Residential Maintenance Agreements Keep Your HVAC System In Top Shape

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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Regular maintenance is an excellent way to keep your home heating and cooling system working great for years.  For most forced air heating and air conditioning systems, scheduled service by an HVAC professional twice a year will help the system operate at peak efficiency through the summer and winter cooling and heating seasons.

Some homeowners either forget to schedule their service or skip regular service calls because their heating and cooling system seems to be working well they don’t see the need to spend the money on scheduled service.  Over time, however, regular service can save you money on your energy bills and on repairs.

Just like any mechanical equipment, your heating and cooling system will slowly become less efficient.  This happens so slowly that most homeowners are not even aware of it.  As the system loses efficiency, energy bills slowly rise and again, the homeowner doesn’t notice it or attributes it to something else.

Since the system is not working as efficiently as it can, it has to run longer to keep the home comfortably warm or cold.  Running longer means that the system is working harder than it should and inevitably it will break down sooner than it should.

Fortunately, most HVAC contractors offer residential HVAC maintenance agreements that help assure the heating and cooling system is in top condition.  In many cases, the homeowner will not only get a break on the cost of a regular service visit, but they will not have to remember to schedule service.  The HVAC contractor will automatically schedule service when it is time.

With a residential maintenance agreement, your HVAC system will get the regular service it needs to operate at peak efficiency and to last for years.

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Why Can’t My Air Conditioner Keep Up?

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
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Summer is almost here and soon temperatures will be really heating up.  If this summer is anything like last summer, many parts of the country will be seeing record highs.  These high temperatures will be keeping your air conditioner working hard to keep you and your family cool and comfortable this summer.

It’s not unusual for an air conditioner to be working extra hard in hot weather like this, but if your air conditioner is working overtime and your home is still not comfortable, it may be time to call your heating and air conditioning company to have the system checked out.

Before you make the call, it pays to check your air filter first. A dirty furnace filter can significantly reduce your central air conditioner’s efficiency and you can save the cost of a service call if a dirty air filter is the cause of the problem.  If you find a dirty air filter clogged with dust, pet hair, and other debris, install a new air filter and see if it helps.  If your system is still struggling, then it’s time for the experts in air conditioning repair.

Your HVAC technician will service the system including adjusting the refrigerant levels and making sure the system is working properly.  If the system is working as designed, you may need to have your duct system sealed and inspected.  It is estimated that leaky air ducts can reduce your HVAC system’s efficiency by up to 20%.  Sealing leaky air ducts can make a big difference, especially if your duct system is routed through non-conditioned space like an attic, basement, or crawlspace.

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Two Stage Furnace Benefits

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Furnaces
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Summer may seem like an odd time to buy a new furnace, but it is actually a great time to get a good deal on the best selection of energy efficient furnaces.  And there is no better time to install your new furnace.  By selecting and installing your new furnace in the summer months, you can take your time and will not be rushed by the need to get the furnace replacement done as soon as possible.

While shopping for a new furnace, ask your HVAC professional about the benefits of a two stage furnace.  Most homeowners assume that the greatest benefit of a two stage furnace is that they are very energy efficient.  While it’s true that two stage furnaces are energy efficient, what most homeowner appreciate is that they will keep your home more comfortable.

A traditional single stage furnace operates at only level.  The furnace is either on or off and the temperature of your home is controlled by how long the furnace runs.  The furnace turns on when the temperature drops below a certain level and shut off when reaches a degree or two above the desired temperature.  The result is that there is constant cycle of higher and lower temperatures as the furnace cycles on and off.

A two stage furnace operates differently.  It can operate at high and low so to avoid too much cycling on and off, it runs on low during mild weather.  It runs longer, but uses less energy and avoids the frequent temperature swings of a single stage furnace.  When temperatures drop the second stage kicks in for additional heat when it is needed.  With a two stage furnace, your home is more evenly heated with fewer temperature swings.

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High Efficiency Furnace Filters

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Uncategorized
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Forced air heating and cooling systems such as a heat pump or a central air conditioning system combined with a furnace are equipped with a furnace filter or air filter to reduce airborne contaminants and to help keep the heat exchanger and coil free of dust, dirt and debris.  Most homeowners know to change the filter regularly, but you can improve indoor air quality and provide an added measure of protection for your system by upgrading to a high efficiency furnace filter.

The standard blue fiberglass filters that most HVAC systems are equipped with do a good job of collecting large particles of dust and hair, but a lot of smaller particle easily pass through these filters.  Medium and high efficiency filters do a much better job of capturing smaller airborne particles.  These filters are pleated and can be purchased through your HVAC contractor or at your local home improvement center.

Furnace filters are rated based on their ability to capture small particles.  The higher the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), the better job the filter will do in capturing small particles.  Standard filters have very low MERV ratings, but pleated filters are made with a  range of MERV ratings from medium efficiency to ultra-high efficiency.  Before you rush out and buy the filter with the highest MERV rating you can find, keep in mind that these filters also restrict air flow.

Filter manufacturers claim that the airflow restriction is not significant, but an older system could be negatively affected by installation of an air filter with a very high MERV rating.  Try using a medium efficiency filter first.  If your system can move air through a medium efficiency filter without a problem, then you could consider a further upgrade.  Remember to check the filter frequently and change it whenever it gets dirty.

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Changing Furnace Filters

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
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Your furnace filter (or air filter if you have a heat pump) does double duty:  it helps improve indoor air quality by reducing the dust, dander and debris in the air, but more importantly it keeps the heat exchanger and coil clean.  A dirty heat exchanger or coil will reduce the efficiency and decrease the life of your heating and air conditioning system.

A dirty air filter will also reduce the efficiency of your system and lead to premature breakdowns.  A clogged furnace filter restricts air flow which makes the system work harder and less efficiently. Changing your furnace filter regularly will help keep your central air conditioner, forced air furnace or heat pump in top operating condition.

How often do you need to to change your furnace filter?  The short answer is to change the filter whenever it gets dirty which can vary greatly depending on how often your system has been running, whether you have pets, and other things. As a general rule, a standard fiberglass furnace filter should be changed every one to two months during the heating and cooling seasons.  A pleated or high efficiency filter will capture more dust and dirt particles and should be changed a little more frequently.

Your HVAC technician will replace the furnace filter during your scheduled spring and fall service visits, but you will need to change the filter between service visits.  Changing the furnace filter is a job that almost every homeowner can handle.  If you have never changed the filter, ask your HVAC technician to show you how to do it during your next service visit.

Furnace filters come in many different sizes so write down the size for your system and buy half a dozen air filters next time you are at your local home improvement center.  That way you will be sure to have one on hand when you need it.

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Understanding Your Heat Pump’s Odd Habits

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Heat Pumps
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A heat pump is an excellent, energy efficient heating and cooling system that works great in a wide variety of climates.  Advances in technology have made heat pumps as reliable as a standard forced air heating and cooling system and improved their heating ability in cooler climates.  As energy costs continue to rise, many homeowners are replacing their existing forced air systems with energy efficient heat pumps.

If you are the proud owner of a new heat pump, you are probably already aware of the benefits of energy efficient heating and cooling that a heat pump can provide.  What you may not know is that a heat pump can take a little getting used to.

When running in air conditioning mode, your heat pump will operate almost exactly like your old central air conditioner.  One thing you may notice is that it runs a little longer than your old system did and may run constantly on extremely hot days.  Heat pumps are sized for efficient operation during normal temperature ranges.  Continuous running is to be expected during abnormally high temperatures.

In heating mode, you will likely notice that the air coming out of the vents is not as warm as with a furnace, especially in very cold temperatures.  This is completely normal and not a sign that there is anything wrong with the heat pump.  The heat pump will run longer to maintain comfortable temperatures.

Finally, in cold weather a heat pump periodically cycles into a defrost mode to prevent ice build-up on the coils.  During the defrost cycle, you will hear a “whooshing” noise and the outdoor compressor unit will be running, but you may not feel warm air coming out of the register.

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Cleaning the Evaporator Coil

May 1st, 2012 Posted in Central Air Conditioning
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Most residential central air conditioning systems are “split systems” that have the compressor and condenser coil housed in an outdoor unit which is connected to an evaporator coil inside the home by the coolant lines.  Most heat pumps have a similar set up.

A heat pump or central air conditioning system should be professionally serviced in the spring and fall by an experienced HVAC technician.  Most homeowners don’t have the tools and equipment necessary to perform a full service on a central air conditioning system.  Accordingly, most homeowners should call a professional for air conditioning service and repair.

However, between service calls a homeowner can help keep the system operating efficiently by regularly changing the air filter and by keeping the condenser and evaporator coils clean.  The evaporator coil is located in the ductwork (called the plenum chamber) above the furnace.  If you have a heat pump, the evaporator coil is located in the air handler downstream of the air filter.

If you religiously change your furnace filter (or air filter) and never use anything other than a pleated filter, your evaporator coil will stay clean and free of dust, lint, and other debris.  Unfortunately, most homeowners are a little lax in their furnace filter habits and the evaporator needs to be cleaned occasionally.

In some units, the evaporator cannot be accessed by a homeowner.  In others, you can reach the evaporator through an access panel on the front of the unit.  If your evaporator is easily accessible, clean it carefully with a brush or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.  Remember to turn the power to the unit off before starting and be very careful not to bend any of the soft aluminum fins.

Once your evaporator coil is clean, you can avoid future cleanings by using a high quality pleated air filter and changing it regularly.  Your HVAC technician can help select the right air filter for your system.

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