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General Safety Issues

CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING PROS SHARE CRUCIAL SAFETY TIPS (GUEST POST)

This post was written by Tony Spezza, president of AAA Heating & Cooling, which has been providing central air conditioning and heating services in the Portland, Oregon area since 1961.

A central air conditioning unit does more than make your home feel comfortable during the warm summer months. It also helps keep the air dust- and allergen-free. To keep your cooling unit running safely and avoid a costly A/C repair bill, you should perform routine maintenance on it. The following simple tips will help you prevent issues like leaking and overheating – and help ensure the longevity and efficiency of your cooling system. 

Central air conditioning safety tips include: 

Don’t neglect the air filter. An A/C system’s air filter is one of the simplest things to forget about, but is crucial to the indoor air quality and efficiency of a system. When an air filter gets congested with pollen and dust, it doesn’t circulate air through the home very well, which can compromise indoor air quality. Depending on your air conditioner, you should wash or replace the air filter monthly or every two to three months. Take a look at the manufacturer’s instructions, and mark your calendar accordingly. 

Clean the condensate drain. As an A/C unit cools the air, condensation forms and water drips into the drain. At the end of spring or beginning of summer, clean this water drain and inspect it for obstructions and leaks. In addition, make sure all the hoses fit properly. Immediately fix a blocked or damaged drain to avoid an expensive A/C repair bill, prevent water damage and reduce the risk of a safety hazard.  

Clean and inspect the ducts. Keeping your ducts clean will help maintain indoor air quality by clearing out excess dust, pollen, mold spores, mites and microorganisms. Duct cleaning isn’t a DIY task; call in professionals who use special vacuum cleaners and tools. When you schedule the cleaning, have the ducts inspected for leaks. When ducts aren’t sealed well, they leak cool air into areas of the home that don’t need it. Consequently, your central air conditioning unit has to work harder and use more energy to keep your home comfortable.  

Keep the air distribution registers unobstructed. The air distribution registers are the duct openings you find in your ceiling, walls or floors; it’s where cool air enters the rooms. Identify the registers in your home and make sure they aren’t blocked by carpets, furniture, curtains or other items.   

Clear the area around the condenser unit. The A/C’s condenser unit is the box on the side of your home. Its job is to move the warm air out of your home with the help of a fan. A set of coils within the unit help with the exchange of heat. Regularly remove weeds and trim back plants that grow around the condenser so they don’t block the flow of air. To clean the condenser, use a soft brush (not a hose) to remove dust and dirt. An A/C repair expert can show you how to do this for your specific model.  

A central air conditioner is an investment in your home. With regular maintenance, the cooling system will cost less to use, be more efficient, last longer and require fewer repairs. To learn more safety and maintenance tips, contact a local heating and cooling professional.

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

PREVENTING AIR CONDITIONING HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

Jason Wall is an HVAC technician with over 23 years of experience.  His free time is usually spent watching a baseball game or grilling up some steak.  He writes for Griffith Energy Services, which provides air conditioning services and heating maintenance.

If you work in an office full of people and computers, you are probably well aware of the need for a working air conditioning system.  If the air conditioner isn’t working properly, productivity inevitably slows down and employees become increasingly uncomfortable and in some cases irritable.  Sweat stains showing up in the armpits of suits and blouses and flushed faces are a sign that something needs to be done to improve the air conditioning system.

Knowing how air conditioners work will help you to understand the hazards of a poorly working unit.  Air conditioners are part of the building HVAC system (heating, ventilations, and air condition).  What HVAC systems do is essentially draw air in from the outside and into the building through ductwork.  The ductwork is connected to air supply fans, which push the air through a filter to remove particles and to heat or cool the air depending on the thermostat setting.  The air is then sent into the workplace through air vents before it is drawn back into the ductwork by the buildings’ exhaust fans.  This system is intended to create a comfortable work environment and protect against small amounts of toxic materials.  When the system isn’t running efficiently, it not only makes the temperature unpleasant but can create a hazardous environment. (You’d hate to walk in and see all your employees wearing respirators!)

Here’s a small breakdown of what can happen when the system isn’t working properly in the workplace:

Employees become drowsy-partly from the heat and partly from the buildup of carbon dioxide in the air.  Solvent vapors can begin to build up depending on the workplace and can cause headaches and nausea.  Dirty filters can increase the presence of allergens which can affect sinuses and cause skin infections.  These symptoms are all part of what is known as “Tight Building Syndrome”.  All in all, a poorly working air conditioner results in a pretty miserable work environment, not to mention potentially dangerous.

Maintenance Matters

The only way to prevent this from happening is to keep up on maintenance and do regular checks to make sure that the air conditioner is functioning properly.  Don’t just let any employee who offers try to fix the air conditioner.  While it might seem like a good idea in the heat of the moment, it can lead to further damage of the air conditioner, not to mention accidents and potential injury at the responsibility of the company.  Unless you have someone who really knows what they are doing when it comes to air conditioners, it is best that any repairs that need done are left to professionals.

You can, however, perform basic maintenance tasks.  The first thing you should always check when evaluating an air conditioners’ performance is the filter.  Dirty filters not only make the air conditioner have to work twice as hard and use more energy, but they also circulate allergens and skin irritants throughout every room in the building.  Once you determine that the filters are sufficiently clean and that they are the right size, check the outdoor air intake openings.  Make sure that they are clear of all obstructions and that the wire-mesh screens are still in good condition.  The last thing you want is some sort of rodent making its way into your air conditioning system.  Trust me when I say that it’s a terrifying experience.

If you ever come across something that you are not sure how to deal with, make sure to consult a professional to prevent injury or further damage.

 

 

General Safety Issues

AIR CONDITIONING SAFETY (GUEST POST)

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Last summer, a window air conditioning unit in a New York apartment fell 20 stories onto a playground at a nursery school. No children were injured, but the incident garnered public attention to A/C safety concerns.

According to the maintenance staff at the complex, it was the tenants’ responsibility to buy the window unit and install it themselves. Many tenants never knew how to properly install or maintain their air conditioners. They received no assistance from maintenance workers.

It is important to understand the safety precautions for installing and maintaining your air conditioner. While it protects us from heat-related illness and death, it can also be hazardous and, in some cases, fatal. Listed below are some helpful tips on how to properly purchase, install, and maintain your air conditioner.

Shopping

When looking for an air conditioner, check for the UL Mark. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is responsible for analyzing the safety of wire and cable, as well as electrical and electronic products in North America.

Decide whether your home requires a window unit or central air conditioner. Window units work best for small spaces. If you only occupy one room at night, you only have to use one unit. Central air works better for larger homes and costs more to install. The type of cooling system depends on your behavior and what works best for you.

Installation

When installing a window unit, mount it far away from any heat sources. Avoid damp locations and areas where furniture or curtains could restrict air flow. Also, don’t install a window unit on top of a surface that is unable to support the weight of it.

You should have a professional install your central air conditioner. While you can begin the installation process yourself, there are laws regarding refrigerant handling, so have a contractor finish the job. Be sure that the contractor is licensed and get estimates from a few companies. Check the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before contacting anyone.

You can try to camouflage the outside unit, but keep all plants and shrubs at least two feet away from it.

Maintenance

Have your air conditioner inspected and cleaned before every summer. If you don’t know how to properly clean it, call an expert. If cleaning the units yourself, be absolutely sure that the power is turned off and refer to your owner’s manual.

Change out filters on a monthly basis during the months of heavy-use (April through August).

Don’t allow your space to become hot and then set the A/C on maximum power; instead, run the unit early in the day and allow it to gradually cool your space.

Other Tips

Use your exhaust fans in the kitchen to avoid adding unnecessary moisture and heat. Your air conditioner doesn’t just cool your space, it also dehumidifies.

Keep your attic well-ventilated. During the summer, temperatures can reach up to 140 degrees in the attic.

If using a window unit, don’t connect it to an extension cord. The power strip cannot handle the heavy flow of electricity.

 

 Marie Ortiz
Staff Writer
http://www.diymother.org

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

FALL MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR YOUR HOME

It’s a good idea to get in the habit of regular maintenance of your home each season of the year.  By checking things out ahead of time, you could save money by avoiding costly repairs.  Our houses don’t take care of themselves; it’s up to us to do it.  Some locations need more preventative measures than others; those who live in colder climates may be required to think of some things that we in warmer regions don’t have to do.  Regardless of where we live, it’s important to do these things to ensure the safety of our families.  Here are some ideas:

  • Check all window and door locks for proper operation; all exterior doors should have deadbolt locks.
  • Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs; don’t leave items on the stairs.
  • Have a professional check your heating system every year.
  • Check your home for water leaks.
  • Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring.
  • Wrap pipes for insulation from freezing.
  • Replace your furnace filter once yearly.
  • Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone.
  • Put away garden hose and other yard equipment.
  • Test your emergency generator.
  • Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper.
  • Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures.
  • Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and check batteries.
  • Have a fire escape plan for your family.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
  • Consider hiring a professional to do any inspections, etc. on your roof
  • Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss.
  • Winterize boats and recreational vehicles before storing them.

You may want to make a checklist to use each season, and add to it as you think of something we may have missed.  Have your home ready for a warm, cozy fall and winter. 

 

Source: State Farm Insurance