Use HVAC to Handle the Spring Temperatures!
If you can wear a winter coat and a pair of shorts in the same week...then you must live in Indiana! Temperature swings are nothing new for Indiana residents. While it may seem the only way to control the inside temperature is to turn the HVAC system on and off, there are actually some other solutions. Here are a few tips to regulate the temperature inside your home this spring:
- Use your programmable thermostat. People often want to turn their HVAC system off when it warms up a bit. Keep your HVAC system on and your normal program set. During those warmer days, the system will not run if the temperature you have set on the thermostat is met. However, by keeping your system turned on, it will automatically kick on when the temperature falls below the set point. This will ensure that you maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. In addition, it will reach the set temperature more efficiently than if the system is completely off. When the system is completely off, the temperature may drop several degrees below set point. It will have to run and run and run to reach the set temperature again.
- Get a programmable thermostat with auto-changeover capability. Auto-changeover means the HVAC system will automatically switch from the furnace to the air conditioner. Last year on this date, March 19th, Indianapolis had record-setting temperatures. The high was 82 degrees and the low was 64 degrees. If your thermostat is set to 72 degrees, the furnace may have to run in the morning and evening to maintain that temperature, but the air conditioner may be needed in the afternoon. With auto-changeover, the system will automatically switch from the furnace to the air conditioner and back to the furnace!
- Keep the temperature set a little higher than normal. Since humidity is down, 73 degrees in the spring is more comfortable than 73 degrees in the summer.
Spring 2013 is sure different from last year! The warm-up can't be too far away, right? Enjoy the spring months and stay comfortable!
Is HVAC a Do-It-Yourself Project?
There are many things around the home that can be done by a homeowner. We've occasionally been asked about HVAC being a "do-it-yourself" project. Some questions we've been asked include:
- If I provide the furnace/air conditioner/heat pump, will you install it? If the equipment is used, then no, we will not install it. Someone might get a furnace from their brother's house or take an air conditioner from their rental home to install on another home or purchase a piece of equipment from Craig's List. While the used equipment may work just fine, there are some risks to consider. Was the equipment properly removed? Is the equipment sized correctly for your space? Does the equipment work? How old is it? If an air conditioner is not removed correctly, parts can be damaged. The new owner of the air conditioner wouldn't know this until the air conditioner is re-installed. If it doesn't work, the homeowner will still be responsible to pay for the installation as used equipment does not have a warranty. Typically, if the equipment provided is new, we will consider installing it. However, since we (LCS Heating and Cooling) did not purchase the equipment, we will not warranty it. In addition, it would also be the homeowner's responsibility to talk to the manufacturer. If a repair is needed three years later, the homeowner would again be responsible for the warranty.
- If I provide the part, will you make the repair? We will consider making the repair, but again there is risk involved for the homeowner. Are you absolutely sure you got the right part? Did you diagnose the needed repair correctly? Are you able to return the part if it's not correct ? Is there a warranty on the part? As in the example above, if for some reason the part doesn't work or is not the correct part, the homeowner would still be responsible for paying for the installation. He would also be responsible for any warranty issues that arise.
- Should I make a repair or install a water heater/thermostat/humidifier myself? This is completely up to the homeowner. These are items that can be purchased at home improvement stores. A couple of things to consider: Home improvement stores carry base models of these items. Contractors purchase these items at supply houses and have accessibility to higher end models and different brands. Warranties vary as well. Equipment provided by contractors often has a longer warranty period than what can be purchased at home improvement stores. Also consider your comfort level and time needed to install one of these items. The time it may take to install that whole house humidifier may be worth hiring an HVAC company.
When it comes to major repairs or improvements in the home, we are always going to recommend hiring a company to help with those. Homeowners have peace of mind when equipment or even a part is provided and installed by a licensed and insured HVAC company. Peace of mind comes from knowing that if something goes wrong, the HVAC company will take care of it. The homeowner will not have to contact the manufacturer, try to process a warranty, wait to have a part shipped, etc. HVAC is often an investment. Our advice is to protect that investment by considering all the factors and risks before making a decision to do it yourself.
Thermostats: Basic to High Tech...The Choice is Yours!
Remember when it was a simple task to buy a child a toy? The biggest choice in deciding on a doll, for example, was the clothes it was wearing. My niece asked for a doll for Christmas, but it was a specific doll that could crawl, laugh, cry, eat and need a diaper change. I looked at dolls for what seemed to be an eternity before finally deciding on one.
Believe it or not, you might feel the same way when you look at thermostats today! Most thermostats are digital. Outside of that, there are lots of options to choose from. To make it a little less overwhelming, check out our feature breakdown below to help you make the best choice for your home or office:
Basic Thermostat: A basic digital thermostat will accurately control the temperature in your home or office. This type of thermostat has buttons which can move the temperature up and down. It is not programmable so the buttons are used to manually change the temperature as needed. It's ideal to have a thermostat that shows two readings: a set temperature (what you want it to be) and an inside temperature (what it actually is).
Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat is a digital thermostat designed to allow the user to set programs to control the temperature of the house or office. There are two types of programmable thermostats:
- 5/2 Programmable: This type of programmable thermostat allows Monday-Friday to be set on one program and Saturday-Sunday to be set on another program. This is a great option for people who have a set work schedule Monday-Friday. Here is a sample program for a 5/2 thermostat: 6am temperature set to 70 degrees (comfortable when you wake up in the mornings). 8am-5pm temperature set to 65 degrees (lower temperature when no one is home to save on utility costs) 5pm-11pm temperature set to 70 degrees (comfortable while at home). 11pm-6am temperature set to 67 degrees (save on utility costs while sleeping). A different program could then be set for Saturday and Sunday when you are home during the day.
- 7-Day Programmable: This type of programmable thermostat allows a different program to be set every day of the week. This is a great option for people who have flexible work schedules. You may work from home one day, volunteer at your child's school one day and work in an office one day. This type of programming allows each day to be scheduled according to your time at home and away.
There are some additional differences to these types of programmable thermostats. A 7 day often has a touchscreen, whereas a 5/2 programmable will have buttons. Some thermostats may also show the indoor humidity level. This is a great feature to quickly know if you need to adjust your humidifier.
Wi-Fi Thermostat: This is a digital, programmable thermostat which has Wi-Fi capability so the thermostat can be controlled through a phone, tablet or computer. This is a great option for people who travel or for those that simply enjoy having the latest technology! Additional features available on a Wi-Fi thermostat compared to a programmable thermostat include weather forecast, humidity control (meaning the humidifier can be controlled through the thermostat), usage charts, and alerts. HVAC equipment manufactures are even offering Wi-Fi thermostats that can communicate with high efficient equipment. One of the biggest benefits to this is an alert that will be emailed to you if there is a problem with the system.
Technology has come a long way! What's the best fit for you? We install all types of thermostats so please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions!
Tax Credits Are Back for High Efficient HVAC Equipment!
It seems that the fiscal cliff news had the attention of most Americans. Did you know that as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which was signed in early January 2013, the Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credits were retroactively reinstated? To say that simply, the federal tax credits that expired at the end of 2011 are back! The tax credits are available for energy efficient improvements made to your home between January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013. What exactly does this mean for you? What qualifies as high efficient? How much are the tax credits? How do you claim the tax credit? It's time to dish the details!
What does this mean for you? If you purchased certain high efficient equipment or made high efficient improvements in 2012 or plan to make a high efficient purchase in 2013, you may be eligible for this federal tax credit. Improvements include the installation of high efficient furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. Other eligible improvements include high efficient water heaters, windows, doors, insulation, and some roofing materials.
What qualifies as high efficient? Qualifying equipment includes 95% or higher efficient gas furnaces, split system air conditioners that achieve 16 SEER and 13 EER, split system electric heat pumps that achieve 15 SEER, 12.5 EER and 8.5 HSPF and advanced main air circulating fan (found in gas, propane, or oil furnaces) that use no more than 2% of the total energy usage of the furnace. Your heating and cooling company will provide you with an AHRI certificate which certifies that the new equipment meets these specifications.
How much are the tax credits? The tax credit is $150 for qualifying furnaces, $300 for qualifying air conditioners, $300 for qualifying heat pumps, and $50 for qualifying fans. The total amount of the tax credit is capped at $500. If the tax credit was taken in the amount of $500 in a previous year, you can't take it again.
How can I claim the tax credit? The tax credit is claimed on your 2012 or 2013 taxes, depending on the year the improvement was made. It's always best to consult with your accountant to properly claim the credits. Since the tax credits are retroactive and available to be claimed on 2012 tax returns, the IRS is having to update their system. Therefore, if you're claiming the tax credit, you may not be able to file your taxes before the end of February.
If you are considering new HVAC equipment, now is the time to consider high efficient. In addition to the federal tax credits, most utility companies are still offering rebates for high efficient equipment as well. Also take into consideration the energy savings over the years and it really adds up! Feel free to contact Renee at 317.430.1716 or renee@LCSheatingandcooling.com if you have questions or would like to discuss.