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Archive for January, 2010
January 28th, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
Changing your air filter is vital to increasing the longevity of your furnace and air conditioner. These filters trap pollutants and dust so that you don’t have to breathe them in, but if they get too full your appliance has to work harder. These filters should be changed monthly during high usage seasons; summer for your air conditioner and winter for your furnace. No idea how to change them? Here’s a step by step guide:
1. Turn off your system.
2. The filter will be located close to the intake-outtake blower (in most homes it’s close to your control box). There may be a door or panel that swings or lifts open; open it and remove the filter.
3. Before you install your new filter look around the edge to find an arrow. This arrow tells you the direction of the filter. Make sure the arrow points to the blower and is not installed backwards (check the direction of your old filter before you take it out or just as you remove it if you’re not sure which way it goes in)
4. Lastly, turn your system back on and make sure it’s functioning properly.
All filters will come with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Report Value) rating, and the higher the rating, the higher the efficiency of your air filter, which means more particles will be pulled out of your air. Just remember, disposable filters are supposed to be changed every month. If you have problems changing your filters, call your local HVAC contractor, he will be happy to help you!
Posted in AC Doctor News, HVAC Installation Tips, Indoor Air Quality
January 25th, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
With winter only half way over, wouldn’t it be horrible if your water heater or boiler went out? If your boiler is getting on in years, you may want to start researching buying a new one. Here are a few things to look for before you buy.
Boilers rated over 90% efficient are called condensing boilers and are designed to extract heat from the combustion of gasses that’s normally lost in regular boilers. This only saves energy under the right conditions. Condensing boilers are designed to work with water 135 degrees Fahrenheit and below. If the water temperature is higher than 135 degrees, your high efficiency boiler is really only about 80% efficient. To control this, make sure to look for a boiler with a control system so you can adjust the water temperature according to indoor and outdoor temperatures. These are called weather responsive controls or outdoor reset controls. Some boilers are automatically sold with these controls while others have them as an optional feature. Beware of the boilers that don’t offer some sort of temperature control, you may be losing efficiency! This feature can not only save 15-20% on your heating bills, but also help provide a constant, steady flow of heat through your house.
Another thing to look at is the material the heat exchanger is made out of. Stainless steel is better at heat transfer and is longer lasting than aluminum. Some companies are not even making aluminum heat exchangers anymore.
Paying attention to these two small details when boiler shopping will increase your boiler’s efficiency and life span as well as save you some money.
Posted in AC Doctor News, Energy Efficiency, HVAC Products, Saving Money
January 21st, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
AC Doctor would like to congratulate California on becoming a Green state. Not even two weeks into 2010 a California commission voted unanimously to approve the nation’s first mandatory green building code which will come into effect January 1, 2011. CalGreen will require new residential and commercial buildings to install plumbing fixtures that reduce water usage by 20%, recycle at least 50% of their construction waste, and use low-pollutant options for paint, carpet, and vinyl flooring. Non-residential buildings will be required to have separate meters for indoor and outdoor water usage with moisture-sensing irrigation systems for larger landscapes. Commercial buildings will have to have their HVAC equipment inspected upon completion to be labeled “CalGreen compliant.” There are also provisions to allow individual cities to create more stringent codes for waste diversions and water usage.
While some people are leery about this change, California is making a big step toward helping make this world a cleaner place.
Posted in AC Doctor News
January 18th, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
Energy companies have come to realize that regular, every day people don’t sit around thinking about their energy usage on a day to day basis. You may think about keeping appliances turned off when not in use, but you don’t keep track of exactly how much energy you are using at any given time. You don’t want to deal with smart meters, websites, or programmable thermostats to manage your energy. So, companies like Direct Energy have been working on electricity use monitors that are essentially iPhones for your home. You can use them to check email, weather, and traffic reports, download movies and recipes, play video games, and keep track of your energy usage. This monitor will be able to automatically shut off appliances during peak hours where electricity is more expensive and then turn them back on later in the day when prices fall again, which will ultimately make peak energy pricing lower. There is less demand at any one time in the day, so the price of energy will even out. Manufacturers are hoping this will lead to a new pricing scheme for electricity that will work like cell phone plans. You will be able to pick a plan with a set amount on energy per month for a set fee and then use your monitor to make sure you are staying on track with that plan.
Posted in AC Doctor News, Energy Efficiency, Saving Money
January 14th, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
Here at AC Doctor we are always trying to find ways to help you save money and energy, but the tips we give are for home owners. What about renters? Renters have to be very careful about any modifications they make. Any change to the house could break the terms of the lease. Fear not, there are some things you can do! There are small changed that will impact your energy bill that you do not need permission from your land lord for. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent or halogen light bulbs and unplugging appliances when not in use are two very easy, very basic ways to cut energy costs. Even if you land lord provides the big appliances such as refrigerator, stove, and oven, you can still look for Energy Star rated small appliances. Nowadays, TVs, DVD players, and even cable boxes come with Energy Star ratings. You can also buy an LCD TV instead of a plasma one to save energy. In winter months, putting heavy, dark curtains over your windows will add a layer of insulation to help cut heating costs. If you have a window AC unit, put a cover over it in winter months to help cover the hole in the wall.
There are other changes you can make that you will need your land lord’s permission for. Talk to your land lord before filling holes with caulk or foam sealant. Even though this may seem non-invasive, it is still considered an improvement or alteration. You will also want to try and convince your land lord to upgrade your old fridge to an Energy Star fridge. Remember, if you already have an Energy Star fridge, it cannot be replaced with one of lower quality.
It may take a little convincing to get your land lord to agree to some of these changes, but remind him that most of these energy saving upgrades are eligible for rebates. Offering to share the costs and then let him take the rebate credit could go a long way toward getting you a more energy efficient home. Don’t forget that you do have a bargaining chip: these are tough times and the real estate market is even tougher; no land lord wants to have a house back on the market, and most will do what they can to keep you.
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Saving Money
January 12th, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
Many people have questions about heat pumps. What are they? How do they work? Are heat pumps better than furnaces? Heat pumps offer a more energy efficient alternative to air conditioners and heaters. They work by moving heat from a cool space into a warm space so cool areas are cooler and warm areas are warmer. In other words, there is always heat in the air, even when during winter months, and heat pumps take this heat and move it indoors. The cycle can also be reversed in summer months so that heat is moved from inside out.
It takes much less energy to move heat than to generate it, so heat pumps can provide 4 times more energy than they consume. Compared to heating with electricity, heat pumps cut the amount of electricity used by 30-40%. They also dehumidify better than standard air conditioners.
I know this sounds fantastic, almost too good to believe. You can consolidate your heating and cooling needs into one unit and cut your electricity costs at the same time! But, heat pumps are not perfect for any climate. In southern areas where winters are mild heat pumps are going to be more efficient than in climates where temperatures regularly approach freezing, and even less efficient in climates where temperatures are regularly below freezing. Even in the Sun Belt where we have mild winters, we do occasionally have cold snaps where temperatures are near or below freezing for extended periods of time. During these times, you will need a back up heater. Heat pumps also emit a milder heat than standard heaters, but this heat distributes more evenly through the house, eliminating cold spots.
As always, you need to gather as much information as you can before changing your HVAC system. Any of our AC Doctor certified contractors would be more than happy to give you the information you need.
Posted in AC Doctor News, Energy Efficiency
January 7th, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
As winter comes on full force, we are all feeling the biting cold. Yes, we even feel it in Houston! But I have a few quick and easy fixes for that. It’s all in your insulation! In my last blog, I mentioned that heat travels from areas of high heat to areas of low heat. In other words, the heat from your nice, warm living room rises to make a nice, warm attic instead. To fix this, fill any cracks and fissures with caulk or spray insulation and replace any old or damp insulation. Ten to twelve inches of insulation is sufficient, giving your insulation an R-38 rating, but R-50 (approximately 16 inches) is recommended. Your attic stairs are also a place where heat can leak into the attic. Foam tape around the door will help this. Holes cut to allow cables to run in and out also let air in and out; filling these holes with spray foam insulation drastically reduces the air flow. If you have a basement, insulate that as well; just make sure the insulation is water proof. This will keep your home cooler in the summer. I know, it’s winter and freezing outside, the last thing you want to think about is keeping cool, but if you’re already taking on an insulation project, the basement is an easy addition. Lastly, put weather stripping around your doors and windows. This will seal any holes in the frames to keep warm air from escaping. Adding curtains to your windows also adds one more layer of insulation. These are all fixes you can do yourself that will make your home more comfortable as well as decrease your heating bill. It’s not a drastic decrease, adding to your attic insulation will result in approximately a 20% decrease, but it is still a little more money in your pocket.
Posted in AC Doctor News, Insulation, Weatherizing Your Home
January 6th, 2010 by Melissa Doyle
Everyone wants to get the most for their money these days. Cars with the highest MPG, grocery store loyalty cards, coupon clipping, shopping the sales…But what about your home? Are you getting the most bang for your buck? Find out with a home energy audit. An energy audit measures the resistance to heat flow of your walls, ceilings, doors, floors, windows, and skylights. Heat naturally flows toward cooler temperatures. In the summer heat flows from outside to the air conditioned inside, and in the winter heat flows toward upstairs rooms and ultimately the attic. A higher resistance to heat flow means your home is properly insulated to prevent this from happening, or to greatly reduce it. With proper resistance to heat flow, your HVAC system does not need to work as hard.
Your home energy audit will include a written report estimating energy use based on local climate conditions, thermostat settings, roof overhang, and solar positioning and reveals the energy usage for any given time, as well as suggest improvements. If you have your billing statements handy for this chosen time period, you can improve the accuracy of these estimates as they have the total usage of energy your house consumes. The audit may also include a homeowner interview to see what your personal patterns are and can give you suggestions to better use your HVAC system. It may seem like a large upfront cost, the few hundred dollars for the estimate and then implementing the suggested changes to your home, but you will see a decrease in your heating and air conditioning bills that over time will cover the costs and then some.
Posted in AC Doctor News, Energy Efficiency, Insulation, Saving Money
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