Tag Archives: humidity

6 Ways to Get Comfortable With Geothermal Heating

From cost savings to improved comfort to environmental sustainability, geothermal heating systems offer a host of benefits. Learn the many ways a geothermal heating system can help you to achieve optimal comfort in your Mobile, Alabama, home.

Lower Energy Consumption

One of the greatest benefits of a geothermal heating system is that it can keep you and your family comfortable while using much less energy than a traditional heating system. Unlike air-source heat pumps, which rely on cold outdoor air as an exchange medium, ground-source pumps benefit from relatively stable underground temperatures.

Standard heat pumps might be energy efficient, but the Department of Energy (DOE) estimates they achieve up to 250 percent efficiency on chilly winter days. In contrast, geothermal pumps reach up to 600 percent efficiency even on freezing winter nights. Altogether, geothermal heat pumps use about 50 percent less energy than traditional heating systems do, which means they can significantly lower your household energy consumption.

Significant Cost Savings

The relatively high upfront costs of geothermal heating systems, which can easily top $10,000, are enough to intimidate some homeowners. However, when they calculate the system’s total cost and energy consumption over time, most homeowners realize geothermal heating systems actually offer significant savings.

In fact, the DOE estimates that even with the installation cost and the unit purchase price, you can recover your original investment in as little as two years. Since this cost recovery depends largely on utility savings, in some situations, it can take up to 10 years for you to recoup your costs. In either case, you have the opportunity to earn back your investments at least a decade before you’ll need to start planning for a system replacement.

Environmental Sustainability

Geothermal energy is an environmentally friendly choice for several reasons. In addition to using less energy overall, geothermal heating systems generate far fewer emissions. In fact, geothermal energy doesn’t produce any carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or other harmful gases that lead to air pollution.

Because they work well with zoning systems, geothermal heating systems can also ensure you don’t waste energy, even on the hottest or coldest days. Zoning systems allow you to cool or heat select rooms and areas in your home, so there’s no need to use extra energy conditioning your entire home.

Longer Lifespan

Some HVAC system components require regular replacement and even more frequent maintenance to run smoothly. Geothermal heat systems, however, don’t fall into this category.

Once installed, these heating systems rarely require maintenance, and they can keep your family cozy and warm almost without a second thought. Since geothermal heating systems have few moving parts, they are far less susceptible to breakdowns. Because the geothermal components do not reside outdoors where they are exposed to the elements, they also tend to be much more durable. In fact, the piping networks integral to geothermal heating systems can last up to 50 years. Moreover, most geothermal heat pumps last for at least 20 years.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Many Alabama homeowners struggle with moisture levels in their homes, no matter the season. Geothermal heat pumps solve this problem by easily maintaining comfortable 50 percent humidity levels throughout the home. Not only will this increase your family’s comfort, but it will also improve indoor air quality. Overly humid air can cause dust mites, mold, and bacteria to thrive; managing indoor moisture levels leads to much healthier and more breathable air.

Unobtrusive Operation

If you’ve ever found a standard air conditioner to be overly loud or disruptive, you’ll be relieved to know that geothermal heating systems are celebrated for their unobtrusive operation. Because most of the system parts are located underground, with only a small, discreet indoor unit, they take up only a fraction of the indoor space that a traditional heating or cooling system uses.

Since geothermal heating systems don’t rely on large exterior units, they are also remarkably quiet, even when operating at full speed. This means your family can comfortably enjoy outdoor and indoor activities without the loud hum of an air conditioner in the background.

Ready to make the switch to geothermal energy? Call our geothermal heating experts at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. today at 251-476-3610.

Save Energy by Effectively Using Your Heat Pump

Whether you need cooling or heating, you can control indoor temperatures year-round with a heat pump. In the winter months, a heat pump for your Mobile, Alabama home can provide the efficient and cost-effective heating you need. To keep your energy consumption low all winter long, try these three tips for effectively using your heat pump.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

By converting from a standard thermostat to a programmable model, you can make a huge impact on your home’s energy consumption. These programmable devices allow you to set comfortable temperatures during the time the family is at home and then turn the thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees while you are sleeping or away from home. Just by making this small change, you can save up to 15 percent on your heating bill each year. When you are shopping for a programmable thermostat, be sure to select one that has multi-stage settings for heat pumps.

Your Heat Pump Manages Humidity

Maintaining comfortable humidity levels is a constant struggle in Alabama, but heat pumps like the Infinity 20 with Greenspeed intelligence usually do remarkably well at moderating humidity. It is beneficial to have a system that controls temperature and efficiently regulates humidity as well. This helps with better management of indoor air quality.

Change Air Filters Frequently

Overworking your heat pump and causing it to run inefficiently can lead to serious energy loss. To ensure that your HVAC system does not get clogged with dirt and debris, be sure to change the air filters regularly. It is best to replace or change filters as soon as they become dirty. How often you need to do this depends on the type of filter you use. Some filters need to be replaced monthly — others, every three months. You will also need to change them regularly during seasons of heavy use.

Need more tips for optimizing your heat pump? Contact the heating professionals at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610 for more advice.

3 Ways to Manage Your Home’s Humidity in Cool Weather

It isn’t uncommon for Mobile, AL homeowners to struggle with managing indoor humidity levels, even during cooler weather. As we approach the winter season, the concern is usually about dry indoor air, but regions such as ours with mild winters, can still see problems with indoor high moisture levels at this time of the year.

Manage Everyday Activities

Regular tasks like cooking, cleaning, showering, and washing clothes are some of the biggest contributors to indoor moisture. By keeping an eye on how and when your family performs these activities, you can get a better handle on indoor moisture. The goal is to keep indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent.

Be sure to use kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room vents that transfer exhaust outdoors instead of allowing that moisture to remain in your home. Having an exhaust system that vents hot, moist air properly can do wonders for your home’s humidity and improve indoor air quality.

Encourage Ventilation

Fortunately at this time of the year, we can take advantage of the pleasant temperatures outdoors. Stale, humid air can become a breeding ground for dust mites, mold, and other allergens that thrive in moist conditions. Open windows and doors to help bring fresh air into your home. Keep your home’s indoor air moving with a combination of the HVAC system, ceiling fans, exhaust fans, and natural airflow. Make sure the HVAC air filters you use are advanced enough to capture allergens.

Use a Dehumidifier

During the spring and summer, most Mobile homeowners run their air conditioners to lower indoor temperatures as well as humidity levels. When the temperatures drop in fall and winter, however, using the air conditioner in this way is not always an option. A dehumidifier provides efficient filtration, reduces humidity, controls mold, and improves the indoor air quality. This unit works with the HVAC system to pull excess moisture from the air. You can use it to manage humidity levels in any climate and to tackle humidity issues throughout your entire home.

Do you constantly struggle to maintain a healthy humidity level in your home? Call the indoor air quality experts at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610 to learn about the best solutions for your home.

3 Reasons High Humidity Is Bad for Your Health

A major contributor to poor indoor air quality, high humidity is bad for your health in more ways than you might expect. Here are three reasons you should keep humidity levels in check in your Mobile, Alabama home.

Dust Mites Thrive

Dust mites can’t live in just any environment. To thrive, these pests require high humidity levels and plenty of dust. Excess moisture in the air, dusty conditions, and carpet that isn’t vacuumed regularly provide the perfect setting for dust mites.

The best way to keep sneeze-inducing dust mites out is to keep the house clean and the humidity level low. Dust surfaces in your home with a damp cloth at least once a week, and follow up with a thorough mopping or vacuuming session. Be sure to vacuum upholstery, textiles, and other fabrics where dust mites often live.

Airborne Chemicals Flourish

A number of household items, from paint to carpet to furniture, produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Breathing in large amounts of these dangerous airborne chemicals is never a good idea, but high humidity can actually cause VOCs to off-gas and become airborne more quickly.

Keeping VOCs in check is a two-step process. Maintain a reasonable level of humidity in your home, and increase ventilation with stand-alone fans or a ventilator that works with your HVAC system.

Mold Grows

You should try to keep indoor humidity under 60 percent — between 30 and 50 percent if possible. If the humidity is consistently higher than recommended levels, excess moisture can foster mold growth, which leads to variety of problems from health issues to structural damage in your home. For many people, inhaling mold can trigger allergic reactions like sneezing, rashes, and runny noses.

Though mold remediation will remove this allergen from your home, it’s much easier to prevent mold growth from the start. Investing in a whole-home dehumidifier is an effective option. These devices pull excess moisture from the air and reduce humidity before it becomes a big problem.

Is your home’s humidity out of control? Call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. today at 251-476-3610 to speak with our indoor air quality experts.