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!

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.

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.

FAQ: Why Should I Invest in a 13 SEER or Higher Unit?

There are 13 reasons why you should purchase a heat pump/air conditioner carrying a 13 SEER rating or higher:

1. 13 SEER or higher units are significantly more efficient than 10 SEER units, saving you energy dollars through every season of the year.
2. They are much quieter than 10 SEER units, which makes your home a more pleasant place to live.
3. They have a 5 to 10 year compressor warranty and up to five years full parts, labor, materials and freon warranty, which ensures that the costs to run this unit are low. (Ask your contractor for details)
4. They are built better and have a much nicer fit and finish.
5. 13 SEER or higher units are fitted with much better controls and protective devices to protect the unit if a problem occurs (bad power, refrigerant loss, etc.).
6. 13 SEER or higher units have a new high tech scroll compressor which is extremely reliable and provides warmer feeling heat.
7. They have a 5 minute time-delay to keep heat from turning on and off during storms, or if someone is tampering with the thermostat.
8. They have commercial grade service valves to keep service costs down and equipment life high.
9. They have compressor sound and fan insulation systems that are attractive and significantly reduce the sound of the outdoor unit.
10. They have a much better blower than the standard system which enhances performance and comfort.
11. They have an expansion valve that adjusts the refrigerant flow which allows the unit to provide a higher level of comfort and better humidity control.
12. 13 SEER or higher units have an accumulator which catches extra refrigerant and helps protect the compressor.
13. And lastly, the Department of Energy says so! In January 2006, the DOE raised the minimum cooling efficiency on residential air conditioners and heat pumps to 13 SEER from its older minimum of 10 SEER.

Questions? Ask a Sales Consultant.

FAQ: What is the EER? And How Is It Different Than SEER?

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is a measure of how efficiently a cooling system will operate when the outdoor temperature is at a specific level (95oF). In technical terms, EER is the steady-state rate of heat energy removal (i.e. cooling capacity) by the product measured in Btuh divided by the steady-state rate of energy input to the product measured in watts. This ratio is expressed in Btuh/watt. The higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner.

Both SEER and EER are included in the ENERGY STAR specification because each rating indicates the energy efficiency of the product under different operating modes. SEER rating more accurately reflects overall system efficiency on a seasonal basis and EER reflects the system’s energy efficiency at peak day operations. Both ratings are important when choosing a product.

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.

FAQs: Should The Thermostat Be Set Back At Night Or Should I Close Off Registers To Cut Back Usage?

Although night setback is recommended during the winter for most types of heating system to save and reduce costs, it is generally not recommended for a heat pump unless you're using a programmable thermostat designed expressly for use with a heat pump is used. When you have a heat pump and raise the house temperature in the morning, the supplementary heat may come on using more electricity than you saved during the night. It is a good idea to reduce the thermostat temperature settings for weekend trips or vacations during the heating season.

The use of a standard automatic nighttime setback control with a heat pump is not recommended. Many manufactures now provide programmable thermostats designed for night setback so that the supplementary heaters will not normally be energized during the time that the heating system is recovering.

Do not block registers and return grills with furniture, draperies, or rugs. Although cutting off heat to unused rooms is frequently suggested as a conservation measure, we recommend that all supply registers for a heat pump be left open. The system is designed to heat or cool a specific space. If air circulation is reduced drastically, the compressor may be damaged.

FAQs: What Is This Thing Called SEER?

SEER is an acronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of your heat pump or air conditioning unit is to these pieces of equipment as miles per gallon (MPG) is to cars.

It is a measure of the air conditioning performance of the system, where the higher rating is the better. The basic formula for SEER, or how this number is assigned, is BTU's of the air conditioning unit divided by the wattage needed to run the unit (BTU/WATT). The consumer must beware, however, because many companies are currently producing budget grade 12 and 14 SEER units that are not built to high quality standards. Be certain to always review the specifications and features of a unit with your sales representative to ensure that you are getting what you expect.

Remember to ask questions about SEER - the miles per gallon of the air conditioning world

Winter Heating Bills Go Sky-High This Year

While some of the situation is out of our hands – the price of crude oil, for instance – there are many things we can do to keep a rein on our winter heating bills. 

Your heating system is the one element that should get the closest look during this cold, costly winter.  Now is a great time to have a service tech give your system a thorough evaluation to make sure it’s running properly and as efficiently as possible.

Additionally, the federal government’s ENERGY STAR program makes several recommendations about how you can heat your home smartly this winter, including: 

§  Replace the air filter in your furnace regularly.  Dirty filters reduce air flow, which makes getting the warm air to the registers a lot tougher. 

§  Install a programmable thermostat.  Why heat the home while you’re away?  Setting back the temperature in your household when you’re asleep or at work is another opportunity for energy savings – as much as $100 each year on energy costs. 

§  Seal up your home.  Sealing holes, cracks and openings and then adding insulation is one of the most cost-effective means of improving comfort and reducing energy use.  Cracks in windows and doors can be plugged through weather-stripping and caulking. 

Here are some more helpful Heating & Air Conditioning Tips for you to look over.