Zeigler Mechanical

General

Is it too late for me to take advantage of the federal tax credits?

Absolutely not! The government extended tax credits through this year.  From now until December 31, 2011 you can still claim federal tax credits when purchasing and installing a new energy efficient heating and cooling system within this year.  If this is something you’re considering make sure to act soon.  This will expire in December and with the economy in the state it is, we don’t anticipate this being extended.  The 2011 tax credits are slightly different than the prior 2009-2010 ones.   The general provision is 10% of installed cost, up to $500.

Air Quality

How Can I Improve My Indoor Air Quality? What Terms Do I Need to Know?

Indoor Air Quality is a growing concern as inhalation of particulate matter has been linked to asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular problems and even early death.  Air filters and air cleaning equipment are designed to remove particles, also called particulates, from the air. Particulates refer to tiny particles suspended in the air.  As a general rule, the smaller the particle, the longer it stays in the air.  

MERV is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.  This is the rating based on efficiently of air filters to remove particle of various sizes at different airflow rates.  MERV ratings range from 1 - 16 and measurements are in microns. Higher MERV ratings mean fewer dust particles and other airborne contaminants pass through the filter.  Some of the common particles related to MERV ratings are pet dander, insecticide dust, smog, dust, viruses, wood, tobacco smoke, spores, bacteria and pollen.

A micron is a micrometer, a measurement unit equivalent to one millionth of a meter. For example, a human hair is about 100 microns wide whereas dust particles and red blood cells are about 7 microns in diameter.

HEPA stands fro High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter.  This type of filter is designed to remove a minimum of 99.97% of air particles 0.3 microns in size.

Allergies and asthma run in my family.  How can I improve my indoor air quality?

Indoor air quality is a growing concern in our society today. Americans on average spend 70% of their time indoors and according to the American Lung Association the quality of our indoor air can be up to FIVE TIMES worse than the outside air. That’s a pretty scary statistic!

The HVAC industry has been dealing with this issue for years and has a variety of products that will help you improve the quality of air you breathe in your home.

• Air Cleaners
  Air cleaners can improve your health by keeping your entire house cleaner, protect your furnishings and save you time and the aggravation of continuous dusting and cleaning. A whole-house cleaner can help provide relief from irritants – up to 40 times more efficiently than standard furnace filters.
   

• Air Purifiers
  An air purifier whole-house air filtration system is the most effective air cleaning system available. It thoroughly cleans and filters out 99.98% of airborne allergens that pass through the system. It is up to 100 times more effective than a standard 1" filter.
   

• Filters
  By switching out your filters once a month you can cut down on the amount of dust and pollutants in your air. Filters remove dust and other particles from the air such as pollen, bacteria, smoke, smog, pet dander, and plant and mold spores. They also help to increase the energy efficiency and prolong the life of your heating and cooling system.
   

• UV Germicidal Lamps
  With an Ultraviolet (UV) Germicidal Lamp you will not just remove airborne contaminants, you will destroy them. Mold and bacteria can easily grow on air conditioning coils as a result of normal condensation that takes place during the cooling process. A UV Germicidal Lamp is designed to kill that mold and bacteria by breaking down its DNA. The elimination of mold and bacteria will reduce your family’s risk of allergic reactions and illnesses as well as get rid of foul odors.

• I have friends and relatives that have installed UV lights on their furnace. What are they for?

• UV is the abbreviation for ultraviolet. Located in the return air ductwork and by the indoor cooling coil, the ultraviolet air treatment system continuously emits high – intensity ultraviolet (UV) energy. The energy eliminates (kills) a very high percentage of airborne bacteria and germs passing over the UV light field inside the ductwork. The UV light mounted next to the indoor cooling coil will help eliminate the growth of mold, mildew and other contaminates from the drain pan and coil surface. At Thornton & Grooms we recommend installing non-ozone-producing UV products.

• Should I be concerned about carbon monoxide?

• Carbon monoxide, also known as the silent killer, can pose a serious threat in some instances and is yet another reason to have your furnace and water heater inspected by Thornton & Grooms. A carbon monoxide detector is a wise investment. Thornton & Grooms offers a high quality carbon monoxide detector that has a 5-year warranty.

• Our home is so dry and uncomfortable in the winter.  Is there anything we can do?

• Our customers’ overall safety and comfort in their home is always our top priority. The #1 reason why people get colds and flu in the winter is due to the lack of humidity in the air. When the temperature drops in the fall and winter it is important to keep a home properly humidified. Adding a whole-house humidifier will eliminate dry, scratchy throats in the winter as well as protect a home’s walls and furniture from the cracks and damage that dry air causes. In addition to a standard whole-house humidifier we offer steam humidifiers that do not need the furnace to be running in order for it to humidify the air.

• Heating & Cooling

• Should I close HVAC vents in rooms I don’t use a lot in order to save money?

• The practice of closing off vents in parts of your home that aren’t being used in order to save money dates back to when homes were heated from a central location, like a fireplace.  Back then it worked.  Today homes are equipped with central heating and air conditioning systems, by closing off the parts of your home and shutting vents in those areas, you can actually increase your energy costs, not reduce them.  The reason is simple; a modern home’s HVAC systems is designed to either heat or cool the entire residence, and is sized according to this need.  By shutting off a part of the air flow, you increase the air press on the system, which can increase the amount of leakage from the ductwork.  In fact, too many vents closed can actually cause your HVAC system to malfunction.  This is because today’s systems rely on a certain amount of air flow to maintain a certain temperature within them.

• Should a thermostat be set to “auto” or “on”?

• Although the “auto” setting is the most used setting, the fan will only operate when the temperature requires it.  There are advantages, however, to using the “on” setting.  In this setting, indoor air is constantly filtered through your unit’s air filter, resulting in cleaner air and a more comfortable home.  Many of today’s “modern” furnaces have a motor designed to do this at the operational equivalent cost of a 75 watt light bulb.  There are also after market motors available through your local heating and cooling contractor that will provide the same benefits.

• How do I know if I should repair or replace my current heating and/or air conditioning system?

• When faced with this decision there are three main factors you should consider: 

• Life expectancy. Consider the age of your equipment, an 8 year old or more air conditioner or a 10 to 15+ year old furnace (or heat pump) is nearing the end of its life expectancy. On older systems parts are sometimes discontinued and can be much more expensive, if not completely unavailable.  (Note: You can add at least four years onto this number if you’ve consistently had it professionally maintained during this time.)

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• Efficiency. Even if you completely restore an aging unit (which is expensive to do!), you will unlikely have the efficiency that it was rated for when it was manufactured, at best.  A qualified heating contractor will measure your furnace’s efficiency so you understand the performance of your existing unit.  In a lot of cases, installing a new heating system can pay for itself in energy savings within a relatively short period of time. 

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• Current condition.  Take into account the quality and reliability of your current unit, the number of breakdowns you’ve experienced, and how often your unit has been maintained. If you have not maintained your unit and breakdowns are frequent, replacement should be a serious consideration. In this situation, no matter what the skill of the installer or service technician, there is little that can be done except restore the unit.

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• So when faced with the decision to repair or replace, consider these factors and make the decision that’s most beneficial to you!

• What causes your air conditioning unit to frost over?

• Air conditioners work by moving warm air over the cooling coil (also known as the evaporator coil). This process removes moisture from the air, which accumulates in the collector pan. This process is also key to maintaining a comfortable environment for your home in the summer.  
  
  If the air moves too slowly over the evaporator coils or if the refrigerant in your system is low you run the risk of the coil developing frost and icing over. A frozen unit will not be able to cool your home properly.
  
  A frozen unit can be the result of low refrigerant or a dirty filter or coils. You can help avoid these problems by scheduling annual maintenance and changing or cleaning your air filter on a regular basis.  During a maintenance check-up your technician will clean dirty coils and a clean air filter ensures proper airflow through your system.  If your refrigerant is low, this could be an indication that you have a leak. Contact a professional technician to check for proper refrigerant levels and leaks

• How Often Should I Replace my Furnace Filter?

• In general, you should replace your disposable filters at least once a month. We recommend that you visually check filters and filtering equipment monthly. If filters look dirty, they need to be cleaned or replaced. If you have washable filters, they can be rinsed off. Replacing your filters on a regular basis ensures optimum efficiency and filtration for your system.

• What regular maintenance do heating and air conditioning systems need?

• The most important part of HVAC maintenance is preserving unrestricted airflows.  Dust, dirt, and debris are an HVAC system’s worst enemies.  Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor unit, you must keep all filters clean and heat exchangers and coils free of restrictions. We recommend that your heating and cooling system be checked and serviced twice a year; ideally a spring and autumn tune-up. Also we recommend that you change your filter regularly, depending on the type of filter you have. This alone can eliminate many of the most common problem that need fixing and can significantly reduce the likelihood of a serious breakdown.

I have very cold and very warm rooms in my home. Is there anything I can do?

Temperature differences of up to three degrees from room to room are not uncommon, but often one or several rooms are uncomfortably warm or cold.  This condition could be caused by a number of factors within your home including inadequate insulation, air leakage, poor duct system design, duct leakage, unwanted heating by the sun in warmer months, or a failure in part of your heating and cooling system.
   
Recommendations:

• Hire an energy specialist to do an in-home evaluation to find any trouble spots.

• Have a HVAC technician check to see if your heating and cooling system is operating correctly.

• Have a HVAC technician check your ducts for air leakage and proper distribution of air. 

• Seal any leaks in your home (around windows, doors, outlets) and add insulation.

• If the sun is making rooms too hot, consider using shades or solar screening.

• Hire an electrician to install ceiling fans to make room air circulation more uniform.

• When replacing the outdoor unit, do I need to replace the indoor unit as well?

• The answer is most likely yes, and here are the reasons why.
  
  First of all, all air conditioner and heat pump outdoor units are specifically designed to work with matched indoor units for optimum efficiency and performance. The result of this matched system is a coordinated, top-performance team that ensures dependability and efficiency. Air conditioner and heat pump outdoor units may "work" with indoor units other than those for which they have been specifically designed; however, the result is a definite compromise in system performance.
  
  In addition, through the years, indoor blower coil units have undergone numerous design advances — especially in the areas of air handling performance, filtering efficiency and operating sound levels. A new outdoor unit will also include the latest design advances.
  
  The cooling and/or heating efficiency ratings that are advertised for an air conditioner or heat pump are based on their performance as matched systems. While changing only the outdoor unit may result in improved efficiency compared to the old system, it will not be as efficient as it was designed to be and your savings will be lower than with a matched system.
  
  If an air conditioner or heat pump outdoor unit is 10 years old and needs to be replaced, the indoor unit is just as old and has been subjected to the same amount of wear and tear. Replacing both units means you won't have to replace the indoor unit in a short time...you'll have years of service from both units.
  
  Last, but not least, a new unit also gives you a new product warranty. Replacing the indoor unit at the same time as the outdoor unit results in peace of mind, knowing the new warranty covers your entire system.
  
  At first glance, replacing only an air conditioner or heat pump outdoor unit may appear to be a bargain. But when you consider the lower cooling and heating efficiencies, decreased reliability and high cost of ownership that results, it's not such a bargain. Replacing an entire system costs more, but you get more efficiency, reliability and comfort.