While Long Island’s climate swings from snowy winters to warm summers, the temperature many feet below the surface remains undisturbed, constantly in the range of 50 to 60 degrees. Geothermal cooling and heating systems work by drawing on that constant temperature, cycling clean water or refrigerant through a system of buried pipes. Warmth from that water will raise the temperature of your home in the colder months, and the water will absorb excess heat from your indoor air during the warmer months and store it in the earth. The only things these systems take or leave from the ground is heat.

And because they’re so efficient — 300 to 600 percent, estimates the U.S. Department of Energy — they’ll drop your home’s energy use dramatically, saving you money and consuming less energy from municipal power supplies that may not be as green. In fact, the growing use of geothermal heating and cooling systems has already reduced American carbon emissions by 3 million tons.

Geothermal cooling and heating systems have a higher up-front cost than other HVAC systems, but they offer significant long-term cost savings and a huge environmental benefit.

If you have any questions about geothermal cooling and heating, or any other HVAC topic, contact the pros at T.F. O’Brien Cooling and Heating. We’ve served the Long Island community since 1934, and we’re happy to work with you to install a system that meets your needs.

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Here are a few points to take into consideration when choosing a heat pump.

EnergyGuide labels

One of the easiest ways to ensure you’ll be optimizing heat pump efficiency is to check models’ ratings before you buy. There are several ratings you should look for.

• The heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) tells you the efficiency of the electric resistance elements and the compressor. Those with a rating between 8 and 10 use the least BTUs per watt-hour.
• The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is a measure of cooling efficiency. Although the most efficient models, with ratings between 14 and 18, have higher initial costs, you’ll save far more on energy in the long term.
• The Energy Star label is typically present on heat pumps with an HSPF of 7 or more and a SEER of at least 12.

Size

You need to choose your heat pump according to the size of your new home. A model that’s too large will need to start and stop frequently, which is detrimental to optimizing heat pump efficiency. Sizing calculations are highly complex and should be undertaken by a professional heating contractor.

Components

A contractor can advise you on what components would be most suitable for your new home. Ducts and fans require adequate space to be incorporated into the home design and should be discussed with your builders and architect. You’ll also need to choose an appropriate indoor coil unless you opt for a packaged system.

For more expert advice on optimizing heat pump efficiency or any other home comfort issues, contact the experts at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ve proudly served Long Island homeowners since 1934.

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Here’s a room-by-room breakdown:

• Living room - Your living room should be well ventilated, as it’s prone to having secondhand smoke, pet dander and dust. Vacuuming frequently can improve your home’s air quality. Don’t allow any smoking in your home, as this can trigger asthma and other respiratory ailments. Pet hair and dander can also make breathing difficult, particularly for children, so don’t allow pets on carpets and upholstery.
• Bathroom - The bathroom is the dampest part of the home and needs a lot of air to stay dry. Without adequate ventilation in this room, mold can grow due to high humidity, causing allergic reactions to the occupants of the home. Installing a ventilation system will keep dampness under control.
• Bedroom – The bedroom should be well ventilated. Dust the furniture and vacuum any carpets on a weekly basis. Bedding should be washed and changed regularly, as it collects dust and dust mites easily.
• Kitchen - The kitchen is an area of the house where gas leaks and chemicals can be found. Proper storage of hazardous products is vital if you want to have the best indoor air quality. Pesticides must be kept out of children’s reach. Use non-toxic substances especially when children and pets are in the home.
• Basement – The basement contains hazardous supplies, detergents, chemicals and power units. Winter and heavy rains can cause dampness in the basement. Because heaters emit carbon monoxide, make sure CO detectors are installed and in good working order in all living areas.

For more expert advice on boosting your home’s indoor air quality, contact the pros at T.F.O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ve been serving the Long Island area since 1934.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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These are the signs that indicate a need for air conditioner replacement soon:

• Your electric bills soar when you run the air conditioner. As these systems age, they lose efficiency. When your bills climb continually without an increase in electrical costs, it’s a better financial move to follow through with the air conditioner replacement than to continue to use a lot of power keeping your home cool.
• Your home is excessively humid even with the air conditioner running. Systems that aren’t running as well as they should won’t remove the excess indoor humidity.
• The air conditioner is more than 10 years old. Today’s air conditioning systems offer far more energy efficiency than those that are more than 10 years old. The difference in cooling bills over the course of the summer will help offset the cost of a new system, since your bills could be as much as 30 percent lower on a monthly basis.
• Your system needs frequent repairs. Once the parts start to fail one after another, there’s little reason to continue to have the system repaired.

Once you’ve decided to replace the air conditioner, verify that you’re selecting the right size for the system. A trusted HVAC contractor will conduct a thorough examination of your home to find its cooling load using Manual J, the industry standard for sizing equipment.

After you know the size of the system, you can select the level of energy efficiency you want, revealed by its SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating. Thirteen is the minimum, but systems are available with ratings that go into the 20s. A higher SEER will lower your electric bills even more.

To learn more about an air conditioner replacement and get more expert advice for your home, contact T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ve provided HVAC services for Long Island homeowners since 1934.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Here are a handful of issues that airtight homes face that can be remedied with a ventilating system:

• Mold and mildew growth - Mold and mildew are caused by a lack of air circulation, which allows areas of the house to experience a buildup of moisture, particularly in dark corners and along your duct system. Little spores will float through the air, causing respiratory problems for you and your family.
• Return of vented toxins - With air ducts from the kitchen range and the bathroom venting to the outside, a low pressure is created inside. Nature prefers a neutral state, and air will automatically seep in from unlikely and unwanted areas. The exhausts for your fireplace or furnace may return the carbon monoxide and cause unsafe conditions, leaving your family at risk. The codes for new houses now require specific ventilation regulations. It’s important check these areas for safety.
• Indoor air quality - Homes lacking an effective ventilating system can continuously circulate pollutants and allergens around the house. These can bring on mild to severe risks to the health of you and your family.
• Moisture buildup - This is harmful to both the structure of the house and the furniture in the home, as it can cause wood rot and warping, among other things.
• Radon buildup - Radon seeps up through the ground and can be trapped in the basement. The Environmental Protection Agency warns that this gas is the second most common reason for lung cancer in the United States. Unlike other gases, you cannot smell radon, so you have no idea it’s present.

For more expert advice about your ventilating system, or for questions relating to home comfort, contact the professionals at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. For nearly a century, we’ve been proudly serving the HVAC needs of Long Island.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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DIY heat pump maintenance

• Start by hosing off the outside of the unit. Washing the unit with water removes the grime, debris and dead leaves that can get caught in the unit. Make sure that you wait until the weather has warmed up completely and you’re certain you won’t have to use your heat again until the fall. This task helps ensure that the heat pump will continue to run efficiently without dirt buildup.
• Check your filters and replace or clean them as necessary. You may have disposable glass fiber filters that you can simply discard, or you might have plastic fiber or aluminum mesh filters that require washing and can be reinserted. If you’re not sure, check with your HVAC technician, who can show you how to best take care of your heat pump’s filter needs.
• Most of the time, your heat pump maintenance won’t include lubrication, but you do need to make sure that dust is periodically removed from the motor. You can use air pressure like a vacuum in reverse mode or an air compressor to clean the dust off of the motor.
• Make sure that you have your unit inspected by a professional periodically. This is one of the steps  that many forget, and if your heat pump is warrantied, it’s one of the easiest tasks that if not done routinely, can void the manufacturer’s warranty. Professional preventive maintenance can catch issues before they turn into costlier problems.

For more information on heat pump maintenance, or to schedule an appointment, contact the experts at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’re proud to serve homeowners throughout the Long Island area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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One of Carrier’s highest honors for its dealers, the President’s Award is given to Carrier Factory Authorized Dealers who achieved excellence in product promotions and delivered superior customer service. Recipients of this award exemplify Carrier’s model for operational excellence, business effectiveness and delivering the best in cutting-edge technology to consumers.

T. F. O’Brien demonstrates technical expertise, while also serving as a leader in promoting the Carrier brand and raising the standard for equipment sales. Moreover, the dealership is committed to service excellence and provides exceptional customer care. T.F. O’Brien has been a Carrier dealer since 1955, and a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer since 2004.

The business, which has been serving the Long Island area for more than 77 years, has flourished under the leadership of three generations of the O’Brien family. T.F. O’Brien continues the family tradition of superior equipment, extensive training, and exemplary customer service established more than three quarters of a century ago.

“This year’s recipients achieved their business goals while successfully representing Carrier to their communities and continually focusing on customer satisfaction,” said Chris Nelson, president, residential and commercial systems, Carrier. “Winners will be able to capitalize on publicity, marketing and merchandising opportunities that are unique to President’s Award recipients and continue to grow their business.”

The President’s Award is designed to encourage self-analysis and reward dealers who have excelled in customer satisfaction. This award presents the opportunity for recipients to serve as role models, share best practices and offer peer mentoring to help cultivate excellence across the dealer group.

“We’re very pleased to have received this award for a second time,” said Kerry O’Brien, President of T.F. O’Brien, adding that their first win came in 2011. “Our ultimate goal is always to provide the absolute best customer service in Long Island, and we accomplish this by employing superior craftsmen with great attitudes and work ethic. Achieving this award, therefore, was a company-wide accomplishment.”

Cooling your home is the biggest energy consumer you’ll face this summer and making sure the A/C runs at peak performance will lower cooling costs and may extend the life of your unit.

Most homeowners can tend to basic maintenance by inspecting and cleaning these three main areas:

Air handler

• Clean or replace dirty filters. Check filters on a monthly basis for impacted dirt, which hinders the airflow to the evaporator coils.
• Clean the evaporator coils. Dirty coils will slow the cooling process and cause the unit to run longer to cool the air.
• Examine the coil fins. Straighten fins that are bent. Bent fins will restrict airflow to the coils.
• Check the condensate pan and drain. Remove dirt that blocks the release of water to the outdoors.

Outdoor condenser

• Clear the area of leaves, dirt, twigs, grass and debris that’s collected around the condenser during the winter months. Gently spray the coils and fins with water to remove dirt on the unit. Straighten any bent fins hindering the heat release process.
• Check refrigerant lines for kinks or leaks and contact a professional to repair any leaks.

Ductwork

• Look for splits or cracks in your ductwork. A handy homeowner can complete simple repairs, but contact a professional for bigger issues. There may be hidden problems that only an expert technician can recognize. Have necessary repairs done before they turn into more expensive problems.
• Inspect insulation on ducts and replace any damaged or worn insulation.

As a homeowner, you can tend to minor maintenance, but consider investing in an air conditioner maintenance program, which schedules annual cleaning and inspections. An extensive inspection and cleaning of your unit on a regular basis will keep your unit running smoothly and turn up problems before they turn into major issues.

If you live in the Long Island area and have questions about air conditioner maintenance, contact the experts at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’re proud to serve homeowners throughout the Long Island area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Looking at your family’s energy consumption and the annual cost of heating and cooling your home is a good place to start when you’re interested in cutting costs. In fact, according to Energy Star, this accounts for even as much as 50 percent of the energy we use.

Here are a few tips to help lower your home energy bills.

• Change your air filter once a month. Doing this will help keep your system running smoothly, as a dirty filter will waste energy and can cause long-term damage or early system failure.
• Schedule an annual HVAC check-up. In order to keep your HVAC equipment running effectively and efficiently, there are certain tune-ups you should carry out on a yearly basis. But just like you would get your car serviced, why not also consider consulting a HVAC technician about an annual maintenance plan? This option gives you peace of mind, since a little money spent now could save you a lot later.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat. These units are built to save energy and come with specially-designed, intelligent programs to make your life easier. They’re fairly easy to install and provide big savings on your energy bills.
• Seal your ducts. Your home’s ductwork could be letting your home’s energy slip away from you. Sealing and insulating these ducts can give you as much as a 20 percent efficiency boost. If you’re not sure where to start, consider consulting an HVAC technician.
• Consider switching to Energy Star. If you’re looking to replace any of your older HVAC equipment, consider checking for the Energy Star label before you make your final decision. Investing in Energy Star-certified equipment can lead to proven significant savings each year.

For more information and expert advice on how to save money on your energy bills in the Long Island area, contact T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’re here to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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ACCA memberships

Here’s the scoop on ACCA memberships, which:

• Include a QA accreditation program designed around ANSI standards. When you choose a QA Residential Service and Installation-accredited company, you’ll know they have successfully completed a rigorous training program to become some of the nation’s best HVAC technicians.
• Give contractors the opportunity to take continuing education that will keep their skills compatible with the newest equipment available.
• Offer its members the ability to become EPA Section 608 certified, which is required of everyone who handles refrigerant. The ACCA EPA Section 608 certification program is the oldest and best of its kind.
• Offer classes to members for NATE certification, the industry standard to show technician excellence.

When you hire an HVAC specialist who’s an ACCA member, you can rest assured that your home comfort needs will be met with superior skill and state of the art design, installation and equipment.

For more information on the benefits of choosing an HVAC company with ACCA membership, feel free to contact our experts at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We have been serving Long Island homeowners since 1934.

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