Air Conditioning and Heating Equipment can be Easily Maintained.
Relatively few homeowners understand how a home's HVAC system operates. It's mystical abilities to cool the home or heat the home is always ignored until the worst possible moment when the on switch is flicked and the roaring sound of rushing air is never heard. The next thoughts inevitably come around to "How much is this going to cost to fix?" and "I can't afford to pay a repair bill now!"
Repair bills can be expensive and often are, but there are much less expensive alternatives. Performing routine home maintenance also should include the air conditioner and heating system. Most individuals do not possess anemometers, capacitance meters, vacuum gauges, etc. which are necessary to test and maintain air conditioning and heating systems. Most people don't know how to use these tools, much less ever hearing of them. The maintenance which can save the homeowner money does not require any specialized tools or knowledge.
A few basics which don't require any expensive purchases are monthly replacements of the air filters and a visible inspection of the outside condensing unit. The reason these two maintenance tasks are so crucial is that it prevents the HVAC system from working harder than it needs to and any damage or problem with the outside unit, which is almost always exposed to the harsh elements, is often apparent even to the untrained lay person.
Another common problem with outside units is that the cooling fins which are exposed to debris and rocks thrown from lawn mowers, can become bent and mashed together. A simple inexpensive fix for this is to purchase and use a fin comb. The purpose of the fins are to provide more surface area from which heat will dissipate. Should the fins become bent and crushed together, the free movement of air is substantially restricted which will cause the system to work harder and less efficiently.
Many professional air conditioning companies offer service contracts which provide routine inspections and adjustments of the equipment and recharging of the coolant level. While this next alternative does increase in cost, it will guarantee that the home's HVAC system is always working at maximum potential and efficiency. The huge benefit of this method is that many major problems can be foreseen and corrected before becoming major problems which translate to major cost. Besides preventing costly repairs or replacement of equipment, it also means that any equipment down time will be kept to a minimum which translates to maximum comfort.
Those individuals which would benefit the most from service contracts would be the elderly and the young. These two demographics are at greater risk for being detrimentally affected by the heat and extreme colder temperatures, such as found in Minnesota or other northern states.
For more information and guidance about Heating and Cooling, visit http://www.comfortzonepa.com. Comfort Zone specializes in installation, service, and repair of a wide range of heating and cooling systems and appliance repairs.
Call Today 717.937.3796
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
A Programmable Thermostat Enables the Homeowner to Save Money Every Month
Why has your electric or fuel been so much more expensive in the past few months than it was this time last year? Last year fuel and energy cost skyrocketed, but since has levelled off and throughout most of the country have lessened somewhat. Shouldn't this year's costs have lessened proportionately?
While the temperature has been a little warmer during the past month, it still doesn't explain the overly large bill. The biggest consumer of electricity or fuel is the heating and air conditioning of a home. Next in line would be the water heater, refrigerator, and clothes dryer.
Perhaps a cause of the increase in the monthly bill is due to friends or family visiting recently. If there has not been any visitors, then look closely as personal and family habits. Has anyone changed how frequently showers are being taken? Are more meals being prepared at home on the stove? Should none of these possibilities hold any insight, the next step is looking at the HVAC equipment.
While the large majority of homeowners do not have the correct tools or knowledge and experience for testing the functionally of circuit boards, refrigerant levels, condensers, and so forth, the homeowner can tell if the compressor, or outside unit is running smoothly or rough, just by listening and looking at the unit. Depending upon the type of heating and cooling system present, a home may also have a separate air handler in the attic or basement.
While most of an HVAC system can be quite expensive to repair or replace, the most inexpensive unit to have tested or replaced is the thermostat or humidistat. Most of the thermostats available on the market are digital in nature. Many of these are programmable which, if programmed properly, can actually allow a homeowner's energy costs to decrease slightly every month.
Many HVAC service companies use the identical models found in the larger brick and mortar hardware store. This doesn't mean that a homeowner is able to run out to the big orange home improvement store and pick out any thermostat. Thermostats need to be paired properly with the type of HVAC system the homeowner uses.
Wiring diagrams are included with each thermostat, however, these diagrams are never all inclusive of all types of wiring schematics. Many times after following the wiring directions, one wire will be left without a connection being made. Many thermostats have more than one of the same colored wire that went to two different connections on the old thermostat, but not the new one. It can be exceptionally frustrating and confusing for a do-it-yourself type person and is just best left up to the professional service technician.
For more information and guidance about heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water heaters, visit http://www.comfortzonepa.com. Comfort Zone specializes in improving home efficiency with HVAC and other home mechanical services.
While the temperature has been a little warmer during the past month, it still doesn't explain the overly large bill. The biggest consumer of electricity or fuel is the heating and air conditioning of a home. Next in line would be the water heater, refrigerator, and clothes dryer.
Perhaps a cause of the increase in the monthly bill is due to friends or family visiting recently. If there has not been any visitors, then look closely as personal and family habits. Has anyone changed how frequently showers are being taken? Are more meals being prepared at home on the stove? Should none of these possibilities hold any insight, the next step is looking at the HVAC equipment.
While the large majority of homeowners do not have the correct tools or knowledge and experience for testing the functionally of circuit boards, refrigerant levels, condensers, and so forth, the homeowner can tell if the compressor, or outside unit is running smoothly or rough, just by listening and looking at the unit. Depending upon the type of heating and cooling system present, a home may also have a separate air handler in the attic or basement.
While most of an HVAC system can be quite expensive to repair or replace, the most inexpensive unit to have tested or replaced is the thermostat or humidistat. Most of the thermostats available on the market are digital in nature. Many of these are programmable which, if programmed properly, can actually allow a homeowner's energy costs to decrease slightly every month.
Many HVAC service companies use the identical models found in the larger brick and mortar hardware store. This doesn't mean that a homeowner is able to run out to the big orange home improvement store and pick out any thermostat. Thermostats need to be paired properly with the type of HVAC system the homeowner uses.
Wiring diagrams are included with each thermostat, however, these diagrams are never all inclusive of all types of wiring schematics. Many times after following the wiring directions, one wire will be left without a connection being made. Many thermostats have more than one of the same colored wire that went to two different connections on the old thermostat, but not the new one. It can be exceptionally frustrating and confusing for a do-it-yourself type person and is just best left up to the professional service technician.
For more information and guidance about heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water heaters, visit http://www.comfortzonepa.com. Comfort Zone specializes in improving home efficiency with HVAC and other home mechanical services.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Save Thousands of Dollars Over Just 2 Years...
with Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems.
Geothermal heating and cooling has recently been thrust into the forefront of ecologically green and financially efficient methods of residential and commercial heating and cooling. Originally developed for large scale energy production and then utilized by large utility corporations and petroleum companies, the cost was prohibitive for any smaller communities or individual family use. This has now changed in one aspect. It has now become financially feasible for individual families, homeowners, and independent business owners to heat and cool the home or other structure with minimal monthly expense.
While the initial cost of having a geothermal system installed to produce heat in the winter and cold air in summer may seem costly, the monthly savings on every utility bill makes it a pleasure to invest in and operate. Geothermal heat pumps, which may be referred to as GHP or geoexchange systems, will save the homeowner 30-70 percent in heating costs and 20-50 percent in cooling costs according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is estimated that it will only take 3-10 years to recover the costs of installing a geothermal heat pump system.
The reason for such great interest and development in geothermal energy, heating, and cooling is that it is the most efficient manner to date to produce energy with the least greenhouse emissions. Heating and cooling a home using a system such should not be viewed solely as an expense, but a definite return on an investment regardless of whether the homeowner stays or decides to sell in the future. Coupled with the fact that it is an ecologically responsible method of heating and cooling, tax incentives are available and other government programs actually will subsidize part of the cost to the homeowner to install a geothermal system.
There are different types of geothermal systems, such as closed loop, open loop, and direct exchange setups, but the main operating principals are the same. While closed loop and direct exchange systems are often much less expensive to install, open loop systems can be more efficient, but require a nearby source of water such as a pond or well and more maintenance depending on the quality of water source. Regardless of the type of system being installed, the fact remains that geothermal heating and cooling can easily save multi-thousands of dollars over every two year span for the homeowner.
For more information and guidance about heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water heaters, visit http://www.comfortzonepa.com. Comfort Zone specializes in improving home efficiency with HVAC and other home mechanical services.
Geothermal heating and cooling has recently been thrust into the forefront of ecologically green and financially efficient methods of residential and commercial heating and cooling. Originally developed for large scale energy production and then utilized by large utility corporations and petroleum companies, the cost was prohibitive for any smaller communities or individual family use. This has now changed in one aspect. It has now become financially feasible for individual families, homeowners, and independent business owners to heat and cool the home or other structure with minimal monthly expense.
While the initial cost of having a geothermal system installed to produce heat in the winter and cold air in summer may seem costly, the monthly savings on every utility bill makes it a pleasure to invest in and operate. Geothermal heat pumps, which may be referred to as GHP or geoexchange systems, will save the homeowner 30-70 percent in heating costs and 20-50 percent in cooling costs according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is estimated that it will only take 3-10 years to recover the costs of installing a geothermal heat pump system.
The reason for such great interest and development in geothermal energy, heating, and cooling is that it is the most efficient manner to date to produce energy with the least greenhouse emissions. Heating and cooling a home using a system such should not be viewed solely as an expense, but a definite return on an investment regardless of whether the homeowner stays or decides to sell in the future. Coupled with the fact that it is an ecologically responsible method of heating and cooling, tax incentives are available and other government programs actually will subsidize part of the cost to the homeowner to install a geothermal system.
There are different types of geothermal systems, such as closed loop, open loop, and direct exchange setups, but the main operating principals are the same. While closed loop and direct exchange systems are often much less expensive to install, open loop systems can be more efficient, but require a nearby source of water such as a pond or well and more maintenance depending on the quality of water source. Regardless of the type of system being installed, the fact remains that geothermal heating and cooling can easily save multi-thousands of dollars over every two year span for the homeowner.
For more information and guidance about heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water heaters, visit http://www.comfortzonepa.com. Comfort Zone specializes in improving home efficiency with HVAC and other home mechanical services.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Ensure Your Air Conditioner Cools As Summer Turns on the Heat
As the seasons change, the temperature and climate are reaching new record highs. Over the next several years, summers are due to be increasingly hot and humid. What's the best way to stay cool and comfortable while at the same time keeping energy costs down?
Many people try to go out to the malls and sit or walk around for hours. Bookstores and libraries are other options that are popular. While these ideas will provide some respite from both the heat and paying high energy costs to run the home air conditioning, they aren't always practical. And then you have the following summers again and again with which to contend.
Although money is tight for the majority of Americans, it is still a good practice to have preventative maintenance done on your existing HVAC system. If the air conditioning or heat pump system is close to ten years old, the best thing to do is consult with an HVAC specialist. Most of the time, regarding HVAC systems, it is more cost effective to upgrade equipment to the newer current equipment available today. Depending on the age of your existing condenser, compressor, or air handler, upgrading just one component may not be an option.
HVAC components need to be sized and paired together in order to achieve maximum efficiency which translates to maximum savings. Often times, just the condenser can not be replaced without replacing the air handler at the same time. This is one reason that many homeowners are put off by what may seem like exorbitant prices. Sometimes with older HVAC components, the EPA regulations and federal law may limit or prevent replacing a component with the same type due to current environmental standards and concerns regarding the inefficiency of older equipment. Many of the older components are not being manufactured any more for this reason alone. In this case, the homeowner should expect a much higher estimate.
This doesn't mean that the homeowner should settle for the first quote they receive. In fact, it would be foolish not to obtain more than 3 separate quotes. People are always told, "you get what you pay for." Many times this is true, but in today's economic climate, more and more service companies are fiercely competing due to the fact that they too have experienced dwindling profit margins. This gives the consumer a much better chance of receiving the same quality of service as before without as high a cost involved.
A company's track record speaks volumes and should always be considered before selecting their services. Word of mouth is still one of the best forms of advertising. It is also the best form of getting recommendations for a company's services. Ask around. If more than a third of the comments are negative about a particular company, chances are there's something to the claims and probably best to avoid the company.
One thing is certain, however, waiting until the heat of the summer hits is not the best time to finally decide to service or upgrade the current HVAC equipment. Demand for service is always highest in the summer months and that means having to wait as much as 3 days or more for service. Three days or more of 90 degree temperatures with no relief is a miserable thing to experience and can prove dangerous to the young and elderly. Proactive and preventative service now will ensure future summers that are comfortable and care free.
For more information and guidance about heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water heaters, visit http://www.comfortzonepa.com. Comfort Zone specializes in improving home efficiency with HVAC and other home mechanical services.
Many people try to go out to the malls and sit or walk around for hours. Bookstores and libraries are other options that are popular. While these ideas will provide some respite from both the heat and paying high energy costs to run the home air conditioning, they aren't always practical. And then you have the following summers again and again with which to contend.
Although money is tight for the majority of Americans, it is still a good practice to have preventative maintenance done on your existing HVAC system. If the air conditioning or heat pump system is close to ten years old, the best thing to do is consult with an HVAC specialist. Most of the time, regarding HVAC systems, it is more cost effective to upgrade equipment to the newer current equipment available today. Depending on the age of your existing condenser, compressor, or air handler, upgrading just one component may not be an option.
HVAC components need to be sized and paired together in order to achieve maximum efficiency which translates to maximum savings. Often times, just the condenser can not be replaced without replacing the air handler at the same time. This is one reason that many homeowners are put off by what may seem like exorbitant prices. Sometimes with older HVAC components, the EPA regulations and federal law may limit or prevent replacing a component with the same type due to current environmental standards and concerns regarding the inefficiency of older equipment. Many of the older components are not being manufactured any more for this reason alone. In this case, the homeowner should expect a much higher estimate.
This doesn't mean that the homeowner should settle for the first quote they receive. In fact, it would be foolish not to obtain more than 3 separate quotes. People are always told, "you get what you pay for." Many times this is true, but in today's economic climate, more and more service companies are fiercely competing due to the fact that they too have experienced dwindling profit margins. This gives the consumer a much better chance of receiving the same quality of service as before without as high a cost involved.
A company's track record speaks volumes and should always be considered before selecting their services. Word of mouth is still one of the best forms of advertising. It is also the best form of getting recommendations for a company's services. Ask around. If more than a third of the comments are negative about a particular company, chances are there's something to the claims and probably best to avoid the company.
One thing is certain, however, waiting until the heat of the summer hits is not the best time to finally decide to service or upgrade the current HVAC equipment. Demand for service is always highest in the summer months and that means having to wait as much as 3 days or more for service. Three days or more of 90 degree temperatures with no relief is a miserable thing to experience and can prove dangerous to the young and elderly. Proactive and preventative service now will ensure future summers that are comfortable and care free.
For more information and guidance about heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water heaters, visit http://www.comfortzonepa.com. Comfort Zone specializes in improving home efficiency with HVAC and other home mechanical services.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Comfort Zone Heating and Cooling : Website Design by WebDrafter.com
Comfort Zone Heating and Cooling is proud to announce their new website by WebDrafter.com
Here at Comfort Zone, we are Central Pennsylvania's premier A/C and Heating Specialist. In addition to heating and air conditioning installation and repair, we also provide indoor air quality, duct work, water heaters, humidity control, installation and repair of geothermals, and much more.
To learn more, visit www.comfortzonepa.com today.
Contact WebDrafter.com at 866.421.3723 or visit www.webdrafter.com for all your website needs.
Here at Comfort Zone, we are Central Pennsylvania's premier A/C and Heating Specialist. In addition to heating and air conditioning installation and repair, we also provide indoor air quality, duct work, water heaters, humidity control, installation and repair of geothermals, and much more.
To learn more, visit www.comfortzonepa.com today.
Contact WebDrafter.com at 866.421.3723 or visit www.webdrafter.com for all your website needs.
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