Do you know what new air conditioners offer that old air conditioners don’t?
Many industries have taken extraordinary technological leaps and bounds over the past few decades. The heating and air conditioning industry is no different. Buying a new air conditioner or gas furnace isn’t something you do every day. The old unit in your home could be 10 to 20 years old! Heck, you may not have even purchased an air conditioner before. Not only could you be paying more for cool air if you have an old system, your home may not be as comfortable.
Here are some technological advances that make a new air conditioner so much better than older models.
- Smart thermostats. Okay, you don’t necessarily need a new air conditioner to have a smart thermostat, but you won’t be getting all the benefits that a smart thermostat offers. It’s like getting expensive rims for an old beater car.
- Modulating technology. Some of the most efficient air conditioners use modulation technology. These air conditioners reach staggering levels of efficiency, maintain more even temperatures and save you money on monthly utility expenses.
- Multiple stages of operation. However, you don’t have to invest in a modulating system to enjoy high-efficiency performance. Many models operate in more than one stage of operation. This also improves energy-efficiency and increases home comfort.
- Eco-friendly refrigerant. The type of refrigerant used in heating and cooling systems has changed over the years. Today, the industry standard is R-410A refrigerant. Your older system may use R-22 – a refrigerant that has been phased out. As we get further and further away from the phase-out date, this refrigerant is going to become more and more expensive as supply dwindles.
- Variable-speed air distribution. Variable-speed technology increases home comfort. The unit will be able to vary air distribution speeds to improve home comfort and maintain more even temperatures throughout your home.
The air conditioner in your home may have been “cutting-edge” in its day, but time moves on. Remember, even a new. standard-efficiency air conditioner can be a significant improvement over efficient systems from 10 or 15 years ago. Make sure you talk to your contractor about your cooling system options.
Are you considering a new air conditioner?
Like this post? Share it!
How much do you know about your thermostat?
Do you pay attention to your thermostat? Like the rest of your HVAC system, it’s something that you probably don’t think about all too much…until it stops working. Your thermostat is the brains of the operation. It sends signals to your heating and cooling equipment when your home is either too hot or too cold. When something goes wrong with those signals, it can negatively impact home comfort.
Do you know which type of thermostat you have in your home? Here are some things you should know about two types of thermostats – non-programmable and programmable.
Non-programmable thermostats…
- Base models
- Compatible with different equipment
A non-programmable thermostat is your standard, straightforward thermostat solution. It can be digital or analog, and is compatible with different types of equipment. If you have a non-programmable thermostat, make sure you are not making constant adjustments. This could result in longer air conditioner run times and higher utility bills. Make sure you talk to your contractor about the right model for your home.
Programmable thermostats…
- Set your temperature preferences based on your schedule
- Customizable home comfort
- Compatible with different equipment
A programmable thermostat does what its non-programmable counterpart can’t do – deliver customized comfort control. This ability to customize your home comfort allows you to save money. You won’t waste cooling dollars on an empty home. Like a non-programmable model, a programmable thermostat must be correctly matched with your equipment. Make sure you consult your local HVAC professional before you choose a thermostat.
Like this post? Share it!
How do you keep cool during the summer?
The beginning of summer is only a few short weeks away! Do you have any special tricks for keeping cool during the summer? The best way to keep cool is by enjoying your central air conditioner, but what are the other things you can do to keep cool?
Water-based activities. There is nothing more refreshing than jumping in a cool pool on a hot day! Water-based activities can be a great way to keep cool outdoors. Start a water balloon fight, visit the local pool or turn on the sprinkler.
Practice “smart” entertaining. Save your parties for later in the evening, or create a shaded outdoor living space. It can be significantly cooler in the shade during a hot summer day.
Know how to properly run fans. During the summer, you want your ceiling fans to run in a counter-clockwise direction so that the air blows down into your rooms. You can also point a box fan out of the window to blow hot air out. Just be careful. We don’t want to encourage air leaks and INCREASED utility bill expenses.
Drink plenty of cool beverages. A cool glass of water or tea can help you cool down on really hot days! It is important to stay hydrated!
If you’re really feeling warm…take a cool shower. This can help lower your body temperature.
Of course, nothing quite keeps you cool like central air. Make sure to schedule your last-minute spring maintenance appointment with your local contractor before things really heat up!
What else do you do during the summer to keep cool?
Like this post? Share it!
Did you know that air conditioners come in different sizes?
There are a lot of options when it comes to heating and cooling equipment. You have a choice of efficiency, system type, comfort features…you name it! Air conditioners even come in different sizes. HOWEVER, do you have a choice when it comes to the air conditioner in your home?
Your home is unique; your comfort needs are unique – the size of your air conditioner will reflect this. It is important to have a properly sized air conditioner. Your heating and cooling contractor must come in and do a load calculation to determine the right size air conditioner for your home.
If your HVAC system is too large, it will run for less time. While this may sound like a good thing…it isn’t. Your air conditioner could be going through costly on/off cycles. It is more efficient to run your air conditioner longer at a lower capacity. Plus, if your air conditioner is not running long enough, your system may not be properly dehumidifying your home. This can lead to mold growth and poor overall indoor air quality. That’s not even to mention the negative impact a large air conditioner can have on home comfort.
If your HVAC system is too small, it will run longer at a higher capacity. This will raise electricity bills, AND your home may never reach your desired comfort levels.
Longer run times and more frequent on/off cycles can reduce efficiency and system lifespan! Your air conditioner is an investment in home comfort. You want that investment to pay off over the years.
This is why we consider quotes over the phone or on the back of a business card a red flag. Since your home is unique, your contractor should always come out to your home and perform a Manual J load calculation before determining the equipment you need in your home.
Did your contractor perform a Manual J load calculation when you had your air conditioner installed?
Like this post? Share it!
Do you close the registers in rooms that do not need cool air during the summer?
It may sound intuitive – if a room doesn’t need cool air, why waste the energy dollars trying to keep that room cool? However, it’s not that straightforward. Heating and cooling equipment is complicated. Sometimes what you think is a good idea, may not be.
It is not a good idea to control the temperatures of your rooms by closing registers. Why is that? Well, your HVAC system is designed to heat and cool a certain amount of space. When you start messing with the registers, it affects that amount of space. Closing registers has the same affect that a dirty filter has; it raises the pressure in your system.
If you have a variable-speed motor, this can cause it to operate at a higher capacity for longer periods of time – essentially negating any of the efficiency benefits gained by investing in variable-speed equipment. If you have a single-speed motor, it may not be able to maintain proper airflow. Low airflow = low comfort levels.
And, those are just the problems that occur at the surface. The increased pressure also has additional consequences for other parts of your HVAC system. It could increase duct leakage – lowering comfort and raising utility bills. Or, even worse, you could wind up with a frozen coil or a broken compressor – two CRUCIAL cooling components.
All is not lost though. There are intuitive heating and air conditioning systems that do allow you to control comfort from room to room. It’s called a zoning system. Make sure you ask your HVAC contractor about your zoning options.
Like this post? Share it!
Could your home benefit from a zoning system?
We’ve been talking about airflow a lot. That’s because it is so important when it comes to efficiency and comfort. Unfortunately, it can be hard to get every single part of your home at its ideal temperature setting. This can lead to the temptation to do things like fiddle with the thermostat daily, or close vents. However, there’s an easier, whole-home solution – a zoning system.
A zoning system goes into your ductwork and is able to control the amount of air delivered to specific areas of your home. When a contractor installs a zoning system, they group your home by room or groups of rooms – each controlled by their own thermostat. This way, if you have a room that gets warmer than another, or you like it set a different temperature, just the right amount of heating or cooling power will be devoted to that area of your home. For example, if you like to sleep in a cool bedroom, you can have that room on a separate zone and set it to a cooler temperature than the rest of the house at night.
Zoning systems are a particularly good solution for homes that have multiple stories. Upper floors may become too warm at certain times during the year, while lower floors may be too cool at other points. If you put your upper story in a separate zone, you can even out the temperatures in your home.
In summary, a zoning system can…
- Decrease your utility bill spending
- Maximize home comfort through customized controls
Make sure the contractor you hire is qualified to install and service these specific systems. Are you interested in a zoning system?
Like this post? Share it!
How much do you know about indoor air quality products?
If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, you’ve probably run across the acronym “IAQ.” IAQ stands for “Indoor Air Quality.” These are the components of your heating and air conditioning system that seek to improve just that – the quality of your indoor air.
The most obvious, and arguably most important part of your indoor air quality system is your furnace filter. It is your main defense against indoor air particles that can lower indoor air quality. But, there are other, less obvious, indoor air quality additions you can add to your home. Let’s take a look at them one-by-one.
Whole-Home Humidifier or Dehumidifiers
Do you know how humidity can affect home comfort? A home that has higher humidity is going to feel warmer than one at a lower humidity level. During the summer, it can be a good idea to lower the humidity level of your home to make it feel cooler and potentially lower the strain on your air conditioner.
UV Light Systems
These products can add extra protection against indoor air pollutants. But, UV light systems do more than just block pollutants – they use the UV light spectrum to eliminate bacteria and viruses from your indoor air. This keeps you and your family healthier. And, they can eliminate unpleasant odors.
Air Cleaners
Polluted indoor air has been cited for the EPA as one of the main threats to human health. Air cleaners, like a media air cleaner, block pollutants and allergens present in the air before they enter your duct system.
Temperature Control Systems
We can’t talk about indoor air quality without mentioning thermostats. Thermostats are the “central command” of your heating and cooling system. This is the component that alerts your air conditioner or gas furnace when you need heating or cooling power.
Are you having a new air conditioner installed before the start of the cooling season? Make sure you talk to your local contractor about indoor air quality system options.
Like this post? Share it!
Are your utility bills climbing higher and higher?
Did you know that heating and cooling equipment makes up more than HALF of your utility bill expenses? When it comes to HVAC, investing in high-efficiency means nothing if you aren’t taking steps to ensure your system is working at peak performance levels.
Here are some things that can kill the efficiency of your HVAC system.
Planting too close to your outdoor equipment. Airflow. Airflow. Airflow. You want to make sure that your outdoor equipment experiences proper airflow. Plants placed too close to your outdoor unit interfere with airflow, and their roots can cause damage.
Not changing your furnace filter frequently enough. Most efficiency killers involve blocked airflow. Not only is a dirty furnace bad for your health, but it can be bad for efficiency as well. Make sure you are changing your furnace filter once a season, or (even better) once a month!
Constantly adjusting your non-programmable thermostat. Customized temperature is something that can help improve home comfort. However, if you have a non-programmable thermostat, constant thermostat adjustments may result in more on/off cycles. Your cooling equipment consumes the most energy when its ramping on. If you want customized home comfort, invest in a programmable thermostat that does the adjusting for you.
Opening and closing registers. Your air conditioner is designed to cool a certain amount of air. When you open and close registers, this affects the amount of space your air conditioner is cooling. A better plan is to invest in a zoning system. A zoning system groups your home by rooms (or groups of rooms) each controlled by their OWN thermostat. This way different areas of your home can receive just the right amount of air.
Collapsed or blocked ductwork. Collapsed or blocked ductwork results in many of the same problems of a blocked filter, or an open or closed register. If a portion of your ductwork has collapsed, cool air distribution is prohibited. This can result in longer run times and a higher utility bill (not to mention decreased comfort). Make sure you get your ductwork inspected once a year. Not only will this help check for collapsed or blocked portions, but your contractor can also alert you to unseen problems your home may be having – like rodents or insects.
Opening windows and doors. Opening a window or door during the spring may seem like a good idea. Temperatures are warmer, but still cool enough to be comfortable. However, opening windows and doors is essentially letting your money fly out the window. Remember, it’s not your job to cool the entire neighborhood.
Not scheduling routine maintenance. The best way to keep your air conditioner running at peak efficiency levels is to schedule a clean and check with your contractor every spring. During a maintenance appointment, your contractor inspects the electrical system, cleans the unit and makes sure everything is running properly. Some contractors even have the option of maintenance contracts. That way you never forget to schedule an appointment.
Unfortunately, the age of a system also effects its efficiency. Even the most efficient units must work harder to cool as they get older. If your air conditioner is around 16 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it with a higher efficiency model. Even standard-efficiency units today are significantly more efficient than models manufactured ten years ago. Talk to your local HVAC contractor during your spring preventative maintenance appointment about your high-efficiency cooling options.
Are there things that you do to help improve efficiency?
Like this post? Share it!
Are you ready to start ticking things off your spring cleaning to-do list?
It’s time to break out the vacuums and dusters! While nobody may like spring cleaning, it is a great idea to do it every year to get rid of the dust and grime that has accumulated over a long winter spent indoors. Not only is spring cleaning good for aesthetic reasons (after all, who likes looking at dust day in and day out), but it is good for your indoor air as well. It helps you breathe easier, can increase home comfort AND may even make your filter last a bit longer.
Here are some things you should keep in mind while getting rid of the dust bunnies this spring.
Air out your home, but not for too long. The air in your home can become stagnant during the winter. Spring is a good time to open the windows and let in a little fresh air. BUT, exercise caution. Remember, the air coming through your windows is unfiltered. This means all sorts of outdoor pollutants and allergens may be coming into your home unfiltered.
Vacuum your carpets. It’s shocking just how many particles can become trapped in your carpets. It’s a good idea to vacuum your carpets regularly, and you may even consider a deep clean during the spring.
Keep the cleaners you use in mind. The chemicals in many household cleaners can lower the quality of your indoor air. This goes for air fresheners as well. Consider other less harmful cleaners, like homemade alternatives make from vinegar or baking soda.
Clean out registers and vents. You can often get to your registers and vents quiet easily. However, an even better idea than just cleaning the areas you can access is to call a contractor and have them clean your entire air distribution network. This can improve indoor air quality and may alert you to any unseen problems your home may have fallen victim to (like bugs or rodents).
Change your furnace filter. While you’re in the cleaning mood, make sure to give your furnace filter a look. A dirty furnace filter can reduce airflow and reduce efficiency. Plus, it could be ineffective at filtering out harmful particles in your indoor air.
Make sure to schedule preventative maintenance. While it is not exactly cleaning related, scheduling a spring maintenance appointment with a local contractor is a must-add to your spring to-do list. Preventative maintenance can alert you to any potential problems AND can help your cooling system run as efficiently as possible during the cooling season.
Still have to schedule your spring preventative maintenance appointment? Make sure you take the time to find the right local contractor for the job.
Like this post? Share it!
Do you know what you want out of your new cooling system?
Is your air conditioner approaching the 16 year mark? Is it just not performing as great as it used to? It may be time to consider a replacement. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by all of the options to choose from when you go to replace your old cooling equipment. With a new air conditioner or heat pump, you can expect not only improved home comfort, but potentially energy savings as well.
Here are some of the things that you should factor into your decision before you choose the cooling system you want in your home.
Efficiency. Even standard-efficiency air conditioners installed today are significantly more efficient than those installed ten years ago. It is a good idea to invest in the most efficient equipment that you can afford. Upfront costs may be higher, but a high-efficiency system may pay for itself over its lifetime through efficient performance.
Air conditioner or heat pump? Have an air conditioner currently? Why not consider switching over to a heat pump? Heat pumps are a great option if you experience all kinds of weather. A heat pump is particularly handy on cooler spring and fall evenings when it is too cool for cooling, but not quite cool enough to warrant the gas furnace. Heat pumps employ a much more efficient method of heat transfer than other electric heating methods (that use heat creation).
Indoor air quality. Do you get the sniffles every year? Feel like you can’t escape your allergies even when you’re indoors? If you’re an allergy sufferer, you may want to consider adding an indoor air quality product, like an electronic air cleaner, to your HVAC system.
Outdoor unit placement. Did you know that where your system is installed matters? When a condenser is placed too close to the home, not only does it make it harder for a contractor to service or maintain your cooling system, but it could be restricting airflow as well. Restricted airflow makes your air conditioner work harder to cool your home, raising utility bills. Also, keep in mind that direct sunlight can also make your air conditioner work harder to cool your home. Make sure you ask your contractor about correct placement when it comes to your new system.
If you aren’t sure whether your air conditioner can make it through another hot summer, make sure you contact your local heating and cooling contractor. Spring is a great time to get a contractor out to your home. During the summer, it can oftentimes take a contractor a while to make it out to your home because of an abundance of emergency calls.