Local Events in Cincinnati’s Parks

May 18th, 2012

Cincinnati has one of the best park systems in the county, “The City of Cincinnati parks system has been rated ‘excellent’ by the Trust for Public Land. We have five regional and 70 neighborhood parks and 34 nature preserves that are open from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m”. Not only does this mean beautiful outdoor areas for public use and enjoyment, but we also enjoy a calendar full of excellent events.

We recommend checking out the following events in the Cincinnati area,Cincinnati Parks | Cincinnati | RineAir Heating and Air Conditioning

Butterflies of the World- Featuring thousands of colorful butterflies from all over the world flying around the showroom of the Krohn Conservatory.
April 21 – June 24, 2012
Open Daily 10:00am – 5:00pm
1501 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202 513-421-5707

Forest and Field Hike
Saturday, May 19th
2-3 pm FREE
Withrow Nature Preserve
7075 Five Mile Road
Cincinnati, OH (513) 521-7275

RineAir is proud to provide heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services to the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region.

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Common Problems with Central Air Conditioning Systems in Cincinnati

May 14th, 2012

Your air conditioning system is pretty durable, but even the best system will occasionally need repairs. If your air conditioner stops working or is not cooling as effectively as it should, there are a few things you should check before calling a Cincinnati air conditioning technician.

Electrical Problems

  • While it might seem like a no brainer, if your AC stops working you should make sure that it has power. Check your fuse box or circuit breaker, and double check that your unit is plugged in.
  • If your thermostat is set too high, it might not be triggering your AC to turn on, so that’s another thing you should look over. If a visual examination of your unit reveals any broken wires or electrical components, call for a repair immediately.
  • Very hot temperatures can cause the high pressure limit switch in your AC to trip. This is simple to reset, but you should probably have a technician look over your unit anyway to make sure there are no underlying problems.

Mechanical Problems

  • Having the correct amount of refrigerant make a big difference in how well your air conditioner is able to keep your home cool. If you notice a lot of ice building up on your evaporator coil or a leak in your refrigerant line, you should have a technician come out and measure the refrigerant levels. Too little refrigerant doesn’t just make your AC less effective, it also can cause problems with other components. A technician will be able to repair your system and add the manufacturer recommended amout of refrigerant to your unit.
  • You should also check your condensate drain lines. If these get clogged, your air conditioner will be unable to dehumidify your air, which can have a big impact on how comfortable your home is. If your condensate pan is very full, you should call a technician to examine your system. Small clogs are usually easy to fix.

For any problem with your Cincinnati air conditioning system, big or small, give RineAir Heating & Air Conditioning a call! We will look over your system to determine the cause of the problem and fix it quickly.

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Cincinnati AC Installation Guide

May 7th, 2012

If you are going to buy a brand new air conditioning system to keep your home cool this summer, there are a lot of different things you should keep in mind. Beyond getting a unit that will fit your budget, you call need to think about how well it will operate after is it installed. Here are a few things that you should consider when buying a new air conditioner in Cincinnati:

  • Controls: Air conditioners built day come with multiple speeds, which gives you unprecedented control of both air flow and energy consumption. You can buy an AC that doesn’t need to run at 100 % capacity all the time, instead you can get one that adjusts its cooling to match your needs at any given moment. You can also get zone control, which allows you to cool different zones of your home to different temperatures.
  •  SEER: SEER stands for Season Energy Efficient Ratio and it is a measure of your air conditioner’s energy efficiency. It is a ratio of the energy needed to produce a certain amount of cooling, and the higher the number, the more energy efficient your AC. There is a wide variety of SEER ratings in the air conditioners you can buy today, some with ratings of over 20! An energy efficient AC will make a big difference in your monthly energy bills.
  • Sound Dampening: In addition to getting an energy efficient air conditioner, you should also think about one that will be an unobtrusive as possible. You can get models with sound dampening features such as vibration isolation and insulation. While most modern air conditioners are not very noisy to begin with, units built with these new features give you great cooling at even lower sound levels.
  • Dehumidification: All AC systems provide some level of dehumidification, which is an important part of keeping your home comfortable during the summer. But some ACs have advanced controls that allow you more precisely control humidity levels.

A quality central air conditioning system is a great investment for many homeowners. The right system will keep you comfortable for years to come, so it is important to figure out which featrues are important to you before you make your purchase. For more information about Cincinnati air conditioning installation, give RineAir Heating and Air Conditioning a call today!

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Cincinnati Indoor Air Quality Tips: Improving Indoor Air Quality with UV Germicidal Lights?

April 30th, 2012

Ultraviolet germicidal lights improve indoor air quality in your Cincinnati home by killing the harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxic mold that can cause respiratory problems and other health concerns. These microorganisms spread by releasing airborne spores containing the genetic material used to create a new organism. UV lights use a wavelength of ultraviolet light to destroy the organism’s DNA, which takes away their reproductive capabilities and also kills them.

UV germicidal lights are fairly inexpensive and can be installed to work with your existing forced air HVAC system. They are typically used in tandem with either an electronic or mechanical air cleaner. While air cleaners can filter pollen and other irritants, UV germicidal lights destroy the viruses and mold spores once these pollutants have been trapped by the air cleaner. After the air has been filtered through your HVAC, it will circulate more easily through system and increase the efficiency of the unit. In addition, UV lights are useful in killing hidden mold growth, which can only be detected by special thermal imaging equipment.

Homeowners with particularly chronic allergy problems or extremely poor indoor air quality choose to install both types of air cleaners, in addition to a UV light, for the ultimate protection from indoor air pollutants—from bacteria to pet dander.  If your home lacks adequate ventilation, or if you are unable to control the source of common pollutants, you might benefit greatly by installing UV germicidal lights. Poor indoor air circulation can exacerbate the spread of harmful microorganisms, so make sure you have proper ventilation if you don’t have UV lights in your home.

UV germicidal lights have also been used to filter tap water because they are more reliable and easier to install than other water treatment systems. However, they are typically used to provide cleaner indoor air.

Call the Cincinnati indoor air quality experts at RineAir Heating & Air Conditioning  if you have questions or concerns about the quality of the air inside your home.

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Cincinnati AC Guide: Keep Your Home Cool and Save Energy

April 23rd, 2012

As the season of hot days and long evenings draws near, it is normal for questions to arise on how to keep your home cool and save energy. There are some things which are easy to do and can help keep any house cool without overuse of your Cincinnati air conditioner.

Easy Fixes Which Cool the House from the Heat of the Sun

  • Provide effective shade for east and west facing windows, including planting shade trees around the exterior of the house
  • Delay heat-generating activities until evening
  • Keep the house closed tight during the day so that unwanted heat and humidity do not enter the home
  • Ventilate at night with open windows and fans
  • Use ceiling fans or room fans to increase comfort levels with higher air conditioning thermostat settings
  • Seal and insulate all air conditioning ducts, and seal leaky windows with caulk or weather stripping
  • Install window shades, blinds, awnings, sunscreens, or apply low-e films to windows to block most solar rays which cause heat gain
  • Close south and west-facing curtains during the day on windows which get direct sunlight, and invest in reflective solar curtains
  • Upgrade the insulation in the attic
  • Service your Cincinnati air conditioning unit annually, and place it in the shade with proper air flow to ensure it runs efficiently
  • Install a house fan to cool the entire home at once as well as cool the attic above

Eliminate Internal Heat Sources

  • Lessen stove and oven use during hot days and enjoy a backyard barbeque or cookout, keeping the heat out of the kitchen and in the great outdoors.  When cooking inside do so in the evening and employ use of the microwave, toaster-oven or counter-top grill which produces far less heat than the stove or oven.
  • Switch to newer, compact fluorescent lights which use less energy and produce far less heat than incandescent lights
  • Pass on the hot-drying cycle of the dishwasher and let dishes air dry, or dry them by hand
  • Line-dry clothes rather than using the dryer, or use the lowest heat setting on the dryer
  • Take shorter showers that are cooler, and turn on exhaust fans and open windows to properly ventilate the area, allowing excess heat to escape
  • Turn computers and other electronics off when not in use, and use electronic devices such as TV’s less often throughout the day

Combining the various home fixes while eliminating internal heat sources can turn out to be the best ways to keep your home cool and save energy during hot summer months.  Just try some and see how that energy bill decreases!

If you have any questions about how to keep your home cool this year, give RineAir Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

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Southwest Ohio Senior Olympics

April 20th, 2012

This weekend is the volley ball portion of the Ohio Senior Olympics. The Cincinnati Recreation Commission has hosted the Southwest Ohio Senior Olympics since 1992. Events run from March 31st through May 19th. The women’s volley ball game will be Saturday April 21st at the College Hill Recreation Center. The men’s game will be the following day, April 22nd. Senior Olympics is a “fun and challenging program…open to athletes ages 50 and older. Events include golf, swimming, tennis, track & field, and many more”.

Are you a Senior looking for heat or AC service in the Cincinnati area? At RineAir Heating and Air Conditioning discounts are available for senior citizens and veterans. Please call for details.

At RineAir we are commited to building lasting relationships with our customers and within the community. The Cincinnati Recreation Commission is an award winning organization that provides programs and activities for seniors, youths, and persons with disabilities, as well as hosting special community events.

Cincinnati | Senior Olympics | RineAir Heating and Air Conditioning

 

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Cincinnati HVAC Tip: Geothermal Heat Pumps

April 16th, 2012

A heat pump is a device that pulls thermal energy from the ground or other source to heat or cool a home or building.  Thermal energy is created by the natural tendency for heat to gravitate to cooler temperatures.  The heat pump reverses the process.

Simple and effective, the pump often utilizes geothermal energy, or the heat that is naturally stored in the ground.  Through a looped system of pipes, the heat is transferred through the pump into the building.

Cincinnati GeothermalComfort Zone

To warm a space, heat pumps typically contribute air that is 20 degrees higher than the room temperature.  A thermostat calls for more when the room temperature reaches a certain point and after mixing the warmer air into the room and raising the temperature, the thermostat switches off the pump.

Reversing the process cools the space.  When the high temperature is reached, the thermostat turns on the pump in the opposite direction and warm air is removed to allow cooler air from the ground or a water source to be replenished.

Among other factors affecting the efficiency of the system, the ductwork is critical.  Insulation and sizing are key issues to be considered when designing the system because they cannot be easily adjusted after installation.  Likewise, the loops in the ground available for the exchange are important to consider and get right the first time.

Problems on the Rise

However simple the system, heat pump maintenance is important since small problems can lead to very expensive compressor problems later if not addressed early.  More technical than caring for the average Cincinnati heating system, heat pumps should be serviced by a professional Cincinnati geothermal technician when the pump malfunctions.

Simple maintenance that can be performed by the homeowner is keeping the system free of dirt by changing the filter and removing any obstacles to the airflow.

Heat pumps are a fairly passive system that involves movement of air more than production of heat or cool temperatures.  The simplicity of the process and abundance of the resource make it a great solution.

If you have any questions about having a geothermal heat pump installed in your home, give RineAir Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

Photo by John Brownlow: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkheadedbug/322757545/

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Free AC Tune-Up

April 13th, 2012

Regularly scheduled Air Conditioning tune-ups are the best way to improve the efficiency of your Air Conditioning system, keeps operation costs down, and extend the life of the machine. The wear and tear of running all summer long year after year can run down even the best AC system. This drop in performance is often so gradual that you don’t notice it, however. But when your unit is brought back up to top condition, you’ll surely notice the difference immediately. Checking your AC system each spring can help avoid costly emergency repair during the peak of summer.

Call RineAir Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule your FREE AC Tune-Up!

 

RineAir Heating and Air Conditioning services the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region and is veteran-owned and operated by the Rineair family. We are dedicated to building lasting relationships with our customers by delivering value through quality work and dependable service at affordable prices.

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Your Cincinnati AC and Your Energy Recovery Ventilator

April 9th, 2012

As a homeowner with an air conditioning system, you know that it costs plenty to keep your home cool and comfortable in the summer. It is an expense you are willing to pay for the comfort and overall health of your family, but if you are like most homeowners, you would do anything to lower your monthly electric bills where possible.

One way to make your Cincinnati air conditioning system a little more efficient is to install an energy recovery ventilator. Read on to learn what energy recovery ventilator is and how it works alongside your AC system to reduce energy loss and improve indoor comfort control.

Cincinnati HVAC - Energy Recovery VentilatorWhat is an energy recovery ventilator?

An energy recovery ventilator transfers heat and water vapor from the outside (incoming) air and the outgoing air that is circulated by your HVAC system. This allows you to get fresh air into your home without wasting energy.

You also might have heard of a heat recovery ventilator, which is a similar device. The main difference is that an energy recovery ventilator transfers both heat and moisture, whereas a heat recovery ventilator only transfers heat.

What does an energy recovery ventilator Do?

What does that transfer mean for your Cincinnati air conditioning system? Well, in the hot summer months, your air conditioner pulls in warm air from the outside, cools it and then blasts it into your home, while exhausting warm air to the outside.

What an energy recovery ventilator does is make that process a little easier for the air conditioner to handle by transferring heat from the warm air coming in to the exhaust air that the AC is blowing out of the house. The incoming air therefore has to be cooled less, which means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard, which means less electricity is used.

Many users of energy recovery ventilator systems report that the moisture exchange also makes the air in their homes feel “fresher,” rather than the stale feel that air conditioning can sometimes produce.

So, if you would like to increase efficiency and reduce the cost of running your AC system, consider an energy recovery ventilator as one possible solution. If you have any questions about how to improve your home’s indoor air quality, give RineAir Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

Photo by SDTeamCanada: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdteamcanada/6023947808/

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Mason Heating and Cooling Guide: Heat Pumps and Energy Efficiency

April 2nd, 2012

Heat pumps offer a number of great benefits. For one, they are inclusive heating and cooling solutions, so they can maintain your home at a comfortable temperature year round without the need for an additional system.

They run on electricity, so you don’t have to worry about the inconvenience of additional bills and keeping a fuel supply around. They are also quiet and relatively easy to maintain—the list goes on and on. The point is, provided you live in a climate where heat pumps can operate properly, they make for great heating and cooling options.

Cincinnati Heat PumpA great thing about having a heat pump for your Mason heating and cooling system is that they are very energy efficient. Actually, even though most air source heat pumps run off electricity, they are more efficient than a lot of other heating and cooling systems. This is because the heating efficiency of a heat pump is between 150 -300 percent, meaning that they are able to produce 1.5-3 times the amount of heat energy than the amount of electricity that is needed to run it. And heat pumps are getting even more efficient as the technology continues to develop.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency awards the EnergyStar to devices and appliances that surpass energy efficiency guidelines. Heat pumps that have earned the EnergyStar are even more efficient than their brethren, sometimes by as much as 9%, according to the EPA. If you have an older heat pump in your home already, a newer EnergyStar rated model may be as much as 20% more efficient.

While these numbers by themselves may not seem Earth shattering, consider two things. First, in an age of constantly escalating energy costs, any savings are welcome. Second, rewarding energy efficient homes has been a focus of the federal government for a few years. To that end, homes with EnergyStar rated heat pumps installed may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to 30%. So, not only do these devices help you save on your bills, but on your taxes as well.

The benefits of heat pumps in Mason are numerous, but perhaps none is a bigger plus than their extremely efficient use of energy. You can save electricity and save money, all while keeping your home comfortable year round.

If you are considering a heat pump for your home, these benefits are important to keep in mind while making your decision. Call Rineair today for more information about how a heat pump would work in your home.

Photo from yum9me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yum9me/594515208/

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