Extending the Life of the AC System Springfield Missouri.

Extending the Life of the AC System

Wouldn't it be nice if our air conditioning system would just last forever and never break? Of course it would. However, eventually the AC system will have its share of issues that will need to be addressed. But what if we could put off having to spend our money on repairing the air conditioner during the summer. What if we could prolong the life of the system by 5 or 10 years or more? Well, both of these scenarios are possible by having AC tune ups performed on an annual basis each spring. Components such as contactors and capacitors fail frequently throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. These components are responsible for supplying electrical current and voltage to expensive items such as the AC compressor, and fan motors. As the system runs throughout the course of a year, contactors and capacitors slowly wear out and need periodic replacement. Continuing to use worn out parts in the AC system will lead to premature failure of the expensive parts like an AC compressor, or a fan motor. Eventually, with no AC tune ups being performed, you will be replacing your air conditioning system prematurely. This means that you will be in for an unexpected expense right in the middle of a hot Missouri summer. Have AC tune ups done on a routine basis and avoid untimely and costly repairs or replacements of the AC system. AC system will run less and not work nearly as hard to cool your home.
Be sure to ask one of our customer service representatives or your service technician if there are any utility rebates available for your tune-up.

20-Point Standard Tune-Up
•check thermostat operation
•clean or replace filter (standard 1" pleated filter)
•check system temperature split
•check Freon level
•inspect fused disconnect
•inspect wiring and tighten electrical connections
•inspect contactor, relays and pressure contacts
•inspect electrical safety circuits
•check voltage and amperage to all motors
•inspect indoor blower and motor for dirt buildup
•inspect bearings and lubricate all moving parts (as required)
•inspect belt and adjust tension (as required)
•inspect and clean condensate drain
•inspect outdoor coil/ clean outdoor coil and debris
•inspect duct seal at unit and secure panel
•run and test system

Explain and document all necessary repair.

 Note: Inspections for other types of systems will vary.

Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes.
http://energy.gov/public-services/homes/heating-cooling

SS&B Heating & Cooling was established in 1969. For over 40 years we have been passionately serving the Heating & Cooling needs of Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Battlefield, Strafford, Republic, Rogersville, Willard and the surrounding areas in Missouri.

There are so many decisions in building your new home. What light/plumbing fixtures, hardwood floors, granite counter tops, appliances and so much more. Planning your dream home is an exciting process.  You can pick out the perfect floor plan, select all your paint colors, and design the kitchen of your dreams. Your heating and cooling system is often more than 50 percent of your home’s energy bills. When you combine today’s high efficient equipment with a properly designed, sized installed heating and cooling system – you can save money for years to come. We are here to help you through all the steps in building your new dream home. 417-866-0990

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Heat pumps are one of the most misunderstood

Heat pumps are one of the most misunderstood and often times most cost effective options to heat your home. There are many types of heat pumps. The most common type and the type being discussed here is an air source heat pump. A heat pump performs the same function as an air conditioner in the summer time, in fact unless you know what to look for internally you cannot tell them apart. The difference with a heat pump is that in the winter time the cycle is reversed, instead of absorbing heat from the indoor air and rejecting it to the outdoor air as it does in the cooling season, it absorbs heat from the outdoor air and transfers it to the evaporator coil to warm the home. Typically the heat pump can accommodate the heating demand for an average home down to about 40 degrees and below that temperature the heat pump must have an auxiliary heat source such as a gas furnace or an air handler with auxiliary heat strips. The balance point of a home is the temperature the heat pump can heat the home down to without any back up heat source. The balance point varies depending on heat loss of the structure and the size of heat pump installed.

  Over the years poor installation practices have given heat pumps a bad name. A heat pump is not the best solution for every home there are many factors that need to be taken into account such as duct insulation and sizing, air infiltration, etc.. One drawback for some people is that the heat pump can sometimes produce supply air temperatures lower than your body temperature making the air coming out of the ducts feel cool if it blows directly on you.

   With the costs of propane skyrocketing to as much as $3.65 per gallon in the southwest Missouri area this winter a heat pump is a great solution to people looking to save money on their propane bill. A heat pump can save propane customers from 50% to as much as 75% of their heating cost. A heat pump is also up to 360 times more efficient than an electric furnace making it a great solution to those with all electric homes. Natural gas prices on the other hand are relatively cheap currently so the cost savings are not as drastic as it is for someone heating with propane or electric resistance heat. A properly installed heat pump can be a great solution to save energy dollars for many years to come.

Jeremy Grisham 

http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/heating-and-cooling/heat-pump.htm

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/air-source-heat-pumps

Replace or repair your heating and cooling system.: Buying a New Furnace

Replace or repair your heating and cooling system.: Buying a New Furnace: Are your energy bills skyrocketing as the bitter cold of winter knocks at your door?  One way to save on energy costs is to replace an old ...

Buying a New Furnace

Are your energy bills skyrocketing as the bitter cold of winter knocks at your door?  One way to save on energy costs is to replace an old furnace with a newer, more efficient unit.  Do you know how old your current furnace is?  If it’s more than 10 years old, chances are that you’re sacrificing a substantial portion of your budget on wasted energy.

You can lower your utility bills and maximize comfort by upgrading to a new, efficient furnace.  There are many options to choose from, so here are some things to consider before making your investment…

Price Doesn’t Always Equal Value

Do your research before you buy.  You can ask a professional installer, contractor, or credible salesperson for recommendations.  Try to get estimates on annual operating costs so that you can compare the short-term investment up front to the long-term benefits.  Furnaces that are extremely efficient can cost more to purchase, but can save you a ton of money over the years by significantly lowering your energy costs.  Reliability is another thing to consider with value.  Paying a ridiculously low price for a furnace could mean risking reliability and suffering through the cold while you wait for a repair.

Emissions

Higher energy efficiency means lower emissions and minimized environmental impact.  You can save money and reduce your carbon footprint by choosing a new furnace with low emissions ratings.  There are several heat source options to choose from including wood, oil, natural gas, and electric.  Advanced technology has also led to the creation of ‘hybrid’ furnace units that can be the ultimate solution for comfort and environmental consciousness.

Size

Have a professional installer evaluate the size of your home or business to determine the correct furnace capacity for the job.  If a furnace is too large, there can be gaps in temperature as the unit cools down which overwhelms the thermostat and can create inconsistent temperature control in the space.  Likewise, a furnace that is too small for the space needing to be heated will make it difficult to stay comfortable.  Choosing a furnace that is the correct size will give you consistent comfort and maximum efficiency.

Installation and Maintenance

Have your new furnace installed and inspected by a trained professional.  It isn’t worth risking the safety of your home and family to save a few bucks by going with someone who is inexperienced.  Besides making sure the equipment operates safely, a professional installer will also ensure that you get the highest efficiency possible to save you the most money on energy usage.  You can also arrange regular maintenance on your new furnace to extend its longevity and keep it in optimum working order.

Request All Records and Documentation

You should ask to receive a copy of all papers from the installer and manufacturer of the furnace.  Make you get records of purchase agreements, warrantee information, and clear and complete explanations of the product and services provided.

The most important thing to remember is that a new furnace is an investment.  Do your research and ask reputable professionals for advice and recommendations.  Your final decision should keep you more comfortable and keep your wallet fuller for many winters to come.

Why your home duct system is so important in your home.

The duct system (air distribution system) is the most important and most overlooked part of a heating and air conditioning system. The duct system is the part of the system that is responsible for delivering the correct amount of air to the different rooms or zones of the building and directly responsible for maintaining comfort for the people inside. To correctly design a duct system requires a lot of thought and effort and most  are installed incorrectly due to lack of forethought and planning. To properly design a duct system the first step is to perform a room by room manual J load calculation to determine the proper amount of air required for each room or zone. From there different sizes of ducts should be installed in each room based on the requirement of that room. The equivalent length of the duct also affects the size of duct to be installed. Often times people think if a room is uncomfortable that means their heater or air conditioner is too small when in reality the duct system was not properly designed.

   The duct system can also be a source of wasted energy. As the air moves through the ducts some of the energy is lost in the attic or crawl space because of the temperature difference  in temperature between the air inside the ducts and the space it is installed in. this is especially true when installed in attic spaces due to the extreme temperatures. All ducts should be properly insulated  and installed inside heated and cooled spaces when possible. The biggest energy waster relating to ductwork is air leakage. According to energy star 20% of the air that moves through a typical duct system is lost if not properly sealed with mastic and 93% of duct systems fall into this category. When ducts are not sealed they also draw in dust, insects, mold and other unpleasant things into the building.

http://www.acca.org/Files/?id=66

http://www.energyconservatory.com/applications/duct-leakage-testing

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_ducts

http://www.naima.org/insulation-knowledge-base/duct-hvac-insulation/benefits-of-fiber-glass-air-duct-insulations.html

Jeremy Grisham 

Repair or replace your heating and cooling system.

When you air conditioning system begins to have issues, the inevitable
question arises. Should I repair or replace?

There have been many changes in the world of air conditioning over the
past few years that may make it better to replace than repair.

For example, most air conditioners manufactured prior to 2010 were
designed to use r-22 refrigerant. In 2010 the Federal government
mandated that all new air conditioners could no longer be shipped
containing r-22 refrigerant and the switch was made to r-410a
refrigerant.

R-22 refrigerant contains chemicals that harm the ozone layer and is
therefore being phased out. The price of this refrigerant has
skyrocketed and will continue to rise which makes servicing even a
relatively new air conditioner unpractical.

  Aside from the refrigerant issue, efficiency is also a consideration.
In 2006 the Federal government increased the minimum efficiency standard
on air conditioners from 10 SEER to 13 SEER. Seer is the Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Rating. New air conditioners range between 13 and 20 SEER. If
you have an eight year old 10 SEER air conditioner and you replace it
with a 20 SEER model you will cut the cost of cooling your home in half.

   Besides efficiency, you also might want to upgrade to a 2 stage or
variable speed air conditioner instead of the 100 year old technology of
the single stage air conditioner. These systems more accurately deliver
the exact amount of cooling for your home at all times regardless of the
outdoor temperature. Enhanced comfort and humidity control is the
result.

  Furnace technology is also changing at a rapid rate. In 1990 the
Federal government set the minimum efficiency of gas furnaces at 78%
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). Most furnaces today are at
95% AFUE or higher. Furnaces are also available in single stage, two
stage and modulating configurations. A modulating gas furnace combined
with a variable speed air conditioner will deliver the utmost comfort
and efficiency available today.

  If you find yourself in the position of needing to repair or replace
it is best to contact a heating and cooling specialist.

  Ask to have your home evaluated. Several items need to be taken into
consideration. Is the air delivery system (ductwork) properly designed
and in good condition? Is the ductwork sealed to prevent air leakage. A
leaky duct system is not only costly to your wallet, it can be costly to
your health as well. If the supply air ductwork is leaking you are
throwing away tempered air (you paid to temper that air). If your return
air ductwork is leaking, you are sucking in unwanted air. Most return
air ductwork is located in attic spaces which are full of fiberglass and
many other harmful particulates. The air delivery system is critical to
a properly functioning system and is more often than not improperly
designed and installed. Many uncomfortable home issues can be remedied
by duct modification instead of system replacement or repair.

A professional will also measure may items in the home like doors,
windows, walls, ceilings, floors, insulation, etc. Using this
information and performing a heat loss-heat gain load calculation is the
only approved manner in which to determine what size furnace and air
conditioner is right for your home.

  If it is time to replace your system, again, ask a professional. There
are tax credits and utility company rebates along with manufacturer
rebates to help offset the cost to upgrade to more efficient equipment
choices. Mike Childers

www.ssbhc.com