With temperatures heating up all across the country, more homeowners are making the switch from HEAT to COOL. For many, this is the year they’ll make significant decisions about their heating and cooling systems.

Whether you’ve nursed your system along for a few years hoping to avoid replacement, or you already know you have a service issue, you have one big question you should be asking: Can I get through one more cooling season without an air conditioner replacement?

Perhaps you should let the AC do the talking.

Before you decide on a replacement vs. making repairs, read today’s post and explore 8 signs that indicate potential problems with your AC and what they mean.

Your Thermostat Seems Confused

Think of your thermostat as the central command unit for your heating and cooling system. Thermostats not only don’t last forever, sometimes they give the wrong message to the AC.

When you notice your home feels too warm after running the air conditioner, or it doesn’t feel like the system kicks on and off correctly, you may have a calibration problem.

Count yourself lucky if you have an issue with the thermostat. Whether you repair or replace it, the job isn’t difficult.

If you schedule regular AC tune-ups, your technician will calibrate your thermostat.

When Your Air Conditioner Stops Cooling

Turning the AC on for the first time should bring sweet relief from hot weather.

When the system breathes warm air rather than cool, you may need a tune-up. The best time to schedule a tune-up is before the scorching hot days of summer. If you notice a lack of cool air now, schedule AC repair in time for the hotter days because they can really sneak up on you!

When you schedule routine AC maintenance, your service visit usually includes an inspection. During the inspection, your HVAC technician should make a note of any worn-out parts. Hopefully, they can give you early warning of probably future repairs.

You may have a dirty condenser unit. It sits outside where dirt and other debris can build up on the condenser coils. If that’s the problem, a simple cleaning should take care of the problem.

You Notice Inconsistent Cooling

There’s a difference between an air conditioner that won’t cool at all and one that struggles to keep the temperature consistent.

Fluctuations in temperature usually mean your air conditioner can’t circulate cool air well enough to keep your home cool. If you notice extreme inconsistencies in temperature and don’t address the problem, your comfort isn’t the only thing that will suffer. You’ll end up paying higher cooling bills.

If your cooling system struggles to maintain consistent temperatures, take it as a sign. You could need an AC replacement!

The Air Conditioner Runs Forever

While you might not need extra cooling power now, once real summer weather arrives, you’ll need it. Take note now if your AC runs too often and too long. This isn’t normal behavior, especially when you’re not dealing with the summer heat.

Combine a unit that turns on more often, runs longer than it should, and takes longer than expected to cool down the temperature in your home. All three are signs you need a repair.

You could have bad coils or a defective blower motor. You’ll likely pay more to replace the coil.

Your HVAC technician should inspect both parts when they do the AC tune-up.

You Received a Ridiculously High Energy Bill

To be fair, one high cooling bill isn’t a cause for alarm, but if you notice a gradual, unexplainable increase in your energy bill, it’s a sign.

Before you panic, make sure you’re not dealing with abnormally hot weather, a rate increase, or prolonged use of the cooling system.

Often, the problem lies with a dirty air filter. You could also have a relatively minor repair issue. You won’t know until you change the filter or schedule service.

Air conditioners often show their age by running less efficiently. We’ll discuss older cooling systems later, but for now, know that higher energy bills can come with an aging system.

Tell-tale Noises and Odors

All AC units make noise when they kick on and again when they power down. Sometimes, your air conditioner may even give off an odor.

While you shouldn’t worry about the standard operating noises, if you hear squealing or grinding, you’ve got a problem. You may have worn out parts or something more serious.

Regarding odor—air conditioners sometimes develop a musty smell, especially if you live in a humid climate. Anything other than a musty odor can indicate trouble.

When you notice unusual smells or weird noises coming from your air conditioner,

Anytime you notice loud noises or unusual odors, call for HVAC service.

You Forgot about Maintenance Again

Forgetting to schedule routine maintenance for your air conditioner might not seem like a sign, but putting it off for too long will cause your system to start giving you signs.

We know—you’re busy and have a million irons in the fire, but routine maintenance appointments help ensure your air conditioner continues working efficiently. You may even extend the life of your older system by a few years if you don’t forget your annual service visits.

Your HVAC tech can advise you on how often you should schedule maintenance. Most homeowners schedule an annual inspection and tune-up. When you’re running an aging system, you may need more frequent maintenance appointments.

Speaking of aging air conditioners, read on and find out what age could mean for your AC.

Age and Air Conditioners

Even when you treat your air conditioner well, you probably won’t get more than about 17 years of useful life from your system. The best advancements in heating and cooling system technology can’t add an indefinite number of years to an air conditioner.

Around 10 years of age, you may start repairing or replacing AC components. At approximately 15 years of age, your system may start needing more repairs.

Once you’re making consistent repairs, it’s time to consider replacing the air conditioner.

Thinking about an Air Conditioner Replacement?

When you reach the point where you’re repairing or replacing the same parts every year, it’s a sign.

If you’re facing an air conditioner repair and you know it will cost more than half what you’d spend on an air conditioner replacement, you should consider installing a new AC unit.

We hope reading this post helped you identify potential signs that your air conditioner needs attention. If you enjoyed reading this one, check out the rest of our business, tech, and lifestyle articles on the blog. Keep cool!

November 19, 2018 by James Adam

How to Fight the Ever-Increasing Air Pollution in Delhi?

People

Pollution or Air Pollution is something that every Delhiite wants to get rid off. Every year during Diwali, Delhi suffers from rising AQI which takes a toll on people’s lives here. The humungous use of fire-crackers leads to such traumatic situations and doctors suggest to leave Delhi for a good 15 days. The AQI during Diwali went up to 1000 which is marked as “severe”. Some would suggest the use of air-purifiers which may cost somewhere in between INR 12,000 to INR 1, 00,000. But doctors opine that instead of opting for these measures, going natural would heal better. Because for the most part of the year the AQI remains “poor”, “very poor”, and “average”, barring the monsoons. So, if you want to save yourself, your family, and friends, then bring these air-purifying plants as soon as possible which would give you a healthier indoor environment.

Areca Palm:

Intro:

Scientific Name: Dypsis lutescens

Popular Names: Golden Cane Palm, Areca Palm, Yellow Palm, or Butterfly Palm (As the leaves of this plant tend to curve upwards in multiple stems, it gives the look of a butterfly)

Native: It is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Arecaceae family. Areca Palm is native to Madagascar and South India.

Importance of Areca Palm

The most important reason why you should bring Areca Palm Plant to your home is that – As per the reports shared by NASA Clean Air Study and Dr. B. C. Wolverton, an Areca Palm plant filters many harmful toxins from the air. Wolverton has further specified that at 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) in height, the plant will transpire 1 liter of water per 24 hours, thereby making it just the perfect humidifier for your home. This plant grows at a speed of 6-10 inches per year.

Buy the grown-up Areca Palm plants whose height is up to the shoulders of an average human being. If you keep 4 Areca Palm plants of this height in your living room or home, your home atmosphere would remain safe.

Which Toxins Are Removed by Areca Palm?

This plant removes carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air.

Light Requirement for Areca Palm:

Keep it under direct sunlight once in 3-4 months. Because Areca palms require bright but indirect sunlight. Harsh and scorching sunlight burns the plant and causes it to turn yellow.

Water Requirement for Areca Palm:

Remember that Areca Palm requires a moist soil but not a soggy one. So, allow the top few inches to dry out before watering again. In case the water at your home has chemicals in it, then use filtered/RO/distilled water to feed this plant. If you use polluted water, then it would bring unimpressive marks on the leaves.

Which Is The Best Soil Type For A Conducive Growth of Areca Palm?

You must use a rich acidic soil that has a great drainage quality. In case the soil is too heavy and clay-like, then add builder’s sand to it.

Planter or Pot Size?

You must plant an Areca Palm in a container/planter/pot that is double the size of the root ball. Because they grow really fast.

You may buy Air-Purifying plants from Ferns N Petals – one of the leading online stores that sell more than 800 varieties of plants.

Snake Plant:

Intro:

Scientific Name: Sansevieria trifasciata

Common or Popular Names: Snake Plant (because of the shape and sharp margins of its leaves), Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, and Viper’s Bowstring Hemp (because it is one of the sources for plant fibers used to make bowstrings)

Native: This plant is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo.

Importance of Snake Plant:

This plant produces bowstring hemp which is a strong plant fiber once used to make bowstrings. It is said that this plant works even at night and converts carbon dioxide into oxygen. As per the NASA Clean Air Study found Snake Plant removes 4 of the 5 main toxins. If 6 Snake Plants of 3 feet in height are kept at home, the indoor atmosphere would become healthier.

You may buy eco-friedly plant from nurserylive – one of the leading online plant stores in India.

Which Toxins Are Removed By Snake Plant?

Snake plant removes benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide, xylene, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Light Requirement for Snake Plant:

You can place it anywhere inside or outside your home. Just remember that the better the light condition, the faster Snake Plant would grow. Actually, in warm temperature zones, this plant is grown as an outdoor plant while in cooler temperature zones, this is grown as an indoor plant.

Water Requirement for Snake Plant:

You have to allow the soil to dry first before watering the plant. Remember this fact because often overwatering is the reason behind the decay of Snake Plants. In winter season and in a low light situation, this plant may require water once a month.

Which Is The Best Soil Type for Conducive Growth of Snake Plant?

You must place Snake Plant in a good, rich, nutritious, and organic soil with excellent drainage quality. In case, your soil lacks proper drainage, then you can add some sand in it.

Planter/Pot Size:

This plant would grow well in small pots as they like to be root-bound.

P.S.: Snake Plant is a slightly poisonous plant with a level-1 toxicity.

Money Plant:

Intro:

Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum

Common or Popular Name: Money Plant, Ceylon Creeper, Hunter’s Robe, Ivy Arum, Silver Vine, Solomon Islands Ivy, Taro Vine, Devil’s Vine, or Devil’s Ivy.

Native: It is a species of flowering plant in the family of Araceae, native in Mo’orea. It is a famous popular houseplant in temperate regions.

Importance of Money Plant:

Money plant is one of the best indoor plants to purify the air at your home or office. It enhances the oxygen flow wherever it is kept. This plant multiplies the positive energies in a home and provides financial gains and further improves sleep. It is also said that money plant mitigates arguments in a family.

Which Toxins Are Removed By Money Plant?

Money plant removes synthetic chemicals from furniture and cleaning solutions. In particular, it removes, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and benzene. This plant is also kept inside aquariums and there it absorbs many nitrates & uses it for its own growth apart from adding beauty to the “fish-home”.

Where To Keep Money Plant?

A money plant should be kept near the computer, laptop, TV set, or WiFi router. And it is also said that keeping money plants at sharp angles at home reduces stress, hypertension, and anxiety.

Light Requirement for Money Plant:

This low-maintenance plant grows very well in direct sunlight as well as in indirect sunlight when placed indoors. It can sustain scorching sunlight during summer seasons, but try to avoid that as too harsh rays may burn the leaves.

Water Requirement for Money Plant:

Remember that over-watering should be avoided. You can water the plant once every 7 to 10 days during the summer season. Water it once in every 2-3 weeks during the winter season

Which Is The Best Soil Type for Conducive Growth of Money Plant?

Money plants prefer that soil type which allows better ventilation and drainage. So, you can mix river sand with regular potting soil.

Planter/Pot Types & Size:

If Money Plant is Grown In Water: A regular size glass jar, glass bottle, or plastic bottle.

If Money Plant is Grown In Soil: Use medium sized ceramic, plastic, or clay pot.

P.S.: Money Plant is listed as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA due to the presence of insoluble raphides. It can also be mildly toxic to humans as well and possible side-effects can be eczema or skin irritation.

If each one of you rise up and become sensitive towards this issue of “pollution”, there would be a sea of change. All you have to do is invest one-time into plants and reap its benefits forever. You may find this beneficial plant online on ugaao.com.

February 21, 2018 by Incredible Planet Staff

Embracing Photography in the Age of Drones

Technology

Drones have undoubtedly changed the way we see the world, a boon for those who like to combine their adventures with a sense of scale and exhilaration. Despite associations with crime and deeds of more destructive natures, the last few years has seen drone technology for the photography enthusiasts reach new heights.

Advantages of Using Drone Cameras

What have drones brought to the table? Quite a lot, in fact. Here are some of the big reasons high-quality drone imagery have lit up the world of photography and cinematography.

Drones give you the best perspectives. There is no replacement for the high-level detail that one can get from an aerial shot. There were times when this was the domain of professionals with big budgets, usually involving aircraft. Now drones are accessible to most and you can enjoy taking videos and photos from the safe comfort of the ground.

When you take pictures from above, the landscapes look larger and have an added sense of scale. Drones are very convenient. You don’t have to find yourself perched uncomfortably in a ‘vantage point’ just to capture that perfect angle. A drone does everything for you.

Drones – Integrating with Science and Commerce

Scientific research has greatly benefited from drone technology. From pictures of wildlife behaviour to conservation related reconnaissance, drones help us literally get the larger picture. Environmental impact is best studied with high-definition overhead pictures which give the viewers a look at the contrasts of pristine nature and degradation in a single video or still capture.

The real estate industry has also found a lot of leverage in drone technology. Aerial photography helps present a site along with the surroundings – giving potential buyers the complete picture, and a rather impressively made one at that. Regular on-ground photography cannot capture the details of a quality aerial shot, so drone footage is now an essential marketing tool for real estate companies.

A Few Pointers

Having the tool does not guarantee a great video or image. There are some pointers you need to keep in mind. Remember that a lot of times the scenery you shoot makes your picture interesting, but if you want your work to stand out, you have to own some good techniques.

When shooting man-made landscapes like residential neighborhoods or other man-made locations, look out for repetition of tones or formations. These give your image a sense of continuity and some definition. It also helps viewers enjoy the patterns and layouts that on the ground seem unconnected.

Getting up in the heights means a totally new perspective on things

Contrasting colours always help you create striking images and videos. Enjoy dramatic scenery with a well-taken drone shot – a very common example is coastal shots of azure waters and light shores.

From an aerial point-of-view, you will get to see the patterns of the location or landscapes. In fact, this is a core character of most drone footage. Think of the landscape as a fabric and find the patterns. When you are getting a bird’s eye view, look for symmetry. Urban landscapes are ideal for getting the perfect mirror image shots.

When shooting with a drone, transfer the sense of scale to the viewer by capturing the horizon along with the landscape. Play with the shadows of the objects. If you are taking a still, it is important that you frame the image well. Try to create a defined boundary for the patterns and landscapes you capture.

Use your imagination when it comes to drone shoots. It is also great fun to catch different videos online and get an idea of what the best drone photographers and video makers in the world are up to. A drone allows you to explore. The best footage can be the most unexpected. So charge up your drone and head out with an open-ended plan.

Another beautiful image shot with a drone

A Platform for Drone Enthusiasts

Drone photography is a complete segment in itself, requiring niche tech and skills to get the best out of the apparatus. The worldwide drone community is united by a love for the best aerial shots, of themes that span the entirety of natural and man-made landscapes. Adventurers are celebrating this revolutionary technology and newfound ability to document their activities in the most authentic way possible.

When it comes to capturing the action, water-based activities have always posed a challenge even to the most experienced of video producers. Drones have added a completely new dimension to dynamic aerial photography. You can browse through some amazing drone videos on a platform dedicated to the drone age. Watch surfers ride the waves across the world from Hawaii to the Maldives. Get a birds’ eye view. Get inspired.

February 1, 2018 by Incredible Planet Staff

What is Indoor Air Pollution & How Can You Get Rid of It?

Homes

Most people think of air pollution as only being outside of the house. After all, you can see it in the sky when everything is abnormally gray or dusty. Yet, this is something that can actually be in your very own home. It is so subtle that you might not even be aware of it. If you’ve been suspicious of the quality of the air in your home, then you’ve come to the right place. Here is a guide to teach you about air pollution so that you can take action if you need to do so:

What Is Air Pollution?

Air pollution is contaminated air that people breathe into their bodies. To clarify, the air that you breathe in your home may be polluted by lead, radon, fire-retardants, formaldehyde, or volatile chemicals. Several of these pollutants are brought into your home from carpet cleaners, furniture, a new mattress, or a fresh coat of paint.

In that mix, you will also come across high allergens called microscopic dust mites. Believe it or not, you could also have pet dander in your house even though you don’t own a pet. How is this possible? Pet owners visit your home, and they carry it on their clothing. It is that simple!

What Are the Health Risks?

Breathing in the polluted, contaminated air can affect everyone, especially those who already have respiratory diagnoses such as asthma. Indoor pollutants’ initial effects may not always show up right away—it could be years later. Some of these contaminants may cause Legionnaire’s disease, respiratory diseases, or even cancer. Nowadays, indoor allergens and irritants have become more detrimental to your health due to people staying inside more. A few decades ago, this was not the case because most people spent more time outside their house.

How Can You Get Rid of It?

Chemicals and allergens can build up over time within in your home. To lower the pollutants inside your house, you should use an air filtration system like those from Pacific Heating & Cooling. Such systems are designed to actively decontaminate the air and produce pure, clean air.

An air filtration system also has the ability to reduce unseen mold, cigarette smoke, and other bacterial diseases. Other things that you can do to get rid of pollutants are keeping your home clean, testing for radon, and not permitting smoking in your home. It is also a good idea to keep a healthy level of humidity of around 30 to 50 percent in order to lower the allergens that may come from dust mites and other such influences.

If your home has a lot of air pollution, it is time to do something about it. Find out what the sources are and start getting rid of them. This may require a deep cleaning to be done or, possibly, the help of a professional. No matter what it takes, it is worth it. Your health, not to mention the health of your household, will thank you for it.