Energy-Efficient Cooling And Heating

We are all looking for ways to keep our home comfortable year round. But how can we accomplish that while contributing to a cleaner environment? Half the energy we use goes towards cooling and heating our home. You may need to improve the performance of your system or it might be time to replace your old cooling and heating equipment entirely. How do you know? When is it time for a change? To help you decide, you may need to call a professional.

It may be time for a change when:

• Your heat pump or air conditoner is over 10 years old.
• Your furnace or boiler is over 15 years old.
• Your energy/utility bills are on the rise.
• Your equipment requires constant repairs or is very noisy.
• Some of the rooms in your home are either too hot or too cold.
• The home is empty for long periods of time and you do not have a programmable thermostat.
• Your home suffers humidity problems.
• Your home has too much dust.

Maintaining your equipment will help prevent any future problems and save you money as well. You should have an annual maintenance and tune-up done to keep your heating and cooling system at peak performance.

Here is a maintenance checklist that your professional should complete:

• Check the thermostat settings to ensure that they are functioning properly.
• Tighten any electrical connections and measure the voltage and current on the motors.
• Ensure all moving parts are properly lubricated.
• Check and inspect the condensate drain.
• Check all system controls ensuring proper and safe operation.
• Inspect, clean or change the air filters in your system.

Cooling specific:

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils.
• Check refrigerant pressure and adjust if necessary.
• Clean and adjust blower components.

Heating specific:

• Check all gas/oil connections, gas pressure, burner, combustion and heat exchanger.

Your cooling and heating equipment is only as good as the system that carries its cooled or heated air. Ducts that leak can cause an unbalances system that wastes energy. Sealing the ducts increases the efficiency of your cooling and heating system. This can potentially save you $140 every year.

To improve your ducts, have your contractor:

• Identify any leaks.
• Seal the ducts with mastic, metal-backed tale, or aerosol sealant.
• Test the airflow after the ducts are sealed.
• Provide insulation for the ducts where it is needed.
• Conduct a combustion safety test after ducts are sealed.

Remember, bigger isn't always better. If your equipment is too large for your home, you may experience less comfort and increased costs. Make sure your unit is properly sized. Over-sized equipment will operate in short cycles. This does not allow the unit to reach efficient operation or deliver even temperatures throughout your home.

Cooling Installation Checklist:

• Replace the indoor coil when replacing the outdoor unit. An old coil won't work efficiently with a new outdoor unit.
• Check accurate level of refrigerant charge and airflow through the registers that deliver cool air to your rooms.
• Cover your outside equipment during the winter and place the condenser in an area that is protected from the elements (rain, snow, etc.).
• Your equipment should have ample room around it to provide for service and maintenance.

Heating Installation Checklist:

• For a furnace or a heat pump, you should test and verufy propler air flow.
• Make sure that your furnace or boiler has been tested for proper burner operation and proper venting of flue gasses.
• Your equipment should have ample room around it to provide for service and maintenance.

If you are thinking about replacing your equipment, you should replace them with equpiment that has earned the Energy Star.

Programmable Thermostats:

The use of a programmable thermostat to consistently control the temperature in your home can save you close to $100 each year in energy costs if used correctly. Thermostats that have earned the Energy Star can provide you with more flexibility and contain no mercury.

Boilers:

A properly sized and installed Energy Star qualified boiler uses about 6% less energy than a standard new boiler and has a higher AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating.

Furnaces:

Furnaces are the most commonly used home heating system. They mostly run on gas, but sometimes on fuel oil or electricity. An Energy Star qualified furnace uses advanced technology to deliver 15% higher efficiency than the standard furnaces available today.

Heat Pumps:

Electric Air-Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) - Used most often in moderate climates. They remove the excess heat from indoor air and release it outdoors. It uses about 20% less energy than conventional models.

Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs) - The cool and heat the home by using stable temperature conditions in the ground. Those qualified by Energy Star provide 30% higher efficiency than standard new models. They are also quieter and incorporate water heating capabilities.

Central Air Conditioners:

Those that are Energy Star qualified are 25% more energy efficient than today's standard equipment. They have a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) than standard models. A higher SEER means a greater level of efficiency.