Making Cents of Energy - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Keep Your Cool: How to Avoid Air Conditioner Scams 2

Here is a list of scams to keep in mind when you hire a Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky heating and cooling company to install or repair your equipment.

Four ways companies try to cut costs:

1.    The easiest and least noticeable method to reduce line-set costs by using thinner lower grade copper. It's not noticeable by the customer and saves money.

2.    Using a smaller diameter copper than the system requires. Customers won't notice and you'll save. Also, some companies will use both a smaller diameter line-set and thinner walled lower grade copper. The system will work just fine, but customers will see much higher electric bills, plus their systems will develop leaks much earlier than they would have, had the proper line-set and copper been used.

3.    Piecing the line-set together from scraps, hiding the welds in the ceilings, attics, or walls. The company trying to find the leaks will go nuts trying to find it. Customers won't notice, after all they can't watch all the time!

4.    Overlooking kinks in the line-set. While the customer won’t notice the kinks, they will notice the higher electric bills. Also, kinks put additional stress on the compressor.

 
Another scam that is common in this industry is companies that don’t evacuate the system before releasing new Freon. By leaving air moisture in the system, acid is being created, which is extremely damaging and can lead to system failure. Because the acid moisture combination makes the compressor work harder, your electric bills will skyrocket.
 
Some companies “forget” to re-check the Freon levels after the system is running. This causes customers’ electric bills to soar by 11% and puts stress on the compressor.

Other companies use a lower SEER evaporator coil than the air conditioning is rated for. This, again, causes electric bills to dramatically increase. Meanwhile, other companies will tell you that your existing evaporating coil works just fine. Be advised that using an old evaporator coil may negate the energy efficiency you paid for when you bought the unit.

Keep Your Cool: How to Avoid Air Conditioner Scams

There is nothing that makes us angry like Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky air conditioning companies who try to take advantage of people. Unless you work in the industry, you are not an expert in the field, so you trust those who claim to be.

Simply put, your HVAC system is a big-ticket item and, for you and your family, its proper installation and service is a high-stakes game. Not only is your investment at risk from shoddy service, but your family’s health and safety may also be at risk. When improperly maintained, your HVAC system can become a safety hazard, releasing toxic gases into your home that can make you and your family sick. Also, working with an expert ensures that your HVAC system is operating at peak efficiency. Otherwise, you could be wasting hundreds of dollars each year in unnecessary energy costs.

Just having a business license doesn’t make someone an HVAC contractor. In order to properly service a residential HVAC system, your contractor needs to be a master of his craft. Keep in mind that while some companies are content do the bare minimum and then take your money and run, there are reputable companies in the market. Also, sad but true, there are HVAC contractors out there who have simply opened a business and started doing system installations, learning their trade as they go via the Internet.

Your HVAC contractor must be properly trained and licensed, which means formal training by system manufacturers, as well as licensure to service that manufacturer’s products. Although some HVAC providers boast a long family history in the industry, it takes more than just a knowledgeable father or grandfather to become an HVAC professional. This field requires an education to become an expert. Don’t be swayed by a contractor’s years in business if the training and licenses simply aren’t there.

Types of Cooling Systems, Continued

Ductless Split Systems

Ductless split systems can be installed in places where conventional ducted systems cannot go, and can be an option for room additions or for houses using hydronic (steam or hot water) heat. Like conventional split systems, ductless splits use an outside compressor/condenser and indoor air handling unit. The difference is that each indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit via a conduit carrying the power, refrigerant, and condensate lines. By providing dedicated units to each space, it is easier to meet the varying comfort needs of different rooms, and ductless splits also avoid energy losses associated with central forced-air systems.

These systems offer a combination of:
Heat pump or air conditioner that cool and/or heat the refrigerant
A compact fan coil that converts refrigerant and circulates air
Refrigerant tubing and wires that connect the outdoor unit to the fan coil
Thermostat, the interface for controlling your system
Optional air quality accessories such as air cleaners or ventilators that clean the air before it circulates throughout your home.

Evaporative Coolers

Evaporative coolers, sometimes called swamp coolers, are less common than refrigerated air conditioners, but they are a practical alternative in very dry climate areas. They work by pulling fresh outside air through moist pads where the air is cooled by evaporation.  For evaporative coolers to do their job, they must be the right size. The cooling capacity of an evaporative cooler is measured in the fan pressure required to circulate the cool air throughout the house, in cubic feet per minute (cfm). A good rule is to figure the cubic square footage of your house and divide by 2. For example, a 1,500 sq. ft. house with 8 foot-high ceilings would require a 6,000 cfm cooler.

Choosing a Contractor

Whether you want to schedule an annual equipment maintenance check-up or you've decided that you need to purchase and install new heating or cooling equipment, you will need to hire a qualified and licensed HVAC contractor.

Thompson Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling is proud to use only the most qualified and highly trained contractors for your job. We offer new installations, regular HVAC maintenance, and emergency repair, and we carry only the most trusted names including Amana, Bryant, Carrier, Fedders, Lennox, Rheem, and Trane.

Learn more about Thompson's licensed and insured staff here.

Types of Cooling Systems

Split System and Hybrid Heat Split System

The most typical heating and cooling systems are split systems, so named because they have an outdoor component with a condenser/compressor and an indoor component with an evaporator coil.

A split system typically includes:
An air conditioner that cools the refrigerant
The furnace and evaporator coil, or a fan coil that converts the refrigerant and circulates the air
Ducts that carry the air throughout your home
Thermostat, the  interface for controlling your system
Optional air quality accessories such as air cleaners or ventilators that clean the air before it circulates throughout your home

A hybrid split system is a more energy-efficient variation of the split system, and includes all the components of a traditional split system, with a heat pump in place of the air conditioner.

More About Heat Pumps...

Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling in one integrated system, and are much more efficient than traditional central air systems. ASHPs (air source heat pumps) use outside air as a heat source, and GHPs (geothermal heat pumps) use the ground instead of outside air to provide heating and cooling. Because they use the earth's natural heat, GHPs are among the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies currently available. Although initially expensive, the long-range savings can be substantial.

Heat pumps are widely used in the U.S. and are the best option for maintaining comfort in areas that experience high humidity. They use SEER ratings, and the higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. To get the best performance and highest efficiency possible from your new system, the ACEEE (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy) recommends a SEER rating of at least 14.5.

The Most Energy-Efficient Ways to Cool Your Home 2

Replace:

Of course, if your central air unit is several years old, not keeping your house comfortable, or not performing efficiently, consider getting a new high-efficiency model.

Purchase equipment that has the ENERGY STAR label. The EPA estimates you can save between 10 and 40% on a new system with this mark.

Purchase a unit that has a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) to suit your location. Buy a system with a SEER ratio of 12 if you live in a climate that has only a few hot months a year, and a SEER of between 13 and 16 if you live in a climate that's hot all year long.

Replace both the inside and outside units together. Installing a new outdoor unit without replacing the indoor unit is likely to result in low efficiency, and may lead to premature failure of your new system. Consider replacing your heating system at the same time. If you purchase a new energy-efficient air conditioner but connect it to an older furnace and blower motor, your system will not perform to its rated efficiency. This is especially true if your furnace is over 15 years old.

Specify R-410 refrigerant. Freon (R-22) has been found to cause long-term damage when released into the air, and it is no longer allowed in new equipment (but is still available for repairs). Manufacturers have started shifting to R-410 for their products, so be sure to request it.

The Most Energy-Efficient Ways to Cool Your Home

The EPA estimates that as much as half the energy used in our homes goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills, not to mention our environment.

Before we familiarize ourselves with the different types of cooling systems, let's first consider some basic guidelines to energy efficiency when maintaining or replacing your existing system.

Maintain:

Once every year, you should give your air conditioner a maintenance check-up. A professional contractor will clean the coils, make sure you have enough refrigerant, and generally see to it that the system operates at optimum levels. Annual maintenance of your cooling system can reduce your energy bills up to 40%, prevent expensive emergencies, and extend the life of your air conditioning system.

Make sure you are using the proper kind of filters for your home's environment, and that you replace the filter as required. The length of time that a filter can last depends on such factors as how many hours a day you run your system's fan, the number and kinds of pets you have, and what kind of (or how much) carpet your home has. For most households, a common 1" filter should be changed every 2-3 months. Larger, pleated cartridge-type filters (3"-5") can last up to 12 months between changes.

Make sure your ducts are sealed and well connected to prevent leakage, and free of dust and debris.

Consider installing a programmable thermostat, which will help save money by controlling your home's temperature at different times during the day (thus not wasting energy when you're not home) and eliminating the need to constantly adjust the thermostat.

Spring Cleaning Home Energy Tips: A few final tips!

You may have already made this switch, but if not, consider always washing your laundry in cold water, using special cold-water only detergents to get your clothes every bit as clean as warm or hot water. Also, air dry your dishes; turn off the drying element in your dishwasher.

We know we’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating—make sure your HVAC system’s filter is clean. It should be checked, and probably replaced, at least monthly. Also remember to have your local heating and cooling contractor check and clean your furnace every year, and your air conditioning system. The Department of Energy and the EPA both state that you will lower your home’s energy costs by staying up-to-date on these annual inspections and tune-ups.

Even if you only do a few things from our suggested list of spring cleaning home energy tips, you can save energy and hundreds of dollars on your utility bill this year!

Spring Cleaning Home Energy Tips (Part 3)

In addition to doing a home energy audit, here are some more spring cleaning home energy tips!

Check your refrigerator. Make sure the vent and coils are clean—vacuum them if not—and that the seals on the doors are tight. You can test the seals by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily once the door is shut, the seal isn’t tight enough. Also check the thermostat to see if it’s set too low. The EPA recommends setting the refrigerator between 37-40 degrees and the freezer at 3. Keep your refrigerator as full as possible; it takes less power to keep a full one cool. If your fridge is over ten years old, think about replacing it. Models that are that old use more than three times the energy of today’s ENERGY STAR rated refrigerators.

Think about replacing your home’s heating and cooling system thermostat with a programmable digital thermostat. Programmable thermostats can save the average home $180 dollars a year, according to the Department of Energy.

Search out the “energy vampires” in your home. Many electronics such as TVs and computers draw power even when they’re not on. An easy solution is to plug them into a power strip, and then turn the strip off when those electronics are not in use. Also watch for things like cell phone chargers; if a charger is left plugged in it drains a little power, even when it’s not charging your phone! The same is true for adaptors, such as laptop adaptors; they draw power when plugged in, even if they aren’t powering your laptop.

Spring Cleaning Home Energy Tips (Part 2)

You can also do your own energy audit. The two things you want to learn from a home energy audit are what are you using energy on, and how your home loses energy. Then you can focus on cutting back your house’s power consumption and preventing unnecessary energy loss.

In order to check your own energy usage, collect a year’s worth of your utility bills. If you didn’t keep them, your power company can supply you with copies. Review each month, note when your power usage increases, and then figure out why. If you know your power usage spikes in certain months every year, it will help you focus on reducing costs those months.

Next, it’s time to check how much energy your home is losing. This is a much bigger job; it’s really the heart of a home audit, whether you’re doing it yourself, getting a free one from your power company, or hiring a professional home energy auditor.

You might want to use a checklist to keep track of each item you inspect, and also to make notes about what actions you need to consider taking. There are a number of good checklists for doing your own energy audit available online; just type the words, home energy audit checklist, in Google’s search box.

The three main areas you’ll be checking are: the indoor and outside lighting of your home, the amount and type of insulation your house has, and whether there are any cracks you need to seal. If you haven’t already switched to power saving light bulbs such as LED bulbs or CFLs, that’s one area you can immediately save on power. And of course the amount of insulation in your attic, basement, crawl space, and walls has a huge impact on your heating and cooling costs. Finally, sealing all cracks with weather stripping and caulk will further reduce your energy losses and lower your gas and electric bills.