For those who don’t know, geothermal systems use the earth itself to regulate the temperature in your home.  Rather than creating its own heat, a geothermal system simply captures the heat already contained within the environment.  During the winter, they move the heat naturally contained in the ground to the inside of your home.  During the summer, they take the heat from your home and put it in the ground.

It may sound complex, but the principals behind it are quite basic.  Essentially, geothermal systems work off the principal that the earth itself is one of the cleanest and best sources of energy.  Geothermal energy is affordable, and, unlike most other sources of power, it is renewable (that is to say, it will never run out.)  Here are some of the specifics about how a home geothermal heating and cooling system works:

1. Pipes containing a special liquid called refrigerant are buried in your yard.
2. The refrigerant in the pipes is very absorbent, and it will capture the heat occurring naturally in the ground as it circulates through the pipes.
3. The heated refrigerant circulates into your home and releases the heat, eliminating the need for a traditional heating system.
4. In the summer, the process is reversed—the refrigerant absorbs the heat in your home, and releases it outside.

The earth directly beneath the surface tends to maintain more moderate temperatures than the air above ground.  Even if it is extremely cold outside, it may be 50 or 60 degrees only a few feet below ground.   Furthermore, enormous amounts of heat are produced below the earth—in fact, there’s enough heat stored within just a few thousand square feet of ground to power entire cities.

Geothermal takes advantage of these basic facts and uses them to increase the comfort of your home.  If you are ready to significantly reduce your energy bills and to use a more natural and environmentally friendly system to heat and cool your home, contact your Utah air conditioning specialists.

Just a few months ago in Ireland, a father and his two children died of carbon monoxide poisoning. They were sitting at home, watching TV, when disaster hit them. The children were found at the father’s feet facing the television set.

What is the purpose of the furnace filter?

The furnace filter, when it is working properly, removes dust from the air that passes through your furnace. A dirty filter that has not been replaced at the right time will restrict the air flow to your furnace.

Gas and oil furnaces need a certain amount of air flow in order to work properly. The heat exchanger, which houses the flame, needs air flow. When a dirty filter causes the air flow to decrease, the heat exchanger is in danger of cracking. If the heat exchanger does crack, hazardous gases will be released into the air you breathe in your home.

Safety features of furnaces

Most furnaces have high limit switches that will turn the entire furnace off if the temperature of the heat exchanger reaches a certain number.

Though this safety feature is in place, it is not a replacement for getting a new furnace filter. When your furnace is using its safety features, it is not working at its fullest capacity and is still putting your family at risk.

Don’t forget

The most important thing to remember is to not put off something as crucial as replacing you furnace filter for the sake of convenience. Those little tasks make a big impact on the quality of life your family has and will keep them safe.

For all of your furnace and air questions, remember to contact Utah’s heating and cooling specialists!

-Kassandra Konecny

1. Get ready to turn up the heat. Have an Utah furnace specialist inspect your furnace to make sure it’s ready to rock and roll. Stock up on furnace filters and clear the space around your furnace of all debris. Store any firewood far away from your home, as this can be a fire hazard as well as a favorite hiding place of mice, cockroaches, and other pests.
2. Insulate yourself from the cold. Weather-seal all of your windows and doors to prevent a draft. Most of the heat in your house will escape through your roof and attic, so make sure your attic is well insulated. If you have an entrance to your attic somewhere in the house, make sure to seal it off. Replace cracked window panes and install window-well covers to keep snow far away from your house.
3. Prepare for an emergency. Make sure you have a fully-stocked first-aid kit. Also keep matches, blankets, flashlights, and a small stash of high-carb foods on hand in case of a real emergency. Store extra bottled water and some non-perishable food items. Also make sure you have some emergency phone numbers – including for your utility companies – on hand in case of an outage.
4. Put summer in the garage. Drain the gas from your lawnmower and trimmer and any other warm-weather equipment. Cover your air conditioner to protect it from snow and ice, and have ice-melt or sand on hand.

The first furnaces actually existed as early as 37 BC in ancient Korea, where excess heat from the stove was funneled through pipes and under floors to heat the home. This system was known as the ondol and a similar system was used during the height of the Roman Empire and was known as a hypocaust, or “under burning.”

In the 13th century, Christian monks in Europe revived and improved upon the concept of central heating. In the 1700s, engineers found ways to distribute heat throughout a building using flowing water. Steam heat was invented in the 1830s, followed by the invention of the radiator in the 1850s.

By the mid-20th century, central heating was commonplace. We now live in an exciting time, in which heating methods exist that are more energy-efficient and less expensive. Take for example geothermal heat, which uses the heat of the earth itself to heat your home, or EnergyStar energy-efficient furnaces, which are up to 20% less energy than traditional furnaces.

If your furnace seems to belong to a past millennium, call the Utah Central Heating experts for an update!

Luckily, however, humidification provides the solution to the dry air dilemma. You’ll find yourself coughing less in your home, experiencing fewer headaches, having softer, moister skin, and preserving the life of your furniture for longer. There are a number of humidifiers available, based on your needs. Here are just a few of the models you can choose from:

• Room Humidifiers. These small, unobtrusive humidifiers work great for raising the level of moisture in a small room or office. Small and portable, they’re perfect for using in a bedroom while sleeping if you’re struggling with a cough.
• Steam Humidifiers. Slightly larger, steam humidifiers are capable of distributing moisture all the way throughout large, open rooms and offices. Steam humidifiers are particularly well-suited for use in woodshops or other rooms with extensive wood furnishings for ensuring the wood stays well-moistened all winter.
• Furnace-Mounted Humidifiers. If you’re looking for whole-home humidification, a furnace-mounted humidifier is the way to go. Using a small water line, furnace-mounted humidifiers distribute moisture throughout your entire home or office every time the furnace is turned on, keeping things comfortable no matter where you go.

To have a humidifier installed in your home today, call the Utah furnace and humidifier experts at Harris Aire Serv.

1. Low Maintenance Time: unlike a furnace or air conditioning compressor, a geothermal system is buried in the ground, sheltered from the weather. This means that it’s harder to damage and – because it has fewer moving parts – easier to repair. Most geothermal systems are guaranteed to work for at least 25-50 years, saving you time and many headaches.
2. Live Greener: geothermal energy systems don’t require oil to run, which means your impact on the environment will be significantly lower. So much lower, in fact, that you’ll receive a 30% tax credit just for having one installed!
3. Save Money: Geothermal systems save consumers 30-40% on their energy bills from month to month. Over the next fifty years, that will mean thousands of dollars in savings.

To learn more or to receive your free geothermal evaluation, just contact your Utah air conditioning experts!

A ventilation system filters fresh, outdoor air and distributes it within your home or office. This helps to mitigate that feeling of stuffiness that we all dread during the toasty summer months. Here are three good reasons to have a ventilator installed:

1. Save money! Believe it or not, a ventilator can actually save you energy and money. Ventilators absorb the cooling energy from your stale, indoor air and transfer it to the fresh air flowing in from outside. This helps your air conditioner run more efficiently and drops your cooling bills.
2. Reduce humidity. In mid-summer when the air becomes thick with humidity, a ventilator can regulate the amount of moisture in your air. This will reduce damage to your furniture and other parts of your home in addition to creating a more comfortable living space.
3. Breathe cleaner air. Air inside our homes can quickly become polluted. A ventilator lets the stale indoor air out and fills your home with thoroughly filtered fresh, outdoor air.

Ventilators take little time to install and are simple to use every day. Get more info or set up an appointment with your Utah air conditioning specialists.

1. Keep the sun out: keeping your blinds down – especially when you’re not in the room – will prevent unnecessary heating and maximize your AC’s efficiency.
2. Maintain your air conditioner: central air systems come with two units – indoor and outdoor. It’s important to make sure that both are free of dust and debris. Also, periodically remove built-up leaves from inside and around your outdoor air compressor.
3. If you’re out, turn it down: no one needs to cool an empty house. When you go out, turn your air conditioner down to preserve all the energy you can.
4. Keep appliances in check: Keep the fridge full! A full fridge warms up more slowly when the door is open, reducing the amount of energy used for cooling. Also, do fewer loads of laundry by increasing the load size and let dishes air dry by opening up your dishwasher after cleaning.

Harris Air is committed to helping you keep your energy bills down. That’s why all of our products are Green Sticker certified, meaning they are designed to run as efficiently as possible. For more information about improving your comfort levels and lowering your bills, contact Harris Air, your Utah heating and air conditioning experts!

1. Check out the air filters. Are they full of dust? If so, gently clean them with soap and water. This will also improve the air quality in your home.
2. Check the blower motor. Is it lubricated? If not, buy some oil lubrication specifically for furnaces and gently work the oil around the motor.
3. Check the pilot light. Is it flickering or steady? A flickering light is an indication that the pilot light is not working correctly.  If this is the case you may want to call a professional for assistance.
4. Ensure the burners and surrounding areas are clean. Are they free from debris? If not, this could block the heat from warming up the air in your home.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us.  We would hate to have you try to repair something you are not comfortable with.  We are your Utah heating contractor!

The history of the air conditioner

In honor of the upcoming warm weather we thought we’d highlight the history of the air conditioner with a brief timeline.

• The history of air conditioning is closely intertwined with the development of electricity.
• The electrical fan was invented in 1886 by Schulyer Wheeler.  It then became the primary cooling tool for American homes.
• The first air conditioner was built in 1902 by Willis Carrier in attempt to combat humidity inside a printing company.
• The New Empire Theatre in Alabama was the first theatre to ever use air conditioning. This was in 1917.
• By 1930, most of the US government buildings in DC had air conditioning.
• Residential air conditioning was a luxury only the wealthy could afford until sometime after World War II.
• Residential window air conditioning units were introduced in the 1950’s.  This invention allowed even the middle class population to purchase air conditioning for their homes.

Give us a call

Need to maintain, repair or install a new air conditioning system? Harris Air Systems is your trusted connection for Utah central air conditioning along with high quality heating equipment. Harris Air Systems understands the importance of maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient home.  We are your connection for Utah heating and central air conditioning