Outdoor malls in Florida

The first time I visited an outdoor mall was when I was in Florida.

I didn’t realize that it was the norm there.

You walk around and just pop into any store you want. Up north you are in a giant facility and completely covered. It is necessary for the wahter. I remember hating going to the mall. You would need to wear thick coats, boots, hats, and gloves to walk from the parking lot to the mall. Then you would walk around the mall in snowboats and have to carry all your gear. It was heavy, bulky, and hot if you choose to wear it. When I moved to Florida the concept of an outdoor mall was so foreign to me. So I get to walk around and see the shop fronts. I get to be in the sunshine and feel the breeze. The weather is always super nice in Florida too. I love that I can wear a hat and sunscreen in the summer. During the winter it is a very lightweight coat and pants. I never need to carry anything other than maybe an umbrella. The stores in the mall are really great about temperature control. In the summer it is nice ducking into a place to get a crisp blast of cold AC. In the winter they make sure to have a good heating system running to keep us warm. I love this method of HVAC. The outdoor mall is unique to the southern states. My area of St. Petersburg has a really great outdoor mall that I frequent all the time.

Air conditioning maintenance in St. Petersburg Florida

Adding a humidifier with my heater was a smart

Since I run my heating equipment most of the year, I invested in a humidifier.

It was one of those things I just thought wasn’t necessary.

I live in Springfield, Missouri and the heating system is on most of the year. I require a lot of warmth in order to get by the cold winters. The furnace naturally dries out the indoor air quality. The dry air quality causes static cling, shock, chapped lips, bloody noses, and irritates the skin. It also can wreak havoc on electronics and cause wood furniture to split. The dry air also feels colder so your heating system doesn’t really get to have a break in the winter. The reasons for a humidifier were right there. I eventually called around and found a Springfield heating business that specializes in humidifiers. I looked through their catalog to find the very best one. I wanted a humidifier that installed right with my furnace. I figured it would be easier for air filter changes and maintenance. I also wanted it to be working as the furnace did. Anytime the heater turns on, so does the humidifier. Now that I have moisture in my air quality, the household is so much more comfortable. I never realized how nice it is having moisture in the air quality. The house is warmer and the air feels better to breathe. The long winter season doesn’t feel as brutal indoors anymore. The addition of a humidifier was quite cheap too. It was so easy to have it installed and have it working to the best of its ability.

Mini split air conditioner in Springfield Missouri

Types of furnaces for South Bend

I have been researching the different types of furnaces. In South Bend, IN a furnace is probably a smart move for how to heat your home. A furnace can provide whole home heating with the courtesy of ductwork. It can heat the entire house easily and requires yearly maintenance. Most South Bend heating dealerships are familiar with them. So it is a smart move. There are three different types of furnaces. A gas furnace is the most traditional. The gas furnace requires a complicated set up. You need gas hookups and a flue system installed. You need to make sure the device stays clean too. If it gets dirty and overheats, then it can catch on fire. It can also release carbon monoxide if the heat exchanger cracks. So if you aren’t on it with upkeep, you are totally screwed. There is an electric furnace. This furnace is the most efficient, using 100% of what it takes, but it is so expensive to run. Electric is way more pricey than gas. Living in South Bend, IN means that electricity for heating isn’t possible. There are oil furnaces too. These require an on site oil tank. They are large, ugly, and invasive. But the cost of oil is better and the furnace burns a hotter flame. I don’t think I am going to choose this one though. I guess the thought of a gas furnace for my South Bend home is the best option. I am not pleased with my choices though. I might go back through and try to find a different heater.

South Bend Indiana HVAC unit

Radiant heating is perfect in Tuscaloosa

Living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama means I don’t see my fair share of cold days.

It is mainly hot temperatures and the AC running.

It doesn’t mean the nights don’t get cold during an Alabama winter. I have made sure to have a good heating system for those situations. It worked out perfectly. I was redoing my home flooring anyway. I removed an old fireplace and had to redo the living room floor. I hated the carpets strewn throughout the house and my bathrooms had laminate. So everything was ripped up and redone. I got down to the cement board and realized it would be the ideal time to put electric heated mats down. Yes, it increased my costs by almost double. However, now I never have to worry about a heating system. The mats were evenly placed and hid under my new tile. They are safe and protected. They should last around 15-20 years. I feel this is ideal. I will be ripping up my flooring and redoing it then anyway. So after that, I can decide if I want to do radiant heating again. I love having the heat at my feet. It is a quiet system when it operates since it is eclectic based. It doesn’t stir up dust or create cold spots. The radiant heater also warms anything that comes into contact with it. So my couches, chairs, and tables all feel heated as a result. I don’t have to use my radiant heater often in Tuscaloosa, but when I do I just love it.

 

 

Tuscaloosa Alabama HVAC worker

Choosing a geothermal heat pump

When my husband I decided to build a home in Phoenix, Arizona, we prioritized environmental impact.

We hoped to make the operation of residence as green as possible.

Focusing on minimizing carbon footprint also helps to keep monthly bills especially low. In Phoenix, solar energy is a great fit. We’re able to generate enough power to run the lights and all of our various appliances. We also looked into all different types of heating and cooling options. In Phoenix, the summer heat is absolutely brutal, bringing temperatures in the triple digits for months at a time. The winters are shorter but chilly. We can expect temperatures in the low forties, making a dedicated heating system necessary. As we researched, we came across heat pumps. This type of system combines heating and cooling into a single unit. There are air-source, ground-source, water-source and ductless heat pumps available. None of them burn fossil fuels or generate greenhouse gasses, making them wonderfully environmentally responsible. The mosta advantageous option is a ground-source or geothermal heat pump. This style of system takes advantage of a free and renewable energy stored under ground. In the winter, it pulls heat out of the earth and transfers it into the home. In the summer, it reverses operation to extract heat from the indoors and deliver it into the ground. Geothermal heat pumps achieve 400% efficiency ratings, because they generate four times the amount of energy the unit consumes. The investment was much higher than installing a conventional alternative. However, our heating and cooling bills are more than 50% less, which has worked to recover the cost in just a few years.

HVAC supplier in Phoenix Arizona

Wanting to workout outside

I am very conscientious about my health and physical fitness.

I don’t smoke, take any type of pharmaceuticals and rarely consume alcohol.

I am a vegetarian and prioritize good sleep and hydration habits. To keep myself in good condition, I workout for approximately an hour every day. I prefer to exercise outdoors and in the morning. Living in Plano, Texas, this is rarely possible. The local winters are shockingly cold and windy. The temperature regularly drops into the low thirties for approximately four or five months. If there is any hope of going for an outdoor run or bike ride, I delay until the temperature has heated up in the afternoon. I have also invested into cold weather gear, but it can be a challenge to get my muscles warm and flexible. The summers in Plano are brutally hot and humid. Working out when the temperature is above ninety degrees is awful. I struggle to remain properly hydrated and feel exhausted without exerting myself. In the spring and fall, there are issues with rain, sleet, wind and hail to deal with. For the majority of the year, it’s necessary to workout indoors. I have a lanai built on the back of the house that provides plenty of space. I’ve invested into a mini-trampoline, battle ropes, incline bench, free weights, yoga mat, free weights and a treadmill. However, the lanai is constructed from screens which makes temperature control impossible. I use a box fan in the summer and a portable space heater in the winter. There are still times where the sever weather in Plano forces me inside the home where I have access to heating and air conditioning.

 

Plano Texas HVAC

Dual fuel system is ideal for Birmingham

I live in Birmingham, AL and I have wanted to own a heat pump so badly, a heat pump is a two for one system, and you get one component that can provide heating and cooling, how it does is by moving existing heat energy; The heat pumps from outside to inside in the winter, and it utilizes the ground temperature that is always warmer.

Here is the snag though.

If your winter temps get lower than 40 degrees, the air is simply not hot enough. You can’t heat your house. In Birmingham, AL, there are three months out of the year that get nights in the 30s. That would be awful! I debated on using space heaters for supplemental heating however the boost on my electric bill would be too much, so after that I talked to my local Birmingham, AL Heating, Ventilation and A/C dealer. Tech guy suggested a hybrid furnace or also known as a dual fuel system. This combines a heat pump and gas furnace to labor for the AL weather. For most of the year my heat pump is the one that is working. I have ideal air conditioner and most of the time good heat. Then when the nights get cold, the component changes to gas and the furnace operates. I never suffer from a cold winter night. I don’t get as efficient of results however that is the best I can hope for with my cold weather. I like that I don’t even have to push a button or toggle a switch for the component to change heaters.

Cooling expert in Birmingham Alabama

Dual fuel system is ideal for Birmingham

I live in Birmingham, Alabama & I have wanted to own a heat pump so badly, however a heat pump is a two for one system, however you get one device that can deliver heating & cooling, however how it does is by moving existing heat energy, and the heat pumps from outside to inside in the winter; It utilizes the ground temperature that is officially warmer. Here is the snag though. If your winter temps get lower than 40 degrees, the air is simply not warm enough. You can’t heat your house. In Birmingham, Alabama, there are three months out of the year that get nights in the 30s. That would be awful! I debated on using space heaters for supplemental heating however the boost on my electric bill would be too much; So then my fantastic friend and I talked to my local Birmingham, Alabama Heating & A/C dealer. Tech guy proposed a hybrid heating system or also known as a dual fuel system. This combines a heat pump & gas heating system to work for the AL weather, but for most of the year my heat pump is the one that is working. I have ideal air conditioner & most of the time unbelievable heat. Then when the nights get cold, the device swings to gas & the heating system operates. I never suffer from a chilly winter night. I don’t get as efficient of results however that is the best I can hope for with my chilly weather. I like that I don’t even have to push a button or toggle a switch for the device to change heaters.

central air conditioning in Birmingham Alabama