Home Owner Information
In This Section:
Home Owner's Handbook
Heating & Cooling Equipment
Air Duct System
Insulation
Remodeling & Improvements
Home Repair References
Home Owner's Handbook
A wealth of information about repairing and maintaining your:
- Appliances
- Air Conditioning & Home Climate Products
- Doors
- Roofing
- Flooring
- Electrical
- Siding
- Plumbing
- Windows
Heating & Cooling Equipment
Three important factors for efficient cooling and heating:
- Heat pump/air conditioner rated 12 SEER or higher
- Equipment is properly sized for the home as shown by a heating and cooling load analysis
- Programmable thermostat
Air Duct System
Four important things to look for:
- Attic ducts not crushed or deformed, and the outer covering is not torn
- Ducts are sealed with mastic sealant (not tape)
- Duct pressure is tested for air leaks by a qualified technician, and ducts have no more than 3% air leakage
- More than one return-air vent for proper recirculation
Insulation
What's the best type of insulation for your home? The kinds that's installed correctly! Gaps, voids, and compression of insulation can reduce its R-value by as much as 2/3rds!
Like other building components, the quality of installation can have a dramatic impact on the actual installed performance of insulation. In order to achieve its rated R-value, insulation needs to be properly installed. Here are the things to avoid in order to get the most value from insulation:
GAPS between the insulation and the building frame as little as 1/8th inch can reduce the effective R-value by almost one-half!
VOIDS (areas with no insulation) can also significantly reduce the over R-value of the insulation. For example, an R-30 ceiling with a 5% void area will perform like R-14 insulation.
COMPRESSION (insulation "squished" to fit into a space) is directly related to effective R-value. Compressing insulation by 50% will cause a loss of about 50% of its R-value.
MISALIGNMENT can result in a complete loss of effective R-value. For insulation to work properly, it must be installed in complete contact with the home's air barrier.
If air is allowed to pass through or around insulation (WIND INTRUSION), it becomes completely ineffective.
Together, these can reduce insulation performance as much as 2/3rds or more!
Also, if you add insulation with paper or foil backing, be sure to have new insulation touch old insulation and NOT new foil/paper backing touch old insulation. The latter situation might lead to condensation forming on the foil/paper, then dripping onto the old insulation which creates compression and possibly dripping onto the ceiling drywall!
Remodeling & Improvements
Need Home Repair?
Here is a list of phone numbers to call for referrals.
| Arizona Evaporative Cooling Council |
(602) 263-8037 |
| Arizona Heat Pump Council |
(602) 248-7767 |
| Arizona Electric Council |
(602) 277-3736 |
| Arizona Roofing Council |
(602) 285-5664 |
| Arizona Plumbing Council |
(602) 285-5563 |
| Arizona Energy Management Council |
(602) 277-3736 |
| Arizona Lighting Council |
(602) 285-0640 |
| Arizona Appliance Council |
(602) 248-0331 |
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