To most people's surprise, airborne dirt and household lint cause the most problems with your system. Even if you change your filters every 30 days, 90% of the airborne particles go through your throwaway air filter. These particles will collect on your blower motor, blower wheel, and indoor coil. Air cleaners help but particles still get through.
Your outdoor coils get dust, pollen, and grass clippings. These particles will become an insulator and have a huge effect on the operation of your system.
It is recommended that a Heating and Air Condition system, be thoroughly cleaned twice a year to be sure that the system is operating to its full efficiency rating.
It takes special coil cleaners to remove all the particles and bacteria that collect on the parts of the system.
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How Does Central Air Conditioning Work?
Central air conditioning helps keep your home cool and reduces humidity levels. By transferring heat from air located inside your home to the outside, conditioned and cooled air is left to be re-circulated. Using electricity as its power source, the compressor inside an air conditioning unit pumps coolant, or refrigerant, back and forth to gather heat and moisture from indoors. Warm air from inside is blown over the cooling coil, which is connected to the compressor, and then pumped back into your home.
Buying Tips
Always replace the whole air conditioning system (systems on average last 15 years give a or take a few years) as the efficiency (SEER rating ) is base on a matched indoor and outdoor coil. To replace a single component (outside condenser or indoor coil) will cost less initially but you'll not have the new "system efficiency". In addition if your compressor was "burned", contamination from the old system can cut in half the life expectancy of your new outdoor condenser. An older remaining component, due to it's age, will require future expensive repairs and eventually will still have to be replaced! Finally, the performance of a mixture of a new and a old component would be about 30%. Comfort on a hot day is the key point to owning an air conditioning system.
Correct system sizing, proper installation and yearly professional maintenance are the three main keys to a good working system. All manufactures in the industry have very similar designs and use the same vendors for most major components - the service provider's installation and system sizing are the key factors in equipment performance and life cycle.
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Facts:
- A furnace works to keep a home warm in the winter and plays a critical part in the operation of an air conditioning system.
- Furnaces produce heat through the combustion of natural gas in the furnace's burner. The heat produced from this process then passes through a heat exchanger. Air from your home's return air ducts is blown over the heat exchanger, thus warming the air.
- The furnace's blower then blows the warmed air into the ductwork, which carries and disperses the warmed air throughout the home.
- During warmer months, the blower inside a furnace continues to circulate return air throughout the home--only this time, the return air has been cooled by being blown over the indoor coil portion of the home's split-system air conditioning system. The condensing coil is typically installed on top of the furnace.
Benefits:
- Indoor warmth any time it is required.
- Energy efficiency -The efficiency of a furnace can be determined by its AFUE--or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The minimum efficiency level for furnaces currently manufactured in the U.S. is 80% AFUE. A rating of "80% AFUE" means that for every dollar you spend heating your home; 80 cents are actually applied to the generation of warmth. Compared to many of the 60% AFUE furnaces in older homes, 80% AFUE furnaces are a significant improvement. However, for enhanced energy efficiency, you may wish to consider a 95% AFUE furnaces.
- Cleaner air - As your HVAC system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms. Whenever the HVAC system is running, this cycle repeats continually, constantly filtering and cleaning the air in your home.
- This cleaning process improves with the installation of a variable-speed furnace. Variable-speed furnaces use variable-speed blowers, which shift between several speeds. These furnaces will run longer at a low speed, which causes them to filter the indoor air more frequently.
- Because the furnace plays an important role in the operation of the air conditioner, its variable-speed blower helps maintain both a consistent indoor temperature and improved air quality year-round.
- Possible Tax Credit - As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. government has made a provision for tax credits of up to $200 for homeowners who install furnaces with an efficiency of 95% or greater between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007. Consumers are encouraged to discuss these tax credits with a tax professional to see if they qualify
Buying Tips:
Correct system sizing, proper installation and yearly professional maintenance are the three main keys to a good working system. All manufactures in the industry have very similar designs and use the same vendors for most major components - the service provider's installation and system sizing are the key factors in equipment performance and life cycle.
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How do I properly maintain my heating and cooling equipment?
Your home comfort system is in the background, running all day long, on and off, for most of the year. It keeps you comfortable, catches your dust, and zaps those nasty cold viruses. It needs to be properly cleaned and maintained. If it isn't, it can get clogged, parts will stop working and there will be nothing protecting you from the temperature outside!
Having your system maintained regularly can extend it's life expectancy, save you money in operation costs and help prevent unexpected breakdowns.
We make system cleaning and maintenance as easy as possible for you with our Maintenance Program!
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Maintenance Program
Our customized program is designed to:
- Reduce the possiblity of any air conditioning or heating system breakdown.
- Reduce your utility and repair costs.
- Provide preferential emergency service if the need ever arises.
- Provide a 10% discount on parts.
- Maintain or enhance your current level of comfort.
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Home Heating & Cooling Equipment Tax Credits
On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed a bill that established tax credits direct to the consumer for the installation of high-efficiency furnaces. For furnaces installed between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, taxpayers willreceive a $150.00 tax creditif their new furnace has an energy efficiency level of no less than 95% AFUE.
Only five active models listed in the 2005 Consumer's Directory of Certified Efficiency Ratings meet 95% AFUE as of August 15, 2005. Since then, Goodman & Amana have added a new lines of gas furnaces that will meet this 95% rating. A total of 21 active models will qualify for the tax credit and 20 of those model are either Amana or Goodman.
Also, a separate tax credit of $50.00 for the furnace's ECM variable speed motor makes the total tax credit $200.00 on furnaces that have the variable speed motor. Even 80% furnaces that have the ECM variable speed motor will qualify for the $50.00 tax credit.
Home Heating & Cooling Equipment
What is the tax credit?
Purchasers of highly efficient heating, cooling, and water heating equipment can take tax credits of up to $300 for purchasing qualifying equipment, as detailed below. These credits are available for systems placed in service from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007. There is a $500 cap on the credit per home, including the amount received for insulation, windows, air and duct sealing as described in the previous section.
What types of equipment qualify and for how much?
- High-efficiency gas, oil, and propane furnaces and boilers: $150
- High-efficiency central air conditioning units, including air-source and ground-source heat pumps: $300
- High-efficiency fans for heating and cooling systems: $50
- High-efficiency water heaters, including heat pump water heaters: $300
Where must the equipment be used?
Under guidance issued by the IRS, equipment is eligible if installed in a home occupied by a taxpayer as their principal residence at the time the equipment is installed. This implies that equipment in new homes is generally not eligible since new homes equipment is generally installed prior to occupancy. However, efficient equipment in new homes will help that home qualify for the new home tax credit.
What are the efficiency requirements to qualify for the credits?
Manufacturers and retailers should be able to help you tell whether a specific product qualifies. The qualification specifications are:
- Furnaces and boilers: Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) 95 or higher
- Central air conditioning units:
- Central air conditioning units must meet the highest tier standards set by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), which require a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 15 and an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) or 12.5 for split systems (those with separate indoor and outdoor units) and SEER 14 and EER 12 for single-package systems (typically located on a roof). SEER measures performance throughout the cooling season, EER measures performance on a very hot day.
- Air-source heat pumps must have a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) 9 or greater, SEER 15 or higher, and EER 13 or higher
- Ground-source heat pumps must meet the following criteria (the same criteria as for Energy Star):
- Closed-loop systems—14.1 cooling EER and 3.3 heating Coefficient of Performance (COP)
- Open-loop systems—16.2 EER and 3.6 COP
- Direct-expansion systems—15 EER and 3.5 COP
In addition, ground-source heat pumps must include a desuperheater (which preheats water for a water heater) or an integrated water heating system.
- Fans for heating and cooling systems: fan uses no more than 2% of total heating system energy use, as defined by DOE test procedure
- Water heaters:
- Gas or propane water heaters—Energy Factor of at least 0.8. The only models that meet this standard currently are tankless water heaters and some systems that combine both space and water heating.
- Heat pump water heaters—Energy Factor of at least 2.0
What do I need to do to qualify for the incentives?
Under the IRS rules, manufacturers need to certify that specific measures are eligible. Homeowners should obtain a copy of this certification when buying these products from the manufacturer, contractor or retailer. Certifications need not be submitted to the IRS, but should be kept on file in case the IRS has questions. Homeowners should also make notes on when each eligible measure is installed- only measures "placed in service" in 2006 and 2007 are eligible.
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Air pollution is a common contributor to lung disease. Diseases such as asthma, respiratory tract infections and lung cancer claim over a quarter of a million lives every year. While some forms of air pollution are uncontrollable. The indoor air quality of your home or office is something that can be controlled. Poor indoor air quality can cause serious chronic respiratory diseases in some cases, however, more common problems are often chronic sinusitis, headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. In addition, those already with respiratory problems are placed at even greater risk. There are a number of different sources of indoor air pollution, some more harmful than others, but all can be controlled to a certain extent.
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
Biological contributors to poor air quality include toxic mold, bacteria, mildew, viruses, animal dander, dust mites and pollen. These pollutants can originate from a variety of sources. Pollen produced by plants; viruses and bacteria can be carried and transmitted by people, animals, soil and plant debris; and any household pets are a source of dander. Any sort of ventilation system, whether it be heating or cooling, can be a breeding ground for biological pollutants if air ducts and air filters are not cleaned properly; effectively spreading them through your home or office.
RADON
Some sources of poor indoor air quality may remain hidden until tested. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas most commonly produced from uranium decay in soil and rock. Radon is colorless and odorless gas that can leak into homes through dirt floors, exposed rock, cracks in the foundation floor and walls, drains, wells and any other opening to subterranean soil. Radon is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer and approximately 1 out of 15 homes in the United States have radon levels above the EPA's recommended action level.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS)
Environmental tobacco smoke, also known as "second hand smoke" or "passive smoking", is a combination of smoke directly from the end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. ETS is known to contain over 4,000 chemicals, 200 of which are poisonous and approximately 40 which are carcinogenic. ETS is one of the few causes of poor indoor air quality that is completely preventable.
FORMALDEHYDE
Formaldehyde is a chemical used widely in the building construction industry. In homes and offices, the most common source is formaldehyde-based adhesives used in carpets, upholstery, particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard. It is a colorless yet pungent-smelling gas that can cause eye, nose and throat irritation as well as headaches, dizziness and nausea.
ASBESTOS
Asbestos is a mineral fiber commonly used in older building construction materials. It was used mainly for its durability as an insulator and fire-retardant. Asbestos is most commonly found in older homes in furnace insulating materials, shingles, pipe insulation, and floor/ceiling tiles. Asbestos is dangerous when microscopic particles become suspended in air. Asbestos particles become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed through remodeling activities such as sanding and cutting. Improperly removing such materials also leads to increased airborne concentrations. High concentrations of airborne asbestos particles can cause serious health risks such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Symptoms of these diseases do not become apparent until years after initial exposure.
CARBON MONOXIDE/NITROGEN DIOXIDE
Home appliances and heating systems that use natural gas, fuel or wood can all contribute to poor indoor air quality. Any type of combustion appliance that is misused, improperly installed and maintained, or inadequately ventilated can cause high levels of exhaust byproducts including Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). Carbon Monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that interferes with the body's oxygen delivery systems. High concentrations can cause unconsciousness and even death, while low concentrations lead to headaches, nausea, disorientation and fatigue. Nitrogen Dioxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can cause irritation to mucus membranes such as eyes, nose and throat. High exposure can lead to shortness of breath and prolonged exposure can lead to damaged respiratory tissue as well as chronic bronchitis.
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
There are many household products that can lead to poor indoor air quality. Cleaning products, personal care products, pesticides, paints and solvents all contain chemicals that can lead to allergic reactions and irritations if not used properly.
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Do we need a Carbon Monoxide detector in our home?
How dangerous is carbon monoxide?
Consider these facts:
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) is the number one cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. It's estimated approximately 500 deaths occur each year from accidental CO poisoning. Carbon Monoxide also results in approximately 10,000 illnesses each year, for which people are treated in hospital emergency rooms, a number which is underestimated.
- Carbon Monoxide is totally undetectable by human senses; it is an odorless, colorless and tasteless poison and is so deadly that it has earned the name, "The Silent Killer." Carbon Monoxide is highly toxic and can act on the body quickly in high concentrations, or slowly over long periods of time.
Household appliances can be a deadly source of CO poison
Even with regular maintenance and checkups, any appliance can malfunction at any time, silently emitting poisonous CO into your air with no warning. CO is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fuels like natural gas, liquid propane, coal, oil and wood.
This means a defective furnace, a blocked chimney, faulty gas appliances like a water heater or range, clogged venting or a car idling in the garage can all present a serious danger to your family. Unless, of course, you help guard your family against this threat by having at least one dependable CO detector in your home.
No appliance is designed to last forever. The potential for exposure to CO is a real one, and your family could be poisoned without even knowing it. Installing a CO detector is one important way to alert your family to this potential danger.
Home Centers and Hardware stores sell CO Alarms
Consumers Reports states the biggest problem with CO Alarms is "False Alarms" and "No Alarm" situations. Imagine your house is filling up with toxic CO levels an your CO Alarm is hanging silently on the wall. Yikes! That's why we strongly suggest you buy what the pro's sell. A CO Monitor with both low and high level alarms.
Saving a few bucks can have draw-backs. But here are the facts... most alarms sold in a Home Center or Hardware Store only provide "High Level Protection." Good but not good enough for you family's complete protection. At low level concentrations, CO can go undetected and contribute to nagging illnesses. Symptoms such as headaches and fatigue are common to illnesses such as the flu or the common cold. Things like "memory loss" and "facial ticks" are also symptoms of "Low Level" CO poisoning.
In addition, most CO alarms sold in Home Centers and Hardware stores have a 2 year life-span (as often stated in the fine print). Compare that to the industry standard "electrochemical sensor" with a full 5 years life span...guaranteed.
Electrochemical sensors do not false alarm. They also have the highest level of reliability and protection available today.
"False Alarms" and "No Alarms" situations are solved with a electrochemical sensor...that will cost you a few bucks more even in a Home Center or Hardware store... if you can find one. What about "Low Level" protection? Some sensors have a digital LED that informs you of the Carbon Monoxide Parts Per Million but no " Low Level Alarm."
Generally, you must buy a CO Monitor from a Heating Contractor to get a monitor that also alerts at "Low Levels." 35 parts per million or more in the air you breath are considered low levels of CO poisoning.
What to do if you're CO Monitor goes off
Get out of the house! Don't open windows.... Don't check your alarm.... Call your service provider from a neighbors home to perform a CO Investigation. Skilled technicians are great but what you want in an alarm situation is a Technician trained in "Combustion Efficiency" and "Carbon Monoxide Detection."
Who else could I call?
You may also call the Fire Department or Utility Company if your alarm goes off. The fire department will respond to a CO alarm. It's their job as first responders to check your blood for dangerous levels of CO. They will also evacuate you from the premises if a serious CO condition exists. However, fixing the problem is not their job, you must call a heating contractor.
Utility companies also by law have to respond to a CO call but it's not free. When they arrive their technician will determine if the conditions in the house are safe or not...however, many times they fail to determine the exact cause and shut off your gas supply if a dangerous condition exists. Even if they stumble into the source of CO they still will shut down the suspected appliance. They will generally advise you to call a contractor.
Your family’s safety is priceless!
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