Heat Pumps can Save Homeowners Money Over Other Systems

There are different types of heat pumps available for heating and cooling your home. One is the geothermal type, which uses the heat from the ground, second type is the air system, and third type uses water to heat and cool the home. All three systems are made of one piece of equipment for both cooling the home and heating, instead of needing two separate units for each purpose. Heat pumps use the air from outside the home to bring inside while cooling or heating the air as it returns. 

Even in cold and wet weather, the pumps extract some of the air from outside, in order to heat the air for inside usage. Two main components make up this type of system. One of the parts is located inside the home and the other is situated outside of the home. Efficiency is vital when placing these heating and cooling units in homes. Some of the locations will not benefit the home as well as others. For example, if the climate where you live is primarily cold and the unit is placed in an area that receives a lot of heat from the sun, it may not work as efficiently as ones that are placed in a shaded area around the home. Likewise, the outdoor unit should never be covered with a tarp or cover, or it may hinder its performance. 

The Heat Pump Takes Air from the Home without Waste

Taking the heat out of your home is the other purpose that a heat pump performs. The warm air is removed from inside the home and taken outside. This is why the heat pumps are such an efficient choice, because there is very little wasted air in the warm months. With other types of units, there is much wasted air, making them less cost-effective. In the hot months, it is very beneficial to use a heat pump that actually takes some of the hot air out of the room for better indoor cooling. 

Cost Savings with Heat Pumps are Endless

The energy cost savings for the unit choices when you pick heat pumps is endless, no matter if you are heating with propane, natural gas, electricity, or oil. Many times, the ground source will work more cost efficiently than others, but air source pumps are a good option, as well. Both of the systems will save loads of money on your heating and cooling needs. Any amount of savings these days is good, but when the heating or cooling bill can be lessened by 30% or more, it is a good choice to make for most homeowners. 

Talk to a Heat Pump Specialist

If you are in need of a new cooling and heating system, speak with a reputable HVAC specialist to assist you in deciding upon the type to choose. These experts can inform you of the specific installation and equipment charges. They will also let you know an approximate time frame for getting the unit installed and how much work will be required. The ground source pumps could possibly require an area of your lawn to be disturbed, and this could affect your decision, as well. 

Home Repairs You Can Do Before Calling a HVAC Specialist

HVAC stands for heating ventilation and air conditioning, and basically refers to anything that pertains to these areas. An HVAC specialist is trained in repairs for any of those products. They can fix air conditioning problems, and repair or install ventilation and heating systems. 

While fixing certain things like the thermostat or changing the air filter can be done on your own, you may find yourself in need of an HVAC repair specialist. Whether you are having trouble with air cleaners, air handlers, thermostats, boilers, or hybrid systems, the HVAC expert can handle all of these repairs. 

Other Easy Air Conditioning Maintenance

Air conditioning systems require maintenance, in order to keep working properly. These things can be done on your own, without much trouble. One of the biggest reasons that furnace units go bad is from incomplete maintenance. Changing air filters is another one of the things that you can do yourself, without calling a specialist. The filter needs to be cleaned or replaced before each season for most furnace models. However, you should consult the owner’s instructions for more specific time intervals. You should also make a note in your records when it was replaced, this can be used as a reference guide for your efforts. Some homeowners keep a file with information on all of their appliances, like air conditioning units and furnaces. 

Thermostat Stops Working

Most of the time when a thermostat stops working, it will be a simple fix like replacing the battery in the device, and other times, you can just replace the whole thermostat with a new one, in order to fix that issue. Some of the newer kinds of thermostat will tell you when to replace the batteries by indicating low battery on the display. This is the best way to decide how to fix it when the temperature isn’t regulated by the thermostat. You can tell that there is a problem with the device when the air conditioning unit or furnace keeps running all the time. It isn’t always going to be the thermostat, and after replacing batteries and it is still not working, it may be time to call an HVAC expert. 

Duct Cleaning

When it comes to duct cleaning, there are a number of things that homeowners can do themselves, even though some tasks will entail hiring an HVAC specialist. For the thorough cleaning inside of the ducts, an experienced professional can get underneath the floors to reach them, if you cannot. You can walk around the basement area and check for leaks in the ductwork to repair any tears or holes that may be present and visible. Be sure to use mastic sealant or a good metal tape to seal any air holes or leaks. Duct tape works well for many things, but isn’t reliable when it comes to actual duct repairs. It is very important to repair air leaks in the ductwork or you will be losing air into the basement or crawlspace that is meant to be heating or cooling the other rooms in your house. Losing air will equal losing money on high energy bills. 

How to Know if You Need Radon Mitigation

Everyone is concerned about the indoor air quality in their homes. People buy smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, humidifiers, air cleaners, and many other devices and systems to breathe healthier, but there still lurks a deadly gas that threatens the lives of everyone that lives in your home. The deadly gas is called radon, and if you have high levels of radon in your home, you will need to remove it. The removal process is called radon mitigation. In order to improve your indoor air quality and get the best performance out of your HVAC system, you should test the levels to determine if you need radon mitigation. 

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that is produced when uranium breaks down in the soil, rock, and water. It has the chemical symbol Rn and has an atomic weight of 86 on the periodic table. It is a noble gas, which means that the outer shell of each molecule has a complete set of electrons that prevents it from readily reacting chemically with other molecules. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and even though radon is found in the soil, the concentration varies from location to location. Air pressure inside the home is lower than the pressure in the soil around and underneath the home. This causes the radon in the soil to be sucked up into the home through any cracks or openings in the foundation. Since radon can also be found in rocks such as granite and limestone, radon can also be introduced into the home by seeping out of building materials in the home, such as countertops, tables, or fireplace surrounds. 

The Importance of Testing

It is important to test for radon in your home because this gas is radioactive and it has been known to cause certain cancers. It is the cause of most of the cases of lung cancer in nonsmokers and it greatly increases the risk of smokers of developing lung cancer. You should perform at least two short-term tests or one long-term test. A short-term test will measure the radon levels over a period of 2 to 90 days and long-term tests will take over 90 days. It is best to perform two short-term tests so that you can get a more accurate reading in the event of transient weather that can skew the results. The long-term test will give you a better picture of the average radon level in your home year-round. After testing, you send it to a testing site for processing. When you get your results, you should consult with a professional who can provide guidance on any actions that need to be taken. If you have a well, you will need a different type of test in order to measure the radon level. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that no home should have a radon reading of less than 2 pCi/L. If you get a reading that is 4 pCi/L or higher, you will need radon mitigation. 

Radon Mitigation Methods

The EPA recommends that you hire a contractor for radon removal because it requires special skills and knowledge. The method used will depend upon the initial radon level reading, the size of your home, and the type of foundation upon which your home sits. The most common and effective method is soil suction. This method draws out the radon from underneath the home and vents it out through pipes that siphon it out into the air above the home. If you don’t know what type of foundation you have, the contractor has several diagnostic tests at their disposal to help determine how the radon is entering the home. If your home has elevated radon levels from building materials, the best method to use is mechanical ventilation, which uses fans to replace the indoor air with fresh outdoor air. This will help improve indoor air quality. If you have radon in your well water, your contractor can use an activated charcoal filtration system or an aeration system. 

Lower Fuel Costs without Compromising Home Comfort

With the economy in the doldrums, everyone is looking for ways to lower their heating and cooling costs. After you have already done the small things to save money, like turning down the thermostat, installing energy-efficient window dressings, and sealed up those drafty spaces, you may want to go further. If you want to experience long-term savings, you should consider replacing or retrofitting your existing heating and cooling system. Three systems that are gaining popularity are: hybrid, geothermal heating and cooling, and solar heating and cooling. 

Hybrid Systems Basics

A hybrid system, the most popular of the three systems, is also called a dual-fuel system because it utilizes two fuel sources. It uses an electric heat pump coupled with either a gas boiler, oil furnace, or a gas furnace. The system will automatically switch between fuel sources to use the most cost-efficient fuel. The settings for the automation depend upon the home comfort you desire, the seasonal temperature range, and the utility rate patterns. These settings are done by your dealer or installer, so be sure to communicate to them your expectations for home comfort. During the colder months, the system uses a unit located outside the home to absorb heat and pull it inside. The warm air is then circulated throughout the house. During the warm months, it transfers the warm inside air to the outside to create a cooler atmosphere indoors. 

Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems Basics

A geothermal heating and cooling system consists of a heat pump that uses the earth’s temperature to heat or cool water or refrigerant that cycle through underground pipes. It uses the constant temperature of the earth, which is independent of the air temperature which fluctuates. The heat pump is installed indoors while conventional air-to-air heat pumps are installed outdoors. Because geothermal heating and cooling systems do not use air, it does not need fans to circulate air over the compressor coils. It uses a quiet circulation pump and a compressor to move the refrigerant; therefore, it operates quietly and more efficiently. Geothermal heating and cooler systems tend to last longer and they require very little maintenance. 

Solar Heating and Cooling Systems Basics

You can choose between two types of solar heating and cooling systems. An active solar heating and cooling system uses either liquid or air that collects in a hydronic collector. This system collects and absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it directly into the home or a storage system to be distributed throughout the home where it is needed. Solar systems can be used with absorption heat pumps and coolers, boilers with hot water radiators, or radiant heating systems. People have used the active solar heating and cooling systems to reduce and even eliminate their need for electricity, propane, and oil heating. A passive solar heating and cooling system uses the power of the sun in a more indirect manner. You can create a passive system by installing precisely-designed overhangs, a white reflective roof, and reflective double-glazed windows. You can also incorporate landscaping that would provide a copious amount of shading and even install a photoelectric panel. One drawback to this system is that it is not as effective if you do not have adequate exposure to the sun. Solar heating and cooling systems require that you adhere to a regular maintenance schedule to keep the system from breaking down.