Air Filter Efficiency

February 28th, 2013 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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Replacing the air filter on your HVAC system regularly is an excellent way to help keep your system working efficiently and maximizing its lifespan.  The primary purpose of the air filter is to protect the evaporator coil and other components from accumulating a layer of dust, dirt and debris.  A dirty coil cannot transfer heat efficiently which causes the system to work harder to heat and cool your home.  This translates into higher costs and more wear and tear on the system.  In addition to protecting your HVAC system, the air filter can help improve indoor air quality.  Replacing the air filter is an important part of any HVAC system maintenance program.

Air filters are available in different efficiency ratings called MERV which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.  The higher the MERV, the better the filter is at catching smaller airborne particles.  The standard fiberglass air filters that are the original equipment on most HVAC systems typically have a MERV rating of about 1 to 4.  These fiberglass filters do a good job of capturing large dust particles and pet hair, but are not effective at collecting smaller particles, pollen, and other airborne contaminants.

High efficiency pleated filters have MERV ratings from 8 to 12 and can capture much smaller particles including mold spores, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.   It is possible to have too much of a good thing with regard to MERV.  Air filters with a very high MERV will reduce airflow through your system and reduce system efficiency, especially when they are dirty.  They also clog very quickly and should be changed more frequently than standard air filters.

If you choose to go with a high efficiency filter, it may be a good idea to avoid the filters with the highest MERV rating unless you are certain that your system is designed to operate efficiently with the reduced air flow.  A pleated filter with a more modest efficiency rating will do a much better job of protecting your system and reducing airborne contaminates than standard fiberglass filters while having a minimal effect on air flow.

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Air Filters Do Double Duty

February 28th, 2013 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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The air filter in your heating and cooling system works quietly to remove dirt and debris from the air as it passes through your system.  This not only reduces the amount of airborne contaminants in your home and improves your indoor air quality, but it also protects your expensive heating and cooling system.  By removing dust, dirt, and debris from the air, your air filter keeps your evaporator coil and other components free of contaminants.  When a layer of dust and grime accumulates on your evaporator coil, heat transfer efficiency is reduced and as a result, your HVAC system operating efficiency is reduced.

It is critical for peak heating and cooling performance to change your air filter regularly.  A clogged air filter makes the system work harder and shortens its lifespan.  Experts recommend changing the air filter every two to three months.  During periods of heavy usage, the air filter should be changed more often. Changing the air filter is an important part of regular HVAC system maintenance.

There are several different types of furnace filters readily available at your local home improvement center.  Standard fiberglass filters are inexpensive, but only catch larger particles of dirt, dust, pet hair, and lint.  A pleated filter is a better option.  These cost a little more, but they are much better at capturing smaller airborne particles.  Since pleated filters capture more dirt and debris, they need to be changed more frequently as they will clog sooner than a standard filter.

When buying a new furnace filter, look for a medium efficiency filter that is the right size for your HVAC system.  Filters with a very high efficiency rating can reduce the air flow through your system causing a drop in efficiency.

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Heat Pump Icing Up In Winter

February 28th, 2013 Posted in Heat Pumps
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It is normal for outdoor unit of your heat pump to accumulate some frost or even a light layer of ice in the winter.  The coils get very cold when the heat pump is operating in heat mode and it is normal for the coils to accumulate a layer of frost or ice. 

However, when the coils are iced up, heat transfer cannot occur efficiently and the unit will not operate properly.  To remove the ice build-up, a heat pump periodically enters a defrost mode.  While in defrost mode, the unit will switch to air conditioning mode but the outside fan will not run.  This allows warm refrigerant to circulate through the oudoor unit and melt the ice and frost.  When the cycle is complete, the unit will return to heat mode and you will hear a “whoosh” sound and see a cloud of water vapor coming out of the outdoor unit.

If your heat pump is not defrosting and instead allows ice to build up, you should have the system checked out by a good HVAC technician.  You could have a faulty reversing valve, low refrigerant levels, or other issues.  An ice build-up will cause the unit to lose efficiency and heat poorly.  If too much ice builds up, you may hear a loud grinding noise as the fan blades hit the ice. 

In some cases, an ice storm or freezing rain can cause a healthy system to ice up.  You should remove the ice to help the system operate properly and prevent damage to the fan blades.  Turn the system off and carefully remove the ice using a garden hose or a hair dryer.  Avoid the temptation to pour hot water on the ice  – this can damage the coils.

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How a Furnace Works

February 19th, 2013 Posted in Furnaces
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Homes are normally heated by furnaces powered by gas, oil or electric current. But how does this system work, and how does it keep a home warm during the winter months? Knowing how a furnace works allows a homeowner to be more knowledgeable about how the system is maintained, and when to seek the advice of a heating, ventilation or air conditioning (HVAC) professional. 

When a thermostat is used or adjusted, it begins the cycle of replacing cold air with warmer, more comfortable air. A fan in the furnace will start to turn, pulling air into the unit until proper airflow is created. Burners are lit, ignited either by a spark or a “pilot light” in older heating units, and something called a “heat exchanger” is heated for several minutes before a blower activates. 

During these several minutes, all byproducts resulting from the combustion process, such as carbon monoxide and other gases, are safely vented out of the home by way of an exhaust vent. This keeps them from collecting and possibly poisoning anyone inside the house. 

Once the air reaches the desired temperature, the blower fan is powered on, which sends the air through the house by way of air ducts in the floors, walls and ceilings through the house. At the same time, cooler air is drawn in through return ducts in order to return back to the heat exchanger to regulate its temperature. The process is repeated multiple times and the cycle continues until the desired level of heat within the home is reached and able to be maintained. Furnaces are very complicated pieces of equipment. Regular HVAC system service will keep your furnace in peak operating condition.

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Replacing your HVAC Equipment

February 19th, 2013 Posted in HVAC Replacement
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When is the right time to replace your heating, ventilation or air conditioning unit? You should keep your eye out for signs that indicate it’s time for an HVAC system replacement. If some particular signs occur, it’s best to call an HVAC professional to help you decide about upgrading your system. 

If your heat pump or air conditioning unit is over 10 years old, and your furnace or boiler is over 15 years old, consider replacing it with a system that is certified with an ENERGY STAR label. These high-efficiency units can save you up to 20 percent on energy costs for cooling or heating your home. 

You should also weigh your options and consider replacing any units based on the following criteria: 

  • Rooms in your home become excessively cold or hot — this likely can be blamed on poor circulation or your system running inefficiently.
  • Your cooling or heating equipment is inefficient, needs regular repairs or the cost of using them steadily increases — older equipment will continue to need more maintenance as they increase in age.
  • No one is at home for extended periods and your system does not have a programmable thermostat — consider purchasing or using a programmable thermostat to maintain an equal temperature.
  • Your home has humidity problems — this could be a sign of poor or failing equipment, or leaks in your home’s ducts that allows the air to become too humid or dry, depending on the season.
  • Your home regularly becomes very dusty or dirty — loose or leaking ducts allow dust and dirt particles in the air, as well as air from attics, basements and crawl spaces, and allow them to spread through your house.

 

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Advanced Features for Heat Pumps

February 19th, 2013 Posted in Heat Pumps
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Unlike standard heap pump compressors that are only able to operate at full capacity, heat pumps using “two speed compressors” may in fact operate much closer to a heating or cooling capacity needed at any time. This saves large amounts of electrical energy and reduces compressor wear. Two-speed heat pumps also work well with zone control systems. Zone control systems, often found in larger homes, use automatic dampers to allow the heat pump to keep different rooms at different temperatures. 

Another advance in the technological development of heat pumps is called a “scroll compressor.” A scroll compression consists of two spiral-shaped scrolls. As one scroll remains stationary, the other scroll spins around it. This has the effect of compressing the coolant uses and forces it into a smaller area. This means that scroll compressors have a longer operating life and are quieter than normal compressors. 

Some models of heat pumps are built with  motors on their indoor fans, outdoor fans, or both. These fans run at either varying speeds or in a dual speed setting. Variable speed controls for these fans keep the air moving at a measured, consistent velocity in order to maintain cool air and to keep the cost of running the unit low. Some heat pumps are even equipped with something called a “desuperheater,” which uses extra, wasted heat from the heat pump’s cooling setting to heat water. A heat pump with a desuperheater can heat a home’s water 2 or 3 times more efficiently than an ordinary water heater powered by electricity. 

Most heat pumps use a backup device called a “electric resistance heaters” for cold weather. These backup burners  solve the problem of the heat pump pumping cold air during cold weather, and has a bonus of reducing electricity use.

 

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The Different Kinds of Heat Pumps

February 19th, 2013 Posted in Heat Pumps
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The most common type of heat pump used is an “air source heat pump,” which moves or transfers heat from inside your house to the air outside of it. For those homes without ducts for channeling air, there are also ductless air source heat pumps available. These are called “a mini-split heat pumps.” There is also a special kind of air source heat pump called a “reverse cycle chiller.” The reverse chiller uses hot and cold water as opposed to hot and cold air. This allows the unit to use radiant floor heating systems while being used as a central heater. 

A new type of heat pump for homes and residences is called an “absorption heat pump” (it’s also sometimes called a “gas fired heat pump”). Absorption heat pumps take advantage of heat as their primary source of energy, which allows them to be driven by a wide variety of power sources. 

“Geothermal heat pumps” use naturally occurring heat from either a ground- or water-based source within the earth. Although the installation costs are much higher, geothermal heat pumps have low operating costs by comparison. This is because they make use of constant ground or water temperatures to power the unit, as opposed to electricity or other power source. A geothermal pump is therefore highly efficient as it transfers heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. Whether a geothermal heat pump is appropriate for your home will depend on the size of your lot and its surrounding area, as well as the landscape and soil your foundation sits on. Customer satisfaction with geothermal systems is generally pretty high, as these units can be used in more extreme conditions than normal air source heat pumps.

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How a Heat Pump Works

February 19th, 2013 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
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Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to air conditioners or furnaces, and are primarily used for climates that need moderate heating or cooling. But most people aren’t aware of just how heat pumps work. 

Heat pumps use electricity like a refrigerator, in order to make a cool space even cooler, and a warm space warmer, as the pump moves heat out of a cool space and into a warm space. Because they simply move heat rather generating it, heat pumps are able to put out up to 4 times the amount of energy that the pumps consume. If you use electricity to power your heat pump, it can cut down on the electricity you use to heat or cool your home by 30% to 40% when used on a regular basis. 

In the wintertime, heat pumps draw heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house, while in the hot summertime, it expels heat from your house into the warmer outdoors. Heat pumps are highly efficient, and they dehumidify the air in your home better than the more common central air conditioners used by most homes. Using a heat pump also requires less energy and can make your house cooler in the summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates, although there are systems that can overcome the problem. 

Making the choice of a heat pump for your home is an important one, something that you should discuss with your HVAC contractor in order to make the best selection for your needs and those of your family.

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Balancing Room Temperatures

February 14th, 2013 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
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Many homes seem to be difficult to balance temperature. While one room is the perfect temperature, others seem to be too cold or too hot. There are several reasons that the temperature can be out of balance from room to room so the first step is to find the problem and work on getting it fixed. 

Common Causes

Temperature fluctuations are often due to airflow, meaning one room is getting more air and others are lacking. Checking the airflow is something most people can do themselves. Some systems have a damper on the individual supply runs that come from the main source. These are usually small metal handles that open or close the airflow to each room. Adjusting the dampers can increase the airflow to those needing it. 

If there are no dampers or they are not accessible, you can also adjust airflow at the registers in each room. This is not quite as effective but still can do the trick. Make sure all vents are open, including the return vents. 

When To Call A Service Technician

If balancing the airflow does not help, there may be other problems with your air conditioning and heating system that need to be checked by a professional. Some areas a technician can look at that can affect temperature balance are: 

  • Fan speed and function
  • Check duct work
  • Evaluate insulation
  • Check for obstructions 

Some amount of temperature imbalance can be expected, especially in two-story homes. However, if you have adjusted the airflow and you still have dramatic differences in room temperatures, it is time to have a professional check your system.  A system efficiency analysis by your HVAC professional will help you identify the source of the problem.

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Choosing A Programmable Thermostat

February 14th, 2013 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair, Thermostats
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An easy way to save money on your air conditioning and heating bills is to replace your standard thermostat with a modern programmable thermostat.   Programmable thermostats automtically adjust the temperature in your home to keep you and your family comfortable and switch to an energy savings setting at night or during the daytime hours when you and your are away at work or school.  Depending on your lifestyle, there are many different features and models that can help lower energy costs while maintaining a comfortable home temperature. 

Additional Features

The additional features beyond the standard four pre-programmed settings can make one thermostat stand out from another. Some of the additional features that models may come with are:

  • Voice programming
  • Smart phone programming
  • Vacation or hold features
  • Troubleshooting indicators
  • Adaptive recovery/smart recovery 

Daily Settings

In general, there are three different kinds of models to choose from to program your day and week temperatures. The model you choose will depend on how much your schedule changes throughout the week. 

  • 7-day model. If your family’s schedule changes from day to day, a seven-day model allows you to program it for each individual day throughout the week. For example, if the kids are home early on one day, but later on others, you can set the timers differently for each day.
  • 5 + 2-day model. For those who have a set schedule Mon-Fri and a similar schedule for the weekends, this model can let you set one program each.
  • 5 +1+1-day models. If you are on a routine for 5 days and then the other two days need to be individually set, this may be a good choice for you. 

Once you choose the model that best fits your lifestyle and schedule, your service technician can professionally install it and help you learn how to program your new programmable thermostat. By using the various settings you can make sure your heating and cooling system is always on when you need it and off when you don’t.

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