Adjusting Balancing Dampers a Must!

I can’t tell you how many times over the years that I received a phone call from a client telling me at the start of summer that the air conditioning was not working properly.  The same thing would happen at the start of winter, but the problem was that the house was not heating evenly.

Sometimes there were problems with the actual heating equipment,  but more times then not, the balancing dampers in the heat runs needed adjusting.

Let me explain.  Take a look at the short section of heat run in the photo above.  Notice that inside the heat run there is an adjustable piece of round metal known as a balancing damper.  Also notice that there is an adjustable control that usually has a wing nut and or a short arm that is used to adjust the damper.

If most newer homes there will be a damper in each heat run,  and the heat runs go to various rooms in the house that ultimately connect to a heat register in the room.  In some older homes, you may not find these in some or all of the heat runs – However,  they can be installed by any heating contractor.

Because all the rooms in the house will heat differently depending on the length of the heat runs and how many turns there are,  these dampers can be adjusted to let an even amount of air flow to each room in the house,  and we call this balancing. Usually it takes a knowledgeable heating man to make these adjustments,  but if you are mechanically inclined,  you could do this yourself.

Another great thing about this dampers is that you can adjust certain rooms of the house to be a little warmer or cooler then other parts of the house.  In my case,  my dad who lives with us,  gets cold very easy and he needs his room to be warmer – So,  I close his dampers more in the summer so that he gets less of the cool air flowing in his direction, and then in the winter I open his up all the way so that he stays nice and toasty.

Aside from having a zoned heating/cooling system that automatically adjusts main dampers in the duct work which are controlled by separate room thermostats,  this is the best way to tackle the ”balancing act” between heat and cold.

To find out other ways to keep your heating system working efficiently and to save you money go to the following website.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/heating_cooling.html 

The Kidde Nighthawk Talking Smoke and CO Detector

What is more precious to us then our children? We do many things to try and keep them safe and protected. We go to sleep at night after having them tucked in their beds and expect to arise the next morning to the start of another day.

How many times have you had the heart breaking experience of watching the news where a fire has destroyed a home where children were not able to get out?  Sometimes you find out that there were no smoke detectors in the home and sometimes,  even though there were,  for one reason or another,  they did not work.

Now you can install the “Talking Alarm” 2 in 1 CO and Smoke Detector Combo with Kidde Nighthawk Technology and add a new dimension of protection from smoke, fire and carbon monoxide. 

This unit is hard wired to be powered by 120VAC but also uses a 9 volt battery back up in case of power failure. So you are protected all the time. It has an Electrochemical Sensor which is considered, “The World’s Most Accurate Sensor” because it never needs replacing.

What truly makes this unit so unique is the talking capability. Not only to you receive an 85db alarm to warn you of the danger but the unit Talking Alarm warns you with voice warnings, “Fire Fire” – “Warning Carbon Monoxide” – “Low Battery.”

Now we can help to give our children and everyone a little more added safety by installing these units as recommended by the manufacturer and by changing the battery twice a year.

To find out more about this product click on the following link: kidde.html

QuiteRock Soundproofing Wallboard Really Works!

For many years I have been building Home Music Studios and Home Theaters with the real challenge being how to keep the sound in the room and quite outside the room.

We have used many types of “Soundproofing Insulations” with moderate results. There are very expensive sound absorbing panels on the market and these work pretty good as well.

Finally there is a new product that can be used just like drywall and installed either over the stud walls or over the drywall and it really does work.

Enter QuietRock!

“Award winning QuietRock products revolutionized the building of high STC walls when introduced in 2003. Today, with 25 million square feet installed, the latest generation of QuietRock products continue to exceed builders expectations in ease of use (including our simple score, snap and hang products) and proven lab and field results in over 25,000 projects.”

“QuietRock replaces older techniques such as resilient channels, clips, sound board and mass loaded vinyl and offer lower cost solutions than other methods for equivalent STC ratings. From 1/2

Feel safe and secure with the No-Contact Jacket!

Here is a shocking statement:

• According to the Senate Judiciary Committee, three out of four women in the UnitedStates will be victims of one violent crime during their lifetime.

• Now there is an amazing new way for women and even men to take protection against would be attackers and feel more secure. The No-Contact Jacket is a wearable defensive jacket created to aid women in their struggle for protection from violence.

• When activated by the wearer, 80,000 volts of low amperage electric current pulses just below the surface shell of the entire jacket. This exo-electricarmor prevents any person from unauthorized contact with the wearer’s body. If an assailant were to grab hold of the wearer the highvoltage exterior would interrupt their neurological impulses which control voluntary muscle movement.

• The neuromuscular system would be overwhelmed causing disorientation and loss of balance to occur and of course pain. The pain experienced is non-lethal but is enough to effectively and immediately deter contact with the wearer and provide a critical life saving oppurtunity for escape.

• The No-Contact jacket allows the wearer to press a button and emit the electric current to anyone who tries to touch or grab them – and it does it without shocking the wearer.

• To find out more got to: www.no-contact.com