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THIS AIR WE BREATHE….
A note from the editor

All bluffing aside, it's amazing what we take for granted. Before coming to work for Schneider, I had no idea a heating & air conditioning company played so vital a role when it came to my health and well being. Duh—think again!

We spend a majority of our time inside our homes and workplaces. Plain and simple, the quality of the air we breathe becomes part and parcel of who we are physically.

What pushes through or grows in our duct systems, air conditioners and furnaces is the air we breathe. We breathe gases, smoke, cleaning agents, mold, pollen, hair spray, deodorants, and any other natural or synthetic airborne substances in our midst.

Those of us with allergies are more sensitive to the air; thus, a need for special filters and air cleaners becomes the norm.

In newer homes, the construction is mega-tight for the sake of energy efficiency-so tight in fact that we now must bring in fresh air via air-to-air exchangers and vents. We monitor and control the amount of fresh air and humidity to protect ourselves and our homes.

We hang up CO detectors, install radon mitigation systems (especially near the bluffs here in the coulee region), and hire professionals using computer generated home efficiency equipment to restore a sensible balance between energy efficiency and fresh air exchange.

For many of us, simply opening a window gives us the fresh outside air we need, versus breathing stale and contaminated inside air. Unfortunately, this is not always the best option.

My advice concerning our option to breathe healthy air-and this comes after years of gasping ignorance- is to talk with one of our comfort specialists. Why? Because we care.

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IN-FLOOR RADIANT HEAT:
Cozy and Comfortable

If comfort is the name of the game, in-floor radiant heating takes top honors. Imagine a warm and cozy basement floor. Want to add immediate value to your home? Have In-Floor radiant heating installed by an expert in the field, and you'll experience heat like you've never had it before.

In-Floor heating is supplied by tubes filled with warm liquid. The tubes are embedded within the flooring, looped and spaced evenly for optimum heat distribution (see picture below). The liquid in the tubes circulates, and can be heated in several different ways.

"We use anything from certified water heaters, to boiler systems, to ground-source heat pumps," said Jim Komay, HVAC system design engineer at Schneider Heating. "To determine your best option, we really should stop by your home, or work straight from your house plans."

In-Floor radiant heating can be used to heat isolated areas of a home, or to totally replace conventional heating systems.

"We have installed dozens of jobs using In-Floor as the only source of heat," said Dave Mulder, HVAC comfort specialist at Schneider. "By far this is the most comfortable heat available today-and it's cheap to operate."

Zoning and the low amount of energy required for this type of heating helps keep utility bills down to a minimum. "You can expect to pay, on average, about twenty percent less on your heating bills," said Mulder.

Installing the Wirsbo tubing before the concrete is poured (or the floors are finished), is another way to save money when building or remodeling. This is called "radiant-ready" and allows you to complete the system later.

The lasting secret to this increasingly popular method of heating rests on both the materials and workmanship. "There is only one option to avoid the future risk of decaying tubing (and other problems)-and that is by correctly installing Wirsbo PEX tubing," said Mulder.

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MOTHER EARTH:
Geo-Thermal Heating & Cooling

Inside it feels warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Neighbors aren't bothered by the outside buzzing of an air conditioning unit in the summer. The equipment has few moving parts, and is contained inside your home, and has an underground connection worthy of mention.

Special polyethylene pipe is buried horizontally or vertically in a closed loop deep below the surface of the earth. A water-antifreeze solution is circulated through the piping, and from the earth it gathers all the heat mother nature has to offer. The heat is then distributed throughout your home, church, school, or office.

In summer, a simple flick of a switch reverses the process, and the heat is pulled from your home and returned to the earth.

This is an excellent way to utilize nature in a friendly way to cool and heat your home.

If you are planning to build a new home, and would like some great ideas-try this one: combine an Econar geothermal heat pump and a Wirsbo In-Floor radiant heating system.

Talk about maximizing your comfort and taking care of the environment at the same time!

Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning specializes in geo-thermal energy systems and In-Floor radiant heating. Call today at 782-4035 for free consultation and estimates.

Did You Know?
YOU CAN COMBINE...Geo-Source & In-Floor Radiant Heat

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POSITIVE Vs NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE

Imagine a balloon being inflated, and you can imagine positive air pressure in your home. At the first prick of your finger, all of the air whooshes out through the opening.

Roughly, the same thing happens when your home is under positive air pressure. Gases and smoke exit your home through chimneys and flues. This is good.

On the other hand, when negative air pressure exists in your home, what do you think happens to the gases and smoke? Exactly-just the opposite. Gases, smoke and ash all get sucked right back into your home. This is not good.

Remember, carbon monoxide is tasteless, odorless, and it kills. Carbon monoxide is created by the burning of any fuel. Sources include: oil or gas water heaters, dryers, stoves and furnaces. A top of the line CO detector is recommended.

If your home is under negative air pressure, potentially, this is a very dangerous situation. It is advisable to have your furnace cleaned and inspected on an annual basis. The heat exchanger should be inspected for hairline cracks, so in the event of negative air pressure harmful gases will not be sucked into the circulating air in the duct system of your home.

Negative air pressure can also be caused by running all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans at the same time-especially if they powerful. Exhaust fans, if powerful enough, will create negative air pressure. It is wise to open a window, allowing fresh air inside.

Black dust may accumulate around the home, and if this happens it should be considered a warning sign. Although candles can produce black dust-black dust is nothing to sneeze at, and you should immediately contact Schneider Heating & A/C at 782-4035.

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An Oldie but Goodie...

In June of 1958, 2 men were photographed in front of a
Schneider furnace-cleaning truck in downtown La Crosse.

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Y2K ISSUE: Have No Fear

You may have wondered about Y2K (Year 2000) concerns, and your Carrier heating, ventilation and cooling equipment.

If you own residential Carrier air conditioners, furnaces, thermostats, zoning controls, air exchangers, etc., you can relax because everything is fine!

According to a report issued to Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning by Carrier Corporation-there is nothing to fear when the new millennium rolls around.

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PREPARING YOUR AIR CONDITIONER

There are a few things to do before firing up your cooling system. First things first, uncover your outside condensing unit!

If You Previously Shut Off Power To Your A/C

Many models require the power to your air conditioner (A/C) to be turned on 48 hours prior to running your A/C. On newer models, there is a heater used to warm the base of the compressor where oil is stored. The heater requires electrical power to do the job.

Have the Entire System Cleaned and Adjusted by Certified Technicians

Schneider offers a yearly GoldStar Planned Service program for no extra cost. GoldStar customers get a discount on the cleaning and tune-up, PLUS free troubleshooting 24 hours per day should you need a technician.

Important benefits of a yearly cleaning and adjustment include: energy efficiency; equipment reliability; and equipment longevity.

Be sure to take care of any air cleaners and filters on a regular basis-not only for improving the quality of air you breathe, but also to minimize equipment functionality problems associated with the obstruction of air-flow.

GoldStar tune-up summary: you automatically get a discount with great benefits, and receive a postcard reminding you of the scheduled date.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kurt Bendel

Kurt Bendel recently celebrated his 15th wedding anniversay, and for nearly two-thirds of that time he has worked with Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning.

"We get a tremendous number of compliments on Kurt's work," said Mark J. Schneider. "From both co-workers and people in the community."

"I really like what I'm doing right now, work-wise," said Kurt. "I work mostly with new home installations-anything from air exchangers and duct systems, to heating and air conditioning systems."

Kurt is a licensed gas piper, and has received certification in air balancing from course study conducted at the UW School of Engineering.

"I started low on the totem pole in 1990, mainly as an oil pumper (emptying the oil out of old oil tanks)," said Kurt. "I would really like to continue to increase my worth with Schneider." Kurt specifically wants to get more involved in system controls and multi-zoned heating and cooling systems.

Kurt wants to learn more about computers. "My kids know more than I do," said Kurt. "I would also like to learn more about the Internet."

Kurt and his wife, Denise, have one son and one daughter. Elyse is 12, and Jared is 13 years old.

Some of Kurt's hobbies are: family camping; bicycling; hunting; fishing; and target shooting.

On a good day, Kurt will leave the car at home and ride his bicycle to work. He does this because he enjoys it and because it helps burn a few calories.

Hats off to Kurt and the outstanding job he has done at Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning!

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DID YOU KNOW? Schneider Offers 24 Hour Service