The Importance of Quality HVAC Installation for New Construction Projects

August 30th, 2012 Posted in Choosing an HVAC Contractor
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All too often, new construction has very poorly installed HVAC systems. The main reason for this is that so much money has already been spent on the home being built from the ground up that the individual having the home constructed does not want to spend a significant amount of money on the installation of a brand new HVAC system.

However, what these people do not realize is that with a poorly installed HVAC system, it will not perform efficiently and effectively. It doesn’t matter if you have the most expensive HVAC system that is available for purchase on the market, if it is not installed properly, it is not going to work correctly. Quality means nothing when it comes to the aforementioned situation.

Why are HVAC systems installed incorrectly? More often than not, it is because an incompetent individual installed the HVAC system. This person may have been licensed and they may not have been – more than likely, they were not. This goes to show how important it is to contact a reputable residential heating and air conditioning (HVAC) company that has all the necessary certifications, licenses and training to accurately install a HVAC system. By choosing to call a professional, you may spend more money upfront, but in the long run, you will have saved a drastic amount of money when you consider how efficient your heat and air system will work.

Choose a professional for a first-rate new construction HVAC installation so that future residents of the home will be happily and comfortably accommodated with a longer lasting HVAC system that heats and cools effectively and efficiency saving the homeowner money on future repairs and monthly utility bills.

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How Does A Heat Pump Work?

August 29th, 2012 Posted in Heat Pumps
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If it’s time to replace your furnace and central air conditioning system or if you are building a new home, consider installing an energy efficient heat pump.  Whether you choose an air source or ground source heat pump, you will enjoy years of energy efficient heating and cooling without sacrificing comfort.

A heat pump works just like a central air conditioning system in the summer.  It uses refrigerant to absorb indoor heat and move it outside your home.  A refrigerator works using the same principles.  Refrigerant is used to absorb heat inside the refrigerator and release the heat outside the refrigerator box leaving the inside of the refrigerator nice and cold.

Refrigerators and air conditioners are types of heat pumps that work in a single direction.  A heat pump used for home heating and cooling works in two directions.  The energy efficiency advantage of a heat pump comes into play in the winter months when the heat pump is used for heating.  The refrigerant flow is reversed and the refrigerant absorbs heat from outdoors and releases it inside the home.

A heat pump can extract heat from the outside air even in below freezing temperatures.  However, an air source heat pump’s efficiency declines as the outdoor temperatures decrease.  This is less of a problem for a ground source heat pump since the temperatures below ground remain relatively stable year round.

When operating in heating mode, a heat pump is far more efficient than an electric resistance type heater because it moves heat instead of creating heat.  It takes much more electricity to create heat than it does to move it using a heat pump.

Heat pumps are usually less expensive to operate than natural gas, propane, or oil fired home heating systems.  The cost savings with a heat pump depends on the cost of the fuel but the savings is usually significant.

 

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Choosing the Right Type of Heat Pump For Your Home

August 29th, 2012 Posted in Heat Pumps
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Heat pumps are the most efficient electric heating and cooling systems available today.   They are two to three times more efficient than a resistance-type heating system that uses electric coils to provide heat.  Due to their high efficiency, they are also usually more cost effective than heating systems that use gas or heating oil to create heat.

There are different types of heat pumps and choosing the right heat pump for your home involves consideration of many different factors.  Heat pumps can be divided into two main categories:  air source and ground source heat pumps.

An air source heat pump is similar to a traditional central air conditioning unit.  It operates just like an air conditioner in the summer by moving warm air from inside your home to outside your home.  In the winter, the cycle is reversed and the heat pump extracts warmth from the outside air and moves it into your home.

The heating efficiency of an air source heat pump decreases as the outdoor air temperature gets colder so they are most suitable for areas where temperatures do not stay below freezing for an extended period of time.

A ground source heat pump uses the relatively stable temperature of the ground to extract heat in the winter and to dump heat in the summer.  Instead of an above ground outdoor unit with a fan and an evaporator/condenser found on air source heat pumps, a ground source heat pump uses a series of pipes buried below ground to transfer heat.  Since low outdoor air temperatures have minimal effect on ground source heat pumps, they can be used in colder climates than air source heat pumps.

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Ground Source Heat Pump Basic Information

August 29th, 2012 Posted in Heat Pumps
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A ground source heat pump is one of the most energy efficient ways to heat and cool a home.  Heat pumps work by moving warm air from one location to another.  In the summer, they move heat from inside your home to the outside.  In the winter, the process is reversed. The most common type of heat pump used in residential applications is an air source heat pump that is similar to a central air conditioning unit.

Air source heat pumps are an excellent choice for energy efficient heating and cooling in moderate climates, but their efficiency is affected by changes in outdoor air temperatures.  They lose heating efficiency when temperatures drop below freezing and cannot cool as well in high temperatures.

A ground source heat pump is even more efficient than an air source heat pump and since underground temperatures remain relatively stable year round, a ground source heat pump is not affected by large changes in the outdoor air temperature.

In a closed loop system, a ground source heat pump uses a coolant pumped through a series of pipes buried underground to extract heat from the ground in the winter and to dump heat in the summer.  An open loop system uses ground water, lake water, or well water for heating and cooling.  Open loop systems can be problematic because they need a way to dispose of used water.  They can also be affected by changes in the local water table.

Ground source heat pumps can be twice as efficient as air source heat pumps, but the initial installation cost is usually much higher.  Ground source heat pumps are very quiet and need less maintenance than air source heat pumps.  They also last longer, particularly the underground pipe system which can last for decades.

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Basic Information About Heat Pumps

August 29th, 2012 Posted in Heat Pumps
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More and more homeowners are turning to heat pumps for energy efficient home heating and cooling.  For many homes, a heat pump is an excellent choice that can minimize your heating and cooling costs without sacrificing comfort.

There are two basic types of heat pumps:  ground source and air source.  An air source heat pump is similar to a central air conditioning system that can operate in reverse in the winter.  In the winter, it uses outside air as a heat source in the winter and as a place to dump heat in the summer.

A ground source heat pump uses the earth as a wintertime heat source and a summer time heat sink.  Closed loop ground source heat pumps have a closed loop of pipes buried underground that circulate a refrigerant.  Open loop heat pumps use well water or water from a lake, river, or other source for heating and cooling.

Air source heat pumps are the most common type and are also less expensive to install than a ground source heat pump.  However, they need more maintenance and have a shorter lifespan, particularly the outdoor unit.  An air source heat pump lasts about as long as a central air conditioner – 10 to 15 years.  A ground source heat pump generally lasts longer, especially the pipes that are buried underground.

An air source heat pump loses efficiency as outdoor air temperatures drop.  In below freezing conditions, an auxiliary heating element may be needed to maintain the desired temperatures.  In areas that experience extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures, a dual fuel system can be installed. These systems use the heat pump for heating in the Spring and Fall but rely on a natural gas, propane, or oil for heating in very cold temperatures.

 

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Save Energy With an HVAC System Efficiency Analysis

August 8th, 2012 Posted in Reducing HVAC Energy Costs
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If you are looking for ways to save money on your heating and cooling costs, a professional HVAC system efficiency analysis is an excellent first step.  Central air conditioning and heating systems are notorious energy wasters, especially in homes build more than ten to fifteen years ago.  When energy prices were lower, there was not as much of a concern about wasting energy.  Most homeowners were happy to install heating and cooling equipment that was less efficient, but also much less expensive.

The same mindset applied to the construction of the home and installation of the duct system.  Homeowners were less inclined to spend money on additional insulation, insulated windows, and eliminating air leaks around doors, windows, plumbing, and other areas where heated or cooled air could escape from the home.

With energy costs rising and record setting heat scorching the country, replacing an older less efficient furnace, heat pump, or central air conditioning system with a new energy efficient system can make good economic sense, but before you spend the money on a new system, it pays to have a system efficiency analysis done by a qualified HVAC technician.

You may find more cost effective ways to lower your energy bill, or to maximize the benefit obtained from the new equipment.  The analysis will identify where you are wasting energy and make recommendations for improvement.  Leaky ducts, poor weather stripping, and inadequate insulation are just a few of the relatively inexpensive improvements that can save you a lot of energy and money.

In addition, if you are going to purchase a new heating and air conditioning system, correcting the deficiencies found during the system efficiency analysis might allow you to install a smaller, more efficient heating and air conditioning system.

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Hottest July On Record

August 8th, 2012 Posted in Central Air Conditioning
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The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that this past July was the hottest month on record.  The average temperature across the country for July was higher than any recorded since officials started keeping records in 1895.  The record heat is probably not news for those of us whose air conditioners have been running around the clock trying to keep up with the heat, but it’s one more reason why you should consider replacing that old central air conditioner with a new, energy efficient air conditioning system.

Central air conditioning systems use a lot of electricity to cool our homes.  However, manufacturers have made big gains in air conditioner efficiency in the past decade.  According to the Department of Energy, modern central air conditioning systems are 30% to 50% more energy efficient than those installed in the 1970’s and 20% to 40% than those sold just ten years ago.

These figures are based on the efficiency of the systems when they were new.  All central air conditioners lose some efficiency as they get older so your energy savings will probably be even greater!  Imagine keeping your home cool and comfortable using only half or two thirds of the electricity you are using today.  In this record heat, the savings can really add up quickly.

When you add in the savings on maintenance and repairs needed to keep that old system running, it won’t take long for a new central air conditioner to pay for itself.  After that, you will enjoy year after year of energy efficient cool comfort.  If beating the heat is putting a dent in your wallet, talk to your local heating and air conditioning contractor about installing a new energy efficiency system in your home today.

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Change Your Air Filter For More Efficient Cooling

August 2nd, 2012 Posted in Central Air Conditioning
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As we move into the dog days of summer, don’t forget to change the air filter on your central air conditioning or heat pump system.  If you have central air conditioner combined with a forced air furnace, it’s easy to forget about the filter in the summer because we often call it a “furnace filter”, but your central air conditioning system uses the same filter.  Likewise, a heat pump uses the same filter whether it’s in heating or cooling mode.

Changing or cleaning the air filter regularly can help your system work more efficiently, increase your comfort, and save you money on energy bills.  Your system was designed to operate efficiently with a  certain level of air flow across the coils.  When the air filter gets clogged with dust, dirt, pet hair, and other debris, it reduces the air flow which makes your system work harder to maintain the selected temperature.

According to EPA estimates, changing or cleaning a dirty air filter can reduce your energy usage for cooling by as much as 15%.  In addition, the air filter protects the coils from dirt and debris.  If dirt, dust, and debris are allowed to accumulate on the coils, it acts like an insulating blanket and prevents the coil from working efficiently.

Changing or cleaning your air filter monthly will not only lower your energy bills today, but it will also help extend the life of your heating and air conditioning system.  You can buy new air filters in a wide variety of sizes at your local home improvement store.  Be sure to write down the size of your old filter before you go so you can be sure to get the right size.  The size should be written on the edge of your old filter.

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