Tips For Staying Warm in Record Breaking Cold!
It's not often that we experience negative degree weather in Indiana! This weekend sure has been fun with all the snow and new temperature experiences! Well, fun unless your furnace goes out! Here are a few quick tips to make sure that you and your family are warm and cozy inside:
- Change the filter: In Indiana, furnaces are made to effectively run down to about 3 degrees outside. In temperatures below that, you may see that your furnace falls behind a little. To help the furnace out, make sure there is a clean filter inside. If the furnace is running on a dirty filter, it will have an even harder time keeping up.
- Don't change the temperature on the thermostat: Leave your thermostat at one temperature. For example, maybe you usually keep the temperature at 70 degrees during the day but 65 degrees at night. In this weather, it's going to be hard for your furnace to make up that 5 degree difference. Turn your thermostat to a temperature setting and leave it there. If you have a programmable thermostat, put a "hold" on the desired temperature so it's not fluctuating.
- Turn the thermostat to "Emergency Heat": If you have a heat pump and electric furnace, you'll see "auxiliary" heat show on your thermostat. This is because heat pumps are inefficient in extremely cold weather so the electric furnace also runs to supplement the heat pump. With temperatures below zero, the heat pump is not helping at all, so turn the thermostat to "emergency" heat. This will manually lock out the heat pump. The electric furnace will run by itself to heat your home. Just remember to turn the thermostat back to regular heat mode when outdoor temperatures warm up a bit. You don't want the electric furnace running by itself all of the time because of the cost to run it.
- Clear snow away from the heat pump: Clear away any snow drifts from the heat pump. The snow will restrict air flow and prevent the heat pump from operating properly. It may also prevent the heat pump from going into defrost mode, meaning the heat pump could ice up.
- If your furnace does quit, call right away: It will take no time at all for the temperature inside to drastically drop if your furnace happens to quit working. Call for HVAC help right away! There are a lot of homes without heat so it may be a few hours before a technician will be at your door anyway. A delay in calling will only increase that wait time.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding your HVAC equipment! Keep an eye on our Facebook page as well for other tips and posts.
HVAC Repair or Replace: 5 Considerations
Heating and Air Conditioning is one of those necessary evils. It's much more fun to spend money on a new TV rather than a new furnace! At some point though, you may be faced with the ultimate HVAC decision: Repair or Replace? Here are a few things to consider when you are faced with this decision:
- What is the age of your current system? Most equipment comes with a 10 year manufacturer warranty on parts. The average life expectancy of a furnace and air conditioner is 12-15 years. That's not to say that it won't last longer than that...it's just an average. If the part is under warranty, it's most often going to make more sense to have the repair done. If the part is not under warranty, then you may want to factor in the age of the equipment with the repair cost. For example, if you have a $200 repair on a 15 year old furnace, it may certainly make more sense to take your chances and make the repair. Now, on the flip side of that example, say your furnace is 15 years old and you're looking at a $500 repair. You could have that repair done and not have another problem for a few years. You could also make that repair and a few months later, have another part go out. Before you know it, you have $800 into a 15 year old furnace. Since there is a risk of other parts failing on older equipment, it may be worth considering replacement.
- Energy Efficiency: Your HVAC system uses a considerable amount of energy as compared with other appliances in your home. If you have an older system, it's very likely that new equipment will be more efficient, resulting in lower utility bills. Let's use the example of a $500 repair on the a 15 year old furnace. If you're considering replacement, factor in the savings if you go from an 80% efficient furnace to a 95% efficient furnace. Think about it in this way: For every $100 that you spend to heat your home with an 80% furnace, $80 is heating your home and $20 is going out the flue. For every $100 that you spend to heat your home with a 95% furnace, $95 is being used to heat your home and only $5 is being lost. Air conditioners and heat pumps also vary in efficiency. This is definitely something to think about when considering repair versus replacement.
- Financial Incentives: Are there financial incentives to upgrade to a new, more efficient HVAC system? Currently, there is a federal tax credit and various utility rebates available for the installation of high efficient furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps. The qualifications and dates do change so it's important to see what, if any, are available.
- Length of Time in Home: How long are you planning to live in your home? If you are planning to stay in your home for awhile, you might have different factors to consider than if you are planning to sell in the near future. If you are thinking about selling, definitely compare costs. A repair might be the way to go simply because you don't want to spend money in a home that you are selling. However, replacing the HVAC equipment might be a good investment because it will make the house more appealing to potential buyers. If you are planning to stay for a while and are looking at a costly repair, it might make more sense to upgrade and get a new 10 year parts warranty.
- Comfort: HVAC equipment and technology have come a long way over the past several years! Furnaces are now available with variable speed motors which are not only more efficient but also produce a more even and comfortable heat in the winter and coolness in the summer. Programmable and/or WiFi thermostats are designed to reduce temperature swings, provide the ultimate control over your system and save on energy usage when you are not home. Finally, there's the noise. Maybe your HVAC equipment is loud because something is out of balance. That could very well be an easy repair! If not, consider replacing it with equipment that is quieter. There are some systems that are so quiet, you cannot hear them run!
Repairing or replacing your furnace and/or air conditioner can be quite an investment. Think about what's important to you when making the decision!
Furnace FAQ
Heating season is just beginning but the questions about furnaces are rolling in! We thought it might be helpful to post and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about heating season and equipment. Here we go!
1. Is it safe to turn my furnace on before maintenance has been completed? The answer is YES! A good cleaning and tune-up on the furance is needed to keep it running as efficiently as possible. However, it's not necessary to have this service done before the furnace is turned on for the first time each year. It's just important that it's done once a year. We actually recommend turning the furnace on before it gets too cold outside. That way, if there is a problem with the furnace and you are without heat, you can get it taken care of before it's really cold.
2. There was an odor when I turned my furnace on the first time. Is this normal? Dust will collect and settle in the furnace during the summer months when it is not being used. When the furnace is fired off the first time, the dust will burn off the heat exchanger. Some people describe it as a burning smell. This is normal and will go away after the furnace has cycled a few times. If an odor continues though, it's best to get it checked out.
3. How often do I need to change my filter? Is it the same filter that I changed for the air conditioner? An HVAC system consists of a furnace (either gas or electric) and either an air conditioner or heat pump. Each system has a filter that needs to be changed regularly. It's the same filter whether you are using the furnace or air conditioner. If you have a 1" filter, it's recommended to check the filter once a month and change as needed (usually once a month or once every other month). If you have a media filter- 4" or 5"- it is recommended to check the filter every 3 months and change as needed. Changing the filter is very important!! A dirty filter can restrict air flow enough to make the furnace or air conditioner stop working.
4. I have a heat pump and a furnace. Do I need to turn the heat pump off and furnace on? All you need to do is turn your thermostat to Heat. Your heat pump will turn on in heating mode. Your heat pump will heat the house until it reaches a certain temperature outside. This is called a set point and is already set on your heat pump. For example, if your set point is 32 degrees, than once the outdoor temperature gets that cold, your furnace will automatically turn on. If you have a gas furnace, your system will automatically switch from using the heat pump to using the gas furnace. If you have an electric furnace, the furnace will kick on at the same time to help the heat pump maintain the indoor temperature. This is all done automatically so there's nothing you need to do to make this happen!
5. There seems to be something wrong with my furnace. What do I do? There are a couple of things that you can do on your own. Check your filter. If the filter is dirty, change the filter, then turn the furnace off and back on. Also, check the batteries in your thermostat (if applicable). If the thermostat screen has gone blank, it could just be batteries. If you still have a problem, then give us a call and we'll be happy to set up an appointment.
If you still have a question about your furnace, please don't hesitate to ask! We want you to stay warm and comfortable in your home.
Is It an Air Conditioner or Is It a Heat Pump?
We hear people say all the time that they don't know what to call the thing that cools their home. Is it a condenser? An air conditioner? A heat pump? A condenser is the term used to describe the outdoor unit that cools your home, which can be either an air conditioner or a heat pump. The primary difference between an air conditioner and heat pump is that the air conditioner is used to cool a space while a heat pump can heat and cool a space. There are definitely important factors to consider when looking into purchasing air conditioner or a heat pump.
A heat pump acts just like an air conditioner in the summer months. The purpose is to cool your space and lower humidity levels. During the winter months, a heat pump will also produce heat to warm your home or office. Whether you have an air conditioner or heat pump, you'll also have either a gas or electric furnace to go with it. A heat pump efficiently produces heat until the outdoor temperature drops to about 30 or 35 degrees. In very cold weather, the heat pump will not be able to keep the desired temperature inside. At that point, the furnace, located indoors, will turn on to help warm the home to the temperature set on the thermostat. If you have an electric furnace, it will start to run with the heat pump. If you have a gas furnace, the system will automatically switch from the heat pump to the gas furnace.
Which makes most sense for your home or office--an air conditioner or heat pump? If you have an electric furnace, also called an air handler, it's highly recommended to pair that furnace with a heat pump. It's quite expensive to run an electric furnace by itself. Since a heat pump is much more efficient, your utility costs will be much lower if you have a heat pump to use in the winter. The electric furnace will then act as your back-up heat.
If you have a gas furnace, it's really personal preference. If you are used to the heat produced by a gas furnace, you may not like the heat produced by a heat pump as it is a cooler heat. If you are likely to use the gas furnace all winter, then it might make more sense to pair it with an air conditioner, which often has a lower upfront cost. However, if utility costs are a priority, it might be a better option to have a heat pump installed.
There are lots of questions to ask when considering a new air conditioner or heat pump. Feel free to contact us anytime!
Is a New Lineset Necessary When Replacing an Air Conditioner?
We provided a quote for a new air conditioner recently and the customer asked this: "All I want is a new air conditioner. What is a lineset and why did you quote that?"
That's a great question! First, the lineset is what carries the refrigerant from the coil in the air conditioner to the coil in the furnace. Now, why would we quote a new lineset with the new air conditioner?
You may have heard that there are two types of refrigerant. If you have an older air conditioner, it likely uses R-22 refrigerant. New air conditioners use R-410 refrigerant. R-22 is being phased out by the EPA because there is chlorine in it which contributes to ozone depletion if it leaks out of the system. Eventually, all air conditioners and heat pumps will use R-410 refrigerant. R-410 is an ozone friendly refrigerant.
These two types of refrigerant contain different oils and do not mix well. R-22 contains mineral oil which doesn't mix well with POE oil, which is in R410. Therefore, running R410 refrigerant through a lineset that once carried R22 refrigerant will eventually be detrimental to the system. It will ultimately shorten the life span of the compressor. Ideally, the best option is to run a new lineset so there's no chance of the two different oils mixing. If a new lineset is not an option for whatever reason, a flush can also be done. This is a chemical used to flush out the R-22 that ran through the lineset. It is effective, however, it's not likely that 100% of the oil will be flushed out. Therefore, we recommend a new, clean lineset when possible.
During the quoting process, the technician will look at the placement of the current lineset to determine if a new lineset can be run. There may be some measures that have to be taken, such as a new bulkhead, to install a new lineset. In the end, this is still important to consider the lineset to ensure that your new system is running top-notch for years to come.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the two types of refrigerant, the phasing out of R-22 or linesets!
What Should I Look For in an HVAC Company?
Let's face it: replacing the HVAC system is usually the last thing someone wants to do! Replacing a furnace and/or air conditioner is an investment in your home. People often think about the brand of equipment, equipment efficiency and the budget, but what about the company that will install the new equipment? Did you know that many brands of equipment are comparable in features, but how well it works is really dependent on how well it's installed? What should you look for in an HVAC company? Here are a few things to consider:
Most importantly, is the company insured and bonded? In the off-chance that something should happen during the install, such as an injury or property damage, does the company carry liability insurance and a bond to cover the damages? Another example, straight from John Moore Insurance Agency, is this: the installation of your new HVAC system takes two days so the company leaves material in your garage with the intent of installing it the following day. If that material gets stolen or vandalized, would that be a claim on your personal insurance policy? Not if you've hired a company that is insured and bonded!
Is the company licensed in Marion County? If you live in Marion County, the City of Indianapolis requires a permit to replace/install a new furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. Only licensed companies can pull permits. The purpose of this is to ensure that your installation is done properly and to code. What happens if a permit is not pulled? If code enforcement sees work being done and there is not a permit, work will be ordered to stop, a permit will have to be pulled and a fine paid.
Do you know of anyone that's worked with the company? I think it's safe to say that we always feel more comfortable working with a company that was referred by someone else. If someone thinks highly enough of a business to recommend them, then they've had a good customer experience and it's likely that you will too. If you don't know anyone that's personally worked with them, check out their website or see if they have any customer reviews online. Then, follow your gut!
What is the policy on service and warranty? After the company installs your new HVAC system, are they also able to maintain and service it? Does the company offer 24 hour service? Is it easy to get in touch with them? Will the company handle equipment warranties? Ask questions!
So many times, homeowners think only about the equipment to be installed and price. While these are important factors, it's just as important to choose the right company. Experience, proper licensing and insurance, and reliability make all the difference.
Making a Statement with HVAC in Indianapolis
We love jobs in which the homeowner or business owner wants to make a statement. Maybe their home is in a historical district and they want (or need) the home to reflect that. Perhaps the homeowner lives in a condo and wants an "industrial" feel. Maybe the homeowner has eclectic taste and wants that to shine through. Maybe the restaurant owner wants to create a specific atmosphere for his customers. Whatever the job may be, we love the creativity and challenge involved in working the heating and cooling into the master plan.
We recently completed a job for a couple that purchased a home in Fountain Square, Indianapolis. The home was in bad shape; another house beside it has actually been torn down. This couple worked with their contractor and gutted the home. While they left some things in place, such as the staircase, they opened everything else up in order to bring their vision to life. As discussions started regarding the heating and cooling, they shared the things that they viewed as most important: An industrial look on the inside, efficient and quiet equipment, and humidity control topped their list.
We came up with a plan to meet all of their wants and needs...plus a couple of other perks! The finished HVAC project includes a Lennox high efficient 17 seer heat pump with a variable speed air handler. This heat pump is so quiet that when they step out their back door, they can't hear it! A bonus to this system is that it is solar ready. In the future, they can add solar panels to their roof to power the heat pump. The Lennox communicating wifi iComfort thermostat also gives them the ability to control their HVAC equipment through their phone, tablet or computer. Many two story homes have a problem with temperature differences between the first and second floors. Their home will be zoned to drastically reduce temperature fluctuation. A whole-house humidifier was also installed to create optimal humidity levels throughout the house.
Now, on to the look. We used galvanized, exposed spiral ductwork to create the industrial look they were after. The ductwork is used in the kitchen, living room, bedrooms and halls. It matches the look of their lighting and appliances. In addition, we kept 99% of the ductwork out of unconditioned areas. This will create a lighter load on the equipment during peak hot and cold days, resulting in lower utility bills.
The transformation of this house is amazing and it was a lot of fun for us! Who said HVAC can't be functional and eye catching!?
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.