How to Ease Your Spring Allergies in Your Home

Normally, our intuition tells us to stay indoors when allergies flare up. However, your HVAC system could be harboring irritants that will continue to aggravate your symptoms inside of your home.

If you have allergies or asthma, indoor air pollution can trigger your symptoms. Most people don't realize that indoor air pollution levels are actually much higher than those outdoors — two to five times higher, claim allergists.

Common indoor allergens include:

Mold

Pet dander

Dust mites

Pollen

When these particles become airborne, you can breathe them in and experience an allergic reaction. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in your home can both harbor and spread mold and other allergens.

Optimize Your HVAC System

Filters can help minimize exposure to allergens from your HVAC system. Filters can be built into the air ducts in your home, but keep in mind, not all filters are created equally. The effectiveness of filters is measured in something called MERVs [minimum efficiency recording value]. MERVs range from 1 to 20, with 20 providing the highest level of particle filtration.

Types of HVAC Filters

Other things to know about HVAC filters include the following:

Flat panel filters: These filters, put in place by most furnace manufacturers, generally have a rating of one to four MERVs, and are designed to protect the furnace, not improve indoor air quality.

Medium efficiency filters: These pleated furnace filters have a higher surface area and, therefore, filter more particles out of the air. Their MERV rating ranges from five to 13.

High efficiency filters: These filters have MERV ratings of 14 to 16, and remove even smaller particles than pleated filters.

HEPA filters: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have MERV ratings of 17 to 20, and are not typically recommended for centralized home HVAC systems unless major — read expensive — updates are made to the system. This is because high energy and HEPA filters can be so efficient that your HVAC system ends up requiring more energy to power the fan that gets air circulating.

Controlling Indoor Allergens: Regular HVAC Maintenance

It is important to change filters regularly — as recommended, or every two months during use — and follow any maintenance instructions recommended by the air conditioner system's manufacturer. If you suspect mold may be growing inside your air conditioning system, you may want to consider having the air ducts cleaned.

If you see mold particles growing near the ducts or on other components of the system or if you smell a musty or moldy odor coming from your vents, consult a duct cleaning professional to check for an accumulation of mold.

Another thing you may want to consider when building a new home or replacing your existing HVAC system is a unit that replaces indoor air with filtered outdoor air.

Give us a call today to schedule a tune up and we can help ease the spring sneezing (inside your home, at least.)

Keep Your Home Safe, Clean, and Comfortable All Year: the Spring Coupon is Here!

Our spring coupon with can’t beat offers is now available! Print it off for Comfort Club deals, a spring tune-up package, and more!

                Find it below as well as on our Specials page, with other offers for year-round comfort.

10 Things on your spring cleaning checklist

The daffodils are peaking through, the thunder storms are rolling, and the layers are coming off… Spring has sprung here in Richmond!

With the equinox comes spring cleaning. There’s never a nicer time to fling open the windows and refresh your home. Often overlooked is a home’s heating and air systems. There is no better time to do a check up on your equipment… The sweltering Richmond summers are a terrible time to find out you need work done!

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. Energy Star has put together a spring checklist to make sure your equipment is in top shape to keep you and yours comfortable and healthy in the months to come!

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a specialist do annual pre-season check-ups. Specialists get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following:

Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.

Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.

Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15%.

Actions To Do Yourself:

Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

Howell’s offers a Comfort Club membership designed to troubleshoot your system for you.  As a member you receive routine maintenance on your HVAC system, discount on repairs, preferred services, and much more. Give us a call today for details!

Enjoy the sun and blooms, RVA!

HVAC Throughout History

                We may take our heating and air for granted sometimes (maybe not when we’re shivering in the movie theatre or sweating it out in the summer!) but the history of ventilation has been a fascinating one, full of innovations to make humans more comfortable indoors.

                Looking back at the first designs of heating and air, we’ll never take the chilly rush of air in the office for granted again.

Historical HVAC Facts:

In 1906 North Carolina textile manufacturer came up with the phrase “air conditioning” because the technology actually improved the quality and condition of the cloth being made in his plant

In 1903, the New York Stock Exchange building in New York City was one of the first structures to use an air conditioning system.

The Romans were the first civilization to use any type of warm-air heating system.

The first concept of air conditioning occurred 500 years ago when Persians built wind towers to try to get the same effect as air conditioning. These towers were rigged with wind scoops to catch prevailing breezes. Internal vanes circulated that air throughout the buildings while forcing hot air out. This was especially handy considering the 100+ degree temperatures during summer.

Radiant heat isn't a new concept. The Romans had something very similar where the floors were laid out as a series of stone slabs with a heat source located below the floor.

The very first steam-heating system installation was in England so the Governor of the Bank of England could grow grapes in the cool temperatures.

In 1936, Packard was the first automobile manufacturing company to incorporate air conditioning in passenger cars.

Before air conditioning was common, many businesses and government offices took a summer vacation.

Why Should I Care about Energy Efficiency?

The total cost of any appliance (including an HVAC system) has three components - the purchase price, the cost of repairs and maintenance, and the cost to operate the appliance. The more energy efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run and the lower your utility bills. Using less energy is good for the environment too; it can reduce air pollution and conserves our natural resources.

Replacement and Retrofit Department

Howell's has grown into one of the best residential service and retrofit replacement companies in Richmond. Howell's has designed a department that deals exclusively with residential and light commercial HVAC replacement work. The department consists of three sales engineers, a contract administrator, one field supervisor, and five complete installation crews who specialize in replacing existing systems, and installing new systems in existing homes and buildings. Within this framework, the installation crews are well trained and supervised to be able to adjust to the unique challenges that each project presents.

The specialization of the replacement & retrofit department has allowed us to greatly improve our service to those customers who need new systems in occupied structures. We are able to complete our work in a timely fashion with minimal interruption to your home or business lifestyle. We understand that the customer has just made a large investment and is usually apprehensive about the decision.

Assurances are given, explanation of the system is thorough, and confidence is secured through our promise of future service and commitment to excellence. But is that really enough? Well, we say, "No!" Your heating and cooling system is probably the most expensive equipment in your home. And we take that very seriously. So, when you call Howell's, you can expect:

• A friendly, low pressure consultation.
• Options that fit your style and budget.
• Tips to maximize your energy efficiency.
• Service to your schedule, not ours. 24/7/365
• And so much more!

Thank you for choosing Howell's. We look forward to helping you be your partner in total comfort. Ask the experts at Howell's a question. or Schedule a FREE Replacement Quote. Let us be "Your Partner in Total Comfort."

FAQ: Why Should I Replace My System?

Good News: you don't have to! We're serious. I know I would much rather spend my hard earned income on a nice beach vacation. We know that you want to "milk" every last ounce of useful life out of your system. And that is O.K.

We do not blame you for wanting to hold off. "If it's not broken, don't fix it." Right? Take the Repair Vs. Replace Quiz that we posted in November! It's an eye-opening experience, especially when the obvious hits you like that.

Howell's can do a few things to help:

1. Give you a Free (yes, free!) Home Comfort Survey. If we can spot a way to save you some energy dollars, we'll show you how.
2. Calculate the efficiency of your heating and cooling system now and how much a new one could save you.
3. If a new system makes sense, we want to offer you one with no money down. No pressure. Just solid money-saving advice!

Call us now! (804) 798-1371 now before it's too late. There's no obligation at all, besides would you rather find out now while your system is operating, or wait until the hottest day of the year when you will pay anybody anything to get some no-name brand in ASAP! Go ahead! Knowledge is power!

Ductless, Mini-Split Systems

Ductless, mini-split-systems, heat pumps and air conditioning only, make good retrofit add-ons to houses with "non-ducted" heating systems, such as hydronic (hot water heat), radiant panels, and space heaters (wood, kerosene, propane). They can also be a good choice for room additions, where extending or installing distribution ductwork is not feasible.

Like standard air-source heat pumps, mini splits have two main components: an outdoor compressor/condenser, and an indoor air-handling unit. A conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain, links the outdoor and indoor units.

Advantages
The main advantages of mini splits are their small size and flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms. Many models can have as many as four indoor air handling units (for four zones or rooms) connected to one outdoor unit. The number depends on how much heating or cooling is required for the building or each zone (which in turn is affected by how well the building is insulated). Since each of the zones will have its own thermostat, you only need to condition that place when someone is there. This will save energy and money.

Ductless mini-split systems are also often easier to install than other types of space conditioning systems. For example, the hook-up between the outdoor and indoor units generally requires only a three-inch hole through a wall for the conduit.

Also, most manufacturers of this type of system can provide a variety of lengths of connecting conduits. If necessary, you can locate the outdoor unit as far away as 50 feet from the indoor evaporator. This makes it possible to cool rooms on the front side of a building house with the compressor in a more advantageous or inconspicuous place on the outside of the building.

Since mini splits have no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with ductwork of central forced air systems. Duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.

In comparison to other add-on systems, mini splits offer more flexibility in interior design options. The indoor air handlers can be suspended from a ceiling, mounted flush into a drop ceiling, or hung on a wall. Floor-standing models are also available. Most indoor units have profiles of about seven inches deep and usually come with sleek, high tech-looking jackets. Many also offer a remote control to make it easier to turn the system on and off when it's positioned high on a wall or suspended from a ceiling.

Split-systems can also help to keep your home safer since there is only a small hole in the wall. Through-the-wall and window mounted room air-conditioners can provide an easy entrance for intruders.

Call us today for more information: 1-800-358-(HVAC).

8 Myths About R-410A Refrigerant - Part Two

Last week, we brought you four of the top eight misconceptions about R-410A Refrigerant. Here are Myths 5-8!

Myth 5: R-410A costs too much.

It’s true that non-ozone depleting refrigerants are more expensive to manufacture. They use more expensive raw materials, are more difficult to make, and aren’t yet produced in the large quantities in which R-22 is produced. Over the long-term though, manufacturing costs are likely to decline as R-410A becomes more popular and is produced on a larger scale.

Also, in order to properly install and service air conditioners containing R-410A, your air-conditioner equipment dealer had to invest in new tools and new training, and part of this cost is passed along to you in your price for a new R-410A system.

There are usually costs associated with new technology as well as with protecting our environment. Air-conditioners that contain R-410A refrigerant are likely to be slightly more expensive than air conditioners charged with R-22 for at least the next few years.

Because of design differences between manufacturers, the cost to upgrade from an R-22 system to R-410A can vary. There are at least 12 different brands of R-410A air conditioners and heat pumps are available in the U.S. and Canada today, so you have many choices as a consumer. We recommend you research both the equipment brand and the dealer you select to make sure that your choice is appropriate for the quality of equipment and installation you want. Remember, you do get what you pay for!

Myth 6: R-410A technology is too new and risky.

Air conditioners using R-410A have been available in the U.S. since 1995, so they’re not at all new. They’re just new to people who haven’t heard about them!

Honeywell invented the refrigerant 410A over a decade ago, and it’s taken several years for some air conditioner dealers to learn about these products and for some air conditioner manufacturers to design and offer their own R-410A systems. Most manufacturers have had their R-410A air conditioners and heat pumps on the market for several years.

Some contractors and AC dealers are rightfully concerned about selling consumers on a refrigerant that might be discontinued. But this fear just doesn’t apply to R-410A systems anymore. Every major manufacturer in the U.S. and Canada now offers a R-410A brand, and because of the terrific track record of the reliability of R-410A air conditioners, it has quickly become the new industry standard.

Myth 7: R-410A is new and may not be available to service your new air conditioner if it breaks down.

We’ve heard this line several times. As the inventor of R-410A, Honeywell is committed to having ample supplies of this refrigerant available, and started up a new $100 million manufacturing plant to make sure that there is plenty of R-410A available. There are at least 2 other refrigerant companies in the U.S. besides Honeywell who offer their own brands of R-410A, providing both ample supply and competitive pricing to air conditioning manufacturers and to service technicians.

Myth 8: The lubricating oil used in R-410A systems absorbs water and makes systems break down.

Many air-conditioning contractors who haven’t learned about R-410A often hear this myth and repeat it to others.

Air conditioners and heat pumps that use R-22 use a mineral oil that circulates through the system to keep the compressor and other parts lubricated. Systems containing R-410A usually use a synthetic oil . Some of these synthetic oils do absorb moisture more readily than mineral oils, but there are several reasons why this is not an issue for home owners.

First, equipment manufacturers train their technicians to keep these oils from getting exposed to the air where they could absorb moisture. As long as technicians follow the manufacturers’ directions in installing and servicing R-410A systems, then the oil will remain clean and dry. These procedures may also be required to make sure your warranty stays valid during the life of your R-410A system.

Second, nearly all air conditioners and heat pumps that use R-410A have a device called a “filter drier." This important part does exactly what the name implies - it filters, cleans, and dries the refrigerant and oil as it circulates through your system just like the oil filter in your car. This device has been an important reason why air conditioners with 410A are considered by some manufacturers to be the most reliable product they make.


So, there you have it! The most common misconceptions about R-410A Refrigerant: debunked! Let us know if you hear any other confusion surrounding R-410A, and we'll help clear it up for you!

8 Myths About R-410A Refrigerant - Part One

There are a lot of misconceptions about R-410A Refrigerant. We're here to dispel the confusion!

We'll be breaking this information into two posts. Here are Myths 1-4!

Myth 1: The higher pressures of R-410A are unsafe.

Actually, air-conditioners that use R-410A are specially designed for the higher pressures of R-410A. These systems have typically been rigorously tested by their manufacturers, as well as by independent safety testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories.

Many dealers of air-conditioning equipment are not educated on the benefits of this new refrigerant, and some use the “high pressure” argument to convince consumers not to buy a product which the dealer isn’t properly trained to install or service anyway.

With over a million R-410A based air conditioners operating worldwide, and nearly a decade of field testing and product history, there is no evidence to suggest that R-22 systems are any safer than systems that contain R-410A.

Myth 2: The higher pressures of R-410A cause air conditioners to break down more often.

Evidence shows this is not only untrue, but that R-410A air conditioners can be remarkably more reliable than air-conditioners that use R-22.

First, air-conditioners that use R-410A are designed to be heavier-duty, with a thicker compressor shell. Usually this results in smaller, sturdier pieces of equipment that vibrate less, putting less strain on the piping connections that are the source of most leaks.

Second, most air-conditioner manufacturers require their technicians to be fully trained on R-410A before they can sell or service that manufacturer’s R-410A equipment. As a result, the dealers and technicians that offer and install R-410A are often better trained and have the right tools to give you a more reliable installation.

One major air conditioner manufacturer who has been selling air conditioners for over 50 years tells us that their R-410A air conditioners and heat pumps are the most reliable systems they’ve ever introduced!

Myth 3: R-22 will remain cheap and available.

This is wishful thinking on the part of many service technicians. R-22 is being phased out globally, and the manufacturing plants that make R-22 in Europe, North America and other regions will eventually be shut down or converted to make other chemicals.

In 2003, the U.S. EPA implemented an allocation program which limits both the companies who can make and import R-22, and the amounts that they each can make or import. This essentially “capped” the supply of R-22 in the U.S.

The EPA has laid out the below schedule for phasing out HCFCs including R-22:

• January 1, 2004: The Montreal Protocol required the U.S. to reduce its consumption of HCFCs by 35% below the U.S. baseline cap.
• As of January 1, 2003, EPA banned production and import of HCFC-141b, the most ozone-destructive HCFC. This action allowed the United States to meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol. EPA was able to issue 100% of company baseline allowances for production and import of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b.
• January 1, 2010: The Montreal Protocol requires the U.S. to reduce its consumption of HCFCs by 75% below the U.S. baseline. Allowance holders may only produce or import HCFC-22 to service existing equipment. Virgin R-22 may not be used in new equipment. As a result, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system manufacturers may not produce new air conditioners and heat pumps containing R-22.
• January 1, 2015: The Montreal Protocol requires the U.S. to reduce its consumption of HCFCs by 90% below the U.S. baseline.
• January 1, 2020: The Montreal Protocol requires the U.S. to reduce its consumption of HCFCs by 99.5% below the U.S. baseline. Refrigerant that has been recovered and recycled/reclaimed will be allowed beyond 2020 to service existing systems, but chemical manufacturers will no longer be able to produce R-22 to service existing air conditioners and heat pumps. 

(The above phase out schedule was taken from the EPA's website. Visit http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/22phaseout.html for more information!)

Myth 4: R-410A isn't the final refrigerant, and other new refrigerants are coming.

Every major air conditioner manufacturer in the United States has selected R-410A as its choice to replace R-22 in new equipment, and there are at least a dozen brands of R-410A air conditioners or heat pumps available today, with more coming soon.

Why? In less than 3 years the U.S. Department of Energy will require a 20% increase in the minimum efficiency of new home central air conditioners. This means that air conditioner manufacturers will have to find ways to increase the efficiency of their air conditioners. One easy way is to use a more efficient refrigerant, and because the refrigerant 410A is at least 5% more efficient than R-22, manufacturers can use R-410A to help them meet these energy efficiency goals.

In other countries like Japan where the phase-out of R-22 is further along than in the U.S. and Canada, the refrigerant R-410A is used extensively. The United States is expected to follow their lead, allowing R-410A to become the global standard. Honeywell is the world leader in developing and manufacturing non-ozone depleting refrigerants, and we’ve never seen anything like R-410A, and neither have our customers!


So, there you have it! Four of the top eight myths about R-410A refrigerant! Check back next week for Myths 5-8!

Dirty Jobs / Great Investment in Our Future

Several months ago we posted a link on our Facebook page to a YouTube video of Mike Rowe speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee in May of 2011. Mike Rowe, in case you were not aware, has hosted the popular Discovery Channel program Dirty Jobs since 2005. In this video, Mr. Rowe stated the case for increasing the current lackluster investment our country is making toward training our youth to take on more hands on, Dirty Jobs.

As Mike Rowe explains, the past two or three decades have seen a focus put on our youth attaining a college degree. During this time very little attention has been applied to the Skilled Trades. While there is nothing wrong with having a college education, there is a growing shortage of Skilled Tradesman to fill the positions of retiring Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters and Mechanics in the U.S.

With all of the buzz and focus on the lack of work these days the following quote from Rowe is astounding: “Right now, American manufacturing is struggling to fill 200,000 vacant positions. There are 450,000 openings in trades, transportation and utilities. The Skills Gap is real, and it’s getting wider. In Alabama, a third of all skilled tradesmen are over 55. They’re retiring fast, and no one is there to replace them.” Imagine what filling 650,000 positions would do to today’s unemployment rate!

Mike Rowe describes changing the perceptions of most in this country that dirty jobs are not something we want for our children. We need to at least show Skilled Trades as a viable option for students trying to decide how they want to invest in their future. If an equal amount of attention is allowed for both Higher Education and Skilled Trades then we may be able to stave off the decreasing pool of labor for Trades. Rowe puts it very well in his closing statement, “I encourage you to support these efforts, because closing The Skills Gap doesn’t just benefit future tradesmen and the companies desperate to hire them. It benefits people like me, and anyone else who shares my addiction to paved roads, reliable bridges, heating, air conditioning, and indoor plumbing.”

We have been lucky here at Howell’s Heating & AC to have retained a workforce of highly skilled individuals. We recently acknowledged several employees who have attained the level of Sheet Metal Technician Journeyman. Howell’s fosters a very positive approach toward employee education, picking up the tuition cost for all forms of training and education. Howell’s also works with local schools and the Richmond Technical Center to foster interest in our field. Yet, it is evident by the skill level of those applying for positions in our company that the availability of qualified workers is dwindling. We may not be fully feeling the pain just yet, but it is coming.

Another celebrity trying to increase interest in Skilled Labor and Trades offered us intriguing and somewhat baffling statistics for over a decade, from a barstool. Known to many as Cliff from Cheers and more recently as the voice of animated characters in both Toy Story and Cars, John Ratzenberger has also taken up the torch, trying to spark an interest in Vocational Training. In an interview with Bill O’Reilly on Fox’s O’Reilly Factor, Ratzenberger explains that studies show there will be a deficit of ten million skilled workers by 2020. He has teamed with the Center for America, AOL Jobs and others to focus more attention on this growing concern.

Ratzenberger’s focus is on showing how anyone can help to prevent what has been called an Industrial Tsunami. From business leaders bringing students in to factory floors and construction sites to grandparents and parents showing how to fix a bike or bake a cake. He stresses how we have lost that “tinkering spirit” our society once embraced. A very interesting read is this resource put together by Ratzenberger and the Center for America. It offers more detail on the challenges we face. The resource also offers some solutions to get us started in the right direction.

Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver, Benjamin Franklin and many other great citizens of the U.S. were tinkerers and inventors. They channeled their energy into finding out how things worked, and how they might work better. It was this spirit that also drew millions into the strong skilled workforce of yesteryear. It is that spirit that is waning in the world we find ourselves in today.

In the not too distant future, when the toilet backs up, the lights will not come on or a critical piece of equipment fails at the local power plant, who will we call, a doctor, lawyer, or tenured professor at the local college? Are these the individuals who will help solve the problems we will face in this area? When you cannot get that wonderful gadget you wanted at the local hardware store will it be possible it did not arrive because there was no one to drive the eighteen wheeler cross country to deliver it? Very possible is a future where we see an increase in our daily suffering because we did not want to have our children work jobs where they would get their hands dirty.

I am in no way demeaning higher education. I have a daughter with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology getting ready to pursue her Master’s. Her passion is directed towards helping others, just not by using a wrench or a piece of heavy equipment, which knowing her mechanical ability is a good thing. I think it is great if a young person decides to enter college to get a degree. What is lacking is somehow getting in front of each student to show there is another option. We used to provide this exposure in the form of Shop classes in our Public Schools. Unfortunately, that access faded as schools and society as a whole put more focus on higher education.

If we can do as Mike Rowe and John Ratzenberger hope to and get the word out to all of our future workers that there is another career path then we may start to turn this dire looking situation around. In the process of reinvigorating the Tinkering Spirit in the youth of today, who knows, we may begin to develop a whole generation of Edisons and Franklins as we also replace the aging, soon to retire, Plumbers, Electricians and Mechanics that have helped us get to where we are today.

- Jim

FAQs: Why Do Prices Differ from Contractor to Contractor on the Same Unit?

When consumers decide to buy toaster ovens, televisions and trash compactors, the process is typically to go out, check prices and buy the product with the best price. Price shopping makes the purchase easy: the price tells us who to buy from.

But, when it comes to buying a heating and cooling system, price may get you into deep trouble. Many consumers ask us: How can the price be different when all three contractors are quoting the same unit?

The answer is easy and difficult at the same time. Heating and cooling systems are not toaster ovens. They do not just come out of the box, plug in and operate. When a contractor estimates a system, the equipment itself is only 40% to 50% of the price. The balance is in design, labor, parts, materials, warranty, wiring, controls and other components.

So, when the consumer is presented with the price, they must know that a significant portion of the total bill is for things other than equipment. It's a fact that, when there is a difference in price on heating and cooling systems, there is always a difference in the scope of the job.

Consumers must take great care in educating themselves on the contractor and their sales representative, because bottom line, you are not just buying a heating and cooling system, you are buying a contractor. Always buy from the contractor in whom you have the most confidence. Period. Be sure that your contractor gets to know you and takes the time to discover how you live, your comfort problems and your plans for your home. All of this information will help him or her in the process of designing the system that is just right for you.

Still have questions? Feel free to give us a call at (804) 798-1371. We'd be happy to help!

Benefits of Routine HVAC Maintenance

Most of our customers had concerns - like you - with one or more of these...

• Energy bills are too high.
• Indoor Air Quality is poor.
• Too many repair bills.
• Unreliable heating and cooling system (or service!)
• Just not comfortable enough!

Believe me, we know how tough finding a solution to those can be, but fortunately, that's what Howell's happily provides for thousands of Richmond customers.

First, your heating and cooling system is probably the most expensive equipment in your home. Plus, it is responsible for keeping the temperature constant. It also supplies your home "air exchanges" (like breaths for you and me) to keep the air fresh, moving, and healthy.

And lastly, your heating and cooling system is required to do all of these functions simultaneously. Winter and Summer. Night and day. Automatically. All year long.

So, here's what you can expect from a properly tuned heating and cooling system by one of our 'champion' Howell's service technicians:

Reduced Heating & Cooling Costs

Right out of the gate, a properly maintained heating and cooling system will save you money. Guaranteed! One maintenance visit will pay for itself in energy savings. Removing dirt and checking proper refrigerant charge will get your system back to manufacturer's specifications.

Improves Your Energy Efficiency

Your system "eats" energy every time it cuts on - roughly 6 times per hour in mid Summer. An under-performing system can be as high as 8-10 times. Ouch!

Adds Years to Equipment Life

Dirt is the #1 cause of system failure. Dennis, one of our "champion" technicians for the last 25 years, has said that he has seen too many compressors die to the fact that the indoor coil was blocked up with dirt. If you want your system around for when you really need it, or are trying to "squeeze" and extra year or two out of it, then get rid of that dirt!

Keeping You and Your Loved Ones Safe

I don't want to scare you, but an un-maintained fossil fuel burning furnace can be deadly. Each year we read about carbon monoxide fatalities due to unserviced, or poorly serviced, systems.

Improves Indoor Air Quality

Now your system just moves the air throughout the house, right? In part, your filter is responsible for removing the allergens or particulate out of the air stream. However, one important factor can affect Indoor Air Quality, and that is your duct system. Most duct systems we find have about 20-30% leakage. If your duct system is located in a damp, musty crawlspace, or in a hot, humid, and dusty attic, then your duct system is pulling air from those areas into your system, into your home, and bypassing your filter.

The Gift of Foresight

It is not by chance that we have given the name Energy Savings Plan (or "ESP") to our maintenance contract. We want to give you the gift of foresight. A small problem left undetected or uncorrected can domino into bigger, more costly problems down the road.

Let us tune your system that can clean your air, save you on energy, and put comfort back in your personal or business environment... while it saves your system (and bank account!) from early replacement. Visit our website today to find out how you can get a discount on your next tune-up and every other repair from us or to schedule a maintenance visit.