Learning Center

“ON” or “AUTO” – the importance of the fan setting in Charleston, SC

As a moisture control expert in Charleston, one common problem that I run into is the fan setting on the air conditioner’s thermostat. Virtually all modern thermostats have two settings for the fan - Auto and ON. The layperson may think it only natural that you would want the fan set to ON to keep air moving and better distribute the conditioned air throughout the home.

Things to Consider When Selecting Your Environmental Control System

Home owners/buyers should be aware that humidity control (or moisture removal) is onlya secondary benefit of standard air conditioning (i.e. moisture is only removed when thethermostat is calling for cooling). Although currently accepted HVAC load estimatingmethodologies attempt to maximize the moisture removal capabilities of standard airconditioning, it does not ensure satisfactory results …

Indoor Environmental Control in the Hot, Humid South

Building Codes require that residential cooling systems be designed to maintain an interior temperature of no less that 75º on a design day as defined by ASHRAE. Design day temperatures for Charleston, South Carolina are 92º dry bulb (thermometer reading) and 78º wet bulb (indication of relative humidity). These "standard" design conditions have been developed by ASHRAE and are incorporated into ACCA’s (Air Conditioning …

Moisture & Indoor Air Quailty

Coastal South Carolina is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on earth to call home. Unfortunately, our wonderful Lowcountry experience also comes with moisture and indoor air quality challenges as unique as the region …

Building Design Considerations

Windows and glass doors are the largest single source of heat gain in most houses. Houses with extensive glass exposures are particularly difficult to control due to the thermal performance of glass and high peak-to- part load ratios …

Encapsulated Crawl Spaces

If you don’t know what an encapsulated crawl space is, you might want to do some research. If properly designed and installed, closed crawl spaces WORK – that’s what all the talk is about …

Cupping Hardwood Floors

Unfortunately, cupping is often just one sign of a more serious problem - excessive moisture in the crawl space that could cause serious structural damage to your home, or worse, create mold-related health concerns for you and your family…

Dehumidification

Duct Cleaning

GLS Engineering & Testing is hesitant to recommend duct cleaning as a stand-alone solution to Indoor Air Quality. Why? Because ducts should not require routine cleaning - if your ducts are dirty, there is a problem that needs to be addressed…

Healthy Air

Mold is the #1 threat to the indoor environment. All mold is allergenic and some can be toxic. According to the EPA, mycotoxins, produced by mold during metabolic phases and as a defense mechanism, can cause illnesses ranging from an allergic reaction to cancer…

But I Like It COLD

The following text is from a letter written to an Air Conditioning Contractor in response to his concerns about oversizing equipment for a customer in order to maintain a low interior temperature, and the implications of the low thermostat setting…

ASPERGILLUS

Aspergillus is the mold most commonly associated with health-related reactions and is also the most problematic mold in the Southeast. More alarming is that Aspergillus is rarely visible. Undetected, it can saturate the air in your home or office with spores that continuously wear on your immune system and result in a host of heath reactions…