The Difference between a House and a Home

What do you think is the difference between a house and a home?

How many times have you thought about all the places you have lived over your lifetime? Christmas at home with your parents when you were allowed to open one present before Christmas eve dinner and the excitement that brought? You remember the living room with the tree you decorated with your parents, which looked so warm and festive in that cozy room. The memory of that home is still special to you today.

Maybe it was that attic apartment above the corner grocery store, where every time the milk cooler door closed, you could hear it loud and clear.

How about your first home where the Kitchen was so small that you and your spouse took turns when you needed to enter it?

So many memories that put a smile on your face. That’s why memories are so special. Whether it’s remembering a loved one that has passed or the memory of living in a home that brought back happy feelings of an earlier part of your life.

Those special memories of our past are part of the process for keeping us happy. Although, we should never live in the past, it will always be a part of who we are.

Maybe driving past a previous home and remembering when your daughter fell off the bike on that driveway, skinning her knee and wanting a hug from you so the hurt would go away.                                                              

The basketball hoop on your garage where you taught your son or daughter to do layups.

Remembering the home where you read, “Twas the night before Christmas” to your children and that priceless look in their eyes.

It’s really not the act that you remember, it’s the feeling of that moment that you will never forget.

So, when you are at your home with those special people in your life, drinking your spiced coffee and hot chocolate, turn off that TV and talk about those special moments in your life that are etched in your mind.          

I guarantee there will be laughs and some happy tears!

This is what makes a house, a home.

After all, Tis the season to remember, that we're never far from home.

Happy Holidays, Everyone

Furnace Filters! I'm So Confused!!

 

Question:  I am so confused about what type of furnace filter I should use for optimum performance? What do you see when you view so many homes?

Answer: We recently read this in Hvac.com. There seems to be so many opinions on what kind of furnace filter should be used in your furnace. There are filters with heavy material and filters with very little material. They say one may not do the job and the other may harm your furnace and wallet. You should check with your Hvac provider. 

Anyway, here's what the they wrote:

"When it comes to measuring air filter efficiency, a rating system called MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is used. This system rates filters on a scale from 1 to 20, with higher numbers indicating better particle removal efficiency. Filters with a higher MERV rating tend to cost more than less efficient filters.

It’s essential to note that air filters with a higher MERV rating may not be appropriate for use with your furnace. Depending on your unit, a high MERV rating can be too restrictive and may affect your HVAC system’s overall performance.

Filters with higher MERV ratings typically have denser materials designed to trap finer particles. However, this density can lead to increased resistance to airflow. If the filter restricts airflow excessively, it can strain the HVAC system, causing reduced efficiency and potentially leading to overheating.

The higher resistance to airflow caused by a high-MERV filter can force the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. This increased workload results in higher energy consumption, leading to elevated utility bills.

Strain on the HVAC system caused by restricted airflow can contribute to premature wear and tear on components such as the blower motor and the fan. This can cause more frequent breakdowns and a shortened overall lifespan of the system.

A filter with too high of a MERV rating may impede the flow of conditioned air into your living spaces. This can result in uneven heating or cooling and decreased comfort levels throughout your home. 

To avoid these issues, it’s essential to choose an air filter with a MERV rating that aligns with the recommendations of your HVAC system’s manufacturer. Most residential HVAC systems work well with filters in the MERV 8 to MERV 13 range. Higher-rated MERV filters should only be used with systems designed to accommodate such filters."