Category Archive For "Hints"
in Roofing
What are asphalt roof shingles?
Asphalt Shingles is the most widely used roofing material today, used in 80% of U.S. homes. It is also the most economical option for roofing, hence its popularity. They can be nailed right over an existing roof, require almost no maintenance and are fire resistant. However, they are not as wind resistant as some other …
in Roofing
How large is the ground floor of my house?
You have two easy options to figure out the area of the ground floor of your house: If you know the dimensions of the ground floor of your house (length and width), multiple them together to calculate the area Find your house on Google Maps, use “measure distance” to find out its approximate length and width (see the …
in Roofing
Should you replace a roof or install a new roof over the old one?
Replace existing roof (recommended). Most homeowners choose this option. The contractor will tear off and dispose the existing roof before installing the new one. If there are any hidden leaks or water damages, the contractor will have a chance to fix them before installing the new roof. Install new roof over the old one (a.k.a. …
in HVAC
How do I know if my basement is unfinished or not?
Your basement is unfinished if it looks like the example below. Basements can be partially unfinished as well.
in HVAC
What size heater do I need for my home?
Here is the easiest way to find out the size or capacity of your existing heating system: Go to your indoor unit (furnace) that looks like this: Find and take a picture of the label that looks like this: Look for Input BTU number — that is heating capacity of your system (in the example above it is …
in HVAC
What size air conditioner do I need?
Here is the easiest way to find out the cooling size or capacity of your existing air conditioning system: Go to your outdoor unit (condenser) that looks like this: Find and take a picture of the label that looks like this: Find one the following codes in the model number — it will tell you what …
in HVAC
How do you measure efficiency for a heating system?
A central furnace’s efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). AFUE is a measure of how efficient the furnace is in converting the energy in its fuel to heat over the course of a typical year. Choosing a higher efficiency will increase the cost of your project, but will save you more on energy …
in HVAC
What does SEER stand for?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is used to measure the overall efficiency of an air conditioning system. Choosing a higher efficiency will increase the cost of your project, but will save you more on energy bills and may qualify you for a tax credit or a utility company rebate. Choosing a lower …
in HVAC
What does a gas furnace look like?
Indoor unit (gas furnace for heating + A/C coil on top for cooling) is located in the basement, closet or attic and looks like this: Two thick white pipes are for intake and exhaust of air; they are typical for high-efficiency furnaces (90%+ efficiency).
in HVAC
What does an air conditioner coil look like?
Indoor unit (gas furnace for heating + A/C coil on top for cooling) is located in the basement, closet or attic and looks like this:
