Posts Tagged ‘ building custom home ’

Exploring Geothermal Heating and Cooling

With people becoming more conscious of the environment, and wanting their dollars to go further, companies around the world are coming up with new technology to satisfy consumers. Enter Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems. These systems are both environmentally friendly and have lower operating costs.

Geothermal Systems use the Earth to heat and cool air in the home using a series of pipes, called a loop, which is installed below the surface of the ground. During the winter, Earth’s natural heat is collected as fluid circulates through the loop. It is then carried into the house where an electrical compressor and heat exchanger concentrate the Earth’s energy and releases it inside the home at higher temperatures. In summer, the home is not cooled by blowing in cold air, but rather drawing the heat from inside the home and cycles through the loop where it is absorbed by the Earth.

These systems also produce much less greenhouse gases than air conditioners, oil furnaces, and electric heating. The US Environmental Protection Agency has called ground source heat pumps the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available. Further, geothermal heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance. The underground piping for the system is often guaranteed to last 25 to 50 years. And with no outside condensing units like air conditioners, they are quieter to operate.

All in all, geothermal heating and cooling is a good way to go. While the upfront cost may be a little more, the long term benefits make up for it. By using a renewable resource (the Earth’s heat) and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, there is a much smaller environmental footprint left behind.

Thank you for reading.

www.masterstch.com

2013
04/24
CATEGORY
April 2013
Uncategorized
TAGS







































Leave a comment

Simple Steps to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is critical in maintaining your health.  The source of pollutants can be broad and difficult to identify.  Signs that your home has poor air quality is if you notice a change in your health after moving into your new home or harsh odors can also be an identifier of poor indoor air quality.    When compared to outdoor air quality, indoor air quality can be 2-5 times more polluted which is alarming as people spend a majority of their time indoors.  

There are three categories for improving indoor air quality:

  • Source Control
  • Improved Ventilation, and
  • Air cleaners

Here are some simple steps that can be taken to improve the overall air quality in your home:

1.  Air out all furniture and carpet for 48 hours prior to bringing them indoors.

This is the time where the new items off gas the chemicals that they obtained while being manufactured.  The smell that comes from new furniture or carpet is the slow release of VOCs (Volatile organic compounds), it is best to prevent those chemicals from ever entering your home by letting the toxins escape from the fabric.

2. Install a carbon monoxide detector

Carbon monoxide levels can rise quickly in unventilated areas without anyone noticing as there are no signs of the colorless, odorless, toxic gas.  The carbon monoxide detectors need to be installed close to the bedrooms and there needs to be at least one on every level.  Gasses in a home such a carbon monoxide need to be carefully managed by making sure proper ventilation over stoves and fireplaces is in place to control the potentially hazardous gasses.

3. Prevent any Water From Entering Your Home

Check your roof, foundation and basement or crawlspace once a year to catch leaks or moisture problems and route water away from your home’s foundation.  Leaks need to be fixed in a timely fashion to avoid moisture from spreading and gaining momentum which could potentially lead to mold and other issues compromising the air quality in your home.   Ventilating the bathroom can also help draw out moisture in an otherwise damp environment.  Moisture can be a leading culprit for harboring bacteria, when higher humidity levels are reached your walls are liable to start producing condensation.  Damp environments are harmful as bacterial thrives in a wet environment and ultimately those toxins can be released into the air.

4. Proper selection and maintenance of your air filter

Filters are measured by (MERV) minimum-efficiency reporting value based on their efficiency to remove particles from the air.  It is recommended to start with a MERV 9 rated filter or better.  A general rule of thumb is to change your air filter every 30-60 days depending on the level of occupancy and if you have pets in your home.

We hope this information has been helpful in the quest for breathing clean healthy air in your home!

Thank you for reading.  You can find our website at: www.masterstch.com

2013
02/06
CATEGORY
February 2013
TAGS







































Leave a comment

Products For Health and Safety in Your Home

Throughout the years of building houses we have come across a few items that help improve health and safety in your home.

1. Kiddie Smoke  Detector

A lithium battery operated smoke detector allows you to never have to worry about replacing batteries as it self charges off the home’s current.  This smoke detector is particularly helpful with houses with high ceilings, making it very difficult to change the batteries.   Kidde 0910 10-Yr Sealed Lithium Battery-Operated Smoke Alarm is made up of a sealed-in lithium energy offer that lasts the lifetime of the unit.  Trusted and straightforward to install, this no-maintenance alarm saves on labor and battery charges in excess of its lifetime.  This smoke detector is standard in all homes built by Masters Touch Custom Homes.

2. Great Ways to Collect Dust In Your Home: 

New Construction Homes commonly have a lot of dust in the air in the initial few weeks.  Taking an air filter and attaching it to a box fan is a great solution to trap some of the dust.  This is also a great device to put in place for people who suffer from dust allergies.  A simple contraption to enhance the air quality in a house with items that are easily accessible.

3. Enviro Coat-Premium Interior Zero VOC Paints:

 

Some paint companies have started manufacturing paint formulas that do not emit VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds).  This product will maintain healthy indoor air quality versus using  some of the traditional paints.  This paint also eliminates compounds that affect exterior air quality.  Using zero VOC paints is critical is highly sensitive area where some people are  have low tolerance for irritants that are present in standard paint products.

 

 

Thank you for reading.  Our website can be found at: www.masterstch.com

2013
01/07
CATEGORY
January 2013
TAGS







































Leave a comment

Masters Touch Custom Homes

Masters Touch Custom Homes has been invited to build in the Parade of Homes 2010 at Rough Hollows on Lake Travis. Their home sits on one of the best view lots in the Bluffs section at Rough Hollows. The views are expansive of Lake Travis and the lush tree scape of the Canyon. The MTCH home will be 4000 sq ft heated and cooled and will display many technologies such as spray foam insulation, Heat and Glow cyclone fireplaces, 4 star City of Austin Green and Energy functions, interior waterfalls that cascade down the staircase. The architecture style will be French Old World. They will have a formal but yet Old World Feel. There will be a copper range hood, a stone dome ceiling with a Oculous opening. Please come visit our Home in the Lakeway Area Fall of 2010.