Are Your Ducts Drafty?

October 12th, 2014 Posted in Air Duct Cleaning
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One of the biggest drains on heating bills is drafty ductwork. Poorly sealed ducts can lead to high energy bills, both during the summer and the winter. If your heated or cooled air is being lost as it travels throughout your home, you are paying way too much in energy bills. Before the colder winter weather hits, now is the time to have your ducts inspected to ensure you’re getting the most out of your heating system. 

Benefits Of Duct Inspections

It’s not uncommon for leaks and other efficiency issues through the ductwork of a home to go unnoticed. Since you can’t see inside them, it’s easy to assume they’re doing their job. However, if you have noticed an increase in your utility bills or members of your family are suffering from increased allergy symptoms, your ducts may be to blame. Having an annual duct inspection can provide many benefits, including: 

  • Detecting leaks. If there are small holes or cracks in your ducts, they may be leaking air. This can cause your utility bills to go up 20% or more, depending on the extent of the leaks. Sealing these problems can have a drastic impact on your monthly utility bills.
     
  • Dirty ducts. Dust, pests and mold can accumulate within your ducts, spreading allergens throughout your home. An inspection may uncover the hidden cause of increased allergy problems.
     
  • Back drafting. One of the most dangerous aspects of poorly sealed ducts is back drafting. Ducts often transport dangerous gases, such as carbon monoxide, out of your home. Leaky ducts can cause these harmful gases to be pulled back into your home, endangering your family. 

If it’s been more than a year since your ducts have been checked, call your local HVAC contractor to schedule an inspection. It’s worth the investment to ensure your HVAC system has ducts which are working efficiently and safely for your family’s comfort and health.

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Be Prepared For Winter Carbon Monoxide Problems

October 12th, 2014 Posted in Furnaces
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Every year, an estimated 20,000-30,000 people are made ill from carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S., with hundreds killed on an annual basis from this deadly gas. Many of these victims succumb to the poisoning within in their own homes due to air contamination from fuel-burning appliances, such as gas furnaces. To protect your family from this harmful gas, it is important to have a functional carbon monoxide detector in your home, along with keeping your gas furnace maintained. 

Carbon Monoxide: Odorless, Colorless Killer

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of burning carbon-based fuels such as natural gas, charcoal or propane. Since it is undetectable by the human senses, it can quickly fill a home to poisonous levels without any warning. It only takes a few minutes for a person, especially a small child, to breathe in deadly amounts of this dangerous gas. 

The best protection for a home which uses any type of carbon-based fuel for heat is a carbon monoxide detector. With winter on its way, now is the time to make sure your home is equipped with one of these life-saving devices. An HVAC contractor can properly install a new detector in your home. However, if you already have a detector, you need to ensure it’s still working by having it tested. 

If you have a fuel-burning furnace, you should also have an annual inspection and tune-up performed by a trained HVAC contractor. When gas furnaces are functioning properly, there shouldn’t be any danger of carbon monoxide fumes in your home from their use. It is worth an ounce of prevention to keep your family safe and warm this winter.

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Efficient Heating Options For Your Home

October 12th, 2014 Posted in Reducing HVAC Energy Costs
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Heating and cooling a home are two of the largest utility expenditures which commonly plague homeowners. With the hot summer months gone, the colder weather of winter is approaching, along with higher heating bills. If your electric or gas bills skyrocket in the winter months, it may be time to consider a different heating option. Many of the energy-efficient furnaces, heat pumps and ductless heaters  on the market today can provide a substantial savings on your heating bills, plus add value to your home. 

Energy Efficient Heating Options

Choosing the most efficient heating source for your home will depend on several factors. In regions with mild winters, a heat pump is often the best solution. For more extreme winters, though, a furnace is usually a better option. Still, if you have an older heat pump or furnace, it may not be as energy efficient as those available today. 

  • Heat pumps. If your heat pump is ten to twenty years old, there’s a good chance it’s poorly rated for efficiency when compared to new models. Newer heat pumps offer SEER and HSPF ratings which can be double those of older models. This can lower your monthly electric bill, saving you hundreds of dollars a year on both heating and cooling your home.
     
  • Gas furnaces. For gas furnaces, you want a model which offers the best Annualized Fuel Usage Efficiency, or AFUE rating. The higher the number, the more efficient the furnace. In mild climates, you will want a rating of at least 90%. In colder climates, opt for 95% or better.
     
  • Mini-split heat pumps. For some homes, a mini-split ductless heat pump may be a viable option. To just heat one room or area, these small, ductless units are a great option. 

If you have an older heat source, talk to your local HVAC contractor about the efficient options now available. Many of these newer heat sources can pay for themselves in a matter of just a few years, plus add to the value of your home.

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Reducing Commercial HVAC Repair Costs

October 12th, 2014 Posted in Commercial HVAC Service & Repair
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One of the largest financial drawbacks of owning a commercial building is the constant maintenance and repairs need on the HVAC system. The consistent need to heat and cool all areas of the building to different temperatures can take a toll on even a new system. Reducing costs is one of the basic elements of property management to turn a profit and increase your bottom line. One of the best ways to reduce HVAC costs is to look closely at your preventative maintenance to repair cost ratios. 

Determining Your Preventive Maintenance To Repair Ratio

The idea of spending money on regular HVAC maintenance is to reduce the overall costs of operating the system. If properly maintained, you should be saving money on repairs of the system every year. A good way to quantify this is by determining the ratio between maintenance and repair costs. To do this, you will need to calculate what you spent in maintenance over last year, and the amount of money spent on HVAC repairs. 

Once you have your figures, you can determine your maintenance to repair ratio. The ratio should give you how much you spent on repairs for every dollar spent on maintenance. To do this, divide the total repair costs by the amount spent on maintenance. For example, if you spent $1000 on maintenance and $3000 in repair, you would divide 3,000 by 1,000, coming up with three. These means for every dollar you spent on maintenance, you spent three on repairs, or a ratio of 1:3. 

In most cases, the more you spend on maintenance, the lower your repair costs will be over the years. For instance, if your ratio is currently 1:8, increasing your maintenance budget should reduce the ratio each year, garnering a larger savings overall. Getting on a scheduled maintenance package through your commercial HVAC service is the best way to reduce the cost of repairs, and the total amount spent on your system every year.

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Get Your Furnace Started Now

October 12th, 2014 Posted in Furnaces
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Too many times homeowners will wait until the first cold day of the winter season to fire up their furnace, only to find that, over the summer, a problem has developed within their furnace. It maybe something simple, or a major issue, but this still leaves them waiting for the attention of a local HVAC technician on the same day when dozens of other customers have discovered a problem. A better plan is to start your furnace now, giving you time to complete any necessary maintenance or repairs before that first cold snap. 

Getting Your Furnace Ready For Winter

There are a few maintenance items to consider before you start up your furnace for the first time. One item that may need replacing or cleaning is your filter. A dirty filter will cause your furnace to work less efficiently, which will put extra stress on the entire unit. Once you check the filter, also check to make sure the water line is turned on to your humidifier. Some units may come with a switch to  change the unit to winter mode. 

Once everything is in place, turn on your furnace and let it run for 15-20 minutes. Make sure it’s heating properly, while listening for any strange sounds from the unit. This is the best time to identify any possible problems, with plenty of time to have the unit serviced or repaired before the colder weather hits. 

In addition to starting your furnace, also check the batteries in your carbon dioxide detector and smoke alarms, ensuring they are ready to protect your family in case of a fire or gas leak. With a little preparation, your furnace and home will be ready to keep you warm and safe all winter.

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