FAQ: What Are Some Ways To Help Control My Heating And Cooling Costs?

Once the thermostat is set, it should be left alone. However, programmable thermostats are commonly installed on systems to setback the house temperatures while you are away from your home. The air filters inside the system need to be checked, cleaned, or changed each month. The outdoor fan should not be covered or obstructed, so it can receive proper air flow.

Precision Tune Up checks should be performed which include refrigerant level checks, indoor/outdoor coil inspections (cleaning, if needed) and duct inspections. Duct inspections are very important. A poorly performing duct system can cause air comfort problems, high utility bills, and could become hazardous. We can measure your entire system's performance and show you how to get the most out of your heating and cooling system.

FAQ: Is the Heat Pump an Economical or Expensive Way of Heating & Cooling? And How Does It Operate?

A heat pump may actually provide more than three units of heat for each unit of electricity used.

For example: 
If a kilowatt-hour of heat is needed for comfort, it can be supplied by a one thousand-watt electric heater. To provide the same amount of heat, the heat pump might use as little as 330 watts in an hour.

This is a ratio of three to one. The ratio is referred to as the Coefficient of Performance (COP). Electric resistance heaters have a COP of 1 because they are using electricity to create heat. A heat pump moves heat from the outside to the inside of the home and vice versa, not using energy to create heat. We recommend a COP of at least 1.8 at standard test conditions of 17 ° F dry bulb and 15 ° F wet bulb.

We're sure that explanation was as clear as mud. Let's look at it this way. Gas and fuel oil prices are going through the roof. It looks like the heat pump is becoming a better option.

Little Known Facts About Your HVAC System

These are third-party studies that we have compiled to emphasize the importance of looking at your HVAC system as an ENTIRE system, ductwork and all, and not just the equipment. Feel free to use these interesting facts to amaze your friends and family at your next get-together!

North Carolina Alternative Energy Corp. (non-profit organization) examined air conditioning manufacturers' efficiencies versus the actual efficiencies that resulted after installation.

• 90% of the units tested exhibited some sort of energy wasting problem.
• 50% had an improper refrigerant charge.
• 40% failed to meet minimum air flow criterion. 20% were barely inside the range specified by manufacturers.
• A deficiency of 20% in air flow reduces the SEER rating by 17%.
• A 15% return air leak from a 120º attic could reduce a 12 SEER system to a 6 SEER system.

Texas A & M University found that a 23% refrigerant undercharge could result in a 52% efficiency loss.

Pacific Gas & Electric (CA.) found the average heating energy savings for:

• Repair of disconnected ducts was a 15% savings. 
• Repair of diffuser, or register, leakage was a 7.5% savings. 
• Correct low air flow was a 5.6% savings. 
• Repair refrigerant leaks and correct refrigerant charge was an 18.4% savings.

Lakeland Electric & Water (FL) and the Florida Solar Energy Center's researchers found that by repairing leaking duct work, cooling energy reduced by an average of 17.4%.

Honeywell Corp.

• A typical heat pump would lose almost 50% of its efficiency after 20 years, even if a typical "dust stop" filter had been installed.
• In 20 years, a 12 SEER system could degrade to a 6 SEER if it is not properly maintained. This would DOUBLE the energy cost, without sacrificing comfort.

Louisiana State University and Gulf States Utility found consumers could save about $30 per month just by making sure that their air conditioning system is cleaned and serviced regularly.

Industry Research shows:

• Every .01" of dirt on an evaporator coil can increase operating costs by 5%.
• A 10% refrigerant undercharge can increase operating costs by 20%.
• Up to 80% of all air conditioning and heat pump compressor failures could be eliminated if the problems that led to the failures were corrected in a timely manner, such as a routine maintenance schedule.