Turning Problems Into Opportunities in Skilled Trades

Every problem presents an opportunity to discover a solution. Maybe the issue requires putting in a little extra work. Or, maybe, solving it means going back to the drawing board entirely and completely adjusting your approach.

Addressing the Skilled Worker Shortage in Iowa and Nationwide

We have a problem here in Iowa. Actually, this problem is affecting America as a whole. We need to train and hire 3.4 million skilled workers in the next 10 years. And the demand for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) workers alone is expected to grow by 14 percent by 2024. We could stew and worry and be consumed by the magnitude of this problem, but I’d rather start focusing on the solution.

Why the Next Generation Is Key to the Trades Workforce

In my opinion, these individuals right here are the answer.

And there are a lot of Des Moines business leaders who agree with me. That’s why we all teamed up to form the Skilled Trades Alliance. Working to raise awareness around the need for skilled workers and the benefits a career in the trades can offer, the Skilled Trades Alliance is comprised of representatives from various industries including homebuilding, concrete, welding, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and more. In partnership with Central Campus and Des Moines Public Schools, we’re hoping to bring real-world experience to the next generation of workers.

Skilled Trades Camp: Hands-On Learning Across Industries

One of the first initiatives presented by the Alliance was a week-long Skilled Trades Camp held in June. Campers signed up to spend each day learning about a different trade from construction to carpentry. The only pre-requisites were a good attitude and a willingness to participate and learn.

While people often talk about how important it is to expose high school students to a possible skilled trades career, we think the conversation needs to start even earlier than that. That’s why our campers were students entering the eighth or ninth grade. The earlier young people are introduced to jobs in skilled work, the more time they have to consider pursuing it as a career path.

Bell Brothers’ Role in Supporting All Skilled Trades

Bell Brothers, was happy to host five different groups of campers throughout the week. Campers got to learn about HVAC equipment and our apprenticeship program as well as visit an actual construction site to see how all the trades work together to accomplish a common goal. We think the campers learned a lot from the experience, and I know the Bell Brothers team came away with some valuable lessons as well.

A Challenge and an Opportunity to Grow Iowa’s Workforce

So, yes, we’re staring a big challenge in the face. The consequences of a shrinking workforce are rapidly approaching. But what a great opportunity to educate our kids about the many advantages that come with a career in the trades — advantages like higher average salaries, no college debt, on-the-job training, and working within a much-needed industry for a company that is eager to invest in young people and help them realize their full potential.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Skilled Trades Careers

The Skilled Trades Alliance is just getting started. We have big plans for the future and for how we’re going to involve Iowa’s youth in these growing industries. Stay up to date on our efforts by following the Bell Brothers Facebook page as well as the Central Campus Facebook page.

Chuck and Steve discuss one of the questions we hear all the time: Should I set my HVAC system fan to the “ON” or “AUTO” setting on my thermostat?

Head over to our Facebook page to watch the video.

One of the questions we get all the time — why is furnace and AC maintenance so expensive? Chuck is here to explain why regular maintenance is important and how it might actually save you money in the end.

Head over to our Facebook page to watch the video.

If it’s the first time you’re having your furnace checked, it can be hard to know what to expect. With many companies and claims in the area, there are some best practices you can look to when choosing a heating and cooling contractor.

• Free evaluations and cost estimates — You should not pay for evaluations or estimates of work that may be needed in your home.
• Clear plan for work — While unexpected obstacles or additional repairs can come up during any project, your contractor should be able to outline the plan for work and a cost estimate in advance.
• Respect for your home — Your home should be in the same condition after the contractor’s work as it was beforehand. This includes the contractor handling cleanup and any repairs to walls, etc.
• Right tools for the job — Your contractor should have all the tools needed for the job, including ladders.
• Insurance to protect you — Reputable contractors insure their workers to protect you in case they are accidentally injured while working in your home.

Unfortunately, not all HVAC contractors have your best interests in mind, and they may be looking for a way to make a quick sale. The following scenarios are signs of improper sales tactics:

• Carbon monoxide claims — You should not be told that carbon monoxide is present in your home without the use of a measuring device. Other signs to watch for include being told that your lips are blue, or that the technician is lightheaded and that these conditions are being caused by carbon monoxide in your home.
• Heat exchanger excuses — If you’re told that your heat exchanger is cracked, you must be given proof or a reasonable explanation. Be careful of pictures of a heat exchanger crack that may actually be a stamping mark. Another poor sign is if you are not told that a heat exchanger warranty may be in effect if your current unit is less than 20 years old.
• Another questionable tactic is a contractor advertising a special maintenance price, but you find out later the fee only covers an inspection — not the actual maintenance cost.

Learn more: Why Does My Furnace Smell Like Something Is Burning?

Purchase-process red flags — You should never feel forced to buy. In the state of Iowa, any contractor must honor your request to cancel a contract within three days of signing. Here are some red flags:

• The brand name of the equipment you’re buying is withheld from you.
• You see an ad for something that appears too good to be true and the company cannot provide you with clear terms or “fine print” to back it up.
• You’re forced to return product brochures or proposal paperwork to the representative unless you sign a contract to buy.
• The company can’t support their claims that the new “high-efficiency” equipment you’re buying truly meets the industry definition — and isn’t just performing at a higher efficiency than what you have now.
• You’re being asked to buy due to “factory overstock,” “truckload pricing,” or “never-pay-for-a-service-call-again” promotions.

Bell Brothers was voted the best HVAC contractor in the Des Moines metro by readers of the Des Moines Register. We are proud of this title and take the responsibility of keeping our customers’ homes safe and comfortable very seriously. If you have any questions about the maintenance and equipment service process, don’t hesitate to call us.

Learn more: What Furnace Settings Are Ideal?

How to Choose the Right HVAC Unit Size

When we’re considering buying a vehicle, one of the first factors we consider is the gas mileage. The gas mileage, when it comes to both city and highway driving, is an indication of efficiency. Cars are much more efficient when cruising at a consistent speed on the highway as opposed to the stop-and-go of city driving. People are usually very concerned with the efficiency of their vehicle but often overlook the importance of selecting the right heating and cooling system to maximize efficiency.

To maximize efficiency, think about choosing a system that allows your AC to circulate air consistently. Like a car driving on the highway, you want to eliminate as much starting and stopping as possible. An AC system that’s properly sized to your home will constantly be running — not shifting between high-blast and not running at all.

Why Proper AC Sizing Matters for Comfort and Efficiency

Customers frequently ask us, “What size air conditioner do I need?” When it comes to choosing an air conditioner that’s going to make your home as comfortable as possible, it’s not always best to super-size the system. A unit that is too small for your home will be working too hard to reach your desired temperature, if it reaches that temperature at all. If it’s too big, however, the AC will begin a cycle between blasting cold air and shutting off completely. Like a car in the city, this is not an efficient way to operate.

An air conditioner also dehumidifies a house. If it is oversized, it won’t always be running, which means it isn’t dehumidifying. A humid house will feel much warmer than it really is. A system that is the right size will continuously run — keeping the humidity at the appropriate level.

An HVAC professional will help you determine a system that’s right for your home.

Consider Efficient Air Conditioner Technology

Air conditioners today are equipped with technology that makes it easier to keep your system operating efficiently. Variable capacity equipment, like the Carrier® Infinity® system, is a good example of that technology at work.

The Infinity system measures indoor temperature, indoor relative humidity, and outdoor temperature, and uses these measurements to adjust its operating capacity as needed. The system tracks how long it takes to reach the desired temperature in the house and adjusts the capacity of the unit to meet that requirement. Varying capacity results in lower humidity levels in the house which means people are more comfortable at a warmer temperature. Instead of 72 degrees, they may set it at 76, which saves money on cooling costs.

Updated: August 9th, 2021

I'm a big basketball fan, and in this post I'll be sharing how using a "zone defense" can help homeowners with heating and cooling costs.

Right now, many homeowners manually close registers in rooms that aren’t in use to reduce wasted heating or cooling. If we’re continuing with the basketball metaphor, this is more like a man-to-man defense. Unfortunately, this approach can compromise the efficiency of the system and make it work harder than necessary. Thanks to technology advancements, there’s a more convenient and more efficient way of controlling the heating and cooling output. This method is called “zoning your home.”

What is zoning your home?

Zoning allows homeowners to heat and cool different rooms — or zones — at different temperatures. A homeowner can control multiple zones separately to reduce hot and cold spots for more consistent comfort. Zoning your home can be more energy-efficient, as it allows for individual room temperature control. For example, you can set the temperature of the nursery or an office at 72 degrees, your living room at 70 degrees and the basement at 68 degrees.

How does zoned temperature control work?

Zoning a home starts with the ductwork. Each duct has a damper inside that will regulate airflow to each zone in the home. Depending on the system, the dampers are automatically controlled by a network of thermostats or sensors. When there is just one thermostat for an entire home, different areas may be up to five degrees off the desired temperature. With a thermostat or sensor in each zone, however, those inconsistencies are greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated. With some systems, you can coordinate settings for up to eight zones with full, seven-day programmability.

You may want to consider zoning if your home has:

• More than one level
• A sprawling single-level floor plan
• A room over the garage
• A room addition
• A finished room in the basement or attic
• A room built on a concrete slab floor
• Vaulted ceilings or lofts
• Rooms with expansive windows
• Infrequently used rooms or areas

Central Iowans make their homes comfortable by controlling the temperature and humidity level inside their house. But two things can prevent this from happening easily and efficiently: air leaks and negative pressure. While air leaks are well-known to many homeowners, negative pressure may not be. This means there is less air in your home than outside, which causes the house to pull in air to try to balance out the pressure.

Both air leaks and negative pressure lead to air infiltration in your home, which can negatively impact your comfort.

• Cold, dry air gets into your home during the winter.
• Hot, humid air infiltrates your home during the summer.
• Both of these scenarios force the furnace and air conditioner to work harder to maintain the preferred settings.
• When the HVAC system works harder, heating and cooling costs increase.

Air Leaks
Some air leaks are easy to spot. Make sure to use weather stripping around your windows and doors for a tighter seal. Investing in new windows will make those leaks practically non-existent. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, make sure the damper is closed when not in use.

Other air leaks are less noticeable and trickier to find. Did you know air can enter your home through electrical boxes? Many outlets, light switches and lighting fixtures aren’t insulated. For example, if there is an attic directly above recessed ceiling lights, that cold or hot attic air can seep into your living space. Or, air infiltration can happen through outlets on exterior walls. If you add those all up, it sure can make a difference. Fortunately, this can be easily remedied by adding foam inserts in the electrical boxes, which is inexpensive and can be found at your local home improvement store.

Negative Pressure
When a home is in a negative pressure situation, it needs to replace that air by pulling in outside air from the easiest source. There are three main sources for creating a negative pressure in your home:

• Exhaust fan
• Dryer
• Water heater (draws air from the room for the combustion process and then exhausts it outdoors)

These three conveniences suck the air out of your home. If a door isn’t properly sealed or electrical boxes aren’t insulated, they can become a location for easy air infiltration.

There are a few tips to follow to keep your home from experiencing negative pressure.

• Don’t let the bathroom exhaust fans run all day. For ease, you can install a 20-minute timer for them to shut off automatically.
• Only use the kitchen range or microwave exhaust when you’re cooking.
• The clothes dryer removes a ton of air from your house. Consider not doing multiple loads of laundry back-to-back.
• In addition, try not to use the exhaust and dryer at the same time.

Addressing air leaks and negative pressure will help keep your Central Iowa home more comfortable, your HVAC system from working overtime, and your heating and cooling costs from increasing.

Imagine never worrying about maintenance or replacement of your electronics, car or home — it sure would be great. Unfortunately, we know that’s not the case. Many items we own need to be maintained and eventually replaced. You probably replace your smartphone every two years and your car every five to 10 years, but your home’s heating and cooling system will last 17 to 20 years. For many homeowners, they only purchase one new system in their lifetime.

Every HVAC system won’t last 20 years on its own. Here are several contributing factors you need to know.

1. Location
   Living in Iowa, your air conditioner and furnace each only work three to six months of the year. Lower operating hours mean a longer life expectancy. Compare that to homes in the Southwestern United States that require air conditioning for more months of the year or northern states that require more heating throughout the year.
2. Maintenance
   We recommend one yearly tune-up for your air conditioner and one for your furnace. Lack of maintenance can take years off the life expectancy. Plus, the system could lose up to 40 percent efficiency, which means you’ll be paying more in energy bills.
3. Proper use
   It’s tempting to set the thermostat to 68 degrees on those sweltering summer days or 76 on those wicked winter nights. Unfortunately, setting it to the extreme is overworking the system, which will reduce its useful life. Also, if you turn your system on and off frequently, the engine is being overworked. On average, the unit runs 10 minutes before reaching peak efficiency.
4. Right-sized
   For years it was common practice to install a bigger unit than what was needed in homes. Now, HVAC professionals can find a unit that is right-sized to your home’s needs. If the unit is not properly sized, it’s most likely working too hard or too inefficiently, which can take time off its useful life.

Here are two important reasons you need to know the life expectancy of your air conditioning unit.

1. Avoid health risks
   Continuing to use a system past its useful life runs the risk of a carbon monoxide leak. The odorless, colorless and tasteless gas can be deadly if not quickly detected.
2. Avoid a breakdown
   You may be thinking — if it’s not broke, why replace it? Knowing your system is at the end of its life can help you avoid an unexpected complete breakdown. Emergency replacements can be inconvenient to schedule and difficult to pay for (if you haven’t been saving up) and could leave your family without cooling or heating when Mother Nature is at her worst.