Complete This Checklist Before Turning On Your AC

Complete This Checklist Before Turning On Your AC

The weather is heating up, and air conditioners across the country will soon be working to fight against it. Before you turn yours on after its winter break, work through this 5-step checklist for HVAC maintenance. 1. Check the Condensing Fan All of the air that runs through your AC system begins at the condensing fans, so you should follow suit in your checklist. For condensers on the ground, the vegetation that was cut to clear space for it may have crept back around it over the past year. If it has, make sure to give it a trim. If you feel comfortable looking deeper into the fan, you can inspect the interior for signs of fungus or mold that have a tendency to grow around the relatively damp and warm environment around the coils and wiring. 2. Inspect and Replace Your Filters Even if you switched out your air filters at the beginning of winter and haven’t turned on the AC since then, they are still working along with the other functions of the HVAC system. Replace the air filters so the captured airborne particles and bacteria don’t smash through the filter when the AC turns on. 3. Inspect the Thermostat The first thing to check on the thermostat is the batteries. If you’re not certain when they were replaced last, then assume it’s time for a fresh set of batteries. A battery energy reader can take away the guesswork if you’re unsure. You can also consider swapping to rechargeable batteries. That way a few hours in the charger each year will ensure your thermostat is ready to...
Single Speed vs. Variable Speed Furnace Blowers

Single Speed vs. Variable Speed Furnace Blowers

While many homeowners spend a lot of time calculating the right BTUs required to keep their home warm all winter long, some still overlook the importance of the right furnace blower. Choosing between a single speed furnace and a variable speed furnace is tricky, but it’s worth figuring out before you order your next set of furnace upgrades. Consider the benefits and requirements for each type of blower to match the right equipment to your home. Single Speed Blowers As the name suggests, single speed blowers are either on or off and run at maximum speed when on. This gets the air moving around your house, but it doesn’t work as well when you’ve got dozens of small rooms, multiple floors or a zoned heating system. You’ll also notice a louder rush of air when these blowers start up. They are the most affordable option, and many furnaces feature single speed blowers as a standard feature. You’ll spend more over the life of the single speed blower on electricity to keep it blowing because it runs at its maximum power draw every time it switches on, unlike models with more in-depth controls. Two-Stage Units A simple upgrade to a dual-speed blower fan is well worth the cost of calling an HVAC contractor to handle the installation. With a high and low setting, you can better control how quickly each part of the home heats up. Most models integrate with the thermostat for automatic speed switching, and many two-stage blowers can be used for continuous air circulation. This is a technique in which you keep the blower fans running constantly...
High Efficiency vs. Mid-Efficiency Furnaces

High Efficiency vs. Mid-Efficiency Furnaces

For many homeowners, the heating bill is one of the most expensive utilities they pay. Heating costs can take up to 35 percent of a family’s annual utility bill. With fuel and energy prices so volatile, many families have decided to invest their remodeling dollars into high-efficiency heating systems that are advertised as a great way to save both fuel and money. Before making this investment, however, it’s important to understand what you’re actually getting for your money. In some cases, these systems cost hundreds or thousands of dollars more than “traditional” or mid-efficiency heating systems. That has caused many consumers to wonder if they’re really getting a good return on their investment. There are actually two ways to measure the efficiency of a heating system. Understanding how these measurement systems work will help you to determine the best heating system for your home and family. Steady-State Efficiency One of the most common methods of determining the actual efficiency of a heating system is to look at its steady-state efficiency. Steady-state efficiency is a measure of the usable heat created by a heating system. In order to create heat, all furnaces burn fuel. As long as that fuel is the same from furnace to furnace, it’s going to produce nearly identical levels of heat. How that heat is pumped through the house and how much of it is lost to the surrounding environment, however, can determine its steady-state efficiency. When computing this figure, a lot more than just the ductwork in the house comes into account. Furnaces that need to turn on and off more often tend to be less...
How Smart Technologies Can Power Your Home

How Smart Technologies Can Power Your Home

Life is too short to spend fiddling with things when there is a product to do it for you. That includes your HVAC system. New technology is making it possible to to monitor and control everything from your thermostat to your air filtering system by pre-setting your desired temperature and letting the technology take care of itself. Consider these options for making your life easier and getting the most out of your HVAC system. Humidity-Sensing Fans When summer heat strikes, high humidity levels can make you feel hot and sticky and pose a risk of mold and mildew in your home. The good news is that by installing humidity-sensing fans, you can relax as they handle the situation on their own. These fans detect a rapid increase in humidity and turn on automatically to exhaust the moisture. Whether the boost in moisture is the result of long showers,  steaming veggies in the kitchen or just natural humidity, the humidity-sensing fan has your back. Ventilation New technology has produced smart ventilation systems that automatically adjust to the needs of your home. It is attached to all fans in the home with one fan designated as the master fan. It automatically monitors fan use and adjusts the system to maintain proper ventilation. It even works independently to control all fans in the home to create optimal ventilation throughout your living space. This system improves indoor air quality and makes your home more comfortable. Energy Management Systems Although it may sound a little like science fiction, technology now allows you to connect all your systems to monitor and control energy use. These wireless systems...
Using Green Technologies to Power Your Home

Using Green Technologies to Power Your Home

Being concerned about the environment and doing what you can to protect it shows your commitment to bettering the planet. That applies to your heating and cooling systems too. There are a number of new technologies for your HVAC system that make it even easier to show your concern. Watch for these green tech options in your location soon. Hot Water Recirculators These devices work to heat the water as you need it and eliminate the need for wasting energy heating an entire tank of water, but they go a step further than typical on-demand water heaters. Recirculating hot water heaters divert cold water back to the water heater so you always have hot water when you need it without wasting cold water. Green Air Conditioning Thermally-Driven Chillers: This technology takes advantage of the sun’s energy to produce cool air. It uses solar panels to collect the rays from the sun to power a double-chiller system that is reported to be more effective than air conditioners that rely on electricity. When the supply of solar energy runs short, the chiller automatically switches to natural gas as a fuel source. Ice-Powered: This technology uses frozen blocks of ice to power your air conditioning. The system freezes 450 gallons of ice during the night and uses it to cool the air during the day. The frozen water provides cooling for about 6 hours and then reverts to your traditional air conditioning system. Green Heat Pumps Geothermal Heat Pumps: Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of the heat found inside the earth. Looped pipes are placed under the ground. When fluid is forced through...