If you’re looking for a new air conditioner, there are many factors to consider. Continue reading “Your New Air Conditioner: Looking Beyond the SEER Ratings”
Tag: energy efficiency
Geothermal Cooling and Heating: What’s Good for You Is Good for the Planet, Too
If you’ve researched your HVAC options, you may know that geothermal cooling and heating systems are some of the most efficient systems on the market. But you might not be aware that they’re some of the most environmentally friendly, as well. Continue reading “Geothermal Cooling and Heating: What’s Good for You Is Good for the Planet, Too”
Optimizing Heat Pump Efficiency in That New Home You’re Building
When you’re building a new home, you want to install appliances that will help you save money while having the smallest ecological impact. For homeowners in Long Island, optimizing heat pump efficiency is an important factor if you want to stay comfortable throughout the year. Continue reading “Optimizing Heat Pump Efficiency in That New Home You’re Building”
Your Air Conditioner Replacement: Should You Really Put It off Any Longer?
It’s easy to put off an air conditioner replacement because it’s an expensive undertaking and a fairly complicated process. But putting the replacement off too long will raise your electric bills and could leave you uncomfortable when the weather turns warm. Continue reading “Your Air Conditioner Replacement: Should You Really Put It off Any Longer?”
Your Springtime Heat Pump Maintenance
When spring rolls around, it’s a good time for homeowners to take on necessary heat pump maintenance. If you haven’t done it before, or if you need a refresher, here are some step-by-step tips to get you on the right path.
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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Modulating Furnaces: Green, Eco-Friendly, Efficient and Comfortable
Unlike standard furnaces that start and stop, leaving drastic temperature changes in your home, a modulating furnace operates constantly to monitor the temperature in your home. Continue reading “Modulating Furnaces: Green, Eco-Friendly, Efficient and Comfortable”
Your Gas-Fired Furnace Might Be Ready for a Retrofit
Your old gas-fired furnace could be costing you a good deal of money because of its relative inefficiency compared to newer models. If you want to increase your energy efficiency and save some money, you have two options for that old furnace: Repair or replace it. Continue reading “Your Gas-Fired Furnace Might Be Ready for a Retrofit”
Correct Furnace Sizing Is Paramount for Top Efficiency
Furnace sizing is an important factor to focus on before you make a sizable investment. Continue reading “Correct Furnace Sizing Is Paramount for Top Efficiency”
Determine Whether a Condensing Furnace Works for You
If you’re in the market for a new heating system for your Long Island home, consider a condensing furnace.
While furnaces older than 10 years have an annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE, of only 65 percent at best, the new condensing furnaces on the market have an AFUE of more than 98 percent, meaning that at least 98 percent of the fuel used to operate the system is converted to heat for your home. The remaining 2 percent or less is vented outdoors.
So what makes a condensing furnace so fuel-efficient? It starts with a duel heat exchanger. In a conventional furnace, which has one fuel-driven heat exchanger, the exhaust gases left after heating the air are sent up the chimney. The condensing furnace features a secondary heat exchanger which recovers this exhaust and uses it to heat more air for your home, reducing waste and increasing the unit’s energy efficiency exponentially. The end result is considerable savings on your energy bills.
Condensing furnaces have other features that add to their efficiency, including:
- Variable-speed blower motor – Conventional furnaces have two speeds: on and off. Condensing furnace blowers utilize varying speeds that change with your real-time heating needs. Lower speeds during warmer periods mean less electricity consumed and more comfortable temperatures in your home.
- Electrically commutated motor (ECM) – Most standard furnaces utilize split-capacitor motors, which are tough but require a lot of electricity to operate. ECMs are not only quieter, but also use up to 75 percent less power.
- Modulating gas valve – Unlike conventional furnaces in which the flow of fuel to the unit is constant, condensing furnaces modulate the consumption of fuel from 40 percent to 100 percent, depending on your heating needs. On warmer days, the furnace will automatically reduce the fuel used to heat your home.
For more expert advice about whether a condensing furnace is right for your home heating needs, please feel free to contact us at T. F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ve served Long Island for over 75 years with a high level of customer satisfaction.
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.
Image via Shutterstock.com
A Home Duct System That’s Designed to Deliver
A well-designed home duct system is a fundamental component for maximizing your house’s overall energy efficiency. Continue reading “A Home Duct System That’s Designed to Deliver”