• The EPA says that R-22 supplies are projected to end in 2020.  What does this mean to you?  In 2010, manufacturers will no longer produce R-22 systems.  Installation of R-22 refrigerant equipment may save you money upon installation, but repair costs will be higher.  R-22 refrigerant is being replaced with government mandated environmentally friendly 410A refrigerant.

 

• It is not in the best interest of the building’s owner to operate a permanent HVAC system for temporary heating and cooling purposes during construction.  When using the permanent HVAC system for temporary heat construction, filter failures can cause insufficient protection of the permanent HVAC system, leaving excessive amounts of construction dust in the system.  Early startup may void the warranty on the system’s equipment and possibly reduce equipment life and operating efficiencies.  According to SMACNA, total energy costs will generally be higher than the cost to use temporary heating, cooling, and dehumidification equipment currently available in the marketplace.

 

• As of January 23, 2006 Federal law increased its minimum efficiency standard for newly manufactured air conditioners and heat pumps from 10 SEER to 13 SEER.  SEER is short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.  It’s a number similar to mile-per-gallon in cars.  So the higher the SEER, the more efficient your system.  A 13 SEER system is about 30% more efficient than a 10 SEER system.

 

• The outdoor unit contains a compressor and a condensing coil filled with refrigerant.  A fan blows outside air over the coil, transferring thermal energy between the refrigerant and the outside air.  Then the refrigerant is circulated through pipes (a “lineset”) to the indoor unit.

 

• Your indoor unit is comprised of a coil and blower, which is located inside an air handler or furnace.  The blower circulates air through the coil before it is sent to the ducts throughout your home.

 

• The lineset contains refrigerant that circulates between the indoor and outdoor units.

 

• If the indoor coil is not matched with the outdoor unit, several major problems can occur with your system.  Capacity will not be sufficient to keep you comfortable, energy bills will increase due to reduced efficiency, your manufacturers warranty may become void, and reliability will suffer, and compressor failure is more likely to occur.

Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and poisonous gas. It is the unwanted by-product of the incomplete combustion of fuels, such as gas, oil and wood Dangers:

• Nearly 5,000 people annually are treated in emergency rooms for carbon monoxide poisoning. Experts suspect many more mistake symptoms of lower-level poisoning with those of the flu and go untreated
• About 200 people die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with home fuel-burning appliances
• Less than a third of U.S. households use carbon monoxide detectors

Precautionary Measures

• More than two dozen U.S. cities require the use of carbon monoxide detecters
• Each home should use at least one carbon monoxide alarm, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safely Commission.  Choose an alarm that meets UL Standard 2034

No! Recently an ad has been running on television instructing homeowners to close vents to save on heating bills. This advice is wrong. A myth many people believe is that they can close off some of their supply registers and save money.  The system installed in your home is designed for a certain amount of airflow.  If this airflow is restricted in any way it causes the system to function improperly and could potentially cause system failure.  This myth most likely goes back to the early days when people would close off most of their home in the winter to save on coal and wood usage.  Today’s modern systems are designed specifically for a certain amount of air flow and if you restrict that airflow, whether it be by a dirty filter or closing vents, problems will occur.  If you have a modern forced air heating system, the pressure load is balanced through the house.  Blocking vents will impact how the system inhales and exhales air; it can throw the system out of balance, causing it to work harder and possibly break down. Also, the most energy efficient practice you can do is to have heat evenly distributed throughout the house.  Blocking vents in certain rooms will make those rooms colder because heat moves from greater concentrations to lesser concentrations, these colder rooms will draw heat from other rooms in the house, making the house feel colder.

R22 is the older refrigerant, and over time, government regualtions will gradually phase it out of the industry (by year 2010).  It will be available to the consumer at a higher cost and availability may become an issue.  410A is the new environmentally friendly refrigerant meeting government regulation. As 410A becomes more widespread, you can expect the cost to drop.

Your HVAC system is like an automobile.  If you to not have your car tuned, change the fluids, and maintain the engine, you will have problems and void the warranty on that vehicle.  We recommend a Spring and Fall check.  This offers you the security in knowing your system is maintained and no surprises when you turn the heat or air on for the first time.

Buyer Beware:  Industry standards and equipment are constantly changing and advancing.  Reputable HVAC contractors are striving to educate and train their employees to keep them up to speed on the ever changing market.  Hiring an unlicensed contractor places the consumer at risk.  Warranties can be voided, home owner's insurance will not cover the work, and future service calls for poor installations can be costly.  The initial installation may save you money in the beginning, but generally will cost you more down the road.