Homeowners in Atlanta, Woodstock and Roswell commonly experience hot and cold spots, an excessive amount of dust, or increasingly higher humidity levels in their homes. Those problems, however, don’t necessarily stem from the climate.
Federal government and utility companies report that installing the highest-efficiency equipment is generally not enough to secure optimal home comfort. To secure effective solutions, consumers and HVAC contractors commonly turn to the Comfort Institute (CI). It exists to serve consumers by providing information and solutions to address the most common home problems, and to help HVAC contractors source up-to-date, scientific solutions and tools to resolve these issues.
Comfort Institute’s purpose
Comfort Institute was formed with the express goal of educating consumers regarding the most common HVAC problems that generally occur in homes, including why they happen and how to resolve them. The institute’s goal goes hand-in-hand with the HVAC technician training it offers, as well as scientific proof of the effectiveness of its approach.
Why does the affiliation matter?
Consumers should carefully vet their HVAC contractor, choosing one who holds affiliation with the organization. With the right qualifications and training, consumers can be more than confident that their well-trained HVAC contractors will know how to diagnose and assess home comfort problems, and provide the best solutions.
Whole-house Comfort Checkup
Comfort Institute has developed a strategic methodology for HVAC technicians to evaluate and diagnose a home’s systems properly through its “Whole-house comfort checkup.” The process includes these steps:
- Buying a new cooling or heating system that’s appropriately sized for the home
- Sealing problematic areas, like duct work leaks, that contribute to discomfort
- Exploring options for household members who suffer from allergies or asthma
- Identifying ways to control humidity problems
- Ensuring an airtight home to control energy costs
A unique solution
It may not be initially clear what makes the organization’s approach special, but looking at the home’s systems as a whole gives the contractor a distinct advantage. Think about it: Investing a lot of money in a new comfort system without also addressing the leaks in the home’s envelope is counterproductive. The new heating and cooling system would use less energy to generate conditioned air, but the leaks in the envelope allow heat loss/gain. The homeowner is left with higher energy bills.
The performance of the HVAC system is closely tied to the other systems in the home, like the envelope and the ductwork, and as such, any contractor who addresses comfort problems or high energy costs in isolation isn’t providing effective solutions.
The tools and training
In order to address the home as a whole, and attack problems with the various systems in the home, the CI program ensures that its technicians undergo rigorous training and get experience using high-tech home-diagnostic tools. Technicians learn how to address common problems, such as
- Duct leakage, using tools like the infiltrometer blower door test and the cool smoke puffer
- Air imbalance, using air flow capture hoods and digital static pressure gauges
- Temperature and moisture, employing tools such as the infrared non-contact thermometer and the digital humidity stick/hygrometer
If you’re looking for an HVAC contractor in Atlanta, Woodstock or Roswell, consider the business’s reputation and experience. However, affiliation with the CI is also valuable; you’ll know that your contractor will approach the situation using the whole-house approach, with an understanding of how the systems inside the home work together to produce optimal comfort.
Reliable Heating and Air is proud of our affiliation with the Comfort Institute. Give us a call today to ask about our training, background and certification, or contact us to schedule a service appointment.