature control may have been turned off unknowingly, which is the reason for the problem. So if that’s the issue, just set the refrigerator at 37 degrees and you are all set. Simple, isn’t it? Read more on refrigerator temperature range.

Fix #2
Poor coiling leads to a heavy frost build up on the evaporator coils. A frost build up, specially on the ceiling of the freezer, is a sign of problem in the self defrosting system or damaged gaskets of the doors. Therefore, check if the refrigerator is facing such a problem and defrost the refrigerator. It would not cool well if the defrosting is not happening properly.

Fix #3
A dirty condenser may be the culprit for your refrigerator not cooling well. What will happen in case if the condenser is dirty is that it will cut off the extra load. That work is done by the thermostat on the side of the compressor in case the refrigerator heats more than usual. To rectify this problem clean the condenser coils using the vacuum cleaner. These are either behind or beneath the refrigerator. Read more on how does a refrigerator work.

Fix #4
In case the refrigerator is not leveled, that too can lead to the refrigerator not cooling properly, because if the level is not right, the door of the refrigerator may not close correctly, causing cooling problems. If this is the case, it might be necessary to ensure that refrigerator is at level and is slightly tilted back. Do some adjustment to get that correct level using a wooden block or see if the screws on the leveling legs need some looking into.

Fix #5
Check out the door seal. If the door seal is worn out, it will definitely result in frost build up and that won’t allow the door to close properly, thus the problem of refrigerator not cooling. In addition to that there can be a problem in the door even if the level and other things are fine. You would need something to do about the door then. May be loosen the hinges and fix them in order to get the correct position of the door. Eventually tighten the hinges. Read more on refrigerator repair tips.

Fix #6
The food and freezer sections will go dysfunctional if the evaporator fan is not working properly. This is because then there will be no airflow to the freezer or the other sections of the refrigerator. Confirm if both the fans are working well by listening to the sound emitted by them. There is a possibility that one may work and the other wont. For that, may be you would have to look for a blockage or something in the one which is not working. Even after doing this you do not find any problem in the fan, you may need to replace it.


Evaporative air cooler systems

Do i need a Evaporative cooler where i live ?

1. I live in a hot dry climate like Melbourne Adelaide Perth etc ( Evaporative cooler )
If you operate a Evaporative cooler in a hot humid area you will find you will just get hotter, get more sticky and sweat more, as the the cool air that flows through the damp wet woodwool (wood shavings) will have a a fair bit of water partials that will fill the air in more humid moister, so the Evaporative air cooler is suited best for hot dry areas.

2. Where we live its always hot humid air with moister in the air ( Air Conditioner )
An air conditioning system will only blow dry cold air from the fan so this is best for dry hot humid areas in the country or around the world.

Here is a map of the world showing the best spots for an Evaporative air cooler system.
please note that in some small areas you may live in a micro climate which might not be marked on the world map.

How does an Evaporative air cooler system work?
Water goes into the system, some portable systems you will have to add the water yourself, then the water gets pumped up and feed through a pipe which overflows onto a cooling pad either made from woodwool or paper mesh, you need to make sure that water is in the system before operating, the cooling pads should be completely saturated with water and the system will work the best.

Does it use much energy, with normal refrigerated air conditioners they use 60% more energy than a Evaporative air cooler system but it also varies from the brand or model, buying a system with thermostat controls will even use less energy as the motor speed slows down as the area gets colder.

The best way to use Evaporative air cooler system, the system needs a good airflow through the house, so opening up some windows or vents in your home to increase air flow, this will rid the high moister in the air and create a even flow, air conditioners always filter the same air in your house the air becomes stale , Evaporative air cooler systems don’t as they force clean air from outside your house into all your rooms and the old air is forced outside the vents or windows that should be open.

Does the system need cleaning yes at least once per year with clean water as to not let any residues on the filter, in some hot areas it might be very dusty with high winds which blows dust into the filter so it will need cleaning, you may also need to replace worn filters because if the filter is not fully saturated with water while in use your system will be less effective and use more energy to cool your home.

Portable Evaporative air coolers are small and can be moved into any room in the house or flat, you can save allot of money buying one of these units as they don’t use much energy and they are much cheaper to buy, so if your just wanting to cool a small area in your house then a Portable Evaporative air cooler is perfect for you.


Cooling Mist system Will Provide Great Outside Air Conditioning

During those days of the hot summer in Australia and around the world, the temperature heats up in your home nearly invariably reads hotter than the outdoor temperature.

Therefore, your atmosphere conditioning fundamentally runs non-stop in command to retain the indoor nice and cool. But what approximate outdoors the house? whether you want to sit around on the deck or cook on the barbecue during a summer’s day but can’t because it’s too hot and uncomfortable . That’s as shortly as you may lack to invest in several outdoor atmosphere conditioning, also known as a cooling mist system.

Portable machines
These can even be installed in helmets for motorbike riding, car speeding, or
military desert missions. But they can also be installed circle any porch, patio, or spa in order to retain the family rested, homely, and safe.

Reviving Vegetation
Outdoor mist cool networks are ideal for watering trees and plants as well. They’re great for exotic plants that lack several mild TLC, such as bonsai trees. And a mist cool system can also be accustomed for the facing result: humidity. Though they’re meant to cool off the
atmosphere, as shortly as installed in a green dwelling, a terrarium, or patio encasement, they can moisturize the atmosphere, which is great for overall vegetation. There have even been studies that prove boosted productivity and growth in plants from mild fogging instead
traditional saturation. Plus, it conserves water via employing fewer of it more efficiently whereas avoiding wasteful over-watering.

Current machines and the Costs
A mist cool system can come in many different varieties. It can be a permanent high-pressured fogger hardwired right into the home’s patio or greenhouse. It can also come as a plug-in mister installed to an industrial fan, which thereafter spreads the moisture around. Or it can be a battery-operated, handheld model that’s hooked upward to a hip-pack so that you now have portable atmosphere conditioning. Depending upon the style and height of the mission, a hardwired installation could price you a figure of thousand dollars. But an electrical outdoor mist cool system, which can either be transportable or wall-mounted, must merely run you a couple hundred dollars at majority, although the handhelds can price as small as $25 if you shop around.

Outside and Protection
When the temperature increases, you also run a higher threat of lifting your body heat. It produces you sweat, but it also boosts your chances for overheating, warmth stroke, and water loss. Therefore, outdoor mist cool networks are not merely able to rid the heat; it also helps to shelter your medical via regulating the enclosing atmosphere. Also, it freshens the nearby atmosphere via filtering it from powder and pollen. Plus, it dampens and suppresses any floating debris such as dust and dirt, which is really great for those with outdoor allergies sufferers.

Cooling Mist System
They machine sprays a fine layer of water into the air or sky, where it is there after instantly evaporated. However, the energy it takes to turn the water into gas currently absorbs a lot of warmth and cools the hot air. Often paged evaporative cool, this process composes a constant wet refrigerate to the atmosphere without soaking you through and it can lessen the real time air temperature via 20-30 degrees. These misting machines are frequently perceived on sports fields and sidelines to retain players cool; or in entertainment parks and wildlife to retain the creatures happy.

All ranges are evenly honest and effective: each provides outdoors DE fence, relief from the hot summer, and even a small fun on a summer’s day. Just sure you remain within a budget and decide which model suits your specified needs.


Search
Categories